Category: Stock Market

If you are looking for big potential returns to supercharge your portfolio, then it could be worth considering the ASX 200 share in this article.

That’s because Bell Potter believes it could rise 90% over the next 12 months.

Which ASX 200 share?

The share that Bell Potter is tipping as a speculative buy is Iperionx Ltd (ASX: IPX).

It is a titanium production technologies company aiming to commercialise novel products that have the potential to disrupt the current global titanium supply chain.

Its HAMR (Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction) product converts titanium scrap or minerals into high spec titanium powders.

Meanwhile, IperionX’s HSPT (Hydrogen Sintering & Phase Transformation) product converts titanium powders to high-end titanium components.

Bell Potter notes that these technologies have materially lower production costs than incumbent forms of titanium production through lower energy consumption, reduced waste, and lower carbon emissions.

Why is the broker bullish?

Bell Potter is feeling optimistic ahead of the release of a definitive feasibility study for the Titan Critical Minerals Project in the coming months. It said:

Commercial engagements with several aerospace, defence, automotive and consumer electronics counterparties are ongoing, with prototyping and qualification ahead of initial production contracts expected this year. In mid-2026, IPX will release a Definitive Feasibility Study for the Titan Critical Minerals Project (Tennessee), with potential government funding negotiations ongoing. Initial commercial development of a previously piloted continuous titanium powder process is underway, with potential to materially lift production and lower unit costs on the current installed batch process.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating and $8.25 price target on the ASX 200 share.

Based on its current share price of $4.27, this implies potential upside of 93% for investors over the next 12 months.

However, its speculative rating means this would only be suitable for investors with a high tolerance for risk.

Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

IPX has the potential to disrupt the incumbent titanium supply chain through materially lowering production costs and manufacturing waste. The company will incrementally expand capacity and progress commercial relationships with aerospace, automotive, luxury goods and government end users. IPX will benefit from increased defence sector spending and with its focus on domestic US manufacturing. Our valuation is now $8.25/sh (previously $9.25/sh), the reduction mostly driven by increased project risking ahead of firm commercial contracts.

The post Guess which ASX 200 share could rise 90% according to Bell Potter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why this $1.5 billion ASX stock is jumping 6% today
• IperionX ramps up 24/7 titanium production in March 2026 quarterly update
• Why is this temperamental ASX stock surging 11% 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.

The Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) share price is in focus today after the company reported major progress across its uranium project portfolio, with engineering at its flagship Tumas Project in Namibia now 68% complete and a strong cash balance of A$171.6 million at quarter end.

What did Deep Yellow report?

• Detailed engineering for the Tumas Project reached 68% completion, and bulk earthworks are now 91% done.
• The company finished tendering 79% of major process plant equipment packages at Tumas, advancing procurement readiness.
• Group cash balance stood at A$171.6 million as of 31 March 2026.
• A total of A$11.9 million was invested in project development and A$2.5 million in exploration during the quarter.
• Exploration drilling at the Tinkas Prospect completed 133 holes, underpinning regional growth potential.

What else do investors need to know?

During the quarter, Deep Yellow achieved several construction milestones at Tumas as it moves closer to making a final investment decision. The project’s key schedules and cost estimates are being actively updated as more data comes in, helping de-risk the path to development.

The company continued trade-off studies at Western Australia’s Mulga Rock Project, with new pilot test work confirming key mineral recoveries and lowering anticipated costs. At the Northern Territory’s Alligator River Project, recent seismic surveys have helped define priority drill targets for the next exploration season.

On the corporate front, Deep Yellow welcomed Greg Field as its new Managing Director and CEO, and appointed both a Chief Legal Officer and Head of Strategy to support its transition toward uranium production. The company made no mining production sales during the quarter.

What did Deep Yellow management say?

Managing Director/CEO Greg Field said:

Deep Yellow entered the March 2026 quarter with clear momentum across the business, underpinned by continued advancement of our flagship Tumas development project and a disciplined focus on creating long-term shareholder value. … Beyond Tumas, our broader portfolio continues to provide meaningful strategic leverage through exploration upside and development optionality across tier-one jurisdictions. With a strong balance sheet, an experienced leadership team and a high-quality asset base, Deep Yellow is well positioned to capture value through the next phase of the uranium cycle.

What’s next for Deep Yellow?

The company’s focus remains on readying Tumas for a final investment decision, completing outstanding engineering and early works, and progressing project financing. At Mulga Rock, the feasibility study and process optimisation are ongoing, with updated resource modelling due soon.

Looking forward, Deep Yellow’s exploration portfolio and firm financial footing put it in a strong position to benefit from ongoing improvements in uranium market fundamentals, including increasing long-term contract prices and demand for nuclear energy. Management has flagged that execution will continue to be disciplined, with an eye to both strategy and market timing.

Deep Yellow share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Deep Yellow shares have risen 90%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Deep Yellow provies March quarter update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• IperionX ramps up 24/7 titanium production in March 2026 quarterly update
• Atlas Arteria receives a takeover offer
• Generation Development Group reports cyber incident

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 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. 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.

Bank shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) have long been a go-to option for income on the ASX. Their scale, profitability, and dividend history make them a natural starting point.

But they are looking expensive after strong runs over the past 12 months.

The good news is that they are not the only option. There are other parts of the market that can provide income, often with different drivers and risk profiles.

Here are three ASX income ideas outside the banking sector.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first ASX income share to look at is APA Group.

APA owns and operates energy infrastructure, including gas pipelines and storage assets. These assets generate revenue through long-term contracts, which can provide a steady and predictable income stream.

Because its earnings are tied to infrastructure usage rather than commodity prices, the business tends to be less volatile than many energy producers.

This structure supports consistent cash flow, which underpins its distributions to investors.

With contracted revenue and a focus on essential infrastructure, APA offers exposure to income that is driven by long-term agreements rather than short-term market conditions.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Another ASX income share worth considering ahead of the big four banks is Transurban.

It operates toll roads across Australia and North America. Its revenue is linked to traffic volumes and toll pricing, creating a different type of income stream.

As populations grow and urbanisation continues, demand for transport infrastructure tends to increase. This can support long-term growth in traffic across its network.

The company also benefits from inflation-linked pricing in many of its concessions, which can help protect revenue over time.

With a portfolio of long-life assets and predictable cash flows, Transurban provides income exposure tied to infrastructure usage and population growth.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

A third ASX income share that offers income outside the banks is Telstra.

It operates Australia’s largest telecommunications network, providing mobile, broadband, and enterprise services.

Following the successes of its T22 and T25 strategies, and its ongoing Connected Future 30 strategy, Telstra appears to be in a strong position to continue growing its earnings at a steady rate over the medium term.

This bodes well for dividend growth over the coming years, which could make it a good pick for income investors.

With defensive earnings from essential services and a strong position in a rational market, Telstra is arguably a great alternative to the big four banks.

The post 3 top ASX income ideas beyond CBA and the big four banks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Telstra shares a good deal at $5.32?
• If I had to build a simple ASX portfolio today, this is what I’d do
• Want to build up a second income? These 2 top ASX shares are a buy
• 2 great ASX 200 blue-chip shares I’d buy right now
• The Warren Buffett rule I keep coming back to with 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 positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Telstra Group, and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are not many businesses I’d describe as being as one of Australia’s top shares. Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) is one stock that I think seems very underrated by the market.

Pinnacle says that it’s growing a diverse family of world-class investment managers (affiliates). Along with holding stakes in these affiliates, it also provides services like seed funding, global institutional and retail distribution, and industrial grade middle office and infrastructure services. 

The company says that by providing affiliates with superior non-investment services, it enables them to focus on delivering “investment excellence” to their clients.

Great portfolio of fund managers

Pinnacle has built a portfolio of a number of great managers, including Advantage Partners, Aikya, Antipodes, Coolabah, Firetrail, Five V Capital, Hyperion, Langdon, Life Cycle, LongWave, Metrics, Pacific Asset Management, Palisade, Plato, Resolution Capital, Riparian, Solaris, Spheria and VSS.

I like how the business is looking to deliver growth in a number of ways including new affiliates, strategies, channels and geographies, providing new levers for expansion.

If Pinnacle is willing to continue investing in fund managers based in other markets, then it has a very large addressable market to find new opportunities, making it one of Australia’s top shares in my view.

The business also noted that international distribution is becoming a “strong growth engine following [an] organic, multi-year build-out of global investor networks, strategies and infrastructure”.

Strong growth

The company’s potential is coming through in the numbers that it’s reporting, with both the underlying profit and the strength of the funds under management (FUM) growth.

The latest the market heard was the FY26 half-year result.

In that report, the company revealed record net inflows of $17.2 billion, including domestic retail net inflows of $6.8 billion, domestic institutional net inflows of $7 billion and international net inflows of $3.4 billion.

It also said that total affiliate FUM reached $202.5 billion at 31 December 2025, which represented 13% (or $23.1 billion) growth from June 2025.

Not only is the business’ affiliates attracting new client money at a strong pace, but they’re also growing the FUM balance thanks to the investment performance of the funds.

Pinnacle noted that the affiliates are largely delivering continued medium-term performance. It said 86% of five-year affiliates have outperformed their respective benchmarks over the five years to 31 December 2025.  

Operating leverage is important for Australia’s top shares

One of the best things about funds management businesses is how much operating leverage they can have. In other words, net profit can grow a lot faster than revenue because costs don’t rise at the same pace.

It doesn’t take 10% more staff and a 10% bigger office to manage 10% more FUM.

In the HY26 result, it reported that net profit before performance fees rose 37% year-over-year. Pinnacle’s share of affiliates’ net profit, excluding performance fees, grew 52%.

In my view, it looks very undervalued to me after falling around 20% in the last six months.

According to the forecast on Commsec, it’s trading at 18x FY27’s estimated earnings.

The post A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX shares that I rate as buys today for both growth and dividends!
• 2 quality ASX 200 shares I’d buy if the market fell another 10%
• 6 ASX All Ords shares elevated to strong buy status after March sell-off
• 3 top ASX dividend share buys for passive income in April
• Three ASX 200 stock picks to consider now, to drive gains as markets and the gold price recover

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

Are you hunting for market-beating returns for your investment portfolio?

If so, it could be worth considering the three ASX 200 shares in this article.

That’s because the team at Morgans has named them as buys and expects outsized returns from their shares.

Here’s what it is recommending to clients:

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Morgans thinks this diversified financial services company’s shares could be great value.

It has a buy rating and $6.16 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $3.66, this implies potential upside of almost 70% over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the company, the broker said:

GDG has provided a 3Q26 quarterly update. This quarterly was something of a familiar story, in our view – the Investment Bond business again delivered ahead of expectations, while Evidentia once again fell short of the mark. We lower our GDG FY26F/FY27F EPS by -4%-11% on more conservative earnings estimates particularly around Evidentia.

Our price target is set at A$6.16 (previously A$6.66). We continue to be attracted to GDG’s exposure to structural growth areas, and its strong competitive positioning in these markets. With GDG trading at a >20% discount to our target price, we maintain our Buy recommendation.

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

Another ASX 200 share that Morgans is bullish on is Newmont.

In response to a strong quarterly update from the gold giant, the broker has put a buy rating and $208.00 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $166.16, this suggests that upside of 25% is possible. It explains:

Strong beat and capital returns increased: NEM delivered a strong beat across multiple operating and financial metrics, while completing its US$6bn buyback and announcing a further US$6bn program. The result reinforces NEM’s positioning as a high-quality, cash-generative gold producer with strong balance sheet flexibility and increasing capacity to return capital to shareholders. Maintain BUY rating with a A$208ps target price.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Lastly, Pro Medicus could be an ASX 200 share to buy according to Morgans.

After adjusting its financial model to be more conservative, the broker has put a buy rating and $210.00 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $138.12, this implies potential upside of 52% for investors over the next 12 months. It commented:

In this note, we deploy a new PME model where we have deliberately set a lower bar. Our remodelled estimates prioritise achievability over optimism, staging implementation revenue conservatively and mark FX to spot. We see this as the right framework for a stock where sentiment has been fragile. On the business operations front, the story remains untarnished. Contract newsflow since February has been exceptional: ~$100m in wins and renewals, all at higher pricing, with cardiology upsell gaining traction.

The demand story is not in question. We re-emphasise our positive long-term conviction on the name although lower our valuation to reflect current but potentially fleeting headwinds. Our target price is reduced to A$210 p/s and we retain our Buy recommendation.

The post These ASX 200 shares could rise 25% to 70% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which beaten down ASX healthcare stock is a better buy right now: Pro Medicus vs Cochlear shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 top ASX 200 gold stocks brokers say are buys now
• How high does Macquarie think Newmont shares will go?
• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Life360, A2 Milk shares

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

It’s not common to find ASX shares that numerous analysts all rate as a buy at the same time. But, there are a few names that are (almost) universally liked by every analyst that has rated the business.

It’s interesting when one expert rates a business as a buy, but when multiple investment professionals say a company is worth owning, it’s a very interesting situation to look at.

Let’s look at two businesses that have extremely positive ratings.

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)

Aussie Broadband describes itself as the fifth largest provider of broadband services in Australia, with long-term growth in the residential segment. The business provides other offerings like data, voice and managed solutions to business, enterprise and government customers. It also provides wholesale services to other telcos and managed service providers.

According to CMC Invest, there have been eight recent analyst ratings on the business, with seven of those being buys. The average price target of all of those ratings is $6.16, which suggests a possible rise of 14% over the next year from where it is at the time of writing.

The ASX share is delivering good growth, which is helping it deliver pleasing financial performance.

In the FY26 half-year result, it reported 13.7% year-over-year growth of broadband connections to 827,683. This helped it deliver revenue growth of 8.4% to $637.8 million, underlying operating profit (EBITDA) grew 13.5% to $74.7 million and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) rose 40.9% to $22.3 million.

The business is expecting to grow its FY26 EBITDA to grow by between 17% to 21%, to between $162 million to $167 million, which is an excellent growth rate, in my view.

According to the projection on CMC Invest, the business is valued at 18x FY27’s estimated earnings.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Universal Store owns a portfolio of premium youth fashion brands. Its main business is Universal Store (trading under the Universal Store and Perfect Stranger retail banners) and CTC (trading under the THRILLS and Worship brands). It has close to 120 stores across Australia.

According to CMC Invest, there have been seven recent analyst ratings on the ASX share, with all of those being buys.

The average price target on Universal Store is $10.45, suggesting a possible rise of more than 40% over the next 12 months.

This business is growing at a rapid pace – in the FY26 half-year result, group sales increased by 14.2% to $209.6 million. Universal Store sales rose 11.9% to $174.8 million and Perfect Stranger sales soared 41.5% to $17.8 million.

Universal Store is expecting to open up to 17 stores in FY26 and it’s pursuing “additional new store opportunities” while “being prudent to ensure long-term profitability.”

According to the projection on CMC Invest, the ASX share is valued at just 12x FY27’s estimated earnings.  

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX dividend shares to buy with 5%+ yields
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income?
• Get paid huge amounts of cash to own these ASX dividend shares!
• 3 ASX shares Bell Potter rates as top buys
• 3 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares have yet to recover from the massive selloff incurred on 28 July.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) uranium stock closed down a very painful 43.8% on the day. That rout came after the miner increased its full year FY 2026 cost guidance and cut its production guidance to 1.6 million pounds of uranium, citing issues with the quality of its feedstock.

Boss Energy had previously been aiming to produce 2.45 million pounds of uranium a year longer term.

Most recently, on Monday, Boss Energy shares closed down 1.9%, trading for $1.58 each.

So, is the ASX 300 uranium stock finally trading for a bargain?

Boss Energy shares: Buy, hold or sell?

Late last week, MPC Markets’ Jonathan Tacadena analysed the outlook for the Aussie uranium miner (courtesy of The Bull).

“Boss is a multi-mine uranium producer,” Tacadena said.

Addressing the miner’s latest FY 2026 production guidance cut, reported at its quarterly results (Q3 FY 2026) release on 15 April, he noted:

Boss has cut production guidance at its Honeymoon operation in South Australia from 1.6 million pounds drummed to between 1.4 million and 1.45 million pounds drummed. Heavy rain had impacted third quarter production in 2026 by restricting site access and limiting the delivery of goods required for production.

But with Boss Energy shares having taken another tumble on the guidance cut, and showing some signs of recovery since, Tacadena believes stockholders would do well to hold onto their shares.

Summarising his hold recommendation, Tacadena said:

The share price fell on the news, but bounced in the following days, indicating the lows may be in for BOE and downside risk is lower for now. Any good news moving forward should reward patient investors.

What’s else happened with ASX 200 uranium stock in Q3?

Amid the inclement weather conditions Tacadena mentioned above, Boss Energy produced 203,000 pounds of uranium in Q3. That was significantly below its prior quarterly guidance of 240,000 pounds to 270,000 pounds.

“We recognise this downgrade is disappointing, particularly after maintaining guidance as recently as March,” Boss Energy managing director Matthew Dusci said of the miner’s reduced full year production guidance.

Dusci added:

At that time, our expectation was that site access and reagent deliveries would normalise during the month. Subsequent unexpected rainfall, combined with the degraded baseline condition of access roads, extended disruption materially beyond that assumption.

This has impacted both production and the timing of commissioning critical infrastructure during ramp-up.

Boss Energy shares closed down 9.3% on 15 April, the day of the quarterly update release.

The post Down 42% in a year, are Boss Energy shares now a bargain buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Should you buy Boss Energy shares for uranium exposure?
• Why Boss Energy, Telix, Woodside, and Yancoal shares are falling today
• Why are Boss Energy shares crashing 14% today?

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.

At The Motley Fool, we focus on core investing principles centred around diversification and a long-term mindset.

This largely focuses on quality, blue-chip companies and diversified ASX ETFs.

However, there is no denying that ASX small-caps can be a profitable allocation in any portfolio. 

So if you are looking to sprinkle an allocation into ASX small-caps with upside potential, these three have drawn positive attention from brokers following their recent results.

Oneview Healthcare PLC (ASX: ONE)

Oneview Healthcare provides interactive patient care

The company’s Care Experience Platform (CXP) is a unified set of digital tools in a single bedside solution that connects patients, families and care teams with services, education, and information during hospital stays.

A recent report from Bell Potter has indicated ASX small-cap could double in value over the next year. 

The company recently released a quarterly report.

Following this, Bell POtter retained its speculative buy recommendation and price target of 45 cents. 

From yesterday’s closing price of 17.5 cents, this indicates a potential upside of 157%. 

Bell Potter did note that while the company expects ~20% growth in live endpoints driven by a strong pipeline, execution risk remains as investors await faster conversion and stronger revenue growth, with valuation unchanged and caution maintained until consistent financial performance is demonstrated.

Despite improving thematics and the need for hospitals to utilise efficiency tools to plug the operating impact of nurse shortages, we remain cautious ahead of more consistent performance on conversion and financial performance.

WRKR Ltd (ASX: WRK)

WRKR is a financial technology company, which engages in the design of innovative overlay capability for banking, wealth management, pensions, and financial services.

It also recently released a quarterly report.

Following the release, Bell Potter reaffirmed buy recommendation, however reduced its share price target to 17.5 cents.

This target is a healthy 57% higher than yesterday’s closing price. 

The broker noted it was impressed with a reported record cash receipts of $4.3m, including payment of $0.9m outstanding invoices and $0.7m PaidRight customer invoices. 

WRK has seen further acceleration in large scale-execution and de-risking. The next quarter is catalyst rich, with transaction revenue expected to scale, balancing investments.

Mach7 Technologies Ltd (ASX: M7T)

This ASX small-cap is a medical imaging systems provider that develops innovative image management and viewing solutions for healthcare organisations.

Last week, it released Q3 FY26 results.

This prompted an unchanged buy recommendation from Morgans, with an updated price target of 44 cents per share. 

The broker noted a lower operating cost base sets the company up well for better operating leverage from FY27.

From yesterday’s closing price of 27.5 cents, this indicates an upside potential of approximately 60%. 

The post 3 ASX small-cap stocks every investor should be monitoring appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX small-cap healthcare stock could rocket more than 50%: Morgans
• After a 22% crash, this ASX 200 stock could be set to rise 74% according to Bell Potter
• Still down 40% over the past year, how high could WiseTech shares recover?
• Morgans just slapped a buy rating on this small-cap ASX share
• Where is opportunity in the ASX real estate sector? Expert

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Mach7 Technologies. 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.

Fortunately for income investors, there are plenty of ASX dividend shares to choose from on the local market.

Three that could be top buys according to analysts are listed below. Here’s what they are recommending to clients and the sort of yields you could expect:

IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH)

The first ASX dividend share that could be a buy according to analysts is IPH.

It is an international intellectual property services group with a diverse client base of Fortune Global 500 companies and other multinationals, public sector research organisations, SMEs, and professional services firms.

Morgans is bullish on the company and has a buy rating and $5.39 price target on its shares.

As for income, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 38 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 39 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $3.59, this would mean generous dividend yields of 10.6% and 10.9%, respectively.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Another ASX dividend share that could be a buy is Rural Funds Group.

It is an agricultural real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns farmland and agricultural infrastructure. Its assets include almond orchards, cattle properties, vineyards, and macadamia farms across Australia.

Bell Potter is a fan of the company and has put a buy rating and $2.50 price target on its shares.

Rural Funds has a long history of paying steady distributions to investors and Bell Potter expects this trend to continue. It is forecasting dividends per share of 11.7 cents in FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.04, this would mean dividend yields of 5.7%.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

A final ASX dividend share to consider buying for its generous yield is Universal Store.

Universal Store is a youth fashion retailer operating across multiple brands. Despite the challenging retail backdrop in recent years, it has continued to generate strong sales and earnings.

The team at Morgans is also positive on this one and sees it as a top pick in the small-cap space.

As a result, it has put a buy rating and $10.60 price target on the company’s shares.

With respect to payouts, Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends of 41 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 46 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $7.34, this would mean dividend yields of 5.6% and 6.25%, respectively.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares to buy with 5%+ yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income?
• Down 40%: These high-yield ASX dividend shares are rated as buys
• 5 ASX dividend shares I’d buy for a second income
• Get paid huge amounts of cash to own these ASX dividend shares!
• I’d buy 22,166 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $50 a week of passive income

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. 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 Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended IPH Ltd and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is one of the most popular ASX-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), giving investors exposure to Australia’s blue-chips along with the solid dividend yield. But, it’s not the first ASX ETF I’d pick for passive income.

There are plenty of quality businesses inside the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), but the biggest positions are mostly ASX mining shares and ASX bank shares. Those businesses are known for their good dividend yields, but not necessarily for delivering strong compounding earnings growth.

For multiple reasons, I’d choose WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ), a fund that invests in international shares. Let’s get into why I think it’s a more appealing option than the VAS ETF.

Better distribution yield

On the passive income side, the WCMQ ETF actually offers a higher level of dividends.

The WCMQ ETF targets a distribution yield of at least 5% each year, which I’d describe as a solid starting point, with growth potential from there.  

The VAS ETF currently has a distribution yield of 3.3%. The VAS ETF yield is still less than 5%, even when franking credits are included.

Due to the strength of the long-term returns of the WCMQ ETF, I’m expecting its distribution to grow at a faster pace than the VAS ETF.

Stronger net returns

As investors, the main thing we want from an investment is returns. The WCMQ ETF has delivered great returns thanks to its investment style of hunting for businesses with expanding economic moats (strengthening competitive advantages).

When a business is pulling further ahead of the competition, it means their ability to generate stronger profits for the foreseeable future has improved. That usually translates into a business being able to achieve stronger profit margins.

Another core element of the WCM investment strategy is that these businesses need to have a corporate culture that is supportive of improving their competitive advantages further.

The WCMQ ETF has returned an average of around 12% per year over the last five years to March 2026, while the VAS ETF has returned an average of 8.5% in the past five years. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns of course, but I think the ASX ETF’s investment strategy can help it continue to outperform.

Since inception in August 2018, the WCMQ ETF has returned an average of 14%. That’s high enough to pay a good distribution yield and deliver solid capital growth.

Global diversification

The final advantage I’ll highlight that the ASX ETF can provide is a portfolio of global shares, while the VAS ETF only provides exposure to ASX shares.

The WCMQ ETF sources ideas from across the world, with stocks coming from the Americas, Europe and Asia.

I also like that the fund provides exposure to a variety of sectors, which helps reduce the risks and gives it more find good opportunities – it’s not just a tech fund. Its biggest four industry allocations are currently IT, industrials, healthcare and financials.

The post I’d buy this high-yield ASX ETF over the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I had to build a simple ASX portfolio today, this is what I’d do
• All-weather ASX ETFs to buy if the market crashes 20%
• Is this ASX ETF the perfect companion to Vanguard’s VAS?
• ASX ETF investors exit US stocks in favour of Aussie shares: Betashares
• 2 high-quality ASX ETFs I’d buy for impressive passive income

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. 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.