• 2 cheap ASX shares near 52-week lows I’d buy today

    Two kids are selling big ideas from a lemonade stand on the side of the road for cheap!

    When compelling ASX shares trade at low prices, they could be unmissable buys. Falling to near 52-week lows may be the best price we can buy at.

    Of course, just because something has fallen doesn’t mean it’s going to rise again quickly. But I think investing at the lower price gives brave investors a much better margin of safety and will hopefully lead to stronger returns.

    With the above in mind, let’s look at two compelling ASX shares.

    Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

    Temple & Webster is one of the leading online retailers in Australia, selling hundreds of thousands of products across homewares, furniture and home improvement.

    A significant majority of the products sold are shipped directly by suppliers to customers. This means the company operates with a capital-light model and can offer a vast range compared to competitors with physical stores.

    The digital nature of its operations also means it can provide digital tools to customers such as AI chat, augmented reality (see a product in your room) and so on.

    While the current retail conditions are challenging – with a higher cost of living and lower house prices – I think things will improve at some point, we just don’t know when. I believe this is why the Temple & Webster share price has fallen so far and why it makes sense to invest now.

    Overall FY26 revenue may have only increased by 11% to $665 million, but home improvement revenue increased by 39% to $59 million. I think the home improvement segment could become increasingly important to the overall business as the years go by.

    I believe online shopping adoption will help the company grow earnings in the coming years. The ASX share looks like great value to me, trading at 23x FY29’s estimated earnings after falling around 80% in the past year (and close to its 52-week low).

    Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)

    The Propel share price is also near its 52-week low after dropping more than 40% over the past year. I think the market is punishing Propel partly because of higher interest rates (hurting the valuations of stocks like Propel), as well as higher inflation.

    Propel is one of the largest funeral providers in Australia and New Zealand. It operates from more than 210 locations, including 42 cremation facilities and nine cemeteries.  

    It’s a morbid idea, but the company has compelling long-term growth tailwinds because of Australia’s ageing and growing population.

    Propel says that Australian projected deaths are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% between 2026 to 2035 and then a further 2.3% between 2036 to 2045. In other words, there’s clear revenue tailwinds for two decades.

    With rising average revenue per funeral and an ageing demographic, I think the ASX share is a good long-term hold while it trades near a 52-week low.

    The post 2 cheap ASX shares near 52-week lows I’d buy today 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…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Propel Funeral Partners and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Which ASX ETFs could be top picks for beginner investors?

    A group of young people lined up on a wall are happy looking at their laptops and devices as they invest in the latest trendy stock.

    Starting an investment portfolio can feel difficult. There are thousands of shares to choose from and plenty of market noise.

    For beginners, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can make things much easier.

    They allow investors to own a collection of stocks through one investment, which means you do not have to identify the next great pick yourself.

    So, which ASX ETFs could be top picks for someone starting out?

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    The iShares S&P 500 ETF could be a great place to start for beginners.

    It tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors a slice of the 500 largest companies listed in the United States.

    Many of these companies have become global businesses. They sell phones, software, medicines, financial services, advertising, consumer products, and industrial equipment around the world.

    This means an Australian investor can buy this fund and immediately own a slice of many businesses they probably interact with every day.

    The S&P 500 also changes over time. Companies that grow can enter the index, while those that lose relevance can eventually leave.

    That makes the iShares S&P 500 ETF a simple way to back corporate America over the long term without having to predict which individual companies will still be leading the market in 10 or 20 years.

    Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

    For investors wanting to keep some money closer to home, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF could be worth considering.

    This fund tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) and therefore owns a large collection of Australian companies.

    That includes banks like Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), miners like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), healthcare companies like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), retailers like Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

    One benefit for beginners is familiarity. Many of the businesses inside the fund are companies Australians see, use, or hear about regularly.

    The local market is also known for paying dividends, with many companies distributing a meaningful portion of their profits to shareholders.

    As a result, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF offers a straightforward way to participate in the performance and income generated by the Australian share market.

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    A final ASX ETF for beginners to look at is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

    This fund spreads investments across developed markets around the world.

    I think this is valuable for Australians. Our share market represents only a small portion of the global investment universe. The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF opens the door to businesses and industries that are either underrepresented or largely absent from the ASX.

    With more than 1,000 stocks inside the fund, beginners do not need to decide whether the next great opportunity will come from America, Europe, or somewhere else. They can own a piece of all of them.

    The post Which ASX ETFs could be top picks for beginner investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in iShares S&P 500 ETF right now?

    Before you buy iShares S&P 500 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 iShares S&P 500 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…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, 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.

  • Why this ASX AI stock could rise 50%

    Woman and AI robot working together in the office.

    There are a number of ways for investors to gain exposure to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom on the ASX.

    Popular options include Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) and NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT), which provide the infrastructure behind the megatrend.

    Another ASX AI stock that could be worth a look is in this article. Let’s see why Bell Potter is recommending it to clients.

    Which ASX AI stock?

    The ASX stock that Bell Potter is positive on is Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA).

    It is a Perth-based medical technology company using AI powered image-analysis software to improve the detection and management of coronary artery disease (CAD). 

    Bell Potter notes that CAD is driven by soft plaque that builds up silently in the arteries and ruptures without warning, causing a fatal heart attack. 

    It points out that traditional cardiac diagnostics often fail to detect this hidden risk, and in over 50% of the population, the first sign of the disease is sudden death. 

    The condition affects around 126 million people globally, which demonstrates the size of the opportunity for the company and its technology.

    The ASX AI stock’s cloud-based software, Salix, uses proprietary AI algorithms to interpret data from Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) scans, to deliver results in a single point-of-care solution.

    Big potential returns

    This morning, following a review of its FY 2026 results, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX AI stock with a trimmed price target of $6.00 (from $6.75).

    Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 50%.

    Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

    While some aspects of AYA’s commercialisation are occurring at a slower than expected pace, it is well advanced. AYA has two modules out of its three approved, and all three Salix modules attract top shelf category 1 CPT reimbursement rates that enable high margin generation. AYA has three customers and six study partners it aims to convert to commercial customers in time. All of this now contrasts favourably with EIQ that investors had been comparing AYA with. 

    While submission for the FFRCT module has taken longer than expected, now more than ever, it is imperative that AYA take the time to produce a high-quality submission with a high degree of confidence in achieving an FDA approval. Subsequent to our earnings estimate changes, we reduce our TP by c.11% to $6.00/sh and retain our BUY rating.

    The post Why this ASX AI stock could rise 50% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Artrya 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 Artrya 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 1 August 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport and Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.

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