Tag: Stock pick

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) share price is in focus after the real estate investment trust reported a $92 million preliminary unaudited valuation gain for the June 2026 quarter, up 1.8% on the prior period, and reaffirmed key earnings guidance.

What did HomeCo Daily Needs REIT report?

• Preliminary unaudited valuation gain of $92 million (+1.8%) for the quarter ending 30 June 2026
• Portfolio value lifted to $5,187 million from $5,095 million at 31 December 2025
• Gearing maintained at midpoint of 30–40% target range
• Quarterly distribution of 2.15 cents per unit declared
• FY26 distribution per unit (DPU) guidance of 8.6 cents reaffirmed
• FY26 funds from operations (FFO) guidance of 9.0 cents per unit reaffirmed

What else do investors need to know?

All 46 properties in the HomeCo Daily Needs REIT portfolio were valued, with 19 independently assessed and the remainder by internal valuation. Capital expenditure for the quarter totalled $48 million, contributing to the portfolio’s net valuation increase of $44 million when factoring in capex.

The trust continues to benefit from exposure to leading national retailers, high occupancy above 99%, and strong rent collection. Hedge coverage was extended to 60% of drawn debt through to June 2027, supporting funding certainty.

What did HomeCo Daily Needs REIT management say?

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT Fund Manager Paul Doherty said:

HDN has recorded positive net revaluation gains for the fifth consecutive period. The positive valuation gain has been driven by net operating income growth and accretive tenant led developments.

Investor demand for daily needs retail property remains strong with investors attracted to the secure investment fundamentals underpinned by the non-discretionary focus of the income and high-quality tenant covenants. The portfolio continues to benefit from its exposure to leading national retailers, Australia’s fastest growing metropolitan areas and our disciplined approach to capital deployment. As a result, HDN has consistently delivered industry leading operational performance with high occupancy and rent collection of >99%, complemented by our developments delivering incremental net operating income and valuation gains.

Gearing remains at the midpoint of our target range and during the period hedge coverage was extended to 60 per cent through to June 2027. We reaffirm our FY26 guidance of 9.0 cents FFO per unit and 8.6 cents per unit in distributions.

What’s next for HomeCo Daily Needs REIT?

Guidance for FY26 remains unchanged, with management optimistic about ongoing operating performance and capital management. HomeCo Daily Needs REIT is focused on further growing its daily needs retail footprint, continuing tenant-led developments, and maintaining its disciplined investment strategy.

The Distribution Reinvestment Plan is activated for the June 2026 quarter with no discount, offering unitholders the flexibility to reinvest distributions.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT shares have remained flat, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post HomeCo Daily Needs REIT posts $92m valuation gain, reaffirms guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Atlas Arteria urges shareholders to reject IFM’s $5.10 takeover bid
• Qube shareholders vote on $5.20 takeover offer
• Centuria Industrial REIT unveils data centre strategy
• Centuria Capital Group unveils AI-powered growth at Investor Day
• Contact Energy’s May 2026 report shows higher sales and lower costs

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 HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. 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.

Defensive ASX shares have attracted plenty of attention from investors in recent years.

But after strong share price moves across parts of the market, are the big names in this article still buys?

Here’s what brokers are saying.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The first ASX share to look at is Coles. The supermarket giant remains one of the more defensive businesses on the ASX. Australians continue buying groceries through all parts of the economic cycle, which gives Coles a level of earnings resilience that many discretionary retailers do not have.

UBS is positive on the company and currently has a buy rating and $25.50 price target on its shares. Based on the current Coles share price of $23.51, that implies potential upside of approximately 8.5%.

UBS is also forecasting dividends per share of 77 cents in FY 2026 and 89 cents in FY 2027. This represents dividend yields of approximately 3.3% and 3.8%, respectively.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Another defensive ASX share that is popular with investors is Telstra.

The telco giant has a large mobile network, strong brand, and exposure to essential communications services. That can make it attractive to income-focused investors.

However, the share price already appears to reflect a fair amount of good news.

Macquarie currently has a neutral (hold) rating and $5.57 price target on Telstra shares. Based on the current share price of $5.10, the price target suggests potential upside of approximately 9.2%.

As for income, Macquarie expects dividends per share of 21 cents in FY 2026 and 21.5 cents in FY 2027. That implies forward yields of approximately 4.1% and 4.2%, respectively.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

A third ASX share that has defensive qualities is Wesfarmers.

It owns some of Australia’s strongest retail businesses, including Bunnings and Kmart. These brands have scale, loyal customers, and strong market positions.

But quality can come at a price. Macquarie has a neutral rating and $85.00 price target on Wesfarmers shares. This compares with the current Wesfarmers share price of $86.23.

With respect to income, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 192 cents in FY 2026 and 224 cents in FY 2027. Based on the current share price, this represents forward yields of approximately 2.2% and 2.6%.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

A final defensive ASX share that is popular with investors is Woolworths.

Like Coles, Woolworths benefits from defensive supermarket demand. It also has scale, a major store network, and a large digital business. But Bell Potter is not calling it a buy at current levels.

The broker has a hold rating and $35.50 price target on Woolworths shares. This compares with the current share price of $38.23.

Bell Potter expects dividends per share of 91 cents in FY 2026 and 94 cents in FY 2027. This represents forward dividend yields of approximately 2.4% and 2.5%.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Telstra, Wesfarmers, and Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Centuria Industrial REIT unveils data centre strategy
• Wesfarmers shares: Buy, hold or sell?
• Buying Coles shares? Here’s the dividend yield you’ll get today
• Why Aussie Broadband, Coles, EOS, and Santos shares are falling on Monday
• Could Elon Musk’s SpaceX take a bite out of Telstra shares?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) share price is in focus as the company holds its Investor Day, where company is expected to discuss its data centre strategy and pipeline highlights, including new development opportunities and expansion plans across multiple Australian sites.

What did Centuria Industrial REIT report?

• Presented a detailed data centre strategy targeting real estate returns with no direct operating risk.
• Highlighted current operational assets, including Telstra-leased data centre in Clayton (VIC), Thomastown (VIC), Toowoomba (QLD), and Malaga (WA).
• Outlined multiple future data centre developments backed by significant urban infill landholdings.
• Confirmed strong long-term leases with major tenants such as Telstra, Fujitsu, and Centuria DC.
• Emphasised a focus on securing power allocations and planning approvals for data centre conversions.

What else do investors need to know?

Centuria Industrial REIT (CIP) continues to grow its position as Australia’s largest domestic pure play industrial REIT, with data centre real estate now a critical part of its growth plan. The company is leveraging its large portfolio of urban land parcels to unlock value through conversion and development of data centre properties, taking advantage of strong demand, particularly for facilities suited to AI and hyperscale computing.

New power studies and planning applications have been advanced at key sites, such as Clayton and Thomastown, both targeting ready-for-service dates from 2029. CIP is also exploring various funding options, including possible joint ventures, land sales, and capital partnerships—demonstrating flexibility in realising future value.

What’s next for Centuria Industrial REIT?

Looking ahead, CIP is focused on progressing data centre development across its portfolio, particularly by unlocking additional power capacity and securing planning approvals. Recent acquisitions and site expansions, like Toowoomba’s facility and the future conversion options at Clayton and Thomastown, position Centuria to meet the rising demand from hyperscale and AI workloads.

Management has reiterated openness to partnering with other capital providers and data centre operators, and flagged the potential for further value creation from possible asset demergers or joint ventures.

Centuria Industrial REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Centuria Industrial REIT shares have declined 4%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Centuria Industrial REIT unveils data centre strategy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Atlas Arteria urges shareholders to reject IFM’s $5.10 takeover bid
• Qube shareholders vote on $5.20 takeover offer
• HomeCo Daily Needs REIT posts $92m valuation gain, reaffirms guidance
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Telstra, Wesfarmers, and Woolworths shares
• Centuria Capital Group unveils AI-powered growth at Investor Day

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 positions in and has recommended Telstra 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 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have been an excellent investment over the last 30 years for Aussies. One of the best aspects of owning the ASX bank share has been the dividend payments.

Dividends aren’t guaranteed of course, but when a business generates resilient net profit, then it can deliver reliable (and hopefully growing) dividends.

CBA may be the most reliable of the big four ASX bank shares, but it’s good to consider what the dividend may look like. Let’s look at analyst estimates for the next couple of financial years.

FY26

We’re close to the end of the 2026 financial year, though we’ve only seen the FY26 interim dividend from CBA at this stage.

The ASX bank share will announce the dividend for the second half of FY26 with its annual result in August.

The independent forecast on Commsec suggests that the bank’s annual dividend per CBA share could be $5.15 in FY26. At the time of writing, that translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.5% for FY26, including franking credits.

The latest update from the bank was its FY26 third-quarter update. What happens with its financial performance is essential because profit funds the dividend payments, so investors should consider the business’ performance if they’re hoping for compelling dividend growth.

It reported a quarterly cash profit of around $2.7 billion. While this represented a year-over-year increase of 4%, it was a 1% reduction compared to the quarterly average of the first half of FY26. A mixed bag. Profit generation is key for the CBA share price.

CBA noted that underlying expenses increased 1% largely because of higher cloud computing volumes, software licensing and investment in AI capabilities.

However, on the income side, operating income was flat in the quarter, with a stable net interest margin (NIM). The ASX bank share noted 12.5% ($21.6 billion) business lending growth, 9.1% ($38.3 billion) household deposit growth and 7.1% ($41.2 billion) home lending growth.

But, CBA also faced a $316 million loan impairment expense for the quarter, with higher collective provisions reflecting heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty. Commonwealth Bank did try to reassure investors by stating its underlying portfolio credit quality remains sound.

FY27

CBA will also have to deal with the potential flow-on effects from changes to the Australian taxation system in FY27 (and onwards). The adjustment to negative gearing and capital gains tax could impact demand for loans.

I’m not sure how Australian property prices will go over the longer-term, but it’s possible there could be some headwinds in the shorter-term, which could show up in CBA’s financials.

Hopefully, for CBA’s sake, owner occupiers can make up the demand for established homes and investor capital refocuses on (building) new properties rather than reducing overall.

I’m optimistic that CBA’s earnings can remain resilient while continuing its good business loan growth.

The current projection on Commsec suggests the business can pay an annual dividend per CBA share of $5.45 in FY27, a solid increase of 5.8%. That translates into a forward grossed-up dividend yield of 4.9%, including franking credits.

With a forward yield of less than 5%, there could be other ASX shares that offer better dividend income.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much superannuation does a 40-year-old actually need to retire comfortably?
• Here’s what brokers tip for CBA shares over the next 12 months
• What falling house prices could mean for these widely held ASX shares
• What are the big four banks expecting at tomorrow’s RBA cash rate meeting?
• Buying ASX 200 bank stocks like Westpac and CBA shares? Here’s why these funds are betting against you

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

The Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) share price is in focus today as the ASX-listed investment manager showcased its rapidly growing $21.8 billion assets under management and leading-edge AI data centre capabilities at its Investor Day.

What did Centuria Capital Group report?

• Assets under management (AUM) reached $21.8 billion as at 31 December 2025
• Over 150 unlisted funds and loan SPVs under management, with 15,500 unlisted investors
• Expanded vertically integrated operations with more than 500 staff
• Launched Australia’s first sovereign AI Factory (AI-F1) in partnership with ResetData
• Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) data centre pipeline targeting over 200MW of capacity by 2030
• Market cap stands at $1.8 billion, with recent NPAT of $113 million and a 4.9% dividend yield

What else do investors need to know?

Centuria is deepening its footprint in the digital infrastructure space, establishing a fully integrated platform that spans real estate, development, and operations. Its partnership with ResetData makes it one of only three NVIDIA Cloud Partners in Australia, strengthening its competitive edge in the rapidly growing AI compute sector.

The company highlighted its strategy to deliver scalable AI factories and data centre capacity through both existing assets and new developments. Centuria’s vertically integrated approach allows the group to pivot quickly and meet demand from enterprise and government clients, while drawing on a strong network of institutional and banking partners.

What’s next for Centuria Capital Group?

Centuria aims to ramp up deployment of AI-enabled data centre capacity nationwide, targeting more than 200MW across its property pipeline by 2030. The group is pursuing further customer partnerships and exploring options like equity partnerships, partial sell-downs, and potential IPOs for its digital platforms.

Management is confident that strong customer interest, combined with power and infrastructure availability, positions Centuria well to capture ongoing growth in sovereign and enterprise AI demand.

Centuria Capital Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Centuria Capital Group shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Centuria Capital Group unveils AI-powered growth at Investor Day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Contact Energy’s May 2026 report shows higher sales and lower costs
• 3 excellent ASX dividend shares for income investors to buy now
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Qube Holdings scheme update: Dividend and key dates revealed
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. 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 Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN) share price is in focus after the company’s May 2026 operating report revealed higher mass market electricity and gas sales volumes, alongside lower generation costs compared to the same time last year.

What did Contact Energy report?

• Mass market electricity and gas sales rose to 461GWh (up from 365GWh in May 2025)
• Customer netback increased to $148.13/MWh (May 2025: $145.13/MWh)
• Contracted wholesale electricity sales reached 1,027GWh (May 2025: 768GWh)
• Electricity generated or acquired for the month totalled 1,034GWh (May 2025: 842GWh)
• Unit generation cost dropped to $37.11/MWh (May 2025: $49.26/MWh)
• Otahuhu ASX futures settlement price as of 11 June 2026 was $111.85/MWh (down from $144/MWh at 30 April 2026)

What else do investors need to know?

Contact Energy highlighted favourable storage conditions, with South Island controlled hydro storage at 120% of mean and North Island at 149% of mean as of 11 June 2026. Clutha scheme storage was also above average, aiding operational flexibility.

The company’s renewable development pipeline continues to progress, with major projects such as the Kōwhai Park Solar and Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal under construction with expected online dates between late 2026 and 2028. Contracted gas volume for the next 12 months stands at 8.2PJ.

New Zealand electricity demand in May 2026 was 1.5% higher than in May 2025, indicating steady market conditions despite a warmer average temperature for the month.

What’s next for Contact Energy?

Contact Energy will focus on advancing its renewable projects to support future growth and align with decarbonisation goals. The Kōwhai Park Solar remains on track for completion by Q3 2026, followed by further expansion in geothermal, battery, and solar assets through 2028.

With controlled hydro storage levels remaining strong and wholesale electricity prices easing off recent highs, Contact Energy appears well-positioned to manage both rising demand and cost pressures in the near term.

Contact Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Contact Energy shares have declined 8%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Contact Energy’s May 2026 report shows higher sales and lower costs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Centuria Capital Group unveils AI-powered growth at Investor Day
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Qube Holdings scheme update: Dividend and key dates revealed
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Abacus Storage King announces June 2026 distribution

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 mining sector has been a great place to invest over the past 12 months.

The good news is that Bell Potter doesn’t believe it is too late to add exposure to the sector.

This is especially the case given its belief that we are still in the early innings of a sustained supercycle.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that several megatrends are colliding and supporting structurally higher prices. It said:

Several megatrends are now colliding with a resource base that has been starved of investment for a decade. We believe new and higher price floors are being established across a basket of commodities. We see this as the early innings of a sustained supercycle. A supercycle is a structural rather than cyclical shift in demand that plays out over many years, globally and broadly at once. The 2000s cycle was built on China’s industrialisation and urbanisation, and was intensive in bulk, fuel-type commodities: iron ore, coal and oil.

The cycle now forming is intensive in the materials behind electrification and compute power: copper, aluminium, uranium, lithium, nickel, and rare earths. Three structural forces are driving it together: the AI capital expenditure boom, global electrification, and deglobalisation. At the same time, supply across several of these commodities is structurally constrained, copper most of all. That constraint is the mechanism that turns strong demand into durable price floors rather than a short-lived cyclical spike.

How can you play the supercycle?

According to the note, Bell Potter has named four ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) that it believes would be great options for investors looking for exposure to the mining supercycle.

The first two are the Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM) and the Global X Uranium AUD ETF (ASX: ATOM) for uranium exposure. Bell Potter highlights that uranium gives investors “direct exposure to the power constraint on AI and clean energy, with its own tight supply story.”

If you are looking for copper exposure, it has named Global X Copper Miners AUD ETF (ASX: WIRE) as one to buy. The broker notes that copper is “the cleanest beneficiary of both the AI / grid build-out and electrification, against a constrained supply outlook.” For this reason, copper is its top commodity pick right now.

And with Bell Potter expecting the gold price to remain strong, it is tipping the VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) as a buy. It believes the “de-dollarisation and central bank buying are long term structural thematics that will support the gold price.”

The broker concludes:

Spot prices have already moved, with copper setting fresh records in early 2026. The miners, however, should be supported by a higher-for-longer price environment that consensus is not yet pricing. Sell-side estimates still assume reversion towards lower long-run price decks, so sustained elevated prices are reflected neither in forward earnings nor in current share prices. There will no doubt be volatility in commodity and share prices over the medium term, but we would take any weakness as a buying opportunity into this long term thematic.

The post 4 ASX ETFs to buy for the mining supercycle appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs positioned to outperform in today’s uncertain geopolitical climate
• These commodity ASX ETFs are leaving the market behind

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

The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price has been steadily falling over the last several weeks, as the below chart shows. Sometimes, large declines can be buying opportunities, while other times it’s a reflection of a fair price.  

A lot has happened in the last few months. The Middle East conflict, inflation, higher interest rates and an Australian federal budget.

For me, it’s no wonder there has been volatility this year for the Westpac share price. At this stage, the ASX bank share has dropped 17% since April 2026.

Let’s take a look at whether experts think whether the ASX bank share is attractive or not after falling quite a lot in the past couple of months.

Expert views on the Westpac share price

According to CMC Invest, there have been nine ratings on the ASX bank share within the last three months. Of those nine ratings, three were holds, and six were sells.

So, while the investment professionals weren’t all negative, the average view definitely leans negatively.

Of those nine ratings, the price target from those ratings is $34.22. A price target is where the analyst thinks the share price will be in 12 months from the time of the investment call.  

Therefore, investors are suggesting the Westpac share price could fall slightly in the year ahead.

The most optimistic price target is $40.39, implying a possible rise of 14%, while the most negative price target is $30.29. That suggests a potential further decline of 14% from where it is at the time of writing.

So, despite the fall, analysts aren’t expecting much from the ASX bank share.

Why the negative outlook on the ASX bank share?

There are a few elements that investors should keep in mind.

For starters, Westpac is one of the most heavily-exposed ASX banks to home loans, whereas National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) have higher exposure to business banking.

The change to capital gains tax (CGT) and negative gearing may have a negative impact on residential property loan demand. According to reporting by the Australian Financial Review, Westpac housing investor loan applications have declined 20% over the last three weeks.

Additionally, the fallout of the Middle East conflict has led to banks increasing their loan provisions, hurting short-term profitability.

In the FY26 half-year result, the bank reported a statutory net profit of $3.4 billion, which was down 3% year-over-year and down 5% compared to the second half of FY25.

Its cash net profit was $3.5 billion, representing a 1% decline year-over-year and half over half.

How much is a business worth if its net profit is going backwards? A lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio is justified, in my view.

The main positive for me was the fact that Westpac grew its loan book and deposits by 7%. If its loan book can continue growing by solid single-digits, this should be a good tailwind for earnings and the Westpac share price in the long-term.

For me, it seems like there are other ASX shares that have more potential.

The post Is the Westpac share price a buy in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What are the big four banks expecting at tomorrow’s RBA cash rate meeting?
• Buying ASX 200 bank stocks like Westpac and CBA shares? Here’s why these funds are betting against you
• Here’s what Westpac says the RBA will do with interest rates next week
• Why the RBA’s decision next week could be the most important event for ASX shares in 2026
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on NAB and Westpac shares

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

The ASX share market does not have many ASX dividend shares that have increased their payout every year for more than a decade.

It’s extremely rare to find stocks that have increased their payout every year for more than two decades.

Let’s look at the two ASX dividend shares with the longest dividend growth streaks.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is one of the largest energy infrastructure businesses in Australia. Energy is one of the most important aspects of the Australian economy, so APA plays a significant role in society.

Its key asset is a huge gas pipeline network around Australia, transporting gas from supply to demand. Impressively, it transports half of Australia’s gas usage.

APA also has a number of other energy assets including gas-powered energy generation, wind farms, solar farms, gas storage, gas processing and electricity transmission.

The business has grown its annual distribution every year since 2004, meaning it has delivered more than two decades of continuous distribution growth.

Its FY26 annual distribution has been hiked to 58 cents per security, which translates into a distribution yield of 5.8%, at the time of writing.

I think the company’s passive income payments can continue to grow thanks to regular additions to its energy portfolio and the fact that most of its revenue is linked to inflation.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

The other ASX dividend share I want to highlight is investment house Soul Patts, which I’d call the leader of dividend growth in Australia.

This 120-year-old business has increased its annual payout every year since 1998, meaning it’s getting close to 30 years of continuous growth.

Soul Patts has built up a very diversified portfolio of businesses and sectors in its portfolio, which I think makes it an excellent investment to consider as a cornerstone dividend investment for Aussies.

It’s invested in areas like energy, resources, building products, telecommunications, industrial property, swimming schools, agriculture, electrification, financial services, credit and plenty more.

Its portfolio is designed to be able to perform in all economic conditions, including downturns, with a strong focus on cash flow. This can help fund the dividend in all conditions, which is why it has been able to grow its dividend so consistently.

Growth comes from a couple of key aspects. Firstly, most of the ASX dividend share’s investments are in businesses, which can grow themselves. Additionally, Soul Patts does not pay out all of its portfolio’s net cash flow each year to shareholders – it retains some of that money and puts it into additional opportunities.

Its latest two dividends come to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The post These ASX dividend shares keep giving investors a pay rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX stocks that have continually raised dividends for 10+ years
• How to build a passive income stream for life with ASX shares
• 3 safe ASX dividend shares to buy for income
• How I’d aim to build $10,000 a year in passive income from ASX shares
• 2 ASX shares I’d buy in June

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are looking for some ASX growth share to buy with major upside potential, then read on.

Listed below are three that brokers currently rate as buys and have price target meaningfully higher than where they currently trade.

Here’s what they are bullish on:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

The first ASX growth share to look at is Breville.

It has built a global appliances business around premium design, strong branding, and products that sit in everyday kitchen categories. Its range includes coffee machines, food preparation products, cooking appliances, and other home-focused products.

The company’s opportunity is not limited to Australia. Breville has been expanding internationally for years, giving it exposure to large overseas markets where its brand can keep building recognition.

This gives the business a long growth runway if it can continue launching popular products, expanding distribution, and protecting margins.

Morgans is positive on the company and has a buy rating and $36.75 price target on its shares. Based on the current Breville share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 20%.

Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Another ASX growth share that brokers rate as a buy is Catapult.

It provides performance technology for sporting teams and athletes. Its products help clubs measure movement, workload, training intensity, match output, and other performance data.

This places Catapult in a niche but global market. Professional sport is increasingly data-driven, with teams looking for small advantages in preparation, recovery, injury prevention, and tactical analysis.

The company has a very large growth runway if it can become more deeply embedded in the daily operations of teams, leagues, and performance departments. That can make its software and data increasingly valuable over time. It also gives Catapult room to improve the quality of its revenue as more customers use its platform across multiple products.

Morgans has a buy rating and $5.40 price target on Catapult shares. Compared with the current share price of $3.15, this suggests potential upside of approximately 71%.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

A third ASX growth share to consider is Pro Medicus.

The medical imaging software provider has become one of the ASX’s standout technology success stories. Its Visage platform is used by hospitals and radiology networks to view, manage, and interpret large medical imaging files.

This is a demanding area of healthcare technology. Speed, reliability, image quality, and integration all matter because clinicians need systems they can trust.

Its shares are often priced for high expectations, so volatility should be expected. But the company’s margins, execution record, and global opportunity make it worthy of holding tightly to for the long term.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $226.00 price target on Pro Medicus shares. Based on its current share price of $164.55, this implies potential upside of approximately 37%.

The post 3 incredible ASX growth shares tipped to rise 20% to 70% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 3 ASX technology stocks can prosper in uncertain times
• 3 buy-rated ASX growth shares tipped to rise 30%+
• The ASX shares I’d pick in a FIFA World Cup first eleven
• 2 ASX tech shares I’d buy that aren’t Xero or WiseTech
• Is it time to get greedy with Pro Medicus shares?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.