Tag: Stock pick

The Emerald Resources (ASX: EMR) share price is in focus today as the company reported it has secured final works approval for the Dingo Range Gold Project and committed to major capital equipment purchases, marking significant steps toward expanding its gold operations.

What did Emerald Resources report?

• Received final works approval for the 100%-owned Dingo Range Gold Project in Western Australia
• Committed to purchase two 8,000kW Metso SAG Mills and a crushing circuit, valued at approximately A$30 million
• Dingo Range Project is now fully permitted and development-ready
• Camp facilities completed and ready to accommodate construction and operational staff
• Ongoing drilling programs to support resource updates, with work on a Maiden Ore Reserve advanced
• Strong balance sheet: A$337.8 million cash, A$39.2 million bullion, and A$22.3 million in listed investments (as at March 2026)

What else do investors need to know?

The Dingo Range Gold Project’s approval means Emerald now has the green light to start construction, with all regulatory hurdles cleared. The company’s bold purchase of key processing equipment signals its confidence in both the Dingo Range and Memot Gold Projects, targeting future growth in Australia and Cambodia.

Emerald continues to explore and develop its Australian and Cambodian gold projects, aiming to build on the strong reserve bases at Dingo Range and Memot. Long-term, management aims to position the business as a diversified gold producer, reducing risk across multiple jurisdictions.

What did Emerald Resources management say?

Managing Director Morgan Hart said:

Emerald is pleased that the Works Approval has been granted for Dingo Range and we are now fully permitted for development and operations which is a significant milestone for the Company.

The commitment to purchase long lead capital equipment is the second key construction and infrastructure milestone at Dingo Range following the completion of the camp.

The Board and Management of Emerald have worked closely with the team at Metso on previous development projects, including the 100% Okvau Gold Mine and are very pleased to continue the relationship on the development of the Dingo Range and Memot Gold Projects. Securing this long lead capital equipment on a very competitive delivery schedule assists with de-risking the development timeline for both projects and is an important step in the Company’s growth trajectory to achieve its strategic objective of becoming a multi-mine 300K-400Kozs gold producer across two continents.

What’s next for Emerald Resources?

With all approvals granted, Emerald can now push ahead with developing the Dingo Range Gold Project and progress its Memot Project in Cambodia. The company expects delivery of its major processing equipment in about 12–13 months, aligning with its plan to become a multi-mine gold producer.

Ongoing drilling and exploration will support updated resource estimates and future reserve growth, while Emerald maintains its focus on strong ESG compliance and regional community engagement.

Emerald Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Emerald Resources shares have risen 32%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Emerald Resources gets the green light for Dingo Range Gold Project appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BWP Group launches $228 million entitlement offer
• REA Group is on the rise. Is a comeback underway?
• Perpetual 1H26 earnings: strategy shift and Wealth Management sale
• Atlas Arteria directors urge investors to reject IFM’s takeover offer
• DigiCo Infrastructure REIT slashes debt after Chicago asset sale

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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have rallied strongly from their lows.

So much so, the logistics solutions technology company’s shares are up 17% since this time last month.

But if you thought you were too late to invest, you might be wrong.

That’s because Bell Potter believes its shares could continue to rise strongly from where they currently trade.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was pleased to see the company reaffirm its guidance on Tuesday. This means the company remains on track to achieve the broker’s estimates for the year. It said:

WiseTech released a presentation for a broker conference and the key take-out was reaffirmation of the FY26 EBITDA and EBITDA margin guidance – US$550-585m (vs BPe US$564m) and 40-41% (vs BPe 40.1%). The key new piece of news was the company also provided guidance for underlying EBITDA and EBITDA margin of US$598.5-637.5m (vs BPe US$612m) and 41-46% (vs BPe 43.5%).

This underlying guidance implies one-off costs b/w $48.5-$52.5m – comprising US$11-15m in M&A costs and US$37.5m in restructure costs – which was slightly more than the US$45- 50m flagged at the H1 result in February. Notably there was no mention of the redundancy costs related to the flagged 2,000 job reductions so we figure these will be disclosed in or around the FY26 result in August along with the spread of those costs between FY26 and FY27 (assuming it is spread across both years).

Big potential returns

In response to the guidance update, Bell Potter has reaffirmed its buy rating and $78.75 price target on WiseTech Global’s shares.

Based on its current share price of $45.75, this implies potential upside of 72% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter sees potential catalysts ahead, which could support a re-rating. This includes its guidance for FY 2027, which Bell Potter believes could be stronger than its current estimates. It concludes:

There is no change in our $78.75 target price which we only recently updated. Our PE ratio and EV/EBITDA valuations are generated using our FY27 forecasts and with no change in these forecasts there is no change in the valuations. Our target price remains a significant premium to the share price so we retain our BUY recommendation.

The next update and potential catalyst for the share price is the FY26 result in August where, assuming the guidance is met, key focus will be on the guidance for FY27. We note our FY27 revenue and EBITDA forecasts of US$1,567m and US$728m imply an EBITDA margin of 46.5% which in our view could be conservative given the underlying guidance for FY26 is b/w 41-46% and the exit margin is likely to be towards the top end of this range.

The post Why WiseTech shares could shoot 70% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Forget gold! Start hunting fallen ASX 200 shares to buy for an earlier retirement
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 tech shares rebound 20% in 5 weeks: experts reveal stocks to buy
• WiseTech shares are flying 6.5% higher today. Can they keep going?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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 today after the company’s independent directors recommended investors reject IFM’s hostile takeover offer, stating the bid is too low and highly conditional.

What did Atlas Arteria report?

• IFM’s hostile takeover offer is set at A$4.75 per stapled security (potentially A$5.10 if IFM’s interest exceeds 45% before close).
• Offer price is below Atlas Arteria’s previous closing price of A$4.79 (5 May 2026).
• The offer premium is less than 10% compared to the pre-offer closing price and around 3% above the 12-month average price.
• Atlas Arteria reaffirms distribution guidance of 40.0 cents per security for 2026.
• Each independent director intends to reject IFM’s offer for their own ALX securities.

What else do investors need to know?

The board considers IFM’s offer opportunistic, given recent market volatility and the share price trading well above the offer in the past year. Independent directors say the offer undervalues the company’s global toll road portfolio and future growth opportunities. The company also notes IFM’s current offer comes with over 50 separate sub-conditions, some of which are already incapable of being satisfied.

Atlas Arteria has issued a Right of First Offer in relation to its Chicago Skyway interest, a move unrelated to IFM’s bid but relevant to the bid’s conditions. The company continues to explore value-enhancing initiatives for securityholders, including asset recycling and potential strategic alternatives for its US assets.

What did Atlas Arteria management say?

Chair Debbie Goodin said:

This hostile, highly conditional takeover offer from IFM is opportunistic and materially undervalues Atlas Arteria. The Offer is designed to accelerate IFM’s creep to effective control of Atlas Arteria without paying a fair premium to securityholders. The Independent Directors of Atlas Arteria recommend that securityholders reject the Offer. The Boards and management remain focused on continuing to deliver on the strategy to optimise company value and create value for all securityholders.

What’s next for Atlas Arteria?

Atlas Arteria is preparing a detailed Target’s Statement for securityholders, which will include an independent expert’s report and set out the board’s formal recommendation to reject IFM’s offer. The statement will be provided at least 14 days before the offer closes.

The company says it will continue to update investors on material developments and remains focused on its strategy to optimise its asset portfolio and deliver distribution guidance.

Atlas Arteria share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Atlas Arteria’s shares have declined 7%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Atlas Arteria directors urge investors to reject IFM’s takeover offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• DigiCo Infrastructure REIT slashes debt after Chicago asset sale
• AGL Energy narrows FY26 guidance as project pipeline grows
• JB Hi-Fi Q3 FY26 sales update: Australia & NZ drive growth
• I’m worried about the ASX 200 falling further. Here’s why
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX gaming stocks have struggled to find their footing in 2026.

Shares in Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) are down around 17% year to date, while Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) has fallen about 27% over the same period. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is essentially flat, slipping just 0.4%.

Despite the weakness, brokers remain broadly constructive on both names. The question for investors is whether sentiment has fallen too far and whether the gaming sector is quietly setting up for a rebound.

Aristocrat: Continued US growth

Aristocrat, a roughly $28 billion ASX gaming heavyweight, has long been considered one of the highest-quality operators in the sector. The company generates most of its earnings from gaming machines and digital content, with a strong presence in the lucrative US market.

While sentiment around gaming stocks has softened, the underlying business performance has been far more resilient. Demand for gaming machines and casino content in North America remains steady, which is crucial given that this region drives the bulk of Aristocrat’s profits.

Recent industry data has reinforced that stability. Analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) have pointed to continued year-on-year growth in US casino gaming activity, a positive indicator for Aristocrat’s core land-based operations.

On top of that, the company’s digital division continues to expand, providing exposure to the fast-growing online gaming market. This diversification helps smooth earnings across cycles.

Capital management is another support. Management of the ASX gaming stock has remained disciplined, with ongoing share buybacks and efforts to strengthen the balance sheet, which should support earnings quality over time.

Broker sentiment remains positive. UBS Group has reiterated its buy rating on Aristocrat, even after trimming its price target slightly to $68.90. That still implies potential upside of close to 50% from current levels.

Light & Wonder: Multiple growth drivers

Light & Wonder presents a similar but more diversified investment case.

The company operates across land-based gaming, iGaming, and social gaming through its SciPlay division. This multi-channel structure allows it to benefit from both traditional casino demand and the fast-growing digital gaming industry.

That blend of physical and digital exposure gives Light & Wonder access to multiple growth drivers at once, which is a key reason analysts continue to monitor the stock closely. Macquarie has even named it its top pick in the gaming sector, citing its strong competitive position and “wide moat from disruption” in a highly competitive industry.

The upside case is also significant. Jarden has a buy rating on the ASX gaming stock with a price target of $190, compared with its current level of around $112.81. That implies potential upside of roughly 68%.

Foolish Takeaway

The key takeaway is that while sentiment across ASX gaming stocks has been weak, the fundamentals have held up better than the share prices suggest.

Whether this marks a true bottom remains uncertain, but with earnings resilience, digital growth, and strong broker support, both Aristocrat and Light & Wonder are starting to look more interesting than their share price charts alone would suggest.

The post Have beaten-down ASX gaming stocks finally hit a bottom? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Aristocrat, TPG Telecom, and Westpac shares
• 3 amazing ASX 200 shares to buy with $5,000 in May
• This ASX gaming company could deliver 20%+ returns: RBC Capital Markets
• Why I’d invest $4,000 into these ASX 200 shares
• 6 ASX 200 shares with strengthened buy ratings this week

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

Superannuation is one of the best ways to invest for passive income, in my opinion. For working people, it gives them a lower tax rate than their ‘normal’ earnings. For retirees, superannuation earnings could potentially be tax-free.

If someone has significant money in superannuation, they could unlock $10,000 of monthly passive income (or even more).

I’m sure most people reading this would love for their superannuation to pay them $120,000 per year of passive income.

A key question is how much is needed in superannuation for that level of cash flow.

How much is needed to generate $10,000 monthly passive income?

It’ll take a sizeable sum to make that much money, but the exact amount will depend on the size of the dividend yield. The bigger the dividend yield, the less that needs to be invested, though higher yields may not be safer and it could also mean less capital growth.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of appealing options for good dividend yields across the ASX share market, so I’d be very willing to invest in a business that has a dividend yield of 7% or more.

Let’s look at three different scenarios. One where the portfolio dividend yield is 4%, one where it’s 5.5% and one where it’s 7%.  

To make $120,000 of annual passive income from superannuation (or outside super) with a 4% dividend yield, it would require a portfolio value of $3 million.

If the portfolio has a 5.5% dividend yield, then an investor would need a portfolio value of $2.18 million.

Finally, with a dividend yield of 7%, investors would need a portfolio value of $1.71 million.

Which ASX shares I’d buy for dividend

I think there are a number of compelling options that offer different dividend yield levels.

For example, businesses like Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) offer a lower but growing dividend yield.

Businesses with a mid-range yield includes Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF) and MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF).

The higher-yield options I’d consider include WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX) and Future Generation Global Ltd (ASX: FGG).

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target $10,000 of monthly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Own Wesfarmers shares? It’s expanding into modular apartment construction
• I’m worried about the ASX 200 falling further. Here’s why
• Where to invest $5,000 into ASX dividend shares in May
• CSL, Wesfarmers, Endeavour shares crash to multi-year lows: Buy, hold, or sell?
• CSL and Wesfarmers among scores of ASX shares hitting fresh 52-week lows

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, Future Generation Global, Hearts And Minds Investments, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, 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 Lovisa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. 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 Lovisa, Mff Capital Investments, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are some exceptionally attractive Australian stocks that I’m betting can deliver market-beating returns over the coming years.

I’ve already invested in the names I’m going to talk about, and I’d happily invest another $10,000 across the two of them if I were given that amount to invest in ASX growth shares.

Both businesses below are achieving strong revenue growth and expanding overseas. I’m also expecting good profit margin increases in the coming years.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is best known as a coffee machine maker under its own name. But, it also sells coffee machines under the Sage, Lelit, and Baratza brands. It also sells coffee beans through the Beanz business. Additionally, the company sells other small kitchen appliances, aside from just coffee machines.

Pleasingly, the company has achieved a global presence, with operations in the Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Asia). What could be more of an Australian stock than a business that makes coffee?

The company continues to grow at a solid double-digit pace. In the first six months of FY26, the company reported revenue growth of 10.1% to $1.1 billion. Despite the headwinds of US tariffs, it was still able to deliver net profit growth of 0.7% to $98.2 million.

Breville is working hard at shifting its manufacturing to other countries – away from China – where US tariffs are much lower, such as Mexico. This could make a significant difference to how much profit it generates from the key US market in the foreseeable future.

I’m also excited to see how much profit growth the company can generate from relatively new markets such as China and South Korea.

In the long term, I’m expecting Breville’s net profit to compound at a double-digit rate over the rest of the decade. It looks a lot cheaper after falling 16% since the high it reached in February 2026.  

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Temple & Webster is another Australian stock that I’m very optimistic about.

It’s a significant online retailer of furniture and homewares, as well as a growing home improvement segment.

The company is rapidly working towards $1 billion of annual sales, spread across both its two segments of home improvement and homewares and furniture. The company recently announced that its latest sales figures (in HY26) had grown by approximately 20% year over compared to the previous period. That’s an excellent rate of compounding.

One of the biggest drivers of the business is that households are increasingly adopting online shopping.

According to Temple & Webster, online shopping accounts for only around 20% of homewares and furniture in Australia, whereas in the UK it’s approximately 10% higher, and even higher in the US. I think Australia is likely to follow that growth trend towards 30% in the next few years.   

Seeing as the company is a leading online retailer, I think the company can capitalise on that growth trend.

As the business grows, I expect its margins to increase over time due to scale benefits.

I believe the business is significantly undervalued given where it may be in three to five years, particularly if its home improvement division continues to grow at an incredibly fast rate.

I think it’s a great time to buy this Australian stock, considering it’s down more than 70% in the past six months.

The post 2 strong Australian stocks to buy now with $10,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• CSL and Wesfarmers among scores of ASX shares hitting fresh 52-week lows
• Why I’d buy DroneShield and this ASX share in May
• The worst 4 ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in April unmasked
• Why these top ASX shares sank 10%+ in April
• 2 ASX shares tipped to grow 90% or more in the next 12 months!

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Breville Group and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The DigiCo Infrastructure REIT Staples Securities (ASX: DGT) share price is in focus after the company announced the binding sale of its Chicago (CHI1) asset for US$750 million, representing a ~5% premium to its original purchase price, and detailed a significant reduction in gearing and debt levels.

What did DigiCo Infrastructure REIT report?

• Binding sale agreement for the Chicago (CHI1) facility at US$750 million (~A$1.06 billion), about 5% above purchase price
• Pro forma net debt reduced from A$1.5 billion to around A$0.5 billion
• Gearing reduced from 36% to 17%; available liquidity to rise to approximately A$0.9 billion
• Funds From Operations (FFO) expected to materially increase from FY27 due to US asset sales
• Reaffirmed FY26 underlying EBITDA guidance of $125 million
• Intention to consider enhanced distributions and additional capital management initiatives

What else do investors need to know?

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT is executing a strategic capital recycling plan by selling US assets—most notably the CHI1 facility—to free up cash and further fund its core Australian data centre development, SYD1. The company also plans to monetise its LAX1 and LAX2 sites, with ongoing value management of other US data centres.

Completion of the first 15MW upgrade at SYD1 is now achieved, and the final 5MW section remains on track for delivery by 30 June 2026. The company’s strong pipeline and upgraded capacity at SYD1 highlight its focus on supporting high customer demand for premium colocation services.

What did DigiCo Infrastructure REIT management say?

Interim CEO Chris Maher said:

The release of capital from CHI1 provides additional financial flexibility and capacity to accelerate the delivery of the SYD1 development program. The 88MW project has progressed further, with design and tender documentation for the expansion continuing to advance, the 70% design milestone now achieved and a head contractor to be appointed in Q3 CY2026. The remaining capacity is planned to be delivered progressively over the next three years, with 10MW of capacity targeting delivery in Q2 CY2027. The demand pipeline for the remaining capacity is strong and expected to generate attractive returns.

What’s next for DigiCo Infrastructure REIT?

Looking ahead, DigiCo expects the US asset sales—and the resulting balance sheet strength—to support its major SYD1 data centre expansion and boost funds from operations from FY27 onwards. Management signalled a possible increase in distributions to shareholders in the short term, alongside a long-term strategy to pay out 90–100% of FFO.

The firm plans to progressively deliver the remaining SYD1 capacity by 2029, backed by strong customer demand and a focus on sustainable, growing distributions for investors.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, DigiCo shares have declined 17%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post DigiCo Infrastructure REIT slashes debt after Chicago asset sale appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Atlas Arteria directors urge investors to reject IFM’s takeover offer
• AGL Energy narrows FY26 guidance as project pipeline grows
• JB Hi-Fi Q3 FY26 sales update: Australia & NZ drive growth
• I’m worried about the ASX 200 falling further. Here’s why
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) share price is in focus as the company narrows its FY26 guidance, now expecting underlying EBITDA between $2,060 million and $2,180 million, and underlying NPAT between $610 million and $680 million.

What did AGL Energy report?

• FY26 underlying EBITDA guidance of $2,060m–$2,180m (previously $2,020m–$2,180m)
• FY26 underlying NPAT guidance of $610m–$680m (previously $580m–$680m)
• Continued strong operational performance with generation fleet availability at 83.2% for the nine months to 31 March 2026
• Approximately $750 million in proceeds expected from the sale of Tilt Renewables stake
• AGL intends to continue paying fully franked dividends in FY26, subject to Board approval

What else do investors need to know?

AGL is progressing several strategic growth projects, including commissioning the first 250MW of the Liddell Battery, with the full 500MW set for completion this financial year. Construction of the Tomago Battery is advancing, and AGL has made a final investment decision on the 220MW K2 gas peaker project in Western Australia, expanding its flexible generation portfolio.

The company reports positive market dynamics, highlighting strong and rising electricity demand driven by data centre expansion, electrification, and increased EV load. AGL’s flexible asset strategy aims to capture these demand tailwinds and deliver more resilient earnings over time.

What did AGL Energy management say?

Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Damien Nicks said:

Our updated guidance ranges reflect the continued strong operational and financial performance of the business since the half year results, driven by improved plant availability and flexibility, improved Customer Markets performance and disciplined cost management.

What’s next for AGL Energy?

AGL plans to capitalise on the energy transition by investing in new batteries, renewable partnerships, and flexible gas generation. The company will provide formal FY27 earnings guidance at its full-year results in August, with a focus on cost optimisation and continued portfolio reshaping. AGL is targeting strong, risk-adjusted returns and high cash conversion as it shifts from thermal to lower carbon assets.

The company’s Perth Energy business is a key growth driver, with expanded generation capacity and strong demand from large industrial customers expected to underpin future earnings diversification beyond the East Coast.

AGL Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, AGL shares have declined 14%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post AGL Energy narrows FY26 guidance as project pipeline grows appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Atlas Arteria directors urge investors to reject IFM’s takeover offer
• DigiCo Infrastructure REIT slashes debt after Chicago asset sale
• JB Hi-Fi Q3 FY26 sales update: Australia & NZ drive growth
• I’m worried about the ASX 200 falling further. Here’s why
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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.

Investing and holding for the long term is the best way to go, in my view, because it means giving the ASX shares a long time to compound, while also reducing tax payments.

I’m going to look at two ASX shares that could be excellent investments to own for the years ahead because of their strong underlying growth and the fact the share prices are cheaper than they used to be.

Below are two of my favourite ideas for long-term returns.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Sigma is a business that’s heavily involved in the pharmacy industry as both a chemist brand owner and product distributor. Its key business is Chemist Warehouse, which I’d describe as the leading operator in the sector.

The business recently announced an update that included a number of positives that I think makes it an even stronger buy.

Firstly, Chemist Warehouse’s sales remain incredibly strong.

Australian Chemist Warehouse-branded stores saw network sales growth of 16.7%, powered by 14.4% like-for-like (LFL) sales growth. The international division, which includes Ireland, New Zealand, Dubai, and China saw overall sales growth of 24.7%, with LFL growth of 11.8%.

The fact the core business continues to perform so strongly is very positive for the foreseeable future, in my opinion. I believe investors should never lose sight of the performance of the key element of a company’s earnings, even if it has exciting growth plans for new products or services.

Second, the ASX share announced that Chemist Warehouse is entering the UK by acquiring 75% of a number of Greenlight stores which are based in London. Chemist Warehouse will licence the Chemist Warehouse brand and intellectual property and provide retail support, including ranging, store layout, inventory management, and marketing support.

Some of the Greenlight locations will be developed or relocated, becoming Chemist Warehouse stores. The first phase will focus on rebranding and developing up to five stores initially. If this proves successful, more stores could be developed.

Finally, the company is investing in a new distribution centre in New Zealand, which will help it continue growth in that market. It’s aiming for more than 100 Chemist Warehouse stores in New Zealand in the long term, where there’s currently approximately 70.

All of the above bodes well for the ASX share’s long-term future. The UK is a big market and could be a great growth driver in the years ahead.

L1 Global Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: GLS)

I believe every Australian would benefit from having a good allocation to international shares, though the international/US share market is increasingly becoming a bet on a few large US tech names and the theme of AI in general.

There are plenty of appealing investments in the international market, which could deliver strong returns.

Instead of trying to search across the entire global share market for great ideas, I’m very willing to have high-performing fund managers provide the diversification and returns I’m after.

L1 Global Long Short Fund is a listed investment company (LIC) that utilises both long-term investing and short-selling to find opportunities. Some of the sectors it’s invested in recently includes copper, gold, construction materials, and banking.

According to the fund manager, the ASX share’s median ‘long’ position trades at around 8x FY27’s estimated earnings, with double-digit earnings growth and modest debt levels.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns, but since the strategy’s inception in January 2025, it has returned an average of 53.9% per year. I think this ASX share is one worth watching.

The post 2 top ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Flight Centre, Sigma Healthcare, Vault Minerals, and WiseTech shares are storming higher today
• Sigma shares race higher on update and Chemist Warehouse UK expansion
• Sigma Healthcare delivers double digit Chemist Warehouse sales growth in 2026
• What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year?

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.

The JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) share price is in focus today after the company reported group sales growth across key brands in the third quarter of FY26, with JB Hi-Fi Australia sales up 4.0% and NZ sales up 23.2%.

What did JB Hi-Fi report?

• JB Hi-Fi Australia total sales rose 4.0% for Q3 FY26
• JB Hi-Fi New Zealand total sales jumped 23.2% for the quarter
• The Good Guys total sales increased 2.5% for Q3
• e&s total sales slipped 1.4% in Q3
• Year-to-date, JB Hi-Fi New Zealand total store sales climbed 29.7%

What else do investors need to know?

JB Hi-Fi delivered positive sales growth in both Australian and New Zealand operations despite a challenging and uncertain retail environment. The Good Guys business also saw continued sales momentum, adding to the group’s overall performance.

Management flagged supplier component cost increases and stock availability shortages, particularly in technology categories. Heightened competition is putting further pressure on margins as the group heads into the crucial end of financial year period.

What did JB Hi-Fi management say?

CEO Nick Wells said:

We are pleased to see sales growth in JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys in what is an increasingly uncertain retail environment. As we enter the important end of financial year trading period, in the technology categories we are seeing significant supplier component related cost increases and stock availability shortages, along with heightened competitive activity. As always, we will remain focused on what we can control and seek to maximise demand through driving great value for our customers, leveraging our strong supplier relationships, and delivering exceptional customer service.

What’s next for JB Hi-Fi?

JB Hi-Fi is focusing on controlling what it can—maximising demand, supporting supplier partnerships, and delivering value for customers. Management will be aiming to maintain momentum through the end-of-financial-year period, despite increased costs and supply challenges.

The group’s results suggest ongoing resilience in a tough retail market, but management remains alert to industry-wide pressures as it navigates these operational headwinds.

JB Hi-Fi share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, JB Hi-Fi shares have declined 25%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which ha risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post JB Hi-Fi Q3 FY26 sales update: Australia & NZ drive growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Atlas Arteria directors urge investors to reject IFM’s takeover offer
• DigiCo Infrastructure REIT slashes debt after Chicago asset sale
• AGL Energy narrows FY26 guidance as project pipeline grows
• I’m worried about the ASX 200 falling further. Here’s why
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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.