• Chasing dividends? 11 ASX shares in top-paying sectors going ex-dividend this week

    Dividend yield written on a notebook with a chart, pen, and magnifying glass next to it.

    ASX mining/materials, utilities, and energy shares paid the biggest dividend yields of the 11 market sectors in FY26.

    As we previously reported, utilities shares paid a 5.98% dividend yield, energy paid 5.14%, and materials paid 4.63%.

    Those yields were well above the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) average dividend yield for FY26 of 4.23%.

    Energy and mining shares paid higher dividends in FY26 due to elevated earnings from stronger commodity prices.

    Now remember, the dividends paid in the FY26 period mainly reflected final dividends for FY25 and interim dividends for FY26.

    Over the next two months, the final dividends for FY26 are being paid following the end of the August reporting season today.

    And we’re seeing the same trend play out.

    That is, big ASX resources shares are paying generous dividends again due to those strong commodity prices.

    Take ASX 200 iron ore and copper miner, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), for example.

    BHP declared a final dividend for FY26 of US 99 cents, which is equivalent to A$1.40 on today’s exchange rate.

    That’s 65% higher than the final BHP dividend for FY25 of 91.9 AU cents.

    That’s a major lift in income for BHP shares investors.

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

    If you want to snatch the next BHP dividend, you need to buy BHP shares before they go ex-dividend this Thursday.

    BHP is among 11 big names in the high-paying utilities, mining, and energy sectors scheduled to go ex-dividend this week.

    If you’re chasing dividend income, here are the dates you need to know.

    ASX shares going ex-dividend this week

    ASX share Ex-Div Date Dividend Payday
    Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) 1 September 46 cents 29 September
    Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) 2 September 30 cents 2 October
    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) 2 September 6 cents 15 September
    Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) 2 September 7 cents 18 September
    Mercury NZ Ltd (ASX: MCY) 2 September 14.1 cents 30 September
    PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) 2 September 5 cents 24 September
    Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) 2 September 26 cents 28 September
    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) 3 September $1.40 23 September
    Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) 3 September 79.5 cents 25 September
    Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) 4 September $1.85 30 September
    Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) 4 September 7.7 cents 30 September

    View more ASX shares going ex-dividend this week.

    The post Chasing dividends? 11 ASX shares in top-paying sectors going ex-dividend this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BHP Group right now?

    Before you buy BHP Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and BHP Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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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.

  • Austal shares jump despite a $54 million loss. Here’s why investors are buying

    A U.S. Naval Ship (DDG) enters Sydney harbour.

    Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) shares are heading north on Monday after the defence shipbuilder released its FY26 results.

    At the time of writing, the Austal share price is up 3.42% to $4.24.

    That is despite the company reporting a statutory net loss of $53.6 million, compared with an $89.7 million profit a year earlier.

    So, why are investors buying up the shares?

    Revenue tops $2 billion

    Austal reported FY26 revenue of $2.03 billion, up 11% from $1.82 billion last year.

    However, earnings were hit hard by problems within its US business.

    Group EBIT swung from a $113.4 million profit in FY25 to a $125.2 million loss, largely due to provisions linked to several loss-making US contracts.

    Operating cash flow also dropped to $62.5 million from $406.3 million, while net cash finished the year at $186.3 million.

    The company did not declare a dividend as it continues investing heavily in new production capacity.

    Australasia is doing the heavy lifting

    Austal’s Australasian business delivered revenue of $650.7 million, up 49% from the previous year.

    EBIT climbed 137% to a record $85.3 million, with the EBIT margin increasing to 13.1%.

    That growth was helped by higher shipbuilding activity and the ramp-up of major Australian defence programs.

    Austal’s Australasian defence order book has also jumped to around $5.6 billion, compared with just $700 million a year earlier.

    That includes work under the strategic shipbuilding agreement, along with the landing craft medium and landing craft heavy programs.

    Austal Chief Executive Paddy Gregg said the existing and expected contract pipeline gives the company a path to potentially double Australasian revenue over the next 5 years.

    A huge order book could be supporting the shares

    Another number that stands out is Austal’s overall order book.

    The company finished FY26 with around $16.5 billion of work, including options, across its Australian and US operations.

    Its US order backlog alone is around $10.9 billion, while Austal continues expanding its submarine module manufacturing capacity.

    Management is also targeting around $500 million of support and sustainment revenue in FY27.

    The company said it expects to return to profitability in FY27 as it works through the issues affecting its US contracts.

    What happens next?

    Investors will also be watching the proposed sale of Austal USA.

    South Korea’s Hanwha Defence has submitted an indicative offer valuing the US business at between US$1.05 billion and US$1.2 billion.

    Hanwha has been granted due diligence, although there’s no guarantee a deal will go ahead.

    Nonetheless, a sale at that level would leave Austal with a much stronger balance sheet.

    The post Austal shares jump despite a $54 million loss. Here’s why investors are buying appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Austal right now?

    Before you buy Austal shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Austal wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

  • 5 ASX 200 shares with 33% to 61% upside post-results: experts

    Hand stacking increasing piles of rocks.

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.03% at 9,095.2 points on the final day of reporting season.

    Hundreds of companies have revealed their earnings this season.

    Brokers have reviewed the reports and updated their ratings and 12-month price targets accordingly.

    Here are five buy-rated ASX 200 shares with significant upside potential ahead, according to the experts.

    NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

    The NextDC share price is $13.63, down 1.7% today and down 17% over 12 months.

    UBS renewed its buy rating on NextDC shares, with a $22.55 target after reviewing the company’s FY26 earnings.

    This implies potential capital growth of 61% over the next year.

    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

    The WiseTech share price is $41.39, up 1.9% today and down 58% over 12 months.

    Morgans reiterated its buy rating on this ASX 200 tech share after the company’s FY26 results.

    The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $67 to $62.50.

    However, this still implies a healthy potential upside of 52%.

    Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

    The Droneshield share price is $1.74, down 0.7% today and down 46% over 12 months.

    Bell Potter renewed its buy rating on this ASX 200 industrials share after its 1H FY26 results.

    The broker trimmed its 12-month price target from $2.50 to $2.40.

    This suggests a potential 35% upside ahead.

    Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

    The Qantas share price is $9.56, down 0.3% today and down 17% over 12 months. 

    Morgan Stanley kept its buy call in place on Qantas shares following the airline’s FY26 results.

    The broker raised its target on the ASX 200 industrials share from $12.50 to $12.80.

    This suggests a potential 33% upside ahead.

    Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

    The Objective Corporation share price is $6.40, down 5.9% today and down 69% over 12 months. 

    Morgans maintained its buy recommendation on this ASX 200 tech share after the company’s FY26 results.

    The broker has a revised 12-month price target of $8.50, implying a potential 33% upside ahead.

    OCL’s FY26 result was largely in line with expectations. The result came however with more sticker shock in the form of another legacy contract loss leading to a further $3.2m ARR reduction.

    OCL enters FY27 with ARR of $114.1m. Despite this softening & FX headwinds during the year, OCL continued to see strong underlying SaaS growth momentum and progress of a number of strategic milestones (including the launch of Build Australia), which is key to ARR momentum and FY27+ outlook.

    Rebasing our forecasts for OCL’s revised FY27 ARR and guidance sees our NPAT estimates reduce by ~18-21% in FY27-28F.

    Following these revisions OCL is trading on FY27F P/E of 24x, with a share price near 5 years lows.

    The post 5 ASX 200 shares with 33% to 61% upside post-results: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in DroneShield right now?

    Before you buy DroneShield shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and DroneShield wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 August 2026

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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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Objective, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Objective and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.