Adore Beauty Ltd (ASX: ABY) shares are being smashed on a profit result its Chief Executive has characterised as “strong”.

The company said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday that it had posted record underlying EBITDA of $4.1 million for the first half of the year, up 14.5% on the prior corresponding period.

In a separate release, however, the company says net profit was down 69.9% to $189,000, while sales increased markedly, from $102.9 million to $111.9 million.

Investors clearly didn’t like the numbers, pushing Adore Beauty shares 23.3% lower to 66 cents, not far off their 12-month lows of 61 cents.

Management positive on the outlook

Chief Executive Officer Sacha Laing said regarding the result:

Adore Beauty has achieved a strong financial result in the first half of FY26, benefitting from our maturing customer-led strategy. We cost-effectively acquired new customers at the fastest rate in four years whilst halving acquisition costs with record levels of marketing efficiency. Importantly, operating leverage, growing owned brands, and disciplined cost management delivered record earnings despite margin pressures arising from exceptionally strong Black Friday period sales. We stepped-up our omni-channel rollout during the half, opening 10 stores since July with a further six in the pipeline for the remainder of CY2026. While more than half of these stores opened in the final months of CY2025, we are already seeing the benefit of our retail network on customer acquisition and brand awareness.

Ms Laing said while retail conditions remained challenging, “improving quality of revenue remains a priority for the business, as we continue to acquire more customers at the top of the funnel, reduce our promotional cadence, increase share-of-wallet, and grow our higher-margin iKOU brand”.

The company said it had opened its first stores in both Queensland and South Australia during the first half, with all of the new stores expected to reach maturity in 12-18 months, and make a meaningful contribution to the business from the second year of operation.

The group’s loyalty program now has 509,000 members, contributing 78% of sales in the first half, Adore said.

The company said regarding this:

‘Adore Rewards’ is structured to reward frequent and repeat purchasing behaviour, increasing engagement and share-of-wallet while supporting marketing efficiency. The Adore Beauty app is another driver of marketing efficiency, accounting for 35% of online sales during the period, up from 25% for the same period last year. The strong performance of loyalty and app continues to improve quality of revenue, offsetting the reduction in promotional cadence.

The company also said it had secured a lease for a new major national fulfilment centre, which would unlock material operating efficiencies from the second half of FY27.

Adore Beauty was valued at $80.8 million at the close of trade on Monday.

The post Despite a “strong” financial result, this retailer is being sold down heavily 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 recommended Adore Beauty Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adore Beauty Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares can be a great source of passive income. Term deposits offer guaranteed income, but the payout does not grow. Therefore, Term deposits can’t provide inflation protection for an income stream either.

An ASX 200 share can provide that golden trifecta of a good dividend yield, payout growth and capital growth.

There are a few ASX 200 shares that could be an excellent pick compared to a term deposit.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA Group is an important business for the Australian economy because of its large energy asset base.

Its key asset is the gas pipeline network that transports half of the nation’s gas usage. The business has recently announced a plan to expand its network to increase its gas capacity to transport more volume from the north of the country (supply) to the south (demand) which will comes with a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, but could unlock stronger earnings.

The business also has gas storage, gas processing, gas-powered energy generation, wind farms, solar farms, batteries and electricity transmission.

APA’s asset base allows it to generate defensive earnings each year, with a large majority of revenue growth linked to inflation.

As the cash flow grows, the ASX 200 share is able to fund a higher distribution for investors.

APA has grown its annual distribution every year for the past two decades, which is the second-best growth streak on the ASX.

It’s expecting to grow its FY26 annual distribution by 1.75% to 58 cents per security. That translates into a potential distribution yield of 6.3%, noticeably better than a term deposit.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

The other business I want to highlight is this real estate investment trust (REIT), which focuses on industrial properties in important metropolitan areas.

It owns a few different types of industrial buildings: distribution centres, manufacturing and production, transport logistics, data centres and cold storage.

There are a number of positives that are providing income tailwinds including a growing population, increased e-commerce adoption, fresh food and pharmaceutical demand, increased data centre demand, onshoring of supply chains and limited supply of new industrial properties.

Those positive demands are helping drive the underlying rental income potential of the business. It reported that in the first half of FY26, it delivered 5.1% like for like net operating income (NOI) growth.

It’s expecting to deliver funds from operations (FFO – rental earnings) per security of between 18.2 cents to 18.5 cents in FY26. That would be growth of up to 6% year-over-year.

The ASX 200 share expects to deliver accelerating earnings growth in the medium-term as its rental contracts reset to market rates rather than being 20% ‘under-rented’ on average.

Its net tangible assets (NTA) per unit is $3.95, so it’s trading at a discount of around 20%, which is very appealing to me. It’s like being able to buy a property portfolio at 20% less than it’s actually worth.

On the distribution side of things, it’s expecting to increase its annual distribution by 3% to 16.8 cents per security in FY26. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 5.3%. That’s more appealing to me than a term deposit.

The post Forget term deposits! I’d buy these two ASX 200 shares instead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares have been out of favour since the company reported record first-half results last week, but the analyst team at Macquarie think they’ve been seriously oversold.

The Macquarie team has had a look at the results, updated their modelling for Megaport shares, and come up with a very bullish outlook.

More on that later. Let’s see what they reported last week.

Recurring revenues looking strong

The “network as a service” company said in its ASX earnings report that annual recurring revenue increased 49% year on year to $338 million, while revenue for the half rose 26% to $134.9 million.

The company’s EBITDA was $35.3 million, and it reported an underlying net loss of $3.3 million, excluding acquisition costs $15.8 million.

 Megaport chief executive Michael Reid said regarding the result:

Our team delivered an outstanding first half performance, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the underlying business. Importantly, we achieved this while completing two strategic acquisitions and executing a successful capital raise. These initiatives extend our platform into adjacent markets and position Megaport for accelerated growth across Network, Compute, and AI.

Mr Reid said the company’s global business continued to grow, “with the United States delivering exceptional momentum, pushing the Americas to 24% year on year annual recurring revenue growth”.

He added:

This performance was driven by rising net revenue retention and consistent new logo acquisition. We are also seeing strong adoption of our newer products, alongside a clear shift toward larger bandwidth commitments, more complex global routes, and longer-term contracts. Together, these trends demonstrate expanding wallet share and Megaport’s growing strategic importance within our customers’ infrastructure stack. Despite Foreign Exchange headwinds, the fundamentals of the business remain strong, positioning Megaport to deliver scale-able, capital-efficient growth across Network, Compute, and AI.

Megaport said it “increased all metrics across all regions” in the first half.

Shares ‘too cheap’

Macquarie said the result was pretty strong across the board, with foreign exchange the only downside.

The team added that artificial intelligence was a positive for the company, noting that large language models were using Megaport’s application programming interfaces.

Macquarie said in its research note to clients this week that with a strong set of results and North American annual recurring revenue growing at 24%, the shares were “too cheap”.

Macquarie has a price target of $23.30 on Megaport shares, compared with the current price of $7.55, down 5.1% on the day.

Megaport was valued at $1.41 billion at the close of trade on Monday.

The post Macquarie reckons this ASX tech stock will just about triple 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When high-quality companies trade at 52-week lows, I think it is worth paying attention.

Not because the share price has fallen, but because it forces an important question: has the business deteriorated, or has sentiment simply turned?

Right now, three ASX 200 shares stand out after hitting new lows. But, in my view, each remains a high-quality business despite recent share price weakness.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus has long been one of the ASX’s standout growth stories. It has consistently delivered high margins, strong recurring revenue, and a capital-light model that generates impressive returns on equity.

Some investors appear worried that rapid advances in AI could commoditise parts of the medical imaging workflow or reduce the value of premium imaging platforms. When markets get nervous about disruption, high-multiple software names are often the first to be sold.

However, I think it is important to understand what Pro Medicus actually does. Its Visage platform is deeply embedded within hospital systems, handling complex imaging workflows at scale. It is not simply an image viewer. It is a mission-critical, enterprise-grade platform that integrates with hospital IT systems and supports radiologists across large networks.

Management has indicated that it doesn’t see AI as a threat to its business model. In fact, it views AI as complementary.

To me, this looks less like structural disruption and more like sentiment-driven volatility. While valuation always matters, I believe the market may be overestimating the AI risk and underestimating the durability of Pro Medicus’ competitive position.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear, another global healthcare leader, has also found itself under pressure.

Short-term challenges, including margin pressure and operational factors, have weighed on sentiment. But the underlying business remains dominant in implantable hearing solutions, with a large installed base and recurring revenue from upgrades and services.

I think it is easy to underestimate how powerful that installed base is. Once a patient is in the Cochlear ecosystem, they are typically there for life. That creates long-term revenue visibility.

When a market leader with decades of innovation trades at a 52-week low, I am inclined to look at the long-term opportunity rather than the most recent headline.

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

CAR Group, formerly known as Carsales, operates leading automotive classifieds platforms in Australia and internationally.

The business benefits from network effects. Buyers go where the listings are, and sellers go where the buyers are. That creates a durable competitive advantage.

Share price weakness has reflected softer auto markets and broader tech sentiment. But the long-term shift to digital marketplaces is not reversing. Over time, transaction volumes and pricing power tend to follow platform scale.

If I can buy a market-leading digital classifieds platform at a 52-week low, I see that as an opportunity to accumulate quality.

Foolish Takeaway

A 52-week low does not automatically mean a bargain. Sometimes it signals deeper problems.

But in the case of Pro Medicus, Cochlear, and CAR Group, I believe the core businesses remain strong. Each has global reach, defensible market positions, and structural growth drivers.

The post Here are 3 ASX 200 shares trading at 52-week lows I’d buy 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 Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX mining shares are higher on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) up 0.82%.

So far this year, ASX mining shares have continued to outperform after an exceptionally strong run in 2025.

The Metal & Mining Index is up 13.9% in the year to date (YTD) while the broader S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is up 2.7%.

Here are three ASX mining shares that the experts think will rise strongly over the next 12 months.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

This ASX copper mining share is $16.73 apiece, up 2.3% today.

WA1 Resources shares are down 12.9% in the YTD and up 25% over the past 12 months.

Copper is in high demand for all the new infrastructure required for the green energy transition and artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

It’s also attractive to investors seeking hard assets in today’s growing debasement trade.

The copper price hit a new record above US$6 per pound earlier this year, and is currently up 24.5% over the past 12 months.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating on WA1 Resources shares.

The broker lifted its 12-month share price target from $28 to $32 apiece this month.

This implies a 91% potential upside over the next 12 months on the ASX copper mining share.

Check out Goldman Sachs’ 2026 forecast for the copper price here.

Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX: SMI)

The Santana Minerals share price is 90 cents, down 4.3% today and up 58% over the past 12 months.

Santana Minerals is developing the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project (BOGP) on the South Island of New Zealand.

Shaw & Partners has a buy rating and a 12-month share price target of $2.15 on this ASX gold mining share.

This suggests a possible near-140% capital gain over the next year.

In a recent note, the broker said:

Santana Minerals Limited (ASX:SMI) has announced that the Fast-Track Approval (FTA) Panel Convener has confirmed a 140 working-day statutory timeframe for determination of the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project (BOGP), with a decision due by 29 October 2026.

The timeline is longer than expected (60-100 days) but now provides certainty in the process.

Development consent is now expected to be granted in H2 CY26. 

Santana Minerals announced the completion of a $113 million institutional capital raise today.

The funds will be used to accelerate the mine’s development in preparation for a Final Investment Decision (FID).

The miner will seek to raise up to another $30 million from ordinary investors via a Share Purchase Plan.

Check out some 2026 gold price forecasts here.

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

This ASX gold mining share is $8.13 apiece, down 1.8% today.

Catalyst Metals shares are up 10.2% in the YTD and up 108% over the past 12 months.

Catalyst Metals owns the Plutonic gold mine in Western Australia and the Bendigo exploration project in Victoria.

In its 2Q FY26 update, Catalyst Metals announced record quarterly gold production of 28,176 ounces at Plutonic.

The average realised price was A$2,776 per ounce, and the average all-in sustaining cost (AISC) was A$2,565 per ounce.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on the ASX gold mining share and a price target of $14.60.

This implies an 80% potential upside over the next 12 months.

The post 3 ASX mining shares tipped to rise 80% to 140% this year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 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.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) shares are trading in the red on Tuesday afternoon. At the time of writing, they are down 2.28% to $10.08 a piece.

AGL shares look to have taken a turn today after two weeks of solid gains. Despite cooling off this week, the share price is still 13.9% higher than before its most recent results announcement.

What did investors like about AGL Energy’s post results?

On the 11th of February, AGL reported flat underlying EBITDA and a 6% decline in underlying net profit after tax. 

Investors were most excited by the company’s revised FY26 guidance figures which revealed it now expects full-year underlying EBITDA of $2.02 billion to $2.18 billion. Previously, the range was $1.92 billion to $2.22 billion.

Its underlying net profit guidance was also tightened to $580 million to $680 million, from a much wider range of $500 million to $700 million.

Despite its profit decline during the first half, the AGL board elected to increase its interim dividend. The company declared a fully franked interim dividend of 24 cents per share, which is up 4.3% from 23 cents per share a year earlier, to be paid on the 26th of March 2026.

Clearly investors were thrilled, but now the question is, what’s next?

Analysts confirmed their ratings on AGL shares

Following the company’s results announcement, Citi confirmed its buy rating on the ASX All Ords utilities share with a price target of $11.80. 

RBC Capital also has a buy recommendation with a target of $11.50.

The team at UBS also rates the energy retailer and generator as a buy, with a price target of $11.00. The broker said it thinks AGL is in a strong position to grow its underlying EBITDA year-over-year to 2030 so long as generation availability is maintained. It also said that its recent results show that AGL’s battery portfolio is performing ahead of expectations.

Plenty of upside left for AGL Energy shares

The brokers above aren’t the only ones bullish on the energy company’s stock. TradingView data shows that out of 10 analysts, nine have a buy or strong buy rating on AGL Energy shares.

The average target price of $11.50, which is in line with RBC Capital’s expectations, implies a 14.28% upside from the share price at the time of writing.

But some expect the share price could jump even higher to $13.25 a piece. That implies a huge 31.75% potential upside ahead for AGL investors. 

The post AGL Energy shares soar 14%: Is there any upside left? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP) shares are surging higher on Tuesday.

At one stage today, the ASX All Ords stock was rocketing as much as 12% to $8.90.

The property development company’s shares have pulled back since then but remain up 5% at the time of writing.

Why is this ASX All Ords stock rocketing?

Investors have been buying the company’s shares following the release of its half-year results, which revealed record numbers.

According to the release, revenue for the half rose 40% to $274.8 million. Management advised that its portfolio performed strongly in the first half, particularly in the second quarter, with growth in sales volumes achieved in all states.

The ASX All Ords stock achieved record sales volume of 859 gross sales during the first half, up 18% on the 732 recorded in the prior corresponding period.

In addition, its gross margin improved to 31%, up from 26% a year earlier. This underpinned a 163% increase in net profit after tax to $39.6 million.

As a result, Cedar Woods declared a fully franked interim dividend of 14 cents per share, up 40% on last year’s interim dividend of 10 cents per share.

What did management say?

The ASX All Ords stock’s managing director, Nathan Blackburne, was rightfully pleased with the half. He said:

This exceptional first half result helps set the Company up for a record full year profit result. We are upgrading guidance to 30% to 35% NPAT growth, a result that will deliver very strong shareholder return metrics. The upgrade has been made possible by strong sales conditions which has enabled additional price growth, further settlements and significantly lower marketing spend.

The Company’s second half settlements are significantly derisked by presales. Following consistently strong demand for Cedar Woods’ diversified products, the Company as at 31 December has amassed $748m in presales, up from $642m in the prior corresponding period.

Outlook

As mentioned above, presales climbed to $748 million by the end of December. This is up 16% on the prior period, providing strong earnings visibility into the second half and beyond.

So much so, management has upgraded its full-year guidance. The company now expects FY 2026 net profit after tax growth of 30% to 35%. This is up from previous guidance of a minimum of 20% growth.

It also advised that further profit growth is anticipated in FY 2027.

The post This ASX All Ords stock is rocketing after posting 163% profit growth 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.

Clinical trial company Cogstate Ltd (ASX: CGS) reported its half-year results last week, and it’s making at least one broker sit up and notice.

The team at Canaccord Genuity has had a look at the result and likes what they see, reiterating a bullish share price target for the company’s shares.

So let’s have a look at what was reported.

Solid profit growth

Cogstate reported group revenue of $26.9 million, up 12% on the previous corresponding period, while net profit was up 16% to $4.5 million.

The company also said it executed clinical trials and sales contracts worth $4.17 million, up 105%, with contracted future revenue increasing to $104.9 million.

Cogstate said regarding the result:

Cogstate continues to demonstrate strong growth with compelling evidence of maturing operational leverage. The business is increasingly well positioned to win market share with CNS (central nervous system) drug commercialisation expected to be among the fastest growing areas of pharmaceutical research and development spending, second only to oncology.  

Gostate chief executive officer Brad O’Connor said the company had good momentum and an increasingly strong competitive position.

He added:

We’re seeing record levels of sales opportunities from an expanded customer base across more therapeutic indications, and those opportunities are converting into meaningful contract wins. The quality of our sales performance is as important as the quantum. With 45% of our 1H26 contracts coming from mood, sleep and neurological conditions beyond Alzheimer’s disease, we’re demonstrating the diversification and repeatability that creates long-term value. Our investments in channel partnerships, scientific expertise across new indications, and our proven track record of delivering successful large-scale trials are all translating into tangible commercial results.

Shares looking cheap

The team at Canaccord Genuity ran the ruler over the results, and they like what they see.

They have maintained their buy recommendation on the shares, with a price target of $3.15.

They said in a note to clients sent out this week:

The company’s interim result likely doesn’t elucidate the growing moat in Cogstate’s business, and how that could emerge over the coming years in its profit and loss. The type of business being secured by Cogstate is more diversified (expansion outside of Alzheimer’s Disease), and increasingly more predictable. This allows investors (and us) to frame Cogstate based on its core business, and recognize the large, and somewhat irregular, Phase III Alzheimer’s’ Disease trials as additional (big) sugar hits on top of a quality underlying business.

Cogstate was valued at $373.9 million at the close of trade on Monday.

The post This clinical trial company is a buy following its first half results, one broker says 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 positions in and has recommended Cogstate. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Cogstate. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS) shares have raced 9% higher during Tuesday afternoon trading to $4.22.

Investors were impressed with the strong first-half FY26 results that Kelsian released in the morning.

Kelsian delivered solid revenue growth and a sharp lift in profit. The transport business also announced the $161 million sale of its tourism portfolio to Journey Beyond.

Global transport operator

Kelsian calls itself a leading global transport operator.  The company runs bus, motorcoach, and marine services under long-term contracts with governments and private clients, delivering essential passenger transport every day.

All up, Kelsian runs more than 5,800 buses, 124 vessels, and 24 light rail vehicles across Australia, the UK, Singapore, the US, and the Channel Islands. In the past year, it powered 384 million passenger journeys.

Quality earnings story

For the 6 months to 31 December 2025, Kelsian saw its revenue rise by 10.6% to $1.186 billion. The statutory net profit after tax surged 61.6% to $32.4 million.

Underlying EBITDA climbed 16.4% to $153.8 million, and underlying EBIT jumped 26.5%, pointing to improving margins and tighter operational execution across the group.

This wasn’t just a revenue story — it was a quality-of-earnings story. Kelsian shares generated stronger operating cash flow, strengthened its balance sheet, and kept leverage under control.

Kelsian Group CEO, Graeme Legh, was pleased that all three divisions contributed to the growth:

The result was driven by significant growth across key employee shuttle contracts in the USA, the ongoing contribution of the Bankstown Rail Replacement bus services in Sydney and strong trading from across the Marine & Tourism portfolio.

Sale Sealink and Captain Cook Cruises

In a strategic move, Kelsian announced the $161 million sale of its tourism portfolio to Journey Beyond.

The sale marks a clear step away from discretionary tourism and back toward Kelsian’s core strength, contracted passenger transport. It will free up capital, reduce complexity, and double down on the more predictable, contracted side of the business.

Under the deal, Journey Beyond will acquire 100% of the shares in Sealink Fraser Island, Captain Cook Cruises, plus the assets of Adelaide Sightseeing, amongst others.

The transaction still needs the tick of approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Foreign Investment Review Board. If Kelsian clears those hurdles, it expects completion in the first half of FY27.

What next for Kelsian shares?

Encouragingly, management upgraded full-year EBITDA guidance, signalling confidence in second-half momentum.

Kelsian also rewarded shareholders with a dependable income, a fully-franked interim dividend of 8 cents per share. Kelsian will pay it on 20 April.

CMC Markets projections expect Kelsian shares to deliver a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.2% in FY26 and 6.9% in FY27, including franking credits.

The post Kelsian shares up 9% after sharp lift in profit and $161m sale appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $42.04. In early afternoon trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $42.30 apiece, up 0.5%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.2% at this same time.

Today’s outperformance is par for the course for the big four bank over the past year. With today’s intraday moves factored in, Westpac shares now up 35.2% in 12 months, racing ahead of the 8.4% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

And that’s not including the two fully franked Westpac dividends, totalling $1.53 a share, the big bank paid out over the full year. Westpac trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.6%.

ASX 200 bank stock gets an earnings results boost

Westpac shares have gained 3.2% since market close on 12 February, while the ASX 200 has slumped 0.4% in this time.

That date is important, as the bank reported its first quarter earnings results on 13 February.

Highlights included net operating income of $5.81 billion, up 1% on the second half of 2025 average.

Westpac reported a 0.03% reduction in its net interest margin (NIM) for the three months to 1.94%. The bank said this reflected pressure from competition and the lower interest rate environment during the quarter.

On the bottom line, the ASX 200 bank stock achieved a 5% increase (compared to the second half of 2025 average) in unaudited statutory net profit to $1.9 billion.

“We are optimistic on the outlook for the economy and expect demand for both business and household credit to remain resilient,” Westpac CEO Anthony Miller said on the day.

Which brings us back to our headline question…

Should you buy Westpac shares following the strong Q1 results?

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 bank stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“The bank’s first quarter update in fiscal year 2026 was positive, with profit growth of 6%, excluding notable items, tracking ahead of consensus,” Evans said. “The bank’s cost cutting program has the potential to boost earnings. “

As for the balance sheet, Evans added, “Upside potential is backed by one of the best balance sheets in the sector, and a strong retail banking franchise.”

But amid valuation concerns, Evans isn’t ready to pull the buy trigger yet, with a hold recommendation on Westpac shares.

He concluded:

Despite the positives, Westpac and the broader banking sector remain relatively expensive given modest growth expectations, so it’s difficult to make a case for an overweight allocation.

Westpac trades on a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of around 20 times.

The post Are Westpac shares a buy after the bank’s positive earnings results? 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.