Tag: Stock pick

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are sliding today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) business and accounting software provider closed yesterday trading for $74.25. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $73.17 apiece, down 1.5%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Unfortunately for long-term shareholders, today’s underperformance is all too familiar. With today’s intraday losses, Xero shares are down 54.2% over the past 12 months, compared to the 1.4% one-year gain posted by the benchmark index.

Though a more accurate comparison here would be against the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ), which has crashed 40.9% since this time last year.

As you’re likely aware, ASX tech shares were caught up in a broader global sell-down of the tech sector. That came amid the so-called ‘SaaSpocalypse’, which refers to concerns that AI could potentially replace many of the services that Software as a Service (SaaS) companies like Xero provide.

ASX tech stocks have also come under pressure amid rising interest rates. Growth-oriented shares like Xero tend to be priced with higher future earnings in mind. And as interest rates go up, so too does the present cost of investing in those future earnings.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

With the company’s share price having lost more than half its value over the last year, is the ASX 200 tech stock now a good buy?

Xero shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Gray Perry Wealth Advisers’ Blake Halligan recently analysed the outlook for the embattled ASX 200 tech stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Xero remains a leading cloud accounting platform, with a dominant position in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

Halligan added, “Fiscal year 2026 operating revenue increased 31 per cent, supported by 506,000 net customer additions and the Melio Payments acquisition.”

But amid concerns over the integration costs of that acquisition, Halligan issued a hold recommendation on Xero shares.

He concluded:

Melio should aid in revenue growth, but costs associated with its integration contributed to a 27 per cent fall in net profit after tax and a gross margin decline from 89 per cent to 83.9 per cent.

The profitable ANZ and UK businesses offer growth potential and could assist in a continuing share price recovery.

Commenting on Xero’s completed Melio acquisition following the company’s FY 2026 results release, CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy said:

We have powerful momentum across our markets, and delivered strong EBITDA growth while absorbing Melio. This has moved us beyond single-job workflows in the US by integrating Melio to unite accounting and payments on one platform.

The post Down 54% in a year, are Xero shares now a buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 3 ASX 200 shares to buy in September
• Xero and Megaport: 2 ASX tech shares the market can’t agree on
• Buy, hold, sell: Megaport, Xero, AMP shares
• These ASX 50 shares have lost up to 60%. Is the sell-off overdone?
• How to build a winning ASX share portfolio and create wealth

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.

The Australian healthcare sector has rebounded well over the August reporting season, with Bell Potter analysts saying it was the key sector winner with about a 20% improvement.

Major improvements in stocks, including CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Ramsay Healthcare Ltd (ASX: RHC), and Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) bolstered the sector, following weakness earlier in the year.

Where does the broker see good value now?

Bell Potter has selected seven ASX healthcare shares as its key picks going forward, some of which it says could more than double in value.

One of these is Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6), which Bell Potter said could have some big news shortly.

The broker said:

For companies with significant clinical readouts over the near-term, it’s hard to go past CU6 which is expected to deliver topline data from its two PSMA imaging Phase 3 trials in early CY27. The data from these studies should support a New Drug Application for 64Cu SAR bis PSMA in CY27. Once approved, we expect 64Cu SAR bisPSMA will enter the ~US$3b PSMA imaging market with a highly differentiated label claim to the incumbents.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating on the shares with a $6.40 price target.

The broker is also predicting solid share price gains for Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB), which has been preforming well since gaining FDA approval for its drug Ryoncil in late 2024.

Bell Potter said Mesoblast was also progressing a lower back pain drug, with a large potential market.

Its price target for Mesoblast is $4.45.

Other companies which are scaling up in the US are Lumos Diagnostic Holdings Ltd (ASX: LDX) and Aroa Biosurgery Ltd (ASX: ARX).

Bell Potter said regarding these two:

LDX is rapidly scaling its commercial channels ahead of its first flu season in North America, while ARX is driving strong direct growth through Myriad and positioning to capitalise on disruption across the outpatient chronic wound market with Symphony. Both remain well positioned in sizeable US growth opportunities.

Bell Potter has a price target of 25 cents on Lumos and $1.09 on Aroa.

The broker also likes Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: VFY), which it said “has recently emerged with the potential to develop dominant positions across various large cryopreservation markets, but particularly in the blood products segment”.

Bell Potter has a price target of $5.15 on Vitrafy.

The broker said Cogstate Ltd (ASX: CGS) delivered “stellar returns” in FY26, “following significant contract wins across an increasingly diverse range of clinical indications and channel partners”.

It has a price target of $3.70 on Cogstate.

And lastly, Bell Potter is also bullish on Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), which it said “continues to win ever more business in the US”.

Bell Potter has a price target of $226 on Pro Medicus.

The post 7 ASX healthcare stock picks from Bell Potter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

I’d describe Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) as one of Australia’s top shares for a variety of reasons, and I think right now is a great time to invest.

Most of the company’s profit generation comes through its ownership of the Chemist Warehouse franchise business. It also owns the Amcal and Discount Drug Store businesses.

In my view, Sigma Healthcare is delivering exceptional growth and its outlook is very compelling. Let me run through three very attractive elements.

Strong Australian growth         

The company’s core earnings driver is Australia, where a vast majority of the franchise stores are located. There were 561 Australian Chemist Warehouse stores at the end of FY26, following the addition of 24 locations in FY26.

The Australian segment saw revenue growth of 14.9% to $10.4 billion, with Chemist Warehouse branded like-for-like network sales growth of 13.4% amid continued demand for GLP-1 medicines.

Over the long term, it has franchise network targets of around 900 Chemist Warehouse stores, around 300 Amcal locations, and approximately 150 Discount Drug Stores.

It expects to open 13 Chemist Warehouse-branded stores in the first half of FY27, with 12 refurbishments also planned.

The fact that the business continues to deliver double-digit revenue growth after such a long time says to me that the business can deliver good revenue growth for the foreseeable future.

Exciting international growth

Australia is not the only market where the company is growing. Excitingly, it has a presence in New Zealand, Ireland, the UAE, and UK. It also has a presence in China where it’s focusing on profitable online sales.

In FY26, 20 stores were opened in international markets, with 14 new stores in New Zealand and four new ones in Ireland.

Impressively, sales grew by 45% in Ireland and 20.3% in New Zealand during FY26. Overall, international revenue increased 33% to $421.4 million.

The business is entering the UK market in FY27, which could be another exciting growth market for one of Australia’s top shares. The success in nearby Ireland – which is now profitable – is a good sign for the UK, in my view.

I think the company could expand to other markets in the longer term.

Operating leverage

Not only is the business growing its top line rapidly, but I think profit can increase even faster thanks to its rising profit margins. Remember, it’s normally profit growth rather than revenue growth that can send a share price higher.

The FY26 financials were a great demonstration of its ability to deliver stronger profits.

While overall revenue rose 15.5%, normalised operating profit (EBIT) climbed 20.6% to $1.09 billion, and normalised net profit grew 22.3% to $732.3 million. It also reduced net debt to $663 million.

Australian segment normalised EBIT grew 18.3% and international segment EBIT soared 91.3% to $55.8 million.

I think the strengthening profit margins are a great sign for one of Australia’s top shares to continue becoming more valuable.

After falling 15% since February 2026, the Sigma Healthcare share price is now valued at 35 times FY27’s estimated earnings. I think Sigma Healthcare, one of Australia’s top shares, could be undervalued at this level.

But, it’s not the only stock I’ve got my eyes on.

The post A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Own BHP, Woodside or Coles shares? Here’s what investors should know
• Where I’d invest $20,000 in ASX shares this spring
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

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.

A $550,000 superannuation balance sits well above the typical Australian average for retirees, but it falls short of what you need for a comfortable retirement lifestyle. 

It’s the middle ground which can act as a solid base, but it’s not quite enough to live off.

But what if you didn’t need to live off your superannuation balance alone? What if your superannuation generated enough passive income to partially, or even fully, support you when you quit work?

So, how much passive income could a $550,000 super balance realistically generate each month?

Let’s take a look.

What passive income can I earn off a $550,000 superannuation balance?

To calculate your passive income, you need to multiply your total superannuation balance by the overall dividend yield of your portfolio.

The tricky part is that the answer varies widely depending on what dividend yield you pick.

So, as your dividend yield increases, the passive income you can earn off your $550,000 superannuation balance also goes up.  

Also note, the figures are based on cash dividends before any tax or franking credit benefits.

What can I earn off a 2% to 3% yielding portfolio?

If your portfolio yields 2% or 3%, you’ll earn around $11,000 or $16,500, respectively.

That’s because $550,000 x 2% = $11,000 per year in dividend payments, and $550,000 x 3% = $16,500 in dividends.

Around this level, you could invest in major long-standing ASX blue-chip companies like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), or Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). These all yield around the 2% to 3% level at the time of writing.

What can I earn if my portfolio yields around 4% or 5%?

If your portfolio has a slightly higher dividend yield, closer to 4% or 5%, you could earn a much higher dividend income of around $22,000 or $27,500, respectively.

There are still plenty of good-quality stocks yielding around this level. For example, mining giants BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO). Major banks National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) also yield around the 4% to 5% range. As do energy majors Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and APA Group (ASX: APA). 

What if I want to invest my superannuation in high-yielding shares around 10% or even higher?

If you have the stomach to withstand the volatility and elevated risk, you could earn a much higher passive income from high-yielding stocks.

At a 10% yield, a $550,000 balance could earn about $55,000.

And there are still several options paying around this level too. If you’re after a single stock, then GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) and IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH) both yield above 11% at the time of writing.

Another option is to invest your super into an ETF like the BetaShares Australian Top 20 Equities Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: YMAX), the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK), or the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). These all yield 10% or higher at the time of writing.

The post How much passive income can I earn off a $550,000 superannuation balance? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• $10,000 invested in BHP and CBA shares three years ago is now worth…
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, CBA shares

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, CSL, Macquarie Group, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, Gqg Partners, IPH Ltd , Macquarie Group, Wesfarmers, and 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 Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price has rewarded investors handsomely so far in 2026.

The energy producer’s shares have climbed around 37% since the beginning of the year and are now trading at approximately $8.41, close to a 52-week high.

After such a strong run, I think it is worth asking whether there is still enough value left for investors buying today.

Earnings could move higher

The first thing I would look at is where Santos’ earnings are expected to go from here.

Santos has substantial exposure to natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which gives the business opportunities to benefit from continued energy demand across Australia and Asia.

According to consensus estimates, earnings per share are forecast to come in at 60.2 cents in FY26 before increasing to 75.3 cents in FY27 and 77.9 cents in FY28.

Of course, earnings from an energy producer will never be completely predictable. Commodity prices can move quickly, while large projects bring execution and cost risks.

Still, if analysts are close to the mark, the earnings outlook makes today’s share price considerably easier to justify.

What are investors paying?

At $8.41, Santos shares are trading on a P/E ratio of roughly 14 times forecast FY26 earnings.

The valuation drops to around 11 times FY27 earnings and remains close to that level based on the FY28 forecast.

I think that looks quite reasonable.

Santos is a cyclical energy producer, so I would not expect it to command the type of earnings multiple investors might pay for a highly predictable defensive or technology business.

But an earnings multiple of around 11 times does not look demanding if profits rise as currently expected.

Dividends add to the case

There could also be a meaningful income stream for shareholders.

Consensus forecasts point to dividends per share of 41.7 cents in FY26, 49.4 cents in FY27, and 64.4 cents in FY28.

At today’s share price, those estimates imply forward dividend yields of roughly 5%, 5.9%, and 7.7%, respectively.

I would be cautious about assuming the FY28 payment will definitely arrive. Energy earnings can change significantly with commodity prices, and dividends can move with them.

Even so, the forecasts suggest investors may receive a substantial amount of cash while they wait for the longer-term investment case to play out.

What could go wrong?

There is genuine uncertainty to consider.

Oil and LNG prices can weaken, development projects can cost more than expected, and Santos operates in a capital-intensive industry where investment decisions can have consequences for many years.

That means I would want a margin of safety rather than buying the shares purely because forecast earnings are rising.

At around 11 times FY27 earnings, I think there is still one.

Foolish takeaway

The Santos share price has already had an excellent 2026, but I do not think the rally has exhausted the opportunity.

At $8.41, I would describe the shares as good value rather than obviously cheap.

Forecast earnings growth brings the forward valuation down quickly, while the potential dividend income adds another reason to be interested.

For investors comfortable with commodity-price volatility and the risks that come with large energy projects, I think Santos shares are still a buy at current levels.

The post Is the Santos share price still good value after rising 37% in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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.

ASX copper shares finally have the copper price support the bulls have promised for years.

Copper set an all-time high in London this week.

The London Metal Exchange three-month price closed at US$14,415.50 a tonne on Monday, a gain of 0.57%.

The metal has advanced roughly 17% over the past year.

Why the copper price matters for ASX copper shares

Copper is unique among commodities because demand is structural in today’s world.

Electricity grids, data centres, and renewable generation all consume enormous volumes of it.

Supply is the harder half, because new mines take a decade to build.

BHP has been transparent about where it sees the opportunity, describing copper as the engine driving the company’s growth.

The company has a project pipeline across Chile, Australia, and Argentina that it believes can lift copper production by around 40% by FY35.

Copper climbed to record levels on Tuesday while most of the market fell.

The important point for investors is that a record price does not lift every producer equally.

Costs, grades, and operational reliability decide who converts the price into cash.

1. Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

Sandfire Resources is the purest copper exposure on the ASX and the clearest winner of the three.

Shares closed at $22.50 and are up 82.93% over twelve months.

FY26 was a transformational year, capped by record sales and a much stronger balance sheet.

Revenue rose 41% to US$1,654 million and underlying EBITDA rose 64% to US$867 million.

Net profit jumped 282% to US$354 million on production of 154.2 thousand tonnes of copper equivalent.

The company moved into a net cash position and declared a 35 cent fully-franked final dividend, its first since 2022.

FY27 guidance calls for 150 to 166 thousand tonnes of copper equivalent.

Managing director Brendan Harris had this to say:

We have the right team, we have the right strategy, and we’re producing the commodities the world needs to decarbonise.

2. 29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M)

29Metals is the cautionary tale in this group.

The shares are down 4.65% over twelve months.

The half-year result showed precisely why a high copper price is not enough on its own.

Revenue rose 12% to $304.9 million, yet the company swung to a net loss of $34.8 million from a $35.3 million profit.

EBITDA collapsed from $112.6 million to $30.5 million and no interim dividend was declared.

The problems are linked to operational events.

Seismic events at Xantho Extended forced a temporary exclusion zone and gutted zinc production at Golden Grove.

Capricorn Copper remains suspended while tailings approvals work through the system.

Finally, a $150 million entitlement offer lifted liquidity to $202.1 million, which buys management time rather than solving anything.

3. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP is a diversified way to buy into the copper thematic.

FY26 was the year copper overtook iron ore inside the business.

BHP produced roughly two million tonnes of copper for a second consecutive year.

Copper contributed more than half of group underlying EBITDA for the first time, out of a group total near US$33 billion.

Net debt finished below US$9 billion and the final dividend was 99 US cents per share, the largest in four years.

The trade-off is dilution of the theme.

Iron ore still matters enormously to BHP, and it is not at a record price.

Foolish takeaway

The copper price is doing what the long-term bulls said it would.

However, the difference in fortunes between Sandfire and 29Metals this year proves not every miner is a buy.

I would rather pay up for a producer already converting a record price into cash than buy the cheapest option on the market.

ASX copper shares have rarely had a better backdrop, and the risk now sits with the companies rather than the commodity.

The post Copper prices just hit a record high. What does this mean for ASX copper shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• $10,000 invested in BHP and CBA shares three years ago is now worth…
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, CBA shares
• Why this news from China has changed the outlook for BHP shares
• Why I’d wait to buy BHP shares in superannuation
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $10,000 passive income every month?

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are on the hunt for big returns for your portfolio, then it could be worth checking out the two S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares listed below.

That’s because they have been named as buys and tipped to rise up to 45%. Here’s what is being recommended:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

This network services company could be an ASX 200 share with significant upside potential according to Morgans.

It was impressed with its performance in FY 2026 and its guidance for the year ahead. As a result, it recently put a buy rating and $25.00 price target on Megaport’s shares. This implies potential upside of approximately 45% from current levels.

Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

MP1’s FY26 underlying EBITDA and FY27 EBITDA guidance were above market expectations. Both Network and Compute delivered record growth. At first glance, simple maths suggests MP1’s funding position looks tight. However, there is nearly $500m of additional funding that got lost in translation. We think MP1 ends FY27 with nearly $600m of surplus liquidity (assuming no new deals get signed).

Deals already contracted deliver $620m of annualised contracted EBITDA which means after EBITDA lifts 3x YoY in FY27, it will more than double into FY28, based on deals already signed. We upgrade to a Buy recommendation and $25 target price.

Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND)

Morgans also sees potential for this ASX 200 share to deliver market-beating returns over the next 12 months.

In response to its results last month, the broker retained its buy rating and $35.80 price target on Monadelphous shares. Based on its current share price of $29.01, this implies potential upside of 23% for investors. It commented:

FY26 was strong with EBITDA +49% YoY and NPAT +60%. Management seemed comfortable talking up the outlook more generally – across iron ore, energy, gold, rare earths and lithium – however expectations for FY27 were tempered by framing it as a consolidation year. While we acknowledge that the 1H27 comp will be difficult (1H26 revenue +45% YoY), the key lead indicators suggest that strong growth will continue into FY27 and beyond, as the E&C order book has more than doubled YoY to nearly $1.2bn (from $570m at FY25). 

MND’s E&C business has never been better positioned to start the year and can capture more of the value chain during this development cycle (civils, NPI, fabrication), with the mega-projects still to be awarded (Nolans, P2000, Hemi and Mt Holland). We maintain our BUY recommendation. Target price unchanged at $35.80.

The post 2 top ASX 200 shares tipped to return 23% to 45% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.

The Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) share price is in focus as the company released its FY27 guidance and updated Three-Year Outlook, aiming to lift gold production to around 500,000 ounces by FY29 while lowering costs.

What did Westgold Resources report?

• FY27 gold production guidance: 385,000–425,000 ounces at an All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $2,980–$3,380 per ounce
• Growth capital investment planned at $450 million–$480 million in FY27
• Exploration and resource definition spend: $50 million–$75 million in FY27
• Three-year outlook (3YO): FY29 production targeted at 460,000–510,000 ounces at a reduced AISC of $2,640–$3,000/oz
• Group processing capacity expected to rise above 7 million tonnes per annum by FY29 through brownfield expansions
• Over $150 million planned investment into exploration and resource definition across the outlook period

What else do investors need to know?

Westgold’s growth plan is fully funded and mainly driven by increased ore availability from the Murchison, brownfield expansions at the Cue and Meekatharra hubs, and development at the company’s largest mines. The plan assumes higher production and improved mill utilisation, resulting in lower unit costs and stronger cash flows by FY29.

Importantly, the Fletcher Zone at Beta Hunt, seen as Westgold’s largest organic growth opportunity, is excluded from this three-year base case while studies continue. Management indicates Fletcher could add around 140,000 ounces per year once developed, potentially pushing group production past 600,000 ounces annually.

The company’s strategy also includes maintaining shareholder capital returns, with support for its dividends and broader capital return policy even through periods of elevated investment.

What did Westgold Resources management say?

Wayne Bramwell, Managing Director & CEO said:

Westgold’s updated 3YO is a high confidence, executable organic growth plan lifting Group production towards 500,000 oz in FY29. This plan is fully funded with Group All-In Sustaining costs forecast to fall as the benefits of higher-grade ore availability and expansion of key Murchison mines and processing capacity to >7Mtpa are realised, delivering enhanced Group cashflow… Importantly, Westgold’s growth is organic and not coming at the expense of shareholder returns. Our business is now more resilient and has the capacity to internally fund growth while continuing to support our Shareholder Capital Returns Policy, dividends and ongoing capital returns.

What’s next for Westgold Resources?

Westgold plans to focus capital investment in the Murchison region, rolling out processing hub expansions at Cue and Meekatharra through FY27 and FY28. The group is aiming for steady production growth, improved mill utilisation and flexible production driven by higher confidence in ore reserves and enhanced mining fronts.

Looking further ahead, Westgold’s ongoing exploration and development studies, especially in the Fletcher Zone at Beta Hunt, remain watch points for potential upside beyond the current outlook. The company expects 3YO capital spend to decline after the initial peak, with benefits flowing through higher production and free cash flow.

Westgold Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Westgold Resources shares have risen 73%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Westgold Resources outlines three-year growth plan and FY27 guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 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.

Dividend income may seem increasingly attractive these days following the Australian Federal budget tax changes. Dividend yields above 8% could be particularly attractive.

Some investors may want a lot of passive income, with capital growth now seeming less appealing than it used to be.

I’m going to talk about two names with particularly high dividend yields that could be compelling long-term buys.

WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE)

WAM Leaders is a listed investment companies (LICs) that targets ASX blue-chip shares. It is one of the leading LICs on the ASX, in my view.

The Wilson Asset Management investment team actively look for undervalued businesses at the larger end of the ASX’s market capitalisation list.

Some of the businesses it has actively invested in include Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX), Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32).

The portfolio has performed solidly over the long-term – since inception in May 2016 it has returned an average of 12.2% per year to August 2026, before fees and expenses and taxes. That return has been almost 3% better per annum than the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index (ASX: XJOA).

By generating good investment returns, a LIC like WAM Leaders can pay dividends in both good years and tough years.

WAM Leaders has increased its annual payout per share each year since FY17, meaning it has delivered around a decade of ongoing dividend growth for shareholders.  

Its FY26 payout was 9.6 cents per share, which translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX)

Future Generation Australia is another LIC. I think that structure is very effective for being able to pay regular dividends to investors from investment returns generated over the long-term.

While many fund managers charge sizeable investment fees (and performance fees), there are no management costs in relation to this particular LIC.

Future Generation Australia is invested in the funds of more than a dozen fund managers who all work for free so that the LIC can donate 1% of its net assets each year to youth-focused charities.

By having such a diversified portfolio, giving exposure to hundreds of underlying ASX shares, I think Future Generation Australia can be a great addition to Aussies who don’t want such a focus on ASX mining shares and ASX bank shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is dominated by banking and miners, whereas the Future Generation Australia portfolio is significantly invested in smaller ASX shares (with more growth potential).

The ASX share has increased its annual dividend per share each year since 2015 – that’s more than a decade of consistent payout growth. It plans to pay an annual dividend per share of 7.6 cents for 2026, which translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 8.04%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

I think these are two of the most compelling ASX share ideas for passive income.

The post 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia. 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.

There are plenty of ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) for investors to choose from on the local bourse.

But some stand out because they provide exposure to areas of the market that could grow strongly over the next decade.

Three such examples are named below. Here’s why they could be worth watching:

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to leading technology companies across Asia. Its portfolio includes businesses involved in semiconductors, ecommerce, gaming, online platforms, and other areas of the digital economy. Holdings include WeChat owner Tencent and search giant Baidu.

This could be an attractive part of the market to be exposed to. Asia is home to some of the world’s most important technology companies, as well as huge consumer markets that continue to become more digital.

The fund also gives investors technology exposure away from the United States, which could be useful for anyone already holding US-focused ETFs.

There will be volatility along the way, particularly given the geopolitical and regulatory risks in the region. But over the long term, Asia’s technology sector has plenty of room to grow.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

Another exciting ASX ETF to watch is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

This fund invests in companies involved in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and other related technologies.

The long-term opportunity here is significant. Businesses around the world are looking for ways to improve productivity, reduce costs, and automate more tasks.

This is already happening in factories, warehouses, hospitals, farms, and logistics networks. As robotics technology improves and becomes cheaper, it could be used in more industries and for increasingly complex jobs.

That could create a very long growth runway for the companies held by the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI)

A final ASX ETF for investors to watch is the Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF.

As its name implies, this fund provides exposure to companies that are benefiting from the growth of AI.

This means businesses involved in areas such as semiconductors, software, cloud computing, data infrastructure, and automation. Holdings include Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

AI has already started changing how companies operate, but we could still be relatively early in its development.

Over the next decade, it could become embedded in everything from healthcare and financial services to manufacturing, advertising, and everyday software.

Picking the individual winners could be difficult. But investors don’t have to when this ETF offers a simple way to gain exposure to the broader AI opportunity.

The post 3 very exciting ASX ETFs for investors to watch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much could $10,000 invested in these AI focussed ETFs be worth in a year?
• Why these ASX ETFs could be strong long-term picks
• 3 fantastic ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September
• Want to invest in AI shares? Here’s how to do it on the ASX
• 3 exciting ASX ETFs to watch

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Baidu, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, Tencent, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.