• Why is this ASX 300 stock crashing 18% today?

    Woman with a scared look has hands on her face.

    Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) shares are on the slide on Friday.

    In morning trade, the ASX 300 stock is down 18% to 98.5 cents.

    Why is this ASX 300 stock crashing?

    Investors have been selling the company’s shares following release of the footwear focused retailer’s trading update.

    According to the release, the HypeDC and Platypus owner revealed that sales were up 3.7% during the first 20 weeks of FY 2026. This includes wholesale sales and sales from new stores.

    Things aren’t quite as positive on a like for like basis, with retail sales down 0.4% on the prior corresponding period. Though, there are signs of improvement, with like for like sales growing 0.4% during October.

    The ASX 300 stock also revealed that as of the end of October (Week 18), its year to date gross margin was 160 basis points (1.6%) below last year. Management notes that this is reflective of the elevated promotional environment.

    Commenting on current trading conditions, management said:

    Retail market conditions remain challenging, including ongoing promotional activity. The sports category continued to perform well, particularly running and performance footwear across The Athletes Foot and distributed brands HOKA, Saucony and Merrell. Lifestyle footwear sales have been soft and below expectations. Wholesale sales are ahead of prior year, with forward orders remaining strong into the second half of FY26.

    Positively, cost of doing business (CODB) and its inventory continue to be well managed and are in line with expectations.

    FY 2026 guidance

    Given that like for like sales have been below expectations of low single-digit growth and its gross margin has been below last year’s levels, the ASX 300 stock expects its first half earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be in the range of $55 million to $60 million. This is down sharply from $80.7 million in the first half of FY 2025.

    Looking ahead, management is guiding to full year EBIT in the range of $85 million to $95 million. This will be down from $110.2 million in FY 2025.

    Management also provided an update on its store network. It highlights that the Skechers and HOKA agreements are continuing and the first Sport Direct store has now opened. It said:

    As previously announced, the Company has extended the Skechers distribution agreement to 2035 and recently extended the HOKA distribution agreement by 5 years to 2030. Due to the change of ownership of Dickies, a decision has been taken to discontinue this non-material distribution agreement.

    The Company is pleased to report the successful opening of the first Sports Direct store at Fountain Gate, Victoria, on 15 November 2025, alongside the launch of the Sports Direct online store — a key milestone in the brand’s rollout across Australia and New Zealand. A further 3 stores are planned for the remainder of FY26, with at least 50 stores targeted over the next 6 years.

    The post Why is this ASX 300 stock crashing 18% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Accent 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 Accent 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 Accent Group. 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 Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Sims holds AGM following a strong FY25 earnings report

    A man holding a packaging box with a recycle symbol on it gives the thumbs up.

    The Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM) share price is in focus today as the company holds its annual general meeting (AGM). In FY25, the company reported a strong uplift in underlying EBIT—up nearly 200% to $174.9 million for FY25—and declared a fully franked full-year dividend of 23 cents per share.

    What did Sims report in FY25?

    • Underlying EBIT rose 193% to $174.9 million for FY25.
    • Full-year dividend of 23 cents per share, fully franked (final dividend 13 cents).
    • Underlying free cash flow increased to $107 million.
    • Sims Lifecycle Services EBIT surged 84% year-on-year.
    • Record-low Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of 0.11.
    • Achieved 49% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since FY20 baseline.

    What else do investors need to know?

    Sims boosted its FY25 performance by simplifying its business, including the divestment of its UK Metal operations, and focusing on higher-margin and domestic sales, especially in its North American and ANZ Metals businesses. SA Recycling performed well, making several bolt-on US acquisitions and increasing EBIT contribution by 17%.

    Sims Lifecycle Services expanded rapidly, capturing strong demand from the fast-growing data centre segment and artificial intelligence trends. Sustainability remained central, with the group surpassing its 2025 climate targets by achieving a 49% emissions cut and sourcing 100% renewable power for its operated businesses.

    What did Sims management say?

    Stephen Mikkelsen, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director said:

    I am very proud of what the team has accomplished this year. Fiscal Year 2025 was a year of delivery against our turnaround plan, and the results reflect the progress we’ve made. We simplified our portfolio with the divestment of UK Metal, maintained strict cost discipline, and focused on metal margins, growth in Sims Lifecycle Services, and a strong contribution from SA Recycling. Together, these actions lifted underlying EBIT nearly 200 percent to $174.9 million.

    What’s next for Sims?

    Sims expects a meaningful improvement in group Underlying EBIT for the first half of FY26 compared to the same period last year, helped by resilient volumes and firm prices in non-ferrous metals. The company sees strong growth potential in recycling for electric arc furnaces and data centre demand, particularly through Sims Lifecycle Services.

    Ongoing headwinds remain in ferrous markets, with elevated Chinese steel exports impacting both domestic and export prices. Sims plans to maintain margin discipline, invest for growth, and pursue sustainability targets as it supports decarbonisation and the circular economy.

    Sims share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Sims shares have risen 21%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has increased 3% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Sims holds AGM following a strong FY25 earnings report appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Sims Metal Management Limited right now?

    Before you buy Sims Metal Management 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 Sims Metal Management 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…

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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.

  • The Miss Universe director who yelled at Miss Mexico was supposed to be restricted. He’s attended all of the pageant’s major events.

    Nawat Itsaragrisil with Miss Universe 2025 contestants.
    Miss Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil with Miss Universe 2025 contestants.

    • Miss Universe director Nawat Itsaragrisil went viral after yelling at Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch.
    • In response, Miss Universe president Raul Rocha said he'd restrict Itsaragrisil from future events at the 2025 pageant.
    • Itsaragrisil has still been seen at many Miss Universe events, taking photos with contestants and leadership.

    After a video of Miss Universe director Nawat Itsaragrisil yelling at Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch went viral, the organization took swift action — but it appears to be business as usual.

    Miss Universe president Raul Rocha posted a six-minute speech to Instagram on November 4, the day of Itsaragrisil and Bosch's confrontation, and said the director had committed a "serious abuse."

    "I have restricted Nawat's participation in the events that are part of the 74th Miss Universe competition, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it entirely," Rocha said.

    Despite these statements, Itsaragrisil has been photographed at numerous Miss Universe events in the lead-up to the crowning, which will stream in the US on Peacock at 8 p.m. on Thursday. On the eve of the finals, Itsaragrisil even posted pictures on Instagram that show him smiling and posing with Rocha.

    Miss Universe and Itsaragrisil did not respond to requests for comment.

    A confrontation heard around the world

    Miss Universe president Raul Rocha and Nawat Itsaragrisil
    Itsaragrisil with Miss Universe president Raul Rocha at the preliminary competition on November 19.

    Itsaragrisil is the director of Miss Thailand and the host for the 74th annual Miss Universe. He was holding a meeting with the Miss Universe contestants on the first day of the pageant when he got into a heated argument with Bosch, accusing her of not participating in a sponsorship event.

    During the exchange, captured on Miss Universe Thailand's Facebook livestream, Itsaragrisil criticized Miss Mexico's team before appearing to tell Bosch: "If you listen to your director, you're a dumbhead."

    Itsaragrisil, who has a history of shaming pageant contestants, later told reporters that the word he had used was "damage."

    "I have a voice," Bosch told Itsaragrisil at one point during their argument. "You are not respecting me as a woman."

    Itsaragrisil then tried to call security on Bosch, prompting multiple Miss Universe contestants — as well as Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig — to walk out of the room in protest.

    Miss Universe responds

    Nawat Itsaragrisil at Miss Universe 2025
    Itsaragrisil stands onstage with Miss Universe CEO Mario Búcaro on November 15.

    Rocha didn't hold back in his video statement, saying that the organization planned to take corporate and legal actions "as a result of the malicious acts committed by Nawat."

    "I will not allow the values of respect and dignity toward women to be violated," Rocha added.

    Rocha said he had also instructed Miss Universe CEO Mario Búcaro to "travel immediately to Thailand and take control" of the pageant because he no longer had trust in Itsaragrisil.

    Then, turning his attention to the contestants, Rocha said, "None of you should ever allow incidents like this to happen in your life, no matter who they come from. We must always defend this principle."

    A tearful Itsaragrisil apologized during a press conference the following day, telling reporters: "I am human. I didn't want to do anything like that."

    Is it business as usual?

    Miss Universe leadership at the swimsuit fashion show
    Itsaragrisil with Miss Universe CEO Mario Búcaro and Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig at the swimsuit fashion show.

    Despite Rocha's comments, photographs show that Itsaragrisil has been present at a number of the pageant's main events.

    He was pictured at the Miss Universe swimsuit fashion show on November 14, posing alongside Búcaro and Theilvig. The following night, Itsaragrisil was seen in photographs attending a gala dinner, being snapped with Miss Universe contestants and leadership. He was also photographed standing onstage with Búcaro as the CEO gave a speech. Itsaragrisil also attended the November 19 national costume contest and preliminary competition, where he posted the pictures of himself and Rocha on Instagram.

    Omar Harfouch, who was one of the original judges for the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, told Business Insider that he helped reconcile Itsaragrisil and Rocha.

    Nawat Itsaragrisil at Miss Universe 2025
    Itsaragrisil onstage with Miss Universe 2025 contestants and leaders of the organization.

    "I reached out to both Raul and Nawat with the idea that unity between pageant leaders could only strengthen the global pageant community," he said. "I offered to mediate a respectful meeting. We sat together, shared ideas, and I believed, for a moment, that bridges were being rebuilt."

    Harfouch posted a video of Itsaragrisil and Rocha's reunion on Instagram on November 17. The next day, he dropped out as a judge, alleging that the organization had carried out a "secret vote" to select the top 30 by "individuals who are not official members of the jury, myself included."

    Miss Universe responded in a statement shared on its Instagram on November 18, saying Harfouch was confused by the organization's recent announcement of a selection committee for the pageant's "Beyond the Crown Program," which it described as an "independent social impact initiative" that was designed to promote the contestants' charitable causes.

    Amid all the chaos, there are still 120 women hoping to become the next Miss Universe. After weeks of competition, one of them will finally be crowned Thursday night.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • New critical minerals manufacturer aiming to list on the ASX

    Factory worker wearing hardhat and uniform showing new metal products to the manager supervisor.

    The ASX is set to welcome a new $300 million metals manufacturing company to the bourse in the coming weeks, with Advanced Energy Minerals Ltd (ASX: AEM) looking to raise up to $50 million in an initial public offer.

    The company, in a prospectus lodged with the ASX, said it is a manufacturer of high purity alumina (HPA) at its production facility in Cap-Chat, Canada, where it recently finished a two-year capital works program.

    Expansion funds sought

    The existing facility has a 2000 tonne per year production capacity, with the company raising new funds to help expand production to 3000 tonnes per year. As Richard Seville, the company’s chair, explains, this would make it a major player in the HPA market.

    At 3,000 tonnes per annum, AEM would be the third largest HPA producer in the world outside of China.

    Mr Seville goes on to explain that demand for HPA is growing rapidly.

    The HPA market has grown rapidly over recent years with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 13.6% over the period from 2013 to 2024, and with double-digit growth forecast to continue for the next ten years. This growth has been driven by mass adoption of LED technology for energy efficient lighting and supported by significant demand growth in semi-conductors, advanced ceramics and lithium-ion batteries. All of these sectors are forecast to see continued growth underpinned by increased demand for processing and data storage associated with artificial intelligence.

    Mr Seville said independent research from CM Group has indicated that there would be potential undersupply of HPA next year, and also for the period from 2029 to 2034.

    As a result, we consider this to be an excellent time to be entering the HPA market. In response to these market dynamics, CM Group have forecast prices to increase from the current US$25/kg range to US$40/kg in the longer term.

    Not your everyday commodity

    Mr Seville said HPA was unlike most other commodities in that it needed to be tailored to meet each customer’s needs in terms of purity, particle size, and morphology, with the time period for qualifying a product with a customer taking as long as two years.

    AEM, he said, was well progressed in this area, putting it in a strong position.

    AEM has been able to advance this qualification process with a range of customers as the Cap-Chat Plant has consistently produced HPA on specification for over three years. As a result, AEM currently has eleven projects which have completed the qualification process phase and are in the commercial relationship stage, with twenty-two Projects in the industrial trials phase, and eighty-six in laboratory trials.

    The company is aiming to raise at least $40 million via the issue of new shares at 53 cents each, with oversubscriptions of $10 million allowed under the offer.

    Advanced Energy Minerals expects to close off the initial public offer of shares on November 28, with trading on the ASX to start on December 12.

    The company would be valued at $307.2 million on listing based on raising the minimum $40 million.  

    The post New critical minerals manufacturer aiming to list on the ASX appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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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.

  • AI bubble worries are rising. Nvidia’s $31.9 billion profit says otherwise.

    Woman and man calculating a dividend yield.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Key Points

    • Nvidia set another record for quarterly revenue with $57 billion in sales.
    • The company’s gross margin was 73.4% and is expected to improve in the fourth quarter.
    • The stock jumped 4% in after-hours trading.

    While the stock market has been fretting in recent weeks about the idea of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) may have just let the air out of those fears. The company’s earnings report for its fiscal third quarter of 2026 shows that the appetite for AI stocks — and Nvidia’s groundbreaking infrastructure in particular — remains ravenous. 

    A look at Nvidia’s report

    Nvidia’s earnings report after the bell on Nov. 19 showed record revenue of $57 billion, which is up 62% from last year and 22% on a sequential basis. Most of that revenue comes from Nvidia’s data center sales, which recorded $51.2 billion in revenue – up 66% from last year.

    Nvidia’s gross margin was an incredible 73.4% with net income of $31.9 billion — up 65% from last year and 21% from the second quarter. Earnings per share were up 67% from a year ago to $1.30.

    “Blackwell sales are off the charts, and cloud GPUs are sold out,” CEO Jensen Huang said. “Compute demand keeps accelerating and compounding across training and inference – each growing exponentially. We’ve entered the virtuous cycle of AI.

    “The AI ecosystem is scaling fast — with more new foundation model makers, more AI start-ups, across more industries, and in more countries,” Huang said. “AI is going everywhere, doing everything, all at once.”

    Nvidia’s guidance for its fiscal fourth quarter calls for revenue of $65 billion, and for margins to improve to between 74.8% and 75%.

    What Nvidia’s earnings mean for AI demand

    If there’s an AI bubble to be had, it won’t be with Nvidia or its major customers. Nvidia already has contracts with OpenAI, which is using at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia architecture, and has a new agreement with Anthropic to build at least 1 gigawatt of compute power with Nvidia’s chips.

    In addition, Nvidia has partnerships with Alphabet‘s Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Oracle, and xAI to build out domestic AI infrastructure — all using Nvidia’s chips.

    That’s why Nvidia’s stock jumped 4% in after-hours trading after the company dropped its earnings report. Shares of other major AI stocks were also up – Advanced Micro Devices rose 3% in after-hours trading, Broadcom was up 2%, and Palantir Technologies was up 2.5%.

    Nvidia’s earnings report may be just the thing that the stock market — and AI stocks in general — need to finish the year strong. The technology sector has been slipping in recent weeks, having just broken even in the last month after a better than 20% gain in the first 10 months of 2025. With Nvidia showing continued strength and forecasting even better margins and revenue in the fourth quarter, fears of an AI bubble may fade away quickly.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post AI bubble worries are rising. Nvidia’s $31.9 billion profit says otherwise. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

    Before you buy Nvidia 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 Nvidia 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…

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    Patrick Sanders has positions in Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why the CBA share price valuation is ‘disconnected from fundamentals’

    A female financial services professional with a manicured black afro hairstyle turns an ipad screen to show a client across the table a set of ASX shares figures in graph format.

    The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price has risen strongly over the past five years.

    Since this time in 2020, the banking giant’s shares have risen a sizeable 91%.

    In addition, during this time, Australia’s largest bank has rewarded shareholders with 10 dividend payments.

    Clearly, it was a smart move buying CBA’s shares half a decade ago.

    Valuation looking stretched

    Given this strong run, it may not come as a surprise to learn that most brokers believe that the CBA share price is overvalued now.

    In fact, it has been described by some analysts as the most expensive bank in the world.

    And while a premium is arguably justified due to its quality, the team at Bell Potter believes that its valuation is “disconnected from fundamentals.”

    Following a review of the banking sector, the broker has gone further underweight with its CBA holding. This makes the bank its largest active underweight position in its Core portfolio.

    Commenting on the big four bank, Bell Potter said:

    We are moving further Underweight in CBA, establishing it as our largest active underweight position in the Core portfolio. The bank’s valuation premium has expanded to an extreme and, in our view, unsustainable level, trading at a P/E multiple that is ~40% above the peer average. While a premium for its high-quality franchise and strong returns is warranted, the current gap is disconnected from fundamentals.

    Bell Potter believes that CBA’s recent quarterly update didn’t provide any justification for its lofty valuation and appears concerned that its valuation gap will close in the near future. It explains:

    The recent 1Q26 trading update underscored this, revealing the bank is not immune to the sector-wide pressures of NIM attrition (from competition and deposit mix) and rising costs. CBA’s result was “unremarkable” and showed a lack of differentiation versus peers. It faces the same wage and technology inflation as others, with its 1Q cost growth of 4% coming in a seasonally lower quarter for IT spend, implying costs will accelerate. With earnings momentum no better than its much cheaper rivals, we believe this valuation gap will continue to be under pressure.

    The broker currently has a preference for ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) on valuation grounds. It is the only bank that it has an overweight position in its Core portfolio. It adds:

    We are moving to an overweight position in ANZ, which we see as the clear relative value proposition and our preferred holding in the sector. ANZ delivered the cleanest and highest-quality result of the recent reporting season, providing a tangible “self-help” story that NAB and CBA lack, while Westpac’s is relatively priced in. The key differentiator was costs. Management’s guidance for a 3% decline in the underlying cost base for FY26 is unique among the majors and provides a clear path to earnings growth, even in a flat revenue environment.

    The post Why the CBA share price valuation is ‘disconnected from fundamentals’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Australia And New Zealand Banking Group right now?

    Before you buy Australia And New Zealand Banking Group 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 Australia And New Zealand Banking Group 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 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.

  • Lovisa holds AGM; provides a positive trading update

    A woman wearing a top of gold coins and large gold hoop earrings and a heavy gold bracelet stands amid a shower of gold coins with her mouth open wide and an excited look on her face.

    The Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) share price is in focus today as the company holds its annual general meeting (AGM) and provides a trading update. For the first 20 weeks of FY26, Lovisa’s global total sales jumped 26.2% compared to the same period last year, while comparable store sales rose 3.5%.

    What did Lovisa report?

    • Global total sales up 26.2% for the first 20 weeks of FY26 compared to FY25
    • Global comparable store sales up 3.5% on FY25
    • 44 net new stores opened financial year to date (62 opened, 18 closed/relocated)
    • Total store network now 1,075 stores across more than 50 markets
    • 148 more stores trading than the same time last year

    What else do investors need to know?

    Lovisa continued its international expansion apace, adding stores across all markets. The company now operates in more than 50 markets worldwide—a testament to its ongoing global rollout strategy.

    The 18 store closures this year include six relocations, suggesting management remains focused on optimising store performance and locations. The company’s AGM today serves as a checkpoint update rather than a full results release.

    What’s next for Lovisa?

    Looking ahead, Lovisa plans to maintain its focus on global expansion by opening stores in both existing and new markets. Management says it will continue to monitor performance as it grows, with an eye on optimising the global store network.

    Investors will be watching for the impact of continued store rollouts on sales trends and profitability in coming updates. A full financial result is expected at the company’s next scheduled reporting date.

    Lovisa share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Lovisa shares have risen 30%, significantly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Lovisa holds AGM; provides a positive trading update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lovisa Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you buy Lovisa Holdings 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 Lovisa Holdings 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…

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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 positions in and has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. 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.

  • What is Bell Potter’s view on REITs?

    A businessman compares the growth trajectory of property versus shares.

    ASX REITs are real estate investment trusts. Essentially, these are companies that own and operate property assets that typically produce income.

    REITs can have various property types in their portfolios, or they might specialise in just one type. 

    For example, some focus on commercial real estate, such as offices, hospitals, shopping centres, warehouses, and hotels. 

    Others specialise in residential property investment, such as aged care villages and apartment buildings.

    Each week, broker Bell Potter provides analysis on the sector, including target prices and recommendations. 

    Right now, it appears the broker sees upside after a down month. 

    Here is how the broker is viewing the sector right now. 

    Underperforming over the last month 

    In this week’s report, the broker noted that REITs performed well until a stronger-than-expected employment print (unemployment down to 4.3% vs. 4.5% prior and 4.4% consensus) drove the sector down against the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    Bell Potter said overall, the sector has underperformed over the last month but could be poised for a bounce back.

    On this sentiment, we still think the sector is well positioned (return of earnings growth, strong balance sheets, increased cap trans activity and potential for debt-funded accretive acquisitions) and worth bearing in mind 3mth BBSW is only marginally above where it started FY26 (c.3.6%).

    The broker highlighted that Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) delivered its 1H26 result, reaffirming full-year guidance, but lost ground given prior strong consensus views. 

    Other companies that fell last week included:

    Buy, hold, and sell from Bell Potter

    The report from Bell Potter also included target prices and recommendations.

    REITs with buy recommendations include:

    Of this group, the team at Bell Potter sees the biggest upside for Healthco Healthcare and Wellness Reit (ASX: HCW) and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG). 

    The broker sees roughly 37% to 40% upside from current levels. 

    The broker has hold recommendations on: 

    Bell Potter has a sell recommendation on Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF). 

    Looking ahead, the broker said feedback from corporates and leading CRE private credit providers points towards potential for margin compression across the sector. 

    The post What is Bell Potter’s view on REITs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Goodman Group 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 Goodman Group 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 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 Goodman Group and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group, HMC Capital, and HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Guess which ASX tech stock is tipped to rise 50%+

    A group of people gathered around a laptop computer with various expressions of interest, concern and surprise on their faces as they review the payouts from ASX dividend stocks. All are wearing glasses.

    If you are looking for some tech sector exposure after recent weakness, then it could be worth looking at the ASX stock in this article.

    That’s because if Bell Potter is on the money with its recommendation, it could deliver massive returns for investors over the next 12 months.

    Which ASX tech stock?

    The stock that Bell Potter is tipping as a buy is Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK).

    It is a specialist billing and CRM solutions and managed services provider to energy, water, and airport industries.

    Bell Potter notes that the majority of its revenue is generated from energy retailers and leveraged to IT infrastructure transformation within utilities/retailers, as well as future-facing distributed energy resources and decentralised storage trends.

    The broker points out that these are driving increasingly complex data sets to manage and general legacy platforms were not designed specifically for this.

    What is the broker saying?

    Bell Potter notes that macro tailwinds are strengthening for this ASX tech stock, which bodes well for its future growth. It said:

    Solar-generated energy accounted for 83% of the increase in global electricity demand for the first half of CY25, according to energy think tank, Ember, which also saw it pass a milestone in generating more power than coal for the first time during the measured window. Utility-scale solar deployments and grid connections are underpinned by its position as the lowest cost for energy generation on a $/MWh basis, as well as the most cost-competitive form of new-build generation (unsubsidised basis) according to Lazard’s annual Levelised Cost of Energy report.

    Though, there is one area of concern for the broker. That is lost momentum with its next generation g2.0 platform. It adds:

    Despite these positive macro tailwinds requiring updated/modern billing stacks, GTK seems to have lost g2.0 project momentum, which makes us cautious heading into the FY25 result.

    Time to buy

    Despite concerns over the g2.0 project, Bell Potter remains very positive and sees significant value in the ASX tech stock.

    This morning, it has retained its buy rating on Gentrack’s shares with a reduced price target of $9.80 (from $13.20). Based on its current share price of $6.34, this implies potential upside of 55% for investors between now and this time next year.

    Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

    Our A$ DCF valuation downwards due to the current ~decade-low in NZD against the AUD and introduced a 50:50 EV/EBITDA blend to our valuation methodology. We move to cautious on the growth outlook for GTK, which is predicated on winning transformation projects/front book revenues converting into recurring/back book revenue streams, amid a lack of positive utility project news in an increasingly competitive environment. We are positive on secular tailwinds in decentralised energy driving utility billing stack transformations broadly.

    The post Guess which ASX tech stock is tipped to rise 50%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Gentrack Group 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 Gentrack Group 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 Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • These ASX dividend stocks offer 7% to 10% yields

    Happy young woman saving money in a piggy bank.

    Interest rate cuts may be putting pressure on savers this year, but that doesn’t mean income investors are out of options.

    In fact, the Australian share market remains one of the most reliable hunting grounds for attractive yields.

    If you’re searching for strong dividend opportunities to help offset falling deposit rates, analysts have highlighted several ASX dividend stocks offering appealing income potential over the next couple of years.

    Here are two names that brokers currently rate as buys, along with the dividend yields they are forecasting.

    Dexus Convenience Retail REIT (ASX: DXC)

    For investors seeking stable, property-backed income, the Dexus Convenience Retail REIT could be a standout option.

    This REIT owns a nationwide portfolio of service stations and convenience retail sites, leased to high-quality tenants on long-term, inflation-linked agreements. These leases provide reliable, predictable cashflows, exactly what income investors typically look for.

    The assets in the portfolio are generally considered resilient, with demand for fuel, convenience goods, and essential services remaining steady through economic cycles. Annual rental increases further support income growth and help safeguard distributions over time.

    Bell Potter is bullish on the company and has a buy rating and $3.45 price target on its shares.

    As for income, it expects dividends of 20.9 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 21.6 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.86, this would mean dividend yields of 7.3% and 7.6%, respectively.

    IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH)

    Global intellectual property specialist IPH is another ASX dividend stock that analysts rate as buys this month.

    The company operates several well-known intellectual property services firms across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Asia, including AJ Park, Smart & Biggar, and Spruson & Ferguson. This positions IPH in a niche professional services market with steady demand and high client retention.

    And while its performance has been underwhelming in the past couple of years, the team at Morgans remains positive. It has also described its valuation as “undemanding” and is forecasting some very big dividend yields in the near term.

    The broker is expecting IPH to pay fully franked dividends of 37 cents per share in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its latest share price of $3.60, this equates to dividend yields over 10% for both years.

    Morgans currently has a buy rating and $6.05 price target on its shares.

    The post These ASX dividend stocks offer 7% to 10% yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Dexus Convenience Retail REIT right now?

    Before you buy Dexus Convenience Retail REIT 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 Dexus Convenience Retail REIT 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended IPH Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.