Do you want to buy some ASX growth shares for your portfolio? If you do, then it could be worth checking out the three named below that analysts are bullish on.

Here’s what they are recommending to clients:

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

One company that continues to build momentum is Life360. It is best known for its family safety app, which allows users to track the location of loved ones and receive alerts related to driving behaviour, emergencies, and device safety.

While the app originally focused on location sharing, Life360 has gradually expanded its platform to include a range of subscription services such as roadside assistance, identity protection, and emergency response features.

The strength of the business lies in its growing global user base. Millions of families now rely on the platform daily, which gives the company opportunities to increase monetisation through premium subscriptions and additional services.

With the business moving toward stronger profitability and expanding its product ecosystem, Life360 has the potential to continue growing strongly over time.

This week, Bell Potter put a buy rating and $40.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 85% for investors over the next 12 months.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Another ASX growth share worth watching is Pro Medicus.

The healthcare technology company develops advanced medical imaging software used by hospitals and radiology groups around the world.

Its Visage platform allows radiologists to view complex scans quickly and efficiently, which improves productivity and patient outcomes.

What makes Pro Medicus particularly interesting is its success in winning long-term contracts with large hospital networks in the United States. These deals often run for several years and can generate significant recurring revenue.

As global demand for medical imaging continues to grow, Pro Medicus appears well placed to keep expanding its footprint internationally.

Morgans has a buy rating and $275.00 price target on its shares. This suggests that its shares could rise 125% between now and this time next year.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

A final ASX growth share that continues to impress is REA Group.

REA operates realestate.com.au, the dominant online property marketplace in Australia. The platform has become the go-to destination for Australians searching for homes, rental properties, and real estate data.

Its strong market position allows the company to charge real estate agents premium prices for listings and advertising products. This has helped REA deliver consistently strong earnings growth over many years.

Beyond Australia, the company also has investments in international property portals, which provide additional growth opportunities.

With Australia’s property market remaining highly active and digital advertising continuing to evolve, REA Group still appears well positioned for long-term expansion.

UBS has a buy rating and $218.90 price target on REA Group’s shares. This implies potential upside of over 30% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post 3 buy-rated ASX growth shares tipped to rise 30% to 125% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX growth shares I think could double by 2030
• 3 ASX growth stocks primed to rocket in 2026
• Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour, Life360, and Lynas shares
• The $10-a-day ASX share investing habit that could change your financial future
• 3 excellent Australian tech stocks to buy before they rebound

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Pro Medicus, and REA Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

All Australians strive for enough money in their superannuation to achieve the ultimate goal of a comfortable retirement.

That’s one where retirees are able to maintain a good standard of living. It includes top level private health insurance, ownership of a reasonable car brand, regular leisure activities, funds for home repairs and renovations, occasional meals out, and an annual domestic trip.

Of course, the alternative is a modest retirement, where retirees can cover expenses slightly above what the full Centrelink Age Pension would provide. Think basic health insurance with limited cap payments, a cheaper model of car, infrequent exercise, a limited budget for home repairs, minimal utility expenses, limited dining out, and maybe an annual domestic trip.

The question is, how do you know if you’re on track?

Here’s a breakdown of how much superannuation Aussies have saved by age 40, 50 and 60. And then how much you actually need. Because the numbers aren’t the same.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 40?

According to Rest Super, the average superannuation balance for a 40 to 44 year old male is $140,680 and for a female it’s $109,209.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 50?

The data shows that the average superannuation balance for a 50 to 54 year old male is $254.071, and for a female it’s $190,175.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 60?

For the 60 to 64 year olds, the average superannuation balance is $395,852 for men and $313,360 for women.

Great, but how does it compare to how much I actually need?

According to ASFA, a comfortable retirement is expected to cost approximately $54,240 per year for individuals and $76,505 per year for couples.

That equates to a superannuation balance of approximately $690,000 and for a single person this is approximately $595,000.

ASFA has crunched the numbers and it turns out that in order to reach that figure, you’d need a balance of $178,000 at age 40.

By age 50 you’d need to have $313,500 in your superannuation.

And then by age 60 your superannuation balance would need to increase to $496,500.

My superannuation balance is really far behind. How can I catch up?

The easiest way to boost your super balance is to add as much to it as you can. Individuals can salary sacrifice at a reduced tax rate of 15%.

Or you can also add after-tax money to your super, and then claim a tax deduction at tax time. You can make these contributions up to age 67 without extra work testing or exemptions. 

If you don’t have the funds available to add more cash into your balance, the next best thing you can do is ensure the money that’s already in there is working as best as possible. After all, if a fund even slightly underperforms a benchmark, such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), over a long period of time it can seriously dent your end balance.

The post Superannuation check up: Here’s how much you should have saved by age 40, 50 and 60 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.

Dividend shares can play an important role in building long-term wealth.

Not only do they provide investors with regular income, but many of the best dividend payers also grow their profits over time. When that happens, dividends can steadily increase as well.

For investors thinking long term, here are five ASX dividend shares that could be worth considering for the next decade.

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

Accent Group is one of Australia’s leading footwear retailers and distributors.

The company operates well-known brands and retail chains including Hype DC, Platypus, and The Athlete’s Foot, while also distributing global brands such as Skechers and Vans across Australia and New Zealand.

Over time, Accent has steadily expanded its store network while building a strong online presence. This growth has supported rising sales and solid cash generation, which has enabled the company to pay attractive dividends.

While the last 12 months have been difficult, if consumer spending improves and the company continues to expand its retail footprint, Accent could remain a reliable income generator for shareholders.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA Group is one of the most established infrastructure dividend shares on the ASX.

The company owns and operates a large network of energy infrastructure assets, including gas pipelines and energy transmission systems across Australia.

These assets often operate under long-term contracts, which helps provide predictable revenue and cash flow. This stability has allowed APA to pay consistent dividends for many years.

APA is also investing in renewable energy and electricity transmission projects, which could help support future earnings growth as Australia’s energy system evolves.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Harvey Norman is another ASX share that has rewarded shareholders with dividends for decades.

The retailer sells furniture, electronics, and household goods through a network of franchised stores across Australia and international markets.

In addition to its retail operations, Harvey Norman also owns a large property portfolio, which provides an additional layer of asset backing to the business.

While retail earnings can fluctuate with economic conditions, the company’s strong balance sheet and property assets have historically supported generous dividend payments.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie Group has long been considered one of Australia’s highest-quality financial institutions.

It operates across asset management, infrastructure investment, commodities trading, and investment banking.

From these operations, the company has built a global platform, which has a long history of delivering strong profit growth through multiple economic cycles.

As earnings have expanded, Macquarie has steadily increased its dividend payments to shareholders. If the company continues to grow its international operations, its dividend could also continue rising over time.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Universal Store is a youth-focused fashion retailer that has been growing rapidly in recent years.

The company operates several retail brands including Universal Store, Perfect Stranger, and Thrills. These businesses target younger consumers and have been expanding their store networks across Australia.

Despite only being listed for five years, Universal Store has already built a reputation for strong profitability and healthy cash generation.

That financial strength has allowed it to pay attractive dividends while still investing in future growth.

The post 5 ASX dividend shares to hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Accent Group and Universal Store. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Harvey Norman, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares closed 0.98% lower on Thursday, at $30.45 a piece. The slide comes off the back of an incredible share price rally this year.

The energy shares closed out January trading for $25.37. When the closing bell sounded on 27 February, shares were changing hands for $28.31 apiece, up 11.6% for the month. And they climbed another 7.56% in the first week of March.

On Wednesday this week the share price hit a two-year high of $30.75. 

So, if I bought $10,000 worth of Woodside shares when the market first opened in 2026, what are they worth now?

For the year to date, Woodside shares have rocketed 28.7%, and for the year, they are up 32.51%. 

Yesterday’s share price increase means that $10,000 invested in the energy giant’s stock when the ASX first opened for the year on the 2nd of January is now worth $12,870.

Meanwhile, $10,000 invested in Woodside shares this time last year would be worth even more, totalling $13,251 at the time of writing.

What has caused the price rally of Woodside shares?

Rising oil prices have acted as a strong tailwind for Woodside shares.  

At the time of writing, crude oil prices rocketed more than 8% to above US$80 per barrel, their highest level since July 2024 as the escalating war with Iran disrupted global fuel supplies.

Trading Economics adds China’s government has ordered its major refiners to halt exports of diesel and gasoline, which has added more strain onto the market.

For context, in late February, crude oil prices were trading around US$67 to US$70 per barrel. 

Meanwhile, the oil and gas giant reported its 2025 results early last week, and investors were thrilled with the outcome.

​​The company confirmed all-time high full-year production of 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), topping guidance. Its costs fell 4% for the calendar year, and while revenue dropped 1%, its EBITDA was in line with 2024. 

On the bottom line, Woodside’s net profit after tax (NPAT) of $2.72 billion was down 24% from 2024, while underlying NPAT of $2.65 billion declined by 8%.

Management also declared a final fully-franked dividend of US 59 cents per share, an 11% increase from last year’s final payout (in US dollar terms).

Can Woodside shares keep climbing higher?

Analysts are divided about the outlook for Woodside shares this year. Many think that the stock has run its course and there isn’t much room left for it to run higher, while others think we could see more upside.

TradingView data shows that 6 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Woodside shares. Another 8 have a hold rating, and 1 has a sell rating.

The average target price of $28.69 implies a potential 5.79% downside ahead, at the time of writing. But the more optimistic $34 target price suggests the stock could rise another 11.66% over the next 12 months.

The post $10,000 invested in Woodside shares at the start of 2026 is now worth… 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.

I’m undoubtedly an advocate for ASX ETFs. 

Exchange traded funds can be a great foundation for a portfolio, particularly when it comes to newer investors,

Rather than choosing one or two individual companies, an ASX ETF offers instant diversification.

It’s often assumed that because of the lowered risk, there is also lower upside. 

However, targeting the right funds can bring plenty of potential. 

These three funds have proven that to be true so far in 2026, outpacing many individual stocks. 

Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE)

This ASX ETF provides access to a global basket of copper miners which stand to benefit from being a key part of the value chain facilitating growth in major areas of innovation such as technology, infrastructure and clean energy.

The thematic fund gives investors exposure to a sector that is poised to play an important role across many growing industries. 

Copper is one of the most important metals for electrification, and key uses include:

• Electric vehicles (EVs) ~2 – 4× more copper than petrol cars
• Renewable energy – wind turbines and solar farms
• Power grids – huge expansion needed for electrification.

At the time of writing, it includes 39 underlying holdings. 

Its largest geographical exposure is to: 

• Canada (35.01%)
• United States (11.14%)
• Australia (10.55%).

The fund has risen 14.3% year to date, and 98% over the last year. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 2.4% year to date and 10.45% in the last year. 

Global X Uranium ETF (ASX: ATOM)

This fund offers investors access to a broad range of companies involved in uranium mining and the production of nuclear components, including those in extraction, refining, exploration, or manufacturing of equipment for the uranium and nuclear industries.

According to Global X, global initiatives to reduce carbon emissions will see uranium and nuclear adoption rise as a crucial power source to facilitate the clean energy transition.

The case for uranium today is perhaps the strongest it’s been in a decade driven by increasing global demand and nuclear power capacity.

The fund is currently made up of 50 holdings, from sectors including: 

• Energy (65.36%)
• Industrials (18.56%)
• Utilities (7.08%)
• Materials (4.51%)

Its largest geographical exposure: 

• Canada (48.84%)
• United States (17.94%)
• Australia (9.98%). 

It has risen more than 13% for the year to date, and nearly 100% in the past year.

Global X Gold Bullion (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: GHLD)

The Global X Gold Bullion (Currency Hedged) ETF (GHLD) provides a way to gain exposure to physical gold while neutralising the impact of currency movements.

It seeks to provide investment results which correspond generally to the spot price of gold bullion, hedged with the aim of eliminating the impact of currency movements between the US dollar and Australian dollar, before fees and expenses.

It is up 18% year to date and over 60% in the last 12 months. 

The post The ASX ETFs that have gotten off to the hottest starts in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What were the best performing ASX ETFs in January?
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

For many investors, the goal is simple. Own great businesses and hold them long enough for compounding to work its magic.

The challenge is that identifying those businesses individually can be difficult. That is where exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be incredibly useful. With a single investment, they provide exposure to entire groups of companies that are benefiting from powerful economic trends.

Here are three world-class ASX ETFs that could be worth buying and holding for the long term.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

If there is one ETF that represents the engine room of global capitalism, it is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to 500 of the largest and most influential companies listed in the United States. These businesses span industries ranging from technology and healthcare to finance and consumer goods.

Inside the portfolio are companies that have reshaped entire industries, including Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). There are also global consumer giants such as McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) and Visa (NYSE: V).

Rather than betting on a single company to dominate the future, the iShares S&P 500 ETF spreads exposure across the entire ecosystem of American corporate leadership. Over the long run, the S&P 500 has proven to be one of the most powerful wealth-building indices in the world.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

Another ASX ETF that could be worth considering is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Rather than focusing on broad markets, this fund targets companies involved in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence technologies. These industries are increasingly shaping how factories operate, how goods are delivered, and how businesses analyse data.

The portfolio includes companies working across different parts of the automation ecosystem. For example, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) supplies the powerful chips used in AI systems, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG) develops robotic surgical equipment, and ABB Ltd (SWX: ABBN) specialises in industrial automation.

These technologies are already transforming industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and transportation. As businesses continue investing heavily in automation and efficiency, companies operating in these areas could see strong long-term demand. This fund was recently recommended by the team at Betashares.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

While global exposure is important, many investors also want to maintain an allocation to Australian companies.

The Betashares Australian Quality ETF offers a different way to approach the local market. Instead of simply tracking the largest ASX shares, the fund focuses on businesses with strong financial characteristics.

It screens companies based on factors such as profitability, earnings stability, and balance sheet strength. The idea is to tilt the portfolio toward businesses that consistently generate strong returns and manage their finances conservatively.

The ETF’s holdings include well-known Australian companies such as CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). These businesses have built strong reputations for delivering consistent earnings growth and high returns on capital.

By emphasising quality rather than size alone, the Betashares Australian Quality ETF aims to capture the long-term compounding potential of Australia’s strongest companies. It was also recently recommended by the fund manager.

The post 3 world-class ASX ETFs to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, CSL, Goodman Group, Intuitive Surgical, Macquarie Group, Microsoft, Nvidia, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, CSL, Goodman Group, Microsoft, Nvidia, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 stock Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI) is in focus after it drew a positive outlook in a recent report from Canaccord genuity.

Company overview

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure owns and operates the metallurgical coal export facility at Dalrymple Bay. The facility is located at the Port of Hay Point, south of Mackay in Queensland. 

It is the world’s largest coal export facility, serving the coal-rich Bowen Basin. It is an important link in the global steelmaking supply chain. 

The company provides handling and loading capacity to independent customers shipping coal for export.

Its share price has risen significantly in the past 12 months, up 35.3%. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials (ASX:XNJ) index is up roughly 5% in that same span. 

What did it report in February?

In late February, the company released full-year results for the financial year 2025.

This included:

• Terminal Infrastructure Charge (TIC) revenue rose 3.9% to $307.6 million
• EBITDA increased 5.2% to $294.3 million
• Statutory net profit after tax was $29.2 million
• Funds From Operations (FFO) grew 10.6% to $173.3 million
• Net debt stood at $1,975.7 million at year end
• Total distributions for FY-25 climbed 11.9% to 24.625 cents per security. 

The share price spiked following these results, but has since softened over the last week or so. 

Why you should add this ASX 200 stock to your portfolio. 

According to a recent report from Canaccord Genuity, Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure’s business model is underpinned by a regulated framework and favourable contract structure. 

This supports defensive, inflation-linked earnings with high cash flow visibility. 

The firm said in yesterday’s report the Terminal Infrastructure Charges indexed to inflation, 100% take-or-pay contracts, socialisation of un-contracted capacity, and recoverable operating costs collectively drive ~95% EBITDA margins and stable, predictable cash-flow growth with minimal exposure to coal price or volume volatility.

According to Canaccord Genuity, the company’s CPI-linked earnings base combined with these incremental initiatives supports a credible pathway to mid-to-high single-digit FFO growth and double-digit dividend growth over the medium term. 

Consensus currently expects a three-year (FY25-28) FFO and DPS CAGR of ~7% and ~10%, respectively.

From a valuation perspective, DBI trades on a forward EV/EBITDA of 14.1x and a forward dividend yield of 5.6%, representing compelling value relative to key ASX infrastructure peers (e.g. TCL at ~25x and 4.9%). Our conviction is further supported by DBI’s superior contract visibility and simpler regulatory framework relative to key peers, alongside strong earnings momentum and, in our view, further upside risk to consensus.

The post Should you add this rising ASX 200 stock to your portfolio? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Numerous ASX share investments have gone through volatility over the last few weeks and months. The declines can be a great buying opportunity, in my view. I think this could be an excellent time to look at an investment like Global X Fang+ ETF (ASX: FANG).

While it’s not your typical ASX share, the exchange-traded fund (ETF) can be bought on the ASX and it’s about investing in shares.

When I think about which investments would be good buys, I’m optimistic that it’s the best businesses that will deliver the strongest results over the long-term. This fund is about great stocks.

The appeal of the FANG ETF

This ASX ETF aims to give investors exposure to some of the largest global tech companies.

There are only 10 businesses in the portfolio, so it’s a highly concentrated investment that gives exposure to names like Nvidia, Netflix, Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Broadcom, Apple, Crowdstrike, Palantir and Microsoft.

Each of those positions is meant to roughly have a 10% weighting. The position sizing is reweighted every so often to ensure each business takes up around a tenth of the ETF.

These businesses operate across a wide range of areas such as AI, social media, online video, online search, e-commerce, smartphones, semiconductors, software for devices, cybersecurity and so on.

The FANG ETF has delivered an average return per year of 20.5% over the last five years, but it has noticeably declined over the last few years, as the chart below shows.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance, but the fund’s holdings are the ones at the forefront of developing the next products and services for society. I think it’s a good idea to look at investing in this ASX share during this period.  

ASX shares I’m not buying right now

There are a few ASX shares that have declined over the last week or two amid the volatility, but there are a few compelling businesses I’m not looking to invest in today.

I think that ASX mining shares can make great investments because of how cyclical they are. Changes in supply and demand can lead to big changes in resource prices, net profit and valuation shifts.

After a strong run-up of share prices (though there has been a decline very recently), I’m not looking to buy into names like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC).

I’ll be more interested if/when investor excitement about these ASX mining shares settles down and future expectations are reduced. I’ll be looking at other opportunities in the meantime.

The post 1 beaten-down ASX share to consider buying today, and 5 I’m shunning for now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, CrowdStrike, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom and Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BHP Group, CrowdStrike, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A new report has offered an updated comparison of Australia’s supermarket giants Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). 

Greg Burke, Equity Strategist at Canaccord Genuity said these supermarkets have demonstrated resilience against an incrementally more challenging consumer backdrop, amidst persistent inflation and a tightening RBA. 

Both companies delivered early 2H26 trading updates showing accelerating top-line growth, outperforming most of the broader retail cohort where growth has generally moderated. 

In addition, both supermarkets are demonstrating strong cost discipline, amidst their respective cost-out programs, which has supported impressive operating leverage, driving double-digit EBIT growth in 1H26 (WOW +14.4%, COL +10.2%).

Earnings snapshot for Coles and Woolworths

Coles released half-year results on February 27. 

Highlights from the report included:

• Group sales revenue: $23.6 billion, up 2.5% on the prior period
• Net profit after tax (excluding significant items): $676 million, up 12.5%
• Group EBIT (excluding significant items): $1,231 million, up 10.2%
• Interim dividend: 41 cents per share, fully franked. 

Coles shares are down 0.33% since the start of 2026, although the share price has faced volatility.

Woolworths released half-year results on February 25 which included: 

• Half-year sales of $37.14 billion, up 3.4% year on year
• Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $1.66 billion, up 14.4%
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) up 16.4% year on year to $859 million
• Fully-franked interim dividend of 45 cents per share, up 15.4% from last year’s interim payout.

Woolworths shares have rocketed on the back of these results, and now sit 22% higher than the start of 2026. 

It closed yesterday at $35.92.

This marks a sharp turnaround since October last year when Woolworths shares were trading around $26 per share.

Which is a better buy?

According to Canaccord Genuity, Woolworths’ ability to regain sales leadership over Coles was a notable theme. 

This was particularly evident in WOW’s 2H26 trading update, with its top-line growth accelerating to 5.8% (7.2% ex-tobacco), compared with COL at +3.7% (+5.3% ex-tobacco), implying market share gains for the market leader.

Mr Burke said Woolworth’s strong result suggests it is beginning to reap the rewards of its turnaround strategy, which is focused on improving its consumer value proposition through disciplined investments into price, range optimisation and loyalty. 

With WOW delivering consensus EPS upgrades of +5% (compared with modest downgrades for COL), we are increasingly confident that WOW’s downgrade cycle has drawn to a close, solidifying our preference for WOW.

The post Are Coles or Woolworths shares a better buy right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares have been in focus this week after the company released its half-year results on Wednesday. 

Endeavour’s portfolio includes Australia’s largest retail drinks network mainly across its Dan Murphy’s and BWS brands. These account for approximately half of all off-premises retail liquor sales in Australia. 

The company’s other brand names include ALH Hotels, Langton’s, and Jimmy Brings.

Initially, earnings results sent Endeavour shares tumbling, before recovering 2.8% yesterday. 

As a quick recap, the company reported: 

• Group sales of $6.7 billion, a 0.9% increase on the prior corresponding period
• A 6.7% decline in underlying net profit after tax to $278 million
• 17.1% decline in statutory net profit after tax to $247 million
• A fully franked interim dividend cut by 13.6% to 10.8 cents per share.

Its share price is currently down approximately 6% over the last 12 months.

What did brokers have to say?

Following the results, brokers were quick to update guidance on the company. 

Bell Potter adjusted EBIT by 0%, -3%, and -4% over FY26, FY27, and FY28e, respectively. 

This led to a share price target increase from $4.00 to $4.15 for Endeavour shares, along with a retained buy recommendation. 

After closing yesterday at $3.95, Endeavour shares are roughly 6% below that target. 

Morgans provides an update

The team at Morgans have also adjusted their outlook on Endeavour shares following this week’s results. 

In a note out of the broker, it said there were no major surprises in EDV’s 1H26 result following the company’s trading update in January. 

While EDV continues to work on its refreshed strategy with further details to be provided at an investor day on 27 May, management confirmed that the combined Retail and Hotels portfolio will be retained. Management also noted that they will continue investing in Dan Murphy’s to restore its price leadership, while accelerating hotel renewals and electronic gaming machine (EGM) replacements.

Price target falls for Endeavour shares

The broker also reduced its FY26-28F underlying EBIT outlook by between 0-1%. 

Additionally, the broker lowered its price target to $3.65.

It has retained its hold rating. 

Based on this price target, Morgans is less optimistic on Endeavour shares, as the price target suggests a downside of 7.6%. 

Elsewhere, it seems brokers are mostly neutral on Endeavour shares. 

15 analyst forecasts via TradingView have an average price target of $3.83. 

That’s roughly 3% below yesterday’s closing price. 

The post What is Morgans’ updated view on Endeavour shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Brightstar, Endeavour, Evolution Mining, and Woolworths shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.