Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares have suffered a tough 12 months. 

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares have swung wildly anywhere between $1.38 and $4.93 per share thanks to strong headwinds and fluctuating investor sentiment.

The ASX tech stock has faced several major headwinds over the past 12 months. 

The falling share price is mostly the result of a sector-wide sell-off of technology stocks. Investors were spooked by concerns about rising competition, slowing growth, and margin compression, and it caused a sharp sell-off through late-2025 and into early-2026.

This was exacerbated further by rising concerns around conflict in the Middle East. In early-2026, many investors rotated away from high-growth technology stocks and towards more stable assets.

A sharp increase in the value of some ASX tech shares in 2025, including Zip, also sparked concerns that tech companies were overvalued and overdue a price correction. 

Where are Zip shares trading now?

At the time of writing, Zip shares are up around 1% and changing hands at $2.53 a piece.

The increase means the shares are now around 24% lower for the year to date and down 41% from 12 months ago.

Are Zip shares too cheap to pass up?

Analysts are incredibly bullish on Zip shares, with widespread anticipation that we’ll see a significant upside over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows all brokers agree on a strong buy rating, and the $3.95 target price implies around a 58% upside, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something similar. All 13 analysts have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. The average $4.52 target price implies a potential 81% upside ahead, at the time of writing. Although some are confident that Zip shares can climb another 141% to $6.03 over the next 12 months.

UBS recently confirmed its buy rating and $4.70 target price on Zip shares. The broker said that the outlook for the current year was better than expected, providing comfort around the defensive qualities of the buy now, pay later business model through slowing economic times.

The team at Macquarie also agrees. The broker has a buy rating and $3.50 target price on the shares. Macquarie said “Zip’s outlook remains attractive as management executes the market opportunity in the US, supported by performance in AU”.

What is expected to drive the ASX tech shares higher this year?

Zip’s financial results have been strong through the past few quarters. Its latest full-year FY26 results announcement last month shows that growth has continued accelerating. The fintech business posted a huge 57.9% increase in its cash EBTDA. It also reported a 24.7% increase in total revenue, and a 45.7% hike in its NPAT for FY26.

The company also said it expects its cash EBTDA to climb even higher in FY27, by around 26% thanks to strong growth and greater scale across the business.

Zip has undergone a major reset over the past few years. It is now heavily concentrated on product growth and global expansion, especially in the US. It looks like this reset is finally translating to improved revenue and a boost in investor confidence.

Zip is currently pursuing a dual sharemarket listing on the Nasdaq in the US in the hope that it could help drive an even opportunity for business expansion in the area. 

The post Is it time to get greedy with Zip shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 2 ASX fintech shares to buy for their huge US growth potential
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• 3 reasons why the Zip share price could be a great buy

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

ASX dividend shares are about to deliver one of the biggest income weeks of the year.

Reporting season closed on Monday, and final dividends declared through August are now flowing.

Eleven ASX 200 names go ex-dividend this week alone.

Miss an ex-dividend date by a single day, and you miss the payment entirely.

With that in mind, here are three worth knowing about.

Why these ASX dividend shares are worth the timing

Energy and resources did the heavy lifting for income investors in FY26.

Utilities shares paid an average yield of 5.98% across the year, with energy at 5.14% and materials at 4.63%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) averaged 4.23%.

All three companies below are in that first group, and each has lifted its payout on the back of strong commodity prices.

1. Origin Energy: Ex-dividend Wednesday

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is the first of the three we’ll discuss.

The company’s shares trade ex-dividend on 2 September, so you need to own them before today’s close.

The company declared a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, taking FY26 distributions to 60 cents, with payment landing on 2 October.

The FY26 result was a mixed one.

Statutory profit rose to $1,574 million, but underlying profit fell to $1,159 million from $1,490 million a year earlier.

The far more encouraging number was adjusted free cash flow, which jumped to $2,074 million from $1,207 million.

Chief executive Frank Calabria pointed to the build-out behind that cash.

Our portfolio is increasingly well positioned for a changing energy market, with new battery capacity brought into commercial operation on time and on budget.

2. Woodside Energy: Ex-dividend Thursday

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) goes ex-dividend on 3 September, with payment on 25 September.

The interim dividend is 57 US cents per share, fully franked, or roughly 79.5 Australian cents, which represents an 80% payout ratio and a yield of about 5.9%.

Woodside’s half-year numbers were solid.

Operating revenue rose 13% to US$7,446 million, net profit after tax climbed 27% to US$1,672 million, and free cash flow more than doubled to US$352 million.

Production actually fell 13% to 86.5 million barrels of oil equivalent, held back by planned maintenance and cyclone disruption.

The larger story is the company’s Scarborough project, now 98% complete and on track for its first LNG cargo in the fourth quarter of 2026.

One caution for income investors: the dividend reinvestment plan remains suspended.

3. Ampol: The monster payout

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) is the biggest cheque of the three by a wide margin.

The fuel retailer and refiner declared an interim dividend of $1.85 per share, fully franked, up 362.5% on last year’s equivalent payment.

The company’s shares trade ex-dividend on 4 September, with money arriving on 30 September.

The driver was an extraordinary refining result.

Group earnings rose 152% to $1.64 billion, and net profit excluding significant items jumped 376% to $857 million, while statutory profit of $1.36 billion compared with a $25 million loss a year earlier.

The forward yield sits near 6%, and Ampol does not offer a dividend reinvestment plan either.

Refining margins are deeply cyclical, and this half was helped enormously by conflict-driven disruption to global supply.

The catch with buying ASX dividend shares this way

Buying purely to capture a payment rarely works as neatly as it looks on paper.

Share prices typically fall by roughly the dividend amount on the ex-dividend date.

You are moving money from one pocket to another and paying tax on the way through, and while franking credits soften that, they do not eliminate it.

The strategy makes far more sense when you wanted to own the business anyway.

Foolish takeaway

I would not buy any of these three purely to collect a cheque three weeks from now.

Ampol offers the largest payment and the most cyclical earnings behind it.

Woodside has the clearest growth catalyst in Scarborough.

Origin has the weakest earnings momentum but the most improved cash flow.

For income investors, ASX dividend shares will be doing a great deal of the heavy lifting this month.

The post Top 3 ASX dividend shares to buy before they go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Chasing dividends? 11 ASX shares in top-paying sectors going ex-dividend this week
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 2 ASX dividend shares I’d buy right now for passive income
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

Following recent profit reports two brokers have issued research notes on junior fintech companies they think will outperform.

One of the benefits of being small in relative terms is that the potential share pirce upside can be large.

Let’s see who the brokers like.

Beforepay Group Ltd (ASX: B4P)

Shaw and Partners has issued a new research note on Beforepay with a bullish share price target, based on their estimate that the company will be able to grow its earnings per share by 164% this financial year.

Beforepay allows people to get advances on their pay, as well as offering small personal loans.

The company recently reported net profit of $15.7 million, up 57% and “rapid” growth in personal loans.

Total cash advances were up 19% on the previous year to $963 million, mainly driven by an increase in the size of advances to an average of $456.

The company’s personal loans business grew by 728% during the year to $16.9 million.

Beforepay Chief Executive Officer Jamie Twiss said:

FY26 was an outstanding year for Beforepay, delivering record Cash NPAT of $15.7 million, up 57%, while continuing to grow strongly across the business. We’re particularly excited by the rapid growth of Personal Loans, which scaled significantly during the year, and the opportunities ahead as we realise the benefits of interest on Pay Advances and our new, lower-cost debt facility. We enter FY27 with real momentum and are incredibly excited about the next phase of Beforepay’s growth.

Shaw and Partners said Beforepay was currently trading at a steep discount to its peers in the small cap financial sector.

The broker has a price target of $2.90 on Beforepay shares compared to $1.80 currently.

Credit Clear Ltd (ASX: CCR)

Broker Morgans said Credit Clear’s recent profit report was a “standout result”, with organic revenue growth of 9% complemented by strong contributions from two acquisitions.

Revenue of $60 million, up 28% year on year, exceeded guidance, and underlying EBITDA of $10.4 million, up 41% year on year, was also strong.

Morgans said:

CCR has driven growth and scale to become a key player in the domestic contingent collections market. We see CCR as well positioned to continue to consolidate its position in ANZ and the much larger UK market, organically and via M&A in the coming years. We derive a $0.30/sh price target, which informs our Speculative Buy recommendation.  

Credit Clear shares are currently changing hands for 17 cents.

The post 2 ASX fintechs to buy for 60% to 70% returns 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.