Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) shares are jumping on Wednesday.

In morning trade, the ASX 200 stock is up 8% to $18.58.

Why is this ASX 200 stock jumping?

Investors have been buying the investment company’s shares despite it releasing its half-year results and reporting a sizeable profit decline.

According to the release, net profit after tax was $67.3 million during the half. This is down 11% from $75.7 million in the prior corresponding period.

This was driven by weaker performance fees. The ASX 200 stock advised that performance fees earned by eight Pinnacle affiliates, post-tax, contributed $13.4 million of Pinnacle’s net profit after tax in the first half. This is down from $36.4 million from nine affiliates during the same period last year.

Importantly, net profit after tax before performance fees was 37% higher than the prior corresponding period and 11% higher than the second half of FY 2025.

In light of its profit decline, the ASX 200 stock’s board was forced to cut its interim dividend by 12% to 29 cents per share. This dividend will be 80% franked.

What happened during the half?

Other than its weak performance fees, the first half was strong for Pinnacle.

It revealed record net inflows of $17.2 billion. This comprises domestic retail net inflows of $6.8 billion, domestic institutional net inflows of $7.0 billion, and international net inflows of $3.4 billion.

Aggregate affiliates funds under management (FUM) was $202.5 billion at the end of December.

Commenting on its performance, the ASX 200 stock’s managing director, Ian Macoun, said:

We have made deliberate efforts over several years to diversify and expand our platform, both organically and through careful inorganic growth, believing that doing so provides us with greater robustness, wider relevance to our clients and more avenues to continue growing our earnings. We recall the very large performance fee contribution from Hyperion in the first half of FY25, which was an exceptional outcome.

We also note the ongoing growth in net flows and core earnings within Affiliates, across multiple channels, which this diversification has enabled. Within the record flow outcome for this half, of particular note was the outcome in Australian wholesale and retail, demonstrating our strong position in that market, and in Life Cycle, who have had the fastest start of any Pinnacle Affiliate to date. We continue to invest in our people and platform, across multiple channels and markets, to support and drive further growth.

The post Guess which ASX 200 stock is jumping 8% on results day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Pinnacle Investment Management profit dips as revenue climbs, dividend steady
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• Here’s how you could turn the stock market into a $1,000 monthly passive income machine

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX) recently released its first-half production report and provided an update that construction of its peaking gas power plant in Western Australia was 72% complete.

Strike is a bit different from many oil and gas companies in that it is currently a gas producer but is also looking to use that gas to put through its power plant once it’s finished.

The company said last week that it produced 1.59 petajoules of gas at its Walyering operations during the second quarter, generating $16.6 million in gas sales revenue.

The company was also continuing to drill at Walyering, “with any success at Walyering West-1 representing upside to Strike’s current supply and cash flow planning.”

Strike Managing Director Peter Stokes said in the company’s ASX release that it continued to execute its plans well across the portfolio.

Material progress was made at the South Erregulla 85 MW Peaking Gas Power Project, which is 72% complete at quarter end and remains on track for its targeted 1 October 2026 completion, supported by a strong safety performance during a sustained period of construction activity. With drilling services secured for Walyering West-1 and key regulatory approvals progressing across the portfolio, Strike enters the next phase of the year well positioned to advance its Perth Basin growth pipeline.

Brokers like what they see

Bell Potter analysts have run the ruler over the recent quarterly, and have a speculative buy rating on the company’s shares, with a price target of 15 cents.

As the Bell Potter team said:

Strike is leveraged to the Western Australia energy market where electricity and gas prices are expected to remain supportive. Walyering provides supplementary cash flow while the South Erregulla Peaking Gas Power Project is being developed (online 4Q 2026). Potential exploration success (Walyering West, Ocean Hill) remains a value catalyst. While the West Erregulla timing and development scenario remain uncertain, this asset will potentially be a large source of energy supply.

The Bell Potter team noted that a reserves update for West Erregulla is expected in the current quarter.

They also estimated that the South Erregulla peaking power plant could deliver margins of about $35 to $55 million per year.

Strike Energy shares last traded at 10.5 cents, not far off their 12-month lows of 10 cents.

The shares have traded as high as 23 cents over that period.

Strike was valued at $377.9 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post This junior energy company could deliver close to 50% returns one broker says appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are very effective investments because of how easy it is to buy an entire portfolio in a single trade. This type of great buy-and-hold option can provide investors with diversification and good long-term returns.

But, where should Aussies invest? There are some great ASX growth shares available that could become much larger businesses in the coming years.

But, in terms of ASX ETFs, I think it’s a good idea for Australian investors to look at international investments. There’s a lot more to the global share market than just ASX shares, thanks to numerous high-quality businesses being listed in northern hemisphere markets.

There are quite a few wonderful ASX ETFs that could be strong picks to build wealth. iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) is one of the most compelling ideas for a few different reasons.

Great businesses

It seems fairly obvious to say, but I think the best businesses will deliver very good returns.

The IVV ETF gives investors exposure to the S&P 500, an index of 500 of the largest and most profitable businesses that are listed in the US.

The United States is where many of the world’s strongest businesses are listed such as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Broadcom, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, Visa, Walmart, Mastercard and Costco.

When you look at those names, they are involved in some of the biggest trends and changes in modern life such as AI, cloud computing and supercomputing, driverless cars, digital payments, chips, social media, video gaming, e-commerce and more.

The products and services that are provided by these businesses are (mostly) driving significant earnings growth, which is a strong tailwind for shareholder returns. Those companies also have impressive financial statistics, such as return on equity (ROE), the strength of the balance sheet and strong profit margins.

Low fees

Management fees can play an important part in how appealing the net returns of a fund are. It’s common for Australian fund managers to charge at least 1% of annual management fees, as well as performance fees if they outperform their benchmark. That can lead to net returns being materially lower than the gross returns.

The IVV ETF, on the other hand, has exceptionally low fees for an ASX ETF. iShares S&P 500 ETF has an annual management fee of just 0.04%. That’s very close to zero and leaves nearly all of the returns in an investor’s hands.

Strong returns

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but the IVV ETF has performed exceptionally well.

In the last decade, the iShares S&P 500 ETF has returned an average of 15.56% per year. That shows the businesses involved have performed admirably well for investors.

If someone had invested $10,000 ten years ago, it would have grown into $42,469 – more than quadrupled.

I wouldn’t expect the next decade to be as good as that, but the IVV ETF is an exceptional place to invest for exposure to US businesses and it’s a great option for building wealth, in my view.

The post Is this the best ASX ETF to buy to build wealth? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Costco Wholesale, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Visa, 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.

Gold’s bull run has been explosive. Prices have surged over the past year as investors piled into safe havens, dragging ASX gold shares higher.

But not all gold names are created equal — and none exemplify that better than Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) and Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK).

Ramelius Resources shares have soared 81% over the past 12 months and Meeka a whopping 119%, while the gold commodity price rose 68%.

Let’s have a look at whether the ASX gold shares could keep the pace going.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

This ASX gold share has been one of the quieter winners of the gold rally, with its share price powering higher over the past year as higher bullion prices collided with improving operational delivery.

As a profitable mid-tier producer with multiple Western Australian assets, Ramelius has benefited from rising margins, strong cash generation, and growing confidence that its production base is sustainable rather than short-lived. Investors have rewarded that stability, pushing the ASX gold stock ahead of many peers still grappling with cost blowouts or development risks.

The big strength for Ramelius is execution. It is already producing, already generating cash, and already reinvesting into exploration and extensions that could support output for years. That lowers risk and gives the company leverage to gold prices without the existential threats facing smaller miners.

The flip side is that expectations are now higher. Costs remain elevated across the sector, and any slip in grades, mine sequencing, or gold prices could quickly cool enthusiasm.

Analysts generally see further upside for the ASX gold share, but most are more measured than the market was six months ago. After the miner revealed its 2Q FY26 results, Morgans maintained its buy rating on the stock and lifted its price target from $4.50 to $5.50.

That points to a 23% upside, compared to the share price of $4.47 at the time of writing.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)

This smaller ASX gold share has delivered the kind of share price surge that gold investors dream about. As sentiment around the gold sector heated up, Meeka’s transition from explorer to emerging producer lit a fire under the stock, sending it almost 120% higher over the past year.

Unlike Ramelius, Meeka’s gains have been driven less by current cash flow and more by what investors believe the company could become if its Murchison project delivers as planned.

That optionality is Meeka’s greatest strength. A growing resource base, improving project economics, and a clear pathway toward production give the company significant leverage to a strong gold price. If execution goes smoothly, the ASX gold stock could continue to outpace both gold and much of the sector.

But that leverage cuts both ways. The company remains small, capital-hungry, and highly sensitive to delays, cost overruns, or weaker sentiment. Any stumble could hit the share price hard.

Analyst coverage is limited but optimistic, reflecting the upside potential rather than proven delivery. The average 12-month price target is $0.45, representing a potential gain of 97% from the current share price of $0.23.

Foolish Takeaway

Looking ahead, Ramelius offers steadier, production-led gains with lower risk. Meeka has greater upside, but only if it executes cleanly.

Big returns favour Meeka; more reliable exposure to gold favours Ramelius — both with risks as gold optimism runs high.

The post Can these 2 ASX gold shares keep outpacing the gold rally? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Ramelius Resources shares: December 2025 quarterly earnings highlights
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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%.

That move is likely to translate into slightly higher returns on savings accounts and term deposits in the months ahead. But even with rates moving higher, income investors are not short of alternatives.

In fact, the ASX still offers dividend yields that comfortably beat bank interest rates, with the added bonus of potential capital growth over time.

With that in mind, here are three ASX dividend shares that could still be worth considering for income-focused investors.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

The first ASX dividend share that could beat bank interest rates is Centuria Industrial REIT.

It owns a diversified portfolio of industrial properties, including warehouses, logistics facilities, and distribution centres leased to a broad range of tenants. These assets tend to benefit from long lease terms and rental increases that help support predictable income.

While higher interest rates have weighed on the broader REIT sector, industrial property fundamentals have remained relatively resilient. Demand for well-located logistics and warehousing space continues to be underpinned by e-commerce and supply chain investment.

Bell Potter is bullish on the company. It has a buy rating and $3.75 price target on its shares.

As for income, the broker is forecasting payouts of 16.8 cents per share in FY 2026 and 17.3 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $3.21, this would mean dividend yields of 5.2% and 5.4%, respectively.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Another ASX dividend share that still stands out is Harvey Norman.

This retail giant operates across furniture, electronics, and homewares, and while discretionary spending has been under pressure, Harvey Norman’s business model provides some insulation. Its franchise structure, strong property backing, and net cash position give it flexibility through the cycle.

Even after the latest rate hike, its dividend potential remains well ahead of what most bank deposits can offer.

For example, Bell Potter, which has a buy rating and $8.30 price target on its shares, is expecting fully franked dividends of 30.9 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 35.3 cents per share in FY 2027.

Based on its current share price of $6.51, this would mean dividend yields of 4.8% and 5.4%, respectively.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A final ASX dividend share to consider is Transurban. It owns and operates toll roads across Australia and North America, generating revenue from long-dated infrastructure assets that are difficult to replicate.

Traffic volumes tend to grow over time with population and economic activity, providing a long runway for cash flow growth. Importantly, many of Transurban’s toll roads have built-in inflation-linked toll increases. This helps protect income even when inflation and interest rates are elevated.

Citi is a fan of the company and has put a buy rating and $16.10 price target on its shares.

With respect to dividends, the broker expects payouts of 69.5 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 73.7 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $13.88, this would mean dividend yields of 5% and 5.3%, respectively.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares that still beat bank interest rates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC) share price is in focus after the packaging giant posted a 68% rise in quarterly net sales to US$5.45 billion, thanks largely to the Berry acquisition. Adjusted EBITDA soared 83% from last year, reaching US$826 million.

What did Amcor report?

• Second quarter net sales of US$5,449 million, up 68% year-on-year
• Adjusted EBITDA of US$826 million, up 83% from a year ago
• Adjusted EBIT at US$603 million, a 66% increase
• Adjusted EPS of US$0.86, up 7%
• Free cash flow of US$289 million, after acquisition and restructuring costs of US$69 million
• Quarterly dividend declared at US$0.65 per share or 93.0 Australian cents unfranked for ASX investors

What else do investors need to know?

Amcor’s huge jump in sales and earnings comes off the back of its recent US$6.4 billion Berry Global acquisition, which added around US$2.2 billion in quarterly sales and delivered US$55 million in synergy benefits. Despite the integration costs, management reaffirmed full-year guidance, expecting adjusted EPS between US$4.00–$4.15, which would be 12%–17% growth on a constant currency basis.

The flexible and rigid packaging segments both saw significant improvement in margins and profit, even as underlying volumes were a touch softer. The board’s confidence is underlined by an increase in the quarterly dividend. Net debt rose to US$14.1 billion, reflecting acquisition funding, but cash flow is positive after accounting for integration costs.

What did Amcor management say?

Amcor CEO Peter Konieczny said:

Our Q2 financial performance was in line with expectations in a challenging volume environment. Strong Adjusted EPS growth was driven by disciplined execution and synergy benefits from the Berry acquisition at the upper end of expectations. Performance through the first half of the year supports our confidence in reaffirming fiscal 2026 earnings and free cash flow guidance. Portfolio optimization actions are progressing well, positioning us to be the global leader in consumer packaging and dispensing solutions for nutrition, health, beauty and wellness.

What’s next for Amcor?

Looking ahead, Amcor expects a full year of Berry Global contributions to support double-digit EPS growth and strong cash flow. The company is continuing with portfolio optimisation, targeting non-core divestments and efficiency gains from its expanded footprint.

Investors can expect management to focus on delivering US$260 million or more in annual synergies from the Berry deal. The team is also eyeing further initiatives to strengthen Amcor’s position as a global packaging leader.

Amcor share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Amcor shares have declined 20%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Amcor earnings: Net sales rocket 68% on Berry deal; guidance reaffirmed 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Amcor Plc. 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.

The Abacus Storage King (ASX: ASK) share price is in focus today after the company announced it has started talks to potentially bring its management in-house. Key highlights include the formation of an independent board committee and early-stage discussions with Abacus Group.

What did Abacus Storage King report?

• The Board is considering internalising ASK’s management functions
• A Board sub-committee of independent directors has been formed
• Discussions between ASK and Abacus Group (ASX:ABG) have commenced
• Steven Sewell to remain MD of Abacus Group if internalisation proceeds
• Nikki Lawson slated to be CEO of Abacus Storage King if the deal is completed

What else do investors need to know?

Abacus Storage King emphasised that these discussions are at an early stage, and there is no guarantee that an internalisation transaction will proceed. Securityholders do not need to take any action for now.

To ensure the process is independent and transparent, the sub-committee of independent directors has appointed Macquarie Capital (Australia) Limited as its financial adviser and King & Wood Mallesons as legal adviser. The company has also committed to keep the market updated according to continuous disclosure requirements.

What’s next for Abacus Storage King?

The possible internalisation of management marks a significant potential shift in how Abacus Storage King is run. If the process goes ahead, it could lead to greater alignment between management and security holders, subject to final agreement and regulatory approval.

For now, investors will have to wait for any material developments, as ASK has committed to updating the market as discussions progress.

Abacus Storage King share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Abacus Storage Kin shares have risen 35%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which as risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Abacus Storage King weighs management internalisation: What investors need to know 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. 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.

Fortunately for income investors, there are a lot of options for them to choose from on the Australian share market.

But which ASX dividend stocks could be buys right now? Let’s take a look at three high-yield options that could be worth considering this month:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The first ASX dividend stock that could be a buy for income investors is Accent Group.

It operates a portfolio of footwear brands across Australia and New Zealand, including Platypus, Skechers, and Hype.

As a discretionary retailer, it has felt the impact of cost-of-living pressures, which has weighed on earnings and investor sentiment. However, the business remains well managed, with a focus on inventory discipline, brand partnerships, and private-label growth. These factors help protect margins through tougher trading conditions.

While dividends may fluctuate in the near term, Accent Group has a track record of returning capital to shareholders when conditions allow. If consumer spending normalises over time, there is potential for both earnings and dividends to recover.

Accent’s shares are expected to provide dividend yields of ~6% and 8% in FY 2026 and FY 2027, respectively.

IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH)

IPH is another ASX dividend stock that could be a buy this month.

It provides intellectual property services such as patent and trademark filings across Australia, Asia, and North America. Its earnings are linked to long-term innovation trends rather than short-term economic cycles, although activity can slow during periods of uncertainty.

Recent softness in filing volumes has weighed on its share price, but the business continues to generate strong cash flows.

In light of this, the market is expecting fully franked dividend yields greater than 10% in both FY 2026 and FY 2027.

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

A third ASX dividend stock that could be a buy is Premier Investments.

It owns brands such as Smiggle and Peter Alexander and also holds a significant investment portfolio. Like other retailers, it has faced a tougher consumer environment, which has dampened near-term earnings expectations.

Despite this, Premier Investments has historically maintained a strong balance sheet and has shown a willingness to return excess capital to shareholders. In addition, its exposure to both retail operations and investments provides flexibility across the cycle.

If consumer confidence improves, Premier Investments has the operating leverage to deliver a rebound in profits and dividends.

In the meantime, the company’s shares are expected to provide ~6% and 6.6% dividend yields this year and next.

The post Meet the ASX dividend stocks offering massive 6% to 10% yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Accent Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group, IPH Ltd , and Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Owning Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares usually means getting good passive income in terms of the dividend yield.

The company’s dividend can bounce around because it’s heavily linked to the level of profit that the ASX energy share can generate. Energy prices play a very important role.

Woodside’s production costs typically don’t change much year to year per unit of production. That means that any additional revenue for that production largely adds to the net profit line (after paying more to the government), while a decline in that revenue largely cuts into net profit.

I think it’s good to keep the above in mind when it comes to future dividend payments for owners of Woodside shares.

FY25

The company’s financial year follows the calendar year, so its FY25 has only recently finished. The ASX energy share recently released the 2025 fourth quarter update, giving brokers like UBS the chance to provide analysis on the company.

After seeing its production numbers and 2026 guidance, UBS said:

Woodside Energy (WDS) reported DQ25 production +4% & sales rev +7% ahead of market expectations due to stronger oil production from both Mad Dog (US Gulf Coast) & Sangomar (Senegal).

While Sangomar has started to decline from 4Q25, a beneficial one-off adjustment to WDS’ share of production under the production sharing contract with the Senegalese Gov saw higher q/q production net to WDS.

New 2025 line item guidance, combined with stronger 4Q production sees us lift 2025E EPS +8% and bolstering the 2025E final div (we assume a payout of 80% of underlying NPAT.

…While the FY[25] result is now substantially de-risked, we remain cautious of a material forecast decline y/y into 2026 on NPAT & divs & FCF [free cash flow].

UBS is predicting that the business could decide to pay a final dividend per share of US 39 cents per share with the FY25 result, with the annual payout being US 92 cents per share.

FY26

We’re already a month into the 2026 financial year for Woodside and UBS commented on the company’s 2026 guidance. It said:

Despite strong 4Q oil production, new 2026 production guidance was 4% below consensus expectations at the midpoint. Production guidance by product points to weaker oil production in 2026 than the market expected (LNG production was in line). We believe the key driver of an implied 13% cut to cons 2026 oil production forecasts (to meet midpoint of guidance) is a faster decline rate at Sangomar followed by natural field decline in Aust. oil assets.

UBS is projecting that Woodside could pay an annual dividend per share of US 43 cents in FY26.

FY27

The dividend payout per Woodside share is expected by UBS to increase in the 2027 financial year.

The ASX energy share is predicted to pay an annual dividend per share of US 67 cents in FY27.

FY28

The 2028 financial year could see the company’s annual dividend almost recover back to FY25 levels.

UBS’ forecast suggests that the business could pay an annual dividend per share of US 83 cents in FY28.

FY29

The last year of this series of projections is the 2029 financial year, which is quite a while away in the world of energy.

UBS forecasts that the business could pay an annual dividend per share of US 77 cents in FY29.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

Experts are feeling very bullish about the prospects of certain ASX shares with numerous buy ratings.

I think it can be a very positive sign for potential positive returns when a business is rated as a buy by a number of analysts, rather just one or two.

Of course, it’s possible that they’re all wrong. But, I also have a positive view on the below ASX shares at the current valuations.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

According to CMC Markets, in the last three months there have been seven different analysts that have called WiseTech shares a buy. The global technology company provides software for the logistics sector.

The average price target for the WiseTech share price is $106.14, implying a possible rise of more than 80% within the next year. The most optimistic price target is $130, implying a theoretical rise of more than 120%, while the lowest price target of $74 still implies a possible rise of close to 30%.

While the market may be concerned about a possible impact by AI on the ASX share, UBS thinks that there’s an opportunity for names in the software as a service (SaaS) space to benefit from AI monetisation and deliver rising average revenue per user (ARPU).

UBS thinks that a new commercial model could drive price rises of around 5% going forwards, with customers benefiting from four new AI capabilities.

The broker thinks there could be further upside for WiseTech if “i) large freight forwarders in contract move earlier than expected to the commercial model; and ii) customers [are] willing and able to disburse/pass through their CargoWise software costs to the end customer”.

UBS thinks the WiseTech share price valuation is attractive as it’s trading cheaper than it has historically and it has AI defensiveness.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

The national lottery operator has been rated as a buy by at least four brokers, according to CMC Markets.

The average price target on the business is $5.53, implying a potential mid-single-digit rise. The highest price target of $6.30 implies a theoretical rise of around 20% within the next year.

UBS is the broker that’s most optimistic about the ASX share. The broker wrote in a recent note:

We believe Lottery Corp has a compelling ‘growth formula’ that may be underestimated by [market] consensus forecasts. Once normalising for the jackpot cycle (now UBSe FY27E), we expect Lottery Corp to consistently deliver high single digit EPS growth supported by (1) GDP lottery top line (UBSe revenue +4.3% pa), (2) digital channel mix shift (UBSe VC +5.9% pa), (3) scalable cost base (UBSe EBITDA 6.6% pa), and (4) capital boosters such as leverage and buybacks (post Vic licence renewal). By FY31 we forecast EPS 6% higher than consensus, mostly due to digital mix/ VC margin.

A mixture of revenue growth, rising margins and share buybacks for investors could mean very positive things for owners of this ASX share.

UBS predicts earnings per share (EPS) could rise from a predicted 17 cents in FY26 to 26 cents in FY30, while maintaining a high dividend payout ratio.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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