Tag: Stock pick

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) are two of the largest resource stocks on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). Their shares move for very different reasons, their risks differ, and the outlook for one is much stronger than the other.

When it comes to these two powerhouses, I’d buy one but sell the other.

I’d buy Woodside shares

Woodside shares closed 0.11% lower on Wednesday afternoon, at $26.27 a piece. Over the past month, the Australian petroleum exploration and production company’s shares are 18.01% higher, and over the year, they’re up 7.71%. The company’s share price pushed higher on the back of a steep uptick in the crude oil price in late October. 

Unfortunately, the latest increase hasn’t done much to recover the crude oil price losses over the year. It is still 13.35% lower than 12 months ago and well below the peaks seen in 2022. 

Thankfully, Woodside shares have remained relatively stable, and the company has been able to maintain strong dividends throughout the year.

While the dwindling oil prices have dampened Woodside’s performance potential, it looks like the company could be set for some tailwinds going forward.

Fairmont Equities’ Michael Gable recently said that the share price chart of Woodside indicates the stock has bottomed, amid seeing signs of it starting to move higher again. Although the broker currently has a hold rating on the shares.

Other brokers are more bullish on the stock. TradingView data shows 7 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. The remaining 8 have a hold rating. The maximum target price is $33.57, which represents a potential 27.8% upside for investors over the next 12 months.

I’d sell Fortescue shares

Fortescue shares closed 2.16% higher on Wednesday afternoon, at $20.36 each. Over the past month, the shares have climbed 0.99% higher, and they’re now up 14.7% compared to this time last year. 

The iron ore mining giant’s shares have been boosted by the recent resilience of the iron ore price. Iron ore has recovered from an annual low in July. Over the past month, it has fallen 1.18%, but it is still 2.27% higher than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity.

Fortescue also posted its September quarter results on 23 October. The miner reported record total iron ore shipments over the three months of 49.7 million tonnes, up 4% year on year.

But I’m concerned that, given Fortescue isn’t a diversified miner like some of the other mining majors, any further pull-back in iron ore prices over the next 12 months could have a huge impact on Fortescue’s financials.

Analysts seem to have the same sentiment, too. Macquarie has assigned an underperform rating to Fortescue shares and a target price of $18.50. That represents a potential 9.1% downside for investors at the time of writing.

The post Woodside vs Fortescue shares: One I’d buy and one I’d sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for Fortescue shares
• These were the 10 most-traded Australian shares last week
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX 200 mining shares rip as lithium makes a comeback
• Are Woodside shares still a good buy for 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 positions in and 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.

If you’ve got $5,000 ready to invest, the Australian market offers no shortage of options. But in times of uncertainty, it often makes sense to focus on companies with resilient earnings, strong balance sheets, and long track records of delivering for shareholders.

Three standout Australian stocks that fit this description are listed below. Here’s why they could deserve a spot on a $5,000 shopping list today.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie has long been one of Australia’s most admired financial institutions. Unlike the big banks, it generates a significant portion of its earnings from global infrastructure, asset management, and commodities markets. This means it isn’t tied solely to domestic lending conditions.

Its ability to adapt to market cycles is one of its greatest strengths. When equity markets boom, Macquarie benefits; when volatility rises, its commodities and trading divisions often thrive. This balance has allowed the group to deliver decades of consistent profitability through vastly different environments.

Macquarie also manages hundreds of billions in assets worldwide, giving it exposure to long-term themes such as renewable energy, data infrastructure, and global transport networks. For investors seeking a high-quality financial powerhouse with genuine global diversification, Macquarie remains one of the most compelling picks on the ASX.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Another Australian stock to buy now with $5,000 could be Wesfarmers. This conglomerate’s portfolio includes household names such as Bunnings, Kmart, Target and Officeworks. These are businesses with enormous scale, strong brand loyalty, and reliable cashflow.

Bunnings alone is one of the most dominant retail franchises in the country, and its consistency helps anchor the entire group. But Wesfarmers is far from a static business. It has been investing heavily in chemicals, energy and fertilisers, as well as healthcare and pharmaceuticals through the Priceline and Clear Skincare networks.

This diversification gives Wesfarmers multiple earnings levers, and management has a long history of disciplined capital allocation. Overall, this arguably makes Wesfarmers an attractive long-term holding for investors.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Finally, in a volatile market, it is hard to overlook a supermarket giant like Woolworths. Groceries remain one of the most defensive categories in the economy. People still buy food, toiletries, baby products and essentials regardless of the economic climate. That stability translates into steady revenue and predictable earnings.

Woolworths continues to invest heavily in digital transformation, online ordering, logistics, and data-driven retail. These upgrades are helping to maintain market share and improve customer engagement, while also setting up the business for long-term efficiency gains.

Although its margins have been pressured recently by value-conscious shoppers and intense competition, Woolworths remains exceptionally well positioned. And with its performance improving after a blip, now could be an opportune time to buy its beaten down shares.

The post Top Australian stocks to buy right now with $5,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Woolworths Group. 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.

ASX All Ords gold stock Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX: STK) is off to the races today.

Strickland Metals shares closed yesterday trading for 17 cents apiece. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 19 cents apiece, up 11.8%.

For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.8% at this same time.

With today’s intraday boost factored in, shares in the ASX All Ords gold stock are up a whopping 137.5% over the last 12 months.

Here’s what’s piquing investor interest today.

ASX All Ords gold stock lifts off on exploration results

Investors are bidding up Strickland Metals shares following a fresh set of promising drill results.

The miner has been actively drilling at its 100% owned Rogozna Gold & Base Metals Project, located in Serbia.

This morning, the ASX All Ords gold stock reported assay results from two recently completed diamond drill-holes at its cornerstone 5.3 million ounce gold equivalent Shanac Deposit. That’s one of four skarn-hosted gold and base metals deposits within the 7.4 million ounce gold equivalent Rogozna Project.

And, as you can likely guess from investors’ positive reactions today, those assay results are juicy.

Results from the first hole were reported to be:

• 0m at 1.9g/t AuEq from 387.5m including:
• 7m at 3.1g/t AuEq from 387.5m; and
• 9m at 1.8g/t AuEq from 497.7m

And the second hold intersected:

• 1m at 1.0g/t AuEq from 349.3m; and
• 7m at 1.8g/t AuEq from 462.9m, including:
• 1m at 2.9g/t AuEq from 492.7m

What did management say?

Commenting on the assay results sending the ASX All Ords gold stock soaring today, Strickland Metals managing director Paul L’Herpiniere, said, “These excellent new drill results reinforce the robustness and quality of the high-grade copper-gold mineralisation discovered at Shanac earlier this year in the central part of the deposit, on the western side of the central domain.”

L’Herpiniere added:

Both holes reported in this announcement have delivered very wide zones of strong gold-copper mineralisation, building on the results from this part of the deposit reported in August.

The results clearly reinforce the potential for both bulk tonnage style mineralisation and higher-grade zones within the deposit, highlighting the potential for growth in the current 5.3 million ounce gold equivalent Mineral Resource.

We look forward to reporting further results from Shanac in the coming weeks as we close-in on an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the deposit in early 2026.

The ASX All Ords gold stock currently has seven diamond drilling rigs operating across the Rogozna Project.

Strickland highlighted that it remains well-funded, with cash and liquids as at 30 September totalling $41.8 million.

Stay tuned!

The post Guess which ASX All Ords gold stock is leaping 12% on big Serbian news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Breville, Flight Centre, Mineral Resources, and Strickland shares are shooting higher

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 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.

Orthocell Ltd (ASX: OCC) shares are catching the eye on Thursday morning.

At the time of writing, the ASX All Ords stock is up 7.5% to $1.08.

Why is this ASX All Ords stock jumping?

Investors have been buying the regenerative medicine company’s shares this morning after it released a promising update.

According to the release, the company notes that the adoption of its Remplir product by Australian urologists is accelerating.

It highlights that the product is increasingly being used during prostate cancer surgery in a promising new application aimed at reducing post-surgical complications from peripheral nerve injury.

So much so, Remplir has now been used in ~100 surgical cases to assist in improving recovery of erectile function and urinary continence post-surgery.

Why is this a big deal?

The ASX All Ords stock believes that using Remplir in nerve-sparing RARP presents a significant opportunity.

It estimates that this could expand its total addressable market in the United States from US$1.6 billion to approximately US$2 billion. This is based on an estimated ~115,000 prostatectomies performed annually in the country, the majority of which are conducted robotically.

In order to capitalise on this opportunity, Orthocell is establishing a commercialisation advisory board and investing in additional research to strengthen the scientific evidence base for this innovative peripheral nerve repair application, ahead of a targeted US product launch in the medium term.

In addition, it is collating clinical data on initial patients who underwent radical prostatectomies with Remplir in Australia. This data will be released once compiled and will support the scientific foundation for formal product launch in existing approved markets.

The company also provided an update on its performance in the United States. It revealed that the Remplir rollout continues to track according to plan, with over 4,000 units now shipped into the United States.

Management highlights that the initial U.S. surgical cases continue to build with in-country representatives making significant progress working with distributors to gain hospital approvals, on-board surgeons, and establish active accounts.

Commenting on the news, the ASX All Ords stock’s CEO and managing director, Paul Anderson, said:

We’re thrilled to see Remplir being adopted by urologists in Australia for nerve-sparing prostate surgery, reflecting its broader potential in peripheral nerve protection and repair. This demonstrates the utility of the product and represents the potential for a meaningful step forward in improving patient outcomes following these complex surgeries.

The post Guess which All Ords stock is racing higher on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2030 for NAB shares
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• Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has increased its exposure to Japanese stocks and here’s why you should too!

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

The Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI) share price is in focus after the company provided an update during its Dalrymple Bay Terminal site visit, highlighting the terminal’s fully contracted volume of 84.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 2028 and continued strong demand for metallurgical coal exports.

What did Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure report?

• Dalrymple Bay Terminal is fully contracted to its 84.2Mtpa capacity through to June 2028 under take-or-pay agreements
• About 81% of revenue derives from predominantly metallurgical coal mines, with DBT supplying 14% of global seaborne met coal exports in 2024
• The terminal shipped coal to 22 countries from 21 mines owned by 11 major customers in the year to 31 December 2024
• DBI has successfully delivered over $430 million in non-expansion capital expenditure (NECAP) projects since 2008
• Ongoing NECAP works are forecast at $30 million to $50 million per annum, with a strong alignment between customers and operator

What else do investors need to know?

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure’s revenue is underpinned by long-term take-or-pay contracts, which lowers volume risk and supports predictable cash flows. The terminal plays a strategic role in the global steelmaking supply chain, handling a significant portion of Australia’s metallurgical coal exports from the Bowen Basin.

The company retains a 75-year lease on the terminal, with the operator owned by a subset of customers managing day-to-day activities. This structure is designed to minimise operational complexity and risk for DBI while aligning investment decisions with customer needs.

What’s next for Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure?

Looking ahead, Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure is planning for the 8X expansion, which could increase terminal capacity to 99.1Mtpa. All primary environmental approvals for the expansion have already been secured, and DBI is consulting with customers about next steps.

The company is also exploring a range of funding options—beyond the traditional debt and equity mix—to deliver growth, while maintaining its focus on stable distributions to securityholders. Core sustaining capital works are expected to remain a priority, ensuring long-term operational reliability and customer satisfaction.

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure shares have risen 28%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has increased 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure shares: terminal update and capacity outlook appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Owners of National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares recently saw their bank report the FY25 result. Earnings didn’t quite go in the right direction.

NAB reported that cash earnings declined by 0.2% to $7.09 billion, despite gross loans and advances (GLA) climbing by 5.9%.

Expenses climbed 4.6%, faster than revenue growth, which included $130 million related to the payroll review and remediation charges.

Excluding payroll review and remediation charges, expenses increased by 3.2%, reflecting higher personnel and technology-related costs, partially offset by productivity benefits. The bank said that underlying net profit rose 1.3% in FY25.

In terms of the credit impairment, it said that the charge was $833 million in FY25, compared to $728 million in FY24. However, the overall percentage of non-performing loans increased again to 1.55%, up from 1.39% in FY24 and 1.13% in FY23.

After seeing those numbers, let’s check out what experts think could happen with earnings in the coming years,

FY26

UBS decided to decrease its earnings per share (EPS) forecasts by between 3% and 4.8% over the financial years of FY26, FY27, and FY28 due to costs and credit charges. Earnings are usually a key driver of the NAB share price.

The broker gave the following commentary on the outlook for the largest business lender:

The investment case for NAB is straightforward, as the bank is not pursuing a significant or costly transformation plan or self-improvement initiatives (unlike peers such as Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) ). NAB benefits from stability in senior leadership and a consistent strategy.

However, its recent performance falls short of expectations. Returns in 2H 25 have declined to their lowest levels since COVID, at 63bps on AA. If NAB continues to deliver similar results, shareholder pressure is likely to increase. To drive earnings growth, the bank must focus on rebuilding capital buffers, maintaining cost discipline, and executing targeted lending growth initiatives.

Putting all of that together, UBS is currently forecasting that NAB could achieve a net profit of $7.05 billion in FY26, which would be virtually flat compared to FY25.

FY27

The broker UBS thinks the bottom line of the ASX bank share could improve by around $200 million in the 2027 financial year.

UBS projects a net profit of $7.2 billion in FY27.

FY28

The net profit could improve again in FY28 if the broker’s projections prove accurate.

UBS predict that NAB’s net profit could climb to $7.6 billion in the 2028 financial year.

FY29

Currently, the projection from UBS experts suggests that NAB’s profit could increase by around $600 million to $8.2 billion in FY29.

FY30

The final financial year of these forecasts could be the best of all for owners of NAB shares.

UBS predicts that the ASX bank share could generate $8.7 billion of net profit in the 2030 financial year. That would imply a potential 23.8% increase in profit between FY26 and FY30.

In my view, that’d be a useful tailwind for the NAB share price, though that’s not a huge rise over five years.

Other ASX shares may be capable of stronger returns.

The post Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2030 for NAB shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) shares are on the slide on Thursday.

In morning trade, the infant formula company’s shares are down over 4% to $8.78.

Why are A2 Milk shares falling?

The catalyst for today’s decline has been the release of a trading update ahead of its annual general meeting.

According to the release, the infant milk formula (IMF), other nutritionals and liquid milk product categories have been trading stronger than expected during the first half of FY 2026. However, it is possible that the market was already factoring this in and possibly even more.

Commenting on its performance so far in FY 2026, A2 Milk’s CEO, David Bortolussi, said:

I’m pleased to say that we’ve started the financial year strongly with IMF, Other Nutritionals and Liquid Milk product categories all trading ahead of expectations. In addition, changes to actual and forecast currency rates reflecting NZD depreciation are expected to inflate sales and expenses, with the impact to EBITDA not expected to be material.

In light of this, the company has upgraded its guidance for the year ahead.

On a continuing operations basis, A2 Milk now expects low double-digit percentage revenue growth in FY 2026. Previously it was guiding to high single-digit percentage growth from its continuing operations.

Management notes that first half revenue growth in FY 2026 is expected to be higher than second half revenue growth. In addition, English label IMF revenue growth is expected to be significantly higher than China label IMF revenue growth.

Management also reaffirmed its EBITDA margin guidance. It continues to expect an EBITDA margin in the range of approximately 15% to 16% for the year. Its depreciation and amortisation guidance has also been reaffirmed at approximately NZ$20 million to NZ$24 million.

One item heading in the wrong direction is A2 Milk’s capital expenditure guidance, which has been lifted by NZ$10 million to NZ$60 million to NZ$80 million. This reflects the accelerated progress of the a2 Pokeno capital investment programme.

And finally, net profit after tax is expected to be “slightly up” on what was delivered in FY 2025. This compares to its previous guidance for a relatively flat net profit.

Special dividend

At the event, Bortolussi reaffirmed the company’s plan to reward shareholders with a fully franked NZ$300 million special dividend. He said:

As noted by our Chair in her address, the Board intends to declare a special dividend of $300 million, subject to obtaining regulatory approvals, to bring the new China label registered products under the a2MC brand, which is expected to take up to twelve months from when we announced the acquisition. The special dividend is expected to be unimputed and fully franked.

The post A2 Milk shares slip despite guidance upgrade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) share price has been in the spotlight following a series of director share sales and a retraction of a previously announced contract win. Key recent developments include director disposals of more than 19.9 million shares and an error in recognising orders as “new,” later corrected by the company.

What did DroneShield report today?

• Directors disposed of a combined total of over 19.9 million shares between 6–12 November 2025.
• Vested performance options for directors and employees were exercised after company stretch revenue targets were reached.
• A previously announced $7.6 million contract win was withdrawn after it was found to be a revised, not new, order.
• DroneShield reported shareholder approval for performance options and confirmed compliance with notification and trading policies.
• The company announced an upcoming increase in its contract materiality disclosure threshold from $5 million to $20 million from 2026.

What else do investors need to know?

In November, DroneShield mistakenly announced three standalone contracts valued at $7.6 million as new, when in fact they were reissued due to customer administrative changes. This led to immediate withdrawal and process improvements.

The company is rolling out new enterprise software systems in January 2026 to improve order processing and reduce manual errors. DroneShield has also engaged external auditors and advisers to review disclosure processes and financial controls.

Directors’ share sales followed standard company and ASX procedures, with approvals sought and granted, and the resulting disposals promptly disclosed. The directors noted that shares were sold to cover tax liabilities from exercised performance options.

What’s next for DroneShield?

DroneShield is working on implementing new ERP and CRM platforms, due to go live in early 2026, which should strengthen operational controls and reporting quality. The business will also update its financial reporting and trading policies based on findings from external reviews.

Looking ahead, DroneShield plans to increase its order disclosure threshold in line with rising revenue, aiming for clearer reporting and less “noise” from smaller contracts. The company continues to pursue significant contracts in Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific, although timelines and conversion remain subject to customer processes.

DroneShield share price snapshot

DroneShield shares have risen 159% over the past 12 months, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has increased 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post DroneShield directors’ share sales and contract error: What investors need to know 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 DroneShield. 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.

A new report from ASX ETF provider Global X shows there were record-breaking inflows in Japanese stocks in October.

According to the ETF Market Scoop – October 2025 report, investors poured a record $6 billion into ETFs last month. This surpassed the previous high of $5.8 billion set in July 2025. 

Total inflows are on track to reach $50 billion in 2025. This is significantly above the $31 billion record in 2024. Ultimately, this year is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for ETFs.

Interestingly, the report shed light on increased appetite for Japanese securities. 

Optimism in Japanese stocks

According to Global X, October 2025 saw an impressive surge of Australian ETF inflows into Japanese equities of $167 million.

So why invest in Japanese stocks?

The team at Global X believe the case for investing in Japan is compelling. 

The report from the ETF provider pointed to a few key catalysts. 

It said Japanese inflation is normalising, ending decades of deflation and unlocking pricing power, wage growth, and reinvestment. 

Additionally, sweeping corporate governance reforms driven by the Tokyo Stock Exchange and regulators are prompting companies to repurpose excess cash, increase dividends, and engage in buybacks. 

Blue-chip firms now boast stronger shareholder-friendly practices and meaningful alignment with global megatrends like AI, EVs, and energy transition.

In fact, in 2025, the TOPIX index (major index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange) is outperforming the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). 

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway increases its exposure

It’s not just ETF investors who are taking notice of the tailwinds for Japanese stocks. 

Global X said that major investors have also started taking note. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) increased its exposure to Japanese companies on the grounds of compelling valuation, strong balance sheets, and efficient capital deployment.

Taken together, these forces mark Japan’s equity market not as a relic of past stagnation but as a genuine transformation engine – moderate inflation, governance reform, global industrial leverage and renewed investor interest combine into a favourable backdrop.

How to gain exposure

For Australian investors seeking exposure to Japanese stocks, there are several ASX ETFs to consider. 

Firstly, the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (ASX: IJP). 

The fund is designed to measure the performance of Japanese large & mid-capitalisation companies.

Secondly, investors could consider the BetaShares Japan ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: HJPN). 

The fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides diversified exposure to the largest globally competitive Japanese companies, hedged into Australian dollars.

Finally, a report from Financial Standard from noted Global X is set to launch its first Japan ETF this month. 

Unlike other ETFs available right now, it will be the first to track the TOPIX – the Japanese equivalent of the ASX 200.

According to the report, it will be listed on the ASX under the ticker code of J100.

The post Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has increased its exposure to Japanese stocks and here’s why you should too! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Australian share market is packed with fast-growing companies, which can make choosing the right ones a real challenge. With so many appealing options, narrowing the field becomes essential.

To help simplify the process, here are three ASX growth shares that analysts are currently positive on and recommending to clients. They are as follows:

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Investors don’t normally associate property companies with high growth, yet Goodman Group continues to prove why it’s an exception to the rule.

Goodman owns, develops, and manages high-specification industrial properties for many of the world’s most influential companies. This includes Amazon, Tesla, and FedEx. These logistics and warehouse facilities sit at the centre of long-term structural trends such as e-commerce, supply chain modernisation, and data-driven distribution.

The company has also been leaning heavily into data centre development, a sector with enormous demand thanks to artificial intelligence, hyperscale cloud providers, and high-performance computing. This could become a major growth engine for Goodman over the coming decade.

Morgan Stanley thinks Goodman could be a top ASX growth share to buy. It has an overweight rating and $41.50 price target on its shares.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus specialises in advanced medical imaging software through its Visage platform, which enables radiologists to review scans with exceptional speed and efficiency. This has made Pro Medicus a preferred partner for some of the leading hospital networks in the United States, where it continues to secure sizeable multi-year contracts.

What sets the company apart is its combination of growing recurring revenue, world-class margins, and an ultra–capital-light business model, which allows it to convert most of its earnings directly into free cash flow. Few ASX growth shares can match its consistency or profitability profile. And with radiologist shortages expected to continue for some time, its outlook remains very positive.

The team at Citi recently upgraded Pro Medicus to a buy rating with a $350.00 price target.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Rounding out the list is Temple & Webster, which is one of Australia’s standout online retail success stories.

The company has ridden the wave of digital adoption in furniture and homewares, offering shoppers a vast range of stylish and affordable products. Its online-only model gives it structural cost advantages over traditional retailers, helping it take market share even in periods of weaker discretionary spending.

In addition, Temple & Webster continues to invest in private-label product lines, logistics, and technology to strengthen customer engagement. And, importantly, online penetration in its category remains well below levels seen in comparable markets, meaning the company still has a substantial growth runway ahead of it.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $31.30 price target on its shares.

The post 3 outstanding ASX growth shares analysts are backing right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Goodman Group, Temple & Webster Group, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended FedEx and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Goodman Group, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.