Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)

Aussie Broadband shares jumped 20% higher in early February after the company announced it had signed an agreement to acquire AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)'s Telco business. As part of the arrangement, the two companies have also agreed to an exclusive long-term partnership. Aussie Broadband already benefits from a sticky customer base, and now it has the opportunity to grow even more. Analysts tip an upside as high as 47% to $7.14 a piece, at the time of writing.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The ASX travel company's shares have crashed 43% for the year to date after news of an audit of its Spanish subsidiary spooked worried investors. The audit will review direct taxes paid (and owed) between April 2021 and March 2024, as well as indirect taxes for the period between January 2022 and December 2025. But Web Travel Group said it does not expect any material earnings impact from the Spanish tax review, and its FY26 earnings guidance is unchanged at 22% to 29% higher than in FY25. It looks like the investor sell-off was overdone. Analysts are tipping an upside as high as 170% to $7.40 at the time of writing.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman Group shares have also tumbled 18% so far in 2026, amid concerns about Australia's interest rate direction, high borrowing costs, and overall investor uncertainty. There is broad weakness across the property sector, and the dent in confidence has flowed through to the latest earnings results. But I don't think the downturn is here to stay. Analysts tip an upside as high as 60% to $40 over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)

Again, AUB shares are down 22% for the year so far after investors exited their positions following news that the company completed a $400 million institutional placement to help fund its acquisition of UK insurer Prestige and support growth. The placement was priced below the share price at the time. The move signalled expectations that the share price would decline. It looks like the ASX shares have now hit rock bottom. Analysts tip an upside as high as 63% to $38.90 for the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

Super Retail Group shares have also been through the wringer in 2026. The share price shot to an all-time high after a record sales result in late February, but has slumped 20% since then amid market-wide volatility. As a retail company, Super Retail Group is heavily reliant on discretionary spending, but this is the first thing to retract when concerns about interest rates, cost of living, or economic volatility surface. Despite investor sentiment, the business remains strong and steady, so over the long term, we can expect the cyclical downturn to rebound. Analysts tip an upside of up to 50% to $19 at the time of writing for the ASX company's shares.

The post 5 ASX shares I'd buy with $5,000 today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After initially plunging almost 2% this morning, the ASX 200 pared back those losses and ended up closing 0.74% lower today. That loss leaves the index at 8,365.9 points.

This coldwater start to the trading week for Australian investors comes after a tough end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was hit hard, falling by a horrid 0.96%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, dropping 2.01%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now with a look at how the various ASX sectors handled today's trading conditions.

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

For you to be entitled to a stock's next dividend, you must own it before its ex-dividend date.

Here are some of the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We've picked three of these that stand out from the pack as providing potential large returns for shareholders.

So let's see what they are.

AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)

This is an ASX 200 company that operates retail and wholesale insurance brokers and underwriting agencies globally.

The company's shares are currently trading at $23.45, not far off their 12-month lows of $22.72 and a long way from the highs of $40.28 reached over the past year.

AUB last month reported a 14% increase in net profit and raised its FY26 profit guidance to $220 to $230 million, representing 9.9% to 14.9% growth over FY25.

The Macquarie team said the result beat consensus forecasts across all segments except New Zealand, with the other segments outperforming.

They added that the company "offers attractive growth at a valuation discount'', and they have a price target of $35.81 on AUB shares, while also forecasting a 4% dividend yield.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

This ASX 200 waste management company reported first-half results ahead of expectations, Macquarie said, while also tightening its full-year earnings expectations from $470 to $500 million to $480 to $500 million.

The Macquarie team said they think that "earnings momentum should inflect", with Cleanaway Management commenting on a favourable backdrop from project work and favourable price dynamics.

The Macquarie team added:

Margin improvement in Solid Waste is a key indicator of the better operating efficiencies resulting from improvement interventions. Health Services was a key disappointment, which is expected to see a 2H improvement. Contract Resources is bedding down well. Cost-out is progressing.

Macquarie has a price target of $3.40 on Cleanaway shares, compared with a price of $2.54 currently, and is forecasting a full-year dividend yield of 2.8%.

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

Capstone Copper's recently-released EBITDA of US$308 million was in line with consensus estimates, Macquarie said, but the net profit of US$79 million was 28% lower than expected due to higher tax expenses.  

Macquarie said they saw value in the company because its shares were trading at an implied copper price that was well below the spot price.

After running the ruler over Capstone's first-half results, Macquarie downgraded its price target on Capstone shares by only 1% to $15.40, which compares to $13.20 currently.

Macquarie said the current valuation was "not demanding''.

The post Three stocks to buy for double-digit returns, according to Macquarie appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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.

What did AUB Group report?

• Underlying NPAT rose 14% to $90.4 million (1HFY25: $79.3 million)
• Reported NPAT up to $35.3 million (1HFY25: $26.4 million)
• Underlying earnings per share: 77.54 cents (up from 68.07 cents)
• Fully franked interim dividend of 27.0 cents per share (1HFY25: 25.0 cps)
• FY26 underlying NPAT guidance upgraded to $220–230 million, representing 9.9%–14.9% growth over FY25

What else do investors need to know?

AUB Group reported strong profit growth across most divisions, especially in Australian broking (up 11.4%) and international operations (up 29%), thanks to acquisition activity and higher average commission income per client. However, New Zealand broking profit dipped 12.8% due to weak corporate market conditions and ongoing investment in gaining market share.

Capital management remains solid, with a leverage ratio of 2.49x and $143.5 million in accessible cash and undrawn debt at 31 December 2025. The interim dividend will be paid on 2 April 2026, but the dividend reinvestment plan is still suspended.

Nick Dryden has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer, having served previously as deputy CFO and interim CFO.

What did AUB Group management say?

AUB Group CEO and Managing Director, Michael Emmett, said:

The Group delivered another strong profit result in 1H26, with robust earnings growth in most Divisions. This was despite a disappointing performance in New Zealand and unfavourable currency headwinds from continued weakening of the US Dollar. I would like to thank our teams, member businesses and insurer partners for their commitment and execution. Above all, I thank our customers for their trust and their reliance on our advice for their insurance needs.

What's next for AUB Group?

The company has upgraded its FY26 underlying NPAT guidance to between $220 million and $230 million, assuming the completion of its Prestige acquisition no later than 1 May 2026 and growth in AUB 360 and Pacific Indemnity. AUB Group expects ongoing profit and margin growth through bolt-on acquisitions and organic expansion.

Foreign exchange remains a watchpoint, but the company has certain hedges in place for the remainder of FY26. Strategic investments and careful capital management remain a focus for the year ahead.

AUB Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, AUB Group shares have declined 12%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 9% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post AUB Group posts half-year profit, lifts FY26 guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It can be difficult for investors to not overreact both positively and negatively depending on the earnings results posted by a company. 

However these swings can sometimes be overcorrections, leading to great entry points for certain ASX shares. 

Here is one ASX stock that was heavily sold off yesterday that could now be attractively valued. 

AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)

AUB Group is the second-largest general insurance broker network in Australia and New Zealand.

This ASX 200 financials stock has experienced some significant volatility over the last 12 months and its start to 2026 has been difficult. 

AUB Group shares fell more than 6% yesterday, taking its year to date loss to 15%. 

It is now trading at 52-week lows.

Failed takeover 

Investors have been exiting their positions in this insurance company following a failed takeover deal late last year. 

The deal would have seen indicative offers up to A$45 per share – well above the prevailing share price at the time. 

Initially, this pushed the stock sharply higher. 

However, after due diligence negotiations, the buyers pulled out and terminated the takeover talks at the end of 2025, shocking markets and removing the potential takeover premium. 

The share price plunged sharply after that announcement.

Analysis via The Bull said this result was a disappointment for shareholders. 

AUB's board had indicated the consortium's offer appropriately valued the company, making the withdrawal a significant disappointment for shareholders who had anticipated a premium exit.

The subsequent announcement of the Prestige acquisition suggests management has pivoted quickly to pursue organic growth strategies rather than waiting for another takeover approach.

January acquisition

Late last month, AUB Group completed a $400 million institutional placement to help fund its acquisition of UK insurer Prestige and support growth. 

The placement was priced below the then-current share price (at about $29.40), diluting existing holders and signalling a reduction in valuation expectations.

Most of this year's share price fall has come after this announcement. 

The $400 million raise represents a substantial capital commitment for the company. According to management, it will now focus on integrating Prestige while delivering on promised synergies.

Buy low opportunity?

These ASX shares now sit at roughly $26.00 per share after yesterday's crash. 

Have they now hit rock bottom?

Based on the average rating of 8 analysts, these ASX shares are now undervalued. 

TradingView has an average 12 month price target of $37.63, with analysts one year targets ranging from $35.00 to $42.00. 

This average target is 45% higher than yesterday's closing price. 

The post This ASX 200 share crashed 6% yesterday – time to buy the dip? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)

The AUB Group share price is down 6% to $30.01. This morning, this insurance broker network company announced the successful completion of a share placement. AUB raised $400 million at a discount of $29.40 per new share. The company advised that the placement saw significant demand and support from both existing and new shareholders. AUB's CEO, Mike Emmett, said: "We are pleased with the outcome and thank our shareholders for their strong support for the Placement and the transaction. We are excited for Prestige to join the AUB Group and look forward to accelerating our UK Retail strategy to deliver value for shareholders."

Aurelia Metals Ltd (ASX: AMI)

The Aurelia Metals share price is down 3% to 34 cents. This morning, this gold miner announced that its CEO, Bryan Quinn, will be stepping down to pursue other career opportunities. Mr Quinn plans to remain with the company until the end of July. This is to ensure a smooth leadership transition and maintain the momentum across key operational and growth initiatives. Quinn commented: "I have greatly enjoyed my time working with the Aurelia team. It has been a privilege to lead the company as we improved market value, strengthened our strategic position, and built a strong leadership team with a performance-driven culture."

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is down 3.5% to $4.04. Investors have been selling this counter-drone technology company's shares since the release of its update this week. While it was a strong update, investors appear concerned by a reduction in its sales pipeline. Bell Potter wasn't concerned and has retained its buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares. It said: "We believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2.1b potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26e."

Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV)

The Elevra Lithium share price is down 14% to $7.89. This morning, this lithium miner released its quarterly update, which appears to have fallen short of expectations. Elevra reported a disappointing 15% quarter on quarter decline in spodumene concentrate production to 44,154 dmt. The company also revealed that its received US$998 per tonne for its lithium, whereas its unit operating costs were US$812 per tonne.

The post Why AUB, Aurelia Metals, DroneShield, and Elevra Lithium shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did AUB Group report?

• Raised $400 million through the placement of approximately 13.6 million shares at $29.40 each
• Placement priced at a 7.9% discount to the last traded price of $31.91
• Strong demand from both existing and new shareholders
• Separate non-underwritten Share Purchase Plan (SPP) targeting up to $40 million for eligible investors
• Funds will support the Prestige acquisition, related costs, and future accretive opportunities

What else do investors need to know?

The new shares issued in the placement fall within AUB's existing placement capacity and are due to settle on 30 January 2026, with allotment scheduled for 2 February. The $40 million SPP gives eligible Australian and New Zealand shareholders an opportunity to apply for up to $30,000 of new shares, with the offer period open from 4–26 February 2026.

Shares under the SPP will be priced at the lower of the $29.40 placement price or a 2% discount to the five-day volume weighted average price at closing, rounded to the nearest cent. If the SPP is oversubscribed, AUB reserves discretion to scale back applications or raise more.

What did AUB Group management say?

AUB's CEO Mike Emmett said:

We are pleased with the outcome and thank our shareholders for their strong support for the Placement and the transaction. We are excited for Prestige to join the AUB Group and look forward to accelerating our UK Retail strategy to deliver value for shareholders.

What's next for AUB Group?

Capital raised will be used to complete the Prestige acquisition and explore additional opportunities for growth. Management aims to leverage the acquisition to strengthen AUB's UK Retail strategy and deliver enhanced value to shareholders.

AUB will provide further details on the SPP in a dedicated offer booklet, expected on 4 February. Key dates include SPP settlement and trading of new shares in early March 2026, though these timelines remain indicative.

AUB Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, AUB Group shares have risen 2%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post AUB Group completes $400m institutional placement to fund Prestige acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The trading halt was requested ahead of a detailed update to the market. AUB shares last closed at $31.91 on Friday.

Let's take a closer look at what AUB announced and why trading has been paused.

A major move into the UK

According to the release, AUB has agreed to acquire 95.9% of UK insurance broker Prestige for $432 million (roughly GBP (Great British Pound) 219 million).

Prestige operates across several areas of the UK insurance market, including retail insurance broking, specialist underwriting businesses, and insurance technology.

In FY25, Prestige generated GBP 310 million in gross written premium and GBP 17.5 million in EBITDA. That puts the purchase price at 12.9 times EBITDA, excluding expected synergies.

AUB said the acquisition strengthens its position in the UK retail insurance market. It also gives the group a larger platform to make additional small acquisitions over time.

Once the deal is completed, AUB expects its UK retail business to handle more than GBP 720 million in gross written premium. That would increase the share of earnings coming from offshore markets.

The deal also marks AUB's first move into the UK MGA space. Management described this area as an attractive growth opportunity.

What this means for earnings

AUB expects the deal to deliver more than $10 million in annual cost savings by FY27.

These savings are expected to come from combining operations, shared services, and changes to leadership structures.

There may also be revenue benefits. AUB sees opportunities to cross-sell products across its existing UK businesses and Prestige's specialist operations.

In the near term, the company said the acquisition and recent smaller deals should be earnings neutral before synergies. After synergies, AUB expects the transaction to be low to mid-single-digit earnings accretive in FY25.

How the deal is being funded

To fund the acquisition, AUB has launched a fully underwritten $400 million institutional placement at $29.40 per share. That price represents a 7.9% discount to Friday's close.

The placement will result in the issue of about 13.6 million new shares, increasing AUB's total share count by around 11.7%.

Retail investors will also be offered a share purchase plan of up to $40 million, with a maximum investment of $30,000 per shareholder.

In addition, AUB has secured a new $200 million debt facility, bringing total funding for the transaction to $600 million.

After the deal, AUB expects its debt levels to remain manageable, with more than $300 million in available cash and unused debt facilities.

What happens next?

AUB expects the trading halt to be lifted tomorrow, once the institutional placement is completed.

Settlement of the new shares is scheduled for Friday, with normal trading expected to resume shortly after.

The post Big UK deal, big capital raise. Why this ASX stock is in a trading halt appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Macquarie's latest research suggests that it might finally be back to business for the insurance broker network.

A few days ago, AUB confirmed that EQT and CVC had terminated discussions regarding a potential takeover. The suitors decided not to proceed with a binding proposal to buy the company for $45 per share.

For shareholders who were eyeing that $45 payout, it's a hard one to take because AUB Group shares are currently trading at $31.40 per share.

The analysts at Macquarie, however, certainly seem to see an opportunity here.

Back to business

In a research note released immediately following the news, Macquarie maintained an outperform rating on AUB Group, assigning a 12-month price target of $37.40 to the shares.

Macquarie's message is simple: it's "back to business".

Even without a takeover premium, Macquarie believes the fundamentals of AUB are rock solid. They note that AUB is executing well across multiple earnings growth opportunities and the company has a history of delivering consistent organic growth, supplemented by smart acquisitions.

Why Macquarie is bullish

There are three main reasons Macquarie thinks the stock is a buy at today's prices:

1. The Valuation Gap: AUB is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 15.6x. That is significantly cheaper than its historical average of 18.3x and cheaper than its recent average of 19.6x. In short, the stock looks like a bargain compared to its own history.
2. Broking Strength: Despite fears that insurance premium rates might soften, AUB continues to grow. In the Australian broking segment, average income per client actually increased by 8.4% recently. They are squeezing more value out of existing relationships.
3. The International Opportunity: The Tysers (International) business is the sleeping giant here. Current EBIT margins are around 25%, but AUB is targeting 32% over the medium term. If they hit that target, it implies significant earnings upside that Macquarie feels isn't fully baked into the current share price.

Risks

There are still risks, however, to investing in AUB Group, and Macquarie points out that poor M&A execution remains a key risk. When growth relies partly on buying other companies, you have to buy the right ones at the right price and integrate them well into your business. Additionally, if the premium rate cycle turns faster than expected, it could put pressure on earnings.

Foolish bottom line

The AUB Group takeover deal is dead, but the business is very much alive. With a price target of $37.40, offering a potential upside of approximately 19% from the current price, Macquarie suggests that AUB Group represents a good investment opportunity for patient investors.

The post Does Macquarie rate AUB Group shares a buy after the deal fell through? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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:

AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)

The AUB Group share price is up almost 2.5% to $31.35. Investors have been buying this insurance broker's shares after a sharp pullback on Monday following the collapse of takeover talks. This morning, Ord Minnett put a buy rating and $35.71 price target on the company's shares. It feels its shares offer a favourable risk/reward at current levels.

Titomic Ltd (ASX: TTT)

The Titomic share price is up 15% to 23 cents. This follows the release of an announcement from the cold spray additive manufacturing company this morning. Titomic revealed that it has successfully completed a hot fire test on a solid rocket motor thrust chamber produced for a major U.S. aerospace and defence customer. Titomic's CEO, Jim Simpson, said: "This successful test validates the strength and performance of Titomic's technology in one of the most challenging environments imaginable. It represents not only a technical achievement but further affirms cold spray as a critical additive manufacturing capability for advanced aerospace and defense solutions. Titomic delivered the components to its customer within weeks of receiving the order, demonstrating our ability to rapidly deliver – from prototype to production – critical missile components which today has significant lead times.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

The Treasury Wine share price is up 2% to $5.90. This morning, Morgan Stanley responded to the wine company's US update by retaining its equal weight rating and $6.45 price target. This implies potential upside of 12% from current levels. Elsewhere, Morgans has put a hold rating and $6.10 price target on its shares.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is up over 1% to $25.46. This has been driven by a decent rise in oil prices overnight amid supply concerns following an attack on a Black Sea terminal. The WTI crude oil price was up 1.35% to US$59.33 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 1.3% to US$63.20 a barrel. It isn't just Woodside that is rising today on the news. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is up almost 1.5% at the time of writing.

The post Why AUB, Titomic, Treasury Wine, and Woodside shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company was forced to reveal that a potential deal was in the works last month, when the Australian Financial Review published an article stating that talks were ongoing.

AUB informed the ASX at the time that discussions about a potential buyout commenced on September 13, when EQT initially offered $43 per share, which was subsequently increased to $45 per share.

The $45 potential offer was a massive 40.2% premium to AUB's previous closing price, and the stock naturally traded higher on the news.

Bidders walk away

AUB cautioned its shareholders at the time that there was no guarantee a formal bid for the company would arise; however, on Monday, it revealed that talks had ceased.

As AUB said on Monday:

The consortium has advised that it does not intent to proceed with a binding proposal at a price of $45 per share. Accordingly the parties have agreed to terminate discussions. The AUB board believes that a price of $45 per share appropriately values AUB in the current market environment.

The company's Managing Director, Michael Emmett, said on Monday that the company continued to "deliver robust performance, underpinned by a clear strategy and disciplined execution''.

He added:

The recent due diligence process, while demanding, has reaffirmed our confidence in our improvement initiatives and long-term growth prospects. Now that discussions with the consortium have ended, our board and management team are full focussed on advancing our portfolio of organic growth initiatives and acquisition opportunities. We remain confident in AUB Group's forecast FY26 financial performance and see significant opportunities to grow profits in FY27 and beyond.

The AUB share price fell sharply when the news was announced this week, dropping from $37.25 at Friday's close to $30.63 on Monday.

Shares cheap at these levels

But the team at Jarden for one say this creates a compelling buying opportunity.

The Jarden team say the prospects for further merger and acquisition activity in the Australian insurance sector remain high, and they also like AUB on a standalone basis.

As they said in a note to clients:

Despite the deal failing to proceed, we think prospects for M&A in the domestic broker sector are likely to remain elevated. Australian broking consolidation has intensified in recent years … With this elevated level of sector corporate activity, we think AUB would remain well-positioned to be a participant given its scale as Australia's second largest broker, and proven track record of value-accretive acquisitions.

And while the failure of the takeover might have been disappointing for shareholders, Jarden's target price of $37.80 per AUB share remains well above current levels.

Combined with the company's dividend yield, the Jarden team are forecasting a total shareholder return over 12 months of 26.8%.

As they said:

We see the share price reaction as a short-term reset in market expectations rather than any change in fundamentals. The underlying business outlook remains supportive despite the moderating premium rate cycle. AUB appears confident on both the organic growth outlook, as well as the potential for further acquisitions.

AUB is an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) company comprised of a group of retail and wholesale insurance brokers and underwriting agencies, which operates in about 580 locations globally, according to its website.

The company was founded in 1985 and now serves approximately one million clients, managing over $11 billion in insurance premiums.

AUB was valued at $3.57 billion at the close of trade on Monday.

The post This insurance company is a compelling buy, despite a takeover falling through, analysts say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)

The ASX share price is down over 2.5% to $56.65. Investors have been selling the stock exchange operator's shares following another damaging event. A number of ASX shares have been suspended from trade today due to an announcement outage. It stated: "ASX has implemented an initial remediation and commenced processing company announcements received since 11:22 AEDT. Earlier announcements remain impacted. We apologise for the disruption from this event and we are seeking to resolve this as soon as possible."

AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)

The AUB Group share price is down almost 17% to $31.02. This follows news that the insurance broker's takeover talks have ended without a deal being reached. EQT and CVC had tabled a non-binding offer of $45.00 per share but have now withdrawn the proposal. AUB's CEO, Michael Emmett, said: "AUB Group continues to deliver robust performance, underpinned by a clear strategy and disciplined execution. The recent due diligence process, while demanding, has reaffirmed our confidence in our improvement initiatives and long-term growth prospects. Now that discussions with the Consortium have ended, our Board and management team are fully focused on advancing our portfolio of organic growth initiatives and acquisition opportunities. We remain confident in AUB Group's forecast FY26 financial performance and see significant opportunities to grow profits in FY27 and beyond."

Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL)

The Dyno Nobel share price is down over 3% to $3.30. This has been driven by the commercial explosives company's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its final dividend of FY 2025. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving Dyno Nobel's 9.5 cents per share payout later this month on 16 December.

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

The HMC Capital share price is down 7% to $3.60. This is despite there being no news out of the investment company on Monday. However, it is possible that this has been driven by profit taking from investors after some strong gains in recent weeks. For example, even after today's sizeable decline, HMC Capital's shares are up 24% since the middle of November.

The post Why ASX, AUB, Dyno Nobel, and HMC shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did AUB Group report in FY25?

• Revenue rose 12.7% to $1,501.3 million
• Underlying NPAT increased 17.1% to $200.2 million, beating the top end of guidance
• Underlying earnings per share lifted 9.5% to 171.8 cents
• Dividend per share was up 15.2% to 91.0 cents
• EBIT margin expanded to 34.7% (from 34.0%)
• Strong growth in Agencies and BizCover, with PBT up 30.0% and 26.8% respectively

What else do investors need to know?

AUB Group continued its momentum in FY25 by completing several acquisitions, including Pacific Indemnity, Momentum, Movo and sixteen smaller bolt-ons. The group expanded its UK retail broking significantly, taking its UK GWP from £110 million in FY24 to £340 million in FY25.

Portfolio optimisation, especially in Australian Broking, helped boost EBIT margins to 37.8%. The company says its scale now stretches across 579 locations and more than 6,000 staff globally. BizCover, its digital SME insurance platform, also delivered strong revenue growth and client retention.

What did AUB Group management say?

CEO and Managing Director Mike Emmett said:

We're pleased with this year's solid performance, highlighted by strong underlying profit growth, margin expansion across key divisions, and successful integration of recent acquisitions.

What's next for AUB Group?

Looking to FY26, AUB Group has set underlying NPAT guidance of $215.0–227.0 million, an expected increase of 7.4%–13.4% on the prior year. The company's main focus areas will be further portfolio optimisation in Australia and New Zealand, scaling up new agencies, and accelerating momentum for BizCover.

Internationally, the group will continue building out its Tysers business in the UK and pursue select bolt-on acquisitions. Margin improvement and technology investments remain central to AUB's strategy.

AUB Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, AUB Group shares have risen 24%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post AUB Group holds its AGM appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

AUB said last month that Danish private equity firm EQT had approached it about a possible takeover, after an article in the Australian Financial Review broke the news of the possible deal.

AUB informed the ASX at the time that discussions about a potential buyout commenced on September 13, when EQT initially offered $43 per share, which was subsequently increased to $45 per share.

The $45 potential offer was a massive 40.2% premium to AUB's previous closing price, and the stock naturally traded higher on the news.

There is no guarantee a formal bid will arise, however, and the stock has continued to trade at a discount to the offer price.

Late last week, AUB said that EQT had reconfirmed its interest in buying out the company, and that it had extended the exclusivity period for talks by two weeks to 20 November.

New bidder joins forces

On Monday, AUB issued a further update to shareholders, saying that another private equity firm, CVC Asia Pacific, was now interested in joining the potential EQT proposal.

As the company said:

On 9 November 2025, EQT advised AUB that it had received an unsolicited approach from CVC Asia Pacific Limited to partner and jointly pursue the acquisition of AUB (the consortium proposal). Under the consortium proposal, CVC funds and EQT funds would jointly own AUB (along with any co investors). EQT has confirmed that the consortium proposal would remain at a price of $45.00 per share.

EQT, AUB said, had also asked for another two-week extension to the due diligence period, which AUB had granted, pushing that date out to 4 December.

AUB said there was still no guarantee a formal bid would eventuate, as it told its shareholders:

The AUB board notes that there is no guarantee that a binding agreement will be reached with EQT and CVC and therefore no certainty that the consortium proposal will result in a transaction.  

AUB is an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) company comprised of a group of retail and wholesale insurance brokers and underwriting agencies, which operates in about 580 locations globally, according to its website.

The company was founded in 1985 and now serves approximately one million clients, managing over $11 billion in insurance premiums.

AUB shares were trading 1.6% higher on Monday morning at $39.53, still well below the $45 potential bid price.

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AUB was forced to update the market about the potential bid from Danish firm EQT late last month, after the Australian Financial Review broke the news that the two were in talks.

AUB informed the ASX at the time that discussions about a potential buyout commenced on September 13, when EQT initially offered $43 per share, which was subsequently increased to $45 per share.

The $45 potential offer was a massive 40.2% premium to AUB's previous closing price, and the stock naturally traded higher on the news.

There is no guarantee a formal bid will arise, however, and the stock has continued to trade at a discount to the offer price.

Negotiations continuing

On Friday, AUB released an update to the ASX, saying talks with EQT were ongoing.

As the Australian company said:

Under the terms of the confidentiality agreement, EQT was required to re-confirm its intention to proceed with the proposal to acquire AUB at $45.00 cash for each AUB share to retain exclusivity. EQT has provided such re-confirmation.

AUB said it had also extended the initial four-week exclusivity period by another two weeks, to 20 November.

The AUB Board notes that there is no guarantee that a binding agreement will be reached with EQT and therefore no certainty that the proposal will result in a transaction.

AUB shares traded as high as $40.28 early on Friday before settling back to be 9.3% higher at $39.99.

Positive development

Broker E&P Capital said in a note to clients that it was a positive development.

While EQT's re-confirmation of its intention to proceed with its $45 per share proposal doesn't guarantee it will enter into a binding agreement it does suggest it has not been overly concerned by the recent de-rating of insurance broking peers offshore or Steadfast Group's recent reduction in its premium rate growth expectations for FY26.

AUB is an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) company comprised of a group of retail and wholesale insurance brokers and underwriting agencies, which operates in about 580 locations globally, according to its website.

The company was founded in 1985 and now serves approximately one million clients, managing over $11 billion in insurance premiums.

EQT is based in Denmark and, in its most recent quarterly report, stated that it had approximately €267 billion ($474.3 billion) in assets under management.

The post There's still potentially money to be made trading this takeover target, despite a big surge in its shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We have a diverse range of top performers this week.

One is a major insurance broker; one is a uranium miner; and the third makes pizzas.

Here's what's been grabbing ASX investor interest.

ASX 200 stocks racing higher this week

First up we have AUB Group Limited (ASX: AUB).

Shares in the general insurance broker closed last Friday trading for $32.10. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $37.19 apiece. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 15.9% in this week's falling market.

The strong outperformance this week was driven by news that Danish private equity company EQT lobbed a takeover offer for AUB, with a buyout offer of $45 per share.

On Tuesday, AUB confirmed media rumours of that takeover offer, adding that potential takeover discussions had commenced on September 13, with EQT initially offering $43 per share.

Moving on to the second ASX 200 stock shooting the lights out this week, Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN).

Shares in the Aussie uranium producer closed last week trading for $8.40, and are currently trading for $9.54 each. That sees the Paladin Energy share price up 13.8% over the week.

There was no fresh price-sensitive news out from the company this week. But the Paladin Energy share price gained 11.3% on Wednesday after United States President Donald Trump helped rekindle investor interest in uranium stocks.

That came as the US government announced its intention to spend around US$80 billion (AU$121 billion) to buy nuclear reactors from Westinghouse Electric Co. The US is embarking on its biggest nuclear power expansion plans in decades.

Leading the charge

Which brings us to the top-performing ASX 200 stock on my list for this week, Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited (ASX: DMP).

Shares in the fast-food pizza retailer closed last Friday trading for $15.36. At time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $18.44 apiece. This puts the Domino's share price up an impressive 20.1% over the week.

Domino's shares closed in the green every day this week.

Shares surged 7.2% on Tuesday amid media speculations of a looming takeover offer from Bain Capital Specialty Finance Inc (NYSE: BCSF), purportedly valuing the company at $4 billion. At the time, Domino's market cap was around $1.5 billion.

According to Domino's, however, there have been no takeover discussion with Bain Capital.

In afternoon trade on Tuesday, the ASX 200 stock stated, "Domino's confirms that, as far as it is aware, it has not received any proposal from Bain Capital or had any communication with that organisation."

Nevertheless, shares have continued to rise since then.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks storming higher in this week's falling market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.