• A veteran of the Peak TV era explains why Peak TV isn’t coming back

    The cast of The Sopranos at a cemetery
    HBO's "The Sopranos" was the avatar of the Peak TV era.

    • Peak TV was great, and Kevin Reilly had a great seat during the Peak TV era.
    • Reilly steered programming at networks including NBC, Fox, and FX during the boom, which was fueled first by cable, and then by competition from streaming.
    • That era is over, and it's not coming back, Reilly says. Which helps explain why he's in AI now.

    TV is an endangered species. People aren't watching it, and don't want to pay for it. And the companies that own TV networks are trying to find someoneanyoneto buy them.

    But not that long ago, lots of us were reveling in the "Peak TV" era — a time when inventive TV programming was plentiful and, crucially, popular. A time when you could watch "The Sopranos" on HBO, "Friday Night Lights" on NBC, and "The Shield" on FX.

    This was also a time when Kevin Reilly had great jobs in TV, where he steered programming at networks including NBC, FX, Fox, and Turner — and had his hands on all the shows I just mentioned. That run ended in 2000, when Reilly was re-orged out of what was then called WarnerMedia.

    Today, Reilly is in AI, of course: He recently became CEO of Kartel, a startup that's supposed to help big brands use the tech.

    But in a recent episode of my Channels podcast, I talked to him about life during TV's latest (and possibly last) golden age — and whether he thinks it will ever come back. (Spoiler: There's a reason he's in AI now.)

    You can read an edited excerpt from our conversation below, and listen to the whole thing here.

    Peter Kafka: You got to be a TV executive in what we now call the Peak TV era. What was that like?

    Kevin Reilly: When I got to network television, there were still these rules, like "the good guy always wins" and "people don't want to watch depressing things on television."

    And then cable, when I went to FX, that was really one of the most fun chapters of my career because it was the very early days of basic cable. All of a sudden, we started doing "The Shield" and "Nip/Tuck" and doing these things that the press had labeled "HBO for basic cable."

    Prior to this, basic cable was mostly infomercials and reruns.

    Kevin Reilly: I was sitting there talking to great creators, and I was telling them we were HBO for basic cable. And on the monitor above my head was "Cops" running 24 hours a day, keeping the lights on.

    I was like, "Don't look at the monitor."

    But all of a sudden, we were able to do stuff that really wasn't fit for broadcast by being very particular and being a little bit more forward.

    Around the same time, streaming popped up, and Netflix debuted "House of Cards" in 2013 as an explicitly HBO-style show. There was a lot of fascination with streaming but also dismissiveness: Jeff Bewkes, who was running Time Warner at the time, famously dissed Netflix as "the Albanian army." Did you believe that back then?

    I think Jeff is an extraordinary leader, and I loved working for him. At the time, though, I think he had to do what he needed to do.

    You don't think he was really dismissive of Netflix? It was just something he had to say?

    I think at that point, throughout the entire business, everyone was dismissive of Netflix. "We're picking these guys' pockets. They're gonna go out of business. We're selling them all the stuff that we can't sell. They're idiots."

    But at the same time, Netflix was all anybody was talking about, all day long. I remember flying to Detroit to talk to a big [advertising] client for one of our series. It was going to be a $50 million, $60 million transaction. And all they were talking about was Netflix.

    They were buying advertising, and then telling me how all their kids are only watching things on their phones all day long. And I was like, "Isn't this ironic that you, an advertiser, are talking about a non-advertising-based service and how your kids don't watch TV anymore?"

    What did you think?

    I thought they would experiment and do stuff, but maybe not at scale. I mean, they don't have the system for that, and it's really hard. Well, first of all, they did what we did (at FX) — they took a page out of the HBO handbook: Fire the money cannon and say, "Hey, we'll just dream. Bring us in your dreams. Do what you wanna do."

    Your last job in TV was at what was then called WarnerMedia, which had been purchased by AT&T, and there were a bunch of different justifications for that deal, but the real one turned out to be "maybe Wall Street will give us a Netflix stock multiple," which never happened. Did you think that combination was going to work?

    I mean, the product itself works and has been a success. But to take the entirety of Time Warner, and then it was going to be a one-product system that we would single-handedly launch and build an ad play around it, and all of a sudden compete with Google and Netflix …

    I don't know that even Wall Street ever bought that narrative, no matter how hard we sold it.

    Comcast and Paramount are bidding for WBD. Netflix is bidding, too. There's going to be some kind of consolidation no matter what. Do you think that when all of this gets done that there's a future for traditional television, or do you think it becomes, in the end, a subset of a bigger tech platform?

    I'd love to be able to just give you the knee-jerk answer, "Of course, there'll always be traditional television." I think unfortunately, everybody waited too long to figure out how we were going to prop it up.

    So will it have a very long tail on it, like radio? The heyday of radio went away and we still have radio. I believe it will be around in some fashion. And as some of these assets get shed or reinvented — yeah, they might end up having a little bit more life in some ways than we thought they did.

    And radio became podcasts…

    Exactly. So there's always new expressions of it.

    But retooling traditional businesses, especially while you've got to pull the profit out from underneath, is really difficult.

    Correction: December 1, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated one of the companies bidding for WBD: They are Paramount and Comcast, along with Netflix.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Uranium company taps former Rio Tinto exec as new managing director

    ASX uranium shares represented by yellow barrels of uranium

    Uranium project developer Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) has named a former Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) executive as its new managing director, as the company moves towards making a decision to go ahead with its flagship project in Namibia.

    Deep Yellow shares plummeted in October when the company announced that its long-term managing director, John Borshoff, would step down from his role.

    Market shocked by exec’s departure

    The company’s shares fell more than 10% on the day of the announcement, dipping below $2 per share on the day, and have been trading at levels around $1.60 ever since.

    Mr Borshoff is a leading light in the uranium sector, having founded Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN), which he helped build into a multi-mine uranium producer.

    Mr Borshoff left Paladin in 2015, joining Deep Yellow in October of 2016.

    His decision to leave Deep Yellow sparked a global search for a new leader, with the company announcing on Tuesday that it had appointed Greg Field as managing director, effective May 1.

    New boss well-credentialled 

    The company said in a statement to the ASX that Mr Field had strong project development experience.

    A qualified mining engineer, Mr Field was previously managing director – project development at Rio Tinto. Over a 29-year career in the resources sector, Mr Field has gained extensive experience across operations and project studies, and significantly, he has extensive experience of both brownfield and greenfield capital project execution.

    The company said that during his time at Rio, Mr Field delivered a number of major projects and studies across various commodities, including diamonds, copper, aluminium, and lithium.

    His execution capability spans large-scale developments such as the US$7 billion Oyu Tolgoi underground project, as well as smaller technically complex processing facilities including the US$400 million Rincon DLE plant in Argentina and the US$1.3 billion AP60 Aluminium smelter in Quebec.

    Deep Yellow itself is at a crucial phase of its flagship project’s development, with the company poised to make a final investment decision on its long-life Tumas project in Namibia.

    The company announced in October that there was potential to extend the project’s life beyond its current 30-year mine plan, following positive drilling results at the S-Bend prospect within the project.

    Deep Yellow has delayed making a final decision to go ahead with the project while it waits for the uranium market to recover.

    Mr Field said he was convinced Deep Yellow had a significant role to play in bringing new uranium supplies to the market.

    I believe uranium has a key role to play in the global transition to clean energy, and Deep Yellow is uniquely positioned to contribute to that shift. I have been impressed by the depth of experience within the Deep Yellow team and the progress achieved on the Tumas Project. I am fully aligned with the Company’s strategy, and with two execution ready projects in Tumas and Mulga Rock, the Company is well-positioned to capture the upside potential of the market and deliver long-term value to shareholders.

    Deep Yellow was valued at $1.56 billion at the close of trade on Monday.

    The post Uranium company taps former Rio Tinto exec as new managing director appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Deep Yellow Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Deep Yellow Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • How to turn $50 a week into a six-figure ASX share portfolio

    A smiling woman with a handful of $100 notes, indicating strong dividend payments

    You might assume that you need a high income to build real wealth with ASX shares.

    But the truth is far more encouraging. With patience and the power of compounding, even $50 a week can grow into a six-figure investment portfolio over time.

    The best part is that you don’t need to time the market, nor do you need to pick the next big winner.

    To achieve this goal, you simply need a long-term mindset and the discipline to stick with the plan.

    Here’s how it works.

    Starting with $50

    Fifty dollars a week may not sound like much. That is just $7.14 a day, which is less than the cost of a matcha in Bondi or some takeaway coffees. But when you invest that amount every week, year after year, it begins to build serious momentum.

    Consistency is the key. Whether the market goes up, down, or sideways, you keep investing. This is what spreads your risk over time and helps you benefit from dollar-cost averaging, where you naturally buy more units when prices are lower and fewer when they are higher.

    The power of compounding

    Now for the powerful part: compounding.

    If you were to invest $50 a week, or the equivalent of $220 a month, and earn an average return of 10% per year, which is roughly in line with long-term share market returns, your portfolio could grow far larger than you might expect.

    For example, after 10 years your portfolio would be valued at approximately $44,000.

    If you keep going for 20 years, then your portfolio would be well and truly into six figures and worth approximately $160,000.

    And if you want to keep going from here, a further 5 years, bringing the total investment period to 25 years, would see your portfolio grow to approximately $275,000.

    The numbers get bigger the longer you stay invested. That’s the magic of compounding, your returns start earning their own returns, and the snowball grows every year.

    Keep it simple

    You don’t need to take big risks. For most people, a simple mix of broad-based ASX ETFs can do the job. They offer instant diversification, low fees, and access to global companies in a single trade.

    Funds like the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) and the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) could be worth considering.

    Even if markets wobble, and they certainly will, your long-term compounding engine keeps working quietly in the background.

    Foolish takeaway

    Building wealth isn’t about being lucky. It is about being consistent.

    If you can commit to investing just $50 a week and stay the course through market ups and downs, you could build a six-figure portfolio without needing a high salary or a huge lump sum.

    The post How to turn $50 a week into a six-figure ASX share portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in iShares S&P 500 ETF right now?

    Before you buy iShares S&P 500 ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and iShares S&P 500 ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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 iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • ASX 300 stock tumbles despite strong first half profit growth and guidance upgrade

    A young man stands facing the camera and scratching his head with the other hand held upwards wondering if he should buy Whitehaven Coal shares

    Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF) shares are on the slide on Tuesday morning.

    In morning trade, the ASX 300 stock is down almost 4% to $11.14.

    This follows the release of the quick service restaurant operator’s half year results.

    ASX 300 stock tumbles on results day

    For the six months ended 12 October, Collins Foods reported a 6.6% increase in revenue to a record $750.3 million. This was driven by growth in Australia and Europe, which reflects an enhanced focus on operational execution and new product launches despite persistent cost of living pressures.

    KFC Australia revenue was up 5% to $563.8 million, with same store sales growing 2.3%. Whereas KFC Europe revenue was up 14.6% to $162.9 million, with same store sales growth of 1.4%.

    This offset a 3.9% decline in Taco Bell revenue to $23.6 million. Management advised that discussions with Taco Bell International to transition the business to new ownership are ongoing.

    Growing at a quicker rate was the ASX 300 stock’s earnings. Management advised that its underlying EBITDA was up 11% over the prior corresponding period to $113.9 million. This reflects total and same store sales (SSS) growth and productivity gains.

    KFC Australia underlying EBITDA was up 9.4% to $111.8 million and KFC Europe underlying EBITDA was up 19.6% to $20.4 million. Taco Bell posted a small EBITDA loss for the half.

    On the bottom line, the company’s underlying net profit after tax was up 29.5% to $30.8 million.

    This allowed the ASX 300 stock’s board to declare a fully franked interim dividend of 13 cents per share, which is up 18.2% on the prior corresponding period.

    Management commentary

    Commenting on the company’s performance, Collins Foods’ managing director and CEO, Xavier Simonet, said:

    In HY26, we executed on our operational priorities by driving profitable same store sales growth and network expansion in Australia and Europe. Our teams delivered strong performance against key priorities in an environment where consumers are still grappling with cost of living challenges. The KFC brand strengthened, underpinned by improvements in brand health, compelling marketing campaigns, product innovation, and investments in everyday value initiatives.

    Our business again generated very strong cash flows, which, combined with disciplined capital deployment, ensures we remain in a very strong financial position with the flexibility and capacity to invest in future growth. This was supported by the successful refinancing of Group debt facilities in September.

    Outlook

    The ASX 300 stock has started the second half in a positive fashion.

    Management advised that sales growth in the first seven weeks of the second half continued positively, with KFC total sales up 5.3% in Australia, 5.6% in the Netherlands, and 7.8% in Germany. Same store sales growth for the same period was 3.6% in Australia, (0.5)% in the Netherlands, and 2.3% in Germany.

    In light of this strong performance, management has upgraded its guidance for FY 2026. It now expects “mid to high-teens” profit growth, which is up from “low to mid-teens” growth previously.

    Mr Simonet said:

    Our HY26 performance was encouraging. In H2 FY26, we will again be laser focused on driving operational performance, sales and margins. We are investing in growth, through network expansion and brand modernisation in Australia, elevating the customer experience to support brand health, which is key to lifting sales. In Europe, we will balance near-term optimisation in the Netherlands with creating long-term opportunity in Germany, through profitable network development.

    We are excited about the potential of this key strategic opportunity and have made progress on execution. Finally, the cash-generative nature of our business and our strong balance sheet provide us with plenty of capacity to fund organic and inorganic future growth opportunities.

    The post ASX 300 stock tumbles despite strong first half profit growth and guidance upgrade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Collins Foods Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Collins Foods Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • Up 162% in 2025, why is this ASX All Ords silver share leaping higher again today?

    a gloved hand holds lumps of silver against a background of dirt as if at a mine site.

    The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has gained 5% so far in 2025, but this ASX All Ords silver share has left those gains wanting.

    The fast-rising miner in question is Andean Silver Ltd (ASX: ASL).

    In morning trade on Tuesday, Andean Silver shares are changing hands for $2.20 apiece, up 2.3%.

    This sees the ASX All Ords silver share up 161.9% in 2025.

    And investors who bought the stock two years ago (when the company was still called Mitre Mining) will be sitting on eye-watering gains of 746% today.

    Andean Silver has been benefiting from both its own successes at its Cerro Bayo silver-gold project in southern Chile as well as the soaring gold and silver price.

    The silver price has doubled since 1 January this year, currently trading for US$57.96 per ounce.

    Now, here’s what’s grabbing ASX investor interest today.

    ASX All Ords silver share lifts off on high-grade results

    The Andean Silver share price is marching higher again today after the miner announced it has discovered more extensive vein systems with high-grade gold and silver mineralisation at Cerro Bayo epithermal silver-gold project.

    The ASX All Ords silver share said the latest rock chip sampling results revealed more than two kilometres of exposed mineralised veins with grades of more than 10,000 grams of silver per tonne and 125g/t gold.

    And there’s a lot of promising area left to explore.

    According to the release, a 750-metre corridor between the Taitao and Cristal prospects is still unmapped and untested by drilling.

    And the silver miner noted that the corridor continues for 1.3 kilometres under shallow cover between the Droughtmaster and Guanaco mines, adding that geophysical anomalies indicate the potential for further prospective concealed and untested zones.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the sample results boosting the ASX All Ords silver share today, Andean CEO Tim Laneyrie said, “These results again demonstrate that there is scope to grow the Cerro Bayo resources beyond current levels.”

    He said the upside “isn’t just based on favourable geology or geophysics, it is underpinned by well-mineralised veins over extensive lengths with very high-grade silver and gold”.

    Looking ahead, Laneyrie added:

    We have a long pipeline of these well-advanced prospects for exploration which have been identified by sampling and a thorough re-evaluation of the geological data at Cerro Bayo.

    Our focus is on continuing to grow the resource, with a fleet of drill rigs on site, as we head into 2026. We will also ramp up drilling while advancing the mine study phase in the new year as part of a multi-pronged strategy to drive shareholder value.

    The post Up 162% in 2025, why is this ASX All Ords silver share leaping higher again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Andean Silver Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Andean Silver Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Andean Silver Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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. 

  • No REAL ID? That’ll cost you $45 under a new TSA rule

    TSA agent holding a real ID.
    The TSA wants to charge flyers who don't have acceptable ID $18 to use biometric kiosks to verify their identity.

    • The TSA announced a $45 fee for travelers without acceptable ID at airport security checkpoints.
    • The alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID is set to be implemented on February 1.
    • It's unclear how TSA Confirm.ID will work, but it's intended as an option for flyers without a REAL ID.

    The Transportation Security Administration has taken a page from the budget airline playbook.

    The agency said Monday it is implementing a new alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, that would charge travelers $45 at security checkpoints if they show up without a REAL ID or another acceptable government-issued ID, such as a passport or permanent resident card.

    The new fee option is set to begin on February 1. The TSA said the fee would cover a 10-day travel period. Details about how the fee and identity verification would work were not yet available. The TSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    "TSA urges all travelers who do not have a REAL ID to pay the fee online before traveling," according to a press release about TSA Confirm.ID and the new fee. "For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee, information about how to pay for the TSA Confirm.ID option will be available at marked locations at or near the checkpoint in most airports. Travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at an airport should expect delays."

    The TSA had previously proposed an $18 fee that would cover the costs for a biometric kiosk system designed to verify a traveler's identity more quickly than the current manual process.

    Under that proposal, the TSA said the new technology would be less time and resource-intensive than the current process when a flyer lacks these IDs, which involves providing personal information or answering detailed questions to match flyers to government databases.

    "This notice serves as a next step in the process in REAL ID compliance, which was signed into law more than 20 years ago," a TSA spokesperson previously told Business Insider about the $18 fee proposal.

    Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 in response to the 9/11 attacks, but it just rolled out in 2025.

    In May, the TSA began requiring travelers to present a REAL ID or another government-approved identification to pass through airport security checkpoints.

    The TSA says 94% of flyers already use REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification.

    The agency is encouraging travelers who do not have a REAL ID to schedule an appointment with their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible. A REAL ID card shows a star inside a circle in the upper right corner.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Macquarie predicts 40% upside for this building products supplier

    Three builders analyse their blueprints on site representing the growth in the Johns Lyng share price

    The James Hardie Industries Plc (ASX: JHX) share price has been on the slide for much of the past year, but according to the team at Macquarie, that’s creating a significant buying opportunity.

    The company’s shares reached their 12-month high of $57.20 around this time last year, with the catalyst for the share price decline being the company’s announcement in mid-March that it intended to acquire US decking manufacturer Azek for US$8.75 billion.

    The shares fell from levels around $50 at the time and never recovered, and dipped again on the announcement of the company’s second-quarter results in August.

    Shareholders not happy

    The company also received a thumping protest vote against its remuneration report at the annual general meeting in late October, with 66.3% of the votes cast going against the report.

    The board said in a statement at the time, “we recognise that we have more work to do on our promise to shareholders”.

    The board went on to say:

    James Hardies has reached an important period in its history as we execute on our strategic growth plans and realise the tremendous potential of our combination with Azek. With our comprehensive portfolio of exterior brands and a powerful manufacturing and support network, we are poised to drive long-term growth and success in the dynamic building products industry.

    James Hardie said its second-quarter results reflected the strong performance of its deck, rail, and accessories segment, “and our continued progress towards realising substantial cost and revenue synergies from the Azek integration”.

    At the time of purchase, James Hardie estimated the combined companies would generate at least US$350 million in additional EBITDA from synergies once the two companies were fully integrated.

    Shares looking cheap

    The team at Macquarie have just run the ruler over James Hardie, and has come to the conclusion that at current levels, the shares represent good buying.

    The Macquarie analysts said the positioning in the decking market through the purchase of Azek appears to be solid.

    They went on to say:

    The decking market has been in focus. We think AZEK enjoys superior channel positioning compared to peers, which will make a difference in the medium to long term in maintaining solid economics. The integration process appears to be going well, with Jame Hardie making progress in the two-step and one-step channels alike.

    The Macquarie analysts said while market conditions overall were tough, “an evolving AZEK integration story, a bottoming of markets and valuation are in support of our thesis”.

    Macquarie has a 12-month price target of $41.70 on James Hardie shares, which would represent a total shareholder return of 40.2% if achieved.

    James Hardie shares closed Monday’s trading session at $29.90, valuing the company at $17.3 billion.

    The post Macquarie predicts 40% upside for this building products supplier appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in James Hardie Industries plc right now?

    Before you buy James Hardie Industries plc shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and James Hardie Industries plc wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • Are Qantas shares really a turnaround story? Here’s what the numbers say

    A woman stands on a runway with her arms outstretched in excitement with a plane in the air having taken off.

    After several years of turbulence, the Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) share price is once again attracting attention. Not for cancelled flights or customer frustration, but because the underlying business may finally be regaining altitude.

    The past few years have been rough. 

    The airline faced penalties tied to “ghost flights”, compensation orders over ground-handling outsourcing, cybersecurity issues affecting more than 5 million customers, and ongoing scrutiny over an ageing fleet and service standards. Those setbacks hurt its reputation, its balance sheet, and investor sentiment.

    Now the question is whether Qantas is in the early stages of a genuine turnaround.

    A stronger financial base is emerging

    Qantas reported a 28% lift in statutory net profit to $1.6 billion for the last financial year, supported by robust travel demand and improved operational performance. The airline carried four million more customers over the year across Qantas and Jetstar, while its loyalty division continued to grow engagement and earnings.

    Cash flow also strengthened, and the group continued to invest heavily in a multi-year fleet renewal program, with more than 200 aircraft now on firm order across the business.

    Fleet renewal matters more than most people realise. Modern aircraft have lower fuel burn, fewer maintenance surprises, and better operational reliability. Qantas has already begun introducing newer planes into service, and early results from the updated fleet have been positive, according to management commentary.

    Operational momentum is improving

    Jetstar continues to be a bright spot. As value-focused travellers tilt towards shorter-haul trips, Jetstar has benefited from ongoing demand, helping lift group performance even as pockets of global travel remain uneven.

    Qantas is also preparing for Project Sunrise flights, enabling non-stop Sydney and Melbourne routes direct to London and New York. Direct long-haul capacity is a significant competitive differentiator that could support yield and loyalty earnings over time.

    Strategy beyond aviation

    Recent announcements suggest Qantas is widening its economic footprint.

    It is building a major new innovation centre in Adelaide, expected to bring hundreds of jobs, support advanced product design, and enhance customer experience initiatives for the group. The centre forms part of the broader multi-year investment into improving ground and cabin service standards.

    Separately, Qantas has partnered with Airwallex to launch a high-yield treasury product for business customers, expanding the value proposition of the Qantas Business Money platform. This aligns with the company’s lucrative loyalty ecosystem, which has long been one of its most resilient profit engines.

    A turnaround is possible — but it requires execution

    At roughly 9 times earnings and a dividend yield near the mid-4% range, Qantas trades at a valuation that already prices in some risks. For long-term investors, this can create an interesting setup: if the airline grows earnings consistently while sentiment improves, the combination of profit growth and potential multiple expansion can be powerful.

    Still, the road back to “national icon” status is not short or simple. Cost pressures remain a risk, global travel cycles can shift quickly, and competitive dynamics must be monitored closely. 

    Qantas must deliver sustained operational improvements, rebuild trust with customers, and maintain discipline through its capital investment cycle.

    Foolish Takeaway

    There are early signs that Qantas may finally be on a more stable ascent. Profits are improving, fleet renewal is underway, customer-facing investments are accelerating, and the loyalty and Jetstar divisions continue to contribute strongly. Valuation support gives the airline some breathing room.

    Whether this becomes a full turnaround story depends on what Qantas does next. If management executes well, the next chapter could look very different from the last.

    The post Are Qantas shares really a turnaround story? Here’s what the numbers say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Qantas Airways Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Qantas Airways Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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.

  • Macquarie tips 70% upside for this quality ASX 200 stock

    Excited couple celebrating success while looking at smartphone.

    If you are on the hunt for some big returns, then it could be worth listening to what Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) is saying.

    That’s because the broker has just named one quality ASX 200 stock as a buy with potential to deliver huge returns over the next 12 months.

    Which ASX 200 stock?

    The stock that Macquarie is recommending to clients is online furniture and homewares retailer Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW).

    Its shares have fallen approximately 25% since this time last month, which the broker feels has created a buying opportunity for investors.

    Macquarie has blamed consumer weakness on Temple & Webster’s slowing growth in the first half of FY 2026. And with rate cuts now expected to boost spending, it feels that peak weakness could have passed. It said:

    We think consumer weakness was the primary drag on TPW’s Revenue Growth (which slowed to +14% over the past 14 weeks, from +28% in the first 8 weeks of 1H26), given similar slowdowns were seen in other retail trading updates (e.g., ADH), and weakness in furniture spend in our High Frequency Consumer Data (HFCD) over 3Q25 (-2% YoY).

    However, we think the two-month lagged positive impact of the Aug-25 rate-cut (to consumer cash flow) may emerge to support demand over the peak Christmas trading period. Indeed, HFCD improved to +5% YoY growth over Oct-25, and Google Search interest for TPW is showing increasing strength YoY into Nov-25. Whilst the peak of retail weakness (Sep-25) may have passed, we encourage investors to look through volatility to longer-term market share growth tailwinds supporting TPW’s top-line.

    Big potential returns

    According to the note, the broker has retained its outperform rating on the ASX 200 stock with a reduced price target of $24.15.

    Based on its current share price of $14.39, this implies potential upside of almost 70% for investors over the next 12 months.

    Commenting on its recommendation, Macquarie said:

    We maintain Outperform. TPW’s market share will benefit from tailwinds around increasing AOVs, Trade & Home Improvement market penetration and overall online retail uptake. We encourage investors to look through short-term fluctuations in consumer sentiment to a positive outlook.

    Valuation: -23% TP reduction to $24.15 (from $31.30), but maintain Outperform after significant share price fall (-32%), with our TP still implying significant shareholder upside (TSR: +74.6%). Catalysts: Rate-cuts, improved revenue growth & greater operating leverage, Macquarie High Frequency consumer data, Wayfair results.

    The post Macquarie tips 70% upside for this quality ASX 200 stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Macquarie Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Macquarie Group Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • CSL is a great company, but I think this ASX stock is a better investment

    Broker checking out the share price oh his smartphone and laptop.

    CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have been one of the global success stories of the last 20 years, with the ASX-listed healthcare company expanding its international presence. But it’s not the first ASX stock I’d want to invest in today for my portfolio.

    CSL’s expected growth has decreased in recent times due to headwinds in the US healthcare system and slower growth in other areas of its business.

    I’m not sure how much profit growth CSL will be able to achieve in the next few years – I’m much more bullish about the ASX stock Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW).

    Strong growth outlook

    The online retailer of homewares, furniture, and home improvement products has delivered a lot of growth over the last few years, and there are good prospects for future growth.

    While its recent trading update wasn’t strong enough for the market, the ASX stock has registered further sales progress in FY26. In the period of 1 July 2025 to 20 November 2025, total sales were up 18% year over year – most businesses would be happy with that, but it represented slower growth than a few months ago.

    The business is gaining market share every year, and further adoption of online shopping by Australian consumers could help push sales even higher. The company had a 1.8% overall market share in FY23 and now has a market share of 2.7%.

    Temple & Webster notes that Australia’s furniture and homewares market only has an online penetration of 20%, compared to 29% in the UK and 35% in the US market. It has just started shipping products to New Zealand, which opens up another growth avenue for the business.

    I’m particularly excited to see what the business can achieve with its home improvement segment, which continues to grow rapidly. In FY26 to date, home improvement revenue rose by 40% year over year.

    The ASX stock is aiming for at least $1 billion of annual sales by FY28 at the latest.

    Expecting higher profit margins

    I believe the company’s profit margins can continue to rise in the coming years, thanks to a combination of factors as it grows larger and more technologically advanced. Increasing profitability should help boost its underlying value.

    Fixed costs as a percentage of revenue declined to 10.6% in FY25, down from 11.3% in FY24. Savings are primarily being driven by moderation in headcount growth, improved productivity through AI, and tech tools.

    Around 80% of customer before and after-sales support interactions are now partially or fully handled by AI and technology.

    But it’s not just a cost-saving exercise; it’s also doing things to help customers. For example, the company is also experimenting with personalised website experiences.

    In terms of a near-term goal, while the business aims for an operating profit (EBITDA) margin of between 3% and 5% in FY26, I believe it can steadily rise higher in subsequent years. Time will tell how high the ASX stock’s EBITDA margin can eventually climb.

    Much better valuation

    As the chart below shows, the Temple & Webster share price remains materially below its pre-AGM trading update level.

    But, management is still confident about the long-term; the company’s revenue continues to rise (including home improvement growth), it’s expanding shipping to New Zealand, and margins could continue rising.

    I think the ASX stock looks much more appealing than CSL after its fall, and I’m looking to buy Temple & Webster stock if it remains as low as it is now.

    The post CSL is a great company, but I think this ASX stock is a better investment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Temple & Webster Group Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Temple & Webster Group Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Temple & Webster Group Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL 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.