Category: Stock Market

The PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) share price will in focus on Wednesday after the company updated investors on its response to IPART’s draft report into ELNO service fees.

Key highlights include confirmation of 4.2 million Australian Exchange transaction volumes for FY26 and expectations for a fall in volumes in FY27 due to macroeconomic conditions.

What did PEXA Group report?

• PEXA recorded 4.2 million Exchange transaction volumes in FY26, comprising 2.67 million transfers, 0.97 million refinances, and 0.55 million other transactions.
• July 2026 transfer volumes reached approximately 192,000.
• PEXA has not yet confirmed its FY26 financial results or FY27 guidance; these are due to be released on 28 August 2026.
• PEXA expects transaction volumes to decline in FY27 as a result of recent macroeconomic changes.

What else do investors need to know?

PEXA has formally lodged its submission in response to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)’s draft report on ELNO service fees. This response includes several independent expert reports commissioned by PEXA, offering alternative methodologies for assessing digital platform service fees and rates of return.

The outcome of the IPART review could impact how electronic lodgment service fees are set in future, with the NSW Government expected to receive the final report by the end of September 2026. Once received, the report will be referred to ARNECC, which will conduct additional consultations and determine next steps—a process that may take several months.

What’s next for PEXA Group?

PEXA will release its full FY26 results and provide guidance for FY27 on 28 August 2026. Management also plans to discuss the ongoing review of ELNO service fees and other strategic priorities on its investor call. The company’s volume outlook remains cautious into FY27 as it navigates macroeconomic headwinds and regulatory changes.

Longer term, PEXA continues its strategy of expanding its digital property settlement platform both domestically and in the UK, building on recent launches and capabilities.

PEXA Group share price snapshot

The PEXA Group share price has been among the worst performers on the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a decline of around 50%.

View Original Announcement

The post PEXA Group updates market on FY26 volumes and responds to fee review 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. 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.

It was a bumpy, but ultimately negative Tuesday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares today. After spending almost the entire session in green territory, investors seemed to get cold feet in the late afternoon. By the time the markets closed, the ASX 200 had choked, closing 0.035% lower. That leaves the index at a flat 9,070 points.

It seems the weekend wasn’t enough to bring some optimism to investors’ minds, with the ASX 200 opening sharply lower this morning and staying in red territory all day. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had lost 0.46% and finished at 9,073.2 points.

This miserly finish for the Australian markets this Tuesday followed a rough start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was not feeling Monday-fresh, dropping 0.51%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared slightly better, but still fell 0.32%.

But let’s get back to our local markets now and take stock of what the various ASX sectors were up to this session.

Winners and losers

With the market’s falls, there were unsurprisingly more red sectors than green ones today.

Leading those red sectors were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had a rough one, cratering by 1.57%.

Communications shares weren’t popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) plunging 1.26%.

We could say the same for consumer staples stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) saw a 1.16% dive this session.

Financial shares weren’t much better, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 1.1% wipeout.

Consumer discretionary stocks came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) suffered a 1.03% reduction this Tuesday.

Tech shares were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) dipping 1.02%.

Industrial stocks had a day to forget, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) endured a 0.75% dip today.

Let’s turn to the winners now. Leading the charge were healthcare shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s whopping 7.81% surge. We can thank CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) for that.

Energy stocks enjoyed some time in the sun too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) jumped up 0.99% today.

Utilities shares also got a reprieve, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) advancing 0.89%.

Mining stocks were another safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rose 0.15% by the closing bell.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) got in under the wire, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.05% inch higher.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our winner this session was manufacturing stock Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC).

Reliance shares exploded 24.65% higher today to close at $4.50 each. This came after the company posted its latest earnings, which included the revelation that it had received a takeover offer.

Here’s how the other winners pulled up at the kerb:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)	$4.50	24.65%
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)	$157.82	17.25%
Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)	$1.07	16.94%
Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)	$196.75	11.88%
SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)	$3.96	9.39%
A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)	$7.09	8.58%
Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)	$10.32	6.50%
Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)	$10.32	6.50%
Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)	$0.905	3.43%
Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)	$4.35	3.08%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Challenger, Cochlear, Pro Medicus, and Srg Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When you see a popular ASX dividend stock trade with a dividend yield of almost 10%, you might be tempted to rush out and buy it straight away. After all, a 10% yield represents phenomenal cash flow potential. You could get nearly $10 back every single year for each $100 invested. That’s twice what a good term deposit is paying right now (even with our currently high interest rates). And it’s more than two what most other blue chip ASX dividend stocks are yielding.

The popular ASX dividend stock I am referring to is none other than WAM Capital Ltd (ASX: WAM). Yep, WAM Capital shares are, at the time of writing, asking $1.58 a share. At this price, the listed investment company (LIC) is trading on a dividend yield of 9.84%. Today, let’s discuss this dividend yield, and why yields at this height are usually a waving red flag.

As a LIC, WAM Capital owns and manages a portfolio of underlying investments on behalf of its shareholders. In WAM Capital’s case, this portfolio is made up of “undervalued growth companies”, usually of the small- to mid-cap variety, that WAM Capital has identified as possessing some kind of pricing catalyst that will see their value rise in the near future.

Some current holdings (as of 31 July) include Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE), Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA), DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP).

WAM passes on any profits made from its arbitrage trades, as well as any dividends it receives from its holdings, on to investors in the form of its own dividends.

Why this ASX dividend stock’s near-10% yield is a red flag

A company’s dividend yield is a function of its share price just as much as its underlying dividend per share. As such, anyone who spots a company with a yield this high must ask themselves why the market is pricing it that way. The answer is usually that there is a high level of risk associated with that yield.

So where does the risk come from in the case of this particular ASX dividend stock? Well, let’s go through some numbers.

Since 2018, WAM Capital has paid out two dividends a year, each worth 15.5 cents per share. However, the company tells us that, again as of 31 July, it had just 13.3 cents per share in its profit reserve. That’s the pot where its dividends are funded from. There’s clearly not much left in the tank. If WAM Capital doesn’t replenish those profits soon, investors are at serious risk of a dividend cut. If that does eventuate, that 9.84% yield wouldn’t be long for this world.

This company doesn’t exactly have a glowing history either. For whatever reason, WAM no longer lists its recent performance figures on its site. However, a quick look at its share price will tell you all you need to know. Today, WAM Capital shares are trading at the same level they were way back in early 2002. Over the past decade, its share price has lost about a third of its value, probably not assisted by the company’s rather hefty 1% per annum management fee.

Foolish takeaway

That tells us that its dividends are the only real source of shareholder returns. Given the apparent precariousness of these payouts, it’s not hard to see why the market is pricing in so much risk to that yield.

Sometimes, a yield that looks too good to be true just might be that. Investors should always tread with extreme caution when red flags this large are waving in the wind.

The post This popular ASX dividend stock has a 10% yield. That’s a problem appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd. 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) has jumped over 3% over the past month amid a surge in investor confidence.

Here are three undervalued ASX 200 shares which could be primed to storm higher over the next 12 months.

The A2 Milk Co Ltd (ASX: A2M)

A2 Milk shares are jumping higher in afternoon trade on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the milk company’s shares are up around 8% and changing hands at $7.04 a piece. 

Today’s share price spike follows the company’s FY26 results announcement on Monday morning. It reported a 12.4% increase in revenue but a 2.5% decline in full-year statutory EBITDA and a 5.8% drop in statutory NPAT.

Investors were initially hesitant but then many quickly bought into the shares.

Monday’s results announcement comes off the back of a difficult start to the year for A2 Milk. 

The shares crashed around 20% in early April after it lowered its FY26 guidance amid supply chain challenges, and the shares continued tumbling to an 18-month low in early-June.

The ASX 200 shares have recovered around 35% of their value from early-June to the time of writing, but the rebound still hasn’t brought the share price back to early-2026 levels. They’re still down around 24% for the year-to-date.

It’s clear that the company’s FY26 results weren’t as bad as many were expecting. Even after today’s 8% share price increase, it looks like the ASX 200 shares are still trading well below fair value.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the shares. The $8.04 average target price implies a potential 19% upside, at the time of writing.

Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)

Lendlease also posted its FY26 results early yesterday morning. The ASX 200 international property developer reported earnings at the top end of guidance but also posted a statutory loss after tax of $749 million.

Investors were spooked, and the shares crashed 11% by the end of the day. Today, ASX 200 property shares are back in the green, trading 1% higher at $2.90. The shares are also down around 44% year-to-date.

The announcement followed a disappointing first-half update earlier this year. 

The company has undergone a major strategic reset this year, which has seen it simplify its structure, exit international construction, and refocus its efforts on the Australian market. 

Investors aren’t sure, but it looks like analysts are more bullish that the company can pull off the new strategy.

Market Index data shows brokers are split between a buy and hold rating. But the $3.49 average target price implies a potential 22% upside, at the time of writing.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

Nickel Industries shares spiked to a three-year high of $1.10 in early May. But they’ve now lost around 25% of their value. At the time of writing, the shares are down another 1% and are changing hands for 83 cents each. That’s an 8% decrease year-to-date.

The ASX 200 company owns a portfolio of mining and downstream nickel processing assets in Indonesia. It has a controlling interest in the Hengjaya nickel mine and four rotary kiln electric furnace projects. These produce nickel pig iron (NPI) for the stainless-steel industry and materials for EV batteries. 

Its shares enjoyed a very strong start to 2026, including a new acquisition and strong financial results. But a weaker nickel price and higher costs have put pressure on the shares over the past couple of months.

But there is plenty of expansion potential ahead for the ASX 200 nickel shares, and brokers appear bullish that the share price can rally higher this year.

Market Index data shows that the majority have a buy rating on Nickel Industries shares. The $1.29 average target price implies a potential 56% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

The post 3 oversold ASX 200 shares trading for cheap right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $50,000 per year in passive income?
• Are A2 Milk shares a buy, hold or sell following results?
• Why Lendlease, A2 Milk and JB Hi Fi shares are turning heads on Monday
• Lendlease FY26 earnings: Top-end IDC result but statutory loss hits share price
• The A2 Milk Company posts higher FY26 revenue and increased dividends

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE) fund is paying a dividend yield of 7.2%, fully franked, after its investment portfolio returned 14% for the year.

The 4.8 cent per share final dividend brings the total shareholder return for the year to 24.7%, while the grossed up dividend yield including franking credits comes in at 10.3%.

Fund has been performing well

Lead Portfolio Manager Matthew Haupt said it was a solid year.

He added:

The 2026 financial year was characterised by changing interest rate expectations, geopolitical tensions, global trade disruption and evolving views on the sustainability of artificial intelligence-led growth. These conditions created periods of volatility and meaningful shifts in market leadership, generating opportunities for active investors. The investment team and I adjusted portfolio positioning as conditions evolved, including maintaining exposure to areas of the market where we saw attractive risk-adjusted opportunities, while remaining disciplined on valuation. This approach enabled the investment portfolio to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index during the year.  

Mr Haupt said the fund would remain focused on high-quality companies trading at attractive valuations.

He added:

Periods of market volatility can create opportunities for active managers, and the investment portfolio is positioned to take advantage of these opportunities as they emerge.

Chair Geoff Wilson said the strong investment performance contributed to a 153.5% increase in operating profit after tax of $161.8 million.

WAM Leaders has increased in value by 12% per year since listing in 2016, while also paying out dividends.

Resources and financials paying off

The fund’s investments include materials at 24.8%, financials at 20.9%, real estate at 13.6%, and consumer discretionary at 10.9%.

In terms of stocks, its largest holdings are in BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

The fund also on August 10 announced a share purchase plan, allowing shareholders to subscribe for up to $30,000 in new shares.

The fund added:

The Board also announced the successful completion of a placement to professional and sophisticated shareholders. Bids exceeded the initial target raise which resulted in the placement bookbuild closing early and allocations being subject to scale back. The final placement size was increased to $225 million in response to the excess demand. The additional capital will enable the investment team to take advantage of investment opportunities for the benefit of all WAM Leaders shareholders.

WAM Leaders shares were changing hands for $1.33. The fund is valued at $2.06 billion.

The post This investment fund is paying a 7.2% dividend yield after solid results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are only just inside the green at 9,076.8 points, up 0.04%, on Tuesday.

Among the 11 ASX 200 market sectors today, healthcare is screaming higher, up 7.1%.

This follows earnings releases from sector heavyweights CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME).

Reliance Worldwide Corp Ltd (ASX: RWC) shares are the fastest risers of the ASX 200 today.

The Reliance share price is up 25% to $4.50 after a takeover offer for $4.75 per share.

Meanwhile on The Bull this week, two experts share their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s take a look.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA share price is $179.56, up 1.2% today and down 31% over 12 months. 

Tom Fairchild from Lazarus Capital Partners has a buy rating on this ASX 200 communications share. 

He said: 

Revenue from core operations of $1.793 billion in full year 2026 was up 7 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

Net profit after tax from core operations of $650 million was up 15 per cent. Earnings per share of $4.93 was up 15 per cent.

The final fully franked dividend of $1.73 was up 25 per cent.

Investors responded positively after the full year result was released on August 6.

But we believe the company still has ample room to improve its performance from here.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

The Suncorp share price is $18.46, down 1.3% today and down 14% over 12 months. 

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has a hold rating on this ASX 200 financial share.

Wielandt said: 

Suncorp provides insurance products and services. Higher interest rates and bond yields can be a tail wind for the company’s investment portfolio.

Gross written premiums of $15.407 billion were up 2.7 per cent in full year 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Cash earnings of $1.042 billion were down from $1.452 billion in 2025.

An on-market share buy-back of up to $250 million is planned for full year 2027.

All insurance companies are challenged by appropriately pricing risk in a rapidly evolving climate change environment.

It remains our long term concern, so we retain a hold recommendation.

Suncorp shares began trading ex-dividend yesterday.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price is $22.45, down 3.2% today and up 23% over 12 months. 

Fairchild has a sell rating on this ASX 200 gold share. 

He said: 

The company announced total gold sales of 1.543 million ounces for full year 2026, which was above revised group guidance of 1.5 million ounces.

NST disappointed investors after downgrading production guidance twice in fiscal year 2026 following weaker than expected operational performance.

The shares have fallen from $31.73 on March 2 to trade at $23.28 on August 13.

The company’s final investment decision regarding the Hemi project is targeted for late fiscal year 2027. 

In our view, other gold companies appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

Northern Star will release its full-year FY26 report on Thursday.

The post Buy, hold, sell: REA, Northern Star Resources, Suncorp shares 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 CSL and Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Investors who want to earn an easy passive income should consider ASX dividend shares.

There are several options out there. A blue-chip stock could yield anywhere from around 2%, up to riskier high-yield dividend shares which pay out closer to 8% or 10%. Sometimes they pay even more.

If you have the appetite for risk, high-yield shares could provide much higher returns. But only if you know where to look.

Here are two of my picks when it comes to high-yield ASX dividend shares, and they both pay a yield around 8%.

Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX)

Atlas Arteria is a global owner, operator, and developer of toll roads, with a portfolio of five toll roads in France, Germany, and the United States. The company was created out of the reorganisation of Macquarie Infrastructure Group in 2010.

The company’s main asset is a roughly 31% stake in Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhone, or APRR. APRR owns concessions to toll more than 2,300 kilometres of motorways in eastern France, most ending in late 2035. The company also wholly owns the Dulles Greenway toll road in the US state of Virginia.

As a toll road operator, Atlas Arteria is a classically defensive infrastructure asset. People will continue to rely heavily on essential infrastructure regardless of what point of the economic cycle we’re in. 

ASX shares like toll roads are also long-duration assets which have visible cash flows across a long period of time. They’re also more reliant on contract renewals and can benefit from toll road increases. They’re not only reliant on traffic growth.

Atlas Arteria typically pays its shareholders two unfranked dividends a year, in April and October, with payments dating back to 2013.

It most recently paid a 20 cent unfranked final dividend to shareholders in April, which equated to a total 40 cent dividend for the year. At the time of writing, that translates to a dividend yield of around 8.1%.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

Beach Energy produces oil and natural gas from numerous joint venture projects across Australia and New Zealand. Key projects include its onshore Cooper and Eromanga Basin project, which is recognised as Australia’s most prolific oil and gas-producing basin. The project accounts for a substantial slice of the company’s total production. 

Founded in 1961, Beach Energy has expanded through a long series of mergers and acquisitions. It has ownership interests in strategic oil and gas infrastructure and assets, as well as a suite of exploration permits.

Unlike Atlas Arteria, Beach Energy is considered a more cyclical asset, which means the ASX shares can fluctuate depending on commodity prices and what part of the economic cycle we’re in. But the benefit of a cyclical stock is that they tend to outperform during times of recovery.

Beach Energy typically pays shareholders two fully-franked dividends per year, in March and September, with payments dating back to 2005.

It most recently paid an unfranked interim dividend of 1 cent per share in March and announced a 2 cents per share final dividend earlier this month. At the time of writing, that translates to a dividend yield of around 8%.

The post 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.2% to 9,093 points amid a big day of earnings releases on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at some new expert ratings.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The Wildcat Resources share price is 40 cents, down 5.4% today and up 101% over 12 months. 

Arthur Garipoli from Dolphin Partners has a buy rating on this ASX 200 lithium share. 

On The Bull this week, Garipoli explained:

This Western Australian explorer is advancing the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum project, which is a large-scale, hard rock development in an established mining jurisdiction with low sovereign risk and close to Port Hedland infrastructure.

The recent share price fall may represent a good entry opportunity for investors looking for a recovery in lithium markets and in a company with near term catalysts.

WC8 has completed a pre-feasibility study. A large resource base and an upcoming definitive feasibility study de-risks the company.

In our view, WC8 represents a compelling risk-reward scenario.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Centuria Industrial REIT shares are $3.04, down 0.2% today and down 9% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter has a hold rating and $3.35 price target on this ASX real estate investment trust (REIT).

Analyst Andy MacFarlane said:

CIP announced its FY26 result with FFO / share of 18.2c slightly below BPe (-2%) and Visible Alpha consensus (-1%), and at the bottom end of its guidance range.

FY27 guidance provided for FFO / share range of 18.8c – 19.2c (BPe 18.3c; VA consensus 18.7c) and DPS of 17.3c (BPe 16.8c, VA consensus 17.0c).

A solid result for CIP with some plus and minuses, but ultimately the forward earnings outcome to be driven by two leasing campaigns, as it navigates higher CoD which will increase again into FY28 (all else equal) as it explores ways to fund its growth ambitions.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is $3.47, down 1.6% today and down 17% over 12 months. 

Garipoli has a sell rating on this ASX 200 consumer staples share. 

He commented on the liquor and hotel operator’s unaudited preliminary results for FY26:

Total group sales of $12.212 billion were up 1.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. However, total group underlying net profit after tax of $363 million was down from $426 million in full year 2025.

The group expects to recognise after tax significant items, predominately non-cash, of $311 million.

The recent share price recovery since the start of June and August 13 provides an opportunity for investors to cash in some gains.

In our view, better investment opportunities exist elsewhere given recent numbers and high cost of living expenses.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Centuria Industrial REIT, Endeavour, Wildcat Resources shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $50,000 per year in passive income?
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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 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.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares are flying on Tuesday, jumping 7% to $140.90 in afternoon trade and extending their monthly gain to 17%.

Investors have welcomed the hearing-implant leader’s FY26 results, with underlying net profit landing at $322 million — right at the top end of the company’s revised guidance.

That’s a dramatic change in sentiment from April, when Cochlear shares were crushed by around 40% after management slashed its profit outlook. Despite Tuesday’s rebound, the shares remain down 46% year to date and 55% over the past 12 months.

So, what has changed?

Cochlear delivers on revised guidance

Cochlear’s FY26 numbers show a business still facing challenges, but one that’s generating strong cash and continuing to invest heavily in future growth.

Sales revenue increased 2% in constant-currency terms to $2.343 billion. Underlying net profit, however, fell 22% to $322.4 million.

The pressure on profitability was particularly visible in gross margins, which declined from 74% to 71%. Cochlear blamed the deterioration on a less favourable sales mix and production variances.

Still, there were some significant positives.

Operating cash flow surged $130 million to $368 million, while free cash flow also improved substantially. The company continued to invest aggressively in research and development, lifting R&D spending 15% as it accelerated work on its product pipeline.

That investment is already producing results.

Nexa gives investors something to cheer about

Cochlear has launched the Nucleus Nexa System, which it describes as the first smart cochlear implant with upgradeable firmware.

The product has made an impressive start. It quickly accounted for more than 95% of Cochlear’s implant sales across developed markets.

That kind of product momentum could be important as the company attempts to reignite growth in its developed markets.

However, Cochlear isn’t escaping all the pressures facing the business. Gross margins have been squeezed by a greater proportion of lower-priced products being sold in emerging markets. Softer demand in Western Europe and parts of Asia has also weighed on performance.

The company has responded by maintaining tight control over fixed costs and freeing capacity for an additional $25 million of investment in FY27.

What’s next for Cochlear shares?

Management isn’t promising a dramatic recovery overnight. Instead, it expects low single-digit revenue growth in constant-currency terms during FY27.

Underlying net profit is forecast to land between $330 million and $350 million.

Cochlear wants to accelerate adult growth in developed markets by increasing medical engagement and expanding referral pathways. At the same time, it plans to keep investing in R&D and product innovation.

The dividend remains an important part of the shareholder return story. Cochlear declared a final ordinary dividend of $1.30 per share, 85% franked, taking total FY26 dividends to $3.45 per share. That’s down 20% from the previous year.

The company will continue targeting a dividend payout ratio of 70% of underlying net profit.

Cochlear’s balance sheet also gives investors something to watch. Net cash declined, partly because of continued cloud investment and dividend payments. With net cash below management’s preferred level, the on-market share buyback remains inactive.

Gross margins are expected to remain around FY26 levels, while further restructuring costs will factor into the FY27 outlook.

The post Why are Cochlear shares flying 7% higher today? 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 Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) experienced a devastating peak-to-trough crash of 44% last month.

The KOSPI skyrocketed more than 170% in FY26 due to multiple factors including the artificial intelligence (AI) tailwind.

South Korean chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Inc surged a crazy 459% and 807%, respectively, in FY26.

They make up about half of the market’s total market cap, which means KOSPI is a concentrated bet despite being home to 800 stocks.

It’s no surprise that after stock price gains like that, some investors got a bit wary and chose to take their profits and run.

That’s one reason why the KOSPI crashed on 23 June, falling 10% in one day, and sparking a five-week sell-off.

SK Hynix shares lost just over half their value, and Samsung shares dropped 41% before the KOSPI bottomed out on 29 July.

Australian investors who own SK Hynix and Samsung shares directly felt the full force of that fall.

They also felt it via the iShares MSCI South Korea AUD ETF (ASX: IKO) — the Australian market’s top performing ETF of FY26.

IKO ETF delivered an amazing total return of 171% in FY26. The ASX IKO unit price fell 37% during the KOSPI crash.

What’s happened to KOSPI and IKO ETF since the crash?

For the record, IKO ETF doesn’t track the KOSPI.

Instead, the fund seeks to mimic the performance of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index before fees.

The MSCI Korea 25/50 Index focuses on South Korean large-caps and mid-caps, but in practical terms, it captures 85% of the KOSPI.

SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics make up 46% of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index market cap.

IKO ETF has been trading for a long time.

Its inception was in the US in May 2000. It was listed on the ASX in November 2017.

IKO was subsequently restructured into an Australian-domiciled ETF in October 2018.

As reflected in IKO ETF’s history in the chart above, the South Korean market has not been a strong performer over the long term.

There are many reasons for this, and it’s summed up by what the professional traders used to call the ‘Korea discount’.

We explain the Korea discount in an earlier story.

Despite its incredible 171% return in FY26, IKO remains a relatively small ASX ETF.

Aussie investors have put about $213 million into the ETF to date, according to ASX data.

That compares to $25.377 billion invested in the market’s largest ETF, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

While small in comparative scale, it’s worth noting the relatively rapid rise in investment in IKO ETF.

ASX investors piled in while watching the KOSPI’s stratospheric rise.

Between January and June 2026 inclusive, IKO’s funds under management rose 40%.

Australians are much more in-tune with overseas markets than they used to be.

Experts agree our home bias toward ASX 200 shares is shifting.

Since bottoming out on 29 July, the KOSPI has rebounded 23%, and IKO has recovered 25%.

SK Hynix shares have lifted 20% and Samsung Electronics stock is 30% higher.

The AI investment megatrend has a long way to go.

As RMIT University finance professor Angel Zhong points out, markets “often move through cycles of exuberance and reassessment”.

Zhong said AI would continue to transform industries:

The AI revolution is creating genuine economic opportunities, but markets often price in expectations long before those benefits are fully realised.

The post How the KOSPI crash impacted ASX investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Up 100%, down 40%: Meet the ASX’s craziest ETF
• What were the best and worst-performing ASX ETFs in 2026?
• 3 ASX ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns in FY26
• 6 best international ASX ETFs of FY26

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 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.