Tag: Stock pick

There are lots of exchange traded funds (ETFs) for investors to choose from on the local market.

But which ASX ETFs could be worth considering right now?

Here are three amazing funds that I would buy in July:

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is the fund I would consider if I wanted my portfolio to have more exposure to the companies rewriting the rules of modern business.

This fund owns 100 of the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq.

That means investors get access to businesses sitting behind artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital advertising, chips, streaming, ecommerce, software, and consumer technology.

Examples of holdings include NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).

The appeal is not just that these companies are large. It is that many of them have enormous customer bases, powerful balance sheets, and the ability to keep investing through different market cycles.

This ASX ETF may not be low volatility, but it gives investors a simple way to back some of the world’s most influential growth companies.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF takes a very different approach.

This fund is not trying to own every famous company in the market. It is looking for US businesses with sustainable competitive advantages that are trading at attractive prices.

That could mean strong brands, hard-to-copy networks, valuable intellectual property, cost advantages, or customer relationships that are difficult to break.

Holdings currently include Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) and NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI).

Great businesses can still be poor investments if investors pay too much. But by combining quality with valuation, this ASX ETF gives investors a more selective way to invest in the US market.

It could suit investors who want global growth exposure, but with a filter that looks beyond size and popularity.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF is the most familiar option on this list.

It gives investors broad exposure to Australian shares by tracking the S&P/ASX 300 Index.

That means owning a slice of the banks, miners, healthcare companies, retailers, property groups, infrastructure businesses, and industrials that drive the local market.

Examples of holdings include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

The fund’s role in a portfolio is straightforward. It gives investors low-cost local diversification, exposure to Australian dividends, and a way to participate in the performance of the broader share market.

This ASX ETF could work well beside international funds, giving a portfolio both home-market exposure and a connection to the Australian economy.

The post 3 amazing ASX ETFs I’d buy this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are BHP shares surging 4% today despite a flat copper price?
• How many CBA shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?
• What are experts tipping for the big four bank shares in the back half of 2026?
• Which ASX copper and gold stock could rocket 200%?
• Up almost 50%, is it too late to buy BHP shares?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Fortinet, NXP Semiconductors, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, BHP Group, Nvidia, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s not often that we see an ASX share jump almost 30% over just two months. But an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) blue-chip stock? That’s a rare occasion indeed.

By definition, a blue-chip share is supposed to offer slow-but-steady returns to investors. Blue chips sacrifice high growth potential for dependability and reliability, offering investors tried-and-true business models that have stood the test of time.

That’s why it’s so surprising to see what has happened to Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares over the past two months.

Wesfarmers is your typical blue-chip ASX 200 stock. It has been around in some form or another for more than a century and has been listed on the ASX for decades. Today, it owns a stable of some of Australia’s most beloved and well-known businesses. These include Kmart, OfficeWorks, Target, and Bunnings.

In addition to these retailing icons, Wesfarmers also owns a bevvy of other, separate businesses under its roof. These range from clothing and energy to chemical manufacturing and lithium processing.

To make a long story short, this diversification and history arguably make Wesfarmers one of the bluest ASX 200 blue-chip stocks on our market.

But let’s get down to what’s been happening with the Wesfarmers share price.

This company has had quite a volatile year. It started 2026 at $81.72 a share before climbing up to almost $90 by mid-February. However, the stock was hit hard by the global sell-off in March. It had dropped down to a 52-week low of $70.80 a share by mid-May. That was just under two months ago.

Since then, investors have reversed course once again. Today, the company can be bought for $91.03 a share (at the time of writing). That’s a good 28.6% or so above where the company was just two months ago.

Why has this ASX 200 blue chip bounced 30% higher in just two months?

What’s interesting about this case is that there hasn’t been any major news or announcements from Wesfarmers over the past two months, aside from the company’s 10 June Strategy Briefing. And that occurred smack-bang in the middle of the company’s share price recovery.

So it seems that this extraordinary revaluation of Wesfarmers is entirely the result of sentiment. As a huge importer of goods, Wesfarmers is arguably highly exposed to global trade disruptions. So it seems that investors may have sold the company off following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in March. And then piled back in on a belief that those fears were overblown.

This ASX 200 blue chip doesn’t seem to have been knocked off course once again after the geopolitical events of the past week, which may result in another closure. Let’s see how the next few weeks treat Wesfarmers shares.

The post This blue-chip ASX 200 stock is up 30% in 2 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 of the best ASX dividend stocks to supplement your superannuation
• Buy, hold, sell: L1 Long Short Fund, REA, Wesfarmers shares

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

It was a pleasant hump day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Wednesday.

After yesterday’s lethargic showing, investors came back to the ASX boards with a little more pep in their steps, sending the ASX 200 0.37% higher. After staying in green territory all day, the index ended up closing at 8,841.1 points.

This confident mid-week session for the Australian markets follows a sunny session on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a lukewarm day, rising by just 0.018%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more bullish, gaining 0.9%.

Let’s get back to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into what the various ASX sectors were up to today.

Winners and losers

We had more green sectors than red ones this session.

Leading the red sectors were communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) was shunned, tumbling 1.2%.

Gold stocks had a similar experience, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) diving 0.95%.

Energy shares found themselves on the nose, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) retreated 0.57% this hump day.

We could say the same for consumer staples stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) dipping 0.56%.

Healthcare stocks couldn’t hold their own either, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.38% slide.

Our last losers were consumer discretionary shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) slipped 0.22% lower by the close of trading.

Let’s turn to the winners now. Leading the push higher were mining stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surging 1.7%.

Utilities shares were far tamer, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifted 0.17% today.

Financial stocks were also in that ballpark, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.15% advance.

Tech shares followed financials. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) jumped 0.13%.

Then we had real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) also bouncing 0.13% higher.

Finally, industrial stocks rounded out the winners this Wednesday, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.07% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our best performer this hump day was miner Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN). Kingsgate shares shot up 15.89% this session to finish at $4.23 each.

This came after the company reported some guidance and production updates, which clearly went down well with the market.

Here’s how the other top stocks tied up at the dock: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)	$4.23	15.89%
Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)	$2.59	8.82%
Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)	$3.20	8.47%
NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)	$13.81	5.66%
FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM)	$1.84	5.44%
Block Inc (ASX: XYZ)	$118.15	5.18%
Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)	$17.54	5.09%
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)	$37.15	4.41%
Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV)	$9.25	4.05%
IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)	$7.00	3.86%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block. 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.

It’s been a fairly pleasant day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX 200 shares this Wednesday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 has advanced 0.33% to just under 8,840 points. But let’s talk about what’s happening with the Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price.

Macquarie shares are also enjoying some time in the sun this hump day. The diversified financial stock closed at $253.04 yesterday evening but opened at $255.22 this morning. Just after midday, Macquarie went even higher, blowing past $257 to top out at $257.29. That’s a new all-time record high for the Macquarie share price.

At present, the financial stock has cooled off a little, but is still trading at $255.80 a share, up a comfortable 1.12% for the session thus far.

This gain puts Macquarie shares up a sizeable 25.6% year to date in 2026, and up 14% over the past 12 months. Investors who held back in March when the company fell below $200 a share during the initial sell-off following the onset of the US-Iran War have certainly been rewarded.

Why is the Macquarie share price hitting new record highs today?

There’s no smoking gun for today’s new record high for the Macquarie share price. The company hasn’t made any significant announcements for a while.

What we can say is that sentiment on Macquarie shares has been improving since the company’s latest earnings were released back in May. As we covered at the time, these earnings were impressive, with Macquarie reporting higher return on equity, a 30% rise in net profits after tax to $4.85 billion, and a 30% boost to earnings per share (EPS) to $12.77. The company also raised its final dividend by a healthy 7.7% to $4.20 per share.

Macquarie has a large and immensely profitable investment banking division. Perhaps investors are betting that the company will continue to prosper amid the heightened volatility this year has brought.

It’s also worth noting that Macquarie shares are being looked upon favourably by brokers. As my Fool colleague Samantha Menzies looked at the end of last month, a “majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on Macquarie Group shares”.

Let’s see if this ASX 200 financial stock can keep breaking its records.

At the current Macquarie share price, the company trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 20.2 and a dividend yield of 2.73%.

The post The Macquarie share price just hit a new record high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• The only 3 ASX blue-chip shares I’d buy and hold until 2036

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

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares have dipped into the red in Wednesday afternoon trade.

The oil and gas producer’s shares are down around 0.2% and changing hands at $7.70 at the time of writing.

But today’s small dip has barely dented gains made over the past week.

Santos shares tumbled 9% through June and into the first week of July. But have now rebounded around 8% over the past week and are back to levels seen during a rally in mid-March when escalating conflict in the Middle East raised concerns about global oil supply.

The shares are now up around 25% year to date, but are still roughly 1% below the trading levels seen this time last year.

Why are Santos shares in the spotlight this week?

The oil and gas major’s shares are the talk of the town after the US-Iran ceasefire broke down last week, and war escalated again between the two nations.

Santos shares gradually cooled through June and into July, off the back of expectations that the conflict was winding down. When the original peace deal broke in June, Santos fell 8% in a single session. 

But a stark reversal over the past week has reinvigorated the war risk tailwinds that saw the company’s shares fly higher earlier this year. 

Escalating conflict has quickly caused a spike in oil prices, which in turn acts as a strong tailwind for Santos shares.

Trading Economics data shows that the price of WTI crude oil has now spiked over US$80 per barrel.

“Oil prices have rallied this week as renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran heightened supply concerns, adding fresh uncertainty after Persian Gulf producers increased exports following the signing of the interim peace agreement,” Trading Economics said.

The good news for Santos is that the business can continue to perform well regardless of whether geopolitical uncertainty is high or low.

A few company-specific price drivers, including a rise in production and improved cash flow, have also helped Santos shares climb higher.

In late April, Santos posted its March quarter update, where it revealed a 1% increase in production and a 3% rise in sales revenue versus the prior quarter. 

Its free cash flow from operations of US$383 million was in line with Q4 2025, and management reaffirmed its full-year 2026 production and cost guidance.

The company also recently confirmed it has now hit continuous production at its Pikka oil project in Alaska. The project is now producing about 20,000 barrels of oil per day, which will ramp up to 80,000 during the third quarter of 2026.

Are Santos shares a buy, sell, or hold now?

The experts are very bullish about the outlook for Santos this year.

Market Index data shows that all brokers agree on a buy rating on Santos shares. The average $8.70 target price implies a potential 13% upside at the time of writing. 

Macquarie is one broker that has an optimistic outlook on Santos. It said that the company has had solid sequential growth in its second-quarter production and that it currently sees the producer tracking to the lower end of its CY26 guidance range. The team has a buy rating and a $9 target price on the shares. 

The post Why is everyone talking about Santos shares this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
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• ASX 200 energy shares rebound after US-Iran peace deal falls apart
• How much do I need in my superannuation to get $50k per year in passive income?

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

BHP Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are enjoying a strong session on Wednesday.

In early afternoon trade, BHP shares are up 4% to $61.12. They’re comfortably outperforming the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is up 0.4%.

The gains continue a recent rebound for the mining heavyweight. BHP shares have climbed around 6% over the past five trading days, though they remain down roughly 6% over the past month.

Zooming out, however, the picture looks much brighter. BHP shares have rallied about 34% since the start of the year and are up approximately 54% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the ASX 200 has gained around 3% over the same period.

So, what’s driving BHP’s sharp share price jump today?

A sector-wide rally lifts BHP

Unlike some large moves in the past, Wednesday’s rally doesn’t appear to be linked to a major company announcement.

Instead, BHP is benefiting from renewed investor appetite for mining stocks as sentiment towards the resources sector improves. The S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) was up 1.6% around midday.

After a period of weakness driven by concerns over global growth, commodity demand, and geopolitical uncertainty, investors have rotated back into diversified miners. BHP shares have emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries.

Copper remains the key long-term story

While iron ore remains BHP’s largest earnings driver, investors are increasingly valuing the company as a global copper producer.

The miner has spent several years repositioning its portfolio towards commodities expected to benefit from long-term electrification trends, including copper through assets such as Escondida, Olympic Dam, and the recently acquired OZ Minerals business.

That shift means BHP is often viewed as one of the ASX’s premier large-cap copper exposures.

Interestingly, however, today’s rally wasn’t sparked by a surge in copper prices. Benchmark copper prices were little changed overnight, slipping around 0.2%, and remain modestly lower than they were a month ago.

Even so, prices are still well above year-ago levels. This reflects a constructive long-term outlook supported by growing demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and electric vehicles.

Looking ahead

With no major company news driving Wednesday’s gains, the rally appears to reflect improving sentiment towards the mining sector rather than a fundamental change in BHP’s outlook.

Investors will now turn their attention to BHP’s upcoming quarterly operational update next month. This should provide fresh insight into production across its iron ore and copper operations.

In the meantime, movements in copper and iron ore prices, as well as any signs of further economic stimulus from China, are likely to remain the biggest drivers of BHP shares.

For long-term investors, today’s rally also highlights an important shift in the investment case.

BHP remains the world’s largest-listed iron ore miner. But its growing exposure to copper means the company’s fortunes are becoming increasingly tied to a metal many analysts expect will play a central role in the global energy transition.

The post Why are BHP shares surging 4% today despite a flat copper price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX copper and gold stock could rocket 200%?
• Up almost 50%, is it too late to buy BHP shares?
• What did the market look like 10 years ago? Here’s what’s changed for the ASX 200
• How much superannuation do you need to earn $5,000 a month in passive income?
• Should you buy BHP shares FY27? Here’s what experts are saying

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. 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.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) shares are climbing higher into the green in morning trade on Wednesday. 

At the time of writing, the shares are up around 0.5% and changing hands for $4.72 a piece.

The latest increase represents around a 39% rebound from a 12-year low recorded in late-March. It’s certainly a step in the right direction, but there is still some way before Treasury Wine Estates can recover losses shed through 2025.

For the year to date, the shares are down around 11% and are 41% lower than this time last year.

Why are Treasury Wine Estates shares rebounding?

After hitting the lowest trading value in over a decade in late-March, Treasury Wine Estates shares finally started rebounding after news that the company had begun trading below what its assets are worth. 

The update encouraged bargain-hunting investors to step in while the shares were trading below fair value.

The rebound picked up pace in late-April when the company announced it is transitioning to a new regional operating model to help improve efficiency.

The move is part of TWE Ascent, Treasury Wine’s global transformation program, which is intended to address the headwinds of recent years and position the business for sustainable growth.

The ASX 200 wine stock will switch to the new regional operating model as of the 1st of October. This will see the company operate four regional divisions. These include, the Americas, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) combined with Europe, Greater China, and the emerging markets (Rest of Asia, Middle East, and Africa).

Treasury Wine Estates shares climbed even higher in early June. The increase followed an investor day update where the company unveiled its latest turnaround strategy. The transformation plan is expected to help simplify the business and help restore earnings growth.

Key updates included a sharper focus on Treasury Wine’s strongest brands, a review of its Americas business, and plans to target $100 million per year in cost reductions. These cost reductions are expected to be fully realised by FY29.

Management also confirmed FY26 EBITS guidance in the range of $480 million to $490 million.

For FY27, management then expects EBITS to be at least equivalent to FY26 while the company continues to rebalance customer inventory levels in China and the United States.

Investors have been thrilled with the company’s developments over the past three months. The renewed confidence has helped push the shares higher and higher.

What do brokers tip next? Can the shares keep climbing higher?

If broker sentiment is anything to go by, we could see a lot more from Treasury Wine Estates shares this year.

Market Index shows a buy consensus for the shares. And the average $5.20 target price implies a potential 11% upside, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows that some are even more bullish. Out of 15 analysts, seven have a buy or strong buy rating. Another eight rate the ASX wine stock as a hold.

The average $5.34 target price implies a potential 15% upside ahead, at the time of writing. Meanwhile, the maximum $6.50 target price implies that the shares have the potential to jump another 40% higher over the next 12 months.

The post Treasury Wine Estates shares rebound 39% from 12-year low: Can they keep going? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• These ASX shares could be top buys for FY27

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

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are up around 0.3% in early morning trade on Wednesday, and changing hands for $36.21 a piece.

After a tough start to the year, the bank shares are down around 0.5% for the year-to-date, but they’re still nearly 20% higher than 12 months ago.

Despite ongoing global volatility, interest rate uncertainty, and a slowdown in lending, the banking giant’s shares are now up 2.3% for the year-to-date and 39% above their trading levels this time last year. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up around 2% for the year-to-date, and roughly 3% higher than 12 months ago.

Brokers are relatively optimistic about ANZ shares for FY27. TradingView data shows that 7 of 16 analysts have a hold rating on the stock. Another six have a buy or strong buy rating while three have a sell or strong sell rating.

The average $34.91 target price, however, implies a potential 4% downside at the time of writing.

Regardless of where ANZ shares will be in 12 months time, there are a few other reasons I think the ASX bank shares are a screaming buy right now.

Here are three of them

1. Cost saving initiatives are working

As part of the bank’s half-year FY26 financial update, it confirmed it has now achieved 49% of its gross cost-savings target of $800 million for FY26.

ANZ has made significant progress reducing costs and simplifying operations, improving its cost-to-income ratio under its ANZ 2030 strategy. 

ANZ’s 2030 cost-saving strategy focuses on simplifying operations, eliminating duplication, and heavily reducing its physical and technological footprint. This includes job cuts, and integration of Suncorp Bank.

2. Earnings are stable and cash flow is growing 

As one of Australia’s major four banks, ANZ is generally considered to have stable earnings and predictable cash flow. The bank has a strong deposit base and a diversified portfolio that means it has defensive qualities.

In early May, the bank reported a 70% jump in its cash profit for the first half of FY26. Statutory profit was also up 62%, operating income was up 3%, and the bank’s operating expenses were 22% lower.

The news beat expectations, delighted investors and instilled some renewed confidence into the stock. ANZ shares spiked higher following the announcement.

The update also followed ANZ’s impressive first-quarter cash profit in February. At the time, it revealed $1.94 billion, up a huge 75% from the second-half average of FY25. Operating income was up 4% and cash return on tangible equity climbed 11.7% over the quarter.

3. The bank pays a great passive income

The bank’s strong performance means it is able to make a reliable and regular dividend payment to shareholders every six months, payable in July and December. 

It also offers both a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) and a bonus option plan (BOP) as alternatives to receiving cash dividends on ANZ ordinary shares.

Earlier this month ANZ paid its shareholders an 83-cent per share interim dividend payment, franked at 75%. At the time of writing, this translates to a forward dividend yield of around 4.6%.

The 83-cent dividend is the same payout that investors have been receiving every six months since July 2024. Although the latest payout received an additional 5% franking (previously 70%).

Forecasts suggest that ANZ could pay an annual dividend of $1.66 in FY26, and the same again in FY27. At the time of writing that translates to a forward dividend yield of 4.6% for each year.

That’s a decent passive income. It also puts ANZ at the front of the pack with the highest dividend yield offering among the big 4 major banks. 

The post 3 reasons why ANZ shares are a screaming buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What are experts tipping for the big four bank shares in the back half of 2026?
• How much passive income can I earn off a $50,000 portfolio?
• ANZ, NAB, Westpac and CBA shares: Brokers rate 2 a sell, and 2 a hold
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares

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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have historically been viewed as a top pick for passive income due to the stability and growth they have delivered to investors.

The banking landscape has changed significantly over the past 10 years, with increasing numbers of borrowers using mortgage brokers and a rising challenge from Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

On the mortgage broker challenger, CBA has a large majority of mortgage flow of borrowers coming through proprietary channels. In other words, it doesn’t rely on mortgage brokers as much compared to other banks like Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB).

However, Macquarie could put a brake on Commonwealth Bank’s earnings growth, along with the Federal budget taxation changes. Let’s see what it could take to earn $10,000 of passive income from the ASX bank share in FY27.

Projected dividend for FY27

The independent forecast on Commsec suggests the major ASX bank share could hike its annual dividend per CBA share by 1% in FY27 compared to the projected payout for FY26. That possible annual payment could be $5.15 per share for FY27.

At the time of writing, that translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.3%, including franking credits, or 3% excluding the franking credits.

If I were a shareholder, any growth would be better than none. However, 1% growth isn’t even enough to offset typical inflation in a normal year. Of course, a forecast is not guaranteed to come true. Hopefully the ASX bank share can deliver a better outcome than what’s currently projected.

How many CBA shares do I need to make $10,000 of passive income?

Long-term shareholders can be happy with the upcoming potential dividends because they still represent significantly larger payouts than 20 or 30 years ago.

If CBA does indeed pay an annual dividend per share of $5.15 in FY27, then an investor would need to own 1,942 CBA shares to receive $10,000 of passive income. If we’re including franking credits as part of the income goal, then an investor would only need to own 1,360 CBA shares to receive the desired level of passive income.

Is this a good time to buy into Commonwealth Bank? Expert analysts don’t think so. According to Commsec, currently there are 14 sell ratings, two hold ratings and no buy ratings on the ASX bank share. There are a lot of other ASX shares that could be better buys.

The post How many CBA shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• What are experts tipping for the big four bank shares in the back half of 2026?
• ANZ, NAB, Westpac and CBA shares: Brokers rate 2 a sell, and 2 a hold
• Are CBA shares still worth buying for the long term?
• How to build a successful ASX dividend portfolio
• What did the market look like 10 years ago? Here’s what’s changed for the ASX 200

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

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares showed further signs of stabilising on Tuesday.

The hearing implant giant climbed 1.6% to $123.20, extending its gain over the past month to 16%.

That’s an impressive rebound after one of the ASX’s most dramatic share price collapses this year.

But let’s keep things in perspective. Despite the recent recovery, Cochlear shares are still down around 53% in 2026 and have shed almost 59% over the past 12 months.

So, is this the start of a genuine comeback, or merely a relief rally?

What went wrong?

April was one of the darkest months in Cochlear’s history.

The healthcare company shocked investors when it revealed demand for hearing implants across developed markets had weakened more than expected. At the same time, conflict in the Middle East disrupted shipments and led to order cancellations.

Management responded by dramatically lowering its profit expectations. Instead of forecasting underlying net profit of between $435 million and $460 million for FY26, Cochlear slashed guidance to just $290 million to $330 million.

Investors didn’t hang around to hear the rest. Cochlear shares plunged more than 40% in a single session as the market questioned whether one of the ASX’s most reliable growth stories had hit a wall.

Since then, investors have been asking one question: is this a temporary stumble or something more serious?

Why the investment case remains intact

Despite the earnings shock, Cochlear’s competitive position hasn’t fundamentally changed.

The company still commands roughly half of the global cochlear implant market, making it the clear industry leader. That position has been built through decades of product innovation, clinical research, and strong relationships with hospitals and surgeons around the world.

Those competitive advantages are exceptionally difficult for new entrants to replicate.

The long-term growth opportunity for Cochlear shares also remains compelling.

More than six million people across developed markets are estimated to be eligible for cochlear implants, yet only around 3% have received one. That leaves a substantial untapped market as diagnosis rates improve, awareness grows, and technology continues to advance.

In other words, the company’s long-term runway may be just as attractive today as it was before April’s profit warning.

What do the experts think?

Broker sentiment suggests caution rather than outright pessimism.

According to TradingView data, hold remains the dominant recommendation among analysts.

The average 12-month price target sits at $127.64, implying only around 4% upside from current levels. That suggests many brokers believe the recent rebound of Cochlear shares has already captured much of the near-term recovery.

Not everyone agrees. Six of the 18 analysts covering Cochlear have either a buy or strong buy recommendation, with the most optimistic forecasting the shares could rise another 38% over the next year.

On the other hand, two analysts recommend selling. The lowest target price stands at $100, implying downside of roughly 19%.

The post Cochlear shares have bounced 16%. Should you buy, hold, or sell now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 10 fantastic ASX shares to buy for FY27
• Cochlear shares are slipping again. Is the comeback already over?
• Cochlear shares are flying. Is this just the start?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX healthcare shares have jumped 21% since June. Can the recovery continue?

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