Category: Stock Market

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) shares are moving higher on Tuesday morning.

At the time of writing, the leading mining and infrastructure solutions provider’s shares are up 2.5% to $22.18.

Why is this ASX 200 share rising?

Investors have been buying Orica’s shares following the release of a positive first-half business update and the announcement of a new cost reduction program.

According to the release, the strong momentum seen in its business during FY 2025 has continued into the first five months of FY 2026.

As a result, the ASX 200 share expects first-half earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be slightly higher than the prior corresponding period.

Management advised that this performance reflects strong demand for its premium blasting products and advanced blasting technologies, as well as consistent operational performance across its global manufacturing network.

However, some headwinds remain. A stronger Australian dollar and lower Indonesian coal production quotas are expected to weigh slightly on earnings from the Blasting Solutions division.

Digital and chemicals divisions performing strongly

The ASX 200 share highlighted particularly strong growth in its Digital Solutions business.

Orica said increasing adoption of its digital offerings and recurring revenue growth are expected to drive an approximately 20% increase in EBIT for this segment compared with the prior period.

Meanwhile, its Specialty Mining Chemicals division is also performing well, supported by strong demand for sodium cyanide in the gold mining sector. Following upgrades to its Winnemucca production facility in the United States, Orica expects EBIT for this segment to rise by around 15% year on year.

$100 million cost reduction program

Alongside the trading update, Orica also announced a new organisation-wide program aimed at reducing its cost base. The initiative is expected to deliver at least $100 million in annualised cost savings over the next three years.

Management said the program is designed to position the ASX 200 share for the next phase of sustained profitable growth.

Orica managing director and CEO, Sanjeev Gandhi, said:

I am pleased with the strong start to the underlying business in the 2026 financial year. Our performance reflects the resilience of our business, and the strength of our integrated offering, operational reliability across our global manufacturing network and the ongoing adoption of our premium products, digital solutions and value-added services.

Despite a more volatile operating environment and increasing geopolitical complexity, we have continued to support customers by leveraging our global footprint, maintaining continuity of supply and focusing on operational excellence. Whilst market conditions remain dynamic, we’re confident in the strong fundamentals of our business and our ability to continue to execute our strategy. We remain focused on disciplined capital management and rebasing our costs while advancing our growth initiatives and delivering sustainable value for customers and shareholders.

The post Guess which ASX 200 share is storming higher on business update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Orica, Origin Energy, and Pro Medicus shares
• Broker names 3 ASX shares to buy this week

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.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) shares have been outperforming large parts of the market lately.

The healthcare stock fell 6.2% to $41.76 on Monday — yet the bigger picture tells a different story. Despite the pullback, it’s still up 18% over the past month.

Ramsay Health Care shares are comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has slipped 3.2% over the same period.

Investors are increasingly warming to Ramsay Health Care shares as signs emerge that its long-awaited earnings recovery could finally be gathering pace.

Competitive scale with ageing population

Ramsay is Australia’s largest private hospital operator, running more than 70 hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country and maintaining a large international footprint in Europe and the UK.

That scale gives the company a powerful competitive position in a sector where demand tends to grow steadily over time as populations age and healthcare needs expand.

More patients, increased case complexity

The company’s latest financial results highlighted why investors are starting to pay attention again. It reported strong first-half FY26 results, with improvements across key metrics that were well received by investors.

Revenue for the six months to 31 December 2025 rose 9.7% to $9.34 billion, driven by higher patient activity and increased case complexity across its network.

Profit for Ramsay Health Care shares also rebounded, with net profit after tax reaching $160.7 million, compared with a loss a year earlier. Underlying EBIT increased 7.3% to $536.7 million.

Exploring options for European hospital

While that level of profit growth might not appear spectacular at first glance, the market is focusing on the bigger picture. Ramsay is benefiting from improving hospital utilisation rates, stronger revenue indexation in Australia, and ongoing operational improvements.

Another factor driving optimism for the Ramsay Health Care shares is the company’s strategic repositioning. Management has been exploring options for its European hospital arm, Ramsay Santé. Investors hope that simplifying the group and focusing more heavily on core Australian operations could unlock value and improve margins in the years ahead.

Healthcare demand itself remains a powerful tailwind. With ageing populations and rising demand for surgical procedures, many analysts expect long-term patient volumes to keep increasing.

Private hospitals are a critical part of Australia’s healthcare system. Ramsay’s large network gives it significant bargaining power with insurers and the ability to spread costs across a vast operating footprint.

Labour costs main challenge

Still, the investment case for Ramsay Health Care shares is not without risk. Labour costs remain one of the biggest pressures facing hospital operators globally. Ramsay employs 90,000 staff, and wage inflation has been squeezing margins across the healthcare sector.

Investors should also remember that Ramsay’s earnings growth has been uneven in recent years. While revenue has continued to expand, profits have historically been more volatile due to cost pressures and operational disruptions.

What next for Ramsay Health Care shares?

Ramsay Health Care has returned to profitability and is expanding margins — a clear sign that momentum is improving.

Strong cash flow and rising dividends highlight tighter financial discipline, while its scale across Australia and Europe means earnings aren’t reliant on a single market. Earnings are forecast to grow strongly in the coming years. Projections suggest profits could expand by more than 30% annually as margins recover and operational efficiencies improve. 

Broker sentiment remains mixed on Ramsay Health Care shares. Across the market, the stock carries a hold rating. The average 12-month price target sits at $42.56 per share, which suggests a 2% upside.

The post Here’s why Ramsay Health Care shares have been demolishing the stock market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend
• Buy, hold, sell: HMC Capital, Ramsay Health Care, and Sigma shares
• 5 of the best ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in February revealed
• What is Morgans saying about Ramsay Healthcare and Karoon Energy shares?

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares are catching the eye on Tuesday.

In morning trade, the radiopharmaceuticals company’s shares are up 14% to $11.62.

Why are Telix shares jumping?

Investors have been bidding the company’s shares higher this morning after it released the results from part one of the ProstACT Global Phase 3 study. This is the safety and dosimetry lead-in for its therapeutic candidate, TLX591-Tx (lutetium-177 (177Lu) rosopatamab tetraxetan).

According to the release, the company has achieved its primary objectives, demonstrating an acceptable safety and tolerability profile with no new safety signals observed.

In addition, key findings include a tolerability profile supported by dosimetry and low-grade non-hematologic events, lesion dosimetry that indicates no difference in absorbed dose profile across cohorts, no adverse drug-drug interactions observed in TLX591-Tx combinations, and hematologic events are in line with expectations, transient, and manageable, with similar rates of recovery across all patient cohorts.

Telix highlights that the results from part 1 are consistent with prior clinical studies of this first-in-class lutetium radio antibody-drug conjugate (rADC) therapy.

The patient population comprised prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients previously treated with one androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI).

Telix advised that it has already advanced the study into Part 2, which is a 2:1 randomised treatment expansion, in jurisdictions where the clinical trial has obtained approval from health authorities.

Part 1 data will be presented to the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seek an Investigational New Drug (IND) amendment to progress part 2 in the U.S.

Commenting on the news, Telix’s group chief medical officer, David N. Cade, MD, said:

Despite advances in clinical practice, men with advanced prostate cancer still need improved first and second line treatment options. These results build on prior findings and highlight the potential for TLX591-Tx in combination with contemporary standard of care, to become a new first-line option for patients facing this aggressive disease. We are encouraged by the data and look forward to engaging with the FDA at the earliest opportunity, while continuing to advance enrollment in Part 2 in regions where clinical trial initiation has already been approved.

Neeraj Agarwal from the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, and the ProstACT Global Principal Investigator, said:

These results reinforce the feasibility of integrating TLX591-Tx with current standard of care therapies for mCRPC, including ARPIs such as enzalutamide or abiraterone, or docetaxel. Hematologic events align with those typically seen in this patient population and therapeutic class, and these cases resolved quickly. The dosimetry profile, along with the low-grade nature of non-hematologic adverse events, further supports the tolerability profile of this investigational therapy.

The post Telix shares jump 14% on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Telix Pharmaceuticals reports positive TLX591-Tx Phase 3 results
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 Aussie stocks primed to surge in 2026
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX 200 shares to buy and hold for a decade or more

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

So… Oil was up 27% yesterday to ~$116 a barrel.

Now down 5% to $86.

The S&P futures were down 1.8% last night, and the US market closed up 0.8% this morning.

The ASX lost 2.9%, but futures suggest we might make most of that back, today.

Thing is? It’s not unusual. Volatility is all-too common.

I don’t know what comes next. No-one does.

Instead? Focus on the long term.

Sources: OilPrice.com, Google, CommSec

Fool on!

The post What happened to the crash? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why is this ASX 200 share charging 7% higher today?
• Can these 2 ASX 200 shares bounce back after hitting fresh lows?
• Fortescue shares lifting off today amid big copper news
• Why I just invested in these 2 exciting ASX shares
• Guess which ASX 200 share is storming higher on business update

Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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.

Good news: The ASX is up 7.4% over the past 12 months, plus probably somewhere around 4% more for dividends.

So let’s call it a total gain of 11.4%, give or take.

That’s better than the market’s long term average of just over 9% (depending on your source and the start date, but it’s about right over the past 120 years (per Credit Suisse / UBS) and the last 30 (according to Vanguard).

Beauty. Pop the champagne and…

Oh? That’s not the news you’re seeing and hearing today?

You’re seeing something different? A lot of carry-on about a one-day fall?

Yeah, me too.

Which is kinda understandable, but also…  a little too short-term, I reckon.

Yes, big falls make news.

Yes, we feel the pain of losses two- or three times more than the joy we get from similar gains.

Yes, we worry that one bad day might lead to more.

Yes, sometimes that happens, and things get worse.

Yes, sometimes a lot worse… for a long time.

And yet.

And yet, the market is up over 11% over the past 12 months. Plus franking credits.

It is up 25% over the past 5 years, plus something like 20% more in dividends. (That’s 45%, close enough to 9% per annum, as as simple average. Less, compounded, but then you have to compound the dividends… so close enough for our purposes).

But that’s chicken-feed.

The Vanguard data I mentioned before?

9.3% per annum, on average, over the 30 years to 30 June 2025 (the most recent data available).

Or, if you prefer dollars rather than percentages (I do!), enough to have turned $10,000 into $143,000 (before fees and taxes).

You’d reckon that should be the headline story every day, right?

Now, the realists among you will reply with one of two thoughts. Either:

1. It wouldn’t be a headline because it’s taken 30 years to happen; and/or

2. No-one would click on it.

True, and true.

And yet, that is the far, far more useful and powerful stat, rather than worrying about what happened today.

Here’s the other thing: yes, oil was up more than 28% in a single day earlier today. That is absolutely notable.

But here’s the other thing.

The headlines say ‘Oil over $100 per barrel for the first time since…’.

The alternative headline? ‘Oil has cost less than $100 a barrel for every day in between’.

See, framing matters.

No, we’re not being taken for mugs (necessarily) by the headline writers. And they’re not wrong.

The clue is in the first three letters of the word ‘news’.

It’s not their job to provide long-term perspective. I mean, a little wouldn’t hurt, but again, the clue is in the name.

It’s our job, as investors, to bring the common sense. To bring the timeframe that’s all too often missing in the rest of the conversation.

The market probably fell 3% or more in a single day a few dozen times over the 30 years during which that 14-fold return occurred.

Each of those times would have felt scary, unsettling, and like they might be the harbinger of something worse.

Here’s the thing: sometimes they even were.

And yet, that 14-fold return was the long term return.

That is, as I’ve repeatedly written: astounding long term gains accrue despite, not in the absence of these sorts of things.

Not only that, but if you don’t remain invested, and try to guess when the next ups and downs will come, you risk missing out on those astonishing gains!

I can’t make investing anxiety-free. I can’t make the volatility go away.

I can’t tell you whether today’s falls will be a one-off, or the beginning of something worse.

And frankly, I can’t tell you if the future is going to look like the past, either.

But isn’t that the most likely outcome?

Every time the market fell, someone said ‘it’s different this time’. The circumstances might have been, but the outcomes never were.

So sure, maybe ‘it’s different this time’, but I doubt it.

Today’s falls aren’t fun. Losing money isn’t fun.

(There’s a silver lining if you’re still adding to your portfolio – prices are cheaper today! – but that doesn’t help if you’re in retirement and living off the proceeds of your portfolio.)

Tomorrow?

I have no idea what it’ll bring. Maybe things get worse. Maybe they bounce back.

The same for the next week, month and year, for that matter.

But over the long term? Well, unless we’ve hit peak human ingenuity, I suspect the market will be higher in 5 years, much higher in 10 years, and higher again in 20 and 30 years.

And if that’s true, obsessing over daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly falls is understandable… but not very productive.

I can’t make the process easy to endure, unfortunately, but I suspect that endurance will pay off handsomely.

My best advice? Learn from history, then keep your eyes on the horizon.

And I reckon the future is bright.

Fool on!

The post The good news you won’t read today – but really should appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs with a focus on global defensive shares
• Westgold Resources gives green light to $145m Higginsville expansion
• Telix Pharmaceuticals reports positive TLX591-Tx Phase 3 results
• Bell Potter names the best ASX dividend shares to buy in March
• Rotating into defensive stocks? 3 ASX companies to consider

Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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.

Amidst recent sell-offs, many investors may now be increasing their positions in global defensive shares. 

Defensive stocks are typically in specific sectors that are resilient amid economic downturn. 

With the recent conflict in the Middle East, many sectors have been heavily impacted such as materials and financials. 

As these situations develop quickly, it can be difficult to identify which companies will be directly impacted, and which are suffering from a more general “risk-off” sentiment. 

In times of global conflict, investors may decide to push towards defensive shares. 

These three ASX ETFs aim to hold companies or assets that tend to remain stable during economic downturns.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

One sector often considered a defensive one is consumer staples. 

Put simply, consumer staples are items people need rather than want. People will continue to buy these items regardless of their financial situation.

These are typically companies that produce everyday household goods such as food, beverages, and personal care products. 

Demand for these items remains relatively stable even when the economy weakens.

The iShares Global Consumer Staples fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the S&P Global 1200 Consumer Staples Sector Index. 

The index is designed to measure the performance of global consumer staples companies and may include large-, mid- or small-capitalisation stocks.

It includes blue-chip companies like Walmart (NYSE: WMT), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Nestle S.A. (XSWX: NESN). 

The fund has a strong track record, with a five year annual return of roughly 10%. 

iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ)

Much like consumer staples, healthcare is considered a defensive sector as access to medicine, hospital services etc are essential regardless of economic downturns. 

This ASX ETF from iShares is designed to measure the performance of global biotechnology, healthcare, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals companies and may include large-, mid- or small-capitalisation stocks.

It includes exposure to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. 

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

Rather than targeting a particular defensive sector, this fund from Betashares includes 40 companies. 

These companies are chosen based on ‘quality’ metrics of high return on equity, low leverage and relative earnings stability.

High-quality companies often perform more defensively because they tend to have stronger balance sheets and resilient earnings. 

According to Betashares,it has tended to have different sector weightings to benchmark Australian equities indices, with higher exposure to sectors such as consumer discretionary and lower exposure to the materials (mining) sector. 

It’s important to note this focuses on Australian companies rather than global stocks. 

So far, the strategy of this fund has paid off, as it has risen almost 12% in the last year. 

The post 3 ASX ETFs with a focus on global defensive shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 excellent ASX ETFs flying under the radar
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• The $10,000 ASX share portfolio I’d build for a 25-year-old today
• 3 ASX ETFs for beginner investors to buy in March

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 positions in and has recommended iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) share price is in focus the company’s board approved a $145 million plan to expand the Higginsville Processing Hub, aiming to boost gold output and lower processing costs.

What did Westgold Resources report?

• Board approval for $145 million investment in Higginsville Expansion Plan (HXP), lifting plant capacity from 1.6Mtpa to 2.6Mtpa (up 62.5%)
• Gold production from the Southern Goldfields expected to increase by around 60,000 ounces per year to reach 160,000oz per annum
• Processing costs to fall 24% from ~$45/t to $34/t
• Pre-tax NPV of $1.4 billion at US$4,905/oz gold price, or $2.7 billion at current spot prices
• Pre-tax IRR of 43% at $4,905/oz, rising to 140% at spot
• Payback period between 12 and 21 months depending on gold price

What else do investors need to know?

The expansion follows a thorough Definitive Feasibility Study confirming both the technical and financial case for increasing Higginsville’s capacity. The project’s design includes new crushing, milling, and leaching infrastructure, with some equipment future-proofed for a potential further scale-up to 4Mtpa if needed.

Construction is set to begin in FY27, with commissioning and expanded gold production expected from mid-FY28. Westgold’s project team is now focused on procuring long-lead items and finalising engineering, procurement, and construction contracts.

What did Westgold Resources management say?

Westgold Managing Director and CEO Wayne Bramwell said:

The Higginsville Expansion Plan (HXP) is the next step to drive down unit costs and increase Group free cash flow from the Southern Goldfields. By expanding the Higginsville mill capacity to a nominal 2.6Mtpa we are creating a more productive, lower-cost processing hub to match the growing outputs from our Beta Hunt mine. This will see us deliver higher Group gold production at a lower cost, in line with our 3-Year Outlook.

What’s next for Westgold Resources?

With the investment decision now locked in, Westgold’s short-term focus will be on securing equipment and progressing tenders to prepare for construction. The company also continues to invest in exploration at the nearby Fletcher Zone, which could support future expansions.

The new infrastructure is designed to handle even greater throughput if recent regional discoveries and resource upgrades justify further growth. Westgold remains committed to delivering improved margins and free cash flow by scaling up its best-performing assets.

Westgold Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Westgold Resources shares have risen 145%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Westgold Resources gives green light to $145m Higginsville expansion appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Telix Pharmaceuticals reports positive TLX591-Tx Phase 3 results
• Air New Zealand suspends earnings guidance as jet fuel prices soar
• Thinking of selling your ASX shares today? Here’s why it would be a big mistake
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why almost every ASX sector is falling in today’s market sell-off

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) share price is in focus today after the company released encouraging Part 1 results from its global Phase 3 ProstACT study of TLX591-Tx, its novel prostate cancer therapy. Key results showed the therapy demonstrated an acceptable and manageable safety profile, with no new safety signals and sustained tumour uptake across patients.

What did Telix Pharmaceuticals report?

• ProstACT Global Phase 3 (Part 1) met key objectives for safety, pharmacokinetics, and dosimetry.
• No new safety signals or adverse drug–drug interactions were observed in the study.
• Low radiation exposure to salivary glands and kidneys, supporting tolerability.
• Most prevalent side effects were fatigue (53%), nausea (28%), and dry mouth (25%), with nearly all cases being mild or moderate.
• Platelet counts recovered to safe levels on average 15 days after treatment nadir.

What else do investors need to know?

The ProstACT Global study enrolled 36 patients with advanced prostate cancer, all of whom received two doses of TLX591-Tx in combination with standard therapies. Thirty-two patients remain alive, and 26 are continuing in the trial.

Telix emphasised that TLX591-Tx offers a patient-friendly, two-dose regimen, aiding treatment compliance and integration with existing standards of care. The therapy’s pharmacokinetic profile showed sustained tumour retention and consistent results across different patient cohorts.

What’s next for Telix Pharmaceuticals?

With Part 1 complete, Telix is seeking regulatory clearance to begin Part 2 of the Phase 3 trial in the US. Enrolment is already under way in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, with further approvals obtained in Asia and Europe.

The company plans to continue expanding the study globally, with the ultimate goal of demonstrating long-term clinical benefit and securing approval for TLX591-Tx as a new treatment option for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Telix Pharmaceuticals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Telix Pharmaceuticals shares have declined 63%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Telix Pharmaceuticals reports positive TLX591-Tx Phase 3 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Westgold Resources gives green light to $145m Higginsville expansion
• Air New Zealand suspends earnings guidance as jet fuel prices soar
• Thinking of selling your ASX shares today? Here’s why it would be a big mistake
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why almost every ASX sector is falling in today’s market sell-off

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

There are a lot of ASX dividend shares out there for income investors to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at two that Bell Potter thinks could be among the best to buy in March.

Here’s what it is recommending to clients:

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

Bell Potter thinks this agribusiness company could be a top pick for income investors.

The broker continues to believe that the market is undervaluing its Delta acquisition and thinks the ASX dividend share looks cheap at 12x forward earnings. It explains:

Elders is a leading Australian agribusiness and rural services company. It has an expansive network across Australia, providing a diverse range of services to rural and regional Australia, including livestock and wool agency and marketing, real estate services, agricultural supplies, financial services, and insurance. Elders supports primary producers across various sectors like livestock, cropping, and wool, and also operates a feed-lotting business.

We see value in ELD, particularly with the market appearing to undervalue the pending Delta acquisition. The base business is performing well with multiple growth drivers including recovery from drought conditions, system modernisations, and backward integration benefits. We are attracted to ELD’s valuation, which is relatively cheap at 12x 12MF P/E, along with these potential upside catalysts and a strong dividend yield.

As for income, forecasting fully franked dividends of 39 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 45 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $6.99, this equates to dividend yields of 5.6% and 6.4%, respectively.

Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)

Another ASX dividend share that could be a buy according to Bell Potter is furniture retailer Nick Scali.

The broker likes the company due to its expansion in the UK, which it sees as a key growth driver in the coming years. It said:

Nick Scali is an Australian retailer specialising in household furniture and related accessories, operating under the core Nick Scali brand as well as the Plush banner. >90% of sales are completed in-store, with the company maintaining a substantial physical presence with over 100 showrooms across Australia and New Zealand, and has recently expanded into the UK, which now contributes around 8% of total revenue.

Looking ahead, the key growth drivers include the continued roll-out of Nick Scali stores in the UK, supported by the refurbishment of acquired Fabb locations, and the ability to leverage the group’s established supply base to drive scale efficiencies and margin expansion.

With respect to income, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 61.9 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 75.1 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on the current Nick Scali share price of $16.97, this would mean dividend yields of 3.65% and 4.4%, respectively.

The post Bell Potter names the best ASX dividend shares to buy in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I’d buy 3,033 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $200 a month of passive income
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• These ASX 200 shares could rise 25% to 50%
• Bell Potter just updated its guidance on these ASX 300 shares
• 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week

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

With markets facing strong volatility over the last couple of weeks, investors might now be shifting focus to defensive shares. 

Defensive stocks are typically shares in established, dividend-paying companies that generate relatively stable profits regardless of broader economic conditions. 

They are commonly found in sectors such as consumer staples, healthcare, utilities, and parts of the food and beverage industry. 

The argument for these companies is simple. 

Everyday consumers still need these essential goods and services regardless of broader economic factors. 

As a result, demand for their offerings tends to remain relatively steady during downturns.

If you are focussed on gaining exposure to these kinds of companies, here are three to consider. 

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

As of 2025, Woolworths was the leading supermarket choice for 34% of Australians. 

This market share puts the company in a strong position amidst broader economic headwinds. 

Woolworths shares are often referred to as defensive shares, as the share price can act as a potential buffer against economic downturn given the nature of its primary business activities. 

Even in an economic downturn, there is still demand for food, toiletries, and other essentials.

Furthermore, the company has just come off a robust earnings season, posting strong results leading to increased investor confidence. 

The share price is subsequently up nearly 19% thanks to these results. 

It also recently increased its dividend.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban is one of the world’s largest toll-road operators, managing and developing urban toll-road networks in Australia and North America.

These toll roads are a key part of daily transport networks in cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as parts of North America. 

Because commuters, freight vehicles, and businesses rely on these roads for everyday travel and logistics, traffic volumes tend to remain relatively stable even during periods of economic weakness.

Another reason Transurban is seen as defensive is its predictable and long-term revenue structure.

The company typically holds long-duration concessions to operate toll roads, often lasting several decades. These agreements provide visibility over future earnings, and many include mechanisms that allow toll prices to increase annually, sometimes linked to inflation.

It also posted strong results in February, reinforcing its market strength and reliable earnings. 

This ASX defensive stock is up a healthy 9% over the last 12 months. 

Cobram Estate Olives Ltd (ASX: CBO)

Another consumer staples stock worth considering is Cobram Estate. 

It is a producer and marketer of premium quality extra virgin olive oil. It owns two Australian brands, Cobram Estate and Red Island, which account for about half of the olive oil market share in Australian supermarkets by value.

While it’s less of an essential item compared to the previous two defensive stocks above, it has a positive outlook from analysts. 

Additionally, it operates with a vertically integrated business model. Cobram Estate manages much of the production process itself—from growing olives in large-scale groves to processing and packaging olive oil.

This can help manage costs more effectively than companies relying on third-party growers or external suppliers for raw materials and production

After surging 100% higher in 2025, it has since lost ground. 

Analysts are projecting a 9% increase over the next 12 months. 

The post Rotating into defensive stocks? 3 ASX companies to consider 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 positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.