Tag: Stock pick

EchoIQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ) shares crashed 48% on Wednesday morning and closed at 64 cents.

The medical technology company told the market that the United States Food and Drug Administration had issued a Not Substantially Equivalent determination for EchoSolv HF.

EchoSolv HF is its heart failure decision support software.

Company shares traded as low as 47 cents during the session.

More than 53 million changed hands, against a one-month average of under 2.9 million.

Why EIQ shares fell so hard

The company applied through the 510(k) pathway.

That route requires a company to show its device is substantially equivalent to one already on the market.

A Not Substantially Equivalent determination means the FDA did not accept that argument.

Morgans had made EIQ’s dependence on getting this approval explicit only a week earlier.

The broker retained a speculative buy rating and a $1.85 price target at the time.

The market is still waiting on an FDA decision for its Heart Failure (HF) application, which remains the key near-term catalyst and value inflection driver. Despite delays, we maintain a positive view on approval. Speculative Buy retained and A$1.85 p/s target price unchanged.

What the company has actually said

Echo IQ has not abandoned the application.

Upon receipt of the FDA’s determination, Echo IQ, together with its US regulatory and legal advisors, its study partners, and independent statistical experts, has commenced a detailed review of the regulatory matters raised. The Company believes there is a pathway forward for clearance under the 510(k) route and intends to engage with the FDA to further clarify the matters identified in the determination and assess all administrative and regulatory options available to Echo IQ.

Managing director Dustin Haines was measured about the setback.

Our immediate priority is to understand the matters raised in full and determine the most efficient pathway forward. We remain confident in the underlying technology, the clinical rationale for EchoSolv HF and the significant opportunity to improve the identification of patients at risk of heart failure.

Two things soften the blow.

The company holds more than $105 million in cash, so it is unlikely to run out of cash any time soon.

What’s more, the company possesses a separate EchoSolv AS platform that detects aortic stenosis.

This product is already FDA-cleared, and its commercialisation is unaffected.

What this does to the Pro Medicus deal

Here is the detail that matters most.

In June, Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) agreed to invest an initial $10 million through secured convertible notes.

It also took the right to subscribe for a further $10 million once EchoSolv HF was cleared.

As such, that second tranche is now tied to an approval that has just been refused.

However, the reseller arrangement still stands.

This agreement gives Echo IQ access to Pro Medicus customers across US health systems, and it applies to the cleared product.

Where EIQ shares go from here

Context is worth keeping in mind.

Even after halving, EIQ shares are up 124% over twelve months. They remain 392% higher for the calendar year.

Investors who bought over a year ago would still be very happy.

Foolish takeaway for EchoIQ shares

The pathway forward is a regulatory one.

EchoIQ as a company now operates somewhere between a cleared aortic stenosis business and a heart failure product with no approval date.

Before investigating further, I would want to see the company’s opinion of the FDA’s specific objections.

The post EchoIQ shares just crashed 48%. What happens now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I think these are the best ASX shares to buy and hold
• Why has this ASX biotech fallen nearly 50% today?
• Expert names 2 beaten-down ASX All Ords healthcare shares to buy today
• 7 ASX healthcare stock picks from Bell Potter
• Forget CSL shares. 3 ASX healthcare stocks with bigger upside

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. 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.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares are trading about 60% below where brokers think they should be, and the difference has a very specific cause.

The stock closed Wednesday at $19.64, whereas the average analyst target price is $31.72. Every broker covering the company rates it a buy or strong buy.

Why Life360 shares fell so far

The de-rating started well before the latest result.

The shares peaked at $55.44 in early October and then fell to an annual low of $17.91 by mid-April.

Most of that was sector-wide, as investors sold high-multiple technology names on fears that artificial intelligence could erode software business models.

ASX tech stocks then rallied through June and early August on a strong first quarter.

The second quarter update in mid-August ended that recovery, and the shares shed 30% of their value in the weeks that followed.

What the second quarter showed

Despite this pullback, second quarter numbers were at a record high.

Total revenue rose 38% year-on-year to US$159.0 million, and adjusted EBITDA increased 53% to US$31.1 million.

Annualised monthly revenue grew 29% to US$537.2 million and paying circles jumped 27% to 3.2 million.

Advertising revenue reached a record US$22 million, up 315%, while operating cash flow grew 79% to US$23.8 million.

Global monthly active users rose 4.6 million in the quarter to approximately 102.4 million.

Chief executive Lauren Antonoff framed the quarter around the user gowth milestone.

This quarter, Life360 crossed 100 million monthly active users—proof of the trust millions of families place in us to stay connected, coordinated, and safe. Disciplined execution drove strong Paying Circle growth and put MAU back on the growth trajectory we outlined last quarter.

However, operating expenses also rose 43% to US$127 million, largely on growth and integration costs from the Nativo acquisition.

The two details that sank the result

The first is guidance.

Life360 left FY26 revenue guidance at US$650 million to US$685 million and adjusted EBITDA at US$130 million to US$140 million.

Shareholders had grown used to upgrades, but received a reiteration instead.

The second is the quality of the earnings beat.

Bell Potter noted that paying circles grew by 185,000 against its 155,000 forecast and consensus of 136,000, and that adjusted EBITDA comfortably beat its US$25.7 million estimate.

Roughly US$4 million of that beat, however, came from a tariff refund.

Underlying adjusted EBITDA was therefore closer to US$27 million.

What brokers say Life360 shares are worth

Bell Potter kept its buy rating and trimmed its target slightly.

The net impact on our target price is a 3% decrease to $34.00 which has all been driven by the DCF due to modest downgrades and changes in working capital assumptions. We retain our BUY recommendation and note we expect the buyback to be more active this quarter after only modestly commencing last quarter.

Every analyst covering the company currently holds a buy or strong buy rating.

The $31.72 average target implies about 60% upside, and the most bullish sits above $40.

Foolish takeaway

The bull case for Life360 shares is that a company growing revenue at 38% should not trade on 25 times earnings.

The bear case is that the market no longer believes guidance will be beaten, and a tariff refund flatters the results.

I tend to agree more with the brokers than the share price, because paying circles and advertising are both compounding faster than the cost base.

In the short-term, however, Life360 shares will stay volatile until management either upgrades guidance or explains why it cannot.

The post Life360 shares are 60% below broker targets. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 3 ASX shares I’d buy after the most recent sell-off
• Brokers rate these 5 ASX shares as a strong buy, and tip upsides of 28% to 62%
• How to build a winning ASX share portfolio and create wealth
• Down 55%: Should I buy Life360 shares in September?
• Are these ASX tech stocks finally a buy again?

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Buying an ASX share is easy. Finding one I would be comfortable leaving alone for many years is much harder.

For a genuine buy-and-hold investment, I want a strong business today with plenty of opportunity still ahead.

These three could be best buys for me.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus is an ASX share that has already grown enormously, but I still think its best years could be ahead.

The healthcare technology company develops the Visage imaging platform used by hospitals and radiology groups to view and manage medical images.

Despite winning contracts with some of the United States’ largest hospital networks, management has previously estimated that Pro Medicus still holds only around 11% of the market.

That leaves a substantial number of hospitals still available to win.

There is also more to the opportunity than radiology. Pro Medicus is expanding further into cardiology and broader enterprise imaging, potentially allowing its software to become more deeply embedded across hospital systems.

Winning major healthcare customers can take time, but once the platform becomes central to clinical workflows, I think those relationships can be extremely valuable.

That makes Pro Medicus the type of business I would be comfortable holding through short-term share price volatility.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne could also be one of the best ASX shares for a long holding period.

Its enterprise software is used by councils, universities, government organisations, and other large institutions to manage important day-to-day operations.

These customers generally do not change core software systems lightly. Moving financial, payroll, property, or other critical processes to another provider can be expensive and disruptive. That helps TechnologyOne build long customer relationships and recurring revenue.

I also like that the business still has opportunities outside Australia. Its expansion in the United Kingdom gives TechnologyOne another sizeable market to pursue, while continued investment in cloud software and artificial intelligence could increase the value of its products for existing customers.

Overall, I think TechnologyOne has many of the qualities I want from an ASX share I would own for a decade or longer.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is another ASX share I would be comfortable owning for the long term.

Its realestate.com.au platform has become deeply embedded in how Australians search for property, giving the company a very strong position with both buyers and sellers.

That large audience is a major advantage. Property agents want to advertise where buyers are already looking, while buyers keep returning because that is where the listings are. I think that creates a network effect that is difficult for competitors to replicate.

The Australian housing market will always move through stronger and weaker periods, so listings activity can fluctuate.

But over a long timeframe, I think REA Group’s dominant position and ability to earn more from its audience give the business plenty of room to keep growing.

Foolish takeaway

I would not necessarily expect these ASX shares to outperform every year.

What I like is that each company has a strong position today and a clear opportunity to become much larger over the next decade.

If I could buy Pro Medicus, TechnologyOne, and REA Group at sensible valuations, I would be happy to hold them for years and give those growth stories time to develop.

The post Why I think these are the best ASX shares to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• EchoIQ shares just crashed 48%. What happens now?
• Expert names 2 beaten-down ASX All Ords healthcare shares to buy today
• 7 ASX healthcare stock picks from Bell Potter
• Forget CSL shares. 3 ASX healthcare stocks with bigger upside
• 6 ASX shares tipped by brokers to rise 34% to 88%

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. 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.

Uranium stocks have made headlines this week, with global tailwinds providing long-term upside for producers. 

In particular, Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has drawn significant attention from brokers.

Why the increased attention for uranium stocks?

As reported by my colleague Mark Verhoeven earlier this week, the spot price of uranium is hovering near US$90 a pound. 

However, more importantly, the long-term contract price is US$97 a pound, its highest level in more than eighteen years.

This is being driven by expectations of a gap between supply and demand. 

On the supply side, some of the world’s biggest uranium producers are facing production challenges and delays, making it harder to increase supply. 

At the same time, demand for uranium is expected to rise significantly as more countries build and rely on nuclear power. 

Utilities companies are already locking in uranium supplies years in advance because they want to make sure they have enough fuel for their reactors. 

If demand keeps growing while supply remains tight, uranium prices could stay strong or rise, which could benefit companies that produce or develop uranium projects. 

This is why investors are paying more attention to ASX-listed uranium stocks.

Why Paladin is a winner 

This is positive for Paladin Energy because it is already producing uranium through its Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia. 

If global uranium demand continues to rise while supply remains tight, uranium prices could increase, allowing the uranium stock to potentially generate more revenue and profits. 

In simple terms, it benefits if uranium becomes more valuable because it is already a producer and can sell into that stronger market.

Brokers tipping big upside 

Thanks to these emerging tailwinds, brokers are tipping healthy gains over the next 12 months for this ASX uranium stock. 

It closed trading yesterday at $11.73 per share. 

The team at Canaccord Genuity has a buy call on Paladin Energy shares with a $15.80 target.

This indicates a 34% upside from current levels. 

Elsewhere, Morgans has an accumulate rating and $13.30 price target, indicating 13% upside. 

The current Patterson Lake South (PLS) resource may only represent part of the story – The mine plan supports ~9Mlbpa over nine years, yet mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike, drilling density declines materially below 350m. We expect the resource and mine life to increase materially in time. Simply simple – PLS is one of the highest-grade undeveloped uranium projects globally, but its development plan is surprisingly conventional, with a TBM decline, proven mining methods, a standard Athabasca processing flowsheet and uncomplicated tailings storage reducing technical risk.

The post Brokers are confident in the outlook for this uranium stock tipping 34% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 6 ASX shares tipped by brokers to rise 34% to 88%
• Uranium is back. Three ASX shares that give you exposure
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares slipped 2% to $171.21 on Wednesday, but that hardly dents their remarkable recovery. The ASX biotech stock has surged 30% over the past month and is now up about 90% from its 11-year low of $90 in June.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lost 4% in the past month.

After such a dramatic rebound, investors are asking a simple question: how much further can CSL shares go?

Why have CSL shares soared?

The catalyst was CSL’s FY26 result. On the surface, it looked ugly, with the $80 billion biotech reporting a US$2.6 billion net loss after tax.

Investors, however, quickly looked beyond the headline figure. The loss included US$7.1 billion of pre-tax impairments and US$799 million in restructuring costs, much of which was non-cash. Most impairments related to CSL Vifor intangibles and under-utilised property, plant and equipment.

Investors had already received a warning in May, when CSL flagged around US$5 billion of impairments and cut its FY26 guidance.

Excluding exceptional items, underlying NPATA fell just 2% to US$3.1 billion. Revenue declined 1% to US$15.8 billion, but still beat analyst expectations.

The result effectively gave investors what they wanted: a reset year, a cleaner balance sheet and an outlook that wasn’t as bad as feared.

Could FY27 send CSL shares higher?

The bull case now centres on FY27.

CSL expects underlying NPAT to grow approximately 5%, ahead of consensus expectations of around 2% growth. Behring is expected to deliver mid-single-digit growth, with immunoglobulins forecast to increase at a mid-to-high single-digit rate.

The biggest challenge remains Vifor, where revenue is expected to plunge about 25% as iron generics enter the market.

Consensus estimates suggest CSL could generate earnings per share of roughly $9.00 in FY27, rising to $9.50 in FY28 and $10.10 in FY29.

At $171.21, CSL shares are valued at around 19 times forecast FY27 earnings. That’s not cheap, but it arguably looks reasonable for a global healthcare leader returning to earnings growth.

By FY29, the valuation falls to roughly 17 times forecast earnings if those estimates are achieved.

What do brokers think?

Brokers aren’t uniformly convinced the recovery has further to run. Of 19 analysts tracked by TradingView, 10 rate CSL shares a hold, while nine have a buy or strong-buy rating.

The average 12-month price target is $173.04, barely above the current share price.

There’s a huge spread between individual forecasts. The most bullish target is $206.76, implying another 21% upside. The lowest sits at $131.49, suggesting roughly 23% downside.

Macquarie is among the most cautious, with a neutral rating and target of just over $133. UBS is more optimistic at $181, while Morgan Stanley has a $172 target.

Foolish takeaway

CSL has staged an extraordinary recovery, but the easy gains may already have been made.

The business is emerging from a difficult period with a cleaner balance sheet and expectations for improving earnings. However, the broker targets suggest the market remains divided over how quickly that recovery will translate into shareholder returns.

At around 19 times FY27 earnings, CSL shares aren’t screamingly cheap. Investors buying today are effectively betting that the company’s earnings recovery will beat expectations.

If it does, there’s potentially more upside. If growth disappoints, the recent 90% rebound leaves plenty of room for the shares to fall.

The post CSL shares are up 90%. How much higher can they go? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• The ASX 200 is down nearly 4% in a month. Is the sell-off getting serious?
• Aussie stocks are getting harder to pick. Here’s why
• How much passive income can I earn off a $550,000 superannuation balance?
• 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8%

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Superannuation has become a highly effective tool for investors to generate returns at a lower tax rate. It can be a very effective way for investors wanting passive income.

Pleasingly, superannuation has a lower tax rate than many companies, trusts and individuals. The way superannuation works also means it’s very easy to invest for the long term.

In my view, receiving passive income is one of the top benefits of owning shares. It’s really rewarding to receive passive income from owning ASX shares.

Getting paid money each year for no ongoing effort seems like a compelling arrangement to me.

One of the best benefits about superannuation is that Australians lose less of their passive income return to tax. I think it’s important to remember that it’s the after-tax passive income that investors can use.

If an Australian working full-time receives passive income in their name, they could lose a third (or more) of that dividend income to income tax, which makes the passive income return less appealing.

Following proposed taxation changes earlier this year, superannuation could be the best place to invest for passive income because of the lower tax rate in the accumulation phase of wealth building, compared to an individual owning income-paying assets as a full-time earner.

In retirement, an Australian’s superannuation tax rate could be as low as 0%. We can’t get a lower tax rate than that!

Of course, every household’s taxation situation may be different, so I’ll just look at targeting a particular dividend goal and ignore tax rates for the rest of the article.

How much is needed in superannuation for $70,000 of annual passive income?

Receiving $70,000 of annual passive income sounds great to me. I’d like to get there one day, though I’m a long way off the goal.

Australian superannuation investors should think about what sort of investments they want to own and the scale of the dividend yield of that asset.

In my opinion, ASX shares are the best choice for passive income, partly because of the great franking credits that are attached to dividends.

Based on all of the above, we can see that the required superannuation balance to earn $70,000 each year depends on the dividend yield of the portfolio.

For example, if a portfolio has a 5% dividend yield, it’d require $1.4 million, a 4% dividend yield would require $1.75 million and a 7% dividend yield would require a $1 million portfolio.

It depends on which ASX shares investors choose.

The types of ASX dividend shares I’d buy

There are lots of appealing ideas on the ASX that can deliver good dividend yields.

For example, we can choose wonderful operating companies, fantastic listed investment companies (LICs) and impressive yet discounted real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Some of the names I’d consider with low-to-medium dividend yields but with good growth and/or payout stability include L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF), Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) and APA Group (ASX: APA).

Some of the businesses with larger dividend yields include Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) and WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG).

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $70,000 annual passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Could a $1 million superannuation balance provide $50,000 a year in retirement?
• How much passive income can I earn off a $550,000 superannuation balance?
• 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8%
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Hearts And Minds Investments, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wcm Global Growth. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, Telstra Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) share price is in focus today after the company announced a major A$1.1 billion subordinated convertible notes offering, designed to further strengthen its liquidity and fund its Australian data centre development pipeline.

What did NEXTDC report?

• Launched A$1.1bn fixed coupon subordinated convertible notes due 2031
• Notes carry an indicative cash coupon of 1.25%–1.75% per annum, below current senior debt levels
• Initial conversion price to be set 32.5%–37.5% above reference share price, with additional capped call option up to 70% premium
• Pro forma liquidity at 30 June 2026 would have been approximately A$9.8bn post-offer
• Proceeds intended for development pipeline, capped call options, and general corporate purposes

What else do investors need to know?

NEXTDC’s new convertible notes offer more flexibility and carry a lower cash interest rate than the company’s existing senior debt. This lets NEXTDC fund major infrastructure projects while preserving balance sheet strength and headroom for further growth.

The notes are expected to be listed on the Vienna Multilateral Trading Facility and target institutional investors, rather than retail or ASX listing. A “Delta Placement” of up to A$330 million in existing shares will support initial hedging by note investors and sets the reference price for conversion.

NEXTDC’s pro forma liquidity position rises to nearly A$9.8 billion, helping its ambitions to continue expanding its pipeline of data centres across Australia and maintaining operational resilience.

What did NEXTDC management say?

Craig Scroggie, CEO and Managing Director, said:

We are proactively enhancing balance sheet flexibility with efficient capital and continuing to deliver on our capital strategy. The convertible structure funds the next phase of our development pipeline at a lower cash coupon than senior debt and the capped call transactions effectively raise the conversion price and therefore reduce the economic cost of dilution that would otherwise occur. The Offering preserves our senior debt capacity and our balance sheet flexibility to meet the continued growth in customer demand for the capacity NEXTDC is building.

What’s next for NEXTDC?

NEXTDC intends to use the new capital to deliver on its Australian development pipeline, cover transaction costs, and maintain corporate flexibility. The company says the convertible note structure and capped call options will help manage dilution risks while keeping funding costs down.

By continuing to diversify its funding sources and enhance its liquidity, NEXTDC aims to support strong customer-led growth and maintain a robust balance sheet—positioning the business well for further expansion both in Australia and internationally.

NEXTDC Limited share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, NEXTDC shares have declined 23%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post NEXTDC launches $1.1bn convertible notes to fund data centre growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• NextDC shares have fallen 14% in a month. Is the AI data centre boom over?
• 6 ASX shares tipped by brokers to rise 34% to 88%
• Could this be one of the best AI investments on the ASX?

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 summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

It was another red day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this hump day. After yesterday’s decisive plunge, investors came back this morning with a spring in their steps, allowing the market to open in positive territory. But that didn’t last long, with investors quickly getting cold feet and pulling the ASX 200 into the red soon after.

By the time trading closed, the index had dropped 0.11% to close at 8,911.4 points.

This miserly session for the local markets came after a horrid return to trading for the US markets following the American long weekend.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) clearly didn’t get a proper holiday, dropping 1.18% last night.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did better, but still lost 0.32%.

But let’s get back to ASX shares now and examine how today’s tough trading conditions affected the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

Most of the ASX’s sectors were dragged lower this Wednesday. But there were a few exceptions.

First though, it was, somewhat ironically, healthcare shares that had the unhealthiest day. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) had tanked 1.5% by the close of trading.

Consumer discretionary stocks also had a shocker, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) plunging 1.14%.

Gold shares were no safe haven either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) cratered 1.06% today.

Communications stocks suffered a steep drop too, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 1.04% dive.

Financial shares were right in front of communications. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) sank 1.02%.

Next came consumer staples stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) retreating 0.9%.

Tech shares had a day to forget as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw its value cut by 0.71%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren’t granted an exception either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.57% dip.

But that’s it for the red sectors, so let’s get to the winners.

Leading said winners were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) roared higher today, surging 1.73%.

Mining shares also ran hot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soaring 1.51%.

Utilities stocks were in demand as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifted 1.01% today.

Finally, industrial shares got out unscathed, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.06% bounce.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold stock Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) was our chart-topper this hump day. Minerals 260 shares exploded 10.37% higher this session to finish at 90.5 cents apiece.

This big move came despite no fresh news or announcements from the company.

Here’s how the other top stocks landed their planes today:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)	$0.905	10.37%
Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)	$4.66	7.13%
Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)	$16.00	5.47%
FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM)	$1.90	4.12%
PDI Gold Ltd (ASX: PDI)	$4.88	4.05%
SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)	$3.95	3.40%
4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)	$3.46	3.28%
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)	$64.58	3.25%
Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV)	$8.00	3.23%
Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL)	$4.01	3.08%

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.

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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 recommended BHP Group and Srg Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A big dividend yield can be hard to ignore.

When an ASX share is offering 7%, 8%, or even more, the potential income can look much more attractive than a company yielding 3% or 4%.

But if I were building a passive income portfolio for the long term, the starting yield would only be part of the decision.

I want the income to grow

A lower yield can become much more valuable if the dividend keeps increasing.

Imagine buying a company yielding 4% today. If its earnings continue growing and management steadily lifts the dividend, the cash received from that original investment could be considerably higher several years from now.

That is particularly important for investors who do not need the income immediately.

Inflation means a fixed dividend becomes less valuable over time. An income stream that can rise with earnings has a much better chance of maintaining its purchasing power.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) is the type of business I would consider from that perspective.

Supermarket spending is relatively resilient, and Woolworths has opportunities to grow earnings through population growth, online retail, and continued improvements across its operations.

Its yield may not grab as much attention as some higher-yielding ASX shares, but I would be interested in what the dividend could look like years from now.

A huge yield can sometimes be a warning

Dividend yields rise when share prices fall.

That means an unusually high yield can sometimes appear because investors believe the company’s earnings or dividend are under pressure.

If a share offers a 9% yield and subsequently cuts its dividend in half, the original headline number becomes fairly meaningless.

This is why I would spend more time understanding the business than comparing dividend percentages.

Can earnings comfortably support the payment? Does the company need substantial capital to keep operating? Is debt manageable? Does management have room to increase the dividend if profits grow?

Those questions tell me much more about the quality of the income.

Infrastructure can provide another route

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) is another business I think can make sense for long-term income investors.

Its toll-road network benefits as traffic grows over time, while toll increases can provide another source of revenue growth.

That creates the potential for distributions to increase as the underlying business expands.

Infrastructure also brings something different to a portfolio dominated by banks and traditional dividend shares.

I would still pay close attention to debt and valuation, particularly because infrastructure businesses can be sensitive to interest rates.

But the ability to generate growing cash flows over a long period is what would interest me most.

Income and growth can work together

I do not think passive income investing needs to mean sacrificing capital growth.

A strong business that reinvests part of its profits effectively can grow earnings, increase its dividend, and become more valuable at the same time.

That combination is what I would ideally want.

It may produce less cash in the first year than simply buying the highest-yielding shares available, but I think the long-term result can be far more attractive.

Foolish takeaway

If I were building an ASX passive income portfolio, I would not rank shares by dividend yield and start buying from the top.

I would look for businesses that can support their payments and have a reasonable chance of increasing them over time.

For me, a 4% yield that keeps growing could prove far more valuable than an 8% yield that eventually disappears.

The post Why I’d rather buy growing dividends than chase the highest ASX yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Top 3 ASX dividend shares to buy if interest rates go up
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• These ASX shares benefit from a high Aussie dollar

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

It has been a horrible year for WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shareholders.

The logistics software stock is down another 1.39% to $34.76 on Wednesday, taking its 12-month decline to around 63%.

WiseTech shares are also down almost 50% in 2026 and miles below their 52-week high of $99.53.

But at $34.76, I think the sell-off has gone way too far.

Yes, WiseTech still has plenty to prove, but the business is growing, generating cash, and remains a global logistics leader.

If management delivers on its FY27 targets, I think WiseTech shares could have plenty of room to recover from here.

Here’s why.

The business is still growing

You wouldn’t know it from the share price, but WiseTech is still putting up some very strong numbers.

FY26 revenue jumped 79% to US$1.4 billion following the e2open acquisition, while underlying net profit increased 29% to US$313.5 million.

What really catches my attention is the cash flow.

Underlying free cash flow climbed 67% to US$489.6 million, giving WiseTech plenty of firepower to invest in growth, reduce debt, and keep improving the business.

The e2open deal is also starting to show some early benefits.

Management delivered around US$115 million of annualised cost savings during FY26, including US$64 million from e2open.

To me, that’s a pretty encouraging start.

If WiseTech can keep pulling costs out while growing the combined business, I think earnings and cash flow could move much higher over the next few years.

Margins could be heading higher

WiseTech is expecting FY27 revenue of US$1.48 billion to US$1.54 billion, which would represent growth of 6% to 10%.

But I think the earnings outlook is where things get much more interesting.

Underlying EBITDA is forecast to rise between 12% and 21% to US$725 million to US$780 million, with margins expected to improve to between 49% and 51%.

There’s also plenty happening underneath those numbers.

WiseTech currently has 12 large global freight forwarder rollouts underway, while more than 95% of customers have moved onto CargoWise Value Packs.

SME signings have also increased around 55% since the new pricing model was introduced.

That gives me plenty of confidence heading into FY27.

Brokers see huge upside

I am not the only one who is bullish on WiseTech at these levels.

According to TipRanks, there are 9 buy ratings and just 1 hold among 10 ranked analysts, with an average price target of $58.12.

That’s around 67% above the current share price.

Morgans has a $62.50 target, Bell Potter is at $65, while Morgan Stanley is even more bullish with a $70 target.

If Morgan Stanley is right, WiseTech shares could more than double from here.

At $34.76, I think the market has already priced in plenty of bad news, while the upside could be significant if earnings keep growing.

The post Down 63%, I think WiseTech shares could be heading for a huge comeback appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX growth shares tipped to return 20% to 77%
• By September 2027, $5,000 invested in WiseTech shares could turn into…
• Xero and Megaport: 2 ASX tech shares the market can’t agree on
• WiseTech shares are down 62%. Why are brokers still bullish?
• Down 62%, are WiseTech shares now a buy, hold or sell?

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