Australian financial stocks could be well positioned for growth in the coming years, according to top brokers.
Two names stand out to me in particular, given their business characteristics.
First is Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), the investment banking giant, and then NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF), the insurance giant (health, and now travel).
Analysts see bright spots for both companies' future. Let's examine what makes these two Australian financial stocks worth watching.
ASX financial stocks in favour
Australian financial stocks have had a strong year, with many of the banking majors, payments companies and insurance players producing strong gains in stock prices.
Macquarie shares have risen 27% this year, and the company has paid dividends of $9.85 in the last twelve months.
But it hasn't been speculation that's got investors on board. The bank's fundamentals have supported the higher market value.
First-half profits were up 14% year on year, whereas assets under management (AUM) ballooned to 916 billion.
According to Ord Minnett, Macquarie's strengths lie in its renewable energy and infrastructure investments and exposure to green energy markets and data centres.
These aren't points you'd typically discuss with a bank, but Macquarie is highly diversified with global operations. This point of differentiation stands out to me.
Ord rates the bank a buy with a price target of $245 on its Macquarie call, roughly 5% upside at the time of writing. Meanwhile, consensus projects Macquarie to pay dividends of $7.50 per share by FY27.
This equals a 6% growth from FY24, making it a standout Australian financial stock on my radar.
NIB Holdings a buy?
NIB Holdings has had a tougher year. The Australian financial stock is down 25% at the time of writing and has slipped a further 5% this past month alone.
But, Goldman Sachs rates NIB a buy with a $6.50 target, suggesting an 18% upside if the broker is correct.
Goldman highlighted NIB's "defensive exposure" to the sector, combined with its recent growth in policyholder numbers.
In fact, NIB's policyholder growth outstripped the broader industry, Goldman says, and, combined with increases in its policy rates, the company looks well-positioned to grow into the future.
Goldman says this is the focus for NIB moving forward, and management will prioritise "pricing in claims growth to achieve and maintain target margins".
According to CommSec, consensus forecasts NIB to earn 35.8 cents per share in FY25 and 41 cents in FY26, a 12% growth rate.
Consensus estimates also project a 12% growth in dividends from 25 cents per share this year to 28 cents in FY26. These are attractive outlooks in my eyes.
Foolish takeout
These Australian financial stocks have been rated highly according to top brokers who see value at their current prices.
With markets surging strongly, now might be the time to look at these standouts.
Macquarie is up 37% this past year, whereas NIB shares are down 31%.
