Stock Pick

  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

    Business woman watching stocks and trends while thinking

    On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fought hard to carve out a decent gain. The benchmark index rose 0.3% to 8,618.4 points.

    Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to rise

    The Australian share market looks set to edge higher on Friday following a mixed night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 13 points or 0.15% higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is currently down 0.15%, the S&P 500 is 0.05% lower, and the Nasdaq is up 0.1%.

    Oil prices rise

    It could be a good finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.2% to US$59.66 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.9% to US$63.24 a barrel. Traders have been buying oil after Russia-Ukraine peace talks failed to reach a deal.

    Rio Tinto update

    Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares will be on watch today after the mining giant announced its new strategy. The company’s chief executive, Simon Trott, detailed how Rio Tinto will unlock its full potential to become the most valued metals and mining business. It aims to achieve this through a strategy that starts with having the right assets in the right markets, supported by a diversified model that delivers market-leading performance and industry-leading returns. The miner has earmarked up to A$15 billion of assets that it could divest.

    Gold price edges higher

    ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a reasonably positive finish to the week after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.15% to US$4,238.9 an ounce. US dollar weakness appear to have been behind this.

    NextDC-OpenAI deal

    Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares will be in focus today amid reports that the company has signed an agreement with ChatGPT owner OpenAI. According to the AFR, this will see NextDC build the largest data centre in the southern hemisphere in Sydney’s Eastern Creek. OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, said: “Australia is well-placed to be a global leader in AI, with deep technical talent, strong institutions and a clear ambition to use new technology to lift productivity.”

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Evolution Mining Limited right now?

    Before you buy Evolution Mining Limited 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 Evolution Mining Limited 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…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • The best stocks to invest $1,000 in right now

    Two young boys sit at a desk wearing helmets with lightbulbs, indicating two ASX 200 shares that a broker has recommended as buys today

    With the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) down about 5.4% from its October record highs, it’s arguably a good time to reassess the markets as we approach the end of 2025 and look for some of the best stocks available to invest in.

    It’s still hard to call the ASX cheap as a whole, despite this dip. But it’s what we have right now, so we may as well work with it.

    If I had $1,000 to invest in this market today, there are two best ASX stocks I would probably go for. Neither are screaming buys, but both are still trading at reasonable valuations for a long-term investor. At least in my view. Let’s dive in.

    2 of the ASX’s best stocks to buy with $1,000 today

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

    First up, we have Wesfarmers. Wesfarmers is the name behind some of the most successful retailers in the country, including OfficeWorks, Kmart and Bunnings. Wesfarmers also owns a sprawl of other businesses though, ranging from Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCEF) to the Priceline pharmacy chain.

    I like this company as a long-term investment because of this inherent diversification, as well as Wesfarmers’ decades-long track record of delivering results for its shareholders. It has prudently managed its underlying companies with aplomb, delivering meaningful capital growth over many years. It has also been a star in the dividend department, consistently raising its fully franked payouts over time.

    At just over $80 a share today, I wouldn’t call this stock particularly cheap. But it’s a lot better than the $95 we were seeing just a few months ago. If you’re stuck for a place to put $1,000 right now, you could do worse than this conglomerate.

    MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

    Next up, we have the listed investment company (LIC) MFF Capital. Like most LICs, MFF owns and manages a portfolio of underlying investments on behalf of its shareholders.

    In this case, those investments are some of the best stocks from the United States. MFF follows a Warren Buffett-inspired playbook of buying high-quality stocks at prices that make sense, and holding them through thick and thin. Some of its longest-held positions include Amazon, Alphabet, Visa, American Express and Mastercard. All have been in the MFF portfolio for years.

    This week, MFF told the market that its portfolio was worth $5.30 per share on a pre-tax basis. Yet you can buy its shares for $4.81 each at recent pricing. Given this LIC’s impressive performance and savvy investment strategy, I think it is one of the best stocks on the ASX. I would be happy to put $1,000 in it today.

    The post The best stocks to invest $1,000 in right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Mff Capital Investments right now?

    Before you buy Mff Capital Investments 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 Mff Capital Investments 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…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, American Express, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Visa, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Visa, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Visa, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • A Ferrari and over 480 takeout orders: FBI details spending spree of Netflix director in $11 million fraud case

    Carl Rinsch trial
    Carl Rinsch is on trial in Manhattan federal court over criminal allegations that he defrauded Netflix and went on a spending spree with the $11 million earmarked for a TV show production.

    Lloyd Mitchell for BI

    • Director Carl Rinsch is on trial for defrauding Netflix of $11 million.
    • An FBI agent detailed spending on luxury cars and hundreds of orders on Postmates and Uber Eats.
    • The money was supposed to go toward the production of "White Horse," which was never finished.

    In March of 2020, Netflix infused $11 million into a production company to complete the first season of "White Horse," a futuristic sci-fi series it hoped to bring to its platform.

    Carl Rinsch — the director, writer, and showrunner of "White Horse" — never finished the 12 episodes he was supposed to deliver.

    But a short time after he got the cash, Rinsch spent millions of dollars on furniture, cars, credit card bills —  and a whole lot of takeout.

    According to testimony at his criminal trial on Thursday, Rinsch spent a total of $9.14 million through a personal bank account with funds originally earmarked to finish "White Horse," which had the production codename "Conquest."

    The spending included more than 480 food deliveries from Postmates and Uber Eats during a six-month span in 2022, according to a spreadsheet entered into evidence. The spreadsheet showed Rinsch sometimes making a dozen separate food purchases each day.

    The most expensive category, FBI agent Michael Naccarelli testified, was for furniture, for which Rinsch spent $3.36 million.

    Rinsch also spent $2.4 million on cars — including a Ferrari and Rolls-Royces — and $1.8 million on American Express bills, according to Naccarelli. He also spent money on hotels, jewelry, and art, Naccarelli said.

    "Rinsch described the Ferrari as "a birthday gift to myself" in a 2021 text message to his personal assistant, which was shown to jurors later Thursday.

    Attorneys for Rinsch told jurors at his trial in Manhattan federal court that the "White Horse" debacle is a civil business dispute — not criminal financial fraud.

    They say Rinsch, who previously directed "47 Ronin," starring Keanu Reeves, is a "creative genius" who was overwhelmed by the demands of directing, writing, and producing "White Horse" and left to flounder by the streaming company.

    Days after Netflix sent $11 million to a bank account for Rinsch's production company, he moved $10.5 million to a personal Wells Fargo bank account, according to Naccarelli and records entered into trial evidence.

    The director then moved portions of the funds to a Kraken cryptocurrency exchange account, as well as other bank accounts, before ultimately transferring $13.7 million to a personal Bank of America account.

    With his Kraken account, Rinsch purchased about a dozen different cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin, Etherium, Bitcoin Cash, and the stablecoin Tether, trial records show.

    In April 2022, Rinsch's Dogecoin holdings were worth about $755,000, and his Etherium tokens about $939,000, according to Naccarelli.

    While a financial advisor previously testified in the trial that Rinsch's stock investments went badly, Naccarelli said the director's cryptocurrency investments were profitable.

    "The trades performed very well," Naccarelli said as Rinsch — wearing a three-piece black suit and a patterned pink tie and matching pocket square — nodded slightly.

    Allen Grove, an FBI agent who testified after Naccarelli, said Rinsch considered himself a major Dogecoin trader when they met in April 2023 regarding a dispute over one of Rinsch's furniture purchases in Paris.

    "Mr. Rinsch described to me that he became wealthy during the pandemic by investing in Dogecoin," Grove testified. "He described himself to me as 'The Dogecoin Whale.'"

    Rinsch said in an earlier deposition, which was shown to jurors on Thursday, that his purchases of four Rolls-Royces were meant for the production of "White Horse," and not for personal use. Netflix wrote off the production as a loss in 2020.

    "That would be fraud otherwise," Rinsch said in the deposition.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Millennium suffered big losses in one of the $81 billion hedge fund’s favorite strategies last month

    A headshot of Israel Englander, founder of Millennium Management
    Izzy Englander's Millennium suffered losses in the popular index rebalance strategy in November.

    Patrick McMullan/Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez

    • Millennium had big losses in index rebalance strategies in November, sources tell Business Insider.
    • At one point, teams led by star PMs Glen Scheinberg and Pratik Madhvani were down hundreds of millions.
    • The firm was still positive in the month, but trailed rivals such as Citadel, Point72, and Balyasny.

    It was a rough November for some of the biggest teams at a renowned hedge fund behemoth.

    Izzy Englander's $81 billion Millennium suffered significant losses in its index-rebalance portfolios last month, several people told Business Insider.

    Teams run by star money managers Glen Scheinberg and Pratik Madhvani were down hundreds of millions of dollars, these people said, though the final losses for the month are not clear, as the strategy had a small bounceback at the end of November. Millennium declined to comment.

    The index rebalance pain was a big reason why the firm posted November returns below those of its peers such as Citadel, Point72, and Balyasny. The firm was up 0.5% last month and 8.3% on the year, Business Insider previously reported.

    The index-rebalance strategy, in which portfolio managers bet on which stocks will be added to or removed from indexes such as the Russell 3000 or S&P 500 with the help of quantitative tools, has had a choppy year. Bloomberg reported earlier this year that these same teams lost close to $900 million in March.

    It wasn't immediately clear what drove the losses at Millennium, but industry sources said many index-rebalance PMs across the industry were caught wrong-footed last month by the reconstitution of MSCI's indexes, one of the largest rebalancing events of the year.

    The MSCI World Index is composed of the largest publicly traded companies around the globe, with Nvidia and other US tech giants making up significant portions of the nearly $90 trillion in assets benchmarked to it. The index whipsawed in November, falling almost 5% over about a week in the middle of the month before later recouping much of those losses.

    On November 5, MSCI announced it would add 69 stocks — many tied to the AI boom — and remove another 64 from its Global Standard indexes, effective after the market close on November 24. Many of the names slated for inclusion sank during the rebalancing window, including the two largest additions, data-center darling CoreWeave and Netherlands-based AI-infrastructure firm Nebius. Meanwhile, several stocks set to be removed rallied.

    The losses in AI stocks had PMs nervous leading up to Nvidia's November 19 earnings release, but Nvidia shocked the market with a strong quarter, and its stock popped, people familiar with the trade explained. Traders relaxed and lifted hedges just in time for the rally to fade, and AI stocks inexplicably plunged again on November 20.

    "I think a lot of people were scratching their heads as to what was going on," one PM familiar with the trade said.

    By the end of the month, however, the trend reversed, helping many index-rebalance PMs claw back some of their losses — a rebound that has continued into December, the people said.

    Event-driven PMs who specialize in index changes try to forecast rebalances and their market impact, positioning to profit from the flows they expect passive funds to generate. The strategy, originally honed decades ago at investment banks, has become increasingly popular among major hedge funds and some proprietary trading firms over the last five years, contributing to crowding that can amplify volatility around these events.

    Millennium has long been the biggest player in the trade. Puerto Rico-based Scheinberg, in particular, has been one of the firm's biggest traders. Along with Dubai-based Madhvani, the two senior investors oversee dozens of people across their two teams.

    Scheinberg's earlier success was one of the drivers for Millennium's rivals to build out their own teams of index rebalance traders, though several firms cut staff after the strategy hit a dry spell in 2023.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Is Beach Energy’s 7.7% dividend yield a tempting passive income opportunity?

    A man in a suit looks sad as oil is spilled from a barrel.

    Passive income investors scouring the share market for big dividend yields might come across one from Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares that might take their fancy.

    Yesterday, this ASX 200 energy stock closed at $1.16 a share. At that price, Beach closed with a trailing dividend yield of 7.73%. If we include the full franking credits that Beach usually attaches to its dividends, investors have a grossed-up yield of over 11% staring them in the face.

    It’s understandable that more than a few income investors might find that a little tempting. Particularly so, considering the yields available on blue chip shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) are all currently under 4%.

    So today, let’s discuss whether passive income seekers should succumb to temptation and buy Beach Energy shares today for that big dividend.

    Are Beach shares a buy for big passive income?

    2025 has indeed been a bonanza when it comes to Beach Energy payouts. Shareholders received a 3-cent per share interim dividend back in March. The final dividend, worth 6 cents per share, follows in September.

    That 9 cents per share in total dividend income for 2025 gives us that 7.73% yield at Beach’s last share price of $1.16.

    However, as most dividend investors are aware, dividend yields always reflect the past, not the future. Just because Beach Energy paid out 9 cents per share in 2025 doesn’t mean investors should expect that kind of income in 2026, or beyond.

    No ASX dividend share offers absolute income guarantees. But energy shares are more prone to passive income ebbs and flows than most other stocks on our market. That’s because the company’s profits, and thus ability to fund dividends, are highly dependent on something completely outside their control: global energy prices.

    If the global oil price falls, for example, Beach’s profits take an immediate hit.

    This is evident when we examine the level of passive income this stock has paid in prior years. 2025 was actually something of an outlier for Beach shareholders. Far from enjoying 9 cents per share annually, Beach’s owners collected 4 cents per share over 2024 and 2023. Between 2017 and 2022, the annual total came to just 2 cents per share.

    If Beach reverted to paying out 4 cents per share over 2026, the shares would have a forward yield of 3.45% today. As it happens, many analysts are predicting that Beach will indeed be forced to slash its payouts next year. Whilst that is not a certainty, it does indicate that investors should not expect an automatic 7.76% passive income yield if they buy Beach shares today.

    The post Is Beach Energy’s 7.7% dividend yield a tempting passive income opportunity? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Beach Energy Limited right now?

    Before you buy Beach Energy Limited 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 Beach Energy Limited 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…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • AMP suspends AMPPB hybrid notes for redemption and removal

    A woman sits at her computer with her hand to her mouth and a contemplative smile on her face as she reads about the performance of Allkem shares on her computer

    Yesterday afternoon, AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) announced the immediate suspension and upcoming removal of its AMP Capital Notes 2 (AMPPB) hybrid securities from quotation. The move follows the pending redemption of these notes, which only affects this specific security class.

    What did AMP report?

    • AMP Capital Notes 2 suspended from ASX quotation, effective immediately
    • Notes to be removed from quotation following redemption announcement
    • Redemption process covered under ASX Listing Rules 17.2 and 17.10
    • This change only applies to AMPPB; no impact on other AMP securities

    What else do investors need to know?

    The suspension means investors will no longer be able to trade AMP Capital Notes 2 on the ASX, pending the formal redemption process. AMP has advised the redemption details will be confirmed in a separate announcement, along with lodgement of the required appendix for cessation of these securities.

    If you hold AMPPB notes, this action does not affect your ordinary AMP shares or any other securities. The broader AMP business and its main ASX shares continue to trade as normal.

    What’s next for AMP?

    Investors can expect further announcements from AMP outlining the timing and process for redeeming the AMP Capital Notes 2. The company will also lodge the formal Appendix 3H to confirm cessation of these securities.

    For holders of AMPPB, keep an eye on your broker or registry communications for details around payment and closure. Ordinary AMP shares and other quoted securities remain listed and unaffected.

    AMP share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, AMP shares have risen 5%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 2% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post AMP suspends AMPPB hybrid notes for redemption and removal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in AMP Limited right now?

    Before you buy AMP Limited 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 AMP Limited 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…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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.

  • Why brokers are bullish on this rapidly-growing ASX 200 share

    A young boy points and smiles as he eats fried chicken.

    Brokers are excited by the potential of a particular S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share – Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF). This business is a major franchisee operator of KFCs in Australia, Germany and the Netherlands.

    The business recently reported its FY26 half-year result, which included a number of positives. Total revenue increased 6.6% to $750.3 million, underlying operating profit (EBIT) grew 20% to $63 million and underlying net profit climbed 29.5% to $30.8 million.

    According to a collation of analyst opinions on the ASX 200 share, there are (at least) seven buy ratings on the business. That makes it a well-liked business and suggests there could be an opportunity here.

    Let’s take a look at what analysts are attracted to regarding this business.

    Further profit growth projected

    Broker UBS said in a note after seeing the result that Collins Foods’ value proposition is resonating with consumers against a backdrop of a challenging operating environment.

    UBS noted that not many Australian consumer-facing ASX 200 shares have increased like-for-like sales in the last four months, yet KFC Australia did, with an improvement from 2.3% to 3.6%.

    The broker said that if these conditions continue, along with usual seasonality and one extra trading week, it sees scope for “$9 million EBITDA upside”.

    Conditions are more challenging in Europe, though an improvement in the impact of avian flu and changes to the sales tax (VAT) could still result in year-over-year EBITDA growth.

    UBS likes the ongoing strength of the Australian KFC business, combined with the potential for market share growth in Germany.

    However, the broker did acknowledge that ongoing losses at Taco Bell Australia are a drag on the ASX 200 share’s profitability, suggesting a 9% negative impact to earnings per share (EPS) because of it.

    UBS is projecting that Collins Foods’ earnings per share could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% and even more if the losses from Taco Bell are excluded.

    ASX 200 share valuation

    According to the projections from UBS, the business is forecast to deliver $61 million of net profit in FY26, putting it at 21x FY26’s estimated earnings.

    The broker estimates the business could deliver net profit of $74 in FY27, $87 million in FY28, $103 million in FY29 and $109 million in FY30. Therefore, net profit could close to double between FY26 and FY30, which is a strong tailwind for potential Collins Foods share price growth.

    UBS has a price target of $13.10 on the business, implying a possible rise of 24% over the next year.

    The post Why brokers are bullish on this rapidly-growing ASX 200 share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Collins Foods Limited right now?

    Before you buy Collins Foods Limited 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 Collins Foods Limited 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…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • 3 ASX blue-chip shares I’d buy with $3,000 right now

    A fit woman in workout gear flexes her muscles with two bigger people flexing behind her, indicating growth.

    Investing in ASX blue-chip shares can be a very good strategy because of the strength and stability they provide.

    But, I only think it’s a good idea to buy a blue-cihp when that business is growing its profit over time, which is why US blue chips have been such strong investments over the last 15 years.

    Although we don’t have any global tech giants on the ASX, I think there are a few ASX blue-chip shares that still have a compelling future. I usually mention Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) in an article like this, but I’m going to look at three of the other businesses I like. I’d happily put $3,000 across the three of them.  

    Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

    This ASX financial share is one of the biggest institutions listed in Australia. I like the diversification that the business provides because it has four different segments: investment banking (Macquarie Capital), asset management (Macquarie Asset Management (MAM)), commodities and global markets (CGM) and banking and financial services (BFS).

    The company has a global earnings base, but I’m particularly excited about local earnings because of the BFS division’s growth.

    Macquarie is capturing savers with the no-rules savings account that offers a good interest rate, while borrowers are attracted to a competitive interest rate with rapid approvals, which appeal to mortgage brokers and their clients.

    In the FY26 first-half result, the financial business reported its home loan portfolio had grown 13% since 31 March 2025 – a very strong annualised result. It now has 6.5% of the Australian market, with growth driven by the broker channel with “technology investment enabling market-leading turnaround times”. It has significantly higher customer satisfaction than its big bank rivals.

    BFS deposits grew 12% since 31 March 2025 to $192.5 billion, with growth driven by “market-leading digital banking experiences”.

    If it continues growing its loan book and deposits at that pace, it has a compelling future ahead.

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    Coles is another ASX blue-chip share worth owning, in my view. Not only does it have defensive earnings, but it’s also growing at a much stronger pace than rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

    In the first quarter of FY26, Coles reported total sales growth of 3.9%, with supermarket sales excluding tobacco growing by 7%, which is a very impressive growth rate for such a large business.

    Coles said this growth is down to its focus on ensuring its range and value offering continues to resonate with customers, coupled with further improvements in availability and strong e-commerce sales growth. The company said that the customer experienced improvement across all key metrics in the FY26 first quarter, including availability, quality and price.

    For this defensive business, it’s only trading at 24x FY26’s estimated earnings, according to the projection on Commsec.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

    Wesfarmers has regularly impressed me over the years. In particular, i’m drawn to its ability to focus on the long-term for shareholders, generating profitable growth. Bunnings and Kmart are two wonderful examples of how to provide customers with a compelling retail offering and fend off competition.

    The company is willing to make big calls with its business portfolio for the long-term benefit of its earnings and balance sheet, such as the decisions to divest Coles and diversify into healthcare and lithium mining. In ten years, the Wesfarmers earnings ‘pie’ could look quite different, but I think it will continue to be a compelling ASX blue-chip share to own for many years.

    The post 3 ASX blue-chip shares I’d buy with $3,000 right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Wesfarmers Limited right now?

    Before you buy Wesfarmers Limited 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 Wesfarmers Limited 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…

    See the 5 Stocks

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • A US aircraft carrier’s hard turn to avoid enemy fire surprised sailors and sent a jet with bad brakes into the sea

    The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman sails through the Mediterranean Sea on May 18.
    The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman made a hard turn before sending a fighter jet and a tow tractor overboard.

    US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mike Shen

    • A US Navy aircraft carrier made a hard turn to avoid enemy fire, sending a fighter jet overboard.
    • The maneuver to avoid the Houthi missile attack surprised sailors, the investigation shows.
    • The F/A-18's brakes weren't working properly, and it fell into the Red Sea along with a tow tractor.

    A US Navy aircraft carrier's hard evasive turn to avoid enemy missile fire caught crewmembers off guard and sent a $60 million F/A-18 Super Hornet rolling off the deck and into the Red Sea, an investigation into the fighter jet loss revealed.

    The fighter's brakes weren't functioning properly, investigators found, allowing the jet to slide across the deck when the carrier USS Harry S. Truman abruptly changed course during the late April action.

    Poor communication, bad brakes, and a slippery surface all contributed to the loss.

    A tow tractor also fell into the water alongside the expensive F/A-18 fighter jet, the second of three that the Truman lost during a monthslong Middle East combat deployment. When it went over, it nearly took sailors overboard as well.

    Evading enemy fire

    During their deployment, the Truman and its strike group led Navy combat operations against the Houthis, the heavily armed Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen that spent more than a year attacking key Middle East shipping lanes.

    Three F/A-18 Super Hornets prepare to launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, December 21, 2021.
    An F/A-18 fell overboard the Truman while the carrier took a hard turn.

    US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Abbigail Beardsley

    On April 28, the move crew lost control of an F/A-18 under tow in the Truman's hangar bay, a maintenance area below the flight deck, the Navy reported at the time, and both the jet and its tow tractor tumbled into the Red Sea.

    Right before it fell in, a sailor jumped from the cockpit, suffering minor injuries. The Navy didn't share information or insight into the warship's situation at the time of the plane loss.

    According to the command investigation, the fighter jet and the tractor fell overboard while the Truman was conducting evasive maneuvers to avoid an incoming medium-range ballistic missile fired by the Houthis, a detail that had been reported but not confirmed at the time.

    The move crew, which was preparing the F/A-18 from Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136), the "Knighthawks," for planned flight operations, didn't hear the announcement that the ship was making a hard turn and was caught unaware when the ship began to tilt.

    Sailors had removed the chocks and chains to pull the F/A-18 into the hangar bay. With the brakes engaged but not actually working, there was nothing to hold the aircraft in place when the carrier heeled in an evasive turn.

    Two US Navy Aviation Ordnancemen transport ordnance across the hangar bay aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the US Central Command area of responsibility.
    The hangar bay is an area underneath the flight deck where aircraft receive maintenance.

    US Navy photo

    It slid backward toward the deck edge, dragging the tow tractor behind it. The crew moving the Super Hornet abandoned their posts just before the fighter jet fell into the sea.

    Bad brakes

    The command investigation put the blame for the incident primarily on the fighter jet's inadequate brake engagement and the lack of communication from the Truman's bridge to flight deck control and the hangar bay.

    Leadership also said that the non-skid, a rough, high-friction coating applied to the decks of Navy ships to keep people, vehicles, and aircraft from slipping on smooth steel surfaces, was ineffective, having not been replaced since 2018.

    These problems, the investigation said, cost the Navy an F/A-18, a multirole fighter made by the US aerospace giant Boeing that has been in service with the Navy for decades.

    The April incident was one of four major mishaps that the Truman and its strike group suffered during their deployment.

    In December, the cruiser USS Gettysburg accidentally shot down one of the Truman's F/A-18s in what the military described as a friendly fire incident. In February, the carrier collided with a cargo ship. And in May, the ship lost its third fighter jet after a landing failure caused it to slide off the flight deck and plunge into the sea.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • A Navy warship mistook US fighter jets for enemy missiles and opened fire. The targeted pilot saw his life flash before his eyes.

    A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet flies over the Red Sea during routine operations, January 5, 2025.
    An F/A-18 operates over the Red Sea.

    US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gerald R. Willis

    • A US Navy warship fired missiles at two American F/A-18 fighter jets above the Red Sea last year.
    • The warship mistook the fighter jets for Houthi cruise missiles, the investigation shows.
    • One of the fighter jets was shot down. The other barely survived the friendly fire incident.

    A US Navy pilot whose jet was mistakenly shot down by an American warship over the Red Sea told investigators he saw his life flash before his eyes before ejecting from the doomed aircraft.

    The command investigation into the late December 2024 friendly fire incident, which Business Insider reviewed prior to its release on Thursday, reveals that the warship's crew mistook two Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets for anti-ship cruise missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

    In a catastrophic failure, the cruiser USS Gettysburg launched surface-to-air missiles at both F/A-18s, shooting down one and nearly hitting the second. It also targeted a third friendly aircraft but never pulled the trigger.

    A hit and a near-miss

    The Gettysburg and the other warships in the strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman deployed in September 2024 and entered the Red Sea three months later to take over Navy combat operations against the Iran-backed Houthis, who had for almost a year at that point been attacking key shipping lanes.

    Early on December 22, just seven days after entering the Red Sea, the Gettysburg accidentally shot down a Super Hornet from the Truman's air wing in what the US military described as "an apparent case of friendly fire." Both aviators, the pilot and the weapons officer, ejected safely from the roughly $60 million fighter, part of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11), the "Red Rippers."

    The command investigation reveals that the friendly fire incident nearly resulted in a much larger disaster. While initial reports centered on the aircraft that was struck, the investigation reveals that a second narrowly avoided a catastrophic end, and a third was in the crosshairs.

    The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg steams in the US Central Command area of responsibility.
    The cruiser USS Gettysburg opened fire on two Navy fighter jets in December 2024.

    US Navy photo

    As the first surface-to-air missile raced upward from the Gettyburg's missile tubes, the pilot and weapons officer of the first jet assumed the weapon was chasing after a Houthi drone they hadn't found, the investigation said.

    They watched the missile climb and then suddenly change course. As the weapon rushed toward them, the pilot suddenly saw his life flash before his eyes, he told investigators. Seeing no other choice, the two-man team ejected just before the missile struck the plane.

    In that chaotic moment, the Gettysburg fired another missile at a second American fighter jet. The aviators on board issued multiple mayday calls but opted to outmaneuver it rather than bail. The missile gave chase, course correcting in pursuit of the jet.

    It narrowly missed, the jet shaking as it passed just a few feet away before burning out and exploding in the water.

    A Navy helicopter commander who witnessed the incident told investigators his crew "saw the missile overhead and saw it flash." They said there was no warning before the shot was taken.

    The decision to shoot was 'wrong'

    As for what caused this disaster, the command investigation pointed to a series of failures, from shortcomings in the planning process to deficiencies in the Gettysburg’s combat systems, and noted that crew fatigue may have played a role.

    US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, fly a mission over the US Central Command area of responsibility, April 8, 2025.
    One F/A-18 was shot down, and another one barely survived during the friendly fire incident.

    US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske

    Early in the deployment, the investigation said, the Navy identified “significant degradation” in the Gettysburg’s core interoperability system. Problems spanned network management, surveillance and tracking reporting, identification, mutual tracking, mission engagement, and weapons coordination.

    During the first three months of the deployment, the Gettysburg and Truman were often separated. The cruiser had been fending off Houthi missiles and drones shortly before the friendly fire incident, and there appeared to be some confusion over whether the threat had concluded.

    That said, the investigation assessed "the decisions to shoot were wrong when measured across the totality of information available" to Gettysburg's commanding officer, who was constrained by a series of previous actions and decisions both in and beyond his control.

    The captain had low situational awareness, and his combat information center team was unable to help him regain it, the investigation said.

    This shootdown incident wasn't the Red Sea battle's only friendly fire incident, though it was the most serious. Earlier in the Red Sea conflict, in February 2024, a German warship accidentally targeted a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, but the missiles never reached it because the warship's radar system suffered a technical malfunction.

    The December 2024 friendly fire incident was one of four major mishaps that the Truman strike group experienced during its monthslong deployment in the Middle East.

    The aircraft carrier collided with a cargo vessel in February and also lost two more F/A-18s to accidents — one fell off the side of the warship along with a tow tractor in April, and another experienced a failure while landing and slid off the flight deck in May.

    In a statement Thursday, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby said that "the Navy is committed to being a learning organization," adding that "these investigations reinforce the need to continue investing in our people to ensure we deliver battle-ready forces to operational commanders."

    Read the original article on Business Insider