Tag: Stock pick

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are making waves on today.

During the Monday lunch hour, two of the big name S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are underperforming the 0.1% loss posted by the benchmark index at this time, while one is trading in the green.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest.

NAB shares slide on half year results

NAB shares are down 1.8% at time of writing, changing hands for $39.10 each.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 bank stock’s half year results (H1 FY 2026).

Over the half year, NAB recognised a “large notable item” of $949 million relating to a change in its software capitalisation policy.

This was reflected in an 18% half on half decline in the big four bank’s statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $2.75 billion. Underlying profit was up 6.4%.

Excluding notable items, NAB’s half year cash earnings of $3.59 billion were up 2.3% from H2 FY 2025.

On the passive income front, management declared a fully franked interim dividend of 85 cents per share, in line with last year’s interim payout.

Investors may be selling the ASX 200 bank stock with NAB forecasting slower credit growth ahead amid ongoing geopolitical risks and inflationary pressures.

Which brings us to…

Transurban shares lift on April traffic increase

Unlike NAB shares, Transurban shares are marching higher today following an update on April’s monthly traffic.

Shares in the ASX 200 toll road developer and operator are up 0.6% today, trading for $14.15 each.

The company reported that April traffic in Melbourne was up 1.6%, spurred by growth from the West Gate Tunnel project, while Brisbane traffic increased by 0.7%.

Although Sydney April traffic was down 1.2%, Transurban reported that overall Australian commercial vehicle traffic was up by 10.8%.

And finally…

Viva Energy shares pressured on ongoing refinery slowdown

Viva Energy is joining Transurban and NAB shares in the financial headlines today after the company released an update on its Geelong Refinery, located in Victoria.

The ASX 200 energy stock has come under pressure following the outbreak of a fire at the refinery – one of just two remaining in Australia – on 15 April.

Viva Energy shares are down 1.8% at time of writing today, trading for $2.46 each, after the company confirmed that over the coming weeks it will produce diesel and jet fuel at approximately 80% of capacity and petrol at approximately 60% while its Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU) remains offline.

Management expects that repairs to impacted units necessary to restart the RCCU will take around six weeks.

The ASX energy stock expects that production will ramp back up to more than 90% of capacity following the restart of the RCCU in June.

The post Why Viva Energy, Transurban and NAB shares are turning heads on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this $45 billion ASX 200 stock edging higher today?
• Everything you need to know about the latest NAB dividend
• NAB shares fall despite $3.59 billion cash profit
• Viva Energy updates investors on Geelong Refinery operations
• Transurban Group posts April traffic gains as West Gate Tunnel ramps up

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

The Age Pension is a fortnightly sum to help older Australians fund a basic retirement lifestyle.

It is a maximum payment fortnightly payment of $1,100.30 for single Australians or older. Couples can get up to $829.40 per person per fortnight.

The rates don’t include any additional potential supplement rates.

The issue is that many Australians miss out on payments because they don’t really understand how the system works.

Here’s how to check that you’re entitled to.

1. Eligibility requirements

To be eligible to receive the Age Pension you need to be aged 67 years, or older. You also need to be an Australian resident who has lived in Australia for at least 10 years, with at least five of those years in a continuous period.

You’ll also be subject to an income and an asset test.

2. The income test

The income test assesses all of your income pooled from all sources. That includes anything from superannuation contributions, investment income, part-time wages, bonuses or commission payments. It’s applicable regardless of your age. 

In order to receive the full Age Pension, singles can earn up to $218 per fortnight, and couples can earn up to $380 per fortnight.

3. The asset test

The asset test includes everything you own in full, in part, or have an interest in. It generally excludes the home you live in.

In order to receive the full Age Pension, single homeowners can own assets (including superannuation) up to a value of $321,500, and non-homeowners can own assets up to $579,500 in retirement.

But a couple has a different threshold, and it’s not double the amount of one person. A couple combined can own up to $481,500 in total if they own a property, or $739,500 if they don’t.

4. What if I’m over the limits?

If you’re over these limits then you won’t qualify for the full Age Pension payment.

But the good news is, you could still be eligible for a part-payment.

Singles can earn up to $2,619.80 per fortnight and couples (living together) can earn up to $4,000.80 per fortnight and still qualify for at least a part-pension. Couples living apart due to ill health can earn a little more, at up to $5,183.60.

The payment is assessed on a sliding scale. For a single person, your Age Pension will reduce by 50 cents for each dollar over $218 per fortnight (up to the maximum allowed income of $2,619.80) and for couples it will reduce by 25 cents for each dollar over $380 up to the upper limit.

There is a similar rule for your assets too. If your assets are less than $722,000 if you’re a single homeowner, and $980,000 if you’re a non-homeowner, you are still entitled to some level of payment.

Couples are also entitled to a part-payment so long as their combined assets aren’t more than $1,085,000 for homeowners. Non-homeowners can own assets totalling up to $1,343,000.

The post Do you qualify for the full age pension? Here’s how to find out appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Viva Energy, Transurban and NAB shares are turning heads on Monday
• Why A2 Milk, Accent, Endeavour, and Woodside shares are falling today
• Why this beaten-down ASX tech stock is bouncing today
• Why is this $45 billion ASX 200 stock edging higher today?
• Everything you need to know about the latest NAB dividend

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.4% to 8,696.5 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price is down 11% to $6.45. Investors have been selling this infant formula company’s shares after it announced a product recall in the United States. It advised that it commenced the voluntary recall of three batches of a2 Platinum USA label infant milk formula due to the presence of cereulide in the product. Thankfully, no confirmed incidents of infant illness or harm have been reported to the company. And while this recall impacts the equivalent of 0.1% of its total first half sales, investors may have concerns over the potential brand damage this could have.

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent Group share price is down 12% to 54.5 cents. This follows news that the footwear retailer’s CEO is being investigated by ASIC for suspected insider trading. Accent also stated: “No charges have been laid against any person and there are no allegations against the Company. The Company has cooperated with ASIC and intends to continue to do so. ASIC has stated that the section 33 notice should not be construed as an indication that a contravention of the law has occurred, nor should it be considered a reflection upon any person or entity.”

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour Group share price is down over 4% to $3.27. This has been driven by the release of a trading update from the drinks giant this morning. The Dan Murphy’s and BWS owner revealed that retail sales were up 2.9% to $2,398 million and hotel sales were up 3.7% to $531 million during the third quarter. However, it warned that elevated supply chain costs are expected due to higher fuel and freight prices. Endeavour Group’s CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, commented: “We are implementing a more efficient operating model to deliver better returns for our shareholders and look forward to discussing this more fully at our upcoming Investor Day.”

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is down 3% to $32.09. Investors have been selling Woodside and other ASX energy shares today after oil prices pulled back on Friday night. This was driven by news that Iran has put forward a new peace deal to the United States.

The post Why A2 Milk, Accent, Endeavour, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this $5.7 billion ASX stock is getting sold off today
• Endeavour Group Q3 sales rise as retail and hotels gain ground
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX 200 energy shares lead and market finally cracks 8-day losing streak
• The worst 4 ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in April unmasked

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Accent Group, Endeavour Group, and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There’s been a bit of buying interest in this beaten-down ASX tech stock on Monday following a new leadership announcement.

At the time of writing, Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) shares are up 3.69% to $1.545.

While positive momentum is taking charge today, the stock still remains down about 40% over the past 12 months.

Here’s what just came through.

CEO role locked in after global search

Nuix announced it has appointed John Ruthven as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director on a permanent basis, effective immediately.

Ruthven had been serving as interim CEO since November last year. The board ran a global search before settling on him as the preferred candidate.

According to the company, the decision came after reviewing his performance, skill set, and understanding of the business.

Chair Robert McLister said the board had been impressed with Ruthven’s approach during the interim period, pointing to his engagement with staff and customers.

Ruthven also backed the direction of the business, saying his time in the role strengthened his confidence in Nuix’s technology and people.

What this means from here

Nuix has been through a difficult stretch over recent years, including volatility in earnings and ongoing efforts to rebuild trust with investors.

Locking in a permanent CEO at least gives the market a clearer idea of who is actually running the business and where things are headed.

It also suggests the board is comfortable with the direction so far, rather than feeling the need to bring someone in to change course.

This could help steady things and allow the business to focus on getting back on track.

Pay and incentives

Alongside the announcement, the company advised that Ruthven will receive fixed annual compensation of $900,000, excluding superannuation.

He is also eligible for short-term incentives from July, with a target set at 60% of fixed pay, rising to 1.25 times for outperformance.

Long-term incentives are set at 100% of fixed pay and will be delivered as performance rights.

Furthermore, there is scope for a discretionary bonus linked to his time as interim CEO.

Foolish Takeaway

Ruthven has already been running the business for several months, so I would expect things to continue along the same path.

Removing the uncertainty around leadership appears to be helping short-term sentiment, especially after a long stretch of share price weakness since October last year.

From here, I would be watching how the business performs, particularly around growth and achieving consistent results.

The post Why this beaten-down ASX tech stock is bouncing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Brainchip, Minerals 260, Nuix, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher today
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• Guess which ASX tech stock is rocketing 22% on big news
• Why Artrya, Cleanaway, DroneShield, and Nuix shares are pushing higher today
• ASX 200 tech shares rocket 13% as long-awaited sector rebound accelerates

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) is jumping higher on Monday, up 1.2% to $14.24.

The gain follows a fresh traffic update for April, which showed improving conditions across key markets. That includes Melbourne traffic rising 1.6% and Australian commercial vehicle traffic jumping 10.8%.

Still, the stock has underperformed over the longer term. Transurban shares are down around 0.5% over the past 12 months, while the ASX 200 Index has climbed roughly 7% in the same period.

So, what exactly is pushing the transport share higher today.

Global toll road giant

Transurban is one of the world’s largest toll road operators, with a portfolio spanning 22 major urban motorways across Australia and North America.

Its assets include key transport corridors in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as high-traffic express lanes in the US. The ASX 200 stock generates revenue by charging motorists tolls, with earnings typically supported by long-term concession agreements and inflation-linked pricing.

This model provides relatively stable and predictable cash flows, particularly given the essential nature of the infrastructure it operates.

Signs of improvement

The latest update of the ASX 200 stock points to stabilising traffic conditions after earlier weakness linked to macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.

In Melbourne, traffic increased 1.6% in April, supported by the ongoing ramp-up of the West Gate Tunnel project. The project is already delivering benefits, including reduced travel times and fuel savings for heavy vehicles, along with less truck traffic on local roads.

Notably, around 63% of traffic through the tunnel is made up of large vehicles, highlighting its importance to freight operators.

Across Australia, commercial vehicle traffic rose 10.8% overall — or 4.4% excluding the West Gate Tunnel contribution — signalling solid underlying demand from freight and logistics activity.

Elsewhere, Brisbane traffic edged up 0.7% for the month. Sydney, however, saw a 1.2% decline, impacted by holiday timing and ongoing construction works.

Pricing power

Beyond traffic volumes, Transurban also highlighted strong toll price growth in North America. Quarterly average tolls surged 14.6% on the 95 Express Lanes and 36.0% on the 495 Express Lanes.

The ASX 200 stock continues to benefit from a highly defensive revenue profile, with more than 90% of its income linked to CPI or fixed escalation mechanisms.

It also made progress on the balance sheet, refinancing $1.21 billion of WestConnex debt during the period. This move extends debt maturity and supports overall liquidity.

Foolish Takeaway

With the price of the ASX 200 stock on the rise, investors appear encouraged by signs that traffic is stabilising and key projects like the West Gate Tunnel are gaining traction.

Combined with resilient, inflation-linked revenues and ongoing balance sheet management, that may be enough to keep Transurban shares edging higher. At least for now.

The post Why is this $45 billion ASX 200 stock edging higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Viva Energy, Transurban and NAB shares are turning heads on Monday
• Transurban Group posts April traffic gains as West Gate Tunnel ramps up
• 3 excellent ASX dividend shares to buy in May
• 3 ASX dividend stocks I’d buy if I were a retiree
• $250,000 to invest for passive income? Here’s how I would build a portfolio

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

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) released its half-year results this morning and declared its latest interim dividend.

Here is what investors need to know.

NAB’s half-year results

As a reminder, NAB released a solid half-year result today that revealed modest earnings growth and strong capital position.

The bank reported statutory net profit of $2.75 billion and cash earnings of $2.64 billion for the half. Cash earnings excluding large notable items were $3.59 billion, up 2.3% compared with the previous half.

Commenting on the half, NAB’s CEO, Andrew Irvine, said:

Continued disciplined execution of our strategy and ongoing momentum across our business is reflected in NAB’s 1H26 operating performance. Changes to our software capitalisation policy this period, consistent with the rapidly changing technology environment, have lowered cash earnings by $949 million. Excluding this large notable item (LNI), cash earnings were 2.3% higher than 2H25 with underlying profit up 6.4% supported by strong growth of 5.4% in Business & Private Banking (B&PB).

The NAB dividend

In light of its performance, the NAB board elected to declare an interim dividend of 85 cents per share.

This is in line with recent dividends. NAB also paid shareholders an 85 cents per share interim dividend in FY 2025 and an 85 cents per share final dividend later that year.

As usual, this dividend is fully franked, which means franking credits are attached at the 30% tax rate.

When do NAB shares trade ex-dividend?

NAB shares are scheduled to trade ex-dividend on 7 May 2026. The record date is 8 May 2026.

The ex-dividend date is important because investors need to own the shares before this date to qualify for the dividend.

If an investor buys NAB shares on or after the ex-dividend date, they will not receive this interim dividend. Instead, the seller keeps the entitlement.

When will the dividend be paid?

Investors will have to wait around two months until pay day. NAB advised that the payment date is currently scheduled for 2 July 2026.

Shareholders don’t necessarily have to receive a cash dividend on that date.

NAB’s dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) will apply to this dividend. The last date for DRP elections is 11 May 2026 according to the release.

The DRP will include a 1.5% discount, with the reinvestment price based on the average volume weighted average price of NAB shares over the 25 trading days from 14 May to 18 June 2026.

The post Everything you need to know about the latest NAB dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Viva Energy, Transurban and NAB shares are turning heads on Monday
• NAB shares fall despite $3.59 billion cash profit
• NAB posts higher cash earnings, keeps dividend firm
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• What happened with ASX 200 banks stocks NAB and CBA in April?

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.

Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) shares are storming higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) tech stock – which specialises in semiconductor memory technology – closed Friday trading for $4.16. In late morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $4.66 apiece, up 12.0%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.1% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Weebit Nano shares have smashed the benchmark over the past year, up 161.8% compared to the 6.9% 12-month gains posted by the ASX 300.

And investors who bought shares at the one-year lows of $1.50 each on 23 June will now be sitting on gains of 210.7%. That’s enough to turn a $10,000 investment into $31,067.

In one year!

Here’s what’s piquing ASX investor interest again today.

Weebit Nano shares surge on manufacturing progress

Weebit Nano shares are off to the races after the company announced that two of its customers have successfully released manufacturing (taped-out) chip designs intended for eventual mass production. Those chip designs integrate Weebit’s ReRAM module.

The ASX 300 tech stock said that one of the customers has already manufactured a functional prototype.

Weebit Nano reported that Overlord Labs has integrated its ReRAM technology into the design of its next-generation smart battery management system.

According to the release, Overlord Labs’ chip design was recently taped-out at DB HiTek. The company noted that, once manufactured and shipped, this will deliver advantages in power consumption, cost, and overall performance for high-volume applications.

Both customers plan to continue further testing. Weebit Nanon noted this is likely to take 12 to 18 months. After the chips pass these tests, the customers can then move their products to mass production.

What did management say?

Commenting on the commercial progress helping boost Weebit Nano shares today, CEO Coby Hanoch said:

A first commercial product incorporating our ReRAM, and passing initial functional tests, is a significant achievement for Weebit Nano, marking an important step towards mass production.

In addition, the tape-out by Overlord shows the great coordination between Overlord, DB HiTek and Weebit.

Looking ahead, Hanoch added:

Our ReRAM IP is currently being embedded in the design of several next-generation applications under agreements with multiple product companies, and we expect more will tape-out this calendar year.

Discussions with additional potential product customers are advancing, driven by growing demand for faster, lower power and better performing embedded non-volatile memory and increased availability through foundries and Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs).

The post Up 211% in a year, why are Weebit Nano shares rocketing another 12% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Brainchip, Minerals 260, Nuix, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher today
• ASX 200 tech shares rocket 13% as long-awaited sector rebound accelerates
• This ASX tech stock is up 150% in a year. Here’s why it’s climbing again today

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a soft start to the week. In late morning trade, the benchmark index is down slightly to 8,722.2 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

The Brainchip share price is up 6.5% to 16.5 cents. This follows news that the struggling semiconductor company has signed an IP distribution license agreement. Brainchip has signed the deal with South Korean-based semiconductor solutions provider ASICLAND. The agreement sees BrainChip grant ASICLAND a non-exclusive, worldwide license to its Akida neuromorphic AI IP portfolio. However, the company advised that it “is unable to quantify the financial impact of the agreement at this time.” ASICLAND reported revenue of approximately A$68.5 million for 2025, with a loss of A$25 million.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

The Minerals 260 share price is up 12% to 80.7 cents. This has been driven by the release of drilling results from the gold developer’s Bullabulling Gold Project. Management notes that drilling continues to support strong potential for a resource upgrade at Bullabulling. Minerals 260’s managing director, Luke McFadyen, said: “Drilling results since the December 2025 MRE continue to demonstrate the consistency and quality of the mineralisation at Bullabulling, with infill programs at Bacchus and Phoenix delivering strong results in line with, and in places exceeding, the current resource model.”

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is up 4% to $1.55. This morning, this investigative and analytics software provider announced the appointment of a permanent CEO. Nuix revealed that its interim CEO, John Ruthven, has been selected after impressing during his tenure. Nuix’s chair, Robert Mactier, said: “The Board has been impressed with the strategic, diligent and considered way John has embraced the role of Interim CEO and how he has resonated with our people and customers. The Board is unanimous in selecting John as our Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, and we look forward to supporting him in driving the next phase of growth at Nuix.”

Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT)

The Weebit Nano share price is up 8% to $4.48. This has been driven by the release of an announcement from the semiconductor company today. Weebit Nano advised that two product customers have successfully taped-out chip designs intended for eventual mass production which integrate its ReRAM module. One customer has a prototype already manufactured and functional. It notes that tape-out by product customers is an important milestone on the path to mass production. Weebit Nano’s CEO, Coby Hanoch, said: “A first commercial product incorporating our ReRAM, and passing initial functional tests, is a significant achievement for Weebit Nano, marking an important step towards mass production. In addition, the tape-out by Overlord shows the great coordination between Overlord, DB HiTek and Weebit.”

The post Why Brainchip, Minerals 260, Nuix, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares flew into some turbulence in April.

On 31 March, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) drone defence company closed trading for $3.81. When the closing bell rang on 30 April, shares were changing hands for $3.54 apiece.

That saw DroneShield shares down 7.1% in April, materially trailing the 2.2% gains posted by the ASX 200 over the month just past.

Here’s what’s been happening.

High-flying DroneShield shares under new leadership

Before looking at some specifics from April, it’s worth noting that despite the recent underperformance, DroneShield shares remain up 173.9% (at the time of writing on Monday) over the past 12 months.

So, some occasional profit-taking is not unexpected. Especially with the US entering into a ceasefire with Iran in April, which investors may relate to potentially lower future demand for drone defence technologies.

Now, on to those specifics.

DroneShield shares closed down a sharp 13.5% on 8 April after the company announced that CEO Oleg Vornik was stepping down from his role after more than 10 years in the top spot.

Investors also learned that chairman Peter James was retiring from the board and will not seek re-election.

Chief product officer Angus Bean – who joined DroneShield in 2016 – took over as managing director and CEO on the day of the announcement.

Outgoing CEO Oleg Vornik said:

I joined DroneShield as its first employee in 2015 and have led its growth from a market capitalisation of $27 million at its Initial Public Offering in 2016 to entering the ASX200 in September 2025 with a market capitalisation of nearly $4 billion.

Commenting on Bean’s appointment, James said:

Angus led the development of the products that we are best known for in the market, and is the key architect of our current and next generation of technologies. He has built DroneShield’s 350-plus engineering team and has been a prominent representative of the business to many of our major customers over the years.

Investors had other reasons for optimism in April as well.

ASX 200 drone defence stock sees revenue surge

DroneShield shares closed flat on 22 April, despite the company releasing a strong first-quarter (Q1 2026) update.

Highlights for the three months included all-time high customer cash receipts of $77.4 million, up 360% from Q1 2025.

And revenue of $74.1 million was up 121% year on year, marking the company’s second-highest quarterly revenue in its history.

Following a strong quarter, DroneShield reported a 13% year-on-year increase in its cash balance to $222.8 million at quarter end.

Looking at what might impact DroneShield shares longer term, management said the company’s $2.2 billion potential sales pipeline – spanning 312 projects in some 60 countries – is the largest ever.

The post Why did DroneShield shares tumble more than 7% in April? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares are taking a hit on Monday after the company released a fresh trading update.

At the time of writing, the Endeavour share price is down a sizeable 7.75% to $3.155.

That extends a tough run for the stock, which is now down around 24% over the past 12 months.

Here’s what the company reported.

Growth slows across retail and hotels

According to the release, Endeavour reported a mixed set of numbers across its retail and hotels divisions.

For the second half to date, retail sales are up 2.9%, while hotels have grown 3.7% over a similar period.

Retail sales came in at around $2.398 billion, with hotels contributing $531 million.

It appears recent trading has been slower than earlier in the half, with the pace cooling off.

Retail growth eased to 0.7%, down from 2.9% in the prior 13-week period, with management pointing to a tougher consumer backdrop.

The company said customers are still spending, but demand remains softer outside of key events like Easter.

Hotels have held up better, with stronger trading across bars, gaming, and accommodation, though growth also slid back through March.

Costs are creeping higher

Alongside the softer numbers, costs are moving higher.

Endeavour flagged higher fuel and freight expenses tied to supply chain pressures, which are expected to lift costs by $6 million to $8 million in FY26.

The added costs are likely to show up in margins, particularly across the retail business.

The group is already working with suppliers and adjusting operations to offset some of the impact, but it still leaves another headwind.

A bigger push on cost-cutting

Management is stepping up efforts to reduce costs across the business.

The company is targeting $100 million in savings by FY27 as part of a broader transformation plan.

That includes changes across store operations, procurement, and support functions.

There is also a near-term impact on working capital, with inventory levels expected to rise by up to $400 million to support availability.

What I’m watching

There is not much here that makes me want to rush in.

The retail environment feels weak right now, and that is the part that usually needs to carry more weight.

At the same time, costs are starting to rise, which does not leave much room if growth slows.

I am more interested in seeing whether spending actually improves outside of the usual seasonal bumps.

I would want to see retail demand pick up again before taking a closer look.

The post Why this $5.7 billion ASX stock is getting sold off today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Which of these ASX stocks near 52-week lows is worth buying?

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 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.