Tag: Stock pick

The team at Morgans has been busy updating its views on a number of popular ASX 200 shares this month.

Three that the broker has been looking at are listed below. Here’s what it is saying about them:

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

Morgans was pleased enough with ANZ’s trading update. However, it isn’t a fan of its valuation and sees potential for negative returns even after dividends. As a result, it has put a trim rating and $33.53 price target on ANZ Bank’s shares. It said:

Underlying earnings growth, delivery of cost decline and low bad debts were a feature of the trading update, with lifting momentum behind revenue growth. Forecast changes are immaterial. 12-month target price reset to $33.53/s. TRIM retained, with potential TSR at current prices of c.-9% (including 4.4% yield).

Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE)

Although this financial technology company delivered a softer than expected half-year result, Morgans remains positive. This is due to the quality of its earnings improving and its modernisation story. 

This saw the broker retain its buy rating with a $9.65 price target. It said:

IRE’s 1H26 result was softer than anticipated, with slower revenue momentum along with currency headwinds the main drivers. While Group revenue & underlying EBITDA fell short of MorgF by -2%/-4% respectively, earnings quality continued to improve as efficiency program cost improvements saw underlying EBITDA margins from continuing operations improve +330bps YoY. Revised FY26 guidance sees revenue & UPAT expectations lowered by ~4% at the midpoint, however Cash EBITDA guidance of A$119-124m (+19-24% YoY) was raised, supported by efficiency program delivery, more moderate Capex outlook, and a further A$6-9m of cost savings to be delivered over 2H26 (implying 2H26 Cash EBITDA of A$58-63m). 

We trim our underlying UPAT forecasts by -2 to -6%, which sees our price target reduce by ~7% to A$9.65. Although top line momentum has softened in the half, execution of IRE’s broader efficiency / modernisation story in our view remains on track (albeit early days). We therefore retain our BUY rating.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

This retail giant delivered a result largely in line with expectations for FY 2026. The only disappointment was its trading update, which revealed a weaker than expected start to FY 2027.

In response, Morgans has retained its accumulate rating on JB Hi-Fi shares with a trimmed price target of $82.00. It explains:

JBH reported a broadly in-line FY26 result, with NPAT up ~3%. However, sales growth slowed in the 4Q, including turning negative in JB Hi-Fi Australia. The July trading update was below market expectations, with 3 out of 4 divisions reporting negative comparable sales growth, and tracking below 1H27 consensus. This was impacted by price increases, supplier stock shortages, weaker consumer backdrop and cycling a strong pcp. We expect some of these headwinds to ease as the year progresses, although the macro trading environment remains choppy. 

We have downgraded our NPAT forecasts by ~5% in FY27 and FY28, respectively. Our valuation lowers to $82.00 driven by earnings downgrades, offset by rolling forward our model. We maintain our ACCUMULATE rating.

The post Buy, hold, sell: ANZ Bank, Iress, and JB Hi-Fi shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy, hold, sell: Aristocrat, Telstra, ANZ shares
• Why the JB Hi-Fi share price just suffered its worst day on record
• These ASX 200 shares could generate $10,000 per year in passive income
• Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour, JB Hi-Fi, and New Hope shares 

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

For years, $1 million was shorthand for a comfortable Australian retirement. More recently, $2 million has started appearing in retirement projections, calculator results and attention-grabbing headlines.

However, there is no universal superannuation target.

Whether you need $2 million depends mainly on when you retire, how much you plan to spend and whether the Age Pension will eventually support your income.

The superannuation maths, worked backwards

Start with the income, not the balance.

Consider a couple retiring at 60 and funding a 30-year retirement entirely from their own capital. Assuming annual returns of 6% after fees and tax, inflation of 3% and no remaining balance after 30 years, an income of $80,000 a year in today’s dollars requires approximately $1.6 million.

Lifting the desired income to $100,000 increases the starting balance to almost $2 million. If annual returns rise to 7% under the same assumptions, the required balance falls to around $1.75 million.

That is where the $2 million figure becomes relevant. It is approximately what an early-retiring couple needs to fund a six-figure lifestyle without relying on the Age Pension.

Change the retirement age, spending target or return assumption and the number changes with it.

Why ASFA’s benchmark is much lower

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia estimates that a comfortable retirement currently costs $55,923 a year for a single homeowner and $78,566 for a couple.

ASFA estimates the corresponding superannuation balances at $630,000 and $730,000 respectively. However, those figures assume retirement at 67, home ownership and access to a part Age Pension over time.

That makes them very different from a couple retiring at 60 and funding everything independently.

The maximum Age Pension is currently worth approximately $31,223 a year for a single retiree and $47,070 combined for a couple. However, it is means-tested. A homeowner couple retiring with $730,000 in assessable assets would generally receive only a part pension, with the entitlement potentially increasing as their assets are drawn down.

At a simple 4% withdrawal rate, replacing the maximum couple pension would require almost $1.2 million of additional capital. That is not precisely how ASFA models retirement, but it illustrates why its recommended balance is so much lower than a fully self-funded target.

The important question is not which benchmark is correct. It is which set of assumptions resembles your household.

Where investors can close the gap

For investors with substantial super balances, contributions are only part of the equation. Returns earned on the existing portfolio can become increasingly influential during the final decade of work.

The Australian share market has historically generated average annual returns of around 9% over long periods, including dividends. Past performance does not guarantee future returns, but it demonstrates how compounding can accelerate as the balance grows.

For example, $600,000 earning a 5% annual return after inflation would grow to approximately $977,000 in today’s dollars over 10 years, without further contributions. If another $15,000 reaches the account each year, the balance could grow to around $1.17 million in today’s dollars.

The final decade before retirement is not necessarily when growth stops mattering. It can be when compounding has the largest pool of capital to work on.

Broad-market exchange-traded funds such as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) and iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) can provide diversified exposure to Australian and international shares.

Australian shares may also generate franking credits, although the benefit received depends on the super fund, account structure and individual tax circumstances.

Shares alone are not a complete retirement plan. Fees, diversification, liquidity and the order in which returns occur all matter. A sharp market fall during the first years of retirement can cause substantially more damage than the same decline earlier in life, making portfolio construction and the drawdown plan just as important as the target balance.

Foolish takeaway

A $2 million superannuation balance is a reasonable target for one particular scenario: a couple retiring early, wanting around $100,000 a year in today’s dollars and planning without the Age Pension.

That is not every Australian household.

For people retiring later with a paid-off home and some Age Pension eligibility, ASFA’s modelling suggests a comfortable retirement may remain achievable with considerably less than $1 million.

The number that matters is not the one attracting headlines. It is the capital required to fund your desired spending from your chosen retirement date, under realistic assumptions about inflation, returns and the Age Pension.

For some households, that may be $2 million. For many others, it will be substantially less.

The post Is $2 million really the new superannuation target? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much do I need to retire on $100,000 a year at 60?
• Which is the best Vanguard ETF? VAS, VGS and VDHG compared
• $500 a month into ASX shares: Here’s what that could be worth in 20 years
• Too many ASX ETFs? You could be paying twice for the same shares
• 5 amazing ASX ETFs for Australian investors in August

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. 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.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares have been on the rise, gaining 12% over the past month to $14.73. The stock is up 20% year to date, although it’s only 4% higher over the past 12 months.

Some of the recent momentum appears to be coming from strong earnings from US technology giants including Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG). But could there be more to the NextDC story?

At the heart of data centre expansion

NextDC operates data centres, increasingly critical infrastructure underpinning the digital economy. The tech company is positioning itself at the heart of this expansion, with a growing Australian footprint and ambitions across Asia.

It recently opened its first AI-ready facility in Kuala Lumpur and is developing facilities specifically designed for Artificial Intelligence workloads, including its S6 Sydney data centre.

The long-term opportunity is compelling. As businesses increasingly use cloud computing, AI, streaming, online payments, cybersecurity tools and other data-heavy software, demand for secure and reliable data centre capacity should continue growing.

NextDC appears to be executing well. It reported pro forma contracted utilisation of 740MW at 30 June 2026, up 11%, while its pro forma forward order book expanded to 565MW.

Investors in NextDC shares will get more detail when the company releases its FY26 results on 27 August.

Could AI provide another catalyst?

The recent share price strength of NextDC shares has coincided with upbeat results from major US technology companies. Strong spending and growth expectations from tech giants may be encouraging investors to look more closely at Australia’s data centre sector.

But there could be a more interesting catalyst beneath the surface.

In July, AI company Anthropic was reportedly running a confidential tender for at least 1.4GW of Australian data centre capacity as it prepares for a potential $3 billion IPO in October. NextDC was reportedly among the operators approached.

If AI companies continue securing enormous amounts of computing infrastructure, NextDC could be well positioned to benefit.

Analysts see plenty of upside

TradingView data shows nine of 10 brokers rate NextDC shares a buy or strong buy. The average price target is $21.60, implying around 47% upside from the current share price.

The most bullish target is $32.29, suggesting potential upside of about 119%, while the most pessimistic target still implies roughly 5% upside.

UBS is among the bulls, maintaining a buy rating and a $22.55 price target.

With AI driving a surge in demand for data centre capacity, NextDC could be a stock worth watching closely.

The post Could the AI boom just be getting started for NextDC shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How to invest $10,000 the Warren Buffett way: Buy businesses, not stocks
• Anthropic is expected to IPO at $2 trillion. This should excite ASX AI investors.
• Why this NASDAQ-focused ASX ETF keeps outperforming
• 3 top ASX shares for beginners to buy now

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

The Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) share price was in focus today after the company delivered a 2.2% increase in revenue to $1,373.2 million for FY26, with underlying net loss shrinking by 46.8% to $13.2 million.

What did Healius Limited report?

• Revenue from continuing operations rose 2.2% to $1,373.2 million (FY25: $1,344.2 million)
• Underlying EBITDA grew 8.1% to $258.6 million
• Underlying EBIT jumped 76.6% to $30.2 million
• Underlying loss after tax improved to $13.2 million from $24.8 million a year ago
• Reported loss after tax widened to $415.6 million, from $151.2 million, due chiefly to a $332 million non-cash goodwill impairment
• No dividend declared for FY26 (FY25: 41.3 cps special dividend)

What else do investors need to know?

Healius delivered operational improvements despite headwinds in the healthcare sector, including increased labour costs and limited Medicare indexation. Cost management helped contain annual spend, aided by a detailed workforce optimisation program reducing headcount by around 5%.

The Agilex Biolabs division performed strongly, growing revenue by 14.1% and EBITDA by over 67%. The company is reviewing strategic options for Agilex Biolabs, and an update for shareholders is expected ahead of the AGM.

Healius completed the major phase of its digital transformation program, with most collection centres now processing over 80% of episodes digitally. AI‑driven initiatives are delivering productivity gains and will continue to be rolled out across back-office and laboratory operations.

What’s next for Healius Ltd?

Looking ahead, Healius is focused on expanding higher margin revenue streams in diagnostics, capturing benefits from its completed digital platform rollouts, and further lifting network productivity. The group expects full-year labour cost pressures from regulatory changes, but remains confident about healthcare demand trends over the medium to long term.

The company maintains a strong balance sheet, ending FY26 with net debt of $32.8 million and well within its banking covenants. Management continues to target improved cashflow and margin restoration in FY27.

Healius Ltd share price snapshot

The Healius share price has been sold off over the past 12 months and is down 45%. This compares to a modest 2% gain by the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO).

View Original Announcement

The post Healius posts FY26 revenue growth, narrows underlying loss appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Service Stream Ltd (ASX: SSM) share price is in focus after the company reported an 18.4% jump in NPAT-A to $81.1 million, and 11.8% higher operational EBITDA for FY26.

What did Service Stream report?

• Group revenue of $2.48 billion
• EBITDA from operations of $163.4 million, up 11.8% on last year
• NPAT-A of $81.1 million, up 18.4% from FY25
• EBITDA-A margin improved to 6.6%
• Net cash balance increased to $80.7 million
• Final fully franked dividend of 3.5 cents, taking FY26 dividend to 6.5 cents (up 18.2%)

What else do investors need to know?

Service Stream successfully mobilised several new contracts in Defence, Water, and Industrial sectors, helping boost its contracted work-in-hand to $8.2 billion (excluding extension options). Cash generation remained strong, with a 24.9% increase in operating cash flow and an EBITDA-to-cash conversion rate above 113%.

Availability of skilled staff supported new contract launches and ongoing growth, while inflationary pressures were managed effectively via operational improvements and contract terms.

What did Service Stream management say?

Managing Director Leigh Mackender said:

Financial year 2026 was another period of strong and positive performance with Service Stream delivering improved financial results, headlined by enhanced group margins, double-digit growth in EBITDA-A and NPAT-A, generation of exceptional cashflows and a strengthening of the Group’s net cash balance sheet. The business expanded its total addressable markets, successfully securing and mobilising several new contractual agreements across the defence, water and industrial sectors as it continues to diligently execute its value creation strategy.

What’s next for Service Stream?

Management expects earnings growth in FY27 on the back of improved quality of earnings, benefits from mobilising new contracts, and strong demand for infrastructure upgrades. The group says its scalable platform positions it well to capture further opportunities as clients invest in essential networks.

The board remains confident the company can take advantage of increased infrastructure spending and sees a robust pipeline of projects in critical sectors.

Service Stream share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Service Stream shares have risen 25%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Service Stream: Profit jumps and dividend lifted in FY26 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Healius posts FY26 revenue growth, narrows underlying loss
• Santos posts lower first-half profit as new LNG projects ramp up
• CSL shares just had their best day in 20 years. What did I just miss?
• SHAPE Australia: Record profit, revenue, and dividends in FY26
• Lycopodium FY26 earnings: Higher dividend, upbeat outlook

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.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is in focus today as the company reported a 2% lift in half-year product sales revenue to US$2,620 million, but a 19% drop in statutory profit to US$355 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Directors declared an unfranked interim dividend of 11.6 US cents per share.

What did Santos report?

• Product sales revenue: US$2,620 million, up 2% year on year
• Statutory net profit after tax: US$355 million, down 19%
• Underlying profit: US$397 million, down 22%
• EBITDAX: US$1,555 million, down 12%
• Interim dividend: 11.6 US cents per share (unfranked), down 13%
• Operating free cash flow: US$378 million, down 65%

What else do investors need to know?

Santos delivered higher production volumes, mainly due to increased LNG output and the continued ramp-up of the Barossa and Pikka Phase 1 developments. Sales volumes rose by 1.7% to 48 million barrels of oil equivalent, helping offset the impact of lower realised LNG prices and higher depletion expenses.

Cash flow from operations fell sharply versus the prior period, reflecting increased commissioning costs at Barossa and Darwin LNG, higher third-party purchase costs, and the change in depreciation methodology to reflect 1P reserves rather than 2P.

The company’s major projects remain on track. Barossa has reached 97% of planned rates since the end of June, while Pikka Phase 1 in Alaska achieved first oil, with expectations for ramp-up to plateau production in the third quarter of 2026.

What’s next for Santos?

Santos has provided production guidance of 99 to 105 million barrels of oil equivalent and sales volume guidance of 102 to 108 million barrels for the full year 2026. The company expects key growth projects, including the Barossa and Pikka ramp-ups, to underpin higher production and support long-term performance.

Santos continues to progress its portfolio of decarbonisation initiatives, such as the Moomba and Bayu-Undan carbon capture projects. The company maintains its focus on reducing costs, improving asset reliability, and delivering project milestones to support its strategy.

Santos share price snapshot

The Santos share price is marginally outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) on a 12-month basis with a gain of 4.5%.

View Original Announcement

The post Santos posts lower first-half profit as new LNG projects ramp up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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

CSL shares (ASX: CSL) surged as much as 18% on Tuesday, capping the biotech giant’s best single session in more than two decades.

The stock changed hands around $157.40.

That is an extraordinary move for a company of this size, and it becomes stranger still once you read the headline numbers.

CSL reported a net loss after tax of US$2.6 billion for FY26.

A record loss and a record rally, on the same morning.

So what did the market see that the headline missed?

Why CSL shares looked past a US$2.6 billion loss

The loss was not in any way an operating problem.

It came from US$7.1 billion in pre-tax impairments and a further US$799 million in restructuring costs, none of which involved cash leaving the business.

Most of that writedown was due to CSL Vifor intangibles and under-utilised property, plant, and equipment.

Investors had also been warned well in advance, because back in May the company flagged roughly US$5 billion of impairments alongside a cut to FY26 guidance.

Strip the one-offs away and the underlying picture was far steadier.

Underlying NPATA stood at US$3.1 billion, down just 2% on the prior year.

Revenue of US$15.8 billion slipped 1%, but still came in ahead of what most analysts had predicted.

Operating cash flow was a healthy US$3.5 billion.

Inside the FY26 result

CSL Behring remains the engine room of the business.

The plasma division generated US$11.4 billion in revenue, down 1%, while immunoglobulin sales held flat at US$6.2 billion.

That immunoglobulin line is a key pillar of the CSL bull case.

CSL Vifor lifted 3% to US$2.4 billion.

Seqirus was weak, with the influenza vaccine business shrinking 8% to US$2 billion.

In better news, CSL’s transformation program delivered US$176 million of cost savings during the year.

Management also committed US$1.5 billion to expanding plasma collection capacity across the United States.

The final dividend left the full-year payout unchanged at US$2.92 per share.

The guidance that drove the CSL share price craze

Here is where the enthusiasm came from.

CSL guided to underlying NPAT growth of approximately 5% in FY27.

Consensus had been sitting closer to 2%, so for a company that has spent 18 months walking its guidance backwards, an upgrade of any kind is a welcone plot twist.

Behring is expected to grow at a mid-single-digit rate, with immunoglobulins running in the mid-to-high single digits.

The offset is CSL Vifor, where revenue is tipped to fall around 25% as iron generics arrive.

Interim chief executive Gordon Naylor set the tone for this reset back in May.

Growth initiatives are working, but the financial benefits will take longer than previously anticipated to materialise.

Are CSL shares still worth a look?

Even after Tuesday’s surge, CSL shares remain down roughly 8% in 2026, and they still sit well below the highs they set a few years ago.

Investors should still be considering the bear case. The company is still operating without a permanent chief executive, Seqirus is shrinking, and the Vifor acquisition has now been written down heavily.

One guidance beat does not undo two years of disappointment.

Ahead of the result, my Foolish colleagues asked whether the healthcare giant could arrest the slide.

On the evidence of a single session, the answer is yes. However, sustaining this recovery is a very different question.

Foolish takeaway

Tuesday was not really a case of the market missing something.

It was a case of the market finally being handed something to hold onto: a reset year, a cleaner balance sheet, and guidance that beat expectations for the first time in a while.

The plasma business is still growing, and the cost program is still delivering.

Whether CSL shares can build on that will come down to execution over the next 12 months.

The post CSL shares just had their best day in 20 years. What did I just miss? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is the CSL share price in the buy zone after the biotech giant’s results?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• CSL shares surge 18% as ‘reset year’ points to a return to growth
• Why is everyone talking about CSL, Pro Medicus and BHP shares on Tuesday?

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. 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.

The SHAPE Australia Corporation Ltd (ASX: SHA) share price is in focus today after the company reported a record 29.6% jump in revenue to $1.24 billion and a 50% increase in profit after tax to $31.7 million for the year ended 30 June 2026.

What did SHAPE Australia report?

• Revenue: Up 29.6% to $1,239.9 million (FY25: $956.9 million)
• Net profit after tax (NPAT): Up 50.2% to $31.7 million (FY25: $21.1 million)
• EBITDA: Up 53% to $50.1 million (FY25: $32.7 million)
• Basic earnings per share: 38.13c, up from 25.52c
• Full year dividends declared: 32.0c per share, up 42% from FY25
• Cash and marketable securities: $136.2 million (up 6%)

What else do investors need to know?

SHAPE Australia reached a significant milestone, surpassing $1 billion in annual revenue for the first time. The company attributed its strong growth to a mix of new project wins, continued sector diversification (with non-office sectors now making up over half of total revenue), and the expansion of regional operations.

Two strategic acquisitions—Arden in December 2025 and Australian Professional Shopfitters (APS) in July 2026—broadened the Group’s capabilities, especially in facilities maintenance and retail fitout, and created pathways for further cross-selling opportunities. The year also saw a healthy increase in the order backlog (up 28% to $628.4 million) and the project pipeline (now $4.8 billion, up 20%).

The business maintained a strong focus on people and safety: workforce grew by 30% to over 890 employees, employee engagement scored 86%, and safety performance improved despite higher activity levels.

What did SHAPE Australia management say?

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Peter Marix-Evans said:

FY26 was a defining year for SHAPE. Our teams delivered a larger and more diverse volume of work across more sectors, regions and service lines, while improving safety performance, project outcomes and client experience.

What’s next for SHAPE Australia?

SHAPE enters FY27 with confidence, supported by a solid $628 million order backlog and a $4.8 billion identified project pipeline. The company plans to further consolidate its presence in premium office assets and expand into priority sectors such as data centres, education, health, aged care, and defence.

The integration of Arden and APS is underway and expected to provide additional operational leverage and growth. SHAPE will continue to invest in talent, technology, and capability expansion (including new build and modular construction), while remaining disciplined in risk and procurement.

SHAPE Australia share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, SHAPE Australia shares have risen 58%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post SHAPE Australia: Record profit, revenue, and dividends in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Healius posts FY26 revenue growth, narrows underlying loss
• Service Stream: Profit jumps and dividend lifted in FY26 results
• Santos posts lower first-half profit as new LNG projects ramp up
• CSL shares just had their best day in 20 years. What did I just miss?
• Lycopodium FY26 earnings: Higher dividend, upbeat outlook

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Shape Australia. 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.

The Lycopodium Ltd (ASX: LYL) share price is in focus today after the company posted full-year FY26 results with revenue of $377.5 million and NPAT of $40.2 million, both within the guidance range.

What did Lycopodium report?

• Revenue of $377.5 million for FY26
• EBITDA of $59.5 million
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) of $40.2 million
• Earnings per share (EPS) of 101.1 cents
• Fully franked final dividend of 37 cents per share (full-year dividend 59 cps, up 69% on FY25)
• Healthy cash balance of $106.2 million at 30 June 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Lycopodium delivered results within its February 2026 guidance, and the Board declared a final fully franked dividend, taking the full-year payout ratio to 60%. The company also reported $661 million in committed contracts heading into FY27, highlighting a robust project pipeline.

The company’s regional model – with hubs in APAC (Perth), the Americas (Toronto), and Africa (Cape Town) – is producing new opportunities, including increased Americas project activity and expanded presence in Latin America via its SAXUM acquisition. The African hub continues to deliver significant projects, while APAC maintains steady work, notably in Western Australia.

Lycopodium logged zero lost time injuries from 9 million controlled service hours, pointing to a strong safety culture. Key project wins during the year included major works in gold and lithium, and several new contracts are set to ramp up into FY27.

What did Lycopodium management say?

Managing Director & CEO Peter De Leo said:

FY26 has been another successful year for the Company, with an expanded geographic reach and the continued delivery of high-quality studies and projects for our clients globally.

What’s next for Lycopodium?

Looking ahead, Lycopodium has issued FY27 guidance for revenue between $540–$580 million and NPAT of $54–$58 million, aiming for a 10% NPAT margin. Management expects a more regionally balanced project portfolio as new work is secured, especially in the Americas and Africa.

Alongside strong resources and infrastructure pipelines, recent contract awards are expected to boost earnings, with further updates promised at the AGM in November. Continued geographic diversification and service expansion underpin the group’s strategy for sustained growth.

Lycopodium share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Lycopodium shares have risen 54%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Lycopodium FY26 earnings: Higher dividend, upbeat outlook appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lycopodium. 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 industrials stock SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG) is making headlines this week after its share price soared on full-year results.

The company is a diversified industrial services group that provides multidisciplinary construction, maintenance, drilling, and geotechnical services to clients in sectors including mining, industrial processing, infrastructure, and renewable energy.

In the last 12 months, this ASX industrials stock has risen an impressive 145%. 

A new report from Bell Potter suggests there could still be more growth to come. 

What did the company report?

SRG released FY26 results and FY27 guidance on Tuesday. 

Results included: 

• Revenue up 27% to $1,675.5 million (FY25: $1,323.3 million)
• Underlying EBITDA rose 34% to $170.1 million
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) up 51% to $71.9 million
• Earnings per share increased 44% to 11.6 cents
• Final dividend of 4 cents per share (fully franked), bringing total FY26 dividend to 7 cents (up 27%). 

Speaking on the results, Managing Director David Macgeorge commented:

SRG Global has continued to deliver strongly, reflected in a significant +34% increase in EPS(A) to 13.8 cents. This result demonstrates our focus on delivering long-term value for shareholders, underpinned by continued organic growth across the business alongside the successful execution of our acquisition strategy. Our transformation into a diversified infrastructure services business is driving record performance, with strong foundations now in place to support the continued delivery of long-term, sustainable returns to shareholders.

Bell Potter’s updated view

Following the announcement, Bell Potter released updated guidance on this ASX industrials stock. 

The broker saw the result as largely positive, with underlying EBITDA ahead of expectations. 

The result was supported by stronger-than-expected engineering and construction revenue and a strong contribution from the company’s Total Asset Management Services business, which exceeded its original earnings target by 10%.

For fiscal 2027, management upgraded its earnings guidance to $195 to $205 million, supported by a record $5.1 billion of work already secured, stronger maintenance activity, and an improved outlook for Total Asset Management Services.

Price target upgraded

Following the results, the team at Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation on SRG shares and increased its price target to $4.50 (previously $4.25). 

From yesterday’s closing price, this indicates an upside potential of nearly 14%. 

We see SRG’s 24% valuation premium to the peer group (FY27 PE(A)) as justified and reflective of management’s strong track record of organic and inorganic growth and a business delivering >80% of its earnings from recurring streams.

The post This high flying industrials stock just rocketed 9% on results and is expected to keep rising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• SRG Global profit jumps 51% as FY27 guidance upgraded

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