Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Air New Zealand Ltd (ASX: AIZ)

The Air New Zealand share price is down almost 2% to 36.5 cents. This follows the release of a market update from the airline operator this morning. Air New Zealand advised that group capacity decreased 0.1% in May compared with the prior year. In addition, international long-haul available seat kilometres (ASKs) decreased by 1.3%, while domestic capacity increased 2.9%. The latter was supported by two additional A321 aircraft in operation compared with May last year. However, it notes that this was partly offset by targeted capacity reductions following the sharp rise in jet fuel prices after the conflict in the Middle East.

Emeco Holdings Ltd (ASX: EHL)

The Emeco Holdings share price is down 7.5% to 93 cents. Investors have been selling the mining equipment rental provider's shares following the release of a trading update. Management advised that it expects to report operating EBITDA of $290 million to $295 million in FY 2026. It then expects "stable earnings" in FY 2027, with a weighting to the second half. The company's CEO, Ian Testrow, commented: "Emeco has built a robust business model able to withstand challenging market conditions and still deliver resilient earnings, growth in margins, a strong balance sheet and cash flow generation. The recent trading conditions have moderately impacted our near-term earnings, however, with the hard work of the team, we have been able to proactively manage costs and capital expenditure and successfully secured fleet redeployment opportunities for FY27."

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

The ResMed share price is down 3.5% to $26.56. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Morgan Stanley overnight. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the sleep disorder treatment company's shares to an equal-weight rating (from overweight) with a reduced price target of US$230.00 (from US$286.00). For ResMed's ASX-listed shares, that is the equivalent of a price target of A$32.70. Morgan Stanley made the move on concerns over ResMed's near-term earnings outlook.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

The Westgold Resources share price is down over 3% to $5.25. This follows another pullback in the gold price overnight, which is weighing heavily on most ASX gold stocks today. In fact, the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index is down 1.8% at the time of writing.

The post Why Air New Zealand, Emeco, ResMed, and Westgold shares are tumbling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Indeed, on 26 February – two days before the Iran war commenced – Qantas estimated that supplying its aircraft with jet fuel in the second half of the financial year (H2 FY 2026) would cost around $2.5 billion.

No small sum, that.

However, on 14 April, with global oil prices rocketing, Qantas bumped up its second-half-year jet fuel cost forecast to $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion. Adding a potential $600 million drag on full-year profits from the prior estimate.

But rather than pull into its shell, the ASX 200 airline stock is embracing the old adage, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

And Qantas shares may make that proverbial lemonade at the expense of rival Air New Zealand Ltd (ASX: AIZ).

On Thursday, Air New Zealand reported that it was increasing its second-half FY 2026 fuel cost forecast to approximately NZ$980 million. That's up from prior expectations of NZ$740 million.

As such, Air New Zealand said it now expects to post an FY 2026 loss before tax of between NZ$340 million and NZ$390 million.

With Qantas having increased its first-half-year underlying profit before tax by $71 million to reach $1.46 billion, the company is taking aim at Air New Zealand's routes.

Qantas shares expanding their New Zealand footprint

Speaking in Wellington this week, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson noted that Australia continues to be New Zealand's largest international visitor market.

Commenting on the surging price of jet fuel, she said:

I want to be honest about the environment we're operating in. Fuel costs are elevated. The situation in the Middle East continues to affect routing and costs for airlines globally. When you run an airline, uncertainty is never far away.

However, Hudson revealed how Qantas shares could find support during difficult times by increasing its presence in New Zealand.

According to Hudson:

What we've learned over more than a century of flying is that when conditions are difficult, you back the relationships that matter most. New Zealand is one of those relationships. And we are backing it.

What the Qantas Group is committing to New Zealand right now is the biggest investment we have ever made in this market. Across Qantas and Jetstar, more than 800,000 seats have been added between Australia and New Zealand over the last 12 months.

She noted that the airline's investment in New Zealand goes beyond adding those seats.

"We recently opened our new Auckland lounge, a multi-million-dollar investment and part of the hundreds of millions we are committing to our lounge network globally," she said.

Hudson added, "We're investing in Auckland because we see its potential, and we want to be the airline that realises it."

As of Friday's close, Qantas shares were down 14.17% since the onset of the Iran war.

Air New Zealand shares have tumbled 29.79% over this same period.

The post Buying Qantas shares? Here's how the airline aims to capitalise on Air New Zealand's woes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two of the ASX heavyweights are trailing the 0.2% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) during the Thursday lunch hour, while one is rocketing higher.

Here's what's capturing investor interest.

Megaport shares rocket on big contract wins

Megaport shares are on fire today.

Shares in the ASX 200 tech stock are up a whopping 33.8% today, changing hands for $13.18 apiece. That sees the share price up 96.4% since the stock plumbed one-year closing lows on 10 April.

The company is making waves after announcing this morning that it had secured three new contracts with two United States based technology providers involved in AI applications. The total contract value (TCV) was reported to be $254 million.

Two of the fixed-term contracts run for three years, while one runs for two years.

The company said this will required around $140 million in new capital investment.

Commenting on the contract wins sending Megaport shares flying today, CEO Michael Reid said:

We are at the forefront of an accelerating inflection point across the industry. As use cases shift from AI foundation models to inference and the edge, Megaport is becoming an essential platform for powering the applications of tomorrow with globally distributed, automated infrastructure.

Air New Zealand shares sink on surging fuel costs

Air New Zealand is also turning heads today after the ASX airline stock reported on the significant impact of surging jet fuel prices following the outbreak of the Iran war.

In news also likely to alarm Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shareholders, Air New Zealand revealed that jet fuel prices have surged from around US$85 to US$90 per barrel before the conflict to trade in the range of US$160 and US$230 per barrel in the last 10 weeks.

As such management now expects the airline to post a full year FY 2026 loss before tax between $340 million to $390 million.

Air New Zealand shares are down 4.2% at time of writing, trading for 42 cents each.

Which brings us to…

 Graincorp shares plunge on profit decline

Joining Air New Zealand and Megaport shares in the headlines today, investors are tuning into Graincorp following the ASX 200 agribusiness and processing company's half year results (H1 FY 2026).

Graincorp shares are down a sharp 13.2% at time of writing, trading for $5.40 apiece.

Investors are reaching for their sell buttons after the company reported 32.7% year-on-year decline in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to $136 million.

On the bottom line, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $33 million was down 52.2% from H1 FY 2025.

Looking ahead, the ASX 200 stock reaffirmed full year FY 2026 underlying EBITDA guidance in the range of $200 million to $240 million.

Management expect to achieve underlying NPAT in the range of $20 million to $50 million.

The post Why Graincorp, Air New Zealand and Megaport shares are turning heads on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Air New Zealand share price is down 4.23% to 34 cents.

The latest fall adds more pain to a weak year for shareholders. The stock is now down 33% in 2026 and 39% over the past 12 months.

Here's why investors are selling today.

Fuel costs smash the outlook

In its market update, Air New Zealand said elevated and volatile jet fuel prices have had a significant impact on its FY26 outlook.

The airline now expects a loss before tax of NZ$340 million to NZ$390 million for FY26.

In FY25, Air New Zealand reported pre-tax profit of NZ$216 million, so the downgrade points to a major earnings swing.

A big part of the problem is jet fuel, which has become far more expensive in recent weeks.

Air New Zealand said jet fuel prices were around US$85 to US$90 per barrel before the recent Middle East conflict. Since then, prices have traded between roughly US$160 and US$230 per barrel.

The company said it expects its second-half fuel cost to be about NZ$980 million, compared with around NZ$740 million assumed at the interim result.

Including hedging, the higher fuel bill has added a NZ$240 million headwind to the expected FY26 result.

Demand has also cooled

Fuel is not the only problem weighing on the outlook.

Air New Zealand said booking momentum has moderated in recent weeks, after initially tracking ahead of FY25.

The weakness is showing up in several parts of the network. Domestic and Trans-Tasman demand have softened, while outbound demand to some long-haul markets has also weakened.

North America outbound demand has been more mixed, while Asia inbound and cargo have held up better.

The airline has responded by making 3 targeted capacity cuts. Overall group capacity has now been reduced by around 3% to 5% across its networks.

Air New Zealand has also lifted fares to help recover some of the higher fuel costs. But the company said trying to recover the full impact over a short period could put more pressure on demand.

Balance sheet still gives some support

There were still a few points of support in the update.

Air New Zealand said it still has around NZ$1.3 billion in total available liquidity. This includes an undrawn NZ$250 million syndicated standby facility.

The airline is also finalising a US$400 million secured revolving credit facility, backed by part of its unencumbered aircraft pool.

Once completed, the company said the facility would lift pro-forma liquidity by about NZ$670 million.

Management also said it is not currently considering any capital transactions, which may give investors some comfort after the earnings downgrade.

Cost savings are also being targeted. Air New Zealand has identified up to NZ$100 million of annualised savings so far, with benefits expected through FY27 and beyond.

The post Air New Zealand shares sink as investors brace for a major loss appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Air New Zealand report?

• FY26 loss before taxation now forecast at $340 million to $390 million
• Estimated 2H26 fuel cost to reach $980 million, up from $740 million previously assumed
• Airline about 85% hedged on 2H26 Brent crude exposure
• Total available liquidity remains around $1.3 billion
• Up to $100 million in annualised cost savings identified, to benefit FY27 and beyond

What else do investors need to know?

Air New Zealand has made targeted network reductions, lowering overall group capacity by around 3% to 5%, aiming to minimise disruption while controlling costs. Fare increases have also been implemented, with further adjustments expected if fuel prices remain high.

Aircraft availability is improving, with all Boeing 787s set to return to service by late June. The company's pro-forma liquidity will rise by about $670 million once a new US$400 million secured revolving credit facility is completed. Moody's reaffirmed Air New Zealand's Baa1 credit rating, but changed the outlook to negative.

What's next for Air New Zealand?

Air New Zealand's strategy update through to FY31 is progressing and management expects to outline more details soon, focusing on performance, network, and fleet growth. Cost savings programs and capital expenditure reviews continue as the airline adapts to elevated operating costs.

The outlook for FY26 remains subject to uncertainty from fuel price volatility, possible further schedule adjustments, and ongoing maintenance costs. Management is taking a cautious approach to pricing and capacity as the market evolves.

Air New Zealand share price snapshot

Over the past year, Air New Zealand shares have declined 37%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Air New Zealand flags sharp FY26 loss as rising fuel costs bite appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The airline released a market update on Thursday morning, cutting its FY 2026 outlook and outlining a range of actions to protect earnings and preserve liquidity.

While this is an Air New Zealand update, it could have implications for Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares.

What did Air New Zealand say?

Air New Zealand advised that elevated and volatile global jet fuel prices have had a significant impact on its FY 2026 outlook.

The airline said jet fuel prices were around US$85 to US$90 per barrel before the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Since then, they have traded between approximately US$160 and US$230 per barrel over the past 10 weeks.

This has created a major cost headwind. Air New Zealand now expects its second-half FY 2026 fuel cost to be approximately NZ$980 million, compared with the NZ$740 million assumption used at its interim result. That implies a NZ$240 million headwind to its expected FY 2026 result, including hedging.

The company said it is around 85% hedged against its second-half FY 2026 Brent crude exposure, but remains exposed to the crack spread, which is the difference between crude oil and refined jet fuel prices. That spread has also been highly volatile.

Capacity, fares, and demand

Air New Zealand has already responded by reducing capacity.

It said it has made three targeted capacity consolidations, cutting overall group capacity by around 3% to 5% across its networks since the conflict began. If fuel prices remain elevated, further capacity updates could be announced in coming weeks.

The airline has also increased fares across its network. However, it noted that fuel cost recovery will take time because earlier bookings need to be flown before newer, higher-priced bookings flow through.

Demand has also started to soften. Booking momentum has moderated in recent weeks, with domestic and trans-Tasman demand weakening. Outbound demand to some long-haul markets has also softened, while Asia inbound and cargo have been more resilient.

The overall impact has been significant. Air New Zealand now expects an FY 2026 loss before tax of between NZ$340 million and NZ$390 million. This assumes an average jet fuel price of approximately US$145 per barrel for the second half.

What does this mean for Qantas shares?

The read-through for Qantas shares is not hard to see.

Fuel is one of the biggest costs for any airline. If jet fuel prices and refining margins remain elevated, Qantas is likely to face the same broad industry pressure as Air New Zealand.

That does not mean Qantas will be hit in exactly the same way. Its route network, hedging position, fare structure, loyalty business, balance sheet, and domestic market position are different. Qantas also has a larger and more diversified business, which could help cushion some of the impact.

But Air New Zealand's update highlights three risks investors may now be watching closely.

The first is margin pressure. Higher fuel costs can quickly eat into airline earnings if they are not fully recovered through fares.

The second is demand. Air New Zealand's warning that fare increases need to be managed carefully is relevant for Qantas as well. Push fares too hard, and some passengers may delay or cancel travel.

The third is capacity. If airlines reduce seats to protect profitability, it can support pricing, but it can also limit revenue growth.

For Qantas shareholders, this update is a reminder that airline earnings can change quickly when fuel prices move sharply.

The post Air NZ warns of 'fuel shock', what this means for Qantas shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Air New Zealand report?

• Suspended FY2026 earnings guidance due to jet fuel market volatility
• First-half FY2026 net loss of $59 million previously reported
• Jet fuel prices have soared from US$85–90 to US$150–200 per barrel recently
• Air New Zealand is 83% hedged against Brent crude for the rest of FY2026
• Estimated fuel consumption (March–June 2026): approximately 2.9 million barrels

What else do investors need to know?

Air New Zealand's prior earnings outlook relied on more stable fuel prices and assumed jet fuel would remain around US$85 per barrel in the second half. However, sharp increases in prices and a widening crack spread are now expected to have a significant impact on the company's bottom line.

The airline has implemented initial fare adjustments to help offset these cost pressures. Management also flagged the option of further pricing measures and changes to its flight network and schedule if high fuel costs persist. Ongoing cost-saving initiatives are being progressed in parallel.

What's next for Air New Zealand?

Air New Zealand has put its formal earnings guidance on hold until jet fuel markets and other key operating conditions stabilise. Management will be monitoring the situation closely and responding as needed through pricing, scheduling, and ongoing cost controls to help reduce the impact on earnings.

Investors can expect further updates as conditions evolve, especially relating to input costs and demand shifts in the aviation sector as a result of ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Air New Zealand share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Air New Zealand shares have declined 29%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Air New Zealand suspends earnings guidance as jet fuel prices soar appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Air New Zealand report?

• Operating revenue up 1.2% to $3.44 billion for 1H FY26
• EBITDA of $347 million
• Loss before taxation of $59 million (compared to prior period profit of $144 million)
• Net loss after taxation: $40 million
• Liquidity at $1.3 billion; net debt to EBITDA of 2.6x
• No interim dividend declared

What else do investors need to know?

The half-year loss was mainly driven by global engine maintenance issues, slower-than-hoped domestic demand recovery, higher aviation system costs, and a weaker New Zealand dollar. Up to eight aircraft were grounded at times, reducing capacity and contributing to $90 million in lost earnings despite partial compensation from engine makers.

A strategic review is underway, with the airline focusing on returning to sustained profitability amid ongoing cost pressures. Air New Zealand is also progressing operational improvements, such as upgrading its Boeing 777 interiors and refreshing its loyalty program.

What did Air New Zealand management say?

Chief Executive Officer Nikhil Ravishankar said:

With the support of the Board we are undertaking a comprehensive review of all aspects of the business, with the objective of returning the airline to sustained profitability through enhanced operational performance, growth and further cost transformation initiatives… While we are disappointed that the engine availability issues have taken longer than anticipated to resolve, we are pleased with recent progress and now expect a total of four grounded Airbus neo and Boeing 787 aircraft to return to service throughout the 2026 calendar year. We will also take delivery of two of ten new 787 aircraft later in the financial year, providing widebody capacity growth of around 20 percent to 25 percent over the next two years.

What's next for Air New Zealand?

The airline expects second half capacity to rise as grounded aircraft return and new planes arrive, but cautions that earnings may not immediately benefit. Air New Zealand forecasts 2H26 earnings broadly in line with or modestly below the first half, assuming jet fuel averages US$85 per barrel.

Key risks remain, including the timing of aircraft returns, the outcome of further compensation talks, and ongoing volatility in costs and demand. The strategic review will target operational improvements and a renewed focus on sustainable growth and connectivity.

Air New Zealand share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Air New Zealand shares have declined 10%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Air New Zealand reports half-year loss appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Air New Zealand released a first-half trading update recently, which revealed that the carrier, expecting a 2% to 3% increase in revenue across domestic and US-bound bookings, had not actually achieved this.

This has not materialised to date and is not yet evident in the current forward booking profile., the impact of which is approximately NZ$50 million ($44.2 million) for the half. The local economy remains subdued, with ongoing softness across business, government and leisure segments.

Air New Zealand also informed the ASX this week that its engine lease costs for the half were now expected to be approximately NZ$20 million ($17.7 million) higher, due to the recognition of end-of-lease costs on two short-term aircraft leases that were not previously included in its outlook.

Another NZ$10 million ($8.8 million) in costs would come from the company's obligations under the mandatory Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, which "will result in increased fuel costs''.

Swinging to a loss

The company in August said it was expecting its first half pre-tax earnings to be "similar to or less than that reported in the second half of the 2025 financial year", or NZ$34 million ($30 million).

Taking the aforementioned changes into account, Air New Zealand this week said it now expects a loss in FY26 "in the range of NZ$30 million to NZ$50 million ($26.5-$44.2 million)".

It added:

This assumes an average jet fuel price of US$85 ($130.9) per barrel for the period. Given the ongoing uncertainties, the airline will update the market as required.

Shares still look cheap

Despite the negative trading update, the Macquarie team still think there's money to be made in Air New Zealand shares.

The Macquarie analysts did cut their price target for the company, from 75 cents to 68 cents, but this is still well above the prevailing share price of 52 cents.

Another disappointing update reflecting an ongoing challenging economic backdrop with green shoots from lower interest rates yet to show up. Air New Zealand's balance sheet can weather such conditions, and the company is positioned to deliver strong profit before tax improvement as the fleet returns to scale.

Factoring in dividends, the Macquarie team is forecasting a total shareholder return from Air New Zealand shares of 18%.

Air New Zealand shares have traded within a narrow band on the ASX over the past year, with a low of 47 cents and a high of 58 cents.

The post Which airline stock is Macquarie tipping to generate 18% returns? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Air New Zealand report?

• Expected first-half 2026 loss before taxation of $30 million to $55 million
• Earlier guidance anticipated a result similar to or below 2H FY25's $34 million profit
• 2%–3% targeted revenue uplift in Domestic and US-bound bookings not achieved; impact is approximately $50 million
• Engine lease costs are expected to increase by around $20 million in 1H 2026
• Mandatory CORSIA carbon scheme to add roughly $10 million to costs this half
• Between 9 and 11 aircraft have remained grounded since the start of FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Air New Zealand's management is actively working on further cost-saving and efficiency measures to offset headwinds such as system-wide cost inflation and subdued demand in business, government, and leisure travel segments. The airline is also advocating for more affordable airport landing charges and third-party costs to help support the wider economy and its own recovery.

The company is carrying the cost of additional fleet and a full workforce to prepare for future recovery, despite current demand weakness. Its Kia Mau transformation programme is on track to deliver cost and revenue benefits in the current financial year.

What's next for Air New Zealand?

Looking ahead, Air New Zealand plans additional capacity growth in the second half of FY26, so first-half results may not reflect the full year's outcomes. The company remains in discussions with engine manufacturers over compensation for grounded aircraft, but the timing and amount remain uncertain.

With ongoing volatility in demand and rising costs, management will provide further market updates as visibility improves. Investors are reminded not to extrapolate the first-half result across the entire year given these factors.

Air New Zealand share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Air New Zealand shares have increased 7%, slightly trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has rise around 8% over the same period. 

View Original Announcement

The post Air New Zealand warns of first-half FY26 loss as revenue, costs miss the mark appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With the August reporting season done and dusted, scores of companies have ex-dividend dates next week.

If you're keen to buy any of these ASX shares while they are still trading cum dividend, time is running out!

To receive a stock's next dividend, you must buy or already own it before the ex-dividend day.

We provide a sample of the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week below.

35 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post 35 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The benchmark index closed 0.92% lower yesterday at 8,662 points.

In July, the experts upgraded these nine ASX 200 shares to strong buy ratings.

Let's check them out.

9 ASX 200 shares with strong buy ratings

The following ASX 200 shares received an upgraded 'strong buy' consensus rating on the CommSec platform in July.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The consensus rating on Telix Pharmaceuticals shares was upgraded to a strong buy on 31 July.

The Telix share price finished the session on Friday at $20.15, down 4.28%.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX 200 tech share with a 12-month price target of $34.

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR)

Commsec analysts reached a consensus 'strong buy' rating on Worley shares on 31 July.

The Worley share price closed at $13.38, up 0.22% yesterday.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The consensus rating on CSL shares was upgraded to a strong buy on 22 July.

The CSL share price finished last week at $264.05, down 2.53%.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on the ASX 200 healthcare share with a 12-month price target of $305. 

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

Commsec analysts reached a consensus 'strong buy' rating on Orica shares on 22 July.

The Orica share price finished the session on Friday at $21.30, down 0.37%.

UBS has a buy rating on the explosives manufacturer with a 12-month share price target of $32. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The consensus rating on WiseTech Global shares was upgraded to a strong buy on 22 July.

The WiseTech Global share price finished the session on Friday at $116.34, down 3.04%.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on the ASX 200 tech share and a 12-month target price of $135.

Air New Zealand Ltd (ASX: AIZ)

Commsec analysts reached a consensus 'strong buy' rating on Air New Zealand shares on 31 July.

The ASX 200 airline share closed at $116.34 on Friday, down 2.55%.

But wait, there's more!

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

The consensus rating on Capstone Copper shares was upgraded to a strong buy on 22 July.

Capstone Copper shares led the market on Friday after the miner reported record production.

The ASX 200 copper stock was the fastest riser of the day, up 9.46% to $9.37.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on the ASX 200 copper share with a price target of $13.30. 

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Commsec analysts reached a consensus 'strong buy' rating on this ASX 200 buy now, pay later stock on 22 July.

The Zip share price finished the week at $3.25, up 0.62%.

Blackwattle portfolio managers Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren said Zip shares still have 'meaningful upside'.

They commented:

We still see meaningful upside through the ongoing penetration of BNPL products in the US which has a significant runway, sitting at only ~2% today, vs ~15% and ~20% in Australia and Europe respectively.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

The consensus rating on Westgold Resources shares was upgraded to a strong buy on 22 July.

The Westgold Resources share price closed at $2.53, down 1.17%, yesterday.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on the ASX 200 gold share with a 12-month share price target of $3.60. 

The post 9 ASX 200 shares attracting 'strong buy' ratings from the experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's take a look at how these three ASX travel shares performed in FY25.

Which ASX travel share provided the best returns in FY25?

In terms of share price growth, Qantas shares win

Let's start our assessment by reviewing share price growth for each of these ASX travel shares.

The Flight Centre share price fell 38% from its closing value of $20.18 on the last trading day of FY24 to $12.48 on 30 June 2025.

The Qantas share price leapt 84% from $5.85 per share on 28 June 2024 to $10.74 per share on 30 June 2025.

The Air New Zealand share price increased by 15% from 48 cents per share on 28 June 2024 to close out FY25 at 55 cents.

As my Fool colleague Bernd explains, Qantas benefited from strong domestic travel demand and increasing overseas travel in FY25.

Passengers were willing to pay historically high airfares to head overseas during the year.

Qantas also benefited from lower fuel costs amid global crude oil prices waning.

On dividends, Flight Centre shares win

What about income in FY25?

Over the FY25 period, Flight Centre paid an interim dividend of 30 cents per share in October 2024.

The travel agency then paid a final dividend of 11 cents per share in April 2025.

So, investors in this ASX travel share received 41 cents per share in annual dividends, plus full franking credits.

Qantas shares paid their first dividend since 2019 this year. The airline ceased dividend payments in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Qantas paid an interim dividend of 16.5 cents per share plus a special dividend of 9.9 cents per share in April.

This totalled 26.4 cents in annual dividends with 100% franking for FY25.

Air New Zealand shares paid a final dividend of 1.374 AU cents per share in September 2024.

The airline stock then paid an interim dividend of 1.134 AU cents per share in March 2025.

That's a total of 2.51 cents per share in dividends with no franking credits.

So, in dollar value terms, Flight Centre shares win.

Of course, comparing trailing dividend yields is a much more relevant way to assess which ASX travel share delivered the best income.

Using the closing 30 June share prices to calculate the annual trailing dividend yields, Flight Centre shares still win.

Flight Centre shares have a 3.29% trailing dividend.

Qantas shares have a 2.46% trailing dividend.

Air New Zealand shares have a 0.05% trailing dividend.

The post Did Flight Centre, Air New Zealand, or Qantas shares fly highest in FY25? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M)

The 29Metals share price is up 9% to 47.5 cents. This morning, this copper miner announced a binding terms sheet for a US$50 million offtake finance facility with Swiss mining giant Glencore. Funds from the proposed offtake facility will be available for draw down from financial close and will provide additional liquidity as its Capricorn Copper operation moves into suspension and is prepared for a successful and sustainable restart. In other news, insurers have committed to a further interim progress payment of $16 million for the surface component of its Capricorn Copper insurance claim. This increases aggregate insurance proceeds to date to $40 million.

Base Resources Ltd (ASX: BSE)

The Base Resources share price is up 110% to 22 cents. This has been driven by news that the minerals sands producer has entered into a binding scheme implementation deed (SID) with Energy Fuels. This will see Base Resources taken over in a deal worth 30.2 cents per share in scrip and cash. This values the company's total equity at approximately $375 million.

Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas Airways share price is up 3% to $5.79. This is despite Air New Zealand (ASX: AIZ) downgrading its full-year earnings guidance this morning. Qantas' rival warned that its "performance has seen ongoing softening, with challenging economic conditions and ongoing cost-of-living pressures." Though, with Air New Zealand shares rising on the news, it is possible that investors were pricing in even tougher trading conditions for airlines. This may explain why Qantas shares are rising today.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is up 6% to $3.38. This follows the release of the mining giant's third-quarter update. That update revealed that South32's production in FY 2024 is largely in line with expectations year to date. So much so, that the company remains on track to achieve almost all of its guidance for the financial year. The only disappointment was the Australia Manganese operation, which was impacted by Tropical Cyclone Megan last month. Its guidance has unsurprisingly been downgraded because of the disruption. Management advised that recovery plans are underway to enable a safe return to operations and ore exports.

The post Why 29Metals, Base Resources, Qantas, and South32 shares are storming higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For example, much to the dismay of their shareholders, the three ASX shares listed below have just hit 52-week lows. Here's what is happening:

Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ)

The Air New Zealand share price hit a 52-week low of 55 cents before rebounding. This latest decline means that the airline operator's shares are now down 21% over the last 12 months.

Last month, Air New Zealand released its half-year results and reported a 13% increase in operating revenue to NZ$3,474 million but a disappointing 39% decline in net profit after tax to NZ$129 million. However, it is worth noting that in the prior corresponding period the company recorded one of its highest-ever results thanks to the rapid return of air travel as New Zealand's borders reopened.

Clover Corporation Ltd (ASX: CLV)

The Clover share price tumbled to a 52-week low of 52 cents today. The ingredients company's shares have now lost 55% of their value over the last 12 months.

Earlier this week, Clover released its half year results and reported a 39% decline in sales to $27.3 million and a loss after tax of $0.6 million. This poor result was caused by ongoing challenges in its infant formula segment. The company advised:

A combination of factors, including declining global birth rates, a shift in Chinese manufacturing preferences towards Algae DHA over fish DHA, and intensified competition in a shrinking market, has led to continued sluggish demand for infant formula products.

Lake Resources N.L. (ASX: LKE)

The Lake Resources share price dropped to a 52-week low of 6.6 cents today. This decline means that the lithium developer's shares are now down a whopping 87% since this time last year.

Investors have been rushing to the exits since the release of the scoping study for the Kachi lithium project last year. That study relies heavily on lithium price assumptions that are materially higher than current levels.

Whereas if you use realistic lithium price assumptions, the project looks unlikely to offer a return that is sufficient (if any) to justify its construction. Particularly given that its initial capital expenditure for phase one is estimated to be US$1.38 billion. This compares to the ASX lithium share's market capitalisation of $105 million.

The post 3 ASX shares sinking to 52-week lows today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But some ASX stocks are going their own way on Tuesday.

Here are three companies setting new 52-week share price highs today.

The ASX All Ords shares hitting new highs

CSR Limited (ASX: CSR)

Shares in building products supplier CSR reached a 52-week high of $6.10 today. The last price-sensitive news out of CSR came on 4 July when it announced an acquisition. CSR has bought long-standing client Woven Image, a designer and manufacturer of sustainable acoustic solutions for walls and ceilings, for $43 million. The purchase was completed last Friday. The ASX All Ords share is up 38% in 12 months.

Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ)

ASX travel share Air New Zealand smashed a new 52-week peak of 77 cents today. The latest major news out of the company was its FY23 results on 24 August. Air New Zealand reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $412 million vs. a loss of $591 million in the COVID-impacted FY22. The ASX All Ords share is up 28% over the past 12 months.

Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR)

ASX gold mining share Emerald Resources hit a new 52-week high of $2.55. The most recent price-sensitive news came yesterday when Emerald Resources released its supplementary bidder's statement. This pertains to its off-market takeover offer for the unlisted gold miner Bullseye Mining Limited, which it announced on 27 July. The ASX All Ords share is up 118.5% in 12 months.

The post 3 ASX All Ords shares cracking new 52-week highs on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are pushing higher:

Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ)

The Air New Zealand share price is up 1.5% to 70.5 cents. This morning, the airline operator released an update on its guidance for FY 2023. According to the release, the airline now expects earnings before other significant items and tax to be no less than NZ$580 million. This compares with the prior guidance range given in April of NZ$510 million to NZ$560 million.

Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS)

The Metcash share price is up 3% to $3.59. This follows news that analysts at Goldman Sachs have taken their sell rating off this wholesale distributor's shares and upgraded them to neutral with a $3.50 price target. The broker believes all the potential negatives are now priced into its shares.

Service Stream Ltd (ASX: SSM)

The Service Stream share price is up 8% to 74.5 cents. This morning, this essential network services provider revealed that it has received a material tax refund to the amount of $50.2 million inclusive of interest. This is part of the ATO's temporary Loss Carry Back Tax Offset initiative.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is up 1.5% to $34.87. This follows a rise in oil prices overnight driven by Saudi Arabia's plan to cut production. It isn't just Woodside shares that are rising on Thursday. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is outperforming the market and up a decent 1.2% in afternoon trade.

The post Why Air New Zealand, Metcash, Service Stream, and Woodside shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Nitro Software Ltd (ASX: NTO), Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) and Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ) share prices are all in the green today.

Let's take a look at these three ASX All Ords shares in more detail.

Nitro Software

The Nitro Software share price is climbing 3.76% today from $2.13 to $2.21.

Nitro is the subject of a bidding war for a takeover. Alludo is proposing to acquire 100% of Nitro by scheme of arrangement with a revised price of $2.15 per Nitro share. This is 7.5% more than a previous offer. Nitro is recommending shareholders vote in favour of a revised takeover offer from Alludo in the absence of a superior proposal.

Last week, Potentia Capital Management offered to take over Nitro at $2 cash per Nitro share. The Nitro board recommends shareholders reject Potentia's takeover offer.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand shares are climbing 2.78% today.

The company recently upgraded its half-year earnings guidance for the 2023 financial year. The airline is expecting to achieve earnings before significant items and taxation for the first half of the financial year to be between $295 and $325 million. This is an upgrade on the previous guidance of $200 million to $275 million.

Commenting on travel demand, Air New Zealand said:

Continued strong travel demand across the domestic and international networks, as well
as a recent decline in jet fuel prices has accelerated the airline's financial recovery. As
a result, Air New Zealand is today upgrading half year earnings guidance for the 2023
financial year.

Arafura Rare Earths

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is soaring 8% today.

Arafura is exploring the Nolans Project in the Northern Territory for neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr). Nolans contains all the rare earths, but it is "particularly enriched" in magnet feed rare earths Nd and Pr. Arafura recently highlighted that the Nolans project is the "only advanced stage NdPR focussed project outside China that plans to mine and process ore to oxide at a single site".

Arafura is conducting a capital raise of $133 million to accelerate construction.

The post It's not all bad news for the ASX All Ords on Monday. Here are 3 big gainers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that aren't letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are charging higher:

Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ)

The Air New Zealand share price is up almost 3% to 74 cents. This morning the airline operator upgraded its half year earnings guidance. It now expects earnings before significant items and tax to be in the range of NZ$295 million to NZ$325 million for the half. This compares to its previous guidance of NZ$200 million to NZ$275 million. Continued strong travel demand across the domestic and international networks, as well as a recent decline in jet fuel prices, has accelerated the airline's financial recovery.

Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)

The Chalice Mining share price is up 13% to $6.32. This follows the release of promising drilling results from the Julimar Complex in Western Australia. Drilling at the greenfield Hooley Prospect, ~5km north of the current Gonneville Resource, has intersected a significant PGE-nickel-copper-cobalt-gold mineralisation.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is up over 4% to $2.92. This follows a rebound in the gold price overnight after the US dollar and bond yields softened. Evolution isn't the only gold miner rising today. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is up 2.8% this afternoon.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin share price is up 1% to $7.85. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Credit Suisse this morning. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the energy company's shares to an outperform rating with a $9.00 price target.

The post Why Air New Zealand, Chalice, Evolution, and Origin shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares of the iconic airline closed at $5.82 after earlier making an intraday high of $5.94.

Meanwhile, the industrials sector, which Qantas is a part of, also struggled on Monday. In fact, the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was the worst-performing sector on the market today, losing 2.28%.

Qantas rival Air New Zealand Limited (ASX: AIZ) also finished lower with a 1.35% loss.

Finally, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the day almost laying flat, losing 0.16%.

So why did Qantas shares lag the market on Monday? Let's investigate.

What went on with the Qantas share price today?

Qantas shares slipped on Monday as the airline contends with an underpayment claim being brought against it in Federal Court, The Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported on Sunday.

The claim is being initiated by Qantas engineers who state the airline breached the Fair Work Act as well as the graded wage structure in their industrial agreements. These breaches allegedly came in the form of engineers being demoted to lower positions in the pay scale and receiving lower salaries as a result, the reporting said.

It was also noted by AFR that the new lawsuit could be seen as a continuation of Qantas' previous disputes with its engineers. This included a claim of alleged underpayment of salaries made by The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) in 2019 that was later remediated by the airline.

When a Qantas spokesperson was asked by AFR for comment, they declined and instead referred to comments they had made relating to the earlier case in 2019:

Qantas is committed to paying its employees in accordance with relevant agreements. In this case, there is a complicated system that determines how our licensed engineers move between pay brackets Errors in this system could result in a combination of under and overpayments to individuals.

Qantas has already made adjustments to pay levels where required. What is at issue is the correct level of backpay, which Qantas has been working in good faith to determine, but is now engaged in needless court proceedings.

Qantas share price snapshot

The Qantas share price has gained around 16.07% year to date. That's soundly beating the ASX 200 Index, which is down by around 4% over the same period.

The company's market capitalisation is around $11 billion.

The post Why did the Qantas share price have such a lousy start to the week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.