Category: Stock Market

The Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN) share price is in focus after the mining services company reported FY26 underlying NPAT of $192 million, up 8% on last year, and grew its EBIT(A) margin to 9.8%.

What did Perenti report?

• Underlying revenue: $3.5 billion, steady year on year
• Underlying EBIT(A): $340 million, up 2% from FY25
• Underlying NPAT(A): $192 million, up 8% from FY25
• Underlying EPS: 20.5 cents per share, up 7.3%
• Adjusted free cash flow: $182 million, exceeding $170 million guidance
• Final dividend: 4.50 cps; total dividend of 7.75 cps, up 7%
• Leverage reduced to 0.4x
• Statutory NPAT: $44 million after impairments and discontinued operations

What else do investors need to know?

Perenti delivered its fifth consecutive year of meeting guidance, driven by operational strength and disciplined capital allocation. The company maintained a robust safety record, reporting zero fatalities in FY26 and improved safety metrics, with TRIFR and SPIFR both declining.

As part of an ongoing portfolio transition, Perenti completed the sale of BTP Group and announced plans to divest its AMS fleet in West Africa, expected to return about $150 million over the next year. The company has reinstated its on-market share buyback program, reflecting strong balance sheet discipline and a focus on maximising shareholder returns.

Leadership changes saw Vanessa Torres appointed as Managing Director & CEO in May 2026, bringing deep global mining experience, and Vincent Nicoletti joining as a Non-executive Director.

What did Perenti management say?

Vanessa Torres, Managing Director & CEO of Perenti, said:

Perenti has delivered an excellent FY26, making significant progress in safety, operational and financial performance and continuing an ongoing process of portfolio transition. We are pleased to report another year of zero fatalities, alongside improved TRIFR and SPIFR metrics, consistent with our goal of ensuring our workforce can return home safe and well.

What’s next for Perenti?

Looking ahead, Perenti expects to build on its strong platform, guiding for FY27 revenue between $3.45 billion and $3.65 billion and EBIT(A) of $335 million to $355 million. The work-in-hand stands at $6.2 billion, backed by a $20 billion pipeline of tender opportunities.

The company will continue to focus on capital discipline, operational efficiency, and portfolio optimisation—balancing organic and inorganic growth to maximise total shareholder returns. Management highlighted the steady migration of revenue to Australian and North American operations and progress across sustainability and climate initiatives.

Perenti share price snapshot

The Perenti share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a gain of over 10%.

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The post Perenti lifts FY26 profit, sees opportunities ahead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Perent to divest BTP Group for $100 million

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. 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have staged a remarkable comeback, surging 24% in just five trading days and around 40% over the past month.

Yet despite the explosive rally, the ASX biotech stock remains down about 3% year to date and 22% over the past 12 months.

So, has the market finally turned the corner or has the rally gone too far? Following last week’s earnings result, brokers have reassessed their forecasts. And their price targets reveal just how divided the experts are about where CSL shares could go next.

Could $200 really be on the cards?

Why are CSL shares on the rise?

The catalyst was CSL’s FY26 result, released last week Tuesday. At first glance, the numbers looked disastrous. CSL reported a US$2.6 billion net loss after tax.

But investors quickly looked beneath the headline figure. The loss included US$7.1 billion of pre-tax impairments and another US$799 million in restructuring costs, much of which was non-cash. Most of the impairments related to CSL Vifor intangibles and under-utilised property, plant and equipment.

Investors had already been warned. In May, CSL flagged around US$5 billion of impairments and cut its FY26 guidance.

Strip those exceptional costs out, however, and the picture looks considerably healthier. Underlying NPATA was US$3.1 billion, down just 2%, while revenue slipped 1% to US$15.8 billion — ahead of analyst expectations.

For investors, the result offered something potentially more important than a big profit: a reset year, a cleaner balance sheet and better-than-feared guidance.

CSL Behring remains the star performer. Its plasma division generated US$11.4 billion of revenue, while immunoglobulin revenue held steady at US$6.2 billion.

CSL Vifor grew revenue 3% to US$2.4 billion, although Seqirus remained a weak spot, with revenue falling 8% to US$2 billion.

Meanwhile, CSL’s transformation program delivered US$176 million in savings, and management committed US$1.5 billion to expand US plasma collection capacity.

The forecast that could send CSL shares higher

Here’s where the bull case gets interesting. CSL expects underlying NPAT to grow approximately 5% in FY27, ahead of consensus expectations of around 2%.

Behring is expected to deliver mid-single-digit growth, with immunoglobulins growing at a mid-to-high single-digit rate.

The major headache remains Vifor, where revenue is expected to plunge about 25% as iron generics enter the market.

Can CSL shares hit $200?

Not every broker is convinced.

Bell Potter retained its hold rating but lifted its target from $120 to $150. TradingView data shows 10 of 17 analysts have a hold rating, while seven rate CSL a buy or strong buy. The average 12-month target of $165.80 is below the current share price of around $168.30.

But the range is enormous. The most bullish forecasts see CSL climbing to $206.72, implying another 23% upside. At the other extreme, the lowest target is just $133.22, suggesting more than 20% downside.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX MQG) is the most bearish, with a neutral rating and target of just over $133. Of the leading brokers, UBS is the standout bull, targeting $181, while Morgan Stanley sees CSL reaching $172.

So, is $200 realistic? It is certainly possible, but the broker forecasts suggest investors shouldn’t mistake a spectacular rebound for a guaranteed recovery.

The post Could CSL shares really hit $200? Experts reveal their 12-month targets appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• ASX 200 healthcare shares soar 9% amid notable FY26 reports from CSL, Pro Medicus
• 3 ASX 200 stocks, including CSL, leaping 15% to 23% in this week’s sliding market
• 8 ASX shares just upgraded by the experts
• Why I’d buy CSL, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus shares
• CSL shares are flying higher. Is it too late to buy?

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

I love investing in Australia’s top shares when they’re trading at a low price. I think this describes the opportunity with the current Lovisa Holding Ltd (ASX: LOV) share price.

As the chart above shows, the Lovisa share price has dropped 46% since August 2025 and it’s down 15% from 7 August 2026.

After such a sizeable fall in a relatively small period of time, this could be the right time to consider one of the ASX’s leading retailers. Let’s look at why the jewellery retailer is so appealing.

Significant global growth plans

I think leading ASX growth shares need to have the potential to grow significantly in size today to unlock strong shareholder returns.

Lovisa already has around 1,100 global stores, but I think it can add significantly more. At the end of the FY26 half-year result, 219 of its global network was in Australia and New Zealand, with another 237 in the US.

It also has at least one store in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, the UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Romania, UAE, USA, Canada, Mexico, a franchise in the Middle East and Africa, and a franchise in South America.

As you can see, it’s in numerous markets and this allows it to choose where to invest for new stores and earn the best return. The global network makes it one of Australia’s top shares, in my opinion.

Its expanding store count is a key growth tailwind. In HY26, the company reported its store count rose 15.5%. Combine that with positive comparable sales growth, and you’ve got a great revenue growth story.

In HY26, the company reported that Lovisa achieved revenue growth of 22.7%, with comparable sales growth of 2.2%.

Lovisa has also launched a new business called Jewells in the UK, which could add to earnings in the coming years.

Rapidly rising profit

The business is investing a fair amount into expanding its store network each year, yet its profit is also growing at an impressive pace, which is driving the underlying value of one of Australia’s top shares.

Lovisa reported that, excluding Jewells, operating profit (EBIT) grew 20.4% to $109.1 million and net profit grew 21.5% to $69.6 million.

I think if any business can grow its earnings regularly by more than 20% per year, then its intrinsic value will compound strongly.

As the business becomes larger, I think scale benefits will continue to strengthen, and this should help its profit margins improve.

Compelling valuation for one of Australia’s top shares

According to the forecast on Commsec, the Lovisa share price is valued at 28x FY26’s estimated earnings, with projections that earnings per share (EPS) could climb by another 27% in FY27.

I think the Lovisa share price is undervalued for how much its store network could increase in the coming years. At the current valuation, I think it’s one of Australia’s top share opportunities, though there could be volatility over certain periods.

The post A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $5,500 monthly passive income?
• 7 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week
• 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

Deciding which ASX shares are buys and which ones are sells can be difficult. 

To help you figure things out, let’s look at three ASX shares that experts are tipping as sells this week, courtesy of The Bull. 

Here’s what they are saying:

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

The team at Alto Capital is bearish on auto listings company CAR Group.

While it was pleased with its performance in FY 2026, it isn’t a fan of its valuation and believes the risk-reward is unfavourable for investors. It said:

CAR Group operates leading digital automotive markets in Australia and internationally. It delivered another strong result in fiscal year 2026. Reported revenue of $A1.253 billion was up 6 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Reported net profit after tax of $A314 million was up 14 per cent. International operations continue to generate attractive long term growth and management expects further revenue growth in fiscal year 2027. 

However, the company’s strong operating performance is increasingly reflected in its valuation, which requires sustained double digit growth and continuing successful international execution. In our view, the risk-reward balance in response to valuation supports a lighten recommendation.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Red Leaf Securities has named CBA shares as a sell this week. While it acknowledges that CBA deserves to trade at a premium to peers, it believes a substantial re-rating leaves little room for disappointment. 

As a result, Red Leaf thinks investors should consider taking profit and focusing on areas with more reasonable valuations. It said:

CBA shares deserves to trade at a premium given its dominant retail franchise, strong technology platform, solid deposit base and consistent execution. However, Australian banking remains a mature industry, with intense competition across mortgages and deposits limiting the potential for outsized earnings growth. 

At a premium valuation, investors are paying a higher price for quality, leaving little room for disappointment. After a substantial re-rating, investors may be better served taking some profits and reallocating capital towards businesses offering stronger growth at more reasonable valuations.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The team at Red Leaf has also named Westpac shares as a sell this week.

It highlights the increasingly competitive environment as a reason to be cautious, especially given its valuation. It commented:

The bank remains well capitalised and continues to generate solid earnings, but the operating environment is becoming increasingly competitive. Mortgage pricing is aggressive, deposit competition remains intense and the scope for sustained margin expansion appears limited. Westpac’s dividend remains attractive, but investors should also consider opportunity cost. We believe there are more compelling opportunities on the ASX, which offer stronger structural growth or more attractive valuations.

The post Experts name CBA and these ASX shares as sells today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do you need invested in ASX dividend shares to replace a $90,000 salary?
• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares
• 3 reasons to buy CBA shares following its results
• Want income for life? Here’s how I’d build an ASX dividend portfolio
• How much is needed in superannuation for $1500 in weekly passive income?

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

On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week with a small decline. The benchmark index fell 0.25% to 9,058.9 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a solid start to the week following a good session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 41 points or 0.45% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 1%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.45%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.45% higher.

Oil prices rise

It could be a positive start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices rose on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 0.25% to US$87.06 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 0.65% to US$94.39 a barrel. This was despite reports claiming that the Iranian government wants to end the war soon.

GYG shares downgraded

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares are around fair value now following a recent rally according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to the quick-service restaurant operator’s FY 2026 results, the broker has downgraded its shares to a hold rating with an improved price target of $27.30. It commented: “While we think GYG is a clear leader in the QSR space after displaying strong comp sales growth, margin expansion, and further network growth opportunities, we see near-term cost headwinds and a consumer slow-down as a risk to FY27 guidance and view the current multiple as fairly valued. While we increase our PT ~11%, it is only a modest premium to the share price, so we downgrade to HOLD.”

Gold price jumps

It is likely to be a strong start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price jumped on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 2.4% to US$4,680.6 an ounce. The precious metal hit a three-month high on US dollar weakness.

ASX 200 results

A number of ASX 200 shares will be on watch on Monday when they release their latest results. Among the names to watch are Dan Murphy’s owner Endeavour Group (ASX: EDV) regional bank Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), lithium leader PLS Group (ASX: PLS), and health insurance company NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF).

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off a $900,000 superannuation balance?
• ASX 200 healthcare shares soar 9% amid notable FY26 reports from CSL, Pro Medicus
• Brokers name the ASX 200 winners and losers from the first half of reporting season
• Why I’d still buy Guzman Y Gomez shares after its big rise
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Endeavour Group and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 and NIB Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have delivered a significant return in the last 12 months, rising by more than 50%, at the time of writing. The passive income has also been pleasing for investors.

As one of the biggest miners in the world, BHP enjoys significant scale benefits compared to many of its other smaller mining peers. BHP also has a habit of providing investors with pleasing payouts because of its commitment to returns.

BHP aims to provide shareholders with a minimum dividend payout ratio of at least 50% of earnings, which regularly results in a pleasing dividend yield.

Now that the FY26 result has been reported, investors can look ahead to what the payout might be in FY27. I’ll specifically look at what it would take to deliver $1,000 of passive income via BHP shares.

Payout projection for FY27

ASX mining shares are not like typical businesses where you may typically see steady progress and earnings year after year.

Miners like BHP are exposed to shifting commodity prices, which can be great when the resource price goes up but challenging if the resource price goes down. Commodity businesses can have powerful operating leverage that can work both positively and negatively.

The 2026 financial year was a good year. Revenue grew 15% to US$58.8 billion, underlying operating profit (EBITDA) rose 27% to US$32.9 billion and underlying attributable profit increased 30% to US$13.2 billion. This allowed the business to announce US$8.7 billion of cash returns to shareholders, which included the FY26 final dividend per share of US 99 cents per share.

The current forecast on Commsec implies the dividend in FY27 may not be as rewarding, though still solid. The current projection suggests a payout of A$2.07 per BHP share.

That possible dividend translates into a potential grossed-up dividend yield of around 4.5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. It’s understandable why the possible dividend yield is not below 5% because the BHP share price has gone up so much in the last 12 months.

I believe the company’s payouts could grow in the longer-term because of its increasing focus on copper. Copper supply may not be able to keep up with the rising demand, which may lead to a rising copper price.

In the FY26 result, BHP wrote:

Copper fundamentals remain attractive. Demand is expected to grow from ~34 Mtpa today to >50 Mtpa by CY50, driven by traditional economic growth (home building, electrical equipment and household appliances), energy transition (renewables and electric vehicles) and digital (artificial intelligence and data centres). Current expectations are that copper demand associated with investment in data centres could grow around sixfold between 2024 and 2050, up to around 3 Mtpa.

Operational and project development challenges will place upward pressure on industry costs, potentially resulting in a higher and steeper copper cost curve.

What would it take for $1,000 of passive income?

If the FY27 projection comes true, an investor may need to own 484 BHP shares excluding the franking credits or 339 BHP shares with franking credits attached. This certainly isn’t a cheap BHP share price to invest at following the large rise of the ASX mining share. It may be worthwhile looking at other opportunities that could be better value.

The post How much must I invest in BHP shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do you need invested in ASX dividend shares to replace a $90,000 salary?
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Friday, Argo Global Listed Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: ALI) reported a full-year profit of $39.5 million for FY26, with a record fully franked dividend yield of 5.6%.

What did Argo Infrastructure report?

• Net profit after tax (NPAT): $39.5 million (down from $52.2m in FY25)
• Total assets: $529 million (up from $476m in FY25)
• Fully franked full-year dividends: 10.0 cents per share (a record high; up from 9.5c last year)
• Dividend yield: 5.6% (including franking)
• Portfolio performance: +13% (vs infrastructure index +9.5% and ASX 200 Accum. +6.1%)
• Total shareholder return: +19.2% for the year to 30 June 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Argo Infrastructure delivered its 17th consecutive fully franked dividend, bringing total dividends paid to shareholders since the company’s 2015 inception to 77.25 cents per share. The company’s diversified approach, managed by global specialist Cohen & Steers, has consistently outperformed across multiple timeframes.

AI-driven demand for data centres has spurred growth among holdings like Entergy, which gained 38% this year after securing a major power supply contract with Google. Exposure to utilities supporting technology giants such as Meta and Microsoft also contributed positively to returns.

What did Argo Infrastructure management say?

Managing Director Jason Beddow said:

We’re pleased that our global infrastructure portfolio not only delivered strong returns but continues to provide diversification and income for our shareholders, particularly in a year marked by volatility and rapid technological change.

What’s next for Argo Infrastructure?

Looking ahead, Argo Infrastructure expects the global listed infrastructure sector to remain resilient, underpinned by persistent demand for energy, especially from data centre expansion and digitalisation trends. While geopolitical and regulatory risks remain, the company sees ongoing opportunity in electric utilities and gas distribution.

Longer term, the board is optimistic that private investment in infrastructure, particularly connected to the rise in AI and cloud computing, will be essential as governments alone cannot meet soaring capital expenditure needs.

Argo Infrastructure share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Argo Infrastructure shares have risen 9%, outpacing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which is flat over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Argo Infrastructure FY26 earnings: Record dividend 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 positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft. 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.

On Friday, Energy Resources of Australia (ASX: ERA) revealed a half-year net loss after tax of $214 million, with revenue falling 21% to $25 million.

What did Energy Resources of Australia report?

• Revenue from ordinary activities down 21% to $25.0 million (HY25: $31.5 million)
• Net loss after tax widened significantly to $214.1 million (HY25: $35.4 million loss)
• Operating cash outflow of $97.4 million (HY25: $99.8 million outflow)
• Rehabilitation costs incurred of $101 million (HY25: $106 million)
• Rehabilitation provision increased by $134 million to $2.44 billion
• No interim dividend declared for the half-year

What else do investors need to know?

Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) continues to focus on the rehabilitation of its former Ranger mine, located within the culturally and environmentally sensitive Kakadu National Park. The company’s financial result was weighed down by an increase in rehabilitation provision costs, in particular from revisions to the Pit 3 capping methodology, which extended the closure timeline and expected costs.

At 30 June 2026, ERA held $1.07 billion in cash, term deposits, and security receivables, including $573 million in a Trust Fund controlled by the Commonwealth. ERA confirmed it has no debt. ERA’s shares have been suspended from trading since 15 June 2026, as majority owner Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) pursues compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares. The acquisition timeline is delayed pending court appeal outcomes.

What’s next for Energy Resources of Australia?

ERA’s strategic priority remains the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area, aiming for its potential reintegration into Kakadu National Park. Management now expects its funding reserves to cover rehabilitation out to late 2027, extending beyond the previous estimate.

Further studies and reforecasts are underway, especially after recent changes in Pit 3 capping methodology led to increased costs and an extended schedule. Additional funding will likely be necessary by Q4 2027 to meet the company’s rehabilitation obligations. ERA continues to work with government and stakeholders to ensure regulatory compliance and sustainable closure outcomes.

View Original Announcement

The post Energy Resources of Australia: Loss widens on higher rehabilitation costs 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.

The share Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) looks like an excellent ASX stock to buy to me because it’s significantly undervalued.

Rural Funds is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns farmland across a number of sectors including cattle, almonds, macadamias, vineyards and cropping.

In a period when the RBA interest rate has increased multiple times, I think the market is underappreciating the business, presenting an opportunity to invest.

Let’s take a look at why I’m so interested in investing.

Significant discount

One of the main ways to value a REIT is to look at the net asset value (NAV) – that includes the value of property, the debt, the cash and so on. Rural Funds regularly reports its adjusted NAV to take into account the market value of its water entitlements.

If the unit price of the REIT is significantly below the NAV, then that means we can buy exposure to its portfolio of assets at a compelling discount.

Rural Funds reported that its adjusted NAV was $3.22 at the end of FY26, representing a 4.5% year-over-year increase, driven by property revaluations and the value of its interest rate swaps.

We’d have to pay a lot more to go and buy the farms today in our own names. With Rural Funds, we can buy exposure at a much lower price.

Currently, the Rural Funds unit price is trading at a 35% discount to its stated value.

Resilient distribution

Even if the market doesn’t recognise the value of the business by sending the Rural Funds unit price higher any time soon, we can benefit by getting a sizeable distribution yield. The yield is much larger now than it would be if the Rural Funds unit price was trading at parity with its adjusted NAV.

Its distribution history is pleasing. Rural Funds grew its distribution every year between FY14 and FY22 and has since been maintained despite higher interest rates.

The business has provided guidance that it will pay an annual distribution of 11.73 cents per unit again in FY27, representing a distribution payout ratio of 100%.

At that level, it offers a distribution yield of 5.6%.

I think the business can deliver rising payouts in the coming years because of the ASX stock’s organic rental growth.

Pleasing rental income

I think every business worth investing in needs to have organic drivers that can increase its value over time.

There are two aspects that are helping increase its rental income.

More than half of its rental income is linked to CPI inflation, while another 29% is growing annually at a fixed rate. Regular rental growth is a compelling element, in my opinion.

Another driver is development investing at the farms. Some of the investments help increase the productivity of the farm, while other investments are turning some farms to other crop types for better, more economic use.

I think Rural Funds will pay larger dividends in the coming years.

The post Why I’m planning to buy this cheap ASX stock next! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $5,500 monthly passive income?
• Rural Funds Group FY26 earnings: Asset sales boost profit
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• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,000 monthly passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Rural Funds 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 positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Friday, Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund (ASX: QRI) reported a 6% increase in operating profit to $70.9 million for the year ended 30 June 2026, with monthly distributions rising to 8.60% p.a. by year-end.

What did Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund report?

• Total investment income up 9.5% to $88.3 million
• Operating profit grew to $70.9 million (from $66.9 million in FY25)
• Net assets attributable to unitholders rose 3.6% to $1.01 billion
• Distributions paid totalled 11.45 cents per unit, up from 13.21 cents in the prior year in dollar terms but lower per unit due to capital raising
• Entitlement offer raised $34.6 million in new capital

What else do investors need to know?

The trust’s portfolio remains 100% floating rate, with monthly cash distributions hitting an annualised 8.60% by June 2026. The manager reported no impairments or arrears across the loan book, with over 95% of exposure in senior loans and a weighted average loan-to-value ratio of 65%.

QRI units traded at a 3.75% discount to net asset value as at 30 June 2026, closing at $1.54 per unit against a NAV of $1.60, reflecting broader sector sentiment rather than a shift in underlying fundamentals. The year also saw the trust complete an entitlement offer, expanding and diversifying the loan portfolio in line with its investment strategy.

What’s next for Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund?

Looking ahead, the trust will continue focusing on capital preservation and reliable income generation for unitholders, supporting its strategy through active portfolio management and a disciplined approach to risk. Market reforms in housing policy and shifting investor demand are expected to support future growth, with QRI well positioned to capture increased investment opportunities in the residential property financing sector.

A distribution of 1.0875 cents per unit was declared post-balance date for August 2026, maintaining the trust’s monthly income focus. The management remains vigilant about changing market dynamics and remains committed to stability and risk-adjusted returns.

Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Qualitas shares have declined 5%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which is flat over the same period.

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The post Qualitas Real Estate Income Fund FY26 earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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