Guzman Y Gomez (ASX: GYG) shares have been sizzling this week.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) Mexican fast food restaurant chain closed last Thursday, ahead of the Easter holiday break, trading for $15.20.

Despite slipping 0.7% in intraday trade to $20.10 a share today, that sees the stock up a whopping 32.2% in less than three trading days.

While this will undoubtedly come as welcome news to recent investors, most longer-term shareholders will still be underwater.

Guzman Y Gomez shares were first available to select investor during the initial public offering (IPO) on 20 June 2024 for $22.00 each. The fast food stock ended that first day of trade at $30.00 a share, eventually peaking at $43.35 a share at market close on 6 December 2024.

What sent Guzman Y Gomez shares flying this week?

Investors reacted very positively to the company’s third quarter (Q3 FY 2026) sales update, released on Tuesday.

Guzman Y Gomez shares closed up a blistering 18.6% on the day after the company reported a 19.5% year on year increase in sales to $345.9 million.

The Mexican fast food chain opened five new Australian restaurants during quarter. And its Australian segment delivered the bulk of its sales, at $320.4 million.

The Australian business showed significantly stronger growth than its US market. Comparable sales growth in Australia came in at 6.6% compared to 2.2% in the US, where the company opened only two new stores during the quarter.

In the US, the company pointed to headwinds from the cessation of DoorDash deliveries in early March.

Looking ahead, management confirmed that the company on track to open 32 new restaurants in Australia in FY 2026.

Which brings us back to our headline question…

Should you buy the ASX 200 fast food stock today?

Morgans Financial’s Mitch Belichovski ran his slide rule over the company on 2 April, prior to GYG’s quarterly update release (courtesy of The Bull).

“Guzman Y Gomez owns, operates and franchises Mexican inspired quick service restaurants in Australia, Singapore, Japan and the United States,” he noted.

“The company’s premium valuation is predicated on expectations it will deliver material earnings per share growth over many years,” he added.

Explaining his sell recommendation on Guzman Y Gomez shares, Belichovski said:

In our view, the company is exposed to execution risk as it aggressively continues to open new restaurants in Australia. Australian earnings were up strongly in the first half of 2026. However, segment underlying EBITDA in the United States posted a loss of $8.3 million.

Belichovski concluded, “Management will need to narrow its losses in the US and increase the pace of US expansion to ultimately deliver value for shareholders.”

The post Up 32% this week, are Guzman Y Gomez shares a good buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 shares I rate as top buys for growth
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• GYG shares skyrocket 33% this week: Is this the recovery we’ve been waiting for?
• Morgans names two ASX 200 shares to buy and one to sell this week
• Why Bank of Queensland, Guzman Y Gomez, NextDC, and Telix shares are racing higher today

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.

ASX small-cap shares are underperforming on Thursday with the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index (ASX: XSO) down 1% while the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) is just 0.15% lower.

At the start of 2026, fundies had high hopes for global small-caps given many Western nations, including the US, appeared poised to cut interest rates.

The war in Iran has changed that outlook.

A two-week ceasefire is now in place, however, the shock to energy supplies will take months to filter throughout Western economies.

Given oil’s flow-through effect to so many parts of the economy, including grocery prices, the impact may be enough to push up inflation.

Central banks are likely to respond by either hiking rates, or delaying previously anticipated rate cuts.

In Australia, inflation was resurgent even before the war began.

We’ve had two rate hikes already this year, and the market is pricing in a 60% chance of another one next month.

Higher interest rates are typically a headwind for small-caps, which are typically young companies using debt to fund their growth.

Here are 3 ASX small-cap shares that fund manager, Blackwattle, is backing for solid growth.

Blackwattle holds all three of these ASX shares in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX: LIN)

The Lindian Resources share price is 88 cents, up 1.4% today.

This ASX rare earths mining share rose 26% over the past month, and is 782% higher over the past year.

Portfolio managers Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren said:

Lindian Resources (+24.7%) is a rare earths miner in the final stages of bringing online its lead project, Kangankunde.

This is a unique asset given its low mining cost and extremely low capex requirements versus other rare earth projects globally.

For these reasons the company should be able to transition to production quickly, with first ore due later this year.

In March, Lindian announced a JV with a rare earths processor, which will allow it to produce a higher-grade concentrate.

This has materially increased the value of the company as it captures more of the value chain and taps into Western markets looking to pivot away from China supply.

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

The Ridley Corporation share price is steady at $2.74 on Thursday.

This small-cap ASX agribusiness share rose 2% over the past month, and is 14% higher over 12 months.

Blackwattle also holds this ASX share in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Hawkesford and Broeren comment:

While the business may appear on the boring side, the excitement for us comes from the operational improvements executed by the management team under the current CEO, Quinton Hildebrand.

Hildebrand has guided the share price from 75c in 2020 to $2.90 by taking a strict focus on ROIC discipline.

Looking forward we are particularly excited about what can be delivered from the newly acquired fertiliser business, Incitec Pivot.

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)

Superloop shares are $3.23, up 0.8% today.

This small-cap ASX telecommunications share rose 13% over the past month, and is 60% higher over 12 months.

Hawkesford and Broeren said:

Shares rose strongly in February following a well-received 1H26 result that demonstrated clear operating leverage and broad-based growth across all key metrics and segments.

Superloop continues to take market share from incumbent telecommunications providers, supported by its competitively priced high-speed broadband offerings and vertically integrated network.

Management commentary also reinforced confidence in the company’s growth trajectory, with continued subscriber additions and
improving scale across the platform expected to drive meaningful earnings expansion over the coming years.

The post 3 ASX small-cap shares this fund manager expects to outperform appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX rare earths share sinking 13% today?
• Why Dateline, Karoon Energy, Lindian, and PEXA shares are falling today
• Forget Telstra shares! Buy this fast-rising ASX 200 telco stock instead
• 20 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

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.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are falling on Thursday, giving back a big chunk of the gains from yesterday’s huge rally.

In afternoon trade, the Zip share price is down 9.40% to $1.808.

That leaves the ASX fintech stock down roughly 45% in 2026, despite yesterday’s massive 19.46% jump to $1.995.

The strong gain on Wednesday came after Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the US and Israel, which helped lift confidence across the broader share market.

Growth shares such as Zip were among the biggest winners from that improved mood.

But by today, that optimism has already faded.

Why Zip shares are falling today

The recent weakness comes as fresh Middle East developments again weigh on risk appetite across the share market.

Reports of Israeli attacks in Lebanon have raised doubts over how long the temporary ceasefire can last, reversing much of the confidence that drove yesterday’s rebound.

As a higher-growth fintech stock, Zip often sees larger swings when investors move away from riskier parts of the market and into more defensive areas.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has also come under pressure again today, down 6.93%, which has added to weakness across local tech shares.

That backdrop helps explain why Zip has gone from a near 20% rally yesterday to a fall of close to 10% today. And this is even without any company-specific update driving the move.

Big swings are nothing new for Zip

This kind of volatility has become a regular feature for Zip shares.

The stock has been moving wildly for months as investors respond to changing views on interest rates, consumer spending, and now the Middle East war.

Even before this week’s geopolitical developments, Zip had already seen some large moves.

Its half-year result in February triggered a big share price drop, despite the company reporting strong earnings growth, and continued momentum in the US business.

Since then, the stock has regularly bounced hard on good news, only to pull back again when market nerves return.

This week’s price action is another example of just how quickly the market’s view on Zip can change.

Foolish takeaway

Zip is clearly capable of delivering huge short-term moves, but that level of volatility would make it too unpredictable for my own portfolio.

While the growth story still has appeal, I would rather focus on more stable businesses that are also delivering solid earnings growth without the same headline-driven swings.

For me, there are simply better risk-reward opportunities elsewhere on the ASX.

The post Zip shares plunge again after yesterday’s 19% surge. Here’s what changed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Zip Co shares a buy right now?
• Are Zip shares still a buy after soaring 20%
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts
• Down 50% in 2026, Zip shares are ‘one of the most compelling value opportunities on the ASX’
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) investors will receive 32.53 cents per unit (rounded) in the next round of dividends.

BlackRock has announced the estimated distributions (dividends) for a range of its ASX iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The fund manager will pay investors on 21 April.

Dividends for iShares ASX ETFs

Here are the estimated dividends that investors will receive on 21 April.

The amounts will be finalised tomorrow, which is also the record date.

These iShares ETFs are trading ex-dividend today.

ASX ETF	Distribution
iShares 15+ Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX: ALTB)	65.43 cents per unit
iShares Core Cash ETF (ASX: BILL)	41.48 cents per unit
iShares Core FTSE Global Infrastructure (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: GLIN)	16.7 cents per unit
iShares Core FTSE Global Property Ex Australia (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: GLPR)	19.5 cents per unit
iShares Core Composite Bond ETF (ASX: IAF)	80.61 cents per unit
iShares Core Corporate Bond ETF (ASX: ICOR)	105.24 cents per unit
iShares Core MSCI Australia ESG ETF (ASX: IESG)	28.44 cents per unit
iShares Treasury ETF (ASX: IGB)	40.52 cents per unit
iShares S&P/ASX Dividend Opportunities ESG Screened ETF (ASX: IHD)	15.70 cents per unit
iShares Government Inflation ETF (ASX: ILB)	43.33 cents per unit
iShares S&P/ASX 20 ETF (ASX: ILC)	31.72 cents per unit
iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ)	32.53 cents per unit
iShares Enhanced Cash ETF (ASX: ISEC)	49.66 cents per unit
iShares Yield Plus ETF (ASX: IYLD)	42.24 cents per unit

How is ASX IOZ performing?

The ASX IOZ aims to mirror the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index, before fees and expenses.

The Accumulation Index is different to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) because it assumes the reinvestment of dividends.

Therefore, the index reflects total returns over a given period, whereas the benchmark ASX 200 Index only reflects capital gains.

This ETF provides an easy way to invest in the top 200 companies by market capitalisation on the ASX.

It includes exposure to the biggest ASX 200 banks and mining shares, which have traditionally paid some of the largest dividend yields.

They include the market’s largest company, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), as well as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares.

Over the 12 months to 31 March, ASX IOZ returned 11.71% to investors.

The ETF’s three-year average return is 9.47%. The five-year average return is 8.56%.

The management fee is 0.05%.

The post Own ASX IOZ or other iShares ETFs? Here is your next dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why surging ASX 200 copper stocks like Sandfire and BHP shares are ‘vulnerable’
• 3 analysts give their verdict on BHP shares
• 3 reasons to buy ANZ shares today
• New to investing? 3 ASX ETFs to set and forget for 10 years
• ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today’s market rally

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

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are up slightly at the time of writing on Thursday, trading 0.47% higher at $5.30 a piece.

While the share price isn’t storming higher today, it comes off the back of some strong and consistent gains. 

Over the past month PLS shares have climbed 19.5%, they’re up 23% for the year-to-date and a huge 321% higher over the year.

With an upsized market cap of $17 billion, PLS was recently added to the ASX 50 index. At the time of writing, its shares are also the third highest annual performer on the ASX 200 Index.

What pushed PLS shares higher?

The Australian lithium miner’s shares have had an incredible run over the past year soaring from a 52-week low of $1.07 a piece in June last year to a 12-month high of $5.30 on Wednesday last week.

A lot of the share price increase is due to a rally in lithium prices and sentiment, primarily driven by a surge in interest in electric vehicles (EV) and battery energy storage. 

Global EV sales have been rising faster than carmakers can keep up, and demand for grid-scale energy storage amid a shift towards renewable energy is also soaring.

This is especially the case recently after ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatened global fuel supply and caused a rotation towards EVs as an alternative.

As owner and operator of one of the world’s largest independent hard rock lithium mines, Pilgangoora in Western Australia, PLS has naturally scooped up a lot of the demand.

But it’s not just market fundamentals which have pushed the company’s share price from strength to strength over the past year. The business is also booming too.

In February, the miner posted a bumped first-half FY26 results. It revealed a huge 47% jump in revenue, its underlying EBITDA flew 241% higher and net profit came in at $33 million (reversing a $69 million loss in the prior period).

PLS said that looking ahead, it will prioritise balance sheet strength and operational flexibility as lithium market conditions evolve. The company is also progressing projects in Australia and Brazil.

In other exciting news, the board has also indicated it would consider paying shareholders a dividend from its full-year results if the market remains promising. It hasn’t paid a dividend since 2023.

Can the share price keep storming higher? Or is it time to sell up?

Analyst sentiment on PLS shares is still mostly positive, even after the latest price rises.

TradingView data shows that nine out of 16 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. Another seven analysts have a hold rating.

The average target price of $4.87 implies a potential 8% downside at the time of writing, but others think the shares could jump another 26.5% to $6.70.

Earlier this year UBS said it expects that an 11% increase in lithium demand could push the market into a deficit from 2026 onwards. Based on that, the broker has lifted its lithium (SC6 CFR China) forecast by 64% in 2026 to US$1,800 per tonne. The broker anticipates lithium prices could jump up to US$2,625 per tonne in 2028. 

This is great news for PLS as it positions itself to pick up even more demand. I think we could see plenty more out of the miner this year.

The post PLS shares jump 320% in 12 months: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 mining shares this fund manager is backing for long-term growth
• Should I buy PLS Group shares in April?
• ASX 200 mining shares rebound after March sell-off creates opportunities
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX lithium shares ‘compelling’ as top broker adjusts ratings

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 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.

Shares in Electro Optic Systems Ltd (ASX: EOS) were trading more than 5% lower on Thursday after the company revealed it had copped a $4 million fine from the Federal Court.

Disclosure issues to blame

Late on Wednesday, after trade on the ASX had closed for the day, EOS issued a brief statement saying it had been issued with a $4 million penalty in the Federal Court.

The company also agreed to pay the court costs of the corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

EOS Chair Garry Hounsell said regarding the matter:

In recent years, the EOS Board and executive leadership team have been focused on strengthening the foundations of the business for sustainable growth, including resolving legacy issues connected to the challenging conditions the Company faced in 2022 and its market announcements in that year. The conclusion of the ASIC matter represents a key inflection point and enables greater focus on future growth and strategic priorities.

ASIC released a statement on Thursday saying the case regarded EOS failing “to disclose a materially significant downgrade to its 2022 revenue forecast to the market for approximately 14 weeks”.

The regulator went on to say:

Between May and June 2022, EOS advised the ASX that it expected its 2022 revenue to equal or exceed $212.3 million. By 25 July 2022, EOS became aware that its revenue was likely to be approximately $164 million, with a possibility of an additional $27 million. Despite this, EOS did not explicitly correct its guidance until 31 October 2022.

Boards on notice

ASIC Chair Joe Longo said the outcome reinforced the importance of timely and accurate disclosure to Australia’s financial markets.

This result demonstrates that continuous disclosure is fundamental to keeping investors properly informed. When a listed company becomes aware of material changes to guidance, it must act promptly to disclose these to the market. Delays in correcting market‑sensitive information undermine market integrity and investor confidence.

Federal Court Justice Ian Jackman accepted that a $4 million penalty was appropriate, giving regard to EOS’ size and financial resources, “to achieve both specific and general deterrence, without being oppressive or disproportionate”.

ASIC said it has separately commenced proceedings against the former Chief Executive Officer and Director of EOS, Dr Ben Greene, in relation to alleged breaches of directors’ duties.

Electro Optic Systems shares were 5.6% lower in early afternoon trade at $9.34.

The company was valued at $1.82 billion.

The post Why are shares in this ASX defence company tanking today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this ASX defence stock could be one to watch on Tuesday morning
• EOS shares rebound after a surprise twist in its South Korean laser deal
• What is Bell Potter saying about DroneShield and EOS shares this week?
• Why EOS shares are tumbling 11% today as investors weigh a key defence catalyst
• Why are these 2 defence stocks tumbling today?

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in Electro Optic Systems. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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.

Tamboran Resources Corporation (ASX: TBN) shares are tumbling on Thursday after returning from a trading halt.

In early afternoon trade, the Tamboran share price is down a massive 17.46% to 26 cents, following a major funding update.

The move stands out even more given the stock remains up 60% over the past 12 months, driven by rising confidence in its Beetaloo Basin gas plans.

Today’s sell-off suggests investors are weighing the dilution from the capital raise against the company’s next phase of growth.

Let’s take a closer look.

Big capital raise completed as trading resumes

According to the release, Tamboran has completed the US public offer and institutional entitlement component of its latest equity raise.

The company secured gross proceeds of US$103 million from the underwritten public offer, equivalent to roughly $147.1 million. This was alongside a further $86 million through the institutional entitlement offer.

That lifts funds already locked in to about $233 million, with the retail entitlement offer still to come. Eligible retail holders can subscribe for 1 new CDI for every 20 held at 25 cents each, with the offer closing on 27 April.

With the new CDI’s priced well below the last traded price of 31.5 cents before the halt, the market now has a clear short-term pricing reference.

Tamboran said the proceeds will be used to fund additional drilling in the Pilot Area and drilling in EP 161. Funds will also go toward further resource delineation across the Orion acreage and Beetaloo Central Development Area, as well as working capital and general corporate purposes.

Management says Beetaloo buildout is accelerating

Chief executive officer Joel Riddle said the raise supports what is expected to be the company’s busiest development phase yet.

Management said the funds should support Beetaloo Basin operations through to 2028, including lifting capacity above the contracted 40 terajoules a day.

The company also said first gas sales remain targeted for the September quarter of 2026, alongside continued appraisal work across its acreage.

That gives investors a clearer view of what the dilution is funding and which commercial milestones are coming next.

Foolish takeaway

The discounted raising appears to be the main reason for the sell-off, though broader market weakness is also adding pressure today.

A discounted raising of this size will often weigh on the share price in the short term, especially after such a strong 12-month run.

Even after the 17% drop, Tamboran remains up 60% over the past year, which shows investors are still backing the Beetaloo growth opportunity.

The next thing to watch is whether the newly funded drilling program can keep first gas timelines and development momentum on track.

The post Why this ASX energy stock just crashed 17% after a blockbuster year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why KMD, Tamboran Resources, Whitehaven Coal, and WiseTech Global shares are falling today

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.

Last month, Betashares provided a roadmap for investors based on two outcomes in The Middle East. 

Yesterday, markets reacted positively to the news that Iran and the US have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire.

During this period, shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.

What did Iran and the US agree to?

According to The BBC, Trump said he had agreed to “suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks” if Tehran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 

As a refresher, The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Any threat or disruption there raises fears of reduced supply and higher energy prices. 

In the past month, those concerns have rippled through global markets. Equities have largely fallen as investors worry about inflation, economic slowdown, and geopolitical instability.

However, following the ceasefire announcement, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) jumped 2.5%. Investors clearly perceived the news as the beginning of a potential resolution. 

Elsewhere, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) also climbed higher, shooting above its 200-day moving average for the first time since mid-March. 

While it’s important to note that there are still plenty of hurdles still to come, it’s worth revisiting the ASX ETFs that Betashares have listed as potential beneficiaries of a de-escalation in the Middle East. 

Betashares Msci Emerging Markets Complex Etf (ASX: BEMG)

According to Betashares Senior Investment Strategist Cameron Gleeson, history shows that emerging markets often perform strongly when global risk appetite improves and trade flows normalise.

A resolution of the crisis could see the US dollar weaken, which may provide a tailwind for emerging markets.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to large and mid-cap stocks across 24 emerging market countries.

Betashares Global Shares Ex Us Etf (ASX: EXUS)

This is the only ASX ETF which provides Ex-US, Ex-Australia developed global market equities exposure.

According to Betashares, Ex-US equities provide greater exposure to cyclical sectors like financials and industrials than the US equity market and, as such, greater exposure to a strong global growth environment.

This fund provides exposure to 900+ large and mid-cap companies from 22 developed markets excluding the US and Australia.

BetaShares Geared Australian Equity Fund (Hedge Fund) (ASX: GEAR)

This ASX ETF provides between 200-286% exposure to the daily returns of the S&P/ASX 200. This can magnify both gains and losses, and is only suited to investors with a very high risk tolerance.

According to Betashares, using leverage can amplify returns if equities rally following improving sentiment.

We’ve seen geared equity ETFs being used by investors during past periods of market volatility. For example, at the market lows after the Liberation Day sell off last year we saw increased buying of geared equity ETFs.

In that instance, as equity markets recovered those ETF products amplified gains for their investors. However, it’s important to recognise that investing in a geared investment, rather than an ungeared investment, involves significantly higher risk, particularly during a period of elevated volatility.

The post 3 ASX ETFs that could be set to jump – Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Portfolio strategies for 2 potential Middle East scenarios – Expert
• 3 ASX ETFs for new investors to consider in 2026

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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.07% to 8,945.5 points on Thursday.

Meantime, brokers have reviewed their ratings and 12-month share price targets on three ASX shares.

Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

The Bubs share price is steady at 11 cents, and down 12.5% over 12 months.

This week, Shaw & Partners gave the ASX consumer staples share a buy rating.

The broker said its DCF valuation remained 18 cents per share following the company’s 2026 Strategy Day.

We are particularly impressed by BUB’s success in the USA.

Having only entered the USA in 2022 under the FDA’s enforcement discretion, US distribution is expected to reach circa 10,000 doors by end 2026, up over 100% on 2025.

Given that Kendamil only recently received permanent FDA approval, we expect BUB’s permanent approval to come through shortly. 

BUB re-iterated its FY26 guidance for Revenue of $120-125m and reported EBITDA of $4- 6m.

Our forecasts remain $121.5m and $4.5m, respectively.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts shares are $43.26, up 0.7% today, and up 23.8% over 12 months.

Morgans maintains a hold rating on this ASX financial share following its 1H FY26 report.

The diversified investment group reported statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $2,303 million, up 604.3%.

The extraordinary increase reflected the Brickworks merger, the sell-down of Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) and Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX: AIS) shares, and a realised gain from the sale of Apex Healthcare.

Underlying regular NPAT increased 6.7% to $304 million.

The pre-tax net asset value (NAV) climbed 14.6% to $13.8 billion, and the portfolio generated a 9.7% return for the first half.

Soul Patts increased its interim dividend by 9.1% to 48 cents per share, fully franked.

Morgans commented:

We continue to like the SOL story, particularly its track record of growing distributions and history of uncorrelated and above market returns.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Endeavour shares are $3.28, down 0.2% today, and down 16.2% over 12 months.

The Endeavour share price fell to a record low of $3.13 on Tuesday.

On The Bull this week, Mark Elzayed from Investor Pulse revealed a sell rating on Endeavour shares.

In our view, key concerns emerged in its first half result in fiscal year 2026.

Underlying group earnings before interest and tax of $563 million fell 5.4 per cent despite a 0.9 per cent increase in group sales to $6.7 billion.

While the hotels segment generated a 4.4 per cent increase in sales, the retail division, comprising Dan Murphy’s and BWS, posted a 11.6 per cent decline in underlying EBIT.

Statutory net profit after tax fell 17.1 per cent to $247 million, impacted by $45 million in significant items.

Downward revisions in consensus earnings per share suggest the bottom may not have been reached at this point.

The post Buy, hold, or sell? Bubs, Soul Patts, and Endeavour shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which of these ASX stocks near 52-week lows is worth buying?
• Why I invest a lot in ASX shares outside of superannuation
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Endeavour, and Rio Tinto shares
• Forget term deposits! I’d buy these ASX dividend shares instead!
• What is Morgans saying about these massively popular ASX 200 stocks?

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 Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

For most investors, targeting a return of 10% or so each year is pretty respectable.

Every now and then though it’s worth casting your eye over stocks which could outperform the market by a significant amount, and deliver outsized returns.

I’ve had a look at the analyst reports which have come out recently, and selected three such companies which, at least if the analysts are to be believed, are significantly undervalued at current levels.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult is a global leader in providing technology for professional sports teams to monitor, track and evaluate their players.

The company held an investor day recently and also put out a trading update in March which indicated that the company expected management EBITDA to grow by about 50% year on year, “as the company’s profitability continues to outpace its strong top-line growth”.

The analysts at Canaccord Genuity attended the investor day and said the company was targeting growth to 5000 teams in the next two to three years, then 7-10,000 teams in five to six years.

They added:

Management has identified several greenfield opportunities across global Soccer (lower division levels not using any tech) and Basketball (currently about 100-150 teams weighted to US-based collegiate level), with potential expansion into other US college sports (e.g. Athletics, Ice hockey).

Canaccord has a price target of $8 on Catapult shares, compared with  $3.22 now.

Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6)

Clarity has two Phase III clinical trials in the prostate cancer space which will report this year, which could be the trigger for a major rerating of the company’s shares, the analysts at Canaccord Genuity say.

The addressable market for the company’s drugs would be about $US2.9 billion annually in the US, Canaccord said, providing the potential for major revenue for the company.

They added:

Should 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA be approved, and subsequently launch in 2H28, by FY35 we see Clarity generating US$860m in sales, representing 29% share. 

Canaccord has a  price target of $8.41 on Clarity shares compared with $3.15 currently.

Global Lithium Resources Ltd (ASX: GL1)

Shaw and Partners has just initiated coverage on this company with a buy recommendation and a very bullish share price target.

Global Lithium is developing the Manna Lithium Project in Western Australia, and released a definitive feasibility study on it in December, envisaging a 14.3 year mine life with a payback period of 3.5 years.

Shaw’s report on the company said the Manna project was of “world class scale and quality”.

They added:

The project is designed for high efficiency, utilising ore sorting to optimize mill feed and reduce waste. This results in an extremely competitive all in sustaining cost of $1,101/t on our numbers, positioning Manna in the lowest quartile of the global lithium cost curve. This low-cost profile ensures the project remains resilient and commercially viable even during periods of lithium price volatility.

Shaw has a price target of $1.50 on Global Lithium shares compared with the current price of 51.5 cents.

The post 3 ASX shares tipped to grow 100% or more in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX healthcare stock could more than double according to Canaccord Genuity
• These lithium shares could triple in value: Broker
• Bell Potter names the best ASX shares to buy in April
• This ASX healthcare stock could almost double in value according to Bell Potter
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

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