Category: Stock Market

On Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week with a decline. The benchmark index fell 0.25% to 8,766.4 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Tuesday following a mixed start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 55 points or 0.6% lower. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 0.1%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.2% higher.

Oil prices charge higher

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices charged higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.35% to US$96.65 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.75% to US$108.23 a barrel. This was driven by the unravelling of US-Iran peace talks.

Buy Iperionx shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Iperionx Ltd (ASX: IPX) shares if they have a high tolerance for risk. This morning, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating on the titanium production technology company’s shares with an $8.25 price target. It 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.”

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares including Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a poor session on Tuesday after the gold price pulled back overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.95% to US$4,695.7 an ounce. This was driven by inflation and rate hike concerns due to high oil prices.

Buy Judo shares

Morgans thinks that Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) shares could be a great option in the banking sector right now. This morning, the broker has upgraded Judo Capital’s shares to a buy rating and is predicting a return of almost 50%. It said: “JDO provided a 3Q26 trading update, which included reaffirming its FY26 earnings guidance range albeit now expected to be at the bottom end of the range given it conservatively topped up its expected loan loss provision. We view JDO’s recent share price weakness as a buying opportunity for a stock with high growth potential, increasing the margin of safety for the investment. Upgrade from ACCUMULATE to BUY. Potential TSR at current prices is c.49%.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 shares Macquarie thinks will return nearly 30%
• 3 ASX shares upgraded by Morgans to buy ratings
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why this $1.5 billion ASX stock is jumping 6% today
• Why Cochlear, Karoon Energy, Origin Energy, and WiseTech shares are falling 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.

There is a different kind of pressure that arrives in your mid-50s.

At 45, retirement can still feel distant. At 50, it starts becoming real. But by 55, the question becomes far more personal.

Have I done enough?

It is not just a question of whether you can retire. It is whether you can retire comfortably, with enough financial breathing room to enjoy the next chapter without constantly worrying about money.

So, could the average Australian 55-year-old comfortably retire in 2026?

The answer is probably not yet. However, that does not mean the opportunity has passed.

What does the average 55-year-old have in super?

According to figures cited by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), the average superannuation balance for men aged 55 to 59 is $319,743. For women in the same age bracket, the average is $242,945.

That puts many Australians in their mid-to-late 50s somewhere around the high-$200,000s to low-$300,000s.

That is a meaningful pool of retirement savings.

It is also a long way short of what ASFA estimates is needed for a comfortable retirement. ASFA’s comfortable retirement standard assumes a good standard of living, including private health insurance, regular leisure activities, occasional meals out, a reasonable car, some domestic travel, and the ability to handle home repairs.

To fund that lifestyle, ASFA estimates a single person needs around $54,840 per year, while a couple needs roughly $77,375 per year. The suggested lump sum is about $630,000 for singles and $730,000 for couples, assuming home ownership and some Age Pension support later in retirement.

On those numbers, the average 55-year-old is not yet sitting in obvious “comfortable retirement” territory.

The gap is real, but the window is still open

For a single person with around $280,000 to $320,000 in super, the gap to the comfortable retirement benchmark could still be several hundred thousand dollars.

That sounds confronting.

But age 55 is not age 65.

For many Australians, there may still be a decade of work, contributions, investment returns, and planning ahead. That decade can make a major difference.

This is where the conversation should shift.

The question is not only: “Can I retire now?”

The better question may be: “What could my retirement look like if I invested well, contributed consistently, and used the next 10 years properly?”

That is a much more optimistic frame.

A 55-year-old with a solid balance, continued employer super contributions, possible salary sacrifice contributions, and a sensibly invested portfolio still has time to improve the outcome.

Retiring at 55 has another problem

There is also a practical issue.

At 55, most Australians cannot simply start living off their super. Age 60 is generally the key preservation age for many Australians who have stopped working, while unrestricted access generally begins at 65. Age Pension eligibility starts at 67, subject to the relevant tests.

That means retiring at 55 usually requires other assets, cash, investments, or income to bridge the gap before super becomes accessible.

And that bridge matters.

A person retiring at 55 is not just retiring early. They are asking their money to last longer, while potentially giving up some of the highest-earning and highest-contributing years of their working life.

That is a big trade-off.

Your late 50s could be your strongest retirement-building decade

This is the part that can be missed.

Your late 50s can be one of the most powerful periods for building retirement wealth.

Income may still be strong. The mortgage may be smaller than it once was. Children may be more independent. And the super balance itself is finally large enough that investment returns can start to matter in bigger dollar terms.

For example, a 7% return on a $300,000 super balance is $21,000 before new contributions are added.

That does not mean markets will deliver smooth returns every year. They will not. But it does show why investment allocation still matters.

Becoming too conservative too early can be costly. At 55, many people may still have 10 years before retirement and potentially 30 or more years of retirement ahead of them. That is a long investment horizon.

Foolish Takeaway

The average superannuation balance of a 55-year-old in 2026 is probably not enough to retire comfortably today.

For many Australians, 55 is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of the most important stretch.

The next decade may be about investing well, contributing where possible, managing risk sensibly, and preparing for a smoother transition into retirement.

Retiring comfortably is not just about hitting one number. It is about building enough flexibility to handle markets, inflation, healthcare costs, lifestyle choices, and the unexpected.

At 55, the runway is shorter than it used to be.

But for those who use it well, it may still be long enough to make a very meaningful difference.

The post Is the average superannuation balance of a 55-year-old enough to retire well in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Why I think these high-quality ASX shares deserve a spot in most investment portfolios
• Are Telstra shares a good deal at $5.32?
• Which beaten down ASX healthcare stock is a better buy right now: Pro Medicus vs Cochlear shares
• 3 ASX growth shares I’d buy with $7,000

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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.

When I think about building a portfolio that can grow over time, I look for businesses with clear direction, strong positioning, and the ability to keep expanding their opportunity set.

These are companies that continue to build on what they already do well, while opening up new avenues for growth along the way.

Here are three ASX shares I think fit that description.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Hub24 is a business that sits in the background of the investment industry, but its role continues to grow.

It provides the infrastructure that advisers use to manage client portfolios, and as more wealth flows onto platforms, its relevance increases.

What I find compelling is how the business builds depth over time. Each new adviser relationship brings a pipeline of clients and assets, and those assets often grow as markets rise and contributions continue. That creates a layering effect where growth compounds on top of itself.

Hub24 is also expanding what its platform can do, which allows it to capture more value from each relationship. Over time, that combination of scale and functionality can drive meaningful growth.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville takes a different path. It operates in consumer products, but its strength lies in how it approaches brand and innovation.

The company focuses on premium kitchen appliances, with a reputation for design and quality that resonates across global markets. What stands out is how it continues to build its presence internationally.

Growth comes from entering new regions, expanding product categories, and strengthening its brand positioning. That creates multiple pathways for the business to keep moving forward.

For me, Breville is a reminder that consumer businesses can scale globally when they combine strong branding with consistent product development.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Sigma Healthcare brings a structural growth story. Following its merger with Chemist Warehouse, the business now dominates distribution and retail, which creates a more connected position within the healthcare supply chain.

What I find interesting is how that structure can evolve. With greater visibility across both sides of the business, there is potential to improve efficiency, optimise inventory, and strengthen relationships with suppliers and customers.

For me, Sigma represents a business that is reshaping its role within the industry, with the potential to build a stronger and more integrated model.

Foolish takeaway

I think these are the kinds of businesses that can earn their place in a portfolio over time.

They continue to expand their reach, deepen their advantages, and build on what already works.

That is what gives me confidence in their long-term potential.

The post Why I think these high-quality ASX shares deserve a spot in most investment portfolios appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Ord Minnett says these ASX 300 shares are buys
• Analysts pick 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy
• Three ASX 200 shares the Jarden team says are a buy right now
• 3 ASX 200 blue-chip shares I’d buy with $5,000 in May
• Buy, hold, sell: NextDC, Hub24, PLS Group shares

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares have enjoyed an uncommonly lucrative few months.

At the time of writing, this ASX 200 blue chip telco stock is going for $5.32 a share. That puts the company up a happy 9.34% above the $4.87 it started 2026 at. Telstra is also 28.86% higher than the $4.48 it was trading at this time last year.

It gets even better for shareholders, though. Back in late April of 2024, Telstra was trading at just under $3.60 a share. An investor who bought around those prices would be looking at a near-50% gain at today’s levels. All in all, not bad for a boring old telco.

Here’s where the fly in the ointment might lie.

Telstra is a financially strong and sound company. But it is not growing at the levels its share price trajectory might suggest.

Telstra shares at $5.32?

Back in February, Telstra’s half-year earnings revealed an average earnings growth rate of 7% between the first half of FY2021 and the first half of FY2026. That’s fine for a mature blue chip like Telstra. But Telstra’s shares have been growing at a much faster rate in recent years. That means Telstra shares are getting more expensive on an earnings-multiple basis. Its dividend yield is shrinking as a result.

Even a year or two ago, it wasn’t uncommon to see Telstra shares trading on a dividend yield of 4.5% or even higher. Today, it’s languishing at 3.76%.

That’s objectively a decent dividend yield. But it is low by Telstra’s historical standards. It’s also not too competitive in today’s high-interest-rate world. After all, you can get a 12-month term deposit with a 5.4% interest rate right now.

That’s not Telstra’s fault, of course. It has been increasing its raw dividends per share at a healthy rate in recent years. To illustrate, 2026’s interim dividend of 10.5 cents per share was a 10.5% increase over the same dividend from 2025.

It’s just that Telstra shares have been increasing in value even faster.

Foolish takeaway

Looking at where Telstra shares are today, and the dividend yield they are trading on, I have to conclude that this company is not really offering much value at the moment. Telstra is a strong company, with formidable assets, a powerful brand and irreplaceable infrastructure.

However,  as Charlie Munger used to say, ‘no company, however wonderful, is worth an infinite price’. If you, as an income investor, are happy with a starting yield of 3.76%, then there are certainly worse options out there. But I won’t be buying Telstra at the prices we are seeing right now.

The post Are Telstra shares a good deal at $5.32? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 great ASX 200 blue-chip shares I’d buy right now
• 3 ASX dividend shares I’d hold through anything
• 1 ASX dividend stock up 20% that I’d hold through any market
• 3 reasons I’d buy Telstra shares today
• Where I’d invest $5,000 in ASX blue-chip shares

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

Two of the biggest ASX healthcare stocks by market cap have been heavily sold off in 2026. 

At the time of writing:

• Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) is down 38% year to date
• Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) has fallen 63%. 

These heavy sell-offs have been a large contributor to the overall fall of the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) which is down 22% in that same period. 

After such a strong decline, many brokers and analysts have re-rated and adjusted their outlooks on these ASX healthcare stocks. 

Let’s see which is attracting more optimism right now. 

Pro Medicus

Pro Medicus provides medical imaging technology globally. The company is recognised as a leading supplier of radiology information systems (RIS), picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and advanced visualisation solutions for medical practices and hospitals.

It sits within the top 5 largest ASX healthcare companies by market cap. 

However it has suffered a brutal decline over the last year, falling almost 60% from its 12-month highs reached last July, when shares were trading for $330.

Yesterday, after another decline, it closed at $138.12 per share. 

General consensus is that this ASX healthcare stock is now undervalued. 

Yesterday, Medallion Financial Group cited recent contract renewals on higher fees and recent share price weakness as tailwinds for the company. 

Analysts at Morgans have also recently retained their buy rating on this health imaging technology company’s shares with a price target of $210.00.

The broker also is bullish on the company thanks to contract newsflow since February which has been “exceptional”. 

We re-emphasise our positive long-term conviction on the name although lower our valuation to reflect current but potentially fleeting headwinds.

From yesterday’s closing price, this target indicates an upside potential of 52%. 

Cochlear

Cochlear is the world’s leading cochlear implant device manufacturer with around half of global market share.

Its share price fell a further 2.5% yesterday, taking its year to date fall to 63%. 

The bulk of this fall occurred last week following a cut to its earnings outlook.

The announcement sent the stock price plummeting 40% in a single day session. 

Despite such a heavy fall, sentiment is mixed on what’s next for this ASX healthcare stock. 

It closed trading at $95.25 yesterday.

Some recent price targets from experts include: 

• Jarden has a share price target of $169 on Cochlear shares
• Macquarie’s 12-month price target is $115 (reduced from $239)
• Morgans has a hold rating and target price of $107.17. 

Foolish takeaway 

When traditional blue-chip stocks fall significantly, it always attracts attention. 

With a long-term view, ASX healthcare shares could be set for a recovery, but several headwinds will need to subside. 

However, those trying to buy low on these options may need to accept more volatility in the short term. 

The post Which beaten down ASX healthcare stock is a better buy right now: Pro Medicus vs Cochlear shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Life360, A2 Milk shares
• Why Cochlear, Karoon Energy, Origin Energy, and WiseTech shares are falling today
• Analysts pick 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Down 43% this week, are Cochlear shares now the best bargain buy of the year?

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

A $7,000 investment can go a long way if it is put into the right businesses.

For me, that means focusing on companies that still have room to expand and can keep building over time, rather than those that have already reached their peak.

Here are three ASX growth shares I would consider right now.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Network-as-a-service company Megaport is one growth share I’d buy.

What interests me is where it sits in the digital ecosystem. As more businesses shift workloads between cloud providers and data centres, the need for flexible, on-demand connectivity continues to grow. Megaport is positioned right in the middle of that.

Instead of building physical infrastructure for each connection, it allows customers to scale their network connections up or down as needed. That flexibility becomes more valuable as systems become more complex.

The company is also expanding what it can offer. Its acquisition of Latitude.sh adds bare metal infrastructure into the mix, which could deepen its role in how customers deploy and connect their workloads.

The key for me is adoption. As usage increases, the economics of the model tend to improve. That means revenue can build without the same level of incremental cost, which supports long-term growth potential.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is often thought of as a mature business, but I do not see it that way.

It already has a strong position in Australia, though I think the growth is coming from how it continues to build on that.

Over time, it has found ways to increase revenue per listing, introduce new products, and deepen its role in the property transaction process.

That tells me there is still room to expand within its core market.

There is also the international side of the business, which does not get as much attention. As those operations develop, they could become a more meaningful contributor.

What I like here is that growth does not rely on one single driver. It comes from multiple smaller improvements that build over time.

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

Another ASX growth share I’d buy is SiteMinder. It operates in a niche that is becoming more important.

Hotels are increasingly relying on digital platforms to manage bookings, pricing, and distribution. SiteMinder provides the software that helps connect hotels to online travel agents and other booking channels.

What I find interesting is how this can scale. Once a hotel is using the platform, it becomes part of its daily operations. That creates stickiness and recurring revenue.

At the same time, the company still has a large number of hotels globally that are yet to adopt this type of technology. That leaves room for expansion.

As more properties come onto the platform and existing customers use more features, revenue can build in layers.

Foolish takeaway

If I were investing $7,000 into ASX growth shares today, I would focus on businesses that have clear pathways to expand.

I think all three in this article tick this box and have the potential to deliver good returns in the coming years.

The post 3 ASX growth shares I’d buy with $7,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Atlas Arteria, Forrestania, Megaport, and WA1 shares are charging higher today
• Why are Megaport shares jumping 9% today?
• Megaport secures $35.4m compute deal and lifts recurring revenue
• What are the best Australian shares to buy now to try and make a million?

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

When you’re looking for ASX 200 investments which will drive outsized returns it pays to turn to the experts for help.

I’ve been through the research reports issued by the Macquarie team over the past week and singled out two companies from very different industries which Macquarie analysts believe will generate returns of about 30% over the next 12 months.

Let’s take a look.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Last week, Judo released its third quarter report, revealing that its lending growth, net interest margins and operating expenses all remained on track to meet existing guidance, “resulting in Judo reaffirming guidance for FY26 profit before tax of between $180 million – $190 million”.

This also included the company factoring in an extra provision, “in response to current economic conditions”.

Judo’s gross loan balance was $13.8 billion at the end of the quarter, up from $13.4 billion, with strong loan growth coming through high levels of originations and lower attrition.

The bank’s net interest margin was about 3.15%, up from 3.03% in the first half and in line with guidance.

Macquarie said in its note to clients on Judo that the underlying revenue performance was strong, “with continued lending book growth and positive margin momentum”.

The broker said they remained of the view that Judo would beat its guidance on margins in the second half.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on Judo shares, with a 12-month price target of $1.85, compared with the current share price of $1.43, implying a potential return of 29.4%.

Judo does not pay dividends.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

IGO was sharply sold down after its third quarter results recently, with ongoing challenges at the company’s Greenbushes asset in focus.

Despite the price of the lithium mineral spodumene nearly doubling during the quarter, the market focused on the fact that Greenbushes’ production was flat, with operational performance declining in areas including grade, plant recoveries and in increased downtime from maintenance outages.

On the other hand, the company’s Nova nickel operation performed well, with production up 11% for the quarter and free cash flow generation of $52 million.

Macquarie said in its note to clients that despite the company’s issues, it still held value at current levels.

Despite a 17.9% sell-off on the day of the quarterly report, we continue to see value in IGO given its exposure to a tier-one lithium asset. While several factors drive near term operational volatility, resource quality is inherently more stable over the short to medium term. On our forecasts, IGO is trading at an implied lithium price of US$1,150/t, ~50% below spot (US$2,390/t) and 10% below our long-term price assumption of US$1,350/t.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.50 on IGO shares compared with $7.32 currently, implying potential upside of 29.7%.

IGO does not pay dividends.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares Macquarie thinks will return nearly 30% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares upgraded by Morgans to buy ratings
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Brainchip, Fortescue, IGO, and Life360 shares are tumbling today
• Guess which ASX 200 bank stock is pushing higher on Friday (hint, not CBA shares)
• IGO shares sink 14%. Here’s what just spooked investors?

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

Wondering where to put fresh capital to work in the share market?

Well, it could pay to listen to what analysts at Ord Minnett are saying about two ASX 300 shares.

Here’s why it rates them as buys:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

The first ASX 300 share backed by Ord Minnett is Breville Group.

Breville designs and sells premium kitchen appliances across global markets, with its products sold under brands such as Breville, Sage, and Baratza.

A key focus for the broker is the company’s recent expansion in the United States. Breville rolled out store-in-store formats across 300 locations within Best Buy, as part of a broader shift by the retailer to streamline its supplier base.

Ord Minnett highlights that this change could have long-term implications for the competitive landscape. It said:

Breville executed a major US retail expansion in late 2025 where it installed ‘store-in-store’ formats in 300 of the more than 1,000 stores operated by US big-box consumer electronics retailer Best Buy. This was part of a deliberate consolidation of vendors by Best Buy.

The broker points out that Best Buy has reduced its appliance offering to a small group of preferred brands, including Breville. This effectively gives those partners greater visibility and shelf space.

Breville management has described the shift as a “material change” to the retail channel, with selected brands benefiting from stronger positioning while others lose access to physical stores.

As a result, Ord Minnett believes this could create a meaningful advantage for Breville in a key growth market.

This has seen the broker put a buy rating and $37.20 price target on its shares.

MA Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MAF)

Another ASX 300 share rated as a buy by Ord Minnett is MA Financial Group.

It operates across asset management, lending, and advisory services, with its asset management division making up the majority of earnings.

Ord Minnett sees strong growth ahead, supported by increasing funds under management and expanding lending operations. It said:

Its asset management business is seeing continuing momentum in net flows and the launch of new investment vehicles in FY25 leads us to expect strong growth in assets under management (AUM) in the near term.

The broker also highlights that MA Financial’s exposure differs from some overseas peers, particularly in areas such as software, which reduces certain risks. In addition, the residential lending business is beginning to contribute more meaningfully. It has recently achieved positive EBITDA and continues to grow its loan book.

Ord Minnett expects this to support profit growth in the coming years, noting:

We see an attractive value proposition in MA Financial, with the stock trading on a one-year forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 14.7x, along with a forecast EPS compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% over the FY25–28 horizon.

With multiple growth drivers across its business lines, it thinks MA Financial offers exposure to both asset growth and expanding earnings streams.

Ord Minnett has a buy rating and $9.20 price target on the ASX 300 share.

The post Ord Minnett says these ASX 300 shares are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Two ASX All Ords shares with 20% to 45% upside according to Morgans
• 5 oversold ASX shares to buy before the end of April
• After a brutal 2026, this $1.5 billion ASX financial stock is pushing higher again
• 2 ASX growth stocks to buy now and hold until 2036
• 3 ASX 300 shares to buy and hold for the next decade

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

The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price has experienced significant volatility over the past year, as the chart below shows. It’s good to think about what could happen next because the business is delivering growth in its financials.

Sometimes the market may be overly optimistic about the business, and sometimes it’s pessimistic.

It’s heavily tied into market and economic confidence because a significant part of its transaction value is linked to consumer discretionary spending.

What could happen with the Zip share price?

We should remember that analyst price targets are just estimates of where experts think the share price will be within a year, not guarantees that they will be met, of course.

According to CMC Markets, there have been six recent ratings on the buy now, pay later business over the past three months. All of them were buys!

The average price target for those six ratings is $3.57, suggesting a possible rise of nearly 50% over the next 12 months.

The most optimistic price target is $4.50, implying a potential rise of more than 80%, while the lowest is $2.60. That suggests a rise of 7%.

Why are analysts optimistic on the business?

The business continues to grow at a very strong rate.

Its latest update was for the company’s FY26 third quarter, where it reported total income growth of 20.2% to $335.2 million following total transaction value (TTV) growth of 22.4% to $4 billion.

The cash net transaction margin (NTM) remained “strong” at 3.9%, which was flat year over year, and the cash operating profit (EBTDA) surged 41.5% to $65.1 million.

The US is the key region driving growth for the company. US TTV increased 29% to $3.05 billion, and US revenue increased 29.3% to $223.9 million.

In terms of active customers, there is diverging performance between the two core regions. US active customers increased 9% to 4.6 million, and ANZ active customers declined 7.4% to 1.9 million.

Considering the huge scale of the US market, it seems like there’s plenty of growth to come in that country. However, the fact that the mature ANZ market is seeing declines is not ideal.

Zip share price valuation

According to the forecast on CMC Invest, the business is projected to generate 12.4 cents of earnings per share (EPS).

At the time of writing, the Zip share price is valued at just 19x FY27’s estimated earnings. That may prove to be a great time to buy while investors are seemingly more negative right now.

The post Experts think the Zip share price can rise 48% in a year! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Superannuation is one of the best avenues that investors can utilise to invest and build wealth due to the lower taxation environment. It can also be a place to invest in assets that can unlock high passive income.

We don’t necessarily need to be able t access the income immediately for it to be a good investment – it could be a great asset because of earnings stability and the more consistent returns that it delivers year to year.

Considering superannuation has a lower tax rate, there’s less of a drag on after tax passive income returns compared to investments outside of super for a full-time working Australian.

Plenty of investors can invest in passive income assets through self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). Other super funds also offer the ability to invest in areas such as S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares – there are plenty of options within that index for income.

How to generate $2,500 of monthly passive income from superannuation

Each investor’s situation will be different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach that I can outline to say what the net income would be. Therefore, I’ll focus on the gross income, before taxes and costs.

Generating $2,500 of monthly passive income equates to $30,000 per year.

The amount required to be invested would depend on the dividend yield (or interest rate) of the investments.

For example, if someone had $1 million invested with a 3% dividend yield, that would generate $30,000 of annual income.

But, with a larger dividend yield, an investor wouldn’t need as much in superannuation to create that same level of annual/monthly passive income.

For example, with a 4% dividend yield, an investor would need $750,000.

A 5% dividend yield suggests investors would need a $600,000 portfolio.

If the dividend yield were 6% then it would require just a $500,000 portfolio.

Where I’d invest for a high yield

If I were looking for investments to unlock a high level of monthly passive income, I’d focus on businesses with a good dividend yield.

I’d look at names like MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF), WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) and Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1).

But, I wouldn’t want to forget about somewhat lower-yielding businesses that have a track record of regular dividend growth as well as attractive capital growth.

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Hearts And Minds Investments, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, and Wcm Global Growth. 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 Mff Capital Investments and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.