Tag: Stock pick

There are plenty of ASX dividend shares for passive income investors to choose from on the local market.

But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at three ASX dividend shares that I think could be worth considering for an income-focused portfolio.

Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP)

Cedar Woods Properties could be a good option for passive income.

The property developer has projects across residential communities, apartments, townhouses, and commercial developments in several Australian states.

That gives the company exposure to long-term population growth and demand for housing.

Cedar Woods has also built a strong pipeline of projects, which can help support earnings over time as developments move through planning, construction, and settlement.

Property development can be cyclical, but the company has been operating for decades and has a history of returning cash to shareholders through dividends.

For income investors, that combination of development profits, land holdings, and a strong dividend track record could make Cedar Woods worth a closer look.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

Another ASX dividend share to consider is Harvey Norman.

The retailer has exposure to furniture, bedding, appliances, electronics, and other household goods through its stores in Australia and several overseas markets.

But Harvey Norman is more than just a retailer. It also owns a substantial property portfolio, which gives the business another source of value and income.

Consumer spending is under pressure as interest rates rise, so the near term could be tough. But Harvey Norman has a strong brand, a large store network, and exposure to categories that can benefit when housing activity and consumer confidence improve.

This could make it attractive for investors looking for income from both retail and property exposure.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A final ASX dividend share to look at is Transurban.

It owns and operates toll roads in Australia and North America, including major roads in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

These are valuable infrastructure assets that can generate cash flow over long periods. This is especially the case given population growth, urban congestion, and the value motorists place on saving time.

Transurban isn’t standing still. It has been investing in new infrastructure projects, which could provide another source of growth in future years.

Overall, for investors looking for passive income backed by large-scale infrastructure assets, Transurban could be a strong option to consider.

The post Which ASX dividend shares are buys for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Transurban posts 3.4% August traffic growth
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $1,000 passive income per week?
• JB Hi-Fi vs Harvey Norman: Which dividend stock wins?
• How to make $26,000 of passive income from ASX shares
• My top ASX passive income stocks for the next 10 years

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

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a positive day and charged higher. The benchmark index rose 0.4% to 8,732.4 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for another good session on Friday following a strong night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 54 points or 0.6% higher this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.6%, the S&P 500 rose 1.15%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.7%.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a poor finish to the week after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.15% to US$101.26 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.55% to US$104.19 a barrel. This reflects more crude oil being brought to market.

Sell REA shares

The REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) share price could be overvalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its sell rating on the property listings company’s shares with an improved price target of $148.00. It said: “We retain our Sell recommendation. Despite REA’s ability to generate strong results in challenged operating environments, we continue to see significant downside risk to listings volumes/earnings vs. company guidance and consensus and await further data points via lending volumes and market listings before re-considering our thesis.”

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price edged lower overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.15% to US$4,380.8 an ounce. The precious metal has come under pressure this week after US interest rates were increased.

James Hardie shares upgraded

Morgans was pleased with the investor update from James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX) this week. In response, the broker has upgraded the building materials company’s shares to an accumulate rating with a $43.00 price target. It said: “…management guided to 4% to 7% organic sale growth above market, while stressing the growth did not require a US housing recovery to work. The growth is meant to come from the AZEK combination, synergies running ahead of plan, and a leaner, lower-capex portfolio after the Europe sale.”

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

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 stocks that Morgans just upgraded
• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?
• 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week
• ASX shares investors are still buying despite volatility: survey
• ASX 200 rebounds from recent lows. Is this just another false start?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in REA 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 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.

South32 vs Rio Tinto shares: which ASX mining stock is better?

When you think of big-name Australian mining shares, it’s hard to look past South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO). Both are resource powerhouses, but they’ve taken different approaches to growth, dividends, and the commodities they dig up. If you’re weighing up South32 vs Rio Tinto shares for your portfolio, here’s what stands out.

The case for South32

South32 emerged from BHP’s 2015 demerger and now runs mining operations across ten countries, extracting everything from bauxite and aluminium to copper, silver, zinc, nickel, and manganese. According to its most recent company description, it employs around 9000 people and provides the raw materials crucial for construction, energy, renewables, and consumer products worldwide.

Among South32’s fundamentals, a few things jump out. Its P/E ratio sits at 14.79, putting it in the reasonable valuation camp—neither super cheap nor stretched. The company’s year-to-date (YTD) return is a real eye-catcher: up 38.07%, a hefty gain for any mining stock. Its dividend yield is a modest 1.94%, but it comes fully franked—a plus for Aussie income hunters. Over recent years, dividends have been consistently franked at 100%, and recent payouts, while not the highest, have shown reasonable regularity.

The case for Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto needs little introduction: this is one of the world’s largest and oldest mining operations, tracing its roots to 1873. Listed on the ASX since 1962, Rio focuses on three major pillars—iron ore (its biggest earner), aluminium and lithium, and copper. The group also dabbles in other critical minerals through exploration and development, making it a true heavyweight in global resources.

Looking at Rio Tinto’s metrics, scale is the first thing that stands out. With a market cap of $61.82 billion, it dwarfs South32. Rio also offers a more generous dividend yield at 4.07%, again fully franked. Earnings per share are much higher (7.382 vs South32’s 0.235), consistent with its size and profitability. The P/E ratio is slightly higher at 15.94, but still sits in a similar band—a sign that you’re not paying a huge premium for the blue-chip name. YTD, Rio’s return is 16.56%: less blazing than South32’s, but still a solid result considering its scale.

Valuation comparison

There’s enough difference across important metrics to pop them into a table for an at-a-glance check:

Metric	South32	Rio Tinto
Market Cap	$22.48 billion	$61.82 billion
P/E Ratio	14.79	15.94
Dividend Yield	1.94% (100% franked)	4.07% (100% franked)
Earnings per Share	0.235	7.382
Dividend per Share	0.13	6.70
Year To Date Return	38.07%	16.56%

Rio commands a huge lead in size, dividends, and profit per share. South32 is a smaller, more diversified operator and has delivered outsized returns so far this year.

Recent share price performance

Let’s look at how the share prices have moved in recent weeks. Both companies’ price history data covers the same date range: from 18 August to 16 September 2026.

South32 started on 18 August at $4.82 and finished on 16 September at $5.01. That’s a gain of about 3.9% over this short period, consistent with its strong year-to-date performance. Rio Tinto started this period at $167.40 (18 August), ending at $166.25 on 16 September—a slight drop of roughly 0.7%. While Rio had some up days, the overall trend recently has been a touch negative.

It’s worth noting, South32 has enjoyed a positive burst inline with its year-to-date trend, while Rio has flattened out.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick between South32 and Rio Tinto right now, my lean would be toward South32. Here’s why: Its huge 38% YTD gain stands out—it’s been a clear outperformer, and the recent price momentum shows buyers remain enthusiastic. While its dividend isn’t as juicy as Rio’s, it’s fully franked and shows reasonable consistency.

Rio Tinto is a true blue-chip, offering scale, stability, and a far bigger dividend—great reasons for conservative, income-focused investors to be interested. But its recent share price has drifted sideways or down, and it lags South32 in YTD returns.

For those seeking growth and recent market momentum, South32 is my pick. But if you value big, steady dividends and market dominance, I can completely understand going with Rio. With both stocks offering 100% franking and trading at similar valuations, the edge for me goes to South32 on its current performance and uptrend.

The post South32 vs Rio Tinto: 2 popular ASX mining shares compared appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income?
• South32 shares fall 10% from all-time high: Is the rally over?
• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners
• Should I buy Rio Tinto shares for passive income?
• BHP vs Rio Tinto: What’s the better buy?

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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

When it comes to passive income, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are up at the top of my list.

As an ASX telecommunications business, the company is classically defensive. Which means that no matter how high inflation gets, or what state the Australian economy is in, its services will always be in strong demand.

After all, the telco owns and operates Australia’s largest mobile network, and is also a major home internet provider. Both of these are considered essential services.

The defensive nature of Telstra means the company has a strong competitive advantage over other ASX shares, and it also means it can generate stable earnings and revenue on a consistent basis.

As a result, it can pay reliable passive income to its shareholders through dividend payments.

How often does Telstra pay dividends to shareholders?

Telstra traditionally pays its shareholders two dividends every year, in March and September. Until FY26, these have been fully-franked. But in March this year, and again this month, the dividend payments have been partially franked at 90.48%.

How much has Telstra paid its shareholders in FY26?

Telstra paid its shareholders a partially franked 10.5 cent-per-share dividend in March, and a final 9.5 cent fully franked dividend this month. 

That totals 21 cents for FY26, giving a dividend yield of around 4.3%.

What’s the forecast for the telco’s dividend for FY27?

Based on the latest Commsec forecasts, the telco is also expected to pay a total dividend of 22 cents per share in FY27.

At the $4.87 share price at the time of writing, a 22 cent dividend translates to a forward dividend yield of around 4.5% for FY27.

So, how many Telstra shares do I need to generate $500 of monthly passive income in FY27?

Remember, Telstra doesn’t pay dividends on a monthly basis. So first you need to calculate what a $500 per month passive income is over the financial year. That’s $6,000.

In order to earn $6,000 per year in passive income from Telstra shares, at 22 cents per unit, you’d need to own around 27,272 shares.

To buy all of those shares right now, you’d need to invest just over $132,814.

Can Telstra’s dividend payout keep climbing higher?

Well, according to Commsec data, yes. In fact, Commsec forecasts that Telstra’s dividend will increase again to 22.5 cents in FY28. It’s not a huge increase, but the benefit of a defensive stock is stability, and that’s what Telstra shares can provide its shareholders. 

The post How many Telstra shares do I need to buy to earn $500 of passive income every month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners
• Buy, hold, sell: AGL Energy, Telstra, Zip shares
• Wesfarmers vs Telstra: Which ASX dividend stock comes out on top?
• How much of my superannuation do I need to invest to earn $60,000 of passive income in 2027?
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $70,000 per year in passive income?

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

New analysis from the team at Morgans has included significant upgrades for two ASX 200 shares. 

Both James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX) and Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC) received a new accumulate rating from the broker. 

These two ASX 200 stocks have moved in opposite directions in 2026. 

James Hardie Industries shares have risen by over 21% year-to-date, while Lottery Corporation has fallen almost 7%. 

However both have upside moving forward according to the team at Morgans. 

Here is the latest outlook. 

James Hardie

James Hardie is the world’s leading producer and marketer of fibre cement building products and a major supplier of fibre gypsum and cement-bonded boards. 

The ASX 200 company held its combined James Hardie and AZEK Investor Day in New York on 15 September 2026. 

The day centred on the “built to outperform, resilient by design” tagline, as management guided to 4% to 7% organic sales growth above market, while stressing that this growth did not require a US housing recovery. 

Morgans said growth will come from the AZEK combination, synergies ahead of plan, and a leaner, lower-capex portfolio after the Europe sale. 

The positive company story and the growth trajectory are only partially offset by the tough macro, a 75bps rise in the 30-year mortgage rate over the past six months, and a peer multiple de-rate. On this basis we upgrade to an Accumulate rating, whilst moderating our target price to A$43.00 (from A$45.00).

From current levels, this updated price target indicates an upside potential of 20%. 

Lottery Corporation

This ASX 200 company is Australia’s largest provider of lottery, Keno, and instant scratch products.

The team at Morgans has updated its forecasts on the company given domestic lottery conditions have not improved since the FY26 result. 

We have marked our lottery tracker to market and now have tracked turnover running high single digits behind the prior comparative period. We cut FY27/28F Lotteries revenue by 2-3% and Lotteries EBITDA by 3-4%, with EPS down 6%/4%. 

The change is a lower jackpot assumption, partly offset by a lower jackpot share of turnover, as base games and three price increases carry more of the mix.

The broker has upgraded its target price to $5.40 (previously $5.60). 

From current levels, this indicates an upside potential of over 15%. 

Following the September bond issue, our FY27 interest costs remain broadly unchanged with FY28 lifted nominally. At c.16.5x 12-month forward EV/EBITDA and a 3.3% fully franked yield, we think a poor sequence is in the price, and see upside from here if conditions improve.

The post 2 ASX 200 stocks that Morgans just upgraded appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week
• James Hardie says it doesn’t need a US housing recovery. Can it prove it?
• Down 6% today: What’s going on with the James Hardie share price?
• James Hardie lifts guidance and details long-term growth at 2026 Investor Day
• Buy, hold, sell: Echo IQ, James Hardie, Woolworths shares

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

A small bunch of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares have ex-dividend dates coming up next week.

We’re helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here are some of the ASX shares due to go ex-dividend next week.

To receive the next dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates coming up 

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

This ASX healthcare share will pay an 85% franked dividend of $1.30 per share on 14 October.

The ex-dividend date is Monday, 21 September.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

This ASX coal share will pay a fully franked dividend of 30 cents per share on 15 October.

The ex-dividend date is 21 September.

Southern Cross Engineering Ltd (ASX: SXE)

This ASX industrials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 7.5 cents per share on 7 October.

The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, 22 September.

Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: LFS)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 5.5 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-dividend date is 22 September.

Fleetwood Ltd (ASX: FWD)

This ASX industrials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 9.5 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 22 September.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share on 16 October.

The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, 23 September.

IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)

This ASX industrials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 7.9 cents per share on 8 October.

The ex-dividend date is 23 September.

Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE)

This ASX utilities share will pay an unfranked dividend of 6.3 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 23 September.

Bisalloy Steel Group Ltd (ASX: BIS)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 13 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is Thursday, 24 September.

Salter Brothers Emerging Companies Ltd (ASX: SB2)

This ASX financial share will pay a 50% franked dividend of 2 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

Wiseway Group Ltd (ASX: WWG)

Wiseway Group shares will pay a 100% franked dividend of 0.006 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

PRL Global Ltd (ASX: PRG)

PRL Global shares will pay a 100% franked dividend of 3 cents per share on 23 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

Teaminvest Private Group Ltd (ASX: TIP)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 1.5 cents per share on 5 October.

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 25 September.

The post 13 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I think could return 10%+
• Cochlear share price rebounds 53% from 10-year low: Can it keep climbing?
• Cochlear vs Pro Medicus: Which beaten-down ASX healthcare share is the better buy today?
• How much of my superannuation do I need to invest to earn $60,000 of passive income in 2027?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 positions in and has recommended Cochlear and Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Bisalloy Steel Group, Cochlear, and Southern Cross Electrical Engineering. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy vs Fortescue shares: Which mining stock is better for passive income?

If you’re looking to bank reliable passive income from the mining space, two big names on the ASX often get a close look: Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG). Both are true Australian heavyweights, attractively sized, and generous dividend payers—plus, their fully franked dividends can be a real drawcard for savvy local investors. But if you’re weighing up Woodside Energy vs Fortescue shares, which is the better bet for building sustainable, hands-off income? Let’s break it down.

The case for Woodside Energy Group

Woodside Energy is Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company, and the largest operator of oil and gas production in the country. With roots going back to 1954, Woodside’s business stretches across offshore platforms and international assets, strengthened by its recent high-profile merger with BHP’s oil and gas portfolio. Listed since 1971, it now sits among the largest companies on the ASX.

What stands out about Woodside:

• It boasts a sizeable market cap of $63.25 billion, underscoring its scale and stability.
• The dividend yield is a strong 5.04%, fully franked, making its income stream friendly for local investors.
• Recent performance has been robust, with a 44.04% year to date return—a real contrast against some sector peers.

The case for Fortescue

Fortescue is one of the giants in iron ore production, sitting just behind BHP, Rio Tinto, and Vale globally. Its flagship operations cover major mining hubs in the Pilbara, a major port, and the world’s fastest heavy-haul railway. Since debuting on the ASX in 1987, it’s grown into a $50.93 billion titan, underpinning a massive chunk of global iron ore supply.

Numbers I’d call out for Fortescue:

• The current dividend yield is a hefty 6.66%, fully franked, comfortably outpacing Woodside.
• A lower P/E ratio of 12.46 could be pointing to better value at these levels.
• However, 2026’s year to date return is -21.40%, showing headwinds for the share price.

Valuation comparison

Here’s a side-by-side look at the key income and value metrics:

	Woodside Energy (WDS)	Fortescue (FMG)
Market Cap	$63.25b	$50.93b
P/E Ratio	14.41	12.46
Dividend Yield	5.04%	6.66%
Earnings per share	1.605	0.931
Dividend per share	1.63	1.08
Year To Date Return	44.04%	-21.40%
Franking	100%	100%

The key takeaway here: Fortescue offers the higher dividend yield for those hunting passive income, and sports a slightly cheaper earnings multiple. But Woodside is the larger company, with a higher earnings per share and a much better share price run lately.

Recent share price performance

All prices quoted are as of 16 September 2026. Woodside closed at $33.27, having climbed 2.84% that day, capping off a strong few weeks—with only minor dips and overall upward price momentum. Year to date, Woodside shares are up a very impressive 44.04%.

Fortescue, meanwhile, finished at $16.54 (up 1.97% that day), but the bigger story is in the negatives: its year to date return is -21.40%. Across the most recent weeks, Fortescue has seen sharper drops and less sustained upward movement than Woodside, reflecting trickier recent trading conditions.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m focused on pure passive income, I think Fortescue has the edge on yield alone—a 6.66% fully franked payout is nothing to sneeze at. That’s a good margin above Woodside’s 5.04%. But the picture isn’t that simple. Woodside brings a larger, arguably more resilient business, higher earnings per share, and absolutely stellar recent share price performance. Fortescue’s negative YTD performance, on the other hand, is a yellow flag—it’s been a rough run for FMG shareholders lately.

Both stocks have given out big, fully franked dividends for years, but Woodside’s price momentum suggests investors have more confidence in its near-term prospects. If my sole priority was maximising present yield, I’d take a good look at Fortescue. But factoring in total return and share price stability, my pick would be Woodside for a smoother and potentially more sustainable passive income ride. The lower headline yield is offset by the capital growth and big-company resilience, which count for a lot in this space.

The post Woodside Energy vs Fortescue: Which ASX mining share is best for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners
• Should I buy Rio Tinto shares for passive income?
• BHP vs Rio Tinto: What’s the better buy?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Fortescue shares break a 4-day losing streak as $150 million legal fight heats up

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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.2% higher at 8,714.9 points on Thursday.

Meanwhile, brokers have lifted their ratings on several ASX 200 shares this week. 

Let’s review. 

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $177.29, up 1.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has ripped 32%.

RBC Capital upgraded CSL shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker raised its 12-month price target substantially from $148 to $213.

This implies a potential 20% upside ahead.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is $38.91, up 2.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 bank share has fallen 1%.

Citi upgraded NAB shares to a buy rating yesterday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $40 to $42.10.

This suggests a potential 8% upside ahead.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

The Lottery Corporation share price is $4.86, up 0.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has fallen 9%.

Morgans upgraded Lottery Corporation shares to a buy call today.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $5.60 to $5.40.

This implies a potential 11% upside ahead.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Health Care share price is $55.06, up 0.4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has risen 23%.

RBC Capital upgraded Ramsay Health Care shares to a buy call this week.

The broker increased its 12-month price target significantly from $52 to $68.

This indicates potential capital gains of 23% over the next year. 

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is $10.09, down 1.9% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has increased 4%.

UBS upgraded Challenger shares to a buy rating with a $11.50 price target.

This suggests a potential 14% upside ahead.

James Hardie Industries Plc (ASX: JHX)

The James Hardie share price is $37.38, up 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 materials share has fallen 15%.

Morgans upgraded James Hardie shares to an accumulate rating yesterday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $45 to $43.

This suggests potential capital growth of 15% over the next year. 

Morgans said:

The positive company story and the growth trajectory are only partially offset by the tough macro, a 75bps rise in the 30-year mortgage rate over the past six months, and a peer multiple de-rate.

On this basis we upgrade to an Accumulate rating, whilst moderating our target price to A$43.00 (from A$45.00).

The post 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Forget CSL shares, I’d buy this ASX biotech stock instead
• James Hardie says it doesn’t need a US housing recovery. Can it prove it?
• CSL acknowledges “disappointing” results but aims to do better
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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 positions in and has recommended CSL and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Challenger, and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares have fallen lower again in Thursday afternoon trade.

At the time of writing, the mining giant’s shares are down around 5% to $4.78 each.

Today’s decline means the shares have now fallen around 10% since hitting an all-time high of $5.30 last week.

But it’s not all bad news. The shares are still trading 35% higher for the year-to-date and are a huge 82% higher than 12 months ago.

Why are the shares falling this week?

There hasn’t been any price sensitive news out of South32 over the past week to explain the latest share price decline.

It looks like the selloff is a mixture of investors taking their profit off the table after a rally through July and August, combined with softer sentiment about ASX mining shares.

Renewed geopolitical tensions and higher oil prices has put pressure on inflation figures and commodity prices. These broad market pressures have seen some investors turn away from mining shares like South32.

Today is also South32’s ex-dividend day. The miner announced a 7.5 cents per share final dividend as part of its latest FY26 results announcement late last month. The shares are scheduled to be ex-dividend today, with payment on the 15th of October. 

It’s typical for share prices to decline on ex-dividend days because new buyers won’t receive any of the upcoming dividend. 

Now the question is, is the rally over for South32 shares? Or is there more upside ahead?

Let’s find out what the experts think.

Are South32 shares a buy, sell or hold now?

Going forward, it looks like brokers are quite optimistic about the outlook for S32 shares going forward.

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the mining shares. The $5.13 average target price implies a potential 2% upside ahead.

On TradingView, sentiment is a little more dividend. Out of 13 analysts, six have a buy/strong buy rating and another six have a hold rating. One rates the stock as a sell.

The average target price of $5.31 implies a potential 11% upside for South32 shares, at the time of writing.

Joshua Baker from RaaS Group has a hold rating on South32 shares driven by stronger commodity price outlooks in key metals, including zinc. 

Elsewhere, Blake Halligan from Gray Perry Wealth Advisers has a sell rating on South32 shares. He said that given recent share price increase, commodity price volatility, global uncertainty and execution risk on major projects, investors may want to consider cashing in some gains at this stage of the cycle.

The team at Morgans downgraded South32 shares to a hold after reviewing its FY26 numbers, and increased its price target to $4.90. The broker said it thinks the earnings upcycle is now reflected in the latest price. It also noted the stock has outperformed even the pure copper producers.

The post South32 shares fall 10% from all-time high: Is the rally over? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• South32 shares reach fresh 52-week high: Can they keep climbing?

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.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are moving higher on Thursday.

This comes despite another legal headache returning to investors’ radar after appearing largely settled.

At the time of writing, the investment bank’s stock is up 0.81% to $241.76.

That still leaves the stock down almost 8% over the past month, although it remains around 19% higher in 2026.

So, what’s going on?

What is the new claim about?

According to The Australian, Gordon Legal has launched a class action in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Macquarie Investment Management.

The action involves Rachelle Dessent and around 2,800 account holders who invested in the Shield Master Fund through Macquarie’s platform.

Macquarie agreed last September to compensate affected investors for the money they had put into Shield.

Around $480 million was invested in the fund between 2022 and its closure in 2024, with roughly $321 million coming through Macquarie’s platform.

But Gordon Legal says getting the original investment back doesn’t necessarily cover everything investors lost.

It says some investors potentially missed out on returns their superannuation could have earned if the money had been invested elsewhere.

Furthermore, the claim is also seeking compensation for the distress investors allegedly suffered.

Gordon Legal partner James Naughton told The Australian that some investors “have not been fully compensated for all their losses, even if they have already received payouts”.

Why is Shield still causing problems?

Shield was available through Macquarie’s superannuation platform from early 2022 until investments were stopped in 2023.

The fund later collapsed and was put into liquidation, leaving thousands of investors facing losses.

That ultimately left Macquarie facing regulatory action over the issue.

Last year, ASIC took Macquarie Investment Management to court after the company admitted it failed to place Shield on a watch list for extra monitoring.

Macquarie later agreed to pay around $321 million to roughly 3,000 affected investors.

What should investors watch?

At this stage, there’s no telling how much more this could end up costing Macquarie.

Gordon Legal is seeking further compensation, but no dollar figure has been put on the claim just yet.

Evidently, that makes it hard to know whether this could become another sizeable cost or something Macquarie can absorb easily.

Nonetheless, investors don’t seem too worried today, with the shares still trading slightly higher.

I’d be watching how the case develops and whether Macquarie ends up facing another sizeable payout over the Shield collapse.

The post Why Macquarie’s $321 million Shield problem is back in court appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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