Trump's declaration that the war with Iran would go on for another "two to three weeks" was enough to start the selling. By the time the markets closed up for the Easter break, the ASX 200 had slumped by a nasty 1.06%. That fall leaves the index at 8,579.5 points as we head into the long weekend.

This volatile session for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning up on the American markets (let's see what happens tomorrow over there).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a comfortable time of it, rising by 0.48%.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more enthusiastic, gaining 1.16%.

But let's return to the local markets now and check out how the various ASX sectors dealt with today's whipsawing trading conditions.

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

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

Here is a sample of the large number of ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

ASX All Ords shares about to go ex-dividend

Which companies will we hear from today?

The big one today is the half-yearly report from supermarket network Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Woolworths shares ripped this week after the ASX All Ords consumer staples giant reported a 16% profit lift to $859 million for 1H FY26.

We'll also hear from TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Michael Hill International Ltd (ASX: MHJ), and Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA).

The latest report from The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) will also be interesting, as investors seek further news on the turnaround plan for the beleaguered casino operator.

Yesterday, Star Entertainment shares bounced on news of a debt refinancing deal, including extra liquidity to fund the turnaround plan.

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

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban, while arguably not the most exciting stock, is a consistent one. It owns and operates major toll roads. It also holds long-term government contracts to finance and build major roads, which also cover toll operations. This cash flow and revenue predictability has seen it become popular amongst investors.

It stands to benefit from some solid structural tailwinds too. With major roads playing a critical role as metro populations expand, Transurban is well positioned to deliver.

On the flipside, road projects often face delays and cost blow-outs. For example, Transurban delivered Melbourne's long awaited West Gate Tunnel in 2025 at a cost of $10.2 billion against a plan for 2022 delivery at $5.5 billion, with Transurban covering $2 billion of the additional cost. That said, Transurban has a history of disciplined cash flow management that has enabled it to wear one-off costs like this.

Its most recent results demonstrate why it's worth considering. It delivered $2.02 billion in proportional total revenue (up 6%) and $343 million in statutory profit after tax. In addition, its dividend guidance for 2026 is $0.69 per share, up 6.2% on 2025, which should keep investors content.

Is Transurban a buy?

For me, it is. At current prices, Transurban isn't likely to skyrocket your portfolio. Some analysts are predicting a small upside right now, but nothing to get excited about. However, it is likely to keep delivering stable returns and measured growth for long-term investors.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

Aurizon is a national rail-freight operator, hauling bulk commodities and freight for industries such as mining and manufacturing. It operates Australia's largest coal rail system, the 2,670km Central Queensland Coal Network. The network offers critical mine to port transportation to over 50 mines in the region.

Its significant footprint in the mining industry includes a partnership with BHP Copper SA to deliver an integrated rail, road, and port solution that will shift copper transport from road to rail along the Pimba to Port Adelaide corridor.

Aurizon delivered some stronger-than-expected results in HY26, including 16% growth in underlying net profit after tax and EBITDA growth across all its business units. Its bulk business saw the highest growth at 39%, largely driven by increased rail volumes and the first freight moved under the BHP Copper SA contract.

Where I'm caught on this one is valuation. With current share prices around the $4 mark and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of circa 23, I think there is too much risk of downside. I'm also cautious about its heavy exposure to coal mining, while noting that it has begun to diversify in recent years.

Is Aurizon a buy?

Right now, it's a wait-and-watch story, in my opinion. I don't think it is delivering the returns to justify its present valuation. But I think it will keep delivering growth, so I'm adding it to the watchlist. If the share price falls, it could be a winner.

Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (ASX: VGN)

Domestic and international carrier, Virgin Australia, returned to the ASX in June 2025, after delisting in 2020 amidst the COVID crisis. Its Q1 FY26 update reported domestic capacity uplift of 5% on the prior corresponding period. It also reaffirmed that revenue per available seat kilometre (RASK) should meet expected growth of 3% to 5% in HY26.

But there are potential pitfalls ahead. While Virgin Australia enjoys a duopoly on major domestic routes across Australia, it doesn't inoculate it from economic headwinds. Although Australians love to travel, as budgets continue to tighten, changes in discretionary spending could prove challenging. Additionally, the relatively thin margins in the airline industry leave it sensitive to operating cost changes, from fuel to labour.

As we await HY26 results on Friday, this one has me thinking. I'm uncomfortable with its more recent corporate history – multiple restructures, ownership changes, and strategic resets. And I am not sure even great results would be enough to convince me just yet.

Is Virgin Australia a buy?

For me, it's a not a buy right now. Some analysts have said they see upside at current prices, however, so I may be going against the grain on this one. But I think Virgin needs longer to show it has truly recovered from a challenging period.

The post Planes, trains and automobiles: Which of these ASX transport stocks has fuel in the tank? 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 storming higher:

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price is up 4.5% to $8.90. Investors have been buying this infant formula company's shares following the release of its half-year results. A2 Milk delivered a strong first-half performance and upgraded its guidance for FY 2026. With respect to the latter, management now expects revenue growth in the mid double-digit percentage range (from low double-digits) compared to FY 2025 continuing operations. A2 Milk's managing director and CEO, David Bortolussi, said: "Our upgraded outlook means we are now on track to achieve our $2 billion medium term sales ambition in FY26, a full year ahead of plan. This is testament to the execution of our team and the strength of the a2 brand."

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

The Aurizon Holdings share price is up 6% to $3.81. This has been driven by the release of the rail freight operator's half-year results this morning. Aurizon reported a 16% increase in net profit after tax to $237 million. This allowed the company to increase its 90%-franked interim dividend by 36% to 12.5 cents per share. Aurizon's managing director and CEO, Andrew Harding, said: "Today's results underscore the strength of Aurizon's two largest business units, Network and Coal and the continued growth of Bulk and Containerised Freight."

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is up almost 7% to $81.81. The catalyst for this has been the release of the retail giant's half-year results. JB Hi-Fi revealed a 7.3% increase in total sales to $6.1 billion and a 7.1% lift in net profit after tax to $305.8 million. Management advised that its focus on value supported its performance. JB Hi-Fi's CEO, Nick Wells, said: "We are pleased to report record sales and strong earnings for HY26, as we built on the momentum of the previous year. In a retail environment where customers are seeking value, our brands continue to resonate strongly and our teams continue to execute to a high standard."

Magnetic Resources NL (ASX: MAU)

The Magnetic Resources share price is up 27% to $2.03. This follows news that the gold explorer has received and accepted a takeover offer from Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD). Magnetic shareholders will receive $1.40 cash and 0.0873 new Genesis shares for every share they own. This implies a value of $2.00 per share and values Magnetic Resources at ~$639 million. Genesis executive chair, Raleigh Finlayson, said: "This transaction creates substantial value for both groups of shareholders, delivering genuine synergies while combining the right assets with the right people. Magnetic's Lady Julie Gold Project will add more than 2Moz at an attractive high grade to Genesis' Laverton inventory, further bolstering the mine life and production outlook."

The post Why A2 Milk, Aurizon, JB Hi-Fi, and Magnetic Resources shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But does that mean the company's shares are a buy? We'll get to that later. Firstly to the result.

A solid set of numbers

The rail transport company reported EBITDA of $891 million, up 9% on the same period the previous year, with earnings driven by "higher volumes, a regulatory revenue uplift and disciplined cost control''.

The company also boosted its dividend payout ratio to 90% of underlying net profit, up from a range of 70% to 100% previously, and will pay an interim dividend of 12.5 cents per share, up from 9.2 cents.

The company also said it would extend its on-market share buyback by $100 million, making it now worth up to $250 million.

Managing Director Andrew Harding said it was a solid result.

Today's results underscore the strength of Aurizon's two largest business units, Network and Coal and the continued growth of Bulk and Containerised Freight. Revenue growth was driven by regulatory uplift and higher volumes, while disciplined cost control — including the successful execution of last year's $60 million cost‑out program — further strengthened our position. This strong performance has flowed through to increases in our net profit after tax, free cash flow and earnings per share. We are also making good progress executing against key strategic objectives.

On the outlook, the company maintained its full-year guidance for underlying EBITDA in the range of $1.68 to $1.75 billion, with the full-year dividend now expected to be 22 to 23 cents per share, up from a previous guidance of 19 to 20 cents per share.

The network division was expected to post increased earnings compared with FY25 due to an increase in regulatory revenue, while the coal division was also expected to increase earnings, driven by increased volumes and flat unit costs.

Analysts applaud a solid result

Jarden analysts said the result was a strong beat on core earnings per share, coming in 9% above expectations.  

They said the strength in the coal and bulk freight divisions was reassuring, while containerised freight appeared to still be a drag.

The Jarden team said, "Coal, Bulk and Network beats should drive share price strength''.

RBC Capital Markets analysts said the result was positive, with the interim dividend comfortably beating consensus estimates of 9.7/9.8 cents per share.

Aurizon shares were 5.2% higher in early trade on Monday at $3.77, after briefly trading as high as $3.92, which was a 12-month high.

Both analysts think Aurizon is fully priced at current levels, with Jarden having a price target of $3.45 on the shares and RBC a $3.40 target.

Aurizon was valued at $6.15 billion at the close of trade on Friday.

The post A bigger than expected dividend has Aurizon shares performing well, but are they fully-priced? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Aurizon Holdings report?

• Revenue up 4% to $2.1 billion
• EBITDA increased 9% to $891 million
• NPAT rose 16% to $237 million
• Earnings per share up 20% to 13.6 cents
• Interim dividend of 12.5 cps, 90% franked (36% increase)
• Free cashflow up 41% to $335 million

What else do investors need to know?

Aurizon attributed the result to higher volumes, a regulatory revenue uplift, and continued discipline on costs. The half saw solid gains across the Bulk, Coal, and Network business units, supporting the group's improved earnings.

The interim dividend payout ratio was lifted to 90% of Underlying NPAT, and Aurizon extended its on-market buy-back by $100 million, now totalling up to $250 million. The company also completed a review of its Network business, deciding to keep its integrated rail model rather than pursue a demerger or monetisation.

What did Aurizon Holdings management say?

Managing Director & CEO Andrew Harding said:

Today's results underscore the strength of Aurizon's two largest business units, Network and Coal and the continued growth of Bulk and Containerised Freight… Revenue growth was driven by regulatory uplift and higher volumes, while disciplined cost control — including the successful execution of last year's $60 million cost‑out program — further strengthened our position… We determined that retaining 100% ownership of Network remained the option that best delivers long-term value for our shareholders.

What's next for Aurizon Holdings?

Aurizon expects full-year underlying EBITDA in the range of $1,680 million to $1,750 million and has upgraded expected full-year dividends to 22-23 cents per share. The group is maintaining its focus on disciplined growth, cost control, and investment in both transformation and growth capex.

Management says they are progressing with the draft 10-year undertaking for the Central Queensland Coal Network, which, if approved, is expected to provide an average annual revenue uplift and long-term certainty for customers and shareholders.

Aurizon Holdings share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Aurizon shares have risen 13%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Aurizon Holdings hikes dividend after stronger FY2026 half-year profit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But while term deposits may offer more than they did a few years ago, there are still ASX shares providing attractive forward yields, with the added benefit of potential capital growth.

Based on broker forecasts, the following four shares combined offer an average forward dividend yield of around 6%. Here's what analysts are saying about them:

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first ASX share to consider is APA Group. It owns and operates a portfolio of gas pipelines, storage facilities, and energy infrastructure assets across Australia. These assets are typically backed by long-term contracts, providing visible cash flow and supporting reliable distributions.

Macquarie is positive on the company and currently has an outperform rating and $9.23 price target on its shares. As for income, the broker is forecasting a dividend yield of approximately 6.4% in FY 2026.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

Another ASX share worth considering for dividends is Aurizon. It operates one of Australia's largest rail freight networks, transporting bulk commodities such as coal across key export corridors. While volumes can fluctuate, much of the company's revenue is underpinned by long-term take-or-pay contracts.

Macquarie is also positive on this one. The broker recently put an outperform rating on Aurizon's shares with a $3.77 price target.

With respect to dividends, the broker is expecting the company's shares to deliver a yield of around 5.4% in FY 2026.

Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI)

For investors wanting property exposure, the Dexus Industria REIT could be worth a closer look according to analysts. It focuses on industrial assets, including warehouses and logistics facilities, which continue to benefit from structural trends such as ecommerce and supply chain optimisation.

Bell Potter is feeling positive about the company's outlook. It recently put a buy rating and $3.00 price target on the ASX share.

As for that all-important income, the broker is forecasting a dividend yield of approximately 6.6% in FY 2026, making it one of the higher-yielding names in this group.

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

The final ASX share to consider for income is Premier Investments. It is the owner of popular retail brands Smiggle and Peter Alexander, as well as a stake in Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG). These assets are consistently generating strong free cash flow, which is usually returned to shareholders in the form of dividends.

Macquarie is also positive on this one. It currently has an outperform rating and $16.20 price target on the shares.

As for income, the broker expects a fully franked dividend yield of approximately 5.8% in FY 2026.

The post 4 ASX shares to consider buying with an average dividend yield of 6% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Aurizon Holdings report?

• Lodgement of a ten-year Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN) Access Undertaking, known as UT5+, to run from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2037
• Revised agreement introduces a performance-linked Throughput Payment, incentivising efficient network operations
• New five-year rolling access agreements to improve customer rail capacity planning
• Revenue uplift for Aurizon Network relative to the existing UT5 methodology, with updated WACC parameters
• Enhanced revenue and inflation protection mechanisms, including an adjusted Take-or-Pay structure

What else do investors need to know?

The UT5+ access undertaking is the result of extensive negotiations, with support from customers representing 68% of contracted CQCN tonnages. This draft will extend and amend the current access regime, building on established processes while introducing rolling agreements and more flexible transfer provisions.

For Aurizon, the agreement is expected to deliver a revenue uplift via changes to depreciation and the introduction of the new Throughput Payment, which partially replaces the existing WACC uplift. The updated methodology will also bring forward future cash flows and reflect a more accurate cost of debt within WACC calculations.

UT5+ remains subject to QCA approval, so the final terms could still change after regulatory review.

What did Aurizon Holdings management say?

Andrew Harding, Managing Director & CEO said:

This agreement has been reached after many months of constructive engagement with our Network customers and the proposed UT5+ is being lodged eighteen months prior to expiry of the current undertaking. It provides regulatory certainty for many years to come and delivers a range of beneficial outcomes for all parties.

What's next for Aurizon Holdings?

The next stage will involve review by the Queensland Competition Authority, which must approve the undertaking before implementation. If adopted, UT5+ would provide stability and transparency for network users through to 2037.

Aurizon is positioning itself for efficiency and operational improvements while responding to evolving customer and regulatory expectations. Investors can expect further updates as the QCA assessment progresses.

Aurizon Holdings share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Aurizon shares have risen 10%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Aurizon lodges new 10-year network access undertaking with QCA appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We don't need to just look at the biggest companies or fast-growing businesses as the only opportunities. There are some compelling options that fund manager L1 Capital has identified.

One of them is a major rail infrastructure operator in Australia, while the other is involved in slot machines and gaming. Let's take a look at the appeal of the two businesses.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

L1 points out that rail business Aurizon recently reaffirmed its earnings guidance at its annual general meeting (AGM) during the month and continued to execute on its $150 million share buyback program that it announced in August.

The fund manager said that commodity network volumes suggest a strong start to FY26, with robust coal volumes in New South Wales and Queensland, as well as Western Australian grain volumes are on track for a record year.

L1 said the Aurizon share price has benefited from a broker upgrade which highlighted potential upside from the value in its 'network' business.

Additionally, the investment team pointed out that Australia's rare earths deal with the US may have drawn additional attention to some of the medium-term and long-term opportunities for the 'bulks' segment where the ASX 200 share is "uniquely positioned both as a logistics partner and as a rail network owner through the central corridor of Australia."

L1 then said it believes Aurizon shares are "materially undervalued", with the regulated network business representing more than half of the company's value and remains "significantly under-appreciated by the market."

The fund manager also notes that the coal haulage business remains substantial and a strong cash generator for the company. L1 is also expecting improving cash flow from the 'bulks' business, supported by growth opportunities and a tighter approach to expansionary capital expenditure than it has had in recent years."

L1 concluded:

With strong and growing cash flows from the underlying business, we anticipate continued solid returns to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.

Light & Wonder Inc. CDI (ASX: LNW)

The other business that L1 highlighted was Light & Wonder, which is a cross-platform international gaming business that has a sizeable presence in the North American market. Light & Wonder also offers digital game content.

The fund manager said that the business has been impacted recently with softer US gaming revenue across the industry, as well as the impact of a change in listing locations where the company will de-list from the NASDAQ and the overhang from a litigation dispute with Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL).

Despite the impacts of a tougher consumer backdrop, gaming revenue remain "mostly positive overall" across the industry. L1 believes the ASX 200 share is well-placed to continue gaining market share.

The fund manager believes the listing change will lead to forced selling from US passive investors as the company transitions from a dual NASDAQ and ASX listing to a sole primary ASX listing by the end of this calendar year.

While the listing changes are likely to cause short-term volatility, L1 believes the company is well-placed to deliver solid earnings growth over the medium-term, driven by its strong land-based game performance.

The post Why investors should be bullish on these 2 compelling ASX 200 shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because these shares have been rated as buys and tipped to provide investors with attractive dividend yields in the coming years.

Here's what they are recommending to clients this week and what sort of yields are on offer for income investors:

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

Macquarie thinks that rail freight operator Aurizon could be an ASX dividend stock to buy.

Although its performance has been relatively mixed, the broker believes it is positioned for growth in the near term. As a result, it sees value in the company's shares at current levels.

It also expects some attractive dividend yields from its shares. Macquarie is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 19.6 cents in FY 2026 and then 21.8 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $3.41, this equates to dividend yields of 5.75% and 6.4%, respectively.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $3.70 price target on its shares.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Another ASX dividend share that could be a buy for income investors is Telstra.

It remains a top choice for dividend-focused investors and it isn't hard to see why. Its leading position in Australia's mobile and broadband markets supports consistent cash flows.

Analysts at Macquarie expect this to underpin fully franked dividends of 20 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 21 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $4.85, this would mean dividend yields of 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $5.04 price target on Telstra's shares.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Toll road giant Transurban could be another ASX dividend share to buy according to analysts.

The team at Citi remains positive on the company and has been pleased with recent traffic growth trends.

It believes this could allow Transurban to outperform its dividend guidance this year. As a result, it is forecasting dividends per share of 69.5 cents in FY 2026 and then 73.7 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $14.41, this would mean dividend yields of 4.8% and 5.1%, respectively.

The broker currently has a buy rating and $16.10 price target on its shares.

The post 3 strong ASX dividend shares to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For example, the ASX 200 stock in this article has been tipped to deliver a market-beating return over the next 12 months by analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). Here's what the broker is saying about it.

Which ASX 200 stock?

The stock that Macquarie is bullish on is rail freight operator Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ).

It notes that the company recently held its annual general meeting and revealed that it was delaying its change of chair. Macquarie thinks this may be due to a potential asset sale. The broker said:

New Chair decision has been pushed back to the coming months, but the change has been reiterated. We see this blending into the second decision around whether to partially sell the network business, which is likely to be made under the new Chair. The decision will be made by February, which is reflective of the UT6 negotiation being principally complete.

Macquarie also highlights that industry data has been relatively neutral for the ASX 200 stock. As a result, it has held firm with its earnings estimates. It adds:

Operationally data is relatively neutral. Below rail will underperform the regulated outcome, but this is as expected, and AZJ will report based on the regulated outcome. Above rail recovery in volumes is yet to emerge, and bulk indicators appear neutral, thus EBITDA outlook is unchanged at $1.68-1.75bn. For the first time AZJ has provided dividend guidance of $0.19-0.20 (MRE $0.196, VA $0.195).

Upgrade to outperform

In response to the update, Macquarie has upgraded the ASX 200 stock to an outperform rating with an improved price target of $3.70.

Based on its current share price of $3.40, this implies potential upside of 9% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, Macquarie is expecting an attractive dividend yield of approximately 5.8% in FY 2026.

Combined, this boosts the total potential return from Aurizon's shares to almost 15%.

Commenting on its upgrade, the broker said:

Upgrade to Outperform from Neutral. TP raised to $3.70ps (prev $3.34) reflecting a higher network RAB multiple. Network realisation maybe positive but at a cost of future flexibility. Change of Chair potentially see strategy revision to address the core issue, inconsistent above rail growth.

Catalysts: Progress on UT6 enables the potential realisation of below rail, albeit we are unconvinced of the strategic benefit. Evidence of some delivery in bulk and freight segment, and coal recontracting

The post Upgrade alert! Macquarie predicts 15% return for this ASX 200 stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This gives shareholders the opportunity to see how companies they own or are interested in are performing.

Last week, REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) hosted its AGM. 

This week, we will hear from several more ASX 200 companies.

9 ASX companies in Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)'s coverage universe are set to report. What are Macquarie's price targets on those stocks?

Telstra Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Australia's leading telecommunications company, Telstra, is set to hold its AGM on 14 October. 

Telstra shares have risen 20% for the year to date.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and price target of $5.04 on Telstra shares.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Australia's largest bank, CBA, will hold its AGM on 15 October. 

CBA shares have risen 10% for the year to date.

Macquarie currently has an underperform rating and price target of $106 on CBA shares. 

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

ASX 200 consumer discretionary stock Lottery Corporation will also host its AGM on 15 October.

Lottery Corporation shares have risen 12% for the year to date.

Macquarie currently has a neutral rating and price target of $5.50 on Lottery Corporation shares.

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

ASX 200 consumer discretionary company ARB Corporation will hold its AGM on 16 October. 

ARB shares have declined 3% for the year to date. 

Macquarie currently has an outperform rating and price target of $44.90 on ARB shares.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

ASX 200 infrastructure stock Aurizon will also hold its AGM on 16 October 

Aurizon shares are flat for the year to date.

Macquarie currently has a neutral rating and price target of $3.34 on Aurizon shares.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

ASX 200 REIT Charter Hall Long WALE REIT will host its AGM on 16 October.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT shares have risen 13% for the year to date. 

Macquarie has an underperform rating and price target of $4.20 on Charter Hall Long WALE REIT shares.

Imdex Ltd (ASX: IMD)

ASX 200 materials stock Imdex will hold its AGM on 16 October.

Imdex shares have surged 54% for the year to date. 

Macquarie currently has a neutral rating and price target of $3.50 on Imdex shares.

Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)

ASX 200 real estate stock Stockland Corporation will hold its AGM on 16 October.

Stockland shares have risen 29% for the year to date. 

Macquarie currently has a neutral rating and price target of $6.16 on Stockland shares. 

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

Finally, ASX 200 consumer staples company Treasury Wine Estates will also host its AGM on 16 October. 

Treasury Wine shares have fallen 38% for the year to date. 

Macquarie currently has a neutral rating and price target of $8.00 on Treasury Wine Estates shares.

The post 9 ASX 200 stocks hold their AGMs this week. What are Macquarie's price targets? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to snap its winning streak on Wednesday following a poor night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 29 points or 0.35% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.2%, the S&P 500 fell 0.55%, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.95%.

Oil prices rally

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session after oil prices rallied higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.15% to US$63.61 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.9% to US$67.84 a barrel. This was driven by delays in the restart of Kurdish exports.

Dividend pay day

A number of ASX 200 shares will be rewarding their shareholders with dividend payments on Wednesday. This includes insurance giant Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN), energy behemoth Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), and rail freight operator Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ). The latter is paying a fully franked 6.5 cents per share dividend to its shareholders.

Gold price rises

It looks set to be another good session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.6% to US$3,797.2 an ounce. The gold price hit a new record high after US Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, raised concerns over the state of the U.S. economy.

TechnologyOne shares rated as a hold

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares are fairly valued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the enterprise software provider's shares with an improved price target of $38.50 (from $35.75). It said: "With the potential of some material positive announcements at Showcase next month we have increased the multiples we apply in the PE ratio and EV/EBITDA valuations from 75x and 40x to 80x and 42.5x and have also reduced the WACC we apply in the DCF from 8.2% to 7.9%. […] The net result is an 8% increase in our PT to $38.50 which is a 1% premium to the share price so we maintain our HOLD recommendation. That is, despite the likelihood of some positive AI-related announcements with some actual associated financial impacts we continue to see the stock as around fair value trading on an FY26 PE ratio and EV/EBITDA of c.75x and 40x respectively."

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

In determining which sector did best last week, the measure of success was simply which one fell the least.

That was industrials, which slipped 0.53%. The industrials sector is considered a defensive play for investors.

The materials sector was the second-best performer, down 0.73%.

ASX 200 materials stocks were supported by the gold price surging to a new record high of US$3,593.20 per ounce during the week.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 1.14% of its value over the five trading days. It closed out the week at 8,871.2 points.

IG market analyst Tony Sycamore blamed surging bond yields for the ASX 200's decline.

Sycamore said (courtesy news.com.au):

The decline is primarily driven by surging bond yields and the return of the bond vigilantes, fuelled by concerns over large fiscal deficits, central banks cutting rates into persistent inflation and President Trump's dovish reshaping of the US Federal Reserve.

Better-than-expected Australian GDP growth in the June quarter likely also contributed to the sell-off, as it reduced the case for a rate cut.

Let's look at how the ASX 200 industrial sector's biggest companies performed last week.

Industrials led the ASX 200 sectors last week

The industrials sector's largest stock, Transurban Group Ltd (ASX: TCL), fell 1.58% to finish at $14.37 per share on Friday.

The Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) share price lifted 2.35% to close at $26.56.

Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) shares fell 1.86% to $37.46.

SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) shares lost 2.18% to close at $49.41 on Friday.

ASX 200 airline share Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) rose 0.85% to $11.85.

Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX: AIA) shares lost 0.15% to $6.82.

The ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) share price rose 1.18% to $18.81.

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR) shares lost 0.2% to close at $14.66 on Friday.

Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB) shares tumbled 2.38% to $4.10.

The Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) share price fell 6.63% to close out the week at $10.42.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY) shares declined 0.72% to $2.76 per share.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) shares fell 1.85% to $3.18.

Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) shares fell 3.73% to $6.96 apiece.

The Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) share price dropped 4.41% to $5.20.

The Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) share price lifted 5.28% to $8.18.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

Looking for investment inspiration?

Check out Macquarie's top ASX 200 share picks in each of the 11 market sectors post-earnings season.

The post Every ASX 200 sector closed in the red last week. Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The following list of ASX shares revealed share buyback programs alongside their latest financial results during earnings season.

Companies may decide to run a share buyback if their profits have been especially strong or they have excess cash on their books.

Sometimes, a company may want to take advantage of a weaker share price, too.

A share buyback is a form of capital management whereby an ASX company repurchases some of its shares from shareholders.

Once the buyback program is complete, the company cancels the repurchased shares.

This reduces the overall pool of issued stock, which means future profits are spread across fewer shares.

As a result, earnings per share (EPS), long-term return on equity (ROE), and future dividends are enhanced on a per-share basis.

This benefits investors, and it's why a company's share price will usually rise when it announces a buyback.

9 ASX shares commencing share buybacks

Let's look at some of the ASX shares that announced new share buyback programs alongside their latest financial results.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $207.98 on Thursday, up 0.7%.

CSL announced a multi-year buyback program that will target US$500 million in the 2026 financial year.

The company will get better value for money after a 23% decline in its share price following its FY25 report.

According to Macquarie's data, CSL shares are now trading on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19.1x.

This is not only below the current market average P/E but also 2.3 standard deviations lower than the historical norm for CSL shares.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

The Telstra share price is $4.83, down 0.3% at the time of writing.

Telstra announced an on-market share buyback of up to $1 billion last month.

The company said:

This has been enabled by growth in earnings, and the strength of our balance sheet.

The new buyback follows the completion of a $750 million on-market buyback completed in June.

G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM)

The G8 Education share price is 82 cents, up 0.25%.

The child care centre operator announced a further on-market share buyback of up to 5% of issued capital starting from mid-September.

This follows an earlier buyback program between September 2024 and June 2025, during which time G8 Education reacquired 37.9 million shares for about $50 million.

G8 Education CEO and Managing Director Pejman Okhovat said the share buybacks reflect "our ongoing dedication to returning value to investors and prudent capital management".

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

The Treasury Wine Estates share price is $7.82 on Thursday, down 0.4%.

Treasury Wine Estates announced an on-market buyback of up to $200 million for FY26. 

The ASX wine share has lost 30% of its value in the year to date. This contributed to the board's decision to run a share buyback.

Treasury Wine said the buyback:

Reflects the Board's confidence in TWE's Luxury-led strategy, financial strength and long-term outlook, in addition to the Board's belief that the Company's shares are materially undervalued.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

The Suncorp share price is $21.01, up 0.65%.

The insurance giant announced an on-market share buyback of up to $400 million to begin this month.

Suncorp CFO Jeremy Robson said:

Going forwards, capital excess to our needs is expected to be returned to shareholders in the form of ongoing buybacks.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

The Aurizon share price is $3.19 on Thursday, up 0.2%.

Aurizon announced another buyback of up to $150 million for FY26 following completion of a $300 million program in FY25.

Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT)

The Ventia Services share price is $5.21 on Thursday, up 0.5%.

The company said it would increase its current share buyback program by $50 million to $150 million due to its strong balance sheet.

Ventia Services CFO Mark Fleming said:

Our strong balance sheet and reliable cash flow have enabled us to return capital to shareholders, while maintaining financial flexibility.

With our buyback program progressing well and leverage at the low end of our range, we are pleased to announce an increase in our buyback program by $50 million to $150 million in 2025. We will continue to evaluate capital management options based on performance and market conditions.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is $26.09 on Thursday, up 0.6%.

Brambles announced a new share buyback of up to US$400 million in FY26 after completing a US$403 million buyback in FY25.

Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW)

The Downer EDI Ltd share price is $6.86, down 0.5%.

Downer EDI announced an on-market share buyback of up to $230 million, or about 5% of the current stock on issue.

The company's Managing Director and CEO, Peter Tompkins, said:

The on-market share buy-back announced today of up to $230 million, alongside delivery of dividend growth
and an increased payout ratio target range, are signals of our improving operational performance.

Other types of capital return

Other ASX companies also revealed extra capital returns to shareholders last month, but in a different way than share buybacks.

Check out which ASX shares announced special dividends this earnings season.

The post Which ASX companies announced share buybacks during earnings season? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) Australian Crop Report, released in September, says that despite an unfavourable start to the winter cropping season in South Australia, Western Victoria, and Southern New South Wales, the season ended up being bountiful.

Above average July rainfall in South Australian and Victoria, combined with follow up rainfall in August has provided enough moisture for crop emergence and establishment, and although 3-4 weeks late, yield potential is positive.

Rainfall in southern New South Wales has not been as favourable with crops receiving just enough to maintain growth. Further rainfall will be crucial for current yield potential to be realised. By contrast, conditions have been favourable in Western Australia, Queensland, and northern New South Wales, reflecting timely rainfall that has maintained soil moisture profiles. These conditions have placed crops in an excellent position heading into spring.

RBC Capital Markets says the report is positive for agricultural stocks, with a number of logistics providers set to benefit.

Across our coverage, our preferences are now for post-harvest exposures, led by Graincorp (revised price target $10.50) the dominant soft commodity trader and supply chain provider, followed by NSW-exposed Qube (price target $4.30) and West Coast/Central exposed Aurizon (price target $3.20). 

Elsewhere, early-mid stage exposures include the remaining fertiliser production assets of Dyno Nobel Limited (ASX: DNL, price target $3.60) and crop protection provider Nufarm Limited (ASX: NUF, revised price target $2.75) that leverage the land preparation phases.

Graincorp shares are currently trading at $8.46, Qube shares are changing hands for $4.08, and Aurizon stock is $3.17.

Dyno Nobel shares are changing hands for $2.96, and Nufarm shares for $2.31.

The post Good winter rains to help agricultural stocks flourish appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The forward P/E shows how expensive or cheap an ASX share is relative to the company's expected earnings over the next 12 months.

A forward P/E of 20x, for example, means investors are willing to pay $20 for every $1 of anticipated profit.

Macquarie says the S&P/ASX 300 Industrials Index currently has a P/E of 20.1x, which is equal to its post-COVID boom high.

(This index excludes the more volatile energy sector and the mining and metals segment of the materials sector.)

Macquarie says the ASX average P/E is high because interest rate cuts around the world have brought new liquidity into global markets.

So, how do you identify ASX 200 shares that offer good value in an environment like this?

10 ASX 200 shares with P/Es below the market average

In the earnings season wash-up, top broker Macquarie has identified several ASX 200 shares now trading on lower forward P/Es than the market average.

This could make them attractive buys for value-focused investors.

To help us better understand each stock's current P/E, Macquarie has published both the forward P/E and the standard deviation for each.

The standard deviation indicates how far the forward P/E is from an ASX share's historical average.

A low standard deviation indicates the stock is trading close to its typical P/E.

A high standard deviation suggests it's unusually expensive or cheap relative to its history.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price has fallen to a 6-year low following the release of the company's FY25 report last month.

CSL shares closed at $208.37 on Tuesday, down 0.9%.

According to Macquarie's data, the market's largest ASX 200 healthcare share now has a forward P/E of 19.1x.

This P/E is well below CSL's historical norm, sitting 2.3 standard deviations lower than usual.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price closed 1.13% higher at $11.62 on Tuesday.

The ASX 200 blue-chip airline share has a forward P/E of 9.4x.

While this is below the broader market average of 20.1x, it's 0.5 standard deviations above the historical norm for Qantas shares.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price closed 0.27% lower at $33.48 yesterday.

The ASX 200 blue-chip bank share has a forward P/E of 15.1x.

While that's lower than the market average, it's 2.8 standard deviations higher than the stock's historical norm.

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

The AGL share price closed 0.72% lower at $8.22 on Tuesday.

This ASX 200 utilities share has a forward P/E of 9.3x.

That's 2.3 standard deviations below AGL's historical norm.

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

The IAG share price closed 0.23% higher at $8.78 on Tuesday.

This ASX 200 blue-chip financial share has a forward P/E of 19.5x.

While that's lower than the market average, it's 1.5 standard deviations higher than IAG's long-run norm.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

The AMP share price closed 0.6% lower at $1.67 on Tuesday.

This ASX 200 financial share has a forward P/E of 14.9x.

While that's lower than the market average, it's 0.7 standard deviations higher than AMP's historical norm.

Amcor CDI (ASX: AMC)

The Amcor share price closed at $13.16 on Tuesday, up 0.38%.

This ASX 200 materials share has a forward P/E of 10.4x.

That's vastly below its long-term average, sitting 3.3 standard deviations lower.

Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX: CCP)

The Credit Corp share price closed 0.55% lower at $16.19 on Tuesday.

This ASX 200 financial share has a forward P/E of 10.5x.

That's well below its historical norm, sitting 1.2 standard deviations lower.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

Aurizon shares finished the session yesterday at $3.22, up 0.31%.

This ASX 200 industrial share has a forward P/E of 13.1x.

That's well below its historical norm, sitting 1 standard deviation lower.

IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH)

IPH shares closed at $4.38 yesterday, down 1.79%.

This ASX 200 industrial share has a forward P/E of 9.4x.

That's far beneath its historical norm, sitting 2.5 standard deviations lower.

The post 10 ASX 200 shares trading below the market average P/E ratio today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to start the week in the red following a poor finish on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 25 points or 0.3% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.2%, the S&P 500 fell 0.65%, and the Nasdaq dropped 1.15%.

Oil prices drop

It could be a subdued start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices pulled back on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 0.9% to US$64.01 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 0.75% to US$67.48 a barrel. This was driven by weaker demand expectations and a possible peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes iron ore giant Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), gambling company Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH), rail freight operator Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ), and energy company Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR). In respect to Fortescue, it will be rewarding its shareholders with a fully franked final dividend of 60 cents per share later this month on 26 September.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a solid start to the week after the gold price pushed higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 1.2% to US$3,516.1 an ounce. Favourable inflation data in the US boosted interest rate cut bets.

Buy Paladin Energy shares

The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price could be good value according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the uranium producer's shares with an improved price target of $9.00. Commenting on its results and outlook, Bell Potter said: "The market reacted negatively to the results, with PDN's share price closing down 3.5%. We continue to expect near-term volatility within early reporting periods as PDN optimises blending strategies and navigates contract mix/ payment timing at LHM. Predictability should improve as LHM reaches steady state production (FY27)."

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

To receive an ASX share's dividend, you must buy or already own the stock before its ex-dividend day.

Next week, a large number of ASX shares will go ex-dividend.

We provide a sample of those ASX shares below.

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

30 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post 30 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.