The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price has suffered heavily within the last two years. As the below chart shows, the ASX biotech share giant has now dropped by around two-thirds since August 2024.

It has been the worst-performing ASX blue-chip by far in that period and it just keeps falling.

The business may become oversold if it keeps declining, creating a rebound opportunity for contrarian investors.

Have we already reached that oversold level? I don’t have a crystal ball to refer to, but we can look at what analysts think of the CSL share price and whether it’s undervalued.

CSL share price target

A price target tells investors where an analyst thinks the share price will be in 12 months after the investment rating. Of course, price targets are just analyst estimates, not guarantees of where they think the ASX biotech share will be in a year from now.

According to CMC Invest, of 11 recent expert ratings on the business, four of them are buy ratings and seven of them are hold ratings, with no sell ratings.

The average price target of those 11 analysts is $140.84 – that suggests a possible rise of 41% over the next year, which I’m sure would be a market-beating return if that came true.

The most optimistic price target is $194.90, implying a possible doubling from where it is over the next year.

However, the lowest price target for the business is $99.95. That price target implies the business may be trading at the same valuation as it is now in a year.

Let’s quickly remind ourselves what the latest update was from the business.

More disappointing news

Earlier in May, the business changed its guidance for FY26 revenue to be around $15.2 billion and underlying net profit (NPATA) to be around $3.1 billion.

It outlined three areas that have had a combined impact of $650 million on revenue, including $500 million from US immunoglobulin and albumin in China.

CSL also said it expects to recognise approximately $5 billion of pre-tax impairments across FY26 and FY27, on top of what was already announced in the FY26 half-year result. Those new impairments include CSL Vifor intangible assets including the product portfolio. The impairments also include under-utilised property, plant and equipment.

In other words, despite all the bad news, the business has experienced further downgrades in confidence, which doesn’t bode well for the foreseeable future.

However, in terms of the CSL share price, the average analyst now thinks the business has been oversold. We’ll see if the market agrees, as time goes on.

There could be better ASX share opportunities out there with less uncertainty.

The post Here are the latest growth forecasts for the CSL share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here’s a 9% ASX dividend stock to consider for a monthly passive income
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy before the market wakes up

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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Bell Potter has been busy running the rule over a recent update from a popular ASX stock.

The good news is that the broker was pleased with the update and has boosted its valuation to reflect this.

Which ASX stock?

The stock that has found itself in the good books with Bell Potter is IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG).

It is a leading Australian distributor of electrical equipment and industrial digital technologies, operating nine distribution centres and servicing over 4,200+ customers nationally.

Bell Potter notes that the ASX stock supplies products used in buildings, infrastructure, and process sectors that help to reduce energy use or reliance on the transmission network.

The broker highlights that IPD Group released a guidance update last week. It said:

FY26 underlying EBITDA is forecast to be $54.5-55.3m (BPe $55.2m; consensus $55.6m) and underlying EBIT is expected to be $46.3-47.1m (BPe $47.5m; consensus $47.5m). Growth at the midpoint of these ranges is 18% and 19%, respectively. Excluding earnings contribution from the recently acquired Platinum Cables business (completed 31 December 2025), underlying EBITDA and EBIT is estimated to be within the range of $50.5-51.3m and $42.7-43.5m, respectively, representing 10% growth at the midpoint for both metrics.

One key driver of growth has been its work in the data centre market. Bell Potter adds:

Data Centre revenue growth continues to trend strongly in 2H FY26, up 25% on the PcP (BPe 20%). Meanwhile, Group revenue is anticipated to expand in FY26 (BPe 16% with Platinum Cables and 10% organic; vs 9% growth in 1H FY26). Strong growth is noted across the core IPD business and Ex Engineering, as well as a record result from CMI, with sales to exceed pre-IPD acquisition levels.

The good news is that the data centre market remains strong and further strong growth is expected in FY 2027. It adds:

R3M Commercial construction building approval values have maintained a strong double digit YoY growth trend since Oct’25, with Mar’26 building approval values growing 18% YoY. Our proxy for Data Centre building approval values is demonstrating a significant step-up since Nov’25; the R3M hit a record in Feb’26, expanding 263% YoY. In Mar’26, values were up 121% YoY.

Should you invest?

In response to the update, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX stock with an improved price target of $6.20 (from $5.30).

Based on its current share price of $5.32, this implies potential upside of 16.5% for investors over the next 12 months.

It also expects a 2.7% dividend yield over the period, boosting the total potential return beyond 19%.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

We have applied a lower ERP in our WACC given heightened sentiment for companies leveraged to data centre and electrification investment thematics. We see IPG as a key beneficiary to rising investments levels in the data centre sector.

The post Bell Potter just upgraded its valuation of this ASX stock 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 Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Ipd Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Australia set an ambitious target: build 1.2 million new homes by July 2029.

But the latest forecasts from Master Builders Australia reveal the country is drifting further from that goal, not closer.

The most recent industry forecasts show the expected shortfall has now grown to 180,200 homes, up from a 160,000 gap projected just months earlier.

In 2024-25 alone, 180,500 homes were started, almost 60,000 short of the Accord’s annual target of 240,000.

Chief Economist Shane Garrett put it plainly:

Australians are crying out for more housing, but demand is being left unrealised. Projects are stalled by rising costs, low productivity and long build times. Without rapid reform, the activity needed to deliver 1.2 million homes will not materialise.

For investors, that shortfall may be a tailwind for ASX-listed companies that develop, build, and supply the Australian housing market.

Here’s 3 ASX shares that could benefit.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie Industries is the world’s leading producer of fibre cement building products and supplies a significant portion of the cladding, siding, and external building materials used in Australian residential construction.

The company has had a difficult year, with shares down sharply after organic net sales declined 2% for FY2026 as North American housing demand remained subdued and channel inventory normalisation weighed on volumes.

However, the FY2026 full-year result also contained reasons for optimism.

James Hardie reported net sales of US$4.84 billion for FY2026, up 25% year-on-year, supported by the contribution from the transformative AZEK acquisition, which added a Deck, Rail and Accessories division generating US$795.2 million in revenue and US$224.8 million in EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year reached US$1.27 billion, exceeding internal guidance, and management is targeting 4% to 8% pro forma adjusted EBITDA growth in FY2027.

As Australia’s housing construction target creates years of sustained demand for new building materials, James Hardie’s fibre cement products and its growing Deck, Rail and Accessories portfolio position it well to benefit from any recovery in residential construction volumes.

Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)

Stockland is one of Australia’s largest residential land and housing developers.

The stock is arguably the most direct ASX play on the government’s housing construction agenda.

The company operates one of the largest masterplanned community portfolios in the country, with developments in growth corridors across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth that are specifically designed to deliver the affordable, family-oriented housing that the government’s 1.2 million home target prioritises.

In Q3 FY2026, Stockland reported a 43% year-on-year lift in Masterplanned Communities sales and a 162% surge in Land Lease Community sales, underscoring the extraordinary demand the business is currently capturing.

The company is targeting 7,500 to 8,500 lot settlements in Masterplanned Communities and 700 to 800 homes in Land Lease Communities in FY2026, each with operating margins in the low 20% range.

Stockland is maintaining FY2026 guidance of 36.0 to 37.0 cents funds from operations per security and a distribution of 25.2 cents.

Furthermore, the company has partnered with EdgeConneX to develop data centres on its industrial land, adding a high-value new use case for its extensive land bank that complements its residential development pipeline.

In addition, the federal budget’s negative gearing exemption for new builds creates a direct demand catalyst for Stockland’s masterplanned community product.

This is because investors seeking tax-effective property exposure will increasingly favour newly built homes over established properties.

Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)

Mirvac rounds out the trio as a diversified property developer with a growing residential pipeline and Australia’s most advanced build-to-rent platform.

The company stands to benefit from both the structural housing shortage and the federal budget’s new-build exemption to negative gearing changes.

These two together create a powerful demand tailwind for developers of new residential product.

In the first half of FY2026, Mirvac posted a 38% year-on-year lift in residential sales, with settlements up 22% and gross margins recovering from recent lows.

The company restocked its development pipeline with approximately 2,300 new lots during the half, ensuring it has the land supply to meet expected demand growth over the next three to five years.

Foolish takeaway

Australia’s housing shortfall is not a short-term problem.

The combination of population growth, a structural undersupply of new dwellings, and a government policy environment that now actively incentivises new construction creates a multi-year tailwind for ASX-listed housing developers and building materials companies.

James Hardie, Stockland, and Mirvac each offer different risk and return profiles within the same theme.

Together they represent three ways to position a portfolio for what could be one of the most enduring investment tailwinds on the ASX over the rest of this decade.

The post Australia is 180,000 homes short of its 2029 target. Here’s 3 ASX shares that could benefit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

Australia’s federal budget delivered on 12 May 2026 contained one of the most significant changes to property investment policy in a generation.

From 1 July 2027, negative gearing will be abolished for established residential properties purchased after 7:30pm on 12 May 2026, with the only exception being newly built homes.

For most property investors, that is bad news.

For Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR), it could be one of the most important tailwinds the company has received in years.

What the budget actually changes

Negative gearing on investment properties purchased after 12 May 2026 will no longer be available from July 2027 onwards.

This means that investors buying existing homes can no longer offset rental losses against their other income.

New builds, however, remain fully exempt from this change.

Investors who buy a newly constructed property will still access both negative gearing and the existing 50% capital gains tax discount, giving them a clear and meaningful tax advantage over buyers of established properties.

Furthermore, build-to-rent developments and properties held in widely held trusts and superannuation funds also receive exemptions, a provision that directly benefits Mirvac’s LIV Mirvac build-to-rent platform.

In short, the government has tilted the tax playing field toward new construction and away from established property.

Mirvac is one of the clearest beneficiaries on the ASX.

Why Mirvac is uniquely positioned

Mirvac is an integrated developer, investor, and fund manager with operations spanning residential masterplanned communities, premium office, industrial logistics, retail town centres, and Australia’s largest build-to-rent platform.

The residential development business, which delivers new homes and apartments in high-demand urban corridors across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, stands to benefit directly from the structural shift in investor demand toward new builds.

In Q3 FY2026, Mirvac reported a 28% year-on-year lift in residential sales, well before the budget announcement landed.

That momentum should accelerate as investors increasingly seek the tax advantages that only new construction can deliver.

Mirvac’s build-to-rent platform provides an additional and increasingly powerful angle.

The $1.7 billion LIV Mirvac Build-to-Rent Fund, recently recapitalised with Australian Retirement Trust acquiring a significant stake, owns operational assets in Brisbane and Melbourne and is actively developing new sites in growth corridors.

As existing landlords sell established properties to exit the less tax-advantaged environment, rental supply from the private investor market may tighten.

This may push renters toward institutional build-to-rent operators like LIV Mirvac and supporting rental income growth across the portfolio.

The numbers behind the business

In the first half of FY2026, Mirvac posted a 5% lift in operating profit to $248 million, with operating earnings per security of 6.3 cents, up 5% on the prior half.

CEO Campbell Hanan described the result as a strong half-year performance, noting:

Positive momentum saw residential sales increase 38 per cent year-on-year, with settlements up 22 per cent and a recovery in gross margins. The significant restocking of our development pipeline is also in line with our focus on Living and Premium-grade Office, and, coupled with a number of key launches and completions in the coming 18 months, provides excellent future earnings visibility.

Management reaffirmed full-year FY2026 guidance of 12.8 to 13.0 cents operating earnings per security and a distribution of 9.5 cents per security, up 5.6% on the prior year.

The valuation case

Mirvac shares have declined approximately 25% over the past twelve months, trailing the ASX 200’s significantly, as higher interest rates weighed on REIT valuations across the sector.

That underperformance has created an interesting entry point.

Macquarie has named Mirvac as one of four ASX REITs it expects to surge higher in 2026, pointing to improving residential margins, the growing build-to-rent franchise, and the budget tailwinds as key catalysts for a re-rating.

Foolish takeaway

Mirvac shares may not double overnight.

The interest rate environment, while improving, remains a headwind for REIT valuations, and the translation of budget policy into on-the-ground sales momentum will take time.

However, for investors with a multi-year time horizon, the combination of a recovering residential business, Australia’s largest build-to-rent platform, and a policy shift toward new construction makes Mirvac one of the most interesting property stocks on the ASX today.

The post Why this ASX property stock could be a surprise winner from Australia’s negative gearing changes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) remains the most shorted ASX share after its short interest rose to 17.2%. Short sellers have been loading up on this uranium producer’s shares following a disastrous quarterly update. Lotus reported weak production and a sizeable cash burn. Many in the market are now expecting another capital raising later this year.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest remain flat at 15.6%. Short sellers don’t appear to believe this pizza chain operator’s turnaround plans will deliver a meaningful improvement in its performance.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has seen its short interest ease to 15%. This radiopharmaceuticals company has struggled with key US FDA approvals over the past 18 months.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 14.3%, which is up since last week. The market has concerns over this uranium miner’s production outlook from 2027.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 14.1%, which is up week on week. However, short sellers will have been disappointed to see this quick service restaurant operator’s shares rocket last week after it announced the closure of its US operations.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has 13.6% of its shares held short, which is down week on week. Short sellers appear to believe the medical device company’s shares are overvalued given its high PE ratio.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has 13.5% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. Short sellers continue to target the wine giant despite a recent and encouraging trading update.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has 11.6% of its shares held short. This is down since last week. Short sellers may believe the buy now pay later provider’s performance could be impacted by weak consumer spending and higher interest rates.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has 11.5% of its shares held short, which is up since last week. Short sellers have been increasing their positions after the counter-drone technology company revealed that it was the subject of an ASIC investigation.
• CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) has entered the top ten with short interest of 11.2%. Short sellers may believe that trading conditions are tough and the auto listings company could underperform expectations.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, PolyNovo, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, PolyNovo, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It has been a red hot 2026 for ASX healthcare stock Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd (ASX:VFY). 

Vitrafy researches and develops cryopreservation technology. The company offers cryopreservation devices, thawing devices, packaging, and software platform.

In 2026, it has risen an impressive 107%. 

This included a 13% jump last Friday after the company released an announcement to the ASX. 

What did the company announce?

On Friday, the healthcare company announced the successful completion of the Phase II in-vitro study with United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (part of the Defense Health Agency) (“USAISR”). 

According to the release, excellent results were achieved using the Vitrafy cryopreservation ecosystem across all tested protocols when compared to existing regulatory and quality guidelines for platelet use.

Building upon the Phase I results, the Phase II USAISR in-vitro results highlight that all protocols tested via Vitrafy’s cryopreservation ecosystem outperform the existing regulatory and quality guidelines currently set for the use of platelets

What does this all mean?

The company tested different ways of freezing and thawing platelets (blood components used to stop bleeding).

All methods passed the minimum medical standards needed for human use.

One method in particular – using 3% DMSO without needing a “wash” step – performed best.

Normally frozen platelets are difficult and expensive to prepare after thawing.

Vitrafy’s “no-wash” process means hospitals, ambulances, military units, or remote clinics could potentially thaw and use platelets quickly without special lab equipment or trained technicians.

That could make it easier to store emergency blood supplies for disasters, trauma care, rural medicine, and battlefield injuries.

They achieved 94% platelet recovery after thawing, which means most platelets survived the freezing process and still functioned properly.

They also maintained strong clotting ability, which is critical in trauma situations.

Investors were seemingly pleased with these results, as the ASX healthcare stock rose 13% last Friday following the release. 

What is Morgan’s take?

Following this announcement, the team at Morgans provided updated guidance on this ASX healthcare stock. 

It said Vitrafy has released final Phase II in-vitro platelet results from USAISR, with all three cryopreservation protocols exceeding fresh-platelet quality benchmarks. 

The headline result was 94% post-thaw recovery using the 3% DMSO no-wash protocol, well ahead of the FDA/AABB (~75%) and European (~50%) thresholds. The study is independently authored by the US Army across 20 donors and 60+ samples at commercial volumes, delivering on a core IPO commitment made at listing in November 2024. 

No FDA-approved no-wash frozen platelet product exists commercially in the US, positioning Vitrafy to address a genuine category gap. Shares trading up strongly from the $1.20 YTD lows, and +27% on the 2024 IPO price.

This ASX healthcare stock closed trading last week at $2.65. 

Current targets from brokers are hovering around the $3.00 mark. 

The post What is Morgan’s updated view on this red hot ASX healthcare stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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 are a lot of ASX dividend shares out there for income investors to choose from.

But two of the best could be in this article according to analysts at Bell Potter.

Here’s what the broker is recommending to clients right now:

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Harvey Norman could be an ASX dividend share to buy for income according to Bell Potter.

The retail giant has a well-known brand, a large store network, and exposure to furniture, electronics, appliances, bedding, and other household categories. It also has a major property portfolio, which gives the business an additional layer that many retailers do not have.

Trading conditions have not been easy for discretionary retailers. Higher interest rates, cost of living pressures, and weaker consumer confidence are weighing on spending.

Nevertheless, Bell Potter is positive on its outlook and believes it is still positioned to grow its dividend.

It is forecasting fully franked dividends of 29.8 cents per share in FY 2026 and 33.5 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price, this would mean dividend yields of 6.7% and 7.6%, respectively.

The broker has a buy rating and $6.70 price target on Harvey Norman’s shares.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Rural Funds is another ASX dividend share that could be a top pick for income investors.

It owns a diversified portfolio of agricultural assets, including properties used for cattle, almonds, macadamias, vineyards, and cropping. These assets are leased to operators, giving Rural Funds a rental income stream rather than direct exposure to day-to-day farming operations.

This structure can make its earnings profile more predictable than many traditional agricultural businesses. Long leases, contracted rental income, and exposure to real assets are all features that may suit investors looking for income.

Another positive is that Rural Funds provides exposure to farmland, which is an asset class that can benefit from long-term demand for food, productive land, and agricultural infrastructure.

It is not without risk. Interest rates, asset valuations, seasonal conditions, and tenant performance can all influence sentiment toward the stock. But for investors comfortable with the agricultural property sector, Rural Funds offers something different from the usual bank, telco, and resources dividend names.

Bell Potter is forecasting dividends per share of 11.7 cents in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.98, this would mean dividend yields of approximately 6%.

The broker currently has a buy rating and $2.50 price target on its shares.

The post Buy these ASX dividend shares with 6%+ yields 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 positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman and Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Building an ASX share portfolio does not have to mean picking every company individually.

I think exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can do a lot of the heavy lifting. They can add diversification, reduce reliance on any single stock, and give investors access to markets and sectors that may be difficult to replicate on their own.

That can be especially useful for Australian investors. The ASX has many strong companies, but it is also heavily weighted towards banks and miners. A few well-chosen ETFs can help broaden a portfolio beyond the local market.

Two ASX ETFs I think could be useful buys for many portfolios are named in this article.

Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF (ASX: V500)

The first ETF I would consider is the Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF.

This is a relatively new ASX ETF, but the idea behind it is very familiar. It seeks to track the return of the S&P 500 Net Total Return Australian Dollars Index, before fees, expenses and tax.

In plain English, it gives investors access to a diversified portfolio of the 500 largest publicly listed US companies across all major sectors.

I think that is a very attractive starting point for long-term investors.

The US market is home to many of the world’s most dominant businesses. These include companies across technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer goods, industrials, and communication services.

For Australians, that is valuable because it adds exposure that the ASX cannot easily provide. The local market has some excellent companies, but it does not have the same depth of global technology, software, semiconductor, digital advertising, and mega-cap healthcare names.

Another big positive is the cost. The V500 ETF has a management fee of just 0.07% per annum. That is low, and fees can make a meaningful difference over long periods. The less investors pay in fund costs, the more of the underlying return they can keep.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

The second ETF I like is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.

This ASX ETF takes a different approach. Rather than simply tracking the biggest companies in a market, it focuses on global businesses with quality characteristics.

The QUAL ETF looks for companies with strong returns on equity, earnings stability, and low financial leverage.

I like that because quality can be a powerful filter. The global share market contains thousands of companies, but not all of them are businesses I would want to own. Some are highly cyclical, heavily indebted, or inconsistent. The QUAL ETF aims to tilt the portfolio towards companies with stronger financial foundations.

Its holdings currently include world-class names such as Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, to name just three.

The management fee is higher than the V500 ETF at 0.40% per annum, so investors need to decide whether the quality screen is worth the extra cost. I think it can be.

Foolish Takeaway

A broad US ETF and a global quality ETF could add a lot to a portfolio. One offers low-cost exposure to America’s largest companies. The other brings a quality-focused lens to global share investing.

Neither ETF will rise every year, and both can fall when global markets weaken. But for investors building a long-term ASX share portfolio, I think they could be very useful building blocks.

The post 2 ETFs that could be buys today for any ASX share portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Insurance is rarely the most exciting sector on the ASX.

However, a combination of rising premium rates, improving underwriting margins, and disciplined capital management is creating an interesting investment backdrop for Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) and QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE).

Why premiums keep rising

The driver behind both stocks is relatively straightforward.

Australia’s insurance industry has spent the past three years repricing policies upward to recover from a period of elevated claims costs.

These costs were driven by natural catastrophes, supply chain inflation, and building cost increases that significantly exceeded what premiums had priced in.

That repricing cycle has not yet fully run its course.

IAG CEO Nick Hawkins confirmed at the company’s half-year results that the business is forecasting high single-digit premium growth for the full year FY2026, with the Australian retail business delivering 14.4% top-line growth in the first half.

QBE similarly reported double-digit premium growth in Q1 2026 and maintained its optimistic full-year outlook.

Gross written premium grew 7% in constant currency across FY2025 driven by targeted expansion across its North American and International divisions.

Insurance Australia Group

IAG is Australia’s largest general insurer, writing more than $14 billion in premium per annum across brands including NRMA, RACV, and CGU.

The first half of FY2026 was a noisy result on the surface, with statutory net profit after tax falling 35% to $505 million.

This was largely due to a one-off $174 million weather impact from the newly acquired RACQI portfolio before it was integrated into IAG’s comprehensive reinsurance program in January 2026.

Stripping out those one-off items, the underlying picture was considerably more constructive.

Underlying insurance profit grew 7.6% to $804 million and the underlying insurance margin held at 15.1%, with management maintaining full-year FY2026 insurance profit guidance of $1.55 billion to $1.75 billion.

The board also announced an on-market share buyback of up to $200 million, reflecting a strong capital position that gives IAG the flexibility to keep returning cash to shareholders even while investing in the RACQI integration.

However, investors should note that IAG could face a claim in an upcoming Greensill court case, with the company provisioning $432 million for legal fees and claims handling while maintaining it expects no net exposure.

IAG shares have fallen in the last 12 months, which may have created a more attractive entry point for investors.

QBE

QBE offers a different but equally interesting angle on the rising premium theme.

As Australia’s second largest international insurer, QBE operates across 27 countries, giving it a diversified premium base that is less exposed to Australian weather events than IAG.

QBE’s FY2025 full-year result delivered a 21% lift in statutory net profit after tax to US$2.16 billion, comfortably ahead of market expectations, with its combined operating ratio improving to 91.9%, the strongest result in several years.

The company declared a full-year dividend of A$1.09 per share, a 25% lift on the prior year, and maintained a 50% payout ratio.

QBE is guiding to continued double-digit premium growth in 2026, with Q1 results confirming the momentum has carried into the new year.

Foolish takeaway

IAG and QBE are each navigating their own near-term complexities, whether that is weather events, legal uncertainty, or the pace of global premium moderation.

Nevertheless, the backdrop of rising premiums, improving underwriting discipline, and strong capital positions makes both stocks worth serious consideration for investors seeking quality financial exposure beyond the big four banks.

The post Why rising insurance premiums could make these 2 ASX insurers very attractive right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

One of the most satisfying things about owning good ASX dividend shares is when they increase the dividend each year.

Not only does that help protect against (or outperform) inflation, but it also helps us feel wealthier. I love seeing dividend money hit the bank account.

By focusing on businesses with growing payouts, this implies they are much less likely to cut their dividends. If I’m relying on dividends, I don’t want to see my dividend income disappear during an economic downturn.

I think the two businesses below are among the best on the ASX for regular dividend growth.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

I’d say APA has the second-best record on the ASX for consistent payout increases. It has increased its payout every year since 2004.

As an energy infrastructure owner, the business plays a key role in Australia’s economy by transporting gas from sources of supply to demand. Impressively, the business supplies half of the country’s gas usage.

The ASX dividend share’s key asset is a huge gas pipeline network across Australia. APA has regularly expanded its network over the years (with some projects currently in progress), which has helped increase its earnings and cash flow.

It’s the growth of cash flow that helps fund a larger distribution to investors each year. APA also has a portfolio of other energy assets, including renewable energy generation, batteries, electricity transmission, gas power stations, gas storage, and gas processing facilities.

With most of its revenue linked to inflation, it has a pleasing tailwind for growth.

Its guided FY26 payout of 58 cents per security translates into a current distribution yield of 5.6%, at the time of writing.

WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG)

WCM Global Growth is a leading investment company (LIC) that aims to generate investment returns through a global share portfolio.

With a great long-term portfolio performance, shareholders can see both a solid dividend and longer-term capital growth.

WCM aims to find high-quality businesses that have expanding economic moats (improving competitive cultures) and a corporate culture that fosters that improvement.

Since the ASX dividend share’s inception in June 2017, its performance (after fees) has been an average of 15.4% per year, outperforming the global benchmark by more than 2% per year.

In 2023, the LIC changed to paying dividends quarterly and has increased the payout every three months. The annual dividend has increased each year since 2019, when it began paying dividends.

The next four dividends to be declared are expected by the LIC’s board to come to 9.69 cents per share, translating into a forward grossed-up dividend yield of approximately 7.5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The post These ASX dividend shares keep giving investors a pay rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 2 rock-solid ASX dividend shares to buy this May
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• Passive income investors: These 3 ASX dividend shares yield 5% (or more)
• These ASX dividend shares could power your retirement income

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