Category: Stock Market

If an investor wants passive income, then I think it’s important to invest in ASX dividend shares that are very likely to actually deliver on providing a payment.

Dividend growth isn’t guaranteed of course, but there are some names that are clearly more likely to grow their dividends than others. Just looking at the history of payments this decade can give a great indication of how reliable certain businesses could be.

I think it’s important to acknowledge that certain business names are unlikely to be ultra-reliable in all conditions because they’re linked to, for example, the economy (like discretionary retailers) or commodity prices (like miners).

Below are three of the ASX dividend shares that are on the longest streaks of annual dividend growth.  

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

This business is by far the leader in Australia when it comes to consistent dividend growth.

The investment house has increased its annual dividend per share every year since 1998, which is an incredible record.

Soul Patts is invested across numerous sectors like resources, telecommunications, energy, swimming schools, agriculture, industrial properties, electrification, and plenty more.

Every year, the ASX dividend share makes new investments that help improve the portfolio and could let it generate better returns in the long term, as well as improving its diversification.

Based on its last two payouts, it has a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.6%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is one of the largest energy infrastructure businesses on the ASX. Its crown jewel is its national gas pipeline that transports half of Australia’s usage. Its diverse portfolio also includes electricity transmission assets, wind farms, solar farms, batteries, gas power stations, gas processing facilities, and gas storage.

It funds its distribution from the steady growth of its cash flow from its portfolio. That cash flow is growing through regular additions to its portfolio (both organic construction and acquisitions), as well as the fact that its revenue is largely inflation-linked.

APA has grown its annual distribution every year since 2004, which means the ASX dividend share has provided more than two decades of continuous payment growth.

It expects to pay a distribution of 58 cents per security, equating to a distribution yield of 5.75%, at the time of writing.

Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX)

The final ASX dividend share I want to tell you about is the listed investment company (LIC) Future Generation Australia.

LICs are a great structure for providing dividend payouts because of how they can decide on the level of the dividends they provide. They can also use profit reserves generated from previous years to continue paying a reliable dividend during economic downturns.

Future Generation Australia has increased its annual dividend every year for the past decade, which is an excellent and improving track record.

The ASX dividend share is invested in a number of funds of fund managers who work for free to enable the ASX dividend share to donate 1% of its net assets each year to youth charities.

For me, the most appealing factor is how large its dividend yield is. Its 2025 payout translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.8%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL) shot up more than 30% in early trade after Queensland businessmen Luke and Karl Trouchet teamed up with private equity firm BGH Capital to lob a takeover offer for the company.

Back for a second attempt

It’s the second offer from BGH, which had its NZ$2.30 per share bid rejected by the company last August.

The consortium has now come back with an all-cash offer valued at NZ$3.10 per share.

The company’s ASX-listed shares shot up 54.5 cents on the news to $2.29 on Friday morning.

The recreational vehicle company said in its statement to the ASX that the offer was at this stage non-binding and subject to due diligence.

The company added:

It is subject to a number of conditions including the satisfactory completion of due diligence, finalisation of debt arrangements, and BGH receiving final approval from its Investment Review Committee to submit a binding proposal. It is also conditional on THL’s Board unanimously recommending shareholders accept the proposal, in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent adviser concluding that the proposal is within or above the independent adviser’s valuation range for THL shares.

The company said shareholders holding about 16% of its shares have said that they supported it engaging with the consortium and granting it due diligence access.

Weaker outlook

Tourism Holdings also updated its guidance for FY26 on Friday, saying it now expected underlying net profit to be in the range of NZ$40 to NZ$43 million, down from previous guidance of NZ$43 to NZ$47 million.

The company added:

Given the ongoing global disruptions to international travel and the broader softening of consumer confidence, THL’s underlying FY26 profitability has not been significantly impacted, and the Company maintains a strong balance sheet position. The Board considers this a positive outcome given the degree of change and impact on global tourism. There are a number of factors impacting performance, including the effects of the current Middle East conflict on vehicle sales, softer conditions in the Australian domestic rental business, and foreign exchange movements.  

Tourism Holdings said vehicle sales had been lower across all of its markets since the start of March due to geopolitical and macroeconomic factors.

It added:

Underlying customer interest and lead volumes for recreational vehicles remain positive. However, the broader uncertainty has resulted in a reluctance by consumers to commit to purchase decisions in the current environment.  

The company said it now expected its net debt at the end of FY26 to be NZ$460 to NZ$470 million, up from a previous expectation of less than NZ$400 million.

The post Which ASX travel company is up more than 30% on takeover talks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS) shares are ending the week with a bang.

In morning trade, the ASX defence stock is up 17% to a record-high of $7.43.

Why is this ASX defence stock rocketing?

Investors have been fighting to get hold of the shares of the global enablement technologies provider for uncrewed systems following the announcement of a new contract win.

According to the release, a U.S. based commercial customer in the public safety sector has placed a follow-on order valued at approximately US$2 million (~A$2.8 million).

It highlights that this repeat order is more than four-times the value of the initial US$460,000 purchase order received in January, which it believes signals the customer’s operational validation of Elsight’s Halo platform and a progression toward scaled deployment.

In addition, the ASX defence stock notes that it continues to observe significant progress in the U.S. market. This includes Halo’s approval on the DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List, reinforcing its positioning as a trusted, U.S.-compliant technology provider across both defence and commercial sectors.

Favourable US trends

Elsight points out that trends in the United States are becoming favourable for its Halo platform. It explains:

The U.S. regulatory environment for commercial drones is advancing rapidly, with one of the biggest regulatory barriers to large-scale commercial drone adoption being removed. In June 2025, the White House ordered the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accelerate rules governing BVLOS drone flights. The FAA released its proposed rules in August 2025, completed its public consultation in October 2025, and the final rules are widely expected to be published in 2026.

Elsight believes this proposed shift in regulation is contributing to accelerating commercial engagement, with public safety emerging as a leading early-adopter for BVLOS-enabled operations. Public safety use cases, including Drone as First Responder (DFR), emergency response, and real-time situational awareness, demand continuous, high-reliability connectivity, a core strength of the Halo platform.

Commenting on the deal and its outlook, the ASX defence stock’s CEO, Yoav Amitai, said:

A U.S Public safety customer increasing their order within months signals strong conviction, highlighting the Company’s operational validation and commercial traction. Public safety agencies are preparing for scaled BVLOS operations and selecting technology partners that meet the highest standards of reliability and compliance. With our recent Blue UAS approval and the Part 108 rules imminent, we believe the conditions for accelerating our growth in the commercial market are another catalyst in the Company’s future.

The post Guess which ASX defence stock is rocketing 17% to a record high on Friday 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX All Ords energy stock Tamboran Resources Corp (ASX: TBN) is charging higher today.

Tamboran Resources shares closed yesterday trading for 23 cents. In early morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for 24 cents apiece, up 4.4%.

For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.7% at this same time, while the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is down 0.6% amid an overnight retrace in the oil price.

With today’s intraday boost factored in, the Tamboran Resources share price is up 50% since this time last year, outpacing the 2.9% 12-month gains delivered by the All Ords.

Here’s what’s catching investor interest today.

ASX All Ords energy stock lifts on acquisition completion

Tamboran Resource shares are marching higher after the company announced the completion of its acquisition of Canadian-based Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd via the purchase of its subsidiaries.

The ASX All Ords energy stock first revealed its intentions to acquire Falcon back in September.

Following receipt of final court approval from the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the acquisition is now a done deal.

Having acquired Falcon’s tenements in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin, Tamboran now holds around 2.8 million net prospective acres in the onshore gas basin. This sees the ASX All Ords energy stock holding the largest acreage position in the Beetaloo Basin.

In accordance with the deal, Tamboran has now issued 6,537,503 shares to eligible shareholders of Falcon.

In line with its initial acquisition announcement, Tamboran also paid a cash consideration of US$23.7 million.

The company, which is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), said it now has a pro forma market capitalisation of approximately US$1.2 billion (AU$1.68 billion).

What did Tamboran Resources management say?

Commenting on the acquisition completion boosting the ASX All Ords energy stock today, Tamboran Resources CEO Todd Abbott said, “I would like to thank both Falcon and Tamboran shareholders for their strong support and approval of the transaction.”

Abbott added:

This acquisition represents a logical consolidation between the two companies and provides the combined company with the largest acreage position in the Beetaloo Basin with approximately 2.8 million net prospective acres, which covers the majority of the Beetaloo depocenter.

Looking to what’s ahead for Tamboran Resources, Abbott said:

Our focus now turns to the 2026 operating program, which is planned to be our most active year of operations in the Beetaloo Basin, including the drilling of at least four wells and stimulation of at least five.

Tamboran has commenced the three‑well stimulation program on the SS2 well pad, with the wells expected to be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility during the third quarter of 2026.

He noted that the first gas sales from the commissioning of the pilot project remain on track for the third quarter of 2026.

The post Guess which ASX All Ords energy stock is jumping higher today on big acquisition news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares have been sold down heavily.

The buy now pay later (BNPL) company is trading at $2.20 on Friday, well below its 52-week high of $4.93. That means the share price has fallen by more than half from its peak.

I think the sell-off has made the stock more interesting. Here are three reasons I would buy Zip shares now.

The valuation has reset

The first reason is valuation.

According to CommSec, consensus estimates point to earnings per share of 9.2 cents in FY26, 10.9 cents in FY27, and 17 cents in FY28. That compares with 6.1 cents in FY25.

Based on the $2.20 share price, Zip is trading on approximately 24 times estimated FY26 earnings, 20 times FY27 earnings, and 13 times FY28 earnings.

I think that looks reasonable if the company can deliver on those forecasts.

This is still a growth stock, and the market will punish it if earnings momentum disappoints. But the valuation no longer looks like it is pricing in perfection.

The FY28 estimate is the one that interests me most. If Zip can grow earnings to 17 cents per share, today’s share price may look quite undemanding in hindsight.

The business has become more disciplined

The second reason I like Zip is that the company looks more mature than it did during the earlier buy now pay later boom.

Back then, the market was excited by rapid customer growth, merchant wins, and global expansion. The problem was that many BNPL companies were also burning cash, chasing too many markets, and relying heavily on future profitability.

Zip now looks like a more focused business.

The company is concentrating on the markets that matter most to its strategy, particularly Australia and New Zealand and the United States. That gives management a clearer job: grow where the opportunity is attractive, keep credit quality under control, and keep improving profitability.

I think that change in mindset matters.

A payments business can grow quickly and still disappoint investors if losses expand or underwriting deteriorates. Zip needs to keep proving it can grow without allowing risk to run too far ahead of returns.

So far, the earnings estimates suggest analysts expect meaningful progress over the next few years.

The US opportunity is large

The third reason is the potential of the US business.

The US remains a much larger prize than Australia and New Zealand. It is a huge consumer market, and many customers are still looking for flexible ways to manage purchases, cash flow, and short-term spending.

Zip does not need to dominate the US payments market to create value. It needs to keep building a profitable niche with customers and merchants that find its product useful.

That is why I think the current share price weakness is interesting. The market is not treating Zip like a perfect growth story anymore. Expectations have come down, but the company still has a sizeable opportunity if it can execute well.

There are risks to watch, including consumer stress, regulation, funding costs, competition, and credit losses. But I think those risks are now being weighed against a much more attractive starting valuation.

Foolish takeaway

Zip shares have fallen a long way from their high, and that has changed the investment case.

This is no longer a stock where investors are being asked to pay a huge price for distant hopes. The company is expected to grow earnings strongly over the next few years, the valuation has reset, and the US opportunity still gives the business room to become much larger.

I would expect volatility. Zip is exposed to consumer credit and market sentiment towards growth shares.

But at around $2.20, I think the balance of risk and reward looks appealing. If earnings keep moving in the right direction, this could be a much better business than the current share price suggests.

The post 3 key reasons to buy Zip Co shares now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) shares have gone from market favourite to one of the ASX’s hardest-hit blue chips in just a few weeks.

The pallet giant finished Thursday down 2.53% to $16.55, leaving the stock down around 25% over the past month and almost 28% over the past year.

It also hit a fresh multi-year low during Thursday’s session before clawing back some of those losses by the close.

Losing a quarter of its value in just a few weeks is not what investors usually expect from a blue-chip name like this.

This isn’t a speculative small cap either. It’s a global supply chain business with a large recurring customer base and a market capitalisation above $22 billion.

Why investors lost patience

The sell-off really started after Brambles cut its FY26 outlook earlier this month.

The company is now expecting sales revenue growth of 2% to 3% at constant currency. That’s down from its previous forecast of 3% to 4%.

Brambles also now expects underlying profit growth of 3% to 5%, compared with earlier guidance of 8% to 11%.

The company said subcontractor turnover, labour shortages, and extra repair work have all added pressure. Brambles has been lifting pallet repair standards to meet customer needs, but the extra work has slowed parts of the network and pushed costs higher.

Management expects the US repair issue to reduce FY26 earnings by about US$60 million.

Around US$40 million of that is tied to extra supply chain costs, including repair, handling, transport, and storage.

Why confidence is still shaky

Brambles told investors the repair bottleneck should be fixed by the first half of FY27.

To get there, it’s shifting pallets between locations, adding repair capacity, and buying around 2 million new pallets in the fourth quarter of FY26. More pallet purchases are expected early in FY27.

The company has also announced a US$400 million on-market share buyback.

A buyback of that size would usually give investors something to lean on, especially from a business with strong cash flow. But investors are looking past that at the moment.

Nonetheless, broker views show how divided the market has become.

Morgans downgraded Brambles to hold and cut its price target to $18.70. Macquarie also lowered its target to $18.60, with concerns around customer outcomes and the cost of fixing the US network.

Citi has taken a more positive view, reportedly keeping a ‘buy’ rating and a much higher $27.55 price target.

Has the damage gone too far?

Despite the setbacks, there’s still a case for owning Brambles.

The company remains the world’s largest reusable pallet and container pooling business. It also has deep exposure to consumer staples supply chains, where demand is usually more resilient than in many other parts of the economy.

Its network would be hard for a rival to copy, and the business still has a large base of recurring revenue.

But after a fall like this, investors are going to want more than a cheap-looking share price.

Thursday’s low of $16.25 may now be the level traders watch after the stock bounced from there.

If Brambles falls below that level again, it could suggest sellers are still in control.

The post Brambles shares have been smashed. Is this the support level to watch? 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.

Could these giant US IPOs change how ASX investors think about growth?

For years, many Australian investors have been spoilt for choice when it comes to banks, miners, healthcare, and infrastructure shares.

But let’s be honest.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is not exactly overflowing with companies building reusable rockets, artificial intelligence models, or the next generation of space-based infrastructure.

That is why the looming public debuts of SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic could be so fascinating for ASX investors.

These companies sit at the centre of some of the world’s most powerful technology themes. SpaceX is pursuing reusable rocket technology, satellite internet, and long-term space ambitions. OpenAI and Anthropic are at the front of the artificial intelligence race.

For investors used to the familiar rhythms of the Australian market, that is a very different kind of growth story.

Yet, before getting swept up in the excitement, there is an important question to ask: Is buying into a blockbuster initial public offering really the best way to gain exposure?

The excitement is obvious

SpaceX is expected to be one of the most-watched IPOs in history if it proceeds.

The potential appeal is easy to understand. This is a business focused on self-landing rockets, Starlink satellite internet, and ambitious plans that stretch far beyond the typical corporate growth playbook.

The company’s prospectus outlined three divisions: its rocket business, Starlink satellite internet, and artificial intelligence. Crucially, Starlink was the only profitable division at that stage, while the broader business was still loss-making.

For all the excitement, investors buying into a company like SpaceX would not simply be buying current profits. They would be buying a bold view of the future.

That can be powerful. But it can also be risky.

IPOs can be tricky for investors

Blockbuster IPOs often come with enormous hype. They can attract attention from retail investors, institutions, index funds, and thematic investors all at once.

However, IPO investing is not always straightforward.

One challenge is valuation. By the time a famous private company reaches public markets, much of the early value creation may already have occurred. Early investors, founders, employees, and private market backers may have acquired shares at far lower prices.

Once lock-up periods expire, some of those holders may look to sell shares and crystallise large gains. That selling pressure can weigh on a newly listed company’s share price, even if the long-term story remains compelling.

That is one reason IPOs can sometimes fall after listing.

It does not necessarily mean the business is poor. It may simply mean the initial public market price left little room for error.

How ASX investors could gain exposure

Australian investors may have a few different paths to consider.

One option is direct participation if a US IPO includes an Australian retail offer. CommSec has been named as a lead Australian retail broker for the potential SpaceX IPO, with investors expected to require an international shares account.

Another option is to wait until the company lists and buy shares on the US market through an international trading account.

A third option is via listed vehicles that already hold exposure to these private companies.

One example is Pengana Private Equity Trust (ASX: PE1). The trust has exposure to SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic through its private equity portfolio. Its SpaceX position has previously been described as one of the largest holdings in the portfolio.

That does not make PE1 a pure SpaceX investment. In fact, that may be the point. It offers exposure alongside a broader private equity portfolio, rather than relying solely on the success of a single newly listed company.

There is also thematic exposure. The recently launched Betashares Space Industry ETF (ASX: RCKT) is designed to provide exposure to the global space industry and may be able to include a major company like SpaceX quickly after listing, subject to index rules.

Foolish Takeaway

For ASX investors, the arrival of companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic on public markets could feel like a window into the next era of global innovation.

IPO prices can be demanding. Early shareholders may sell. Markets can overpay for the most popular stories. And even great companies can make poor investments if bought at the wrong price.

For long-term investors, the key may be to separate the dream from the deal.

Owning a company building rockets to Mars or intelligence systems for the future may sound extraordinary. But as always, valuation, business quality, time horizon, and portfolio risk still matter.

The post SpaceX IPO buzz grows as ASX investors eye global tech giants appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is set to open at $106.92 on Friday, down approximately 6.5% from its 52-week high.

That is not a huge fall, but I think it does make the ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) a little more interesting for long-term investors.

A simple way to invest in Australia

One of the main reasons I like the VAS ETF is its simplicity.

Instead of trying to pick which individual ASX shares will perform best, investors can gain exposure to a large basket of Australian companies in one trade. This includes Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP).

That can be useful because the Australian share market has plenty of high-quality businesses, but it can be difficult to know which ones will outperform over the short term.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF spreads the investment across 300 different companies and many sectors. That does not remove risk, but it does reduce the reliance on any single business getting everything right.

For investors starting out, I think that can be especially helpful. It gives them instant diversification and removes some of the pressure that comes with choosing individual stocks too early.

Dividends and franking

Another reason the VAS ETF appeals to me is income.

Australian shares are known for their dividends, and the VAS ETF gives investors exposure to that part of the market.

Many of the companies held by the fund pay dividends, and some of those dividends come with franking credits. That can be attractive for Australian investors, depending on their tax position.

I do not think Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF should be viewed only as an income investment. There is still capital growth potential over time, especially if the Australian economy and corporate earnings continue to expand.

But the dividend component can help smooth the journey. Even when share prices are moving around, distributions can provide a useful return along the way.

A good first step

I think the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF can make sense for investors who want a straightforward way to put money to work in ASX shares.

It is not trying to be clever. It is not built around a narrow theme. It is not asking investors to guess which sector will be strongest next year.

Instead, it gives broad exposure to the local market.

That can be a good thing. A simple fund can often be easier to hold through market weakness than a more complicated strategy that requires constant checking and second-guessing.

The recent pullback from its 52-week high may also give investors a slightly better entry point than they had earlier in the year.

Of course, the VAS ETF can fall further if the broader market weakens. Investors still need to be comfortable with share market volatility. But for a long-term investor, I think buying after a modest pullback can make sense.

Foolish takeaway

I think now could be a good time to buy the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF for investors wanting broad Australian share market exposure.

It offers instant diversification, access to many of the country’s largest listed businesses, and the potential for both capital growth and dividends over time.

The fund will not be the most exciting option on the ASX, and it will not beat every individual share. But that is not really the point.

For investors who want a simple, low-fuss way to invest in Australian shares, I think the VAS ETF remains one of the strongest options on the market.

The post Is it time to buy the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are a lot of options for investors in the tech sector.

And while Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) may take the headlines, there are smaller ASX tech stocks that are growing at rapid rates.

One of those is Black Pearl Group Ltd (ASX: BPG).

What is this ASX tech stock?

Black Pearl Group is a data technology platform that develops and operates a lead prospecting and marketing product suite.

It released its FY 2026 results this week and revealed annualised recurring revenue (ARR) growth of 114% to $26.8 million.

Bell Potter notes that this underpinned recognised revenue of $13.7 million, which is a 77% increase year on year. And with the ASX tech stock’s gross margin improving 83 basis points to 68.6%, its gross profit grew 79% to $9.4 million.

The broker was pleased with Black Pearl Group’s growth. However, it concedes that this is coming at the expense of cash flow generation. It said:

Underpinning ongoing ARR growth is the underlying scaling of Pearl Engine, which is presently ingesting 31b data points daily (+47.6% since Sep ’25), and according to commissioned research drives a 25x increase of high-quality leads versus a leading frontier agentic model at ~20% of the cost-per-lead (0.71c vs. 3.41c). Further detail in a full report is expected to be communicated to the market in the near-term. BPG also implemented a venture cost-led model post-balance date aimed at tying opex to revenue outcomes more closely to manage group cash and identified $1.8m in cost synergies following the first six months of B2BRocket integration.

We have increased our opex intensity in growing ARR, but we have also increased our ARR forecasts and closed the gap to revenue conversion given some present DaaS pipeline negotiations remove contract ramping which should be broadly supportive for cash flows. Net changes to EBITDA are an increase in losses of -$4.5m, -$4.1m, -$1.0m through FY27-29e.

Should you buy this ASX tech stock?

According to the note, in response to its results, Bell Potter has retained its speculative buy rating on Black Pearl Group’s shares with a reduced price target of $1.33 (from $1.82).

Based on its current share price of 52.5 cents, this implies potential upside of approximately 150% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its investment thesis, Bell Potter said:

We retain our Speculative Buy rating. Although we have increased our ARR growth forecasts, we reduce our multiples in bull/bear case scenario to account for a rising interest rate environment which is also reflected in an increased WACC of 13.5%. BPG remains ahead of internal ARR expectations and has outlined a greater focus on revenue and cash conversion in FY27 through shortened customer ramping cycles and extracting ongoing operating leverage (+41% ARR per employee YoY).

The post Guess which ASX tech stock could rise 150% according to a top broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The global oil market has rarely been more sensitive to a single geopolitical variable than it is right now.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply flows, has been at the centre of the US-Iran conflict that drove Brent crude above US$114 per barrel in May 2026.

When credible reports of US-Iran peace negotiations emerged, Brent fell from US$115 to US$103 per barrel in a single session, as markets began unwinding the geopolitical risk premium that had built up over months of conflict.

The ASX 200 rose 0.4% on that same day as lower oil prices lifted consumer discretionary and travel stocks, while energy names fell sharply.

Three stocks in particular deserve close attention from investors trying to understand what a lasting peace deal would mean for their portfolios.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Jet fuel is the single largest cost for any airline.

When oil falls, airline margins expand quickly, and no ASX-listed company benefits more directly from lower oil prices than Qantas.

Qantas shares surged almost 5% on 25 May 2026 as oil prices fell on peace deal optimism, reversing months of fuel cost-driven underperformance.

Qantas hedges a portion of its fuel exposure, which smooths the benefit over time, but a sustained decline in oil would meaningfully reduce cash costs across the group.

The scale of the fuel cost headwind Qantas has been managing in 2026 is significant.

In April, the company revealed that second-half FY 2026 jet fuel costs are now expected at $3.1 to $3.3 billion, more than double previous expectations, as the Middle East conflict drove oil prices sharply higher.

Ausbil co-portfolio manager Mans Carlsson described Qantas as the most undervalued stock in his fund, noting that the market has priced in the assumption that oil prices will remain elevated.

He added that investors need to look through the current geopolitical crisis, stating:

At present, Qantas is trading at an FY28 price-earnings ratio of approximately seven times, which is extremely low versus the market average.

A lasting peace deal would remove the single biggest headwind the business has faced in 2026.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The link between a US-Iran peace deal and Flight Centre is less direct but equally important.

Middle East tensions have been a primary driver of the 36% year-to-date decline in Flight Centre shares.

Management confirmed a $10 million profit hit in April from increased refunds and cancellations driven by the ongoing hostilities.

A sustained reduction in geopolitical risk would directly reduce leisure travel cancellations.

It would also support booking confidence and help the corporate travel division win back volume on international routes through the Gulf.

A peace deal that resolves Middle East uncertainty would likely be the single most important near-term catalyst for a re-rating in Flight Centre shares.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The relationship between a peace deal and Woodside is the most nuanced of the three.

A lasting peace deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and returns Iranian oil to global markets would push oil prices lower.

This would be bad for Woodside’s revenue in the short term.

However, a more stable geopolitical environment would also reduce the risk premium in global energy markets and lower volatility, which has made Woodside shares difficult to own throughout 2026.

Woodside fell 4.2% to $30.49 in early May as peace deal optimism pushed oil lower, before recovering as talks stalled.

Today, the stock trades at a much higher price than at the beginning of the year.

The share price is supported by the Scarborough LNG project, now 94% complete, and first cargo targeted for Q4 2026.

If a peace deal does push oil back toward US$90, Woodside’s LNG portfolio and contracted revenue base should still generate strong earnings at that price level.

Long-term investors would be buying a business with decade-long LNG contracts at a more attractive price than 2026’s elevated oil environment has permitted.

Foolish Takeaway

A US-Iran peace deal has not been confirmed, and as of today, peace negotiations remain uncertain with fighting ongoing.

Each of these three ASX shares carries meaningful risk if talks collapse and oil prices spike again.

But for investors who believe the direction of travel is toward de-escalation, Qantas, Flight Centre, and Woodside each offer a very different but equally interesting way to position for that outcome.

The post 3 ASX shares that could benefit most if the US-Iran peace deal holds appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 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.