ASX bank stocks have slumped across the board over the past month as geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, soaring fuel prices, and interest rate growth cause concerns about an economic slowdown.

The Reserve Bank raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10% this month, marking the second consecutive increase in 2026. The bank cited persistent inflationary pressures and a tight labour market for the increase. 

Now the experts are warning that Australia’s inflation rate could keep climbing, and major banks widely predict another cash rate increase in May. 

What’s the latest out of ASX bank stocks?

The Australian share market is dominated by the big 4 major banks. Together, the majors – Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) – make up around a quarter of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by market capitalisation.

Then there are the smaller players, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), and Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO). 

At the time of writing on Wednesday morning, CBA shares are up 1% to $172.86; Westpac shares are up 1.3% to $40.25; NAB shares are up 1.4% to $40.31; and ANZ shares are up 1.3% to $36.93.

Over the month, the major bank shares are down 3%, 6.2%, 11.8%, and 7%, respectively.

Outside of the majors, Macquarie shares are 1.9% higher at the time of writing to $198.71; BOQ shares are 1% higher at $6.83 a piece; Bendigo shares are 0.6% higher at $10.11 each; and Judo shares have climbed 0.3% to $1.48.

Over the month, the smaller bank shares are down 4%, 2%, 6.5%, and 14%, respectively.

Which ASX bank stocks are a buy?

Analysts are the most optimistic about the outlook for Judo Bank shares. It’s the only ASX bank stock where analysts mostly hold a strong buy rating. Its average target price is $2.25, which implies a huge 51% upside at the time of writing. Although some think this could jump even higher, by up to 68% to $2.50 per share.

Sentiment on the outlook for Macquarie shares is mostly very positive. Most analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the bank’s shares. The average $238.28 target price implies the shares could jump 21% from here.

Which ASX bank stocks are a hold?

Analysts are undecided about the outlook for NAB shares, with sentiment mostly for a hold rating. The average target price is $43.90, which implies a potential 1.88% downside at the time of writing.

Brokers are also neutral on the outlook for ANZ shares over the next 12 months. Most have a hold rating with an average target price of $35.56, which implies a potential 0.3% downside at the time of writing.

Sentiment is also neutral on BOQ shares, with data showing most analysts have a hold rating on the stock. However, the average $6.37 target price implies a potential 6.5% downside at the time of writing.

Analysts also mostly have a hold rating on Bendigo shares. Although its average target price of $10.41 implies a 3% upside at the time of writing.

Which ASX bank stocks are a sell?

Sentiment is that CBA shares are overpriced and out of keeping with the company’s fundamentals. Most analysts have a sell or strong sell rating on CBA shares and are tipping an average downside of 23% to $133.85 a piece over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Westpac is also expected to have limited growth over the next few years. Most analysts also have a sell or strong sell rating on the ASX bank’s shares and tip an average downside of 8% to $40.35.

The post ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• A top ASX dividend stock to buy on a pullback
• Up more than 17% since January, should you buy CBA shares today?
• 3 reasons to buy NAB shares today
• 3 massively popular ASX 200 shares experts say to sell (inc. CBA)

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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) share price is in focus after the company announced NatWest Group PLC (LSE: NWG) has gone live on its UK digital remortgage platform—a significant step in PEXA’s international expansion. The UK integration was delivered ahead of schedule, with initial transactions already underway.

What did PEXA Group report?

• NatWest, one of the UK’s major banks, now live and transacting on PEXA UK’s remortgage platform
• Implementation program completed ahead of forecast timelines
• PEXA’s subsidiary Optima Legal acting as initial conveyancer for the digitised transactions
• Broader roll-out to additional UK conveyancers planned following NatWest’s adoption
• Sale & Purchase transaction capability for NatWest to follow

What else do investors need to know?

PEXA has flagged this as a crucial milestone in modernising the UK property market, bringing digitisation and automation to processes that were previously paper-based and slow. The integration with NatWest, one of the UK’s leading mortgage lenders, sets a strong foundation for further expansion into the UK’s digital property settlement sector.

The company highlights collaborative efforts between PEXA UK, NatWest, and Optima Legal in delivering this launch. PEXA is now set to support more conveyancers and lenders through its scalable digital platform as market adoption grows.

What did PEXA Group management say?

Russell Cohen, PEXA Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director:

NatWest going live on our platform marks an important step in the modernisation of the UK property market. By digitising and automating what has traditionally been a manual, paper-based process, we can enable faster settlement times, improved operational efficiency and a more seamless experience for UK property market participants. I would like to thank the teams at NatWest, PEXA and Optima Legal for their collaboration and commitment during the implementation process, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to support the ongoing digitisation of the property transaction journey for customers in the UK.

What’s next for PEXA Group?

The next focus for PEXA Group will be enabling NatWest’s Sale & Purchase transactions on its UK platform, broadening the service offering. The company plans to roll out participation to more UK conveyancers, further embedding its platform in the local market.

Looking ahead, PEXA’s UK progress is a key plank in its international growth strategy, leveraging its Australian expertise where 90% of property settlements already use its technology.

PEXA Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, PEXA Group shares have risen 32%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post PEXA Group shares in focus as NatWest goes live on UK platform 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 positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. 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 EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT) share price is in focus as the company boosts its main debt facilities to $750 million and secures improved lending terms, signalling ongoing support for its transformation toward the hotel sector.

What did EVT report?

• Main debt facilities increased to $750 million, up from $650 million in 2023
• Secured three-year multi-currency loan with improved margins (1.25%–2.00% vs 1.50%–3.15%)
• Current drawn debt: approximately $610 million; credit support facility drawn: $5 million
• Group cash holdings exceed $90 million
• Four major banks (CBA, HSBC, NAB, WBC) actively participated in refinancing

What else do investors need to know?

The refinancing, together with EVT’s non-core asset divestment program, is designed to give the business greater financial flexibility as it continues to shift its earnings profile toward its hotel and accommodation sector. The new facility is backed by guarantees from most Australian and New Zealand group entities, and secured by property mortgages covering 14 of EVT’s 34 properties, valued at around $1.1 billion.

Interest on the new loan is set according to a leverage ratio grid, with EVT anticipating a current weighted average margin of approximately 1.59% per year. This will be reassessed every six months based on updated earnings and debt levels.

What did EVT management say?

Ms Jane Hastings, EVT CEO, said:

EVT extends its appreciation to NAB, CBA, HSBC and WBC for their strong support and desire to participate as lenders for our Group. We look forward to working with all our banking partners as we continue to progress our growth plans.

What’s next for EVT?

With new banking facilities in place and ample cash on hand, EVT is well-positioned to continue evolving its portfolio and investing in its growing hotel operations. Management highlighted the refinancing as a key foundation for future growth and flexibility, supporting the group’s long-term strategic direction. Investors can expect further updates as EVT progresses its divestment program and seeks new opportunities within the hotel sector.

EVT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, EVT shares have declined 7%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post EVT completes $750 million refinancing, focuses on hotel growth 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.

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE) shares are catching the eye on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX rare earths stock is up 7% to $4.37.

Why is this ASX rare earths stock storming higher?

The rare earths developer’s shares are charging higher today following the release of an announcement revealing a key regulatory milestone for its Monte Alto project in Brazil.

According to the release, Brazilian Rare Earths has secured a Trial Mining Licence from Brazil’s National Mining Agency for the project in Bahia.

Management believes this is a significant step forward in advancing the project from exploration toward staged development and ultimately commercial-scale mining.

What the licence allows

The release reveals that the licence authorises the extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum of material from the Monte Alto deposit.

This will allow the company to produce bulk samples for potential customers and strategic partners, as well as support metallurgical testing.

Importantly, the material will also supply feedstock to the company’s pilot plant at the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, which is currently under construction and expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026.

Advancing toward commercial production

The ASX rare earths stock also highlights that the approval is a major step in its permitting pathway.

The next milestone will be the submission of an Economic Development Plan in the second quarter of 2026, which is expected to support the transition toward a full mining concession.

Brazilian Rare Earths’ managing director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, said the licence represents a major step forward for the project and the company’s broader strategy. He said:

Securing the Trial Mining Licence is a significant milestone for Monte Alto and a major step forward in BRE’s integrated ore-to-oxides development pathway in Brazil. This approval reflects the strength of our permitting work, the quality of our engagement with local communities and government stakeholders, and the advantages of Monte Alto’s deliberately low-impact development model. With ultra-high-grade mineralisation, dry processing and a quarry-scale operating model, Monte Alto has been designed from the outset to support a staged, capital-efficient path through permitting and development.

Just as importantly, trial mining can now supply high-grade material for customer evaluation and for our fully permitted pilot plant at Camaçari, linking upstream production with downstream processing capability in Brazil. That integrated model is central to our strategy to rebuild a leading Brazilian rare earths and critical minerals supply chain. Together with our existing export approvals, this licence materially advances commercial engagement, reduces development risk and brings Monte Alto closer to staged commercial operations.

The post Why is this ASX rare earths stock storming 7% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) energy share Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL) is having a day to forget. As are its stockholders.

Amplitude Energy shares closed yesterday trading for $2.67. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $1.55 apiece, down 42%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is up 1.2% at this same time.

Here’s what’s got investors reaching for their sell buttons today.

What’s pressuring the ASX 300 energy stock?

Amplitude Energy shares are taking a tumble after the company released a disappointing update on the drilling operations at its Isabella prospect in the Offshore Otway Basin, located in Victoria.

Amplitude Energy is the operator and 50% interest holder in the joint venture prospect. O.G. Energy holds the remaining 50% interest.

The ASX 300 energy share is drilling the Isabella field as a planned sidetrack from the earlier Elanora-1 well.

Today, the company revealed that pressure depletion during the testing period does not support a commercial development of the Isabella field. The well will now be plugged and abandoned. The company expects to complete that process within the next few days.

On a positive note, Amplitude Energy said that as the project is well-advanced, its East Coast Supply Project (ECSP) plans remain unchanged. The drilling program remains within budget, with the ASX 300 Energy share expecting the next well to be drilled in the second half of calendar year 2026.

A final investment decision (FID) for the development phase of the ECSP will now be deferred until after the new wells are drilled. The company is still targeting first gas from the project in 2028.

What did management say?

Commenting on the abandoned well that’s pressuring the ASX 300 energy share today, Amplitude managing director and CEO Jane Norman said, “The result at Isabella is disappointing but geological data from this well will help inform our future exploration prospects.”

Norman added:

Isabella was a large and prospective target for the ECSP, however its size also corresponded with reservoir complexity, meaning it will require time to interpret the drilling information received. The result at Isabella does not impact our view on the probability of success of other Otway Basin exploration prospects, which have simpler geology.

How has the ASX 300 energy share been tracking?

With today’s huge fall factored in, the Amplitude Energy share price is down 36% since this time last year, well behind the 6.6% 12-month gains delivered by the ASX 300.

The post Why is this ASX 300 energy share crashing 42% on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares are rocketing on Wednesday morning.

In early trade, the ASX 300 stock is up a massive 38% to a record-high of $6.40.

Why is this ASX 300 stock rising today?

Investors have been buying the respiratory imaging technology company’s shares following the release of a big announcement this morning.

According to the release, 4DMedical’s CT:VQ technology has been deployed at the Mayo Clinic in the United States.

The release reveals that the Mayo Clinic, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading hospitals, has entered into an agreement to use CT:VQ for ventilation and perfusion analysis.

The deployment will initially focus on integrating the technology into clinical workflows and allowing clinicians to evaluate its capabilities across a range of use cases.

Management highlights that the Mayo Clinic’s adoption represents one of the most significant endorsements of its technology to date.

Building strong commercial momentum

The ASX 300 stock notes that it has achieved six major deployments for CT:VQ within approximately seven months of receiving FDA clearance in September 2025.

The others are Stanford, Cleveland Clinic, UC San Diego Health, University of Chicago Medicine, and the University of Miami.

This rapid adoption highlights growing demand for its technology, which offers advantages such as eliminating the need for radioisotopes and contrast agents, while providing high-resolution imaging and integration into existing CT workflows.

While the initial agreement with Mayo Clinic is not financially material, the company emphasised its strategic importance. Management believes that as clinicians gain confidence in the technology, the hospital could become a key reference site, supporting broader commercial adoption.

‘A landmark moment’

The ASX 300 stock’s managing director and CEO, Andreas Fouras, described the deployment as a landmark moment for the company. He said:

Mayo Clinic is, unquestionably, one of the most respected healthcare institutions in the world. Their decision to deploy CT:VQ is a landmark moment for 4DMedical and a powerful testament to the clinical significance of our technology. In just seven months since FDA clearance we have established CT:VQ at six of America’s leading AMCs: Stanford, University of Miami, Cleveland Clinic, UC San Diego Health, University of Chicago Medicine, and now Mayo Clinic. No other technology in our space has achieved this level of clinical adoption in such a short timeframe.

Mayo’s deployment is uniquely significant. When the world’s number one hospital chooses to use your technology, it sends the strongest possible signal to the entire U.S. healthcare market about the clinical value and readiness of CT:VQ.

Fouras believes this leaves the company well-placed for the future. He concludes:

Combined with our existing network of elite AMC reference sites, and the Philips partnership, we are building an unassailable platform for CT:VQ adoption. CT:VQ continues to accelerate. Our sales pipeline has never looked stronger, and I look forward to sharing further progress soon.

The post ASX 300 stock rockets 38% on ‘landmark moment’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) shares are on the move on Wednesday morning.

In early trade, the ASX 200 telco stock is up 7% to $6.42.

This follows the release of its half-year results for FY 2026.

Why is this ASX 200 telco stock rising?

The company’s shares are gaining after Tuas reported strong growth across its key financial metrics for the first half of FY 2026.

Management advised that this was driven by the continued expansion of its subscriber base in Singapore.

According to the release, revenue increased to S$91.9 million, representing an increase of 25.5% on the prior corresponding period.

Also growing strongly were its underlying earnings. The ASX 200 telco stock’s underlying EBITDA came in 27.2% higher year on year at S$42.1 million. However, statutory EBITDA was down slightly to S$31.6 million.

Net profit after tax rose to S$8.2 million on a statutory basis and by over 500% to S$18.7 million on an underlying basis.

Management highlighted that the result reflects sustained improvement across all key financial metrics, supported by disciplined cost management and operating leverage.

Subscriber growth

Tuas’ strong performance was underpinned by rapid growth in its mobile and broadband subscriber base.

It revealed that active mobile services increased 21.7% to over 1.4 million, continuing a strong upward trend over recent periods.

Meanwhile, broadband subscribers surged to more than 46,000, highlighting strong traction in this newer segment.

Management also noted that average revenue per user remained stable at S$9.61, indicating that growth is being driven primarily by customer additions rather than pricing changes.

Strong balance sheet

The company ended the period with a significantly strengthened balance sheet following a capital raising.

Tuas reported cash and term deposits of S$477.9 million at the end of the half, boosted by approximately A$430 million raised through an equity issue.

This provides the ASX 200 telco stock with substantial financial flexibility to fund future growth initiatives.

Business update

Tuas continues to make progress in its core Singapore market.

The company revealed that it has exceeded its 5G coverage obligations ahead of schedule, positioning it strongly in the competitive mobile market.

It also highlighted leadership in fibre broadband service quality and hardware, supporting continued growth in that segment.

Outlook

Looking ahead, management expects to continue strengthening its position across both mobile and broadband markets.

The company has guided to capital expenditure of between S$50 million and S$55 million for FY 2026 as it invests in further network expansion and capability.

In addition, Tuas provided an update on its proposed M1 acquisition, noting that both parties are progressing positively and engaging with regulators as part of the approval process. The combination will make Tuas the second-largest mobile operator in Singapore.

Overall, the result highlights strong momentum for the business as it continues to scale its operations and grow its market share in Singapore.

The post Guess which ASX 200 telco stock is jumping 7% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

There is a wide range of ASX dividend shares available to investors to buy. There are many with large dividend yields that could produce market-beating returns.

With how the central bank interest rate in Australia has increased, I think it’s fair to say that Aussie investors may want a higher dividend yield than last year. Savings accounts are now offering a noticeably better interest rate.

So, with that in mind, I’m going to outline two ASX dividend shares with very high dividend yields and the potential to deliver capital growth.

WAM Microcap Ltd (ASX: WMI)

One of the biggest advantages of a listed investment company (LIC) structure is that a company’s board of directors can set the size of dividends it wants, so LICs can smooth out dividend payments, even during volatility.

WAM Microcap has grown or maintained its annual dividend per share each year since it first paid one in FY18. FY24 has been the only year that it has maintained the payout.

The company is expecting to increase its payout by 1% in FY26 to 10.7 cents per share. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.25%, including franking credits. That’s obviously an excellent level of passive income.

WAM Microcap has a profit reserve of 55.4 cents per share, meaning it has the accounting profits to pay the dividend for around five years at the current level.

How does this ASX dividend share make profit? It aims to invest and make returns with the most exciting undervalued growth opportunities in the ASX small-cap share space.

At the end of February 2026, the LIC had generated a portfolio performance of an average of 15.4% per year since inception in June 2017, before fees, expenses and taxes. That was more than 7% per year better than its small-cap benchmark. Small caps can deliver good returns because they are often under-researched and earlier on in their growth journey.

Some of its largest investments at the end of February 2026 were Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK), Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX), and Autosports Group Ltd (ASX: ASG).

After falling close to 10% during March, this could be a good time to consider investing in the business.

Charter Hall Long Wale REIT (ASX: CLW)

The other high-yielding ASX dividend share I want to highlight is this real estate investment trust (REIT) with a very diversified portfolio across multiple sectors.

Diversification is one of the biggest benefits of this ASX dividend share – plenty of other REITs are focused on just one sector, like shopping centres, office buildings, or industrial property.

This REIT is invested across numerous areas, including pubs and hotels, service stations, data centres, telecommunications exchanges, distribution centres, waste and recycling facilities, Bunnings properties, and so on.

One of the main advantages of this REIT is that its rental contracts are very long term, providing income stability and security for investors who want operating earnings to be less bumpy than, say, a miner.

Pleasingly, the business has rental indexation built into its portfolio, with properties either on fixed annual increases or the increases are linked to inflation.

It’s expecting to grow its FY26 distribution by 2% to 25.5 cents per security in FY26, which translates into a distribution yield of 7.4%, which I think is an appealing starting point with further rental growth expected.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Tuas and Wam Microcap. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Interest rates have been rising in 2026 in response to concerns around higher inflation.

While this has led to improvements in the rates on offer with savings accounts and term deposits, they still pale in comparison to the dividend yields you can find with ASX stocks on the Australian share market.

In addition, there are stocks out there that analysts think are cheap and could rise strongly from current levels.

Here are two dividend stocks that analysts are recommending to clients:

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR)

The first ASX dividend stock that analysts are bullish on is Charter Hall Retail REIT.

It is a property company that owns a diversified portfolio of convenience-based retail centres that are anchored by supermarkets, service stations, and essential services.

These assets tend to be highly defensive as shoppers continue to spend on groceries and everyday essentials regardless of economic conditions. In addition, long leases and high-quality tenants provide visibility over rental income.

The team at Macquarie is positive on the company and has an outperform rating and $4.15 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 10% for investors from current levels.

As for dividends, the broker is forecasting payouts of 25.5 cents in FY 2026 and then 25.4 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $3.77, this would mean dividend yields of 6.75% and 6.7%, respectively.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

Another ASX dividend stock that has been given the thumbs up by analysts is Elders.

It is an agribusiness company that provides rural and livestock services, agricultural inputs, and real estate services to Australia’s farming sector.

Elders recently completed the acquisition of Delta Agribusiness, which provides greater exposure to key local retail markets as well as a leading agronomy and farm advisory team.

It is partly because of this deal and its multi-year SysMod project to modernise systems with leading technology solutions that Bell Potter recently put a buy rating and $9.00 price target on its shares. This suggests that the company’s shares could rise by approximately 30% between now and this time next year.

As for income, Bell Potter is expecting the agribusiness company to pay shareholders fully franked dividends of 39 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 45 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $6.92, this would mean dividend yields of 5.6% and 6.5%, respectively.

The post These buy-rated ASX dividend stocks are forecast to pay 6%+ yields in 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shape Australia Corporation Ltd (ASX: SHA) might not be the most well-known stock, but its share price performance over the past year is worth noting.

The company has delivered a 12-month share price return of 114.9%, and according to Shaw and Partners’ analyst team, there’s more upside to be had.

So what does the company do?

As the Shaw team explains:

Shape is a national construction services specialist focused on commercial fit outs, refurbishments, modular construction, façade remediation, and select new build projects. Founded in 1989 and listed on the ASX in 2021, SHA operates across all Australian states and maintains strong client loyalty, with about 81% of revenue from repeat clients.

Shape’s most recent first-half results indicate a company that is travelling well.

The company reported first-half revenue of $553.3 million, up 16% on the previous corresponding period, and net profit of $14 million, up 49%.

Shape Chief Executive Officer Peter Marix-Evans said it was a strong result:

Our diversification strategy continues to deliver tangible results, particularly our expansion into non-office sectors. Additionally, during the half, project wins in the education sector increased 170% to $153.5 million, driven by a combination of fitout and refurbishment work in the tertiary category and modular projects in schools. We also saw momentum in emerging sectors, with the industrial and data centres sectors achieving a combined $137.4 million in project wins, compared with $7.0 million in 1HFY25, and further expansion into aged care with project wins of $57.5 million.

The company said it was well-placed going into the second half with backlog orders up 33% and a diversified pipeline of projects.

The Shaw team said the company had done a good job of diversifying its work streams.

Aided by acquisitions, Shape has diversified its sector exposure into more resilient sectors including healthcare, defence, education, hospitality, and retail, and has expanded into solutions that capture more of the project lifecycle such as design & build and aftercare/facilities maintenance. This strategic shift contributed to its impressive financial results.

Shaw said Shape had a market-leading position in high margin fit out and a strong pipeline and net cash position.

Shares looking cheap

The Shaw analysts recently upgraded their price target for Shape from $7.40 to $8.25 per share, compared with $6.49 currently.

Shape also pays a dividend yield of 3.07%.

Shape was valued at $541.9 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post After more than doubling over the past year one broker sees more upside for this ASX small-cap stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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