Tag: Stock pick

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares have been on fire over the past 12 months.

Following a stunning 24% gain on Tuesday, the technology products company’s shares are now up almost 120% since this time last year.

Is it too late to invest? Let’s find out what Bell Potter is saying about this high-flying stock.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that Codan released a trading update for the first half of FY 2027, which revealed an acceleration in the strong momentum seen with its results in August.

Commenting on the Communications segment, the broker said:

CDA now expects 1H27 revenue of $400-410m (BPe $289m, VAe $283m) with 50% of revenue expected to come from conflict regions (vs. 20% in pcp. Outside of conflict regions, CDA expects the Communication segment to deliver 1H27 revenue growth in the order of 20% vs. pcp with broad-based growth across regions and markets. 

Elevated demand is expected to drive substantial operating leverage, resulting in a 1H27 EBIT margin of 40% (2H26 34.3%). CDA has upgraded full year FY27 Communications revenue growth target range to 30-40% from 20%. BPe and Consensus are both in line with original target growth of 20%. CDA has not given full year EBIT margin guidance. 

The good news is the Metal Detection business is performing positively as well thanks to a strong gold price and new product launches. It adds:

Minelab 1H27 revenue run-rate is now slightly above 2H26 levels an improvement from August 20 where it was tracking in line. (BPe monthly run rate of $33m in 1H27 vs. $32m in 2H26). The strong momentum is driven by recently launched GPZ 8000 and Gold Monster 2000 detectors, a favourable gold price and the continued expansion of ROW.

Is it too late to buy Codan shares?

While the big returns may now be behind us, Bell Potter doesn’t believe it is too late to buy Codan shares.

This morning, the broker has responded to the update by retaining its buy rating on the company’s shares with an improved price target of $73.00 (from $60.00).

Based on its current share price of $64.43, this implies potential upside of 13.3% over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its bullish view of the stock, Bell Potter said:

We forecast 39% Comms revenue growth in FY27e, implying 5% YoY in 2H27, and see scope for further upgrades if CDA successfully mitigates supply chain pressures given surging production of Group 2 UAS. CDA trades on 32x EBIT. Retain Buy.

The post Up 120%, is it too late to buy Codan shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 holds steady as investors brace for a big afternoon
• This ASX tech company just surged past the $10 billion valuation mark after a major profit upgrade
• Codan trading update: Record H1 FY27 profit and revenue

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.

When you’re planning for your retirement, it’s great to start with a goal, and start as early as possible.

This ensures that you get the most benefit from compound interest on your savings, and can rest easy that you’ll be able to afford a comfortable retirement.

What actually is a comfortable retirement?

What constitutes a comfortable retirement is different for everyone, but a decent benchmark is the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia’s (ASFA) retirement standard, which tallies up what it will cost for life’s essentials and a few other costs which make up a comfortable existence.

These include being able to afford top-level health insurance, reliable internet, owning and maintaining a reasonable car, and enjoying leisure activities and occasional travel.

The standard does assume however that the retiree takes a part pension from the age of 67, and owns their own home.

The standard is currently set at $56,166 per year for singles and $78,998 for couples.

The good news if you’re aiming for $1500 a week, or $78,000 per year in income from your retirement savings, is that this is comfortably above the retirement standard level for singles.

So what level of retirement savings would you need to generate this level of income?

If you were able to earn a 10% dividend yield on your portfolio, which I would argue is unlikely, you’d need superannuation savings of $780,000.

If you were earning just 5%, this would increase to $1.56 million.

I would argue that with the benefits of franking credits you’d be able to comfortably earn about 7.5% from dividends, meaning you’d need savings of $1.04 million.

Franking credits effectively pay a shareholder back a credit for the tax a company has already paid.

Given that retirees pay a 0% tax rate, this means the full 30%, for fully franked dividends, flows back to the shareholder.

In practical terms, a 5% dividend yield on a fully franked share becomes 7.14%.

Which shares deliver solid dividends?

In terms of companies that can deliver solid dividend yields, there are plenty to choose from.

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) recently reported its full-year results. The retailer maintained its dividend, yielding 6.85%.

The Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX) share price has slipped sharply recently, boosting its yield to 10.58%.

At the more blue-chip end, Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) has a trailing yield of 4.39%, and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) pays 4.36%.

As you can see there are plenty of options for shares which deliver a decent dividend yield.

And if you think your superannuation could use a top-up, it’s worth looking into non-concessional contributions, which can be a tax-effective way to increase your retirement savings.

The post How much is needed in superannuation for $1500 in weekly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Premier Investments, New Hope, Xero shares
• Buy, hold, sell: Fortescue, Westpac, CSL shares
• ASX 200 holds steady as investors brace for a big afternoon
• Where to invest $20,000 in ASX dividend shares for passive income
• A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top shares?

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

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.35% to 8,709.3 points

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to fall

The Australian share market is expected to fall on Wednesday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 5 points lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.25%, the S&P 500 was down 0.15%, and the Nasdaq was 0.1% lower.

Oil prices tumble

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a difficult session on Wednesday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 4% to US$88.92 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.6% to US$102.56 a barrel. Traders were selling oil after crude exports recovered at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports.

REA Group shares upgraded

The team at Bell Potter has become a little more positive on REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares following recent weakness. This morning, the broker has upgraded the property listings company’s shares to a hold rating with a $148.00 price target. It said: “We upgrade our recommendation to Hold, with the share price now trading in-line with our Target Price. Although we still see risk to FY27 volumes, we view the risk as broadly priced in and now wait to get clarity on looking through the cycle toward a recovery.”

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares including Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.1% to US$4,213.8 an ounce. Traders were buying the dip on gold following a heavy decline.

Buy Codan shares

Bell Potter doesn’t think it is too late to buy Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares despite their 24% rise on Tuesday. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $73.00 (from $60.00). It said: “We forecast 39% Comms revenue growth in FY27e, implying 5% YoY in 2H27, and see scope for further upgrades if CDA successfully mitigates supply chain pressures given surging production of Group 2 UAS. CDA trades on 32x EBIT. Retain Buy.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 120%, is it too late to buy Codan shares?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to retire comfortably at age 67?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 slips as RBA boosts interest rates to 15-year highs
• ASX 200 holds steady as investors brace for a big afternoon

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in REA Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

In Australia, most superannuation calculation models use age 67 as the primary baseline.

Age 67 is also the qualifying age for the Age Pension. 

At this point, it’s assumed most retirees will be drawing down, or about to draw down, on their super to finance their retirement lifestyle.

But how much do you need to have saved to be able to retire comfortably?

What does a comfortable retirement look like?

A comfortable retirement is considered one that gives individuals and couples a good standard of living and enough money to finance things like top-tier health insurance, regular social and leisure activities and some travel.

What does a comfortable retirement cost?

There are a couple of benchmarks to consider.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) calculates that comfortable retirement will cost roughly $55,923 per year for single Australians. It’s expected to cost a couple living together closer to $78,566 per year combined.

Meanwhile, independent consumer advocacy group Super Consumers Australia (SCA) splits costs into three categories: low, medium and high spending. And they’re based on the actual spending data of Australian retirees rather than an estimated budget.

For the sake of comparison, we’ll assume a high budget gives the most ‘comfortable’ standard of living.

SCA calculates that retirement will cost roughly $61,100 per year for single Australians, and $88,920 per year for couples.

How much do I need in my superannuation to finance this type of retirement at age 67?

In order to have enough money for a comfortable retirement, ASFA calculates that at age 67, single Australians should have around $630,000 in their superannuation. Meanwhile, couples will need a balance closer to $730,000.

The calculation assumes you will only need to fund around 10 years of retirement, will be eligible to receive a part Age Pension, and that you own your home in full.

SCA calculates that you need a little more. Single Australians need a superannuation balance of $891,000, while couples need around $1.216 million. 

These calculations assume that about 29-34% of your retirement spending will be covered by the Age Pension and that you own your home outright.

How does your superannuation balance compare?

I don’t have enough. Is it too late to boost my superannuation balance?

Even at age 67, there are a few things you can do now which will help to increase your superannuation balance.

The first piece of advice is always to check that your super fund is performing well and that your investment strategy and risk profile match your own. 

Then, you want to add extra contributions wherever you can. Individuals can make concessional (before-tax) super contributions or after-tax payments within their annual limits. 

Government contributions might also be available depending on your personal circumstances.

If you’ve done all these things and you still don’t have enough to finance a comfortable retirement, another option is to continue working for a few more years. By delaying retirement into your early 70s you get an extra three or so years of income and compound growth.

The post How much do I need in my superannuation to retire comfortably at age 67? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 slips as RBA boosts interest rates to 15-year highs
• ASX 200 holds steady as investors brace for a big afternoon
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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

It has been a tumultuous few weeks for Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shareholders.

The Xero share price finished Tuesday at $58.04, down around 49% in 2026 and 63% over the past 12 months.

It has also fallen more than 30% in September alone, despite the company releasing no major bad news during the sell-off.

But could Xero shares eventually make their way back to $100?

From yesterday’s close, that would require a gain of around 72%.

That sounds like a lot, but I don’t think $100 is unrealistic over the next couple of years.

Here’s why.

The market has changed its mind

One of the most interesting things about Xero’s fall is how quickly investors have changed what they’re willing to pay.

Back in late August, Xero shares were trading close to $90.

A month later, they’re below $60.

Yet Xero hasn’t issued an earnings downgrade or warned of deteriorating trading conditions during that period.

Instead, rising bond yields, interest rate concerns and worries about AI have all weighed heavily on the software sector.

That has pushed Xero back to a share price last seen in mid-2019.

The difference is that Xero is now a much bigger business.

Operating revenue increased 31% to NZ$2.75 billion in FY26, while adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to NZ$757.4 million.

Free cash flow also reached NZ$554 million.

So, while the share price has gone backwards, the business definitely hasn’t.

What could get Xero back to $100?

For me, Xero doesn’t need everything to go perfectly.

It simply needs to show investors that its current growth can continue and that the Melio acquisition is starting to pay off.

Management expects FY27 operating revenue of between NZ$3.62 billion and NZ$3.73 billion.

Adjusted EBITDA is forecast between NZ$860 million and NZ$920 million.

The US could be particularly important.

Xero is spending heavily to build its brand there, while Melio gives the company a much bigger opportunity in payments.

Then there’s AI.

Xero now has more than 5 million customers and is rolling out JAX, its AI platform designed to automate bookkeeping and financial workflows.

If those investments drive faster US growth and higher revenue per customer, investors could start looking at Xero very differently again.

Would I buy Xero shares?

Yes, I would.

I’m not expecting Xero shares to race back to $100 anytime soon.

But at $58.04, I think Xero shares are looking increasingly attractive after the recent sell-off.

The company is still growing quickly, generating plenty of cash, and has a huge opportunity ahead of it in the US.

And keep in mind, a return to $100 would still leave Xero well below its previous highs.

If management delivers on its FY27 guidance and Melio starts adding to growth, I think Xero shares can eventually climb back above $100.

The post Can the Xero share price climb back to $100? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Life360 and Xero shares
• 3 ASX shares to sell now according to experts
• 6 ASX shares set to soar 39% to 135%
• How much could the Xero share price rise in the next year?
• Buy, hold, sell: Xero, South32, Woodside shares

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

Junior medical device company EBR Systems Ltd (ASX: ABR) recently secured reimbursement for its devices in the US.

The analyst team at Bell Potter has examined the new announcements, and has reiterated its bullish price target on the company, which we’ll get to shortly.

First let’s have a look at what was announced.

More funds for heart implant procedures

EBR has developed a system called WiSE which it says is designed to overcome the limitations of conventional cardiac resynchronisation therapy and, “is the only leadless left ventricular endocardial pacing (LVEP) device”.

The company recently released a quarterly report and said that it had surpassed its hundredth commercial WiSE implant, “with multiple sites performing their first WiSE implants and numerous sites performing their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and greater cases”.

In mid-September the company released another update, saying the base US Medicare inpatient reimbursement rates for eligible WiSE procedures had increased by about 58% and 93%.

The company added that assuming the maximum available New Technology Add-on Payment (NTAP), the total Medicare payment could reach about US$77,839 and $US66,566 respectively.

EBR Chief Executive Officer John McCutcheon said:

The final FY2027 Medicare payment rates represent a significant reimbursement and commercial milestone for WiSE. The increased inpatient reimbursement provides hospitals with a clearer and stronger payment pathway for eligible WiSE procedures, while better recognising the resources required to deliver this differentiated leadless technology. This outcome further strengthens the commercial foundation for WiSE as we scale our U.S. launch and work to expand access for heart failure patients who are not well served by conventional CRT.

The new pricing comes into effect on 1 October.

Analysts say this ASX biotech is looking cheap

Bell Potter said the increased reimbursements meant that, “financial considerations should not drive decision making in WiSE system utilisation, enabling physicians and hospitals to focus on the clinical criteria”.

The broker noted that the new payment schedules applied to inpatient procedures, which accounted for only about 20% of WiSE procedures.

Bell Potter has a price target on EBR shares of 70 cents, compared to the current price of 25 cents.

Fellow Broker Morgans has a much more bullish price target on the company, recently issuing a new research note with a price target of $1.95.

Morgans said regarding the company’s rollout:

With 17 sites already having completed ≥3 cases, we see an opportunity for utilisation to compound as physicians gain experience and WiSE becomes embedded in clinical workflows.

EBR Systems is valued at $202.9 million.

The post This ASX biotech could nearly triple in value Bell Potter says appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Can the Xero share price climb back to $100?
• Woodside Energy vs Ampol: Which ASX oil stock looks better this week?
• Megaport shares fly 204% in just 6 months. Can they keep climbing?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Qantas Airways vs Flight Centre: Which ASX travel stock is the better buy today?

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

Woodside Energy vs Ampol shares: which oil stock looks better?

If you’re weighing up Australia’s energy giants, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) are two heavy hitters you’ll almost certainly consider. Both are strong, dividend-paying names in oil and gas, but with quite different businesses and investment profiles. Here’s how I think these oil stocks compare for Aussie investors today.

The case for Woodside Energy

Woodside is Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company, operating oil fields and gas projects mainly offshore, plus a global portfolio of assets after merging with BHP’s oil and gas business. Its history dates to 1954, and today it stands as a pillar of the ASX energy sector. The company generates big cashflows from oil and LNG production, and returns much of that to shareholders.

Some standout fundamentals for Woodside:

• Market cap of $60.3 billion makes it a true blue-chip, offering stability and scale.
• Dividend yield sits at a solid 5.14%, fully franked—an important benefit for income-seekers at tax time.
• Reliable track record on dividends, paying fully franked distributions twice a year going back decades, with consistency that’s hard to fault.
• The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 13.9, reflecting a moderate earnings multiple for a sector leader.

Woodside is also Australia’s biggest offshore oil and gas operator, and its assets span both domestic and international markets. The recent BHP petroleum merger has only added to its production scale and diversification.

The case for Ampol

Ampol is best known to most Aussies as the country’s largest petrol station owner and operator, with about 2,000 branded sites nationally. But it’s more than retail fuel: Ampol refines oil at Lytton, supplies fuels, lubricants and chemicals, and operates a growing business in New Zealand and the Philippines.

Here’s what stands out for Ampol:

• Dividend yield of 5.51%—a touch higher than Woodside’s—also fully franked and paid regularly, with a long history of distribution growth.
• A current P/E ratio of just 7.41, suggesting the market is pricing Ampol’s earnings more conservatively than it does for Woodside.
• Year to date, Ampol shares have returned an impressive 46.95%, slightly ahead of Woodside’s 41.37%.
• With a market cap of $10.6 billion, Ampol is mid-cap sized—smaller than Woodside by some margin but still a leader in its patch.

Ampol (formerly Caltex Australia) is unique in that it combines refining and fuel retailing. It’s also moving into low-carbon fuels and international markets, diversifying its traditional business.

Valuation comparison

There are some clear differences in valuation and dividend metrics between these oil stocks. Here’s how they stack up:

Metric	Woodside	Ampol
Market Cap	$60.3 billion	$10.6 billion
P/E Ratio	13.90	7.41
Dividend Yield	5.14% (100% franked)	5.51% (100% franked)
Dividend per share	$1.63	$3.70
Earnings per share (EPS)	1.605	7.444
YTD Return	41.37%	46.95%

Note: When comparing P/E and EPS, Ampol’s much lower P/E stands out even with a higher reported EPS. This suggests the market is more cautious on Ampol, perhaps reflecting its integrated refiner-retailer model, or possible future earnings volatility. Also, please note that the reported P/E ratios may use differing earnings measures to the stated EPS, which could explain any minor inconsistencies.

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent share price activity until 25 September 2026:

• Woodside closed at $31.72, up 0.35% from the previous day. Over the past month, the general trend has seen some volatility, but its year-to-date return is a strong 41.4%.
• Ampol closed at $44.47 on the same date, dipping 0.74% that day, with a standout year-to-date return of 47.0%—even stronger recent momentum than Woodside.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick just one oil stock today based strictly on these numbers, my choice would be Ampol. Here’s why: it has a lower P/E ratio, meaning investors are paying less for every dollar of the company’s earnings—an appealing starting point if you want value. Its dividend yield is a touch higher than Woodside’s, with a fully franked payout supported by solid profits. Most impressively, Ampol’s share price has outpaced even Woodside’s in 2026 so far.

Yes, Woodside offers much greater scale, and its business is heavily weighted to upstream oil and LNG, which could mean bigger swings if energy prices spike or slump. But for now, Ampol looks cheaper on fundamental multiples, pays out more in dividends per share, and has delivered even greater price returns this year. Unless I saw something in the news that changed the picture, my pick would be Ampol shares for their blend of income and value right now.

The post Woodside Energy vs Ampol: Which ASX oil stock looks better this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Woodside, Life360, Ramsay Health Care shares
• Experts name 3 popular ASX 200 shares to buy this week
• Expert names Woodside and BHP shares as top buys today
• Buy, hold, sell: Xero, South32, Woodside shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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 draft. 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.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares closed up 9% on Tuesday afternoon at $20.63.

The uptick follows a strong share price rally for the ASX tech shares over the past six months. After slumping to a multi-year low in mid-April, the shares have rebounded strongly. The share price started trending higher in mid-April before quickly picking up pace in mid-May.

Megaport shares have now climbed 204% higher since late-March, and they’re also up 73% for the year-to-date.

What has driven the rebound in Megaport shares?

Megaport shares rebounded strongly in May thanks to a run of good-news announcements and a sharp improvement in investor sentiment.

The software-defined network (SDN) service provider has confirmed several new contracts since late-April, including a three-year compute and storage contract with a total contract value (TCV) of approximately US$25.1 million (A$35.4 million), and three additional binding contracts with two US AI customers, worth a TCV of approximately US$183 million and annualised recurring revenue (ARR) of approximately US$65 million. 

In early June, Megaport went into a trading halt ahead of the launch of a new fully underwritten $827.3 million entitlement offer. The company completed the institutional component of the offer, priced at $14.30 per share, on the 5th of June.

In August, Megaport also posted a huge 37% increase in revenue, a 24% increase in EBITDA, and a 62% hike in group annual recurring revenue for FY26. The results came in at the high end of guidance.  

Why are the shares flying higher again this week?

The rebound has picked up pace this week after the company announced that it has locked in almost $1 billion of news AI deals. 

Ahead of the market open on Tuesday, Megaport posted a note to the ASX confirming it has signed three new AI infrastructure contracts through Megaport’s Latitude.sh business. Two are with new customers, and one is with an existing customer.

The deals are worth roughly $978.6 million in total. Megaport will receive around $322.6 million in prepayments, with roughly $281.5 million coming from one new customer before services are delivered.

Megaport said that once everything is up and running, it expects its pro forma ARR to reach around $1.1 billion.

After a difficult start to 2026, it’s been tailwind after tailwind for Megaport shares over the past few months.

So are the shares now trading around fair value, or is there more upside left? 

Here’s what the experts think.

Megaport shares: Buy, sell or hold?

After today’s impressive update, I expect some experts could revise or upgrade their expectations for Megaport shares in the coming days.

But at the time of writing, brokers are very bullish about where the shares could travel to next.

Market Index data show that all brokers agree on a strong buy rating for Megaport shares. The $24.66 average target price implies a potential 22% upside, at the time of writing.

According to TradingView data, the majority of analysts (15 out of 16) also have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares.

The average $26.26 target price implies a potential 29% upside at the time of writing. However, some are even more bullish and project the shares to rise by up to 65% to $33.52 over the next 12 months.

The post Megaport shares fly 204% in just 6 months. Can they keep climbing? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 holds steady as investors brace for a big afternoon
• Megaport shares on watch after locking in almost $1 billion of new AI deals
• Megaport lifts FY27 outlook after landing $1B in new AI infrastructure deals
• Codan vs Megaport: Which ASX Tech Stock Has More Upside?

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

It was another positive day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Tuesday, despite the news of another interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

The markets weren’t really sure what to do for much of the session, with the ASX 200 spending time in both positive and negative territory. The bulls ended up winning the day, though, with the index closing up 0.34% to 8,709.3 points.

This turbulent-but-positive Tuesday on the ASX came after a decidedly more negative start to the American trading week overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a Garfield-esque start to the trading week, dropping 0.67%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling 0.92%.

But let’s get back to ASX shares now, though, and take stock of what the various ASX sectors were up to today.

Winners and losers

Despite the ASX’s optimism, we still saw some sectors that couldn’t hold water.

The most conspicuous of those were utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) was hit hard, plunging 0.82%.

Energy stocks were also on the nose, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slumping 0.72%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren’t popular either. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) retreated 0.21% today.

Financial stocks couldn’t break even, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.13% dip.

Communications shares were next. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) sank by 0.13% this Tuesday.

Our last losers were consumer staples stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) sliding 0.06%.

Turning to the winners now, these were led by tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) enjoyed a resurgence this session, roaring 4.61% higher.

Mining stocks also ran hot, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)’s 1.02% spike.

Consumer discretionary shares proved popular too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) shot up 0.72% this session.

Gold stocks were in demand, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) adding 0.63% to its total.

We could say something similar about industrial shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) advanced 0.36% today.

Finally, healthcare stocks got in under the wire, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.22% improvement.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Coming in hottest on the index this Tuesday was Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA). Codan shares rocketed a massive 23.93% this session to close at $64.43 each.

This came after the company reported its first-half profits, which clearly delighted the market.

Here’s how the other winners pulled up at the kerb:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)	$64.43	23.93%
Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)	$20.63	9.44%
Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL)	$23.06	9.19%
Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN)	$2.34	8.84%
Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)	$13.96	8.05%
Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)	$5.05	7.68%
Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)	$0.90	7.14%
Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)	$11.18	5.67%
Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)	$0.95	4.97%
IRESS Ltd (ASX: IRE)	$5.37	4.68%

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

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

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

Qantas Airways vs Flight Centre shares: Which ASX travel stock comes out on top?

When Aussies weigh up travel shares, two names stand out: Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) and Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT). Both are iconic in the tourism sector but offer very different business models and investment profiles. With both now back paying fully franked dividends and facing unique headwinds post-COVID, which travel stock is the better buy today? Here’s what I found digging into the fundamentals, latest prices, and dividend records.

The case for Qantas Airways

Qantas is the national flag carrier, founded in 1920 and today best known for its strong safety record and premium service on regional, domestic, and international flights. Its core operation is flying people and cargo, balanced between its full-service Qantas brand and the value-focused Jetstar arm. Qantas has survived decades of industry shocks, most recently navigating the COVID-19 pandemic’s massive hit to global travel demand.

Three key standouts for Qantas right now:

• Dividend comeback: After pausing dividends during COVID, Qantas resumed payouts in 2025 and is now offering a fully franked yield of 4.43% — slightly higher than Flight Centre’s, with consistent recent interim and final payments.
• Lower P/E ratio: Qantas trades on a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.57, notably undercutting Flight Centre in the current market snapshot, which could appeal to value-minded investors.
• Market strength: With a market cap of $13.51 billion, Qantas is by far the bigger business, giving it deeper pockets and what I see as stronger resilience if conditions worsen.

Qantas is recognised for safety and reliability and is considered one of the best long-distance carriers globally. Its 100% franked dividends may also appeal to income-seeking shareholders.

The case for Flight Centre Travel Group

Flight Centre, launched in 1982, has grown from a single travel shop to a sprawling, multi-brand operation with stores across Australia and overseas. It’s not an airline — it’s a travel retailer and agency, connecting consumers to flights, cruises (with its recent Iglu acquisition in the UK), tours, and corporate travel services. Its business is highly sensitive to discretionary travel demand but looks arguably less asset-heavy than Qantas.

Here’s what jumped out for Flight Centre:

• Dividend stability: FLT resumed and then lifted dividends since travel bounced back, with $0.42 per share fully franked paid out over the last year, close to Qantas’s $0.40, and a yield of 4.13% at current prices.
• Recent M&A activity: Its acquisition of Iglu, a UK cruise specialist in 2026, hints at an active global strategy even as the broader sector remains tricky.
• Smaller size, higher P/E: FLT’s market cap is $2.07 billion — much smaller than Qantas — and its P/E ratio stands at 14.65, higher than Qantas’s but not unreasonable for a company emerging from major disruption.

Flight Centre’s extensive network and global reach are highlighted, but the business remains primarily a travel agent rather than an operator of transport assets.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the two travel giants line up on the numbers that matter:

Metric	Qantas Airways	Flight Centre
Market Cap	$13.51 billion	$2.07 billion
P/E Ratio	10.57	14.65
Dividend Yield	4.43% (100% franked)	4.13% (100% franked)
Dividend per Share	$0.40	$0.42
EPS	0.845	0.695
Year to Date Return	-10.15%	-29.38%

Recent share price performance

Both Qantas and Flight Centre have had a tough run recently, likely reflecting cost pressures and patchy confidence in the travel sector.

Comparing recent share price action up to 25 September:

• Qantas closed at $8.93, down 1.0% for the day and showing a year-to-date decline of 10.2%.
• Flight Centre closed at $10.18, down 1.3% for the day, but its YTD performance is much worse, with a steep 29.4% fall since the start of the year.

Which is the better buy?

For me, Qantas Airways stands out as the stronger buy right now. It’s delivering a slightly higher, fully franked dividend, trades on a lower price-to-earnings multiple, and has seen less share price carnage this year than Flight Centre. While both companies are exposed to the health of the travel sector, Qantas appears more resilient thanks to its scale, operating profits, and core transport assets.

Flight Centre does have merit with its recent move into cruises and persistent dividends, but its combination of a higher P/E and much weaker share price momentum makes me cautious. If you’re seeking relatively defensive exposure to the travel rebound, my pick would be Qantas, given its more attractive valuation and better recent performance. I’d be watching Flight Centre for a clearer turnaround and further evidence that earnings can recover.

The post Qantas Airways vs Flight Centre: Which ASX travel stock is the better buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Qantas shares are climbing higher again! Time to buy?
• Why I’d buy and hold these ASX passive income shares
• $10,000 invested in Air New Zealand and Qantas shares 3 years ago is now worth…
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 3 ASX 200 shares forecast to fly 30% to 40% higher

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 recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. 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 draft. 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.