Tag: Stock pick

Investors have learned today what the PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) dividend will be following the release of the FY26 result.

The dividends have been restarted after a weak period for the lithium price. A 121% jump of the realised (sold) price to US$1,488 per tonne helped revenue climb 152% to $1.9 billion and net profit after tax (NPAT) rose 369% to $528 million.

There won’t be many ASX shares with a market capitalisation of more than $10 million that deliver that level of growth during this reporting season.

During the year, and thanks to improving lithium prices and market confidence, the ASX lithium share changed from defensive positioning to growth-focused. This led the business to restart the Ngungaju processing plant and update the study timelines for the P2000 and Colina projects.

The company also noted that the P2000 and Colina project feasibility studies have progressed and the P2000 pre-FID investment of approximately $175 million capital expenditure was approved in June.

PLS dividend announced

The PLS Group board of directors declared a fully franked final dividend of 5 cents per share. This represents a total payment of approximately $161 million to shareholders.

PLS Group said the declared amount is in line with its capital management framework and dividend policy.

The dividend represents a dividend payout ratio of 22% of FY26 adjusted free cash flow. The ASX lithium share noted that adjusted free cash flow is statutory operating cash flow minus tax paid and tax payable, minus sustaining capital (including capitalised waste mine development) and excludes customer prepayments.

When will this be paid?

Before we get to the payment date, we need to look at the ex-dividend date.

The ex-dividend date is the cutoff for entitlement to the upcoming dividend. PLS Group announced that its ex-dividend date is Wednesday, 2 September 2026. Therefore, the last day that investors can invest and gain entitlement to the payout is 1 September 2026 – just over a week away.

Following that, owners of PLS shares will receive the payment into their bank accounts on 24 September 2026.

At the pre-open price, the FY26 dividend represents a dividend yield of 1% excluding franking credits and 1.4% including franking credits. That’s not exactly a huge dividend yield, but the company is deliberately holding onto its cash so it can invest in its growth projects like Colina and P2000.

The company’s capital expenditure is expected to more than double to between $620 million to $685 million for FY27 as the business invests for growth.

The post Everything you need to know about the PLS Group dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• PLS Group posts record FY26 profit, revenue and resumes dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares 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.

Earnings season is rolling on this week, with several prominent S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares dropping their latest numbers today. Amongst those shares was energy stock Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD). Income investors may want to have a read to check out Ampol’s latest dividend, because it’s a doozy.

As we covered this morning, it was a bumper set of numbers that Ampol dropped for the first half of its FY2026. The company reported group earnings of $1.64 billion, up a whopping 152% on what it reported for the first half of FY2025. Net profit after tax (NPAT) (excluding significant Items) roared 376% higher to $857 million, while the company reported a statutory NPAT of $1.36 billion. That was up from a loss of $25 million last year.

But let’s get down to the dividends.

Over the past 12 months, Ampol has doled out a total of $1 per share in dividend payments to its investors. That $1 broke down into an interim dividend of 40 cents per share from last September. As well as a 60 cents per share final dividend from April. As is Ampol’s habit, both of these payments came with full franking credits attached.

Ampol shares lift as new monster dividend unveiled

However, what Ampol unveiled this morning puts those payments to shame. Investors just found out that they can expect an interim dividend of $1.85 per share in 2026, up an astonishing 362.5% over the equivalent payout from 2025. It will come fully franked as well.

Together with that final April dividend, this takes Ampol’s 2026 payouts to a hefty $2.45 per share.

Ampol has nominated 4 September next month as its ex-dividend date for this latest payout. So if investors want to receive this monster Ampol dividend, but don’t yet own shares, they will need to buy some before the close of trade on 3 September. Payment day will then roll aorund on 30 September.

Ampol does not currently offer a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP). As such, shareholders will have no option but to accept this dividend as a cash payment.

At the time of writing, the market has reacted positively to Ampol’s earnings, giving the company’s shares a 2.5% boost up to $40.85 each. At this share price, Ampol is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2.45%. However, this dramatically increased new dividend now gives the company a much-improved forward yield of 6%.

That’s certainly worthy of a closer look if you are a dividend investor looking for income on the ASX today.

The post Everything you need to know about the monster Ampol dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday
• Ampol profit and dividend surge in first-half 2026 results
• 2 ASX blue-chip shares experts rate as compelling
• Ampol Ltd delivers huge earnings jump as supply chain supports profit growth
• ASX 200 energy shares rise 6% as reignited US-Iran conflict continues

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 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.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are creating a buzz today.

Two of the high-profile S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) are charging ahead of the 0.3% gains posted by the benchmark index in late morning trade on Monday, while one is in the red.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest.

Ampol shares jump on dividend boost

Ampol shares are up 2.5% at time of writing, changing hands for $40.85 apiece.

This follows the release of the Aussie fuel supplier’s half year results (H1 2026).

Highlights for the six months include a 152% year-on-year increase in Replacement Cost Operating Profit (RCOP) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to $1.64 billion (excluding significant items).

And on the bottom line, Ampol shares are getting a boost with the company reporting a statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.36 billion, up from a loss of $25 million in H1 2025.

And with profits surging, management declared a fully franked interim dividend of $1.85 per share, up a whopping 362.5% from last year’s interim payout.

Bendigo Bank shares slide on economic growth outlook

Unlike Ampol shares, Bendigo Bank shares are in the red today, down 1.1% at $10.38 each.

That comes as investors study the ASX 200 bank stock’s full year results release.

On the positive front, Bendigo Bank reported a 3.0% year-on-year increase in cash earnings to $530 million for the year. The bank also achieved a statutory net profit after tax of $375 million.

The fully franked final Bendigo Bank dividend of 33 cents per share was in line with last year’s final payout.

However, as with the other ASX 200 banks, investors may be favouring their sell buttons with an eye on a potentially slowing Aussie economy dragging on the Bendigo’s growth outlook.

The company noted:

Cost-of-living pressures due to higher inflation (especially since the Middle East conflict) have led to a sharp fall in consumer sentiment. Three RBA rate hikes, softening property prices and geopolitical events are expected to result in more modest economic growth this financial year.

Which bring us to…

PLS shares leap on return to profit

Joining Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares in the financial headlines on Monday, we find PLS, formerly known as Pilbara Minerals.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 lithium stock are up 7.3%, swapping hands for $5.44 apiece.

That strong performance follows the release of PLS own FY 2026 results.

Investors are responding positively, with PLS reporting a 152% year-on-year increase in revenue to $1.93 billion. PLS achieved a NPAT of $526 million, up from a net loss of $196 million last year.

And passive income investors will be celebrating the return of the PLS dividend. Management declared a final fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share.

PLS suspended its dividend payouts in 2024 amid cratering global lithium prices.

The post Why PLS, Bendigo Bank and Ampol shares are turning heads on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Everything you need to know about the PLS Group dividend
• Everything you need to know about the monster Ampol dividend
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Ampol profit and dividend surge in first-half 2026 results
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank FY26 earnings: profit lifts to $375.1 million, dividend steady

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.27% to 9,086.2 points as earnings season continues on Monday.

Among the 11 market sectors, materials and miners are in the lead today, up 1.7%.

The sector pushed higher amid BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares reaching a new record of $67.72, up 3.9%, in early trading.

The financials sector is the laggard today, down 1%.

Let’s check out some new expert ratings on three ASX 200 sector heavyweights.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is $191.56, down 0.02% today and down 37% over 12 months. 

Pro Medicus shares jumped 7.1% last week after the company released its FY26 results.

The Pro Medicus share price is up 20% since the downtrodden healthcare sector pivoted on 3 June. 

Morgans maintained its accumulate rating on Pro Medicus shares after the report.

Analyst Iain Wilkie said: 

FY26 confirms PME is executing at an even higher level than the market gave it credit for. EBIT margin of 74.9% and constant currency EBIT growth of 30.6% both beat expectations comfortably, with the FX-driven softness in headline revenue a currency story, not a demand or execution one.

Momentum remains broad-based, implementations are ahead of schedule, renewals are a clean sweep, and the pipeline is opening up in new segments rather than just deepening in existing ones.

Looking ahead, FY27 is shaping as a genuine standout year. With four Trinity cohorts and 15 other implementations already banked rather than still ramping, the P&L gets the full run-rate benefit without needing fresh signings just to stand still.

Nothing in the result gives us any pause for change versus our positive view.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

The Fortescue share price is $18.08, up 1.8% today and down 10% over 12 months. 

Morgans has a hold rating on this ASX 200 mining share following the company’s FY26 report last week.

Analyst Adrian Prendergast said: 

A mixed FY26 result from FMG, with higher revenue helping to offset cost increases and elevated admin/R&D to help keep underlying earnings flat.

With the focus on FY27 guidance, Iron Bridge remained a key issue, with the magnetite operation struggling through ramp up and with elevated costs.

Plans for a green steel plant was big news, although difficult to quantify.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is $155.24, down 1.7% today and down 9% over 12 months. 

CBA reported a 7% increase in its cash net profit after tax (NPAT) to $11 billion for FY26.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities has a sell rating on this ASX 200 bank share. 

He explained (courtesy The Bull):

CBA shares deserves to trade at a premium given its dominant retail franchise, strong technology platform, solid deposit base and consistent execution.

However, Australian banking remains a mature industry, with intense competition across mortgages and deposits limiting the potential for outsized earnings growth.

At a premium valuation, investors are paying a higher price for quality, leaving little room for disappointment.

After a substantial re-rating, investors may be better served taking some profits and reallocating capital towards businesses offering stronger growth at more reasonable valuations.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Fortescue, CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low?
• Experts name CBA and these ASX shares as sells today
• How much do you need invested in ASX dividend shares to replace a $90,000 salary?
• ASX 200 healthcare shares soar 9% amid notable FY26 reports from CSL, Pro Medicus
• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 BHP Group and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have continued sliding since the bank’s latest quarterly update.

A new 52-week low naturally makes the shares look more tempting.

But has the investment case improved enough for me to buy?

The valuation has come down

Westpac shares touched a 52-week low of $33.46 on Monday, well below their 52-week high of $43.32.

That represents a decline of almost 23% from the peak and has taken some of the heat out of the valuation.

According to CommSec, analysts currently expect earnings per share of $2.08 in FY26 and $2.15 in FY27. At $33.46, Westpac is trading at around 16 times FY26 earnings and approximately 15.6 times FY27 earnings.

Those numbers look considerably more reasonable to me than they did when the shares were above $40.

Consensus forecasts also point to fully franked dividends of $1.54 per share in FY26 and $1.55 in FY27, so investors are still being offered a healthy stream of income while they wait.

But a cheaper share price alone is not enough to make me change my view.

My main concern hasn’t gone away

I wrote negatively about Westpac earlier this month after its third-quarter update, and the issue that bothered me then is still important today.

Mortgage applications have slowed.

Westpac reported average monthly mortgage applications of around 29,000 during the third quarter, while the run rate following the federal budget had fallen further to approximately 26,000.

That catches my attention because home lending remains a huge part of Westpac’s business. Its Australian mortgage portfolio stood at $529.1 billion at the end of June.

The bank also expects Australian housing credit growth to slow from 6.8% in FY26 to 4.7% in FY27.

Westpac is still profitable and its third-quarter update contained positives, including growth in business lending and deposits. But I would like to see clearer evidence that the bank can generate stronger growth outside its enormous mortgage business before becoming more positive.

The consensus numbers do not give me much reason to rush either. Earnings per share are currently expected to rise only modestly between FY26 and FY27, while the dividend forecast is almost unchanged.

I’d rather own CBA or NAB

If I wanted to buy an Australian bank today, I would still look elsewhere.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) remains my preferred high-quality banking business.

I like its enormous customer franchise, strong digital capabilities, and ability to grow relationships across personal banking, home lending, business banking, and other financial services.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) also interests me more than Westpac.

NAB’s strong position in business banking gives it exposure to an area I find attractive, particularly when competition and slower growth can make Australian home lending more challenging.

Westpac is working to strengthen its own business banking operations, including adding more regional bankers. That could help over time.

For now, though, I think CBA and NAB give me stronger reasons to invest.

Foolish takeaway

The new 52-week low has made Westpac shares more reasonably priced, but I am still not a buyer.

I would want more than a falling share price to change my mind. The slowdown in mortgage applications remains a concern, while current forecasts suggest earnings growth could be fairly subdued in the near term.

Westpac could certainly recover from here, and its dividend may attract income investors.

For my own money, though, I would rather put it behind CBA or NAB and wait for stronger evidence before reconsidering Westpac.

The post Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, BHP, Westpac shares
• Experts name CBA and these ASX shares as sells today
• How much do you need invested in ASX dividend shares to replace a $90,000 salary?
• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares
• 3 reasons to buy CBA shares following its results

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 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.

Shares in automotive repairer AMA Group Ltd (ASX: AMA) have fallen almost 50% over the past 12 months, but the analyst team at Bell Potter thinks the company is worth another look.

Solid profit result posted

The company last week reported its full-year results, with revenue coming in at $1.04 billion and EBITDA tipping the scales at $68 million, up 8.6%.

Managing Director Ray Smith-Roberts said the company had delivered positive results despite a challenging operating environment.

He said:

AMA is increasingly becoming a vertically integrated business that combines vehicle repair services with automotive parts sourcing and supply, enabling greater control over repair quality, turnaround times and costs. Being vertically integrated, with multiple income streams, provides us with a key competitive advantage. Strong performances from our ACM, Mechanical and ADAS businesses demonstrate the value of complementary capabilities across the vehicle repair lifecycle and position the Group to respond to evolving customer and industry needs.

The company opened three new sites during the year, in South Australia, New South Wales, and Tasmania.

The company also declared a dividend of 0.5 cents per share – its first since 2019.

On the outlook for FY27, AMA Group said it expected EBITDA to be in the range of $75 to $80 million, “subject to ordinary trading conditions”.

Shares looking cheap, broker says

Bell Potter has a positive outlook on the company despite the earnings results missing consensus estimates.

They said:

The result … missed the guidance of $70-75m and was largely driven by a lower-than-anticipated uplift in repair volumes during Q4 as a result of higher fuel prices and public transport concessions. A highlight of the result was the positive free cash flow of $2.5m – we had forecast around breakeven – and the lower than expected year end net debt level of $18.4m. Positive surprise of the result was a final dividend of 0.5c fully franked where we had not forecast any.  

Bell Potter slightly downgraded its earnings expectations for AMA Group, with its EBITDA forecast now $76.7 million, which is towards the lower end of the company’s own forecast.

This flowed through into a lower price target for the company, down from $1 to 90 cents, but still well above the current share price of 49.5 cents.

Bell Potter said one of the main risks to the company was customer concentration.

They said:

The car insurance market in Australia is heavily concentrated and a significant proportion of AMA’s revenue is derived from the top two insurers, Suncorp and IAG. Any breakdown in the relationship with one or both of these insurers could have a material adverse impact on AMA’s revenue and profitability.

The post Bell Potter says this ASX small cap could almost double in value appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low?
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy for their global growth potential
• Two ASX data centre stocks rated a buy
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, BHP, Westpac shares
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy if I were a beginner today

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

Some of my favourite ASX opportunities are businesses that have already proven themselves in Australia but still have enormous markets overseas to pursue.

If they can keep building their international presence, I think the three shares below could be considerably larger businesses in the years ahead.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville has turned an Australian appliance brand into a global premium kitchen business.

Its products now compete in major markets around the world, particularly across coffee and food preparation.

I think coffee is one of the most interesting parts of the opportunity.

Consumers have become increasingly willing to spend money on better coffee at home, and Breville has built a strong reputation for machines that sit between basic household appliances and much more expensive professional equipment.

That gives the company room to keep attracting people who want to recreate the café experience at home.

Breville can also grow by entering more countries, expanding its product range, and encouraging existing customers to buy additional products over time.

One thing I like is that the company does not need to become the dominant appliance company everywhere. Winning a larger share of premium kitchen spending across a growing collection of markets could be enough to support many years of expansion.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult Sports operates in a growing part of the technology industry.

Its technology helps professional sporting organisations analyse athlete performance, video, tactics, and other information used by coaches and performance teams.

I think there is a strong long-term reason for clubs to spend more in this area.

Elite sport is enormously competitive. Even small improvements in player preparation, recruitment, injury management, or tactical decision-making can be valuable when teams are trying to gain an advantage.

Catapult can keep expanding by signing more organisations, adding more teams within existing customers, and encouraging those customers to use more of its software and technology.

The company has also broadened its offering through areas such as video analysis and athlete scouting.

For me, that creates the opportunity for Catapult to become increasingly embedded in how professional sporting organisations operate.

There are major leagues, clubs, universities, and sporting programs across the world, so I think the addressable market still gives the business plenty of room to run.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport gives businesses a way to connect their networks directly to cloud providers, data centres, and other digital infrastructure.

I think that becomes more valuable as companies rely on a growing number of cloud services.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could create another source of demand for Megaport’s services.

AI workloads require enormous amounts of computing power and data to move between infrastructure. Businesses may need to connect to several cloud providers or specialised computing platforms rather than keeping everything in one place.

Megaport has also expanded into AI infrastructure through Latitude.sh, giving it exposure to customers looking for access to high-performance computing.

I like the broader idea here. As corporate IT infrastructure becomes more distributed, businesses need flexible ways to connect everything together. Megaport has built a global network specifically around solving that problem.

If cloud computing and AI infrastructure continue expanding, I think the amount of connectivity businesses require could grow substantially with them.

Foolish takeaway

I think Australian investors sometimes underestimate just how large the opportunity can become when an ASX-listed company succeeds internationally.

Breville, Catapult Sports, and Megaport already have businesses that extend well beyond Australia, but I think there is still plenty of territory left to capture.

I would be comfortable buying all three and giving their global ambitions years to play out.

The post 3 ASX shares I’d buy for their global growth potential appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Two ASX data centre stocks rated a buy
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• Why Megaport, Lendlease and JB Hi-Fi shares all crashed 14% to 15% this week
• 8 ASX shares just upgraded by the experts
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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 positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Data centre and cloud computing businesses have been taking off over the past year as the AI revolution takes hold.

There are several Australian businesses positioning themselves to benefit from AI growth, some of which have already enjoyed impressive share price gains.

The brokers at UBS have released reports this week on companies they like in the sector.

Let’s see what they’re saying.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

This company last week reported an operating profit of $2.67 billion for FY26, up 15.7% on the previous year, and said it was targeting earnings growth of 9% in the current financial year.

The company said:

The result reflects continued demand for Goodman’s urban locations and the growing contribution from data centre developments, where secured power, scarce land and customer and investment partner engagement are supporting a significant development pipeline.

Chief Executive Officer Greg Goodman said the strong operating result positioned the company well as a global provider of digital infrastructure.

He added:

Goodman has been active in data centres since 2005 and over the past five years, we’ve deliberately deepened our exposure to the sector by securing the sites, power and capital needed in major metro markets. Demand is structural across both logistics and data centres. Automation and robotics continue to drive logistics requirements while scarcity of power and land remains the key constraint on AI and cloud growth supporting data centre demand. Hyperscaler capex expectations continue to rise, with many customers facing undersupply into 2027 and 2028.

UBS said demand remained “incredibly strong”, with the company having a “compelling” offering.

UBS has a buy rating on the stock and a price target of $33.66 compared to $27.43 currently.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

This cloud computing company last week announced FY26 revenue of $312.2 million, up 37%, while EBITDA was up 24% to $77.1 million.

Megaport Chief Executive Officer Michael Reid said:

Our team delivered an exceptional result in FY26. The Network business produced its strongest commercial performance to date, Latitude.sh expanded rapidly following acquisition, and our combined capabilities secured major long-term customer contracts across Compute, Network, and Storage. We have materially increased the scale of the business, broadened the markets we can serve, and created a much larger opportunity. Now our job is to execute against it.

UBS said the net outcome of the results report was “firmly in the positive” and estimated EBITDA of $624 million for Megaport in FY28.

The broker has a price target of $26.40 on Megaport shares, up from $24.20, compared to the current share price of $18.19.

The post Two ASX data centre stocks rated a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I’d buy for their global growth potential
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy if I were a beginner today
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Why Megaport, Lendlease and JB Hi-Fi shares all crashed 14% to 15% this week

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.3% higher at 9,086.1 points on Monday.

Let’s start the new week with some fresh ratings from the experts

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $170.37, up 1.3% today and down 21% over 12 months. 

CSL shares soared 23% last week after the company released its FY26 results and provided a positive outlook.

The CSL share price has ripped 85% since the healthcare sector began its long-awaited rebound on 3 June.

Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare giant.

Analyst Derek Jellinek said: 

The FY26 result was broadly in line with expectations, with revenue of US$15.8bn (+3% vs guidance) and underlying NPATA of US$3.1bn.

Importantly, underlying Ig demand remains strong, Seqirus delivered seasonal influenza growth despite lower US immunisation rates and transformation savings reached US$176m ahead of target, although Vifor continues to face challenges.

While FY27 targets flat top line growth, as Vifor remains a significant drag, the earnings trajectory is becoming increasingly skewed towards recovery, supported by stabilising plasma economics, cost-outs and improved commercial execution.

We make modest changes to FY27-28 estimates and increase our blended DCF, PE and EV/EBITDA-based target price to A$187.71 on a multiple roll forward.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price hit a new record high of $67.72, up 3.9%, in early trading on Monday.

BHP released its FY26 report last week, and following this, John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities gave the miner a hold rating.

Athanasiou said (courtesy The Bull):

The company posted attributable profit of $US9.8 billion in full year 2026, up 9 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Revenue of $US58.8 billion was up 15 per cent.

The company’s copper portfolio is positioned to benefit from electrification, renewable infrastructure, power grid investment and data centre growth.

However, BHP remains heavily exposed to iron ore, leaving earnings sensitive to Chinese demand and commodity price movements.

The quality of BHP’s asset base, balance sheet and diversified portfolio leaves existing shareholders with little reason to sell.

However, after a solid run, prospective investors may be better served waiting for a potentially more attractive entry point.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is $33.60, down 0.7% today and down 12% over 12 months. 

Following Westpac’s 3Q FY26 update, Athanasiou put a sell rating on the ASX 200 bank share. 

He said: 

The bank remains well capitalised and continues to generate solid earnings, but the operating environment is becoming increasingly competitive.

Mortgage pricing is aggressive, deposit competition remains intense and the scope for sustained margin expansion appears limited.

Westpac’s dividend remains attractive, but investors should also consider opportunity cost.

We believe there are more compelling opportunities on the ASX, which offer stronger structural growth or more attractive valuations.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CSL, BHP, Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Westpac shares a buy at their new 52-week low?
• Could CSL shares really hit $200? Experts reveal their 12-month targets
• Experts name CBA and these ASX shares as sells today
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I were starting out in the share market today, I would want businesses I could understand and feel comfortable holding for years.

I would also favour companies that already have strong positions but still have clear ways to grow.

For those reasons, these three would be high on my list.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman develops and owns large-scale property used by some of the world’s biggest companies.

Its portfolio includes logistics facilities, warehouses, and data centres, with properties concentrated around major cities where land and access to power can be difficult to secure.

I think that makes Goodman a particularly interesting way for a beginner to gain exposure to some powerful long-term trends.

Online shopping and increasingly complex supply chains have created demand for well-located logistics space. At the same time, cloud computing and artificial intelligence are driving enormous investment in data centres.

Goodman’s advantage is that it already owns and controls property in locations where these facilities are needed.

It also has decades of experience developing major projects and works with large global customers that need substantial amounts of space.

For a beginner, I like that the basic investment idea is easy to follow. Businesses need somewhere to store goods and run computing infrastructure, and Goodman is focused on supplying that property in places where it can be difficult to build more.

I think that could keep creating opportunities for a long time.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

ResMed is one of the world’s major providers of technology for treating sleep apnoea and other respiratory conditions.

Its devices help people breathe properly while they sleep.

But selling a sleep treatment machine is only the beginning. ResMed can generate recurring revenue by providing replacement products, while its digital technology helps patients and healthcare providers manage treatment.

There is also a large group of people around the world who have sleep apnoea but have either not been diagnosed or are not receiving treatment.

As awareness improves and more people seek help, ResMed has the opportunity to bring more patients into its ecosystem.

For someone new to investing, I think this is a relatively straightforward long-term story. ResMed provides products that address a genuine medical need, has spent decades developing expertise in the field, and can keep growing by helping more people receive treatment.

That is the type of business I would be comfortable learning to invest with.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie is much more than an Australian bank.

It operates across asset management, commodities and financial markets, banking, advisory, and investing, with activities spread around the world.

I think that range is one of the reasons it could suit a beginner.

Macquarie has several ways to find opportunities as economic conditions change. Its asset management business can invest in areas such as infrastructure, energy, and real assets. Its commodities operations help businesses manage financial and physical risks, while its banking and advisory businesses provide further sources of earnings.

What interests me is the experience Macquarie has built in areas requiring large amounts of capital and specialist knowledge.

Infrastructure, renewable energy, digital networks, transport, and other major projects will continue requiring investment for decades. Macquarie has positioned itself to participate in many of those opportunities around the world.

The business can be more complicated than the other two, but I think the central idea remains simple. That is that Macquarie has built expertise in allocating capital and finding opportunities across markets.

I would be comfortable backing that capability over a long period.

Foolish takeaway

If I were a beginner, I would not feel any pressure to find the most exciting share on the market.

I would rather start with established businesses whose long-term opportunities I can understand, then give myself time to learn while those companies continue doing what they do well.

Goodman, ResMed, and Macquarie would give me that kind of starting point, which is why I would be happy to buy all three with the intention of holding for years.

The post 3 ASX shares I’d buy if I were a beginner today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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