The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is slipping on Monday as Friday’s strong rebound loses momentum.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down 0.15% to 8,831 points.

That follows a 1.37% rise on Friday, when the index bounced back from the previous session’s weakness.

The ASX 200 has traded between 8,817.5 points and 8,856.8 points, meaning buyers have stepped in from the morning low.

But the market has struggled to hold those gains, with banks, supermarkets, and resources keeping the index in negative territory.

There are more losers than winners as well, with 116 shares falling, 74 rising, and 10 trading flat.

Let’s take a closer look.

Banks drag the index lower

The banks are doing a fair bit of the damage today.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 0.36% to $164.42, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are down 0.83% to $35.395.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are also lower, down 0.20% to $35.19, and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are down 0.62% to $250.10.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is holding up a little better, with its shares up 0.13% to $38.62.

The supermarkets are adding to the pressure.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares are down 1.28% to $39.27, while Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are down 0.67% to $23.125.

Some sectors are still fighting back

Despite the ASX 200 sitting in the red, there are still a few pockets of strength.

Energy shares are giving the market some support, even with oil prices slightly softer.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 1.26% to $28.22, while Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 2.11% to $7.25.

Healthcare is also helping.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are up 1.15% to $123.21, and ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) shares are up 1.28% to $30.89.

Gold shares are also drawing interest, with takeover activity giving the sector some extra attention.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 12% to $5.11 after receiving a takeover offer from Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD). Genesis shares are down 7.15% to $5.84.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares are also higher, up 3.6% to $6.87.

Can the ASX 200 recover?

The ASX 200 isn’t falling heavily, but today’s move still shows how quickly Friday’s rally has faded away.

The market is getting support from energy, healthcare, and gold, but the banks are making it difficult for the index to turn positive.

From here, the ASX 200 probably needs financials to steady and a few more large-cap stocks to join the rebound.

Without that, today may end up looking like a breather after Friday’s strong rally.

 

The post ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Owned CBA shares for 10 years? Here’s how much money you’ve made
• 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio
• Oil price crash sparks broker upgrades for ASX energy shares
• Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today?
• Better buy? NAB vs Westpac shares

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

Of all of the blue chip shares on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares probably command the largest army of long-term investors. 

This is likely down to a few factors. For one, CBA is one of the largest companies in Australia, and certainly the largest consumer-facing one. A good chunk of us bank with CBA, and use its products and services daily. For another, Commonwealth Bank used to be a publicly owned company before it was privatised back in the 1990s. The manner of its privatisation, where shares were offered to the general public in huge tranches, resulted in a huge retail base of ‘mum-and-dad investors’. 

Many of these original buyers of CBA still hold their shares today.

And they have always been lavishly rewarded for doing so. 

Back in the 1990s, CBA shares were floated at a few different prices, one as low as $5.40. Given the bank hit $25 a share in 1999, $60 in 2007, $95 in 2015 and $192 (its current all-time high) in 2025, selling this ASX bank stock has always looked like a mistake in hindsight.

Particularly when considering that these healthy capital gains have always been accompanied by even healthier dividend returns. Like its peers in the banking sector, CBA has tended to pay fat, fully franked and rising dividends, albeit with some short-term volatility.

Considering CBA shares’ history of capital growth, as well as its dividend track record, many investors might want to know how just how profitable this bank stock has been over the last ten years. That’s what we’ll be diving into today.

CBA shares: Just how much money have investors made since 2016?

So let’s assume an investor bought $10,000 worth of CBA shares back in July of 2016. Early in that month, you could have picked up this bank for just $72.56, meaning $10,000 would have got you approximately 138 shares.

At the time of writing, those same shares are going for $164.56 each, down 0.28% for the session thus far. That means our $10,000 would today be worth about $22,710, representing a compounded average growth rate of about 8.53% per annum. Not bad for a big ASX bank.

But that’s before we get to the dividends.

CBA has paid out two dividends every year since 2016. These have varied from year to year, but have trended upwards over time. For example, the bank doled out $4.29 worth of dividends over 2017, $3.50 in 2021, and $4.85 over 2025. 

Since mid-2026, investors have enjoyed a total of $41.81 in dividends per share. Our investors’ 138 shares would have thus yielded a total of roughly $5,770 in dividend income over the last ten years as well.

So our investor who started with $10,000 ten years ago would today have a position worth approximately $28,480. That represents an overall compounded growth rate of 11.03% per annum. Not a bad return for a bank. But let’s see what CBA shares deliver over the next ten years.

The post Owned CBA shares for 10 years? Here’s how much money you’ve made appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades
• 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio
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• Should I buy, hold, or sell CBA shares in July?
• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.

Share price falls can create better entry points when the underlying business still has a long runway.

That is how I see Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

Both shares have fallen heavily from their highs, both remain volatile, and both still need to keep proving themselves.

Even so, I think they are worth buying today.

Zip shares

Zip shares are down around 35% from their high, despite a strong recent recovery.

The share price has climbed around 25% over the past month, which shows that investors are starting to warm to the story again. But I do not think the opportunity has disappeared.

The reason I like Zip is that the company has moved beyond the old growth at any cost story.

A few years ago, many investors viewed buy now, pay later (BNPL) companies with scepticism, and fairly so. The sector was highly competitive, funding costs mattered, and profitability was not always clear. Zip now looks like a much more disciplined business.

It is the US opportunity that interests me most. Zip is targeting a very large market where many consumers still want flexible payment options and may not be well served by traditional credit products.

If Zip can keep growing transaction volumes while managing credit quality and improving profitability, the upside could be material.

The company will not have a smooth ride. Payments and consumer finance can be sensitive to economic conditions, regulation, and investor sentiment.

But I think the market may still be underestimating what a better-run Zip could become.

WiseTech shares

WiseTech shares have had an even tougher run, falling almost 70% over the past 12 months.

Clearly, sentiment is weak and confidence may take time to rebuild, especially for a company that was once priced for a lot of growth.

But I think WiseTech remains one of the highest-quality software businesses on the ASX.

The company’s CargoWise platform helps logistics companies manage the messy work behind global trade. Freight forwarding, customs, compliance, documentation, tracking, tariffs, shipping data, and warehouse coordination all involve enormous complexity. That is where software can become valuable.

I like businesses that solve problems customers deal with every day. WiseTech is trying to become core infrastructure for companies that move goods around the world.

That can create sticky customer relationships if the software keeps improving.

The risks are clear. WiseTech needs to maintain growth, execute on acquisitions, manage governance concerns, and rebuild market trust. A recovery in the share price may not happen quickly.

But I think the long-term opportunity remains very attractive. Global trade is unlikely to become less complex, and logistics companies should keep looking for better digital tools.

Foolish takeaway

I think Zip and WiseTech are both buys, but neither is the kind of share investors should expect to behave calmly.

That is part of the opportunity. The market has already taken a much more cautious view of both companies, even though the long-term growth stories still look alive to me.

Zip needs to keep proving that its recovery is built on better discipline, not just improving sentiment. WiseTech needs to rebuild confidence and show that its software platform can keep growing into a much larger global opportunity.

That makes both shares higher-risk buys, but I think the potential reward is now interesting enough to justify a closer look.

The post Down 35%+, should you buy Zip and WiseTech shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 ASX shares down at least 50% in FY26
• Zip shares: 3 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to sell

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

Some ASX 200 shares earn a place in a portfolio because they look cheap.

Others earn a place because the quality of the business is hard to ignore.

That is the way I see the two shares below. They are rarely available at bargain prices, but I think both have the kind of long-term strengths that can make them valuable holdings for patient investors.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA is not usually the cheapest bank on the ASX, and I would not expect that to change.

But I still think it is one of the highest-quality blue-chip shares on the market.

The reason is quality. CBA has a leading retail banking franchise, a huge customer base, a strong deposit position, and one of the best digital banking platforms in the country. Those advantages can be easy to underappreciate when investors are focused only on valuation.

Banking is never risk-free. Bad debts, housing market weakness, competition, and regulation can all affect earnings.

Even so, I think CBA remains the strongest bank in Australia. It has scale, brand strength, customer trust, and a long record of navigating different economic conditions.

For investors wanting exposure to the banking sector, I would rather own the business I think is best positioned than simply chase the cheapest option.

That is why I would want CBA in my portfolio.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is another ASX 200 share I would want to own for the long term.

The company provides enterprise software to customers such as councils, government departments, universities, and large organisations. These customers need reliable systems to run important operations, from finance and payroll to property, student administration, and compliance.

That gives TechnologyOne a useful kind of resilience. Its customers are not buying software for fun. They are using systems that help them operate properly. Once those systems are embedded, they can be difficult and disruptive to replace.

I also like the long-term shift toward cloud-based software. If TechnologyOne can keep improving its platform and expanding in markets such as the UK, I think it has room to grow annual recurring revenue (ARR) at a strong clip for years to come.

The shares can trade at a premium, so valuation is important. But I think world-class businesses are often worth considering even when they are not obviously cheap.

For me, TechnologyOne has the product quality, customer relevance, and growth runway to be a long-term winner.

Foolish takeaway

I think CBA and TechnologyOne are two ASX 200 shares I would be happy to own in my portfolio.

What I like about both is that their strengths are not built on short-term excitement. They come from scale, trust, customer relationships, and products or services that are deeply woven into daily activity.

Both companies can look expensive at times, and neither is without risk. But I think the best portfolios should include businesses with durable advantages, long-term relevance, and the ability to keep compounding value.

That is why these two world-class ASX 200 shares stand out to me.

The post 2 world-class ASX 200 shares I want in my portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 slips as Friday’s rally fades
• Owned CBA shares for 10 years? Here’s how much money you’ve made
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $5,500 per month in passive income?
• 10 of the best ASX shares to buy in FY 2027
• Should I buy, hold, or sell CBA shares in July?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The oil price has taken a hit, but some ASX energy shares are moving higher on Monday.

During early afternoon trade, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 1.15% to $28.19. That leaves the Woodside share price up around 20% in 2026.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is also having a stronger session. Its shares are up 2.25% to $7.26, taking its gain for the year to around 17%.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) is climbing 1.49% to 85.3 cents, while Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is moving the other way, down 0.77% to $10.28.

The move comes as investors look past weaker oil prices and focus on a more positive view from brokers.

Let’s take a closer look.

Oil prices have cooled quickly

The oil market has lost a lot of heat over the past month.

Based on Trading Economics, Brent crude is trading at around US$72 a barrel today, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is sitting near US$69 a barrel.

The pullback follows another move from OPEC+ to lift supply. The group has agreed to raise output by 188,000 barrels per day from August, extending its run of monthly increases.

At the same time, energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz are recovering. That has eased some of the supply worries that were pushing oil higher just a few weeks ago.

The market has gone from worrying about Middle East supply risks to focusing again on extra production and softer prices.

Brokers find value after the selloff

The weaker oil price has not stopped Morgan Stanley from turning more positive on parts of the ASX energy sector.

According to the broker update, analyst Rob Koh has upgraded Santos to ‘overweight’ and lifted the price target to $7.67, up from $7.50.

Woodside and Beach Energy were also upgraded to ‘equal-weight’ from ‘underweight’.

Morgan Stanley pointed to better valuations, free cash flow yields, and a more favourable risk-reward setup across parts of the sector.

It also noted that the ASX 200 energy index has fallen around 15% over the past 2 months, while earnings estimates have been dragged down as much as 28%.

Origin misses out

Origin Energy did not get the same treatment.

Morgan Stanley cut its price target on Origin to $10.35, down from $11.00, and kept it as its least preferred pick in the group.

The broker is concerned that lower east coast domestic gas prices could flow through to weaker electricity prices and put pressure on earnings.

It also flagged the proposed 2027 domestic gas reservation policy as another uncertainty hanging over the sector.

Foolish takeaway

The upgrades should give Woodside, Santos, and Beach Energy some support after a rough stretch for oil.

However, I wouldn’t read too much into it just yet.

This looks more like a valuation call after a tough couple of months for the sector.

Woodside and Santos have already climbed strongly in 2026, so investors are not exactly buying them at a big discount.

From here, the oil price needs to settle down. If crude keeps sliding, broker upgrades alone probably won’t be enough to keep these ASX 200 energy shares moving higher.

 

The post Oil price crash sparks broker upgrades for ASX energy shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today?
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• Origin Energy sell-off continues, shares hit fresh 52-week low: Buy, sell or hold?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Betashares has built a large range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for ASX investors.

Some are designed for broad market exposure, while others target more specific themes, sectors, or investment styles.

I think the best ones are those that can earn a place in a long-term portfolio.

With that in mind, here are three Betashares ETFs I would consider buying in July.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The first ETF I would look at is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq. In practice, that means a heavy weighting toward some of the world’s most important technology and growth companies.

I like the NDQ ETF because many of its holdings sit inside long-term changes in the global economy. Cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital advertising, software, semiconductors, streaming, online shopping, and cybersecurity are all areas where large US technology companies continue to play major roles.

That does not mean this fund is low risk. It can be volatile, particularly when investors become worried about interest rates or technology valuations.

But for long-term investors, I think it offers access to companies that have reshaped how people work, shop, communicate, and consume information. That makes it a top ETF to consider.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

The next ETF I would consider is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

This fund is designed to provide exposure to Australian companies with quality characteristics, such as strong profitability, balance sheet strength, and earnings stability.

I think that can be useful because not all ASX shares are created equal.

Some businesses can generate strong returns through different parts of the cycle, while others are much more dependent on commodity prices, credit conditions, or short bursts of market enthusiasm.

A quality-focused ETF can help investors tilt their Australian exposure toward companies with stronger financial foundations.

That does not guarantee better returns every year. There will be periods when lower-quality or more cyclical shares perform better. But over the long term, I like the idea of owning businesses that have already shown signs of durability.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The third ETF I would consider is Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

Cybersecurity is one of those areas where demand is unlikely to disappear. Businesses, governments, schools, hospitals, banks, and households keep shifting more activity online. That creates more data, more digital systems, and more potential points of attack.

Cybersecurity spending can therefore become less of a nice-to-have and more of a basic operating requirement.

The HACK ETF gives investors exposure to a group of global companies involved in protecting networks, devices, cloud systems, identities, and digital infrastructure.

The theme can still be volatile, and specialised ETFs can move sharply when sentiment changes. But I think cybersecurity has a long runway because the problem it addresses keeps becoming more important.

Foolish takeaway

I think the NDQ, AQLT, and HACK ETF are three Betashares ETFs worth considering.

What I like about this group is that each fund approaches long-term investing from a different angle. One leans into global growth, one filters the Australian market for quality, and one targets a security problem that keeps becoming more important.

None of them will be right for every investor, and all can have weak periods. But for those looking beyond the next few months, I think these could be some of the best Betashares ETFs to buy and hold.

The post Are these some of the best Betashares ETFs to buy? 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 positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed Friday trading for $27.87. During the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $28.21 each, up 1.2%. 

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, Woodside shares have smashed the benchmark performance so far in 2026.

Year to date, the ASX 200 has gained a modest 1.4%, while the shares in the Aussie oil and gas giant have surged 19.2% this calendar year. That’s despite the stock having retraced by 21.2% from its 7 April multi-year closing high of $35.80 per share.

Atop that market-beating capital gain, Woodside also paid out an 83.5-cent-a-share fully-franked dividend on 27 March. Adding in the interim dividend, the stock trades on a juicy 5.9% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

As for the sizeable retrace since April, that has come amid fast falling oil prices as the United States and Iran negotiate an end to the war and work to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Brent crude oil is currently trading for US$71.80 per barrel, down from more than US$118 per barrel on 29 April. 

But with the stock still up more than 18% over 12 months, is it a good buy today? 

Should I buy Woodside shares today?

Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan recently analysed the outlook for the outperforming ASX 200 stock (courtesy of The Bull). 

“Woodside Energy is a major Australian LNG producer with a portfolio of global gas projects,” he said.

And Halligan sounded an optimistic note on Woodside shares amid its growth projects. He said:

The company is increasing its stake in the Browse joint venture to 41.27% via a US$225 million deal, reinforcing its strategy to extend the life of the North West Shelf.

This adds long term upside along with the Scarborough project, which is 94% completed.

Woodside announced its increased stake in Browse on 12 June, after exercising its pre-emption right to acquire a 10.67% interest from PetroChina. 

“Woodside’s decision to pre-empt reflects our commitment to continue progressing the proposed Browse to North West Shelf development,” Woodside CEO Liz Westcott said on the day. “We see this as a pathway to maximise long-term shareholder value. “

Wescott added:

This acquisition is a disciplined and capital efficient way to align integrated value in these assets for a development with long-term cash flow potential. We will continue working with the Browse Joint Venture to fully evaluate development opportunities.

Despite the long-term upside potential from the company’s growth project, Halligan issued a hold recommendation on Woodside shares for now.

He concluded:

Regulatory uncertainty, rising costs and policy risks in Australia temper the outlook. While growth options are significant, execution and approvals risk support a balanced hold stance at current valuation levels.

The post Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Oil price crash sparks broker upgrades for ASX energy shares
• Woodside shares soared, then stumbled. What’s next for investors?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Woodside shares slide amid big leadership news

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.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) are both major ASX bank shares with large customer bases, strong brands, and attractive dividend profiles. 

They are also both trading well below their 52-week highs. 

Both shares definitely have appeal, but I think one stands out as the better buy.

The numbers

NAB shares are currently trading around $38.57. 

According to CommSec, consensus estimates suggest NAB could generate earnings per share of $2.43 in FY26 and $2.53 in FY27. 

That puts NAB on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 15.9 times FY26 earnings and 15.2 times FY27 earnings.

On the dividend side, CommSec estimates dividends per share of $1.70 in FY26 and $1.72 in FY27. That implies forward dividend yields of around 4.4% and 4.5%. 

Westpac shares are trading around $35.69.

CommSec shows the consensus forecasting earnings per share of $2.12 in FY26 and $2.14 in FY27. That puts Westpac on a P/E ratio of around 16.8 times FY26 earnings and 16.7 times FY27 earnings.

Forecast dividends of $1.54 in FY26 and $1.55 in FY27 imply forward yields of around 4.3% in both years.

On these numbers, NAB actually looks slightly more attractive to me. It has the lower forward earnings multiple and a slightly higher forecast dividend yield. 

Why I prefer NAB shares

The numbers are useful, but they are not the only reason I would pick NAB.

The bigger reason is the shape of the business. Australian retail banking is a challenging market. Mortgage competition remains intense, deposit pricing matters, and households are still dealing with cost-of-living pressure and higher interest rates than they enjoyed a few years ago. 

Westpac has a large retail banking franchise, and that gives it scale. But in this environment, I prefer NAB’s stronger exposure to business banking. 

Businesses need credit, transaction accounts, deposits, payments, working capital support, and advice through different parts of the economic cycle. That does not remove risk, especially if the economy slows, but it gives NAB a valuable point of difference. 

I also think business banking relationships can be sticky. A company may rely on its bank for multiple services, which can make the relationship deeper than a simple home loan. That is why NAB looks better positioned to me.

What about Westpac shares?

Westpac is not a bad bank share.

It offers a solid dividend yield, a large customer base, and potential upside if sentiment toward the banking sector improves. Investors who already own Westpac may be happy to keep holding it for income.

But if I were choosing between the two today, I would rather buy NAB.

Its share price has weakened from its 52-week high of $49.45, and I think that pullback has created a more attractive entry point. The valuation is reasonable, the forecast income is attractive, and the business banking skew gives it a stronger case in the current environment.

Foolish Takeaway

I think NAB shares are the better buy.

Westpac still has appeal as a major bank with a solid dividend profile, but NAB gives me a more attractive mix of valuation, income, and business banking exposure.

In a tough retail banking market, that difference is important to me. For investors looking at the big banks today, I would buy NAB shares ahead of Westpac.

The post Better buy? NAB vs Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A leading analyst is forecasting growing headwinds for NAB shares. Should investors be worried?
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• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income
• How to get started with a portfolio delivering $500 a week in passive income
• How much passive income can I earn off a $100,000 portfolio?

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.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) shares are pushing higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) sleep disorder treatment company closed on Friday trading for $30.50. In afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $30.58 apiece, up 0.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time. 

Despite today’s bump, though, ResMed shares remain down 22.1% over the past 12 months, compared to the 3% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index. 

Though we shouldn’t dismiss the passive income on offer, especially with ResMed paying quarterly dividends. Over the last 12 months, the stock paid out a total of 24.6 cents a share in unfranked dividends. That sees ResMed trading on a 0.8% unfranked trailing dividend yield.  

But, after a disappointing year of returns – with the stock hit over concerns that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic could impact demand for its core sleep apnoea products – is the ASX 200 healthcare stock back in the buy zone?

Should I buy ResMed shares today?

Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 healthcare share (courtesy of The Bull).

“ResMed is a global leader in sleep apnoea devices and digital health platforms, benefiting from strong structural demand and resilient clinical positioning,” he noted. 

And Halligan isn’t overly concerned over the impact of GLP-1 drugs.

“Despite the progression in GLP-1 therapies for treating sleep apnoea, ResMed’s CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatments remain superior at this point in time,” he said.

Summarising three reasons you might want to buy ResMed shares today, Halligan concluded, “RMD continues to offer appealing growth, income and defensive healthcare exposure.”

A more bearish take on the ASX 200 healthcare share

Sanlam Private Wealth’s Remo Greco also recently analysed the outlook for ResMed.

“The company makes medical devices to treat sleep apnoea,” he said.

And revenue has been on the upswing.

“The company lifted revenue by 11% in the third quarter of financial year 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period,” Greco noted.

But Greco is concerned over the potential for GLP-1 to impact future growth.

He noted:

In my view, GLP-1 weight loss drugs may reduce the incidence of sleep apnoea. ResMed’s share price has been volatile in the past 12 months as investors weighed up the company’s outlook in light of popular GLP-1 drugs.

With that in mind, he recommended selling ResMed shares following the stock’s recent rebound from its recent 3 June one-year lows.

“The shares have risen from $25.84 on June 3 to trade at $29.37 on July 2. It may be prudent to sell some shares prior to RMD’s full year result,” Greco concluded.

The post Down 22%! 3 reasons to buy the big dip in ResMed shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares are pushing higher on Monday after the gold miner reported a strong June quarter and was pulled deeper into a takeover fight. 

At the time of writing, the Regis share price is up 3.62% to $6.87. 

That continues a decent recent run for the ASX gold stock. Regis shares are now up around 15% over the past month and 54% since this time last year. 

Here’s what investors are looking at today. 

Gold production hits the top end

According to the release, Regis produced 101,500 ounces of gold in the June quarter, up 12% on the previous quarter.

This took group gold production for FY26 to 379,000 ounces, which was at the top end of the company’s 350,000 to 380,000 ounce guidance range. 

Duketon produced 236,000 ounces for the year, landing within its 220,000 to 240,000 ounce guidance range. Tropicana produced 143,100 ounces, beating its 130,000 to 140,000 ounce guidance range. 

The company also said it generated $284 million of underlying cash and bullion during the quarter before a $114 million dividend payment, $64 million in tax payments, and a $25 million diesel fuel duty bill. 

By 30 June, Regis had $1.21 billion of cash and bullion on hand, up $692 million across the financial year.

While that’s a solid result, investors will still be closely watching costs in the full June quarter report.

Regis said all material guidance items, including all-in sustaining costs (AISC), would be within its previously guided ranges. 

But AISC is expected to come in towards the top end of guidance.

The full result, including more detail on costs and margins, is due sometime later this month.

Takeover battle takes another turn

The second update today was about Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU).

Regis said it is considering its position and rights after Vault received a rival proposal from Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD).

Regis had already agreed to acquire Vault through a scheme of arrangement. However, Vault has now received an unsolicited offer from Genesis, which the Vault board has determined is a superior proposal. 

Under the Genesis offer, Vault shareholders would receive 0.7629 new Genesis shares plus 47.5 cents cash for every Vault share.

Vault said the offer valued the company at around $5.5 billion.

Regis now has matching rights under its existing agreement with Vault. That gives the company until the end of 10 July to match or beat the Genesis proposal. 

Can the rally continue?

The production update was a good one, and the increase in cash and bullion was hard to fault.

However, the Vault situation has now become the biggest talking point. 

If Regis walks away, some investors may see that as a sensible move. If it lifts its offer, the market will need to decide whether the extra price is worth paying. 

Either way, the next few days could be very busy for Regis shareholders. 

The post Gold, cash, and a takeover twist: Why this ASX 200 gold stock is climbing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Move over Regis Resources! Vault Minerals shares leaping 11% as Genesis Minerals’ lobs $5.6 billion takeover bid
• Genesis Minerals proposes Vault merger to create gold powerhouse
• Vault Minerals receives superior $5.6bn merger proposal from Genesis Minerals
• Regis Resources hits top end of FY26 guidance
• 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.