ASX tech stock Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT) captured the spotlight in early trading on Thursday following its financial results for the year ending 31 March 2024.

At the time of writing, Catapult shares are trading 11.6% higher at $1.73 apiece after touching a 52-week high of $1.80 just after market open. Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has slipped 0.6% into the red.

Let’s delve into the key highlights from FY 2024 that have investors buying this ASX tech stock today.

Catapult: ASX tech stock with high revenue growth

Investors are optimistic about this ASX tech stock’s outlook following the company’s annual results. Here are some of the highlights:

• Annualised contract value (ACV), a key indicator of future revenue, grew by 20% in constant currency year over year.
• The company’s revenue hit a milestone of US$100 million, reflecting the strength of its software as a service (SaaS) strategy.
• Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$9.3 million, up from a loss of US$11 million last year.
• Net loss after tax of US$16.7 million, an improvement from the $31.6 million net loss in the prior corresponding period.

Revenue growth was driven by new customers and increased ACV per team, boosted by the ASX tech stock’s new video solutions.

Catapult’s core SaaS metrics showed ACV retention improving to 96.5%, up 30 basis points year-on-year. Customer lifetime duration increased by 15.9% to seven years, and the number of pro team customers rose by 9.4% to 3,317 teams.

The company also hit its free cash flow targets of US$4.6 million, a US$26 million improvement year over year. This is after paying down US$4.7 million of debt during the quarter.

What did management say?

Catapult CEO Will Lopes was pleased with the company’s numbers, saying:

FY24 was a historic year for Catapult. Our SaaS strategy delivered great ACV growth, driven by new customers but also buoyed by increases in ACV per team as cross-selling accelerated with our New Video Solutions.

This highlights the company’s ability to leverage its technology to attract and retain clients, ensuring steady revenue growth.

Catapult’s EBITDA margin improved by 125% year-on-year, resulting in US$4.6 million of free cash flow.

This marks a significant inflection point in the ASX tech stock’s journey towards profitability and establishing a world-class SaaS business.

Lopes added, “FY24 was a major inflection point in our journey towards profitability and building a world-class SaaS business. We saw strong growth in our profit margin, accelerating us to improved levels on the Rule of 40.”

The Rule of 40 is a key valuation metric for SaaS companies, indicating that the combined revenue growth rate and profit margin should exceed 40%. Catapult achieved a 43% rate.

What’s next for this ASX tech stock?

For FY25, management aims to maintain strong ACV growth and high retention rates. The company plans to balance growth and profitability, aligning with the Rule of 40 to ensure cost margins move towards long-term targets.

Said Lopes: “In FY25, our objective is to deliver on our strategic priorities with a focus on profitable growth. Profitable growth is also anticipated to deliver higher free cash flow in FY25 as our business scales.”

Catapult share price

The Catapult share price is up around 74% in the last 12 months of trade.

The post Catapult shines: 20% sales growth propels ASX tech stock to new 52-week high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy the dip: Woodside share price now at ‘attractive entry point’
• 2 ASX healthcare shares to buy now for the AI revolution
• 2 under-the-radar ASX AI shares that look set to jump
• BHP share price tumbles as $74 billion deal evaporates
• 3 ASX growth stocks I’d buy with $5,000

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Catapult Group International. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Catapult Group International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price has been on a downward trend now for almost a year.

On 15 September, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) oil and gas stock closed the day trading for $38.39.

In intraday trading today, shares are down 1.2% at $27.13 apiece.

That’s underperforming the 0.7% losses posted by the ASX 200 at this same time. Though it’s right in line with the 1.2% decline of the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ).

Still, with today’s losses factored in, the Woodside share price is now down a painful 29.5% since 15 September.

That lengthy and sharp decline is in sharp contrast to the ASX 200 energy stock’s very strong performance over the previous three years.

How strong?

Well, brave investors who bought Woodside stock on 20 March 2020 would have been sitting on gains of 140.0% by 15 September 2023. And that’s not including the very juicy, fully franked dividends paid out during this period.

So, the question before us now is, are Woodside shares still a ‘falling knife’? Or is it time to wade in and buy the dip?

Is the Woodside share price good value now?

According to Christopher Watt, an investment advisor at Bell Potter Securities (courtesy of The Bull), the big recent fall in the Woodside share price offers an appealing opportunity.

“The recent share price pullback in this energy giant presents an attractive entry point for investors, in our view,” Watt said.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on the ASX 200 energy stock.

Watt noted:

The shares have fallen from $30.59 on April 11 to trade at $27.45 on May 23. Although first quarter 2024 production fell by 7 per cent on the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, the company retained full year 2024 guidance of between 185 million and 195 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Woodside remains Australia’s premier oil and gas exposure.

At its quarterly results, Woodside also reported its three top growth projects were progressing well.

CEO Meg O’Neill noted:

Significant progress was made in the period on our three major growth projects. Commissioning activities are now underway at the Sangomar project in Senegal, on track for first oil in the middle of this year.

Atop the potential for a rebound in the share price, Woodside also remains a top ASX 200 dividend stock.

Over the past 12 months, the company has paid out $2.16 a share in fully franked dividends.

At the current Woodside share price, that sees the stock trading on a fully franked trailing yield of 8.0%.

The post Buy the dip: Woodside share price now at ‘attractive entry point’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These ASX shares could rise 25% to 35%
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• If I buy 1,000 Woodside shares, how much passive income will I receive?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• The pros and cons of buying Woodside shares right now

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.

If you’re looking to capitalise on the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, you might consider investing in ASX healthcare shares.

The Australian market has rallied behind AI stocks recently, and there may be many more beneficiaries in the pipeline.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) and Integral Diagnostics Ltd (ASX: IDX) are two standout ASX healthcare shares. According to experts, both companies are set to benefit from AI advancements, making them potentially attractive healthcare options.

ASX healthcare shares to surge

ResMed is in the sleep disorder treatment business. Trading at $31.06 per share at the time of writing, the company shows significant growth potential due to the increasing prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to analysts at Bell Potter.

Estimates are that more than a billion people globally suffer from OSA, with many still undiagnosed. Bell Potter projects this under-penetration provides a massive growth opportunity for ResMed.

The broker gave ResMed a buy rating with a $36.00 price target, saying the company’s competitive edge was bolstered by the ongoing recall of competitor Philips’ respiratory devices and improved semiconductor availability.

Bell Potter expected industry volume growth “to continue in the 6-8% range for the foreseeable future”, adding that ResMed was “well-positioned to build on its dominant share even after Philips returns to the global market”.

The broker forecasts device sales to grow sequentially throughout 2023 and beyond, driven by the launch of ResMed’s latest CPAP device, the AirSense 11.

AI enhances Integral Diagnostics’ potential

Integral Diagnostics is another ASX healthcare share that I believe will benefit from AI advancements. Integral provides diagnostic imaging services such as MRIs and CTs across Australia and New Zealand.

Boutique investment manager Firetrail identifies Integral as a key beneficiary of AI and “teleradiology”, which it says could significantly enhance the company’s productivity and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margins.

If you think about it, AI has the potential to revolutionise diagnostic imaging. Firetrail believes it can “identify abnormalities and draw radiologists’ attention to areas of concern, allowing for faster assessments”.

My colleague Bronwyn explained in April that, currently, AI tools apply to only 5% of Integral’s scans. But management expects this to increase by 200–300% by the end of FY 2025.

This boost in productivity could enable radiologists to assess up to 1,000 scans per day, compared to the current 200.

AI’s impact on ASX healthcare shares

AI integration in healthcare is transforming the outlook for many ASX healthcare shares. It offers potentially significant benefits for companies such as ResMed with its innovative sleep disorder treatments and Integral Diagnostics’ AI-enhanced diagnostic services.

AI-driven tools not only enhance operational efficiency but also open new avenues for growth and profitability. And it appears the experts agree that investing in certain ASX healthcare shares can position investors to benefit as AI revolutionises the healthcare sector.

The post 2 ASX healthcare shares to buy now for the AI revolution appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX growth shares to buy to supercharge your portfolio in June
• 2 no-brainer ASX 200 shares to buy next week
• 4 ASX shares held by billionaire fund managers
• ResMed shares higher as company ‘turns the GLP threat into an opportunity’: Fundie
• Buy, hold or sell these 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares: Experts

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Integral Diagnostics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Looking to tap into the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution with some promising ASX shares? A recent report from Morgan Stanley reveals plenty of potential Aussie beneficiaries of the AI arms race.

And with US AI visionary NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) knocking it out of the park in Q1 2024 – growing profits 628% year over year – investors are starting a feeding frenzy for ASX AI shares.

Two surprising names that came up in Morgan Stanley’s note were Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

The report highlights these companies as beneficiaries of AI advancements, making them potentially intriguing investment options, in my opinion.

Temple & Webster’s AI advantage

Temple & Webster is an online furniture retailer. So you might wonder, how does this ASX AI share benefit from AI?

Morgan Stanley says the company leverages AI technology to understand its customers better.

“We think TPW understands a lot more about their customers and potential customers compared to store operators”, the broker said in the Australian Financial Review.

It added that AI would disrupt “most areas” of the company, including customer care, operations, product development, tech, and back-office functions.

Unlike brick-and-mortar retailers, Temple & Webster could use AI to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

‘Offline retailers’ face high costs with store staff and leases, limiting their ability to leverage AI. How does AI bring your lease down, for example?

In contrast, Temple & Webster’s online focus gives it a competitive edge, Morgan Stanley says.

WiseTech’s AI-driven growth

WiseTech is a logistics platform investing heavily in AI investment. This ASX AI share utilises machine learning, big data, and automation extensively.

Morgan Stanley estimates that WiseTech has invested around $1 billion in software research and development over the past five years.

The research note also identifies WiseTech as a key player in the AI revolution within the logistics sector. For instance, AI will likely help WiseTech enhance its core international freight forwarding market.

“Harnessing AI will be key given the many complexities in the freight forwarding industry”, Morgan Stanley said.

It also expands this footprint into secondary markets, such as warehousing, compliance, and customs.

The broker expects AI to “assist with [WiseTech’s] sales, support and customer success automation and analytics…improve developer productivity and result in more rapid product iteration at the same level of headcount”.

AI a future theme for ASX shares

AI is transforming industries by improving efficiency and opening new growth avenues.

Companies like Temple & Webster and WiseTech are two promising, under-the-radar ASX AI shares well-positioned to benefit from AI advancements. With AI driving growth and efficiency, these companies could deliver strong returns, in my opinion.

In the last 12 months, the Temple & Webster share price is up 108%, while WiseTech shares are trading 30% higher in that time.

The post 2 under-the-radar ASX AI shares that look set to jump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX retail shares mixed amid modest April sales growth
• 3 high-quality ASX shares tipped to generate strong returns
• Here’s how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week
• Inherited a substantial sum of money? Here’s how I’d spend it (including the ASX stocks I’d buy)
• Why Baby Bunting, JB Hi-Fi, Temple & Webster, and Westpac shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Nvidia, Temple & Webster Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is sliding today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed yesterday trading for $45.08. In morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $44.50 apiece, down 1.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.8% at this same time.

The BHP share price is slipping as ASX investors digest the news that BHP’s $74 billion takeover offer for global miner Anglo American (LSE: AAL) will not proceed.

At least, not anytime soon.

BHP share price slides on rejected takeover extension

As the Motley Fool reported last night, BHP’s three consecutively better bids for Anglo American (the first lobbed on 26 April) were not enough to convince the miner’s board that the offer presented better value for shareholders than they could deliver themselves.

A decision that looks to be pressuring the BHP share price today.

Last night, with just hours to go before the takeover deadline stipulated under British regulations was reached, BHP CEO Mike Henry still sounded confident that a deal, which would have seen BHP become the world’s biggest copper miner, might yet be reached.

Having received a one-week extension to the takeover deadline last week following its third acquisition bid, BHP requested another extension on the discussions yesterday.

The miner stated:

BHP believes that the proposed measures it has put forward provide substantial risk protection for Anglo American shareholders and supplement the significant value uplift that Anglo American shareholders will receive from the potential combination. BHP believes a further extension of the deadline is required to allow for further engagement on its proposal.

Anglo’s board was having none of it, however. Anglo replied:

In aggregate, BHP has not addressed the board’s fundamental concerns relating to the disproportionate execution risk associated with the proposed structure and the value that would ultimately be delivered to Anglo American’s shareholders.

The board unanimously decided not to extend the deadline, which came at 5pm London time.

Mike Henry responds

Commenting on the end of the takeover negotiations that’s seeing the BHP share price underperforming today, CEO Mike Henry said in no uncertain terms, “BHP will not be making a firm offer for Anglo American.”

Henry continued:

BHP is committed to its capital allocation framework and maintains a disciplined approach to mergers and acquisitions.

While we believed that our proposal for Anglo American was a compelling opportunity to effectively grow the pie of value for both sets of shareholders, we were unable to reach agreement with Anglo American on our specific views in respect of South African regulatory risk and cost and, despite seeking to engage constructively and numerous requests, we were not able to access from Anglo American key information required to formulate measures to address the excess risk they perceive.

We remain of the view that our proposal was the most effective structure to deliver value for Anglo American shareholders, and we are confident that, working together with Anglo American, we could have obtained all required regulatory approvals, including in South Africa.

Now what?

Anglo American appears determined to go its own way. Though it’s always possible other suitors could come knocking.

Under British regulations, BHP cannot make another offer for at least six months, unless a competing offer comes in from another company.

With today’s intraday losses factored in, the BHP share price remains up 3% over 12 months.

The post BHP share price tumbles as $74 billion deal evaporates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• BHP share price on watch after Anglo American takeover update
• Should you buy BHP shares now before tonight’s Anglo American takeover reveal?
• Planning your retirement? Here are the most popular investments outside superannuation
• BHP share price marching higher amid fast approaching $75 billion takeover deadline

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.

Growth stocks are companies that have potentially significant expansion opportunities ahead of them. Because of their future potential, investors expect that their share prices will rise much more quickly than the market average.

Growth shares are usually junior companies with a fair bit of buzz about them – perhaps they’re developing some revolutionary new product or service, or maybe they’re closely aligned with emerging global trends, like Artificial Intelligence (AI) or decarbonisation.

Many ASX growth shares are tech companies. Rapid advances in technology mean products and services that weren’t even conceivable a few decades ago are now practically ubiquitous (think smartphones, streaming services, and cryptocurrency). This extreme pace of innovation means new tech start-ups can occasionally take off overnight, making their investors rich and striking FOMO into everyone else.

However, growth stocks don’t have to be tech shares – it’s not unusual to see a junior mining stock’s price skyrocket if it uncovers a significant new resource, and even the odd retail stock can make quick gains if it launches into a potentially lucrative new market.

But remember – growth shares are riskier than other types of shares. They are often speculative plays, and not every gamble will pay off. So, only risk what you can afford to lose.

Despite the risk – or perhaps because of it – growth stocks can be very exciting to invest in. And, luckily for us ASX investors, there are plenty of options available for us to choose from. Here are 3 I’d consider buying if I had a spare $5,000.

Audinate Group Ltd (ASX: AD8)

Audinate shares have been on a tear recently. Over the past 12 months, its share price has skyrocketed over 65% – and that’s despite a 30% drop from the 52-week high price of $23.51 it hit back in March.

The rise in its share price has come on the back of its strong financial performance. In its 1H24 results – covering the six months ending 31 December 2023 – Audinate’s revenues jumped almost 48% versus 1H23 to US$30.4 million. And, after recording a net loss of US$0.4 million in 1H23, Audinate’s net profit after tax in 1H24 was US$4.7 million – a pretty impressive turnaround.

Audinate specialises in audiovisual (AV) technology. Its flagship product is called Dante, which replaces old-school analogue cable AV connections with a digital computer network. It has a large variety of applications, from corporate office buildings, broadcast media, and even churches and other places of worship.

Light & Wonder Inc. CDI (ASX: LNW)

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Light & Wonder is a gaming company specialising in poker machines, online casino games, and what it calls ‘social games’ – essentially mobile and web casino games where you don’t play for real money or prizes.

Its share price has soared over 50% higher in the past 12 months – significantly more than established rival Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) – on the back of strong earnings growth. Quarterly revenue for the 3 months ended 31 March 2024 was up 13% versus the prior comparative period to US$756 million. This revenue uplift – combined with lower depreciation and amortisation expenses – led to a staggering 273% jump in net profit (to US$82 million for the quarter).  

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Although Nextdc is quite an established ASX technology company, it still has significant growth potential ahead of it, which makes it a worthy addition to this list.

Nextdc operates data centres all across Australia, as well as internationally in New Zealand, Japan and Malaysia. This is already a growth sector, given how much of our time nowadays is spent online. All that data we create has to be stored somewhere.

However, rapid advancements in AI could supercharge Nextdc’s growth in the next few years. AI, like ChatGPT and other machine learning programs, need enormous amounts of data to function, which could drive up demand for data centres even further. And the company knows it. In April, it launched a capital raise seeking an eyewatering $1.3 billion from investors to help finance its growth pipeline.

The post 3 ASX growth stocks I’d buy with $5,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 1 ASX growth stock that turned $10,000 into $21,000 in less than 2 years
• Down 19% in a month, should you pounce on this ASX 200 tech stock?
• Joining the revolution: How I’d invest in ASX AI shares right now
• 3 high-quality ASX shares tipped to generate strong returns
• Here’s how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week

Motley Fool contributor Rhys Brock has positions in Audinate Group and Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Audinate Group and Light & Wonder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Audinate Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you want to give your investment portfolio a nice boost, then it could be worth considering the ASX shares listed below.

That’s because they have been named as buys and tipped to rise materially from current levels. Here’s what you need to know about them:

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

Analysts at Goldman Sachs see a lot of value in this building materials company’s shares following a recent pullback.

The broker notes that it sees “upside from cyclical improvement and strategic execution against higher value product mix targets, which has scope to substantially improve group profitability.” It also highlights that its analysts “continue to expect robust growth in FY26 as North America volumes accelerate to 7%, while new construction and PDG maintain momentum.”

In light of this, the broker put a buy rating and $57.85 price target on its shares earlier this month. This implies potential upside of almost 25% for investors over the next 12 months.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The team at Bell Potter is feeling very bullish about this pharmaceuticals company and sees it as an ASX share to buy right now.

The broker was pleased with the phase two results from its NNZ-2591 trial in Pitt Hopkins syndrome. It highlights that NNZ-2591 “has now shown encouraging clinical data in two indications, each of which represent a similar if not larger market opportunity than Rett syndrome.”

In addition, with no approved treatments available, it believes that “NNZ-2591 is comfortably in poll position to be the first drug to market.”

In response to the news, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $28.00. This implies potential upside of almost 35% for investors from current levels.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

A third ASX share that could deliver big returns for investors according to analysts is energy giant Woodside.

Morgans thinks investors should be snapping up the company’s shares while they are down in the dumps. It notes that “with the pullback in oil prices moderating and work at Scarborough back underway, we see now as a good time to add to positions.”

This is particularly the case given its belief that Woodside “will still generate substantial high-quality earnings for years to come.”

Morgans has an add rating and $36.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 31% for investors from current levels. In addition, the broker is forecasting dividend yields of 4%+ in both FY 2024 and FY 2025. This boosts the total potential 12-month return to over 35%.

The post These ASX shares could rise 25% to 35% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why Cettire, Neuren, Peter Warren, and Qantas shares are falling today
• Why you should buy this ‘industry leading’ ASX 200 tech stock
• If I buy 1,000 Woodside shares, how much passive income will I receive?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is one of the biggest and most popular investments in Australia. But, there are plenty of other ASX dividend stocks that can provide passive income.

CBA has delivered solid returns over the past three years. But I believe diversification is an essential part of almost any investment strategy. Having all or most of one’s dividend eggs in one basket could be a recipe for trouble if the banking sector experiences trouble, such as elevated bad debts.

Other businesses can provide a pleasing level of dividend income compared to CBA’s current grossed-up dividend yield of 5.5%. The below two ASX shares could be compelling options to diversify a dividend portfolio.

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL)

Medibank is the largest private health insurance business in Australia with its Medibank and ahm brands.

A core driver of earnings for Medibank is how many policyholders it has. In the FY24 first-half result it reported a 0.2% (or 3,400) increase in net resident policyholder numbers and a 12.3% (or 33,800) rise in net non-resident policy units. In a recent update, the business said that based on its performance in the three months to March 2024, it “remains on track” to deliver on its guidance of resident policyholder growth of between 1.2% and 1.5% in FY24.

More policyholders can result in stronger operating profit and a growing dividend for the ASX dividend stock – HY24 group operating profit rose 4.7%, helping fund a 14.3% increase to the dividend per share.

I believe there are tailwinds for the company’s policyholder numbers and profit with Australia’s growing and ageing population.

Healthcare is a relatively defensive sector – people usually place a high value on their health, so private insurance demand could remain strong in the years ahead.

According to the estimate on Commsec, at the current Medibank share price, shareholders could receive a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3% in FY24.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

This is a diversified real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns property across a variety of sectors including agri-logistics, social infrastructure, office, industrial and logistics, hospitality, service stations and quality retail. It has a portfolio occupancy rate of 99.9%, which is very high.

Examples of some of the key tenants include the Australian government, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), BP and Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV). Having blue-chip tenants like this should mean the rental income is resilient.

Pleasingly, the business has a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of more than 10 years. This means there is a high level of income security and rental visibility for the coming years.

While debt costs have increased, the ASX dividend stock’s rental income continues to grow. Around half of its leases are linked to CPI inflation, it’s expecting to report a 5.4% weighted average increase in FY24. The other half of leases have fixed annual increases, with an average fixed increase of 3.1%.

It’s expecting to pay a distribution per unit of 26 cents in FY24, which translates into a current distribution yield of 7.5%.

The post Overinvested in CBA shares? Here are two alternative ASX dividend stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s how I’d target a $2,000 second income by investing $35 a week
• Here are 3 reliable ASX shares I’d buy instead of the big four banks right now
• 2 high-yield ASX dividend shares to buy as they bounce
• With $1,000 to invest, should I buy ASX growth stocks or income shares?
• Why I’d buy high-yield ASX dividend shares for superannuation in retirement

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