There are so many ASX shares to choose from it can be hard to decide which ones to buy over others.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at three popular shares and see if analysts think they are buys, holds, or sells. Here’s what they are saying:

Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP)

The team at Bell Potter is positive on this mining and mining services company. In response to news of an underground mining contract from OceanaGold, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $5.20.

The broker also likes the company due to its Woodlawn project, which it believes could drive a re-rating of its shares. It said:

DVP enters an important phase of its Woodlawn commercialisation journey with commissioning to be completed in the March 2026 quarter. We expect demonstration of earnings and FCF expansion from Woodlawn to drive a re-rate for DVP; spot copper, zinc and silver prices are currently ahead of our FY26 forecasts, presenting upside to valuation and earnings expectations the longer they remain ahead of forecasts. Near-term catalysts include Sulphur Springs financing completion and processing plant construction commencement and further external DMS contract wins.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

This wholesale distributor recently released its half year result for FY 2026. While Ord Minnett wasn’t overly impressed with the performance of its hardware and liquor divisions, it remains positive on valuation grounds. It has a buy rating and $4.00 price target on the company’s shares. The broker said:

Metcash posted first-half FY26 earnings short of market expectations, driven partly by the earlier recognition of restructuring costs than consensus had forecast. The key food business met forecasts, but the hardware and liquor divisions fell short of expectations. […] Post the result, we have cut our EPS estimates by 8.0%, 9.2% and 8.3% for FY26, FY27 and FY28, respectively, primarily due to the challenges facing the liquor and hardware operations. This leads us to cut our target price on Metcash to $4.00 from $4.60, but we maintain our Buy recommendation on valuation grounds.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

A recent update from this wine giant disappointed analysts at Morgans. Although the broker was expecting a bad update, it was even weaker than feared.

Given its poor performance in the US, its weakening balance sheet, and high level of earnings uncertainty, the broker rates it as a hold with a $5.25 price target. It said:

As we feared, but even weaker than expected, TWE’s trading update meant that consensus estimates were far too high. Its US performance was particularly disappointing given of all the capital spent in recent years. Gearing is now well above TWE’s target range and will remain high for the next couple of years. While we made large downgrades to our forecasts only two weeks ago following the goodwill write-down, TWE’s new trading update has seen us make another round of material revisions. We stress that earnings uncertainty remains high. It will take time for new management to deliver more acceptable returns and for TWE to rebuild credibility with the market. We maintain a HOLD rating.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Develop Global, Metcash, and Treasury Wine shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Bell Potter names three engineering companies to buy
• Time to buy this ASX dividend share now it’s down 14%
• Top broker just raised its price target on this ASX materials stock
• Why 4DMedical, Develop Global, EOS, and Maas shares are racing higher today
• Why Boss Energy, Paragon Care, Treasury Wine, and Woodside shares are falling today

With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this uranium producer’s shares with a reduced price target of $2.00. This follows the release of an update on future production at the Honeymoon project. While the update was very disappointing and makes the project’s future uncertain, Bell Potter sees potential for it to work. And given its bullish view on uranium prices, it doesn’t think higher costs are the end of the story. It continues to assume production of 1.6M pounds per annum over a 10-year mine life. Outside this, the broker feels that Boss Energy’s cheap valuation could make it a takeover target. The Boss Energy share price is trading at $1.30 on Monday afternoon.

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR)

A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $4.50 price target on this property company’s shares. The broker has been busy adjusting its estimates for the REIT industry to reflect its forecast for two rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia in 2026. This is expected to lead to a modest increase in financing costs for REITs. Nevertheless, given resilient consumer demand and constrained new supply, the broker remains positive and continues to rate the Charter Hall Retail REIT highly. So much so, it is one of its top picks in the industry. The Charter Hall Retail REIT share price is fetching $4.12 at the time of writing.

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their speculative buy rating on this lithium developer’s shares with a reduced price target of $5.05. This follows news that the company has raised funds for phase one of the Lionheart project. Bell Potter was impressed with the strong level of strategic support for the company and Lionheart project. Outside this, when the project is operational, the broker believes it will be well-placed to benefit as lithium markets rebalance over the medium term. In fact, the broker expects average annual EBITDA of 290 million euros (A$513 million). Though, it concedes that as an asset development company with only forecast cash flow, it is a speculative pick. The Vulcan Energy share price is trading at $3.93 on Monday.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Are Boss Energy shares a cheap buy after crashing 50%?
• Forget Pilbara Minerals shares, this ASX lithium stock could be better
• These ASX 200 shares could rise 20% to 50%
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 positions in and has recommended Charter Hall Retail REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK) share price is powering higher today after the company released an upbeat trading update and upgraded its profit guidance.

At the time of writing, the furniture retailer’s shares have jumped 10.11% to $23.30, making it one of the best-performing stocks on the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) on Monday.

So, what did Nick Scali say to excite investors? Let’s take a look.

What changed in today’s update?

In a trading update released this morning, Nick Scali upgraded its outlook for the first half of FY26.

The company now expects first-half revenue across Australia and New Zealand to be 10% to 12% higher than last year, up from previous guidance of 7% to 9%. That step-up was clearly enough to immediately get investors’ attention.

More importantly, the stronger sales performance is flowing through to earnings. Management now expects statutory net profit after tax of $37 million to $39 million for the first half, compared with earlier guidance of $33 million to $35 million.

Building on earlier momentum

Today’s announcement builds on the commentary that Nick Scali provided at its AGM in late October.

At that time, management pointed to improving trading conditions in Australia and New Zealand, alongside steady progress across its offshore operations. While guidance wasn’t formally upgraded at the time, the company made it clear that trading was tracking ahead of expectations.

This latest update confirms that momentum has carried into the early part of FY26, despite cost-of-living pressures continuing to weigh on consumer demand.

Why investors are paying attention

Retail stocks have spent much of the past year on the back foot, as investors worried about stretched household budgets, slower housing activity, and the impact of higher interest rates.

Nick Scali’s update indicates that sales are holding up better than expected, with margins remaining intact and trading conditions stable in the near term.

It also helps that the stock has already attracted strong broker support in recent months, with several analysts highlighting its balance sheet strength, disciplined cost control, and long-term growth.

Foolish bottom line

While furniture retail remains a competitive and cyclical space, Nick Scali continues to stand apart from many of its peers.

The company has built a track record of consistent execution and conservative guidance, which is paying off again this year.

If the current momentum carries into the second half, the Nick Scali share price could top its previous all-time high of $25.98.

Given the upgraded outlook and continued operational consistency, this high-quality discretionary retailer has earned a place on my watchlist.

The post Why this ASX 300 furniture retailer is soaring on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why DroneShield, Meteoric Resources, NextDC, and Nick Scali shares are charging higher today
• Macquarie says these two ASX retail stocks are good buying at current levels
• Macquarie names its top ASX consumer staples and consumer discretionary stock picks
• Bell Potter names more of the best ASX 200 shares to buy in December
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Nick Scali. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) share price is up 3% today (at the time of writing) after the company increased the size of its on-market share buyback by $50 million to a new total target of $85 million.

The market clearly loved the announcement but beyond the share price reaction, the decision raises a bigger question for investors: Why would management choose to buy back shares and should investors turn bullish on Reece shares?

Why buy back shares?

At its core, a share buyback is a capital allocation decision. Reece management are effectively saying that, at current prices, buying the company’s own shares offers a better risk-adjusted return than alternative uses of capital such as acquisitions, branch expansion, or accelerated investment in growth initiatives.

The move also implies that management believe that Reece shares are currently undervalued. Even after today’s 3% rise, Reece shares are still down 42% year to date and down 11% over the last 5 years.

For shareholders, buybacks can be attractive.

All else equal, buy backs reduce the number of shares on issue, which can lift earnings per share, support valuation metrics, and signal management confidence in the underlying business.

The flipside of share buy backs

That said, buybacks aren’t always an unambiguous positive.

When a company chooses to return capital rather than reinvest it, it can also imply that management sees fewer high-return organic growth opportunities available right now. In other words, Reece may believe its best option is to optimise its share price using financial engineering rather than organic growth.

Of course, its never that black and white and in reality, management could be pursuing both organic growth and and buy backs to optimise their capital allocation mix.

Another thing for investors to take note of is that Reece is funding the buyback from existing cash and debt facilities.

There are plenty of situations where increasing debt to buyback equity makes financial sense (e.g. debt is typically a cheaper form of financing than equity partly because it is typically tax deductible), but some investors may still be uncomfortable with increasing debt for this purpose.

So how should investors think about it?

For long-term investors, the expanded buyback builds confidence that management view the current share price as undervalued and an opportunity to reduce the total number of shares outstanding, increase earnings per share and ultimately increase the value of the shares for shareholders.

However, it’s not a substitute for growth and ultimately, the share price over time will still depend on Reece’s performance in its core residential and commercial markets, particularly in Australia and the US.

For now, the market clearly sees value in Reece backing itself.

The post Where would you invest $85m? Reece shares jump 3% on major buyback expansion appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Reece announces $85 million on-market buyback target
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• See which companies have just been added to key ASX indices
• This ASX 200 share is down 57% from its peak. I think it’s a turnaround buy!
• Why Catapult, Kingsgate, Light & Wonder, and Reece shares are storming higher today

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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 originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Shares of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) have begun to sputter. The stock is close to flat since this summer, with investors worried about peak spending on artificial intelligence (AI) computer chips. With a share price that has risen over 1,000% in the last five years, who can blame them? Nvidia is now the largest company by market cap in the world, and while it is growing its revenue and earnings at an incredible rate right now, that could come to a halt if the AI spending boom collapses. 

Does that mean Nvidia stock is set to crash next year?

Massive current growth, cyclicality risks

There is no denying that Nvidia is growing rapidly right now. It has a lock on the AI computer chip market, meaning that virtually every large technology provider or start-up building AI models needs to buy its products. Last quarter, revenue grew 62% year over year to $57 billion, with data center revenue growing even faster.

Management says that its upcoming Blackwell computer chip is selling out of its upcoming supply, which is a good near-term determination of future growth. Profit margins are off the charts, with operating margin up to 63% last quarter.

If current growth rates continue, then Nvidia will do well for shareholders in 2026. But eventually, the AI computer chip supply will start to match demand, as it does in any spending supercycle. This will lower Nvidia’s revenue growth rate, and could make it even turn negative for a short while. Profit margins are going to fall once the company loses its pricing power, especially if competition keeps rising from Alphabet‘s TPU chip and Amazon‘s Trainium chip.

A downside scenario such as this could risk Nvidia’s earnings power being lower 12 months from now. 

A valuation that is demanding

Another reason to be concerned about Nvidia’s stock in 2026 is its demanding valuation. The stock currently has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 43, which is well above the market average at a time when the market’s average P/E ratio is close to an all-time high.

What does this mean? Investors buying or holding Nvidia stock in 2026 need to expect strong earnings growth in the next few quarters. Nvidia is now one of the largest companies in the world by revenue, with incredibly strong profit margins. It cannot grow revenue at 62% year over year forever with over $50 billion in quarterly revenue; there is simply not that much capital in the world capable of making these large upfront investments into Nvidia computer chips.

Data by YCharts.

Will Nvidia stock crash next year?

It is impossible to have 100% certainty regarding Nvidia’s stock price trajectory in 2026. If anyone did, they could become a millionaire rather quickly.

What an investor needs to analyze is how likely it is that Nvidia’s stock crashes next year. Right now, spending on AI infrastructure is growing rapidly, which is leading to huge demand for Nvidia computer chips. But there are some signs of cracks showing up in the spending plans for players such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Oracle. Microsoft is beginning to slow its plans for data center development. OpenAI is trying to spend hundreds of billions of dollars that it doesn’t have today. Oracle is turning deeply free-cash-flow-negative to build out cloud computing data centers, and investors are not happy about it.

All of these variables point to risks for Nvidia’s demand in 2026. Combined with its high P/E ratio and above-average profit margins, Nvidia stock could definitely crash in 2026. I’m not saying it is guaranteed to happen, but it is something that any Nvidia shareholder needs to consider as a possibility next year.

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

The post Will Nvidia stock crash in 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.

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

More reading

• Which AI chip stock is the better buy for 2026: Nvidia or Alphabet?
• 1 prediction for Nvidia in 2026
• Where will Nvidia stock be in 5 years?
• Down 17% from recent highs, is Nvidia stock a buy?
• Could Nvidia become the first $10 trillion company?

Brett Schafer 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, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. 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, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) share price is in focus today after the company received its first-ever investment grade credit rating of BBB+ with a stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings. The recognition is seen as a significant step in supporting Infratil’s future growth and funding flexibility.

What did Infratil report?

• S&P Global Ratings assigned an inaugural BBB+ investment grade credit rating to Infratil Limited
• The outlook for the rating is stable
• Rating reflects stable funding supported by substantial permanent capital
• Strong track record of investment performance cited by ratings agency
• New rating is a key milestone in Infratil’s funding and growth strategy

What else do investors need to know?

Infratil says the investment grade rating is expected to broaden its funding options, improve borrowing terms, and reduce future financing costs. The company’s track record over nearly three decades was highlighted as a foundation for the new rating.

The credit rating specifically applies to Infratil as an issuer, and not to its Infrastructure Bonds, which continue to be quoted on the NZX.

What did Infratil management say?

Andrew Carroll, Chief Financial Officer:

It is pleasing that the strength, quality and resilience of Infratil’s business and track record has been recognised with a strong investment grade rating. Securing an investment-grade credit rating is a key milestone in Infratil’s strategy to broaden funding options, enhance borrowing terms and reduce financing costs. After nearly three decades of strong funding support, Infratil’s scale and this rating positions us to access new debt markets and strengthens our capacity for future growth.

What’s next for Infratil?

With the investment grade rating in hand, Infratil aims to access new debt markets and further strengthen its funding base. Management believes this enhanced flexibility will help support future expansion and keep financing costs competitive.

The company is expected to continue focusing on its long-term strategy, supported by the ongoing stability and resilience that contributed to the improved credit profile.

Infratil share price snapshot

Over the last 12 months, Infratil shares have declined 15%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Infratil gets investment grade credit rating in funding milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained 6.4% over the last 12 months, with this ASX All Ords share doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

The fast-rising stock in question is Shape Australia Corporation Limited (ASX: SHA).

In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares in the Australian fitout and construction services specialist are up 0.2%, changing hands for $6.01 apiece.

This sees the Shape share price up an impressive 109.4% since this time last year.

After that kind of outperformance, you might think the train has left the station when it comes to buying this ASX All Ords share.

But the analysts at Ord Minnett would disagree.

Should you buy the ASX All Ords share today?

Ord Minnett initiated coverage on Shape shares on 12 December with a buy recommendation.

The broker noted that Shape’s national footprint, comprehensive service offering, and quality focus make it stand out in its sector.

So, what exactly does the ASX All Ords share do?

Ord Minnett explains:

The company specialises in transforming existing commercial, government, education, healthcare, and retail spaces into modern, functional, and aesthetically pleasing environments that meet the evolving demands of their occupants.

As for the three reasons that Shape shares can keep charging higher in 2026, the broker noted:

• Shape’s defensive qualities have it well-positioned to withstand and excel throughout the economic cycle
• The company’s track record of quality execution and how this drives future growth
• Shape’s capital-lite model and how this maximises its returns

Taking a look back, Ord Minnett also highlighted the strong annual revenue growth the ASX All Ords share has achieved over the past four years.

According to the broker:

Since listing in [late] 2021, the business has grown its revenue from $572.0m in FY21 to $952.3m in FY25, delivering a normalised EPS CAGR growth of 64% p.a. over that time.

And the past year has been particularly strong for the company. Ord Minnett noted:

2025 has been a defining year for SHAPE – the company has been buoyed by a record orderbook of $492.0m entering FY26 that continues to diversify its end markets, a revenue step change in FY26 (revenue +19.5% vs pcp), and a highly accretive acquisition (OMLe ~13% in FY27, given bought at 4x EV/EBITDA whilst SHA trades on 9x) that expands SHAPE’s EBITDA profile and diversifies its revenue streams.

As for its buy rating on the ASX All Ords share, Ord Minnett concluded:

We expect FY26 to be another year of strong topline growth as the company capitalises on a strong backlog orderbook and key project wins in FY25, as well as EBITDA margin expansion through operating leverage and M&A.

Noting that the investment in Shape shares comes with higher risk, Ord Minnett has a $7.10 price target on the stock.

That’s more than 18% above current levels.

The post Up 109% in a year, 3 reasons to buy this ASX All Ords share today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where would you invest $85m? Reece shares jump 3% on major buyback expansion
• Will Nvidia stock crash in 2026?
• Infratil gets investment grade credit rating in funding milestone
• Why DroneShield, Meteoric Resources, NextDC, and Nick Scali shares are charging higher today
• $5,000 to spare? I’d buy these 5 ASX 200 shares before the end of 2025

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Shape Australia. 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 followed Wall Street’s lead and is charging higher. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.9% to 8,700.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are climbing:

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 8% to $3.01. This has been driven by the release of an update this morning on the counter drone technology company’s independent review into its continuous disclosure and securities trading policies and other areas. One change that has been announced is the establishment of a mandatory minimum shareholding policy (MSP) for all directors and members of senior management. Directors will be expected to hold ordinary shares in the company equivalent in value to their annual base fee. Whereas the CEO will be expected to hold shares in the company equivalent in value to 200% of their annual salary.

Meteoric Resources NL (ASX: MEI)

The Meteoric Resources share price is up 32% to 18.5 cents. This morning, this rare earths developer revealed that it has received a preliminary environmental licence (LP) for its Caldeira Rare Earth Ionic Clay Project in Brazil. This marks a crucial step in its development. The company’s managing director, Stuart Gale, said: “We are very pleased to have obtained the LP without restriction. This is strong validation for the Caldeira Project and allows us to quickly move to the next stage of the licensing process to obtain the LI for construction of the Project.”

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The Nextdc share price is up 7.5% to $12.84. This morning, this data centre operator revealed another jump in contracted utilisation following further customer contract wins. This means that the company’s pro forma contracted utilisation has increased by 96MW or 30% to 412MW since its last update on 1 December. As a result of these customer contract wins, the company’s pro-forma forward order book has now increased to 301MW.

Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)

The Nick Scali share price is up 10% to $23.26. Investors have been buying this furniture retailer’s shares following the release of a trading update. The company revealed that its first half revenue for Australia and New Zealand is expected to be 10% to 12% more than the previous year. This is an upgrade to its previous guidance range of 7% to 9%. As a result, statutory net profit after tax for first half of FY 2026 is expected to be in the range of $37 million to $39 million. This is up from its guidance range of $33 million to $35 million.

The post Why DroneShield, Meteoric Resources, NextDC, and Nick Scali shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing 36% today?
• Why is everyone talking about DroneShield shares today?
• This ASX AI stock is jumping 9% on huge news
• NEXTDC lifts contracted utilisation and order book in December update
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nick Scali. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you have a spare $5,000 and don’t know where to invest it before the end of the year, I think these 5 ASX 200 shares are a great option right now. 

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The energy infrastructure group APA is a fantastic option for any investors who want a reliable passive income. The gas and energy infrastructure pipeline owner and operator has hiked its semi-annual dividends consistently for over 20 years. Its yield is usually significantly higher than that of the broader market. This makes it a great option for investors seeking an ongoing passive income. In FY25, the company increased its annual dividend distribution by 1.8% to 57 cents per security. 

At the time of writing on Monday, APA shares are down 0.91% to $9.22 a piece.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

It’s been a rocky year for the ASX 200 Australian petroleum exploration and production company and its shares. But its latest quarterly update in October showed an uptick in revenue and production. The business thinks the two metrics will keep growing over the next year too. Woodside upgraded its full-year production guidance to 192–197 MMboe. It also said it plans to progress its pipeline of global projects in 2026. Its Scarborough and Trion energy projects are on schedule. 

At the time of writing Woodside shares are 0.29% higher for the day at $22.86 each.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The ASX 200 supermarket giant‘s share price dropped to an all-time low of $25.91 a piece in mid-October. But was saved from any further decline after the company posted a more positive first-quarter sales update. It’s one of Australia’s most established and dominant retailers, and it’s a defensive stock which means it will always see relatively stable demand for its products. I think it’s a pretty safe buy for long-term growth.

At the time of writing its shares are 0.034% lower for the day at $29.31 a piece.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre shares have stormed higher over the past month following its trading update in November. The company’s Managing Director, Graham Turner, revealed that the company is off to a positive start for FY26. I think that the current share price dip presents a great opportunity for investors to buy into the stock for cheap. Analysts are bullish about the shares too. Some expecting an upside as high as 22.3% over the next 12 months.

At the time of writing the travel group’s shares are down 1.43% for the day to $15.19 each.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Analysts are pretty pessimistic about the outlook for ASX 200 bank stocks over the next year… with the exception of Judo Bank. Its share price has suffered a significant decline throughout 2025, but Judo Bank has had a strong start to FY26 and it looks set to continue. At its latest annual general meeting (AGM), the bank said lending momentum had remained strong over the first quarter of FY26. The company also said that it was confident it would achieve FY26 guidance of $180-$190 million and meet its net interest margin guidance of 3% to 3.1%. 

At the time of writing its shares are 0.17% lower for the day at $1.73 a piece.

The post $5,000 to spare? I’d buy these 5 ASX 200 shares before the end of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• How to turn $25,000 into $100,000 with ASX stocks
• Why experts say these growing ASX dividend shares are top buys for income
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2030 for Flight Centre shares
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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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. 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) is starting the week strongly on Monday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.9% to 8,699.9 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino’s share price is down almost 2% to $21.71. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Citi. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the pizza chain operator’s shares to a sell rating with a $19.85 price target. The broker has concerns over the company’s operations in France and Japan. And given recent share price strength, it feels the risk is to the downside now for investors.

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

The HMC Capital share price is down 3.5% to $3.83. This morning, this alternative investment company’s shares were officially kicked out of the ASX 200 index following the quarterly rebalance. This means that certain index funds need to sell shares to reflect the changes. In addition, some fund managers have mandates that mean they can only invest in shares that are part of indices like the ASX 200 index. It is possible that they could be hitting the sell button and moving onto other options now the rebalance has taken place.

Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG)

The Regis Healthcare share price is down 2.5% to $7.14. Investors have been selling this aged care operator’s shares following the surprise resignation of its CEO. Dr Linda Mellors has announced her resignation after more than six years in the role. The company revealed that Mellors has decided to pursue a career opportunity in an unrelated sector. She has a six month notice period to serve. Regis’ chair, Graham Hodges, said: “Linda leaves the business in a strong financial and operating position and with a capable and experienced executive team. We wish her every success in the next chapter of her career.”

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 4% to $67.29. On Friday, the logistics solutions technology company revealed that its founder, Richard White, has entered into a collar derivative transaction and related financing facility with Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) in respect of 20 million WiseTech shares. This was the equivalent of 6% of its issued shares and had a market value of approximately $1.4 billion at Friday’s close. The company notes that this may “be legally characterized for the purposes of section 707 of the Corporations Act as a sale.”

The post Why Domino’s, HMC Capital, Regis Healthcare, and WiseTech shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, HMC Capital, Macquarie Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.