It’s been a brutal 12 months for some high-quality ASX shares.

But big sell-offs can create big opportunities, especially when the long-term story remains intact.

Here are three ASX shares down 25% or way more that could be worth a serious look right now.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

This $12 billion ASX share has been hammered, with the stock price down more than 38% over the past year. Yet the underlying business remains elite.

Pro Medicus provides radiology imaging software to hospitals and healthcare providers globally. It serves a niche, high-margin space with strong recurring revenue. Its Visage platform is widely regarded as best-in-class, giving it a powerful competitive moat.

Growth has been strong historically, driven by major contract wins in the US. And once hospitals adopt its system, switching costs are extremely high.

So what’s the risk?

Valuation — even after the fall. Pro Medicus has long traded at a premium, and any slowdown in contract wins or growth can hit sentiment hard. Add in broader tech sector weakness and AI fears, and you’ve got a recipe for volatility.

Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with many still viewing the ASX share as one of the highest-quality growth names on the ASX. Most brokers see the healthcare stock as a buy with an average 12-month price target of $218.74. That points to a 76% upside at the time of writing.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie shares are down heavily from recent highs, caught in the downturn in US housing. They have lost 25% of value over 12 months.

But this ASX share is still a dominant global player in fibre cement siding, with strong pricing power and a proven ability to grow market share.

Recent results showed solid sales growth, even as costs and housing softness impacted profits. And the AZEK acquisition opens the door to a much larger outdoor living market.

The risks? Cyclicality.

James Hardie is highly exposed to US housing activity. If housing remains weak, volumes and earnings could stay under pressure.

That said, analysts remain constructive. Trading View data show that 15 out of 22 analysts rate the ASX share a buy or strong buy. They have set an average price target of $42.09, implying a potential gain of almost 50% for the next 12 months.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

This popular ASX share has also fallen sharply from its highs, dragged down by margin concerns and softer growth expectations. In the past 12 months it has tumbled 34% to $175.04 at the time of writing.

But the long-term story remains compelling.

Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing devices, with a dominant market position and strong brand recognition. Demand is underpinned by ageing populations and increasing awareness of hearing solutions. That’s a powerful structural tailwind.

Its products are also highly specialised, which creates strong barriers to entry and leads to sticky customer relationships.

So why the sell-off?

Margins and growth have come under pressure, and investors have been quick to re-rate high-PE healthcare names. Like many quality ASX shares, this stock has suffered from multiple compression rather than a collapse in fundamentals.

Analysts remain broadly positive. They seem to be more cautious though in the near term as the company works through cost pressures and growth expectations reset. The average 12-month price target sits at $249.58, which suggests a 43% upside.

The post 3 ASX shares down 25% (or more) to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why two experts are urging investors to buy Pro Medicus shares
• 3 ASX 200 shares down at least 30% to buy now
• 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares to buy amid sector rout
• Down 25%! Is this resurgent ASX 200 stock a strong buy?
• The best time to buy shares? It might be right now

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 positions in and has recommended Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Long-term investing is not about chasing short-term trends.

Instead, it is about finding businesses that can grow consistently over many years, supported by strong competitive positions and large opportunities ahead of them.

These are the types of companies that can compound earnings and deliver meaningful returns over time.

Here are three ASX growth shares that could fit that description.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The first ASX share that I would buy and hold for the next decade is Megaport.

Megaport operates a global platform that allows businesses to connect to cloud services and data centres on demand. As more companies shift their operations to the cloud, the need for flexible and scalable connectivity continues to grow.

What arguably makes Megaport’s story more compelling today is its expansion beyond networking. The recent acquisition of Latitude brings high-performance compute capabilities into the platform, allowing customers to deploy both connectivity and compute infrastructure on demand. This positions the company at the centre of how modern workloads, including AI, are built and scaled.

While the company has faced challenges in the past, it now appears to be entering a more mature phase focused on profitability and execution. If it delivers on this broader infrastructure vision, Megaport could benefit from the continued growth of cloud and AI-driven demand globally.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

Another ASX growth share that I would buy and hold is REA Group.

REA Group has built a dominant position in Australia’s online property listings market through realestate.com.au. Its platform benefits from strong network effects, where more listings attract more buyers, which in turn attracts more agents.

This creates pricing power. Agents are willing to pay for premium listings and advertising products because of the platform’s reach and effectiveness.

Over time, the company has been able to increase its revenue per listing, even during periods of softer property activity. Combined with its expansion into adjacent services, this could support continued growth over the long term.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

A third ASX growth share that I would buy and hold is TechnologyOne.

TechnologyOne provides enterprise software solutions and has successfully transitioned to a software-as-a-service model. This shift has created a more predictable and recurring revenue base, which is highly valuable for long-term investors.

The company is also expanding internationally, particularly in the UK, where it sees significant growth opportunities across government and enterprise sectors.

With high customer retention, strong margins, and a disciplined approach to growth, TechnologyOne has the characteristics of a business that can continue compounding earnings over many years.

The post 3 amazing ASX growth shares I’d buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX stocks that could help turn $10,000 into $1 million
• Why are ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech and Life360 going gangbusters on Wednesday?
• Are the glory days over for REA shares?
• Is now the perfect time to buy ASX growth shares?
• Bullish on artificial intelligence? Here are 3 ASX shares I’d buy

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport, REA Group, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Defensive ASX dividend stocks are well-established companies with stable earnings regardless of what stage of the economic cycle we are in. 

It’s this unwavering stability which means they can offer a consistent and reliable dividend payment to shareholders.

And amid volatile global sharemarkets, a stable passive income should be on every investors’ radar right now.

Here are two defensive ASX dividend stocks that are at the top of my list.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban is widely considered a high-grade defensive ASX dividend stock. The company operates toll roads in Australia and the US.

These toll roads usually have stable traffic volumes throughout the year. This means that Transurban is able to generate a resilient cash flow regardless of the economic conditions. 

Roads are an essential service and even in the event of a downturn, people still need to travel to work or transport goods and services. 

Another bonus is most of the toll roads are on an annual contract, which means Transurban is able to increase its toll prices each year in line with rising inflation.

Transurban pays two dividends per year. In February, the toll road operator paid an interim dividend of 34 cents per share, unfranked.

For FY26, the company has forecast a distribution of 69 cents per security, which implies a forward dividend yield of 4.9%. 

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) 

Telstra is a classic defensive asset. These days, internet access and mobile phone connectivity are a daily necessity rather than a perk. Regardless of how severe inflation or the cost of living gets, connectivity and telecommunications will remain a high priority for most Australians.  

This means Telstra shares can usually perform steadily, regardless of what stage of the economic cycle we’re in. And this is great news for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere in the index.

The ASX dividend stock is able to offer a consistent and reliable passive income to investors too. In fact, its dividend payout ratio is close to 100% of its earnings. 

Telstra pays investors two dividends per year. Last month, investors were paid an interim dividend of 10.5 cents, 90.48% franked. Telstra has forecast to pay a 20-cent dividend for FY26.

For FY25 the company paid investors an annual dividend of 19 cents per share. At the time of writing that translates to a dividend yield of around 3.89%.

The post 2 defensive ASX dividend stocks for reliable income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why now could be the perfect time to buy ASX dividend stocks
• Is Telstra stock a buy at $5.37 a share?
• 3 must-own ASX dividend shares which belong in every portfolio
• 2 ASX dividend shares to hold for the next 7 years

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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When it comes to retirement, most Australians aren’t aiming to be rich, they simply want to be comfortable.

That means having the freedom to enjoy life. Think regular meals out, the occasional holiday, private health insurance, and the ability to run the air conditioning without worrying about the bill.

But there’s a clear financial line between that lifestyle and something far more restricted.

And in 2026, that line has quietly shifted.

What does comfortable actually mean?

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia Retirement Standard is widely considered the benchmark for retirement planning.

It breaks retirement into two broad categories:

• Comfortable retirement – a lifestyle that includes leisure activities, travel, quality healthcare, and financial flexibility
• Modest retirement – a more basic lifestyle, slightly above the Age Pension, with limited discretionary spending

The difference between the two isn’t just financial, it is lifestyle.

A comfortable retiree can replace household items when needed, travel domestically each year, and take an overseas trip occasionally. A modest retiree, by contrast, may need to carefully manage utility bills and limit social activities.

The superannuation balance that changes everything

According to the latest 2026 update from ASFA, the superannuation balance required to fund these lifestyles has increased meaningfully:

A comfortable retirement now needs $630,000 for a single and $730,000 for a couple.

While a modest retirement needs $110,000 for a single and $120,000 for a couple.

That’s a significant gap.

In simple terms, the difference between just getting by and living comfortably in retirement is now over $500,000.

Why the gap matters more than ever

What stands out isn’t just the size of the numbers, it is how much they’ve risen.

ASFA updated these figures in 2026 to reflect inflation and rising living costs, highlighting a key reality: retirement is getting more expensive.

And that creates a growing divide.

Those with balances closer to the modest threshold may still get by, largely supported by the Age Pension. But they’ll likely face trade-offs. This may mean fewer holidays, tighter budgets, and less flexibility.

Those who reach the comfortable threshold, however, gain something far more valuable than money: choice.

So where do most Australians sit?

That’s the uncomfortable question. For many single Australians approaching retirement, superannuation balances are still well below the comfortable benchmark.

That doesn’t mean retirement is out of reach, but it does mean expectations may need to be adjusted unless action is taken early.

How to bridge the gap

The good news? Even small changes can have a big impact over time.

Australians could make extra contributions. Even modest top-ups can compound significantly over time. They could also review investment options, consolidate accounts, and stay invested longer. A few extra working years can dramatically improve outcomes

Most importantly, understanding where you stand today is key. Once you know that, you can start closing the gap.

The post The superannuation balance that separates comfort from compromise in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 21 ASX shares going ex-dividend over the school holidays
• Morgans names 2 ASX shares to buy and 1 to accumulate
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why two experts are urging investors to buy Pro Medicus shares
• Bell Potter names 2 of the best ASX ETFs to buy now

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

Scores of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares will go ex-dividend over the upcoming school holidays.

Each state has a different school holiday period, with NSW, Queensland, and Victoria among the states commencing holidays today.

Tasmania has the latest school holiday schedule this Easter season. The school break in our smallest state runs from 18 April to 3 May.

So, here’s a list of all the ASX shares due to go ex-dividend over the coming weeks through to 3 May.

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

Ex-dividend dates give ASX investors two opportunities.

Either buy before the date to receive the dividend, or wait until ex-dividend day, when the share price will likely drop, to buy then.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates this month

ASX share	Ex-dividend date	Dividend amount	Pay day
Shine Justice Ltd (ASX: SHJ)	7 April	1.5 cents per share	24 April
Gowing Bros Ltd (ASX: GOW)	7 April	3 cents per share	23 April
Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Ltd (ASX: SXE)	7 April	2.5 cents per share	22 April
Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR)	8 April	1.5 cents per share	21 May
Clime Capital Ltd (ASX: CAM)	8 April	1.4 cents per share	24 April
Bisalloy Steel Group Ltd (ASX: BIS)	9 April	8 cents per share	24 April
Horizon Oil Ltd (ASX: HZN)	9 April	1.5 cents per share	17 April
WAM Global Ltd (ASX: WGB)	13 April	6.6 cents per share	28 April
WAM Alternative Assets Ltd (ASX: WMA)	14 April	3 cents per share	29 April
Clover Corporation Ltd (ASX: CLV)	15 April	1 cent per share	30 April
WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE)	15 April	4.8 cents per share	30 April
Cadence Capital Ltd (ASX: CDM)	15 April	3 cents per share	30 April
Cadence Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: CDO)	15 April	7.5 cents per share	30 April
Acorn Capital Investment Fund Ltd (ASX: ACQ)	16 April	3.5 cents per share	6 May
Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Company Ltd (ASX: SOL)	20 April	48 cents per share	14 May
MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)	21 April	10 cents per share	13 May
Shriro Holdings Ltd (ASX: SHM)	22 April	2 cents per share	12 May
Waterco Ltd (ASX: WAT)	29 April	7 cents per share	15 May
Acrow Ltd (ASX: ACF)	29 April	2 cents per share	29 May
Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX)	30 April	3.6 cents per share	13 May
WAM Strategic Value Ltd (ASX: WAR)	1 May	3.3 cents per share	29 May

The post 21 ASX shares going ex-dividend over the school holidays appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Morgans names 2 ASX shares to buy and 1 to accumulate
• After a positive trading update 2 brokers agree this stock is a buy
• 1 ASX dividend share and 1 ASX growth stock to buy in April
• This 4% ASX stock is my top pick for growth and income in 2026
• From red to green: Why this under-the-radar ASX stock is ripping higher this afternoon

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 Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Bisalloy Steel Group, Mff Capital Investments, Myer, and Southern Cross Electrical Engineering. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Morgans has been running the rule over a number of ASX shares this week.

Listed below are two that it rates as buys and one that it thinks investors should be accumulating.

Let’s see what it is recommending to clients:

Acrow Ltd (ASX: ACF)

This construction services company’s shares have been named as a buy by Morgans with a $1.28 price target.

The broker was encouraged with its recent trading update and highlights its positive growth outlook and generous dividend yield as reasons to buy. It explains:

ACF’s trading update was encouraging. While FY26 revenue and underlying EBITDA guidance was reaffirmed, management commentary pointed to improving activity levels across Australia. This was particularly pleasing in the QLD formwork division, which has experienced softer conditions over the past two years. Momentum in QLD appears to be turning, with improvement evident heading into FY27. Initial FY27 guidance was a positive surprise. While broadly in line with consensus, we view the early guidance as conservative and achievable, reflecting management’s confidence in the outlook.

We maintain our positive view on ACF with a BUY rating and $1.28 target price. With formwork activity – particularly in QLD – now improving, momentum into FY27 continues to build. With Brisbane Olympics-related activity also expected to ramp up over the next 12-18 months, we see ACF’s outlook as strong. Trading on 8.6x FY27F PE with a 6.0% yield, we believe the valuation remains attractive.

Beetaloo Energy Australia Ltd (ASX: BTL)

Another ASX share that Morgans is positive on is energy explorer Beetaloo Energy. The broker has a speculative buy rating and 90 cents price target on its shares.

It highlights the deep discount that the company trades on, which leaves material upside for investors. The broker said:

The INPEX/Formentera Beetaloo JV terms imply US$3,059/acre at base earn-in, escalating to US$3,547-$5,480/acre on option exercise, a 20-37x uplift on the prior Tamboran/DWE benchmark in 2025. BTL trades at an implied ~A$140/acre, a 97% discount to the INPEX base deal. Even heavy discounting for acreage quality differences leaves material upside. INPEX has committed development-scale capital (up to US$619m) to the Beetaloo as an LNG-grade resource. Farm-out leverage for BTL has stepped up materially. We maintain our Spec Buy rating, with an upgraded A$0.90 TP.

PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA)

After a sharp decline this week, Morgans has reaffirmed its accumulate rating on this property settlement company’s shares with a $14.31 price target.

The broker remains positive on PEXA despite concerns on future pricing following the release of a paper from IPART. It explains:

IPART has released a methodology paper outlining its proposed approach to calculating an Initial Asset Base (IAB), which has direct implications for the pricing of Electronic Lodgment Network Operators (ELNOs). While this is just a discussion paper, it certainly points to a likely more rigid structure controlling PXA’s future pricing, while elements such as the potential exclusion of goodwill from IPART’s proposed IAB calculation could present downside risk.

We make nominal changes to our PXA earnings of -1%-2% on some post results earnings tweaks. While it is too early to factor in the full implications of the pricing review, we now apply a 15% discount to our valuation to account for potential regulatory risk, setting our price target at A$14.31. We maintain our ACCUMULATE recommendation with >10% upside to our PT.

The post Morgans names 2 ASX shares to buy and 1 to accumulate appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• After a positive trading update 2 brokers agree this stock is a buy
• After their big fall is it time to buy the dip on Pexa?
• Why Pexa shares are sinking 16% today
• From red to green: Why this under-the-radar ASX stock is ripping higher this afternoon
• Why Dateline, Karoon Energy, Lindian, and PEXA shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a rather disappointing end to the short trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Thursday. After initially starting strong this morning, investors took a major step back when US President Donald Trump addressed the nation at midday (our time).

Trump’s declaration that the war with Iran would go on for another “two to three weeks” was enough to start the selling. By the time the markets closed up for the Easter break, the ASX 200 had slumped by a nasty 1.06%. That fall leaves the index at 8,579.5 points as we head into the long weekend.

This volatile session for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning up on the American markets (let’s see what happens tomorrow over there).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a comfortable time of it, rising by 0.48%.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more enthusiastic, gaining 1.16%.

But let’s return to the local markets now and check out how the various ASX sectors dealt with today’s whipsawing trading conditions.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 suddenly turns lower as fresh war fears hit before Easter
• Why did the ASX 200 just plunge 1.4% in Thursday afternoon trade?
• 3 ASX defensive shares to buy in uncertain markets
• This monthly income ASX ETF yields 7%, and every ASX investor should take note
• 3 reasons to buy Wesfarmers shares today

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares have come under pressure this year.

While this is disappointing for shareholders, it could be an opportunity for others to snap up the health imaging technology company’s shares.

That’s the view of two analysts, who are urging investors to buy Pro Medicus shares this week, according to The Bull.

What are they saying about Pro Medicus shares?

The team at Catapult Wealth has named Pro Medicus as a buy this week. It highlights that the company has a positive long-term growth outlook thanks partly to its growing market share in the massive United States market.

It also notes that a couple of key contract renewals have demonstrated strengthening pricing power despite artificial intelligence (AI) disruption concerns. It explains:

Pro Medicus develops advanced medical imaging software used by major hospitals and radiology groups globally. The company reported a strong first half result in fiscal year 2026, with revenue up 28.4 per cent to $124.8 million and underlying profit before tax rising 29.7 per cent to $90.7 million. In March, PME secured two important contract renewals worth a minimum of $40 million, both at higher transaction fees, signalling strengthening pricing power.

With an underlying earnings before interest and tax margin at 73 per cent and cash of $222 million, PME remains financially robust. Growing US market share supports a positive long term growth outlook, making PME an attractive portfolio addition.

Who else is bullish?

Also tipping Pro Medicus shares as a buy this week is MPC Markets.

It believes that recent share price weakness has created an attractive entry point for investors, especially given its position as one of the highest quality software companies on the Australian share market. It said:

The company provides medical imaging software and services to hospitals and healthcare groups across the world. Its software has quietly become the dominant choice across some of the largest hospital networks in the United States. The product is faster, more scalable and modern than what its competitors offer. Artificial intelligence is built in, so it complements the business.

The share price plunge has been driven by broad technology sentiment as opposed to issues with the business. Earnings are still growing and the company still wins major new hospital contracts. In our view, the market has handed investors an appealing entry point into one of the best software businesses on the ASX. We retain our buy recommendation.

The post Why two experts are urging investors to buy Pro Medicus shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares to buy amid sector rout
• The best time to buy shares? It might be right now
• 2 ASX stocks that could help turn $10,000 into $1 million
• Why Arafura Rare Earths, Eagers Automotive, Life360, and Pro Medicus shares are racing higher today
• How to invest during an ASX share bear market when you’re worried about prices falling more

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The market has been incredibly volatile recently. This has left many stocks from across the globe trading at deep discounts to what investors were willing to pay just a matter of months ago.

The team at Bell Potter thinks that this has created a compelling buying opportunity for investors.

What is it saying?

The broker highlights that there are high-quality stocks trading at attractive levels. It notes that this valuation reset comes despite earnings remaining robust and fundamentals not weakening. It said:

A wide range of quality companies are currently trading at valuations that are attractive relative to historical norms and their long-term earnings potential. These companies have strong balance sheets, providing insulation against both the rising cost of capital and geopolitical volatility. Importantly, the structural tailwinds for some of these companies from AI and digital transformation remain largely independent of Middle Eastern tensions or fluctuating oil prices.

This valuation reset is underpinned by robust earnings rather than weakening fundamentals. While not cheap in absolute terms, this shift represents an attractive entry point relative to recent history. Importantly, earnings revisions remain positive despite higher oil prices; the S&P 500 has seen 2.5% upgrades in the past month. The recent sell-off appears indiscriminate, but we expect a rotation towards quality given positive fundamentals and the heightened uncertainty we expect to persist.

But if you’re not a fan of stock picking, don’t worry. That’s because Bell Potter thinks two ASX ETFs could be a way to take advantage of the weakness.

Global X Fang+ ETF (ASX: FANG)

The first ASX ETF it is recommending is the Global X FANG ETF. It gives investors access to 10 of the best stocks from across the globe. It explains:

The Global X FANG ETF (FANG) provides concentrated, high conviction exposure to the leaders of the modern economy. It tracks the NYSE FANG Plus Index, which is composed of 10 highly traded growth stocks across the technology and communication services sectors. This includes the original FANG names alongside other innovative giants such as Nvidia and Microsoft. With a management fee of 0.35% per annum, it offers an efficient way to target the specific mega cap tech names that have seen the most significant sentiment-driven de-rating despite their robust balance sheets and leading roles in the AI revolution.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

Another ASX ETF that the broker is recommending is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.

It gives investors exposure to 300 of the best stocks from across the world. It said:

For those preferring a more diversified approach, the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (QUAL), offers exposure to approximately 300 of the world’s highest quality companies. This fund follows a rules-based methodology that selects stocks based on three key fundamental factors: high return on equity, stable year-on-year earnings growth, and low financial leverage. While still heavily weighted towards US technology giants like Apple and Microsoft, QUAL provides a broader safety net by including high quality names across healthcare, industrials, and consumer staples.

The post Bell Potter names 2 of the best ASX ETFs to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 of the best ASX ETFs to buy in April
• Here are 5 ASX ETFs that I would buy with $50,000
• Why I’m seriously thinking about buying these ASX ETFs in April
• Should investors be targeting growth or value ASX ETFs right now?
• You can aim to beat the Age Pension for the price of a daily coffee!

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 war in Iran sent S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) dramatically lower in March.

After a steep 9.1% drop between 27 February and 23 March, the ASX 200 recovered a bit to finish the month down 7.8%.

In April so far, ASX 200 shares are 1.05% higher after the US signalled yesterday that it may be out of Iran within two or three weeks.

James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners says the “war fear” in the market is now fading.

While the road out may be volatile, Gerrish and his Market Matters team are bullish on ASX 200 shares for the rest of the year.

In fact, they think the ASX 200 could re-test its all-time high of 9,200.9 points later in the year, if the Iran situation is resolved soon.

In his Market Matters newsletter today, Gerrish has named 3 ETFs to buy before the rally really gets started.

3 ASX ETFs to buy today: expert

Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE)

The WIRE ETF is $122.42 apiece on Thursday, down 1.2% today and down 17.9% over the past month.

The Market Matters team is targeting $30 for this exchange-traded fund over the next year or so.

The experts said:

Copper (Cu) has experienced a volatile few weeks as the Iran conflict brought into question global economic growth, even though it’s underpinned by structural demand from industrial uses, particularly global electrification and the AI buildout.

At MM, we remain firm believers in the Cu story over the coming years and last month increased our exposure to Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) and bought Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) to increase our exposure to the industrial metal in the Active Growth Portfolio after the sector’s 32% correction from its late January high.

A close above $24 would be a bullish technical trigger.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)

This ASX gold ETF is $137.67 per unit, up 0.6% today and down 19% over the past month.

The Market Matters team is targeting the $160 area for the GDX ETF through 2026.

They said:

The GDX ETF gained more than 4% on Wednesday, though the move felt stronger locally with most ASX gold miners rallying 6–8%.

After a ~35% correction, the sector appears to have completed the anticipated washout following its surge to fresh highs in 2026.

We believe the broader uptrend remains intact, although a period of consolidation around ~$150 would not be surprising.

A close above $142 would be a bullish technical trigger.

BetaShares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM)

This ASX uranium ETF is $12.28 per unit, down 0.6% today and down 7.9% over the past month.

The Market Matters team said they like the URNM ETF after a 29% pullback, and remain constructive on the uranium sector.

They commented:

At MM, we believe nuclear power is the obvious clean energy source that works today, with US big tech agreeing, as they pour money into Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Nuclear power accounts for ~10% of global electricity generation today with demand set to rise substantially over the coming years as AI usage ratchets up.

With the uranium market transitioning into a structural tightening phase, and a high probability of deficit emerging later this decade, the URNM ETF should push higher in the coming years.

A close above $12.60 would be a bullish technical trigger.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy before the rally really takes off: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Global X Copper Miners ETF. 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.