Tag: Stock pick

Over time, I’ve realised that most investing mistakes don’t come from a lack of intelligence. They come from excitement.

A new theme emerges. A stock runs hard. Everyone is talking about it. It feels urgent. It feels like something is happening.

Whenever I feel that pull, I try to slow myself down and ask one simple question: Would I still want to own this business if the share price didn’t move for three years?

It sounds basic. But it has saved me more than once.

Price movement is not the same as progress

It’s easy to confuse a rising share price with a strengthening business. Sometimes they go together. Often they don’t.

A company can execute well, grow earnings, expand margins, and build long-term value while its share price goes nowhere for a period. Equally, a stock can double on hype without the underlying fundamentals improving much at all.

If I’m only interested because I expect a quick re-rating, that’s speculation. If I’m happy to own the business even through a flat patch, that’s investing.

Businesses, not tickers

When I buy ASX shares, I try to picture the actual business.

What does it sell? Who are its customers? Is the product essential, or discretionary? Does it have an advantage that competitors would struggle to replicate?

If I can clearly explain why the company should be larger, more profitable, or more relevant in five to ten years, I’m far more comfortable ignoring short-term noise.

If I can’t, that’s usually a red flag.

Could it survive a downturn?

Another version of the question is this: what happens if conditions get tougher?

Would customers still buy from this company? Does it have a strong balance sheet? Can it keep investing through a slowdown?

I’m not looking for perfection. But I want resilience.

Markets will correct at some point. They always do. I don’t want to be holding businesses that only work in ideal conditions.

Am I buying the story or the substance?

It’s amazing how persuasive a good narrative can be. Themes like artificial intelligence, electrification, decarbonisation, and digital transformation are real. But not every company attached to those themes will win.

When I feel myself getting swept up in the story, I try to bring it back to numbers: revenue growth, margins, cash flow, return on capital.

Stories can change quickly. Strong economics are harder to fake.

The long game

Most of the wealth built on the ASX has come from holding high-quality shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) for long periods of time.

That requires conviction. And conviction usually comes from understanding, not excitement.

So before I buy any ASX share, I ask myself whether I would still be content owning it if nothing dramatic happened for a while.

If the answer is yes, I’m far more likely to proceed.

Foolish takeaway

Investing does not need to be complicated. For me, it comes down to buying businesses I believe in, at prices that make sense, and being prepared to hold them through quiet periods.

If I would not be comfortable owning the company through three years of sideways movement, I probably should not own it at all.

That single question keeps me grounded. And over time, staying grounded is often what builds real wealth.

The post The one question I always ask before buying an ASX share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• The easiest way to get rich and retire a millionaire with ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. 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.

This week’s earnings brought us the latest numbers from two of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s most popular dividend stocks. On Wednesday, we heard from Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares, which was followed by its arch-rival Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) on Friday.

Boy, was this a tale of two companies.

The market got itself into a lather on Wednesday with what Woolies had to say. Australia’s largest supermarket operator reported a 3.4% rise in revenues to $37.14 billion, as well as a 24.4% increase in earnings to $1.66 billion. That enabled the company to book a net profit after tax of $859 million, up 16.4% year on year.

This prompted investors to send Woolworths shares up a massive 12.97% (I believe the largest-ever one-day gain) on Wednesday.

It was a different story entirely when it came to Coles’ earnings, though.

The second-largest supermarket operator in the country reported revenue growth of 2.5% to $23.6 billion. Underlying earnings rose 10.2% to $1.23 billion, which helped the company post an underlying net profit of $676 million, a 12.5% increase.

But investors were not impressed, sending Coles stock down more than 9% at one point on Friday.

Coles stock vs. Woolworths shares

Both Coles stock and Woolworths shares are popular amongst retirees and ASX income investors. Both companies have defensive, stable earnings bases thanks to their consumer staples nature. And both companies have long paid out decent dividends.

In the past, I’ve discussed my preference for Coles stock as a dividend investment over Woolworths shares. Coles usually offers a high dividend yield for one. That’s thanks to both Woolworths’ tendency to trade at a higher earnings multiple than that of Coles, as well as Coles’ habit of paying out more of its earnings as dividends than Woolworths.

Additionally, Coles has been far more consistent when it comes to dividends than Woolworths. Since its ASX listing in 2018, the company has increased its annual dividends every single year. That’s in stark contrast to Woolworths, whose own dividends have been distinctly more yo-yo-like.

But now that we have fresh dividend announcements from both companies this week, has the dynamic changed?

Which is the better ASX dividend stock?

Both Coles and Woolworths delivered good news to investors on the dividend front. On Wednesday, Woolworths revealed that its 2026 interim dividend would come in at a fully-franked 45 cents per share. That matched last year’s final dividend, but represented a 15.4% rise over the 39-cent interim dividend investors bagged.

For Coles, investors learned on Friday that they are in line for an interim dividend of 41 cents per share. This dividend will also come with full franking credits attached, and represents the highest dividend Coles has ever paid out. It is a 10.81% hike from the 39 cents per share interim payout shareholders enjoyed last year.

Although both companies provided pleasing results for income investors, my preference for Coles as a dividend stock remains unchanged. The company’s impressive dividend growth streak has continued, while Woolworths’ dividend hike, while welcome, merely matches the interim dividend investors received in 2019.

I’m not saying that Coles shares will be a better overall investment compared to Woolworths stock going forward. But I do think Coles will serve as the better income stock.

The post Coles or Woolworths shares: Which is the better dividend stock for 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Fortescue, NextDC, and Woolworths shares
• Why Bapcor, Brainchip, Coles, and Harvey Norman shares are dropping today
• Everything you need to know about the latest Coles dividend
• In Wilsons Advisory’s ideal portfolio, what are the 10 top stock picks?
• Why is the Coles share price crashing 8% on Friday?

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

ASX tech shares have been sold off heavily over the last several months amid AI-related concerns. I think some of them are now significantly undervalued. Comments by the Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) boss – one of the most well-placed to judge the potential impacts of AI – suggest the (ASX) tech share space has gone down too much.

Nvidia is one of the most important businesses in the technology supply chain, providing chips needed for AI and data centres. AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic wouldn’t be able to do what they do without the foundations provided by Nvidia.

Let’s take a look at what Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said and how it could be applied to ASX tech shares.

The markets got it wrong

Earlier this week, Huang spoke with CNBC‘s Becky Quick and shared his thoughts on investor concerns that AI agents might affect the earnings of several software companies.

He said that he thought “the markets got it wrong” regarding fears that AI agents will cannibalise the enterprise software industry. He doesn’t think AI agents will replace the software tools, but will use them instead to boost efficiency. Huang then said to CNBC:

That’s the reason why we also say agents are tool users.

All of these tools that we use today, whether it’s Cadence or Synopsys or ServiceNow or SAP, these tools exist for a fundamentally good reason. These agentic AI will be intelligent software that uses these tools on our behalf and help us be more productive.

Nobody’s going to service better than ServiceNow, and they’re going to come up with agents that are really fine-tuned and optimized for the work that uses the tools that they have.

In the end, we need the tools to finish their work and put the information back in a way that we can understand.

I’m not in a position to know how AI tools and their use will develop in the coming years, but I think it would be too bearish to assume businesses will lose a large chunk of clients and margins in the next few years.

Why I think the ASX tech shares are undervalued

A share price is meant to reflect the long-term future prospects of a business, but I don’t think the prospects of names like Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), and CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) have dropped by 40% or 50%.

I think all of them have stronger economic moats than what the market is giving them credit for. Virtually all of them delivered strong revenue growth in the most recent reporting season, and I believe that profit margin improvement is quite likely to rise at many of them over the rest of FY26 as well.

I’m not sure I could commit to all of them for 50 years, but I’d be excited to buy any of them for my portfolio as a medium-term investment.

The post Why Nvidia’s insights suggest ASX tech shares are undervalued appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 at a record high? Here’s where I still see value
• Top ASX shares to buy with $10,000 in 2026
• 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Morgans just upgraded these ASX shares to buy ratings

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Pro Medicus, SiteMinder, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Nvidia, SiteMinder, Technology One, and Xero. 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 SiteMinder and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd, Nvidia, Pro Medicus, and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Not everyone wants to analyse balance sheets, read earnings transcripts, or track broker price targets.

Some investors just want a simple, low-maintenance way to grow their wealth over time without constantly checking the market. If that sounds like you, ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) might be one of the easiest ways to invest.

Here’s how I think about it.

Step 1: Accept that simplicity usually wins

The lazy approach isn’t about being careless. It’s about recognising that most people don’t have the time or interest to consistently pick individual stocks.

ETFs allow you to buy a basket of shares in a single trade. Instead of trying to pick the next winning stock, you own a slice of an entire market or sector.

For example, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) gives exposure to a broad range of large Australian stocks in one simple holding. Meanwhile, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) provides access to around 1,300 stocks across developed markets outside Australia.

With just two ETFs, you can own a part of over 1,500 businesses globally.

That’s not lazy. That’s efficient.

Step 2: Focus on diversification

The beauty of ETFs is that they remove the need to be right about a single company.

If one stock disappoints, it is usually offset by others performing well. That diversification smooths out the ride and makes it easier to stay invested during market volatility.

If I wanted something even more hands-off, I might consider a diversified fund like the Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG), which combines Australian and international shares with bonds in one portfolio.

Instead of juggling multiple holdings, you can hold one ETF and let it do the work.

Step 3: Automate and forget (mostly)

The real power of a lazy strategy comes from consistency.

Rather than trying to time the market, I’d set up regular monthly investments. Whether it’s $250, $500, or $1,000 a month, the key is to keep buying through good times and bad.

This approach reduces the pressure to pick the bottom, averages out your entry price over time, and builds discipline into your investing process.

Then, instead of reacting to every headline, you let compounding do the hard work.

Step 4: Keep costs low

One of the biggest advantages of index ETFs is cost.

Many broad-market ETFs charge relatively low management fees compared to actively managed funds. Over decades, even small fee differences can significantly impact your end result.

For a long-term investor, keeping costs low is one of the easiest ways to tilt the odds in your favour.

Step 5: Stay invested

The hardest part of investing is not choosing the ETF. It is staying invested when markets fall.

History shows that share markets experience corrections and bear markets regularly. But over long periods, they have tended to rise.

The lazy investor’s edge is not superior stock picking. It is patience.

By owning diversified ASX ETFs, reinvesting dividends, and continuing to contribute during downturns, you give yourself exposure to long-term economic growth without the stress of constant decision-making.

Foolish Takeaway

You don’t need to be glued to the screen to build wealth.

A simple portfolio of broad ASX ETFs, funded regularly and held for years, can be a powerful strategy. It may not feel exciting, but for many investors, boring and consistent beats complicated and reactive.

Sometimes, the laziest approach is also the smartest.

The post The lazy investor’s guide to ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I had to build an ASX share portfolio from scratch today, here’s how I’d do it
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• 5 amazing ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 20 years
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• The sleep easy ETF portfolio to survive market crashes

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CUV) shares were out of form on Friday.

The ASX All Ords stock ended the week with a 10% decline to $10.01.

This leaves the biopharmaceutical company’s shares trading close to a 52-week low.

While this is disappointing, the team at Bell Potter believes it has created a compelling buying opportunity for investors.

What is the broker saying about this ASX All Ords stock?

Clinuvel is a biopharmaceutical company distributing its lead drug Scenesse (afamelanotide) across Europe, the US, and Israel. It is for patients with the rare disease erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP).

In addition, Bell Potter notes that the ASX All Ords stock is looking to diversify revenues through undertaking clinical trials to expand the approved use of afamelanotide in additional indications (such as vitiligo) and is developing additional pharmaceutical products.

The broker highlights that Clinuvel’s performance during the first half was mixed, with revenue falling short of expectations but earnings coming in stronger than expected. It said:

Revenue increased 4% on pcp to $36.9m but was 2% below our forecast and 3% below VA. Earnings were a $2.2m and $2.4m beat to our forecasts at the EBITDA and NPAT lines, respectively, due to opex reducing materially from the preceding half. The company maintained an impressive >90% gross margin. Closing cash balance was $233m with no debt and increased +$9m from 30-June-2025.

While Bell Potter expects a competing product to be approved for EPP in the near future, it is confident that its growth will continue thanks to new product launches. It adds:

Forecasts are updated to reflect lower topline growth and lower operating expenses. The reduction in opex more than offsets the revenue decrease, hence earnings are increased in the forecast period. As detailed in this note, we continue to expect at least one other EPP market entrant will eventually obtain approval in the future, albeit not for at least another 12 months, thus we currently forecast EPP sales peaking in FY27-28 before ACTH and vitiligo restore growth for CUV.

Huge potential returns

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $19.00 price target on the ASX All Ords stock.

Based on its current share price of $10.01, this implies potential upside of 90% for investors over the next 12 months. It concludes:

CUV’s EPP franchise continues to provide a strong financial foundation, however the key driver of our investment thesis is the opportunity to expand Scenesse into the far larger vitiligo indication. The first vitiligo Phase 3 trial (CUV105) readout is quickly approaching (2H CY26).

A successful readout would drastically de-risk this step-up in market opportunity and see renewed investor enthusiasm. Lastly, the company’s ACTH program could come to market in the next ~2 years and provides another interesting avenue for growth and diversification.

The post Why this cheap ASX All Ords stock could rocket 90% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Fortescue, NextDC, and Woolworths shares
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• 7 ASX All Ords shares finish earnings season on a 52-week high
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• 3 excellent ASX ETFs to buy for an SMSF in March

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.

Last week was a big one for Aussie investors, with some large-cap ASX shares releasing their latest results.

Three that Morgans has been looking at are listed below. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

Morgans was pleased with this iron ore giant’s half-year results. It highlights that the miner delivered earnings ahead of expectations.

However, it wasn’t quite enough for a buy recommendation. Instead, the broker has upgraded NextDC’s shares to a hold rating with a $20.60 price target. It said:

The hematite business delivered a 5% EBITDA beat; the problem is what happens to the cash after that. A strong hematite result, but 43% of group capex is directed to activities generating zero current earnings, compressing FCF conversion to 48% and ROCE to 19%. NPAT miss reflects rising capital intensity, with a sharp rise in D&A. Dividend solid at A$0.62/share. Post recent pullback we upgrade to HOLD.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

This data centre operator had a strong finish to the first half, delivering more unit sales in the final month than it did in the three years before.

In light of this, the broker sees a path to $700 million in EBITDA in FY 2029. And given its undemanding valuation, Morgans has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $20.50. It said:

NXT sold more MWs in the month of December 2025 than in the preceding 36 months combined. It was a record sales period for enterprise and hyperscale. The 416MW now contracted underpins FY29 underlying EBITDA of >$700m (without new contract wins) and sees NXT trading on an undemanding ~22x EV/Contracted EBITDA, with upside potential. BUY retained and target price lifted to $20.50 from $19.00 following our upgrades.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

This supermarket giant’s half-year results surprised to the upside. However, to prove that this wasn’t a fluke, Morgans wants to see more of the same before it will recommend Woolworths shares as a buy.

It has retained its hold rating with an improved price target of $37.30. It said:

WOW’s 1H26 result overall was above expectations, with productivity and cost efficiencies a key highlight as all divisions delivered improved margins. Management said competition remains elevated and customers continue to be value-focused. While there were tentative signs of improving customer sentiment toward the end of CY25, persistent inflation and rising interest rates have led customers to revert to finding ways to save.

We increase FY26-28F underlying EBIT by between 0-3%. While 1H26 performance was solid, we would prefer to see further evidence of consistent execution before moving to a more positive view on the stock. We therefore maintain our HOLD rating. Our target price increases to $37.30 (from $28.25) following a roll-forward to FY27 estimates and a higher valuation multiple of 25.5x (from 22x previously), reflecting improved execution and stronger sales momentum across all segments.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Fortescue, NextDC, and Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s next for the Fortescue share price?
• In Wilsons Advisory’s ideal portfolio, what are the 10 top stock picks?
• Why I’m still backing ASX growth shares for the long run
• Buy, hold, sell: Flight Centre, WiseTech, and Woolworths shares
• Why Fortescue was upgraded and Woodside shares could be a buy

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

It was a stunning finish to a stunning trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Friday. After a record-breaking week of new record highs, investors decided to give the share market one more before heading into the weekend.

As it happens, the ASX 200 closed the week right on its new record high of 9,198.6 points after a bouncy day that saw stints in both red and green territory. That was a gain worth 0.25% for the index.

This happy end to the Australian trading week on the ASX comes after a decidedly less sunny morning over on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to squeak a rise, but only just, inching 0.034% higher.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more decisive, but not in a good way, falling 1.18%.

But let’s get back to the happier market now, though, and take a deeper look at what the various ASX sectors were up to this session.

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

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Block, PEXA Group, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group, CAR Group Ltd, and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares reached a new record high of 9,431.9 points on Friday as earnings season ended.

Over February, ASX All Ords shares lifted almost 2.9% amid impressive results from the banks and miners, in particular.

Today, scores of ASX All Ords shares are ending the reporting season at a 52-week high.

Let’s check out a few of them.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Healthcare share price lifted 3.6% to a 52-week high of $43.65 on Friday.

Yesterday, Ramsay Healthcare reported a 1H FY26 net profit after tax attributable to owners of $160.7 million.

That was a significant improvement on the $104.9 million loss recorded in 1H FY25.

The ASX All Ords healthcare share will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 42.5 cents per share.

That’s up 6.3% on 1H FY25.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The largest ASX All Ords oil share rose 1.5% to $28.36 on Friday.

That’s the highest Woodside share price since July 2024.

This week, Woodside reported record production of 198.8 MMboe in FY25, up 3% from FY24.

The net profit after tax (NPAT) was US$2,718 million, down 24%.

Woodside shares will pay a fully-franked final dividend of 59 US cents per share.

That’s up 11% in US dollar terms on the final FY24 dividend.

Woodside shares have also risen on the back of fears of US military action in Iran, which has pushed up oil prices.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price lifted 0.8% to a record high of $49.45 on Friday.

During the month, NAB reported cash earnings of $2.02 billion for 1Q FY26, up 15% on the average quarterly result in 2H FY25.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price lifted 3.6% to a record high of $16.99 on Friday.

This earnings season, Evolution Mining reported a 110% surge in NPAT to $766.6 million for 1H FY26.

Evolution shares will pay a fully-franked dividend of 20 cents per share.

That’s the highest dividend the ASX 200 gold miner has ever paid, and it’s 186% higher than the 1H FY25 dividend.

The second-largest ASX All Ords gold share continues to benefit from safe-haven trading, which is driving up the gold price.

Check out some recent forecasts for the gold price in 2026.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price lifted 5.2% to a multi-year high of $9.74 on Friday.

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

The share price of this testing and inspection services provider rose 1.4% to a record $25.83.

Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP)

This ASX All Ords copper share lifted 3.2% to a multi-decade high of $5.85 today.

The post 7 ASX All Ords shares finish earnings season on a 52-week high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s everything you need to know about Ramsay’s latest dividend
• 3 ASX dividend stocks I think every Aussie should own
• In Wilsons Advisory’s ideal portfolio, what are the 10 top stock picks?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week

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 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 Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) share price is continuing to push higher in mid-afternoon trade on Friday.

At the time of writing, the hospital operator’s shares are up 2.09% to $43. This follows Thursday’s huge 10.35% surge after the company released its half-year results.

While the broader result centred on steady earnings growth, income investors are paying closest attention to Ramsay’s latest dividend announcement.

Here’s what you need to know.

Ramsay lifts interim dividend by 6.3%

Ramsay declared a fully franked interim dividend of 42.5 cents per share.

That represents a 6.3% increase on the prior corresponding period.

The dividend reflects a 60% payout ratio on underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) and non-controlling interests, in line with the company’s stated dividend policy.

Ramsay has consistently targeted a payout ratio of between 60% and 70% of underlying earnings. This approach has helped position the stock as a relatively reliable income option within the ASX healthcare sector.

Because the dividend is fully franked, it provides additional after-tax value for eligible income investors.

Key dividend dates to note

Investors considering buying shares for the payout should take note of the following dates:

• Ex-dividend date: 6 March 2026

• Record date: 7 March 2026

• Payment date: 3 April 2026

To be eligible for the dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date.

Ramsay confirmed that its dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) is suspended and will not operate for this interim dividend.

What does this mean for investors?

At the current share price of $43, the 42.5-cent interim dividend represents a yield of roughly 1% before franking credits.

On an annualised basis, if the final dividend is similar, this implies a forward yield of approximately 2% before franking.

While Ramsay is not typically viewed as a high-yield stock, it has built a track record of maintaining and gradually increasing its dividend.

Management reaffirmed its intention to keep the full-year payout ratio within its 60% to 70% target range, suggesting no material change in capital return strategy.

Foolish takeaway

Ramsay’s interim dividend increase may not transform it into a high-yield stock overnight, but it does reinforce the company’s commitment to steady capital returns.

The 6.3% lift, fully franked status, and adherence to its payout policy suggest management remains confident in the group’s cash generation and balance sheet position.

Importantly, Ramsay continues to offer a defensive healthcare exposure with a growing dividend profile.

With management reaffirming its payout policy and maintaining balance sheet discipline, the dividend outlook appears stable under current economic conditions.

The post Here’s everything you need to know about Ramsay’s latest dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 7 ASX All Ords shares finish earnings season on a 52-week high
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Ramsay Health Care shares are storming 10% higher
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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 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.

As we head into the final days of February, self-managed super fund (SMSF) investors may be reviewing their portfolios and thinking about positioning for the new month.

For many trustees, the priorities are clear: diversification, long-term growth, and sensible risk management.

The good news is that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can tick all three boxes, offering exposure to global markets without the need to pick individual stocks.

Here are three ASX ETFs that could suit an SMSF portfolio right now.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The first ETF to consider is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF.

This popular fund focuses on high-quality global stocks that rank highly on four key factors. These are return on equity, debt-to-capital, cash flow generation ability, and earnings stability.

Current holdings include companies such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML), Tokyo Electron, and Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX). These are global leaders operating in sectors with long-term growth drivers.

For an SMSF, quality exposure can help reduce the risk of owning weaker businesses that struggle during economic downturns. This fund was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF provides investors with broad exposure to 500 of the largest stocks on Wall Street.

The portfolio includes Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Merck & Co Inc (NYSE: MRK), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Walmart (NYSE: WMT), and JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM), spanning technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services.

For SMSF investors looking for a core international holding, the iShares S&P 500 ETF offers scale and diversification in a single trade. In addition, the S&P 500 index has an enviable track record, historically delivering strong long-term returns. This has been supported by innovation and corporate profitability. I don’t believe it will be any different over the next decade or two.

Over a retirement time horizon, that broad exposure can play a foundational role.

VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE)

To balance growth exposure, the VanEck MSCI International Value ETF adds a value tilt.

This ETF targets international companies trading at attractive valuations based on metrics such as price-to-book and forward earnings. Holdings include firms such as Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE: TM), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), and Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM).

Value stocks can perform well during periods of market rotation or rising interest rates, which is what we are experiencing right now. This fund was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs to buy for an SMSF in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 ASML, Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Lam Research, Merck, Microsoft, Nvidia, Pfizer, Qualcomm, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Apple, Lam Research, 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.