Tag: Stock pick

Superannuation naturally encourages investors to think in decades.

That makes Warren Buffett an interesting investor to learn from. His success has come from finding strong businesses, paying sensible prices, and giving them a very long time to create value.

I think several parts of that approach translate particularly well to retirement investing.

Think like an owner

Warren Buffett does not treat shares as pieces of paper to trade. He approaches them as ownership stakes in real businesses.

I think that mindset is valuable inside a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF).

If I were buying Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), for example, I would want to understand why customers choose the bank, what protects its position, and whether it can still be a stronger business many years from now.

The same thinking could apply to Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), or any other long-term holding.

Share prices can move dramatically in the meantime. The underlying business is what ultimately interests me.

Quality deserves attention

Buffett became increasingly focused on owning excellent businesses rather than simply finding shares that looked statistically cheap.

For a superannuation portfolio, I think that is an important distinction.

A company with a strong competitive position, capable management, healthy finances, and room to reinvest can potentially keep increasing its value for years.

Paying a sensible price still matters. But I would not automatically reject a high-quality company because another share trades on a lower price-to-earnings ratio.

Over a 20 or 30-year timeframe, the ability of the business to keep progressing can become far more important than squeezing every last dollar out of the initial purchase price.

Activity is not the goal

SMSF investors can buy and sell investments whenever they like within the rules of their fund, but that does not mean they need to.

Warren Buffett is famous for holding some businesses for decades.

I think there is a lesson in that. Constantly changing investments creates more opportunities to make poor decisions, particularly when fear or excitement is driving the market.

If the reason I bought a company remains intact, I would rather let management keep building the business than sell simply because another share suddenly looks more exciting.

A long superannuation timeframe gives investors the freedom to be patient.

Most investors do not need to be Buffett

There is also a lesson in Warren Buffett’s support for low-cost index investing.

He has spent his career outperforming markets through individual stock selection, but very few investors can replicate that record.

For someone who does not want to spend years studying businesses, a broad exchange-traded fund (ETF) such as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) or Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) can provide a far simpler approach.

That still allows an investor to participate in long-term business growth without needing to identify the eventual winners personally.

Foolish takeaway

The biggest Warren Buffett lesson I would take into superannuation is that investing does not need constant action.

A long timeframe is valuable when it is paired with sensible investments and enough patience to leave them alone.

Whether that means carefully chosen ASX shares or broad index ETFs, I think keeping the strategy understandable and long term can give retirement savings a strong foundation.

The post What Warren Buffett’s investing style can teach superannuation investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, BHP, CBA shares
• No savings at 30? Here’s how I’d aim to retire early with $1 million buying ASX shares
• Looking for income for life? These are the ASX shares I’d consider
• These are the 10 richest people in the world in September
• How to build a winning ASX share portfolio and create wealth

Investors have a wide selection of ASX bank shares to choose from, including ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares. To decide which is a good option, we should look at what the potential returns could be.

While there are similarities to National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), there are differences in terms of how much earnings comes from lending to households, business banking services and so on.

Let’s look at the predicted returns from analysts regarding ASX shares.

ANZ share price target

A price target tells investors where they think the share price will be in 12 months from the time of the investment call.

Obviously, a price target is not a guaranteed return (or decline), but it does indicate whether they think the business is overvalued or undervalued.

According to CMC Invest, there have been eight ratings on the business within the last three months, with three of those being a buy, four being a hold and one being a sell.

Of those eight ratings, the average price target is $35.66, which implies a possible decline of 6% over the next year.

The latest update from the ASX bank share was the third-quarter of FY26. Compared to the quarterly average of the first half of FY26, operating income grew 1%, operating expenses increased 2%, leading to profit before provisions being flat, and cash profit increased 1% to $1.9 billion.

A growth rate of 1% for cash profit is not exactly going to excite the market.

However, its loan growth was slightly faster, with net loans and advances increasing by 3% between March 2026 and June 2026, reaching $846 billion. Meanwhile, customer deposits rose 2% over the three months, with the balance reaching $786 billion at 30 June 2026.

With a $10,000 investment in ANZ shares, a decline of 6% would become approximately $9,400.

Potential dividends?

ASX bank shares like ANZ are known for their dividends, and the passive income is normally a sizeable amount.

According to CMC Invest, the business is projected to pay an amount that equates to a dividend yield of 4.5% excluding franking credits and approximately 5.9% with franking credits.

Therefore, the passive income may offset the potential capital decline, bringing the total investment return to around $10,000.

However, I’m not sure that investing for a flat return is an appealing option. If I were going to invest in an ASX share, I’d rather pick something I was more confident about the prospects for positive returns.

The post By September 2027, ANZ shares could turn $10,000 into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much superannuation do I need to retire with a $50,000 annual passive income?
• ASX 200 bank shares led a financial sector rebound last week
• What’s driving the ASX 200 higher today?
• Australia’s economy just grew faster than expected. What does this mean for ASX shares?
• How Westpac, ANZ, NAB and CBA shares stacked up in August

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.

After racing higher for much of 2026, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has given back some ground.

The mining giant finished Friday at $62.25, down 2.4% for the session and 7.5% over the past week.

That leaves the stock nearly 10% below the $68.77 high it reached on 26 August.

Even after the recent weakness, BHP shares are still up around 37% in 2026 and almost 50% over the past 12 months.

So, after a quick pullback, is this a better time to buy?

What’s behind the pullback?

Some of last week’s weakness came from BHP trading ex-dividend on last Thursday.

The miner declared a final dividend of 99 US cents per share after its FY26 result, with payment due on 23 September. The shares fell 3.28% on Wednesday, another 1.35% on Thursday and 2.4% on Friday.

There is also a bit happening around BHP’s Western Australian iron ore business.

According to The Australian, China’s Baowu Steel Group has been linked with buying a 15% to 25% stake in the Jimblebar iron ore mine.

BHP has not confirmed anything, although it did leave the door open. The company said it has “a long history of partnerships at its assets” and regularly looks at options that could create long-term value for shareholders.

The reports have also caught the attention of politicians, with some raising concerns about a Chinese state-owned group taking a stake in one of Australia’s major iron ore assets.

The business still looks strong

The recent pullback in the share price doesn’t really change what I like about BHP.

The company still delivered a strong FY26 result, with underlying EBITDA of around US$33 billion and attributable profit of US$9.8 billion.

What interests me most is the growing contribution from copper. It made up more than half of underlying EBITDA for the first time, which is a pretty big shift in the earnings mix.

BHP is already one of the world’s largest copper producers, and management expects its project pipeline to lift production by around 40% by FY35.

This gives BHP more exposure to copper, which should benefit from growing investment in electrification, power grids and data centres.

Would I buy BHP shares?

This is where I would be a little careful.

The business is performing well, but the share price has already had a huge run and brokers aren’t exactly calling it cheap.

TipRanks shows an average 12-month price target of $59.17, around 5% below Friday’s close. Of the 15 recent ratings shown, 13 are holds, with one buy and one sell.

Morgan Stanley is more bullish, with a buy rating and $68 price target. Even so, that would only put the shares around 9% above their current level.

I like BHP as a long-term exposure to copper, but after a 37% rise this year, I’d prefer to wait for a slightly better entry point before buying.

The post This ASX 200 giant is up 37% in 2026. Is the pullback worth buying? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, BHP, CBA shares
• No savings at 30? Here’s how I’d aim to retire early with $1 million buying ASX shares
• What’s driving the ASX 200 higher today?
• 11 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings post-results
• Top 3 ASX 200 shares that lifted their dividend this reporting season

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 BHP Group. 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) shares fell 0.95% last week and are up 2% over 12 months.

Let’s start the new week with some fresh ratings from the experts (courtesy The Bull). 

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price fell 4.15% to $173.95 last week.

Pro Medicus shares have been killing it over the past six months — up 32%.

Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group has a buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share.

Bromley commented:

Pro Medicus is a global leader in medical imaging software, with its Visage platform increasingly adopted by major US hospital networks.

Revenue of $261.7 million in full year 2026 rose 22.9 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Underlying net profit after tax of $144.7 million was up 24.1 per cent.

Revenue and underlying net profit exceeded expectations, while the underlying earnings before interest and tax margin reached an exceptional 74.9 per cent. It signed 10 new contacts worth $407 million in full year 2026. It renewed six contracts on five year terms to the value of $141 million.

Recent share price weakness provides an attractive entry point into a high quality growth businesses.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price fell 7.5% last week to $62.25, well off its new record of $68.77 set last month.

Blake Halligan from Gray Perry Wealth Advisers has a hold rating on the market’s largest ASX 200 mining share. 

Halligan said:

BHP remains a high quality diversified miner with large, low cost assets and increasing exposure to copper.

The company’s fiscal year 2026 result was strong, with it generating attributable profit of $US9.8 billion, up 9 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Revenue of $US58.8 billion was up 15 per cent.

Rising copper demand from electrification and data centres support the longer term outlook, while iron ore operations remain highly competitive.

Commodity-price sensitivity and project execution risks support retaining BHP rather than increasing exposure.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price rose 2.02% last week to $160.42 amid a financial sector rally due to better-than-expected GDP data.

Bromley has a sell rating on this ASX 200 bank share. 

He explained:

CBA remains Australia’s highest quality major bank. The company posted cash net profit after tax of $10.982 billion in full year 2026, up 7 per cent on the prior corresponding period. The full year dividend of $5.05, fully franked, is up 4 per cent.

Despite the strong result, we believe the valuation is stretched, particularly as higher interest rates weigh on housing activity and credit growth. 

CBA shares were recently trading at historically elevated valuations compared to global peers. Better valuation opportunities exist elsewhere.

The recent dividend yield of 3.16 per cent lacks appeal.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, BHP, CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Experts name 3 top ASX shares to buy this week
• What Warren Buffett’s investing style can teach superannuation investors
• This ASX 200 giant is up 37% in 2026. Is the pullback worth buying?
• These ASX 50 shares have lost up to 60%. Is the sell-off overdone?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) has been one of the most frustrating shares on the ASX over the past year.

The stock closed on Friday at $37.69, down around 45% in 2026 and almost 60% over the past 12 months.

There’s obviously been plenty going on, and investors have had more than enough reasons to stay cautious.

But after such a big fall, I think the market may have gone too far the other way.

When I look past the noise, I still see one of the strongest software businesses on the ASX.

And there are a few things in particular that make me think WiseTech shares could look very different 12 months from now.

Margins are climbing

At first glance, WiseTech’s FY27 guidance probably isn’t going to get too many investors excited.

Revenue is expected to grow by 6% to 10%, which is a bit slower than what investors have become used to seeing from the company.

But the earnings outlook looks a lot better.

Underlying EBITDA is expected to rise by 12% to 21%, while margins are forecast to improve from 46% in FY26 to between 49% and 51%.

WiseTech said it has also already delivered around US$115 million in annualised cost savings, including US$64 million from e2open.

That gives the company a good base to work from heading into FY27.

More growth to come

There was another part of WiseTech’s result that caught my attention.

At 30 June, 61 large global freight forwarders had CargoWise either in production or under contract.

Of those, 12 were still being rolled out, with less than 25% of their expected users currently live.

So, there is still a decent amount of growth to come from customers WiseTech has already signed.

Customer attrition has remained below 1% in each of the past 14 financial years, while more than 90% of customer cohorts grew operational revenue in FY26.

To me, that makes the growth outlook look a lot better than the headline revenue guidance might suggest.

AI could be huge

AI is another part of the WiseTech story that I think could become a much bigger deal over time.

More than 75% of the company’s team is already using AI, while engineering productivity has increased by 45%.

WiseTech believes its AI tools could eventually reduce labour costs for logistics providers by as much as 50%.

Even a 10% reduction could save some of its largest freight forwarding customers around US$180 million to US$300 million a year.

If WiseTech can deliver even part of that, I think it could make CargoWise a lot more valuable to customers and open up another huge growth opportunity.

Why I think the shares could rocket

There’s also a lot to like about the financial position WiseTech is heading into FY27 with.

The company generated US$410.7 million of free cash flow in FY26, while net leverage is expected to fall from 2.7 times to around 2.2 times by the end of FY27.

Add improving margins, more CargoWise rollouts and the potential from AI, and I think there is plenty that could go right over the next year.

A move back into the mid $50’s would mean roughly 50% upside from here.

I don’t think that looks unrealistic if WiseTech can deliver on its FY27 targets and win some investor confidence back.

That’s why I’m happy to buy at these levels.

The post Why I’m buying WiseTech shares before the market catches on appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These ASX 50 shares have lost up to 60%. Is the sell-off overdone?
• 9 ASX shares downgraded by experts post-results this week
• Down another 18%: Why I’d buy WiseTech shares in the dip
• Where could the WiseTech share price be in 12 months?
• 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

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

Australian investors have plenty of ASX ETFs offering exposure to the US share market. ETFs can spread risk across dozens or hundreds of companies, avoid the challenge of picking individual stocks, and often come with relatively low fees.

Two popular choices are BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) and iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). Both provide exposure to US equities, but they serve different purposes.

NDQ: The growth-focused option

NDQ has around $9 billion in funds under management and tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), giving investors exposure to many of America’s biggest technology and growth companies.

The appeal of this ASX ETF is straightforward: if US mega-cap technology and artificial intelligence stocks continue outperforming, NDQ could benefit disproportionately.

Its largest holdings include Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, giving investors significant exposure to some of the market’s biggest growth engines.

But that concentration is also a risk. NDQ is less diversified than a broad-market ETF and can be more vulnerable if technology valuations fall or growth stocks fall out of favour.

The trade-off has been strong historical performance. NDQ has returned around 13% over one year, 6.5% year to date, and 442% over 10 years.

The downside? Investors pay a 0.48% management fee, considerably more than IVV.

IVV: The diversified alternative

IVV takes a broader approach, tracking the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), an index covering roughly 500 large US companies. It has around $14.5 billion in FUM, making it one of Australia’s largest ASX ETFs.

There is significant overlap between IVV and NDQ, particularly among the mega-cap technology stocks. However, IVV also provides exposure to a much broader range of sectors and businesses.

That diversification is arguably IVV’s biggest attraction. Investors still participate in the growth of companies such as Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, but aren’t making quite as concentrated a bet on technology.

IVV has delivered around 8% over one year, 5% year to date, and 271% over 10 years.

Its other major advantage is cost. IVV charges just 0.04% a year, versus 0.48% for NDQ.

So, which ASX ETF is better?

It ultimately depends on what investors want.

NDQ could be the better choice for investors deliberately seeking higher exposure to US technology and growth stocks, and who are comfortable with greater concentration and volatility.

IVV looks more compelling as a core US equity holding, offering broader diversification and an exceptionally low fee.

For investors who simply want long-term exposure to the US market without making a concentrated technology bet, IVV could be the better all-round ASX ETF.

The post NDQ vs IVV: One could be the better US growth ASX ETF appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a winning ASX share portfolio and create wealth
• These are the most popular ASX ETFs. Which has performed best over the last year?
• IVV vs NDQ ETF: Which is the better buy?
• These are the most popular ASX ETFs – Which has performed best in 2026?
• ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report

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 Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

For Australians relying on superannuation to fund their retirement, investing in ASX dividend stocks can be a great way to add passive income. 

Following earnings season, many companies have updated their dividend payments, making it an ideal time for investors to consider their options. 

Dividend investing alongside superannuation

Dividend investing alongside superannuation can provide retirees with an additional source of income and greater flexibility when managing their portfolios. 

While superannuation remains a cornerstone of retirement planning, a carefully selected basket of dividend-paying ASX shares may help generate regular cash flow while also offering the potential for long-term capital growth.

With that in mind, here are three stellar dividend stocks investors may want to consider for income and diversification outside their superannuation.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Harvey Norman is an attractive dividend stock right now thanks to its relatively high, fully franked dividend yield. 

It also has a solid history of shareholder distributions, and a reasonable payout ratio supported by earnings.

It is expected to pay a yield of over 6% in FY27, well above the ASX 200 average. 

Right now, the consumer discretionary stock is also looking undervalued, meaning that investors could also enjoy strong capital gains in the next year. 

Bell Potter recently placed $5 price target on this ASX dividend stock, indicating 15% upside from current levels. 

APA Group (ASX: APA)

Another strong option to supplement superannuation is APA Group. 

APA Group is a leading Australian energy infrastructure company that owns and operates a large portfolio of gas pipelines, electricity transmission, renewable energy and power-generation assets, making it an important part of Australia’s energy system. 

Its essential infrastructure generates relatively stable, long-term cash flows and gives the company opportunities to benefit from Australia’s growing energy needs and transition to a lower-carbon energy system.

Right now, it is offering a FY 2027 dividend yield of approximately 5.4%.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Universal Store is another great option this month amongst ASX dividend stocks. 

The Universal Store company has multiple businesses under its umbrella – Universal Store, Perfect Stranger, and CTC (with the THRILLS and Worship brands). It sells youth casual fashion apparel.

Based on the previous annual dividend payout of 43 cents per share, the company has a trailing grossed-up dividend yield of over 7%, including franking credits. 

It is also another candidate for strong capital appreciation. 

Its share price closed trading last week at $7.72, however Bell Potter recently placed a $9.70 price target on the company. 

This indicates a healthy upside potential of 25%. 

The post 3 stellar ASX dividend stocks to supplement your superannuation  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX dividend shares perfect for passive income
• Looking for income for life? These are the ASX shares I’d consider
• 9 ASX shares downgraded by experts post-results this week
• Here’s what brokers tip next for APA, Transurban, Aurizon shares
• 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy in September

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Ingenia Communities Group Ltd (ASX: INA) share price has come into focus as the company rejected a $4.75 per security takeover proposal from Warburg Pincus. Ingenia’s board believes the offer substantially undervalues the business and is not in the best interests of security holders.

What did Ingenia Communities Group report?

• Received an unsolicited, non-binding indicative proposal to acquire 100% of shares at $4.75 each
• The offer was subject to multiple conditions, including the abandonment of Ingenia’s proposed acquisition of Peet Limited
• Ingenia’s board determined the offer undervalues the company
• Ingenia remains committed to its current growth strategy and Peet acquisition

What else do investors need to know?

Ingenia’s Board, after advice from financial and legal advisers, concluded that the takeover offer was not in the best interests of security holders. The proposed deal from Warburg Pincus would have required Ingenia to halt its planned acquisition of Peet Limited.

The company continues to see strong opportunities in its land lease and holiday park business. Ingenia advises security holders that there’s no immediate need to take any action regarding the indicative proposal.

What’s next for Ingenia Communities Group?

Ingenia plans to press on with its proposed acquisition of Peet Limited and strategic growth in the seniors’ accommodation and holiday park sectors. Management remains focused on growing the business scale, efficiency, and delivering value for security holders. Ingenia has engaged UBS and Denison Partners as financial advisers and Gilbert + Tobin as legal adviser for further support.

Ingenia Communities Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ingenia Communities shares have declined 35%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ingenia Communities Group rejects takeover offer, backs growth strategy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Ingenia Communities proposes to acquire Peet, boosting growth
• Ingenia Communities posts strong FY26 with profit up 45% and guidance exceeded

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) blue-chip stock James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) could be one of the leading larger opportunities right now, according to one of the leading fund managers.

Experts at Wilson Asset Management manage the listed investment company (LIC) WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE), which aims to actively invest in larger ASX-listed businesses.

In other words, the investment team is willing to make investments and sales based on whether they think valuations are attractive.

WAM Leaders named James Hardie as one of its most compelling holdings right now.

What’s so appealing about the ASX 200 blue-chip stock?

The company describes itself as an industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fibre cement, fibre gypsum, and composite and PVC decking and railing products.

It’s a global business, with a presence in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

However, the company recently announced plans to sell its European operations, including the sale of Fermacell to Holcim for €840 million (or US$980 million).

The ASX 200 blue-chip share explained that proceeds will be used to “accelerate deleveraging and return capital to shareholders.”

James Hardie also said it intends to close its European fibre cement business, subject to customary legal, regulatory and employee (including competent works council) consultation requirements.

WAM noted that James Hardie Industries delivered a solid first quarter FY27 result.

The investment team said that the ASX 200 blue-chip share’s core North American fibre cement business returned to volume growth supported by continued market share gains. This contributed to an upgrade of the company’s full-year guidance.

The company guided that FY27 total net sales could be $5.564 billion to $5.723 billion, adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) is expected to be between $1.536 billion and $1.625 billion and free cash flow is expected to be at least $500 million.

What do the experts like about James Hardie shares?

WAM also said that the announcement of the divestment of the European operations during August allows the company to “sharpen its focus on its core growth markets while further deleveraging its balance sheet.”

The fund manager said that James Hardie Industries remains a core holding in the WAM Leaders investment portfolio, with the ASX 200 blue-chip share continuing to deliver above market growth through strong execution of cost and commercial synergies and ongoing market share gains, despite a subdued US housing market.

James Hardie shares could be one to watch, along with other potential opportunities.

The post Experts reckon this high-flying ASX 200 blue-chip stock is a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX 200 bank shares led a financial sector rebound last week
• What’s driving the ASX 200 higher today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• This ASX 200 stock is up 30% in 2026. Here’s why I’d still buy it

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.

Once a week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) remains at the top of the table with short interest of 15.4%, which is up week on week. The counter-drone technology company continues to attract plenty of attention from short sellers, possibly due to its valuation and the ongoing ASIC investigation.

Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has seen its short interest jump to 15%. Short sellers may still have concerns over the uranium developer’s funding requirements and the execution needed to deliver its growth plans.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has short interest of 12.3%, which is down slightly week on week. The medical imaging technology company remains heavily shorted as investors weigh its significant growth potential against a very high valuation.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease to 12%. Short sellers may be unconvinced that the pizza chain operator’s restructuring and store closures will be enough to restore strong earnings growth.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has short interest of 11.8%, which is down slightly week on week. Weakness in parts of the global wine market and uncertainty around the company’s recovery continue to give short sellers something to focus on.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has 11.1% of its shares held short, which is broadly unchanged since last week. Short sellers may be expecting lithium prices to be under pressure, which would weigh on margins.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has seen its short interest rise to 11.1%. The buy now pay later company’s strong share price recovery may have encouraged some investors to bet that expectations are becoming too optimistic.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) has returned to the top ten with short interest of 10.9%. Short sellers may have concerns over rural spending conditions and the outlook for earnings growth across the agribusiness.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has seen its short interest fall to 10.7%. Despite this, short sellers may still believe expectations for uranium prices and future production are running ahead of reality.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest ease again to 10.6%. Short sellers may remain cautious on the travel agent due to margin pressure, consumer spending conditions, and disruption to international travel.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Elders, and 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.