One small-cap ASX stock is getting plenty of attention on Thursday.

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd (ASX: NZK) shares are up 13.51% to 21 cents at the time of writing.

This comes after the salmon producer released an update before the market opened.

The move has pushed shares close to their 22-cent 52-week high while lifting the company’s market capitalisation to $113 million.

So, what did New Zealand King Salmon tell investors this morning?

Let’s take a closer look.

What’s behind today’s jump?

According to the release, New Zealand King Salmon has lifted its full-year earnings expectations.

The company now expects FY26 pro-forma EBITDA of between NZ$36 million and NZ$39 million.

This is ahead of its previous guidance range of NZ$30 million to NZ$34 million.

Pro-forma EBIT guidance has also moved higher to between NZ$27 million and NZ$30 million, up from NZ$21 million to NZ$25 million.

However, there was another part of the update that caught my attention.

Harvest guidance hasn’t changed, with New Zealand King Salmon still expecting between 5,950 and 6,050 metric tonnes in FY26.

Management said fish performance has been better than expected, while mortality has continued to come in below previous assumptions.

Carrington said better fish performance was flowing through to earnings, but there was still more work to do.

A much better year so far

The upgrade adds to a big turnaround that has already been underway in FY26.

In its half-year result, New Zealand King Salmon reported net profit of NZ$13.8 million, compared with a NZ$20.8 million loss in the previous corresponding period.

That represents a NZ$34.6 million swing from loss to profit.

Pro-forma EBITDA also improved to NZ$17.2 million from NZ$5.7 million.

Lately, the business has been showing better earnings, and management expects that improvement to continue through the rest of FY26.

What should investors watch next?

Today’s upgrade is good news, but investors will get a better look at next year in November.

New Zealand King Salmon is aiming to lift harvest volumes to between 7,200 and 7,600 tonnes in FY27, before targeting 8,500 to 9,100 tonnes in FY28.

The catch is that costs are moving higher as well.

Management said higher feed prices and wellboat expenses are starting to come through this year, with the full impact expected in FY27.

Management plans to provide FY27 guidance alongside its FY26 results in November.

If volumes keep growing while fish performance remains strong, the business could still have room to improve despite those extra costs.

The post Guess which ASX stock is rocketing 14% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Netwealth Group vs HUB24: Which financial platform is better from an investor’s perspective?

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.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have long been a popular choice with Australian income investors.

The mining giant has returned substantial amounts of cash to shareholders over the years.

At around $166.25 today, are Rio Tinto shares still worth considering for passive income?

Why miners can work for income investors

Rio Tinto and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are regular fixtures in many income portfolios for good reason.

Both companies own large, long-life mining operations that can generate enormous amounts of cash when commodity markets are supportive.

For Rio Tinto, iron ore remains a key part of the business. Its Pilbara operations produce huge volumes and have historically generated substantial profits.

That cash can then be used to fund new projects, strengthen the balance sheet, and pay dividends to shareholders.

I also like that Rio Tinto is building out its exposure to copper. That gives the company another potential source of earnings as demand grows from areas such as electrification, power networks, and renewable energy infrastructure.

For income investors, I think that mix works well. Rio Tinto has major assets generating cash today while still investing for the future.

What could the dividend look like?

For passive income investors, Rio Tinto’s dividend is one of the main reasons to consider the shares.

According to consensus forecasts, the miner is expected to pay fully franked dividends of $6.34 per share in FY26 and $6.62 per share in FY27.

At the current Rio Tinto share price, that works out to be prospective dividend yields of around 3.8% and 4%, respectively.

Those yields may not jump off the page, but I think they are attractive when combined with the potential benefit of franking credits.

For me, the bigger point is that investors are getting a reasonable level of income from a company I would also be comfortable owning for the long term.

What does the valuation look like?

Consensus forecasts are for earnings per share of $12.07 in FY26 and $12.04 in FY27.

At the current share price, Rio Tinto is therefore trading on a PE ratio of around 14 times forecast earnings.

I think that is a reasonable valuation for a business of this scale, particularly when the dividend is also part of the return.

Of course, Rio Tinto’s earnings will always move with commodity prices.

Iron ore weakness could put pressure on profits and dividends, while stronger prices could have the opposite effect.

That variability is simply part of owning a large miner.

I would not rely on the dividend alone

Rio Tinto is not the type of income share where I would expect the dividend to rise neatly every year.

The payout can move significantly depending on profits and commodity markets.

For that reason, I would see Rio Tinto as one part of a broader passive income portfolio rather than relying on it to provide a fixed amount every year.

That would still leave plenty of room for the company to make a meaningful contribution when conditions are favourable.

Foolish takeaway

Yes, I would buy Rio Tinto shares for passive income.

The prospective yield is solid, the dividends are expected to be fully franked, and the valuation looks reasonable.

I also like that Rio Tinto can offer more than income alone, with its existing assets and growing copper exposure giving the business opportunities to create value over the years ahead.

The post Should I buy Rio Tinto shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Netwealth Group vs HUB24 shares: which wealth platform is the better buy?

If you’re eyeing the ASX financials sector, it’s hard to ignore Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) and HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB). Both are leading ASX-listed investment platform providers shaking up how advisers and individuals manage wealth in Australia. With impressive growth in recent years, both have become favourites among investors keen on exposure to the financial tech sector. If you’re wondering whether Netwealth or HUB24 shares are a better buy today, let’s break down the details.

The case for Netwealth Group

Netwealth Group is a financial services and technology business offering cloud-based investment administration software, a retail super fund, and administration services. Its platform delivers powerful portfolio tools and investment solutions for advisers, private clients, and companies. Revenue is mainly SaaS-based, tied to funds under administration on its platform.

In terms of numbers, Netwealth stands out for its 100% fully franked dividends and a yield of 2.23%—meaning income investors get solid, tax-effective dividends. While its P/E ratio is elevated at 76.28 (suggesting a high valuation relative to earnings), the company has made a habit of increasing its dividends over the years. Its recent year-to-date return is negative at -24.97%, reflecting share price pressure, but it remains a formidable operator in its niche. Netwealth’s earnings per share sits at $0.247, while it pays out $0.42 per share as a dividend.

The case for HUB24

HUB24 is also a diversified financial services business with a strong focus on providing administration platforms and cloud-based technology for financial advisers, accountants, and brokers. HUB24’s holistic offering also stretches into advanced data solutions for a variety of client types, including individuals and SMSFs.

HUB24 eclipses Netwealth in terms of scale, boasting a $5.74 billion market cap—more than $1 billion bigger than Netwealth. It has a lower P/E ratio at 48.21, pointing to a more moderate valuation given current earnings. Its dividend yield is lower at 1.11%, but it has lifted dividends impressively, paying a hefty $0.84 per share in the past year. HUB24’s earnings per share are a healthy $1.460, much stronger than Netwealth. The company’s year-to-date return is also negative at -26.07%, almost mirroring Netwealth’s underperformance in 2026.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the two stack up on key valuation metrics:

Metric	Netwealth Group	HUB24
Market Cap	$4.61 billion	$5.74 billion
P/E Ratio	76.28	48.21
Dividend Yield	2.23%	1.11%
Earnings per Share (EPS)	$0.247	$1.460
Dividend per Share	$0.42	$0.84
Franking	100%	100%
Year To Date Return	-24.97%	-26.07%

HUB24’s P/E ratio is notably lower, suggesting better value relative to current earnings, and it delivers much higher earnings per share than Netwealth. Netwealth, meanwhile, takes the crown for a higher dividend yield, despite paying less in absolute terms. Both offer fully franked dividends, which is a win for Aussie investors.

Recent share price performance

Neither stock has been a winner so far in 2026, based on the latest prices (as of 15 September 2026). Netwealth’s shares have fallen from $23.31 on 18 August to $18.77, dropping steadily over the past month. HUB24’s story is similar; its share price slipped from $79.94 on 18 August to $70.16 on 15 September. Both stocks have shed roughly a quarter of their value year to date, showing the market is cautious on the sector right now.

While both have experienced sizeable declines, the trends have been fairly consistent—no wild volatility, just a steady grind downward.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick between these two financial platform heavyweights based on the latest data, I’d lean toward HUB24. While its dividend yield is lower, HUB24 offers a more reasonable (though still rich) P/E ratio, stronger earnings per share, and a larger scale that could provide greater resilience and firepower for future growth. Its dividend growth has also been robust, and the business seems to generate superior profits relative to its share price. Netwealth may appeal more to those who want higher yield and franking credits, but for me, HUB24’s combination of value and earnings momentum gives it the edge—even though both face a tough market environment at present.

The post Netwealth Group vs HUB24: Which financial platform is better from an investor’s perspective? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. 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 draft. 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.