The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price is in focus after the company reported first-half revenue of US$138.3 million, with gross profit jumping to US$26 million as uranium sales surged from its Langer Heinrich Mine.

What did Paladin Energy report?

• Sales revenue of US$138.3 million, driven by 1.96 million pounds of uranium sold at an average price of US$70.5 per pound
• Gross profit rose to US$26.0 million for the half, up from just US$0.9 million a year earlier
• Net loss after tax narrowed to US$6.6 million, impacted by production ramp-up and Canadian expansion
• Total unrestricted cash and investments reached US$278.4 million, up 213%
• Successful A$300 million equity raising and A$100 million share purchase plan completed
• Syndicated debt facility restructured to provide greater financial flexibility

What else do investors need to know?

Paladin’s operational ramp-up at its Langer Heinrich Mine has been progressing well, supported by additional mining fleet arriving on site and stronger contract pricing. This underpinned the sharp lift in sales and revenue for the half.

At the same time, the company advanced its Patterson Lake South (PLS) Project in Canada—helped by the equity raising and share purchase plan—laying the groundwork for its next phase of growth. Paladin also restructured its debt, reducing its drawn balance and increasing undrawn capacity.

The balance sheet ended the half in a much stronger position, with US$278.4 million in cash and investments and an undrawn US$70 million revolving credit facility. This gives Paladin added headroom as it continues ramp-up and development activities.

What did Paladin Energy management say?

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Paul Hemburrow said:

The first half of the year demonstrated strong and continually improving performance at Langer Heinrich Mine as our team increased its knowledge and experience of how to optimise the production process, including the mining activities that were gathering pace at the start of this financial year. With the remaining mining fleet arriving on site, the foundations are now in place to successfully complete our ramp-up at Langer Heinrich Mine during the remaining months of the year.

The half year results also highlight the robust financial position of Paladin Energy with increasing revenue from strong sales augmented by a successful equity raising and a restructure of the debt portfolio that will enable us to complete our ramp-up activities at the LHM and continue to progress the PLS Project in Canada, including our winter drilling program.

What’s next for Paladin Energy?

Looking ahead, Paladin Energy plans to complete the ramp-up of its Langer Heinrich Mine, taking full advantage of favourable uranium market conditions and strong sales contracts. Management also aims to keep advancing the PLS Project in Canada, including the current winter drilling program, as it moves towards a final investment decision.

With a stronger balance sheet and restructured debt facility, Paladin says it is well positioned to deliver growth from both existing production and new developments, providing flexibility to respond to further opportunities in the uranium sector.

Paladin Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 month, Paladin Energy shares have risen 46%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Paladin Energy shares in focus after uranium sales fuel revenue jump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows
• 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 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 Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price has seen a rough performance over the past year. It’s down around 55% over the past 12 months, as the chart below shows.

That decline has occurred despite the company’s operating revenue, net profit and cash flow continuing to rise. The decline in recent times can probably be attributed to worries about AI, but the decline last year may have been impacted by concerns about the US Melio acquisition.

Xero recently held a Melio and AI product demonstration which impressed the broker UBS and it thinks the ASX tech share has significant growth potential from here.

UBS’ optimistic view

The broker viewed the demonstration and guidance that Melio will become breakeven sometime in the second half of FY28 (on a run-rate basis) positively for Xero – this was between six to 12 months ahead of expectations.

UBS thinks the market is significantly undervaluing Melio, attributing a value of $17.80 per share on the US small and medium enterprise (SME) payables payment business.

The broker is forecasting that Xero could grow total payment volume (TPV) at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40% between FY26 and FY28, driven by a 15,000 increase per year in Melio-only users, while this could also help Xero’s accounting subscriptions.

UBS noted that Xero disclosed a Melio customer tends to see a 75% rise in TPV in year one 15% in year two and 10% in year three, suggesting the ramp-up profit is “strong”.

Xero also highlighted growth drivers including a rise in the gross TPV take rates and gross margins for Melio. UBS forecasts the take rate to grow from 51 basis points (0.51%) in FY25 to 82.5 basis points (0.825%) by FY29 as customers increase usage of premium payment types.

UBS also highlighted that management comments suggest a larger proportion of the US$70 million synergy target will be derived from US accounting subscriptions, which would validate the decision to acquire Melio. The broker is currently assuming Xero’s accounting subscriptions will grow at 55,000 per year in the US between FY26 and FY20, plus 15,000 per annum of Melio-only subscriptions.

On the AI side of things, Xero said it has a number of competitive advantages against AI disruption, including domain expertise, decades of transaction and decision data by subscribers, and infrastructure such as bank feed relationship[s. payment rails and the app ecosystem. UBS suggested this would be difficult to replicate by AI challengers.

Xero has plans to start AI monetisation in FY27 through a mixture of bundling, add-ons and consumption. UBS surveys suggest SMEs may be willing to pay 8.5% more for AI, which the broker thinks is an opportunity for acceleration of its software as a service (SaaS) offering.

Is the Xero share price a buy?

UBS certainly thinks so, it has a buy rating on the business with a price target of $174, implying the share price could potentially double within the next year.

The current projection is that net profit could soar to $928 million, which could be a big driver for the Xero share price.

The post Is the Xero share price an opportunity too good to pass up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why I’m planning to act this week and buy ASX shares

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

The Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) share price is in focus today after the health imaging company delivered a record interim result, with revenue up 28.4% to $124.8 million and reported net profit after tax jumping 230.9% to $171.2 million.

What did Pro Medicus report?

• Revenue from ordinary activities: $124.8 million (up 28.4%)
• Underlying profit before tax: $90.7 million (up 29.7%)
• Reported net profit after tax: $171.2 million (up 230.9%, driven by $149.1 million in unrealised gains)
• Underlying EBIT margin: 73% (up from 72%)
• Cash and financial assets: $221.8 million (up 5.3%)
• Fully franked interim dividend: 32 cents per share

What else do investors need to know?

Pro Medicus signed more than $280 million in new contracts during the half, including a $170 million, 10-year deal with the University of Colorado and major agreements with healthcare leaders in the US and Europe. Most new contracts included the company’s full stack of Visage products, with some clients also adopting its cardiology solution, highlighting increasing customer demand for bundled offerings.

The company remains debt-free and increased its cash holdings, despite two share buybacks, higher dividends, and a $10 million investment in 4D Medical Limited that contributed significant unrealised gains to this result.

What did Pro Medicus management say?

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’s next for Pro Medicus?

Management flagged a busy second half, with seven more go-lives planned—including three more Trinity cohorts—which should support further revenue growth. The sales pipeline remains strong, helped by the success of its presence at major industry events like RSNA 2025.

The company continues to target a broad range of healthcare providers and sees opportunities to deepen its penetration in the US, leveraging its “one product, one model” approach to address the full range of imaging market needs.

Pro Medicus share price snapshot

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

View Original Announcement

The post Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 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
• 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 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. 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.

This quality ASX share has trailed the broader market over the past year as investors fret over growth, cost pressures, and execution risks.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares have lost some serious ground in the past year, 23% to $21.97 at the time of writing.

This ASX share is worth considering if you are looking for income, quality and resilience. Let’s take a closer look.

Resilient compounder

Sonic Healthcare isn’t a high-flying growth story — the ASX share is a steady compounder. Demand is defensive by nature and largely independent of economic cycles.

The ASX diagnostics giant runs pathology and imaging businesses across Australia, Europe, the US, and the UK. That global footprint gives it diversification that few ASX healthcare names can match.

What really sets Sonic Healthcare apart is resilience. Medical testing demand doesn’t vanish in a downturn, and structural tailwinds. Ageing populations and a growing focus on preventative care keep volumes ticking higher.

Management of the ASX share has also expanded through disciplined acquisitions, building scale while defending margins.

That said, this isn’t a rocket ship. Cost inflation, labour shortages, and the occasional integration hiccup can slow earnings growth. And when momentum cools, the market’s patience can wear thin.

Gradually lifting payouts

Where Sonic Healthcare shines is income reliability. It pays dividends twice a year and has a long record of maintaining or gradually lifting payouts. Bell Potter expects partially franked payouts of 109 cents per share in FY 2026 and 111 cents per share in FY 2027.

Based on its current share price of $21.97, this equates to dividend yields of 4.8% and 4.9%, respectively. That’s attractive for a defensive ASX healthcare share, and it’s backed by recurring cash flow, not one-off gains.

What do brokers think?

For investors, this ASX share offers a blend of steady growth and dependable income. Bell Potter believes Sonic Healthcare offers an appealing combination of income and share price upside. The broker expects Sonic to return to double-digit earnings growth in FY 2026, driven largely by acquisitions.

Bell Potter recently initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $33.30 12-month price target. That points to 34% upside from the current levels.

Bell Potter is way more bullish than the consensus target of $25.65, which suggests about 17% upside. Add in a forecast 4.9% dividend yield, and total potential returns could comfortably exceed 20%.

The post Buy this $11 billion ASX share for healthy growth and income 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 recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price is in focus after the company delivered a 20.8% lift in underlying NPAT to $285 million, supported by strong North platform cashflows and a 9% rise in total assets under management (AUM) to $161.7 billion for FY 2025.

What did AMP report?

• Underlying NPAT rose 20.8% to $285 million (FY24: $236 million)
• Statutory NPAT of $133 million (FY24: $150 million), reflecting legacy legal settlements
• Total AUM up 9% to $161.7 billion (FY24: $148.4 billion)
• Final FY25 dividend of 2.0 cents per share, 20% franked; total FY25 dividend of 4.0 cents per share
• Controllable costs reduced by 6.9% to $603 million, exceeding targets
• Underlying EPS rose 25.6% to 11.3 cents per share

What else do investors need to know?

Platforms underlying NPAT increased by 9.3% to $106 million, with net cashflows (excluding pensions) up a robust 85.2% for the year as adviser numbers grew. Superannuation & Investments delivered a 14.8% uplift in underlying NPAT to $62 million, and improved net cash outflows compared to the prior year, helped by successful member retention initiatives.

AMP Bank’s underlying NPAT fell 9.8% to $55 million, largely due to scaling up the new AMP Bank GO. Excluding AMP Bank GO, the banking business saw a 6.6% increase in underlying NPAT, while AMP’s New Zealand Wealth Management business reported a 5.4% rise in underlying NPAT to $39 million, with growing cashflows from contemporary products.

What did AMP management say?

AMP Chief Executive Alexis George commented:

2025 was an important year for AMP with resolution of legacy items and stabilisation of the portfolio. This enabled renewed focus on winning in the segments we play, growing the wealth businesses, and building on the vision to be the place that customers come to plan for a dignified retirement… We have a clear strategic focus and a strong balance sheet. This means we are well positioned to continue to drive organic growth, while also having the capacity to participate in inorganic opportunities when they arise.

What’s next for AMP?

AMP is sharpening its focus on organic growth and disciplined cost management, while actively exploring opportunities to build scale or enhance capabilities through acquisitions. The group remains confident in the outlook for the wealth and retirement sector and points to a strong capital position to support future initiatives.

The board has announced the planned CEO transition, with current CFO Blair Vernon stepping into the CEO role at the end of March 2026. The leadership team says AMP’s simplified structure and clear strategy create a strong platform for continued growth across wealth, banking, and strategic partnerships.

AMP share price snapshot

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

View Original Announcement

The post AMP FY25 result: 21% profit lift and higher AUM 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.

This S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) healthcare share has been a rollercoaster.

Over the past year, Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares have swung wildly between $1.52 and $3.35, testing the nerves of even the most seasoned investor.

On Wednesday, the ASX healthcare share was back in the winner’s circle, jumping 2.8% to $2.57.

Want to know the even better news? Brokers tip Mesoblast shares to surge over the next 12 months.

Closing in on a breakthrough?

After years in the wilderness, Mesoblast roared back in 2025 as confidence rebuilt around its lead therapy, remestemcel-L. Now investors are asking: Is this the real turning point?

In January, Mesoblast revealed in a release that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had acknowledged positive results for its lead treatment. The therapy reduced pain in patients suffering from chronic lower back pain linked to degenerative disc disease.

Importantly, the FDA flagged that meaningful reductions in opioid use — seen in at least one major trial — could potentially be included on the product label. That’s a big deal in a post-opioid-crisis world.

Mesoblast said many patients cut back or even stopped opioid use for extended periods after treatment.

Sales momentum builds

Momentum had already been building around the ASX healthcare share. In its latest quarterly update, Mesoblast reported net revenue of US$30 million for the quarter, fuelled by rising uptake of Ryoncil in the US.

Gross sales came in at US$35 million, with demand building steadily since the FDA approved the therapy for children with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.

More treatment centres are now coming online, expanding access. Early real-world data also point to survival outcomes broadly in line with clinical trial results. That’s an encouraging sign post-approval for the ASX healthcare share.

The risks haven’t disappeared

The ASX 200 healthcare stock remains high risk. The company has burned through significant capital during its long development journey, repeatedly tapping shareholders to fund extended clinical trials and regulatory hurdles.

Past FDA setbacks have tested patience. Even if approvals land, the ASX healthcare share still needs to execute. It has to scale sales and compete in a crowded and fast-evolving cell-therapy market.

Brokers are backing it

Despite the risks, analysts are leaning bullish. The average 12-month price target sits at $4.16, implying roughly 62% upside from current levels.

According to TradingView data, all covering brokers rate Mesoblast a strong buy. Targets range from $3.33 (30% upside) to a blue-sky $5.05, which would represent a potential 97% gain.

Bell Potter believes the ASX healthcare share is in a strong position, backed by fresh debt funding and rising demand for its Ryoncil therapy.

The broker has a buy rating and $4.45 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of approximately 80% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Why this ASX healthcare share could double its value in 2026 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.

The Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) share price is in focus today after the packaging company delivered a robust half-year operating result, with underlying NPAT up 32.2% to $77.8 million and revenue climbing 9.7% to $1,127.6 million.

What did Orora report?

• Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $77.8 million, up 32.2% on the prior period
• Revenue rose 9.7% to $1,127.6 million
• Group EBITDA increased 14.4% to $218.2 million
• Earnings per share up 40.6% to 6.2 cents
• Interim dividend steady at 5.0 cents per share (79% payout ratio)
• Operating cash flow soared 50.9% to $189.7 million; cash realisation 112.4%

What else do investors need to know?

Orora’s Cans business recorded strong volume growth of 11.2%, supported by new capacity and a continued shift in consumer preference toward aluminium. Revenue in this segment jumped 18.6%, and investments in capacity expansion—like the Revesby Line 2—helped meet elevated demand, especially from Queensland customers.

For the Glass division, the Saverglass business saw a 2.6% lift in volumes, mostly driven by tequila and vodka bottles, while Gawler managed a modest revenue increase. The company also pushed ahead with sustainability initiatives, aiming for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increasing recycled content across its packaging products.

A major on-market share buyback underpinned returns to shareholders, with 47.6 million shares repurchased for $100.7 million in 1H26. Orora announced the intention to buy back up to a further 10% of issued shares.

What did Orora management say?

Brian Lowe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer said:

Orora has delivered a robust operating result for the first half of FY26, underpinned by disciplined execution. In line with our full year guidance, we achieved EBITDA growth across all businesses, reflecting the strength of our operating platform and the benefits of our recent investments and business optimisation actions.

What’s next for Orora?

Orora’s outlook for FY26 remains positive, with the company expecting higher EBIT from its Cans business and further volume growth driven by customer demand and completed expansion projects. Saverglass’ annual EBIT is expected to be steady in local currency, with cost savings and improving order trends supporting the second half.

For Gawler, EBIT is forecast around $30 million, offset by higher depreciation from recent investments. Across the group, cash flow is anticipated to improve as major capital projects wind down, allowing more funds to be returned to shareholders through dividends and ongoing buybacks.

Orora share price snapshot

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

View Original Announcement

The post Orora earnings: robust half-year profit growth and outlook 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 recommended Orora. 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.

There are few ASX dividend stocks that are projected to pay a dividend yield as large as GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) in the next few years.

The business is a funds management company that’s headquartered in the US, though it has global operations in places like the UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia.

It offers clients a few different investment strategies, including US shares, global shares, international shares (excluding US shares), and emerging market shares. Investing in dividend shares is also an option.

After a difficult recent period of underperformance in 2025 due to limited exposure to technology businesses, that decision now looks wise, given how many tech stocks have sold off amid concerns about AI’s impact on industries.

With investment performance beginning to look solid again compared to the benchmark, I wouldn’t be surprised to see net inflows improve for GQG, considering good investment returns are ultimately what clients want to see.

It’s important to note that the direction of the ASX dividend stock’s funds under management (FUM) will play a very important part in the performance of its net profit and dividend.

We’re going to have a look at how large the dividends could become in the coming years.

Dividend projection

While the short term seems to suggest uncertainty for GQG’s FUM and earnings, analysts are optimistic that payouts can grow in the subsequent years after 2026.

Broker UBS is currently forecasting that the ASX dividend stock could pay an annual dividend per share of US13 cents in FY26, US13 cents in FY27, US14 cents in FY28, and US15 cents in FY29.

At the current GQG share price, that translates into a dividend yield of 11.4% in FY26 and 13.1% by FY29.

I can’t imagine there are many ASX dividend stocks that are going to pay a double-digit yield in FY26 and a larger payout in FY29.

Is this a good time to invest in GQG shares?

After the recent release of GQG’s monthly FUM update for January 2026, broker UBS said the business was a buy, with a price target of $2, implying a potential double-digit return over the next year.

The January update showed FUM of US$165.7 billion, up 1.1% month over month, but below UBS’ estimate of $167.2 billion, with net outflows accelerating to US$4.2 billion compared to the broker’s estimate of $3 billion.

The net outflows of 2.5% of FUM was more than offset by a 3.6% rise in investment returns.

Outflows were stronger than expected in the emerging markets and US strategies across less visible institutional channels.

UBS now thinks net outflows could reach $31.5 billion in 2026, up from its previous forecast of $20 billion, which is higher than market analyst (consensus) estimates of $13.7 billion. A return to inflows is forecast for mid-2027. The broker said:

We continue to see value appeal as a market-hedge, noting recent AI-related market volatility in early Feb has benefited GQG’s defensive positioning with performance green shoots emerging across its key strategies with strong absolute and relative returns.

…Our PT $2.00 (prev $2.10) incorporates our earnings changes and assumes a 10x PE given the depth of investment underperformance and outflows.

Clearly, this is a higher-risk idea, but if it’s able to return to net inflows next year, it could be an undervalued opportunity offering big passive income.

The post This ASX dividend stock is projected to pay a 13% yield by 2029 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why ASX, CSL, GQG, and Meteoric Resources shares are sinking today
• GQG Partners lifts FUM to US$165.7b in January update
• 3 quality ASX shares to buy with $10,000
• ASX 200 financials flew but tech and mining shares faltered last week
• 3 ASX 200 stocks jumping higher in this week’s falling market

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

Healthcare shares are one of the sectors that are largely underrepresented here in Australia. 

It makes up roughly 6% of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). 

By comparison, financials and materials make up more than 56%. 

This means that for investors wanting exposure to healthcare shares, looking at an international ETF can be a good option. 

A report from iShares suggests the long-term outlook is positive with policy headwinds easing.

Here are three reasons why now might be a good time to gain exposure to global healthcare shares. 

Policy headwinds easing

According to iShares, US policy uncertainty saw valuations in healthcare suppressed at near 30-year lows in 2025.

However, the policy uncertainty that hung over the sector last year has now largely resolved. 

President Trump’s Most Favored Nation executive order has spurred major drug companies to negotiate deals on medication pricing, and investor focus is swinging back to the sector’s strong innovation pipeline. 

This sparked outperformance in the last quarter of 2025. 

Healthcare led all global sectors in Q4 – gaining more than 10% after President Trump’s Most Favored Nation executive order prompted pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer and Eli Lilly to negotiate pricing with the White House and helped to resolve uncertainty over US tariff policies.

Heavy investment

In the report from iShares, it said clear policy direction, alongside investor concerns regarding a possible technology sector bubble in the United States, prompted significant movement into healthcare investments toward the end of last year. 

In November 2025, ETFs targeting this sector experienced their largest monthly global inflows in five years, attracting US$6.8 billion across the industry. 

With clarity now emerging for what has recently been an unloved sector, we see an opportunity for investors to refocus on the positive fundamentals and long-term supportive trends that may propel healthcare forward in 2026.

Despite gaining momentum, iShares believes the sector is still undervalued.

With healthcare valuations still looking cheap relative to global equities – trading at around a 13% discount despite the recent performance surge – now may be the time for investors to consider adding more exposure to the sector.

AI buildout and defensive safety

While some sectors are being threatened by AI takeover, healthcare shares are being positively impacted by AI.

Industry experts said AI is now increasingly being used in hospitals to automate clinical notes, staffing rosters and billing, freeing up staff for more valuable tasks, and patient care. 

Additionally, AI is beginning to transform the medical research field, accelerating drug development from early studies to human trials and market launch.

The report also reinforced that, as well as offering opportunities to tap into innovation and some of the long-term ‘mega forces’ shaping the global economy today, healthcare exposure can provide additional benefits for those looking to build a diversified share portfolio.

How do investors gain exposure to global healthcare?

For investors looking to add this sector to their portfolio, here are three ASX ETFs to consider. 

The first is the iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ). It tracks the performance of the S&P Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index. This index includes small, mid, and large-cap biotechnology, healthcare, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals companies.

Another option is the BetaShares Global Healthcare ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: DRUG). 

It is made up of 60 of the largest global healthcare companies (outside of Australia). 

Finally, Vaneck Vectors Global Health Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH) invests in 50 fundamentally sound and attractively valued companies with the best growth prospects in the healthcare sector.

The post 3 reasons to target global healthcare in 2026 -expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Origin Energy posts $557m half-year profit and upgrades guidance

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Pfizer. 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 Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) share price is in focus today after the company posted a half-year statutory profit of $557 million and lifted guidance for its Energy Markets segment. Underlying profit came in at $593 million, while adjusted free cash flow rose to $705 million.

What did Origin Energy report?

• Statutory profit of $557 million, down from $1,017 million in HY25
• Underlying profit of $593 million, down from $924 million in HY25
• Underlying EBITDA of $1,589 million, compared to $1,926 million in HY25
• Adjusted free cash flow up to $705 million, from $518 million in HY25
• Interim dividend of 30 cents per share, fully franked
• Adjusted net debt/EBITDA ratio at 2.0x

What else do investors need to know?

Origin’s Energy Markets business delivered strong underlying EBITDA of $860 million, up $122 million year on year, thanks to higher electricity gross profit and ongoing cost savings. Customer growth remains healthy, with 96,000 new accounts and churn well below the market average.

In the Integrated Gas segment, underlying EBITDA was $860 million, reflecting lower LNG prices and volumes at Australia Pacific LNG, but production remained steady at 339 PJ. Octopus Energy continued to grow international customer numbers, though the division posted an underlying EBITDA loss as investment ramped up.

What did Origin Energy management say?

Frank Calabria, Chief Executive Officer, said:

Origin’s first half results are solid, allowing an upgrade to full-year guidance for Energy Markets. Retail performance continued to strengthen, grid-scale batteries added further portfolio flexibility, gas production was steady, and cost management remained disciplined as commodity prices softened.

What’s next for Origin Energy?

Origin has upgraded its Energy Markets full-year underlying EBITDA guidance to between $1,550 million and $1,750 million, with electricity business performance driving the improvement. Cost to serve is also expected to improve, with management on track to achieve targeted savings by FY26.

Investment continues across battery storage, gas infrastructure, and digital platforms, aiming to support the energy transition and deliver steady returns. The company expects capital expenditure of $900–$1,100 million for the year, reflecting expanded investment in new battery projects.

Origin Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Origin Energy shares have risen 8%, slightly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Origin Energy posts $557m half-year profit and upgrades guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• AMP FY25 result: 21% profit lift and higher AUM
• Orora earnings: robust half-year profit growth and outlook
• Breville Group posts record half-year sales and lifts dividend
• Northern Star Resources lifts profit 41%, maintains dividend after active half
• IAG FY26 half-year result: profit down, revenue up, dividend steady

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.