The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) is trading 0.69% higher in afternoon trade on Thursday. The index is down 15.23% year-to-date and 36.66% over the year, after a crash in investor confidence sent ASX tech stocks plummeting in late-2025 and into early-2026.

Renewed concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) disruption have driven tech shares such as WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), and NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) sharply lower.

WiseTech shares are down 7.07% today to $47.34 a piece, and down 61.65% for the year. 

Megaport shares are 5.44% lower in Thursday afternoon trade, to $10.95. The stock is still 23.17% higher over the year. 

Meanwhile, NextDC shares are down 1.15% to $13.74, and down 8.75% for the year.

On paper, the plummeting share prices of these ASX tech stocks look concerning, but I think it’s a once-in-a-decade opportunity.

Here’s why.

Long-term drivers of growth haven’t gone away

Despite the recent volatility in the tech market, the fact is that AI isn’t going anywhere. AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, automation, and digital payments are still front and centre. 

Technology is rapidly advancing, businesses are investing in AI more than ever before, and continued tech investment points to widespread, ongoing adoption rather than abandonment.

I think short-term investor concerns will likely be just that… short term. And short-term market concerns don’t change the fact that tech is the fastest-growing segment of the sharemarket over the long term.

Eventually, the market will correct itself, and the ASX tech stocks involved in AI could enjoy a share price recovery.

The upsides are huge for ASX tech stocks

Current valuations of tech stocks present a strong opportunity for investors to buy at a discount.

Analysts are hugely optimistic about the outlook for these tech stocks, with many tipping significant upside over the next 12 months when investor confidence returns and people start pressing the buy button once again.

Data shows that 14 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on WiseTech shares. And the maximum upside is $167.24 per share, implying an enormous 253.19% over the next 12 months at the time of writing.

It’s a similar story for Megaport shares too. Out of 14 analysts, 10 have a buy or strong buy rating on the ASX tech stock. The maximum target price is $22.27, which implies a 103.1% upside at the time of writing.

Analysts are even more bullish on NextDC shares. All 14 analysts have a buy or strong buy consensus on the shares. The maximum target price is $29.36 which implies a 114.46% upside at the time of writing.

The post A once-in-a-decade chance to buy ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech, Megaport and NextDC? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

When high-quality software stocks sell off, long-term investors tend to start paying attention.

Over the past year, sentiment toward technology shares has deteriorated sharply. Rising rates, concerns about artificial intelligence disrupting traditional software models, and multiple compression have all weighed heavily on valuations.

Two of the ASX’s best-known software names, Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), have both been caught up in the pullback.

Xero shares are down roughly 58% over the past 12 months, while TechnologyOne has fallen around 32% over the same period.

So which one looks like the better buy right now?

The case for TechnologyOne shares

TechnologyOne has quietly become one of the most consistent software businesses on the ASX.

It provides mission-critical enterprise software to governments, universities, and large organisations. Over recent years, its transition to a software-as-a-service model has transformed the business. Recurring revenue has risen, cash generation has strengthened, and earnings visibility has improved materially.

Management has laid out an ambitious target to double the size of the business roughly every five years. With growing momentum in the UK and a highly sticky customer base, that goal does not look unrealistic.

For investors seeking stability and steady execution, TechnologyOne remains a compelling long-term compounder.

The case for Xero shares

Xero, meanwhile, operates in a larger and more competitive global market.

It provides cloud accounting software to small and medium-sized businesses and has built strong positions in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. The long-term opportunity remains significant as more businesses transition from legacy accounting systems to cloud-based platforms.

The sharp share price decline reflects concerns that AI could lower barriers to entry in accounting software or pressure pricing. However, Xero’s platform is deeply embedded in customer workflows, with extensive integrations and ecosystem partnerships that are not easily replicated overnight.

Importantly, much of that risk now appears reflected in the valuation after the 58% sell-off.

Which one wins?

Both ASX stocks remain high-quality software businesses with strong recurring revenue models and long growth runways.

TechnologyOne arguably offers the smoother ride, with a more concentrated customer base and a long history of disciplined execution. But its smaller share price decline suggests investors are still willing to pay a premium for that consistency.

Xero, on the other hand, has seen far more valuation compression. While risk remains, the larger pullback means expectations are significantly lower. If the company can continue delivering subscriber growth and margin expansion, the rebound potential could be greater.

The post Best ASX stock to buy right now: Xero or TechnologyOne? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold into 2026
• Is the Xero share price an opportunity too good to pass up?
• My 10 best ASX shares to buy in February
• 2 quality ASX shares near 52-week lows worth watching
• 3 ASX 200 shares worth buying after February’s sell-off

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Technology One and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. 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.

Reporting season is a great time for investors to find ASX share opportunities that are good value, with a very recent view on the company’s operational performance.

There have been some very volatile reactions to some results, and I think this has opened up a number of buying opportunities.

I’m planning to put money to work next week, with the following two names being the likely candidates.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

This business has suffered a huge sell-off – down 30% at the time of writing – following its FY26 half-year result.

Margins decreased as the business increased investment, with a focus on price, promotion and expansion into New Zealand. But I think this is the right move for the business’s long-term success.

The company reported that revenue rose 19.8% to $375.9 million, the delivered margin rose 12.8% and operating profit (EBITDA) grew 2.2%. However, excluding the New Zealand investment, EBITDA grew by 13%.

Its capital-light model remains attractive and cash generative, with a huge $161 million in cash (and no debt). This can allow the business to fund share buybacks, if it wants to.

Over the long term, the ASX share is expected to experience further adoption of online shopping and rising profit margins. The Australian homewares and furniture market has a 20% penetration rate in Australia, whereas it’s 29% in the UK and 35% in the US. I expect Australia’s figure to climb in the coming years towards 30%.

The New Zealand play has already generated more than $1 million in sales, and I’m expecting it to become a significant contributor by the end of the decade.

Revenue growth remains strong, particularly in home improvement products. Home improvement revenue during the six-month period grew 47% year over year to $30 million. If it continues to grow faster than the core business, it will become an increasingly material contributor to the company’s financials.

Finally, the trading update to 9 February 2026 was solid and suggests ongoing good growth – revenue was up 20% year over year. That’s a strong compounding growth rate.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

The other ASX share I’m looking at is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on industrial properties.

I don’t know whether rental income can grow strongly from office buildings or shopping centres, but industrial properties are experiencing growth from areas like e-commerce and data centres.

The ASX share experienced like-for-like net operating income (NOI) growth of 5.1% in its FY26 half-year result. The REIT said that 20% average under-renting across its portfolio provides future earnings growth potential, implying good potential for a rental boost in the next few years.

It’s expecting to grow funds from operations (FFO) per unit – the rental earnings – by up to 6% in FY26, which could fund a 3% rise in the distribution to 16.8 cents per unit. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 5.3%.

It looks good value after reporting its net tangible assets (NTA) climbed by around 1% over the six month period to $3.95. That means it’s trading at a discount of around 20%, which I think is very appealing for a growing business.

The post 2 great ASX shares I’m planning to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you want good returns, you need to find ASX shares destined for continued long-term growth. After all, owning a slow or even mediocre-growing stock over a few years doesn’t guarantee returns. Here are three ASX shares I’d buy and hold this year.

IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX)

Titanium metal and critical materials company, IperionX, recently said it plans to ramp up production with the goal of becoming America’s largest and lowest-cost titanium powder producer. 

The company recently received a prototype purchase order valued at US$300,000 from American Rheinmetall. The order is for the production of 700 lightweight titanium components destined for US Army heavy ground combat systems.

IperionX also recently received the final US$4.6 million tranche of funding under a previously announced US government award. The funding comes through the US Department of War’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, which aims to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical materials.

Analysts are bullish on the company’s shares, with a strong buy consensus rating for IperionX. The maximum target price is $11.03, which implies a potential 84.69% upside at the time of writing.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) 

The prices of copper, silver and gold have reached all-time highs this year, and the momentum has driven South32’s shares toward a multi-year high earlier this month. The miner has also posted strong financial results over the past six months and solid production figures. 

Last month, the miner announced that it had exceeded expectations for first-half production. Overall, the results were ahead of consensus, and investors were thrilled.

I don’t think the good news will stop there either. In fact, I think South32 could outpace mining giant BHP this year.

South32 shares are tipped to rise up to 11.83% from the current share price, to $5.22 a piece.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero’s “sticky” subscription-based model, high retention rate and active product expansion make it a great contender for growth this year.

The ASX business is still early in its global expansion, too. If it can crack the US market and become more dominant while maintaining its position and revenue in other markets, its earnings could surge as well.

Despite the company’s operating revenue, net profit and cash flow continuing to rise, its share price has dived recently as investor confidence struggles to pick back up. Concerns about AI and the company’s US Melio acquisition dented sentiment last year. But I think the latest share price decline is a fantastic opportunity for investors to buy the stock cheaply.

In fact, I’m quietly confident that Xero shares could double in value in 2026, or go even higher. Analysts are mostly bullish on the shares and expect an upside of up to 200.55% this year, at the time of writing, to $233.73.

The post The 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold into 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Best ASX stock to buy right now: Xero or TechnologyOne?
• 7 ASX 200 large-cap shares hitting multi-year highs today
• Up 15%: Everything you need to know about the new South32 dividend
• What’s the outlook for the silver price?
• South32 lifts profit and dividend in strong first half

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

It’s been a great week for Virgin Australia Holding Ltd (ASX: VGN) shares. The ASX travel stock is trading in the green once again on Thursday afternoon, up 0.15% to $3.305 a piece.

It’s been a volatile few months for the airline, though. The shares crashed 20% from October to November last year, and then recovered 18.5% in December. The share price crashed again, this time by around 15%, throughout the first 6 weeks of the year, and now they’re on their way back up once again.

Over the past week, Virgin shares have jumped 10.53% and they’re now 13.97% higher over the year.

What is pushing Virgin Australia shares higher?

There is no price-sensitive news out of the travel company this week to explain the uptick. But after a 15% drop between December and earlier this month, it’s likely that investors have identified a buying opportunity. 

Virgin is set to deliver its first interim result since being relisted on the ASX in June last year, on the 27th of February.

And analysts are optimistic that the announcement will be good news.

Since its relisting on the ASX 200 in June this year, the airline has repositioned itself under a simpler, leaner business model, shedding many of its old inefficiencies. And I like what the business has done. 

The team at Jarden recently said that, while it is too early for the company to start paying dividends, it expects solid results later this month. The broker said the airline’s fundamentals are strong for the near term.  

Are Virgin Australia shares a buy, sell or hold?

At the current share price, I think the airline’s shares are a bargain. Analysts are mostly bullish on the stock’s robust upside this year.

TradingView data shows that 5 out of 7 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Virgin Australia shares. The average target price is $3.95 for the next 12 months, which implies a potential upside of 19.27% at the time of writing.

Although others think the upside could be anywhere between 10.14% and 27.27% from the current share price.

Jarden has a $4 target price on the shares. The team at Ord Minnett are also impressed with the company’s near-term outlook. The broker has a buy rating and $4 target price on Virgin Australia shares.

The post Virgin Australia shares fly 10% higher: Time to buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Which airline could deliver almost 25% returns? See what the analysts say

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 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.

If you’re investing with a 10-year horizon, the game changes.

Short-term earnings beats, monthly volatility, and broker upgrades become far less important.

What really matters instead is whether a business has a long runway, structural tailwinds, and the ability to compound earnings over many years.

With that in mind, listed below are three Australian stocks that could be worth buying and holding right through to 2036 (and probably beyond). They are as follows:

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

The first Australian stock for investors to consider for the long term is Life360.

It operates a global family safety platform that combines location sharing, emergency services, and digital protection tools. While the company is nearing 100 million monthly active users (MAUs), monetisation is still developing. That creates a rare combination of scale and optionality.

Over the next decade, the opportunity lies in deepening engagement. As Life360 layers in more services such as identity protection, roadside assistance, and insurance-related offerings, its average revenue per user (ARPU) metric could rise meaningfully.

Overall, a business with a large installed base and expanding revenue streams has the potential to look significantly larger in 2036 than it does today.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Another Australian stock with long-term appeal is Megaport.

Megaport provides on-demand connectivity between data centres, cloud providers, and enterprise networks. As organisations increasingly operate across multiple cloud platforms and geographies, network complexity rises. Megaport’s software-defined platform is designed to simplify that complexity.

Over a 10-year period, digital transformation is unlikely to slow. If anything, data usage, cloud adoption, and AI-driven workloads should increase demand for flexible connectivity solutions. This bodes well for Megaport.

In addition, its opportunity is tied less to any single technology trend and more to the broader expansion of global digital infrastructure.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

A final Australian stock that could be a top buy and hold option until 2036 is ResMed.

ResMed sits at the heart of healthcare, demographics, and technology. Rising awareness of sleep apnoea and chronic respiratory conditions continues to expand its addressable market, which stands at over 1 billion people.

Beyond sleep apnoea devices, ResMed has been building a growing software ecosystem that connects patients, healthcare providers, and insurers. This recurring data-driven model strengthens customer relationships and creates long-term stickiness.

With ageing populations across developed markets and increasing healthcare digitisation, ResMed’s growth drivers are likely to remain in place for many years.

The post 3 of the best Australian stocks to buy and hold until 2036 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A once-in-a-decade chance to buy ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech, Megaport and NextDC?
• Here’s an ASX 200 share that I think could beat CSL in 2026
• Bargain buys! – Scoop up these ASX 200 stocks after yesterday’s crash
• My 10 best ASX shares to buy in February
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Megaport, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Megaport, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and ResMed. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.43% to 9,053 points on Thursday.

The benchmark index rose above 9,000 points for the first time in 14 weeks yesterday as earnings season continues.

Yesterday’s gain was largely due to a surge in Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares following the bank’s 1H FY26 report.

A surprise 6% profit lift took CBA back to the top spot on the ASX 200, displacing the recently returned BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares.

CBA shares took the title from BHP in July 2024, and BHP shares took it back last month.

On Thursday, the market remained above the 9,000-point mark, trading between a low of 9,014 points and a high of 9,105 points.

That’s not far off the market’s all-time high of 9,115.2 points reached in October last year.

Five ASX 200 large-cap shares reached new record prices today, and two more stocks reached multi-year highs.

Large-caps have a market capitalisation of $10 billion or more.

All seven ASX 200 shares are from the market’s two largest sectors — financials and materials (which incorporates mining).

Let’s take a look.

7 ASX 200 large caps setting new price milestones today

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price skyrocketed 9.1% to a record $40.57 on Thursday.

This followed the release of the bank’s 1Q FY26 report.

ANZ reported a quarterly cash profit of $1.94 billion, up 75% from the 2H FY25 quarterly average.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price lifted 3.6% to a record $41.72 in earlier trading.

There was no price-sensitive news pertaining to the big four ASX 200 bank share today.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The National Australia Bank share price rose 3.9% to a record $47.25 on Thursday.

NAB also had no news for the market.

It’s likely that both NAB and Westpac shares are simply benefiting from the slipstream of ANZ’s surge today.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) 

The diversified ASX 200 miner climbed 5.4% to an intraday high of $4.91 on Thursday.

That is South32’s highest share price since June 2022.

The price surge came on the back of the miner’s 1H FY26 report.

South32 reported a 29% increase in profit to US$464 million.

The ASX 200 mining share will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 3.9 US cents per share.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price ascended 3.1% to an intraday high of $52.64.

BHP shares have not traded at this level since April 2022.

The Big Australian is due to release its 1H FY26 report next Tuesday.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

Rio Tinto, the third largest ASX 200 mining share, reached a record $168.78, up 2.6%, in earlier trading.

The Rio Tinto share price has been on a roll since the company walked away from merger talks with Glencore last week.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price ripped 6.9% to a record $30.21 after the gold miner dropped its 1H FY26 report.

Northern Star revealed a 41% increase in statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $714.4 million.

The ASX 200 gold mining share will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 25 cents per share.

The post 7 ASX 200 large-cap shares hitting multi-year highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold into 2026
• Up 15%: Everything you need to know about the new South32 dividend
• Why ANZ, CBA, Northern Star, and Origin Energy shares are charging higher today
• The ASX 200 is back over 9,000 points! It’s thanks to just 2 ASX shares
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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.

The Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) share price has been absolutely smashed on Thursday.

At the time of writing, the health imaging technology company’s shares are down 21.94% to $132.29. That leaves the stock down roughly 40% so far in 2026 and back to levels not seen since August 2024.

So, what on earth is going on?

Record numbers, but expectations were sky high

For the six months ended 31 December, Pro Medicus reported:

• Revenue up 28.4% to $124.8 million

• Underlying profit before tax up 29.7% to a record $90.7 million

• Underlying EBIT margin expanding to 72.6%

• Interim dividend of 32 cents per share, fully franked

Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) surged to $171.2 million, though that included unrealised gains from its investment in 4DMedical.

The company delivered solid growth across its key financial metrics. Revenue and profit both increased at close to 30%, margins expanded further, and the company continued to secure large North American contracts.

However, the scale of the sell-off suggests expectations were elevated heading into the result.

Pro Medicus was already trading on a premium valuation prior to the release, leaving limited room for any disappointment.

Management also highlighted that its largest implementation during the period went live late in October, which limited its financial contribution for the half.

Technical pressure builds after results

At a heavily discounted price of $132, Pro Medicus still commands a market capitalisation of around $13.8 billion.

The business remains capital light, generates strong margins, and has more than $1 billion in contracted revenue over 5 years. North America remains a significant growth opportunity, with Visage 7 positioned to support AI-driven workflows.

However, the chart has weakened materially.

The sell-off pushed the stock below recent support near $150, which failed to hold following the result.

At current levels, the shares are trading back at prices last seen in August 2024 and have retraced a large portion of their prior uptrend.

Momentum indicators have weakened materially. The relative strength index (RSI) has moved toward oversold territory, reflecting sustained selling pressure.

Buy the dip or value trap?

The key question is whether this move reflects short-term volatility or the beginning of a broader de-rating.

Revenue, margins, and contracted revenue continue to trend higher. The company remains highly profitable and cash generative.

However, the price investors are willing to pay for those earnings has clearly fallen.

Some may see the drop as a chance to buy a quality business at a lower price. Others may wait to see if the selling pressure eases before making a move.

Whether this proves to be attractive will depend on how quickly recent contract wins translate into stronger earnings over the next 12 to 24 months.

The post Pro Medicus shares crash 22% despite record results. Is this a rare buying opportunity? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Pro Medicus shares crash 20% on results day
• Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits
• Buy, hold, sell: Beach Energy, CSL, and Pro Medicus shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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 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.

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have made it easier than ever to build a diversified portfolio without having to pick individual winners.

If you’re looking for a few funds that can play very different roles in a long-term portfolio, here are three ASX ETFs that are worth knowing about.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF you should know is the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

A lot of investors think tech means Silicon Valley. This ETF is a reminder that some of the most important technology companies sit elsewhere, especially across Asia where digital services are often integrated into everyday life in a way that looks very different to Australia.

This ETF can be viewed as a way to invest in the consumer tech ecosystem of the region, including payments, online retail, entertainment platforms, and the semiconductor supply chain that underpins global electronics.

In other words, the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF isn’t just a bet on a handful of internet giants. It has exposure to the engine room of how a huge part of the world shops, pays, and communicates. That can make it an interesting long-term growth option, albeit one that can be volatile.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

Another ASX ETF worth knowing is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

Most Australian index funds are dominated by what is big, not necessarily what is best. This fund is different. It tries to stack the portfolio in favour of businesses that look strong on fundamentals, the types of companies that can reinvest profitably and remain resilient when conditions change.

Instead of simply mirroring the market, it leans toward companies with high returns on equity and balance sheet strength. That tends to push the portfolio toward the kind of businesses that can quietly compound over long periods, even if they are not always the most talked about in any given month.

For investors who want Australian exposure but prefer a quality filter rather than whatever is largest, the Betashares Australian Quality ETF can be a surprisingly strong solution.

iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV)

A final ASX ETF you should know about is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This fund tracks the S&P 500, but what makes it powerful is not any single company, it is the system. Over time, the index works like a self-updating portfolio of corporate leaders. As industries change, the S&P 500 changes with them, pushing out declining businesses and adding new winners as they emerge.

That means investors get exposure to the world’s deepest capital market and many of the most globally dominant companies, without needing to pick which ones will still be leading in five or ten years.

For a long-term investor, the iShares S&P 500 ETF is one of the simplest ways to harness global compounding and let the index do the refreshing for you.

The post 3 amazing ASX ETFs you need to know appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why these ASX ETFs could be perfect for buy and hold investors
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX earnings season continues today, with some major shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) revealing their latest numbers to investors this Thursday. One of those ASX 200 shares is mining stock South32 Ltd (ASX: S32). Income investors might want to pay attention to the new dividend that South32 just unveiled.

As we went through this morning, it was an interesting set of earnings for investors to go through. The diversified miner reported US$2.81 billion in revenue from continuing operations for its first half of FY 2026, a 3% drop on the same period in FY 2025.

However, underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 9% to US$1.11 billion. Profit after tax attributable to members came in at US$464 million, up an impressive 29%.

The market is reacting positively to what the company had to say today (thus far anyway). That’s going off the fact that the South32 share price is currently (at the time of writing) up a healhty 1.2% to $4.64 a share.

But let’s dig into the latest South32 dividend that has just been revealed.

South32 shares up as dividend hiked 15%

The rise in earnings and profits that the miner showed off this morning enabled South32 to declare an interim dividend of 3.9 US cents per share. This dividend will come with full franking credits attached, as is South32’s habit. It represents a payout ratio of 40% of South32’s underlying earnings, keeping with the company’s dividend policy of paying out a minimum of 40% of its earnings as dividends.

We don’t yet know what the final amount will be in Australian dollar terms. As of today’s exchange rate, investors can pencil in about 5.5 cents per share in our local currency.

This latest interim dividend is a meaningful payout for shareholders, as it represents a hefty 14.71% hike over the interim dividend, worth 3.4 US cents per share, that investors bagged in 2025.

Together with last year’s final dividend, worth 2.6 US cents per share, this 2026 interim dividend takes South32’s 12-month payouts to 6.5 US cents per share.

Eligible shareholders will receive this interim dividend on 2 April. The ex-dividend date has been set for 5 March next month, though. If investors wish to receive this dividend from South32 but don’t yet own shares, they will need to do so by 4 March. South32 is not running a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) for this payout, though, so investors have no choice but to take the dividend as a cash payment.

South32 shares are currently trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2%.

The post Up 15%: Everything you need to know about the new South32 dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.