• Meta Platforms stock jumps on Metaverse spending cuts. Here’s why the growth stock is a screaming buy before 2026

    Woman and man calculating a dividend yield.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Key Points

    • Meta Platforms has lost a stunning $71 billion on Reality Labs since the start of 2021.
    • Yet, its Family of Apps are so profitable that they have been able to absorb these losses.
    • Shifting capital away from Reality Labs toward AI and Family of Apps should please investors.

    Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) shares popped 3.4% on Thursday despite a mere 0.22% increase in the Nasdaq Composite on reports that the company was cutting metaverse spending in favor of artificial intelligence (AI) and smart glasses.

    Here’s why Meta’s capital is better used on non-metaverse projects and why the growth stock is a great buy in December. 

    The harsh reality of Reality Labs

    Facebook changed its name in October 2021 to Meta Platforms to better capture the company’s expansion beyond its flagship social media app. A name change was the right move, as Instagram is arguably more valuable than Facebook. Along with WhatsApp and Messenger, the four apps are known as Meta’s Family of Apps.

    The name change to Meta Platforms reflected an increased emphasis on engaging through virtual worlds — a far more ambitious digital frontier than the desktop and mobile silos the Family of Apps resides in. The name change was followed by a sharp decline in Meta’s stock price, which fell 64.2% in 2022 compared to a 33.1% decrease in the Nasdaq.

    The sell-off was due to a decline in Meta’s Family of Apps operating income and losses on metaverse, augmented reality, and virtual reality spending, which is under the company’s research and development arm, Reality Labs.

    Meta’s losses at Reality Labs have continued to increase. But its Family of Apps have been the saving grace, as operating income from that segment is more than offsetting mounting losses at Reality Labs.

    Income (Loss) From Operations 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 (Nine Months Ended Sept. 30)
    Family of Apps (billions) $56.95 $42.66 $62.87 $87.11 $71.7
    Reality Labs (billions) ($10.19) ($13.72) ($16.12) ($17.73) ($13.27)

    Data source: Meta Platforms.

    Family of Apps is more than absorbing Reality Labs’ losses

    Since the start of 2023, Meta’s stock price is up a mind-numbing 450% compared to a 124.6% gain in the Nasdaq as investors have given Meta the benefit of the doubt due to excellent growth from the Family of Apps.

    Yet despite that increase, Meta’s profits are increasing at such a torrid rate that it’s still the cheapest “Magnificent Seven” stock, a group of tech-focused companies that includes Meta, Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla.

    As you can see in the following chart, Meta’s revenue and earnings have exploded higher in recent years. And even when factoring in Reality Labs losses, Meta’s operating margins are still sky high at 43.3%.

    META Revenue (TTM) data by YCharts

    Looking at the nine months ended Sept. 30, Meta generated $139.8 billion in Family of Apps revenue and $71.7 billion in Family of Apps operating income.  This means that without the Reality Labs drag on profitability, Meta’s advertising revenue operating margin would be 51.3%.

    For context, Nvidia, which is an ultra-profitable company with customers lining up out the door for its graphics processing units, has trailing 12-month operating margins of 58.8%. This goes to show just how much of a cash cow Family of Apps is.

    Meta’s investment thesis just got even better

    Meta’s decision to cut back on metaverse spending in favor of AI and its Family of Apps is excellent news for long-term investors, especially value investors who are interested in Meta for its high free cash flow, impeccable balance sheet, and growing dividend. Before getting too excited about the news, investors may want to hear commentary directly from CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the rest of the Meta management team to ensure that the strategic shift is lasting and not a temporary change of heart.

    The social media giant is investing heavily in AI by building its own data centers, refining its search algorithm to better align content with user interests and connect advertisers with relevant buyers, and developing its Llama large language model to power its Meta AI assistant, among other initiatives. With such a massive opportunity in AI, there’s less reason for Meta to continue flooding Reality Labs with capital with no return on investment in sight.

    Meta was already one of my highest conviction growth stocks to buy in 2026. This news only makes the investment thesis more attractive, making Meta a screaming buy now.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Meta Platforms stock jumps on Metaverse spending cuts. Here’s why the growth stock is a screaming buy before 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Meta Platforms right now?

    Before you buy Meta Platforms shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Meta Platforms wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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    Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 reasons to buy Nvidia stock like there’s no tomorrow

    Smiling man sits in front of a graph on computer while using his mobile phone.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Key Points

    • Rising competition isn’t a bad thing for Nvidia.
    • Wall Street expects impressive 2026 growth from the chipmaker.
    • Nvidia believes the AI buildout will persist for years.

    Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been an excellent stock to own over the past three years, but the bullish sentiment around the company is starting to fade. Investors are growing increasingly worried about rising competition, and concerned that Nvidia may be losing its edge. However, I don’t think that’s the case. In fact, there are three excellent reasons why I think investors should consider scooping up shares before 2026 arrives.

    1. The rise of its competitors may stem from its lack of supply

    There are two parts to the bearish thesis around Nvidia’s stock. First, rising competition could dethrone Nvidia from its position as the top artificial intelligence computing unit provider. Its graphics processing units (GPUs) are the most flexible and powerful options available, but they could lose market share to application-specific integrated chips (ASICs) in the near future, such as Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) from Alphabet.

    Another bearish assumption is that the AI infrastructure buildout is going to slow down as the companies involved come to reckon with the meager returns on investment that those capital expenditures have thus far delivered. Investors fear that this issue will persist, and that the hundreds of billions being spent to construct AI data centers may make little to no profit.

    I think both of these concerns are fair arguments, but they don’t reflect reality quite yet. Addressing the first concern, Nvidia noted during its Q3 earnings call that it is “sold out” of cloud GPUs. As a result, AI hyperscalers are turning somewhat more to alternative computing units. While this could eat into Nvidia’s market share, it also helps the company avoid getting overextended. Nvidia has had problems during some prior chip cycles when it ordered too much supply amid rising demand, then was left with excess inventory that it had to take huge losses on after the trends driving demand peaked.

    I don’t foresee this being an issue in the AI-accelerator niche in the near future.

    The second point is more reasonable, but with all of the AI hyperscalers announcing record capital expenditures for 2026, I don’t see it as a pressing issue. Data centers take years to construct, and the ball is already rolling on many of these projects. Nearly all of the AI hyperscalers have asserted that they see the risk of underbuilding as being far greater than the risk of overbuilding. As a result, the buildout will continue.

    2. Nvidia’s 2026 is expected to be excellent

    Despite the market turning somewhat bearish on Nvidia, Wall Street analysts still project monster growth for the company. For its fiscal 2027 (which will end in January 2027), they expect Nvidia’s revenue to rise by 48%. That would be an incredible growth rate for an already massive enterprise.

    As long as Nvidia’s stock isn’t carrying too much of a premium already, it should be able to convert a substantial amount of that top-line growth into stock price gains. Right now, it trades at 24 times next year’s expected earnings, which isn’t necessarily cheap. However, it’s far cheaper than many of its peers, and considering the company’s growth rate, I think it’s a reasonable price to pay for the stock now.

    NVDA PE Ratio (Forward 1y) Chart

    NVDA PE Ratio (Forward 1y) data by YCharts.

    3. The AI buildout could last for many years

    Although there are growing concerns surrounding the sustainability of the AI buildout, the reality is that most companies involved think it will last for many years. Nvidia rival AMD projects a compound annual growth rate for its data center revenue of 60% over the next five years. Nvidia projects that global data center capital expenditures will rise from $600 billion in 2025 to $3 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030, and it’s well positioned to capture a significant chunk of that spending. Investors should therefore take advantage of the recent weakness in Nvidia’s stock to scoop up shares, as its price could rise heading into the new year.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post 3 reasons to buy Nvidia stock like there’s no tomorrow appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

    Before you buy Nvidia shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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    Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Which stocks are looking good as rates appear to be heading north?

    Interest rate written with a green arrow going up, symbolising rising interest rates.

    The sentiment about the next move for interest rates has shifted rapidly in Australia, with Wilsons Advisory saying markets are now fully pricing in a rate hike next year.

    This is a stark turnaround from as recently as six weeks ago, when the expectation was for two more interest rate cuts from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the broker says.

    As they said in a note to clients this week:

    (This week’s) RBA monetary policy meeting reaffirmed that the central bank has well and truly moved from an easing bias to incrementally hawkish on-hold stance, with increasing risks of a 2026 interest rate hike.

    Aussie shares still looking good

    But despite the next move for rates likely to be higher, Wilsons says the outlook for domestic equities remains “constructive”.

    As they said:

    Household spending remains resilient, the RBA’s three rate cuts this year have arguably yet to fully flow through to consumer activity, and loose domestic fiscal policy continues to support economic growth. And, somewhat uniquely, the US Fed’s ongoing rate cutting cycle provides an external offset to tighter domestic policy – particularly for offshore earners.

    Wilsons went on to say that while each cycle is unique, the past five cycles demonstrated that the market “typically grinds higher ahead of the RBA hiking rates”.

    The Wilsons team has looked at the various sectors and made some picks for which shares they prefer in each.

    Resources tied to global growth

    In the resources sector, they say that with our RBA looking to potentially raise rates, and the US Federal Reserve still looking to cut, this supports strength in the Australian dollar, “historically a key driver of mining sector outperformance”.

    They also note that resources are more sensitive to global growth than domestic Australian demand.

    Overall, given the sector’s higher sensitivity to the global growth pulse than to domestic demand, we remain positive on resources irrespective of the RBA’s policy stance.

    Wilsons’ preferred large-cap exposures are Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI), Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST).

    Banks fully priced

    In the banking sector, Wilsons remains cautious, saying that while in the lead up to the last four of five rate hike cycles the sector has done well due to a strong economic backdrop and expectations of expanding net interest margins, this time is somewhat different, with sector valuations “unusually elevated”.

    With valuations still full, and earnings momentum being mixed across the majors, we remain cautious towards the sector and continue to advocate for an underweight portfolio exposure.

    That being said, their preferred picks are ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

    Retailers mixed

    In consumer staples, their preferred pick is Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), saying the sector has outperformed in the lead up to the past three hiking cycles.

    While the sector is exposed to the broader consumer environment, household spending on essentials – particularly food and groceries – is typically highly resilient through the economic cycle. Given the attractive relative valuation of the supermarket sector (20x forward P/E) versus the retail sector (28x forward P/E), despite similar medium-term growth outlooks, we see meaningful scope for a rotation into supermarkets over the next year and remain positive towards the sector more broadly.   

    Wilsons is recommending investors steer clear of cyclical domestic stocks such as retailers and media stocks, saying that with the consumer outlook uncertain, companies are being punished heavily for earnings misses, and even for in-line results.

    With valuations still demanding – and well above historical averages – across the large caps, we remain cautious on the domestic retail sector and domestic cyclicals more broadly.  

    The post Which stocks are looking good as rates appear to be heading north? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Sandfire Resources NL right now?

    Before you buy Sandfire Resources NL shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Sandfire Resources NL wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • 3 reasons to buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) ETF in 2026

    A couple cheers as they sit on their lounge looking at their laptop and reading about the rising Redbubble share price

    With the Nasdaq sitting near record highs, some investors might assume they have missed the boat.

    But long-term wealth isn’t built by waiting for the perfect entry point. It is built by owning the world’s most innovative companies and letting compounding do its work.

    That’s exactly what the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) offers. It provides simple access to the 100 largest non-financial stocks listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Many of which are shaping the next decade of global growth.

    Here are three powerful reasons the NDQ ETF remains a top ASX exchange traded fund (ETF) to buy in 2026.

    The world’s highest-quality technology leaders

    The Nasdaq 100 is home to stocks with extraordinary financial strength, global dominance, and proven ability to compound earnings over decades. These aren’t speculative tech names, they are some of the most profitable and influential businesses ever created.

    The ASX ETF’s top holdings include Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

    These companies sit at the centre of cloud computing, smartphones, social platforms, semiconductors, and digital payments. They generate vast amounts of cash, reinvest heavily into innovation, and hold competitive advantages that are incredibly difficult to disrupt.

    When you buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF, you are not betting on one winner. You are owning the entire field of proven global tech leaders.

    A front-row seat to the AI boom

    Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant theme, it is already reshaping industries worldwide. The companies enabling this shift are almost entirely found in the Nasdaq 100.

    NDQ gives investors exposure to foundational AI infrastructure, like Nvidia chips and Microsoft’s cloud platforms, and AI adopters and monetisers, such as Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Alphabet, and Meta.

    AI requires enormous computing power, massive data storage, advanced software platforms, and constant hardware upgrades. The Nasdaq 100 contains nearly all the companies positioned to benefit from this multi-trillion-dollar transformation.

    AI could prove to be the defining megatrend of the 2020s and 2030s, and the NDQ ETF gives you some of the broadest exposure you can get from the ASX.

    Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF outperformance

    The Nasdaq 100 has consistently outperformed most major global indices for over 20 years.

    For example, over the past 10 years, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF has generated an average total return of 20% per annum.

    This is not luck or timing, it is the natural outcome of owning stocks that grow faster, innovate more aggressively, and expand into new markets at scale.

    But the long-term story is far from over. The forces driving the Nasdaq’s rise, such as cloud computing, e-commerce, digital payments, cybersecurity, AI, and software-as-a-service, remain early in their global adoption curves. These industries are expected to grow for decades, not years.

    As a result, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could be a great pick for Aussie investors in 2026.

    The post 3 reasons to buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) ETF in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF right now?

    Before you buy BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 reasons to buy this racing ASX 200 stock

    A row of Rivians cars.

    Shares in Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) have had a strong run in 2025. The ASX 200 stock has surged 122% this year, but has run into a roadblock of late by falling 17.3% in the past month.

    The shares trade hands for $26.32 apiece at the time of writing.

    Here are 3 reasons why the ASX 200 stock looks attractive today.

    Fast-growing BYD dealerships

    In mid-2025, Eagers delivered record half-year results. Revenue hit $6.5 billion, up 18.9% from a year earlier, while underlying operating profit before tax rose to $197.7 million, and underlying EBITDA reached $296.7 million, growing 11.6%.

    That performance reflected strong demand across new vehicles, used cars, and service and parts divisions. The fast-growing Chinese electric vehicle brand, BYD, plays a significant role in Eagers’ success. The ASX 200 stock operates around 80% of the dealerships that sell BYD cars in Australia.

    Analysts say Eagers’ diversified business model shows that it can outperform even when some segments slow. As the Australian market normalises and interest rate pressures ease, Eagers may benefit disproportionately thanks to its scale and brand partnerships.

    Transformative international expansion

    Eagers announced in early October that it would acquire a 65% stake in CanadaOne Auto, one of Canada’s largest dealership groups. The deal values CanadaOne at roughly $1.05 billion and marks the first move by Australia’s largest car retailer into North America.

    The acquisition is scheduled to be completed in Q1 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. On completion, Eagers will indirectly own the majority of 42 CanadaOne dealerships across several Canadian provinces.

    Industry analysts see this as a “strategically significant step”. The new vehicle market in Canada is way larger than the Australian one, and margins are generally stronger. The CanadaOne deal offers the ASX 200 stock an opportunity to diversify revenue and reduce its reliance on domestic sales cycles.

    Additionally, the deal is backed by a comprehensive capital raise of $452 million, plus a strategic placement with Mitsubishi Corporation, which also invests in Eagers’ used-car business, Easyauto123.

    Resilience beyond new-car cycles

    One of Eagers’ strengths is how its business spans beyond new-car sales. Its used-car operations, service and parts divisions, and independent used-car retailer Easyauto123 provide recurring, higher-margin revenue that is less sensitive to economic cycles.

    With new cars often the most cyclical part of automotive retail, Eagers’ broad footprint across segments offers a built-in buffer during downturns. That diversification makes it more of a steady, cash-flow-generating business than a pure new-car dealer.

    What next for the ASX 200 stock?

    Analysts are also positive on the outlook for the car share. It looks like even after this year’s share price rally, any stock purchased right now can still benefit from a robust upside. 

    TradingView data shows that most analysts recommend a hold or (strong) buy. Some expect the ASX 200 stock to climb as high as $35.90, which implies a 36% upside at the time of writing.

    However, the average share price target for the next 12 months is $30.74. That still suggests a possible gain of almost 17%.   

    The post 3 reasons to buy this racing ASX 200 stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Eagers Automotive Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Eagers Automotive Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Eagers Automotive Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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 recommended BYD Company. 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.

  • These ASX 200 shares could rise 30% to 40%

    A man wearing glasses and a white t-shirt pumps his fists in the air looking excited and happy about the rising OBX share price

    Are you on the lookout for ASX 200 shares that could supercharge your portfolio with some big returns?

    If you are, then it could pay to listen to what Bell Potter is saying about the two shares named below. Here’s why it is urging investors to buy them this month:

    CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

    Bell Potter notes that this auto listings company’s shares have been dragged lower following weakness in the tech sector.

    While this is disappointing given that it only recently initiated coverage on the carsales.com.au owner, it feels that it has created a very attractive opportunity for investors. Especially with the ASX 200 share trading on lower than normal multiples. It said:

    Our forecast adj. EPS CAGR of 12.2% through FY25-28e reflects a steady state of accelerating growth through the period (10.4%, 12.3% and 14.0% in FY26e-28e respectively) from realising the benefits of investing into margins during FY26, which includes acquisition-related cost headwinds in North America and marketing investment in South Korea. CAR’s current share price reflects a 12mth fwd P/E of ~28x, a two-year low; we feel this misses the underlying investment case for CAR heading into a period from 1H27 onwards from margin headwinds rolling off into an accelerating adj. EPS growth profile.

    This morning, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating and $42.20 price target on its share. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of 30% over the next 12 months. In addition, the broker is expecting a modest 2.6% dividend yield over the period.

    Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

    This ASX 200 biotech share could be undervalued according to Bell Potter.

    It highlights that 2025 has been a big year for Mesoblast, thanks to the “highly successful commercial launch” of the Ryoncil therapy.

    The good news is that the broker believes there is significantly more to come. In fact, it feels the market isn’t even fully pricing in its opportunity in current indications. This means that potential future label expansions could add even more value. It said:

    We estimate the NPV of de-risked revenues from future sales of Ryoncil at a minimum of $5.1bn (A$4/share). To achieve this outcome we ignore revenues from all other product approvals and reduce to nil the risk allowances for future revenues from label expansions in adults for GvHD and IBD.

    The majority of the value A$4/share valuation is attached to approvals in paediatrics and adult GvHD. As the market begins to appreciate the sustainability of revenues and long term EPS growth, we expect the valuation will increase as more aggressive relative valuation models are employed.

    Bell Potter has retained its speculative buy rating and $4.00 price target on Mesoblast’s shares. Based on its current share price of $2.82, this suggests that upside of 42% is possible between now and this time next year.

    The post These ASX 200 shares could rise 30% to 40% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in CAR Group Ltd right now?

    Before you buy CAR Group Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and CAR Group Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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 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.

  • David Ellison says he knows why the Warner Bros. Discovery board can’t accept his most recent offer

    Ellison headshot
    David Ellison's Paramount Skydance isn't giving up in its pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery.

    • Paramount submitted a hostile offer for Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix won the bidding war.
    • CEO David Ellison says he knows the WBD board can't accept the Monday offer.
    • These comments and others suggest Ellison could be willing to increase his bid.

    Paramount CEO David Ellison says he knows the Warner Bros. Discovery board can't accept his latest offer of $30 per share for the company.

    Why?

    "If they accept the offer exactly as it is today, right, then they're admitting breach of fiduciary duty, so I don't think they can just take that," Ellison was overheard saying at the UBS media event on Tuesday, Business Insider has exclusively learned.

    On Friday, WBD announced it had accepted Netflix's offer of $27.75 per share for WBD's studio and streaming assets. Then on Monday, Paramount launched a hostile bid for the entire company, including its TV networks like CNN and TNT.

    Ellison said Paramount's Monday offer was the same as the one it delivered privately to WBD on Thursday.

    "We wanted to communicate to everyone: We didn't change the offer. This is exactly what we sent them," Ellison said at the UBS event.

    That's why Ellison says it would be fraught for WBD's board, which is duty-bound to act in the best interests of shareholders, to accept it. How can they accept the offer they already indicated wasn't good enough?

    WBD issued a statement in response to Paramount's hostile bid, saying that its board would "carefully review and consider Paramount Skydance's offer" in a way that's "consistent with its fiduciary duties and in consultation with its independent financial and legal advisors."

    Moving forward, Ellison's comments suggest he knows he might have to sweeten the deal to get it over the finish line, even though he said he thinks Paramount's current bid is "by far the superior offer" compared to Netflix's. Another possibility: Instead of changing his offer, Ellison could let shareholders vote on its merits.

    There have been indications that Ellison could be willing to move on price.

    Paramount disclosed in an SEC filing that Ellison texted WBD CEO David Zaslav on Thursday, saying the following: "Please note importantly we did not include 'best and final' in our bid."

    Many media industry insiders suspect that the bidding war isn't over yet.

    Kevin Mayer, Disney's former top dealmaker, said the Paramount-Netflix face-off reminds him of the bidding war between Disney and Comcast for Fox's studio assets.

    "I would be very surprised if we don't see a sweetened, and perhaps meaningfully sweetened, offer" from Paramount or Netflix, Mayer said on Tuesday at the UBS conference.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Airbus CEO said the future of commercial aviation could be a B-2 bomber-like plane with a cabin in the wing

    A scaled model of an Airbus Blended-Wing Body (BWB) zero emission concept aircraft, on display at the Farnborough Airshow, on 22nd July 2022, at Farnborough, England.
    A scale model of the Airbus Blended-Wing Body concept aircraft, which would run on hydrogen.

    • Airbus' CEO said the next generation of commercial aircraft could look like the B-2 bomber.
    • The design combines the fuselage and wings into one giant wing with the cabin built inside.
    • It promises better fuel burn and passenger space, but it may have few windows.

    The future of aviation could look surprisingly similar to the triangular paper airplanes you folded as a kid.

    In an interview with Tobias Fuchs and Martin Murphy at the German newspaper Bild, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said that over the next 30 or 40 years, planemakers may abandon the traditional tube-and-wing layout for a single, thick wing with the passenger cabin built inside.

    This design — known as a "blended-wing body," or BWB — distributes lift across the entire sweeping wing, allowing for heavier carrying capacity and greater efficiency than conventional jets. Faury said a widebody aircraft would be "better suited" for the concept.

    He added that the BWB benefits come with trade-offs, including the possibility of eliminating windows. Passengers wouldn't receive any natural light, and some could get disoriented or experience claustrophobia.

    Airbus MAVERIC Airspace Cabin
    A rendering of the proposed economy section of Airbus' ZEROe BWB.

    Emergency evacuations could also be challenging: passengers and crew would have no view of what's going on outside, and those in the cabin center would be farther from exits than on today's jets.

    Faury's comments are the latest sign that Airbus sees opportunity in the blended-wing design, an area where it faces competition from new aircraft makers seeking to beat Airbus to market. The BWB design has a long history.

    The Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bomber — often cited as the best-known "flying wing" aircraft — first flew in 1989. Although the BWB concept dates back even further, renewed interest emerged in the early 1990s when McDonnell Douglas explored a blended-wing transport idea that eventually evolved into the BWB-17 in partnership with NASA.

    After McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997, Boeing continued the work with NASA to produce the X-48 series of subscale demonstrators until the program ended in 2013.

    An X-48 series demonstrator.
    The X-48 series was remotely piloted.

    But, to date, no full-size passenger BWB has been certified or flown, and Boeing has not announced plans to develop its own.

    For its part, Airbus has been exploring BWBs since 2017, and the company's 200-person design is a key pillar of its ZEROe initiative for zero-emission aviation.

    In 2019, the company flew a small-scale demonstrator that showed potential major fuel savings — estimated at around 20% — and new cabin layouts made possible by the wider interior. The long-term vision includes running these aircraft on hydrogen rather than traditional jet fuel.

    But despite the early momentum, Airbus has pushed its initial ZEROe 2035 timeline by as much as 10 years.

    Airbus has cited challenges surrounding certification complexity, limited global hydrogen infrastructure, and uncertainty around passenger acceptance — especially when some seats could be positioned far from natural light.

    Still, the BWB race is far from just an Airbus effort.

    Startups hope to break the Airbus-Boeing duopoly

    Aviation startups like Natilus and JetZero are betting that the unconventional BWB shape could help crack the traditional Boeing-Airbus duopoly, with both targeting launches in the early 2030s.

    The Pathfinder plane at the airport gate.
    The 1:8-scale Pathfinder will help develop the full-scale demonstrator.

    San Diego-based Natilus is developing a narrowbody version called Horizon to rival the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, promising about 25% lower fuel burn but 40% more cabin space. And it can fit into existing airport infrastructure.

    Company CEO Aleksey Matyushev previously told Business Insider that the industry could face a shortfall of roughly 40,000 narrowbody jets over the next 20 years — a number he said is far more than the two legacy players can realistically supply.

    Matyushev added that Horizon's larger cabin footprint could allow for wider seats, dedicated family areas, and other special features that go beyond what today's narrowbody jets offer.

    Renderings of Horizon's proposed cabin, released in July, show up to three aisles instead of the traditional one or two. Matyushev confirmed to Business Insider that the jet will have windows throughout.

    Rendering of a privacy pod on Natilus' Horizon aircraft.
    The above rendering shows Natilus' proposed "privacy pods" onboard the wide BWB jetliner.

    Passengers in the center seats will still be farther from the windows, but Natilus said it is adding skylights and other lighting strategies to mimic the outside.

    Meanwhile, 100 miles north in Long Beach, JetZero is pursuing a widebody version called the "Z4" that promises up to 50% lower fuel burn and could replace jets like the Boeing 767 and Airbus A330.

    The plane would have similar advantages to Horizon in terms of airport compatibility and seat layout.

    JetZero has already attracted interest from United Airlines. In April, United Airlines Ventures, the division that invests in these innovative aircraft, said it planned to buy up to 200 of JetZero's 250-seat Z4s.

    Managing director Andrew Chang previously told Business Insider that the aircraft's expansive interior could be game changer that feels like a "living room in the sky."

    JetZero successfully flew a subscale prototype called Pathfinder in 2024.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Pizza chain once backed by NBA star Kevin Durant hits bankruptcy court

    A California Pieology in 2024
    A California Pieology in 2024

    • Pieology, once backed by Kevin Durant, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
    • The pizza chain, founded by tennis star Michael Chang's brother, faces debts that exceed its assets.
    • Pieology plans to keep operating during bankruptcy as it seeks a court-approved repayment plan.

    A pizza chain founded by the brother of tennis star Michael Chang, and once backed by NBA superstar Kevin Durant, is seeking bankruptcy protection after years of store closures.

    The parent company of Pieology filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday in California, stating that its debts exceed its assets by at least double. The filing lists over 200 creditors, including many landlords and vendors.

    The chain, founded in 2011, built its reputation on letting customers "craft" their own pizzas, calzones, and other foods. By 2022, it was boasting 130 locations in a press release announcing Shawn Thompson, a former Tim Hortons executive, as its CEO.

    Its website lists nearly 40 locations, mainly in California, but also in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. Thompson, whose LinkedIn page suggests his term as CEO ended last month, didn't return a request for comment.

    Representatives for Pieology, which is expected to continue operating while the bankruptcy proceeds, didn't respond to a request for comment.

    In addition to the bankruptcy filing for Pieology's parent company, The Little Brown Box Pizza, Chang is also seeking bankruptcy protection for a company called Kustom Partner, which appears to be the administrative arm of Pieology.

    The two companies filed for a form of Chapter 11 designed for small businesses that allows them to keep operating while they restructure their debts under court supervision.

    Listed among Kustom Partner's creditors were numerous tax collectors from Florida, Oregon, Utah, Hawaii, Idaho, Georgia, Arizona, and more.

    In a 2017 story about Durant's investment in Pieology, the basketball legend told ESPN that he was "impressed with the quality" of the pizza chain. Representatives for Durant didn't return a request for comment about the status of their investment. Pieology's bankruptcy filing said no one owns more than 10% of the company, suggesting no current institutional owners.

    The Little Brown Box Pizza listed assets of between $100,000 and $500,000 compared to liabilities, or money owed, of between $1 million and $10 million.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Own IOZ ETF? Here are your new investments

    A man sitting at his dining table looks at his laptop and ponders the CSL balance sheet and the value of CSL shares today

    If you own iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ), the stocks you are invested in are about to change.

    S&P Dow Jones Indices has announced the December quarter rebalance, which will become effective on 22 December.

    Every quarter, S&P Dow Jones rebalances the ASX indices to ensure they accurately rank our largest stocks by market capitalisation.

    Indices play an important role in enabling us to monitor and measure the market’s performance over time.

    The IOZ ETF seeks to track the performance of the ASX 200 before fees.

    This means that every time S&P Dow Jones changes the composition of the ASX 200, BlackRock must adjust its IOZ ETF portfolio.

    At the next rebalance, six companies will ascend into the ASX 200.

    IOZ investors will gain exposure to three additional gold mining shares.

    They are Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM), Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) and Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares.

    IOZ unit holders will also become invested in Canadian uranium miner, Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG), telco share Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB), and nuclear technology developer, Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) from the industrials sector.

    The next rebalance will also see six ASX 200 shares exit the index.

    They include the suspended ASX 200 travel share Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD), which hasn’t traded since August.

    Corporate Travel Management shares were suspended at the company’s request after it disclosed accounting problems with its UK operations. Auditors have since uncovered incorrect revenue recognition of GBP 45.4 million and other irregularities.

    If you own IOZ ETF, you will also lose exposure to uranium miner Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) and car parts retailer Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP).

    Also exiting the ASX 200 will be poultry producer Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING).

    Alternative asset manager, HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC), and intellectual property services firm, IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH) will also go.

    ASX investors have $322 billion invested in ETFs

    Aussie investors love ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for their simplicity, diversification, and low fees.

    The latest Betashares data shows Australians invested a record $5.99 billion into ASX ETFs in October alone.

    A record $321.7 billion in funds are invested across more than 400 ETFs trading on the market today.

    ETFs enable investors to buy a basket of shares in one trade for a single brokerage fee.

    They are a convenient and passive investment option that many ASX investors consider lower risk.

    BlackRock charges IOZ investors 0.05% per year.

    The post Own IOZ ETF? Here are your new investments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF right now?

    Before you buy iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

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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 Corporate Travel Management and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended BlackRock. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HMC Capital and IPH Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.