Tag: Stock pick

Healius vs Australian Clinical Labs shares

If you’re considering a slice of Australia’s diagnostic healthcare sector, you might be torn between Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) and Australian Clinical Labs Ltd (ASX: ACL) shares. Both companies are big names in pathology, with nationwide reach and established reputations. But their fundamentals, dividends, and recent share price momentum tell very different stories. Let’s dive into what really sets these two healthcare stocks apart.

The case for Healius

Healius is one of Australia’s largest pathology service providers, operating under well-known brands like Laverty, Dorevitch, and QML Pathology. Healius ran around 2,000 collection sites and close to 100 labs across the country. In May 2025, Healius sold its Lumus Imaging business and now focuses on pathology and its bioanalytical laboratory arm, Agilex Biolabs.

Looking at current fundamentals, three points really stand out:

• The share price has been hammered this year, with a -52.5% year-to-date return.
• Healius’s P/E ratio is 55.56, with an earnings per share of -0.563. (Note: Healius’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.)
• Dividend yield is currently 0.00%. Despite a long history of fully franked payouts, the last special dividend was paid in May 2025, and before that, ordinary dividends dried up after 2022.

So while Healius is a large, established player with an extensive network, it’s struggling for profitability and income at the moment.

The case for Australian Clinical Labs

Australian Clinical Labs is another leading pathology player, with a strong footprint across nearly all states and territories (excluding Tasmania). The company operates more than 75 laboratories and 1,300 collection centres, handling over 12 million episodes a year. ACL is also a significant provider to both private and public hospitals, and increasingly active in specialised screenings and commercial testing.

Here are a few of the most notable fundamentals right now:

• Year-to-date return is a healthy 8.4%—a far cry from Healius’s collapse.
• The P/E ratio is 23.11, backed by positive earnings per share of 0.141.
• Dividend yield is 4.56%, with 100% franking. ACL has delivered regular, fully franked dividends; the latest was 9.25 cents per share in September 2026.

Overall, ACL is profitable, growing, and paying out a solid stream of income.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the two companies stack up on key numbers:

Metric	Healius	Australian Clinical Labs
Market Cap	$305.00 million	$514.79 million
P/E Ratio	55.56 (Note: P/E may not be based on the EPS shown, which is negative)	23.11
Earnings per share (EPS)	-0.563	0.141
Dividend Yield	0.00%	4.56%
Franking	100%	100%
YTD Return	-52.5%	8.4%

While both companies offer fully franked dividends, only ACL is currently paying and yielding above 4%. Healius has lost significant ground—both in share price and earnings.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 1 October 2026:

• Healius closed at $0.42 on 1 October 2026, down 2.3% on the day and showing steep declines so far in 2026. Year to date, Healius is down 52.5%.
• Australian Clinical Labs closed at $2.76 on 1 October 2026, falling 3.2% that day, but overall in positive territory for 2026 with an 8.4% gain year to date.

Both shares dipped on the last trading day, but their trajectories are worlds apart this year. Healius has been in steep decline; ACL has outperformed and delivered positive momentum.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to choose between Healius and Australian Clinical Labs today, my pick would be clear: Australian Clinical Labs. The company is profitable, offers a solid fully franked dividend yield, and has delivered meaningful share price growth this year. Meanwhile, Healius is battling negative earnings, has halted regular dividends, and has seen its market cap and share price tumble by more than half in 2026. ACL’s lower P/E ratio (compared to Healius) also suggests investors aren’t paying as much for each dollar of earnings, at least within the context of these two healthcare stocks. While both serve a vital role in Australian pathology and may benefit from long-term healthcare trends, only ACL currently pairs business quality with real income and positive momentum. That’s where I’d be leaning with my investment dollars today.

The post Healius vs Australian Clinical Labs: Which ASX pathology share wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX shares upgraded by experts amid a weak market 
• Buy, hold, sell: Netwealth, Tabcorp, Healius shares

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

I think long-term investing is the best way to go when it comes to ASX shares.

Holding a good investment for a long time gives compounding time to work its magic, and it also means that investors aren’t unnecessarily interrupting the growth by activating a capital gains tax (CGT) event and paying some of the value to the ATO.

In my view, the two ideas below are great ones to own for the long term.  

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

When a business is compounding its financials at a strong pace, it’s very likely to deliver pleasing shareholder returns over time. Siteminder is growing at double-digits each year, and I think that’s set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Siteminder provides software to many thousands of hotels around the world. The Siteminder offering is the world’s leading hotel commerce platform, while Little Hotelier is an all-in-one hotel management software that helps smaller operators.

During FY26, the company added 5,900 properties to its customer base, taking the total count to 56,000. In recent times, it has been targeting larger hotels, which come with scale benefits.

The company’s top-line growth was solid during FY26, with revenue up 18.6% to $266.1 million and annual recurring revenue (ARR) up 14.9% to $313.7 million. The ARR figure suggests another solid year of revenue growth is ahead.

It’s experiencing momentum across its new offerings within the ‘smart platform’, which I expect will play a bigger part in the coming years.

Dynamic revenue plus now supports more than 50,000 rooms (more than double the HY26 level) – hoteliers are benefiting from new AI-powered capabilities and predictive demand analytics.

Channels plus grew from 7,000 hotels in HY26 to almost 10,000 at the year-end. The smart distribution program continued to contribute to partner outcomes. These are helping drive a higher average revenue per user (ARPU), which rose 9.3% to $429 in FY26.

The ASX share’s profit margins continue to improve. The adjusted group gross profit margin increased 84 basis points (0.84%) to 67.2%. It also reported 96.5% growth of adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) to $28.1 million, and adjusted free cash flow increased 123% to $10.5 million.

According to the projection on CommSec, the Siteminder share price is valued at just 17 times FY29’s estimated earnings.

WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ)

The other investment I want to highlight is this exchange-traded fund (ETF), which is operated by the WCM investment team, based in Laguna Beach, California. It’s a very different environment from the actual Wall Street in New York, helping WCM invest differently.

WCM’s investment process is based on the belief that corporate culture is the biggest influence on a company’s ability to grow its competitive advantages (or economic moat).

It aims to have a portfolio of between 20 and 40 stocks with access to quality global companies primarily in the high-growth consumer, technology, and healthcare sectors. I’m calling this an ASX share because it’s about investing in shares, and we can buy it on the ASX.

The investment team aren’t looking for a quick return, but long-term compounders that are delivering a rising return on invested capital (ROIC), which is a good sign of a strengthening bottom line, helping shareholder returns.

This team has shown that the investment strategy has worked for the long term. In the 10 years to August 2026, the investment strategy has returned an average of 16.2%. Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.

I’d be very happy to own this fund for the next decade (and beyond), while receiving a minimum distribution yield of 5%.

The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 2 ASX tech shares I think the market is underestimating
• 3 ASX shares down 40% to 80% I’d buy on the cheap
• Forget CBA shares! Buy these ASX dividend shares instead for passive income

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

Superannuation is a very important tool to save for retirement, whether that’s for a 60-year-old or a 20-year-old.

Superannuation offers several benefits, such as a lower tax rate during the accumulation phase. In retirement, the tax rate can be as low as 0% (depending on the superannuation balance).

Additionally, superannuation’s structure encourages long-term investing, which I think is the best way to build wealth.

Everyone wants to have a good retirement, and I think reaching the current average superannuation of a 60-year-old is a good target to aim at.

Average superannuation balance for 60-year-olds

Before talking about what Australians can do to grow their superannuation balance, let’s look at what the actual target is.

According to APRA data, the average super balance for 55 to 59-year-olds is $243,300, and for 60 to 64-year-olds it is $270,800. So, let’s say an investor wants to reach approximately $250,000.

A quarter of a million dollars is a significant amount of money to boost income in retirement. It could add $10,000 of income or more, depending on the dividend yield, rental yield, or interest rate of the assets inside superannuation.

When we look at the average superannuation balances for people aged between 25 and 29, the average balance is $28,000. That shows there’s a lot of growth to happen over the next 30 to 40 years.

So, how can aspiring Aussies get to a $250,000 superannuation balance by 60?

Superannuation guarantee

The first and perhaps most important element of saving towards retirement is the mandatory contributions that businesses make for their staff.

Businesses are currently required to pay their employees 12% of their wage into super. The required amount used to be less than 10% of wages, but now it’s 12%.

Let’s imagine someone earns $50,000 per year, which is close to the minimum wage on an annualised basis. That means that person would receive $6,000 of superannuation contributions over 12 months (minus the superannuation tax of 15% on contributions).

Excluding inflation effects, that would be net contributions of $51,000 per decade. Three decades of contributions would be $153,000. Of course, over time, people may get promoted or upskill, leading to a sizeable increase in their earnings and superannuation contributions.

However, plenty of readers aren’t earning just the minimum wage, so their annual superannuation contribution would be higher and help build towards $250,000 faster. For some higher earners, the superannuation guarantee contributions may be all they need to reach a large figure, perhaps beyond what the average superannuation balance of a 60-year-old is.

Aussie investors can do a few things to grow their superannuation balance faster than the bare minimum.  

Invest in growth assets

Superannuation allows Australians to invest in a variety of assets. Over the long term, some asset classes have a better track record than others.

For me, as someone who is decades away from accessing my superannuation, I think it’s better to invest significantly (entirely, in my case) in ‘growth’ assets in superannuation. Shares are a lot more appealing to me than cash.

Cash and bond returns are significantly hampered by inflation, so the ‘real’ return is even less attractive.

I’m choosing to invest in international shares and great ASX shares in my superannuation. Ones that I believe will help grow my retirement balance by around 10% (or more) per year on average over the long term.

I mentioned before that someone earning a full-time minimum wage may contribute a net figure of $51,000 per decade to their superannuation. If that $51,000 grows by 8% per year, $51,000 doubles to more than $100,000 in approximately nine years. After another nine years, that original $51,000 could be worth around $200,000. And so on.

In conclusion, investing in growth assets and leaving them alone for decades can do some heavy lifting for growing a superannuation balance towards $250,000, or significantly more.

Make additional contributions

For people who have enough income to cover their essential spending, they can make additional salary sacrifice contributions out of their wage called reportable employer superannuation contributions (RESC), up to a certain dollar amount each year. This is a tax-efficient way to do it. It will likely need to be mentioned on the tax return.

Aussies can also make annual after-tax contributions to their superannuation, up to a certain (large) dollar figure, before being subject to extra tax. According to the Australian Taxation Office, the non-concessional contributions cap is $130,000 for FY27, up from $120,000 in FY26.

There are also a number of other, smaller, things that Australians can do, such as spouse super contributions to a low-earning spouse to boost their balance – this comes with a tax offset.

It’d be a good idea to ask a financial advisor what the current limits are and what the benefits are for each of these ideas.

Foolish takeaway

When you combine many years of superannuation contributions and investing, I think many Australians can reach the average superannuation balance of a 60-year-old. It just takes time, compounding, and choosing the right investments.

The post How almost any Australian can reach the average superannuation balance of a 60-year-old appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 18% to 96%
• The ASX dividend game has changed. Here’s why
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 6 costly mistakes that will slash your Age Pension payment
• 25% per annum: Is the BetaShares Cybersecurity ETF (HACK) a buy today?

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.

ASX shares closed on Tuesday afternoon off the back of a rally in ASX technology shares and a lower oil price.

Here are four ASX shares that brokers expect to outperform broader indexes over the next 12 months.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

After dipping to a multi-year low in early June, ResMed shares have rebounded by around 24% and are trading at $31.95 per share at the time of writing. They’re still around 12% lower year to date, however.

The ASX healthcare shares started climbing higher in August, and they’ve been pretty stable over the past couple of weeks. 

It looks like previous macroeconomic pressures and regulatory uncertainty have eased slightly, and investors are more optimistic about shares in the sector.

The company’s latest fourth-quarter earnings update shows the business has continued to grow at a healthy pace, and its margins have continued expanding. The company has also generated strong free cash flow. 

TradingView data shows the majority (18 out of 31) of brokers have a buy/strong buy rating on ResMed shares. The average $37.57 target price implies the shares could increase up to 18% over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

SiteMinder shares were hit by a disappointing FY26 results announcement in mid-August. The company posted a 22% increase in revenue and a 96.5% increase in EBITDA. Its net loss also improved to $11.3 million, down from a net loss of $24.5 million in FY25. 

The company also said it expects its adjusted EBITDA margin to keep expanding in FY27 and reach the mid-20% range by FY30.

Investors weren’t thrilled and the shares crashed around 22% by the end of the month. They’ve then continued falling ever since. The ASX shares are now down around 56% for the year to date, to $2.70 each.

But it looks like the sell-off was way overdone, and at the current share price, they’re trading well below fair value.

The experts agree. TradingView data shows that the majority (13 out of 16) have a buy/strong buy rating on the ASX shares. They all agree on some element of upside ahead. The average $5.28 target price implies an upside of around 96%, at the time of writing.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

Liontown shares enjoyed a good rally through the first quarter of 2026, but then they started tumbling around the middle of the year. At the time of writing, the shares are trading at 83 cents each, which is around 49% lower than the start of the year.

Liontown is practically a pure-play lithium miner, and its assets are overwhelmingly lithium-focused. This means it is sensitive to and heavily dependent on lithium price trajectories. This year’s crash and share price decline are almost entirely due to lithium price movements, which have followed a similar pattern.

But over the long term, the ASX shares are well placed to benefit from strong lithium pricing and expanding global EV demand. The miner’s development pipeline and exposure to future supply chains are also attractive.

TradingView data shows the majority (7 out of 14) hold a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. Another four rate the ASX shares as a hold, and three have a sell rating.

The average $1.28 target price implies an upside of around 53%, at the time of writing.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The data centre operator’s shares have tumbled lower over the past month, to $10.44 a piece at the time of writing. That’s 15% lower for the year to date.

It looks like the company’s latest FY26 results disappointed investors, prompting many to sell their shares. Since the announcement in late August, the ASX shares are down around 25%.

But as the company has physical centres, cooling, power, security services, and project support, and as data usage explodes, demand for secure, high-quality infrastructure is likely to boom too. 

The company is also investing heavily in business expansion, including plans to develop new facilities and expand existing sites.

Analysts are bullish that we’ll see some strong share price growth going forward.

TradingView data shows the majority (14 out of 15) have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. The average $20.31 target price implies an upside of around 96% at the time of writing.

The post 4 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 18% to 96% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, Cleanaway Waste Management, NextDC shares
• ResMed vs Fisher & Paykel Healthcare: Which is better value?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Tech shares shine while ASX 200 plunges to 4-month low

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

Investing in ASX shares, especially dividend shares, is an ever-changing challenge. Recently, I’ve been thinking about just how different the world we are navigating in 2026 is from the one we were feeling out just a few years ago.

Just to be clear, this is from a financial standpoint. I don’t have enough time or patience to discuss geopolitics, the environment, or ‘events dear boy’, although those have all changed beyond recognition as well. For now, let’s stick to finance.

Five years ago, interest rates around the world were essentially at zero (0.1% in Australia, to be precise). With the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raising the cash rate to 4.6% last week, that certainly feels like a world away.

Back when interest rates were at that historic low, it was easy to conclude that the best way to secure a stream of passive income was by buying ASX dividend stocks.

With a cash rate of 0.1%, it was almost impossible to find a ‘safe’ investment that even compensated one for inflation (even though that was at a low base, too). Savings accounts and term deposits were only yielding between 0.5% and 1% per annum. That’s almost comparable to the underside of the mattress.

As such, it was a no-brainer to dump cash into blue-chip ASX dividend shares that were yielding 2%, 4%, or even 6%. Plus, you usually get the benefits of full franking to boot.

ASX dividend investing in 2026

Today, the game has changed, and dramatically so. ASX dividend stocks are not as lucrative as they once were. The best yields you can get from a big four ASX bank are hovering around 4.5%, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) well under 3.5%. Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) is in that boat too. Other popular options like Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) are also offering yields comfortably under 4%.

However, the steep increase in interest rates since 2021 has changed the other side of the playing field far more substantially.

Savings accounts and term deposits have gone from their sub-1% yields five years ago to today offering as much as 5.5% per annum. That’s real cash flow that’s available without any capital risk whatsoever.

Think about it. Investors have the choice between risking their capital in the stock market and getting a franked yield of 4% on most blue-chip shares, or obtaining a risk-free yield of 5%-plus from the bank.

For many income investors, particularly those who have retired, the choice is easy.

As we’ve already demonstrated, nothing lasts forever in the world of finance, and this rather strange situation probably won’t be any different. Also keep in mind that, long term, shares usually outperform cash investments, even in periods of high interest rates. But even so, the investing game has changed, so take advantage (if it makes sense for your personal circumstances) while you can.

The post The ASX dividend game has changed. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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• Ramsay Health Care vs Sonic Healthcare: Which healthcare stock is better value?
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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) experienced a pleasant day’s trading this Tuesday, rising heartily after yesterday’s more tepid start to the trading week. The ASX 200 began in green territory this morning, and stayed there all day, eventually closing on a rise of 0.57%. That leaves the index at 8,735.7 points.

This sunny day on the Australian markets follows a similarly rosy start to the American trading week, up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, gaining 0.18%

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more enthusiastic, though, jumping 1.05%.

But let’s get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors were treated by investors this Tuesday.

Winners and losers

There were far more green sectors than red ones this session.

Leading the losers, though, were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was left out in the cold today, slumping 2.9%.

Gold shares were also neglected, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tumbling 0.8%.

Consumer staples stocks were no safe haven either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) saw its value cut by an unlucky 0.13% today.

It was much better everywhere else, though. At the front of the pack this Tuesday were real estate investment trusts (REITs), illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 1.15% surge higher.

Mining shares also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) ended up leaping 0.91% higher.

Utilities stocks were just behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) soaring 0.9%.

Financial shares had a day to remember, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) enjoyed a 0.73% bounce this session.

Healthcare stocks weren’t left out, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.63% lift.

Consumer discretionary shares were a little less excited. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) still managed a 0.33% advance, though.

Energy stocks got some love, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) adding 0.15% to its total.

As did communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) ticked up 0.14% today.

Finally, industrial stocks got over the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.05% improvement.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today’s best performer on the index was IGA supplier Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS). Metcash shares roared 4.88% higher today to close at $3.01 each.

This move came despite no obvious catalysts from the company this week.

Here’s how the other winners pulled up at the kerb:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)	$3.01	4.88%
Arena REIT (ASX: ARF)	$2.08	4.79%
Alcoa Corporation Ltd (ASX: AAI)	$62.60	4.14%
Vicinity Centres (ASX: VCX)	$2.29	3.15%
Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)	$0.83	3.11%
HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)	$1.06	2.91%
Region Group (ASX: RGN)	$2.17	2.84%
Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)	$2.76	2.60%
AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)	$8.32	2.59%
Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)	$51.46	2.45%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 excellent ASX dividend shares with 5%+ yields
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $56,000 per year in passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Region Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Australians aged 67 years old (or over) might be eligible to receive the Age Pension payment.

The fortnightly sum, of up to $1,237.70 for individuals and up to $933 per person for couples, is designed to help cover basic retirement costs. 

Your eligibility depends on where you fall under the income and asset tests. You’ll also need to be an Australian resident who has lived here for at least 10 years, with at least five of those years in a single continuous period.

The problem is, the rules are strict. And one small error could see your payment reduced dramatically, or even be eliminated entirely.

Here are six expensive mistakes that Australian retirees often make when it comes to the Age Pension, and how to avoid them.

1. Procrastinating

Many Aussies wait until they turn 67 before they start doing their paperwork. It’s logical, given that this is the age when you meet eligibility requirements. But did you know that you can actually apply 13 weeks earlier?

This ensures the application is completed before you reach the eligibility age, so you can start receiving payments the day you turn 67. Procrastination means you’ll miss out on weeks of income because Centrelink does not backdate payments prior to your successful lodgement date.

2. Overlooking your income limits

To receive the full Age Pension, single Australians can earn up to $226 per fortnight. Meanwhile, couples can earn up to $396 per fortnight.

For every dollar earned over the free area, a single person’s pension reduces by 50 cents, and a couple’s pension reduces by 25 cents each (combined).

If you earn over the threshold, you could end up with a much lower payment rate, if anything at all. It’s important that you’re aware of the income levels before you apply for your Age Pension.

3. Failing to declare all your assets

The Age Pension asset test includes everything you own, whether it’s in full, in part, or you have an interest in. This excludes the home you live in, but includes any stocks, like S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares, property, superannuation, an SMSF, or any possessions you own locally or outside Australia. Failing to declare your assets correctly will result in you failing the asset test.

In order to receive the full Age Pension, single homeowners can now own assets (including superannuation) up to a value of $333,000, and non-homeowners can own assets up to $600,000 in retirement.

A couple combined can own up to $499,000 in total if they own a property, or $766,000 if they don’t.

If you’re over these limits, a part payment is assessed on a sliding scale.

4. Double reporting

It can be difficult to understand the rules around where to declare your superannuation balance. The mistake many Aussies make is that they end up accidentally reporting it twice, as an asset and the pension drawdown as an income. This can delay your payment, reduce your entitlement, or mean you’re not eligible for anything at all.

Instead, you should list your superannuation balance as a financial asset. Centrelink will then apply its own deeming rates. 

5. Gifting money or assets to family or friends

It can be tempting to give a portion of your assets to close friends or family if you’re approaching the Age Pension age and are worried you’ll be over the thresholds. 

But Centrelink has rules against this. If you give away your income or assets, they may still count towards your income and asset tests. This also applies if you sell them for less than they’re worth.

You can choose to give away any amount and as many gifts as you like. If the total value of your gifts is more than the value of the gifting-free area, your Age Pension payment may be affected.

You can gift up to $10,000 in one financial year and $30,000 over five financial years. The $30,000 can’t include more than $10,000 in a single financial year. 

6. Downsizing your home

Similarly, it can be tempting to downsize your home to free up some cash, but this can be a bad idea too. 

The property you live in is generally not included as part of the Age Pension asset test. But if you decide to downsize to something smaller and either invest or bank the rest, it could push you over the asset thresholds. 

For example, if you sell your $2 million home and downsize to a $500,000 property, that $1.5 million difference then becomes an assessable asset under Age Pension rules.

The post 6 costly mistakes that will slash your Age Pension payment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 25% per annum: Is the BetaShares Cybersecurity ETF (HACK) a buy today?
• Ramsay Health Care vs Sonic Healthcare: Which healthcare stock is better value?
• 3 ASX shares tipped to fly 109% to 322% higher
• If I invest $10,000 in CBA shares today, what could they be worth in October 2027?
• CAR Group vs Seek: Which ASX 200 stock is better value?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Despite never actually owning it (much to my detriment), the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) has long been one of my favourite exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the ASX.

For one, it exclusively invests in the world’s most exciting cybersecurity companies. That’s an arena I’m sure we can all agree has a reasonably bright future in front of it.

For another, this ETF has one of the best ticker codes on our markets, hands down.

But let’s get to the really impressive stuff.

This ASX ETF has consistently generated some of the best returns among funds on the Australian market. To illustrate, let’s get into the latest figures. So as of 31 August, the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF had returned an astonishing 24.85% over the previous 12 months. That’s just one year, you might say. No investment, particularly one so grounded in the volatile tech space, should be judged from one year’s performance. Fair enough. So consider that over the past three years, HACK units have delivered a near-identical result, delivering an average of 24.28% per annum.

That stretches to a still-respectable 14.76% per annum over the past five years, and to 19.04% per annum over ten. That’s a truly astonishing track record. An annual return of 19.04% is enough to turn a $10,000 investment into over $66,000 in a decade. True wealth-building stuff.

So with that in mind, can we call this ASX ETF a best buy for the ASX today?

Is this high-flying BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF still a buy today?

Well, I would say that it is. This ASX ETF’s extraordinary performance indicates that its process is a successful one. As we’ve mentioned, cybersecurity is an industry that is not going anywhere. In fact, we can comfortably argue that its importance continues to grow every day. With more and more personal, business, and government interactions moving online, cybersecurity will only become an increasingly essential service. And given how damaging a hack or intrusion can be to an entity’s reputation, individuals, companies, and governments are likely to become even more willing to spend whatever it takes to protect their customers, clients, and reputations.

The shares that HACK holds in its portfolio are truly some of the best in the business. On the latest data, these include the likes of CrowdStrike Holdings, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Broadcom, Okta, and Cloudflare. All top-tier companies that have shown that they have what it takes to capture and keep customers.

HACK will always be a volatile ETF – you shouldn’t be surprised to see its units take a big hit whenever there are wobbles in the market. But even so, its track record and exposure to one of the world’s hottest growth industries make it, at least in my view, a top buy for any long-term investor today.

The post 25% per annum: Is the BetaShares Cybersecurity ETF (HACK) a buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy in October
• 10 top ASX ETFs to watch in 2027
• 5 ASX ETFs for Aussie investors to buy and hold for 20 years
• This ASX ETF has beaten the market over the last 10 years
• How much passive income can I earn off a $550,000 superannuation balance?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Broadcom, Cloudflare, CrowdStrike, Fortinet, and Okta. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CrowdStrike and Okta. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Ramsay Health Care vs Sonic Healthcare shares

If you’re weighing up Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) and Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares, you’re not alone — these two are among the brightest lights in Australian healthcare. Yet, their business models, dividend policies and current market valuations are quite different. For value-seeking investors, there’s a lot to unpack, so let’s compare their fundamentals, dividend history, recent share price performance and what I think is the smarter buy right now.

The case for Ramsay Health Care

Ramsay Health Care is one of the world’s largest private hospital operators, with a vast portfolio spanning around 500 facilities — including hospitals, day surgeries, clinics, and mental health services — across 11 countries. Beyond Australia, Ramsay has substantial operations in Europe and the UK, and, according to its company profile, derives most of its revenue from Australia and Europe. This makes it a genuine global healthcare heavyweight, with a long track record in running complex, capital-intensive medical infrastructure.

A couple of key numbers stand out. First, Ramsay’s market cap sits at $12.58 billion, above Sonic’s, marking it as the larger of the two companies. Its P/E ratio is 41.00, reflecting a rich valuation, especially compared to most of the market. Dividend hunters will note its 1.63% yield, but every cent of that payout is fully franked (100%). Its dividend per share for the most recent period was $0.97, again, all franked.

The case for Sonic Healthcare

Sonic Healthcare is a global leader in pathology and diagnostic services. It’s the largest private medical laboratory and pathology provider in key markets including Australia, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. Most of Sonic’s revenue comes from pathology, but the business also has a significant footprint in diagnostic imaging and medical centre operations in Australia, making it a diversified diagnostics powerhouse.

Fundamentally, Sonic’s story right now is quite different to Ramsay’s. Its market capitalisation is $9.20 billion, a fair bit smaller than Ramsay’s. But here’s where things get interesting for value investors: its P/E ratio is 15.44, easily less than half of Ramsay’s, suggesting Sonic shares are much more modestly valued at current earnings levels. Its dividend yield is a chunky 5.69%, and while only 60% franked for the latest payout, that’s still a potentially appealing income stream. Recent dividends have totalled $1.08 per share.

Valuation comparison

With several key differences apparent, here’s how Ramsay and Sonic line up on the numbers that matter for value-focused investors:

Metric	Ramsay Health Care	Sonic Healthcare
Market Cap	$12.58 billion	$9.20 billion
P/E Ratio	41.00	15.44
Dividend Yield	1.63% (100% franked)	5.69% (60% franked)
Dividend per share (most recent)	$0.97	$1.08
Earnings per share	1.358	1.230
Year to Date Return	64.7%	-11.2%

Note: Ramsay’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

Simply put, if I’m judging pure valuation metrics, Sonic Healthcare looks much more attractively priced relative to its earnings and offers a much higher dividend yield, albeit with less franking than Ramsay. Ramsay’s high P/E suggests the market is baking in a lot of future growth or sees it as much lower risk — or possibly a bit of both.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to1 October 2026:

• Ramsay Health Care closed at $54.48 on 1 Oct 2026, down 2.16% on the day but boasting impressive momentum over 2026 with a year-to-date return of 64.7%.
• Sonic Healthcare finished at $18.61 on 1 Oct 2026, also dropping 2.00% that day, and is down 11.2% for the year to date.

Over the past year, Ramsay has surged ahead and Sonic has gone backwards. For investors looking for momentum and the market’s latest vote of confidence, Ramsay clearly wears the crown for 2026 so far.

Which is the better buy?

For me, as a value-seeking investor, Sonic Healthcare is the better buy right now. Here’s why: Sonic’s P/E ratio of 15.44 is far lower than Ramsay’s 41.00, and yet its earnings per share are pretty similar. Even better, Sonic’s dividend yield is well over three times Ramsay’s (5.69% vs 1.63%), though franking is only 60% versus Ramsay’s full 100%.

Ramsay has had a great run this year, reflected in its huge year-to-date return, but that’s precisely why I’d be cautious about buying it now – it’s probably priced for perfection. Sonic, meanwhile, has lagged in the share price stakes and may well be out of favour, but it’s this relative unloved status that gives it value appeal. Its business is less capital intensive, cash-generative and, in my eyes, looks like a classic opportunity for patient investors to scoop up a top ASX healthcare stock at a fair valuation, with a strong, fully-funded dividend yield to boot.

So, if I had to buy one for value today, my pick would be Sonic Healthcare.

The post Ramsay Health Care vs Sonic Healthcare: Which healthcare stock is better value? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Where I’d invest in ASX shares after the recent RBA rate rise
• Buy, hold, sell: Woodside, Life360, Ramsay Health Care shares
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• Telix Pharmaceuticals vs Ramsay Healthcare: Which ASX healthcare stock made investors richer in 2026?

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX shares are climbing higher on Tuesday afternoon as investor jitters calm, oil prices fall, and gold edges higher.

Here are three ASX shares that brokers expect will help drive the share market higher over the next 12 months.

And one of them is tipped to jump 322%!

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

The diversified financial services company’s shares have consistently and continually tumbled lower over the past year. 

At the time of writing, they’re trading for $2.68 each, down around 55% for the year to date and 63% lower than an all-time high in October last year. 

It looks like the share price decline is mostly investors taking their gains off the table after a strong rally through 2025.

The company itself continues to perform well. Its FY26 results showed Generation Development Group is performing well operationally. The company posted record funds under management of $6.5 billion in August, which is a 37% year-on-year increase. 

Its underlying NPAT also increased 21% to $40.7 million, and group revenue climbed 23% to $178.7 million.

The company also said that it thinks it is well-placed to benefit from strong structural tailwinds across superannuation, retirement, and managed account markets in FY27. Management expects continued FUM growth, supported by adviser adoption and stable product revenue margins.

Brokers are very optimistic that the shares can stage a turnaround. Market Index data shows that all brokers agree on a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. The $5.62 average target price implies about 109% upside at the time of writing.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The ASX lithium shares are down 2% for the day at the time of writing, trading at 27 cents each. That’s a 28% decline for the year to date, but the shares are still trading around 30% higher than 12 months ago.

In late August, the company reported strong lithium drill results at its Bolt Cutter Central and Tabba Tabba projects in WA. The company has identified multiple high-grade lithium drill intersections across Bolt Cutter Central and Tabba Tabba, including 16m at 1.5% Li₂O and 13.9m at 2.0% Li₂O.

The company is focused on delivering a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for Bolt Cutter Central and advancing technical studies at Tabba Tabba, set for release in the second half of 2026. 

Wildcat is also targeting key new drill regions for further resource upgrades in the months ahead.

Experts are optimistic that Wildcat can reach its Tabba Tabba lithium project milestones and expand its Bolt Cutter discovery.

The company is also expected to benefit from an improving lithium market. If lithium demand from EVs and battery storage keeps rising, the ASX shares could benefit from a boom in demand.

Market Index data shows that all brokers have a strong buy rating on the shares. The $1.15 average target price implies a potential 322% upside, at the time of writing. 

Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)

Deep Yellow is an ASX uranium development company with a portfolio of Australian and global projects. At the time of writing, its shares are down around 0.5% for the day, to an annual low of $1.09 a piece. For the year to date, the shares are now down around 44% and 46% lower than 12 months ago.

Rising bond yields and higher interest rates have acted as strong headwinds for ASX uranium shares over the past year. Uranium developers like Deep Yellow need upfront capital, and it takes several years to become profitable. Investors have also been rotating towards more stable or defensive assets in times of volatility.

It’s not all bad news, though. In August, the company announced it had completed two major milestones at its flagship Tumas Project in Namibia. These included a long-term water supply agreement and finalisation of local ownership arrangements. The company is now focused on successfully progressing its Tumas Project towards a Final Investment Decision in Q4 2026.

Brokers are also bullish that the ASX shares can keep climbing. Market Index data shows the majority have a strong buy rating, and the $2.28 average target price implies an upside of around 109% at the time of writing.

The post 3 ASX shares tipped to fly 109% to 322% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.