• Why Zip shares could rocket 60% over the next 12 months

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are having a good session on Wednesday.

    At the time of writing, the buy now pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares are up over 2% to $3.01.

    The good news for shareholders is that this could be the start of even greater gains according to analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

    What is the broker saying?

    Macquarie has been busy running the rule over Zip’s unit economics and was reasonably pleased with what it saw.

    While it acknowledges that Zip’s rapid total transaction value (TTV) growth is driving higher loss rates, it feels there is some seasonality impacts. Importantly, Macquarie believes the company is still positioned to achieve its net transaction margin guidance. It explains:

    Loan losses to TTV are being impacted by: 1) product mix, with introduction of Pay-in-8; and 2) new client growth. Growth in new clients has a direct impact on loan losses (and somewhat represents the ‘acquisition cost’ of new customers). New customers have a higher loss rate than mature customers. The instalment-based product at the core of the ZIP offering enables the group to quickly remove customers that don’t meet payments and, if the customer cures, re-instate credit availability.

    US Segment Payback: FY25 US Segment Cash Gross Profit per customer covered the US Segment Net Loss per customer in ~116 days. The speed of ‘payback’ illustrates the positive trade-off between extending credit to grow customers despite the ‘acquisition cost’ increase in loss rate. […] We forecast the Net Transaction Margin to remain within guidance of 3.8%-4.2% in FY26, despite the rate of TTV growth elevating loss rates.

    Zip shares tipped to rise strongly

    According to the note, the broker has retained its outperform rating and $4.85 price target on Zip’s shares.

    Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of just over 60% for investors between now and this time next year.

    This means that if Macquarie was on the money with its recommendation, a $10,000 investment would turn into approximately $16,000 in 12 months.

    Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

    Outperform. We forecast Zip to continue to deliver rapid growth supported by increased product adoption, expansion of merchant network, increased customer engagement and digital product innovation.

    Catalysts: We expect ZIP to deliver attractive TTV growth and NTM in the guidance range, with potential upside risk to earnings.

    Macquarie has also highlighted a few risks for investors to be aware of before snapping up shares. It adds:

    Competition and new entrants in the US market, loss of key merchants, customer bad debt, additional capital, loss of KMP, technology, security, fraud, regulatory changes and reputational risks.

    The post Why Zip shares could rocket 60% over the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Macquarie Group Limited shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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  • Where will Wesfarmers shares be in 3 years?

    A man points at a paper as he holds an alarm clock, indicating the ex-dividend date is approaching.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are one of the most appealing ASX blue-chip ideas Aussies can buy, in my opinion. The owner of Bunnings and Kmart has clearly done well, but the more important question is what happens next.

    It could be useful to consider the company’s plans, what might happen with its profit margins and the bottom line.

    Wesfarmers has successfully utilised its scale and other competitive advantages to grow. Kmart and Bunnings market themselves on the value of their products – these are the two key earnings generators of the business.

    Let’s look at how things could develop for Wesfarmers in the coming years.

    Further business growth

    Over the years, Wesfarmers has largely proven shrewd in allocating its money to businesses that can strengthen its financials and exiting companies it doesn’t think are compelling to own any more.

    Its Anko products are widely sold in Kmart stores across Australia. I’m excited by the move to sell these products overseas. Anko is now selling certain products to North America and it’s opening stores in the Philippines. Anko currently has five stores in the Asian market and I’m optimistic the business will open a number of more stores in the next three years.

    A mining project is another focus for the business, its WesCEF (chemicals, energy and fertilisers) division owns a 50% share of the Covalent lithium project. The company recently completed the construction of the Kwinana lithium hydroxide refinery, with first production in July 2025.

    WesCEF’s share of spodumene concentrate production for FY25 was 145kt, with production continuing to ramp up over the following 18months. I believe the company will have reached its full potential within three years.

    Profit

    Analysts are expecting Wesfarmers to become increasingly profitable as time goes on, which would be music to investors’ ears.

    In FY26, the current financial year, UBS is expecting the business to deliver revenue growth to $47.7 billion, an operating profit (EBIT) margin of 9.2%, net profit of $2.8 billion and a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 24.1%.

    In FY28, Wesfarmers is predicted by UBS to achieve $53.6 billion of revenue, an EBIT margin of 10%, net profit of $3.46 billion and a ROIC of 29.2%.

    If the company is able to continue growing its earnings, then ultimately this is likely to lead to a higher valuation.

    Wesfarmers share price valuation

    A share price doesn’t usually change in exact sync with profit growth. Changes in future profit expectations, interest rates and broader changes in market confidence can also have big impacts on how a business is valued.

    Currently, the Wesfarmers share price is valued at 33x next year’s (FY26) earnings. I wouldn’t expect Wesfarmers to hold onto a price/earnings (P/E) ratio that high forever.

    If, in three years, it traded at (for example) 30x FY28’s estimated earnings, it’d have a share price of $91.50. That’d be a rise of 14% (plus the dividends) over three years from today. That’s a fairly rudimentary way of calculating possible returns, though.

    Wesfarmers is a wonderful business and I’d be happy to own it for the long-term with its plans, though I’m not expecting massive growth due to its already-large size.

    The post Where will Wesfarmers shares be in 3 years? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

  • 1 perfect retirement stock with a 4.58% payout each month

    Woman holding $50 notes with a delighted face.

    For Aussies in retirement, investment in a good-quality ASX stock is key for growing your wealth. But finding a retirement stock that will hand out cash on a regular basis is even better.

    It’s easy to find a great dividend-paying ASX stock, but most of those only pay their investors every 6 or 12 months. Retirees want one that pays money every single month.

    I’ve previously written about the fantastic benefits of BetaShares Dividend Harvester Active ETF (ASX: HVST) and the Metrics Master Income Trust (ASX: MXT). Both are dividend stocks that pay cash every single month. 

    But there’s another great monthly-paying retirement stock which I think all Aussies should have in their portfolio.

    Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8

    Plato is a listed investment company (LIC) on the ASX that is focused on delivering high, reliable monthly income with franking credits from an actively managed, diversified portfolio of Australian shares. It is the first Australian listed investment company targeting to pay monthly dividends.

    Its investment strategy targets income-focused investors, specifically SMSF and pension-phase investors who want a reliable and consistent income stream. Its objective is to outperform (after fees) the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in total return terms, including franking credits, over the investment cycle, which is typically 3 to 5 years.

    The ASX dividend stock holds a portfolio of mature ASX-listed equities, cash, and listed futures. Its portfolio is mostly comprised of Australian companies with strong dividend payouts, including major banks, mining giants, and energy companies.

    As of 31 October this year, its portfolio included holdings in major stocks such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL (ASX: CSL), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). 

    At the time of writing, Plato’s top yielding stock, with a portfolio weight greater than 0.5% and an annual yield of 10.4%, is Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT).

    What does the retirement stock pay its investors each month?

    Plato has consistently paid fully franked dividends of 0.55 cents per share every month since April 2022. The stock’s dividend payment history dates back to October, when it paid out a slightly lower 0.45 cents per share.

    That equates to an annual running total of 6.6 cents per share in full franked passive income.

    At the current price of $1.44 per share (at the time of writing), that gives a trailing dividend yield of 4.58%.

    Plato plans to keep its dividend yield steady too

    In October, Plato told its investors that although franked dividend yields on Australian shares continue to modestly decline, it was able to increase the dividends it collected during the September quarter in order to hold the dividend steady at 0.55 cents for the remainder of the year.

    In an ASX note, the company explained that markets have continued their rally to all-time highs, spurred by interest rate cuts earlier in the year. But the outlook for the cash rate is uncertain.

    “Dividends declared during the August reporting season fell 2.2%, driven by cuts from mining and energy companies in contrast to dividend increases from the financial and industrial sectors. This has led to a further fall in the historical yield of the Australian market. Despite the uncertainty in the global economy, we expect to continue to receive solid dividends from a diversified portfolio of Australian companies in FY26,” the listed investment company said in its ASX note. 

    “One of the benefits of a closed-end listed investment company focused on income, such as PL8, is the ability to manage capital amidst uncertainty so as to provide regular dividend distributions over time. In the ongoing environment of economic uncertainty, liquidity and diversification are very important. By design, PL8’s underlying portfolio is well diversified and very liquid. PL8’s investment portfolio is well positioned to capture dividends from Australian companies.”

    The post 1 perfect retirement stock with a 4.58% payout each month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Plato Income Maximiser Limited right now?

    Before you buy Plato Income Maximiser 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 Plato Income Maximiser 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 Samantha Menzies 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why are Star shares rocketing 12% today?

    Young man sitting at a table in front of a row of pokie machines staring intently at a laptop. looking at the Crown Resorts share price

    Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) shares are taking off on Wednesday.

    In morning trade, the casino and resorts operator’s shares are up 12% to 11.75 cents.

    Why are Star shares rocketing?

    Investors have been bidding the company’s shares higher following the release of its second announcement in as many days.

    On Tuesday, the company revealed that its group CEO and managing director, Steve McCann, was leaving with immediate effect.

    Commenting on the news, Star Entertainment’s chair, Bruce Mathieson Jnr, said:

    On behalf of the Board I want to thank Steve for his strong leadership and hard work during one of the most complex and challenging periods for The Star. Steve joined at a time of crisis for The Star and has helped to deliver a critical financial reset for the business and successfully progressed our Remediation Plan, which have laid the foundations for The Star’s long-term future success. We wish him well in his next endeavours.

    Speaking about his exit, Mr McCann said:

    The strategic investment by Bally’s Corporation and Investment Holdings Pty Ltd provides an opportunity for The Star to move in a new direction and pursue a pathway to recovery and future growth. Now is the right time for new leadership to be put in place with the experience and passion to build on that momentum and take The Star forward.

    In response, it was revealed that Bruce Mathieson Jnr will take on additional duties as executive chair while a search for a permanent CEO is conducted.

    However, that change lasted less than a day.

    Chair steps down

    Today’s announcement reveals that Bruce Mathieson Jnr stepped down as chairman and was appointed as its CEO at a board meeting yesterday. This is subject to agreement of final documentation.

    Mathieson Jnr will remain on the board as an executive director.

    Replacing him as the company’s chair will be Soo Kim, after he was appointed to the role at the board meeting.

    The company also revealed that Peter Hodgson and Toni Thornton have resigned as non-executive directors, effective 16 December. This means that the board will now comprise just Soo Kim, Bruce Mathieson Jnr, and George Papanier.

    Star’s new chair, Soo Kim, commented:

    We are fortunate to have Bruce lead our company as CEO. George and I understand what an honour and responsibility it is to join and contribute to the Board. We are confident our best days are ahead.

    The post Why are Star shares rocketing 12% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in The Star Entertainment Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy The Star Entertainment 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 The Star Entertainment 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 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.

  • 3 reasons everyone is talking about Santos shares today

    An oil worker assesses productivity at an oil rig as ASX 200 energy shares continue to rise.

    Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are in the red today.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed yesterday trading for $6.11. In morning trade on Thursday, shares are swapping hands for $6.04 apiece, down 1.2%.

    For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.2%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is down a steeper 1.3% at this same time.

    Now, here’s why the Aussie oil and gas company is grabbing investor attention today.

    Plunging oil price pressures Santos shares

    The first reason Santos shares are under the microscope, and slipping, today is the sharp overnight fall in global oil prices.

    West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil is trading at its lowest levels since February 2021, currently fetching $US$55.27 per barrel.

    The Brent crude oil price is also trading at near five-year lows, with Brent crude oil falling 2.7% overnight to US$58.92 per barrel.

    As you’d expect, this isn’t just throwing up headwinds for Santos. Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares, for example, are down 1.8% today while Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share have slipped 0.9%.

    Goodbye to $363 million of debt

    The second reasons Santos shares are on ASX investors’ radars today is the company’s early debt repayment.

    This morning, Santos announced it has accelerated the final repayment under the PNG LNG project finance facility, bringing the facility to a close. Santos made its final $363 million payment six months ahead of the June 2026 repayment deadline.

    Commenting on the early debt repayment, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said:

    Final payment of the PNG LNG project financing facility strengthens Santos’ balance sheet at a time when our major development projects enter production, positioning us to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.

    Santos has no further scheduled debt maturities in 2026.

    Santos shares cashing up on divestments

    Which brings us to the third reason Santos shares are grabbing ASX investor interest today.

    This morning the company also reported that it has executed a conditional sale and purchase agreement to divest its 42.86% operated interest in the Mahalo Joint Venture, located in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, to Comet Ridge Ltd (ASX: COI).

    The divestment will see Santos receive $40 million up front with up to $20 million in contingent payments linked to production milestones.

    Santos noted that it also recently completed the divestment to Eni Australia of its 42.71% interest in the Petrel fields and 100% in the Tern fields in the Bonaparte Basin offshore Northern Australia.

    “I am pleased to agree commercial terms with our existing partners that will allow them to progress the development of these assets, unlocking future supply for the Australian domestic gas market,” Gallagher said.

    He added:

    These two transactions reflect our commitment to capital discipline to deliver sustainable and competitive shareholder returns.

    Santos’ near-term priorities are to deliver Barossa and Pikka, and to progress the next phase of growth opportunities that leverage our existing operating footprint.

    With today’s intraday dip factored in, Santos shares are down 6.1% since this time last year.

    The post 3 reasons everyone is talking about Santos shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Beach Energy Limited right now?

    Before you buy Beach Energy 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 Beach Energy 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 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.

  • This 10-bagger drone technology company has just won a lucrative new defence contract

    A silhouette of a soldier flying a drone at sunset.

    Shares in Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS) were trading higher on Wednesday after the company, which has increased in value 10-fold over the past year, said it had won new contracts worth more than US$20 million.

    The company said in a statement to the ASX on Wednesday that it had secured a new contract worth US$21.2 million ($32.1 million) for delivery across January to April next year, “reflecting strong beginning and forward demand for the Halo platform across multiple defence and uncrewed programs”.

    Innovative communications technology

    The company’s Halo platform is a communications technology for “beyond visual line of sight” drone operations, according to the Elsight website.

    As the company says:

    Elsight’s Halo beyond visual line of sight communication module ensures uncrewed aerial and ground systems (UAVs/UGVs) remain securely connected to their command centres, across any terrain, spectrum disruptions, or network limitations. Powered by proprietary multilink bonding technology, Halo seamlessly aggregates cellular, SATCOM, and other RF networks into a virtual pipeline with built-in redundancy, enabling continuous transmission of video, telemetry, and control data. Proven across hundreds of thousands of operational hours in the most demanding environments, Halo delivers the connection confidence that military, commercial, and public safety operators demand.

    The company said for the calendar year to date, it had delivered a record 1000% year-on-year revenue growth, and the new order “accelerates the company’s move to sustained profitability”.

    The company said the new order was with a European customer, and “consistent with prior engagements, the contract includes up-front payments to support working capital, with the remaining balance payable prior to delivery”.

    Company building credibility

    Elsight Chief Executive Officer Yoav Amitai said it was a major win for the company.

    This contract further strengthens our visibility heading into 2026 and reflects the depth of engagement we are now seeing across defence and commercial markets. This, in addition to advancing to the next phase of the DIU Project G.I. program, together with the maturing opportunities across our global pipeline, demonstrates the trust being placed in Halo as a mission critical connectivity layer. We enter 2026 with strong momentum, expanding demand, and a clear foundation for continued growth.

    The “DIU” project refers to a US Defense Innovation Unit project, which Elsight is taking part in, having performed successfully in two phases of the project to date.

    As part of the Phase 3 program, “Elsight will further demonstrate and validate its HALO system’s operational readiness across real-world scenarios”, the company’s website says.

    Elsight shares were 6.3% higher at $3.05 in early trade on Wednesday. The company’s shares have increased more than 10-fold over the past year from lows of 29 cents.

    Elsight was valued at $630 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

    Bell Potter recently tipped Elsight as a defence company to watch; however, its share price target on the stock was only $2.

    The post This 10-bagger drone technology company has just won a lucrative new defence contract appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Elsight 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 Elsight Limited wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • GPT Group declares 12 cent distribution for HY25

    Person handing out $100 notes, symbolising ex-dividend date.

    GPT Group (ASX: GPT) is in focus after the company announced a half-year distribution of 12 cents per security, fully unfranked, for the period ending 31 December 2025.

    What did GPT Group report?

    • Declared distribution of 12 cents per security for the six months to 31 December 2025
    • Distribution will be paid on 27 February 2026
    • Record date set as 31 December 2025; ex-date is 30 December 2025
    • The distribution is 100% unfranked
    • Tax component details to be included in the Annual Tax Statement for 2025

    What else do investors need to know?

    GPT Group’s latest announcement provides key dates for its upcoming distribution, helping investors plan for the payment and associated tax reporting. The payment, while unfranked, gives consistent income to security holders during the period.

    Further tax detail will be made available on GPT’s website and in investor Annual Tax Statements in 2026, ensuring transparency on the tax effective nature of the income received.

    What’s next for GPT Group?

    GPT Group will finalise the distribution amount and confirm all tax components before the payment date. Investors can expect the annual tax statement in 2026 to outline all relevant breakdowns for their tax affairs.

    As the group continues its property operations, market watchers will be interested to see how consistent distributions contribute to investor confidence over the next reporting period.

    GPT Group share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, GPT Group shares have risen 23% over the past 12 months, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post GPT Group declares 12 cent distribution for HY25 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy GPT 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 GPT 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 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.

  • Which property group has just upgraded its profit outlook for the second time this year?

    Builder holding long rectangular wood.

    Shares in Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP) were trading almost 10% higher on Wednesday after the company announced its second profit outlook upgrade so far this financial year.

    The property development company in October upgraded the guidance for its FY26 profits to be 15% better than last year’s net profit, up from the previous guidance of 10%.

    The company has now upgraded this once again, and says FY26 full-year profit is likely to come in “at least” 20% higher than the full-year result for FY25, which was a net profit of $48.1 million, itself up 18.9% on the previous year.

    Tailwinds for the business

    The company said on Wednesday that its second upgrade of the year was due to “strong sales and price growth, as well as faster project delivery which is occurring at some projects”.

    The company said this stronger result would also likely flow into more dividend payments to investors; however, it did not specify a potential dividend increase.

    As the company said:

    A record FY26 profit is expected for the company, which will in turn support increased dividend distributions. Earnings will be weighted to the first half.

    The company said overall the business was travelling well, with growth targets being hit early.

    Full year sales price growth expectations have been achieved in the first half of the year at many of the company’s projects, especially in Western Australia and Queensland which continue to experience very favourable conditions. South Australia’s conditions are steady, and Victoria is experiencing improved enquiry and sales levels. Overall, enquiry and sales volumes are at historically elevated levels for the company.

    The company said there were structural tailwinds for its business, including housing supply shortfalls, low unemployment, and government support for homebuyers.

    Cedar Woods added that recent speculation that interest rates might soon be heading higher did not seem to be deterring buyers, “with the national housing supply shortfall expected to continue to support sales volumes and pricing”.

    The company added that it had a strong balance sheet, a diversified and high-quality development pipeline, significant presales, and “the board remains confident in the company’s ability to continue to deliver strong returns for shareholders”.

    Cedar Woods said more detail on its outlook would be provided when it reported its half-year results on February 24.

    Cedar Woods shares were 9.3% higher at $8.74 in early trade on Wednesday. The company was valued at $680.6 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

    The post Which property group has just upgraded its profit outlook for the second time this year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Cedar Woods Properties Limited right now?

    Before you buy Cedar Woods Properties 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 Cedar Woods Properties Limited wasn’t one of them.

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

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

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • A California judge rules that Tesla misled consumers on how autonomous its cars are

    A Tesla vehicle.

    Tesla has 90 days to amend its advertising language or face a 30-day suspension from selling in California, Steve Gordon, the Director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, said in a media briefing on Tuesday.

    On November 21, Administrative Judge Juliet E. Cox made a proposed decision about whether Tesla has misled consumers into thinking its cars are more capable of driving themselves than they actually are, and transmitted it to the DMV for consideration. The document containing the proposal, however, has been withheld from the public and won't be released till December 22.

    Gordon said during the Tuesday briefing that Cox recommended both a suspension of Tesla's license to sell and to manufacture in California. The DMV, however, decided not to pursue a suspension of the license to manufacture, and put a temporary 90-day stay on the suspension of the license to sell for Tesla to make amends.

    The notice to Tesla follows a weeklong hearing in July at the administrative court in Oakland. In 2022, the DMV sued Tesla, accusing the car maker of misleading consumers through Tesla's advertisements and by naming its driver assistance technologies "Full Self-Driving" and "Autopilot."

    Tesla's lawyers denied that the company had ever tried to conceal the fact that its vehicles cannot fully drive themselves.

    The DMV sought to suspend Tesla's ability to sell cars in the state for at least 30 days and award consumers monetary damages.

    The CA DMV wrote in its complaint that on multiple occasions in 2021 and 2022, Tesla's website advertised its FSD driver assistance system as being "designed to be able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver's seat."

    Tesla's lawyers said during the hearing that the company has always informed buyers that they "cannot fully rely" on FSD or Autopilot.

    "Cars with Full Self-Driving capabilities are currently not capable of driving themselves," said Attorney Matthew Benedetto, a member of Tesla's legal team, during the hearing.

    Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    This is a developing story; please check back for more.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Growthpoint Properties Australia declares 9.2c interim distribution

    Australian dollar notes in businessman pocket suit, symbolising ex dividend day.

    The Growthpoint Properties Australia (ASX: GOZ) share price is in focus after the company announced a fully unfranked interim distribution of 9.2 cents per stapled security for the six months ending 31 December 2025.

    What did Growthpoint Properties Australia report?

    • Interim distribution of 9.2 cents per stapled security, unfranked
    • Record date set for 31 December 2025
    • Ex-dividend date is 30 December 2025
    • Payment date scheduled for 27 February 2026
    • Distribution relates to the half-year period ending 31 December 2025
    • Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) is in place for this distribution

    What else do investors need to know?

    This dividend will be paid entirely unfranked, meaning shareholders will not receive franking credits with this payment. The company has confirmed there is no conduit foreign income attached to this distribution.

    Details on the tax components of the distribution will be provided on or around the payment date at Growthpoint’s website, helping investors with their tax obligations. Shareholders can also choose to participate in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan if they wish to increase their holdings automatically.

    What’s next for Growthpoint Properties Australia?

    Growthpoint Properties Australia continues to offer regular distributions to its investors, supported by its property portfolio. The company’s ongoing focus is on stable income generation and providing flexibility for investors through its DRP.

    Looking ahead, investors will be watching for the full-year results and updates on the property market, which could impact future distributions and portfolio performance.

    Growthpoint Properties Australia share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Growthpoint Properties Australia shares have risen 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which as risen 3% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Growthpoint Properties Australia declares 9.2c interim distribution 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.