Category: Stock Market

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained 5.3% in 2025, but this ASX All Ords stock has left those gains wanting.

The fast-rising stock in question is technology-led consumer lending and investment company Plenti Group Ltd (ASX: PLT).

In afternoon trade today, Plenti shares are up 0.4%, changing hands for $1.29 apiece. That sees the Plenti share price up an impressive 89.7% since 2 January.

And investors who bought at 6 January’s 52-week lows will be sitting on gains of 101.6% today.

After that kind of blistering run, you might think this ASX All Ords stock is due for a breather. But according to the analysts at Moelis Australia, it still has plenty of growth potential to fuel further outsized gains.

Here’s why.

ASX All Ords stock on the growth path

Plenti shares closed up 6.8% on 18 November after the company released its half-year results covering the six months through to 30 September.

Highlights included a 20% year-on-year increase in revenue to $149.5 million.

And the company’s loan originations of $912 million were up 46% on the prior corresponding period, with Plenti reporting a closing loan portfolio of $2.83 billion, up 24%.

On the bottom line, the ASX All Ords stock achieved a 133% year-on-year increase in cash net profit after tax (NPAT) to $12.8 million.

The company highlighted that it had successfully delivered on Horizon 1 – “GROW by doing what we do but better” – of its breakout growth strategy, and said it remains on track for a $3 billion loan portfolio by March 2026

“Plenti delivered an exceptional first half, underpinned by continued operational execution and the compounding effect of our technology-led model,” Plenti CEO Adam Bennett said on the day.

Why Moelis is bullish on the outlook for Plenti shares

Commenting on their buy rating on the ASX All Ords stock, Moelis said, “Outlook remains positive as Horizon 2 provides the next leg of growth medium-term.”

The broker added:

PLT flagged maintenance of its 2Q26 loan origination rate would see its $3.0bn loan book target achieved in 4Q26, a modest upgrade on previous guidance. The company also expect acceleration of origination growth into Horizon 2, while keeping cost to net margin below 57%, driving meaningful cash NPAT.

Moelis noted Plenti’s half-year results confirm Plenti “are executing strongly, with several initiatives we expect to continue strong loan origination growth going forward”.

According to the broker:

Management can balance NIM [net interest margin] through pricing levers plus its diversified funding mix (ABS, warehouse, retail platform). Accelerated loan book growth, below average credit losses and a step-change in growth medium-term from Horizon 2 could provide upside to our estimates.

Connecting the dots, Moelis retained its buy rating on the ASX All Ords stock with a $1.87 price target.

That’s 45% above current levels.

The post This ASX All Ords stock has more than doubled investors’ money since January. Here’s why it’s tipped to surge another 45%! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are ASX ETFs the new vehicle for easy dividend investing?
• Mesoblast shares: Bull vs. bear
• 3 defensive ASX ETFs for a rocky 2026
• This 8% ASX dividend stock pays cash every single month
• Why Morgans is bullish on these ASX tech shares

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

Dividend investing has fundamentally changed for ASX investors.

We can no longer blindly rely on the ASX 200 banks and miners to line our pockets with generous payouts.

Cameron Gleeson from Betashares says this is why Australian dividend investors are turning to high-yield ASX ETFs.

Here are three ASX ETFs tailored for dividend investing.

Keen on dividend investing? Here are 3 ASX ETF options

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

VHY is the largest ASX ETF for dividend investing on the market. It pays dividends quarterly.

This ETF aims to track the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index before fees.

This entails investments in 75 companies, 73% of which are large caps, with real estate investment trusts (REITs) excluded.

VHY ETF’s top holdings are currently BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares at 10%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) 9%, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) 7%, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) 7%, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) at 6%.

Since inception in May 2011, VHY ETF has delivered an average annual net total return of 9.69%.

The annual management fee is 0.25%.

Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD)

Betashares launched this dividend-investing-focused ETF in August. It pays dividends monthly.

The HYLD ETF seeks to track the returns of the S&P/ASX 200 High Yield Select Index before fees.

This involves 50 companies. HYLD ETF’s top holdings are currently Westpac shares at 11%, ANZ at 11%, NAB at 10%, BHP at 10%, and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) at 5%.

Betashares explains HYLD’s unique offering:

HYLD seeks to improve on traditional high-dividend strategies by aiming to screen out potential ‘dividend traps’ such as companies projected to pay unsustainably high dividend yields, as well as companies that exhibit high levels of volatility relative to their forecast dividend payout.

A dividend trap is a share with an unsustainably high dividend yield. It usually occurs because the share price has declined.

Obviously, there is no long-term performance data on HLYD ETF because it’s only been trading on the ASX for a few months.

But the index that it tracks (S&P/ASX 200 High Yield Select Index) has delivered an average annual total return of 12.64% over five years.

The management fee is 0.25% per year.

Australian Top 20 Equities Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: YMAX)

The YMAX ETF pays dividends quarterly while also trying to generate reasonable capital growth.

YMAX doesn’t track an index. Instead, it invests in the top 20 ASX shares and sells covered call options on up to 100% of its shares to generate additional income from the option premiums.

YMAX’s largest holdings are CBA shares 18%, BHP 13%, NAB 8%, Westpac 8%, and ANZ 7%.

Since inception in November 2012, YMAX ETF has delivered an average annual net total return of 6.52%.

The management fee and expenses are 0.64% of the ETF’s net asset value (NAV) per annum.

The post Are ASX ETFs the new vehicle for easy dividend investing? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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, 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.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares are trading for $2.64, down 2.94% on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is in the green today, up 0.34% at the time of writing.

The allogeneic cellular medicines developer held its annual general meeting and provided quarterly sales guidance earlier this week.

Mesoblast expects significantly higher second-quarter sales revenue due to rising demand for its flagship medicine, Ryoncil.

Ryoncil treats steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease (SR-aGvHD) in pediatric patients of two months and older.

It’s the first FDA-approved mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy in the market.

The FDA approved Ryoncil in December 2024, and Mesoblast released it to commercial clinics in late March this year.

The FDA also gave Ryoncil orphan-drug exclusive approval.

That means the FDA will not approve any other MSC therapies for SR-aGvHD for at least seven years.

An orphan drug is a treatment for rare diseases, which are defined as affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationwide in the US.

For 2Q FY26, Mesoblast expects gross revenue of more than US$30 million from Ryoncil sales, up 37% from 1Q FY26.

This month, two experts have presented their case for buying and selling the ASX biotech stock.

Let’s hear them out.

Bull case for Mesoblast shares

On The Bull this week, Nathan Lodge from Securities Vault revealed a buy rating on Mesoblast shares.

Lodge explains:

This regeneration therapy company offers growth momentum.

Mesoblast’s lead product Ryoncil achieved meaningful revenue growth and now benefits from favourable reimbursement codes in the United States.

The company holds a strong cash position of about $US145 million and offers flexibility via a $US50 million convertible note facility to fund the next growth phase.

Company commercialisation is progressing and MSB has generated a pipeline of depth.

Bear case for ASX biotech share

On The Bull last week, Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory put a sell rating on Mesoblast shares.

Wielandt said:

The company has been successful with its Ryoncil product since approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in late 2024.

I acknowledge research and development requires a lot of spending, but MSB has undertaken numerous capital raisings during its journey amid attracting short interest, where investors bet the share price will fall.

The share price can be volatile and has fallen from $3.35 on January 2 to trade at $2.305 on November 13.

I prefer more stable stocks.

ASIC’s latest short position report shows that professional traders have short positions on 7% of the Mesoblast shares on issue today.

The post Mesoblast shares: Bull vs. bear appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Mesoblast. 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.

With markets wobbling on concerns about stretched valuations, slowing global growth, and lingering inflation pressures, many investors are beginning to rethink their allocations heading into 2026.

And while nobody can predict what the next 12 months will bring, this is potentially a market where defence could matter just as much as growth.

The good news is that you don’t need to overhaul your entire portfolio to reduce risk. A handful of carefully chosen defensive ASX ETFs can help stabilise returns, smooth out volatility, and add resilience during uncertain periods.

Here are three defensive ASX ETFs that could help investors navigate a choppy year ahead.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF has characteristics that make it more resilient than many global indices. Australia’s market is dominated by banks, supermarkets, telcos and major resource companies, there are sectors that generate steady cash flows and, in many cases, pay fully franked dividends.

Holdings include Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), all of which tend to hold up better than high-growth tech stocks when markets turn volatile.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF won’t eliminate downside risk, but for investors wanting core stability and income during turbulent periods, it remains one of the most reliable foundations on the ASX.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

The consumer staples sector has long been regarded as a safe harbour for investors. People still buy groceries, household essentials, and personal care products regardless of what the economy is doing.

This is why the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF is often considered one of the most defensive ETFs out there.

Its holdings include some of the most dependable companies on the planet, such as Walmart (NYSE: WMT), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and L’Oréal (FRA: LOR). These businesses have strong brands, pricing power, and customer loyalty, making their earnings far more stable than companies tied to discretionary spending.

If 2026 turns out to be a slower, more unpredictable year for markets, the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF offers exactly the kind of balance that many portfolios may need.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

The Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF focuses on stocks with exceptional cash generation, which is a critical defence mechanism in uncertain economic conditions.

The fund selects global businesses with high free cash flow yields and strong balance sheets. Current holdings include Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Visa (NYSE: V). They all have the ability to self-fund growth, weather downturns, and avoid heavy borrowing when credit conditions tighten.

Cash flow isn’t exciting, but it is one of the best predictors of long-term resilience. This ASX ETF was recently named as one to consider buying by analysts at Betashares.

The post 3 defensive ASX ETFs for a rocky 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Visa, Walmart, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group and iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, BHP Group, Visa, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s easy to find a good dividend-paying stock on the ASX that hands out cash to its investors. But most of these only pay out every 6 or 12 months.

Finding a dividend stock that pays out money every month is a lot harder to pin down.

I’ve written before about how the BetaShares Dividend Harvester Active ETF (ASX: HVST) is a great monthly-paying stock. It has a decent upside, too. Even the Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8) and its regular payments are an ASX investor’s dream.

But there is also another monthly-paying dividend stock I have my eye on right now.

Metrics Master Income Trust (ASX: MXT)

The Metrics Master Income Trust is a listed investment trust (LIT). It doesn’t invest in a portfolio of other ASX dividend shares, but instead it has a portfolio of corporate loans and private credit investments. 

This means it is able to give its investors the advantage of direct exposure to the Australian corporate loan market. This is a space currently dominated by Australia’s regulated banks. The LIT is able to offer diversity-seeking investors an alternative investment that prioritises income stability and pays out dividends on a monthly basis.

What does the ASX dividend stock pay out?

Metrics Master Income Trust targets a return of the Reserve Bank cash rate plus 3.25% p.a. (net of fees) through the economic cycle. Distributions are paid monthly, although there is also a distribution reinvestment plan (DRP), which allows unit holders to reinvest monthly income distributions.

The ASX dividend stock’s latest payout was 1.27 cents per share in October, paid on 10 November. That means that over the past 12 months, the Metrics Master Income Trust has paid out 12 dividends that total 16 cents per share (unfranked). At the time of writing, this gives the LIT a dividend yield of 8.03%.

Its next ex-dividend date is tomorrow, 28th November, where it plans to hand out 1.24 cents per share, payable on the 8th of December. 

At the time of writing, in Thursday lunchtime trade, the Metrics Master Income Trust’s shares are 0.38% higher at $1.9625 a piece. Over the past month, the shares have climbed 1.13% but they’re still 6.12% lower than this time last year.

The LIT’s annual decline means it has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). Over the same 12-month period, the ASX 200 Index has risen 2.74%, at the time of writing.

The post This 8% ASX dividend stock pays cash every single month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX All Ords stock has more than doubled investors’ money since January. Here’s why it’s tipped to surge another 45%!
• Are ASX ETFs the new vehicle for easy dividend investing?
• Mesoblast shares: Bull vs. bear
• 3 defensive ASX ETFs for a rocky 2026
• Why Morgans is bullish on these ASX tech shares

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 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 plenty of quality options for investors in the tech sector, but which ones could be smart additions to a portfolio now?

Let’s take a look at two ASX tech shares that Morgans has been running the rule over this week and why it is speaking positively about them:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

This sports performance technology company has caught the eye of analysts at Morgans.

The broker believes that Catapult is well-positioned to grow its revenue at a strong rate in the coming years. So much so, Morgans believes that the company is destined to become a member of the coveted Rule of 40 club by FY 2027.

In light of this, the broker has initiated coverage on this ASX tech share with a buy rating and $6.25 price target. This implies potential upside of 18% for investors over the next 12 months. Commenting on its initiation, Morgans said:

Catapult Sports Ltd (CAT) is a global leader in sports performance technology that provides a comprehensive all-in-one platform for elite professional and collegiate sports. This encompasses coaching, scouting, analytics and athlete management. Initially landing with its core wearables technology, CAT has since expanded its service offering and opened up new key verticals assisting its penetration into a large addressable market of ~20k teams globally.

We forecast strong topline growth for CAT, estimating a ~20% ACV 3-year CAGR, reaching ~US$180m by FY28. A scalable platform and strong SaaS metrics should see CAT join the ‘Rule of 40’ club by FY27. We initiate coverage on Catapult Sports (CAT) with a Buy recommendation and a A$6.25 per share price target.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

Another ASX tech share that Morgans has been looking at is information technology software and services provider Objective Corporation.

The broker believes that momentum is building and it is positioned for profitable growth in the coming years. It has upgraded its shares to an accumulate rating with a $20.00 price target, which suggests that upside of 11% is possible from current levels. It said:

OCL’s recent investor day showcased the group’s product, strategy & the broader opportunity that sits across its solutions. OCL’s vision and direction is in our view clearer now vs. its inaugural event 2 years ago. We believe momentum across the business continues to build, which sees OCL well placed to deliver profitable growth in coming years. In light of the recent share price pull back, we move to an ACCUMULATE rating, with a revised PT of $20.00/sh.

The post Why Morgans is bullish on these ASX tech shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 Catapult Sports and Objective. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Objective. 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 up 0.4% in early afternoon trade today.

This comes after the benchmark Aussie stock market index closed up 0.8% on Wednesday.

That two-day boost looks to be aligned to growing expectations of a December interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve rather than any hopes for rate relief from the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Hopes that were further dashed by yesterday’s shock inflation data.

What’s happening with inflation Down Under?

ASX 200 investors appeared to largely shrug off yesterday’s shock inflation print. Whether that carefree attitude can be maintained remains to be seen.

The ABS reported that for the 12 months to October, the consumer price index (CPI) increased by 3.8%. That’s up from the already elevated 3.6% print in September and ushered in the fourth month in a row of price gains.

This was the first time the ABS transitioned from the quarterly CPI to the complete monthly CPI as Australia’s primary measure of headline inflation.

And crucially for ASX 200 investors pining for another RBA interest rate cut, the central bank’s preferred measure of trimmed mean inflation came in at 3.3%, up from 3.2% and above the bank’s top target of 3%.

Indeed, this is the highest trimmed mean inflation print we’ve seen since May.

What can ASX 200 investors expect from interest rates now?

The odds of a December RBA rate cut were already close to nil before Wednesday’s unwelcome inflation surprise.

And with inflation potentially continuing to run above the central bank’s target range, rather than seeing rate cuts pushed further out into 2026, ASX 200 investors and mortgage holders could now be facing rate increases instead.

“The RBA’s November outlook already anticipated a slow journey back to the 2% to 3% inflation target,” Farhan Badami, market analyst at eToro said.

He noted that yesterday’s data “extends the timeline to recover even further, especially given stubborn non-tradable pressures like rents and the fading effect of Rent Assistance”.

According to Badami:

This pretty much confirms the RBA’s easing cycle might be over before it really started, potentially locking in [the] cash rate through mid-2026 at least. If inflation doesn’t get any better, it could even add pressure on the RBA to increase rates.

And Badami is not alone in cautioning ASX 200 investors to position themselves for potentially higher interest rates in 2026.

Both Barrenjoey and UBS now forecast that rather than easing, the RBA will be forced to tighten monetary policy in the year ahead.

“The next RBA move is more likely to be a hike than a cut,” Andrew Lilley, chief rate strategist at Barrenjoey, said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review).

“There is now more of a trend of higher inflation, which is becoming concerning,” George Tharenou, chief economist for Australia at UBS, added.

The post What Australia’s shocking inflation print means for ASX 200 investors and interest rates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) started out as an online bookseller. But these days, it has evolved into a thriving tech titan with a presence in many industries. The business is massive, sporting a market cap of $2.4 trillion.

The stock’s long-term returns are magnificent. But they’re not as impressive on a shorter time frame. If you bought $100 worth of Amazon shares five years ago, here’s how much you’d have today.

Amazon lags the S&P 500

In the past five years, this stock has generated a return of only 43% (as of Nov. 19). This means that a $100 investment would be worth $143 today.

This gain pales in comparison to the 100% total return of the S&P 500 index. It’s worth pointing out, though, that Amazon shares skyrocketed 77% in the 12 months before (from mid-November 2019 to mid-November 2020), as it benefited from a quick recovery following the COVID-19 dip.

Nonetheless, it might be surprising to see the stock underperforming the broader index on a trailing-five-year basis.

Should you buy Amazon stock?

Amazon looks to continue its winning ways. Its revenue keeps growing, with net income rising at a much faster clip in the third quarter (ended Sept. 30). It’s a leader when it comes to artificial intelligence. And the business possesses numerous durable competitive advantages that support its dominant position.

Investors should consider buying the stock right now.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post If you’d invested $100 in Amazon 5 years ago, here’s how much you’d have today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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• If you’d invested $100 in Amazon stock 3 years ago, here’s how much you’d have today

Neil Patel 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 Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon. 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) has followed Wall Street’s lead and is pushing higher again on Thursday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.3% to 8,631.3 points.

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

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is up 5.5% to $5.35. This appears to have been driven by the release of a broker note out of Morgans this morning. According to the note, the broker has initiated coverage on the sports performance technology company’s shares with a buy rating and $6.25 price target. It said: “We forecast strong topline growth for CAT, estimating a ~20% ACV 3-year CAGR, reaching ~US$180m by FY28. A scalable platform and strong SaaS metrics should see CAT join the ‘Rule of 40’ club by FY27. We initiate coverage on Catapult Sports (CAT) with a Buy recommendation and a A$6.25 per share price target.”

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate Consolidated share price is up 2.5% to $4.22. This morning, this gold miner revealed that it has mutually agreed to terminate arbitration proceedings with the Thai government that were commenced in November 2017. Kingsgate’s CEO, Jamie Gibson, said: “This is a historic moment for Kingsgate’s investment in the Chatree Mine. I look forward to an era of renewed cooperation with the Thai Government. I believe that the continuance of operations at the Chatree Mine will deliver significant benefits to Kingsgate and its shareholders as well as to the people of Thailand. More generally, I think this development is a strong and positive signal that Thailand is open for business.”

Light & Wonder Inc. (ASX: LNW)

The Light & Wonder share price is up 5.5% to $151.55. This may have been driven by a broker note out of UBS. This morning, the broker reaffirmed its buy rating and $206.00 price target on the gaming technology company’s shares. It highlights that industry data shows that gaming revenues in the US increased strongly in October.

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

The Reece share price is up 4% to $12.75. This morning, this plumbing parts company announced a new $35 million on-market share buyback. The company’s chair and CEO, Peter Wilson, said: “We have a well-defined capital allocation framework and continue to take a long-term approach to shareholder value creation. We remain committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet with a conservative leverage ratio to fund future growth.”

The post Why Catapult, Kingsgate, Light & Wonder, and Reece shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 Catapult Sports and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are racing higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) logistics software solutions company closed yesterday trading for $65.25. In late morning trade on Thursday, shares are swapping hands for $68.75 apiece, up 5.4%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.4% at this same time.

Today’s outperformance will come as good news to longer-term shareholders, with shares in the ASX 200 tech stock still down 45% over 12 months.

Here’s what’s catching investor interest today.

What’s boosting WiseTech shares on Thursday?

WiseTech looks to be catching tailwinds on two fronts today.

First, expectations of a December interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve have shot from just 30% last week to around 80% today. That comes amid increasingly dovish comments from key Fed members, including John Williams, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Tech stocks, including WiseTech shares, are often priced with future growth in mind. Meaning they tend to perform better when investors expect rate pressures to ease.

These expectations also see the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) outperforming today, with the All Tech Index up 1.6% at the time of writing.

What else is lifting investor sentiment for the ASX 200 tech stock?

WiseTech shares also look to be getting a boost today from a new leadership announcement.

As you’re likely aware, the company faced headwinds last year and into this year amid allegations relating to inappropriate behaviours of WiseTech founder Richard White.

White stepped down as the company’s CEO in October 2024, but he remains actively involved as the company’s executive chair.

With the company recently coming back under close scrutiny from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) over potential issues involving trading in WiseTech shares by White and three company employees, investors are likely breathing a bit easier with today’s new leadership news.

In what the company said is another important step in its board renewal program, WiseTech reported that Raelene Murphy has been appointed to the board as an additional independent non-executive director.

She’ll join the board on 1 January and importantly will also become a member of the WiseTech’s Audit & Risk Committee.

Atop her 35 years of executive experience in strategic, financial, and operational leadership, the company noted that she is currently serving as independent non-executive director and Audit Committee chair of Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) and Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH).

Commenting on the appointment that could help support WiseTech shares longer-term, lead independent director Andrew Harrison said:

Her appointment marks further progress we are making in board renewal and ensuring we have the appropriate skillset mix to support WiseTech’s future growth. Raelene brings significant additional depth and expertise to the board, particularly in the areas of audit, corporate governance and Australian public company experience.

The post Why are WiseTech shares storming higher today? 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 positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.