After more than a week of constant selling, our local Aussie shares are finally catching a break on Friday.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is pushing higher, snapping an 8-session losing streak that had started to wear on sentiment.
At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.94% to 8,680 points.
Today’s rebound comes after stronger leads from overseas markets overnight, which has helped steady the tone early throughout the day.
Here’s the latest.
Wall Street gives local shares a lift
US markets pushed higher overnight, which has helped lift confidence across the ASX.
The Nasdaq climbed 0.98%, while the Dow Jones rose 1.62%, helping build momentum heading into Friday’s session.
Tech earnings have been holding up, which is giving the broader market some support even with ongoing tension in the Middle East.
Oil prices also pulled back, with Brent crude slipping back towards US$112 a barrel, easing some of the pressure around inflation.
Resources lead the rebound
The S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) is doing most of the heavy lifting, with iron ore majors and gold names pushing higher. The index is up around 2.1% intraday, which is helping drive the broader market higher.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is up 2.68%, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has added about 3.05%, while gold giant Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) is pushing closer to 2.6% higher.
The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) is also firmer, while the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index(ASX: XFJ) is more mixed. ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is down 1.09% following its latest result, while Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and the major banks are holding up better.
Across the broader market, the majority of stocks are trading higher, with around three quarters of the index in positive territory.
Foolish takeaway
After a brutal run like that, the market was always going to find some kind of support.
What stands out to me is how quickly things can stabilise once selling slows down.
There was not really a single trigger behind the bounce today. It just feels like pressure eased enough for buyers to step back in.
Even so, I am not treating this as a clear shift.
The past week showed how easily sentiment can turn, and that does not disappear after one strong session.
I am more interested in whether this holds without much resistance.
Until then, I’ll be keeping my powder dry for now.
Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?
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Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right nowâ¦
Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
There were a couple of retail trends laid bare this week.
Neither is particularly surprising, for those who’ve been keeping an eye on the market⦠but they are stark and likely to continue to be impactful. And they’re inextricably linked.
Let’s start with the topline numbers.
Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) released its third quarter sales, which included 5.9% growth for the Australian supermarket business). A pretty good result, continuing its good form from the previous quarter, but the company flagged an earnings downgrade due primarily to increased fuel costs.
Amazon (I own shares, for the record) Australia’s 2025 retail revenue hit $4.8 billion, up 25%. Interestingly, that’s a minority of the company’s overall Australian revenue, eclipsed by the remainder of its business (primarily Cloud computing, advertising and Prime subscriptions).
McDonald’s Australia did $7.5 billion in sales in 2025, up 7%.
And David Jones sold $2 billion worth of merchandise, but that was down 8%, and the company reported an almost-$100 million loss.
Those are each really interesting numbers, I reckon, for lots of company specific reasons.Â
Just the fact that Amazon’s retail business is the minority of its local revenue is fascinating (and a reminder of the growth of cloud computing in general and AI in particular). And the ongoing tussle between Woolies and Coles is always interesting to watch.
But, with the exception of Amazon (for reasons that will soon become clear!), the topline numbers aren’t the key story, I don’t reckon.
What’s fascinating to me is the ongoing surge of ecommerce. And I think many investors are still missing it.
Let’s look at each of those companies.
Woolworths’ online sales grew by over 20%, more than three times the almost-6% in total revenue growth.
Macca’s home delivery sales â through the company’s own app and other delivery apps â topped $1 billion – essentially $1 in every $7.
Amazon’s sales are obviously all online, but 25% is impressive growth on an already-massive base.
And while DJs sales fell 8%, the company’s online sales were up 10%.
Stating the bleeding obvious, online sales are growing in total, but are also growing strongly as a proportion of sales for those companies with a ‘bricks and clicks’ channel mix.
Now, it’s certain that the strong growth across each of those companies’ online operations will moderate at some point. But it could run at these or similar levels for a long while yet.
Why?
Well, online sales are starting from a low base, and so can grow at decent rates for a while; as total multichannel sales grow, and as online cannibalises physical retail.
And not just those companies’ own physical retail⦠but the retail business of those competitors who can’t, won’t or don’t manage to make that transition as successfully as others.
The impacts? They’re impossible to forecast exactly. But I think we can take a decent swing at the likely directional impacts.
We’ve already seen some predominantly or solely physical retailers go to the wall. Mosaic Brands, the parent of Millers, Rockmans, Noni B, Rivers and others, is probably the clearest example. Godfrey’s, Barbecues Galore and this week bedmaker A.H. Beard are all likely to have fallen victim â in large part, though not entirely â to this broader retail trend.
Speaking of which, I think it’s very likely that both Myer and DJs, which are sailing into stiff headwinds anyway, would have probably gone very close to collapse long before now had they not been able to secure a very decent slice of their sales through their respective websites.
(If I was to grab a crystal ball, I suspect that in a decade or so if they’re still around, they’re predominantly online businesses with a handful of CBD stores.)
And for investors?
If I’m right about the trend, the opportunity is to identify which businesses are winning, and likely to keep winning, the online race.
If they do, they’re likely to be able to grow above the market growth rate by winning online and taking sales and customers from other retailers.
I would also suggest it’s worth thinking about the end result, rather than the short term. That is, if I’m right about the end stage, companies investing now (and making less money for a while) to put themselves in a better place as that end result plays out, might be cheaper than they appear.
Real estate? I wouldn’t want to invest in mid-tier retail real estate for quids. The big ‘destination’ centres will probably be okay. The local shopping centres will be fine for now, but bear watching if/when some individual stores become unprofitable as more shopping goes online. But the mid-tier stuff, that is neither a destination, nor local? That feels really risky to me.
And the pure-play companies? If those trends above are right, and the online-only mobs can stay relevant (not something we should just assume, of course), they could have a long runway ahead.
Ecommerce has been around for a while. It’s easy to take it for granted. But I think it has a long way to play out.
1,000 reasons to celebrate!
It occurred to me the other day that I probably don’t talk about the Motley Fool Money podcast enough. Hopefully you already know about it (and hopefully you’re already listening!).
And if you don’t? Well, today might be a good time to start â because today is something of a milestone.
This afternoon, at 4.30pm AEST, we’ll publish our 1,000th episode!
Back in 2016, I got a call from Triple M, asking if we’d ever considered a podcast. Everyone is doing them these days, but back then it was a pretty new thing. Frankly, we hadn’t thought about it, but we were happy to give it a go.
(And do me a favour: please don’t go and listen to those early episodes! I haven’t relistened to them, either, but I’m pretty sure I’d be horrified!)
For some reason, Triple M liked that first episode enough to let us keep going (or perhaps just didn’t have a better option?). We’re now part of the LiSTNR podcast stable, a sister brand to Triple M.
Over the past 10 years, the podcast has ebbed and flowed, with my original co-host, Andrew Page, departing and then rejoining me, and the pod expanding to a couple of core episodes a week â our ‘regular’ Friday episode, and our originally-extra-but-now-permanent Sunday ‘mailbag’ episode.
But it’s not really about us. I wanted to thank those of you who listen regularly (more than a few of you ever since Episode 1!). You suffer our in-jokes and quirks gladly, and we really love hearing from you with questions, suggestions and even the occasional disagreement.
We hope we return your loyalty with a combination of fun, education and investing news and views.
If you’re not listening yet, why not tune in and see what you’ve been missing?
It’s free, it’s capital-F Foolish, and I hope it’ll be a regular companion to your Motley Fool membership or readership.
You can find it on iTunes, Spotify, the LiSTNR app or wherever you get your podcasts!
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Myer wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $320 calls on McDonald’s and short January 2028 $340 calls on McDonald’s. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Myer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
Capstone this week said in its quarterly report that it had recorded its sixth consecutive quarter of record EBITDA generation, “driven by solid operations and all-time high copper prices”.
The company’s total consolidated copper production came in at 47,690 tonnes, at a cost of US$2.66 per pound, compared with 53,796 tonnes at a cost of US$2.59 per pound in the first quarter last year.
The lower production was caused in part by a 35-day strike at the company’s Mantoverde mine.
Capstone also reiterated its 2026 production guidance of 200,000 to 230,000 tonnes of copper at a cost of US$2.45 to US$2.75 per pound.
Macquarie said in its report on Capstone that it was a “good start to the year under the circumstances”.
They did hint at cost issues coming down the line however, with increased diesel costs having the potential to cut US$75 million from EBITDA, the Macquarie team said.
Macquarie has a $16.40 target price on Capstone shares compared with $11.71 currently.
In Jupiter’s third quarter report the company said it had produced 849,772 tonnes of manganese and sold 839,989 tonnes, figures which Macquarie said were marginally higher than consensus estimates.
The company said it had being paying more for freight and diesel during the quarter due to the war in the Middle East, but, “manganese prices increased sufficiently to compensate for these cost increases”.
The company booked a net profit of $21 million for the quarter, up on $14.6 million the previous quarter but lower than the $28.3 million achieved in the same period the previous year.
Macquarie said in its report that the recent rally in manganese prices sets the company up for a positive end to the year.
Macquarie has a price target of 33 cents on Jupiter shares compared with 26.5 cents currently.
The company is now expecting to ship more iron ore this year, increasing its guidance from 17.1-18.8 million tonnes to 17.7-19.4 million.
The company’s mining services division also increased its guidance from 305-325 million tonnes to 330-330 million tonnes.
MinRes also increased its expected lithium production from 260-280,000 tonnes to 270-290,000 tonnes.
Macquarie said the company outperformed in terms of costs at its iron ore operations and with regards to lithium production and mining services production.
Macquarie has a price target of $75 on MinRes shares compared with $66.88 currently.
Should you invest $1,000 in Mineral Resources right now?
Before you buy Mineral Resources shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Mineral Resources wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and 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.
The company reported a 4.5% lift in group sales to $18.1 billion for the third quarter, led by strong Australian Food sales up 5.9% and a 20.2% jump in eCommerce sales.
Additional results included:
New Zealand Food sales up 1.4% (NZD), with a challenging retail environment
W Living division (BIG W and Petstock) sales up 4.8%; Petstock grew 15.9%
Group Net Promoter Score (VOC NPS) of 47, up 3 points on March 2025.
However, investors were seemingly left wanting more as Woolworths shares crashed 10% on Thursday.
At the time of writing, they have recovered just over 0.4% today.
The team at Morgans see upside potential following yesterday’s strong sell-off.
Here’s what the broker had to say.
Sales update mixed
Morgans said the 3Q26 sales trading update was mixed.
Strong sales growth was offset by softer FY26 earnings guidance for Australian Food and NZ Food, as management chose to absorb higher fuel costs and invest in pricing.
Management noted that value is becoming increasingly important, as customers become more cautious amid rising cost-of-living pressures.
We reduce group FY26-28F underlying EBIT marginally by 1%. Our target price remains unchanged at $37.30. With a 12-month forecast TSR of 12%, we upgrade our rating to ACCUMULATE (from HOLD).
From today’s share price of $34.52, this share price target from Morgans indicates an 8% upside.
Outlook mixed for Woolworths shares
Morgans noted that while absorbing higher costs and investing in pricing will weigh on margins in the near term, it believes this is the right strategy in the long-term as Woolworths works to improve its value perception with customers.Â
These are levers within management’s control, and improving sales and volume momentum indicates the strategy is resonating. In an uncertain macro environment with soft consumer sentiment, WOW’s dominant market position and relatively defensive characteristics should support steady and resilient earnings growth.
It’s worth noting that not all brokers share the same outlook for Woolworths shares.
Bell Potter downgraded the supermarket company’s shares to a hold (previously buy) following the sales results.
It also downgraded its share price target to $35.50 (previously $38.25).
The broker said food inflation looks to be returning which should be beneficial for the topline.
This looks largely offset by the margin impact of absorbing supply chain inflation, which is likely to be amplified in 4Q26e as a run rate into FY27e, where outcomes will be dependent on an easing in middle east tensions.
Should you invest $1,000 in Woolworths Group right now?
Before you buy Woolworths Group shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Woolworths Group wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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 Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week with a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1% to 8,749.8 points.
Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are climbing:
The Boss Energy share price is up 4% to $1.45. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $1.80 price target on its shares. It commented: “We maintain our Buy recommendation and target price. The critical catalyst for BOE remains the upcoming results from the wide-spaced wellfield program. BOE has leverage to rising uranium prices which we hold a positive long term view on.”
The Coles Group share price is up 2% to $22.55. Investors have been buying the supermarket giant’s shares following the release of its third-quarter sales update. Coles reported total group sales revenue of $10.7 billion for the 12 weeks to 29 March 2026, representing a 3.1% increase on the prior corresponding period. The Supermarkets division was the key driver of this growth. It delivered sales revenue of $9.8 billion, which was up 4% on the prior corresponding period. Comparable sales increased by 3.6%. Coles Group CEO, Leah Weckert, said: “We delivered another strong sales result reflecting the strength of our customer offer and disciplined execution against our strategic priorities.”
The Evolution Mining share price is up 2.5% to $12.20. This morning, this gold miner released its annual mineral resources and ore reserves statement. The company revealed that its group mineral resources have grown to 31 million ounces of gold and 4.2 million tonnes of copper. Evolution Mining’s CEO, Lawrie Conway, said: “Our Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement for December 2025 has seen Group Mineral Resources grow to 31Moz of contained gold. This demonstrates the scale and longevity of our long-life, high-quality portfolio, complemented by our current expansion studies that offer further upside. We also see clear potential to grow copper resources from the current 4.2Mt, with targeted exploration accelerating around Ernest Henry and Northparkes over the next year.”
The Mineral Resources share price is up 4% to $66.49. This may have also been driven by a bullish broker note out of Bell Potter. This morning, the broker retained its buy rating on the mining and mining services company’s shares with an improved price target of $75.00. It said: “MIN is positioned to benefit from current lithium market pricing strength, holding around 213ktpa (SC6 attributable, pre-POSCO deal completion) of offline spodumene production capacity. MIN’s mining services platform delivers a stable earnings stream that is expected to expand with internal and third-party volume growth.”
Should you invest $1,000 in Boss Energy Ltd right now?
Before you buy Boss Energy Ltd shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Boss Energy Ltd wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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.
Should you invest $1,000 in S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index Total Return Gross (AUD) right now?
Before you buy S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index Total Return Gross (AUD) shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index Total Return Gross (AUD) wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Wam Capital. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
ASX real estate stock Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP) is in focus today after the company released its 3Q26 trading update.
Cedar Woods is an Australian property development company. Its principal interests are in urban land subdivisions and built-form development for residential, commercial, and retail purposes.
Its share price shot 3% higher yesterday after its trading update, before correcting 2% lower today.
This ASX real estate stock is down 15% year to date.
What did the company report?
On Thursday, the company reported:
On track to meet FY26 guidance at 30%â35% NPAT growth â stages presold & construction complete
Fully franked interim dividend of 14.0 cps paid on 24 April 2026
442 gross sales in 3Q26; the second strongest quarter in the Company’s history
Record presales of more than $788m ($700m pcp, up 12%) provide confidence in FY27 profit growth
Over 80% of forecast FY27 revenue presold.
Managing Director, Nathan Blackburne said:
Customer enquiry remained exceptionally strong in the quarter, with 9,663 enquiries â the highest quarterly result in our history â and this continued to translate into solid sales outcomes, with 442 gross sales in 3Q, our second strongest quarter on record.
What did Bell Potter have to say about this ASX real estate stock?
Following the results, Bell Potter said FY27 is largely de-risked with fixed price construction contracts in place across various projects, and given the flagged 1H earnings skew, some confidence that the business starts the new year well.
While the market has become more challenging in recent months since the start of the Middle Eastern conflict, CWP’s balance sheet and record presales should help it to navigate what could be a trickier quarter or two coming. Trading at just 9.4x FY26 PE vs. 14.2x living sector BP coverage avg and 14.8x passive REIT peers we think CWP screens favourably given strong B/S, ability to restock and prospects for medium term growth.
Buy rating unchanged
Based on this guidance, Bell Potter has maintained its buy recommendation.
However, the broker has lowered its price target to $9.65 (previously $10.20).
From today’s stock price of $7.23, this indicates an upside potential of 33%.
As a bonus for potential investors, this ASX real estate stock also boasts a healthy dividend.
It is expected to pay a dividend yield of 5.35% and 5.6% in the next two years.
Should you invest $1,000 in Cedar Woods Properties right now?
Before you buy Cedar Woods Properties shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Cedar Woods Properties wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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.
Well, April has been and now gone, and we are, somehow, into the fifth month of 2026. After a bumpy March, April was another wild ride for investors. After ending March at 8,481.8 points, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended up closing at 8,665.8 points yesterday afternoon, putting the index’s performance for the month at a gain of 2.2%. However, those bookends mask a volatile month, which saw the ASX 200 go as high as 9,021.5 at one point. But let’s talk about Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares.
Telstra is one of the most popular ASX 200 shares on our market, particularly for dividend investors. Australians have long been drawn to this telco for its dominant market share, stable earnings base, and typically high dividend yield (which, until recently, always came fully franked).
So how did the Telstra share price fare over the month just gone?
Well, Telstra’s performance was remarkably unremarkable, especially when compared to the volatility of the broader market. The telco started April at $5.33 a share. Yesterday, those same shares closed at $5.32 each. That works out to be a monthly loss of 0.19%. Telstra did have some high and low points that were a little more varied, though.
Just two days ago, on 29 April, Telstra hit a low of $5.24 a share, the lowest the telco descended to last month. In contrast, the company’s high point came on 8 April, and saw Telstra clock $5.45 a share. That’s a difference worth about 4%.
Given Telstra’s current 52-week high is $5.46, we can say that the telco is still flying high and in demand with investors.
How much have investors made with Telstra shares?
Telstra has truly been a phenomenal investment for anyone who has bought this telco’s shares in recent years. As of today’s price ($5.35 at the time of writing), Tesltra shares are up an impressive 9.75% year to date in 2026. Over the past 12 months, the gains sit at an even more lucrative 17.7%.
Two years ago, Telstra was about $3.50 a share, meaning investors who picked up the stock back then would be sitting on a gain of roughly 50% today.
That’s approximately where investors’ five-year gains stand as well.
Should you invest $1,000 in Telstra Group right now?
Before you buy Telstra Group shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Telstra Group wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
ASX 200 stock Atlas Arteria (ASX: ALX) has eased 0.7% to $4.76 during Friday lunch hour trade. It caps off a volatile week driven by takeover speculation.
The dip comes after a sharp 13% jump on Monday, when markets reacted enthusiastically to an initial approach from IFM Investors. That early bid sparked immediate re-rating of the toll road operator, which owns stakes in major assets including the APRR toll road network in France.
Atlas Arteria is one of the world’s largest listed toll road groups, with long-term, inflation-linked cash flows supported by high-quality infrastructure assets. That predictable earnings profile has long made it attractive to infrastructure investors.
IFM Investors, already a major shareholder with a 35% stake, has been steadily increasing its interest in the remaining Atlas Arteria shares. Its latest move is not just a repeat of the initial offer of $4.75 cash per security, which may be increased by 35 cents per share if IFM’s interest rises above 45% before closing.
Today’s bid is a more refined and structured proposal aimed at progressing discussions toward a potential full acquisition. While still non-binding, the updated bid is understood to provide clearer terms and stronger intent, signalling that IFM is willing to pursue control rather than simply test valuation levels.
For Atlas Arteria shareholders, that shift matters. Early-stage takeover interest often attracts speculation, but refinements typically indicate the bidder is moving from “exploring” to “serious pursuit.”
Market excitement, then caution
The market’s reaction has followed a familiar pattern. The initial approach for the ASX transport stock sparked a strong re-rating as investors priced in takeover potential and the likelihood of a premium to market value.
But the latest update has seen some cooling, with the price of Atlas Arteria shares drifting slightly lower after the sharp Monday spike. That’s not unusual. Once initial excitement fades, investors often reassess the probability, timing, and potential price of any deal being completed.
What happens next?
The key question now is whether IFM will escalate further or move toward a binding offer.
As a major existing shareholder, IFM already has deep knowledge of Atlas Arteria’s assets and performance. That can speed up due diligence and improve confidence in valuation, but it doesn’t guarantee a deal will proceed.
Any formal offer would still require board consideration, regulatory approvals, and agreement on price. All of which could take time.
Foolish Takeaway
The ASX 200 stock remains anchored by long-term infrastructure assets and stable cash flows, which is exactly what makes it attractive in the first place.
The latest move from IFM suggests takeover interest is not fading, it’s evolving. But until a binding offer emerges, volatility is likely to continue as investors weigh speculation against fundamentals.
Should you invest $1,000 in Atlas Arteria right now?
Before you buy Atlas Arteria shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Atlas Arteria wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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.
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are attracting heightened investor interest on Friday.
Two of the large-cap ASX stocks are outperforming the 0.9% gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as we head into the Friday lunch hour, while one is lagging that performance.
Here’s why these companies are making headlines today.
Coles shares gain on revenue growth
Coles shares are up 1.6% at time of writing, changing hands for $22.47 apiece.
Investors are bidding up the ASX 200 supermarket giant following the release of Cole’s March quarter update (Q3 FY 2026).
Highlights for the 12 weeks to 29 March included a 3.1% year-on-year increase in revenue to $10.70 billion.
The company’s eCommerce division was a standout performer, with eCommerce sales up 24.8% from Q3 FY 2025 to $1.33 billion.
“We delivered another strong sales result reflecting the strength of our customer offer and disciplined execution against our strategic priorities,” CEO Leah Weckert said of the results helping lift Coles shares today.
Evolution Mining shares jump on increased gold reserves
Like Coles shares, Evolution Mining shares are also outperforming today.
Shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are trading for $12.15 each at time of writing, up 2.1%.
This follows the release of the Aussie gold miner’s Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement.
Evolution Mining reported that over the year its Mineral Resources have grown to 31 million ounces of gold and 4.2 million tonnes of copper. The miner’s contained gold increased by 900,000 ounces, or 3%.
“This demonstrates the scale and longevity of our long-life, high-quality portfolio, complemented by our current expansion studies that offer further upside,” Evolution Mining CEO Lawrie Conway.
Which brings us toâ¦
ANZ shares slip despite cash profit surge
Joining Evolution Mining and Coles shares in the financial headlines today we have ANZ.
Shares in the ASX 200 bank stock are down 1.3% at time of writing, trading for $36.16 each.
That fall comes despite ANZ reporting some solid half year results this morning.
Over the six-month period, ANZ achieved a cash profit of $3.78 billion, up 70% from the prior half.
On the passive income front, ANZ declared an interim dividend of 83 cents per share, franked at 75%. That’s in line with last year’s interim dividend.
“Our transformation is running at pace, and we are making good progress in executing our five immediate priorities safely, sustainably, and on time,” ANZ CEO Nuno Matos said.
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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.
