Five thousand dollars is enough to build a significant position in three quality ASX shares.

Of these stocks, one is a recovery story, one pays the bills, and one is exposed to a broader structural theme.

1. CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL had a truly disappointing FY26 on paper.

The company’s statutory result was a US$2.6 billion loss after US$7.1 billion in impairments.

Underneath that, revenue was US$15.8 billion and underlying NPATA was US$3.1 billion, with both falling by only 1% to 2%.

The market has already looked through it, with the shares up 39% in August alone.

FY27 guidance is where the true interest lies.

Management is targeting roughly 5% underlying profit growth, comfortably ahead of what analysts had pencilled in.

A US$1 billion buyback was announced alongside the result.

At $174.94 the shares trade on a price-to-earnings ratio near 18, which is a long way below the premium CSL carried for most of the past decade.

Interim chief executive Gordon Naylor was direct about the reset:

CSL is positioned for a return to sustainable growth, supported by solid plasma market fundamentals, a simplified business and targeted investment in our commercial capabilities and development programs.

2. Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra is the more boring option to choose from.

The company’s FY26 income slipped 0.8% to $22,937 million. Underlying net profit after tax still rose 4.9% to $2.5 billion, while underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation after leases grew 4% to $8.3 billion.

The company’s full-year dividend lifted 10.5% to 21 cents per share, lifting its dividend yield to 4.4% with franking close to 90%.

Chief executive Vicki Brady tied the payout directly to the company’s broader strategy:

Our dividend is supported by strong cash earnings, and our Connected Future 30 ambition remains to deliver mid-single digit growth in cash earnings.

3. Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman Group has fallen 16% over the past twelve months, while the company’s earnings went the other way.

Operating profit rose 15.7% to $2.67 billion in FY26, whereas operating earnings per security climbed 10.1% to 129.9 cents.

Work in progress reached $19.7 billion with data centres making up 78% of it, and gearing is at just 6.5% with $6.4 billion of liquidity supporting the company’s future growth plans.

Management is guiding to 9% operating earnings per security growth in FY27.

Group chief executive Greg Goodman explained where the demand is coming from:

Demand is structural across both logistics and data centres. Automation and robotics continue to drive logistics requirements while scarcity of power and land remains the key constraint on AI and cloud growth supporting data centre demand.

Why these ASX shares work together

The three provide a strong level of diversification.

CSL is global healthcare with a US dollar revenue base, whereas Telstra is a domestic utility in all but name.

For its part, Goodman is leveraged to data centre construction across supply-constrained cities.

This provides investors with some level of risk diversification, even in a portfolio of just three stocks.

Foolish takeaway

None of these ASX shares are cheap in the deep value sense.

Each is cheaper than it was twelve months ago while earning more than it did then.

That is the combination that should interest most investors.

For investors just getting into investing, these three ASX blue chips provide a good starting point.

The post Top 3 ASX shares I’d buy with $5000 right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It has been an unusual end to the week for Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) shareholders.

The infant formula stock was up 7.53% to 10 cents on Friday when trading was paused shortly before 1pm.

Not long after, Bubs requested a trading halt while it prepares an announcement relating to an update from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The move caps off a strong few days for the shares, which have climbed around 16% over the past week. However, they remain down roughly 27% since the start of 2026.

So, what are investors waiting to hear?

Why are Bubs shares halted?

According to the release, Bubs requested an immediate trading halt pending an announcement relating to an update from the FDA.

Trading will remain suspended until the announcement is released or the market opens on Tuesday, 8 September, whichever comes first.

The FDA decision is a big one for Bubs because the United States has become its largest market.

The company first expanded into the country during the 2022 infant formula shortage, when overseas suppliers were brought in to help ease supply shortages.

At last week’s FY26 result, management said its FDA approval pathway remained on track and that it was confident of achieving authorisation.

In the meantime, Bubs products have continued to be imported, sold and distributed in the US while the FDA completes its review.

Investors will now have to wait for the next announcement to find out exactly what has changed.

Directors have been buying

The halt also comes after a run of director buying over the past few days.

The Australian reported that Bubs chair Paul Jensen and directors Pascal De Petrini and Lori Tauber Marcus have bought around 2.4 million shares on market since 31 August.

Jensen bought 1.5 million shares for about $130,500, while De Petrini picked up 800,000 shares for around $69,600.

On Thursday, US-based director and former PepsiCo executive Lori Tauber Marcus bought her first 100,000 shares at 9.5 cents each.

The US has become a key market

A lot of Bubs’ recent growth has come from the US.

Group revenue rose 9.2% to $111.9 million in FY26, while US revenue increased 24% to $65.8 million as the company expanded into more than 10,000 stores.

Profitability also improved, with underlying EBITDA rising to $5.3 million from $1.2 million a year earlier.

Reported EBITDA was less impressive, coming in at a $1.8 million loss after higher airfreight, regulatory and tariff costs.

Brokers remain fairly positive on the stock as well. TipRanks has three buy ratings, with an average 12-month price target of 13 cents.

That’s about 30% above the halted price of 10 cents.

The post This ASX share jumped 7% before a trading halt. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How high do brokers think Bubs Australia shares will go?

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.2% at 9,000.9 points on Friday.

With reporting season now over, brokers have downgraded a series of ASX stocks after reviewing their financial results.

Let’s take a look at some of them.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The Wisetech share price is $37.65, up 2.4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX tech share has fallen 1%.

Jefferies downgraded WiseTech shares to a hold rating following its FY26 results.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $60 to $45.

This still implies a potential 20% upside ahead.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

The Harvey Norman share price is $4.31, up 2.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX retail share has descended 13%.

Jarden downgraded Harvey Norman shares to a hold rating following its FY26 results.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $4.50.

This implies a potential 4% upside ahead.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

Ampol shares are $41.20, down 0.5% today after going ex-dividend.

Over the past month, this ASX energy share has risen 6%.

Jefferies downgraded Ampol shares to a hold rating following its FY26 results.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $45.

This implies a potential 9% upside ahead.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is $11.49, up 2% on Friday.

JP Morgan downgraded this ASX uranium share to a sell call after Paladin’s FY26 results.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $9.10.

This suggests a 20% downside from here.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $5.18, down 0.6% today.

Morgans downgraded South32 shares from accumulate to hold after reviewing its FY26 numbers.

The broker raised its price target from $4.70 to $4.90.

This implies a potential 6% downside over the next year.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU)

The Perseus Mining share price is $6.73, up 1.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX gold share has ripped 37%.

JP Morgan downgraded Perseus Mining shares to a hold rating following its FY26 results.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $6.30.

This implies a potential 6% downside ahead.

Perseus Mining is among 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

The Objective Corporation share price is $6.60, up 3.6% on Friday.

Over the past month, this ASX technology share has fallen 8%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Objective Corporation shares to a hold call after its FY26 report.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target by more than half, from $16 to $7.25.

This still implies a potential 10% upside ahead.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino’s Pizza share price is $20.34, up 1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX consumer discretionary share has lifted 2%.

Jarden downgraded Domino’s Pizza shares to a sell rating following its FY26 results.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $14, suggesting a 31% downside ahead.

Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG)

The Regis Healthcare share price is $4.41, up 2.6% today.

Over the past month, this ASX healthcare share has tumbled 29%.

RBC Capital downgraded Regis Healthcare shares to a hold call following its FY26 results.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $7.50 to $5.

This implies a potential 13% upside ahead.

The post 9 ASX shares downgraded by experts post-results this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 8 ASX shares upgraded by the professionals post-results this week
• Down another 18%: Why I’d buy WiseTech shares in the dip
• Where could the WiseTech share price be in 12 months?
• 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy in September
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, JPMorgan Chase, Jefferies Financial Group, Objective, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman, Objective, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.