Google is offering UK-based staff a voluntary exit package.
The company confirmed it was offering the package to "support our important work ahead."
It has made similar offers to several US divisions this year, often framed around AI priorities.
Google is offering voluntary buyouts for employees in its UK offices, Business Insider has learned.
An email went out to UK staff this week offering them a voluntary exit package, according to two people familiar with the matter and confirmed by a Google spokesperson.
It's unclear which UK organizations the offers went to, or how many buyouts were offered. Google did not respond when asked for comment about this.
"Earlier this year, some of our US teams introduced a voluntary exit programme with severance for U.S.-based Googlers, and we are now also offering the programme in the UK to support our important work ahead," the Google spokesperson said.
"We are committed to investment in the UK and continue to hire for critical roles and important projects aligned with our company priorities to ensure we can deliver on the opportunity that AI offers the UK economy," they added.
The voluntary buyouts are the latest example of Big Tech firms finding ways to reduce head count this year to become more efficient, flatten management structures, and lean into AI. Companies such as Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft have announced layoffs, while Microsoft has also offered some employees money to leave.
The exact package being offered by Google in the UK would depend on how long the employee had worked at the company, staff were told. Google employs more than 7,000 people in the UK, according to its own figures.
Google has offered voluntary buyouts across various parts of its US business this year, including its Android and Core engineering orgs. Much of the framing of these has been about how Google is reorienting its company around AI, and that it wants employees who aren't excited about that goal to feel like they can leave.
In October, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan offered employees a voluntary exit package as part of a reorganization around AI priorities, according to a memo seen by Business Insider.
"It's an incredibly exciting time at YouTube and many opportunities and challenges lie ahead. But we also understand some of you may be ready for a new challenge, so we've decided now is the right time to offer a Voluntary Exit Program," Mohan wrote.
It's been a lifelong goal for the 23-year-old, who began competing in pageants when she was a child.
"The moment Nebraska was called as Miss USA 2025, that's when I said to myself, 'Here we go, my life has changed,'" Eckert told Business Insider after she was crowned on October 24. "I knew I was going to be ready to hit the ground running."
Eckert will find out if her dream has come true at the 74th annual Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on Friday morning. Due to the time difference, the pageant will stream on Peacock in the US on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
Here's how Eckert made it to the Miss Universe stage.
Audrey Eckert began competing in pageants when she was 9 years old.
Courtesy of Miss USA
Eckert told Business Insider that she began competing after she received a letter in the mail inviting her to participate in a local pageant.
"My mom and I wanted to do it. We were excited, but we had no clue what we were doing," she recalled with a laugh. "My first evening gown didn't even touch the floor."
Eckert said pageantry changed the "trajectory of my life." That's why she's hoping to break the "Toddlers and Tiaras" image often associated with young pageant queens.
"I think it's extremely important to break that perception, and I think social media is helping us do that," she said. "If we can show, as titleholders, the positive impacts we're having on our community, the events we're attending, the hard work we're putting in behind the scenes, I think it helps break down those stereotypes."
Eckert placed in the top five at Miss Teen USA in 2020.
Courtesy of Miss Universe
Eckert won Miss Nebraska Teen in 2020 and placed third runner-up at the Miss Teen USA competition that year.
"I was over the moon excited," Eckert recalled. "That kind of peeled back a layer and showed me I could really do this, I could be Miss USA someday, which has always been the biggest goal."
The pageant queen has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Courtesy of Miss USA
Eckert was also an NCAA Division I athlete and captain of the Husker Cheer Squad, receiving awards from the Big Ten Conference for her academic achievements and community service.
"I always said growing up that I had two sports — one being pageants and the other being cheerleading," Eckert told Business Insider.
Eckert is now a competitive cheer coach, working with hundreds of athletes every week.
She works for a human-rights fashion brand.
Courtesy of Miss Universe
Eckert is the social media and marketing coordinator for Sapahn, a company that sells leather handbags made in Thailand.
The pageant queen told Business Insider she was excited to visit Thailand for Miss Universe and "really immerse myself in the culture that I've heard about for the last year and a half."
"I've been communicating and working with women in Thailand, but I've never actually been," she added. "That is what I'm most excited for."
Eckert is following in Sarah Rose Summers' footsteps. The fellow Miss Nebraska won Miss USA in 2018 before competing at Miss Universe in Thailand that year. Though she didn't win Miss Universe, nine other Miss USAs have claimed the title in the pageant's history.
Eckert decided to enter Miss Nebraska 2025 just five weeks before the competition.
Miss USA host Emmanuel Acho asks Miss Nebraska her personality question during Miss USA 2025.
RezaMedia Nation
The Miss USA pageant has had a tumultuous few years, dealing with allegations of rigging, accusations of bullying against former CEO Laylah Rose, and the resignations of Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA 2023 UmaSofia Srivastava in May 2024. For most of this year, no one seemed to know when — or if — the Miss USA 2025 pageant would take place.
Eckert said she wasn't sure of the "ins and outs that were happening" within the organization, but she didn't want to put her goals on hold.
"I decided to go for it because it has always been my dream to be Miss Nebraska and Miss USA," she said. "I wasn't going to let the current state of anything hinder that. It was time to start going for it."
"In my class of women at the 2025 Miss USA pageant, we were so excited for this new administration," she added. "The moment the new leadership took over, we all felt better."
Eckert competed in the most diverse Miss USA in the competition's 74-year history.
Eckert during the swimsuit competition at the Miss USA finals.
Reza Venegas
This was the first year that Miss USA had a top 20 with women over the age of 28 since they became eligible to compete in 2024. The top five included Miss Nevada Mary Sickler, the first woman with a public alopecia diagnosis to compete at Miss USA, and Miss Oregon Chantea McIntyre, the first mother to ever place in the pageant.
"It was so incredible to see so many women from all walks of life," Eckert said. "We're at very different stages in our lives, but we were all there for one common goal, and that was to bring back the power of pageantry and compete for the title of Miss USA."
"Knowing that there is a place for everyone in pageantry is really special," she added.
After she won Miss USA, Eckert headed straight to Los Angeles for a week of Miss Universe preparation.
Miss USA 2025 Audrey Eckert was crowned by Miss Universe 2024.
Reza Venegas
"We're getting my wardrobe ready, we're getting my styling ready, but we're also taking time for me to relax and try to rejuvenate so that I can be my best self in Thailand," Eckert told Business Insider two days before she boarded a flight for Bangkok.
Despite the quick turnaround, Eckert said she felt ready for her first global beauty pageant.
"When I was preparing for Miss USA, I always knew in the back of my head that I could be going to Miss Universe shortly," Eckert said. "So I was already working to achieve that level of stage presence."
And Eckert has a pre-competition superstition that she'll be following at Miss Universe.
Courtesy of Miss Universe
Before every big interview, Eckert tries to eat a banana. It's a tradition that began when she first started competing in pageants as a child.
"My mom and dad would always say that I had to eat something before going into the interview room, and nothing sounded good, so I would eat a banana," Eckert told Business Insider, adding that it became a good luck ritual she "continued to carry for every single pageant."
"So when I get to Thailand, I'm definitely going to have to try to find a banana the morning before my interview," she said.
After Miss Universe, Eckert hopes to inspire more American women to join the world of pageants.
Michael Franco
"One of my goals as Miss USA is to get more people involved, to get more people excited about pageantry, and get more people competing at the state level," Eckert told Business Insider. "Miss USA has changed my life, and I would love for more women to experience that."
I often love Ina Garten's easy, flavorful recipes, so I gave her buttermilk mashed potatoes a try.
The buttermilk made this dish more flavorful than other mashed-potato recipes I've followed.
From now on, I plan on making this recipe every time I host Thanksgiving or a dinner party.
Whether you're a traditionalist or you like to change up your holiday menu every year like me, your Thanksgiving table is probably incomplete without a big bowl of piping-hot mashed potatoes.
That said, there's nothing worse than digging into a pile of fluffy potatoes, only to discover that they're bland or dry.
Although there are dozens of ways to dress up spuds with mix-ins like cheese, sour cream, and extra butter, kitchen queen Ina Garten has a wonderfully simple recipe that I had to try.
I'm so glad I did. Not only is Garten's recipe short and sweet, but the results are flavor-packed, ultra-creamy, and something you'll find in every future holiday spread in my house.
Here's how to make them.
The ingredient list is short and simple.
caption
Lizzy Briskin
You only need six ingredients for this holiday side dish: kosher salt, potatoes, whole milk, unsalted butter, buttermilk, and black pepper.
Garten recommends using a potato that's easy to boil, such as Yukon Gold. Russets would work well, too: Compared to other potatoes, these varieties contain more starch, which breaks down when mashed into a light and fluffy texture.
Yukons are my personal preference, since I've found them to be slightly creamier.
The potatoes took me less than 10 minutes to prep.
captiontk
Lizzy Briskin
Once I collected my ingredients — and set a big pot of well-salted water to boil on the stove — I started on the prep work.
The first step here is peeling the potatoes, but don't worry about doing a perfect job.
I've found that, as long as the spuds are clean, a few pieces of potato skin in the mix won't really change the dish's quality. You may even like to leave some skin on for extra texture.
The potatoes should then be cut into roughly equal-sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
Garten recommends 1 ½-inch cubes, but it's OK if you're not too super precise since everything will be mashed together later.
Cook the potatoes, and don't let them get gummy.
I cooked the potatoes for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Lizzy Briskin
Once the water reached a boil on the stove, I added the prepped potatoes to the pot and reduced the heat to maintain a gentle simmer with the lid off.
An important part of the recipe is to avoid boiling the potatoes, which can cause them to become gummy. Instead, keep the water at a nice simmer until you can easily pierce the spuds with a paring knife. This took me between 10 to 15 minutes.
When they're done, drain the potatoes in the sink and return them to the pot to finish the dish.
While the potatoes simmered, I warmed the butter and milk.
caption
Lizzy Briskin
A mixture of melted butter and whole milk infuses the cooked potatoes with rich, creamy flavor and texture.
A key step in Garten's recipe is to warm the two ingredients in a small saucepan while the potatoes cook. The butter will melt into the milk, causing an emulsion.
Dry spuds absorb hot liquids better than cold, and they're easier to combine with no cold lumps of butter.
Don't let the mixture come to a boil, which can cause the milk to separate from the butter.
Then, I mashed the potatoes.
caption
Lizzy Briskin
When the potatoes are done cooking, strain the water out over the sink and return them to the pot. It's time to mash them.
Garten's calls for using a food mill to break down the potatoes, but I live in a New York City apartment with barely enough room to store a pot big enough for this recipe — so, I used a good old-fashioned potato masher.
Once I'd crushed the potatoes into a mostly uniform mush, I added the warm butter and incorporated it with a rubber spatula, per Garten's instructions.
I added just enough buttermilk for a super creamy mash.
caption
Lizzy Briskin
Once you've folded the butter and milk into the potatoes, it's time for the star ingredient: buttermilk.
This ingredient truly sets Garten's recipe above others I've tried. Buttermilk is rich and tangy. It adds a slight tinge of acid that potatoes (which, let's be honest, can be a bit "blah" if not properly seasoned) need.
I halved Garten's recipe, which typically feeds five or six, and decided to add a half cup of buttermilk. At first, I was worried I'd overdone it — my mash looked soupy.
After a little more stirring and time, though, the starchy potatoes absorbed the buttermilk, and I had myself an incredibly light and fluffy mash.
The seasoning — and the buttermilk — made Garten's recipe stand out from the rest.
caption
Lizzy Briskin
Adding the right amount of salt and pepper is essential for any dish, but mashed potatoes are often tragically overlooked in the seasoning department.
Garten recommends adding another 2 teaspoons each of salt and pepper to the mash for the full recipe, and I agree wholeheartedly.
The result is a rich, tangy, and flavorful side dish you don't need to wait for a holiday to make. I'll be bringing these potatoes to Thanksgiving dinner this year and for the foreseeable future.
In my opinion — and perhaps Garten would agree — the typical Thanksgiving menu could use some tangy, acidic additions, and these potatoes are the perfect way to sneak in extra flavor without angering the purists.
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Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
After a four-year touring hiatus, Bon Jovi is officially returning to the stage with their highly anticipated 2026 Forever Tour. The iconic New Jersey rock band will reunite with front man Jon Bon Jovi, who's making a major comeback following vocal cord surgery in 2022 — a procedure he once described as nearly career-ending. During their previous tour, the singer faced heavy criticism over his vocal struggles; however, now fans have reason to celebrate. With renewed energy and a full slate of live shows ahead, Bon Jovi is ready to hit the road again. Below, we've outlined where to buy Bon Jovi tickets, key tour dates, and tips for scoring seats to one of the year's biggest rock events.
The “Forever (Legendary Edition)” collaboration album was released on October 24 and featured the band teaming up with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jelly Roll, and Avril Lavigne to rework songs from their original 2024 album.
Following the extremely high demand to see the band live, four additional shows have been added to the original residency's schedule, resulting in a nine-show run at Madison Square Garden this July. Afterward, the band will hop across the pond to perform three more concerts in Edinburgh, Dublin, and London.
If you’re looking to catch Bon Jovi’s monumental return to the stage for the coming Forever tour, we’ve got you covered. We’ve broken down everything Forever, including the tour schedule, purchasing details, and price comparisons between original and resale tickets. You can also look at ticket details at your leisure on StubHub and Vivid Seats.
Bon Jovi’s tour will kick off with an extended nine-show residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Following this, the band will head overseas for three shows in Edinburgh, Dublin, and London. The current schedule is set to conclude on September 4.
How to buy tickets for Bon Jovi’s 2026 concert tour
Tickets are available from verified resale vendors such as StubHub and Vivid Seats. As tickets have just gone on sale and demand is high, you may find more favorable seating and pricing options from these sites. We recommend reviewing all available options for the date and location you wish to attend before making your purchase.
How much are Bon Jovi tickets?
Prices vary for Bon Jovi’s upcoming Forever tour depending on the date, location, and demand for each show. On Ticketmaster, original standard tickets, particularly for the New York residency, are in incredibly high demand, with remaining options ranging in the high hundreds to over $1,000 for some premium seating options. In general, the high prices seem to be a result of most affordable seating options having already sold out during the current ongoing presale.
Vivid Seats and StubHub, on the other hand, currently offer a wider variety of seating and pricing options, providing more affordable choices overall for those looking to attend the shows on a budget. Both sites have affordable options ranging from $237 to around $300 for the New York performances. Please note that, as of the time of writing, the July 19 New York show, which was most recently announced, has not yet gone on sale. International shows are more affordable on StubHub, starting at £151 for both UK performances, with Vivid Seats offering prices starting at $394. Generally, Vivid Seats tends to offer more limited options for international performances, whereas StubHub often provides a wider variety. The Dublin show is presently not available on either platform.
There are several VIP packages being offered on Ticketmaster for Bon Jovi’s upcoming Forever tour. Full details of all four packages, the “Legendary” Front Row & Side Stage VIP experience, “Forever” VIP experience, Premium Superfan VIP fan package, and Superfan VIP fan package, can be viewed on Ticketmaster. All packages include premium tickets as well as various perks such as signed merchandise, dedicated VIP staff, VIP lounge access, exclusive gifts, and early entry. Ticketmaster also has limited quantities of VIP packages that include hotel stays as well. We were able to find one Superfan VIP fan package ticket for the July 9 show listed on Ticketmaster for $686 (at the time of writing); however, other shows appear to have no options remaining.
Who is opening for Bon Jovi’s tour?
Openers for the coming Forever tour have not yet been officially announced. In the past, Bon Jovi has regularly supported other artists, including local ones, as openers for their concert tours. Previous years have seen One Republic, Skid Row, Cinderella, Van Halen, Queensrÿche, Daughtry, Kid Rock, and Nickelback support Bon Jovi onstage. With the tour set to start next July, it is expected that more information will become available as the kick-off grows closer.
Will there be international tour dates?
The Forever tour will include a five-show residency in New York, followed by three international performances in Edinburgh, Dublin, and London.
Does Bon Jovi still tour?
Bon Jovi’s tour, the Forever tour, is the first in four years and is set to kick off in July 2026. The coming tour marks the first for Bon Jovi since lead singer Jon Bon Jovi underwent vocal cord surgery in 2022.
What songs will Bon Jovi perform in concert?
Since the Forever tour has yet to start, we can't say for certain what songs the band will perform as part of their setlist. Based on their last tour in 2022, here are some songs that might be included in the performance:
Wisetech shares closed 2.12% higher on Thursday afternoon, at $64.21 each. Over the past month the shares have dropped 22.62% and over the year they’re down a painful 53.63%.
The company provides logistics software that aims to improve the world’s supply chains. Wisetech has a good growth pipeline, and I think this year’s price plunge is the result of an overdone investor sell-off. Â
Analysts think the company’s share price will rebound too. Earlier this week, DP Wealth Advisory said it thinks the beaten-down tech stock as a buy. The broker said that long-term fundamentals and market leadership support a great buying opportunity for investors.
Bell Potter, Morgans, and Shaw and Partners’ Jed Richards also all have a buy rating on the stock.
TradingView data shows that analysts forecast a maximum price target as high as $177.97. At the time of writing that implies the ASX 200 tech share has a potential upside of 177.18% over the next 12 months.
Meanwhile, the Pro Medicus share price closed 1.07% higher at $253.04 a piece on Thursday afternoon. The shares have dropped 11.79% over the past month but are still 17.9% higher than this time last year.
Pro Medicus specialises in advanced medical imaging software through its Visage platform. It enables radiologists to review scans with high speed and efficiency. The company has a growing recurring revenue, great margins and a ultra-light capital business model too, which means it’s poised for strong growth.
Analysts are very positive on the stock too with Pro Medicus shares making a few list of top-buys or ASX growth share picks. The team at Citi recently upgraded Pro Medicus to a buy rating with a $350.00 price target. Morgans has also upgraded Pro Medicus’ shares to an accumulate rating with a slightly more bearish $290.00 price target. These price targets imply a potential 14.6% to 38.3% upside for investors over the next 12 months.
For investors looking for exposure to Australia’s hot property market without the risk, a real estate investment trust (REIT) with strong growth prospects is a sensible buy.
DigiCo’s share price closed 3.33% higher on Thursday afternoon, at $2.48 a piece. That’s a 12.06% drop over the month, and over the year, the shares are 50.4% lower thanks for a huge sell off in March.
On the surface the annual decline might look concerning, but I think it makes for a great buying opportunity. The company recently held a strong annual general meeting (AGM) and said it has surpassed guidance for FY25.
Macquarie thinks the low price presents a good buying opportunity, too. The broker has an outperform rating on the shares and a $4.16 target price. At the time of writing, that implies a potential 67.74% upside over the next 12 months.
Should you invest $1,000 in DigiCo Infrastructure REIT right now?
Before you buy DigiCo Infrastructure REIT shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and DigiCo Infrastructure REIT wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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 WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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.
On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back on form and raced higher. The benchmark index rose 1.25% to 8,552.7 points.
Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:
ASX 200 expected to sink
The Australian share market looks set to give back yesterday’s gains on Friday following a poor night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 134 points or 1.55% lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 0.45%, the S&P 500 is 1% lower, and the Nasdaq is tumbling 1.5%.
Oil prices fall
It could be a poor finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.5% to US$59.14 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.4% to US$63.27 a barrel. Ukraine-Russia peace talks appear to be behind this.
Annual general meetings
The annual general meetings continue on Friday with another group of ASX 200 shares holdings their events for 2025. This includes fashion jewellery retailer Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), logistics solutions technology company WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and gold miner Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL). It is possible that trading updates could be released before they hold their respective events.
Gold price falls
ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.35% to US$4,069 an ounce. The was driven by strong US economic data, which has reduced the likelihood of a rate cut next month.
Hold QBE shares
QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares are fairly valued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating and $21.20 price target on this insurance giant’s shares. It said: “We have not changed our assumptions and any change to our forecasts is driven by changing fx rates (we use spot rates as a forecast). We will review our forecasts post the Q3 update, noting the upside with the shares below $20/sh. For now, we maintain our target price at $21.20/sh and keep our HOLD recommendation.”
Should you invest $1,000 in Evolution Mining Limited right now?
Before you buy Evolution Mining Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Evolution Mining Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Lovisa and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed 1.24% higher on Thursday afternoon. It was a welcome reprieve for investors after this week’s sell-off. Over the past month the index is now down 5.96% and for the year it is 2.76% higher.
While the index rebounded yesterday, there are still some ASX 200 stocks I’m going to steer clear of next week.
It’s been a big week for the AI-drone operator. Yesterday, its shares closed 4.06% lower at $1.89 a piece. The latest decline marks a nearly 60% decline over the past month wiping a big chunk of the company’s impressive annual gains. Thankfully the shares are still trading nearly 160% higher than this time last year.
I still believe that the sharp sell-off of Droneshield shares is more about investor sentiment than a risk of overpricing or issues with the core business. The company also has robust growth plans ahead. But this week’s flurry of company announcements, I’m staying clear until the dust has settled.
In a short statement to the ASX on Wednesday morning, the company said Matt McCrann, who joined the company in 2019 and who had been the US CEO since 2022, “has resigned from the business, effective immediately”. There was no explanation for his departure.
The company also responded to an ASX Aware Letter this week. Droneshield was asked to explain recent share sales and the accidental release, and retraction, of a $7.6 million contract mistakenly announced as new.
The Helia share price closed 0.17% lower on Thursday afternoon, to $5.86. Over the past month the shares have climbed 5.59% and over the year they’re now an impressive 34.10% higher.Â
But, in a note to investors yesterday, analysts at Macquarie said they think the stock is about to start nosediving. The broker confirmed its underperform rating on Helia shares and reduced its target price to $3.95 per share. At the time of writing, this implies around 32% downside for investors over the next 12 months.Â
“While conditions are supportive near-term, at current valuations (~1.6x P/NTA), investors are both overpaying for the potential of capital returns, and have priced in favourable conditions indefinitely. Maintain Underperform,” the broker said.
New Hope finished 0.5% lower yesterday to close at $4.02. The shares have climbed 3.61% over the past month but it’s not enough to make up for the 15.19% slump over the year.Â
The latest decline follows the Australian thermal coal miner’s quarterly production and earnings update earlier this week. New Hope achieved a 7.1% increase in saleable coal production and a 15.5% rise in underlying EBITDA, with coal sales and prices also improving. But the results were lower than market expectations. Analysts weren’t pleased that the ASX 200 miner missed FY26 guidance.
Analysts overall seem divided about the stock. Ratings are split between buys, holds and strong sells and the average target price is $3.87, which represents nearly 4% downside for investors, according to Tradingview data at the time of writing.
Should you invest $1,000 in DroneShield Limited right now?
Before you buy DroneShield Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and DroneShield Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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 DroneShield. 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 S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) closed up a heady 1.26% on Thursday, with one ASX 300 stock racing ahead of those gains.
The fast-rising stock in question is agricultural chemical and seed technology company Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF).
Nufarm shares closed up 8.02% yesterday, trading for $2.56 apiece. This marked the second day of stellar gains for the ASX 300 stock, with Nufarm shares closing up 10.8% on Wednesday.
That big boost followed on Wednesday morning’s release of Nufarm’s full-year FY 2025 results. And it now sees Nufarm shares up 24.88% since 7 November’s closing bell.
Despite those strong gains, the Nufarm share price remains down 27.68% year to date.
But looking to the year ahead, the analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) expect further gains from the agricultural company.
Here’s why.
Macquarie lifts price target for ASX 300 stock
In FY 2025, Nufarm reported underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $302.5 million. While that was down 3% from FY 2024, investors were clearly pleased with the result following on a weak first-half (H1 FY 2025) report.
Nufarm’s Crop Protection segment performed strongly, with underlying EBITDA up 18% year on year. Earnings from the company’s Seed Technologies business, however, plunged 78%. That was driven by losses in Omega-3, impacted by a decline in fish oil prices.
Looking ahead, the ASX 300 stock expects to post earnings growth in FY 2026.
And the team at Macquarie believe that’s achievable.
The broker noted:
Positive FY26 outlook for strong EBITDA growth (we forecast 25% EBITDA growth to $377m). This includes ongoing solid growth in Crop Protection driven by + mix and stronger vols. Agchem prices showing some improvement off a low base and same for fish oil prices.
Nufarm’s management also said they expect earnings growth to see the company’s leverage come down to 2.0 gearing level by end of FY 2026.
Commenting on the Nufarm’s debt outlook, Macquarie said:
NUF sees path back to 2.0x gearing range in FY26 (2.7x in FY25) as passed peak capex (<$200m in FY26 or -c$50m vs pcp), less Omega 3 cash drag (not producing new crop in FY26 and selling out of existing inventory) and cost saves targeting $50m benefits. 1H26 net debt to increase seasonally back to 1H25 levels but with lower gearing (we fct 3.9x 1H26e vs 4.5x pcp) and then it’s all about delivery in key 2H26 period.
With this in mind, Macquarie maintained its neutral rating on the ASX 300 stock. But the broker did raise its 12-month price target to $2.77, up from the prior $2.55 a share.
That’s more than 8% above Thursday’s closing price.
Should you invest $1,000 in Nufarm Limited right now?
Before you buy Nufarm Limited shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Nufarm Limited wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
This is, in the grand scheme of the world, not a big deal. But to me, this is torture.
I'm attempting to publicly shame both Meta and Slack into fixing this so I can enjoy my life again.
I wouldn't ever actually admit to enjoying the workplace chat app Slack (that would be horrifically uncool). But the data speaks for itself.
Slack sends out a year-end wrap-up with data for its enterprise accounts, including which users posted the most lines of text. For 2024, I was Business Insider's second most prolific Slack poster, which is incredibly embarrassing and not a compliment at all.
Look, I love chatting! I love sharing links and musings with my colleagues! Fire me! (To my editor reading this: Please don't, I promise I'll get back to work.)
But despite this, there's one thing that stymies me over and over — and I know I'm not the only one out there who is plagued by this problem.
Whenever you post a link to an Instagram or Threads post in Slack, the link doesn't "unfurl" with a preview. Basically, it looks like this:
This was an amusing Reel of a state senator doing the "67" hand motions, but too bad it won't show.
Business Insider / sadness
If you're unfamiliar with Slack (or don't paste social media links into Slack because you use it like a responsible professional), the thing is that posts from X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and even BlueSky do actually work!
For example, an X post unfurls like this:
An X post does work in Slack.
Business Insider
What's frustrating is that Instagram used to work on Slack. I remember those glory days! It was probably only two or so years ago — my guess here — that it stopped working.
So why is this happening? If X and Bluesky can do it, why can't Instagram and Threads?
I'm not sure of the answer, but I have some good guesses.
First, I don't think it's a case where Slack and Meta are mad at each other and are revoking this access to spite each other. If you think that sounds ridiculous — why would a big company make things harder for its users just to settle some petty beef? — keep in mind that Instagram did exactly that when it stopped allowing Instagram posts to fully display on Twitter back in 2012.
As far as I know, Meta and Slack aren't locked in a vicious fight. Meta isn't above being petty when it comes to competitors like TikTok or companies that threaten its business like Apple — but Slack, which is owned by Salesforce, isn't really an enemy or direct competitor. Sure, some people use Slack for group chats with friends, which might compete with WhatsApp, but mainly it's for workplace productivity.
A representative for Slack told Business Insider, "Thanks for flagging! We are looking into it." Meta didn't have a response.
I am not an engineer or a computer programmer, so I am not going to pretend that I know the exact solution here.
But I refuse to accept that no one has the technical expertise to come up with a solution for the thousands — millions, perhaps! — of people with fake email jobs who need to post Instagram links to their coworkers on Slack.
Despite some of the terrifying and bad ways that social media and technology have affected our lives, I still maintain optimism. I believe that a repaired union between Slack and Instagram will improve my life by at least 2%! We all deserve better!
Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares were once a sizeable part of my portfolio, but I recently sold my last holdings in the ASX mining share.
This year has been rough for the ASX mining share, as the chart below shows. But, I’m pleased I was able to sell at a good price and move on to businesses I’m more optimistic about.
I originally bought Fortescue shares (at a low price) when there were significant concerns about the iron ore sector due to slowing demand from China, which buys a large majority of the iron ore exported from Australia.
When demand drops (or supply increases), it can lead to a decline in the iron ore price. That situation can create a good time to buy.
But a key driver of my original investment was also based on the company’s green energy goals.
Why I decided to sell out of Fortescue shares
A few years ago, the company outlined its plans to become a major producer of green hydrogen and green ammonia, positioning itself to diversify its earnings and tap into what seemed to be a promising area for long-term growth. It even signed a few customers for green hydrogen.
However, things have changed a lot since the early 2020s.
While the US may have been a key driver of a possible green energy future under President Biden, there has been a clear shift in the last year (or longer) in some areas of the world.
Rising inflation seemed to mean climate action became less important for households, politicians, and businesses. President Trump’s win also changed the energy focus of the world’s biggest economy.
Fortescue’s priority now seems to be decarbonising its own operations. That’s probably a prudent move, but the step down in ambitions about green energy production reduced my interest in the business’ long-term prospects.
The other reason I decided to sell Fortescue shares was that the iron ore supply and demand relationship no longer looks as appealing as it once did.
China’s economy is not firing, and with US tariffs on the country, I’m not sure how strongly it’s going to perform in the foreseeable future. Plus, major iron ore miners are trying to increase production, adding to the supply side of the equation. The new Simandou project in Africa, in particular, could be a headwind for the iron ore price, unless Chinese demand surprises positively.
Taking all of the above into account, I thought the higher Fortescue share price would be a good time to offload shares.
If the iron ore price and Fortescue share price were to sink in the short term, I may see it as an opportunistic turnaround idea, but it’s not at the top of my watchlist.
Valuation
Based on the forecasts from Commsec, the Fortescue share price is valued at 14 times FY26’s estimated earnings, with a possible grossed-up dividend yield of 6.5%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.
Should you invest $1,000 in Fortescue Metals Group right now?
Before you buy Fortescue Metals Group shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fortescue Metals Group wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
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.
