Category: Stock Market

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares may be one of the most underrated dividend picks in the ASX blue-chip space.

It’s normally names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bak of Australia (ASX: CBA) that get a lot of the attention from income investors. But, the owner of Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Priceline and several other businesses could be an even better choice.

If an investor put $4,000 to work in Wesfarmers shares, they could unlock a pleasing amount of passive income. Let’s look at the projection for the business and whether it’s an attractive opportunity.

Dividend projection for FY27

Wesfarmers has been steadily increasing its payout for shareholders in the last several years.

In the 2027 financial year, the business announced it would hike its annual dividend by 7.8% to $2.22 following an 8.3% rise of underlying earnings per share (EPS) to $2.534.

Analysts now expect the business can grow its annual dividend in FY27 as well. According to the projection on Commsec, the operator of Bunnings and Kmart could pay an annual dividend per share of $2.34. This would represent a year-over-year increase of 5.4%

At the time of writing, the potential payout of $2.34 per share in the 2027 financial year could translate into a dividend yield of 3% excluding franking credits and 4.3% including franking credits. That’s not the biggest dividend yield on the ASX, but it has become significantly more attractive after the 15% decline of the Wesfarmers share price in the last month.

What a $4,000 investment would do in Wesfarmers shares

At the time of writing, if an investor put $4,000 into Wesfarmers, they’d be able to buy 52 Wesfarmers shares.

Based on the dividend projections, an investor with 52 Wesfarmers shares could unlock $121.68 in dividend cash and $173.83 in grossed-up dividend income, including franking credits.

Is this a good time to invest in Wesfarmers shares?

The company had a solid FY26, with high single-digit underlying EPS growth. Both Kmart and Bunnings delivered mid-single-digit earnings growth during the year, and management reported ongoing solid sales growth for both businesses in the first few weeks of FY27.

Let’s look at Wesfarmers’ appeal to analysts. According to CMC Invest, there have been 11 analyst ratings on the business within the last three months. Two were a buy, three were a hold, and six were a sell.

The average price target from those 11 analysts is $78.46, implying a possible 2% rise over the next year.

That may not be a very compelling return on offer to some investors, so there could be even better ASX shares to consider.

The post If I buy $4,000 of Wesfarmers shares, how much dividend income will I receive? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

Are you on the hunt for some new additions to your portfolio? 

If you are, then it could be worth seeing if the team at Morgans rates these popular ASX shares as buys this week.

Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

While Morgans wasn’t blown away with this travel agent’s FY 2026 results, it remains positive.

It continues to believe the Flight Centre share price will be materially higher once operating conditions ultimately improve. As a result, it has a buy rating and $14.25 price target on its shares. It said:

FLT’s FY26 result came in at the lower end of guidance which is disappointing given its 18 June trading update. Leisure was the key miss for us. Corporate had a strong year (+28% NPBT growth), while Leisure was weak (NPBT -22%) given the Middle East conflict. Outlook comments disappointed with Corporate expected to have a weak 1H27, followed by growth in the 2H27. Pleasingly, Leisure is off to a strong start. With one-off costs associated with Productive Operations and World360 Rewards now being placed above the line, we have made minor downgrades to our forecasts. 

While investors will need to be patient for another six months, FLT’s fundamentals remain attractive (FY27F PE of 11.6x) and we retain a Buy rating with a new A$14.25 price target. When operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price will be materially higher.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Qantas delivered a result that was in line with expectations in FY 2026 despite facing a major fuel cost headwind.

In response, the broker has retained its accumulate rating (between buy and hold) with a trimmed price target of $10.60. Morgans said:

Strength in the mix – QAN delivered a broadly in-line FY26 result despite a significant fuel cost headwind in 2H26, with a stronger-than-expected performance from Jetstar offsetting softer Domestic earnings. Group Underlying PBT of $2.06bn finished ~3% ahead of consensus, highlighting the resilience and diversification of the earnings base. 

TRASK tailwind emerges – QAN expects Domestic and International TRASK to increase 8-10% in 1H27 while Group capacity remains broadly flat, pointing to a more supportive revenue backdrop despite elevated fuel costs. We maintain our ACCUMULATE rating with a reduced-price target of A$10.60ps (previously $11.50).

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers also delivered a result that was largely in line with expectations in FY 2026.

And while trading in FY 2027 has been softer than expected, Morgans remains relatively positive. It has an accumulate rating and $85.00 price target on Wesfarmers’ shares. The broker commented:

WES’s FY26 result was broadly in line with expectations, although trading in early FY27 was slightly softer, with management also flagging higher capex in FY27. Earnings from Bunnings, Kmart Group and Health were largely in line with expectations, while Officeworks was slightly above our forecasts. WesCEF was modestly weaker than anticipated. Management noted that while consumer demand remains resilient, cost-of-living pressures persist and customers continue to be value-conscious. We make minimal changes to FY27-29F group EBIT but decrease underlying NPAT by 1-2% due to higher net interest expense. 

Despite these changes, our target price rises to $85.00 (from $81.10) as we believe the increased investments WES is making in the near term will drive sustainable growth over the long term. This is particularly evident across its retail businesses (Bunnings, Kmart Group, Officeworks and Priceline), where investment should strengthen customer value propositions in a subdued consumer environment and position the divisions to capture stronger growth when economic conditions improve. ACCUMULATE rating maintained.

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

More reading

• If I buy $4,000 of Wesfarmers shares, how much dividend income will I receive?
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $60,000 annual passive income?
• 11 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings post-results
• Buy, hold, sell: NAB, PLS Group, Wesfarmers shares
• Buying Qantas shares? Here’s what happened with the ASX 200 airline in August

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

It has been a turbulent couple of years for the WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price.

During this time, the logistics software provider’s shares have been as high as $135.00 and as low as $28.76.

From top to bottom, that is a decline of almost 80%.

Today, the WiseTech share price is trading closer to its lows than its highs at $36.76.

But where could it be in 12 months? Let’s see what a number of analysts are saying about the fallen tech star.

Where is the WiseTech share price going?

The good news is the broker community is overwhelmingly positive on the investment opportunity here and believes there is plenty of upside potential between now and this time next year.

The team at Macquarie, for example, recently put an outperform rating and $48.20 price target on its shares.

Based on the current WiseTech share price, this implies potential upside of just over 30%. 

Elsewhere, Citi and UBS see potential for even more upside over the period. They have buy ratings and $58.75 and $56.00 price targets, respectively, on its shares. This suggests upside of 52% to 60% over the next 12 months.

More bulls

Over at Morgans, its analysts responded positively to the company’s full-year results and put a buy rating and $62.50 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 70% for investors over the next 12 months. It said:

WTC’s FY26 result was largely in line with Morgans forecasts (MorgansF), with FY26 revenue of US$1,396m and EBITDA of US$558m coming in towards the lower end of its initial FY26 guidance range. While CargoWise revenue growth of +11% was softer than expected, WTC delivered annualised run-rate savings of ~US$115m in FY26, supporting further margin expansion into FY27. FY27 guidance will see revenue growth 2H-weighted, reflecting the timing of growth initiatives, while Underlying EBITDA guidance of US$725-780m implies EBITDA margins tracking back towards 49-51%. Our Underlying EBITDA forecasts are revised by +3%/-2% in FY27-FY28F and we retain our BUY rating with a price target of A$62.50ps (previously A$67.00ps).

Finally, the team at Bell Potter is even more bullish. Following its results release, the broker retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $65.00. Based on the latest WiseTech share price, this suggests that upside of over 75% is possible by this time next year.

Commenting on its recommendation, Bell Potter said:

In our view the issue with the result was the guidance and, in particular, the expected 45%/55% H1/H2 split in CargoWise revenue this year which implies mid single digit growth in H1 and strong double digit growth in H2. While we reflect this skew in our forecasts, we adjust for the risk in our valuation by reducing the multiples we apply in the PE ratio and EV/EBITDA and also increasing the WACC we apply in the DCF. The net result is a 9% decrease in our TP to $65.00 and we retain the BUY.

Overall, if the company executes on its plans and delivers on the market’s expectations, it could be a good 12 months for investors. Though, time will tell if that is the case.

The post Where could the WiseTech share price be in 12 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Are these ASX tech stocks finally a buy again?
• WiseTech shares are turning red again. Is the rally over?
• Why I think Zip and WiseTech shares could be buys in September
• WiseTech shares had their best month in a year. Is this a buying opportunity?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia 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.

September could be a good time to look for new income ideas on the ASX.

But which ASX dividend shares could be worth buying this month?

Three that stand out are listed below. Here’s why they could be top options for passive income investors.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

The first ASX dividend share to consider is Harvey Norman.

It has been a difficult period for the retail sector, with higher interest rates and cost-of-living pressures weighing on consumer spending.

But Harvey Norman remains a high-quality retailer with a strong brand, a global footprint, and a valuable property portfolio.

The company also has exposure to several offshore markets, which gives it more growth options than some investors may realise.

If consumer spending conditions improve over the next couple of years, Harvey Norman could be well-placed to benefit.

Bell Potter remains positive and has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

With respect to income, the broker expects fully franked dividends per share of 26.5 cents in FY 2027 and then 27.9 cents in FY 2028. This equates to dividend yields of 6.3% and 6.6%, respectively.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Another ASX dividend share that could be worth a look is Rural Funds.

This agricultural property group owns a portfolio of farmland assets across Australia. These include properties leased to operators in areas such as cattle, almonds, vineyards, macadamias, and cropping.

Instead of operating the farms, it collects rent from its tenants, many of which are on long-term leases. This can provide a great degree of income visibility for investors.

Like many property stocks, Rural Funds has been pressured by higher interest rates and weaker investor sentiment. But for income investors, that may have created an opportunity.

UBS has a buy rating and $2.30 price target on its shares. The broker also expects attractive dividend yields of 6% and 6.2% in FY 2027 and FY 2028, respectively.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

A final ASX dividend share to consider is Universal Store.

It is a youth-focused fashion retailer behind the Universal Store, Perfect Stranger, and Thrills brands.

Retail can be a tough sector, especially when household budgets are under pressure. But Universal Store has continued to appeal to younger shoppers and has a strong store rollout opportunity ahead of it. This has allowed it to outperform many of its peers.

Bell Potter is positive on the company and has a buy rating and $9.70 price target on its shares.

As for income, it is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 41.2 cents in FY 2027 and then 46.6 cents in FY 2028. Based on its current share price of $7.58, this equates to dividend yields of 5.4% and 6.1%, respectively.

The post 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $60,000 annual passive income?
• Down 28% to 46%: Are these beaten-down ASX shares cheap buys?
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $90,000 per year in passive income?
• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7%
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income?

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

Superannuation is a very effective tool for investors to generate returns while being taxed at a lower rate. It can be very attractive for Australian investors who want passive income.

Pleasingly, superannuation has a lower tax rate than many individuals, trusts and companies. The nature of the superannuation (and how we access the money) makes it very easy to invest for the long term.

I think receiving passive income is one of the best elements of owning shares. Being paid money into our bank accounts every year for no ongoing effort sounds good to me.

One of the main benefits of superannuation is that less of the passive income return is lost to tax. I believe that the after-tax figure is what Australian investors should focus on.

If a full-time working Australian is paid passive income in their own name, they may lose a third (or more) of that dividend income to tax. That effect can make passive income seem much less appealing.

Superannuation is often the best place to invest for passive income due to the lower tax rate in the accumulation phase of life, compared to a full-time earner’s individual tax rate.

However, each person’s tax situation is different, so we’ll just run through a particular dividend income level and not consider tax rates from now on.

How much is needed in superannuation for $60,000 of annual passive income?

Being paid $60,000 in dividends each year is appealing to me. I’m nowhere near that goal, but I’d love to reach that level of income one day.

One of the most important decisions to consider is the investments that we want to own and the dividend yield that comes with that.

I think ASX shares are the best choice for passive income, with the attached franking credits being a great bonus.

Reaching $60,000 of annual dividends depends on the size of the dividend yield and the portfolio size.

For example, if an Australian investor had investments with a 6% dividend yield, it would require a $1 million portfolio. If the portfolio had a 3% dividend yield, it would need to be a $2 million portfolio for $60,000 annual income.

As you can see, different investments provide different dividend yields. So, it depends on what Aussies want to choose.

Which ASX dividend shares I’d look at

There are a number of different investment options that investors can choose on the ASX with good dividend yields like real estate investment trusts (REITs), quality operating companies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and good listed investment companies (LICs).  

I think REITs are very attractive at these valuations amid high interest rates. Some of my leading ideas are Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW).

Some of the leading operating companies out there include Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL).

There are a few very attractive ETFs that could be useful options for dividend income such as WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ), Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY).

Some of the LICs that I highly rate for superannuation include MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG) and Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1).

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $60,000 annual passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy in September
• These are the most popular ASX ETFs – Which has performed best in 2026?
• ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report
• 2 ASX passive income ideas I’d use to generate $700 a month in 2027
• 3 excellent ASX ETFs for passive income

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Future Generation Global, Hearts And Minds Investments, Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, Wcm Global Growth, and Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, Telstra Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.45% to 9,020.1 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive session on Friday following a strong night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 22 points or 0.25% higher this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 1.2%, the S&P 500 rose 1.1%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.4%.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a good finish to the week after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.8% to US$91.69 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.2% to US$95.81 a barrel. Traders have been bidding oil prices higher this week following an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Shares going ex-dividend

Another group of ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes auto retailer Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE), fuel retailers Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA), and broadband provider Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB). The latter will be paying a 3.6 cents per share fully franked dividend on 21 September.

Gold price jumps

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a strong finish to the week after the gold price charged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2.4% to US$4,520.1 an ounce. Softer US dollar and bond yields gave the precious metal a lift.

Buy Paladin Energy shares

The team at Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $14.80 price target on  the uranium producer’s shares. It said: “We retain our Buy recommendation. We have a positive medium- to long-term outlook for the uranium market, supported by barriers to new supply and demand growth linked to electrification, energy security and AI-related power requirements. PDN has ~56% exposure to market prices out to 2030. Production at LH continues to improve with higher-grade mined ore feeding the processing plant. PDN continues to derisk its key growth project at Paterson Lake South in Canada’s Athabasca Basin.”

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

More reading

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

Earnings season is all over, but the dividends continue to flow into ASX investors’ bank accounts.

Hundreds of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) companies announced their next dividends during the EOFY reporting season.

We’re helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here is a sample of the ASX shares due to trade ex-dividend next week.

Remember, in order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

ASX share	Ex-div date	Dividend	Payday
Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)	7 September	42 cents per share	13 October
Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)	7 September	37 cents per share	29 September
Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)	7 September	33 cents per share	29 September
Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)	7 September	1 cents per share	1 October
Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)	7 September	6 cents per share	1 October
Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU)	7 September	9 cents per share	7 October
Bluescope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL)	8 September	$1.35 per share	13 October
Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)	8 September	1.6 cents per share	13 October
Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM)	8 September	7.2 cents per share	8 October
Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG)	8 September	9.4 cents per share	23 September
AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)	8 September	71 cents per share	9 October
News Corporation (ASX: NWS)	8 September	9.9 cents per share	7 October
Motorcycle Holdings Ltd (ASX: MTO)	8 September	7 cents per share	23 September
Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)	8 September	21.5 cents per share	23 September
Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)	8 September	83 cents per share	30 September
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)	9 September	$2.78 per share	2 October
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)	9 September	21 cents per share	2 October
IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)	9 September	6 cents per share	24 September
Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)	9 September	32.8 cents per share	8 October
Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)	9 September	30 cents per share	15 October
Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)	9 September	5 cents per share	5 October
LGI Ltd (ASX: LGI)	9 September	1.4 cents per share	24 September
EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT)	9 September	23 cents per share	24 September
IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)	9 September	5 cents per share	30 September
Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)	9 September	21 cents per share	29 September
McMillan Shakespeare Ltd (ASX: MMS)	10 September	70 cents per share	25 September
SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH)	10 September	32 cents per share	9 October
Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)	10 September	19 cents per share	1 October
Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)	10 September	20 cents per share	7 October
Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)	10 September	8 cents per share	30 November
Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)	10 September	3 cents per share	22 October
Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)	10 September	35 cents per share	30 September
Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT)	10 September	63 cents per share	2 October
Freightways Group Ltd (ASX: FRW)	10 September	19.9 cents per share	1 October
Globe international Ltd (ASX: GLB)	10 September	13 cents per share	25 September
Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK)	10 September	6.1 cents per share	2 October
Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)	11 September	3.5 cents per share	8 October
Car Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)	11 September	43.5 cents per share	1 October
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)	11 September	12.3 cents per share	9 October
Joyce Corporation Ltd (ASX: JYC)	11 September	17 cents per share	2 October

Check out which ASX shares begin trading ex-dividend today.

The post 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report
• 11 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings post-results
• How CSL shares skyrocketed 39% in August
• Buy, hold, sell: PLS Group, Catalyst Metals, Sandfire Resources shares
• Regis Healthcare reacts to government funding change

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Dusk Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adairs, CSL, Hub24, Kogan.com, Netwealth Group, Super Retail Group, and WiseTech Global. 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 Adairs, Netwealth Group, Super Retail Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group, CAR Group Ltd, CSL, Hub24, Kogan.com, LGI Limited, McMillan Shakespeare, MotorCycle, Nine Entertainment, Pro Medicus, and Smartgroup. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Australian investors continue to pour into ASX ETFs at record pace. 

Providers are likely to soon be managing over $400 billion in funds. 

While there continues to be more and more thematic and managed funds hitting the market, three funds in particular continue to dominate in terms of popularity. 

When I say “popularity”, I don’t mean public perception; rather, these three ASX ETFs are the largest funds by market cap. 

In simple terms, it means the ETFs with the most money invested in them, making them the biggest ETFs on the ASX.

These three funds are: 

• Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is the largest with a market cap of $26.17 billion
• Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) – $17.17 billion 
• iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) – $14.23 billion. 

The market cap is accurate as at July 2026 (via Betashares). 

These ASX ETFs make up fundamental parts of many investors’ portfolios. 

But which has brought the best returns?

Here is how they have performed in 2026 so far. 

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF

By far the largest ASX ETF is this Australian focussed fund from Vanguard. 

It has provided a stable foundation to many portfolios since its inception in 2009. 

The fund seeks to track the return of the S&P/ASX 300 Index. 

In simple terms, the 300 largest companies on the ASX by market cap. 

However, with the slow performance of the ASX through April, it has subsequently risen just over 4% in 2026. 

This is below its historical average, as the fund has brought returns of more than 8% over the last 10 years. 

It has a management fee of 0.07% p.a. 

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF

This fund is often paired with the previous fund to provide international diversification.

It invests in around 1,300 companies from developed countries, excluding Australia.

This includes some of the world’s largest companies from around 23 different countries including the U.S, Japan, U.K, Canada, France, and Switzerland.

Investing internationally offers greater access to sectors such as technology and health care that aren’t as well represented in the Australian share market.

It has also had a historically soft year, rising just over 4% since the start of 2026. 

On a per annum basis, it has risen almost 15% in the last 10 years. 

It has a management fee of 0.18% p.a. 

iShares S&P 500 ETF

This ASX ETF from iShares tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index, before fees and expenses. 

The index is designed to measure the performance of large capitalisation US equities.

In simple terms, it targets the 500 largest companies in the United States. 

It has risen slightly more than the previous two funds, but not by much – up 4.3% in 2026. 

Historically, it has risen over 15% per year over the last 10 years. 

It has a management fee of 0.04% per annum. 

The post These are the most popular ASX ETFs – Which has performed best in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. 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) slid lower in August, and the share price declines continued through to early September. At the time of writing, the index is down around 1% over the past month, but is still roughly 3% higher for the year to date. 

But when the markets look weary, it’s worth looking for shares which are tipped to outperform. Here are three ASX shares that brokers are tipping to outperform the index, and they’re forecast to grow by up to 174% or more over the next 12 months.

Resmed Inc (ASX: RMD)

At the time of writing, Resmed shares have rebounded around 25% from a multi-year low in early June. But they’re still down around 11% year-to-date, and trading at $32.28 each.

The ASX healthcare sector came under fire through early 2026 as macroeconomic pressures, rising inflation, higher cost of living, and regulatory uncertainty created a sector-wide downturn. 

And ResMed was one of many ASX 200 healthcare shares caught up in the sell-off.

And the sleep disorder treatment company’s soft third-quarter earnings update in May didn’t help either. ResMed delivered an 11% (8% in constant currency) increase in revenue to US$1.4 billion. This was driven by increased demand for its portfolio of sleep devices, masks, and accessories.

But ResMed shares have bounced higher recently off the back of improved confidence around healthcare shares and a stronger fourth-quarter result last month. 

ResMed’s revenue has continued to grow at a healthy pace, and its margins have continued expanding. The company has also generated strong free cash flow. 

It looks like the ASX 200 shares are now significantly oversold and trading below fair value.

TradingView data shows the majority of brokers have a buy/strong buy rating on ResMed shares. The maximum $46.13 target price implies the shares could increase up to 43% over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie shares have stormed higher in 2026, rallying strongly in April and reaching an all-time high in early August.

At the time of writing, the shares are up around 22% for the year-to-date following a series of good-news announcements.

In late July, the investment bank posted its first-quarter FY27 update, held an AGM, and announced that Greg Ward will take over Shemara Wikramanayake as Macquarie Group CEO.

As part of its results update, Macquarie described trading conditions during the first quarter as “satisfactory”. It reported that its Banking and Financial Services segment increased its profit contribution compared with the same period last year. Deposits rose by 4% during the quarter, while home loans grew by 6% and business banking loans increased by 3%.

The results followed the company’s positive earnings results back in May. At the time, Macquarie reported a full-year FY26 net profit of $4.85 billion, up 30% from FY25. It also confirmed growth across all four of its operating divisions.

Investors are thrilled with Macquarie this year, and many are still rushing to snap up the ASX 200 shares.

And brokers see lots of potential going forward, too.

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy/strong buy rating. The maximum $290.40 target price implies the shares could jump by up to 17% over the next 12 months.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares tipped by brokers to return 17% to 43% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia 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.

New analysis from the team at Bell Potter have identified upside for ASX energy shares Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) and Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE). 

ASX energy shares have enjoyed strong returns in 2026, as robust commodity prices, strong demand and improving investor sentiment have boosted the sector.

However, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the aforementioned stocks. 

Boss Energy has actually dipped 8% year to date. 

Meanwhile, Paladin Energy has risen 11% year-to-date.

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy (ASX: XEJ) is up almost 30% year-to-date. 

Here is what’s behind the optimism for these two ASX energy shares from Bell Potter. 

Investor day reaffirms confidence for Paladin 

In yesterday’s report, Bell Potter said it remains positive on this ASX energy stock, with no changes to its modelling or earnings outlook following the company’s investor day.

The company is focused on optimising production at Langer Heinrich, while progressing Paterson Lake South (PLS) toward potential production in 2031.

The broker highlighted that Paladin has strong exposure to rising uranium prices. 

Additionally, planned 30,000m of drilling in FY27 could expand resources and mine life, providing further upside. 

Overall, Bell Potter sees the investor day as confirmation of the existing investment case rather than a reason to change its forecasts.

Based on this guidance, the broker has a buy recommendation and $14.80 price target, indicating 31% upside from current levels. 

Bell Potter isn’t the only broker with a positive outlook. 

Recently, Canaccord Genuity renewed its buy rating on Paladin Energy shares.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $15.40 to $15.80.

Boss Energy also a buy

The team at Bell Potter has also retained its buy recommendation on Boss Energy shares. 

The broker commented on the new feasibility study (NFS) from the ASX energy company for its Honeymoon operation. 

According to the report, the new well design uses fewer wells and longer uranium recovery times, which management expects will improve recovery to 90% from 80%.

Overall, the new study improves operational efficiency and recovery, but comes with higher costs and capex.

We maintain our Buy recommendation. The Honeymoon NFS provides clarity on the cost outlook and a clear pathway to steady-state production. BOE has leverage to rising uranium prices, on which we hold a positive long-term view.

The broker has an updated price target of $1.70 on this ASX energy stock, indicating 18% upside from current levels. 

The post These 2 ASX energy shares have 18-31% upside according to Bell Potter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.