These two very different companies have brokers excited, with Macquarie and Morgans recently releasing research notes with bullish share prices on each.

Let’s see who they like

Alpha HPA Ltd (ASX: A4N)

Alpha HPA is commercialising a process to manufacture ultra-high purity aluminium for use in high-tech applications.

Stage one of the company’s operations has been operational since late 2022, with the output being used for customer qualification, product validation and process optimisation.

A second stage is under construction, with first production expected for late 2027, and annual production targeted at 10,000 tonnes per year.

The company said in its recent annual report:

Using its proprietary Smart SX Technology, Alpha HPA has pioneered the world’s first application of solvent extraction to aluminium purification, enabling the production of a growing portfolio of ultra-high purity alumina, aluminium nitrate, aluminium hydroxide and synthetic sapphire material. The Company’s products are supplied to global markets including advanced semiconductors, Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), lithium-ion batteries, pharmaceutical, LED lighting and synthetic sapphire, where exceptional purity and performance are critical.

Macquarie said in its research note that the company’s net loss of $42.7 million for FY26 was ahead of their estimates due to better stage one operating performance and higher grant income.

The broker said data centre construction was driving HPA demand in the semiconductor sector, and Alpha HPA was well-placed to take advantage of this.

Macquarie added:

Alpha is a compelling opportunity for long-term investors giving exposure to the AI theme along with attractive financial metrics at full ramp-up.

The broker has a share price target of $1 on Alpha HPA shares compared to 59.5 cents currently.

ReadyTech Holdings Ltd (ASX: RDY)

This company is a software as a service provider of cloud and AI software used in the education, workforce, government and justice sectors.

The company reported full year revenue of $125 million, at the lower end of revised guidance of $125-$127 million, with underlying EBITDA coming in at $35 million.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Marc Washbourne said of the result:

FY26 was a year in which we strengthened the foundations for growth, transformed for an AI world and took decisive action on cost and capital allocation. Our result finished within revised guidance, with cash margin reaching what we believe is a low point. Our flagship products continue to compound. That was offset by elevated churn in parts of the mature portfolio, and enterprise customers where contracts are signed but subscription revenue is yet to commence as implementations progress.

The company is guiding to improved revenue of $128-$132 million this financial year.

Broker Morgans said the company was well-placed with its investment cycle having largely peaked.

They added:

Despite having seen more protracted implementation/sales cycles and churn in recent times, we still see RDY in a solid position to deliver growth over coming years as customers seek to modernise their enterprise software and convert from legacy systems. We have a speculative buy rating on the stock.

Morgans has a price target of $2.25 on ReadyTech compared to $1.51 currently.

The post 2 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 49% to 68% 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and ReadyTech. The Motley Fool Australia 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.

Warren Buffett is famous for buying great businesses and holding them for years, sometimes decades. But “buy and hold” doesn’t mean “buy and never sell” your ASX shares.

Buffett has demonstrated that investors should be prepared to change their minds when the facts change. For ASX investors, there are three particularly important reasons to consider selling.

Something better comes along

One of Buffett’s most useful ideas is opportunity cost.

You don’t necessarily need to think a company is bad to sell it. If you own a decent business but another high-quality blue chip offers substantially better growth prospects, stronger economics or a much more attractive valuation, switching can make sense.

Buffett has done exactly this over the years, exiting businesses when he concluded his capital could be deployed more effectively elsewhere.

The same principle applies to ASX shares. If you own a mature company growing earnings at 4% a year on an expensive valuation, while another excellent business offers significantly better prospects at a similar price, it may be time to reconsider where your money is working hardest.

The economics or business proposition changes

This is arguably the most important reason to sell one of your ASX shares. Buffett doesn’t fall in love with a stock ticker. He focuses on the underlying business.

If the competitive advantage disappears, management changes direction, industry economics deteriorate or the company’s prospects are fundamentally different from when you bought it, the original investment thesis may no longer apply.

ASX investors have plenty to consider right now. Banks, for example, remain some of Australia’s most important companies, but changing mortgage demand, competition and interest-rate expectations can alter the earnings outlook of say Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

Energy companies like Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) provide another example. A company can dramatically change its strategy as commodity prices, capital requirements or the global energy landscape shifts.

The lesson is simple: don’t hold a share just because you once loved the story.

When your position size becomes too big

Sometimes the company hasn’t done anything wrong — you’ve simply won too much.

Imagine buying an ASX share that doubles or triples and suddenly represents 35% of your portfolio. The business may still be fantastic, but your portfolio is now heavily dependent on one company.

Buffett has allowed Berkshire Hathaway’s biggest investments to become enormous, but individual investors don’t have Berkshire’s capital base, diversification or financial resources.

Taking some profits from a runaway winner can therefore be sensible risk management. Remember, you can sell a portion without abandoning the investment altogether.

Foolish Takeaway

The Buffett approach isn’t really “never sell”. It’s “know why you own something”.

If a better opportunity emerges, the business proposition changes, or one holding becomes too dominant, selling your ASX shares can be just as rational as buying them in the first place.

The post When to sell your ASX shares? Warren Buffett has 3 answers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares will trade ex-dividend tomorrow.

That means time is running out for ASX investors who want to bank the mining giant’s supersized final dividend.

In order to be entitled to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

So, if you want to receive BHP’s FY26 final dividend, you’ll need to buy the ASX 200 mining share today.

BHP shares are among 37 stocks going ex-dividend this week.

How much is the BHP dividend?

BHP declared a final dividend of 99 US cents for FY26, which is equivalent to A$1.38 on today’s exchange rate.

The FY26 final BHP dividend is 65% higher than the FY25 final dividend of 91.9 AU cents.

This is the richest final dividend for BHP shares in four years, and equates to a 72% payout ratio.

The full-year dividend totals US$1.72 per BHP share.

That’s a 56% increase, and the largest full-year BHP dividend in four years.

In its FY26 report, BHP said:

We have determined a final dividend of US$5.0 bn.

This brings total cash returns to shareholders announced for the year to US$8.7 bn, which is US$1.72 per share fully franked, the highest in four years.

The miner added:

Including the FY26 final dividend determined, we will have returned >US$115 bn to shareholders since the introduction of the Capital Allocation Framework in 2016.

The ASX 200 iron ore and copper miner is able to dish out bigger dividends this year due to stronger commodity prices.

BHP is now the world’s biggest copper producer, and in FY26 the copper price rose 18%.

The miner is also a major iron ore producer, and the iron ore price rose 7% in FY26.

BHP also produces metallurgical coal, which is used in steelmaking. The coal price rose 39% in FY26.

BHP will pay its FY26 final dividend to shareholders on 23 September.

What did BHP report for FY26?

BHP reported underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$32.9 billion, up 27% on FY25.

The underlying attributable profit was US$13.2 billion, up 30%.

Net operating cash flow came in at US$21.8 billion, up 17% on FY25.

Net debt as of 30 June was US$8.7 billion.

BHP achieved record iron ore production in FY26, while copper accounted for 54% of group EBITDA.

The BHP share price rose 10% during the August reporting season compared to a 1% bump for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Last week, the BHP share price hit a new record of $68.77 per share.

The post Last chance to grab the supersized BHP dividend today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.