Tag: Stock pick

Yesterday, Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASX: ASM) announced that its members’ and options schemes have now become effective, paving the way for the complete acquisition of ASM by Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU). Key details include all ASM shareholders receiving either New Energy Fuels shares or CDIs and a cash component of 13 cents per share.

What did Australian Strategic Materials report?

• The schemes of arrangement to acquire 100% of ASM shares and options are now effective.
• ASM shareholders will receive 0.053 New Energy Fuels CDIs (or shares) and $0.13 cash per ASM share held on record date.
• ASM optionholders will receive $0.50 cash per option held on record date.
• ASM securities will be suspended from ASX trading at the close of 19 August 2026.
• Key implementation dates begin from 19 August, with payment expected on 28 August 2026.

What else do investors need to know?

The Federal Court of Australia has approved both the Share Scheme and Option Scheme, fulfilling the major remaining condition. The company has lodged the court order with ASIC, making the transaction legally binding.

Holders of ASM shares and options on the relevant record dates will automatically receive their consideration. For ineligible foreign shareholders, the New Energy Fuels shares will be sold on their behalf, with proceeds distributed accordingly.

ASM securities will be removed from official ASX quotation on 31 August 2026. From this point, former ASM investors will become shareholders or CDI holders in Energy Fuels Inc., a dual-listed company trading in both Australia and North America.

What’s next for Australian Strategic Materials?

ASM will progress with the implementation of the schemes, transitioning shareholders to New Energy Fuels ownership. Key trading and payment milestones are scheduled between 19 August and early September, finalising the delisting of ASM.

Looking ahead, future value for ASM’s former shareholders will track alongside Energy Fuels, which is focused on scaling critical materials production with newly acquired Australian assets.

Australian Strategic Materials share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, ASM shares have risen 109%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Australian Strategic Materials confirms scheme effectiveness as takeover completes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Australian Strategic Materials: Federal Court approves Energy Fuels takeover
• ASM shareholders back Energy Fuels acquisition in decisive Scheme Meetings

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.

Yesterday, Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) announced that it had secured two major Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) maintenance contracts across Victoria, worth a combined $160 million over five years. The new deals are set to strengthen Ventia’s footprint in essential transport infrastructure services.

What did Ventia Services Group report?

• Awarded two ITS maintenance contracts in Victoria’s Central and East regions
• Combined estimated contract value of approximately $160 million over five years
• Potential extension options for up to four additional years
• Services cover traffic signals, street lighting, and ITS assets

What else do investors need to know?

Ventia’s success in securing these contracts showcases its established reputation managing complex infrastructure networks. This award highlights the increasing role Ventia is playing in maintaining Victoria’s road system, supporting a safe and efficient transport network.

The contracts are scheduled to commence from 1 December 2026 and include options to extend up to four more years, offering a pathway for recurring revenue and business stability. These wins align with Ventia’s broader strategy to serve essential infrastructure clients across Australia and New Zealand.

What did Ventia Services Group management say?

Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer Dean Banks commented:

The award reflects Ventiaʼs proven capability in managing complex, technology enabled infrastructure networks. These contracts align strongly with Ventiaʼs expertise in maintaining critical transport assets and supporting our customers through safe, responsive and data driven service delivery.

What’s next for Ventia Services Group?

Looking ahead, Ventia is positioned to roll out its proven maintenance services for Victoria’s ITS assets, further reinforcing its standing as a transport infrastructure leader. The addition of these contracts not only strengthens Ventia’s portfolio but also bolsters prospects for sustainable, long-term growth.

Management’s ongoing focus remains on delivering safe, reliable, and technology-driven solutions for clients, as well as exploring further opportunities in the infrastructure services market.

Ventia Services Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ventia Services Group shares have risen 6%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ventia wins $160 million Victorian ITS contracts, boosting infrastructure services appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How many Brambles shares do I need to buy for $5,000 per year of passive income?
• Australian Strategic Materials confirms scheme effectiveness as takeover completes
• Why this ASX 200 stock is a buy after posting record results
• The average superannuation balance at age 62 in Australia. How does yours stack up?
• How much are CSL shares worth? 4 brokers have their say

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.

ASX 200 stock Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) made headlines yesterday after releasing its FY26 results.

As reported by James Mickleboro, the gold miner reported record FY26 profit and increased its dividend, backed by strong gold and copper output.

Other key results included: 

• Statutory profit after tax rose 59% to $1,475 million
• Underlying EBITDA increased 44% to $3,171 million with 57% margin
• Group cash flow jumped 76% to $1,389 million
• Final fully franked dividend of 21 cents per share, up 62%
• Total FY26 dividend of 41 cps, returning ~$833 million to shareholders. 

What did management say?

Commenting on the results, Evolution Mining’s Managing Director and CEO, Lawrie Conway, said:

Our record results reflect the quality of our assets and, above all, the efforts of the entire Evolution team. We are delivering on our commitment to shareholders. The record financial performance is on the back of safe, consistent and reliable operational delivery, complemented by our disciplined approach to cost and capital management. Our high-margin business is generating significant cash flow with a record Group cash flow of nearly $1.4 billion.

It was a subdued response from investors, with the ASX 200 stock rising just over 0.2% on the back of the announcement. 

However, Evolution Mining shares have risen 73% over the last 12 months. 

In good news for prospective investors, Bell Potter sees more upside for this ASX 200 stock. 

Here’s what the broker had to say. 

FY26 financial results sets fresh records

The team at Bell Potter said this ASX 200 stock delivered a record FY26 result, with revenue of A$5.56bn, underlying EBITDA of A$3.17bn and net profit of A$1.56bn, despite falling short of Bell Potter’s forecasts. 

The strong operational performance, combined with largely unhedged gold exposure, drove record earnings and free cash flow, while net gearing improved to 0% as EVN moved to A$19m of net cash. 

Management also increased its dividend payout target from ~50% to ~60% of group cash flow, supporting a total FY26 distribution of 41cps and signalling a greater focus on shareholder returns. 

FY27 guidance of 660-730koz of gold and 63-70kt of copper at AISC of A$1,795-1,995/oz was broadly in line with expectations, with higher growth capital reflecting investment in projects Bell Potter views as high-return and highly competitive for capital.

Buy recommendation in tact 

Based on this guidance, the team at Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation on this ASX 200 stock. 

It also increased its price target to $15.55 (previously $15.10). 

From yesterday’s closing price, this indicates a further upside of almost 14%. 

EVN offers fully unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has demonstrated its intention to increase shareholder returns and gold price exposure. Our NPV-based valuation lifts 3%, to $15.55/sh. We retain our Buy recommendation.

The post Why this ASX 200 stock is a buy after posting record results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Evolution Mining, Whitehaven and Santos shares are creating a buzz on Wednesday
• Evolution Mining smashes records with FY26 profit and dividend surge
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Healthcare results wrap: Are Cogstate and Pro Medicus shares a buy, hold or sell?
• Why did this ASX gold stock just soar 24% in a single session?

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.

At age 62, Australians are entering the period where their superannuation shifts from being a retirement savings tool, to a main source of income.

By this age, you’ve passed the preservation age, which means you can access your superannuation if you’ve quit working. And you’re five years away from receiving the Age Pension (if you’re eligible for it).

But do you know if you have enough in your super to retire?

Or how your superannuation balance compares to other Australians the same age as you?

Here’s a breakdown of what the average superannuation balance is at age 62 in Australia.

Find out how yours compares.

What is the average superannuation balance for men aged 62 in Australia?

There aren’t exact figures, but brackets determined by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provide a good guide.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 60-64 has around $395,852 in their superannuation.

Is your superannuation in line with the average Aussie the same age?

What is the average superannuation balance for women the same age?

Women the same age have quite a lot less. The average balance for Australian women aged 60-64 is around $313,360. That’s a gap of almost $83,000!

Why? 

Women typically take a career break to have children or care for family, and during this time they receive little to no compulsory employer superannuation. Women are also more likely to work part-time and work in lower-paid industries. The missing contributions in their 30s and 40s also mean they lose several years of compounding, which takes a huge toll on their end balance. 

How does your super balance compare?

Are these average super balances enough to retire on?

If you’re happy to live a basic retirement on a tight budget, possibly. But for a comfortable retirement, no.

In fact, the average Australian is quite far behind.

ASFA estimates that it’ll cost single Australians around $55,923 per year to retire. It’ll cost couples living together closer to $78,566 per year in total.

These figures also assume you’ll start your retirement at age 67. It also assumes that you’ll receive a part Age Pension around this time and that you own your home outright.

In order to fund this type of comfortable retirement, ASFA calculates that single Australians will need around $630,000 in their superannuation at age 67. Meanwhile, couples will need around $730,000 combined at the same age.

So, how much should I have in my super by age 62 to retire comfortably?

Using ASFA’s Super Balance Detective tool, I’ve calculated what you’d need at ages 62 to reach that sum in the next five years.

Assuming you’re aiming for the $630,000 superannuation balance needed for an individual. At age 62, you should have close to $539,000 to be considered ‘on track’.

How does your superannuation balance compare now?

The post The average superannuation balance at age 62 in Australia. How does yours stack up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How many Brambles shares do I need to buy for $5,000 per year of passive income?
• Australian Strategic Materials confirms scheme effectiveness as takeover completes
• Ventia wins $160 million Victorian ITS contracts, boosting infrastructure services
• Why this ASX 200 stock is a buy after posting record results
• How much are CSL shares worth? 4 brokers have their say

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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have staged an impressive recovery over the past three months, aided by a sharp jump this week following the company’s full-year results announcement.

The shares are still more than 25% down over a 12-month period however, begging the question, is there still more recovery to come?

It’s fair to say brokers are split on the question, with those surveyed having a wide range of views on where the shares will go over the next 12 months.

First let’s have a quick look at what CSL announced this week.

Steady results in reset year

The blood products company posted total revenue of US$15.8 billion, down 1%, and underlying net profit of US$3.1 billion, down 2%.

After significant one off costs and write downs were included, the company made a net loss of US$2.6 billion.

Interim Chief Executive Officer Gordon Naylor called FY26 a “reset” year for the company.

On the outlook, the company said it expected underlying net profit to grow by about 5% in FY27.

Wide range of views on CSL Shares

Among the brokers, UBS has the most bullish share price target for CSL at $181, compared to $163.51 late on Wednesday.

The broker said:

CSL has endured a challenging period that required significant restructuring to reduce costs and address the underperforming Vifor division. While more work remains, improving trends in the core plasma business suggest the worst is behind the group and that CSL is on track to return to at least market level growth. The separation of Seqirus is now complete, providing the incoming CEO with additional strategic flexibility.

Morgan Stanley also believes the price will appreciate, with a $172 price target.

They said:

On balance, we see the FY26 result and FY27 guidance as highlighting incremental improvement within CSL Behring, the key driver of group earnings growth over the medium to longer term. Our forecasts imply solid underlying NPATA/NPAT growth, supplemented by an ongoing buyback program.

Meanwhile, Bell Potter has a hold recommendation on CSL, with a price target of $150.

They said:

While the result today suggests the worst (by way of earnings declines) is in the rear-view for CSL, we find it difficult to justify a greater premium than is now being attributed relative to global biopharma peers.

And most bearish on CSL is Macquarie, which has a neutral rating and a price target of just $133.

They said:

Despite signs of stabilisation, we see ongoing uncertainty across core business segments (immunoglobulin, albumin) and medium-term competitive risks.

The post How much are CSL shares worth? 4 brokers have their say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy for the next decade
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• CSL shares: 1 number that investors shouldn’t ignore
• CSL shares rebound 79% from multi-year low: Here’s what brokers tip next
• CSL shares just had their best day in 20 years. What did I just miss?

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

The long-term buy and hold strategy in ASX shares has been a good one for investors for a long time.

A soft quarter becomes less important, and what matters instead is whether a business will still be comfortably growing its earnings in 2036.

Here are three ASX 200 companies I think comfortably pass that test.

Why I hold ASX shares for a decade

Time is one of the few advantages a retail investor has over a professional fund manager.

Nobody is grading my portfolio every quarter.

That freedom lets me own good businesses through the messy years when the market loses patience.

The three companies below each have a structural growth driver that should still be running long after this reporting season is forgotten.

Wesfarmers: the compounding machine

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) may be the closest thing the local market has to a true compounder.

The company’s half-year result delivered revenue of $24.2 billion and net profit after tax of $1.6 billion, up 9.3%.

The interim dividend rose 7.4% to 102 cents per share.

Bunnings did the heavy lifting again, with higher sales across every product category, region and customer segment.

Managing director Rob Scott said:

The result reflects strong operational performance and disciplined execution of the Group’s strategies to create shareholder value.

The real appeal is capital allocation. Wesfarmers has repeatedly recycled cash out of mature businesses and into newer ones, moving from coal into lithium and health.

At today’s prices the stock is not cheap on a price-to-earnings ratio in the low 30s.

But I would rather pay up for a management team that has proven it can redeploy capital sensibly across multiple cycles.

The conglomerate reports its FY26 numbers on 27 August.

Goodman Group: an industrial landlord turned power broker

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) has become one of the most important data centre developers in the world.

The company’s first-half result delivered $1.2 billion in operating profit. The group’s power bank also expanded from 5GW to 6GW.

By June 2026, more than $14 billion of its roughly $18 billion work in progress is expected to be in data centre projects.

Founder and CEO Greg Goodman said of the strategy:

Power, sites and capital are critical to being able to service demand and provide delivery certainty.

Goodman owns scarce, powered land in exactly the cities where artificial intelligence infrastructure needs to be built.

The units are down roughly 16% over the past year, which strikes me as an opportunity rather than a warning sign.

Goodman reports its FY26 result today.

CSL: a reset year with a long runway

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) just posted the ugliest headline number in its ASX history.

FY26 revenue slipped 1% to US$15.8 billion, and impairments of US$7.1 billion pushed the company to a US$2.6 billion statutory loss. Underlying NPATA still landed at US$3.1 billion.

Investors looked past the write-downs to FY27 guidance of roughly 5% underlying profit growth, comfortably ahead of the 2% consensus.

The shares surged 17.9% on results day.

Interim CEO Gordon Naylor framed the year as a clearing of the decks:

CSL is positioned for a return to sustainable growth, supported by solid plasma market fundamentals.

Plasma collection remains a true moat, because it takes years and enormous amounts of capital to build a competing network of donor centres.

On top of that, a US$1 billion buyback and a flat US$2.92 dividend suggest management believes the worst is now behind it.

The risks of buying these ASX shares today

None of this is free money.

Wesfarmers carries a premium valuation that leaves little room for a consumer downturn.

Goodman is making enormous capital commitments into a data centre market that could eventually oversupply.

Meanwhile, CSL still has to prove Vifor can stabilise after guiding to a roughly 25% revenue decline.

Foolish takeaway

I am not trying to pick the best performers of the next 12 months, but to own businesses that will be much larger in 2036 than they are today.

Wesfarmers, Goodman Group and CSL each have a credible path to that outcome.

For patient investors interested in long-term compounding, that is the bar these ASX shares need to clear.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much are CSL shares worth? 4 brokers have their say
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• CSL shares: 1 number that investors shouldn’t ignore
• These 3 ASX 200 shares look like classic Warren Buffett investments
• CSL shares rebound 79% from multi-year low: Here’s what brokers tip next

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

I’m sure most readers would love to have an annual passive income return of $40,000 in their superannuation.

For people already getting $40,000 per year in passive income, I reckon receiving an additional $40,000 per year would also be very welcome.

So, what would it take to unlock that river of dividends via superannuation? That’s what I’ll look at in this article.

Superannuation could be the best place to invest for passive income these days following taxation changes to trusts, residential property and capital gains tax.

Owning dividend-paying investments in superannuation means investors won’t lose as much of the return to tax as they would if the investment was in their own name. During the accumulation phase, superannuation has a lower tax rate for income than full-time working individuals, while in retirement the tax rate for income could be 0% for many retirees, depending on the size of their superannuation balance.

With that in mind, I think superannuation is an excellent place to unlock $40,000 per year.

Generating $40,000 of annual passive income

It’ll take a sizeable sum to unlock tens of thousands of dollars of dividends each year.

There’s no single dollar target required because it really depends on what sorts of investments Aussies choose and the dividend yield that comes with that.

For example, if an investor had all of their money in iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), you’d have a dividend yield of around 1%. With a dividend yield of 1%, someone would need a $4 million portfolio to make $40,000 per year in passive income.

The IVV ETF is not the choice I’d make for passive income, though it does have other benefits.

Instead, I’d focus on building a portfolio with a dividend yield of at least 4%, if not more.

With a 4% dividend yield, an investor could generate the desired passive income from a $1 million portfolio.

If an Australian’s portfolio had a 5% dividend yield, they would only need $800,000 for that income.

With a 6.5% dividend yield, an Australian’s portfolio goal would be close to $615,000.

As you can see, the higher the dividend yield, the smaller the portfolio needs to be to achieve the income target.

But, higher dividend yields may be riskier and/or deliver less capital growth for investors.

So, the choices investors make could greatly influence how reliable that passive income is. Not every investment with a high dividend yield may sustain its dividends over the longer term.

ASX dividend shares I’d consider for superannuation

If Australians are willing to accept a lower dividend yield, then it’s hard to look past Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL). That’s an investment conglomerate that owns a diversified portfolio of defensive assets, enabling it to pay a reliable and growing dividend. Its payout has grown every year since 1998, though the grossed-up dividend yield is only 3.3%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

But, there are plenty of businesses with higher dividend yields that I think are compelling.

For example, Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) and Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) are both real estate investment trusts (REITs) with dividend yields of between 5% and 7%. They provide exposure to industrial property, which is benefiting from compelling rental tailwinds.

I also like portfolio investments that can provide diversification and good dividend yields for superannuation investors.

Some of my favourite portfolio-based investments that come to mind include MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ), WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG) and L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF). All of these names have a track record of increasing payouts to shareholders, with dividend yields between 4% and 7%.

There are a number of other attractive ASX shares to consider, in my view, for passive income.

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $40,000 annual passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 3 ASX 200 shares look like classic Warren Buffett investments
• Is $2 million really the new superannuation target?
• I’d buy 36,519 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $1,000 a month of passive income
• Buy, hold, sell: Centuria Industrial REIT, Endeavour, Wildcat Resources shares
• How much do I need to retire on $100,000 a year at 60?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Future Generation Global, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, Wcm Global Growth, and Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. 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) endured a negative hump day, sending the value of many ASX shares lower.

After opening sharply lower this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire session in red territory. By the time the closing bell rang, the index had dropped 0.18% to finish at 9,053.8 points.

This miserable Wednesday for the local markets came after a similarly pessimistic night up on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t hold water, dropping 0.22%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit far harder though, falling 1.33%.

But let’s return to ASX shares now and dive into how the different ASX sectors handled today’s tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

The losers easily outnumbered the winners this Wednesday.

Leading said losers were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a shocker, plunging 3.15%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were also hit hard, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) cratering by 1.15%.

Financial shares fared a little better. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) still tanked 0.64%, though.

Consumer discretionary stocks were in a similar boat, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.58% dive.

Gold shares weren’t much of a safe haven either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) saw its value shrink 0.18%.

We could almost say the same for broader mining stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) retreating 0.04%.

Let’s turn to the winners now.

Leading the team were healthcare shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) roared 2.6% higher today.

Energy stocks also ran hot, as evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.77% surge.

Utilities shares were a little tamer. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumped 0.35% this session.

Consumer staples stocks were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) advancing 0.31%.

Industrial shares got out unscathed this hump day. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended up lifting 0.05%.

Finally, communications stocks notched a dodge, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.04% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

It was REIT Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) that took out today’s top spot. Stockland units shot up 12.35% this Wednesday to finish at $4.55 each.

This came after the REIT reported its latest earnings, which clearly delighted the market.

Here’s how the other top shares landed their planes:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)	$4.55	12.35%
Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU)	$3.35	8.77%
Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)	$3.33	6.73%
Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)	$1.85	6.32%
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)	$166.48	5.49%
Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)	$3.51	4.46%
SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)	$4.10	3.54%
Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)	$5.66	2.72%
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)	$8.31	2.47%
Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)	$23.56	2.35%

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

• CSL shares: 1 number that investors shouldn’t ignore
• CSL shares rebound 79% from multi-year low: Here’s what brokers tip next
• Why Evolution Mining, Whitehaven and Santos shares are creating a buzz on Wednesday
• Rate rises have finally caught house prices. What does that means for ASX property shares?
• Santos posts lower first-half profit as new LNG projects ramp up

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. 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, Sonic Healthcare, and Srg Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Well, one of the biggest pieces of news on the ASX so far this week has been the blockbuster earnings of healthcare giant CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL). CSL delivered its full-year results for FY2026 yesterday. And boy, did the markets grab them (and plenty of CSL shares) and run.

By the end of yesterday’s session, the CSL share price had rocketed a massive 17.25% for its best day in 20 years.

As we covered yesterday, there were a lot of lukewarm numbers in this ASX 200 healthcare stock‘s latest report. The company reported total revenues of US$15.89 billion for the year ended 30 June 2026. That was down 1% year-on-year. Underlying net profits after tax dropped 2% to US$3.1 billion.

A number of one-off costs and impairments drove CSL to a statutory net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion.

However, as my Fool colleague Mark discussed yesterday, it seems that the unbridled optimism we have seen for CSL shares this week has stemmed from its optimistic guidance for FY2027 and beyond.

CSL told investors to expect underlying net profits after tax growth of around 5% over FY27. This indicates a return to form is on the cards for a company that repeatedly dazzled investors for the decade leading up to 2020, before a series of events tanked the company’s fortunes.

Hopefully, CSL can deliver this turnaround. But now, I want to focus on one metric that has caught my eye in CSL’s latest numbers.

CSL shares surge despite a dividend hold

That metric is the final dividend that CSL will pay out in October. Yesterday, CSL revealed that this dividend will be worth US$1.60 per share. Coupled with April’s interim dividend of US$1.30 per share, the company is set to dole out a total of US$2.92 in dividends per share in 2026.

That metric is significant because it marks only the second time that CSL will not be delivering a dividend hike to its shareholders. In fact, the last time that CSL didn’t increase its year-on-year payouts was in 2022, largely thanks to the aftermath of the pandemic. You’d have to go back at least another decade to find any more instances of a dividend hold from this company.

This is a personal disappointment for me. I bought CSL shares many years ago, in part thanks to its strong history of dividend growth. As such, I was rather dismayed to see another hold on CSL’s 2026 payout. A company’s dividend growth is, in my view, one of the most vital indicators of a company’s health. It is difficult to fudge and provides a sharp insight into the health of a company. Not to mention the fact that ASX shares that consistently grow their dividends over time tend to be market beaters.

Now, CSL has been upfront about its challenges for a while now. So this hold isn’t really a surprise. But it is still something I didn’t want to see. That’s why I’ll be watching the payouts that this company declares next year like a hawk.

The post CSL shares: 1 number that investors shouldn’t ignore appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL. 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.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares have both underperformed the 3.6% gains posted by S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in 2026.

In afternoon trade on Wednesday, Xero shares are changing hands for $82.32 apiece. That sees shares in the accounting software provider down 26.6% since 2 January.

Northern Star has struggled as well.

At time of writing, shares in the ASX 200  gold stock are trading for $22.55 each, down 7.7% year to date.

Though we shouldn’t forget the fully franked 25 cent per share dividend that Northern Star paid out on 26 March. If we factor that in, then the accumulated value of Northern Star stock is down a lesser 5.4% this calendar year.

Despite the underperformance in 2026, Lazarus Capital Partners’ Tom Fairchild expects that both ASX 200 stocks could continue to struggle in the months ahead (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Should I sell Northern Star shares today?

“The gold producer operates mines and exploration programs in Western Australia and Alaska,” Fairchild said.

Commenting on the miner’s June quarter update, released on 29 July, Fairchild noted:

The company announced total gold sales of 1.543 million ounces for full year 2026, which was above revised group guidance of 1.5 million ounces. NST disappointed investors after downgrading production guidance twice in fiscal year 2026 following weaker than expected operational performance.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Northern Star shares, Fairchild concluded:

The shares have fallen from $31.73 on March 2 to trade at $23.28 on August 13. The company’s final investment decision regarding the Hemi project is targeted for late fiscal year 2027. In our view, other gold companies appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

Northern Star is scheduled to report its audited full year FY 2026 results tomorrow, 20 August.

Time to exit Xero shares?

Atop his sell recommendation on Northern Star shares, Garipoli also recommended selling Xero shares.

“Xero is an accounting software provider,” he said.

Xero released its full year results on 14 May, with shares closing down 9.0% on the day.

Commenting on those results, Garipoli said:

The company generated revenue of NZ$2.75 billion in full year 2026, up 31% on the prior corresponding period. The company acquired Melio, a US business-to-business payments platform in June 2025 for about US$2.5 billion.

The company recently surpassed 5 million subscribers.

But with Xero shares up more than 33% since late July, Garipoli recommended taking profits.

He concluded:

Xero shares bounced off a low of $61.58 on July 24 to trade at $77.51 on August 13, 2026. However, the stock was priced at $168.78 on August 13, 2025. Justifiable investor concerns about margin pressure, artificial intelligence growth and US expansion performance have weighed on the stock and sentiment.

Investors can consider cashing in some gains.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Xero and Northern Star shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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