Tag: Stock pick

It may be time to sell those Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares.

That’s according to Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou, who earlier this week issued a sell recommendation on both ASX travel stocks (courtesy of The Bull).

In morning trade today, CBA shares are changing hands for $149.07 each, down 0.8%. That sees shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock down 10.8% since this time last year, trailing the 1.6% 12-month losses posted by the benchmark index.

Now some of that underperformance will have been mitigated by the two fully franked CBA dividends, totalling $5.05 a share, that the big four bank paid out over the year. CBA shares trade on a 3.4% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

It’s a bit of a more complicated picture for Corporate Travel Management shares, which only resumed trading on the ASX on 3 September. As you may be aware, Corporate Travel shares were suspended back in August 2025 following some material accounting errors.

Prior to the suspension, Corporate Travel shares were trading for $16.07. On 3 September, shares crashed 85.6% to close the day at $2.32 as frustrated investors overheated their sell buttons.

In morning trade today, the Corporate Travel share price stands at $2.32.

With those pictures in mind…

Time to exit CBA shares?

“CBA is Australia’s highest quality major bank, but, in my view, quality doesn’t always represent value,” Red Leaf Securities’ Athanasiou said.

Explaining his sell recommendation on CBA shares, Athanasiou noted:

Its premium valuation leaves limited room for disappointment as rising interest rates potentially slow credit growth and increase borrower stress. Investors could use the opportunity to take profits and consider better-value alternatives elsewhere in the banking sector.

Should I sell Corporate Travel shares?

Atop his bearish outlook on CBA shares, Athanasiou also issued as sell recommendation on Corporate Travel shares.

“CTD reported improved underlying earnings in fiscal year 2026,” he said.

Indeed, the company reported a 4% year on year increase in revenue and other income to $670 million, with underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) up 36% to $114 million.

But that’s not enough to keep this ASX share off Athanasiou’s sell list.

“However, in my view, questions remain around historical customer remediation, governance, financial controls and funding requirements,” he said.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Corporate Travel shares, he concluded:

In a company update on April 22, 2026, a review had found that UK customers were charged in excess of their contractual entitlement. On September 1, 2026, the company noted about 78 per cent of customer refunds had been agreed or were nearing finalisation.

In my view, the near term risk-reward equation remains unattractive.

The post Sell alert! Expert calls time on Corporate Travel and CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Commonwealth Bank vs ANZ: Which is better for passive income?
• Buy, hold, sell: Corporate Travel Management, JB Hi-Fi, BHP shares
• ASX 200 holds steady as investors brace for a big afternoon
• 3 ASX shares to sell now according to experts
• Should I buy CBA shares in October?

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

ASX blue-chip shares can be some of the most consistent and reliable investments on the ASX. There are some names with very pleasing dividend yields.

Businesses that lead in what they do can be excellent stocks to own because of their strong market positions, enviable profit margins, and ability to retain earnings.

Let’s run through two top ASX blue-chip share contenders for passive income.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications company that continues to cement its position in the country.

Its mobile infrastructure and mobile division are key for the company’s success. In FY26, it added 274,000 mobile handheld users (or 1.9% growth), including 39,000 retail users and 235,000 wholesale users.

Mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by 3.7% year-over-year to $45.33. It saw ARPU growth of 3.8% for postpaid handheld, 7.2% growth for prepaid handheld and 8.8% growth for wholesale.

Telstra continues to invest in its network. In FY26 alone, it upgraded nearly 1,200 mobile sites and built more than 150 new mobile sites.

It’s also investing in its fibre network, with more than 8,500km of fibre deployed in its ‘aura network’. The expected strategic investment has been increased to around $1.8 billion between FY23 and FY28. It’s expected to deliver a mid-teens internal rate of return (IRR) with a nine-year cash payback.

Telstra reported in FY26 that cash earnings per share (EPS) grew by 13.8% to 25.5 cents, funding a 10.5% rise in the annual dividend per share to 21 cents.

The projection on Commsec suggests the business could pay an annual dividend per share of 22 cents in FY27, 4.75% more than FY26. That would be a FY27 grossed-up dividend yield of 6.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE)

Listed investment company (LIC) WAM Leaders is the other ASX blue-chip share I want to highlight. A LIC’s job is to invest in other shares on behalf of shareholders.

It aims to actively invest in large, high-quality Australian companies.

At the end of August, its five biggest holdings, compared to the overall ASX 200 index, were 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). This shows the types of ASX shares the WAM Leaders team want to invest in.

By generating investment returns, WAM Leaders can use profits to pay large, growing dividends to shareholders. It can offer investors both diversification and attractive dividends.

WAM Leaders has increased its annual dividend per share each year since it started paying dividends in FY17, so it has essentially reached a decade of continuous dividend growth, which is a great record.

The investment team have produced an average return of 12.2% since inception in May 2026, before fees, expenses and taxes, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index (ASX: XJOA) by an average of almost 3% per year.

In FY26, the ASX blue-chip share paid an annual dividend of 9.6 cents per share. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.7%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The post 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• CBA vs Telstra: Which ASX blue-chip is better for passive income?

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

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares could be among the best options for dividends from an ASX blue-chip share.

One of the main reasons to like the company is its high-quality businesses, such as Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, WesCEF (chemicals, energy and fertilisers), and Priceline.

The company’s profitability metrics really show how effective it is at making money.

In FY26, Wesfarmers reported a return on equity (ROE) of 35.5%, representing a 1.2 percentage point increase compared to FY25. Excluding significant items, it was a 4.3 percentage point rise for the ROE.

The return on capital (ROC) for its two key businesses is truly impressive. In FY26, Bunnings Group delivered a ROC of 69.2%, while Kmart Group’s ROC was 68.3%.

Most businesses would love to achieve an ROC close to 70%, and that’s exactly what the company delivers.

FY26 was a solid year for the company, with underlying earnings per share (EPS) climbing 8.3% and the dividend per Wesfarmers share being hiked by 7.8% to $2.22.

Let’s take a look at what analysts think could happen with the company’s dividend.

FY27 dividend projection

Wesfarmers is forecast to deliver a higher dividend for investors, partly based on the view that earnings could climb in FY27.

According to the projection on CMC Invest, the company is estimated to grow its annual dividend per share by 7.9% to $2.395. I don’t think many ASX blue-chip shares will increase their payout by 8% or more in the 2027 financial year.

If Wesfarmers does pay a dividend of that level in FY27, it would mean a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.6%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. That’s not the biggest dividend yield in the world, but the company could continue to deliver impressive dividend growth in the years ahead.

The estimate on CMC Invest suggests the business could then hike its annual dividend per share by another 6.7% in FY28.

How many Wesfarmers shares would it take to generate $8,000 of passive income?

If the business does pay $2.395 of dividend cash per Wesfarmers share in FY27, an investor would require 3,341 Wesfarmers shares to make $8,000 of passive income in FY27.

However, the above figure doesn’t include franking credits. If we include franking credits, it would take only 2,339 Wesfarmers shares to generate that much passive income in the 2027 financial year.

The post How many Wesfarmers shares do I need to buy for $8,000 of passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• If I invest $15,000 in Wesfarmers shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?

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 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.

The Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) share price is in focus after the company flagged potential French tax increases impacting its APRR toll road interests, with TEILD rates possibly rising from 4.6% to as high as 12.2% and the TST extended but reduced.

What did Atlas Arteria report?

• The French government’s draft 2027 Budget Bill seeks to increase the Long-distance Transport Infrastructure Tax (TEILD), potentially up to 12.2%.
• The TEILD cost Atlas Arteria €126.7 million in FY25, with proceeds expected to more than double sector-wide.
• The Temporary Supplemental Tax (TST), previously expected to end in 2026, is now earmarked for extension but at a reduced take.
• Atlas Arteria’s APRR and AREA entities are subject to the TEILD, while ADELAC and A79 are not currently affected.
• Legal recourse avenues are being pursued by APRR regarding the TEILD changes.

What else do investors need to know?

The draft French Budget Bill will be debated over coming months, with the final tax rates or rules subject to change before passing into law. Investors should note that the higher TEILD could more than double the sector’s collective tax outlay from €600 million to €1.4 billion, directly affecting Atlas Arteria’s French assets.

Meanwhile, the Temporary Supplemental Tax (TST) – initially planned as a short-lived measure – will likely remain, but with a smaller government target, dropping total proceeds from €7.3 billion to €5 billion. Atlas Arteria will keep investors posted as legislation progresses.

What’s next for Atlas Arteria?

Atlas Arteria will closely monitor the French parliamentary debate and update the market when final legislation emerges. The company’s legal initiatives regarding the TEILD signal an intent to actively manage and defend its French revenue streams.

On a broader note, Atlas Arteria continues focusing on delivering value through sustainable road operations across its French, US, and German assets, aiming to balance regulatory changes with disciplined management.

Atlas Arteria share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Atlas Arteria shares have declined 24%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Atlas Arteria flags French tax hikes may impact toll road revenues appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income

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.

By leveraging the ASX share market and compounding, Aussie retirees can build significant cash flow in retirement.

Whether it’s $10,000 or $110,000, stocks can generate dividends to help cover certain expenses.

That cash flow doesn’t just appear out of nowhere, of course. Aussies need to invest money in assets that pay dividends.

By investing regularly, investors can build a strong portfolio.

I’m going to run through some examples of what happens when you regularly invest. For plenty of people, just the regular superannuation contributions could help reach particular portfolio value goals.

How to create $110,000 of passive income at 65 and retire

I think it’s essential for investors to think long-term. By investing regularly over many years, investors can build substantial wealth.

In retirement circles, many assume 4% is a sufficient withdrawal rate. Let’s assume someone is targeting $110,000 per year at a 4% yield, which means targeting a portfolio of $2.75 million.

That’s a big target, but I’ll show you how many Aussies can reach that goal if given long enough. In all of the below examples, I’m going to assume that the share market returns an average of 10% per year.

Imagine someone is 25, starting with $0. If they invest just $450 per month over 40 years, they would reach $2.85 million.

If someone is starting at 35 with $0, and they invest $1,250 per month over 30 years, it would become worth $2.825 million.

Starting at 45 with $0, someone could invest $3,700 per month over 20 years, it would be worth $2.81 million.

Of course, there’s a million different scenarios we could play out, but those three above situations show how investors can build towards approximately $2.75 million.

Numerous investment opportunities for dividends

There are a number of ways investors can get to $2.75 million and retire.

We could invest in the best options for long-term growth, then switch to passive income ideas. Quality ASX growth shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could be strong options for wealth creation.

I think investment ideas like Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) are excellent long-term compounders.

After that I’d look at compelling ASX dividend share options.

Diversified listed investment companies (LICs) are compelling ideas such as Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG), Australian United Investment Company Ltd (ASX: AUI), L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF) and WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG) are all compelling options for passive income.

I’d also be very willing to invest in cheap real estate investment trusts (REITs) offering large distribution yields, such as Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) and Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF).

I think diversification during retirement is an important factor to protect capital over the long-term.

The post How much do I need to retire on $110,000 a year at 65? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Long Short Fund, Rural Funds Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wcm Global Growth. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares have been among the ASX’s best performers over the past few years.

Much of the interest has come from the company’s growing order book and its push into high-energy laser weapons.

But another part of the EOS story is starting to catch my interest.

Europe.

The region is spending huge amounts of money rebuilding its defence capabilities, and EOS has been quietly putting itself in a better position to benefit.

So, could Europe become the company’s next major growth market?

Let’s take a closer look.

Europe is spending big on defence

There’s certainly no shortage of money being thrown at defence across Europe right now.

Last year, European NATO members and Canada increased defence spending by nearly 20%, or more than US$139 billion.

And that looks set to continue.

NATO members have committed to spending 5% of GDP on defence and security-related investment by 2035.

This includes at least 3.5% of GDP on core defence requirements.

Already, European members and Canada are spending close to 4% of GDP on defence and security.

There is plenty happening at the European Union level as well.

Its Readiness 2030 plan aims to mobilise up to 800 billion euros in additional defence spending.

This includes 150 billion euros to support joint procurement between member states.

Drones are also high on the shopping list.

The European Commission has launched a European Drone Defence Initiative to help strengthen the region’s defence capabilities by 2030.

EOS is building its European presence

One of the biggest changes came through EOS’ acquisition of MARSS earlier this year.

EOS completed its acquisition of the European defence technology company in May for around $134 million.

MARSS is behind NiDAR, a command-and-control platform designed to detect, track, and respond to threats such as drones.

The company has since relocated MARSS’ headquarters to Nice, France, giving EOS a bigger base in the region.

EOS also plans to expand its European operations from the site over the next three years.

And there are already signs that NiDAR is gaining traction.

BAE Systems selected the platform last year as the command-and-control system for its Battlespace Integrated Targeting System.

Could Europe drive the next leg of growth?

I think Europe could become a much bigger market for EOS over the next few years.

The company now has a bigger footprint in the region at a time when defence spending is climbing quickly.

Drones are also becoming a much bigger focus, which plays nicely into what EOS is already doing.

And with billions of dollars set to be spent on defence across Europe, there should be plenty of opportunities ahead.

The post Could Europe become the next big market for EOS? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Electro Optic Systems. 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 Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) share price is in focus today after the company announced the US FDA has granted Fast Track designation for its BiPASS program, which targets earlier and less invasive prostate cancer diagnosis.

What did Telix Pharmaceuticals report?

• Received FDA Fast Track designation for BiPASS, a pre-biopsy prostate cancer imaging program.
• BiPASS evaluates gallium-68 PSMA-PET imaging alongside MRI to guide prostate cancer diagnosis before biopsy.
• Completed Phase 3 patient enrollment for BiPASS, using Illuccix and Gozellix agents.
• Engaged positively with FDA, planning for a new drug application (NDA) to expand access to this imaging method.
• Clinical data shows combining PSMA-PET and MRI can reduce unnecessary biopsies by nearly 50%.

What else do investors need to know?

Telix Pharmaceuticals’ BiPASS program aims to address a significant unmet need. Currently, over three million prostate biopsies are performed worldwide each year, but up to 75% yield negative results, making many procedures unnecessary and stressful for patients.

The FDA’s Fast Track designation means Telix can engage with the regulator more frequently and could have its submission for approval reviewed more quickly. If approved, the BiPASS approach may broaden the use of advanced imaging in prostate cancer care.

In addition, the company’s commercial products, Illuccix and Gozellix, are already approved in multiple global markets for imaging PSMA-positive prostate cancer. However, their use in pre-biopsy diagnosis remains investigational.

What did Telix Pharmaceuticals management say?

Dr. David N. Cade, Group Chief Medical Officer at Telix, said:

Fast Track designation reflects the FDA’s recognition of the potential for BiPASS to address an important unmet need in the prostate cancer diagnostic pathway. We believe gallium-68 PSMA-PET, used alongside MRI, could help physicians make more informed decisions before biopsy, improve diagnostic confidence and potentially reduce unnecessary invasive procedures for patients. This designation supports continued close engagement with the FDA as we advance BiPASS toward an NDA submission.

What’s next for Telix Pharmaceuticals?

Telix plans to submit a new drug application (NDA) for BiPASS to the FDA, seeking approval for use before invasive prostate biopsies. If successful, this could open up a larger market and provide faster, less stressful diagnostic options for many patients.

The business continues to build on a broad pipeline, with late-stage programmes for prostate, brain, and kidney cancers, and aims to establish further growth in international markets.

Telix Pharmaceuticals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Telix Pharmaceuticals share price has risen 11%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Telix Pharmaceuticals wins FDA Fast Track for BiPASS prostate cancer imaging 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 positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. 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.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are trading around $2.02 on Wednesday.

This means that for the buy now, pay later stock to double from here, it would need to reach $4.04.

That sounds like a big ask. But when I look at where earnings are expected to go over the next few years, I don’t think it is out of the question.

Earnings could do plenty of the work

The first thing I would want to see is Zip delivering on its earnings forecasts.

Consensus estimates point to earnings per share (EPS) of 15 cents in FY27, rising to 18 cents in FY28, and 22 cents in FY29.

That represents a 20% increase between FY27 and FY28, followed by another 22% increase in FY29.

At today’s $2.02 share price, Zip is trading on a P/E ratio of around 13.5 times forecast FY27 earnings. That falls to roughly 11 times FY28 earnings and a little over 9 times FY29 earnings.

I think those numbers explain why I can see a path towards a much higher share price.

If earnings keep climbing while the share price barely moves, Zip shares would become progressively cheaper. At some point, I think investors could become willing to pay more for that growth.

What valuation would $4.04 require?

At $4.04, Zip would trade at roughly 27 times forecast FY27 earnings.

That is much more demanding than today’s valuation.

But against the FY28 estimate, the P/E ratio falls to around 22 times and using FY29 earnings of 22 cents per share, it would be around 18 times.

That does not strike me as an impossible valuation if Zip is still producing robust earnings growth by then.

What would need to go right?

For those forecasts to become reality, Zip needs to keep growing the underlying business.

One part of that is continuing to win a greater share of the payments market in the United States and Australia. If more consumers use Zip and more merchants offer its payment options, transaction volumes should have room to keep expanding.

I would also want to see the customer base continue growing without Zip sacrificing credit quality in pursuit of that growth.

That means keeping bad debts under control as more users and transactions move through the platform.

If Zip can combine rising payment volumes and user growth with disciplined lending, I think the earnings outlook becomes much easier to believe.

And if the company can build a consistent track record of doing that, investors may eventually be prepared to pay a higher multiple for those earnings as well.

Foolish takeaway

I don’t think Zip shares need an extraordinary set of circumstances to double in value.

If Zip keeps taking market share, grows its customer base without letting bad debts get away from it, and reaches EPS of 22 cents by FY29, a $4.04 share price would represent less than 19 times earnings.

For a company still growing strongly at that point, I think that could be achievable.

The post What would it take for Zip shares to double? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) are two ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) I would happily buy for the long term.

Both provide instant exposure to some of the world’s biggest companies, but they go about it differently.

If I had $10,000 and could choose only one today, which would I buy?

What do you get with the VGS ETF?

The biggest reason to buy the VGS ETF is diversification.

It invests in around 1,300 stocks across approximately 23 developed countries outside Australia, rather than concentrating entirely on a single overseas market.

The United States still plays a major role, which is why NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft sit among its largest holdings. Fellow technology giants Amazon and Alphabet also feature prominently.

But the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF also spreads investors’ money across markets, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Switzerland.

I like that approach because investors are not relying entirely on the US stock market continuing to lead global returns.

For someone who wants one broad international ETF, the VGS ETF would be an excellent choice in my view.

What about the IVV ETF?

The iShares S&P 500 ETF takes a narrower approach.

It tracks Wall Street’s S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), giving investors exposure to around 500 large US companies. Its biggest underlying holdings currently include NVIDIA, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Broadcom, and Meta Platforms.

There is clearly plenty of overlap with the VGS ETF.

The difference is that the IVV ETF puts more weight behind these US businesses rather than diluting their influence with companies from other developed markets.

I like that. The US remains home to many of the companies leading major areas of growth, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, semiconductors, digital advertising, and software.

Of course, that greater exposure to the US also means accepting more concentration. If American shares underperform other developed markets for an extended period, the VGS ETF could benefit from having more money invested elsewhere.

However, I am willing to take that risk because I think the strength of the US businesses inside the IVV ETF gives the fund a compelling long-term growth outlook.

Which ASX ETF would I buy?

The VGS ETF would be my choice for someone prioritising broader international diversification, and I like that it reduces reliance on one country.

But if I had $10,000 and could buy only one, I would choose the IVV ETF.

I am comfortable taking greater exposure to the US market because of the quality and growth potential of the stocks inside it.

The post VGS vs IVV: Which ETF would I buy with $10,000? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, 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.

Today could be an opportune time to buy Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares.

That’s according to Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou, who issued a buy recommendation on both S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks this week (courtesy of The Bull).

In intraday trade on Tuesday, CSL shares were changing hands for $181.88 each. While that leaves shares in the ASX 200 biotech giant down 8.6% in a year, the share price has rocketed a remarkable 96.8% since notching a multi-year closing low of $92.24 on 3 June.

CSL stock also trades on a 2.2% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

As for Woodside shares, trading for $31.27 on Tuesday, the ASX 200 energy stock has gained 33.6% in 12 months. Woodside shares also trade on a 5.2% fully franked trailing dividend yield. That equates to a grossed-up yield of 7.5% once we take those franking credits into account.

Should I buy CSL shares today?

“CSL’s recovery is gaining momentum after forecasting underlying profit growth guidance of about 5 per cent in fiscal year 2027,” Athanasiou noted. “Guidance exceeded market expectations.”

Summarising his buy recommendation on CSL shares, Athanasiou said:

Immunoglobulin sales improved in the second half of fiscal year 2026 amid the company announcing a further share buy-back of $1.1 billion. The outlook for this global health care company is improving after prolonged underperformance. CSL shares have risen from $92.24 on June 3 to trade at $179.19 on September 24.

Successfully meeting or exceeding its targets leaves room for a potentially higher share price considering the stock was trading above $300 in calendar year 2024.

Which brings us to…

Woodside shares benefiting from global energy crunch

Atop his bullish outlook on CSL shares, Athanasiou also issued a buy recommendation on Woodside shares.

“Woodside offers exposure to recent elevated global energy prices amid supply disruptions and continuing Middle East tensions,” he said. “Stronger realised prices should support near term cash flow and dividends.”

On the risk front, Athanasiou added, “A major risk is an easing of geopolitical tensions and a corresponding fall in crude oil prices.”

Explaining his buy recommendation on Woodside shares, Athanasiou concluded:

However, the company delivered a solid interim result. Operating revenue of $7.446 billion in the first half of 2026 was up 13 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Underlying net profit after tax of $1.334 billion was up 7 per cent. The Scarborough energy project is almost completed.

The post Expert names Woodside and CSL shares as top buys today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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