US President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to several demands during further talks between the two nations.

Meanwhile, the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf, and Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire.

Amid this week's ongoing turmoil, brokers have reduced their ratings on six ASX 200 shares this week.

Let's take a look.

Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price is $20.76, down 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has lifted 3.7%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Lynas shares to a hold rating on Wednesday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $18.50 to $20.45.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is $5.98, up 4.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 lithium share has rocketed 28%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded this stock to a hold rating this week.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $5.30 to $5.25.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is $39.58, down 1.1% today.

Over the past month, the ASX 200 bank share has fallen 4.6%.

Morgans downgraded Westpac shares from a trim to sell rating this week.

The broker has a $34.04 target on the financial stock.

Morgans said:

WBC published a trading update ahead of its 1H26 result due for release on 5 May.

Implied revenues were weaker, costs lower, and credit impairment charges higher than our and market expectations.

We revise our rating from TRIM to SELL as total return expectations at current prices have fallen below the -10% trigger.

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

The Bank of Queensland share price is $7.29, up 0.2%.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has lifted 5.3%.

Morgans downgraded the bank share to a hold rating on Wednesday.

The broker has a $7.39 target price on Bank of Queensland shares.

Morgans said:

We expect a material decline in 1H26 earnings, with recent share price strength driven by the expected capital return from the equipment finance whole-of-loan sale.

Share price strength has compressed total return potential to c.5%.

As such, we moderate our rating from ACCUMULATE to HOLD.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

The Seek share price is $15.54, up 1.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX communications share has increased 6.4%.

Jefferies downgraded Seek shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $24.80 to $15.90.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is $62.47, up 5.3% today.

The ASX 200 mining share is 13.3% higher over the past month.

Morgans lowered its rating from buy to accumulate this week.

The broker has a slightly reduced 12-month price target of $67.

Morgans said:

We have updated our 2H26 forecasts to reflect weather impacts in 3Q26, which we expect to have a modest effect on Onslow iron ore shipments, alongside minor increases to cost and capex assumptions driven by inflation in shipping and fuel.

We have also incorporated our revised LT iron ore price of US$85/t (previously US$80/t).

… we move to an ACCUMULATE rating (previously BUY) as recent share price strength has reduced valuation upside.

The post 6 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three of which are named below. Does the broker rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let's find out:

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

Morgans has been looking ahead to this regional bank's half-year results. Unfortunately, it is predicting a sharp decline in profits for the first half.

Combined with recent share price strength, the broker feels this makes its shares fully valued now. As a result, Morgans has downgraded Bank of Queensland's shares to a hold rating with a $7.39 price target. It said:

We expect a material decline in 1H26 earnings, with recent share price strength driven by the expected capital return from the equipment finance whole-of-loan sale. Share price strength has compressed total return potential to c.5%. As such, we moderate our rating from ACCUMULATE to HOLD. Target price $7.39.

The Koala Company (ASX: KOA)

This newly listed furniture seller has caught the eye of Morgans.

This week, it has initiated coverage on Koala's shares with a buy rating and $5.13 price target. Morgans highlights that its shares are trading at a discount to peers despite having a strong growth profile. It explains:

We initiate coverage on Koala Company with a BUY recommendation and $5.13 target price. We think there is a degree of conservatism embedded in both our forecasts and valuation, with the balance of risk skewed to the upside.

Koala offers an attractive growth profile, underpinned by strong sales growth, margin expansion and significant NPAT growth. The stock screens cheap on a multiple basis, trading on 18.5x FY27 PER versus the peer set average at 27.0x, despite offering one of the strongest growth profiles.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

Morgans notes that Australia's oldest bank released a trading update this week.

It was disappointed with the update and in response has downgraded Westpac's shares to a sell rating with a $34.06 price target  It said:

WBC published a trading update ahead of its 1H26 result due for release on 5 May. Implied revenues were weaker, costs lower, and credit impairment charges higher than our and market expectations.

We revise our rating from TRIM to SELL as total return expectations at current prices have fallen below the -10% trigger. We estimate c.18% price downside risk partly offset by c.3.8% forecast cash yield. Target price $34.06.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Bank of Queensland, Koala, and Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Both Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) have brought investors strong returns this year compared to the broader market. 

Year to date, Bank of Queensland shares have risen almost 12% while Westpac shares have risen 6.5%. 

For context, this has far outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which is up 2.8% in the same period. 

Let's see Morgans' updated guidance on these two ASX bank shares. 

1H26 result preview for BOQ

Bank of Queensland has been one of the best performing ASX financials stocks so far this year. 

At the time of writing, BOQ shares are exchanging hands for $7.40. 

The company is set to release half-year results and an interim dividend announcement on the 22 April.

In a recent note out of Morgans, the broker said it expects a material decline in 1H26 earnings, with recent share price strength driven by the expected capital return from the equipment finance whole-of-loan sale. 

Share price strength has compressed total return potential to c.5%. As such, we moderate our rating from ACCUMULATE to HOLD.

The broker has a current share price target of $7.39. 

This indicates BOQ shares are currently trading at fair value. 

Westpac shares a sell

Turning attention to Westpac shares, the broker said the company published a trading update yesterday ahead of its 1H26 result due for release on 5 May. 

In the trading update, Westpac noted the supply shock from the energy market disruption is expected to result in higher inflation and higher interest rates.

An expected slowing in economic growth will create a more challenging environment for some customers.

This update led to a 2.9% share price drop yesterday for the bank shares. 

It also triggered a sell recommendation from the team at Morgans. 

Implied revenues were weaker, costs lower, and credit impairment charges higher than our and market expectations. We revise our rating from TRIM to SELL as total return expectations at current prices have fallen below the -10% trigger. We estimate c.18% price downside risk partly offset by c.3.8% forecast cash yield.

The broker has a current price target of $34.06 on Westpac shares. 

This indicates a downside of nearly 18% from the current share price of $41.48. 

The post Are Westpac and Bank of Queensland shares a buy, hold or sell? 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:

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

The Bank of Queensland share price is up 6% to $7.23. This follows news that the regional bank has signed a strategic capital partnership with Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF). It notes that this marks a further step in its transformation to a simpler, specialist bank. The Challenger partnership includes a whole-of-loan sale and a forward flow arrangement for equipment finance assets that will further optimise its funding base and support the acceleration of its ambition to service more equipment finance customers, particularly in the small to medium business sector.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Guzman Y Gomez share price is up 19% to $18.06. Investors have been buying the burrito seller's shares following the release of a trading update. Guzman Y Gomez reported a 19.5% increase in network sales to $345.9 million. Comparable sales grew 6.6% in Australia and 2.2% in the United States. Looking ahead, the company has reaffirmed its full-year guidance. It is expecting Australia segment underlying EBITDA as a percentage of network sales to climb to 6% to 6.2% in FY2026, compared with 5.7% the prior year. It also remains on track to open 32 new Australian restaurants.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The NextDC share price is up 12% to $12.65. The catalyst for this has been news that the data centre operator has launched a $1 billion wholesale offer of subordinated hybrid securities to fund growth initiatives. NextDC's CEO and managing director, Craig Scroggie, said: "The announcement of the Hybrid Securities Offer and the La Caisse commitment represent another step toward NEXTDC delivering on a material step-change in the scale of our business as we deliver on the Company's contracted forward order book across the period to FY29 and make further investments across the portfolio of new projects. We are delighted with this binding commitment from La Caisse, a long‑term investor with deep experience in infrastructure, as further validation of our growth strategy."

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is up 5% to $13.61. This morning, this radiopharmaceuticals company released a first-quarter sales update and revealed a 24% increase in group revenue to US$230 million. A key driver was its Precision Medicine division, which delivered a 23% increase in revenue to US$186 million. Telix's managing director and CEO, Dr Christian Behrenbruch, said: "This performance reflects the growing uptake of Gozellix alongside Illuccix, contributing to market share gains underpinned by disciplined sales execution and pricing, and high-quality service delivery despite extreme North American weather conditions, an advantage of the pharmacy distribution model."

The post Why Bank of Queensland, Guzman Y Gomez, NextDC, and Telix shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In late morning trade on Tuesday, all three blue-chip stocks are racing ahead of the 2.6% intraday gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Here's what's happening.

NextDC shares leap on $1 billion funding news

Turning to NextDC first, shares in the ASX 200 data centre operator and developer are up 13.6% today, trading for $12.79 apiece.

Investors are sending NextDC shares surging after the company announced it was raising $1 billion in new funds via the issue of new hybrid securities.

The hybrid securities launch is backed by Canadian investment group La Caisse, which inked a binding $1 billion commitment to make up for any potential shortfall.

The securities carry a 100-year maturity.

The new funds will support NextDC's plans to develop new data centres and expand capacity.

Commenting on the fund-raising initiative that's boosting NextDC shares today, CEO Craig Scroggie said:

The announcement of the Hybrid Securities Offer and the La Caisse commitment represent another step toward NextDC delivering on a material step-change in the scale of our business as we deliver on the company's contracted forward order book across the period to FY29 and make further investments across the portfolio of new projects.

Which brings us to…

Telix shares surge on revenue growth

Telix shares are also catching plenty of investor attention today.

Shares in the ASX 200 diagnostic and therapeutic product developer are up 6.3% today, trading for $13.77 each.

This follows the release of Telix's March quarterly update.

Among the highlights, the company reported an 11% quarter-on-quarter increase in unaudited revenue to US$230 million. And management reaffirmed full-year FY 2026 revenue guidance in the range of US$950 million to US$970 million.

The March quarter saw the ASX healthcare share continue to advance its global studies across prostate, brain, and kidney cancer.

"We are delivering on our strategic priorities to advance our high-value clinical programs, demonstrated by the momentum in our therapeutics pipeline this quarter," Telix CEO Christian Behrenbruch said.

Bank of Queensland shares jump on strategic loan sale

Last, but not least, Bank of Queensland shares join Telix and NextDC shares in grabbing financial headlines and outperforming today.

Shares in the ASX 200 bank stock are up 5.3% at the time of writing, changing hands for $7.16 each.

Investors are bidding up Bank of Queensland shares after the company reported on its $3.7 billion equipment finance loan sale to investment management firm Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF).

Why is this boosting the Bank of Queensland share price today?

As the Motley Fool reported this morning:

The capital partnership enables BOQ to accelerate its specialist banking transformation by shifting equipment finance exposures off balance sheet while growing capital-light revenues. The transition is designed to improve return on equity and support further business in the small and medium business sector.

The post Why is everyone talking about Telix, Bank of Queensland and NextDC shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Bank of Queensland report?

• $3.7 billion sale of equipment finance loans, reducing debt funding by approx. $3.4 billion
• Anticipated $300 million capital return to shareholders post-sale, pending approvals
• Estimated $31 million post-tax statutory loss in 1H26, with sale impacts adjusted from cash earnings
• Group CET1 ratio expected to remain within 10.25%–10.75% target range
• Non-interest income to increase via servicing and origination fees under new arrangements
• Expected to be ROE and EPS accretive in FY26 (uplift to cash ROE of 15–25 basis points)

What else do investors need to know?

The capital partnership enables BOQ to accelerate its specialist banking transformation by shifting equipment finance exposures off balance sheet while growing capital-light revenues. The transition is designed to improve return on equity and support further business in the small and medium business sector.

BOQ's ongoing equipment finance relationships will now be managed under a servicing arrangement, generating fee income rather than interest. Challenger will take the underlying credit risk on new originations via the forward flow arrangement, with BOQ retaining the ability to lend from its own balance sheet if it chooses.

What did Bank of Queensland management say?

Managing Director & CEO Rod Finch said:

This innovative partnership with Challenger is an evolution of our strategy to think differently about how we support our customers' growth ambitions and generate value for our shareholders. We are harnessing our recognised capability in originating and servicing customers, particularly in the SME sector, to generate capital-efficient growth. Our ability to return capital to shareholders demonstrates the strength of BOQ's balance sheet.

What's next for Bank of Queensland?

Completion of the loan sale and commencement of the forward flow partnership are expected by the end of May 2026. Final details on the on-market buyback and special dividend distribution will come after the transaction closes, subject to board and regulatory sign-off.

BOQ will focus on further optimising its capital and funding profile, using partnerships to support growth in specialist business segments while balancing shareholder returns and prudential strength.

Bank of Queensland share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Bank of Queensland shares have risen 7%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 17% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Bank of Queensland announces $3.7bn loan sale and capital partnership with Challenger appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Reserve Bank raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.10% this month, marking the second consecutive increase in 2026. The bank cited persistent inflationary pressures and a tight labour market for the increase. 

Now the experts are warning that Australia's inflation rate could keep climbing, and major banks widely predict another cash rate increase in May. 

What's the latest out of ASX bank stocks?

The Australian share market is dominated by the big 4 major banks. Together, the majors – Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) – make up around a quarter of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by market capitalisation.

Then there are the smaller players, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), and Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO). 

At the time of writing on Wednesday morning, CBA shares are up 1% to $172.86; Westpac shares are up 1.3% to $40.25; NAB shares are up 1.4% to $40.31; and ANZ shares are up 1.3% to $36.93.

Over the month, the major bank shares are down 3%, 6.2%, 11.8%, and 7%, respectively.

Outside of the majors, Macquarie shares are 1.9% higher at the time of writing to $198.71; BOQ shares are 1% higher at $6.83 a piece; Bendigo shares are 0.6% higher at $10.11 each; and Judo shares have climbed 0.3% to $1.48.

Over the month, the smaller bank shares are down 4%, 2%, 6.5%, and 14%, respectively.

Which ASX bank stocks are a buy?

Analysts are the most optimistic about the outlook for Judo Bank shares. It's the only ASX bank stock where analysts mostly hold a strong buy rating. Its average target price is $2.25, which implies a huge 51% upside at the time of writing. Although some think this could jump even higher, by up to 68% to $2.50 per share.

Sentiment on the outlook for Macquarie shares is mostly very positive. Most analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the bank's shares. The average $238.28 target price implies the shares could jump 21% from here.

Which ASX bank stocks are a hold?

Analysts are undecided about the outlook for NAB shares, with sentiment mostly for a hold rating. The average target price is $43.90, which implies a potential 1.88% downside at the time of writing.

Brokers are also neutral on the outlook for ANZ shares over the next 12 months. Most have a hold rating with an average target price of $35.56, which implies a potential 0.3% downside at the time of writing.

Sentiment is also neutral on BOQ shares, with data showing most analysts have a hold rating on the stock. However, the average $6.37 target price implies a potential 6.5% downside at the time of writing.

Analysts also mostly have a hold rating on Bendigo shares. Although its average target price of $10.41 implies a 3% upside at the time of writing.

Which ASX bank stocks are a sell?

Sentiment is that CBA shares are overpriced and out of keeping with the company's fundamentals. Most analysts have a sell or strong sell rating on CBA shares and are tipping an average downside of 23% to $133.85 a piece over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Westpac is also expected to have limited growth over the next few years. Most analysts also have a sell or strong sell rating on the ASX bank's shares and tip an average downside of 8% to $40.35.

The post ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One of the advantages we have Down Under, which investors in US and many international stocks don't, is that a lot of ASX dividend shares come with full franking credits.

That means the companies you've invested in have already stumped up the 30% corporate taxes on the dividends they're paying. Meaning you get credit for that when it comes time to pay your own taxes.

Nice, right?

Now, there's no getting around this first part.

If you don't have any savings at 30, and you're aiming to retire with an extra $24,600 of passive income a year by 65, you'll need to start putting away a little extra cash each month to buy ASX shares.

Let's say $100 per month. That's less than $25 each week.

Buy $100 a month of quality ASX shares

To begin with, you don't need to stick strictly to ASX dividend stocks. Instead, do your own research – or reach out for expert advice – and invest in a diversified basket of quality shares. Ones that are likely to outperform or at least match the benchmark returns to reach your passive income retirement goal.

Let's use the S&P/ASX 200 Gross Total Return Index (ASX: XJT) – which includes all cash dividends reinvested on the ex-dividend date – as our benchmark.

Over the last five years, the ASX 200 Total Return Index has gained 64.6%. That works out to around a 10.5% annual gain, compounded.

Now, here's the real power of compounding at work.

By investing $100 a month in ASX shares and returning an average of 10.5% per year, you'll have secured $21,801 in 10 years, $81,050 in 20 years, $251,640 in 30 years, and … drum roll please … $432,264 at the end of 35 years.

All from that $100 per month, or a total of $42,000 invested in ASX shares over the years.

Reposition into top ASX passive income stocks

Now you've reached 65, with one eye firmly on that retirement boosting passive income stream.

Here is where you can reposition your investment portfolio wholly into dividend-paying ASX 200 shares. Ideally, ones offering full franking credits.

If you were eyeing a similar situation today, three top ASX dividend shares you might want to consider adding to your passive income portfolio are Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), and Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ).

Over the past 12 months, Bank of Queensland shares have delivered 38 cents per share in fully-franked dividends. That sees the ASX 200 bank stock trading on a trailing dividend yield of 5.5%.

Fortescue shares have paid (or shortly will pay) $1.22 in fully-franked dividends over 12 months. Fortescue shares trade on a trailing dividend yield of 6%.

And Woodside shares have paid out (or shortly will) $1.652 apiece in fully-franked dividends over a year. Woodside shares trade on a 5.5% trailing dividend yield.

So, how about that passive income?

Well, if you were to invest an equal amount into all three ASX 200 shares, you'd earn an average yield (based on the past 12 months) of 5.7%.

Meaning you can now take out $24,639 a year in passive income from your $432,264 investment portfolio without drawing down on that capital.

The post No savings at 30? Here's how I'd aim for an extra $24,600 a year in retirement boosting passive income buying ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I regularly talk about ASX shares that I'm bullish about, such as Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE). I still think they (and other ASX growth shares) are opportunities.

But there are a few ASX shares that could become more attractive after an RBA rate cut.

RBA rate cut beneficiaries

There are some businesses that could see an earnings increase due to how they generate earnings or with the amount of cash that they have on their balance sheet.

For example, Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) holds a significant amount of client cash and generates interest income from that. Any rate rises would be a very helpful boost for earnings. There are other, smaller businesses that also hold significant cash balances (for their size). But, the actual investment must make sense too, not just the fact that it holds cash.

The broker UBS recently commented in a note that ASX bank shares could benefit from a rate rise if it means stronger lending margins (with an increase in the net interest margin (NIM) metric). UBS said:

Upside risk [potential boost] to EPS with cash interest rates forecast to increase 50bps in 2026, possibly contributing to a stronger-than-anticipated NIM performance and revenue growth for major banks, exceeding consensus expectations. Core earnings may also benefit from higher-than-expected loan growth, while banks are actively managing persistent cost pressures, which are ~+6.0% on an underlying basis.

With that note, UBS upgraded National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), and Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) to a buy. NAB is the only major ASX bank share that UBS rates as a buy, with the next major bank choice being Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) with a neutral rating.

Businesses with debt and ASX retail shares

I'm not expecting history to repeat itself exactly, but it wouldn't be a surprise if certain rate-sensitive businesses suffer a share price decline because it could hurt profitability. I like to take advantage of declines in businesses like this, thanks to the lower valuation and the potential for a bounce back.

For example, real estate investment trusts (REITs) may suffer because of the increase in interest costs (and the headwind for real estate values). I'd be looking at names like Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), and Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF).

I'll also keep an eye on a number of ASX retail shares – if they decline due to consumer worries, they could be particularly good cyclical opportunities to buy for the long term. I'm thinking of names like Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK).

Volatility can prove to be a positive for investors to take advantage of, so if there is market negativity, then I'll be ready. But it's possible there may not be any declines at all.

The post Where I'd invest in ASX shares if the RBA increases the interest rate appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the regional bank's shares are down almost 1% to $6.85.

What did Bank of Queensland announce?

This morning, Bank of Queensland revealed that its CEO, Patrick Allaway, is stepping down from the role next month on 28 February.

Allaway was appointed as the bank's non-executive director and chair in 2019, before transitioning to the CEO role in 2023. That appointment was made to address regulatory challenges and required transformation, providing leadership and stability while developing internal succession.

Commenting on his exit, Allaway said:

It has been an honour to lead BOQ as the Chair of the Board and subsequently its CEO, at the Board's request. While returning to an executive role was not in my plans, I have worked to stabilise and strengthen BOQ by progressing work to respond to two Enforceable Undertakings and address the impact of market structural shifts.

New CEO appointed

The good news is that a replacement has already been found and is coming from within.

According to the release, experienced banking and financial services executive Rod Finch will become Bank of Queensland's CEO and managing director from 1 March 2026.

Finch has served as the bank's chief transformation and operations officer since 2023. He has more than 20 years' experience in the financial services industry, with a track record of delivery across customer, product, strategy and transformation roles within Australia and the United Kingdom.

Bank of Queensland's chair, Andrew Fraser, said:

As a key leader of BOQ, Rod's appointment will ensure we maintain momentum in executing our strategy to become a simpler, specialist bank with improved performance for customers and shareholders. Rod's executive leadership of BOQ's strategy and transformation priorities provides leadership continuity at a pivotal stage for BOQ Group. During his tenure at BOQ, Rod has led the digital transformation and the program to uplift operational and risk performance.

Rod Finch appears up for the challenge of leading the bank. He commented:

I am honoured to be appointed CEO and grateful for the trust the Board has placed in me. I look forward to leading the organisation, building on the strategic transformation initiated by Patrick to improve outcomes for our customers, shareholders and the communities we serve.

Bank of Queensland shares are down 1% over the past 12 months compared to a 6.5% gain by the ASX 200 index.

The post Big news is making Bank of Queensland shares fall today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Bank of Queensland report?

• Rod Finch appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director effective 1 March 2026
• Patrick Allaway to retire as CEO and MD effective 28 February 2026, following a three-year executive tenure
• Finch's remuneration: $1.5 million fixed salary, plus potential short- and long-term variable incentives
• Allaway to receive accrued entitlements and existing equity awards, with details subject to performance criteria
• Board highlighted progress in digital banking and operational resilience under Allaway's leadership

What else do investors need to know?

Rod Finch brings over two decades of financial services experience, having led major transformation roles at BOQ, AMP, Lloyds, and Westpac. His background covers strategy, digital transformation, and customer experience across Australian and UK banks.

The board noted that Finch has already been instrumental in BOQ's digital transformation and risk management programs. The company emphasised that this appointment provides valuable leadership continuity at a critical period for BOQ.

Patrick Allaway will remain available to BOQ until August 2026 to aid in the transition, and his outstanding equity will vest according to performance and plan rules. No changes were announced to BOQ's overarching business strategy.

What did Bank of Queensland management say?

Rod Finch, incoming CEO, said:

I am honoured to be appointed CEO and grateful for the trust the Board has placed in me. I look forward to leading the organisation, building on the strategic transformation initiated by Patrick to improve outcomes for our customers, shareholders and the communities we serve.

What's next for Bank of Queensland?

With its new CEO, BOQ aims to maintain momentum on its strategy to deliver a simpler, more specialist bank. The focus will remain on improving customer experience, digital services, and operational efficiency.

Finch is expected to build on the foundation laid by Allaway, continuing efforts in growth, digital uplift, and risk management. Investors can watch for updates as BOQ advances into the next phase of its transformation journey.

Bank of Queensland share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Bank of Queensland shares have remained flat, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Bank of Queensland names new CEO as leadership transition takes shape appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's a welcome reprieve from the multiple share price declines the banking giant has endured over the past few months. 

For the year-to-date, CBA shares are now down 6.57%. They're 5.49% below the share price this time last year, and 21.3% lower than an all-time high in June last year.

In 2025, CBA shares enjoyed a fantastic rally, peaking at an all-time high of $192.00 per share in June. But the bank is facing strong headwinds right now that I think could keep pushing its share price lower.

CBA's share price is significantly higher than other major Australian banks. It's concerning because many experts don't think the share price is supported by the bank's earnings and core business strength. 

At the same time, CBA is facing ongoing net interest margin pressure due to intense market competition and regulatory changes. 

And not to mention, it looks like the Reserve Bank could keep the cash rate on hold for the foreseeable future, or even hike rates in 2026. This puts even more pressure on banks to compete.

I even think it's possible that CBA shares could crash below $100 this year.

I'd buy this ASX bank stock instead

Analysts expect that all of the big four major banks' shares will drop in 2026. Even sentiment on the smaller banks like Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) and Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) is bearish, with many analysts holding buy or sell positions.

But then there is Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO). Judo Bank is an Australian bank which was built to focus on providing financial services and lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs have annual turnovers of up to $100 million.

The bank was founded in 2016 and received its banking license in 2019, so it's relatively new in comparison to the majors. It was listed on the ASX in 2021.

The bank provides business lending starting at $250,000 and touts itself as providing more flexibility than major banks. It also offers personal term deposit products and home loans.

Unlike its larger peers, the bank has had a strong start to FY26, and it looks set to continue. At its latest AGM, it said lending momentum was strong over the first quarter and that it's confident it can achieve FY26 guidance of $180-$190 million.

At the time of writing, Judo Bank's shares are up 0.27% to $1.88 a piece. For the year-to-date the shares are 4.17% higher, although they're still 4.82% below this time last year.

The best part is analysts are incredibly bullish on Judo Bank shares. 

UBS recently said it rates Judo as a buy, with a price target of $2.20, implying a potential 17.83% upside over the next 12 months. The broker thinks the bank is well placed to meet FY26 targets. It also noted that its new business origination "looks strong", with agriculture and regional lending doing a lot of the heavy lifting for its growth.

Some are even more optimistic. TradingView data shows 9 out of 10 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Judo Bank shares. Analysts have a maximum target price of $2.40. That implies a potential 28.34% upside from here!

The post Forget CBA shares: I'm buying shares in another Aussie bank appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

UBS said that its analysis of the sector indicates that the 2026 outlook for banks is reasonable and supportive of achieving earnings. The market is expecting the banking sector to deliver earnings growth of 5.9%. But, UBS also noted that ASX bank share valuations were around 40% higher than the historical average.

Despite that, UBS is seeing select opportunities in certain names with a significant range of expected returns.

Top picks of ASX 200 bank shares

UBS thinks that NAB shares, Macquarie shares and BOQ shares are a buy.

The broker thinks that the earnings of these banks could do better than expected with the (RBA) cash interest rate forecast to increase by 50 basis points (50 basis points) in 2026, possibly contributing to a stronger-than-anticipated net interest margin (NIM – lending profitability) performance and revenue growth for major banks, which would outperform what the market expects.

The core earnings of those ASX 200 bank shares may also benefit from higher-than-expected loan growth, while banks are actively managing persistent cost pressures which could grow by around 6% on an underlying basis.

NAB shares

UBS upgraded NAB to a buy with a price target of $47 because of positive EPS revisions and structural growth in business banking.

The broker suggested that 46% of NAB's valuation is tied to its market-leading business and private banking operations, which has defended the bank's profitability, supporting a return on tangible equity (ROTE) of around 12.5%.

NAB is UBS' top pick out of the ASX 200 bank shares.

Macquarie shares

UBS decided to upgrade its rating on Macquarie shares because this reflects its "more constructive take" on Macquarie Asset Management (MAM).

The price target on Macquarie shares has been hiked to $235.

Bank of Queensland shares

UBS decided to change its rating on BOQ shares from a sell to a buy because of the bank's balance sheet optimisation and the broker suggested that risk transfer initiatives to enhance returns have not been priced in.

The broker now has a price target of $7.50 on BOQ shares.

What about competition?

While UBS rates these businesses as a buy, the broker notes that competition could rise in the year ahead. The broker wrote:

We expect competition in the Aussie banking sector to grow further in 2026, particularly in managing deposits, especially if rates rise. Controlling costs…will be critical, with tech spend considered essential. At the same time, wage inflation and shifts in workforce composition are driving staff expenses higher (+5.0%).

That's something to keep an eye on, and it's worthwhile thinking about other opportunities out there that could be even better buys.  

The post UBS just rated ASX bank shares NAB, BOQ and Macquarie as a buy 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.

Dividends shouldn't be seen as the sole source of returns, but they can form an important part of total shareholder returns, particularly for banks.

As one of the smaller challenger banks, BOQ usually trades on a lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio than its major peers, making its dividend yield look particularly appealing for yield hunters.

Let's take a look at how large the dividend payout could be for investors in FY26 and the outlook for better payments in future years.

Potential payout in FY26

Analyst projections are not guarantees of what dividends a business will pay, but I think the estimates are a useful guide of what the payout could be. Some companies decide on their payout size based on a particular dividend payout ratio.

The analysts from UBS think the bank could deliver a payout that equates to a dividend yield of 6.3%, or around 9%, including franking credits, in FY26. That'd be a very pleasing level of passive income from the bank.

The payout could be similar in FY27, with another grossed-up dividend yield of around 9%.

UBS forecasts that BOQ's grossed-up dividend yield could be around 10% in FY28 and 10.4% in FY29.

If those payouts do occur, then owners of BOQ shares could be in line for a lot of passive income in the next few years.

Is Bank of Queensland stock a buy?

The broker notes that management is focused on tilting the business towards commercial lending, with strong growth over the past 12 months, growing at 1.5x the speed of the overall loan system.

UBS said that BOQ's underlying cost growth is projected to be below inflation. On top of that, BOQ's franchise network conversion into a corporate-owned proprietary channel which aims to streamline distribution and drive new business through its own channels.

Currently, 60% of BOQ's business flow is through broker channels, predominantly from ME Bank.

However, deposit competition is increasing as system loan growth is stronger than expecting, which may be disadvantaging smaller banks.

Digital growth remains a priority for the bank, with 44% of retail customers now using the digital banking platform.

BOQ is proactively resizing its cost base and exiting loan costs, that are below the cost of equity which are on the balance sheet, to reset its economics.

The broker said that the ASX bank share re-entering the mortgage market in FY26 and FY27 will be a "litmus test, especially around growth and pricing in proprietary distribution."

UBS currently has a sell rating on Bank of Queensland stock, though the price target of $6.75 implies a slight rise during 2026, at the time of writing. The bank is trading at 11x FY26's estimated earnings.

The post Is Bank of Queensland stock a buy for its 9% dividend yield? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

These four banks sit inside the top 6 largest companies in Australia weighted by market capitalisation. 

Earlier in December I covered the success of Australia And New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) shares in 2025 compared to its peers. 

But what about the ASX bank shares outside the big four?

Here is an overview of how some of the others have performed. 

A tough year for bank shares

Across the board, it has been overall a down year for bank shares. 

Starting with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), which has fallen more than 20% since the start of the year. 

That included two horror days of trading in November. 

On 11 November, shares lost 8.5% following the release of the company's first-quarter (Q1 FY 2026) results. 

Two weeks later, on 25 November, shares fell another 7.4%. 

Elsewhere, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) has also struggled in 2025. 

While it does offer banking services, it is primarily involved in investment and commercial banking and asset management, with Macquarie now in the top 50 global asset managers.

Its share price is down more than 9% since the start of the year.

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) is one of Australia's largest regional banks still operating independently of the 'Big Four' banks. 

Its share price has also faced volatility this year, and is down approximately 2.7% year to date. 

Finally, Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO), which focuses on lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), has fallen just over 7%. 

Most notably, in April, Judo Bank's share price crashed 19% after releasing its third-quarter update. 

Which has the most upside in 2026?

While 2025 has been rough on these bank shares, there is one drawing positive attention from experts. 

Judo Bank is tipped by brokers to rebound in 2026. 

It appears this may have already begun to be priced in, as its share price is up 12% over the last month since its AGM.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $1.90 price target on Judo Bank shares. 

This indicates an upside of almost 11% from yesterday's closing price of $1.72. 

There are other brokers even more bullish. 

UBS placed a $2.20 price target on Judo Bank shares in November, and TradingView currently has a consensus price target of $2.15.

These targets indicate an upside of between 25 – 28%. 

The post Is there opportunity in 2026 outside the big four bank shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With that in mind, let's take a look at three popular ASX 200 shares that experts are tipping as sells, courtesy of The Bull. Here's what they are saying:

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

The team at Catapult Wealth thinks investors should be selling this regional bank's shares.

It doesn't believe that there is a good enough risk/reward on offer with Bank of Queensland and prefers the big four banks. It said:

Bank share prices have generally outperformed the broader Australian sharemarket so far this calendar year. However, the Bank of Queensland lacks the scale to match it with the major banks. Cash earnings after tax of $383 million in full year 2025 were up 12 per cent on the prior corresponding period. However, statutory net profit after tax of $133 million was down 53 per cent. Commercial lending growth was up 14 per cent, but home lending growth was down 7 per cent. We believe the bigger banks present a better risk/return even though valuations may appear over-inflated. BOQ shares have fallen from $8.02 on August 22 to trade at $6.365 on December 4.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Over at Sanlam Private Wealth, it thinks that the this airline operator's shares are expensive and should be sold.

It notes that the Qantas share price could be vulnerable to any possible downgrades, stating:

The share price has run ahead of fundamentals, making it vulnerable to any possible downgrades, in our view. We believe the outlook for earnings growth is modest compared to the recent past. Fleet renewal plans and sustainability investments require substantial capital, which could potentially mute shareholder returns moving forward. The shares have risen from $8.02 on April 9 to trade at $9.74 on December 4, so investors may want to consider cashing in some gains.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

Finally, Family Financial Solutions thinks that investors should be selling insurance giant QBE's shares.

It has concerns about margin pressure from competition. It said:

This insurance giant reaffirmed guidance for full year 2025, with a combined operating ratio of about 92.5 per cent. However, group premium rate increases of about 1.5 per cent in the nine months to September 30 were modestly below the first half result in 2025, driven mostly by commercial lines. Shares on December 4 were trading at a premium to our fair value estimate of $16.50, despite falling from its June highs. In our view, the company faces margin pressure from pricing competition, so we recommend investors reduce holdings, while monitoring claims trends and premium rates.

The post Experts name 3 popular 200 ASX shares to sell now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are more smaller players outside of the majors, though. Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ), Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), and Judo Capital Holdings Limited (ASX: JDO) are alternative options for investors looking for banking exposure. Bendigo Bank is the only one not listed on the ASX 200 Index.

At the time of writing, CBA shares are down 0.81% to $150.82, Westpac shares are down 0.86% to $37.08, NAB shares are 0.74% lower at $40.12, and ANZ shares are down 0.12% to $34.69.

Outside of the majors, Macquarie shares are 0.12% lower at the time of writing to $195.73; BOQ shares are 0.16% higher at $6.35 a piece; Bendigo shares are 0.2% higher at $10.10 each; and Judo shares have climbed 1.93% to $1.69.

Which ASX bank stocks are a buy?

While sentiment around Macquarie shares is mixed, overall, analysts are pretty positive on the stock. Out of 14 analysts, 7 have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares, and the maximum target price is as high as $264.98. This implies a potential 34.9% upside from the share price at the time of writing.

Broker consensus for Judo Bank shares is a strong buy. The maximum target price is $2.40, implying a potential 42.26% upside for the ASX bank stock over the next 12 months. Analysts and investors appeared to be pleased with the bank's latest AGM update and think the stock is currently undervalued with the likelihood of a substantial upside ahead.

Which ASX bank stocks are a sell?

Analysts think CBA's premium share price is far too expensive right now, and overdue a correction. The majority have a sell rating on the banking giant's stock, with a target price as low as $96.07 each. This implies a potential 36.26% downside over the next 12 months, based on the share price at the time of writing. The team at Medallion Financial Group urges investors to be cautious about buying the stock.

Westpac shares are also tipped to sink further over the next 12 months. The team at Macquarie has an underperform rating on the stock and a target price of $31. This implies a potential 22.7% downside at the time of writing. The bank is expected to have limited growth over the coming years.

Analysts also have a sell rating on NAB shares. The team at Morgans said the bank missed consensus expectations of flat earnings in the second half of FY25. The broker has a sell rating and $31.46 target price on the stock. This implies a potential 21.6% downside for investors. 

Bendigo Bank shares have been dealt an underperform rating and $10.50 target price by the team at Macquarie. This implies a potential 3.9% upside could be ahead for the bank, using the current trading price. The broker said it isn't overly impressed with the bank's latest results, saying it missed consensus expectations by 8%.

BOQ shares are also on the chopping board right now. The majority of analysts have a sell or strong sell rating on the shares. They expect the price could drop as low as $4.64 over the next 12 months. That's a potential 27.2% downside at the time of writing. Macquarie analysts said the bank's valuation is stretched and that there is a downside risk to its earnings and margins.

Which ASX banks stocks are a hold?

ANZ is lagging behind the other big 4 banks, and while its shares are higher for the year to date, brokers at Macquarie said the bank is showing early signs of revenue underperformance. The broker has a neutral rating on ANZ shares with a target price of $35, which implies a 0.9% upside at the time of writing.

The post ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While the major bank's share price has been mostly positive over the past year, analysts at Macquarie think ANZ is showing early signs of revenue underperformance.

Here's what the broker had to say in a recent note to investors.

Headwinds ahead for ANZ shares

Overall, analysts said that business credit remains strong, at around 9% annualised and on a three-month rolling rate. This is primarily driven by agriculture and real estate credit growth. 

Meanwhile, investor mortgage growth continues to surge, annualising at over 10%, the highest level since 2015. 

Term deposit costs are also favorable. With the banks focusing their competition on savings deposits, term deposits have become less competitive. 

But when it comes to winners and losers among the bunch of Australian banks, ANZ falls short. 

"ANZ is showing early signs of revenue underperformance, lagging behind peers in mortgage (~0.5x), business (~0x) and deposit growth," Macquarie analysts said in the investor note.

While still early, and consistent with ANZ's guidance for below system mortgage growth in 2026, it could suggest ANZ's strategy reset is weighing on underlying performance.

Elsewhere, the broker said Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is arguably the best performer, gaining share in all segments. Meanwhile National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) see strong growth in their business lending. 

Mortgage credit growth remains negative for regional banks, with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) shrinking 5-9% over the three-month period. The broker notes that Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) has continued to grow its business credit by around 10%.

What's Macquarie's outlook for the bank sector?

The broker said that pre-provision earnings trends were generally better across the banks. It added that recent data has been incrementally positive, including better credit growth and lower funding costs (although this has been partly offset by deposit switching), which suggests a potential upside risk to FY26 consensus earnings. 

ANZ and NAB remain our preferred exposures in the sector; however, if ANZ's balance sheet underperformance continues, it could suggest risk to consensus revenue expectations.

Macquarie has a neutral rating on ANZ shares with a target price of $35.00. At the time of writing this implies a potential 1.8% upside for investors over the next 12 months.

The post ANZ shares are lagging the other big banks: Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

When the ASX 200 is falling, it's more important than ever to evaluate the stocks in your portfolio.

Here are three shares that it's time to sell up, according to the experts.

Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU)

The Fletcher Building share price closed 1.3% lower on Thursday, at $3.04 a piece. Over the past month the shares have risen 6.56% and over the year they're 5.56% higher. But it looks like investors could be in for a huge potential downside ahead.

The ASX 200 company recently reported ongoing declines in trading volumes for the first quarter of FY26 and expects challenging conditions to continue for the remainder of the period. And analysts aren't impressed.

Just last week, Macquarie placed an underperform rating on the stock and a NZ$1.59 target price. Using Fletcher Building's NZ$3.51 share price at the time of writing, this implies a huge 54.7% downside ahead. It looks like it's time to sell up.

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

Bank of Queensland shares also closed in the red on Thursday, down 1.18% at $6.68 a piece. Over the month the shares have dropped 7.09% and over the year just 0.75% higher.

Bank valuations are stretched right now, and there is continued downside risk to margins and earnings. Analysts at Macquarie recently said that in the near term, it sees upside risk to consensus earnings from faster credit growth and benign credit quality.

The broker has an underperform rating and $5.90 target price on Bank of Queensland shares. At the time of writing that represents a potential 11.7% downside ahead over the next 12 months.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price closed 1.14% higher on Thursday at $160.19 a piece. Over the past month the ASX 200 bank's shares have dropped 3.03% but over the year they're still 7.09% higher. But it looks like the tide could soon be turning for the banking giant.

Analysts weren't very impressed with the bank's latest quarterly update, and the consensus is that the stock is well overpriced and due a correction.

Analysts at Morgans have a sell rating on CBA shares and a $96.07 target price. At the time of writing that implies an enormous 40% downside for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Warning! Analysts think it's time to sell these 3 ASX 200 shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.