Tag: Stock pick

A 25-year time frame changes the way investors should think about ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Short-term market swings become less important. What matters more is whether the fund gives exposure to businesses, regions, or industries that can keep growing through multiple cycles.

With that in mind, here are five ASX ETFs that could be worth buying and holding for the next quarter of a century.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

It gives investors exposure to many of the companies that have reshaped the modern economy. These businesses sit behind search, cloud computing, streaming, digital advertising, software, artificial intelligence, and consumer technology.

Its holdings include names such as Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

The fund can be volatile, but for patient investors, it offers exposure to some of the strongest long-term growth engines in global markets.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

Another ASX ETF that could be held for decades is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This popular fund tracks the S&P 500 index, which is widely viewed as the benchmark for the US share market.

It gives investors exposure to hundreds of large American companies across technology, healthcare, financials, industrials, consumer goods, and more. This includes Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT).

The strength of IVV is its breadth. Investors do not need to know which sector will dominate the next 25 years. The fund provides exposure to a large part of the US economy and naturally evolves as market leadership changes.

Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)

A third ASX ETF worth considering is the Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF.

It gives investors exposure to global share markets outside the United States. This includes developed markets such as Europe and Japan, as well as emerging markets across Asia, Latin America, and other regions.

Its holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and Nestle (SWX: NESN).

This makes the ETF useful for investors who already have US exposure and want to broaden their global reach.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

Another ASX ETF with a long-term growth theme is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Automation is likely to become more important over the next few decades as businesses look to improve productivity, reduce costs, and operate with greater precision.

This fund gives investors exposure to companies involved in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and related technologies.

Its holdings include Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Keyence (TYO: 6861), and ABB (SWX: ABBN).

If automation becomes more deeply embedded across the global economy, the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF could be well placed to benefit over a long holding period.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

A fifth ASX ETF to look at is the VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF.

It focuses on international companies with strong quality characteristics. These can include high returns on equity, stable earnings, and low financial leverage.

That gives the fund a different role from a standard global index ETF. It is not simply buying companies because they are large. It is applying a quality filter to global markets.

Its holdings include NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Visa (NYSE: V), and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY).

Over 25 years, quality can matter a lot. Companies with strong balance sheets, durable earnings, and high profitability are often better placed to reinvest, survive downturns, and keep compounding.

This fund was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

The post 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 25 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 reasons I’d buy the NDQ ETF with $10,000
• Why the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could be the best way to capture the AI boom
• How to build a $150,000 ASX share portfolio from scratch
• How to generate $20,000 a year in passive income on the ASX
• 3 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Abb, Amazon, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Broadcom, Eli Lilly, Intuitive Surgical, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tesla, Vanguard International Equity Index Funds – Vanguard Ftse All-World ex-US ETF, Visa, Walmart, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Nestlé and has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Visa, 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.

Defence budgets are rising at a pace not seen since the Cold War.

Yet for Australian investors wanting exposure to the theme, picking individual defence stocks can be complex, costly, and risky.

The Betashares Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR) offers a simpler way to gain exposure to the defence industry in a cost-effective way.

What ARMR actually holds

ARMR tracks the VettaFi Global Defence Leaders Index, providing exposure to 60 companies that derive more than 50% of their revenues from the development and manufacturing of military and defence equipment and technology.

Critically, the fund only holds companies headquartered in NATO member and major NATO ally countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

Top holdings include some of the most recognisable names in global defence: Lockheed Martin, Palantir Technologies, BAE Systems, and Rheinmetall.

In fact, ARMR currently holds 13 of the top 20 defence contractors in the world by defence revenue, giving investors meaningful concentration in the companies that win the largest government contracts.

The performance backdrop

ARMR has delivered healthy returns over the past twelve months, reflecting the extraordinary surge in global defence spending these last years.

However, as Betashares recently noted in its own research, the fund has returned negative 1.8% over the past six months despite the spending environment remaining exceptionally strong.

This has created what the fund manager described as a counterintuitive divergence between the operational backdrop and near-term price performance.

Tom Wickenden, investment strategist at Betashares, said the first 12 days of the US conflict with Iran alone are estimated to have cost the US around US$16.5 billion.

This is a reminder of how quickly modern conflict depletes equipment and drives reordering.

In response, the US is planning a defence budget of around US$1.5 trillion for FY2027, which would represent the most significant year-on-year defence budget increase in history if approved.

The investment case

The case for an ASX defence ETF like ARMR rests on a simple but powerful observation: the shift in global defence spending is not a one-year event.

Europe’s defence procurement backlog will take years to clear.

NATO members are only beginning to reach the 2% of GDP spending target.

Australia’s own defence budget is expanding under the AUKUS agreement, with the federal government committing to reach 2.4% of GDP within a decade.

For investors who want diversified, low-cost exposure to this theme without the risk of picking individual stocks, ARMR remains the most direct option available on the ASX.

Foolish takeaway

ARMR is not without risk.

Defence spending can be cyclical and the near-term price performance has been softer than the underlying spending environment might suggest.

Nevertheless, for long-term investors who believe elevated defence budgets are here to stay, this ASX defence ETF continues to make a strong case.

The post Why this ASX defence ETF keeps attracting investor attention appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest $5,000 in ASX ETFs this month
• Will global defence ASX ETFs keep climbing? Expert
• Where to invest $20,000 in ASX ETFs right now

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall. 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.

A new report from VanEck has reinforced the opportunity for investors lying within China’s artificial intelligence growth. 

According to the report, global semiconductor stocks have surged back to life.

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) recently recorded its longest winning streak in more than three decades: 18 straight positive sessions as at 24 April 2026, representing a gain of 47.2% from 30 March to 24 April 2026. 

And while this rally has been front and centre, a similar story is unfolding in China that we believe many investors have not yet fully appreciated.

China’s AI ecosystem developing rapidly 

According to VanEck, DeepSeek, the Hangzhou-based lab whose open-source AI model rivalled OpenAI’s ChatGPT, is now in discussions to raise capital at a valuation of more than US$20 billion. 

While significant, this figure represents a fraction of OpenAI’s current US$852 billion.

Alibaba has set a target of increasing annual cloud and AI revenue fivefold to US$100 billion within five years, while Tencent has unveiled a major upgrade to its foundational open-source AI model. 

Together, the developments suggest China’s AI champions are moving rapidly toward large scale commercial competition.

Beyond the megacaps 

VanEck also pointed out that when investors think about China’s AI story, mega caps including Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) and Tencent (SEHK: 700) come to mind first. 

While these are important companies, they represent only one part of a much deeper ecosystem.

More important, however, are the companies that form the physical backbone of the AI infrastructure build out. These are the manufacturers of optical transceivers that connect AI server clusters, the producers of high-density printed circuit boards (PCBs) and semiconductor materials that underpin chip fabrication, as well as the makers of Internet of Things (IoT) devices that bring AI capabilities into the physical world.

Attractive valuations

Another important aspect of the Chinese AI boom is China’s AI-linked companies are attractively valued compared with their US counterparts.

In the US, AI beneficiaries command eye-watering multiples, with many software companies trading at well above 100x like Palantir (107.9x) and Cloudfare (184.5x) at the time of writing. In contrast, critical AI supply chain companies listed in China are available at 20–35x forward earnings while consumer companies integrating AI into their products trade for as little as 8–15x, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates.

How to target China’s AI boom 

For investors looking to capture exposure to this rapidly growing sector, there are several ASX ETFs to consider. 

Some options include: 

• VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW) – Invests in 120 fundamentally sound and attractively valued companies with growth prospects in China’s New Economy, targeting technology, healthcare, and consumer staples and consumer discretionary sectors. More than 20% of CNEW’s exposure is toward companies that work in either technology hardware or semiconductor production.
• VanEck Ftse China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) – Invests in a diversified portfolio comprising the 50 largest companies in the mainland (A-shares) Chinese market. More than 20% of CETF’s exposure is toward technology companies. 

The post How to target China’s AI boom: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 3 of the best performing Vanguard ASX ETFs over the last year
• $3,000 invested in this ASX 200 tech stock in April is now worth $5,562
• Bell Potter tips nearly 300% upside for one of these ASX small-caps
• Brokers say these ASX 300 shares are too cheap to ignore

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

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and sank into the red. The benchmark index fell 1.25% to 8,496.6 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong session on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 113 points or 1.3% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 1.3%, the S&P 500 rose 1.1%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.55%.

Nvidia results

The market will no doubt be focusing on the Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) results on Thursday. According to CNBC, it reported an 85% jump in revenue to US$81.62 billion, which was ahead of the consensus estimate of US$78.86 billion. Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, said: “The buildout of AI factories — the largest infrastructure expansion in human history — is accelerating at extraordinary speed. Agentic AI has arrived, doing productive work, generating real value and scaling rapidly across companies and industries.”

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a tough session on Thursday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 5.5% to US$98.44 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 5.7% to US$104.97 a barrel. Traders were selling oil after Donald Trump said Iran peace talks are now in the final stages.

Buy Catapult shares

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) shares may have raced 18% higher on Wednesday, but Bell Potter doesn’t believe the gains are over. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the sports technology company’s shares with an improved price target of $4.65. In response to its FY 2026 results, Bell Potter said: “FY26 management EBITDA – the key earnings metric – of US$24.7m was 8% above our forecast of US$23.0m and 10% above consensus of US$22.4m. Notably, the guidance was 50% growth and it came in at 67%. The beat was driven by a 2% beat at revenue (US$140.7m vs BPe US$137.9m) and a 90bp beat at the margin (17.6% vs BPe 16.7%).”

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a positive session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.85% to US$4,549.4 an ounce. Easing oil prices and treasury yields gave the precious metal a boost.

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

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• $8,000 invested in Woodside shares in December is already worth…
• Santos shares smash 4-year high. Is it too late to buy?
• ASX 200 drops to a new 7-week low as banks and miners sink
• Why EOS, Newmont, Webjet, and WIA Gold shares are tumbling today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. 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.

Three ASX ETF providers currently dominate the ETF landscape in terms of funds under management. 

Vanguard, Betashares and iShares account for more than 60% of the market. 

Yesterday, iShares funds were under the microscope for their performance over the last 12 months. 

Exploring the best performing funds can give great insight into sectors and themes that are capturing returns. 

Today, let’s look at the best performing ASX ETFs in the last year from the largest ETF provider – Vanguard. 

Vanguard FTSE Asia Ex-Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

An emerging theme over the last 12 months has been the outperformance of Asian markets and equities. 

This fund has increased over the last 12 months mainly because Asian markets rebounded, led by strong gains in Chinese technology stocks, Indian companies, and semiconductor firms such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), which benefited from the AI boom.

Improving confidence in China’s economy, strong growth in India, and a weaker Australian dollar also boosted returns for Australian investors.

These tailwinds have pushed this fund 26% higher over the last 12 months. 

This fund includes roughly 1,400 companies from 12 markets across Asia, excluding Japan. The key markets of China, Taiwan, Korea, and India make up around 80% of the exposure.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VGAD)

Another strong performing fund over the last year has been this internationally focussed ETF. 

The ETF provides exposure to many of the world’s companies listed on the exchanges of major developed economies around the world.

At the time of writing, it includes over 1,200 underlying holdings, with its largest geographic exposure being to: 

• United States: 73.1%
• Japan: 5.8%
• United Kingdom: 3.7%. 

Because of its US dominant structure, it holds a large weighting towards technology and financial shares. 

This could make it an ideal compliment for an investor looking to diversify away from Australian markets. 

In the last 12 months, it has risen 18%. 

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

This high yield ASX ETF has also been a great investment over the last year. 

It provides exposure to companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange that have higher forecast dividends relative to other ASX-listed companies. 

Security diversification is achieved by restricting the proportion invested in any one industry to 40% of the total ETF and 10% for any one company. Australian Real Estate Investment Trusts (A-REITS) are excluded from the index.

Over the last 12 months, it has not only provided strong dividends, but has also risen by 12% as well. 

The post 3 of the best performing Vanguard ASX ETFs over the last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX ETFs could be buys for passive income?
• How to invest during market chaos and volatility
• Which Australian ETFs would be top buys this month?
• 3 ASX ETFs for investors in their 60s
• Building wealth with ASX ETFs? Don’t make these errors

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) closed 0.75% lower on Wednesday afternoon. 

The index is mostly flat over the past week but it has tumbled 29% over the past year after a crash in investor confidence sent ASX tech stocks plummeting in late-2025 and into early-2026. 

The good news is that it looks like many tech stocks bottomed in late-March and have started a slow but (mostly) steady upward climb. If you invested in the right ASX 200 tech stock at the right time, you could be reaping the rewards already.

Take Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares for example.

At the close of the ASX on Wednesday afternoon, Megaport shares had slumped 1.75% to $12.38. 

While the slump might look disappointing on the surface, its barely dented gains that the shares have made over the past month.

After dipping to a three-year low of $6.71 in early-April, the shares have rebounded a huge 84.5%. They’re now 0.5% higher for the year-to-date and practically flat on this time last year.

So if I invested $3,000 in Megaport shares in the dip, what is that worth today?

The steep rebound is great news for investors who were in the right place at the right time. 

Those who invested $3,000 in Megaport shares in the dip would have $5,562 today. 

That’s an impressive gain over a short period of time.

Megaport has faced some strong headwinds this year

Megaport is a software-defined network (SDN) service provider that allows customers to connect between around 860 data centres globally.

The beaten-down tech stock was caught up in a sector-wide sell-off after investors panicked that artificial intelligence (AI) could disrupt traditional software models. Many were worried that AI tools might replace or reduce demand for subscription-based software. 

The company has also been battered by high investor expectations and heavy acquisition spending, which raised concerns about near-term costs and profits. 

Global factors also played their part too. Concerns about global implications following ongoing tensions in the Middle East have also spooked investors this year. In March, we saw investors turn their back on high-growth ASX 200 tech shares, like Megaport, and rotate towards more stable assets instead.

But on the flip-side, the long-term drivers of AI and tech-sector growth haven’t disappeared. Technology is rapidly advancing, and businesses have ramped up their AI investments.

It looks like investors are finally coming around to the idea that AI adoption could benefit technology development.

Are the ASX 200 tech shares now a buy, sell or hold?

I think we’ll see a lot more out of this ASX 200 tech stock this year, and it looks like analysts agree.

Data shows that 11 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the tech shares. Another four have a hold rating.

The average $17.29 target price implies a potential 40% upside over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, the maximum $26.30 target price implies Megaport shares could soar another 112%, at the time of writing.

The post $3,000 invested in this ASX 200 tech stock in April is now worth $5,562 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What is Morgans saying about Megaport and New Hope shares
• Why Technology One, Megaport and Mineral Resources shares are turning heads on Tuesday
• 3 ASX shares that could be much bigger in 10 years
• 3 ASX stocks that could win big from the AI infrastructure boom
• Why I think DroneShield and these ASX growth shares could beat the market over 10 years

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 positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.

ASX small-caps can be an attractive allocation option for your portfolio due to increased upside. 

Their lower market valuations, earlier growth stage, and thinner analyst coverage mean successful execution or new capital flows can re-rate them much faster than large established companies.

Here are two that have received updated guidance from the team at Bell Potter. 

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

Accent Group Limited is a footwear and sports clothing retailer and wholesaler which owns/operates a number of footwear businesses in the performance, comfort and active lifestyle sectors. 

These include multi-branded retailers, The Athlete’s Foot (TAF) Australia, Platypus, Hype, Sports Direct and Glue Store, as well as a number of mono-branded retail stores for Merrell, Skechers, Vans, Timberland, Stylerunner, and more. 

While AX1 has a dominant market position in the overall Australian footwear market, the company also has an emerging presence in youth apparel through its Glue Store platform.

This ASX small-cap has struggled year to date, falling 42% in that span. 

Bell Potter recently updated their outlook on the company following a recent trading update. 

The broker noted that Accent Group revised down their FY26 EBIT guidance to $79.5-84.5m (was $85-95m). 

The investor day on 13th May focused on company’s Vision 2030, which should see a stronger position in the sports category from the diversification via the addition of 30 Sports Direct (SD) stores over the next 3 years and further growth in their vertical brands division led by a strong business, while maintaining lifestyle category market share (BPe market share ~30% in Australia).

The broker subsequently lowered its price target to 60 cents per share for this ASX small-cap (previously 68 cents). This is just slightly above the current share price of 55 cents.

It maintained its hold recommendation. 

EBR Systems Inc (ASX: EBR)

EBR Systems develops implantable systems for wireless tissue stimulation.

Its share price has also fallen significantly in 2026, down 44% year to date. 

However, Bell Potter is projecting significant growth for this ASX small-cap. 

In a recent report, it said the company is trading at an attractive entry point.

It noted that In the last week, EBR has announced hospital purchase agreements with 325 hospitals and thousands of other health centres, covering a large swathe of the US.

These groups are also amongst the largest hospital groups in the US, reflecting validation of the WiSE-CRT system.The agreements pave the way for EBR sales reps to directly engage with individual physicians within these groups to generate adoption and build clinical traction.

The broker has retained its buy recommendation and $2 price target on this ASX small-cap. 

From yesterday’s closing price, this indicates an upside potential of 286%. 

The post Bell Potter tips nearly 300% upside for one of these ASX small-caps appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares down 70% that could be cheap buys
• Morgans names 2 small-cap ASX shares to buy
• With potential upside of more than 300%, is this ASX biotech the best buy on the ASX right now?
• Broker says this ASX biotech stock could rocket 250%
• Morgans says these ASX dividend shares are buys

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

The core of value investing is targeting companies that are perceived to be trading at bargain prices relative to their underlying business performance.

It’s up to investors to watch individual stocks and decide when it has fallen too far. 

Investors can also mitigate some risk by targeting established and blue-chip companies rather than speculative small-caps.

Right now, there are three ASX 300 shares that may have slipped into the undervalued range after a poor 2026. 

Here’s what experts are saying. 

Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX: FLT)

Like many ASX travel shares, Flight Centre has suffered from rising interest rates, geopolitical conflict and inflation. 

These headwinds have all weighed heavily on the sector, and investor sentiment. 

As a result, Flight Centre shares are down 36% year to date. 

It’s important to point out these headwinds could persist in the short term. 

However looking long-term, after another 3% drop yesterday, these ASX 300 shares could now be oversold. 

The team at Morgan Stanley believe this ASX 300 stock looks cheap. 

It recently reaffirmed its buy rating on Flight Centre shares with a $16 target.

This suggests a rebound of over 60% from current levels. 

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

Brambled is the world’s largest supplier of reusable wooden pallets and crates used for storing and transporting goods.

This ASX 300 stock tumbled 6% yesterday to take its year to date losses to 28%. 

Almost all of this has come since 18 May when the company downgraded its sales revenue growth forecast to 2% to 3%, down from 3% to 4%, and downgraded its underlying profit growth forecast to 3% to 5%, down from 8% to 11%.

However, it could now be firmly in the value range. 

Citi renewed its buy rating on Brambles shares with a $27.55 price target on Monday.

This indicates a recovery of 68% over the next 12 months. 

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX:ARB)

ARB is Australia’s largest designer, manufacturer, and distributor of four-wheel-drive and light commercial vehicle accessories.

Its share price dropped a further 3% yesterday. 

In 2026, this ASX 300 stock is now down roughly 47%. 

Similar to travel shares, consumer discretionary companies like ARB have fallen victim to cost of living pressures. 

Luxury/non-essential items like car and truck accessories have likely been pushed to the backburner for many everyday Aussies this year, which has negatively impacted ARB. 

However, looking long-term, brokers are confident this ASX 300 stock can rebound. 

Ord Minnett recently maintained a buy rating with a $31.00 target price. 

This indicates an upside potential of 82% in the next 12 months. 

The post Brokers say these ASX 300 shares are too cheap to ignore appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Morgans upgraded this ASX 200 share and downgraded another
• Why James Hardie, Flight Centre and Webjet shares are making waves on Wednesday
• Down 36% in 2026, Flight Centre shares slip again on new fintech update
• 5 ASX shares with 50% to 60% upside ahead: Experts
• After this week’s sell-down, is it time to buy Brambles 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 ARB Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation and Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It may be time to hit the sell button on Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) and James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX) shares.

That’s according to DP Wealth Advisory’s Andrew Wielandt (courtesy of The Bull).

Both S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks have come under heavy selling pressure over the past year.

Recently trading at $4.84, online furniture and homewares retailer Temple & Webster shares are down a painful 64.8% over 12 months.

Recently trading for $26.53, building materials company James Hardie shares are down 31.1% over this same period.

For some context, the ASX 200 has gained 2% over the past full year.

And looking ahead, Wielandt doesn’t expect any miraculous turnarounds for the beleaguered stocks.

Here’s why.

Are James Hardie shares a sell?

Commenting before James Hardie’s FY 2026 results release on Wednesday, which saw the ASX 200 stock close in the red, Wielandt noted:

This Australian building materials company generates most of its revenue in the United States. The acquisition of US decking business AZEK for $US8.75 billion has left the market concerned about earnings risk in response to a flat housing construction market in the US and increasing cost of living expenses.

Summarising his sell recommendation on James Hardie shares, Wielandt said, “The structure of the contentious acquisition left angry Australian investors without a vote on the deal. Too much uncertainty exists about the company’s outlook.”

Yesterday, James Hardie reported a 25% year-on-year increase in net sales in FY 2026 to US$4.84 billion. However, this boost was driven by the company’s AZEK acquisition. Excluding AZEK’s contribution, James Hardie’s organic net sales fell 2% from FY 2025.

Time to sell Temple & Webster shares?

Atop recommending selling James Hardie shares, Wielandt also has a bearish outlook on Temple & Webster shares.

“TPW is an online furniture and homewares retailer,” he noted.

As for Temple & Webster’s decidedly dismal share price performance of late, Wielandt said:

The share price remains under significant pressure in response to weaker discretionary spending from the oil price shock and rising interest rates in Australia. The stock has also been subjected to short selling by investors betting the shares will fall.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Temple & Webster shares, Wielandt concluded:

Our recommendation is based on a weaker macroeconomic outlook. At this point, we can’t see any clear and meaningful differentiation between TPW and bricks and mortar retailers or online competitors operating in the same or similar sectors.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Temple & Webster and James Hardie shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now
• Why James Hardie, Flight Centre and Webjet shares are making waves on Wednesday
• James Hardie shares tumble on FY26 profit crunch
• A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top shares?
• James Hardie earnings: FY26 profit drops as sales lift 25%

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

When ASX shares hit record high after record high, it’s great news for owners of that stock. 

However for those on the outside looking in, it can be difficult to know where the peak is. 

Yesterday, three ASX shares rocketed to new record highs: 

• GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP)
• Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)
• Anteris Technologies Ltd (ASX: AVR). 

Here is what pushed them to new highs, and what experts are anticipating in the near term. 

GenPlus completes $200 million placement

Investors were gobbling up GenPlus shares yesterday after the company announced it has raised $200 million by issuing around 21.6 million new shares at $9.25 each. 

The share price offered was slightly below the recent market price, which is common in capital raisings to attract investors. 

The funds will mainly be used to help finance Genus’ acquisition of MPC Kinetic Holdings Pty Ltd, an infrastructure services business announced earlier this week. 

For investors, the announcement signals that Genus is pursuing growth through acquisition and that there was strong demand from professional investors for the raising. 

This sent GenPlus shares 2% higher to a new 52-week high of $9.95. 

Its share price has now risen 60% year to date. 

Recent targets from brokers indicate these ASX shares could continue to climb higher. 

Bell Potter recently placed a buy rating on the ASX industrials stock with a $10.50 price target. 

This indicates a further 5% upside. It has also generated a positive outlook from Wilson Asset Management (WAM).

SmartGroup rises on buyback news

SmartGroup shares hit a fresh yearly high of $11.54 yesterday after the company announced it was launching a $20 million share buyback.

The company provides specialist employee management services to organisations throughout Australia. The company’s services include salary packaging, novated leasing, vehicle fleet management, payroll, employee share plan administration, and workforce optimisation.

The ASX 300 stock is engaging in the buyback after agreeing to sell the majority of its self‑funded fleet portfolio. That decision followed Smartgroup’s fleet-funding partnership with Volkswagen Financial Services Australia in 2025.

Following yesterday’s gain, it is now up 27% year to date. 

Unfortunately for prospective investors, these ASX shares now look close to fully valued. 

Bell Potter recently placed an $11.50 price target on SmartGroup shares, right around current levels. 

Anteris jumps 6% 

Anteris Technologies shares hit new record highs of $11.05 per share yesterday. 

This was despite no price sensitive news out of the healthcare stock.

Yesterday’s 6% rise takes its year to date gain to 48%. 

Much of this has come following the company’s quarterly results released on 13 May.

Experts are tipping this rise can continue. 

Five analyst forecasts via TradingView have an average one year price target of $20.41, indicating a further 85% upside from current levels. 

The post Which of these ASX shares hitting record highs is the best buy right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Catapult, GenusPlus, Meeka Metals, and TechnologyOne shares are pushing higher today
• Guess which ASX 300 stock is outperforming today on $20 million buyback news
• Bell Potter is tipping a 40% rebound for this ASX consumer discretionary stock
• Why is this $2 billion ASX industrials stock racing higher today?
• Meet the ASX small-cap healthcare company which could triple this year

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