Category: Stock Market

Energy prices have been all over the place following the conflict in the Middle East. The share prices of oil companies were sent sharply higher, before returning back down again.

Trying to time the market when there are shocks such as this can be a bit of a fool’s game. Instead, if you believe that global instability is likely to remain high and want to take a long-term view, it’s reasonable to infer that global defence spending will also remain higher than normal, and that energy prices might stay high.

On the spending front this is indeed the case with many countries around the world looking to bolster their armed forces following less confidence in global alliances.

So where does that leave investors?

On the Australian market there are some defence-specific stocks such as Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB), DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) and Electro Optic Systems Ltd (ASX: EOS), but if you’re looking for less volatility, the following defence ASX ETFs might be the way to go.

Global X Defence ETF (ASX: DTEC)

DTEC ETF is a fairly modestly-sized defence ETF which says in its fact sheet that global defence spending has grown at an annualised rate of 4.3% for the past 40 years.

It goes on to say:

Increasing global tensions are driving nations to boost defence spending, reflecting heightened national security concerns and a competitive push to maintain strategic advantage.

DTEC says it invests in companies “with a revenue filter’ with exposure to AI, drones and cybersecurity, “capturing the future of innovation in defence”.

VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND)

DFND ETF is quite different from the previous ASX ETF, in that it specifically aims to invest in larger companies that generate at least 50% of their revenues from the defence sector.

The companies it invests in must have a market capitalisation greater than US$1 billion and a 3-month average daily trading volume of at least US$1 million.

This defence ETF has $315.4 million in net assets currently and is invested into 36 companies.

DFND says it provides, “exposure to the largest global companies involved in aerospace and defence, research and consulting, application software and electronic equipment & instruments, that are typically under-represented in benchmarks”.

Betashares Global Defence ETC (ASX: ARMR)

ARMR ETF currently has a wider remit still, providing exposure to “up to 60” global companies which derive more than 50% of their revenues from defence.

At the moment these companies include BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Palantir Technologies.

ARMR will only invest in companies which are headquartered in NATO or NATO-allied countries.

Betashares Global Energy Companies Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: FUEL)

And finally, if you’re looking for broad exposure to the energy sector, this Betashares ASX ETF provides just that, investing globally into companies including Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell.

The post If you think global instability will persist, these ASX ETFs might be for you appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 excellent ASX ETFs flying under the radar
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• 3 of the best ASX ETFs to buy in March
• What is the best global defence ASX ETF?
• 5 fantastic ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Periods of market volatility can leave investors wondering whether they should buy ASX shares while prices are falling, or sit on the sidelines and conserve cash.

That dilemma has been front of mind this week. The ASX 200 tumbled on Monday after oil prices surged in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Markets have partially recovered today, which is a reminder of how quickly sentiment can shift.

When markets move sharply like this, it can feel uncomfortable to invest. But these swings are also a normal part of long-term investing.

Volatility is part of the journey

Share markets rarely move in a straight line. Even during long bull markets there are corrections, geopolitical shocks, and sudden shifts in investor sentiment.

Events such as wars, inflation scares, or interest rate concerns often trigger short-term selloffs. Yet historically the market has tended to recover and move higher over longer periods as company earnings continue to grow.

That is why many experienced investors try to avoid making big decisions based solely on short-term headlines.

Why going all-in can be risky

One challenge during volatile periods is timing. It is extremely difficult to know whether the market has already hit its low point or whether further declines are coming.

Investing all your available cash at once can therefore be risky. If ASX shares fall further after you invest, it can feel discouraging even if the long-term outlook remains positive.

This is why many investors prefer a more gradual approach.

The case for dollar-cost averaging

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is a strategy where you invest money into the market at regular intervals rather than committing a large lump sum at once.

For example, instead of investing $10,000 immediately, you might invest $1,000 each month over the next 10 months.

This approach helps smooth out the effects of market volatility. Sometimes you will buy shares when prices are higher, and sometimes when they are lower. Over time, this can reduce the pressure of trying to pick the perfect entry point.

Many long-term investors have used this strategy to steadily build positions in high-quality companies such as ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), or Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO). Others prefer exchange traded funds (ETFs) like the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) to gain broad exposure to global markets.

Patience usually wins

The most important factor in long-term investing is often not timing the market perfectly, but simply staying invested.

Volatility can feel unsettling in the moment, but over decades the share market has historically rewarded patient investors.

Rather than choosing between buying ASX shares or holding cash entirely, many investors strike a balance. Keeping some cash on hand can provide flexibility, while gradually investing over time allows you to take advantage of market dips.

In uncertain markets, a disciplined approach often proves far more valuable than trying to predict the next short-term move.

The post Should I buy ASX shares or look to conserve cash right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in REA Group, ResMed, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ResMed, Xero, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price has tumbled 4.66% in morning trade on Tuesday. At the time of writing the shares have dropped to $29.90 a piece.

Despite today’s decline, the ASX energy shares are still 26.37% higher for the year-to-date and 30.51% higher than this time 12 months ago.

Why has the Woodside share price slumped today?

Rising oil prices have acted as a strong tailwind for Woodside shares over the past 10 days. Conflict in the Middle East has threatened the movement of oil in the region while shipping disruptions and production cuts caused prices to skyrocket to a multi-year high.

Trading Economics data shows that the price of WTI crude oil surged to a 4.5-year high of nearly US$120 per barrel yesterday after major Middle Eastern producers began cutting output following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. 

With tanker traffic heavily restricted, several key producers, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq, have started curbing production as storage facilities fill quickly.

What was a tailwind for the Woodside share price just a week ago, has now caused a reversal in the energy company’s share price. 

The price of oil has cooled to around US$85 per barrel, at the time of writing. The latest drop follows an announcement from US President Donald Trump that he thinks the war with Iran is nearing its end. 

Trump has also said he plans to waive oil-related sanctions and have the US Navy escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, G7 finance ministers said it will release oil from strategic reserves if necessary.

What’s next for the Woodside share price?

While the cooling crude oil price has caused a slump in the Woodside share price today, the company’s financials are still very strong.

The oil and gas giant reported a strong 2025 result in late-February which confirmed an all-time high full-year production of 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), topping guidance. 

Its costs fell 4% for the calendar year, and while revenue dropped 1%, its EBITDA was in line with 2024. 

But the experts are still neutral about the near-term outlook for the stock.

While the outlook for the company itself is promising, ongoing conflict in the Middle East adds to concern about near-term volatility and share price risk. 

TradingView data shows that 6 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Woodside shares. Another seven have a hold rating, and two have a sell rating.

The average target price of $29.22 implies a potential 2.28% downside at the time of writing. 

The post What’s next for the Woodside share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why are ASX 200 energy shares getting smashed on Tuesday?
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Woodside shares edge higher as Meg O’Neill prepares to take the top job at BP
• Here’s why Woodside shares are demolishing the stock market

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are off to the races today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $169.45. During the Tuesday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $173.00 apiece, up 2.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.4% at this same time.

Shares in Australia’s biggest bank stock have been strongly outperforming since slumping to nine-month lows of $147.22 on 21 January.

How strongly?

Well, investors who bought at market close on 21 January will have booked gains of 17.5% at current levels.

And that’s not including the fully franked $2.35 interim dividend they’ll receive on 30 March. (CBA traded ex-dividend on 18 February.)

If we add that back into the current share price, then the accumulated value of CBA shares has soared 19.1% in just seven weeks.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Should you still buy CBA shares today?

Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou recently ran his slide rule over the big four bank stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“CBA remains the highest quality bank, supported by scale, technology leadership and a dominant retail franchise,” he said.

“Credit quality is stable, arrears are contained and capital levels are strong. Recent half year results in fiscal year 2026 beat expectations, which the market welcomed,” Athanasiou added.

But Athanasiou isn’t ready to pull the trigger on CBA shares at current levels, with a hold recommendation on the stock.

He noted:

However, much of this quality is already reflected in its premium valuation. With loan growth moderating and net interest margins normalising, earnings growth is likely to be steady as opposed to spectacular.

CBA trades on a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of around 28 times, the highest of the ASX 200 bank stocks.

On the passive income front, Athanasiou said, “The dividend supports total returns, making it a reliable core holding.”

CBA trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 2.9%.

As for his hold recommendation, Athanasiou concluded, “Upside is limited at current prices. However, existing investors should maintain exposure, while new capital may find better growth or valuation opportunities elsewhere.”

What’s the latest from the big four bank?

CBA reported its half year results on 11 February.

Highlights included an expectation-beating cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of $5.45 billion. That was up 6% on CBA’s H1 FY 2025 cash NPAT.

CBA shares closed up 6.8% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 19% in 7 weeks, are CBA shares a good buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

NexGen Energy Ltd (ASX: NXG) shares are trading significantly higher today amid broad support for the uranium sector; however, it’s the company’s longer-term plans that have brokers attaching bullish share price targets.

The ASX uranium stock has more than doubled over the past 12 months – indeed, for those who got in at the low of $6.44, it has almost tripled to now be changing hands for $17.56.

But three brokers we surveyed all thought the company’s shares had further to go.

So let’s look at the big news underpinning the share price rise in recent days.

Major approval a milestone

Naturally, the ructions in the energy market from the war in the Middle East have played a part in bolstering support for uranium shares; however, NexGen has had some big news of its own.

The company said late last week that it had received the final approval necessary to build its Rook 1 uranium mine in Canada, which will be among the biggest in the world once it comes into production.

The company said regarding the project last week:

When fully operational, the Rook I Project will be the largest single source and environmentally elite uranium mine globally, incorporating state-of-the-art extraction and safety systems. In production, Rook I is capable of producing up to 30 million pounds annually – representing over 20% of the current global uranium fuel supply and over 50% of western world supply.

The company added that now that approvals were in place, it was set to begin construction.

The team, procurement, engineering, vendors, contractors and capital are in place to commence construction activities with advanced site and shaft sinking preparation. NexGen has already made its Final Investment Decision with official construction commencing in summer 2026. As per the Rook I Project schedule, construction will take 4 years from commencement.

ASX uranium stock looking cheap

The team at Shaw and Partners have had a look at the announcement, and they like what they see.

They said in a note to clients this week:

In our view the uranium market is in the early stages of a ‘super-cycle’ and we expect to see prices increase to ~US$200/lb before reverting to a long-term sustainable price of US$120/lb next decade. NexGen is one of our preferred exposures to the super-cycle. We retain our buy recommendation and $22.90 price target which is based on a DCF valuation.

UBS also has a buy recommendation on the ASX uranium stock with a price target of $21, while Bell Potter has a price target of $19.

The post Up more than 100% in a year, this ASX uranium stock has further to go, brokers say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Building an ASX share portfolio can be a delicate process. You obviously want to pack your portfolio full of shares of the highest quality. But you also want to be sure that if a crisis hits the share market, your investments are financial sound and well insulated against any permanent capital loss. This can be a tricky balance. One of the ways I protect my own portfolio for this purpose is with an ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF).

The ETF in question is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT).This fund is a rather unique ETF on the ASX. Instead of tracking a simple index, as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) or the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) do, MOAT invests in a concentrated portfolio of carefully-selected stocks.

These stocks hail from the Untied States, and have to check several boxes before gaining admission to the MOAT portfolio. One of those boxes is being available at a fair valuation. But the most important one is possessing a wide economic moat.

A ‘moat’ is an investing concept first coined by legendary investor Warren Buffett. It refers to an intrinsic competitive advantage that a company can possess, that helps the company ride out economic cycles, as well as fend off competition.

How does this wide moat ETF protect an ASX share portfolio?

This moat could come in several forms. It could be a powerful brand that consumers trust, or a cost advantage that allows the company to consistently charge lower prices than competitors. it could be providing a product or service that consumers find difficult to avoid, or else possessing an intellectual property that the company solely owns.

Companies that possess strong moats are usually long-term winners. Warren Buffett himself has stated that he looks for these sorts of advantages in every investment he buys.

The VanEck Wide Moat ETF is full of them. We can see this in action by looking at this fund’s holdings. As it currently stands, the MOAT portfolio counts stocks like Boeing, Airbnb, Clorox, Nike, Cadbury-owner Mondelez International, Adobe and Microsoft as current holdings.

These are all dominant, profitable companies that possess at least one form of a moat. It could be the enduring appeal of Mondelez’s brands like Cadbury or Oreo, or the essential nature of the software products that Microsoft or Adobe provide. The resilient nature of these stocks provide a lot of stability for my portfolio, and help me sleep well at night. As such, I am very happy to have the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF in my ASX portfolio, especially in a week like the one we are having.

The post This ASX ETF is my stock portfolio’s shield appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Microsoft, Mondelez International, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Airbnb, Boeing, Microsoft, Nike, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Airbnb, Microsoft, Nike, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form and pushing higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.3% to 8,711.9 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are charging higher:

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is up 10% to $22.49. This follows a strong night of trade for the family safety technology company’s NASDAQ listed shares on Wall Street on Monday. Given that its ASX listed shares sank on Monday, a big reversal was necessary today to bring them to parity. It is also worth noting that late last week Morgan Stanley put an overweight rating and $50.00 price target on Life360’s shares. This is more than double its current share price.

St George Mining Ltd (ASX: SGQ)

The St George Mining share price is up 5.5% to 13.2 cents. This morning, the rare earths developer announced the appointment of Carla Grasso, a senior Brazilian resource geologist, to the role of Principal Geologist. It notes that this is a key executive appointment that underscores St George’s commitment to an accelerated development of the world-class Araxa Rare Earths-Niobium Project. St George Mining’s executive chair, John Prineas, said: “We are delighted to welcome Carla Grasso to our Brazilian team as we build momentum for the potential development of a mining operation at the Araxa Project.”

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is up 7.5% to $10.96. This follows the release of an update on part one of the ProstACT Global Phase 3 study. This is the safety and dosimetry lead-in for its therapeutic candidate, TLX591-Tx. Telix revealed that it achieved its primary objectives, demonstrating an acceptable safety and tolerability profile with no new safety signals observed. Telix’s group chief medical officer, David N. Cade, MD, said: “Despite advances in clinical practice, men with advanced prostate cancer still need improved first and second line treatment options. These results build on prior findings and highlight the potential for TLX591-Tx in combination with contemporary standard of care, to become a new first-line option for patients facing this aggressive disease.”

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

The Westgold Resources share price is up 4% to $6.50. This morning, this gold miner announced board approval for a $145 million investment in the Higginsville Expansion Plan (HXP). This will lift plant capacity by 62.5% from 1.6Mtpa to 2.6Mtpa. Westgold’s CEO, Wayne Bramwell, said: “The Higginsville Expansion Plan (HXP) is the next step to drive down unit costs and increase Group free cash flow from the Southern Goldfields.”

The post Why Life360, St George Mining, Telix, and Westgold shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 energy shares are dramatically lower after US President Donald Trump signalled the Iran war may be over soon.

The ASX 200 energy sector is 3.4% lower, and it’s the only sector in the red as the rest of the market recovers from yesterday’s rout.

According to abc.net.au, President Trump said the Iran war was “very complete” and that the US was “very far ahead” of its four to five-week estimated schedule of attack.

ASX 200 energy shares are tumbling as oil prices rapidly retreat from nearly US$120 per barrel yesterday to less than US$90 per barrel today.

Here’s the impact on energy stocks so far today.

ASX 200 energy shares take a big hit

The market’s biggest ASX 200 oil share, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), is down 4.8% to $29.87 per share.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is down 3.6% to $7.37, and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are down 3.5% to $30.25.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price is down 9% to $1.82, while Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are 5% lower at $1.11.

ASX 200 coal shares are also being hit.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price is 5.3% lower at $6.79, while Whitehaven Ltd (ASX: WHC) shares are 2.7% down at $8.61.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price is $4.95, down 4.5%.

Of the top 10 ASX 200 fallers on the market today, eight of them are energy shares.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.2% on Tuesday.

Why are ASX 200 energy shares tumbling?

ASX 200 energy shares are tanking while the broader market is recovering from yesterday’s $90 billion wipeout.

The ASX 200 fell 3.2% yesterday, its largest single-day fall since ‘Liberation Day’ in the US in April 2025.

The drop followed an astronomical 25% surge in the Brent and WTI oil prices to almost $120 per barrel yesterday.

That was their highest level since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Oil prices skyrocketed amid fears that the war could become a long battle and that higher prices would lead to resurgent inflation worldwide.

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq began cutting oil production due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

They did so because storage facilities are filling up quickly as tankers delay going through the Strait of Hormuz.

More than 20% of global oil and gas exports, mostly from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE, pass through the strait, which sits between Iran in the north and Oman and the UAE in the south.

It is the only sea channel linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Gas prices have also been affected by the Iran war, with UK, Europe, and Germany natural gas futures up by more than 25% in a week.

European gas prices skyrocketed after QatarEnergy suspended production at its Ras Laffan and Mesaieed complexes following an Iranian drone strike on a water tank at the site last week.

The company provides about 20% of the global LNG supply.

Oil prices remain 20% higher over the week despite an overnight fall during US trading and further declines in today’s Asia trading session.

Everything reversed course last night

Yesterday, there was fear in the market about whether the Iran war would become an entrenched conflict, potentially involving many nations over an extended period.

But it’s funny how fast things can change with Donald Trump in the White House.

All it took was some comments from President Trump to send the Brent and WTI crude oil prices back below US$100 per barrel overnight.

With oil trading again right now in Asian markets, both Brent Crude and WTI Crude are under US$90 per barrel as we speak.

Trading Economics analysts sum up what’s happened:

Brent crude futures fell below $95 per barrel on Tuesday after surging to nearly $120 in the previous session, as US President Donald Trump signaled that the war with Iran may be nearing its end and that the US military operation is progressing well ahead of its initial timetable.

Trump also said he plans to waive oil-related sanctions and have the US Navy escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to keep oil prices in check.

Adding to the downward pressure, G7 finance ministers said the group “stands ready” to release oil from strategic reserves if necessary, although no action has been taken so far.

Here’s what President Trump said

On Truth Social this morning, Donald Trump threatened to punish Iran if it disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far.

Yesterday, Trump posted:

Iran is no longer the “Bully of the Middle East,” they are, instead, “THE LOSER OF THE MIDDLE EAST,” and will be for many decades until they surrender or, more likely, completely collapse!

The post Why are ASX 200 energy shares getting smashed on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s next for the Woodside share price?
• Why Coles, Pantoro Gold, Seek, and Woodside shares are falling today
• Santos share price is tumbling from an 18-month high: Buy, hold or sell?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The FleetPartners Group Ltd (ASX: FPR) share price is moving higher on Tuesday.

This comes after the company revealed a new plan to return cash to shareholders.

At the time of writing, shares in the fleet management provider are up 5.51% to $2.49.

Let’s unpack what the company released today.

FleetPartners announces $20 million share buyback

In its ASX announcement, FleetPartners confirmed that its board has approved an on-market share buyback of up to $20 million.

The company said the move reflects strong confidence in its balance sheet and its ability to continue generating cash in the future.

Management also noted that the buyback is consistent with FleetPartners’ dividend policy, which targets a payout ratio of 60% to 70% of earnings.

The buyback will be carried out under the Corporations Act and ASX listing rule requirements. Management expects the program to begin no earlier than 14 days after today’s announcement.

Why companies buy back shares

Share buybacks are often viewed positively by investors because they reduce the number of shares on issue.

When a company repurchases its own shares, it effectively spreads future profits across a smaller base of shareholders. This can lift earnings per share (EPS) over time and potentially support the share price.

Buybacks can also signal that management believes the company’s shares are trading below their intrinsic value.

In FleetPartners’ case, the move may also reflect growing financial confidence after several years of operational progress across its core businesses.

A closer look at FleetPartners

FleetPartners is a provider of fleet management services in Australia and New Zealand. The company helps businesses manage vehicle fleets through services such as vehicle acquisition, leasing, maintenance, and remarketing.

The group also provides novated leasing and salary packaging services to individual customers.

FleetPartners currently has a market capitalisation of about $537 million and roughly 216 million shares on issue.

The stock also offers an attractive dividend yield of around 5.46% based on the current share price.

However, shares have been under pressure recently. They have fallen about 8% over the past year and remain roughly 12% lower in 2026 so far.

What could happen next

The newly announced buyback could help support the FleetPartners share price in the coming months.

Capital management initiatives such as buybacks often attract investor interest. This could become even more significant if FleetPartners continues pairing the buyback with consistent dividends and solid cash generation.

If FleetPartners continues delivering stable earnings and strong cash flow, its capital return strategy could become a key driver of future shareholder returns.

The post Why investors are piling into this ASX stock today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a better day on Tuesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 1.1% to 8,695.8 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The Coles share price is down 2.5% to $20.57. This has been driven by the supermarket giant’s shares trading ex-dividend this morning. Last month, the company released its half-year results and declared a fully franked interim dividend of 41 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this payout later this month on 30 March.

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)

The Pantoro Gold share price is down 20% to $3.90. This appears to have been driven by the release of the gold miner’s half-year results after the market close on Monday. Although the company reported a significant jump in revenue to $238.6 million (from $153.4 million) and an even larger increase in EBITDA to $135.5 million (from $63.8 million), this was overshadowed by a guidance downgrade. Management revealed that it now expects production of 86,000 ounces to 92,000 ounces for FY 2026. This is down from its previous guidance range of 100,000 ounces to 110,000 ounces. This has been driven by a significant rain event associated with ex-tropical cyclone Mitchell in February, which negatively impacted operations at Norseman.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

The Seek share price is down 2% to $16.09. Investors have been selling this job listings giant’s shares after they were downgraded by analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). According to the note, Macquarie has downgraded Seek’s shares to a neutral rating with a trimmed price target of $18.50. The broker has concerns over the outlook for the Australian job market given rate hikes, automation, and AI disruption.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is down over 5% to $29.66. This has been driven by a sharp pullback in oil prices overnight after US President Donald Trump suggested that the US could take control of the Strait of Hormuz. This would help with bringing oil supply back to the market. It isn’t just Woodside shares falling today. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down over 4%.

The post Why Coles, Pantoro Gold, Seek, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.