On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a disappointing session and sank deep into the red. The benchmark index fell 1.65% to 8,497.8 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set to edge lower on Friday following a relatively poor night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 1 point lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 0.45%, the S&P 500 is down 0.3% and the Nasdaq is down 0.3%.

Oil prices fall

It could be a subdued finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.9% to US$94.52 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.8% to US$106.53 a barrel. Oil prices fell after Israel revealed plans to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Premier Investments results

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) shares will be on watch today when the retailer releases its half-year results. The team at UBS believes the Smiggle and Peter Alexander owner will report Premier Retail sales of $460 million and net profit after tax of $99.3 million for the half. This is expected to be driven largely by a strong performance from the Peter Alexander brand, offsetting a weak performance from Smiggle.

Gold price sinks

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a poor finish to the week after the gold price sank overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 5.15% to US$4,642.8 an ounce. Inflation and higher interest rate concerns weighed on the precious metal.

Buy Propel shares

Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP) shares could be in the buy zone according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $5.00. It said: “Within the underlying business, we see relatively less challenging comps in 2H26 as PFP cycles organic volume declines (particularly in Feb-Apr), while we expect the demographic tailwinds from an ageing baby boomer population to be a sizable catalyst from 2026 onwards. We see the trading update in May as a potential catalyst. We also view the freehold property portfolio valued at cost less depreciation of ~$246m as a strong hedge to the net gearing level of 2.3x.”

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

More reading

• How many Santos shares do I need to buy for $10,000 a year in passive income?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 ASX 200 energy shares smash multi-year highs after oil price spike
• Why EBR, EOS, Racura, and Woodside shares are rising today
• Why A2 Milk, BWP, Core Lithium, and Newmont shares are sinking today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

How much you can own in assets and earn in wages and investment income, while still qualifying for the pension, changes today.

The changes are part of the latest round of indexation adjustments to keep payments aligned with inflation.

Here are the essential details.

How much can you own in retirement while still getting the pension?

The value of assets you can own in retirement while still qualifying for at least a part-pension increase today.

Assessable assets include your superannuation, ASX shares, international shares, bonds, managed funds, rental properties, and cash.

Excluding your home, singles can now own $722,000 in assets, up from $714,500, and still be eligible for at least a part-payment.

The limit for a full pension remains $321,500.

Single non-homeowners are now allowed to own $980,000 in assets, up from $972,500, and still be eligible for a part-pension.

The limit for a full pension is $579,500.

Couple homeowners can now own $1,085,000 worth of assets, up from $1,074,000, and still be eligible for a part-pension.

The limit for a full pension remains $481,500.

Couple non-homeowners can own $1,343,000 in assets, up from $1,332,000, and still be eligible for a part-payment.

The limit for a full pension is $739,500.

How much can you earn?

From today, singles can earn up to $2,619.80 per fortnight, up from $2,575.40 per fortnight, and still qualify for at least a part-pension.

Couples can earn up to $4,000.80 per fortnight, up from $3,934 per fortnight, and still get a pension benefit.

In order to receive the full pension, singles cannot earn more than $218 per fortnight, and couples can’t earn more than $380 per fortnight.

Part of your assessable earnings is investment income.

From today, the Federal Government will also implement a second increase to pensioner deeming rates.

Deeming is used to estimate a pensioner’s annual investment income.

Deeming applies to all assets except investment properties (pensioners must report their actual rental income each year).

The lower deeming rate changes today from 0.75% to 1.25% for assets worth less than $64,200 for singles and $106,200 for couples.

The upper deeming rate lifts from 2.75% to 3.25% for assets worth more than these amounts.

How much is the pension?

Singles on the full age pension will receive an extra $22.20 per fortnight from today.

Couples will receive an extra $16.70 per person, per fortnight.

This means the full pension payment, with both supplements included, lifts to $1,200.90 per fortnight for singles.

Couples will receive $905.20 per partner, per fortnight.

How much does retirement cost per year?

According to Australia’s benchmark Retirement Standard, a modest retirement costs $35,503 per year for single homeowners and $51,299 for couple homeowners.

A comfortable retirement costs $54,840 per year for single homeowners and $77,375 per year for couple homeowners.

Retirement costs more for renters because their housing costs are higher.

A modest retirement costs $50,055 per year for single renters and $67,639 per year for couples who rent their homes.

The post What you can own and earn in retirement while still qualifying for the pension changes today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These buy-rated ASX dividend shares offer 7% to 8% yields
• 2 ASX shares booming on electrification and mining. Is there more upside ahead?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Top broker says ASX this consumer staples stock could rise nearly 40%
• Bell Potter is tipping this ASX small-cap to double in the next year

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

ASX consumer staples stock Ricegrowers Ltd (ASX: SGLLV) has struggled so far in 2026. 

The company purchases and stores paddy rice, and is involved in the milling, processing, manufacturing, procurement, distribution, and marketing of rice and related products, animal feed and nutrition products, groceries, and others. 

Its share price has fallen more than 26% year to date. 

This included more than a 7% decline yesterday after the consumer staples company released a Trading and Market update yesterday. 

What did the company report?

Ricegrowers released updated FY26 guidance yesterday. 

It said it still expects NPAT growth in FY26, driven by its business mix, disciplined execution, and focus on margins.

However, full-year revenue is now expected to be similar to or slightly below last year due to:

• Strong competition in Pacific markets affecting lower-margin sales; and
• Smaller crop volumes and lower yields, reducing product available for sale.

It also noted a sharp appreciation of the Australian dollar against the US dollar is negatively impacting the translation of results from the Group’s foreign operations. 

Additionally, it said conflict in the Middle East is disrupting global shipping routes and logistics and is impacting the Group’s sales in this sizable market in the near term.

Despite yesterday’s 7% fall, a new report from Bell Potter indicates it could currently be a value play. 

Here’s what the broker had to say. 

Updated outlook from Bell Potter

Bell Potter noted that estimated FY26 revenue is expected to be in line with or slightly below FY25 levels. 

The broker said this reflects the impact of lower global rice prices, a stronger AUD, supply chain disruption in the Middle East and the retention of 2025 rice crop for the 2026 program. 

Our forecasts had already assumed a -3% YoY contraction in group revenue in FY26e and midsingle digit YoY NPAT growth. We have reduced these forecasts to account for softer trading, particularly in the International division.

Buy rating retained

Bell Potter decreased its price target on this consumer staples stock to $17.00 (previously $18.75). 

However it maintained its buy recommendation. 

In recent months we have seen a recovery in global rice price indicators and a weakening AUD which in isolation imply an improved position relative to domestic CY26e contract prices.

However, we have shifted our thought process to two consecutive poor cropping outcomes, to reflect the current low levels of SMDB storage utilisation and the rising risk of drier conditions through 2HCY26. Despite these headwinds we retain our Buy rating.

From yesterday’s closing price of $12.22, the updated price target indicates an upside potential of 39%. 

The post Top broker says ASX this consumer staples stock could rise nearly 40% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Bell Potter is tipping this ASX small-cap to double in the next year
• 14 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend
• Is the Qantas share price dirt cheap after falling 30%?
• What’s happened to ASX small-caps in 2026?
• 2 battered ASX growth shares that could double in value or more

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

ASX small-cap stock EBR Systems Inc (ASX: EBR) is in focus after it released a quarterly update yesterday. 

EBR Systems is engaged in treatment for patients suffering from cardiac rhythm diseases by developing therapies using wireless cardiac stimulation. The company’s Wise CRT System uses proprietary wireless technology to deliver pacing stimulation directly inside the left ventricle of the heart.

What did the company announce?

Yesterday, the company released a Quarterly Cash Flow Report for the quarter ended 31 December 2025.

Key highlights included: 

• Successful A$79.5m capital raise completed in Q2 2025, with EBR well-capitalised through to in initial commercialisation. 
• 4Q25 revenue of approximately US$1.6m (ahead of estimates from Bell Potter). 
• Gross margin of approximately 30%, supported by lower-cost legacy R&D inventory. 

John McCutcheon, EBR Systems’ President & Chief Executive Officer said:

2025 marked a defining year for EBR as we successfully transitioned from a development-stage company to a commercial medical device business. Achieving FDA approval for the WiSE® CRT System in April and initiating our U.S. commercial launch were transformational milestones that position EBR at the forefront of leadless cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

The company has seen its share price tumble more than 20% this year, however investors will be hoping yesterday’s announcement could be the beginning of a turnaround, after the share price climbed 1.45% during Thursday.

What did Bell Potter have to say?

Following the report, the team at Bell Potter issued updated guidance on this ASX small-cap. 

The broker said operating metrics are trending well. 

The 4Q25 data showed implants doubled to 18 and 30 for FY25. Data released to February, suggests implant volume could double again.

Bell Potter said hospital contracts and physician training are ahead of schedule, with 21 contracts signed in FY25 (28 quarter-to-date) and 33 physicians trained in FY25 (46 QTD), indicating strong future demand as physician readiness is outpacing hospital onboarding. 

While progress is solid, short-term growth is being modestly constrained by early-stage challenges such as sales team ramp-up and hospitals learning to administer and code the WiSE procedure, which appear to be temporary during this limited market release phase.

Buy recommendation in tact 

Bell Potter maintained its buy recommendation but lowered its price target to $2.00 (previously $2.43). 

Reflecting on training and hospital administration issues, we have adjusted our estimates across the forecast period. We have reduced our unit volume estimates by c.32.8% / c.37.5% / c.33.5% for FY26e-FY28e.

From yesterday’s closing price of $0.70, the broker sees an estimated upside of 186% on this ASX small-cap stock.

The post Bell Potter is tipping this ASX small-cap to double in the next year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why EBR, EOS, Racura, and Woodside shares are rising today

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 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.

Fourteen S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are set to go ex-dividend next week, providing two opportunities.

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

If you’ve had your eye on an ASX share for a while, and you’re ready to buy, the ex-dividend date can provide a deadline to act.

Might as well buy and pick up the next dividend payment if the stock is trading at an acceptable price, right?

Alternatively, you could play a longer game, and wait for the ex-dividend date to arrive before buying the stock.

This can be a good strategy because share prices tend to fall on the ex-dividend date.

This happens because the stock is fundamentally worth less without the next dividend payment attached.

Many companies offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs).

DRPs allow investors to instruct the company to use their dividends to buy more shares on their behalf, instead of paying cash.

After lodging your DRP form, this process becomes automatic.

It’s an easy, passive way for investors increase their shareholdings in a company over time.

And every now and then, a company will offer a discount to shareholders participating in the DRP.

Bonus!

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

ASX share	Ex-dividend date	Dividend amount	Pay day
Lycopodium Ltd (ASX: LYL)	23 March	22 cents per share	2 April
NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH)	23 March	8.5 cents per share	9 April
Cash Converters International Ltd (ASX: CCV)	23 March	1 cent per share	15 April
Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP)	23 March	14 cents per share	24 April
Civmec Ltd (ASX: CVL)	24 March	2.5 cents per share	10 April
Naos Emerging Opportunities Company Ltd (ASX: NCC)	25 March	2.1 cents per share	24 April
Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN)	25 March	3.3 cents per share	9 April
Service Stream Ltd (ASX: SSM)	25 March	3 cents per share	10 April
Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)	25 March	12 cents per share	16 April
WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG)	26 March	2.2 cents per share	15 April
Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL)	26 March	2.5 cents per share	10 April
IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)	26 March	6.8 cents per share	10 April
Salter Brothers Emerging Companies Ltd (ASX: SB2)	26 March	2 cents per share	23 April
Vita Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: VLS)	27 March	9.5 cents per share	10 April

The post 14 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Morgans names 2 ASX dividend shares to buy now
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group and Lycopodium. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares have taken a sharp hit recently.

After ending yesterday’s session at $8.43, the airline’s shares are now down roughly 33% from their 52-week high of $12.62. 

Most of that decline has come quickly, with the stock falling more than 20% since 20 February.

What’s behind the sell-off?

The main catalyst has been surging oil prices.

Escalating tensions in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent energy markets higher. That’s a direct headwind for airlines, where fuel is one of the biggest costs.

There are also concerns that the conflict could impact international travel demand, particularly given the importance of hubs like the UAE and Qatar.

Both of these are valid risks in the short term.

Higher fuel costs can squeeze margins, and any slowdown in travel demand would weigh on earnings.

But the key question is whether these are temporary issues or something more structural.

The long-term story looks intact

When I look at Qantas’ recent performance, I see a business on the up.

In its latest half-year result, the company delivered underlying profit before tax of $1.46 billion and continued to invest heavily in fleet renewal and growth initiatives.

It also returned $450 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, highlighting the strength of its cash generation.

What stands out to me is that demand remains strong.

Domestic travel continues to grow, supported by business and premium leisure demand, while international travel is still seeing solid interest despite cost pressures.

On top of that, Qantas’ loyalty business continues to expand, providing a high-margin earnings stream that is less exposed to fuel costs and cyclical travel demand.

Structural tailwinds vs temporary headwinds

There’s no doubt that higher oil prices will impact earnings in the near term.

The company itself expects fuel costs to be significant even after hedging benefits, with second-half fuel costs forecast at around $2.5 billion based on estimated consumption of ~16.2 million barrels.

But I don’t think today’s oil price environment is necessarily permanent.

Energy markets have always been cyclical, and while geopolitical shocks can push prices higher quickly, they don’t tend to stay elevated forever.

In contrast, Qantas’ business model is arguably stronger than it has been in years.

Fleet renewal is improving efficiency, the dual-brand strategy is working well, and the loyalty division is becoming an increasingly important profit driver.

Those are structural positives that I think matter far more over a 5 to 10 year timeframe.

What does the Qantas share price valuation say?

Based on consensus estimates, Qantas is expected to generate earnings per share of $1.14 in FY26 and $1.29 in FY27.

At a share price of $8.43, that puts it on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of roughly 7 to 8 times.

That looks relatively cheap to me, even for an airline, especially for one that is still growing and returning capital to shareholders.

Consensus dividend forecasts of 39.7 cents per share in FY26 and 42 cents per share in FY27 also suggest 4.7% and 5% dividend yields, though these could change if fuel costs remain elevated for longer.

So, is it a buying opportunity?

This is where I think the market may be overreacting.

The current selloff appears to be driven largely by macro concerns rather than a collapse in Qantas’ underlying business.

Yes, higher oil prices are a real issue. But they are also something the company has dealt with many times before through hedging, pricing, and operational efficiency.

If anything, this looks like a classic case of a cyclical headwind hitting a structurally improving business.

Foolish takeaway

The Qantas share price has fallen sharply, and there are legitimate reasons for that. But when I step back, I see a company with strong demand, improving operations, and multiple growth drivers.

The risks are real, particularly in the short term. But I don’t think they are permanent. For me, this looks like a potential buying opportunity for long-term investors.

The post Is the Qantas share price dirt cheap after falling 30%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How high does Macquarie think Qantas shares will go?
• What’s next for Virgin Australia, Qantas shares as fuel prices surge?
• Qantas shares flying through $105 million legal turbulence
• How many Qantas shares do I need to buy for a $10,000 annual passive income?
• 5 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 today

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 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.

One of the emerging stories in 2025 was the success of ASX small-cap shares. 

In fact, ASX small-cap shares outperformed the larger companies by almost 2.5 times in 2025. 

The S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) delivered total returns (capital growth plus dividends) of 10.56% last year.

This index contains the 500 largest ASX listed companies, and accounts for roughly 84% of Australia’s equity market. 

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX Small Ords Index (ASX: XSO), which tracks companies ranked 101 to 300 by market cap, delivered a total return of 24.96%.

However, it appears the pendulum has now swung the other way in 2026. 

Since the start of the year, the Small Ords Index has dropped approximately 12%. 

This fall is significantly further than the All Ords Index which is down roughly 3% in the same period. 

Why are they struggling in 2026?

A small-cap stock typically has a market capitalisation ranging from a few hundred million to $2 billion.

Subsequently, these companies are much more sensitive to interest rates than bigger companies.

One reason for this is that these stocks rely more on debt and external funding. 

Additionally, many are not yet profitable, which means valuations depend heavily on future growth.

In 2026, Australia has seen elevated inflation, causing the RBA to deliver two interest rate hikes.

It seems markets are now repricing for tighter financial conditions, causing smaller companies to be hit disproportionately. 

In essence, the Small Ords Index isn’t falling because “small caps are broken” – it’s falling because:

• Macro conditions are flipping against them
• Liquidity is tightening
• Risk appetite dropped suddenly.

Is there any upside?

With many small-caps falling throughout the start of 2026, investors might be considering swooping in on what could appear to be a relative value. 

Some notable ASX small-caps that have fallen include: 

• Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)
• Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)
• Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD). 

These companies have drawn some positive outlooks from brokers, however it’s important to consider that in the short term, returns could be minimal, if these economic conditions persist.

Alternatively, if investors are aiming for a more broad, diversified entry into the small-cap market, there are several ASX ETFs to consider: 

• iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF (ASX: ISO) – designed to track the performance of small-capitalisation Australian equities included in the S&P/ASX 300 index, but not in the S&P/ASX 100 index.
• Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VSO) – Tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Small Cap Index. 
• VanEck Vectors Small Companies Masters ETF (ASX: MVS) – offers exposure to a diversified portfolio of roughly 61 ASX-listed small companies. 

The post What’s happened to ASX small-caps in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy today with $12,000
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX growth stocks down 40% to 60% to buy now
• ASX travel shares are hovering near yearly lows – time to buy?
• 3 ASX growth shares I’d buy and hold with $3,000

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 Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s been a bruising start to 2026 for many ASX growth shares, with some among the biggest victims of this year’s market onslaught.

Two names that stand out are Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP). At the time of writing, Mesoblast shares are down 23% year to date to $2.08, while Zip has plunged 52% to $1.48.

By comparison the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has shed 2.5% of its value so far this year.

But after such steep declines for both ASX growth shares, could this be a classic buy the dip opportunity?

Mesoblast: High risk, high reward

This ASX growth share is no stranger to volatility, with its share price often swinging sharply on clinical updates and regulatory news.

The recent pullback reflects ongoing uncertainty around approvals and commercialisation timelines. They tend to weigh heavily on sentiment in the biotech sector.

That said, the company has a late-stage pipeline targeting inflammatory diseases, offering significant upside if key treatments are approved. Success could unlock major revenue opportunities and transform the business.

The biotech company has the potential for strong growth this year. Product adoption is increasing and the business is well funded to support its next phase of expansion.

Commercial momentum is also improving. The latest quarterly update showed US$30 million in net revenue, supported by rising demand for its therapy Ryoncil in the United States.

Of course, the risks are substantial — delays, setbacks, or funding pressures could hit the share price hard.

Even so, analysts remain optimistic on the ASX growth share, with an average 12-month price target of $4.23. This implies upside of around 104% from current levels.

Zip: Turnaround story gaining traction?

Zip, on the other hand, has been caught in a broader sell-off across the buy now, pay later space.

Rising interest rates, regulatory scrutiny, and concerns about consumer spending have all contributed to the sharp decline of the ASX growth share.

However, the company has been working to reposition itself, focusing on cost discipline and profitability, particularly in its core US market. If it can sustain margins while stabilising growth, the business could re-rate meaningfully.

The key risks remain tied to economic conditions and credit quality, as any deterioration could impact performance.

Still, analysts are strikingly bullish, with an average price target of $4.21, suggesting potential upside of around 183%.

Foolish Takeaway

Both Mesoblast and Zip highlight the trade-off at the heart of growth investing: elevated risk in exchange for potentially outsized returns.

After significant share price declines, they may be worth a closer look for investors willing to ride the volatility.

The post 2 battered ASX growth shares that could double in value or more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 undervalued ASX stocks to consider buying immediately
• Prediction: Zip shares could explode over 230% to $5.27
• 3 high risk, high reward ASX shares to buy ASAP
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• It could be time to buy low on these ASX financials stocks

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

Aiming to tap into Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares for some handy extra passive income?

You’re not alone.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock has made two annual dividend payments every year since 2019.

We’ll look at how many Santos shares you’d need to buy today to earn a $10,000 annual passive income below.

But first, a few important reminders.

Calculating yields and diversifying your passive income portfolio

Perhaps the biggest thing to keep in mind is that, while we’ll focus solely on Santos shares, a diversified income portfolio will include far more than just one stock. While there’s no magic number, somewhere in the range of 10 to 20 stocks is a decent ballpark figure.

Ideally, these will operate across various sectors and locations. That should reduce the risk that your passive income stream will take a big hit if any particular company or sector runs into trouble.

Second, remember that the yields you usually see quoted are trailing yields. These are based on the past 12 months of dividend payments. Future yields may be higher or lower depending on a range of company-specific and macroeconomic factors.

For the passive income you might expect from Santos shares, these include the company’s cost management and, crucially, the ever-changing price of oil and gas.

As you know, the oil price has rocketed this year amid the war in Iran. On Thursday, Brent crude oil was trading for US$112 per barrel, up more than 83% year to date. That could see a material uptick in Santos’ profits over the coming months, and drive a material increase in the ASX 200 energy stock’s upcoming dividends.

But we won’t speculate here and instead stick to the trailing dividend yields.

With that said…

Tapping into Santos shares for a $10,000 annual passive income

Santos paid a partly franked interim dividend of 20.3 cents a share on 1 October.

The ASX 200 oil and gas stock will pay an unfranked final dividend of 14.5 cents a share next week, on 25 March. It’s a bit late to tap into that latest passive income payout, as Santos shares traded ex-dividend on 23 February.

Over the past year, then, Santos has paid (or will shortly pay) a total of 34.8 cents a share in dividends.

So, to secure a $10,000 yearly passive income, you’d need to buy 28,736 Santos shares today.

How much would that cost?

At the time of writing, Santos shares trade at a multi-year high of $8.03 apiece, up more than 30% in 2026.

For a $10,000 annual passive income, then, you’d need to invest $230,750 today. Or you can always invest a smaller amount each month. You’ll reach your income goal in good time.

Santos shares trade on a partly franked trailing dividend yield of 4.3% at the time of writing.

The post How many Santos shares do I need to buy for $10,000 a year in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 ASX 200 energy shares smash multi-year highs after oil price spike
• Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont down so much today?
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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.

Great ASX dividend shares give investors a reliable and consistent dividend payout over a long-term period. So if passive income is what you’re after, ASX dividend shares should be part of your portfolio.

Current sharemarket volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and gloomy outlook might cause many investors to take a more cautious approach to buying shares, or perhaps not buy any at all.

But there are a few reasons why I think now is as good a time as any to buy ASX dividend shares.

Here are three of them.

1. Dividend yields are still attractive

Many ASX companies, such as Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and Dexus (ASX: DXS), are currently offering dividend yields of around 5% to 6%, and more often than not, they’re also fully franked. That’s a great passive income.

Some stable ASX high-yield dividend shares are paying even more. Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) and Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) yield as high as 9%.

These aren’t just any stocks, either; they’re all strong companies with a history of paying a regular dividend. And they have good growth projections too.

The opportunities for a great dividend yield are still out there.

2. Several stocks are trading at a discount

The year so far has been incredibly volatile. Geopolitical uncertainty, war in the Middle East, disruptions to global supply chains, rising interest rates, and soaring inflation are all creating panic.

Investors are selling up and flocking to safe-haven assets.

It’s pushed Australia’s sharemarkets to around a four-month low. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down another 1.56% and down 2.54% for the year to date.

The declines are seen across nearly all sectors, and while on the surface it could look alarming, they are also creating some fantastic entry points for investors to buy into strong ASX dividend stocks at cheap prices.

Take Dexus, for example. The company is a major Australian property investor, developer, and manager with a large and diverse portfolio of rental assets across offices, industrial, and infrastructure sectors that generate consistent, predictable income. The ASX dividend share has a strong history, and it’s currently trading 14.22% lower year to date.

3. ASX dividend stocks are a long-term play

Another great reason to buy ASX dividend stocks right now is that they are a long-term play. ASX dividend shares are usually large and stable, which means they’re able to weather the storm over the long term. 

When you’re looking at a long-term investment, it doesn’t matter how you time the market; the amount of time you hold the stock is more important.

The post Is now a good time to buy ASX dividend shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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