The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed up 1.1% in the month just past, with Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares trailing those gains while Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares just edged out the benchmark index.

Closing on 31 August trading for $24.04 apiece, Coles shares slipped 0.2% over the month.

Woolworths shares went the other way, gaining 1.4% to close the month at $40.31 each.

Both of the ASX 200 supermarket giants reported their full year FY 2026 results in August.

Here’s what’s been happening.

Woolworths shares march higher in August

Woolworths shares were in focus on 26 August following the release of the company’s FY 2026 results.

The company achieved solid growth over the year, with sales of $71.54 billion up 3.6% from FY 2025. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) (before significant items) increased by 6.7% year on year to $6.09 billion.

And on the bottom line, Woolworths reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.60 billion, up 15.4% (before significant items).

Passive income investors were rewarded with a 15.6% increase in the final fully franked Woolworths dividend, which came out to 52 cents per share.

“Sales momentum together with strong productivity and cost discipline has delivered solid EBIT growth with an increased contribution from all trading segments,” Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell said.

Woolworths shares closed up 3.4% on the day of the results release.

Coles shares jump on results, slip over the month

Coles released its own FY 2026 results on 25 August.

Over the 12 months, Coles reported sales revenue of $45.58 billion, up a 2.8% year-on-year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $2.32 billion were up 9.9% (excluding significant items).

On the bottom line, Coles NPAT came out to $1.26 billion (excluding significant items) up 13.7% from FY 2025.

Coles declare a 37-cent per share fully-franked final dividend, up 15% from the prior final dividend payout.

If you want to bank the final Coles dividend, there’s still time. But not much!

To grab that passive income, you’ll need to own shares at market close today. Coles shares trade ex-dividend on 3 September.

Coles shares closed up 4.9% on the day of the results release.

How have the ASX 200 supermarkets been tracking in 2026?

In morning trade today Coles shares are changing hands for $23.74 apiece, up 11.3% year to date.

Woolworths shares are trading for $39.36 each, up 33.7% in 2026.

The post Coles versus Woolworth shares: Which ASX supermarket giant outperformed in August? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 12%: Is there still value in Coles shares?

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.

The team at Shaw and Partners have used the recent reporting season as an opportunity to have another look at some of the companies they cover, with two in particular standing out as presenting some possible large upside.

Let’s have a look at the companies they like.

Beamtree Holdings Ltd (ASX: BMT)

Beamtree is a healthcare technology company which, in its own words, “applies deep clinical, coding and data expertise combined with AI to help hospitals and pathology labs improve clinical quality, coding accuracy, and reimbursement outcomes”.

The company said in a recent shareholder update that it had undertaken a strategic review which led to it refining its product mix, reshaping its cost base and strengthening its executive team.

The company added:

Going forward, we are focusing our investment on the products with strongest customer resonance, margin potential and capacity for innovation, namely our market leading Diagnostics product (Rippledown), our Coding solutions (PICQ and PICQ Audit, RISQ) and our Analytics platform. This year we are launching our Autonomous Coding Solutions (ACS) product and our Autonomous Data Entry (ADE) product with selected customers.

Shaw and Partners in its research note on the company said the company’s full year result of $29.2 million in revenue and negative EBITDA of $3.5 million was broadly as expected.

The broker said the business had a solid foundation to grow from, with execution now the key.

They have reduced their price target on the company from 30 cents to 25 cents, however this is still well above the current level of 10 cents.

NobleOak Life Ltd (ASX: NOL)

This small cap life insurance provider delivered a net profit of $14.1 million in FY26, up 98% while its in-force premiums grew 18% to $549.2 million.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Anthony Brown said it was a good year, with the company achieving strong market share gains.

He added:

We are executing our growth strategy and during the year launched new partnerships and products including a new alliance with nib, one of Australia’s largest private health insurers, which is delivering encouraging early results and is expected to accelerate in FY27. Disciplined underwriting, ongoing investment in technology and AI, and a relentless focus on our customer continue to underpin our performance. As we transition from a Friendly Society to a Life Company, we are well positioned and well capitalised to deliver our next growth phase.

Shaw and Partners said NobleOak beat its guidance for both in-force premiums and underlying net profit.

The broker has a price target of $3 on the shares, compared to $1.23 currently.

The post 2 ASX small caps which could rise 140% to %150 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Beamtree. 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.

September could be a good time to look at where your portfolio is heading.

Not just next week or next month, but over the next five to ten years.

ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be a good way to invest in long-term themes, quality companies, and entire sections of the market without having to pick every individual winner.

With that in mind, here are three fantastic ASX ETFs that could be worth a look in September.

Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI)

The Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF could be an ASX ETF to consider for investors wanting exposure to the AI boom.

This fund gives investors access to companies involved in artificial intelligence and the technology that supports it.

That can include businesses linked to chips, cloud computing, software, automation, data infrastructure, and other parts of the AI ecosystem.

Another positive with the ETF is that it does not require investors to make a single call on which AI company will dominate.

That is important because the AI opportunity is large, but it is also moving quickly. Some winners today may not be the winners of tomorrow.

The Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF gives investors a way to back the broader theme while spreading the risk across a basket of companies.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

The VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF takes a very different approach.

Rather than focusing on one fast-moving theme, this ASX ETF looks for international companies with quality characteristics.

That means businesses with strong profitability, healthy balance sheets, and stable earnings. This could be a smart way to invest globally.

The world is full of companies, but not all of them are worth owning. Some are highly cyclical, some carry too much debt, and some struggle to grow consistently. The VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF tries to tilt investors toward the stronger names.

This could make it a strong long-term holding for investors who want global exposure with a quality filter.

Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

A third ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to Australian technology stocks.

The local tech sector is much smaller than the US market, but that does not mean it should be ignored.

Australia has produced some impressive technology businesses across software, online marketplaces, payments, data, and digital services.

The Betashares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF gives investors a way to gain exposure to this part of the ASX without needing to choose one company.

It can be volatile, especially when growth shares fall out of favour.

But if more of the Australian economy keeps shifting online and local technology companies continue expanding offshore, this ETF could have plenty of long-term potential.

The post 3 fantastic ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Want to invest in AI shares? Here’s how to do it on the ASX
• 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade
• 3 growth focussed ASX ETFs that could beat the market in FY27
• 3 super ASX ETFs for beginner investors
• 2 amazing ASX ETFs I’d buy and hold for the next decade

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.