Category: Stock Market

Yesterday, Zimplats Holdings Ltd (ASX: ZIM) reported that it had more than doubled its revenue to US$641.8 million for the half year ended 31 December 2025.

What did Zimplats report?

• Revenue: up 83% to US$641.8 million (H1 FY2025: US$350.2 million)
• Profit after tax: up 3376% to US$143.7 million (H1 FY2025: US$4.1 million)
• Profit before income tax: US$203.4 million (H1 FY2025: US$8.9 million)
• Basic/diluted earnings per share: 134 cents (H1 FY2025: 4 cents)
• No interim dividend was declared for the half year
• Net tangible assets per share: up 9% to US$20.92 (H1 FY2025: US$19.16)

What else do investors need to know?

Production volumes of platinum group metals increased across the board, with 6E ounce output up 13% to 316,765 ounces and sales volumes also rising. The improved result was largely due to higher global metal prices and higher volumes, while cost of sales climbed 31% as labour, maintenance and royalty costs increased with revenue.

The board maintained a cautious approach to capital management, opting not to pay a dividend this half. Zimplats ended the period with US$145.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, a substantial improvement from the US$41.4 million held at the end of the previous corresponding period.

What did Zimplats management say?

Chief Executive Officer Alex Mhembere said:

Safety remains our unwavering priority, and I am proud of the significant strides we have made toward our zero-harm goal. The improvement in platinum group metal prices has strengthened our position, enabling us to focus on operational excellence and sustainable growth. Our investments in innovation, including the solar plant and smelter expansion operations, continue to deliver value and resilience. Together, we are building a stronger, safer, and more sustainable future—one that thrives on excellence and creates lasting value for all stakeholders.

What’s next for Zimplats?

Looking ahead, Zimplats is continuing with major capital projects to expand production and improve sustainability. Construction of mine replacements and upgrades is on track, with further investment in smelter expansion and renewable energy. The solar plant roll-out will continue, with the next phase forecast for completion in the first half of FY2027.

The company says it remains focused on operational excellence, keeping safety front of mind and aiming for reliable growth. There were no material events after period end impacting the outlook.

Zimplats share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Zimplats shares have increased 66%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Zimplats Holdings: Profit surges, no dividend for half year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

When I look for buy-and-hold investments, I’m not necessarily chasing the fastest quarterly growth.

I’m looking for businesses with large addressable markets, recurring revenue, and operating leverage that can play out over many years.

Right now, three ASX stocks stand out to me for those reasons.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne might not grab headlines like some global SaaS giants, but I think it’s one of the most consistent software businesses on the ASX.

The company provides enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to government, education, and corporate customers. These are mission-critical systems. Once embedded, they are rarely replaced.

What I like most is the quality of earnings. Recurring revenue continues to rise as the company transitions customers to its SaaS platform. Churn is low, margins are strong, and management has a clear long-term strategy.

TechnologyOne has also been expanding into the UK market, which gives it a new growth runway beyond Australia and New Zealand. If it can replicate its domestic success offshore, earnings could scale meaningfully over the next decade.

For me, this is a classic compounding business: steady, profitable, and quietly growing.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult operates in a very different market, but I think the long-term opportunity is compelling.

The company provides performance analytics and wearable technology to professional and collegiate sports teams globally. Its platform integrates coaching, scouting, athlete monitoring, and analytics.

Among its customers are many of the most successful sports teams from across the globe.

What makes Catapult attractive to me is the recurring revenue model. As teams adopt the platform, they tend to stick with it, and average contract values can expand over time as additional modules are added.

The addressable market is still relatively underpenetrated, particularly across smaller leagues and international markets. If Catapult continues converting teams and scaling its SaaS metrics, I believe earnings growth could accelerate.

It’s not without risk, but as a smaller-cap growth name, I see genuine upside if execution continues.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport gives exposure to the ongoing shift toward cloud computing and software-defined networking.

The company enables businesses to connect directly to major cloud providers through a flexible, on-demand platform. As enterprises move more workloads into the cloud, demand for scalable, low-latency connectivity should grow.

Megaport has faced volatility and operational resets in the past, but I think the underlying industry tailwinds remain intact. Cloud adoption is still expanding, and enterprises increasingly value flexibility over fixed infrastructure.

If management can execute consistently and improve profitability while continuing revenue growth, I believe sentiment could shift significantly. It also boosted its addressable market with the recent acquisition of Latitude.

Over a long-term horizon, I think the combination of structural demand and operating leverage could make this an attractive buy-and-hold growth story.

Foolish Takeaway

Buy-and-hold investing works best when the businesses themselves are still growing.

TechnologyOne offers steady, recurring software compounding. Catapult provides scalable sports technology exposure. Megaport taps into cloud and network infrastructure growth.

Each carries risk, but over a 5 to 10-year horizon, I think these growing ASX stocks have the ingredients to become very successful long-term investments.

The post Why I think these growing ASX stocks could be strong buy-and-hold investments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Fund manager reveals views on Life360, Catapult, and Xero shares amid tech turmoil
• This oversold ASX stock is so cheap it’s crazy
• Why ASX tech shares still deserve a place in your portfolio in 2026
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, Megaport, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you have $1,000 ready to invest next month, you do not need to overthink it.

At that level, the goal is not precision timing. It is gaining exposure to powerful long-term themes while spreading risk sensibly. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) make that easy, giving you access to entire sectors and strategies with a single trade.

Here are three ASX ETFs to consider in March.

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF offers a focused way to back Australia’s homegrown tech names.

Rather than buying one or two ASX tech shares, this ETF spreads exposure across a range of local technology businesses involved in areas such as accounting software, fintech, and enterprise platforms.

Holdings include companies such as WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE).

Australian tech shares have experienced significant volatility recently amid AI disruption concerns, but many of these businesses continue to grow revenue and expand internationally.

This could make it a great time to gain exposure to this side of the market. And with the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF, investors can do so without having to pick a single winner.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

If you prefer something steadier, the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF could be worth considering in March.

Instead of targeting hype-driven growth, this ASX ETF screens for companies generating strong free cash flow. That cash can be reinvested into the business, returned to shareholders, or used to strengthen the balance sheet.

The portfolio includes global heavyweights such as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Visa (NYSE: V), and ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML). These companies convert a meaningful portion of revenue into real, usable cash.

Over long periods, businesses that consistently produce cash tend to be more resilient when economic conditions tighten. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

For investors looking for something more thematic, the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF provides investors with easy access to the global gaming ecosystem.

This is not just about console makers. The fund holds companies across hardware, software, and chip design, including Nintendo, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA).

Gaming has evolved from a niche hobby into one of the world’s largest entertainment industries. Digital downloads, online services, and in-game purchases have created recurring revenue streams for leading developers and publishers.

Over time, as younger generations grow up in digital environments, gaming and esports could become even more embedded in mainstream culture. This bodes well for the fund’s holdings.

It was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

The post Where to invest $1,000 in ASX ETFs next month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Technology One, Visa, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Electronic Arts and Nintendo. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Technology One, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There have been some big result releases this week from popular ASX shares.

Let’s see what analysts at Morgans are saying about them after reviewing their numbers:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Morgans was pleased with this travel agent’s performance during the first half. It notes that its net profit before tax came in stronger than expected thanks to an impressive corporate result and a better than feared leisure result.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating with a new price target of $18.05. It said:

FLT’s 1H26 NBPT was up 4.1%, a beat on guidance for a flat result. The Corporate result was the highlight with NPBT up 20%, while Leisure was better than feared down only 4%. The 3Q26 is off to a strong start and importantly Leisure is back in growth. FY26 guidance was reiterated. We have made minor upgrades to our forecasts. FLT’s fundamentals remain attractive (FY27 PE of 10.6x) and we retain a Buy recommendation with a new A$18.05 price target.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Another ASX share that outperformed expectations was logistics software provider WiseTech.

The broker also highlights that management has unveiled a plan to leverage AI to bring its EBITDA margins back to 50%. It said:

WTC’s 1H26 result was a modest beat to MorgF/Consensus with Revenue of US$672m (~2% ahead MorgF/consensus), Underlying EBITDA was US$252.1m (margins of 38%) and Underlying NPATA was US$114m, ~3% ahead of consensus of US$111.0m.

FY26 guidance was reiterated, however the next phase of WTC’s AI-led transformation came as a surprise with the group targeting a material head count reduction over FY26/FY27 as it leans into companywide Ai adoption to drive cost and workflow efficiencies on the path to a return to 50% EBITDA margins.

Morgans has retained its buy rating on WiseTech shares with a reduced price target of $83.60 (from $112.50).

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Woolworths also delivered a half-year result that was ahead of expectations.

However, Morgans wants to see further evidence of consistent execution before it will become more positive. As a result, the broker only rates its shares as a hold with an improved price target of $37.30 (from $28.25). It said:

WOW’s 1H26 result overall was above expectations, with productivity and cost efficiencies a key highlight as all divisions delivered improved margins. Management said competition remains elevated and customers continue to be value-focused.

While there were tentative signs of improving customer sentiment toward the end of CY25, persistent inflation and rising interest rates have led customers to revert to finding ways to save. We increase FY26-28F underlying EBIT by between 0-3%. While 1H26 performance was solid, we would prefer to see further evidence of consistent execution before moving to a more positive view on the stock.

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

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global and Woolworths Group. 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 and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares roared higher on Thursday, closing the day at $168.63.

This leaves the mining giant’s shares close to a record high.

While this is great for shareholders, it could mean the rest of us have missed the boat on this one.

But never fear, Bell Potter has named another ASX copper stock with major upside potential.

Which ASX copper stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is bullish on is Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX: AIS).

It was pleased with its half-year results release this week but concedes that it fell short of consensus estimates. The broker said:

AIS has released its 1HFY26 financial report, with key metrics in-line with our forecasts but a miss vs consensus. Key metrics included: revenue: $306m vs BPe $299m (cons. $311m); EBITDA: $116m vs BPe $114m (cons. $128m); NPAT: $48m vs BPe $53m (cons. $72m). Following an equity raise during the period and debt repayment, AIS is now debt free. At end December AIS held cash and metal receivables of $113m with nil drawn debt for net cash $113m. This was up from a net cash position of $14m at end June 2025.

Overall, the broker felt that this was a good result from the ASX copper stock. It adds:

We view this as a good result, with the financial performance reflecting the strengthening outlook for the business and demonstrating earnings leverage to rising copper and gold prices. EBITDA margins lifted to 37% from 28% vs PcP as a result of good cost control and rising copper and gold prices. Operating cash flow lifted 67%, to $97.3m from $58.3m vs PcP. Earnings lifted by 62% vs the PcP, to $48m as this performance flowed through.

We point out that new / current AIS shareholders have the benefit of historic tax losses. On our forecasts we do not expect AIS to pay cash tax until 2HFY27. AIS has maintained its FY26 guidance, implying strong production growth and steady costs to finish the year.

Big returns could be on the way

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and 90 cents price target on Aeris’ shares.

Based on its current share price of 53 cents, this implies potential upside of 70% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

AIS is a copper-dominant producer, with its near-term outlook highly leveraged to the copper price, increasing production at Tritton and gold production at Cracow. Tritton is a strategic regional asset and potential corporate target, in our view. With upside to our Target Price supported by low valuation multiples it remains a key pick for CY26. Our Target Price of $0.90/sh is unchanged on this update and we maintain our Buy recommendation.

The post Why this ASX copper stock could be a better buy than Rio Tinto appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed yet another record-breaking session this Thursday, continuing a momentous week for ASX shares and the Australian share market.

After launching into positive territory with gusto this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire day there, closing 0.51% higher at 9,175.3 points. That’s after the index clocked a new all-time high of 9,202.9 points during intra-day trading.

This euphoric session for Australian investors follows a similarly happy morning over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising 0.63%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more enthusiastic, gaining a solid 1.26%.

But let’s return to the local markets now and dive deeper into how today’s market optimism has trickled down into the different ASX sectors.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, Megaport, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Generation Development Group, Pro Medicus, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) has released its half-year results today, and with them, it announced another fully franked dividend for shareholders.

Let’s break down what was declared, how it compares to prior payouts, key dates to remember, and what it could mean for income investors.

Qantas reports profit growth

Qantas delivered an underlying profit before tax of $1.46 billion, up 5.1% or $71 million on the prior corresponding period.

Underlying earnings per share increased 7% to 68 cents. Statutory profit after tax came in at $925 million.

Management advised that it continues to benefit from strong domestic travel demand, improved on-time performance, growing loyalty earnings, and the ongoing fleet renewal program.

The Qantas dividend

In light of its strong profits, the board approved a fully franked interim dividend totalling $300 million for the half, which equates to 19.8 cents per share.

While this is a decline on what was paid a year ago, it is important to note that last year’s interim dividend and final dividend included special dividends of 9.9 cents each.

Excluding those special dividends, the comparable base dividends were 16.5 cents per share each. On that basis, the latest 19.8 cent dividend represents a sizeable increase of 20% over the prior corresponding period.

But the capital returns did not stop there. In addition to the dividend, Qantas announced a further on-market share buyback of up to $150 million. This takes total shareholder returns for the half to $450 million.

When will it be paid?

The interim dividend will be paid to eligible shareholders on 15 April.

Qantas shares will trade ex-dividend before then on 11 March. The ex-dividend date is the cut-off day after which new buyers are no longer entitled to receive the upcoming dividend.

This means you must own Qantas shares before they trade ex-dividend to receive this payment.

What does this mean for dividend yield?

The Qantas share price ended today’s session at $9.67.

Based on the interim dividend of 19.8 cents per share alone, this implies a half-year dividend yield of approximately 2%.

If Qantas were to pay a matching 19.8 cent final dividend with its full-year results, consistent with last year’s base dividend structure, total FY 2026 dividends would come to 39.6 cents per share.

At a $9.75 share price, that would represent a forward fully franked dividend yield of almost 4.1%.

The post Everything you need to know about the latest Qantas dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Two of the most popular options in the resources sector are Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares.

These two giants feature in countless portfolios across Australia and internationally.

But are they in the buy zone right now? Let’s see what analysts at Morgans are saying about the two large-cap resources shares.

Fortescue shares

The team at Morgans was pleased with Fortescue’s performance during the first half of FY 2026.

This was particularly the case for the hematite business, which it notes delivered a 5% beat to its operating earnings estimate. However, it concedes that these earnings are then being spent on activities that currently generate zero returns, which is compressing its free cash flow conversion.

In light of this, the broker has seen enough value to upgrade Fortescue’s shares, but only to a hold rating with a price target of $20.60. This is just a touch below where the iron ore miner’s shares are trading at the time of writing.

Commenting on the company, Morgans said:

The hematite business delivered a 5% EBITDA beat; the problem is what happens to the cash after that. A strong hematite result, but 43% of group capex is directed to activities generating zero current earnings, compressing FCF conversion to 48% and ROCE to 19%. NPAT miss reflects rising capital intensity, with a sharp rise in D&A. Dividend solid at A$0.62/share. Post recent pullback we upgrade to HOLD.

Woodside shares

Morgans is much more positive on Woodside and sees value in its shares at current levels.

The broker felt that the energy producer delivered a full-year result that was strong, highlighting that both its net profit after tax and dividend were ahead of consensus estimates.

In addition, it was pleased to see the company outperform on operating expenses and debt levels.

So, with oil prices recovering and management delivering on project developments, the broker thinks investors should buy Woodside shares today.

It has retained its buy rating with an increased price target of $30.50 (from $29.80). Based on its current share price of $27.96, this implies potential upside of 9.1% for investors over the next 12 months. It also expects a 5.1% dividend yield in FY 2026, bringing the total potential return beyond 14%.

Commenting on Woodside, the broker said:

A strong CY25 result, coming in ahead of consensus on both NPAT and dividend. Yet another half where WDS outperforms on opex and net debt balance. We see a clear case for value upside remaining in WDS, from a recovering oil price, solid project delivery and FCF harvest as projects come on (CY27-29). We retain our BUY rating, with an upgraded A$30.50 (was A$29.80).

The post Why Fortescue was upgraded and Woodside shares could be a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. 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 tech shares are leading the market on Thursday, up 4.3% amid a new record for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The tech sector has been in turmoil for several months.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen by more than 40% over a six-month period.

Last year, investors were worried about stretched stock valuations and whether mega capex on artificial intelligence (AI) would pay off.

This year, investors are fearful that AI might end up replacing, or at least seriously undermining, software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies.

Earlier this month, Anthropic’s new legal plug-in for its agentic AI assistant, Claude, sparked fears of a global ‘SaaSpocalypse’.

Within a week, shares in Thomson Reuters, whose SaaS platforms Westlaw and Practical Law serve legal professionals, were down 22%.

Portfolio manager Ron Shamgar from Australian fund manager, Tamim, explains the threat:

The core fear: AI agents could replace human workflows, eroding seat-based/per-user pricing models that underpin SaaS giants.

One AI agent might handle tasks previously requiring multiple licensed users, enabling in-house builds or cheaper alternatives. 

The Saas-specific fear is particularly problematic for ASX tech shares because four of our six largest companies are SaaS providers.

They are: logistics software platform provider WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), accounting software platform provider, Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) ERP software provider, TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), and family location app developer, Life360 Inc (ASX: 360).

Significant price movements in a sector’s largest companies tend to drag the whole sector down, impacting broader investor sentiment.

Volatility this month

Amid ASX earnings season this month, some ASX tech shares have rebounded after positive news reassured the companies’ investors.

Fund manager, Blackwattle, said a “better-than-expected” trading update from Life360 led to a 27% share price jump on 23 January.

Last week, TechnologyOne shares soared by more than 20% after the company upgraded its FY26 guidance at the annual general meeting.

Yesterday, Wisetech shares leapt 11% after management reported a 76% revenue surge in 1H FY26, while also speaking of “a deep AI transformation” that would see 2,000 jobs cut in FY26 and FY27.

Last week, we saw a 7% bounce back for ASX tech shares.

On Monday and Tuesday, the tech index fell 7.9%. Yesterday, it surged 5.75%.

Today, we’re seeing another lift — up 4.3%.

Anyone dizzy yet?

Fundie describes ‘indiscriminate’ ASX tech share sell-off

The portfolio managers at Blackwattle Investment Partners have been busily assessing how to protect their clients from the tech sector rout while also seizing opportunities to buy good-quality companies cheaply.

Blackwattle mid-cap portfolio managers Tim Riordan and Michael Teran explained:

The speed and magnitude of the improvement in agentic AI surprised us, and we have reconsidered our views on some of the technology holdings in the portfolio.

The indiscriminate sell-down across ASX technology stocks has provided the fund the opportunity to redirect capital to technology businesses which have stronger barriers, namely network effects, at highly discounted valuations.

There were several portfolio changes in January, reflecting our change in view of AI disruption.The changes are focused on avoiding downside earnings risk and seeking Quality companies with earnings upside risk.

As ASX tech share investors seek clarity around AI, it’s interesting to learn how the professionals view some of their tech holdings today.

Xero shares

Riordan and Teran said Xero shares were the largest negative contributor to the mid-cap fund’s performance in January, falling 18%.

They commented:

XRO fell 18% in January as technology stocks sold off globally on AI fears, which are seemingly reaching crescendo levels, following further releases of agentic AI models.

The new releases of AI agents have shown significant improvement in the space of recent weeks and their current trajectory could be highly disruptive to legacy technology companies.

XRO had been a solid performer until mid-2025, but the acquisition of the loss-making Melio business created uncertainty for investors, which has now been compounded by AI fears.

Short term, the managers expect Xero to remain a market-leading, global accounting SaaS software provider with strong financial metrics.

But they add:

However, the recent AI agent updates have created significant disruption implications, and it has become difficult to have confidence in the terminal value of some legacy technology companies.

As such we have focused the portfolio on those which we assess to have the strongest network effects.

Life360 shares

Joe Koh and Elan Miller, who run Blackwattle’s large-cap quality fund, speak highly of Life360 shares despite their 26.5% year-to-date fall.

Life360 (360) was once again a major detractor from Fund performance [in January], despite a sound (and better-than-expected) trading update which initially saw the stock up 27% on the day.

Nevertheless, 360 gave up virtually all its share price gains in the subsequent week (and more in February), as the market indiscriminately – in our view — sells down any technology stock that has any risk of being disrupted by AI.

We continue to believe that 360 has an extremely strong franchise with multiple, long-term growth options and – perhaps just as importantly – is executing very well.

ASX tech share bought during rout

Blackwattle’s small-cap fund managers, Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren, bought Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) in November.

The managers said:

We took our initial position in November as the share price dropped 45% from its October high after reporting its interim result.

The result showed strong operational performance; however, the company guided near-term earnings per share impacts as it funds recent acquisitions.

Hawkesford and Broeren have a positive long-term view of this ASX tech share.

… recent acquisitions strengthen the company’s competitive advantage and should accelerate market share gains from weaker competitors.

Shares in the company remained volatile in January, however we see these prices as attractive and will look to average into the position.

The post Fund manager reveals views on Life360, Catapult, and Xero shares amid tech turmoil appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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, Life360, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Thomson Reuters. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, Life360, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. 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 have been rebounding this week.

But if you thought the gains were over, think again.

That’s because the team at Bell Potter believes the logistics software provider’s shares could rise strongly from current levels.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was pleased with WiseTech Global’s performance during the first half, noting that its revenue and earnings were a touch ahead of expectations. It said:

1HFY26 revenue of US$672m was 4% ahead of our forecast and 3% above VA consensus. Statutory EBITDA of US$252m was 1% above our forecast and 3% ahead of VA consensus. NPAT of US$68.2m was not comparable with our forecast as we had not included acquired amortisation of US$41.0m. Interim dividend of US6.8c ff was modestly ahead of our forecast of US6.7c ff.

It also highlights that its guidance for FY 2026 has been reaffirmed, and management has announced a major reduction in its headcount. It adds:

WiseTech reaffirmed its FY26 guidance of revenue b/w US$1.39-1.44bn, EBITDA b/w US$550-585m and EBITDA margin b/w 40-41%. The company also announced up to a 50% headcount reduction in product & development and customer service. On the call CEO Zubin Appoo said the company did not expect any material net impact from the reduction in FY26.

Big potential returns

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on WiseTech shares with a trimmed price target of $83.75 (from $87.50).

Based on its current share price of $48.70, this implies potential upside of 72% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

There are no changes in our key assumptions and we continue to apply multiples of 55x and 30% in our PE ratio and EV/EBITDA valuations and an 8.6% WACC in the DCF. We do, however, now apply underlying rather than reported EPS in our PE valuation. The net result is a 4% decrease in our target price to $83.75 which has been driven by the modest downgrades. This TP is >15% premium to the share price so we maintain our BUY recommendation.

The key potential catalyst is the release of the FY26 result in August where, firstly, we expect the guidance to be met and, secondly, expect FY27 guidance to be provided. The latter has the potential to positively surprise given it will provide some visibility around the expected cost savings from the headcount reduction and likely show the company is well on track to return to an EBITDA margin of 50% or more in the next two to three years.

The post Why WiseTech Global shares could rise a further 70% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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.