Category: Stock Market

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE) shares are catching the eye on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX rare earths stock is up 7% to $4.37.

Why is this ASX rare earths stock storming higher?

The rare earths developer’s shares are charging higher today following the release of an announcement revealing a key regulatory milestone for its Monte Alto project in Brazil.

According to the release, Brazilian Rare Earths has secured a Trial Mining Licence from Brazil’s National Mining Agency for the project in Bahia.

Management believes this is a significant step forward in advancing the project from exploration toward staged development and ultimately commercial-scale mining.

What the licence allows

The release reveals that the licence authorises the extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum of material from the Monte Alto deposit.

This will allow the company to produce bulk samples for potential customers and strategic partners, as well as support metallurgical testing.

Importantly, the material will also supply feedstock to the company’s pilot plant at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, which is currently under construction and expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026.

Advancing toward commercial production

The ASX rare earths stock also highlights that the approval is a major step in its permitting pathway.

The next milestone will be the submission of an Economic Development Plan in the second quarter of 2026, which is expected to support the transition toward a full mining concession.

Brazilian Rare Earths’ managing director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, said the licence represents a major step forward for the project and the company’s broader strategy. He said:

Securing the Trial Mining Licence is a significant milestone for Monte Alto and a major step forward in BRE’s integrated ore-to-oxides development pathway in Brazil. This approval reflects the strength of our permitting work, the quality of our engagement with local communities and government stakeholders, and the advantages of Monte Alto’s deliberately low-impact development model. With ultra-high-grade mineralisation, dry processing and a quarry-scale operating model, Monte Alto has been designed from the outset to support a staged, capital-efficient path through permitting and development.

Just as importantly, trial mining can now supply high-grade material for customer evaluation and for our fully permitted pilot plant at Camaçari, linking upstream production with downstream processing capability in Brazil. That integrated model is central to our strategy to rebuild a leading Brazilian rare earths and critical minerals supply chain. Together with our existing export approvals, this licence materially advances commercial engagement, reduces development risk and brings Monte Alto closer to staged commercial operations.

The post Why is this ASX rare earths stock storming 7% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 cheap Aussie rare earths companies which are worth a look, according to Wilsons Advisory
• Up 139% in a year, why this buy rated ASX All Ords rare earths stock could keep racing higher
• Top broker names 3 ASX rare earths stocks to buy
• Why Brazilian Rare Earths, Lynas, Macquarie Technology, and Ora Banda shares are pushing higher today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) energy share Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL) is having a day to forget. As are its stockholders.

Amplitude Energy shares closed yesterday trading for $2.67. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $1.55 apiece, down 42%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is up 1.2% at this same time.

Here’s what’s got investors reaching for their sell buttons today.

What’s pressuring the ASX 300 energy stock?

Amplitude Energy shares are taking a tumble after the company released a disappointing update on the drilling operations at its Isabella prospect in the Offshore Otway Basin, located in Victoria.

Amplitude Energy is the operator and 50% interest holder in the joint venture prospect. O.G. Energy holds the remaining 50% interest.

The ASX 300 energy share is drilling the Isabella field as a planned sidetrack from the earlier Elanora-1 well.

Today, the company revealed that pressure depletion during the testing period does not support a commercial development of the Isabella field. The well will now be plugged and abandoned. The company expects to complete that process within the next few days.

On a positive note, Amplitude Energy said that as the project is well-advanced, its East Coast Supply Project (ECSP) plans remain unchanged. The drilling program remains within budget, with the ASX 300 Energy share expecting the next well to be drilled in the second half of calendar year 2026.

A final investment decision (FID) for the development phase of the ECSP will now be deferred until after the new wells are drilled. The company is still targeting first gas from the project in 2028.

What did management say?

Commenting on the abandoned well that’s pressuring the ASX 300 energy share today, Amplitude managing director and CEO Jane Norman said, “The result at Isabella is disappointing but geological data from this well will help inform our future exploration prospects.”

Norman added:

Isabella was a large and prospective target for the ECSP, however its size also corresponded with reservoir complexity, meaning it will require time to interpret the drilling information received. The result at Isabella does not impact our view on the probability of success of other Otway Basin exploration prospects, which have simpler geology.

How has the ASX 300 energy share been tracking?

With today’s huge fall factored in, the Amplitude Energy share price is down 36% since this time last year, well behind the 6.6% 12-month gains delivered by the ASX 300.

The post Why is this ASX 300 energy share crashing 42% on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• EVT completes $750 million refinancing, focuses on hotel growth
• Why is this ASX rare earths stock storming 7% higher today?
• ASX 300 stock rockets 38% on ‘landmark moment’
• Guess which ASX 200 telco stock is jumping 7% today
• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7%

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.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares are rocketing on Wednesday morning.

In early trade, the ASX 300 stock is up a massive 38% to a record-high of $6.40.

Why is this ASX 300 stock rising today?

Investors have been buying the respiratory imaging technology company’s shares following the release of a big announcement this morning.

According to the release, 4DMedical’s CT:VQ technology has been deployed at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.

The release reveals that the Mayo Clinic, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading hospitals, has entered into an agreement to use CT:VQ for ventilation and perfusion analysis.

The deployment will initially focus on integrating the technology into clinical workflows and allowing clinicians to evaluate its capabilities across a range of use cases.

Management highlights that the Mayo Clinic’s adoption represents one of the most significant endorsements of its technology to date.

Building strong commercial momentum

The ASX 300 stock notes that it has achieved six major deployments for CT:VQ within approximately seven months of receiving FDA clearance in September 2025.

The others are Stanford, Cleveland Clinic, UC San Diego Health, University of Chicago Medicine, and the University of Miami.

This rapid adoption highlights growing demand for its technology, which offers advantages such as eliminating the need for radioisotopes and contrast agents, while providing high-resolution imaging and integration into existing CT workflows.

While the initial agreement with Mayo Clinic is not financially material, the company emphasised its strategic importance. Management believes that as clinicians gain confidence in the technology, the hospital could become a key reference site, supporting broader commercial adoption.

‘A landmark moment’

The ASX 300 stock’s managing director and CEO, Andreas Fouras, described the deployment as a landmark moment for the company. He said:

Mayo Clinic is, unquestionably, one of the most respected healthcare institutions in the world. Their decision to deploy CT:VQ is a landmark moment for 4DMedical and a powerful testament to the clinical significance of our technology. In just seven months since FDA clearance we have established CT:VQ at six of America’s leading AMCs: Stanford, University of Miami, Cleveland Clinic, UC San Diego Health, University of Chicago Medicine, and now Mayo Clinic. No other technology in our space has achieved this level of clinical adoption in such a short timeframe.

Mayo’s deployment is uniquely significant. When the world’s number one hospital chooses to use your technology, it sends the strongest possible signal to the entire U.S. healthcare market about the clinical value and readiness of CT:VQ.

Fouras believes this leaves the company well-placed for the future. He concludes:

Combined with our existing network of elite AMC reference sites, and the Philips partnership, we are building an unassailable platform for CT:VQ adoption. CT:VQ continues to accelerate. Our sales pipeline has never looked stronger, and I look forward to sharing further progress soon.

The post ASX 300 stock rockets 38% on ‘landmark moment’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up over 900%: Is it too late to buy this incredible ASX tech stock?
• Are 4DMedical and Life360 shares a buy, hold or sell after rocketing 10% yesterday?
• What to make of these volatile ASX shares
• Why 4DMedical, Block, PEXA, and Weebit Nano shares are launching higher today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) shares are on the move on Wednesday morning.

In early trade, the ASX 200 telco stock is up 7% to $6.42.

This follows the release of its half-year results for FY 2026.

Why is this ASX 200 telco stock rising?

The company’s shares are gaining after Tuas reported strong growth across its key financial metrics for the first half of FY 2026.

Management advised that this was driven by the continued expansion of its subscriber base in Singapore.

According to the release, revenue increased to S$91.9 million, representing an increase of 25.5% on the prior corresponding period.

Also growing strongly were its underlying earnings. The ASX 200 telco stock’s underlying EBITDA came in 27.2% higher year on year at S$42.1 million. However, statutory EBITDA was down slightly to S$31.6 million.

Net profit after tax rose to S$8.2 million on a statutory basis and by over 500% to S$18.7 million on an underlying basis.

Management highlighted that the result reflects sustained improvement across all key financial metrics, supported by disciplined cost management and operating leverage.

Subscriber growth

Tuas’ strong performance was underpinned by rapid growth in its mobile and broadband subscriber base.

It revealed that active mobile services increased 21.7% to over 1.4 million, continuing a strong upward trend over recent periods.

Meanwhile, broadband subscribers surged to more than 46,000, highlighting strong traction in this newer segment.

Management also noted that average revenue per user remained stable at S$9.61, indicating that growth is being driven primarily by customer additions rather than pricing changes.

Strong balance sheet

The company ended the period with a significantly strengthened balance sheet following a capital raising.

Tuas reported cash and term deposits of S$477.9 million at the end of the half, boosted by approximately A$430 million raised through an equity issue.

This provides the ASX 200 telco stock with substantial financial flexibility to fund future growth initiatives.

Business update

Tuas continues to make progress in its core Singapore market.

The company revealed that it has exceeded its 5G coverage obligations ahead of schedule, positioning it strongly in the competitive mobile market.

It also highlighted leadership in fibre broadband service quality and hardware, supporting continued growth in that segment.

Outlook

Looking ahead, management expects to continue strengthening its position across both mobile and broadband markets.

The company has guided to capital expenditure of between S$50 million and S$55 million for FY 2026 as it invests in further network expansion and capability.

In addition, Tuas provided an update on its proposed M1 acquisition, noting that both parties are progressing positively and engaging with regulators as part of the approval process. The combination will make Tuas the second-largest mobile operator in Singapore.

Overall, the result highlights strong momentum for the business as it continues to scale its operations and grow its market share in Singapore.

The post Guess which ASX 200 telco stock is jumping 7% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Tuas half-year result: profit leaps as revenue and subscribers grow
• Where I’d invest $10,000 into ASX growth shares on this painful day for the stock market
• Why buying ASX shares in March could supercharge your wealth
• Where I’d invest $20,000 into ASX growth shares right now
• I’m following Warren Buffett’s advice and buying ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

There is a wide range of ASX dividend shares available to investors to buy. There are many with large dividend yields that could produce market-beating returns.

With how the central bank interest rate in Australia has increased, I think it’s fair to say that Aussie investors may want a higher dividend yield than last year. Savings accounts are now offering a noticeably better interest rate.

So, with that in mind, I’m going to outline two ASX dividend shares with very high dividend yields and the potential to deliver capital growth.

WAM Microcap Ltd (ASX: WMI)

One of the biggest advantages of a listed investment company (LIC) structure is that a company’s board of directors can set the size of dividends it wants, so LICs can smooth out dividend payments, even during volatility.

WAM Microcap has grown or maintained its annual dividend per share each year since it first paid one in FY18. FY24 has been the only year that it has maintained the payout.

The company is expecting to increase its payout by 1% in FY26 to 10.7 cents per share. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.25%, including franking credits. That’s obviously an excellent level of passive income.

WAM Microcap has a profit reserve of 55.4 cents per share, meaning it has the accounting profits to pay the dividend for around five years at the current level.

How does this ASX dividend share make profit? It aims to invest and make returns with the most exciting undervalued growth opportunities in the ASX small-cap share space.

At the end of February 2026, the LIC had generated a portfolio performance of an average of 15.4% per year since inception in June 2017, before fees, expenses and taxes. That was more than 7% per year better than its small-cap benchmark. Small caps can deliver good returns because they are often under-researched and earlier on in their growth journey.

Some of its largest investments at the end of February 2026 were Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK), Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX), and Autosports Group Ltd (ASX: ASG).

After falling close to 10% during March, this could be a good time to consider investing in the business.

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT (ASX: CLW)

The other high-yielding ASX dividend share I want to highlight is this real estate investment trust (REIT) with a very diversified portfolio across multiple sectors.

Diversification is one of the biggest benefits of this ASX dividend share – plenty of other REITs are focused on just one sector, like shopping centres, office buildings, or industrial property.

This REIT is invested across numerous areas, including pubs and hotels, service stations, data centres, telecommunications exchanges, distribution centres, waste and recycling facilities, Bunnings properties, and so on.

One of the main advantages of this REIT is that its rental contracts are very long term, providing income stability and security for investors who want operating earnings to be less bumpy than, say, a miner.

Pleasingly, the business has rental indexation built into its portfolio, with properties either on fixed annual increases or the increases are linked to inflation.

It’s expecting to grow its FY26 distribution by 2% to 25.5 cents per security in FY26, which translates into a distribution yield of 7.4%, which I think is an appealing starting point with further rental growth expected.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A 7.4% yield but down 25%! Is it time for me to buy this ASX REIT to earn passive income?
• Charter Hall Long WALE REIT declares March 2026 distribution and DRP update
• A once-in-a-decade chance to earn a supersized passive income from ASX shares?
• 3 top ASX dividend share buys for passive income in March
• 2 ASX REITs I’d buy today for passive income

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Tuas and Wam Microcap. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Interest rates have been rising in 2026 in response to concerns around higher inflation.

While this has led to improvements in the rates on offer with savings accounts and term deposits, they still pale in comparison to the dividend yields you can find with ASX stocks on the Australian share market.

In addition, there are stocks out there that analysts think are cheap and could rise strongly from current levels.

Here are two dividend stocks that analysts are recommending to clients:

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR)

The first ASX dividend stock that analysts are bullish on is Charter Hall Retail REIT.

It is a property company that owns a diversified portfolio of convenience-based retail centres that are anchored by supermarkets, service stations, and essential services.

These assets tend to be highly defensive as shoppers continue to spend on groceries and everyday essentials regardless of economic conditions. In addition, long leases and high-quality tenants provide visibility over rental income.

The team at Macquarie is positive on the company and has an outperform rating and $4.15 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 10% for investors from current levels.

As for dividends, the broker is forecasting payouts of 25.5 cents in FY 2026 and then 25.4 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $3.77, this would mean dividend yields of 6.75% and 6.7%, respectively.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

Another ASX dividend stock that has been given the thumbs up by analysts is Elders.

It is an agribusiness company that provides rural and livestock services, agricultural inputs, and real estate services to Australia’s farming sector.

Elders recently completed the acquisition of Delta Agribusiness, which provides greater exposure to key local retail markets as well as a leading agronomy and farm advisory team.

It is partly because of this deal and its multi-year SysMod project to modernise systems with leading technology solutions that Bell Potter recently put a buy rating and $9.00 price target on its shares. This suggests that the company’s shares could rise by approximately 30% between now and this time next year.

As for income, Bell Potter is expecting the agribusiness company to pay shareholders fully franked dividends of 39 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 45 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $6.92, this would mean dividend yields of 5.6% and 6.5%, respectively.

The post These buy-rated ASX dividend stocks are forecast to pay 6%+ yields in 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Charter Hall Retail REIT reveals March 2026 distribution details
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• What’s happened to ASX small-caps in 2026?
• Where to invest $20,000 for dividend income on the ASX
• 3 top ASX dividend shares with 6%+ yields

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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 Charter Hall Retail REIT and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shape Australia Corporation Ltd (ASX: SHA) might not be the most well-known stock, but its share price performance over the past year is worth noting.

The company has delivered a 12-month share price return of 114.9%, and according to Shaw and Partners’ analyst team, there’s more upside to be had.

So what does the company do?

As the Shaw team explains:

Shape is a national construction services specialist focused on commercial fit outs, refurbishments, modular construction, façade remediation, and select new build projects. Founded in 1989 and listed on the ASX in 2021, SHA operates across all Australian states and maintains strong client loyalty, with about 81% of revenue from repeat clients.

Shape’s most recent first-half results indicate a company that is travelling well.

The company reported first-half revenue of $553.3 million, up 16% on the previous corresponding period, and net profit of $14 million, up 49%.

Shape Chief Executive Officer Peter Marix-Evans said it was a strong result:

Our diversification strategy continues to deliver tangible results, particularly our expansion into non-office sectors. Additionally, during the half, project wins in the education sector increased 170% to $153.5 million, driven by a combination of fitout and refurbishment work in the tertiary category and modular projects in schools. We also saw momentum in emerging sectors, with the industrial and data centres sectors achieving a combined $137.4 million in project wins, compared with $7.0 million in 1HFY25, and further expansion into aged care with project wins of $57.5 million.

The company said it was well-placed going into the second half with backlog orders up 33% and a diversified pipeline of projects.

The Shaw team said the company had done a good job of diversifying its work streams.

Aided by acquisitions, Shape has diversified its sector exposure into more resilient sectors including healthcare, defence, education, hospitality, and retail, and has expanded into solutions that capture more of the project lifecycle such as design & build and aftercare/facilities maintenance. This strategic shift contributed to its impressive financial results.

Shaw said Shape had a market-leading position in high margin fit out and a strong pipeline and net cash position.

Shares looking cheap

The Shaw analysts recently upgraded their price target for Shape from $7.40 to $8.25 per share, compared with $6.49 currently.

Shape also pays a dividend yield of 3.07%.

Shape was valued at $541.9 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post After more than doubling over the past year one broker sees more upside for this ASX small-cap stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX small cap could be in a sweet spot for construction demand

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 recommended Shape Australia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 8.9% since the war in Iran began, with mining stocks the hardest hit.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) — dominated by Australian miners — has fallen 18.7% since 28 February.

Amid the market turmoil, here are three ASX mining shares to buy, hold, and sell, according to the experts.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price closed at $17.57 yesterday, up 2.1% for the day and down 2% over 12 months.

The ASX 200 gold mining share has fallen 42% since the war began.

A downgrade in guidance from the miner and a 16% fall in the gold price have contributed to the stock’s dramatic fall this month.

Last week, Ord Minnett reiterated its buy rating on Northern Star Resources shares.

However, the broker slashed its 12-month target from $29.70 to $23.70.

This still implies a potential upside of 35% ahead.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price closed at $48.52 yesterday, up 3% for the day and up 23% over the past 12 months.

The market’s largest ASX 200 mining share has fallen 17% since the war in Iran began.

As we reported yesterday, BHP is among the 5 most traded ASX 200 shares on the Stake platform this month.

It’s likely that investors have been cashing in their gains after BHP shares reached a new record of $59.39 on 3 March.

Last week, UBS reiterated its hold rating on BHP shares with a 12-month price target of $52.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

This ASX 200 lithium mining share finished yesterday’s session at $1.55, up 6.5%.

Liontown has held up much better than its materials sector peers since the war in Iran began.

The Liontown share price has fallen 9.3% since 28 February, but remains 138% higher over 12 months.

Lithium commodity prices have been resilient this month, falling just 3.6% over 30 days.

On The Bull this week, Tony Locantro from Alto Capital put a sell rating on Liontown shares.

Locantro explained:

The company’s first half year result in fiscal year 2026 highlighted strong operational progress, with production ramping up and revenue increasing significantly from growing concentrate shipments.

While the long term outlook for lithium demand remains encouraging, the current share price appears to reflect a large portion of the project’s future growth potential.

With earnings still developing and the company transitioning through a capital intensive ramp-up phase, the risk-reward balance at current levels favours taking profits following the sector’s recent re-rating.

The post Are these 3 ASX 200 mining shares a buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The war in Iran has inspired an unexpected ASX 200 market trend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• ASX gold shares down 31% since war began: What should you do?
• ASX mining shares have slumped but long-term outlook is positive
• 5 most traded ASX 200 shares since the war began

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price is in focus after the company announced the withdrawal of its bid for Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM) and received regulatory approval for a $150 million share buy-back.

What did Challenger report?

• Challenger’s joint non-binding proposal to acquire Pepper Money was discontinued after review by Pepper Money’s Independent Board Committee.
• The company has secured all regulatory approvals to commence an on-market buy-back of up to $150 million in ordinary shares.
• No changes reported to Challenger’s core business segments or operational strategy.
• Challenger remains Australia’s largest provider of annuities and operates both Funds Management and APRA-regulated Life divisions.

What else do investors need to know?

Challenger’s bid to acquire Pepper Money, in partnership with Pepper Group ANZ HoldCo Limited, will not go ahead. This follows the Independent Board Committee of Pepper Money finding the offer is not reasonably capable of execution.

In a separate development, Challenger has now obtained all necessary regulatory approvals to proceed with an on-market share buy-back of up to $150 million. This move may support shareholder returns and potentially bolster confidence in the Challenger share price.

What’s next for Challenger?

With the Pepper Money proposal off the table, Challenger is shifting its attention back to core operations and capital management. The announced $150 million buy-back signals the company’s commitment to prudent capital deployment and shareholder returns.

Investors will be watching for further updates on Challenger’s funds management and annuities business, as well as any new growth opportunities or capital allocation decisions.

Challenger share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Challenger shares have risen 33%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Challenger share price: Pepper Money bid dropped, $150m buy-back greenlit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Tuas half-year result: profit leaps as revenue and subscribers grow
• Region Group extends $100m securities buy-back – earnings update
• The war in Iran has inspired an unexpected ASX 200 market trend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 5 most traded ASX 200 shares since the war began

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 recommended Challenger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) share price is in focus today after the telco reported half-year revenue up 26% to S$91.9 million and net profit after tax jumping 173% to S$8.2 million.

What did Tuas report?

• Revenue: S$91.9 million, up 26% from S$73.2 million a year earlier
• Statutory profit after tax: S$8.2 million, up 173% from S$3.0 million
• Underlying EBITDA: S$42.1 million, up 27%, excluding non-recurring acquisition costs
• Basic earnings per share: 1.53 cents, up from 0.65 cents
• No interim dividend declared
• Net tangible assets per share: S$1.30, up from S$0.70

What else do investors need to know?

Tuas continued to generate strong positive net cash flow, with cash and term deposits rising to S$478 million at 31 January 2026, boosted by a S$364.5 million equity raising to support Tuas’ proposed acquisition of M1.

Simba, its main Singapore subsidiary, grew monthly paid mobile active services to around 1.41 million, up from 1.25 million at 31 July 2025, while broadband subscribers exceeded 46,000. Simba’s fibre broadband business claimed “Singapore’s Fastest Internet Download” and “Most Reliable Internet Speed” awards from Ookla for the second half of 2025.

Tuas’ results included S$10.5 million in one-off costs related to M1 acquisition activity, and the acquisition remains subject to final regulatory approval.

What did Tuas management say?

Chairman David Teoh said:

This half saw strong growth in both our mobile and broadband businesses, alongside positive net profit and robust cash generation, while the M1 acquisition presents an exciting opportunity for our group.

What’s next for Tuas?

Looking ahead, Tuas is focused on closing the M1 acquisition, which it views as a transformative deal for Simba and the wider Singapore market. Equity funding is in place, but finalisation depends on regulatory approval, expected later in 2026.

Operationally, the company aims to keep expanding its mobile and broadband market share in Singapore, leveraging recent awards and continued 5G network investments.

Tuas share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Tuas shares have declined 5%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Tuas half-year result: profit leaps as revenue and subscribers grow appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Challenger share price: Pepper Money bid dropped, $150m buy-back greenlit
• Region Group extends $100m securities buy-back – earnings update
• The war in Iran has inspired an unexpected ASX 200 market trend
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