BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have enjoyed another powerful month, climbing to a record high of $68.77 last week.

Although the mining giant has slipped 3.5% over the past five trading days, it remains up 10% in August, taking its year-to-date gain to 45% and its 12-month return to 54%.

With BHP now knocking on the door of $70, the question is whether another record is around the corner or whether the rally is running out of steam.

What happened in August?

BHP shares began trending higher in early August as investors became increasingly bullish about copper prices.

The rally accelerated after BHP delivered its FY26 results on 18 August, with the miner reporting a record underlying EBITDA result and a 27% increase in earnings.

The strong operational performance across its key businesses gave investors another reason to pile into the stock.

It is not difficult to understand the enthusiasm. BHP generated underlying EBITDA of around US$33 billion in FY26, supported by stronger commodity prices and record iron ore production in Western Australia.

But copper is increasingly becoming the star of the show. Copper contributed more than half of BHP’s underlying EBITDA for the first time, while production reached around 2 million tonnes for a second consecutive year.

The company is targeting approximately 40% growth in copper production by FY35 through projects across Australia, Chile and Argentina, potentially giving shareholders significant exposure to the metal’s long-term demand outlook.

Meanwhile, net debt fell below US$9 billion and BHP declared a final dividend of 99 US cents per share.

Can BHP shares break $70?

The market isn’t universally convinced that the rally can continue.

TradingView data shows 14 of 24 analysts have a hold rating on BHP shares. Six rate the stock a strong buy, while four have a sell or strong-sell recommendation.

More importantly, the average analyst price target of $60.52 sits below the current share price, implying roughly 9% downside over the next 12 months.

But that average masks an extraordinary disagreement among analysts.

The lowest target is just $34.77, implying a potential 35% plunge. At the other end of the spectrum, the highest target is $67.11, a fraction higher than the current share price.

What do the major brokers expect?

Morgan Stanley is relatively bullish, with a buy rating and $67.50 target, although that target is already below BHP’s latest record.

Berenberg has a hold rating and $64.22 target, while UBS is targeting $59.

JPMorgan has a $56.66 target, Morgans is considerably more bearish with a sell rating and $55.30 target, and Deutsche Bank has a $51 target.

So, can BHP break $70?

The fundamentals remain compelling, particularly the growing contribution from copper. But with shares already up 45% in 2026, investors may need another surge in commodity prices or stronger-than-expected earnings growth to push BHP decisively into record territory.

The post After another big month, can BHP shares break through $70? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BHP shares are pulling back from their record high. Is it time to sell?
• Chasing dividends? 11 ASX shares in top-paying sectors going ex-dividend this week
• Up 56%! 3 reasons to still buy BHP shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: Rio Tinto, PLS Group, BHP shares
• Experts name 2 ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy this week

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As FY27 gets underway, dividend shares are back in focus following earnings results adjustments. 

During earnings season, investors get a clearer picture of how companies are performing, what management expects for the year ahead, and whether current dividend payouts look sustainable. 

For income-focused investors, this can create an opportunity to reassess dividend shares that combine attractive yields with the potential for reliable earnings and cash flow growth.

Why consistency is just as important as yield 

It’s understandable for income investors to hunt for high yields, however yield alone doesn’t tell the whole story. 

A reliable income stream can be just as valuable, particularly for investors who depend on their portfolio to provide consistent cash flow. 

A slightly lower yield backed by strong, sustainable fundamentals may ultimately prove more attractive than a higher yield that comes with a greater risk of dividend cuts or significant capital losses. 

For income investors, the key is not simply how much an investment pays today, but how dependable that income is likely to be over the long term.

With that in mind, here are three great ASX dividend shares to target right now. 

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is the company behind a number of well-known Australian retail names, including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, Priceline, Target, and others.

It has long been a go-to option for income investors for its reliable dividend. 

This is set to continue, as it is expected to offer a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.3%, including franking credits.

This is expected to reach nearly 5% by FY29, offering a long-term option for investors. 

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

Bank of Queensland is one of the largest competitors in the banking sector outside the big four. 

Over the past year, it has paid shareholders a total of 55 cents per share in fully franked dividends, including the special capital return dividend paid on 24 August.

Based on the current share price, Bank of Queensland shares are currently offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 8%. 

This current yield places it at the top end out of every ASX 200 stock. 

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

Turning our attention to big four bank shares, which have long provided consistent yields, ANZ currently offers the best yield, along with Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). 

Both currently offer a yield of roughly 4.5%, however ANZ appears to have the most capital gain upside. 

The bank has a long history of paying regular dividends, with franking credits potentially adding to the value for eligible Australian investors. 

Its established earnings base and strong position in the Australian banking sector also provide a solid foundation for ongoing shareholder returns.

The post 3 top ASX dividend shares to target in September  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Wesfarmers shares
• How much must I invest in ANZ shares to earn $1,000 in passive income in 2027?
• The 2 top yielding ASX 200 bank stocks revealed (Hint: Not CBA shares)
• Are ASX bank shares a buy in September?
• How to build an ASX portfolio you do not need to check every day

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

A new report from Ord Minnett has reiterated a strong outlook for Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL). The report came following its recent financial results. 

Australia’s largest insurance provider released full-year results on August 20. 

Key results included underlying net profit after tax rising 2.9% to $636.8 million. Additionally, MediBank declared a full-year dividend increase of 6.7% to 19.2 cents per share, fully franked.

The Motley Fool’s coverage of the results can be found here.

What was Ord Minnett’s view on the results?

In yesterday’s report, Ord Minnett said FY26 revenue and earnings from Medibank were in line with expectations.

However, the lack of policyholder growth in the second-half (2H26) was slightly disappointing. 

Revenues increased 6% to $9.1 billion. Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $637 million was up 3% on FY25. 

It also noted the company declared a fully franked final dividend of 10.9 cents per share (cps), taking the total FY26 dividend to 19.2 cps, an increase of 7% from FY25.

Focus on policyholders

Ord Minnett also noted the net number of policyholders grew by 1.1% in the year, with Medibank policyholders up 0.6% and ahm up 2.4%, while non-resident policy units fell 2.3%. 

In the second-half (2H26), policyholder growth slowed to 0.2%, with the slowdown blamed on cost-of-living pressures, increased switching by customers, and rising competition in the June quarter as some competitors adopted aggressive growth tactics. 

While policyholder growth was weak in the 2H26, it is not too dissimilar to growth rates in previous corresponding half-years and is typical of seasonal churn in the industry. Further, the policyholder growth delivered in FY26, should not trigger material downgrades, given consensus estimates ahead of the result had a similar level of policyholder growth, of 1.3% for FY27.

Healthy upside intact for MediBank

Medibank Private shares have dipped over the last few weeks, closing trading yesterday at $4.84. 

In yesterday’s report, Ord Minnett retained its buy recommendation and $5.10 price target on MediBank Private shares thanks largely to its defensive profile. 

We reduce our EPS by 1.5–2.0% per annum in FY27–29 driven by lower policyholder growth and higher cyber litigation costs, partially offset by higher investment income. 

Our target price is unchanged at $5.10 as the earnings reductions are offset by an increase to the valuation multiple, following a rise in the price-earnings multiple of the market. 

We keep the Buy recommendation viewing MPL as a relatively defensive option for the next 12 months, with circa 5-10% annual EPS growth on our forecasts.

From yesterday’s closing price, this target indicates just over 5% upside. 

The post Why now is the time to buy MediBank Private shares: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields
• 37 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week
• 3 great dividend stocks with 6% yields to boost passive income in FY27
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why I’d buy Medibank shares for the dividend yield

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.