Category: Stock Market

The Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) share price is in focus today after reporting a strong March quarter, with gold production jumping to 107,144 ounces and cash and bullion holdings lifting to US$817 million.

What did Perseus Mining report?

• Gold production for Q3 FY26 reached 107,144 ounces, up 21% from the prior quarter
• All-in site costs (AISC) averaged US$1,748 per ounce, down from US$1,800 in Q2 FY26
• Average gold sales price was US$4,143 per ounce
• Operating cashflow for the quarter was US$252 million, with cash and bullion at US$817 million
• Nyanzaga ore reserves grew 73% to 4.0 million ounces, with project development on track for first production in January 2027
• Perseus sold its 70% stake in the Meyas Sand Gold Project for US$260 million cash

What else do investors need to know?

Perseus’s three West African gold mines, Yaouré and Sissingué in Côte d’Ivoire and Edikan in Ghana, all increased production this quarter. The company also poured its first gold from the new CMA Underground at Yaouré, with commercial production expected in Q3 FY27.

During the quarter, the Nyanzaga development project in Tanzania remained on budget and schedule, achieving 48% completion and maintaining strong safety performance. Perseus also boosted its regional growth with a 9.9% equity stake in Aurum Resources and continued exploration at all key sites.

AUS$46 million was returned to shareholders via dividends, and an on-market buyback continued. Perseus ended the period debt-free and reported investments in listed securities of US$254 million.

What’s next for Perseus Mining?

Perseus has reaffirmed its FY26 production guidance of 400,000–440,000 ounces at an AISC of US$1,600–1,760 per ounce. The company is targeting commercial production from the CMA Underground at Yaouré in Q3 FY27 and first gold from the Nyanzaga project in January 2027.

Management remains focused on disciplined capital allocation, progressing organic projects, and ongoing exploration, while maintaining strong safety, sustainability and community engagement across all regions.

Perseus Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perseus Mining shares have risen 70%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 12% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Perseus Mining lifts gold production and maintains strong balance sheet in March 2026 quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• West African Resources posts record cash, strong Q1 gold output
• Temple & Webster names Susie Sugden CEO as Mark Coulter becomes Executive Chair

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 2024-25 de-merger of Webjet created two entities, ripe with promise of additional value for investors in a post-COVID, travel-heavy climate. But have rising interest rates and the fuel crisis created a double whammy for these ASX travel shares?

The de-merger saw Webjet Ltd (ASX: WJL) strengthen its focus on business-to-consumer (B2C) travel. Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) focuses on business-to-business (B2B) travel, primarily through WebBeds, a platform that connects travel agents and hotels, airlines and online travel agencies.

The share price of Web Travel Group is down 30% over the past year, currently trading at around the $2.80 mark, down from the $5 range at the tail end of FY25. While Webjet has seen small growth, around the 10% mark, over the last 12 months to $0.58, it doesn’t appear that the value investors hoped the de-merger would release has materialised. 

So, what’s happening now? Is it just the current climate or is there more to the story? And are these ASX travel shares a buy right now? 

What’s happening in the broader travel space?

Australians love to travel. And although cost-of-living pressures, concerns about the fuel crisis and the safety of travel during the Middle East war are putting the brakes on for some travellers, Australian travel authorities are still forecasting growth in the coming months.

But when household budgets are squeezed, travel is often one of the first items on the chopping block. And current airfare elevation due to fuel prices and supply concerns is not sweetening the pot for already stretched travellers.

Business travel is, of course, less likely to be affected by cost. However, many companies are showing caution, possibly due to safety concerns and/or the optics of extensive travel as the fuel crisis continues. In late March, it was reported that Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) had suspended travel for all corporate team members.

Is Webjet a buy right now?

As a B2C travel brand, Webjet is feeling the pinch. Despite positive volume forecasts within the travel industry, investors are wary. Its 1H26 reporting showed a 3% decline in Total Transaction Value (TTV) on the prior corresponding period (PCP).

Webjet’s discretionary, consumer-facing and volume sensitive model is exactly the kind investors tend to avoid late in an economic cycle.

That said, the business itself is not in bad shape. It has good margins within an industry known for thin ones and a net cash balance of $111.9 million with no debt. In addition, its non-air income streams are a solid contributor at over 30% of OTA revenue.

So is this ASX travel share a buy? If you believe that global travel volume will bounce back, the current share price is an attractive entry point for a business with a good balance sheet.

Is Web Travel Group a buy right now?

Web Travel Group is a different proposition as it doesn’t work directly with consumers and isn’t as tied to the Australian economic context. It earns its revenue from transaction volumes across a diversified global network.

It delivered some solid 1H26 results:

• TTV up 22% on the prior corresponding period (PCP)
• Above guidance TTV margin
• WebBeds EBITDA up 21% on PCP
• Solid cash position with $481 million cash, $699 million available liquidity and a $200 million undrawn revolving credit facility

Of course, this was before the Middle East war and the resulting impact on travel. Investors are clearly unsettled across the sector, with most ASX travel shares seeing significant volatility. There may also be some poor sentiment, with some investors feeling the de-merger has not delivered on its promises yet.

In addition, Web Travel Group is a more complex model, deriving revenue from across multiple jurisdictions and currencies. This complexity can make it less appealing to investors when there are significant sector-wide cyclical challenges.

That said, in my opinion, Web Travel Group is a buy right now. While it may not have fully delivered on its de-merger promises yet, for me, it is a solid global travel platform that has been temporarily mis-priced due to macro and sector uncertainty.

The post Webjet and Web Travel Group: Are these ASX travel shares a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is it time to buy low on these ASX travel stocks?
• Webjet share price lifting off on CEO bombshell
• 5 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 today

Motley Fool contributor Melissa Maddison 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 Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) share price is in focus after the company announced a major leadership transition, with Mark Coulter stepping into the Executive Chair role and Susie Sugden returning as CEO, effective 1 July 2026.

What did Temple & Webster Group report?

• Mark Coulter, co-founder and CEO, will become Executive Chair, supporting strategy and long-term growth.
• Susie Sugden, a former senior executive, will take over as CEO from 1 July 2026.
• Susie’s fixed annual remuneration is set at $850,000, with both short- and long-term incentives tied to performance.
• Coulter’s fixed annual remuneration as Executive Chair will be $500,000.
• Leadership changes include Stephen Heath moving to Lead Independent Director and Conrad Yiu chairing a new technology committee.

What else do investors need to know?

Temple & Webster is Australia’s largest online retailer for furniture and homewares, offering a wide range of products through an innovative drop-shipping model. The business has scaled rapidly, with revenue growing from $50 million in FY16 to over $600 million in the most recent financial year.

Susie Sugden brings significant leadership experience to her new role, having driven growth at Temple & Webster previously and at other fast-growing consumer brands. Investors should note that both executive roles include performance-based incentive plans, aligning pay with shareholder returns.

What did Temple & Webster Group management say?

Mark Coulter, Executive Chair said:

I am so proud of everything we have achieved at Temple & Webster. We have navigated the early start-up years, public market turbulence, global pandemics and cost of living crises, to firmly become one of the most successful e-commerce businesses in Australia. We have built an incredible platform – a team, brand, customer base and operating business that has so much potential. Now is the time to take that incredible platform to the next level. Bringing back Susie – a proven former executive at Temple & Webster, will provide me with more capacity to focus on strategy and longer-term growth opportunities, which will only become more important as we scale. I look forward to working closely with Susie as we continue our journey to become the largest retailer of furniture and homewares in Australia.

What’s next for Temple & Webster Group?

After a decade of growth under Mark Coulter, Temple & Webster is shifting its leadership to drive the next phase of expansion. The company will keep focusing on operational excellence, scaling its range, and meeting evolving customer needs.

With Susie Sugden at the helm, the strategy includes investing in technology and AI, improving the online shopping experience, and strengthening the company’s position as the country’s top furniture and homewares retailer.

Temple & Webster share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Temple & Webster shares have declined 62%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 12% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Temple & Webster names Susie Sugden CEO as Mark Coulter becomes Executive Chair appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Deep Yellow provides March 2026 exploration update
• West African Resources posts record cash, strong Q1 gold output
• Perseus Mining lifts gold production and maintains strong balance sheet in March 2026 quarter

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 Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. 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.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) and Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) shares have been incredible investments over the past five years.

Since this time in 2021, the two investment platform providers’ shares have risen 230% and 75%, respectively.

Meanwhile, the shares of their small rival Praemium Ltd (ASX: PPS) have gone backwards.

But following a strong quarterly update, Bell Potter thinks this ASX tech stock could be destined to follow in the footsteps of Hub24 and Netwealth and generate market-beating returns for investors.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was pleased with Praemium’s performance in the third quarter. It commented:

PPS has delivered a positive update, with signs that new client wins are beginning to translate into stronger flows. Given the different stages on each, we see this being a gradual benefit. For the first time since its launch 15-months ago, continued flows into Spectrum were more advanced than the trend. PPS is now absorbing some attrition from departing OneVue advisers following completion of the migration. Conditions are improving beneath the surface, with further upside to be unlocked, as evidenced by Powerwrap’s stabilisation. PPS also highlighted two key multi-year client renewals, a welcome development after the loss of a large account.

Overall, the broker believes the result demonstrates that the worst is now behind this ASX tech stock and it could be onwards and upwards from here. It adds:

We see the result proofing execution and product development. Spectrum saw record gross inflows of $708m in challenging conditions and the quieter period, compared to the regular profile around $445m and BPe of $587m. The recovery narrative remains intact with PPS tracking to records. Including outflows and adviser exits, Spectrum net inflows printed $502m against BPe $441m. Powerwrap’s net inflows improved further on the pcp to $94m ahead of BPe $62m despite sales coming in below expectations.

Should you buy this ASX tech stock?

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $1.20 price target on its shares.

Based on its current share price of 75.5 cents, this implies potential upside of almost 60% for investors over the next 12 months.

It also expects a handy 3.5% fully franked dividend yield over the period.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

Following the update we have upgraded EPS +2%/+0%/+1%. Conditions continue to improve for PPS. New drivers are in play that should support a re-rating of the shares, in-line with PE transaction multiples. This would suggest an $800m enterprise value.

The post Missed out on Hub24 and Netwealth? Bell Potter thinks this ASX tech stock is next 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 positions in and has recommended Hub24, Netwealth Group, and Praemium. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is in focus today as the company moves closer to completing its proposed acquisition of EG Australia, with a formal remedy offer submitted to the ACCC and a total of 41 sites now committed to divestment.

What did Ampol report?

• Final remedy offer lodged with the ACCC to progress EG Australia acquisition
• Total of 41 sites proposed for divestment, up from the previously offered 37
• Ongoing constructive engagement with ACCC regulators
• Discussions with prospective buyers for the divested sites have materially advanced

What else do investors need to know?

Ampol’s move to add four more sites to the divestment pool comes after further negotiation and engagement with the ACCC. The company aims to address competition concerns and accelerate regulatory approval.

The ACCC is expected to deliver its Phase 2 determination by 5 June 2026, though this deadline may be extended up to 15 business days. Subject to clearance and meeting other requirements, Ampol is targeting a mid-2026 completion date for the transaction.

What’s next for Ampol?

Looking ahead, Ampol remains committed to finalising its acquisition of EG Australia, pending ACCC approval. The company is already well advanced in discussions to sell the divested sites as a package.

Investors will be watching regulatory outcomes closely, as well as Ampol’s post-acquisition integration plans and progress on strategic priorities in the fuel and convenience retailing sector.

Ampol share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ampol shares have risen 47%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 12% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ampol’s final ACCC remedy brings EG Australia acquisition closer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Scentre Group launches tender offer for 2030 subordinated notes
• Deep Yellow provides March 2026 exploration update
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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.

I’m always on the lookout for investments on the ASX that could provide passive income. One of the areas we can find opportunities is the ASX-listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) space.

I think it’s important to have a diversified portfolio – don’t just rely on one underlying business for dividends. An ASX ETF can provide exposure to dozens, hundreds or even thousands of companies.

But, many ASX ETFs focused on international shares have a fairly low dividend yield because the underlying companies have low yields, which makes it harder to invest in them for passive income seekers, even if they do own great companies. Below are two of my favourite ideas for passive income from ASX ETFs.

WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ)

This ASX ETF aims to deliver investors an annualised distribution yield of at least 5%, which I think is a very good yield. It’s not too high, but it’s still very rewarding compared to the dividend yields of most ASX ETFs.

The fund looks across the global share market for opportunities. Currently, 56% of the portfolio comes from the Americas, which is substantially less than what the actual global share market’s allocation is, so I think it provides better diversification geographically.

WCM’s investment process is based on the belief that corporate culture is the biggest influence on a company’s ability to grow its competitive advantage (economic moat). I think a growing economic moat improves the company’s ability to generate stronger profit margins.

Between the ASX ETF’s inception in August 2018 and March 2026, it has delivered an average return of 14% per year. That’s high enough for the fund to both pay the 5% distribution yield and deliver capital growth with the retained returns as the net asset value (NAV) rises. Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Montaka Global Fund (ASX: MOGL)

This is a fund operated by the fund manager Montaka Global Investments, which is now ultimately owned by MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF).

The fund aims to invest in high-quality global companies that are well-positioned to benefit from major long-term industry trends and are priced below what Montaka thinks it’s worth.

In terms of the passive income, it targets a 4.5% distribution yield per annum, paid half-yearly.

Its performance in the last few months has been impacted by the sell-off of the share market following the Middle East conflict and the tech pain caused by AI worries. Even so, in the three years to March 2026 it produced an average return of 14%.

Some of its current largest holdings include Amazon, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, KKR, TSMC, Tencent and BAE Systems.

These picks are trying to take advantage of a few different key themes including cloud computing, ‘discovery engines’, enterprise software, digital marketplaces and private assets.

I believe this investment style can deliver good total returns over the long-term while still delivering pleasing passive income along the way.

The post 2 high-quality ASX ETFs I’d buy for impressive passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments and Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. 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 Mff Capital Investments. 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 all over the place. The ASX biotech stock is down 5% over the past five trading days, yet up 16% over the past month and 27% year to date.

Zoom out further and the picture flips again. Telix shares are still down 43% over the past 12 months, having fallen sharply from around $29.64 this time last year to as low as $8.26 in February. It’s trading at $14.32 per share at the time of writing.

So, what’s behind the volatility?

Multiple growth levers

Let’s start with the fundamentals. Telix operates in the fast-growing field of radiopharmaceuticals, developing imaging and therapeutic products for cancer care. Its lead product, Illuccix, is already generating revenue, particularly in the US market, and provides a strong commercial foundation.

That’s a key strength for Telix shares. Unlike many biotech companies, Telix is not purely speculative. It has an established product, growing sales, and a pipeline of additional candidates targeting areas such as kidney and brain cancer.

Recent updates have also been encouraging. The company continues to expand its commercial footprint while advancing its pipeline, giving investors multiple potential growth drivers over time.

Regulatory and valuation risks

But biotech rarely trades in a straight line. The flipside of that growth potential is risk. Earnings can be uneven, regulatory approvals are never guaranteed, and sentiment can shift quickly based on news flow. Clinical results, product launches, and even broader healthcare sector trends can all trigger sharp moves in the share price.

Valuation is another factor. After a strong run earlier in its lifecycle, Telix shares were priced for high expectations. When sentiment toward growth stocks weakened, the pullback was severe. Even now, the stock remains sensitive to any changes in outlook.

That helps explain the wide trading range over the past year. Short-term movements are often driven more by sentiment than fundamentals. Positive announcements can spark sharp rallies, while periods of limited news or broader market caution can lead to equally sharp pullbacks.

What next for Telix shares?

Despite the wild swings, analysts remain firmly in the bullish camp.

According to TradingView data, all 16 brokers covering Telix shares rate them as a buy or strong buy. The average price target sits at $24.44, implying around 71% upside from current levels.

Some are even more optimistic. The most bullish target stands at $31.01, suggesting potential upside of 116% if the company delivers on expectations.

So where does that leave investors?

Telix is a classic high-growth healthcare stock. It offers significant upside potential, backed by a commercial product and expanding pipeline, but it also comes with volatility.

The bottom line is simple. The swings in Telix shares reflect a mix of strong fundamentals, high expectations, and shifting market sentiment.

For investors, that means opportunity, but also a need for patience and a tolerance for bumps along the way.

The post What’s driving the wild swings in Telix shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

The defence industry has been a great place to invest over the past 12 months.

But if you thought you’d missed the boat, think again.

That’s because Bell Potter believes one ASX defence stock with a “high ROIC business model” could deliver market-beating returns.

Which ASX defence stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is urging investors to buy is Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS).

It is a growing supplier of communication modules to drone manufacturers. Bell Potter notes that Elsight offers advanced communication components for unmanned systems through its flagship product, the Halo platform.

Bell Potter notes that the ASX defence stock has released its quarterly update this week. While the result had no surprises, Bell Potter highlights that Elsight’s US opportunity is building. It commented:

ELS reported revenue of US$11.4m in 1Q26, a 12x increase YoY and a fifth consecutive quarter of QoQ revenue growth. The result compares to our $25.3m estimate for 1H26, suggesting ELS needs another quarter of revenue growth to hit our number, achievable given ELS likely delivered a large part of the units from the $21m order in April 2026. Active dialogue continues with the customer on follow-on orders.

ELS is observing growing demand and traction in the US, with engagement cadence across both end-user government programs and OEM customers increasing materially during the quarter, reflecting the impact of the expanded US sales team. Management expects these elevated engagement levels to support revenue conversion in coming quarters. DIU Phase 3 conclusion was delayed slightly due to the Iran conflict with the program expected to conclude in H1 2026 and lead to orders. ELS has secured access to SOCOM’s Other Transaction Authority (OTA) contracting vehicle, positioning ELS for fast procurement in the US.

Time to buy?

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the ASX defence stock with an improved price target of $8.10 (from $8.00).

Based on its current share price of $6.92, this implies potential upside of 17% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the company and its high ROIC business model, Bell Potter said:

We retain Buy. We believe ELS has developed a market leading product that is leveraged to the proliferation of unmanned systems in both a defence and commercial context. We believe ELS shares offer relative value versus listed peers at 43x CY26e EV/EBIT given its recurring revenue, high ROIC business model and defensible niche. We expect the key driver for ELS shares will be revenue upgrades from OEM 1(>80% of CY25 revenue) production capacity expansion and BlueUAS list entry.

The post Buy this ASX defence stock with a ‘high ROIC business model’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) shares took a beating on Wednesday.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed down 4.16% yesterday, trading for $10.61 apiece.

For some context, the ASX 200 ended the day down 1.18%.

Taking a step back, Bendigo Bank shares are now trading at just about the same levels they were one year ago, underperforming the 13.14% 12-month gains posted by the benchmark index.

Although that’s not including the 63 cents a share in fully-franked dividends the bank paid eligible stockholders over this time. Bendigo Bank stock trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 6%.

But that passive income isn’t enough to keep Bell Potter Securities’ Christopher Watt from issuing a sell recommendation on the ASX 200 bank stock (courtesy of The Bull).

Should you sell Bendigo Bank shares today?

“The market responded positively to the company’s third quarter trading update for fiscal year 2026,” Watt said.

Indeed, Bendigo Bank shares closed up 8.4% on 9 April following the release of the bank’s Q3 FY 2026 update.

“Unaudited cash earnings were up 7.6% on the first half quarterly average. The net interest margin of 1.98% was up 6 basis points on the second quarter of 2026,” Watt noted.

As for the sell recommendation, Watt concluded:

In our view, catalysts to drive improvement from here are limited. The risk-reward profile lags other peers, so we would be inclined to cash in gains in this volatile environment.

What’s been happening with the ASX 200 bank stock?

Despite the 7.6% third-quarter cash earnings boost Watt mentioned above, Bendigo Bank reported a 0.4% year-on-year decline in statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $109.4 million.

Profits were impacted in part by the 3.2% year-on-year increase in operating expenses to $305.1 million.

The March quarter also saw the company launch the next phase of its Productivity Program.

The program, which is intended to support Bendigo Bank shares longer term, includes recently announced partnerships with Infosys and Genpact.

Commenting on the new partnerships on the day, Bendigo Bank CEO Richard Fennell said:

These partnerships will support the Bank’s ability to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our customers and other stakeholders as we build on the foundational technology platforms already delivered.

By focusing on our core strengths, including customer connection and our strong deposit franchise, Bendigo Bank will be better positioned to respond to changing market dynamics and drive sustainable growth.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Bendigo Bank shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 stock Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) will be watched with a keen eye today after it crashed 22% on Wednesday. 

The ASX financials company provides investment bonds and investment-linked lifetime annuities which offer innovative and tax-efficient solutions for wealth accumulation, estate planning and generating regular income in retirement.

Following yesterday’s horror run, the ASX 200 stock is now down almost 40% year to date. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) is up just over 3% in the same period. 

Why did the share price crash?

It appears investors were exiting their positions in this ASX 200 stock following the release of its March 2026 quarterly update.

It closed yesterday at $3.56 per share. 

Generation Development Group is the parent company of Evidentia Group and Generation Life  – two of its core operating businesses. 

Key highlights from Evidentia Group for the March quarter included: 

• Funds Under Management increased to $34.8 billion, up 30% vs the PCP
• Net Inflows of $1.4 billion for the quarter, including the transition of a mandate worth c. $0.3 billion. 

Management noted that underlying demand remains solid, with momentum improving through February and into March.

Meanwhile, Generation Life reported FUM of $5.3 billion at 31 March 2026, up 35% on the prior year ended 31 March 2025.

Generation Life also delivered quarterly sales of $375 million, up 57% on the previous corresponding period.

What did Bell Potter have to say?

Following the result and subsequent 22% crash, the team at Bell Potter provided updated guidance for this ASX 200 stock. 

The broker said overall, it was a mixed set of results. 

High level, the core business is seeing ongoing improvement while acquisitions show signs of softness. Market guidance now looks ambitious, but client momentum remained strong, and flagged mandates have started to contribute after being laid out. However, conversion delays have persisted.

Barring any sharp adverse market moves, we expect these delays to resolve. Outside of mandates Evidentia net inflows are performing in-line. Timing variability has had further pushback as a result of counterparties.

Price target reduction

Based on this guidance, the team at Bell Potter reduced its price target on this ASX 200 stock to $6.20 (previously $7.40). 

The broker has retained its buy recommendation. 

Despite lowering its price target, this still indicates an upside potential of 74% from yesterday’s closing price of $3.56. 

Bell Potter isn’t the only broker that sees upside for this ASX 200 stock.

Last month, the team at Morgans placed a $6.66 price target on the company, and eight analyst forecasts via TradingView place an average 12-month price target of $7.17 on the company. 

The post After a 22% crash, this ASX 200 stock could be set to rise 74% according to Bell Potter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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