Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares are having a day to forget on Thursday.

In morning trade, the health imaging technology company’s shares are down almost 20% to $136.75.

This follows the release of the company’s half-year results.

Pro Medicus shares crash on results day

For the six months ended 31 December, Pro Medicus reported a 28.4% increase in revenue to $124.8 million. This was underpinned by six key implementations in the half, all of which are cloud-based.

Pro Medicus’ underlying EBIT margin increased to 73% from 72% a year earlier. This underlying a 29.7% lift in underlying profit before tax to a record of $90.7 million.

Reported net profit after tax came in at $171.2 million, which is up 230.9% on the prior corresponding period. This reflects unrealised gains from its investment in 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX).

Commenting on the company’s performance, CEO Dr Sam Hupert said:

Our profits continue to grow strongly even though our biggest implementation during the period in Trinity Cohort 1 went live towards the end of October so had limited impact on the half. Importantly, our margins also grew, and we made more sales in this half than we used to make in a full year just 2 years ago. Most contracts were for the full stack of Visage products – Viewer, Workflow and Archive and two also included our cardiology offering making them full stack +1, a trend we see continuing.

What about the AI threat?

In an accompanying interview, Dr Hupert spoke at length about the threat of AI on the company’s business.

The good news is that he doesn’t believe its Visage software is going to be replaced by AI. He explains:

The second concern is a belief held by some that new AI tools will radically disrupt software development with Vibe coding helping destroy the “IP moat” of all software and SaaS providers. They claim anyone will be able to use AI tools to write industry grade software in a fraction of the time.

This, in our view, is an overly simplistic generalisation, one that certainly doesn’t apply to us. Visage 7 was built from the ground up using our own proprietary technology. It is not based on some readily available tool kit or platform. It is a very specialised, highly technical, patented suite of software that incorporates more than 30 years of domain knowledge; it is not a product that can be readily replicated with or without AI. We have not left a roadmap for others to follow.

The post Pro Medicus shares crash 20% on results day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy, hold, sell: Beach Energy, CSL, and Pro Medicus shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 amazing ASX shares that could build serious wealth for investors

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

The MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) share price is in focus after the company reported net profit after tax of $209.7 million for the half year to 31 December 2025 and lifted its fully franked interim dividend to 10 cents per share, up from 8 cents a year earlier.

What did MFF Capital Investments report?

• Total revenue and other income fell 44% to $308.9 million (Dec 2024: $551.8 million)
• Net profit after tax was down 45% to $209.7 million (Dec 2024: $381.5 million)
• Pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA) increased to $5.279 per share, up from $5.021 at 30 June 2025
• Post-tax NTA rose to $4.432 per share (30 June 2025: $4.167)
• Fully franked interim dividend declared at 10 cents per share, with intention to raise the next dividend to 11 cents
• Net assets up 7% to $2.61 billion over the half-year

What else do investors need to know?

MFF’s board flagged its intention to further increase the next six-monthly dividend payment to 11 cents per share, supported by healthy franking credit reserves. The company’s net assets at 31 December 2025 grew to $2.61 billion, reflecting steady capital appreciation despite a year of choppy global equity markets and a weaker US dollar impacting reported profits.

During the half, MFF made investments to become fully autonomous following the end of its long-term service arrangements with Magellan. The firm now operates with a team of 17 and has internalised all key operational and investment management functions, seeking long-term compounding for shareholders.

What’s next for MFF Capital Investments?

Looking ahead, MFF aims to deliver sustained growth in net tangible assets and dividends. The company is positioned for future growth, having completed the transition to operational independence and invested in expanding in-house capabilities. MFF states its focus remains on holding a concentrated portfolio of high-quality global companies and seeking enduring capital growth through disciplined, long-term investing.

MFF will continue to keep shareholders informed with regular NTA updates, noting that returns will reflect ongoing market volatility and currency movements. The next dividend uplift is flagged for the period to June 2026, backed by a substantial franking credit balance.

MFF Capital Investments share price snapshot

Over the past 12 moths, MFF Capital Investments shares have declined 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

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The post MFF Capital Investments results: Profit falls but dividend rises for H1 FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• South32 lifts profit and dividend in strong first half
• Lendlease announces CEO succession as Tony Lombardo steps down
• Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows
• Paladin Energy shares in focus after uranium sales fuel revenue jump
• Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price is in focus after the diversified miner reported a 29% jump in profit to US$464 million and announced a fully-franked interim dividend of US 3.9 cents per share. Underlying earnings rose 16% to US$435 million, with strong contributions from higher base and precious metal prices.

What did South32 report?

• Revenue from continuing operations: US$2,809 million (down 3% on H1 FY25)
• Profit after tax attributable to members: US$464 million (up 29%)
• Underlying EBITDA: US$1,107 million (up 9%)
• Underlying earnings attributable to members: US$435 million (up 16%)
• Fully-franked interim dividend: US 3.9 cents per share (up 15%)
• Net tangible assets per share: US$2.02 (up from US$1.93 at 30 June 2025)

What else do investors need to know?

South32 increased its total capital management program by US$100 million to US$2.6 billion, with US$209 million left to return to shareholders by February 2027. H1 FY26 production and operating unit cost guidance remains unchanged across operated assets, reinforcing the company’s disciplined operational approach.

During the half, South32 completed divestments of Cerro Matoso and Illawarra Metallurgical Coal, focusing its portfolio on critical base metals. The Mozal Aluminium smelter will move to care and maintenance in March 2026 due to ongoing electricity supply issues in Mozambique.

What did South32 management say?

Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr said:

Our consistent operating performance and higher base and precious metals prices underpinned strong financial results for the half. We delivered Underlying EBITDA of US$1.1B and 16 per cent growth in Underlying earnings to US$435M. We have today announced a fully-franked interim ordinary dividend of US 3.9 cents per share (US$175M) in respect of the December 2025 half year. Reflecting our strong financial position and positive outlook for the business, we have also increased our capital management program by US$100M to US$2.6B, with US$209M remaining to be returned to shareholders.

What’s next for South32?

Looking ahead, South32’s production and unit cost guidance is unchanged for FY26, with a steady focus on safe and reliable operations. The group is prioritising the growth of its base metals business ― with significant investment at the Hermosa Taylor zinc-lead-silver project in the USA and life extension options underway at Cannington.

South32 continues to explore new base metals projects and ramp up brownfield developments. Management expects to maintain their capital management approach and support returns to shareholders, while also seeking further value in next-generation mining and development projects.

South32 share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, South32 shares have risen 41%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

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The post South32 lifts profit and dividend in strong first half appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• MFF Capital Investments results: Profit falls but dividend rises for H1 FY26
• Lendlease announces CEO succession as Tony Lombardo steps down
• Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows
• Paladin Energy shares in focus after uranium sales fuel revenue jump
• Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is charging higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock closed yesterday trading for $28.26. In morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $29.35, up 3.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.3% at this same time.

Taking a step back, the Northern Star share price has gained a market-beating 60.4% over the past 12 months. That’s atop delivering two dividends (partly franked) totalling 55 cents per share.

And investors who waded in and bought the ASX 200 gold miner at its one-year closing lows of $15.30 on 1 August will be sitting on gains of 91.8% at the time of writing.

Part of that strong outperformance has been driven by the rocketing gold price. While down from the record highs notched in late January, the yellow metal is currently fetching US$5,097 per ounce. That sees the gold price up more than 52% over 12 months.

Of course, Northern Star has hardly been sitting idle.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest again today.

Northern Star share price jumps on 49% profit surge

The ASX 200 gold miner released its half-year results covering the six months to 31 December before market open this morning (H1 FY 2026).

The Northern Star share price looks to be getting a boost, with the miner reporting a 19% year-on-year boost in half-year revenue to $3.41 billion. The company credited the revenue surge to the 31% increase in its average realised gold prices.

Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) also enjoyed a big lift, rising 34% from H1 FY 2025 to $1.88 billion. Earnings were buoyed by higher gold prices but hindered by increased mining costs.

On the bottom line, Northern Star delivered underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $760 million. That’s up 49% year on year.

With profits surging, management declared a conservative fully-franked interim dividend of 25 cents per share. That’s in line with last year’s interim dividend, although that one came without franking credits.

As at 31 December, the miner held net cash of $293 million, with cash and bullion holdings totalling $1.18 billion.

What did management say?

Commenting on the half-year results helping lift the Northern Star share price today, managing director Stuart Tonkin said:

This first half result demonstrates the resilience and growing returns we are embedding in our business, which allowed the board to declare a 25 cents per share interim dividend despite a soft operating performance.

Our balance sheet remains in a net cash position notwithstanding the significant investments we are making to transform Northern Star into a lowest-half global cost producer.

The post Up 92% since August, why is the Northern Star share price lifting off again today? 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.

The Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC) share price is in focus after the developer announced CEO Tony Lombardo will step down in August 2026. The company revealed a leadership transition is underway, following the successful implementation of its refreshed strategy.

What did Lendlease report?

• CEO and Managing Director Tony Lombardo to leave after five years in the role
• Succession plan initiated, with executive search firm engaged to find new CEO
• Strategic reset of the Group has been largely executed
• Focus remains on long-term value creation for people, customers, and securityholders

What else do investors need to know?

Lombardo, who has been with Lendlease for 18 years, will depart after overseeing a period of significant change. The Board says the strategic reset — including efforts to simplify the portfolio, restore the balance sheet, and position for future growth — is now “embedded”.

Chairman John Gillam described FY27 as an “inflection point” for the business, suggesting that this is the right opportunity for new leadership. The transition process will prioritise stability, with Lombardo staying until August 2026 to support an orderly handover.

An international executive search firm has been appointed to identify the next Group CEO, with further updates to be provided to the market as the process unfolds.

What’s next for Lendlease?

Lendlease is entering the next phase of its strategy, with FY27 signalled as a turning point for the Group. The company is aiming to build on its recent foundations and drive long-term growth.

Investors can expect more updates on the CEO search and further details on business execution as the leadership transition is managed across the coming 18 months.

Lendlease share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Lendlease shares have declined 29%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

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The post Lendlease announces CEO succession as Tony Lombardo steps down appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8) has this week reported drilling results from its Bolt Cutter Central discovery in Western Australia, with lithium mineralisation present in all drill holes to date.

The company drilled three diamond holes for metallurgical purposes and is continuing with drilling to hopefully expand the scale of the discovery.

A reverse circulation drilling program is also scheduled to start late in the current quarter, the company said in its statement to the ASX.

Dual deposit development a possibility

The Bolt Cutter prospect is just 10km west of Wildcat’s Tabba Tabba project, for which the company released a prefeasibility study last year, indicating a probable 17-year mine life.

The company said this week that the lithium mineralisation at Bolt Cutter was quite coarse, which could be suited to a different processing method.

As the company explained:

Each of the completed diamond holes intersected mineralisation interpreted to contain spodumene and other lithium bearing minerals. Encouragingly, diamond core samples indicate that some interpreted spodumene crystals are quite coarse, exceeding 100mm in length. While the primary focus of the metallurgical test work is to assess the suitability of the pegmatite for processing through the existing Tabba Tabba flowsheet, due to the observations of coarse interpreted spodumene, the applicability of a dense media separation (DMS) workflow will also be evaluated.

Shaw and Partners have had a look at the results and said in a research note to clients that they were encouraging.

As they said:

Results to date demonstrate strong potential for Bolt Cutter to grow in scale both laterally and at depth. Bolt Cutter is likely to be a key component of Wildcat’s two-pronged strategy of exploration and development, with organic growth from discoveries providing a clear pathway for integration into broader development plans. Wildcat is moving quickly toward production, having made its major discovery on already granted mining leases. This unusual status, combined with a signed Native Title Agreement, significantly truncates the regulatory and permitting timeline, allowing the company to target first production in 2028. This will allow Wildcat to capitalise on the current lithium price cycle as the market moves into deficit later this decade.

Shaw and Partners said the company should be well-placed to be in production in time to feed into what was an “overwhelmingly bullish outlook for lithium demand, fuelled not only by the global transition to electric vehicles, but also by the rapidly increasing power requirements of AI data centres and utility-scale energy storage systems”.

Shaw has a price target of $1.20 on Wildcat shares, compared with the current price of 38.5 cents, which would be a 211.7% return if achieved.

The post This lithium developer could deliver better than 200% upside Shaw and Partners 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 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.

The Temple & Webster Ltd (ASX: TPW) share price is in focus today after the company posted 20% revenue growth to $376 million for the half year, with EBITDA (excluding New Zealand investment) up 13% to $14.9 million.

What did Temple & Webster report?

• Revenue rose 19.8% to $375.9 million for H1 FY26
• EBITDA (pre-NZ investment) increased 13% to $14.9 million; margin at 4.0%
• Net cash rose 15.3% to $160.6 million as of 31 December 2025
• Active customers grew 14% year-on-year to ~1.4 million
• Repeat customers made up 62% of total orders
• Free cash flow of $23 million was generated during the half

What else do investors need to know?

Temple & Webster grew market share to a record 2.9% of Australia’s furniture and homewares market, supported by strong performances in home improvement (+47%) and Trade & Commercial (+24%). Its New Zealand expansion also added over $1 million in sales from more than 3,000 orders within four months of launch.

The business improved efficiency as fixed costs fell to 9.4% of revenue, compared to 10.5% a year ago. Exclusive product revenue hit a new high, now accounting for 49% of total sales.

What did Temple & Webster management say?

CEO Mark Coulter said:

We continue to execute on our strategy to reach $1 billion in revenue by FY28 and cement our leadership in the online retail market for the home. In addition to delivering 20% revenue growth and EBITDA within our target range, we made great progress on our long-term strategic priorities: brand awareness has increased while marketing ROI has stabilised; exclusive product revenue has reached an all-time high; and company-wide deployment of AI tools has helped to drive fixed costs to a record low percentage of revenue.

What’s next for Temple & Webster?

Temple & Webster maintained EBITDA margin guidance for FY26 at 3–5%, with the focus on gaining market share and investing in growth drivers like competitive pricing and marketing. The company’s mid-term goal remains $1 billion+ in annual revenue by FY28.

It also confirmed its on-market share buy-back program is in place, with capacity to buy back over 11 million shares and more than $160 million in cash reserves to support future growth and returns.

Temple & Webster share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Temple & Webster shares have declined 34%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

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The post Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Lendlease announces CEO succession as Tony Lombardo steps down
• Paladin Energy shares in focus after uranium sales fuel revenue jump
• Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits
• AMP FY25 result: 21% profit lift and higher AUM
• Orora earnings: robust half-year profit growth and outlook

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

If you were watching the boards yesterday, you’ll likely have noticed the momentous gains posted by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares.

When the closing bell sounded, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock were up a whopping 6.8% on the day, trading for $169.56 apiece.

This saw Australia’s biggest bank stock commanding a market cap of $283.8 billion.

Importantly, the big surge in CBA shares also saw the bank retake its recently lost title of biggest stock on the ASX from Aussie mining giant BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

BHP shares closed up 1.6% on Wednesday, trading for $51.07 each. This gives BHP a market cap of $259.4 billion.

BHP’s fleeting moment on top

It was only on 27 January that BHP reclaimed the biggest stock crown that it had lost to CBA almost 18 months earlier.

That handover followed on a six-month upward trend in iron ore prices (BHP’s number one revenue producer), while copper prices (BHP’s number two revenue earner) surged to new records.

At the same time, CBA shares were being pressured with expectations of RBA interest rate cuts in 2026, which could pressure the bank’s margins. CommBank stock also came under pressure amid ongoing analyst warnings on the big bank’s overvaluation relative to its peers.

But the past three weeks have ushered in a rapid turnaround that’s seen BHP lose its biggest stock status far sooner than most market watchers had anticipated.

Part of that turnaround has been driven by slumping iron ore prices, falling from around US$108 per tonne in mid-January to be trading at around US$100 per tonne on Wednesday.

And rather than cutting rates in 2026, resurgent inflation saw the RBA increase the official interest rate to 3.85% last Tuesday, which could help CBA’s margins.

At the end of it all, BHP shares gained 2.7% since 27 January through to yesterday’s market close, while CBA shares have rocketed 13% over this same time.

And so the old king is back. For how long, remains to be seen.

Why did CBA shares go gangbusters on Wednesday?

The outsized gains posted by CBA shares on Wednesday followed the release of the bank’s unexpectedly strong half-year results.

Highlights included a 6% year-on-year increase in cash net profits after tax (NPAT) to $5.45 billion.

With profits soaring, CBA rewarded stockholders with a fully-franked interim dividend of $2.35 per share, up 4% from last year’s interim dividend payout.

The post That was fast! BHP relinquishes biggest ASX stock crown as CBA shares rocket 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX) share price is in focus after the company posted strong half-year results, with operating revenue up 11.2% to $602.8 million and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) increasing 3.9% to $263.6 million.

What did ASX Ltd report?

• Operating revenue of $602.8 million, up 11.2% on 1H25
• Statutory and underlying NPAT of $263.6 million, up 8.3% and 3.9% respectively
• Total expenses of $264.3 million, up 20.0%
• Underlying return on equity steady at 13.5%
• Interim dividend of 101.8 cents per share, down 8.5% and fully franked
• All four business lines contributed to the result, highlighting a diversified portfolio

What else do investors need to know?

ASX’s expense growth was higher this half, partly due to costs related to the ASIC Inquiry and investments in major transformation programs, including technology upgrades and the Accelerate initiative. Excluding ASIC-related costs, core business expenses rose by 12.1%.

There were several product launches in the half, such as gold ETF options and new environmental futures contracts, supporting customers as Australia’s markets evolve toward sustainability and energy transition. The company is also preparing for the switchover to a new clearing platform (CHESS Release 1), now targeted for April 2026.

What did ASX Ltd management say?

ASX Managing Director and CEO Helen Lofthouse said:

ASX achieved strong revenue growth of 11.2% to $602.8 million in the half and we continued to deliver key business outcomes during the period. Revenue performance was driven by high volumes for cash market trading, clearing and settlement, and interest rate futures. It was particularly pleasing to see all four business units contributing to our result, underscoring the value of ASX’s diversified business model.

What’s next for ASX Ltd?

Looking ahead, ASX is focused on implementing its Commitments plan following the ASIC Inquiry, including strengthening governance and risk management, and raising an additional $150 million in capital by June 2027. The dividend payout ratio has been trimmed and a discounted dividend reinvestment plan introduced for at least the next three payments.

The company is preparing for the launch of its new clearing platform and expects capital expenditure for FY26 and FY27 to remain within previous guidance. Higher operating expenses are anticipated, mainly due to regulatory and program-related investments.

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The post ASX Ltd posts solid 1H26 results, trims dividend as costs rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

If I were investing in ASX shares to build a second income of dividends, there are a few names that really appeal to me. Namely, I’m looking at businesses that offer a good dividend yield today along with strong potential for payout growth.

Dividend growth is not guaranteed of course, but when a business provides guidance of a growing payout, then it’s more likely to come true. Plus, the two businesses discussed below have compelling tailwinds for future growth.

I normally mention a name like Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) in an article like this, but I want to highlight two others to build a second income.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

This real estate investment trust (REIT) owns a portfolio of high-quality industrial properties across Australia and it’s seeing strong rental growth.

In the first half of FY26, it reported strong like-for-like net operating income (NOI) growth of 5.1%, with portfolio occupancy increasing to 95.7% .

Around 60% of leases expiring over the next three years are under-rented, according to the business, providing an opportunity to execute positive rent reversions. The reversions could be boosted in the medium-term thanks to additional market rental growth with a supply-demand imbalance.

The REIT’s management points to a number of tailwinds for the industrial property sector including population growth, sustained public infrastructure and a rebound in tenant activity.

On top of that, “national long-term supply remains constrained, driving the increased portfolio occupancy and reinforcing resilient demand for the style of industrial assets” that the REIT owns in “urban infall markets”.

The ASX share is also benefiting from strong demand for data centres. It has made recent acquisitions and development initiatives in this space, including the lodged development application for a new 40MW data centre.

The business is expecting to grow its annual distribution by 3% in FY26, translating into a forward distribution yield of 5.2%, which is a great yield for Aussies building a second income.

WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG)

One of the best benefits of listed investment companies (LICs) is that they can decide on the level of passive income payment they want to send to shareholders, assuming they have the profit reserve to do so.

WCM Global Growth is one of those LICs that has demonstrated an ability to deliver rising dividends as well as strong portfolio performance.

The ASX share aims to own a portfolio of international shares which have improving economic moats (competitive advantages) and have corporate cultures that foster those competitive advantages.

WCM Global Growth’s portfolio has performed well using this strategy, with an average return per year of 25.5% over the last three years. The strategy has delivered an average return per year of 14.6% since March 2008. Of course, it’s not guaranteed to perform that strongly in future years.

The business announced that it expects to grow its payout for the quarter ending 30 September 2026 by 14.8%, implying a potential annualised grossed-up dividend yield of 7%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

I think this ASX share could be one of the most compelling to own over the long-term for building a second income.

The post Want to build up a second income? These 2 ASX shares are a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.