Category: Stock Market

Getting started in the share market can be scary. Many new investors worry about picking the wrong stock, buying at the wrong time, or not knowing enough to compete with professionals.

Unfortunately, that fear alone is enough to stop some people from ever investing at all.

But don’t let that stop you. Not when there are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) out there to make life easier for beginner investors.

They offer instant diversification, low costs, and exposure to dozens or even thousands of stocks in a single trade. For beginners, that simplicity can make all the difference.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could be ideal starting points for new investors.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is often one of the first ETFs new investors come across, and for good reason. It provides exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial stocks listed on the famous Nasdaq exchange in the United States.

The fund includes well-known global leaders such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). These are businesses with strong competitive positions, global customer bases, and long histories of innovation.

For beginners, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF offers a simple way to gain exposure to world-class growth stocks without having to choose individual winners.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

Another top option for beginners could be the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF.

This ASX ETF invests in global stocks with strong balance sheets, consistent profitability, and high returns on capital.

Its portfolio includes high-quality businesses such as Visa (NYSE: V), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Accenture (NYSE: ACN), and L’Oreal (FRA: OR). These are market leaders with pricing power and resilient earnings.

For beginners, the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF could be attractive because it emphasises quality over hype. It aims to smooth out some of the bumps that come with growth investing, making it a solid core holding for those who want steadier long-term returns.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE)

A third option for beginners is the VanEck MSCI International Value ETF.

It is focused on value investing. Rather than chasing fast-growing or highly priced stocks, this fund targets developed-market stocks that are trading at attractive valuations relative to their fundamentals.

The ETF holds around 250 large- and mid-cap international companies selected using a rules-based approach that looks at metrics such as price-to-book value, forward earnings, and cash flow. This provides diversified exposure across multiple countries and sectors. Its holdings include Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU), Western Digital (NASDAQ: WDC), and Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO).

It was recently recommended by analysts at Van Eck.

The post 3 ASX ETFs that could be perfect for beginners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 2 incredible ASX shares I’d buy with $2,000 right now
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• 3 reasons to buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) ETF in 2026
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Accenture Plc, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Cisco Systems, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Tesla, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Most investors would do a double-take if they saw an ASX 300 dividend share trading at a yield of almost 6% today. After all, most popular passive income picks on the ASX currently sport yields far lower than that.

You won’t get anything close to 6% from the likes of Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) or Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) right now.

Yet that’s what’s apparently on offer from Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) shares right now.

Yep, this ASX 300 real estate investment trust (REIT) currently trades on a yield of 5.81%.

That yield stems from the four quarterly dividend distributions that this REIT has doled out over 2025. Each one of those quarterly dividend distributions was worth 2.93 cents per unit. That annual total of 11.72 cents per unit gives Rural Funds that trailing yield of 5.81% at the present (at the time of writing anyway) unit price of $2.02.

What’s more, this ASX passive income stock seems to be trading at a steep discount to its underlying value.

Rural Funds periodically reports the net tangible assets (NTA) per unit for the benefit of investors. In other words, that’s how valuable its property portfolio is on a per-unit basis. Bear in mind that, as Rural Funds is an agricultural-based REIT which owns vast tracts of diverse farmland, these assets can be more difficult to put a value on than publicly-traded shares.

Even so, Rural Funds told investors in August that its NTA per share was $3.08 on adjusted terms. That’s as of 30 June 2025.

At the current $2.02 unit price, this implies that this ASX 300 share is currently trading at a 30% discount to the value of its underlying portfolio.

So is this ASX 300 REIT a buy for passive income?

Looking at Rural Funds, I think this passive income stock has what it takes to be a useful investment for anyone who prioritises seeing maximum dividend income from their portfolio. Rural Funds has never cut its dividend distributions since listing in 2013, and obviously offers that hefty 5.8% yield today (although investors should remember that no yield is ever in the bag).

Having said that, Rural Funds’ dividends don’t usually come with much in the way of franking credits, as is typical of most REITs.

As a REIT, Rural Funds’ unit price is highly impacted by interest rates, though. That would explain why investors have seen the value of their units drop more than 20% over the past five years. As such, I wouldn’t expect much in the way of capital appreciation going forward. Particularly if interest rates have already bottomed this cycle.

As I am not a solely dividend-focused investor, I won’t be buying this passive income stock anytime soon. But I would recommend it to anyone who does want to maximise their cash flow as part of a diversified dividend portfolio.

The post A 5.8% yield and 30% undervalued — time for me to buy this ASX 300 passive income star? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When I buy an ASX share, I tend to do so with the expectation of owning that share, whether it be on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) or not, for at least a decade. Hopefully longer.

But of course, finding those companies is easier said than done. I myself have bought ASX 200 shares before with the hope of owning a lifelong investment, only to have had to sell out of them as my original thesis failed to hold up with time.

Today, though, let’s discuss an ASX 200 share that I think is worthy of consideration as a stock to own for the coming decade. This ASX 200 company shows signs of market dominance and significant brand loyalty with its portfolio of iconic brands. It also looks financially healthy and has established itself as a reliable payer of fully-franked dividends.

That ASX 200 share is Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA). You probably know Bega for its dairy products. After all, this is a company that has been around in some shape or form since 1899.

Why is Bega a top ASX 200 share for long-term investors?

But aside from Bega Cheese (which is actually produced by French dairy company Lactalis), Bega owns a wide stable of some of Australia’s favourite household brands. There are juice labels Juice Brothers, Daily Juice Co and Mildura, as well as dairy brands Yoplait, Dairy Farmers and Pura.

But Bega has been on a bit of a buying spree over the past decade. For one, it acquired the rights for Kraft peanut butter from Mondelez International in 2017, which has subsequently been rebranded as Bega Peanut Butter. The company also owns the more health-focused Simply Nuts brand.

Even more significant was Bega’s acquisition of Mondelez’s other snack brands, which included Zoosh and the culturally iconic Vegemite. It was the first time Vegemite returned to an Australian owner in almost 90 years.

But that’s not the largest acquisition Bega has made in recent years. This ASX 200 share purchased the non-alcoholic drinks division of Lion Dairy & Drinks from the Japanese giant Kirin in 2020. These included popular names like Farmers Union, Big M, Dare, and Zooper Dooper.

So Bega is a giant share in the ASX 200 consumer staples space.

But let’s get into this company’s financials. So Bega has just come off a bumper year. For its FY2025, it posted a normalised earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $202 million, up 23.1% year on year. Earnings per share (EPS) rose by a stunning 72.9% on a normalised basis to 16.6 cents.

Meanwhile, the company is making enormous progress in paying off its debt from the acquisitions discussed above. Its net debt fell 22.4% over the 2025 financial year to $126.1 million.

At the same time, Bega paid out its highest dividend in history in 2025. The company announced two dividends, both worth 6 cents per share, this year. Both came fully franked too, as is Bega’s habit.

Foolish takeaway

Bega is not a perfect investment. The company is subject to many factors outside its control, most notably farmgate dairy prices. But no ASX share is perfect. With such a strong portfolio of beloved consumer brands, I think Bega is well placed to thrive over the coming decade.

The post 1 ASX 200 share to consider for the coming decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Kraft Heinz. 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.

IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) shares rose around 2% today after the company announced a voluntary change to how it recognises revenue across its global student placement business. While accounting policy updates rarely grab headlines, this one clearly caught the attention of investors.

Under the updated approach, IDP Education will recognise student placement revenue at census date across all jurisdictions, bringing its Australia and UK businesses in line with the approach already used for its businesses in Canada, the United States, Ireland, and New Zealand.

According to the announcement, the change will shift the timing of revenue recognition for some markets but will not alter underlying cash flows, capital management settings, or banking covenants.

So why did the share price rise?

Consistency builds confidence

IDP Education has become a much more complex global business, and aligning revenue recognition across all markets simplifies the way investors evaluate its performance. Increased comparability typically reduces uncertainty.

Greater certainty and consistency are something that the market values highly.

The revised treatment results in a $9.2 million uplift in revenue and a $5.2 million increase in net profit after tax for FY25, reflecting the timing shift between reporting periods. While this doesn’t change the economic reality of the business, stronger reported results often provide a short-term sentiment boost.

Guidance remains intact

Management reaffirmed its FY26 Adjusted EBIT target of $115 million –$125 million, even after incorporating the accounting change. For investors already navigating a volatile macro environment for international student flows, reaffirmed guidance is a welcome signal of stability and visibility.

Importantly, the update does not affect operating cash flow, which is the lifeblood of IDP Education’s business, nor does it imply any deterioration in demand or margins.

Foolish bottom line

Today’s share price reaction suggests the market is happy that guidance has not been downgraded and that it sees the policy shift as a housekeeping move that improves transparency rather than a sign of trouble. In an environment where consistency is valued, IDP’s proactive approach may be exactly what investors want to see.

The post Here’s why a surprise accounting shift sent IDP shares higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Bapcor, IDP Education, Netwealth, and Ora Banda shares are pushing higher today
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• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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 are a lot of ASX 200 shares out there for investors to choose from.

Let’s now take a look at three popular options and see if analysts rate them as buys, holds, and sells.

Here’s what they are saying about them:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Morgans was pleased with this travel agent’s acquisition of UK based online cruise agency Iglu. This is due to Iglu operating in a high growth and high margin segment of the travel industry.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $18.38. It said:

In our view, Iglu is a strategically sound acquisition for FLT’s Leisure business unit, given the cruise sector is a high growth and high margin segment within the travel industry. The acquisition multiple was reasonable for an online business and, importantly, is immediately EPS accretive. FLT’s strong balance sheet can comfortably fund this acquisition and its capital management strategy. We have upgraded our forecasts to reflect the acquisition of Iglu. Despite recent share price appreciation, FLT’s fundamentals remain attractive and we retain a Buy recommendation with a new A$18.38 price target.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Over at Ord Minnett, its analysts aren’t feeling overly positive on insurance giant Suncorp due to its softening premium rate growth.

Although the broker sees value in its shares, it isn’t enough to give it a buy rating. Instead, the broker has put a hold rating and $20.50 price target on Suncorp. It said:

Between weather-related volatility and an industry-wide slowdown in premium rate growth, the outlook for Suncorp (and its peers) remains challenging. This leads Ord Minnett to cut its target price on Suncorp to $20.50 from $22.50, and maintain its Hold recommendation despite the apparent value on offer.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Finally, Macquarie remains very bullish on this buy now pay later provider. Although it acknowledges that its rapid total transaction value (TTV) growth is leading to higher loss rates, it believes Zip will still achieve its net transaction margin (NTM) guidance.

As a result of this and its rapid growth, the broker has put an outperform (buy) rating and $4.85 price target on its shares. It commented:

Outperform. We forecast Zip to continue to deliver rapid growth supported by increased product adoption, expansion of merchant network, increased customer engagement and digital product innovation. […] We expect ZIP to deliver attractive TTV growth and NTM in the guidance range, with potential upside risk to earnings.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Flight Centre, Suncorp, and Zip shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It can be sometimes awkward when the market celebrates a change in C-suite leadership, but that’s exactly what seems to be happening at Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP).

Bapcor shares surged as much as 12% today after the company announced the resignation of CEO Angus McKay and the appointment of Chris Wilesmith as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.

Why the optimism?

The market’s strong reaction reflects a clear message from investors: they are ready for a reset.

A new CEO is likely to bring in fresh ideas and could be the catalyst that Bapcor needs to reset its trajectory.

Bapcor shares are down 56% so far in 2025, but investors will be looking at the new CEO’s background with great optimism.

Wilesmith, a seasoned operator in the automotive aftermarket and broader retail sector, brings decades of experience across businesses closely aligned with Bapcor’s core segments. According to the ASX announcement, he has held senior leadership roles at Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) owned brand Supercheap Auto, as well as Jaycar Electronics, and Mitre 10 New Zealand. This should give him deep insight into trade, retail, and supply-chain operations across Australia and New Zealand.

The board highlighted his track record in growing businesses within the very categories Bapcor competes in. That relevance appears to have resonated strongly with shareholders, many of whom have been waiting for more stability and clearer execution after a difficult period for the company.

The market’s enthusiasm also reflects a desire for renewed strategic direction. Bapcor has faced operational and profitability challenges in recent years, including multiple earnings downgrades, rising short interest, and ongoing concerns around its turnaround efforts. With customer-facing brands such as Autobarn, Autopro, and Burson, the business remains a meaningful player in the Australian automotive aftermarket, but execution has held it back.

Wilesmith will officially step into the role on 14 January 2026, with outgoing CEO Angus McKay assisting through a transitional period. The ASX filing notes that Bapcor’s board thanked McKay for the progress made in simplifying the organisation and stabilising its foundations, but the decision to transition leadership now signals the company’s focus on a new phase centred on recovery and growth.

Bapcor shares Takeaway

Investors appear to view Wilesmith’s appointment as a credible catalyst for that next phase. His combination of automotive experience, operational discipline, and exposure to both supplier and competitor dynamics positions him well to address Bapcor’s challenges while unlocking value in its trade and retail networks.

While the share price pop reflects renewed optimism, the real test will come as Wilesmith begins to shape strategy, rebuild confidence, and demonstrate that Bapcor can return to sustainable earnings growth.

For now, the market has rewarded the company for making what many see as a decisive and much-needed leadership shift.

The post Bapcor shares soar 12% on the appointment of a new CEO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned.  The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are looking for exposure to the energy sector outside giants like Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), then read on!

Bell Potter has just named one ASX energy stock that it believes could rise over 60% from current levels.

Which ASX energy stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is recommending to clients is Comet Ridge Ltd (ASX: COI).

It is an energy exploration and development company focused on coal seam and conventional gas projects in eastern Australia.

Bell Potter notes that the company has announced a deal to acquire Santos’ 42.86% interest in the Mahalo Joint Venture coal seam gas project. This takes its ownership to 100%.

Comet Ridge is paying $40 million on financial close and a further $20 million on meeting production milestones.

The broker is positive on the deal and believes it will simplify its structure. It explains:

The transaction will vastly simplify COI’s Mahalo acreage, increasing development optionality and overall project funding capacity. COI previously held ground in the Mahalo JV and 100%-owned positions in adjacent permits; COI will move to owning all of the coal seam gas permits 100%. The acquired Mahalo area is fully permitted, FEED is nearing completion and Jemena is working on pipeline FEED.

Mahalo is expected to initially produce up to 60TJ/day into the east coast gas market with FID targeted for mid-2026. STO viewed the asset as non-core and not a near-term priority; COI will now have control to progress that asset under its own timeline. COI is in discussions with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility for debt financing and the simplified structure could now attract a strategic partner and gas prepayments.

Big potential returns

According to the note, the broker has responded to the news by retaining its speculative buy rating and 21 cents price target on its shares.

Based on its current share price of 13 cents, this implies potential upside of 61% for investors over the next 12 months.

Overall, the broker feels that Comet Ridge could be a good option for investors with a high tolerance for risk. It concludes:

Our COI valuation is underpinned by COI’s Mahalo projects; we are yet to apply the acquisition of STO’s Mahalo JV interest. The Mahalo JV was awarded a Petroleum Lease in mid-2020, making it one of the few development-ready gas projects capable of delivering near-term supply.

We are positive on Australian east coast gas markets, with supply shortfalls likely to support higher prices. COI is a gas development company with prospective operations and cash flows only. Our Speculative risk rating recognises this higher level of risk and volatility of returns.

The post Why this under-the-radar ASX energy stock could rise 60%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 reasons everyone is talking about Santos shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy 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 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 Austral Ltd (ASX: ASB) share price is edging higher on Thursday despite the scale of today’s announcement.

At the time of writing, the shipbuilder’s shares are swapping hands for $6.10, up 2.69%. In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) is down 0.66% due to a broader market sell-off.

A billion-dollar landing craft contract

According to the release, Austral announced it has been awarded a $1.029 billion design and build defence contract through its subsidiary, Austral Defence Australia.

The contract covers the design and construction of 18 Landing Craft Medium (LCM) vessels for the Australian Army under the Commonwealth’s Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement.

The vessels will be built at Austral’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. Construction of the first LCM is expected to commence in 2026, with the final vessel scheduled for delivery in 2032.

Each steel vessel will be capable of transporting loads of up to 80 tonnes, supporting the Army’s amphibious and logistics operations.

Management noted this is the first design and build contract awarded under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement, marking a key milestone for the Henderson shipyard.

Why has the share price response been limited?

The answer likely comes down to timing.

While the headline contract value is substantial, revenue will be recognised progressively over several years. As a result, today’s announcement doesn’t materially change any near-term earnings expectations.

For investors looking at the next one or two earnings results, there’s little here to force the market to re-price Austral shares straight away.

Why it still matters

Looking at the bigger picture, this is an important win for Austral.

The contract strengthens its domestic defence footprint and reinforces its role in Australia’s long-term shipbuilding strategy. It also supports the government’s push for continuous naval construction at Henderson.

Furthermore, it reinforces a broader theme playing out across the sector. Defence spending is rising, programs are getting longer, and governments are leaning more heavily on proven local operators. For companies already part of that system, securing one long-term contract can make it easier to secure the next.

Austral already works across US Navy programs and international defence customers. Adding a multi-year Australian Army contract adds visibility and further diversifies the order book.

Foolish bottom line

This isn’t a near-term earnings upgrade, which explains why the Austral share price has barely moved.

Still, locking in a $1 billion defence program out to 2032 deepens Australia’s backlog and improves long-term visibility in the defence sector.

For patient investors, this is the kind of update that quietly strengthens the investment case, even if the market reaction is limited.

The post Austral lands $1 billion defence deal. So why are its shares barely moving? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form once again and trading lower. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 8,565.1 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising today:

Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

The Bapcor share price is up 13% to $2.01. This has been driven by news that the struggling auto parts company has appointed its new CEO. In January, Chris Wilesmith will join as CEO and managing director. Bapcor’s chair, Lachlan Edwards, said: “Chris brings deep and broad automotive aftermarket experience to Bapcor. His previous senior roles in growing businesses in each of Bapcor’s segments will be critical to take our businesses into their next phase of driving growth and performance.”

IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

The IDP Education share price is up 1.5% to $5.66. This morning, this language testing and student placement company announced a voluntary change in its revenue recognition accounting policy that will see student placement revenue recognised across all jurisdictions at census date. In addition, management reaffirmed its adjusted EBIT guidance for FY 2026. It continues to expect adjusted EBIT in the range of $115 million to $125 million, including the impact of this accounting change.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

The Netwealth share price is up 2.5% to $27.15. This has been driven by news that the investment platform provider has agreed to pay compensation to members of the Netwealth Superannuation Master Fund (Fund) who suffered a loss through the collapse of the First Guardian Master Fund after reaching agreement with ASIC. The total value of the compensation payments is estimated to be $101 million. Netwealth’s CEO, Matt Heine, said: “The agreed outcome allows us to move forward and continue our work in supporting our members, our clients and our business.”

Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)

The Ora Banda share price is up 5% to $1.47. Investors have been buying this gold miner’s shares following the release of an update on drill results. These results are for the northern corridor, between Sand King and the historically mined Palmerston shallow open pit. High grade results were received, which the company notes is reinforcing the scale and growth potential of this emerging mineralised system. Ora Banda’s managing director, Luke Creagh, said: “The drilling at Sand King continues to validate our view that we are only in the early stages of unlocking what is potentially a large mineralised system.”

The post Why Bapcor, IDP Education, Netwealth, and Ora Banda shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a small decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.15% to 8,572.6 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is down 28% to $1.13. This follows the eagerly anticipated release of the uranium producer’s Honeymoon project review. Short sellers have been betting heavily against the company on the belief that the review would disappoint and they were spot on. The company revealed that the Honeymoon review has indicated an expected material and significant deviation from the assumptions underpinning its 2021 Enhanced Feasibility Study (EFS). Boss Energy’s managing director, Matthew Dusci, is hopeful that there is still a way forward. He said: “Although Boss acknowledges this disappointing outcome, the Honeymoon Review and delineation drilling programs have enabled the identification of a potential pathway forward through a new wide-spaced wellfield design. While additional work is necessary to finalise a New Feasibility Study, this development presents an opportunity for Boss to potentially lower operating costs, optimise production profiles, and extend mine life compared to the current wellfield design.”

Paragon Care Ltd (ASX: PGC)

The Paragon Care share price is down 13.5% to 22.5 cents. This follows news that receivers and administrators have been appointed to 54 pharmacies in the Infinity Retail Pharmacy Group after it failed to repay its Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) debt. It also owes Paragon Care $47 million.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

The Treasury Wine share price is down a further 3.5% to $4.81. Investors have been selling the struggling wine giant’s shares this week after it revealed that trading conditions have worsened and its performance is below expectations. The company’s new CEO, Sam Fischer, said: “We are currently experiencing category weakness in the US and China, two of our key growth markets, which will impact our business performance in the near-term. Maintaining the strength of our brands and the health of their respective sales channels is of critical importance to our Management team and our Board as we navigate through the current environment.”

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is down 3% to $22.76. This has been driven by news that Woodside’s CEO, Meg O’Neill, has resigned after accepting the role of CEO of BP Plc (LSE: BP). Woodside has appointed Liz Westcott as acting CEO, effective today. Commenting on the news, Woodside’s chair, Richard Goyder, said: “Meg leaves Woodside in a strong position, having led the company through the merger with BHP Petroleum, final investment decision on the Scarborough Energy Project, startup of the Sangomar Project, final investment decision for the Louisiana LNG Project, the Beaumont New Ammonia acquisition, introduction of a number of high quality partners in those projects and continued high performance across Woodside’s global operations portfolio.”

The post Why Boss Energy, Paragon Care, Treasury Wine, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Does Macquarie rate Treasury Wine shares a buy the dip opportunity?
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• Boss Energy shares crash 22% on devastating news
• Woodside shares tumble on shock CEO exit
• Woodside Energy confirms CEO change as Meg O’Neill departs

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