The National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR) share price is in focus after news that the company will be removed from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), following its planned takeover by Brookfield Asset Management and GIC.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• National Storage REIT to be removed from the S&P/ASX 200 Index, pending final court approval of its acquisition.
• The removal and replacement process will take effect before the open of trading on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.
• Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) will join the S&P/ASX 200 Index in NSR’s place.
• The acquisition involves a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management and GIC.

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage REIT’s removal from the S&P/ASX 200 comes as the company approaches the completion of its acquisition by a global consortium. This follows a period of market speculation about National Storage’s future on the index and under new ownership.

The change is subject to final court approval of the acquisition, a common step when listed entities are taken over and cease to be independent ASX-listed companies.

What’s next for National Storage REIT?

If the court approves the acquisition as expected, National Storage REIT shares will be delisted, and investors will receive their consideration from the takeover consortium. The company’s removal from the S&P/ASX 200 may affect portfolios tracking the index and eligibility for certain funds.

Investors might want to keep an eye out for the final court decision and any further updates from the consortium regarding the acquisition timeline and settlement process.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index which has risen 16% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT to exit ASX 200 after takeover announcement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

If I were building a balanced ASX share portfolio today, I’d pair one elite growth compounder with one high-yield cash machine.

That combination gives you the best of both worlds: long-term capital growth and immediate passive income. For an investor thinking a decade ahead, that’s the kind of ASX share mix that can help build both wealth and retirement income.

Let’s take a closer look.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The growth pick is Pro Medicus. The $14 billion ASX share has lost 38% of its value in 2026. Even after its sharp sell-off earlier this year, this remains one of the highest-quality growth businesses on the ASX.

The radiology imaging software specialist recently delivered another strong half, with revenue and profit surging, and it continues to land long-duration US hospital contracts. In just the past two weeks, Pro Medicus has landed two significant US contracts and that’s starting to shift sentiment.

Importantly, the February result-driven plunge pushed the stock to a fresh 52-week low near $108, despite record earnings. That disconnect is exactly what makes the ASX healthcare share interesting.

This is a business with world-class margins, no debt, sticky healthcare clients, and a huge US expansion runway. Its Visage imaging platform is deeply embedded into hospital workflows, making switching incredibly difficult.

While the valuation still isn’t cheap, quality software leaders rarely are. In light of the recent weakness, most brokers see Pro Medicus as a strong buy, with the maximum average 12-month price target set at $275. That’s a potential 100% upside, at current price levels.

For patient investors, this looks like a rare chance to buy a premium ASX growth share well below its highs.

GQG Partners Inc. (ASX: GQG)

The funds management giant continues to stand out as one of the market’s most attractive dividend plays, currently offering a double-digit yield above 11% based on recent payouts. Morgans is expecting very generous dividend yields of 11% in FY 2026 and FY 2027.

What I like most is that GQG’s dividend isn’t just high for the sake of it. The ASX share throws off serious cash, boasts strong profit margins, and still trades on a relatively modest earnings multiple.

If global equity markets remain supportive and funds under management (FUM) continue to grow, investors could enjoy both juicy income and capital upside. On Monday GQG reported FUM of US$162.5 billion as at 31 March 2026. That included net outflows of US$8.6 billion for the quarter, a clear red flag for the market.

Despite the recent setback, Morgans recently upgraded the ASX share to a buy rating (from accumulate) and lifted its price target from $1.89 to $2.03. That implies around 19% upside from the current share price of $1.70 over the next 12 months.

The post One ASX share to double, one yielding 11% — ASX picks for April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• This dirt cheap ASX 200 tech stock could rise 70%
• Still down 40%, are Pro Medicus shares primed to break out?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Gqg Partners and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are a lot of gold miners to choose from on the Australian share market.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at one ASX 200 gold stock that Bell Potter is bullish on.

Which ASX 200 gold stock?

The gold miner that Bell Potter is tipping as a buy is Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

It notes that the company released its quarterly update this week. While it wasn’t blown away with the update, the broker remains positive given its strong cash flow generation. Commenting on the quarter, Bell Potter said:

EVN has reported a weaker March quarter 2026 result, in-line with management commentary and previously disclosed operational disruptions at Ernest Henry (flooding) and Cowal (bi-annual mill shutdown). Group production was 170.1koz gold and 10.8kt copper (vs BPe 171.0koz gold and 16.6kt copper).

While the March quarter suffered from operational and weather disruptions resulting in lower production and higher costs QoQ, this had been flagged to the market. That EVN still generated near-record free cash flow under these circumstances helped a strong positive reaction. We also believe consistent commentary on maintaining capital discipline, investing in high-returning organic growth projects and an aversion to hoarding cash has been well received by the market. We forecast EVN to declare fully-franked dividends of 50cps in FY26, up from 20cps in FY25.

Time to buy?

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 gold stock with a slightly trimmed price target of $16.45 (from $16.60).

Based on its current share price of $14.45, this implies potential upside of 14% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, Bell Potter is forecasting an attractive 3.5% dividend yield over the period. This boosts the total potential return to over 17%.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

EPS changes on this update are -6% for FY26, FY27 and FY28 are unchanged. Changes to our operational assumptions are minor. EVN offers effectively unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has stated its intention to pass growing free cash flows on to shareholders. Our NPV-based Target Price drops 1% to $16.45/sh and we retain our Buy recommendation.

The post Why this ASX 200 gold stock could be a strong buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
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• Is this one of the best ASX 200 gold stocks to buy now?

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.

Wouldn’t it be great to own ASX shares that could deliver big returns over the next 12 months and potentially beyond? I’m going to highlight three businesses that experts are very positive about.

A price target tells investors where experts think the share price could go within the next year, and we’re going to look at three ASX shares where analysts have put price targets on businesses that suggest they could rise by at least 75%.

Let’s look at these different opportunities.

Autosports Group Ltd (ASX: ASG)

Autosports describes itself as Australia’s only ASX-listed specialist prestige and luxury vehicle retailer. It has more than 80 businesses across key metropolitan markets in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Auckland.

It has new and used vehicle dealerships, motorcycle dealerships, and specialist collision repair facilities.

The business is growing strongly – in the first half of FY26, revenue grew 10.9% to $1.52 billion, normalised operating profit (EBITDA) rose 26.6% to $70.6 million, and normalised net profit before tax (NPBT) grew 74.9% to $35.3 million. In January 2026, new vehicle written orders were up 13% and service and parts revenue was up 11%.

In its FY26 half-year result, it said it was expecting further profit growth, partly because of operating leverage and the inclusion of earnings from recent acquisitions.

According to CMC Invest, there have been five buy ratings on the business, with an average price target of $4.78, suggesting a possible rise of around 100% over the next year.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR)

Myer is best known as a department store retailer and it also has a number of apparel brands, including Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti, Jacqui E, Sass & Bide, Marcs, and David Lawrence.

The ASX share’s FY26 half-year result included growth from the inclusion of acquired apparel brands into the business. Total sales grew 24.5% to $2.28 billion and underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 21.7% to $51.7 million. But, ‘pro forma’ net profit declined 17% because of investments in strategic initiatives.

The Myer share price dropped more than 50% in the past year and it now looks cheap according to experts.

According to CMC Invest, there have been three recent ratings on the business, with two of those being a buy and one being a hold. The average price target is 53 cents, suggesting a possible rise of well over 80%.

It’s now priced at under 8x FY26’s estimated earnings, according to the forecast on CMC Invest.

Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX)

The third ASX share that I’m going to cover is one of the leading lighting retailers in Australia with a large retail store network as well as having commercial customers and international sales.

The Beacon Lighting share price has dropped by around 50% in the past year, which makes it look a lot cheaper today.

According to CMC Invest, there have been six recent ratings on the business, with five of those being a buy. The average price target from those ratings was $3.06, suggesting a possible rise of around 80% from where it is today.

Using the forecast on CMC Invest, the Beacon Lighting share price is valued at 13x FY26’s estimated earnings.

The post 3 ASX shares tipped to grow 75% or more in the next 12 month! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Myer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares were on form on Wednesday.

The agricultural chemicals company’s shares ended the day 11% higher at $2.47 following the release of a trading update.

But if you thought the gains were over, think again.

That’s because Bell Potter is tipping this ASX 200 share to continue to rise over the next 12 months.

What is the broker saying about this ASX 200 share?

Bell Potter was pleased with the company’s update and highlights that its earnings guidance and balance sheet deleveraging were ahead of expectations. It said:

NUF has provided a positive trading update with underlying 1H26 uEBITDA expected in a range of $239-244m (vs. BPe of $231m and VA of $240m) and representing +16-19% YoY growth. The performance is driven by improved margins in crop protection, growth in the traditional hybrid seeds platform and a stronger performance in the Omega-3 and biofuel platforms

Net debt at 1H26, which is traditionally the seasonal peak, is expected at ~$1.23Bn, which is down $130m YoY and at 3.6x T12M EBITDA is down materially from the 4.6x T12M EBITDA reported at 1H25. This is an improvement from previous expectations of 1H26 net debt to be similar to 1H25 levels.

In addition, it was pleased to see that momentum was continuing. The broker adds:

Positive trading momentum has continued into April across all regions and the group is targeting an additional $50m in costs savings following a strategy refresh (following the change in CEO). The savings are on top of the run rate $50m in cost outs that were delivered in FY25 and realised over 2H25/1H26.

Nufarm shares tipped to rise

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $3.60 price target on the company’s shares.

Based on where the ASX 200 share is currently trading, this implies potential upside of 46% for investors over the next 12 months.

Explaining its bullish stance and buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

We are now in or approaching the most material selling windows for NUF and the majority of markets look supportive of reasonable demand levels of crop protection products and the most recent trading update confirms improved margin trends.

In addition, upward movements in active ingredients (glyphosate >30% gains in recent weeks) and omega-3 indicators all look to support a more favourable pricing backdrop for 2H26e. The potential for a faster selling window and restart of omega-3 oil sales have the scope to assist in deleveraging the NUF balance sheet further, which is already slightly ahead of schedule.

The post Why this ASX 200 share could be heading 40%+ higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Big share price declines tend to draw attention, especially when they involve well-known growth companies.

For me, the more interesting question is what has changed beneath the surface, and whether the long-term direction of the business still points higher over time.

Here are two ASX 200 shares that have pulled back heavily, but that I think still offer compelling long-term potential.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 is a business I increasingly think of as a network rather than just an app.

At its core, this technology company connects families through location sharing and safety features, but what stands out is the scale it is reaching. The platform now has close to 100 million monthly active users globally, with strong growth continuing across both the US and international markets.

That kind of scale creates something valuable. As more users join the platform, the usefulness of the network increases, and that can support stronger engagement and monetisation over time. The company is already seeing that play out, with subscription growth continuing to track alongside user growth.

What I find interesting is how many layers this business could have. Beyond subscriptions, there are opportunities in hardware, data, advertising, and additional services that sit on top of the core platform. That creates multiple pathways for growth, rather than relying on a single revenue stream.

For me, the size of the network and the ability to deepen monetisation over time is what makes this ASX 200 share very interesting, especially after falling more than 60% from its high.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne offers a very different type of opportunity.

Where Life360 is building a global consumer platform, TechnologyOne is focused on enterprise software, particularly for government, education, and large organisations.

What stands out to me here is the strength and consistency of the business. Over time, TechnologyOne has developed a model built around recurring revenue, long-term customer relationships, and steady expansion within its existing base. That creates a level of predictability that is not always common in technology companies.

More recently, the company has been leaning into artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its product offering, with management highlighting AI as a driver of confidence in future growth.

I think that is an interesting shift. Rather than being positioned as a risk, AI is being integrated into the product suite to enhance what the company already does. That approach could help strengthen its value proposition over time, particularly with customers looking for more capability without added complexity.

The share price pullback suggests some caution from the market, but the underlying model remains consistent. For me, that combination of reliability and gradual evolution is what makes it a compelling long-term holding. This is particularly the case after pulling back 33% from its high.

Foolish Takeaway

Share price declines of this magnitude often reflect a change in sentiment as much as a change in fundamentals.

Life360 is building a large and growing network with multiple avenues for monetisation, while TechnologyOne continues to deliver a steady, recurring revenue model while evolving its product offering.

They are different businesses, but I think both offer something that matters over the long term. The ability to grow into a larger opportunity from where they are today.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares down 30%+ that I’d buy with $4,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• These 3 ASX 200 stocks hit a 52-week low: Buy, sell or hold?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Life360 and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recorded a small gain. The benchmark index rose 0.1% to 8,978.7 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Thursday despite a relatively good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day flat this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.25%, the S&P 500 is up 0.6% and the Nasdaq is 1.2% higher.

Buy Evolution Mining shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the gold miner’s shares with a trimmed price target of $16.45. It said: “EVN offers effectively unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has stated its intention to pass growing free cash flows on to shareholders.”

Oil prices mixed

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices traded mixed. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.1% to US$91.30 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.1% to US$88.12 a barrel. Traders appear to be waiting to see what happens with US-Iran peace talks.

Nufarm shares rated as a buy

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares could continue to rise after surging 11% on Wednesday. That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who have put a buy rating and $3.60 price target on the agricultural chemicals company’s shares. It said: “NUF has provided a trading update, highlighting +16-19% YoY growth in 1H26 uEBITDA and a deleveraging of the balance sheet slightly ahead of expectations.”

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a soft session on Thursday after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.65% to US$4,817.9 an ounce. Traders continue to wait for news from the US-Iran peace talks before making any major moves.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Evolution Mining, Mesoblast, Nufarm, and Virgin Australia shares are storming higher today
• Why is this $25 billion ASX mining stock charging higher today?
• Why Nufarm shares just exploded higher on Wednesday
• Has the ASX 200 or S&P 500 been a better investment this year?
• Virgin Australia’s FY26 update: Hedging cushions rising fuel costs

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.

If you are investing with a long time horizon, simplicity often wins.

Rather than constantly adjusting your portfolio or chasing short-term opportunities, a small number of well-chosen exchange traded funds (ETFs) can provide exposure to global growth, diversification, and compounding over many years.

Here are three ASX ETFs that could be strong buy-and-hold options for the next decade.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The first ASX ETF that could be a core long-term holding is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

It offers investors exposure to a broad range of companies across developed markets, including the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Its holdings include global leaders such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).

What arguably makes the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF so powerful is its simplicity. It provides instant diversification across industries and geographies, allowing investors to benefit from global economic growth without needing to pick individual stocks.

Over a decade, this kind of broad exposure can form the backbone of a portfolio.

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Another ASX ETF that could be worth considering is the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund focuses on the Nasdaq 100 index, which is heavily weighted towards technology companies.

Top holdings include NVIDIA, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META).

This ETF offers more concentrated exposure to the companies shaping the future of the global economy. While it can be more volatile than broader funds, it also has the potential to deliver stronger growth over time.

For long-term investors, that trade-off can be worthwhile.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

A third ASX ETF that could be a top long-term pick is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

It takes a more selective approach, focusing on companies with sustainable competitive advantages and attractive valuations.

Its holdings change periodically but currently include businesses such as drinks giant PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), sporting goods leader Nike (NYSE: NKE), and entertainment behemoth Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS).

This quality-focused strategy can help reduce downside risk while still capturing long-term growth.

By targeting companies with durable moats, the ETF aims to build a portfolio that can perform well across different market environments.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Nike, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, Nvidia, and Walt Disney and is short shares of Apple and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A new report from Canaccord Genuity has outlined how investors can position their portfolios for the emerging artificial intelligence build-out. 

AI adoption is scaling rapidly, and it is now being considered a structural growth theme in global equities.

Rising earnings and visible demand

According to the report, the investment in infrastructure required to build, train, and deploy AI systems at scale represents a multi-year capital cycle with visible demand, rising earnings, and strong competitive positions across the supply chain. 

The commercial applications for AI are broad: 

• automating software engineering
• improving ad targeting
• accelerating scientific research
• optimising supply chains
• transforming enterprise workflows. 

Deploying these systems at scale requires substantial infrastructure, spanning advanced semiconductors, hyperscale data centres, high-performance networking, and significant power generation capacity. 

The depth of this capital requirement, combined with the breadth of end-market demand, is what makes AI a structural rather than cyclical investment theme.

The pillars supporting AI infrastructure

Canaccord said that adoption and monetisation are accelerating. 

Data shows ChatGPT reached 900 million weekly active users in February 2026 – a 350% increase in 18 months. 

AI adoption has moved well beyond  early experimentation. Revenue has followed. Enterprise generative AI spending surged from approximately US$11.5 billion in 2024 to May-24 US$37 billion in 2025, a threefold increase.

At the same time, falling AI costs are accelerating demand and valuations have de-rated while earnings revisions remain positive. 

The pullback in AI-linked equities over the past six months has compressed valuations to levels where the market appears to be pricing in deceleration risk. 

What should investors be targeting?

Canaccord’s preferred exposure is to AI semiconductors and capital equipment. 

It listed 6 stocks for AI themed exposure: 

• Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)
• ASML (NASDAQ: ASML)
• Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO)
• Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)
• Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM). 

NVIDIA dominates AI-training GPUs, Broadcom leads custom silicon design, TSMC fabricates the leading edge chips both depend on, and ASML holds a monopoly in the lithography systems underpinning advanced production. 

Amazon and Microsoft offer the largest and most profitable cloud platforms, where AI workloads are driving revenue reacceleration and backlog growth.

For investors looking to basket these companies together, Canaccord pointed towards the Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI). 

The report said SEMI is the most accessible option for Australian-based investors: ASX-listed in Australian dollars, across the 30 largest global semiconductor companies, with meaningful weight in TSMC, ASML, Nvidia, and Broadcom.

However it did note that no single ETF isolates the combination of semiconductors and selective hyperscalers from the report. 

The post How to invest in the AI Build-Out: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why are ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech and Life360 going gangbusters on Wednesday?

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 ASML, Amazon, Broadcom, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares are on the rise on Wednesday afternoon.

At the time of writing, the ASX biotechnology stock is up 8% to $2.17, outperforming a relatively flat ASX 200 index.

Why are Mesoblast shares rising today?

Investors have been bidding the company’s shares higher following the announcement of a strategic acquisition that could enhance its product pipeline in the future.

According to the release, Mesoblast has secured an exclusive worldwide licence to a patented chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology platform.

This technology is designed to improve the effectiveness of the company’s existing mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapies by enhancing their ability to target diseased tissue.

Mesoblast advised that its current MSC therapies already have natural anti-inflammatory and tissue repair capabilities.

However, by incorporating CAR technology, the company aims to significantly improve how these therapies home in on inflamed or damaged tissue.

The goal is to increase both the precision and potency of its treatments, particularly in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Management highlights that this could create opportunities to develop more effective treatments for conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as Lupus Nephritis.

Backed by leading research

The underlying CAR technology was developed by researchers at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States and published in a leading scientific journal.

Mesoblast has obtained the intellectual property through the acquisition of a startup established to advance the platform.

As part of the agreement, Mayo Clinic will also provide support to further develop the technology, including assistance with manufacturing processes.

The acquisition was completed through the issuance of shares rather than cash, allowing the company to strengthen its technology base without a direct cash outlay.

Management commentary

Mesoblast’s chief executive, Silviu Itescu, said the acquisition aligns closely with the company’s strategy to build on its leadership in cellular therapies. He commented:

This innovative genetic modification technology fits well with our strategy to extend our market leadership by creating products with even greater efficacy and new target indications.

Following today’s move higher, Mesoblast shares continued to outperform the market and are now up 27% since this time last year.

As a comparison, the ASX 200 index is up by around 15% over the same period.

The post Why are Mesoblast shares jumping 8% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.