The ASX dividend stock Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) is one of the leading opportunities for passive income on the ASX right now, in my view. It’s down close to 20% from its 52-week high, as the chart below shows.

It makes sense why a real estate investment trust (REIT) would fall at a time like this. Higher oil prices are expected to lead to higher inflation and require higher interest rates.

Higher interest rates could mean higher costing debt and a headwind for property prices.

But, I expect that interest rates to lower again in the future (as occurred in 2022). The timing is less clear – we’ll just have to see how long it takes for inflation to return to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) target range.

At this lower price, I think the ASX dividend stock is a great long-term buy for a few reasons.

Stronger dividend yield

I get excited when share prices go down because it usually means a better dividend yield for investors.

For example, if a business has a distribution yield of 5% and the share price falls 10%, the yield becomes 5.5%.

As I mentioned earlier, the Centuria Industrial REIT unit price has declined by around 20% since its 52-week high towards the end of last year.

It’s expecting to grow its FY26 annual distribution by 3% to 16.8 cents per unit. At the time of writing, that translates into a distribution yield of 5.75%. It’s possible that the yield could go even higher in the coming days or weeks, but I think this is a great yield to take advantage of today.

Cheaper valuation

I like getting a better yield, but I also like buying at a cheaper price because it means buying the underlying properties at a cheaper valuation. These conditions likely to deliver better to capital growth over time.

It’s hard to know exactly how much the property portfolio is worth without the business selling all of its real estate, which it obviously isn’t going to do.

But, the business provides a net tangible asset (NTA) figure every six months. This gives investors a reading on its underlying overall value.

At 31 December 2025, the ASX dividend stock reported that it had a NTA of $3.95. At the time of writing, it’s trading at 26% discount to the figure.

Excellent rental demand tailwinds

One of the main reasons to like this business (particularly at the lower valuation) is the attractive rental growth that it’s generating, which can justify an increase in real estate prices over time.

Industrial land is increasingly in demand because of a number of tailwinds including a growing population, increased e-commerce adoption, fresh food and pharmaceutical demand (with refrigerated facilities), increasing data centre demand, onshoring of supply chains and a limited supply of new industrial facilities.

It’s the strong growth of rent in recent years that has led to the ASX dividend stock saying that its portfolio is 20% under-rented. In other words, when its properties come up for renewal, it could lead to a significant boost in the rental income.

The business is already experiencing that effect – in the FY26 first half, it reported like-for-like net operating income (NOI) of 5.1%. It’s expecting its net rental profit per unit to increase by up to 6% in FY26. That’s a great sign for the long-term, in my view.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 18% I’d buy right now! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 20 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Is now the time to jump on these ASX real estate stocks?
• 3 ASX dividend shares to double up on right now
• 3 ASX shares now trading at crazy cheap prices!
• These ASX 300 stocks could be top buys offering 25%+ returns according to Bell Potter

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.

Given the potential returns on offer with small-cap ASX shares, it really can pay to have some exposure to this side of the market in a balanced portfolio.

But which small caps could be worth considering if your risk tolerance allows for it?

Well, listed below are three that Morgans recently rated as buys and is tipping to rise strongly from current levels. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Airtasker Ltd (ASX: ART)

This small job listings company could be a small-cap ASX share to buy according to the broker.

It currently has a buy rating and 51 cents price target on its shares. This is more than double its current share price of 23 cents. It said:

It was a resilient 1H26 result for Airtasker, delivering ~13.5% group revenue growth to ~A$29m. Its established marketplaces saw EBITDA growth of ~11% to ~A$15m. Domestic metrics appear sound (e.g. uptick in booked tasks and brand salience), and we remain pleased with the momentum seen in ART’s offshore marketplace build-out (UK/US revenue +85% and 380% on the pcp respectively).

We make minor adjustments to our topline forecasts (details below), we also include the additional $5m cash marketing costs into our 2H numbers along with the recent capital raise. Our price target is lowered to A$0.51. Buy maintained.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)

Another small-cap ASX share that has caught the eye of Morgans is gold miner Meeka Metals.

Morgans was pleased with management’s production growth plans and is expecting a “step-change in output” in the fourth quarter.

As a result, it has put a buy rating and 39 cents price target on its shares. This is also more than double its current share price of 17 cents. It said:

MEK announced an expansion to 800ktpa (equivalent ounce basis) via ore sorting, requiring modest capex of A$6m with commissioning scheduled for Q1FY27. Ore sorting effectively near doubles Andy Well underground head grade, lifting our annual production forecasts by an average of 7% from FY27 onwards. Open Pit throughput has tracked below DFS forecasts due to moisture-driven variability in open pit ore, an issue expected to resolve with underground stope commencement in 4QFY26.

We revise our FY26 production forecast to 37.6koz Au (from 40.2koz), this is below the DFS guidance. We maintain our BUY rating and A$0.39ps price target, acknowledging near-term production softness may weigh on the 3Q result ahead of an anticipated step-change in output in 4Q.

Readytech Holdings Ltd (ASX: RDY)

A final small-cap ASX share that Morgans rates highly is enterprise software provider Readytech.

Although it has downgraded its earnings estimates to reflect its revised guidance, the broker remains positive. This is due to its robust pipeline and potential near-term catalysts.

Morgans has a speculative buy rating and $2.20 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 85% for investors over the next 12 months. It said:

RDY’s 1H26 result and revised outlook came in softer than expected, with Underlying EBITDA of $17.5m / Cash EBITDA of $7.5m ~6% behind MorgF. Whilst RDY’s enterprise strategy remains on track, the group indicated that increased churn in 1H26 along with more protracted implementation/sale conversion have led to an FY26 guidance downgrade and the withdrawal of its longer-term targets.

Whilst we downgrade our FY26-27 EBITDA forecasts by 10-20% reflecting revised guidance, given RDY’s robust pipeline, potential catalysts (VIC TAFE decision and likely increased corporate appeal), we move to a SPECULATIVE BUY rating, with a revised price target of $2.20/sh (previously $3.00/sh).

The post Morgans says these small-cap ASX shares could rise 85%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy, hold, sell: 3 ASX mining shares
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• Morgans says these small-cap ASX shares could rise 30% to 80%
• Why Challenger, Meeka Metals, Vulcan Energy, and West African Resources shares are rising today
• Morgans names 2 small-cap ASX shares to buy now

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ReadyTech. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Airtasker. 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 Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share price has taken a dive in recent weeks. It has declined around 20%, as the chart below shows.

I’m not sure if Warren Buffett has heard of Wesfarmers, but I’m sure most Aussies have heard of some of its main profit generators including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks and Priceline.

Wesfarmers owns other businesses such as Target, healthcare businesses (such as InstantScripts) and WesCEF (chemicals, energy and fertiliser), which includes lithium mining.

Warren Buffett hasn’t told me whether he’d invest in Wesfarmers shares or not. But, I think there are a few aspects that make me believe it could be attractive to the legendary investor from Omaha.

Good return on equity

There are a variety of ways to judge the quality of a business, such as how fast its earnings are growing, the strength of its competitive advantages (economic moat) and how high its return on equity (ROE) is.

For me, the ROE is a very powerful profitability metric because it tells investors how much profit a business is making compared to how much shareholder money is retained within the business.

I think Warren Buffett would want to see that the business makes a good ROE, and it could continue improving even further into the future.

Wesfarmers reported that for the first six months of FY26, its ROE (excluding significant items) improved 150 basis points (1.50%) to 32.7%.

Wonderful company

I’d view the business as one of the highest-quality businesses on the ASX because of the great market position and brand recognition of Bunnings and Kmart.

I think these businesses are likely to keep increasing profits as they grow their store networks, expand their product ranges, increase online sales and benefit from improving scale benefits.

As an example of how wonderful these businesses are, in HY26 Bunnings Group achieved a return on capital (ROC) of 70.8% and Kmart Group delivered a ROC of 69.8%.

As Warren Buffett once said, he’d rather buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.

According to the forecast on CMC Invest, the business is trading at 29x FY26’s estimated earnings, at the time of writing. I’d call that a fair price for a wonderful company.

Compounding profit growth

One of the main reasons why I’d be happy to invest today – aside from the recent decline of the Wesfarmers share price – is the fact the company has a track record of delivering underlying profit growth most years.

Analysts are expecting net profit to continue growing in the next few years, which I think would be appealing to Warren Buffett.

According to the projection on CMC Invest, Wesfarmers is expected to see its earnings per share (EPS) climb to $2.52 in 2026, $2.80 in 2027 and $3.00 in FY28.

If Wesfarmers can grow its earnings by approximately 19% between FY26 and FY28, then this could be a very useful tailwind for the Wesfarmers share price in the longer-term.

The post Would Warren Buffett buy Wesfarmers shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• I think smart investors should buy these ASX 200 blue-chip shares with $10,000
• 3 top Vanguard ETFs I would buy in April
• What could $500 a month in ASX 200 shares become in 20 years?
• Buy, hold, sell: Breville, Goodman, and Wesfarmers shares
• 5 excellent ASX shares to buy for a retirement portfolio

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

I’m a big fan of ASX dividend shares. They can deliver real cash returns to our bank account each year, with some being pillars of stability.

I think the best ASX dividend shares are ones that can provide a good dividend yield upfront, while also delivering payout growth and capital growth.

Last week I decided to take advantage of the lower share prices and invest in the ASX dividend share WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG). It’s a listed investment company (LIC) that I think offers a number of appealing aspects.

Yield

Passive income investors probably want to know about the dividend yield, so let’s start there.

I like the LIC structure for dividends because of how it’s up to the board of directors to decide on the level of the payout, assuming the company has the profit reserve to do so.

WCM Global growth has already issued dividend guidance for the year ahead. The next four quarterly dividends to be declared is expected to come to 9.3 cents per share, which equates to a grossed-up dividend yield of 8%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

There are few LICs on the ASX that offer a yield that large and are delivering good payout growth.

Growth

The job of a LIC is to make investment returns for shareholders. With those investment profits, the ASX dividend share can deliver passive income.

It invests in a global portfolio of between 20 to 40 shares which are viewed as high-quality businesses with competitive advantages (economic moats) that are getting stronger.

Additionally, the fund manager looks for corporate cultures that are fostering those improving competitive advantages.

Since the LIC’s inception in June 2017, it has delivered an average net return per year of 15.8% per year, outperforming the global share market return by an average of 2.7% per year.

That level of return is enough for the ASX dividend share to pay a large and growing dividend, while still delivering growth of the portfolio value over time.

Good value ASX dividend share

The final aspect of why I thought (and think) this was a good time to invest in the ASX dividend share was because it’s trading at a cheaper price than its underlying value.

LICs regularly tell the market what the underlying value is with the net tangible assets (NTA) figure.

At the time of writing WCM Global Growth is trading at a 11% discount to the latest weekly NTA figure. That size of a discount is appealing, particularly when you consider how good the investment returns have been with the portfolio.

Additionally, I’m taking advantage of the dividend re-investment plan (DRP) to acquire shares at a slight discount.

The post Why I just made this great ASX dividend share my latest buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Wcm Global Growth. 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.

There are a number of great ASX-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available to Aussies. I’m looking for investments that could outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The VanEck MSCI International Small Cos Quality ETF (ASX: QSML) is one investment that I think could deliver strong returns over the long-term.

I’m bullish about the ASX ETF for a number of reasons. Let’s get into what makes it an effective investment today.

Better valuation

When it comes to investing in growing businesses, I think it’s a great time to invest when there’s a dip (or worse) in share prices.

As legendary investor Warren Buffett once said:

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.

In other words, it’s great to load up on shares when prices are lower and the market has lost confidence (temporarily).

High-quality holdings

This ASX ETF invests in a portfolio of 150 international developed-market small-cap quality growth shares.

The idea is that the portfolio contains some of the world’s highest-quality companies which are based on three key fundamentals.

The first fundamental is they must have a high return on equity (ROE). That means the business makes a high level of profit for how much shareholder money is retained in the business. It also suggests that future retained earnings could earn a high level of return, which is a good tailwind for future share price growth.

Second, the businesses must have a high level of earnings stability. In my view, if profit isn’t going backwards then it means it’s rising. That’s another tailwind for share price growth, as well as potentially being a relatively safe harbour during volatile times.

Third, the businesses should have lower financial leverage. This means they have very healthy balance sheets.  

Great long-term returns

When you add all of those elements together, it’s no wonder that the QSML ETF has performed strongly over time.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance of course, but I think the businesses inside this portfolio are some of the most compelling businesses that investors could want to own in the global share market.

Over the past 10 years, the index that this ASX ETF follows has returned an average per year of 14%, outperforming the overall small-cap global share market by an average of around 2.7% per year.

I think if any ASX ETF can return by more than 10% per year over the long-term, that means it’s a great long-term investment.

Good diversification

It’s important to note that the returns this ASX ETF generates is from more than just a few large US-based technology businesses.

Aside from the US, there are numerous countries that have a weighting of at least 0.5%: the UK, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, Israel, Denmark, France, Mexico, Finland and Austria.

On the sector side of things, there are five sectors that have a weighting of at least 7.5%: industrials (41.5%), financials (17%), IT (11.8%), consumer discretionary (8.6%) and healthcare (7.6%).

The post It looks like a great time to buy this top ASX ETF! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Morgans says these small-cap ASX shares could rise 85%+
• Would Warren Buffett buy Wesfarmers shares?
• Why I just made this great ASX dividend share my latest buy
• How I’d aim to build a $100,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero
• What is Bell Potter saying about DroneShield and EOS shares this week?

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.

Starting from zero can feel like the hardest part of investing.

There is no portfolio yet. No momentum. Just a decision to begin.

But I actually think this is one of the best positions to be in. You have complete flexibility. No legacy holdings, no need to unwind past decisions. Just a clean slate and a long runway ahead.

If I were starting today with the goal of building a $100,000 ASX shares portfolio, this is how I would approach it.

Step one: focus on consistency

The first thing I would accept is that I do not need a large lump sum to get started. Instead, I would focus on investing in ASX shares regularly.

Whether it is $500 a month, $1,000 a quarter, or whatever is realistic for my budget, I think consistency matters far more than trying to wait until I have a big amount to invest.

In my experience, the habit of investing is more important than the initial amount. Once that habit is in place, the portfolio can begin to grow steadily over time.

Step two: start with a strong foundation

If I am building from scratch, I want a solid base early on.

For me, that would likely mean starting with a broad market exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

It gives instant diversification across the Australian share market, including large caps, mid caps, and smaller companies. That reduces the risk of being too reliant on any one stock in the early stages.

I would keep adding to this core position as I build the portfolio, particularly in the beginning.

Step three: gradually introduce high-quality ASX shares

Once the portfolio starts to take shape, I would begin adding individual ASX shares.

This is where I would focus on quality over quantity.

I would rather own a small number of strong businesses than spread myself too thin across too many names. Companies like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) stand out to me as examples of businesses with long-term growth potential.

I would not rush this step.

Instead, I would build positions gradually over time, adding ASX shares when I have new funds available rather than trying to time the market perfectly.

Step four: think about allocation

As the portfolio grows, I would start thinking more deliberately about allocation.

For example, I might aim for a mix that includes a core ETF holding, a handful of growth-oriented companies, and perhaps some more defensive or income-focused names.

That could include businesses like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), which I think can provide a level of stability and income alongside higher-growth holdings.

The exact balance would evolve over time, but the key for me would be avoiding overexposure to any single company or sector.

Step five: stay patient

Reaching $100,000 with ASX shares will not happen overnight. It will likely take years of consistent investing, market ups and downs, and staying committed to the plan.

I think the biggest risk along the way is not market volatility. It is losing discipline.

Changing strategy too often, chasing trends or speculative stocks, or trying to outguess the market can all slow progress.

Personally, I would aim to keep things simple. Invest regularly, focus on quality ASX shares, and give the portfolio time to grow.

Foolish takeaway

Building a $100,000 ASX shares portfolio from zero is less about finding the perfect stock and more about building the right habits.

For me, that means starting with a diversified foundation, adding high-quality businesses over time, and staying consistent through market cycles.

It might feel slow at the beginning. But with patience and discipline, I believe it is achievable in time.

The post How I’d aim to build a $100,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for CBA shares
• Here are 5 ASX ETFs that I would buy with $50,000
• 3 ASX 200 shares that could beat the market over the next 10 years
• How to become a millionaire with a $5,000 investment in ASX 200 shares each year
• Is the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF a good long-term investment?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Goodman Group, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Middle East conflict this year has demonstrated just why defence spending is on the rise.

And in particular, why counter-drone technology is an area where significant capital is flowing.

Bell Potter has been looking at the sector and believes current trends bode well for the likes of DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) and Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS).

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that there have been significant changes in modern warfare in recent years, with relatively cheap drones being used extensively. It said:

The Middle East conflict is a pivotal moment for the global C-UAS (counter-drone) industry and defence strategies in general. Lessons learnt in Ukraine are being repeated: Using up to US$4m missiles to take down US$35k drones is unsustainable. We expect there will be broad adoption of C-UAS technologies alongside advanced hypersonic defence capabilities to improve on this equation.

Bell Potter also named four reasons why it believes counter-drone technology spending is poised to grow materially in the near term. It said:

(1) Shahed drones have and continue to attack civilian infrastructure such as oil facilities, airports, data centres, and hotels, necessitating the need for C-UAS protection beyond military applications; (2) C-UAS procurement timelines have compressed with contractors receiving several orders from the Middle East and the US soliciting information on C-UAS detection and effectors;

(3) Ukrainian interceptor drones have emerged as a key effector in mitigating the threat of Shahed loitering munitions; and (4) a boots on the ground scenario in Iran remains a possibility which could see the emergence of tactical UAS / C-UAS warfare, creating further awareness of the need for portable RF jammers and Remote Weapon Systems (RWS).

Should you buy DroneShield and EOS shares?

According to the note, Bell Potter has a buy rating and $4.80 price target on DroneShield shares.

Based on its current share price of $3.88, this implies potential upside of approximately 24% for investors over the next 12 months.

As for Electro Optic Systems, Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $9.70 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $8.46, this suggests upside of approximately 15% for investors between now and this time next year.

Commenting on the two companies, the broker said:

We expect recent events in the Middle East to drive an accelerated global demand for C-UAS technology. DRO, with its RF detection, defeat and C2 suites and EOS, through its gun-based kinetic systems and High Energy Laser Weapons (HELW), are both well-positioned to capture this growth.

The post What is Bell Potter saying about DroneShield and EOS shares this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
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• Why DroneShield, Hub24, Syrah, and Weebit Nano shares are sinking today
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• Why Catapult, DroneShield, Infratil, and Qoria shares are charging higher today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and Electro Optic Systems and is short shares of 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.

Right now, it feels like investors are being hit from every angle.

Ongoing conflicts in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East are creating uncertainty. Energy markets remain volatile, fuelling concerns about inflation. And here in Australia, cost of living pressures are at the forefront of households’ minds.

When headlines are dominated by fear, it becomes harder to stay optimistic — and even harder to stay consistent with an investment plan.

Yet history suggests this is exactly when simple strategies matter most.

Markets have always climbed a wall of worry

It is easy to believe that “this time is different”.

The current backdrop — geopolitical tensions, rising fuel costs, and inflation — feels uniquely challenging. But zooming out tells a very different story.

Over the past century, equity markets in both Australia and the United States have navigated:

• World wars
• Oil shocks
• Financial crises
• Pandemics
• Political instability

And yet, broad indices like the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) and major US benchmarks have continued to trend higher over time.

This phenomenon is often described as the “wall of worry” — markets advancing despite a constant stream of negative news.

The key insight is simple: short-term fear is persistent, but long-term progress in businesses and economies has historically been more powerful.

The strategy that gets hardest when it matters most

Dollar-cost averaging is often described as one of the simplest ways to invest.

Invest regularly. Ignore short-term noise. Let time and compounding do the heavy lifting.

But the reality is more nuanced.

This approach becomes most difficult during market declines — precisely when it is most powerful.

When markets fall, sentiment weakens. Confidence drops. The instinct to pause or wait for clarity kicks in.

Yet those periods often produce the most attractive long-term entry points.

Buying when prices are lower sounds easy. Continuing to do so when the news cycle is negative is where discipline is tested.

A practical framework: building a core and adding conviction

One way to stay grounded through volatility is to structure a portfolio deliberately.

A commonly used approach is the core and satellite strategy — a framework that balances stability with opportunity.

The core: broad exposure that does the heavy lifting

At the centre of the portfolio sits a diversified foundation, typically built using broad-market ETFs.

For Australian investors, that often includes:

• Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) – exposure to around 1,500 global companies
• BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) – coverage of Australia’s largest listed businesses
• iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) – access to leading US companies
• VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) – focused on businesses with durable competitive advantages

These types of holdings are designed to capture long-term economic growth across markets, sectors, and geographies.

They are not about chasing the next big winner. They are about participating in the broader progress of global business over time.

The satellites: targeted ideas around the edges

Around that core, investors can allocate a smaller portion to higher-conviction ideas.

This could include individual companies or thematic ETFs such as:

• BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)
• VanEck Global Defence ETF (ASX: DFND)

These positions bring focus and potential upside, particularly in areas benefiting from structural tailwinds like digital security, defence spending, or large-scale technology adoption.

The key is proportion.

The core provides stability and consistency. The satellites introduce variability and opportunity.

Why this approach fits today’s environment

In uncertain periods, complexity often increases.

Investors are tempted to react — shifting allocations, chasing trends, or waiting for clarity that rarely comes.

A structured approach helps cut through that noise.

• The core ensures you remain invested in long-term growth
• The satellites allow you to express views without overexposing your portfolio
• Dollar-cost averaging keeps capital flowing consistently

Importantly, this framework does not rely on predicting macro events — something even professionals struggle to do consistently.

Foolish takeaway

The current environment feels challenging, but uncertainty has always been part of investing.

Markets have moved forward through decades of conflict, inflation shocks, and economic cycles.

For investors, the real edge often comes from consistent behaviour.

Simple strategies like dollar-cost averaging, combined with a clear core and satellite structure, can help maintain that discipline.

Because in many cases, the moments that feel hardest to invest are the ones that matter most over the long term.

The post This simple ASX ETF strategy matters more than ever in today’s uncertain market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are 5 ASX ETFs that I would buy with $50,000
• Building an ASX share portfolio from scratch? Here’s my game plan
• Which ASX ETFs have Aussies traded most since the Iran war began?
• Where I’d invest $50,000 into ASX ETFs today
• This simple ASX strategy could outperform most investors

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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.

Owning Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares could be a good decision for investors wanting to own a stable ASX bank share capable of delivering a rising dividend.

CBA has long been viewed as an expensive bank, but even the detractors of the bank would have to admit that the bank’s performance this decade has been more consistent than its major competitors of National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

Time will tell exactly what CBA’s profit and dividends will do over the next few years, but leading analysts have estimated what could happen with regards to its passive income.

FY26

We’re three-quarters of the way through the 2026 financial year, so there’s not much longer to go until we learn what the FY26 annual dividend will be.

The business recently reported its FY26 half-year result which included a number of positives.

Firstly, the interim dividend per share increased by 4% to $2.35 per share.

This dividend growth was funded by the ASX bank share’s net profit, which increased by 5% to $5.4 billion, and the cash net profit rose 6% to $5.4 billion.

CBA attributed the profit growth to lending and deposit volume growth in its core businesses. This was partially offset by a lower net interest margin (NIM) and higher operating expenses (which was primarily due to inflation and its continued investment in technology).

Australia’s biggest bank said that competition continues to be a headwind for the NIM.

The ASX bank share’s pre-provision (for bad debts) profit grew 5% year-over-year to $8.1 billion, while the loan impairment was flat year over year (but down 21% compared to the second half of FY25).

Of course, all of these figures happened for the six months to 31 December 2025. That means the Middle East conflict didn’t impact the numbers.

Analyst estimates could change in the coming weeks based on what happens in the Middle East, but currently the projection on CMC Invest suggests a FY26 annual dividend of $5.05 per CBA share.

That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.1%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

FY27

If the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) does continue raising the Australian cash rate to try to tackle inflation, there could be a couple of major factors that play out for CBA.

It could lead to a higher NIM because CBA can earn more margin on lending out money on CBA account balances that pay low/zero interest (like transaction accounts). It may also mean that loan arrears and bad debts increase if some borrowers struggle with the higher interest rate.

The current estimate on CMC Invest suggests the payout will be $5.25 per CBA share, a rise of 4% year-over-year.

FY28

The last year of this series of projections could see another increase of the dividend for owners of CBA shares.

The forecast on CMC Invest suggests that the ASX bank share’s annual dividend could increase to $5.40 per share. That would be a year-over-year rise of 2.9%.

If the business does pay that amount, it would mean a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.4%, including franking credits.

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

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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.

If you think nuclear power is the future and have a higher than average risk tolerance, then it could be worth considering the ASX uranium stock in this article.

That’s because the team at Bell Potter believes this ASX penny stock could rocket significantly higher over the next 12 months if everything goes to plan.

Which ASX uranium stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is tipping as a speculative buy is Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX: AGE).

It is an exploration and development company with a focus on the Samphire uranium project, which is southeast of Whyalla in South Australia.

Bell Potter notes that the ASX uranium stock conducted a scoping study in 2023 confirming amenability for in-situ-recovery (ISR) mining similar to that utilised by Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) at Honeymoon. Samphire has a targeted initial project of ~1.2Mlbspa U3O8 production over a 12-year mine life.

Bell Potter recently visited the Samphire uranium project and was pleased with what it saw. It said:

We attended a site visit to the Samphire Uranium project, southeast of Whyalla,which is in the process of conducting a Field Recovery Trial (FRT). The FRT aims to de-risk technical aspects of Samphire and provide data into the upcoming Bankable Feasibility study (BFS). The FRT is being conducted across two wellfields (A & B), with differing grade and permeability characteristics to provide a representative sample of expected operations.

The broker highlights that there is now a pathway to approvals and ultimately production. It adds:

The data collected in the FRT will be utilised in the upcoming BFS (1HCY27), alongside additional drilling being conducted at Samphire, aimed at increasing resource confidence and expanding the Mineral Resource Estimate. AGE obtained a Retention Lease (RL) to conduct the FRT, which laid out a pathway towards an eventual Mining lease (ML) application.

The team believes this process helped to build on community and stakeholder engagement, identify the key environmental risks and commence collection of environmental baseline studies. With this knowledge in process they believe the regulatory approvals process may be streamlined.

Big potential returns from this ASX penny stock

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its speculative buy rating on the ASX penny stock with a 7 cents price target.

Based on its current share price of 3.7 cents, this implies potential upside of almost 90% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the company and its recommendation, Bell Potter said:

We maintain our Speculative Buy recommendation and $0.07/sh valuation for AGE. Samphire is being de-risked through to an eventual Final Investment Decision, which could see first production towards the end of the decade. We model Samphire as a standalone 1.2Mlbpa producer, with optionality from additional Resource discovery providing an upside scenario to our production base case or extending the ~12 year life of Mine.

The post Bell Potter says this ASX penny stock could rocket 90% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.