• Up 188% in a year, why is this ASX All Ords mining stock surging again today?

    Overjoyed man celebrating success with yes gesture after getting some good news on mobile.

    The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.5% today, despite the best lifting efforts of this surging ASX All Ords mining stock.

    The outperforming stock in question is Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX: STK), which is primarily focused on its Rogozna Gold and Base Metals Project, located in Serbia.

    Strickland Metals shares closed yesterday trading for 21.5 cents. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 23 cents apiece, up 7%.

    This sees the Strickland Metals share price up a sizzling 187.5% since this time last year, smashing the 20.6% one-year returns delivered by the benchmark index.

    Now, here’s what’s catching investor interest today.

    ASX All Ords mining stock lifts on drill results

    Strickland Metals shares are lifting off after the miner reported on the latest batch of positive assay results. The results stem from the diamond drilling campaign at the Obradov Potok prospect, situated within Strickland’s Rogozna Project.

    The ASX All Ords mining stock said the drilling has confirmed the presence of carbonate-replacement lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), and Silver (Ag) mineralisation at Obradov Potok. Importantly, these results were intercepted along an existing, promising trend.

    For our geologically minded readers, Strickland reported that the mineralisation is consistent with “an outer carbonate-replacement style halo proximal to copper gold skarn”, which is dominant at Rogozna.

    The ASX All Ords mining stock now plans further drilling in the area to target the interpreted core of the copper-gold skarn system.

    Management highlighted that Strickland is well-funded to carry on further exploration. As at 31 December, the miner held cash and liquids of $38 million. That’s not including the $55 million it raised from a recently completed institutional placement.

    What did Strickland Metals management say?

    Commenting on results helping boost the ASX All Ords mining stock today, Strickland Metals managing director Paul L’Herpiniere said the confirmation of significant zones of carbonate-replacement lead zinc-silver mineralisation has elevated Obradov Potok as a priority target for follow-up exploration.

    “This represents another important breakthrough by the team, validating our exploration model and reinforcing the potential for a major new discovery,” he said.

    “Importantly, the target area also sits along strike from the cornerstone Gradina and Copper Canyon deposits, further enhancing its prospectivity,” L’Herpiniere added.

    Looking ahead, L’Herpiniere concluded:

    Following recent discoveries at Red Creek and Kotlovi, these results continue to highlight the scale and endowment of the broader Rogozna system.

    We are looking forward to undertaking follow-up drilling as part of the 2026 field season targeting the interpreted core of the system at Obradov Potok, where we see a compelling opportunity to make a major new discovery.

    The post Up 188% in a year, why is this ASX All Ords mining stock surging again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Strickland Metals Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Strickland Metals Ltd shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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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.

  • Which ASX ETFs I’d buy for retirement investing

    ETF on white blocks with a rising arrow on top of coin piles.

    The ASX-listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) space is a smart place to look for retirement investing.

    Some Australians may want to find funds that are weighted towards businesses with strong capital growth potential. Other investors may want to own investments that provide a pleasing level of passive income.

    There are advantages (and disadvantages) to each type of ETF strategy, so I think it’s wise to look at both ideas.

    Capital growth

    The power of compounding can help capital growth deliver very pleasing wealth-building over time.

    Capital growth would suggest that the businesses involved are growing revenue/profit at a useful speed to help send the share price higher over time.

    I don’t think investors can go too far wrong with an international-focused ASX ETF that provides pleasing exposure to high-quality, growing businesses such as Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV).

    But, I’m a big believer in the idea that higher-quality businesses will outperform average businesses over the long-term, particularly when the market/economy goes through a rough patch.

    I like the following international-focused ETFs because of how they build a portfolio based on quality attributes: Global X S&P World Ex Australia GARP ETF (ASX: GARP), VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL), Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY) and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT).

    I believe the four options above are great to consider for building wealth and they can also be great options for Australians looking to invest in retirement.

    For starters, a retiree may still have decades ahead that their portfolio needs to last, so capital growth is a useful feature.

    Secondly, when in retirement, Australians can unlock income by selling a portion of their investment holding each year. For example, if they have $100,000 in an ASX ETF, they could sell $4,000 to unlock a 4% cash flow ‘yield’. Its long-term capital growth may be strong enough for the portfolio/ETF value to outpace the sales.

    For example, if a $100,000 investment grows in value by 10% over a year it becomes $110,000 and a sale of $4,000 would mean $106,000 remaining for the next year. That’s a combination of capital growth of $4,000 of income to spend.

    ASX ETFs that provide dividends

    Some retirees may not want to sell anything. Instead, their preference may be just to hold an investment and receive passive income from it.

    A lot of internationally-focused ASX ETFs don’t have a large dividend yield because the underlying shares don’t have a large yield either, meaning there’s not much income for the ETF to pass on.

    Some people may like the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) because it invests in high-yielding ASX shares, enabling it to give investors a lot of passive income. However, the compound earnings growth of the businesses in this fund are typically low, so I’m not a huge fan.

    That’s why I like ASX ETFs that have a pleasing targeted distribution yield while still providing investors with a good dividend yield.

    One of my favourite ideas in this space is WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ), which targets a distribution yield of 5%. Growth of the fund’s net asset value (NAV) can unlock distribution growth for investors.

    The post Which ASX ETFs I’d buy for retirement investing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF right now?

    Before you buy Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF wasn’t one of them.

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

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

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, VanEck Msci International Quality ETF, and Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Orora updates FY26 outlook as Saverglass earnings take a hit

    A young couple sits at their kitchen table looking at documents with a laptop open in front of them.

    The Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) share price is in focus following a trading update, with the company revising down FY26 EBIT guidance for its Saverglass division due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Saverglass’ underlying FY26 EBIT (€) is now forecast at €63–68 million, compared to previous guidance of around €79.2 million.

    What did Orora report?

    • FY26 Saverglass underlying EBIT (€) expected at €63m–€68m (down from €79.2m in FY25)
    • FY26 reported EBIT (€) for Saverglass now forecast at €52m–€59m
    • Direct 2H26 EBIT impact from Middle East conflict: €9m–€11m
    • Indirect 2H26 EBIT impact due to weaker volumes and negative mix: €11m–€16m
    • No change to existing FY26 guidance for Cans or Gawler divisions
    • Leverage ratio expected to remain below 1.5x at June 2026

    What else do investors need to know?

    The Ras al Khaimah (RAK) facility in the UAE is safe and undamaged, but production has shifted to a closed-loop ‘hot’ mode due to shipping and overland route closures. Orora assures all team members are accounted for and safety is the top priority.

    Production from the RAK facility, representing about 15% of Saverglass capacity, will be shifted to Mexico for the North American market, with bottle moulds transported to the Acatlán facility. Orora has paused its on-market buyback while monitoring the conflict’s ongoing impacts.

    What’s next for Orora?

    Orora continues to monitor the Middle East situation and remains committed to safety and operational continuity. Shifting production from the RAK facility to Mexico is expected to help maintain supply for key customers, with mitigation strategies aiming to reduce energy cost pressures.

    The company retains a strong balance sheet and expects leverage to stay below 1.5x by the financial year-end. The paused buyback may resume once there is greater certainty around external risks.

    Orora share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, the Orora share price has risen 16%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 21% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Orora updates FY26 outlook as Saverglass earnings take a hit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Orora right now?

    Before you buy Orora shares, consider this:

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

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

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

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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 recommended Orora. 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.

  • Why Lynas could be one of the ASX’s biggest winners again today

    Female miner in hard hat and safety vest on laptop with mining drill in background.

    Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) is fast becoming one of the ASX’s most important strategic companies.

    After surging 5.57% to $21.43 on Wednesday, the rare earths producer is now trading within touching distance of its 52-week high of $21.96. That peak was reached in October last year, highlighting the strength of the stock’s recent momentum.

    The move leaves Lynas valued at about $21.6 billion, with the share price up close to 179% over the past 12 months.

    Much of that strength reflects growing investor focus on supply chain security and China’s grip on critical minerals.

    As heavy rare earths become a bigger geopolitical issue, Lynas’ non-China processing capability is gaining strategic value.

    Here’s why the market may not be done with the rally yet.

    Why investors are watching Lynas closely

    Supply security is becoming the key issue for the market.

    China still dominates global heavy rare earth processing, particularly for materials such as dysprosium and terbium. These are essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, semiconductors, fighter jets, missile systems, and advanced electronics.

    Recent commentary around Pentagon supply chain deadlines and China’s export restrictions has put the spotlight on the limited number of companies capable of processing these materials outside China, with Lynas among the best placed to benefit.

    The company’s Malaysia processing facility is widely regarded as the largest commercial heavy rare earth separation facility outside China. It is also one of the only scaled operations capable of producing separated heavy rare earth oxides for Western customers.

    That marks a major strategic shift because heavy rare earth separation has historically been almost fully controlled by China.

    Lynas remains the only major commercial-scale heavy rare earth separator outside China, with production centred at its upgraded Malaysia facility.

    Why the world can’t function without rare earths

    Rare earths are now essential to modern industry.

    They are critical to the permanent magnets used across advanced manufacturing, defence systems, AI infrastructure, and the global energy transition. In many applications, there are still no practical substitutes that offer the same performance and durability.

    If China tightens supply further, Western manufacturers could face serious supply shortages across defence, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. That could slow production, lift costs, and speed up the push toward reliable Western suppliers.

    Foolish takeaway

    Lynas stands out because its relevance goes well beyond short-term commodity price swings. Its value lies in owning processing capability that is difficult to replicate, globally scarce, and likely to stay highly important for years.

    Scarcity, scale, and geopolitical relevance continue to make Lynas a compelling stock to hold through market cycles as part of a diversified portfolio.

    The post Why Lynas could be one of the ASX’s biggest winners again today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lynas Rare Earths Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Lynas Rare Earths Ltd shares, consider this:

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

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

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

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    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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

  • What’s Bell Potter’s updated view on CSL shares?

    Shot of a young scientist looking stressed out while working on a computer in a lab.

    CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have been hotly covered this year as the healthcare giant has tumbled to multi-year lows. 

    Despite this fall, many experts have tipped a recovery for CSL shares. 

    At the time of writing, CSL shares are hovering close to 52-week lows, closing yesterday at $142.18. 

    Fresh headwinds have hit the company this week as President Trump announced new 100% tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals. 

    CSL said in a statement on Tuesday that it had taken note of the new tariff announcement. However the company said that it was not anticipating a large impact.

    Following this news, the team at Bell Potter released updated guidance on CSL shares. 

    How will the new tariffs impact CSL shares?

    It seems Bell Potter shares the confidence expressed from CSL management. The broker also believes that the new tariffs won’t have a large impact on business. 

    We agree with CSL’s initial assessment that the majority of its products are unlikely to be subjected to recently announced US pharmaceutical tariffs. Specifically, plasmaderived therapies (~63% of CSL revenue) appear to be explicitly excluded and CSL’s flu vaccine sales (~14% of group) in the US are largely from UK manufacturing facilities, where a 10% tariff (and potentially shifting to 0%) is in place.

    The broker said further concessions are also being made to companies that enter onshoring and/or pricing agreements with the US government. 

    Based on this, it continues to view the threats of tariffs as a ploy to increase US sovereign drug manufacturing and would not be surprised to see CSL enter into an official pricing/onshoring agreement after the recent $1.5b Illinois expansion, like nearly all big pharma companies have done.

    Price target reduction

    Despite the fact that Bell Potter doesn’t view these new tariffs as a threat to CSL revenue, the broker did reduce its price target for CSL shares. 

    The broker has maintained a hold recommendation on the company, along with an updated price target of $155.00 (previously $175.00). 

    From today’s opening price of approximately $142.00, this indicates a potential upside of 9%. 

    The broker said while CSL doesn’t face the same extent of generic/biosimilar competition as these biopharma peers, it does have a lower growth outlook.  

    Considering the low-growth outlook in the near-term, risk to FY26 guidance, and our below-consensus FY27 forecasts, we maintain our HOLD recommendation notwithstanding the historically low trading multiple. We don’t think CSL is out of the woods just yet. PT is lowered to $155.

    The post What’s Bell Potter’s updated view on CSL shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in CSL right now?

    Before you buy CSL shares, consider this:

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

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

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

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

  • Charter Hall Group secures $1.2bn property mandate from institutional client

    Business people discussing project on digital tablet.

    The Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) share price is in focus after the company announced a new $1.2 billion institutional mandate, boosting its funds under management and adding to its momentum in FY26.

    What did Charter Hall Group report?

    • Secured a new $1.2 billion diversified direct property mandate from an existing institutional client
    • Mandate covers a confidential portfolio across multiple core real estate sectors
    • Continued growth in funds under management during FY26
    • Reinforces the company’s expertise in large-scale, cross-sector property management

    What else do investors need to know?

    The newly announced mandate is expected to further strengthen Charter Hall’s leading position in the Australian property funds management sector. While the specific assets remain confidential, this addition reflects the trust major institutional clients place in the company’s expertise.

    Charter Hall has long invested across office, industrial and logistics, retail, and social infrastructure sectors. The Group’s diverse portfolio and disciplined approach are highlighted as key factors in securing significant mandates like this.

    What did Charter Hall Group management say?

    Charter Hall Managing Director & Group CEO, David Harrison, said:

    Charter Hall is pleased to be appointed to manage this $1.2 billion diversified direct property mandate. The mandate continues the momentum in funds under management growth and equity flows announced during FY26 and demonstrates Charter Hall’s cross-sector expertise and scale across Australia’s core real estate sectors.

    What’s next for Charter Hall Group?

    Charter Hall will continue to focus on expanding its funds under management and nurturing relationships with key investors. The Group is expected to leverage its broad platform and integrated expertise to source and manage high‑quality assets for both new and existing clients.

    With the addition of this mandate, Charter Hall underscores its capabilities and outlook for steady growth across Australia’s main real estate sectors.

    Charter Hall Group share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Charter Hall Group shares have risen 29%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which as risen 21% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Charter Hall Group secures $1.2bn property mandate from institutional client appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Charter Hall Group shares, consider this:

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

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

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

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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.

  • 5 easy tips to boost your superannuation balance by $10,000

    Australian dollar notes in a nest, symbolising a nest egg.

    Whether you’re falling behind on your superannuation goal or just want to boost your balance, here are five easy ways to boost your balance by $10,000.

    1. Review your superannuation setup and performance

    The easiest way to get back on track is by reviewing the setup and performance of  your current superannuation fund. 

    Is your fund performing well and in line with market expectations or a benchmark such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)? 

    The difference between a poor-performing fund and a top-performing one can be the difference between boosting your balance by another $10,000 and losing money down the drain.

    You also need to check that your fund’s risk appetite aligns with your own. Putting your money into the wrong type of fund can quickly chip away at your balance, but also, being too conservative too early means you’ll lose out on the potential for more growth. 

    2. Sacrifice some of your salary

    The easiest way to boost your super balance is to add as much to it as you can. Concessional contributions are pre-tax super payments taxed at a lower rate of 15%, and capped at a total of $30,000 per year. Concessional contributions include employer super guarantee, salary sacrifice, and any pre-tax personal contributions. 

    3. Make a lump sum payment after tax

    You can also add after-tax income to your super. This is called a non-concessional contribution.

    You can make these contributions up to age 67 without extra work testing or exemptions. This is capped at $120,000 per year.

    4. Stay on top of your concessional contributions rules

    What many Australians don’t know is that if you don’t use your capped total of $30,000 per year in concessional contributions, you can carry it over to the next financial year. In fact, you can carry over your leftover pre-tax cap amounts from the past five years, which means you can make larger contributions above the $30,000 limit without the extra tax. 

    There is also the “bring-forward rule”. This is similar to the catch-up concessional contribution, but the bring-forward rule applies to their non-concessional contributions. Under this rule, eligible Australians can contribute three years’ worth of non-concessional contributions (up to $120,000 per year) at once.

    Low- and middle-income Australians might also be eligible for a government co-contribution if they make after-tax contributions to super. 

    5. Ask your spouse to add extra

    Couples can boost their combined super savings if the higher-income earner contributes after-tax funds to the lower-income earner’s account. If the lower-earning spouse brings in less than $40,000 per year, you might also get a tax offset.

    Great, this is helpful but how long will it take to see the $10k on my balance?

    How long it’ll take to truly boost your superannuation balance by $10,000 depends entirely on how much extra you contribute using the steps above, and how frequently.

    For example, adding $20 per week would total an additional contribution of $1,040 over the course of the year. Assuming your superfund has an average return of around 6%, you can expect it to take around seven or eight years to reach $10,000.

    If you did the same thing but added the equivalent of $50 per week, or $2,600 per year, it would take more like 4 years.

    Meanwhile, if you decide to add a lump sum of $5,000 right now and let compounding do the rest of the heavy lifting, you’re looking at about four or five years.

    The post 5 easy tips to boost your superannuation balance by $10,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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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 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.

  • Bendigo and Adelaide Bank lifts profit and launches strategic partnerships

    Confident male executive dressed in a dark blue suit leans against a doorway with his arms crossed in the corporate office

    The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price is in focus after the bank posted unaudited cash earnings of $137.9 million, up 7.6% on the previous half-year’s quarterly average, and announced two new strategic partnerships aimed at ramping up innovation and efficiency.

    What did Bendigo and Adelaide Bank report?

    • Unaudited cash earnings of $137.9 million for 3Q26, up 7.6% from the 1H26 quarterly average
    • Statutory net profit after tax of $109.4 million for the quarter
    • Net interest margin improved to 1.98%, up 6 basis points on 2Q26
    • Lending growth annualised at 5.6% for the quarter, with strong momentum in both residential and business lending
    • Operating expenses were 4.1% lower than the previous quarter, largely due to reduced staff costs
    • Credit expenses incurred were $2.1 million

    What else do investors need to know?

    Bendigo and Adelaide Bank kicked off the next phase of its Productivity Program, which includes newly announced partnerships with Infosys and Genpact. The Infosys collaboration brings a seven-year boost to technology services, giving the bank access to more advanced software and AI expertise, while the six-year deal with Genpact focuses on process optimisation.

    These partnerships are expected to enhance efficiency, build on existing technology platforms, and help respond more quickly to customer needs. However, they’ll also result in changes to the workforce, especially in technology and business operations teams, with consultations to follow.

    Significant operational improvements are targeted, with ongoing expense benefits of $65–$75 million per year expected by FY28. Upfront transition costs of $85–$95 million are mostly expected to fall in FY27.

    What’s next for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank?

    Looking ahead, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank remains focused on accelerating its 2030 strategy by investing in technology and process excellence. Management says the operational efficiencies achieved through these partnerships will support expense guidance, aiming for business-as-usual costs to remain no higher than inflation through the cycle.

    The bank is also keeping a close eye on global developments and potential impacts on credit risk, while continuing to support its customers, particularly amid a challenging external environment.

    Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank shares have risen 6%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 21% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Bendigo and Adelaide Bank lifts profit and launches strategic partnerships appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited right now?

    Before you buy Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited shares, consider this:

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

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

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

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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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. 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.

  • Are Cogsgate shares a buy, hold or sell after rocketing 12% higher yesterday?

    Beautiful young woman drinking fresh orange juice in kitchen.

    Cogstate Ltd (ASX: CGS) shares are in focus today after a big climb yesterday. 

    The ASX healthcare stock was one of many ASX shares to enjoy a strong rebound after President Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. 

    Cogsgate shares jumped an impressive 12% during yesterday’s trading session.

    Why did Cogstate shares climb yesterday? 

    It seems investors were reacting positively to not only international market tailwinds, but also to the company’s 3Q26 Business Update. 

    Cogstate is a neuroscience technology company specialising in brain health assessments. The principal activity of the company is the sale of technology and services to measure cognition.

    In yesterday’s release, the company said it continues to demonstrate strong demand across an expanding range of Central Nervous System (CNS) indications, consistent with trends outlined with the release of the 1H26 financial results.

    The company reported total contracted revenue, as at 31-Mar-26, has increased reflecting the sales contracts executed during the quarter: 

    • Contracted revenue for the June 2026 half year (2H26), including revenue recognised during 3Q26, is $29.1 million, up from $21.7 million under contract at 31-Dec-25. 
    • This brings full year FY26 revenue under contract (including first half actual of $26.9 million) to $56.0 million (FY25 total revenue was $53.1 million). 
    • Contracted revenue for next financial year (FY27) is $35.6 million, up from $27.0 million under contract at 31-Dec-25.

    What did Bell Potter have to say?

    Following this release, the team at Bell Potter provided updated guidance on Cogsgate shares. 

    The broker said the strong sales momentum is continuing for the healthcare stock, with the recent results representing the best quarter of new sales in at least 3 years. 

    Bell Potter said it was clearly a positive update, which increases confidence that the diversification and strong momentum seen in 1H26 was not just a ‘one-off’ and further growth in the revenue backlog looks likely.

    Following the strong sales update, he broker has lifted its FY27 revenue forecast by 3% and its FY28 forecast by 5%.

    Our updated FY26 forecast implies $3.2m of in-period additions in Q4 which seems quite achievable.

    Buy recommendation in tact

    The broker also reiterated its buy recommendation for Cogsgate shares, along with increasing its price target to $3.20 (previously $2.90). 

    The broker said the company is trading at a discount to global peers (13x on avg) despite having a far more attractive topline growth outlook. 

    From yesterday’s closing price of $2.40, the updated price target from Bell Potter indicates a potential upside of 33%. 

    The post Are Cogsgate shares a buy, hold or sell after rocketing 12% higher yesterday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy CogState Limited shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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

  • 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8%

    Person with a handful of Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.

    There are few ASX shares that can sustainably give investors a dividend yield above 10%, but a few could be appealing options to own.

    Not every large yield is reliable. Extremely high dividend yields may be funded by an unsustainable dividend payout ratio, or by a significant decline in the share price (which pushes up the trailing yield) as the market expects a drop in earnings (and dividends).

    While the dividend yields I’m about to talk about are not guaranteed, I think it’s likely the ASX shares will continue to paying large dividends for the foreseeable future.

    Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF)

    This is a very unloved real estate investment trust (REIT) right now – it owns office buildings across Australian metropolitan locations.

    In the last six months alone, the Centuria Office REIT unit price has declined by 20%, making it much cheaper.

    The work from home trend has certainly been a headwind for office demand in the last few years. Recently, AI growth and rising interest rates are also a potential headwind for earnings, office property valuations and market confidence.

    However, the properties are still generating rental income for investors, the buildings still retain significant value and the land the ASX share owns is rising in value over time.

    In the FY26 first-half result, the business reported its portfolio valuation increased by $42.8 million, which was the second consecutive period of valuation gains. That shows the business was experiencing green shoots last year.

    The business also said it continued to sign new rental leases, while the supply of new office buildings remains restrained because of high replacement costs (and lower demand).

    In FY26, the business is expecting to generate rental profit (FFO – funds from operations) of between 11.1 to 11.5 cents per security. The guided FY26 distribution of 10.1 cents per unit translates into a forward distribution yield of 10.75%. Even a 10% cut of the distribution next financial year would still see it pay a distribution/dividend yield of well over 9%.

    Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1)

    The other high-yield ASX share I want to highlight is a unique listed investment company (LIC) on the ASX. It invests in shares across the world.

    Instead of just one funds management team being in charge of the investment decisions, it’s invested in stocks that have been chosen (for no management costs) by various fund managers.

    Some of the portfolio is chosen by a core group of permanent fund managers, while picks in the portfolio are decided by an annual investment conference where experts pitch a stock they think could be a strong performer.

    The reason why so many investment professionals are willing to contribute ideas for free is that the LIC donates 1.5% of net assets each year to medical research. I think that’s a great initiative and one well worth supporting.

    This ASX share has pleasing dividend characteristics – it hasn’t given shareholders a dividend reduction since it started paying dividends in FY21. It has grown its annual payout every year in that time, aside from FY23 when it maintained its dividend.

    The ASX share has provided guidance it will grow its half-year dividend by 0.5 cents every six months for the foreseeable future, implying the next two dividends to be declared will come to 20.5 cents per share. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 10%, including franking credits.

    The post 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Centuria Office REIT right now?

    Before you buy Centuria Office REIT shares, consider this:

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

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

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

    * Returns as of 20 Feb 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Hearts And Minds Investments. 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.