The WAM Capital Ltd (ASX: WAM) share price is in focus today after reporting a 10.5% decline in its investment portfolio for FY2026 and announcing a maintained final dividend of 7.75 cents per share, partially franked at 60%.

What did WAM Capital report?

• Full year FY2026 dividend of 15.5 cents per share, partially franked at 60%, maintained
• Final dividend of 7.75 cents per share, payable 21 October 2026
• Operating loss after tax of $125.9 million (FY2025: profit of $219.6 million)
• Investment portfolio declined 10.5% in FY2026, underperforming key ASX indices
• FY2027 dividend target reduced to 8.0 cents per share to preserve capital
• Pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA) at $1.22 per share at 30 June 2026

What else do investors need to know?

The Board’s decision to cut the FY2027 dividend target to 8.0 cents per share comes after years of paying out more in dividends than was earned, drawing down the profits reserve from $1.48 per share to just 5.6 cents per share after the latest payout. The reduction aims to protect WAM Capital’s capital base and rebuild its profits reserve.

In FY2026, WAM Capital’s portfolio underperformed compared to the broader S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Accumulation Index (up 5.7%) and S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Accumulation Index (up 8.1%). The main challenges were sector positioning and tough conditions for small-cap industrials, as larger companies and AI beneficiaries attracted most investor attention.

WAM Capital remains focused on a diversified portfolio, with notable holdings in Artrya Limited, GemLife Communities, Aussie Broadband, and Maas Group. The investment team has increased cash holdings (11.5% of the portfolio) and repositioned assets looking for better returns in FY2027.

What did WAM Capital management say?

Chairman Geoff Wilson AO said:

Since FY2020, the Board has maintained WAM Capital’s full year dividend at 15.5 cents per share. Over that period, the dividends paid by the Board exceeded the profits generated, drawing down the Company’s accumulated profits reserve. Maintaining the dividend at 15.5 cents per share is no longer sustainable with the profits reserve available.

We recognise the impact a reduction in the FY2027 full year dividend target to 8.0 cents per share will have on shareholders. The FY2027 target is intended to rebuild the profits reserve, preserve the Company’s capital base and place WAM Capital in a stronger position to deliver sustainable income and capital growth for shareholders.

What’s next for WAM Capital?

The Board has set a more sustainable FY2027 dividend target, aiming for 8.0 cents per share, split evenly between interim and final dividends, still partially franked at 60%. Achieving this will depend on generating additional profits through positive portfolio performance in FY2027, so the dividend target is not a formal forecast or guarantee.

Management is optimistic about the potential for recovery, particularly for undervalued smaller companies, as interest rates stabilise and market conditions improve. WAM Capital plans to maintain its active, diversified approach and is positioned to benefit if conditions for small-to-mid-cap stocks pick up.

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The post WAM Capital trims FY27 dividend after portfolio setback in FY26 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 Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband. 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.

Small-cap stocks with growth potential can deliver great share price gains, and Bell Potter thinks they’ve identified two such companies.

They’ve released research reports this week into two companies in the healthcare sector, and are predicting solid gains for both.

Let’s see who they like.

Lumos Diagnostics Ltd (ASX: LDX)

This diagnostic technology company recently reported full-year revenue of US$13.2 million, up 6% on the previous year, and an adjusted EBITDA loss of US$2.8 million, which was a 19% improvement.

The company said it was a “landmark year underpinned by significant regulatory, commercial, and operational achievements that have positioned the Company for future growth”.

The company went on to say:

The year was highlighted by the execution of a transformational six-year U.S. distribution agreement with PHASE Scientific with a value of US$317 million, achievement of U.S. FDA CLIA waiver status for FebriDx, and securing nationwide Medicare reimbursement recognition across all U.S. Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). These milestones materially expanded the addressable market opportunity for FebriDx by more than 15 times to over US$1.0 billion per annum and established the foundations for large-scale commercial adoption in the U.S.

The company said FY27 will be about converting the regulatory and commercial milestones achieved in FY26 into sustained revenue growth.

Bell Potter agreed, saying the commercial execution of the FebriDx rollout would be the focus.

The broker is expecting Lumos to hit breakeven in FY29.

Bell Potter has a price target of 25 cents on Lumos, compared to the current price of 10 cents. Lumos Diagnostics is valued at $94.5 million.

Trajan Group Ltd (ASX: TRJ)

This analytical science company delivered second-half EBITDA of $8.1 million, up from $5 million in the first half of the year, but overall full-year earnings were down 14.7%.

Chief Executive Officer Stephen Tomisich said of the result:

FY26 was a year of two halves. While the first quarter created a difficult starting point for the year, the business recovered operationally from Q2 onward, and we delivered a materially stronger second half result. The benefits of Project Neptune and other operational initiatives became increasingly evident in H2, with improved gross margins, stronger nEBITDA and better cost control across the Group. These gains were partly masked in the reported result by the appreciation of the Australian dollar against key trading currencies.

The company’s guidance for the current year is for mid-single-digit organic revenue growth in FY27 and double-digit EBITDA growth.

Bell Potter said the company “is trading at an extremely deep discount, but it will need to turnaround earnings momentum to shift investor sentiment”.

Bell Potter has a price target of 50 cents on Trajan shares compared to 16.5 cents currently.

The post 2 ASX small-cap stocks Bell Potter thinks could return 130% to 200% 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.

The Solstice Minerals Ltd (ASX: SLS) share price is in focus after the company reported outstanding deep drilling results at its 100%-owned Nanadie Copper-Gold Project in Western Australia, including a 722.3-metre intercept grading 0.44% copper and 0.13g/t gold.

What did Solstice Minerals report?

• Confirmed a total intercept of 722.3m @ 0.44% Cu, 0.13g/t Au from hole NANRCD005, extending mineralisation over 500m below the current Mineral Resource boundary.
• Significant high-grade sections include 28m @ 1.31% Cu, 0.30g/t Au and 43.3m @ 0.91% Cu, 0.35g/t Au at depth.
• Current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) stands at 40.4 million tonnes @ 0.4% Cu, 0.1g/t Au, with the new results indicating strong potential for expansion.
• Assays are pending from a further 14 diamond holes and over 20 Reverse Circulation (RC) holes.
• Solstice holds $45 million in cash and has no debt, providing a solid balance sheet for continued exploration.
• The Nanadie project sits fully within a granted Mining Lease, with step-up drilling programs underway.

What else do investors need to know?

Solstice Minerals’ drilling campaign is expanding the known copper-gold system well beyond previous boundaries, with both scale and grade persisting at depth. The close match between laboratory assays and previously logged visible copper sulphide zones is increasing confidence in Solstice’s geological model and upcoming drill targets.

The company has invested in expanding its exploration camp and core processing facilities, and expects to have multiple rigs operating for the remainder of the year. Drilling results from the nearby Stark Prospect and unexplored extensions north of Nanadie are also expected to flow through in coming months.

What did Solstice Minerals management say?

Nick Castleden, CEO and Managing Director, said:

NANRCD005 is an extraordinary drillhole that marks another defining moment in the rapidly unfolding story at Nanadie. The combined 722.3m @ 0.44% Cu, 0.13g/t Au intercept – inclusive of all post-mineral dykes and low-grade zones – provides definitive evidence that the deposit will continue to deliver scale and grade way beyond the current MRE limits. Within that broad mineralised envelope, we are seeing multiple substantial higher-grade zones such as 28m @ 1.31% Cu, 0.3g/t Au and 43.3m @ 0.91% Cu, 0.35g/t Au – showing that grade as well as scale persist at depth.

What’s next for Solstice Minerals?

Solstice is stepping up both RC and diamond drilling to test for further extensions of the Nanadie deposit, targeting expansion of its current Mineral Resource. With a second RC rig due onsite and a large volume of assay results still pending, investors can expect a steady news flow through the remainder of 2026.

The business is also planning to drill new prospects at Stark and to test previously untested targets along the broader geological corridor. The focus will remain on growing the scale and grade of the copper-gold system and progressing towards updated resources and potential development studies.

Solstice Minerals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Solstice Minerals shares have surged more than 600%, significantly outpacing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

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The post Solstice Minerals extends deep, high-grade copper-gold zones at Nanadie appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Solstice Minerals: Nanadie drilling extends copper-gold system
• Solstice Minerals: Nanadie copper-gold system grows

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 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. 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.