Category: Stock Market

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.4% to 8,614.8 points on Thursday.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares with refreshed buy calls this week.

Here are some examples.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $107.34, up 4.3% today.

The ASX 200’s largest healthcare share is having a strong week despite no price-sensitive announcements.

Since last Friday’s close, CSL shares have spiked 9.6% while the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) has lifted just 3.6%.

CSL shares have fallen 63% over two years, but perhaps a turnaround is afoot?

UBS reiterated its buy rating on CSL shares on Tuesday.

However, the broker lowered its target price from $175 to $158.

This still implies potential capital gains of 47% ahead.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $4.35, down 2.9% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 mining share has risen 27%.

Citi reaffirmed its buy rating on South32 shares on Tuesday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $5.40 to $6.10.

This suggests a potential 40% upside ahead.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $10.97, down 3.1%.

This ASX 200 travel share has fallen 26% over six months.

But UBS is confident of a turnaround, reiterating its buy rating this week.

The broker has a $14.50 target on the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share.

This suggests a 32% upside from here.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price is $34.02, down 1.6% today.

This ASX 200 bank share has fallen 5.3% over the past month.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on ANZ shares with a price target of $39.25 on Tuesday.

This implies potential capital gains of 15% ahead.

GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

The GQG Partners share price is $1.46, up 0.3% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 financial share has fallen 17%.

Morgans renewed its accumulate rating on GQG Partners shares yesterday.

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $2.03 to $1.64.

This suggests a potential 12% upside ahead.

Morgans commented:

While the near-term operating environment remains difficult, we continue to see long-term value in the GQG franchise, trading at ~9x FY1 PE with a ~10% dividend yield.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is $21.21, down 1.6% today.

Over the past month, this ASX tech share has recovered 5.6%.

Life360 has lost 33% of its valuation over the past 12 months.

Citi reaffirmed its buy rating on Life360 shares on Tuesday.

The broker modified its target from $32.10 to $28.25, suggesting a potential 33% increase from here.

SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)

The SRG Global share price is $3.69, down 3.5% today.

This ASX 200 industrials share has ascended 32% over six months.

Morgans renewed its buy call on SRG Global shares this week.

The broker also lifted its target price from $3.20 to $4.20.

This implies potential capital growth of 13% over the next year.

Morgans said:

SRG has upgraded FY26 EBITDA guidance to the upper end of its $164-168m range (~$168m) and, unusually early, provided FY27 EBITDA guidance of $190-200m. This underlines the group’s strong earnings visibility, which is arguably unparalleled in the services sector.

We forecast SRG reaches net cash in FY26 and, on that basis, expect it to resume acquisitions. We believe SRG may be able to continue to compound +20-30% EPS growth over the next few years as robust organic growth is supplemented by strategic acquisitive growth. 

Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)

The Centuria Capital share price is $2.02, up 2.5% today and down 4.3% over six months.

Centuria Capital Group is a funds manager specialising in property investment and investment bonds.

Morgan Stanley renewed its buy rating on this ASX 200 real estate share on Tuesday.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $2.05 to $2.35.

This suggests a potential 16% upside ahead.

The post 8 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• NAB and ANZ shares: One I’d hold and one I’d sell
• Morgans says these ASX shares could deliver 23% to 60% returns
• How much does UBS think CSL will bounce back?
• Hedge funds are shorting the big four bank shares. Should investors be worried?
• 3 ASX growth shares I’d buy to build long-term wealth

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 positions in and has recommended CSL and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Flight Centre Travel Group, Gqg Partners, and Srg Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares are having another strong session on Thursday.

At the time of writing, the QBE share price is up 4.61% to $24.50.

Earlier today, the ASX 200 financial share climbed as high as $24.57. That’s its highest level in more than a decade, last seen during the post-GFC recovery period in December 2009.

The move adds to what has already been a solid year for QBE shareholders. The stock is now up more than 20% in 2026.

So, what is driving the rally, and should investors still be interested after such a big run?

Why QBE shares are rising

QBE has been getting support from a stronger insurance earnings backdrop and higher premiums in its latest full-year numbers.

The company reported statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of US$2.16 billion for FY 2025, up from US$1.78 billion a year earlier. Adjusted NPAT also rose to US$2.13 billion, while adjusted return on equity (ROE) came in at 19.8%.

Its combined operating ratio improved to 91.9%, from 93.1% in the prior year, pointing to a better underwriting result and tighter control of claims and costs.

QBE also lifted its full-year dividend to $1.09 per share, which was 25% higher than the prior year.

Based on the current share price, the stock is still offering a dividend yield of about 4.5%.

QBE holds its guidance

The more recent first-quarter update gave investors another reason to stay positive.

QBE said gross written premium growth was 11% compared with the prior corresponding period, or 7% on a constant currency basis.

The company also maintained its FY 2026 outlook, pointing to mid-single-digit gross written premium growth and a group combined operating ratio of around 92.5%.

That suggests management still expects the business to remain profitable. This is despite premium growth potentially slowing from the very strong figures seen across the industry in recent years.

Is it too late to buy?

QBE is in much better shape than it was a few years ago. Earnings have improved, the dividend has been lifted, and the first-quarter update showed the business has started 2026 well.

But investors are no longer buying the stock at a cheap-looking price. After a move to a decade-high, much of the good news is already reflected in the share price.

There are also risks to watch. UBS has previously raised concerns about a softer insurance pricing backdrop heading into 2027, particularly if premium rate growth loses pace more quickly than expected.

After today’s push to decade highs, I’d be inclined to wait for a better entry point rather than chase the rally.

The post QBE shares just hit a decade high. Is it too late to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• UBS sounds the alarm on this ASX 200 financial stock after a big 2026 run
• Why rising insurance premiums could make these 2 ASX insurers very attractive right now
• Are Telstra and these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after hitting new yearly highs?

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.

ASX bank stocks are being smashed again on Thursday.

At the time of writing, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are down around 2% and changing hands at $33.96. The banking giant’s shares are now down 17% from an all-time high recorded in mid-February, and 7% lower for the year to date.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are also down around 2% today, and trading at $35.69 at the time of writing. NAB shares are now down over 27% from an all-time high in late February and are around 16% lower for the year to date.

Many ASX 200 bank shares have slumped recently as concerns around the Federal Budget’s property tax changes, higher interest rates, disappointing quarterly updates, and ongoing global volatility continue to spook investors. And many are rushing to sell up their holdings.

But when it comes to two of the big four banks, ANZ and NAB, there is one I’d sell and one I’d hold onto.

Here’s why.

I’d hold ANZ shares

ANZ was one of the few banking giants that actually posted a positive first-half FY26 update last month.

In early May, ANZ reported a 70% jump in its cash profit for the first half of FY26. Statutory profit was also up 62%, operating income was up 3%, and the bank’s operating expenses were 22% lower.

The bank also confirmed it has now achieved 49% of its gross cost-savings target of $800 million for FY26.

It’s clear that the bank has been working hard to reduce costs and simplify its operations, and its results last month suggest all its efforts have paid off. 

If profit continues to grow, there could be a glimmer of hope ahead for ANZ shares over the next 12 months.

Brokers look to have become more positive on the stock, too.

TradingView data shows that half of its analysts (eight out of 16) have a hold rating on ANZ shares, but another six have a buy or strong buy rating. 

The average $34.98 target price implies a potential 3% upside at the time of writing. But more bullish analysts think ANZ shares could climb 19% to a maximum target price of $40.50 over the next 12 months.

Citi is one of the more bullish brokers. The team has a buy rating on ANZ shares and a $40 price target.

UBS is slightly more bearish and rates ANZ shares as a hold. But its $36.50 price target is still higher than the average.

I’d sell NAB shares

NAB was one of the worst performers among the big four major banks last month. Its disappointing half-year FY26 results didn’t help. 

In early May, the bank posted a modest earnings growth, including a 6.4% increase in underlying profit and a 3.1% increase in revenue. But the results were a miss versus expectations, and investors weren’t pleased.

Unlike ANZ, NAB’s outlook is much less positive. The bank is facing continued headwinds over the next 12 months, including margin pressure and slower profit growth.

Weaker sentiment is shown in analyst outlooks, too.

TradingView data shows that 10 of 16 analysts have a hold rating on NAB shares. Another four rate the banking giant as a sell. 

The average $37.53 target price currently implies a potential 5% upside at the time of writing. Although some think the shares could fall up to 19% to $29 each in the next 12 months.

Mark Gardner from MPC Markets said his team is bearish on NAB shares. He said they believe the bank’s near-term earnings outlook is under pressure. The broker recently said that while its dividend remains attractive, valuation support is less convincing if earnings momentum continues softening. Gardner has a sell recommendation on NAB shares.

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans also has a sell recommendation on NAB shares. He said that recent changes announced in the Federal budget, coupled with households pressured by rising interest rates, could create new headwinds for the bank.

The post NAB and ANZ shares: One I’d hold and one I’d sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 8 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on NAB and Westpac shares
• Hedge funds are shorting the big four bank shares. Should investors be worried?
• What are the big 4 banks worth as the housing market falters?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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.

If I had $2,000 to invest in blue-chip ASX shares, my focus would be on businesses that can remain useful in different economic conditions.

With that in mind, these are three ASX shares I would consider buying this month.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA is the first blue-chip ASX share I would consider.

This bank stock regularly trades at a premium to the other major banks, so investors need to be comfortable paying up for quality.

But I think CBA justifies its valuation. What stands out to me is how deeply embedded it is in Australian financial life. It is not just a mortgage lender. It touches transaction accounts, deposits, credit cards, business banking, home loans, merchant services, apps, payments, and financial tools.

That breadth gives it a very strong view of the customer. In banking, that can be a major advantage. Customer relationships, data, funding strength, and trust are all useful when competition is intense. CBA’s digital capability also helps keep customers engaged in ways that go beyond a branch network.

There are risks to consider. Bad debts could increase if higher interest rates put more pressure on borrowers, margins can move around, and regulation is always part of the banking sector. But I think CBA is one of the highest-quality financial institutions in the world and well-placed to handle these risks.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Woolworths is the second ASX share I would consider buying.

I like Woolworths because it operates in one of the most repeatable spending categories in the economy.

Households can delay many purchases when budgets are tight. But groceries remain part of the weekly routine. That gives Woolworths a defensive quality that can be useful in a portfolio.

The company is also more than a collection of supermarkets. Its scale gives it purchasing power, supply chain reach, data, loyalty benefits, and the ability to invest in online shopping, store formats, and customer convenience.

I think that is important. Supermarket retailing looks simple from the outside, but execution is demanding. Customers notice prices, freshness, availability, checkout experience, delivery reliability, and promotions. Small differences can influence where they shop.

Woolworths needs to keep working hard on value, service, and trust. Competition from Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Aldi, Costco, and other retailers remains real.

Even so, I think this is the type of blue-chip share that can provide stability when other parts of the market are more volatile.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman is the third blue-chip ASX share I would consider.

It is often grouped with property companies, but I think that label understates what makes the business interesting.

Goodman owns, develops, and manages industrial property in important global locations. These assets sit close to supply chains, consumers, cities, transport routes, and major economic hubs.

That alone is attractive. Modern businesses need efficient logistics space, and good locations can be hard to replace.

But Goodman’s opportunity has also expanded as data centre demand has grown. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming, cybersecurity, and enterprise software all need physical infrastructure behind them.

Goodman is one of the ASX companies positioned to benefit from that shift.

What I like most is the mix of property discipline and technology-driven demand. This is not just a story about warehouses. It is about land, power, customer relationships, development capability, and the ability to allocate capital into areas where demand is strong.

Foolish takeaway

A $2,000 investment does not need to chase the most speculative opportunity on the market. I think it can make sense to put money into businesses that already have scale, strong customer positions, and reasons to remain important over the next decade.

For investors looking for blue-chip ASX shares, I think these three are worth considering.

The post Why I’d put $2,000 into CBA and these blue-chip ASX shares this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Time to cash out? Why this expert is bearish on Goodman and BHP shares
• How I’d aim to build $10,000 a year in passive income from ASX shares
• Hedge funds are shorting the big four bank shares. Should investors be worried?
• What are the big 4 banks worth as the housing market falters?
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Westpac and CBA shares

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Costco Wholesale and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. 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 0.5% as the ceasefire in the Middle East appears to unravel.

The ongoing global oil supply shortage continues to impact many Western economies, threatening higher inflation and interest rates.

Amid much volatility, ASX 200 shares are now 1.6% lower in 2026.

This week, brokers reduced their ratings and 12-month price targets on several ASX stocks.

Let’s take a look.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA share price is $147.61, down 1.2% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 communications share has fallen 21%.

UBS downgraded REA shares to a hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $213 to $165.

This implies a potential 11% upside ahead.

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

The Champion Iron share price is $3.94, down 0.3% today.

This ASX 200 iron ore share has fallen 11% over the past five days.

This was due to a significant ramp-up in production at the giant Simandou mine in Africa.

Fears of oversupply amid weakening demand from China have seen the iron ore price fall 9% in a month.

BMO Capital downgraded Champion Iron shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $5.60 to $4.58.

This suggests a potential 16% upside ahead.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price is $31.32, down 1.6% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 tech share has risen 13%.

Bell Potter downgraded TechnologyOne shares to a hold rating yesterday.

But the broker increased its price target from $32.35 to $34.25.

This still implies a potential near-10% upside ahead.

The broker said:

Our updated TP of $34.25 is <15% premium to the share price so we downgrade our recommendation to HOLD.

We now see the stock as reasonable value on FY26 and FY27 PE ratios of 66x and 55x respectively.

We do see Technology One as one of if not the best quality large cap SaaS company on the ASX but we note it is already trading at almost double the FY26 and FY27 PE ratios of WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) on 35x and 28x.

We also see a lack of catalysts for Technology One in the near term as the company does not tend to announce individual contract wins – though some are posted on the website – and we do not expect any change in the FY26 guidance.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

The Nickel Industries share price is 93 cents, down 3.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has fallen 16%.

Jefferies downgraded Nickel Industries shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $1.20 to $1.

This indicates possible capital gains of 8% over the next year. 

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price is $18.59, up 3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 tech share has ripped 90% higher.

Morgans downgraded Megaport shares from a buy to accumulate rating this week.

The broker was moved to do so largely due to a 90% surge in the share price over the past month.

Morgans also lifted its 12-month target price from $15.50 to $21.

This suggests a potential 13% upside ahead.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX tech shares I’d buy that aren’t Xero or WiseTech
• If you invested $10,000 in Megaport shares in April, here’s how much you’d have now
• Megaport launches retail entitlement offer after $827 million capital raise
• Why WiseTech Global shares could rise 90% in a year
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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 positions in and has recommended Jefferies Financial Group, Megaport, Technology One, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) are two of the most popular ASX tech shares, and for good reason.

But they are not the only technology companies on the Australian share market with strong growth prospects.

I think investors looking beyond the usual large-cap software names have some compelling options. Two ASX tech shares I would consider buying are named in this article.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport is one ASX tech share I think deserves attention.

The company helps businesses connect to cloud providers, data centres, and network services through its software-defined network. In simple terms, it lets customers turn connectivity on and off, scale capacity, and link different digital environments without relying only on older, fixed network arrangements.

I think that is becoming more valuable as companies spread their workloads across multiple clouds, data centres, and regions.

A business might use Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, private infrastructure, and specialist providers at the same time. That creates a messy connectivity problem. Megaport’s role is to make those connections faster, more flexible, and easier to manage.

The company has also added another chapter to its story through the acquisition of Latitude.sh. That move gives Megaport exposure to compute and storage, not just network connectivity. It also opens the door to more involvement in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance workloads, where customers may need fast access to GPUs, CPUs, storage, and reliable network capacity.

I like that because the digital infrastructure market is no longer just about owning the physical data centre. It is also about how customers move data, access compute, and manage workloads across different locations.

Megaport still has execution risk. It needs to prove that the expanded model can produce stronger growth and better returns. But I think the company sits in an important part of the cloud and AI ecosystem that can be easy to overlook.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult Sports is another ASX tech share I would buy.

The company provides performance technology used by elite sporting teams. Its products help teams track athlete workloads, analyse movement, review video, manage training, and make better decisions about performance and preparation.

I think what makes Catapult particularly interesting is that sport is becoming more analytical every year. Coaches are no longer relying only on instinct and experience. They want data that can help them understand fatigue, speed, effort, tactical patterns, injury risk, and player development. The best teams are looking for marginal gains everywhere, and technology is becoming a bigger part of that process.

Catapult is well positioned because its products can become embedded in how teams operate. If a club uses the platform across training, games, coaching, medical staff, and performance analysis, it can become part of the daily workflow. That creates stickiness. It also gives Catapult the chance to sell more solutions to existing customers over time.

I also like the global nature of the opportunity. The business is not limited to one sport or one country. It can serve football codes, basketball, baseball, soccer, rugby, and other professional and college markets.

There are still challenges to watch. Sports teams can be demanding customers, and the company needs to keep innovating to stay ahead. But Catapult has moved beyond being a niche wearable technology idea. I think it is becoming a more complete sports intelligence platform.

Foolish takeaway

Xero and WiseTech may get plenty of attention, but the ASX technology sector has more depth than those two names.

Megaport gives investors exposure to the connectivity layer behind cloud, data centre, and AI workloads, while Catapult gives exposure to the rising use of data and software in professional sport.

If they keep executing successfully, I think they could become much larger businesses over the next decade.

The post 2 ASX tech shares I’d buy that aren’t Xero or WiseTech appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week
• If you invested $10,000 in Megaport shares in April, here’s how much you’d have now
• Megaport launches retail entitlement offer after $827 million capital raise
• Why WiseTech Global shares could rise 90% in a year
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Alphabet, Amazon, Catapult Sports, Megaport, Microsoft, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s pretty hard to find the big dividends that we used to see on the ASX these days. ASX income stock heavyweights like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) don’t sport the yields that they once did.

There are still decent yields to be found, of course. But many of these hail from the more volatile end of the market. Miners and energy stocks can pay out big for investors, but they are also highly cyclical and therefore rather unreliable dividend shares.

However, if you are looking for your next ASX income stock, there’s a name that I think merits a look from any dividend-hungry investor today. It is Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8).

Plato is a listed investment company (LIC), meaning it owns and manages a portfolio of underlying investments on behalf of its shareholders. This portfolio consists of many ASX income stocks. At the latest count, it included all of the shares mentioned above, as well as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), and many more.

An ASX income stock with a lot to show

Plato collects the income these stocks pay out and passes it on to its shareholders through dividend payments. This Plato does monthly, which many income investors will no doubt find incredibly useful.

The ASX income stock has doled out 12 dividends over the past year, each worth 0.55 cents per share. At the current Plato share price of $1.39 (at the time of writing), this ASX income stock has a trailing dividend yield of 4.75%.

Many income-focused investments have a tendency to sacrifice overall returns for a higher upfront yield. But this is not a trap Plato falls into, at least yet. As of 30 April, Plato has delivered an overall return (share price growth plus dividends) worth 9.9% per annum since its inception in 2017. That’s slightly above the 9.8% that the broader market has delivered over the same period.

Fortunately, Plato’s dividends tend to come with full-franking credits attached too. This combination of monthly dividends, a relatively large starting yield, and those full-franking credits makes Plato a formidable ASX income stock. As such, I think it’s well worthy of consideration for anyone searching for yield today.

The post This ASX income stock has a 4.75% yield and pays out monthly appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Plato Income Maximiser. 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. 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.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) has announced it will spin out certain assets into a new gold-focused company called Axiant Resources.

New public offer on the way

The company said in a statement to the ASX that the new company would hold exploration assets in the Northern Territory and South Australia, and a new public offer of shares would be launched to fund the company.

Core said further:

A prospectus for the issue of Shares to fund working capital and acquisition costs for the Assets is expected to be lodged with ASIC next month. Axiant is targeting a listing in July or August 2026, subject to market conditions and the satisfaction of ASX listing requirements.  

Core Lithium’s Chair Greg English will retire from his role, and take up the chair role at the new company.

The company said regarding Mr English:

His tenure marks a highly successful 16 year term at Core as Chair, overseeing early exploration initiatives and in 2021, the commencement of open pit mining and ore processing at Core’s Finniss project. More recently, he has supported Core’s recent re-start study for the recommencement of open-pit mining and the development of underground mining of the BP33 deposit at Finniss, and the completion of a $307m funding package, announced on 18 March 2026. Under Greg’s leadership, Core has grown from a micro-cap South Australian based exploration company into Australia’s newest Lithium producer with the recommencement of mining announced on 20 May 2026.

Current non-Executive Director Malcolm McComas will take over as the Chair of Core Lithium.

Mr English said he was proud to leave the company in a strong position.

He added:

The new team, the assets and the outstanding growth opportunity reflects improved commodity prices for spodumene, and also the strength of our new financial partners. So, after many years of rewarding challenges, I have decided to step down.

Stockpile driving cash flow

Core Lithium earlier this week announced the second sale of lithium fines from its Finniss mine, following an initial sale in April.

The company said total revenue from lithium sales this year was about $28.5 million.

The company added:

The transaction represents the second sale from the Finniss lithium fines stockpile, following Core’s April 2026 announcement of an initial 20kt sale to Glencore. The sale represents a further step in Core’s strategy to monetise existing stockpiled material and generate cash flow while mining, processing and development activities at Finniss progress.

The company said it continued to explore pathways to sell its remaining stockpile of 30,000 tonnes of fines.

Core Lithium shares were 1% lower at 23.75 cents on Thursday, but are up 161% over a year.

The post What’s Core Lithium’s big news today? 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.

Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) shares are under pressure on Thursday as investors react to the company’s latest update.

At the time of writing, the Alcoa share price is down a sizeable 7.86% to $94.39.

That adds to a difficult week for the stock. Alcoa shares are now down almost 20% over the past 5 trading days.

But zoom out, and the stock is still sitting on a huge 12-month gain. Alcoa remains up 114% over the past year, so today’s fall is testing investor confidence after a very strong run.

So, what has spooked the market today?

Earnings hit from WA plant issues

According to The Australian, Alcoa has flagged “expected sequential impacts” to second quarter earnings, largely due to ongoing problems at its Pinjarra facility in Western Australia.

The company expects alumina segment performance to be unfavourable by about US$60 million. This includes about US$30 million of higher production costs at the Pinjarra refinery following disruption caused by Cyclone Narelle.

In addition, Alcoa is facing about US$20 million of higher energy costs, mainly from fuel oil and diesel linked to the Middle East conflict.

Lower price and volume impacts from bauxite offtake agreements are expected to add another US$10 million hit.

On top of that, third-party shipments are expected to be 120,000 tonnes lower in the second quarter because of the issues at Pinjarra.

Altogether, that adds about US$45 million to the earnings headwind compared with Alcoa’s previous outlook.

Aluminium price pulls back

The timing of the update isn’t helping either, with aluminium prices also easing after hitting a multi-year high.

According to Trading Economics, aluminium futures in the UK recently fell below US$3,500 per tonne, their lowest level in a month.

The price was around US$3,475.50 per tonne, down 1.43%. That leaves aluminium down about 2.9% over the past month, but up almost 40% since this time last year.

The pullback has been linked to demand concerns, higher US interest rates, and rising oil prices as tensions in the Middle East escalated.

Has the rally gone too far?

After a 114% gain in 12 months, expectations were already high.

Today’s update does not change the fact Alcoa is still a major aluminium producer. But it does make the recent rally harder to justify.

Higher costs, lower shipments, and a softer aluminium price are not what investors want to see after such a big share price run.

This may leave some investors waiting for a better update before getting more confident on the stock.

The post Why this ASX 200 stock is crashing after doubling in a year 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) shares — dominated by Australian miners — are 10% higher in 2026.

This compares to a 1.6% decline for the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in the calendar year to date (YTD).

The ASX 200 materials sector rose by 32% last year, largely due to soaring share prices for mining companies. 

This year, ASX mining shares have fluctuated due to a metals sell-off in late January and today’s continuing global oil shock.

The long-term picture is that Australia is in the midst of a new mining boom powered by a new commodities super cycle.

If you’re looking for investment opportunities, here are 2 ASX mining shares recommended by experts this week.

Maronan Metals Ltd (ASX: MMA)

The Maronan Metals share price is 37 cents, up 2.8% today and down 15% YTD.

The company is developing the Maronan silver-lead and copper-gold deposit in the Cloncurry region of northwest Queensland.

The mine is one of Australia’s largest undeveloped silver-lead-copper and gold deposits.

On The Bull this week, Tony Locantro from Alto Capital has a speculative buy rating on this ASX mining share. 

Locantro explains: 

The company recently secured about $22 million in strategic funding, strengthening its balance sheet and supporting an expanded drilling program. A second drill rig has now been deployed to accelerate resource growth and improve confidence in the starter zone.

The recent separation from Red Metal Ltd (ASX: RDM) has also simplified the investment case and increased market visibility.

While development stage projects carry funding and execution risk, the combination of a high quality resource, strong financial backing and upcoming catalysts support a speculative buy recommendation.

Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

The Deterra Royalties share price is $4.35, down 0.1% today and up 5.2% YTD. 

Deterra has a portfolio of 14 royalties and royalty-like offtake assets in 7 countries.

It is invested in iron ore, lithium, mineral sands, copper, molybdenum, and gold.

Mining royalties are agreements in which a third party provides financing to a miner in exchange for a portion of future revenues or production.

One of Deterra’s royalty assets is Mining Area C (MAC) in the Pilbara, owned by BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Investing in Deterra Royalties is an alternative to directly buying ASX mining shares.

Damien Nguyen from Morgans recommends buying Deterra Royalties shares.

Here’s why:

DRR’s royalty structure provides highly leveraged, low cost exposure to iron ore volumes with no operational risk, capital expenditure, or direct commodity price hedging.

As production ramps up further at Mining Area C (MAC) and BHP Group continues to invest in expanding capacity, Deterra’s royalty stream is set to grow over the medium term.

The balance sheet is conservatively managed, and the company has a strong track record of returning capital to shareholders through fully franked dividends.

The market appears to be discounting near term iron ore price softness more heavily than the long term volume growth story warrants.

We see the recent share price as an attractive entry point.

The post 2 ASX mining shares to buy: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.