Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are tumbling today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock closed Friday trading for $1.28. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $1.18 apiece, down 7.8%.

For some context, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down 0.7% at this same time.

In a better comparison of golden apples to golden apples, Ora Banda shares are moderately outperforming the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD), which is down 8.9% this morning.

This comes as the gold price continues to get hammered in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s appointment of Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chairman. Gold is currently trading for US$4,801 per ounce, down more than 21% since Thursday.

Warsh’s focus on combating inflation has traders pricing in higher US interest rates. That could throw up numerous headwinds for gold, which doesn’t pay a yield itself and is priced in US dollars.

That’s the macro picture.

Now here’s the latest from the ASX 200 gold miner.

Ora Banda shares on the growth path

Though pressured by the falling gold price today, Ora Banda mining shares could get longer-term support after the miner announced another batch of “exceptional drill results”.

The results come from Round Dam, an 18-kilometre-long mineralised trend located within the company’s Waihi Project, in Western Australia. Ora Banda has been actively exploring the open-pit and underground mining potential along a 7.5-kilometre section of this trend.

Ora Banda has now completed 280 holes for 53,000 metres of drilling from its 62,000 metre Phase 1 exploratory program.

This morning, the miner reported it had identified up to six subparallel continuous gold lodes along the trend. The company said that early indications are that the Round Dam trend will be “highly amenable” to bulk tonnage open-pit mining with the added potential for high grade shoot development.

What did management say?

Commenting on the latest gold results that could help boost Ora Banda shares over the longer term, managing director Luke Creagh said, “At Round Dam we are looking at the potential for large-scale surface mining opportunities, enhanced by multiple, newly identified high grade shoots.”

Creagh added:

Excitingly, the Round Dam Project is located only 15 kilometres from our existing Davyhurst processing infrastructure, with the potential for rapid resource development.

Today’s Round Dam results are another highlight in the company’s ongoing $73 million FY26 exploration strategy to target projects with the potential to become mines in short order supporting the company’s organic growth strategy.

Despite now sinking a painful 29.8% since Thursday’s close, Ora Banda shares remain up 85.2% since hitting one-year closing lows on 1 August.

The post Tumbling gold price pressuring Ora Banda shares despite new high-grade results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX 200 gold stock crashing 15% today?
• Why Brainchip, Galan Lithium, Iluka, and Ora Banda shares are tumbling today
• Why I think ASX 200 gold shares like Newmont and Northern Star will keep surging higher in 2026
• Up 154% since August, Ora Banda shares jumping again today on ‘exciting’ gold results

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

ASX growth shares that are delivering rapid progress in their revenue and profit can be really attractive investments.

Compounding is a very powerful force and helps a business grow into a much larger company after a few years.

I’m going to look at two ASX growth shares that are expected to grow their earnings and are rated as buys by broker UBS.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

This company is the owner of realestate.com.au, Australia’s leading property portal. It also owns a number of other Australian property-related businesses and a few international businesses, including REA India.

UBS rates REA Group as a buy with a price target of $248. A price target is where analysts think the share price will be in 12 months from the time of the investment call. That means the broker reckons the REA Group share price could climb by around 30% in the next year.

The broker said that in 2026, investors will be seeking clarity around potential long-term impacts of AI on the broader industry and its pricing power. There is also wider uncertainty impacting volumes, with inflation remaining sticky and expectations around potential rate hikes in Australia.

UBS says it sees an economic moat in the ASX growth share’s customer experience, brand, uniqueness of product and complexity of the ecosystem. The broker thinks there is potential for the negative AI narrative to unwind over this year.

The broker also indicated that current global developments (such as Zillow partnering with OpenAI), suggest a “supportive environment where AI platforms are partnering with established players, rather than looking to displace”.

UBS thinks the company can extract strong yield growth (price increases) in 2026 and this could alleviate some market concerns. The broker also suggested that potential rate hikes could lead to more distressed selling by some property owners, which may help volumes. Currently, the broker is expecting a slight decline of volumes (1.5%) in FY26.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Nextdc is a leading data centre developer and provider, with locations in a number of cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin, Port Hedland, Sunshine Coast, Tokyo , Kuala Lumpur and Auckland.

The business is rated as a buy by UBS, with a price target of $22.55. That suggests a possible rise of close to 70% over the next year.

UBS has noted that in the first six months of FY26, it contracted approximately the same level of MW (167MW) as the prior four years cumulatively and also more than doubled the record contracted MW in FY25 (72MW).

The broker estimated that 94MW of uncontracted capacity exists within existing assets in NSW and Victoria, meaning there’s more room for large-scale contracts.

UBS suggested one of the reasons why the market is uncertain about the ASX growth share at the moment is its balance sheet capacity. The broker forecasts net debt could peak at $5.5 billion in FY28, compared to its facility for $6.4 billion.

The broker estimates that around 60MW could be built and fitted with the current debt facility.

UBS noted that its price target is based on its existing operations as well as the developed application-approved land bank.

The post Experts rate these 2 ASX growth shares as buys this month! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why these beaten-down ASX shares are worth a second look
• Why buy and hold investing with ASX shares could make you rich
• Eight stocks to buy in the bruised tech sector according to RBC
• Is AI a real threat to CAR Group and REA Group shares?
• The incredible ASX stock I’d hold for 10 years without watching the share price

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

Shares in KMD Brands Ltd (ASX: KMD) were trading higher after the company posted a sizeable increase in sales for the first half of the year.

In a statement to the ASX on Monday morning, the company said that sales at its Rip Curl stores were up 5.6% for the five months to December 25 compared with the same period the previous year, and were up 12.9% across its Kathmandu stores.

Sales of its Oboz footwear line were up 4.5% for the period.

Its total group sales were 7.9% higher for the first five months of the year.

Outlook positive

The company went on to say:

Group wholesale sales for the five months of FY26 year-to-date are 9.4% above last year. Forward wholesale order books remain stable and slightly above last year. In-season buying from key accounts has also been positive.  

The company said its group gross margin year to date was 56.7%, which was about 100 basis points below the same period last year due to the increased amount of promotional activity, “and continued focus by all brands to optimise mix and sell through aged inventory”.

KMD Brands Managing Director Brent Scrimshaw said the company was performing well.

We are pleased with the group’s early progress in the execution of its Next Level transformation strategy, in particular trading over the critical Black Friday and Christmas periods. Whilst we are still at the early stages of our transformation, we are encouraged by the improved performance of Kathmandu, with an adjusted flow of fresh innovation planned in the second half which we believe will strengthen our ability to expand gross margin over time. We continue to focus on optimising the balance between sales and gross margin while actively managing our inventory investment.

The company said that it expected first half underlying EBITDA to be in the range of $8 to $11 million, up from $3.9 million for the same period last year.

RBC Capital Markets said the market update was neutral for the company’s shares, with the sales growth figures “tracking ahead of expectations across all segments, but “with consensus expectations currently at the top-end of KMD’s EBITDA guidance we expect operating expenses are currently tracking ahead of expectations”.

KMD shares were 6.3% higher at 25.5 cents in early trade before settling back to be steady at 24 cents.

The company was valued at $160.1 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post This retailer has posted a strong increase in sales across the first half appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Endeavour shares
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2028 for Woodside shares
• BlueScope shares slipping as new CEO backs rejection of $13.2 billion takeover offer
• Rio Tinto shares fall despite big acquisition news
• EOS shares tumble on European listing update

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.

Wondering which popular ASX shares to buy, hold, or sell? Let’s take a look at what analysts are saying about three popular options, courtesy of The Bull.

Here’s what they are recommending to their clients:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

This mining giant’s shares could be fully valued now following a strong run according to analysts at Morgans. As a result, the broker has put a hold rating on the Big Australian.

It thinks that investors should hold onto BHP’s shares for the income but wait for a better entry point before increasing positions. The broker explains:

BHP remains a high quality diversified miner. The stock has performed well, with the price increasing from $34.16 on April 9, 2025 to trade at $51.39 on January 29, 2026. While capital discipline and dividend yield remain attractive, there isn’t a compelling catalyst to add to portfolios at current levels, in our view. We suggest investors retain exposure for income and longer term portfolio balance, and wait for a potentially better entry point before increasing weight.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Morgans thinks the risk-reward on offer with this biopharmaceutical giant’s shares is attractive at current levels. As a result, it has named CSL shares as a buy.

The broker highlights that its current valuation is notably lower than long-term averages, which bodes well for buyers. It said:

This biopharmaceutical giant offers a stronger risk/reward profile after a period of share price underperformance. Plasma collections are rising, costs are normalising and earnings momentum is improving. Recovery at CSL Behring, a blood products division, remains on track and the influenza vaccination division Seqirus continues to provide defensive earnings. The current valuation sits well below long term averages despite fundamental improvement. This sets up an attractive long term capital growth story. Catalysts for a share price re-rating include an earnings recovery and margin expansion.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The team at Capital Wealth is tipping this drinks giant as a hold this week.

It thinks that investors should keep their powder dry until it has released its updates in the coming months. It said:

Endeavour operates liquor outlets, hotels and gaming facilities. The company expects earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of between $555 million and $566 million before significant items of $45 million in the first half of fiscal year 2026. Preliminary unaudited retail EBIT of between $323 million and $328 million reflects margin pressure from discounting that lifted Dan Murphy’s and BWS sales by 0.7 per cent to $5.404 billion.

Hotel sales rose 4.4 per cent to $1.2 billion. Despite hotel strength and softer earnings, we continue to hold EDV pending its March and April updates as the company offers defensive attributes and could rebound on signs of successfully executing its strategy under new chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka.

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Endeavour shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Why buy and hold investing with ASX shares could make you rich
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, DroneShield, and Santos shares
• How to turn $250 a month into a $500,000 ASX share portfolio
• I think the market is wrong about CSL shares

Owning Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares can be a volatile ride because of the shifts in energy prices over the months and years as supply and demand shift.

It’s challenging to predict what’s going to happen next, but analysts can gain insights from certain factors (such as production) and forecast Woodside’s revenue and costs.

We’re going to look at what experts think of Woodside shares and the profit prospects in the next few years.

FY25

The 2025 financial year is already over for Woodside, but investors haven’t seen what the numbers are yet, so we’re going to look at what analysts think those numbers may be.

UBS is predicting that FY25 could see US$12.8 billion of revenue, US$3.95 billion of operating profit (EBIT) and US$2.2 billion of net profit. The balance sheet is projected to have reached US$7.3 billion of net debt at the end of 2025.

These final projections before the actual result’s release in February were in response to the 2025 fourth quarter production.

UBS noted that production was 4% better and revenue was 7% ahead of market expectations due to stronger oil production from both Mad Dog (US Gulf Coast) and Sangomar (Senegal).

The broker said that while Sangomar has started to decline from the fourth quarter of 2025, a beneficial one-off adjustment to Woodside’s share of production under the sharing contract with the Senegalese government saw higher quarter-over-quarter production net to Woodside.

After seeing the quarterly update, UBS increased its 2025 estimate for earnings per share (EPS) by 8%.

However, it was also noted that trading volumes in LNG were cut materially over the fourth quarter. The trading division is expected to see a trading loss of around $10 million in the second half of 2025 – trading volumes in LNG were swapped with longer trading volumes in oil, according to UBS.

The broker said that while the FY25 result is now substantially ‘de-risked’, it remains cautious for Woodside shares of a material forecast decline of FY26’s net profit and free cash flow.

FY26

Despite a strong 2025 fourth quarter of oil production, UBS said that new 2026 production for Woodside was 4% below the market’s expectations at the midpoint.

Production guidance (by product) points to weaker oil production in 2026 than the market expected (LNG production was in line).

UBS said it believes the key driver of the market’s view of an implied 13% cut to 2026 oil production guidance (which is forecast by the market to meet the midpoint of guidance) is a “faster decline rate at Sangomar followed by the natural field decline” in Australian oil assets.

It cut its 2026 (and onwards) EPS estimates due to a steeper decline in oil production, primarily from Sangomar and higher interest cost driven by higher capital expenditure during 2026 and higher tax.

The broker is forecasting that in 2026, Woodside could generate US$10.7 billion of revenue and US$1 billion of net profit.

FY27

UBS didn’t have much to say about the 2027 financial year projection and onwards, but it provided estimates.

In FY27, the broker forecasts that the business could generate revenue of US$11.2 billion and make net profit of US$1.58 billion, representing the start of a recovery from the low financial point in FY26.

FY28

The company’s financials could improve in FY28, according to UBS’ projections.

In the 2028 financial year, the broker forecasts the ASX energy share could make US$12 billion of revenue and net profit of US$1.98 billion.

UBS has a neutral rating on Woodside shares, with a price target of $23.10, suggesting a noticeable decline over the next year.

The post Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2028 for Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 3 ASX 200 shares I would buy in February
• ASX 200 energy shares lead the market as oil and uranium prices spike
• Buying ASX shares for passive income? Here’s how Woodside, Fortescue and CBA shares stack up
• Why ASX 200 energy stocks like Santos and Woodside shares are ending the week with a bang

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) shares are sliding today.

Shares in the $13 billion S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) industrial stock closed Friday trading for $30.24. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $29.91 apiece, down 1.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.6% at this same time as investors eye a potential RBA interest rate hike tomorrow.

That’s today’s price action for you.

Now here’s what’s happening with the company’s top management.

BlueScope shares under new management

BlueScope shares are slipping today after the company confirmed that Tania Archibald has today started in her new role as managing director and CEO.

The company first announced Archibald’s appointment to the top position on 5 November.

BlueScope gave a nod of appreciation to outgoing CEO Mark Vassella, who led the company for eight years. Over that time, the ASX 200 industrial stock returned $4.2 billion to shareholders and invested $3.7 billion in growth. BlueScope shares have also more than doubled in value over the past eight years.

A word from the new CEO

Commenting on her first day as CEO, Archibald said:

Our current $2 billion investment program is now entering the final phase. We’re poised to deliver strong cash flows. And I intend to capitalise on it for the benefit of shareholders. As the investment phase ramps down, the delivery phase ramps up.

Looking at what could impact BlueScope shares in the year ahead, she said the company’s portfolio is “well positioned”.

According to Archibald:

In the United States, steel demand remains robust and there is no better place in the world to make and sell steel. In Asia, BlueScope maintains a unique footprint across major growth economies, while in New Zealand the EAF has reset the operating model and cost base. In Australia, ongoing population growth is driving steel demand across all sectors including housing and infrastructure.

BlueScope shares not for sale ‘on the cheap’

Archibald also turned her attention to recently lobbed – and summarily rejected –takeover offer in joint proposal by SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and Steel Dynamics Inc (NASDAQ: STLD).

The nonbinding proposal, which valued BlueScope at $13.2 billion, was announced on 6 January.

Today, Archibald said:

The board rejected the proposal, and I supported that rejection. It very significantly undervalued this company. It sought to transfer value away from our shareholders by buying BlueScope on the cheap.

The board remains open to any proposal that genuinely reflects BlueScope’s fundamental value. But we are not sitting here waiting. We are getting on the front foot to accelerate the delivery of BlueScope’s value.

BlueScope shares closed up a sharp 20.8% on the day the takeover proposal was reported.

The post BlueScope shares slipping as new CEO backs rejection of $13.2 billion takeover offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BlueScope Steel: New CEO Tania Archibald sets out fresh value-focused agenda
• So BlueScope shares go to all-time high of $31. Big deal. What next?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why BHP, BlueScope, Catalyst Metals, and Ryman shares are storming higher today
• 5 ASX 200 mining stocks including Mineral Resources and BHP shares smashing new 52-week highs today

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Steel Dynamics. 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.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are on the slide on Monday morning.

At the time of writing, the mining giant’s shares are down 2% to $148.71.

Why are Rio Tinto shares falling?

Today’s move appears to have been driven by broad market weakness which has overshadowed news that the miner is increasing its aluminium exposure with an acquisition.

According to the release, Rio Tinto and Aluminum Corporation of China (Chalco) have entered into a definitive agreement with Votorantim.

This will see the two parties acquire, through a joint venture to be owned 33% by Rio Tinto and 67% by Chalco, Votorantim’s 68.596% controlling shareholding in Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio.

It notes that the transaction, at an all-cash consideration of R$10.50 per share, represents a premium of approximately 21.2% over the weighted average trading price of its stock for the 20 trading days prior to the signing of the transaction agreement.

It values Votorantim’s shareholding at approximately US$902.6 million (Rio Tinto’s pro-rata share is US$297.8 million), subject to closing adjustments and the other terms of the transaction agreement, including satisfaction of regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

But it won’t stop there. Following closing, the joint venture will launch a mandatory tender offer for the remaining shares in Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio not held by Votorantim, as required by Brazilian law.

Management notes that the transaction will leverage Rio Tinto and Chalco’s deep and complementary expertise across the aluminium value chain to unlock the next phase of growth at Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio.

What is Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio?

The release highlights that Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio is a vertically integrated low-carbon aluminium business in Brazil. It is supported by a 1.6 GW portfolio of renewable power generation assets, including 21 hydropower plants and wind power complexes.

The operation serves primarily the growing domestic market, with competitive low-carbon products and operations. It has three bauxite mines in production with current production of approximately 2 million tonnes of bauxite per annum, and an aluminium complex in Sao Paulo. The latter encompasses a 0.8 million tonnes capacity alumina refinery, an approximately 0.4 million tonnes capacity aluminium smelter, secondary recycling capacity of 0.3 million tonnes, and downstream processing facilities.

Rio Tinto’s Aluminium & Lithium chief executive, Jerome Pecresse, said:

This acquisition, jointly with Chalco, of Votorantim’s controlling position in CBA’s [Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio’s] fully integrated aluminium supply chain in Brazil is aligned with our strategy to deliver value for shareholders by extending our low-carbon, renewable-powered aluminium footprint in rapidly growing markets. It also provides the opportunity to grow our bauxite and alumina supply chain in the Atlantic region.

Our partnership with Chalco brings together our combined operational excellence, innovation and unique project execution capabilities, unlocking the potential to create value for the benefit of our shareholders, as well as CBA’s employees, customers and local communities.

The post Rio Tinto shares fall despite big acquisition news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX copper shares surge as commodity hits record high
• Why the $260 billion Glencore merger is a ‘high-stakes gamble’ for Rio Tinto shares
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, CBA, and Rio Tinto shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares are under pressure in early trade on Monday.

At the time of writing, the ASX defence stock is down 4% to $8.30.

Why are EOS shares falling?

Investors have been selling the company’s shares amid broader market weakness and uncertainty sparked by talk of a potential offshore shift by the defence technology company.

Before the market opened, EOS released an ASX statement responding to recent media articles that speculated the company could move its headquarters and stock market listing from Australia to Europe. This is in order to capitalise on rapidly rising defence spending across the region.

The response

This morning, EOS acknowledged that global demand for defence technology is expected to remain strong over the next five to ten years, particularly in Europe. The company said it is actively seeking to grow its presence in European markets and sees significant opportunity there as governments lift defence budgets in response to geopolitical tensions.

However, EOS was also careful to clarify that the board has made no unannounced decisions regarding a change in corporate headquarters or stock exchange listing. The company said there are currently no formal plans under consideration to delist from the ASX, and that any such decision would only be made after comprehensive assessment of the impact on shareholders, customers, employees, and other stakeholders.

Despite that reassurance, the market reaction suggests some investors are uneasy. The possibility of a future delisting, even if only theoretical at this stage, is often enough to unsettle parts of the shareholder base, particularly retail investors who value the certainty and liquidity of an ASX stock.

EOS has left the door open to change over time, noting that it regularly reviews ways to maximise shareholder value and optimise future growth. It said:

EOS regularly considers a wide range of factors that contribute to maximising shareholder value. EOS will continue to consider ways to optimise future growth prospects, including in Europe, during 2026 and beyond. This may lead to changes in EOS’ market presence, production facilities, equity listing, headquarters, operating locations, business portfolio and/or other aspects of the EOS business in the future. EOS will continue to assess potential growth opportunities and the best way to realise these, and will keep the market informed as any changes arise.

What now?

From a fundamental perspective, this update does not change the company’s near-term outlook.

EOS continues to see strong demand across Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia, although it cautioned that not all opportunities will necessarily convert into firm orders.

But, investors value certainty, and a potential delisting could weigh on EOS shares in the near term.

The post EOS shares tumble on European listing update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What is driving today’s sell-off in ASX defence tech stocks?
• Buy local: 3 Australian innovations to add to your watch list
• 3 ASX stocks every Aussie investor should consider in 2026
• Broker says these ASX defence stocks are investment weapons
• This ASX defence stock is down 10% in a week. Is the next leg higher already lining up?

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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

Today, Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) announced major leadership changes. Specifically, founder and managing director Jamie Pherous will retire, and Ana Pedersen has been appointed Acting Group CEO. This leadership change comes as the company works to resolve accounting matters and seeks to have its shares reinstated for trading on the ASX.

What did Corporate Travel Management report?

• Jamie Pherous retires as Managing Director, transitions to strategic advisor for six months
• Ana Pedersen, previously Chief Commercial Officer, appointed as Acting Group CEO
• Search process underway for permanent Group CEO, considering internal and external candidates
• Appointment of John Snyder (ex-BCD Travel CEO) as Special Advisor to assist during leadership transition
• Ongoing suspension of CTM shares pending finalisation of accounting matters and FY25 accounts

What else do investors need to know?

The board says the leadership change aims to “accelerate the transition to a refreshed corporate structure” that meets stakeholder expectations. Ms Pedersen, who joined CTM in October 2024, brings more than 20 years of global corporate travel and technology experience, including senior roles with BCD Travel and HRS Group.

The company remains committed to strengthening its governance and internal controls. John Snyder’s appointment as Special Advisor is expected to provide additional global expertise during this period of change.

What did Corporate Travel Management management say?

Acting Group CEO Ana Pedersen said:

Stepping into the role, my immediate priorities are to bring clarity and confidence as we work toward CTM’s shares being reinstated for trading on the ASX. This means finalising our accounting matters with integrity and certainty, and, in partnership with the Board, strengthening governance and controls. At the same time, we remain laser-focused on client delivery, which continues uninterrupted, and on supporting our people, who are critical to our success.

What’s next for Corporate Travel Management?

Ms Pedersen will lead the company through a period of transition, focusing on resolving accounting matters, supporting the board’s governance initiatives, and ensuring stable operations. The board will continue its search for a new permanent Group CEO, evaluating both internal and external candidates.

Meanwhile, client service and support of CTM’s people remain central priorities. Management says the company’s long-term future will be built on strengthening governance, operational excellence and sustainable growth.

View Original Announcement

The post Corporate Travel Management announces major leadership changes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• GrainCorp shares: FY26 earnings guidance forecasts lower profits
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 3 ASX 200 shares I would buy in February
• ASX 200 energy shares lead the market as oil and uranium prices spike
• These were the worst-performing ASX 200 shares in January

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

If we’re going to invest in ASX shares to generate returns, then we may as well try to invest in the ones with the best outlook.

Smaller businesses normally have much better growth potential than larger ones because they are earlier in their growth journey.

It’s much easier for a business to grow from $1 billion to $2 billion, than it is to go from $10 billion to $20 billion.

The two investments below are ones I think can scale significantly from where they are today, and I’d happily put $2,000 into them.

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

Siteminder is a leading ASX technology share that provides software to hotels for their operations and maximising revenue through hotel bookings.

The business has won subscribers from across the world, with a recent focus on larger hotels.

Impressively, the company has a goal of organic annual revenue growth of 30% in the medium-term. It’s winning new subscribers and offering a number of modules that can help give hotels data to decide on room prices, or automate it for them.

Maximising revenue and room occupancy is a key factor for the success of a hotel, so Siteminder’s service can be integral for the long-term.

As a software business, I’m expecting the company to deliver rising profit margins thanks to operating leverage and how costs may only grow at a relatively slow pace, enabling operating profit (EBITDA) and cash flow to soar in the coming years.

I think it’s one of the most promising ASX share investments around.

VanEck MSCI International Small Cos Quality ETF (ASX: QSML)

This is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that gives investors exposure to a global portfolio of some of the most promising small-cap shares.

It aims to own 150 of the world’s highest-quality small companies, based on three key fundamentals.

First, a high return on equity (ROE). Second, earnings stability. Third, low financial leverage. Businesses that make high levels of profit, with earnings don’t go backwards and that have low levels of debt are appealing investments.

Noting the great investment performance of small caps, VanEck, the provider of the ETF, says:

Investments focusing on quality small companies have delivered outperformance over the long term relative to other global small companies benchmarks and also relative to large- and mid-cap benchmarks.

Some of the businesses in this portfolio could become tomorrow’s blue-chips as they grow and reach their potential.

Pleasingly, the QSML ETF has solid diversification across both sectors and countries, so it has lower risks than if its portfolio was focused on one industry.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but the fund has delivered an average return per year of 17.1% over the prior three years. I think this fund can continue to deliver impressive double-digit returns over the long-term thanks to its quality-focused construction strategy.

The post 2 incredible ASX shares I’d buy with $2,000 right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 no-brainer ASX shares to consider buying now with just $100
• 3 VanEck ETFs on the ASX I rate as buys
• This is a great place to invest $1,000 into ASX shares right now
• Why the small-cap renaissance is only just beginning: Expert
• 2 magnificent ASX tech stocks to buy in 2026

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