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

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price is down 3.5% to $9.32. This has been driven by a combination of broad market weakness and the infant formula company's shares going ex-dividend today. Last month, A2 Milk released its half-year results and declared a fully franked 8.3 cents per share interim dividend. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this payout in a couple of weeks on 2 April.

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

The BWP Trust share price is down 4% to $3.64. The catalyst for this appears to have been a broker note out of UBS this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the Bunning Warehouse-focused property company's shares to a neutral rating (from buy) with a reduced price target of $3.89. UBS highlights that the last time there was an energy crisis (the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict), Australian REITs sank deep into the red as interest rates rose.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is down 6% to 20.7 cents. Investors have been selling the lithium miner's shares following broad weakness in the mining sector and the completion of its $120 million institutional placement. Those funds were raised at a 4.5% discount of 21 cents per new share and will be used to restart the Finniss Lithium Project this year. Core Lithium's managing director, Paul Brown, said: "The strong support we have received through this equity raising is a clear endorsement of Core's restart strategy and the long-term value of the Finniss Operation. Combined with the strategic funding from Glencore, InfraVia and Nebari, this places Core in a fully funded position to execute the restart in line with the FID."

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

The Newmont share price is down 5.5% to $146.51. This follows a sizeable pullback in the gold price overnight after the US Federal Reserve kept rates on hold. It appears that traders were hoping for a rate cut, which would be supportive of the safe haven asset, but rising oil prices have seemingly ruled that out. It isn't just Newmont that is falling today. The gold industry is a sea of red, with the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index down 8% at the time of writing.

The post Why A2 Milk, BWP, Core Lithium, and Newmont shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did BWP Group report?

• Revenue rose 3.0% to $103.6 million (HY24: $100.6 million)
• Statutory profit after fair value adjustments and tax surged 41.2% to $221.8 million (HY24: $157.1 million)
• Interim distribution per security lifted 4.1% to 9.58 cents
• Net tangible assets per security climbed 2.0% to $4.00
• Weighted average capitalisation rate of 5.27% across the property portfolio
• Portfolio value increased by $195.9 million to $3.9 billion, including significant unrealised gains

What else do investors need to know?

BWP completed its management internalisation in August 2025, focusing on strengthening systems and employment arrangements as it transitions to an internal model. The company advanced key leasing milestones, amending 62 Bunnings leases and making progress on development approvals for property expansions in Western Australia and New South Wales.

The Group's occupancy rate remained solid at 96.7%, with a long weighted average lease expiry of 7.5 years. Divestments included several properties sold at strong premiums, while new debt facilities have improved funding flexibility and reduced risk.

What did BWP Group management say?

Managing Director Mark Scatena said:

The half saw a continued focus on asset repurposing, occupancy improvement and asset recycling whilst transitioning to an internalised management structure, with funding diversified and the balance sheet expanded to support the lower cost of capital post internalisation.

What's next for BWP Group?

BWP expects to maintain its strategic direction, balancing portfolio optimisation, growth and renewal through the remainder of FY26. Priorities include embedding the internal management model, deploying capital efficiently for site repurposing and tenant-led expansions, and capitalising on further leasing opportunities.

The company guides to a full-year distribution per security of 19.41 cents, about 4.1% higher than FY25. Ongoing rent reviews, site developments, and tenant mix enhancements should underpin future growth, supported by a low supply pipeline in the large format retail sector.

BWP Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, BWP Group shares have risen 8%, slightly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post BWP Group posts strong half-year profit and higher distributions appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did BWP Trust report?

• Unconditional sale contract for Chadstone Homeplus Homemaker Centre at $86.025 million
• Sale price is 1.1% above 31 December 2025 fair value of $85.1 million
• Settlement expected June 2026
• Sale realises an internal rate of return of 15.2% since acquisition in 2024
• FY2026 distribution guidance maintained

What else do investors need to know?

The sale follows a Bunnings lease extension to 31 July 2030, which helped boost the property's value ahead of marketing. Management conducted a public sales campaign attracting strong national interest, underscoring ongoing demand for quality large-format retail assets.

Proceeds from the divestment will initially be used to pay down debt, supporting BWP Trust's balance sheet flexibility. The asset was acquired in 2024 as part of a nine-asset portfolio for $72.5 million, highlighting the total value created in a short timeframe.

What did BWP Trust management say?

Managing Director Mark Scatena commented:

The transaction demonstrates BWP's ability to leverage its asset management capability by extending the property's weighted average lease expiry to maximise asset value.

What's next for BWP Trust?

BWP Trust remains focused on portfolio renewal, looking to recycle capital into new opportunities or pay down debt while maintaining distributions. Management will continue assessing asset performance and seek further value-adding activities.

The settlement in June 2026 is expected to give BWP ongoing flexibility as it pursues its strategic objectives and responds to changing market conditions.

BWP Trust share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, BWP Trust shares have risen 13%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post BWP Trust to divest Chadstone Homeplus, maintains FY2026 guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did BWP Group report?

• Interim distribution: 9.58 cents per stapled security, unfranked
• Ex-dividend date: 30 December 2025
• Record date: 31 December 2025
• Payment date: 27 February 2026
• Dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) available, with election date closing 2 January 2026

What else do investors need to know?

This interim distribution is unfranked, with 100% paid as unfranked income. BWP's DRP allows eligible investors to reinvest their distribution into additional units, with the price set by the average security price between 6 and 19 January 2026. Investors should note tax component details will be confirmed in a separate ASX release on 13 February 2026.

According to BWP Group, information and DRP rules are available via their investor centre or through the share registry at Computershare.

What's next for BWP Group?

Looking ahead, BWP Group investors can expect further details on the distribution's tax components before the payment is made in February. The trust continues to offer its DRP without discount for eligible securityholders, supporting reinvestment opportunities.

BWP Group remains focused on delivering steady distributions to its unitholders and providing regular updates as further financial results are released.

BWP Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, BWP Group shares have risen 13%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen around 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post BWP Group announces December 2025 half-year dividend: distribution details and DRP appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Falling interest rates worldwide are a tailwind for ASX real estate investment trusts (REITs), although the economic outlook is uncertain.

On The Bull this week, two analysts reveal a REIT to buy and one to sell.

Here's why.

ASX REITs: Buy one, sell the other

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

Buy this ASX REIT for 'dependable income', says expert

Jed Richards of Shaw and Partners has a buy rating on BWP Trust shares.

BWP stands for Bunnings Warehouse Properties.

The ASX REIT manages a portfolio of commercial properties, including 66 Bunnings Warehouses.

BWP Trust reported a 47.4% year-over-year increase in net profit to $265.6 million for FY25.

That includes $135.9 million in net unrealised capital gains in the fair value of its investment properties and derivatives.

Revenue rose 16.5% to $203.3 million.

In FY25, BWP Trust paid an annual dividend of 18.65 cents per share.

This gives the ASX REIT a trailing dividend yield of 5%.

Richard likes BWP Trust for its "dependable income and asset quality".

He comments:  

The trust owns prime land with low cost buildings, resulting in minimal depreciation and strong capital preservation.

High occupancy, stable cash flow and an attractive dividend yield make BWP a prudent choice for income focused investors seeking low volatility and long term value.

The BWP Trust share price closed at $3.73 on Tuesday, flat.

The REIT is up 12.7% in the year to date.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT Stapled Securities (ASX: DGT)

Sell this REIT and reduce your risk, says analyst

James Nicolaou from PAC Partners has a sell rating on this ASX REIT.

DigiCo REIT owns, operates, and develops data centres, which are crucial for enabling artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

The REIT made its market debut in December and had an initial public offering (IPO) price of $5.

The stock has fallen 39% since listing to close at $2.70 on Tuesday.

Nicolaou noted DigiCo's recent news that its Sydney-based data centre (SYD1) development had been awarded certified strategic status.

That's the highest level available under the Australian Government hosting certification framework.

The ASX REIT reported annualised underlying EBITDA of $99 million, ahead of prospectus guidance, for FY25.

Nicolaou said DigiCo management stopped short of offering firm FY26 earnings guidance.

Looking ahead, Nicolaou reckons it may be time for investors to cut their losses.

The broker explains his sell rating:

Growth depends on successfully executing its strategy.

Shares in DGT were priced at $5 in the initial public offering prior to listing on the ASX on December 13, 2024.

The shares were trading at $2.895 on September 18.

Investors may want to consider reducing their holdings and risk prior to further news developments.

The post Buy one, sell the other: Brokers rate 2 ASX REITS appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the real estate investment trust (REIT) – whose tenants include Bunnings – closed yesterday trading for $3.73. In afternoon trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $3.725 apiece, down 0.1%.

Taking a step back, shares in the ASX 200 industrial stock are up 13.3% so far in 2025, outpacing the 8.6% gains posted by the benchmark index.

And according to Shaw and Partners' Jed Richards, BWP continues to offer good value for shareholders with a long-term investment horizon (courtesy of The Bull).

Should you buy BWP shares today?

"This real estate investment trust invests in and manages commercial properties across Australia," said Richards, who has a buy recommendation on the ASX 200 industrials stock.

"BWP is the biggest owner of Bunnings hardware sites in Australia with 66 stores," he said.

Richards noted, "BWP offers dependable income and asset quality. The trust owns prime land with low cost buildings, resulting in minimal depreciation and strong capital preservation."

Summing up the three reasons that make BWP a stock to buy today, Richards said, "High occupancy, stable cash flow and an attractive dividend yield make BWP a prudent choice for income focused investors seeking low volatility and long term value."

As for that passive income, over the past full year, BWP has paid out 18.7 cents per share in unfranked dividends. At the current share price, that sees the ASX 200 industrials stock trading at an unfranked trailing dividend yield of 5.0%.

What's the latest from the ASX 200 industrials stock?

BWP reported its full-year FY 2025 results on 6 August.

The share price closed modestly higher on the day after the company reported revenue of $203.3 million for the 12 months to 30 June, up 16.5% from FY 2024.

And on the bottom line, BWP achieved a 47.4% year-on-year increase in net profit to $265.6 million. (This includes $135.9 million in net unrealised gains in the fair value of BWP's investment properties and derivatives.)

The company noted:

The operating environment for the 2025 financial year was shaped by moderating inflation, stabilising interest rates, and resilient demand for large format retail property. Retail real estate remained attractive, supported by strong supply-demand fundamentals and population growth.

Looking ahead, the ASX 200 industrial stock said it expects to pay 19.41 cents per share in unfranked dividends in FY 2026, which would mark a 4.1% increase from the dividends paid out in FY 2025.

The post 3 reasons to buy this high-yielding ASX 200 industrials stock today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because two have been tipped as buys, courtesy of The Bull, by analysts at Shaw and Partners. Here's what the broker is recommending to clients:

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The first ASX share that is being tipped as a buy is supermarket giant Woolworths.

Shaw and Partners highlights that its shares have pulled back materially since the release of its full year results. It appears to believe that this has created a rare entry point in a defensive and high-quality stock. It said:

Investors have punished the share price since the supermarket giant released its full year results. The shares closed at $33.42 on August 26, the day before the results. The shares were trading at $27.59 on September 18. We suggest investors buy the stock while sentiment is low and value is compelling. The stock is currently out of favour, so it offers a rare entry point into a high quality defensive business with strong brand loyalty. Company earnings are resilient, supported by essential consumer spending. In our view, Woolworths presents upside potential for portfolios seeking stability and recovery.

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

Another ASX share that is rated as a buy by Shaw and Partners is BWP Trust.

It likes the Bunnings property owner due to its high occupancy rate, stable cash flow, and attractive dividend yield. Commenting on the share, the broker said:

This real estate investment trust invests in and manages commercial properties across Australia. BWP is the biggest owner of Bunnings hardware sites in Australia with 66 stores. BWP offers dependable income and asset quality. The trust owns prime land with low cost buildings, resulting in minimal depreciation and strong capital preservation. High occupancy, stable cash flow and an attractive dividend yield make BWP a prudent choice for income focused investors seeking low volatility and long term value.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

A final ASX share that the broker has been looking at is wholesale distributor Metcash.

The broker sees it as a good option for income investors, but it only rates it as a hold at present. It explains:

Metcash is a wholesale distribution and marketing company involved in food, liquor and hardware. We suggest holding Metcash for stable income and defensive positioning. It offers a solid dividend yield, resilient earnings and reliable cash flow in uncertain markets. Its exposure to essential consumer goods and regional retail provides downside protection, making it a suitable hold for income-focused investors seeking stability over aggressive growth.

The post Buy Woolworths and this ASX share: Shaw and Partners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) real estate investment trust (REIT) – whose tenants include Bunnings – closed yesterday trading for $3.63. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $3.64 apiece, up 0.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.6% at this same time.

This follows the release of BWP's full-year FY 2025 results.

Here are the highlights.

BWP share price lifts on rising profits and dividends

Investors are bidding up the BWP share price after the company reported a 47.4% year-on-year increase in net profit to $265.6 million. That figure includes $135.9 million in net unrealised gains in the fair value of BWP's investment properties and derivatives.

Revenue for the 12 months to 30 June was up 16.5% to $203.3 million.

On the passive income front, management declared a final unfranked dividend of 9.45 cents a share. That brings the full-year dividend payout to 18.65 cents per share. At the current BWP share price, this sees the ASX 200 stock trading on an unfranked dividend yield (partly trailing, partly pending) of 5.1%.

Eligible investors can expect to see that passive income hit their bank accounts on 27 August.

What else happened during the year?

Other core metrics that look to be supporting the BWP share price include the 3.0% FY 2025 like-for-like rental growth, down from 4.2% in FY 2024. That rental growth incorporates the average inflation on Consumer Price Index (CPI) linked leases of 2.7%.

BWP reported weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of 4.5 years at 30 June 2025, up from 3.8 years at 30 June 2024. And its portfolio was 98.6% leased, down a touch from 99.1% a year earlier.

And on the balance sheet, the company's gearing (debt/total assets) remained essentially steady year on year at 21.6%.

Commenting on the business environment over the year just past, management said:

The operating environment for the 2025 financial year was shaped by moderating inflation, stabilising interest rates, and resilient demand for large format retail property. Retail real estate remained attractive, supported by strong supply-demand fundamentals and population growth.

New development activity continued to be constrained by elevated construction costs and limited site availability which, with supply remaining low, supported high occupancy, rental growth, and asset values across the sector.

What's ahead for the BWP share price?

Looking to what could impact the BWP share price in the year ahead, the ASX 200 REIT said that in FY 2026 it will continue to progress the repurposing of ex-Bunnings properties, filling any vacancies along with completing store upgrades.

In what the company labelled a transitional year, management said, "The benefits of internalisation and lower operating costs are expected to support profit growth."

As for that passive income, BWP forecasts it will pay 19.41 cents per share in unfranked dividend in FY 2026, up 4.1% from FY 2025.

With today's intraday boost factored in, the BWP share price is up 10.0% in 2025.

The post BWP share price pushes higher on 47% full-year profit boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's best known for owning a large portfolio of warehouses that are leased to Bunnings, the huge hardware business owned by Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

BWP and Wesfarmers recently revealed an important development that could be a game-changer for BWP.

Before I get to that announcement, let's look at what the passive income potential of the ASX dividend stock is first.

The ASX dividend stock's distribution yield

The business is expecting to pay a normal distribution of 19.03 cents per security in FY26, which translates into a forward distribution yield of 5.4%.

But, the business is also working on a significant transaction with Wesfarmers which could take the forecast distribution to 19.41 cents per security. That means the business could deliver investors a 5.5% distribution yield, which is better than what term deposits are offering now (and further RBA rate cuts could lead to lower returns from term deposits).

Now, let's turn to the transaction that BWP and Wesfarmers announced last week.

BWP Trust internalisation, Bunnings lease reset and capital investment

BWP and Wesfarmers signed an agreement that has three components.

First, it internalises the management of BWP, removing the management fee payable to Wesfarmers.

Second, it resets the terms of Bunnings leases within the BWP's portfolio. The term of 62 Bunnings leases will be extended, with the weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of those leases more than doubling from 4.6 years to 9.5 years. This has increased the certainty of future rent, relating Bunnings' medium-term vacancies.

The expected increased WALE should lead to an uplift of property valuations for the ASX dividend stock estimated at $49.9 million, according to BWP.

As mentioned, the transaction is expected to help boost the distribution of the business in FY26 and hopefully beyond.

The third component is store expansion expenditure commitments and network upgrade expenditure commitments at some Bunnings sites. This will help unlock stronger rental income and extend the useful life of some of the Bunnings sites. Those upgrades will be completed within five years of the proposed transaction being implemented.

Overall, I think this is a good time to invest, particularly as the RBA is expected to cut rates further, which is likely to reduce debt costs and increase the value of the ASX dividend stock's properties.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 22% I'd buy right now 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 not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

The BWP share price is up 2% to $3.65. This morning, this Bunnings Warehouse focused property company announced its distribution for the six months ended 30 June. It stated: "In accordance with the Trust's constitution the distributable amount will be distributed. The estimated distribution, based on unaudited accounts, is 9.45 cents per unit. It is expected that there will be no conduit foreign income included in the distribution."

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

The Metcash share price is up 3% to $3.81. Investors have been buying this wholesale distributor's shares following the release of its full year results. Metcash reported an 8.9% increase in revenue to $17.3 billion, or 7.2% to $19.5 billion when including charge-through sales. On the bottom line, its underlying profit after tax slipped 2.4% to $275.5 million. However, this was in line with its guidance range of $273 million to $277 million. A fully franked final dividend of 9.5 cents per share was declared. Metcash also reported that it has started FY 2026 strongly.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is up 5% to 62.5 cents. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Ord Minnett this morning. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the gold miner's shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $1.00. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of 60% for investors over the next 12 months. It made the move after lifting its earnings estimates for the medium term.

SHAPE Australia Corp Ltd (ASX: SHA)

The SHAPE Australia share price is up 6.5% to $4.14. This morning, the national fit-out and construction services specialist released a trading update that went down well with investors. SHAPE revealed that net profit after tax is expected to be between up $20.5 million to $21.5 million. The midpoint of this guidance range represents an increase of 31% year on year. SHAPE's CEO, Peter Marix-Evans, commented: "SHAPE delivered strong improvements across key financial and operational metrics in FY25. Starting the year with a robust project backlog, we were well-positioned to grow revenue and deliver strong profit outcomes. That momentum has continued throughout the year, with strong project wins secured, laying a solid foundation for continued growth in FY26."

The post Why BWP, Metcash, Resolute Mining, and SHAPE shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two popular ASX real estate investment trusts (REITs) have announced new dividends today.

Let's check them out.

2 ASX REITs reveal next dividend payments

National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

The National Storage REIT has announced an estimated dividend of 5.6 cents to be paid on 2 September.

The actual dividend amount will be confirmed on 21 August.

The ex-dividend date is 27 June.

The DRP election deadline is 1 July.

The ASX REIT is offering a 2% discount on the DRP price.

The DRP price will be the volume-weighted average price of National Storage REIT shares over 10 days commencing 1 August, less 2%.

National Storage REIT shares are steady at $2.39 apiece on Thursday. The REIT is up 1.91% over the year to date (YTD).

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT has announced a dividend of 2.125 cents to be paid on 22 August.

The ex-dividend date is 27 June.

The DRP election deadline is 1 July.

This REIT does not offer a discount on its DRP price.

The DRP price will be the volume-weighted average price of HomeCo Daily Needs REIT shares traded between 2 July and 8 July.

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price is up 1.53% to $1.33 at the time of writing.

The ASX REIT is up 14.22% YTD.

Thinking of buying REITs?

REITs have an obvious tailwind at the moment, given expectations of interest rate cuts in Australia and the United States.

As we reported earlier in the week, Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has provided his views on two popular ASX REITs.

Evans says the largest real estate investment trust, Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), is a buy.

Evans says (courtesy The Bull):

GMG benefits from growth in online retailing, changing supply chains, a tight property supply and quality industrial locations.

In our view, the data centre business is GMG's future growth engine offering additional upside.

Data centres are capital intensive, but are valuable assets in the long term and offer investors a reliable way to access the growing digital economy and increasing data demands.

The Goodman share price is $34.56, down 0.087%.

On the flipside, Evans sees BWP Trust (ASX: BWP) as a sell.

BWP stands for Bunnings Warehouse Properties.

Evans says the trust is "solid across most metrics" and a reliable option for income, recently offering a dividend yield of 5%.

However, he has a sell rating on this ASX REIT.

He says:

Our concern is BWP's reliance on Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which contributes 85 per cent of rental income via Bunnings.

Wesfarmers, the owner of Bunnings, also has an ownership stake in BWP.

This relationship provides income security, but may also challenge BWP's capability of maximising rental returns in the long term due to its concentration with Bunnings.

The BWP Trust share price is steady at $3.59.

The post 2 ASX REITs announcing new dividends today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Of course, those expectations are somewhat complicated by the potential inflationary impact of US tariffs on consumer prices worldwide.

Additionally, the Israel-Iran conflict has led to a bounce in oil prices, and they may go higher if a broader war breaks out in the Middle East.

The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) is up 5.5% in the year to date (YTD) while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 4.2%.

Over the past 12 months, ASX REITs and the ASX 200 have both risen 10.9%.

The REIT sector is somewhat fragmented at the moment, with hot and cold segments contributing to its overall performance.

Working from home has chipped away at office real estate asset valuations, while data centres have become a booming category due to the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI). Retail has been mixed, partly due to more businesses ramping up their online presence.

This week, Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has provided his views on two popular ASX REITs.

One is a buy and the other is a sell.

Here's why.

ASX REITs: Buy one, sell the other

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman Group is the largest ASX REIT with a market capitalisation of $69.38 billion.

It's a bit different from traditional REITs.

Goodman is a global integrated commercial and industrial property group that owns, develops, and manages real estate in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

So, it's a REIT, property developer, and fund manager all in one, with $85 billion in assets under management.

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth rates this ASX REIT a buy.

Evans says (courtesy The Bull):

Goodman develops and manages a portfolio of quality industrial properties and data centres around the world.

GMG benefits from growth in online retailing, changing supply chains, a tight property supply and quality industrial locations.

In our view, the data centre business is GMG's future growth engine offering additional upside.

Data centres are capital intensive, but are valuable assets in the long term and offer investors a reliable way to access the growing digital economy and increasing data demands.

The Goodman share price closed at $34.53 on Tuesday, up 1.1%.

The ASX REIT is down 4.2% in the YTD and down 2.3% over the past 12 months.

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

BWP stands for Bunnings Warehouse Properties.

This ASX REIT manages 82 properties, of which 68 are Bunnings Warehouses.

Evans says the trust is "solid across most metrics".

This includes a modest gearing rate of 21% and a high occupancy rate of 98%.

Evans describes the REIT as a reliable option for income, recently offering a dividend yield of 5%.

However, the analyst currently has a selling rating on the stock.

He says:

Our concern is BWP's reliance on Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which contributes 85 per cent of rental income via Bunnings.

Wesfarmers, the owner of Bunnings, also has an ownership stake in BWP.

This relationship provides income security, but may also challenge BWP's capability of maximising rental returns in the long term due to its concentration with Bunnings.

The BWP Trust share price closed at $3.62 on Tuesday, down 1.6%.

The ASX REIT is up 9.4% in the YTD and up 0.6% over the past year.

The post Buy one, sell the other: Expert's verdict on 2 ASX REITS appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This business is a real estate investment trust (REIT). It is best known for owning properties that are leased to Bunnings Warehouse, the biggest profit generator in the Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) business.

At a time when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) official cash rate is coming down, this looks like a prime to invest. Let's take a look at three of the elements that appeal to me most about BWP right now.

Solid dividend yield

One of the benefits of investing in REITs is that they can provide investors with a good distribution yield. Commercial properties usually have a higher gross yield than residential properties.

The last two distributions from the ASX share come to a total of 18.47 cents per security. At the current BWP Trust share price, that translates into a dividend yield of 5.1%.

That yield is right at the top of the range of what savers can get from a banking product. The payout is able to grow in the future, whereas savings account rates are fixed (and may fall in the coming months).

This REIT is able to pay out most of its rental profits each year and still deliver long-term growth for investors. This is because rental growth is built into its rental agreements with Bunnings.

Rental profit growth

I think the ASX share has a number of impressive rental statistics that support its solid dividend yield.

At 31 December 2024, BWP Trust's property portfolio was 98.7% leased, with a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) term of 4.4 years.

The rent payable for each leased property is increased annually, either by a fixed percentage or by CPI inflation, except when a property is due for a market rent review.

BWP reported that rental growth of 3.4% per year was recorded for 74 of its leases, which were subject to annual fixed or CPI increases. The CPI increases came to 3.9% and the fixed annual increases came to 3%.

In the HY25 result, BWP reported net profit excluding fair value (property value changes) was up 15% to $66.1 million and this helped it increase its distribution by 2% per unit.

RBA rate cuts to help its valuation

As the RBA cuts rates – with more expected – the business could benefit in three different ways, in my view. Firstly, It could reduce the interest cost of debt (boosting rental profits). Secondly, it could increase the value of the properties. And thirdly, it could help close the discount between the BWP Trust unit (share) price and the underlying value of the business.

At the current BWP Trust share price, it's trading at an 8% discount to its net tangible asset (NTA) per unit. While that's not the biggest discount in the sector, I think the ASX share is very appealing considering we're in a period of rate cuts.

I believe there is great potential for the business to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in the medium-term.

The post With a 5% dividend yield, why I think this leading ASX share is a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I'm talking about the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector, which includes businesses that own commercial properties. REITs can be focused on industrial properties, office buildings, shopping centres, storage units, farmland, and so on.

REITs can be a good investment in most economic circumstances, but I think this could be a particularly good time for this ASX share sector for two key reasons.

Stable rental profits

At a time when the US is imposing tariffs on products from countries like Canada, Mexico, China, and the EU, this raises questions about what may happen to the profits of businesses exposed to the global share market.

Investments that generate stable and growing earnings could be particularly useful during this period. Investors may be willing to pay more for earnings from a stable business than for businesses with cyclical earnings (such as mining or retail).

Many REITs have tenants on long-term contracts, which means they can give investors a lot of visibility of what the rental income may look like in the coming years. They usually pay out most of their rental profit each year too, creating a pleasing distribution yield.

I'd look to businesses like Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Scentre Group (ASX: SCG), and BWP Trust (ASX: BWP).

Interest rates to lower further?

Over the last several months, I've highlighted numerous times that businesses that are particularly sensitive to interest rate cuts could be a good place to invest.

With most REITs having a sizeable amount of debt on their balance sheets, they could benefit from a reduction in financing costs and a potential boost to their property values.

It is not certain what the RBA will do this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is another rate cut or two by the end of 2025. In my view, this could be very helpful to the property ASX share sector.

When I consider which ASX share sectors could deliver positive total returns (share price plus distribution returns) in 2025, even if the tariff trade war worsens, I think REITs could be a defensive option.

The post Why this could be a great ASX share sector to invest in right now 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 charging higher:

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

The BWP Trust share price is up 3% to $3.55. Investors have been buying this Bunnings Warehouse-focused property company's shares this week following the release of its half-year results. BWP posted a 22% increase in revenue to $100.6 million and a 15% lift in profit before fair value movements to $66.1 million. This went down well with analysts at Citi, which upgraded the company's shares to a neutral rating from a sell rating with a $3.40 price target. It is feeling more positive about the company's outlook.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The Magellan share price is up 1.5% to $10.08. This follows the release of the fund manager's latest funds under management (FUM) update this morning. Magellan revealed that both retail and institutional flows were flat for the month of January. This is an improvement from many months of funds outflows during the past year. At the end of January, Magellan's FUM was $39.1 billion, which is up from $38.6 billion at the end of December.

News Corporation (ASX: NWS)

The News Corporation share price is up 5% to $55.99. The catalyst for this has been the release of a strong quarterly update from the media giant this morning. News Corp reported a 5% year-over-year increase in revenue to US$2.24 billion. This was driven by strong performances from its Digital Real Estate Services, Book Publishing, and Dow Jones segments. Things were even better for its earnings, with net income from continuing operations jumping 58% to US$306 million. News Corp's chief executive, Robert Thomson, said: "The three pillars of growth—Digital Real Estate, Dow Jones and Book Publishing—continued to expand Segment EBITDA robustly. We also saw the positive impact of rigorous cost discipline and digital development in the News Media segment, and our overall margin rose meaningfully compared to the prior year."

Winsome Resources Ltd (ASX: WR1)

The Winsome Resources share price is up 2.5% to 45.5 cents. Investors have been buying this lithium explorer's shares following the announcement of a new discovery. According to the release, the company has discovered a high-grade spodumene-bearing pegmatite at the Sirmac-Clapier Project in Canada. Importantly, it contains very high grade cesium mineralisation in addition to lithium mineralisation. Managing director, Adam Ritchie, commented: "There has been limited work at Sirmac-Clapier to date due to our significant drilling efforts at our flagship Adina Lithium Project, so it is great to make this find the first time we get our boots on the ground."

The post Why BWP, Magellan, News Corp, and Winsome shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

The BWP Trust share price is up 4.5% to $3.44. Investors have been buying the Bunnings Warehouse-focused property company's shares following the release of its half-year results. BWP posted a 22% increase in revenue to $100.6 million and a 15% lift in profit before fair value movements to $66.1 million. Management advised that this reflects an $18.1 million increase in rental income due largely to the acquisition of NPR in March 2024, together with annual rent increases. Total profit was up 195% over the prior corresponding period to $157.1 million. However, this includes $91 million of gains in fair value movements. BWP increased its interim distribution by 2% to 9.2 cents per share.

Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL)

The Insignia Financial share price is up 7% to $4.62. This follows news that a third private equity firm has tabled a takeover offer for the financial services company. Insignia Financial revealed that it has received a confidential, non-binding, and indicative proposal from Brookfield Capital Partners. It has offered to acquire all Insignia Financial's shares for $4.60 cash per share. This matches what has already been offered by CC Capital and Bain Capital. Investors appear hopeful that the bidding war could only be getting started.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

The Nufarm share price is up 3.5% to $3.81. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the agricultural chemicals company's shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $4.35 (from $4.25). It commented: "Our upgrade is predicated: (1) NUF's discount to global peers, which has widened in recent months (from ~13% at FY24 results to ~25%); (2) a bottoming trend in export values ex-China reversing some of the pricing headwinds of FY24; (3) we expect NUF and peers to commence cycling softer YOY comparisons from 1Q25; and (4) little or no value ascribed for the upside in Beyond yield initiatives."

Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)

The Pinnacle share price is up 4% to $26.20. Investors have been buying this investment management company's shares after it released its half year results and revealed a surge in profits. Pinnacle reported that its net profit after tax was up 151% over the prior corresponding period to $75.7 million. This allowed the company's board to lift its interim dividend by 112% to 33 cents per share.

The post Why BWP, Insignia, Nufarm, and Pinnacle shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two ASX 300 real estate shares that have released their results are named below. Here's what they have reported and how the market has responded:

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

The BWP share price is up 5% to $3.46 after investors cheered on the release of the Bunnings-focused property company's half year results.

BWP reported a 22% increase in revenue to $100.6 million. Management advised that its $18.1 million increase in rental income was largely due to the acquisition of NPR in March 2024, together with annual rent increases.

Things were positive for the ASX 300 real estate share's profits. It reported a 15% lift in profit before fair value movements to $66.1 million. Whereas total profit was up 195% over the prior corresponding period to $157.1 million including $91 million of gains in fair value movements.

BWP increased its interim distribution by 2% to 9.2 cents per share.

Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF)

The Centuria Office REIT share price is up almost 1.5% to $1.15.

This morning, the office-focused ASX 300 real estate share released its half year results and revealed funds from operations of $34.7 million. This was down 17% on the prior corresponding period.

On the bottom line, the company recorded a statutory loss of $21.2 million. This reflects a $36.2 million loss on fair value of investment properties and a $4.55 million loss on fair value of derivatives.

Nevertheless, this couldn't stop the company from achieving its distributions guidance of 5.05 cent per share.

Commenting on the half, Centuria Office REIT Fund Manager, Belinda Cheung, said:

The first half of FY25 was characterised by continuous leasing activity, which underscores Centuria's proactive management. Since 2020, the office industry has weathered numerous headwinds yet Centuria has actively addressed and mitigated significant expiries by leasing 81% of the portfolio's NLA, which speaks to the strength of the team's long term and active commitment towards leasing management.

Looking ahead, Cheung is cautiously optimistic on the company's outlook. She said:

The medium-term outlook for the domestic office market is well supported by a number of growth drivers including a reduction of future office supply, stronger occupier sentiment and ongoing population growth. However, in the near-term vacancy rates across Australian office markets remain at elevated levels, which suggest it may take some time for these tailwinds to translate into material rental growth.

The post 2 ASX 300 real estate shares charging higher on half-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are some businesses on the ASX that have a significant amount of their value attached to the assets they own on their balance sheets. Some businesses are trading at values significantly less than what their balance sheet (underlying value) suggests. That's called the price-to-book ratio.

REITs are businesses that own significant commercial property portfolios which are leased to tenants. Those REITs can then pay pleasing distributions from the rental profits generated.

When discussing ASX real estate shares, I normally mention the REITs Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), and Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF). However, in this article, I'm also going to include the two ideas below for retirees.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

This ASX dividend share is invested in a number of commercial real estate areas, such as neighbourhood retail, large-format retail, health and services, and logistics.

Some of its biggest tenants include Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH), Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), and Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK).

Despite the headwind of higher interest rates, the business has managed to keep its distribution stable in the last few years.

The business is guiding it will grow its distribution by 2.4% to 8.5 cents per unit in FY25, which currently translates into a distribution yield of 7.1%. The funds from operations (FFO) – net rental profit – is expected to grow by 2.3% to 8.8 cents per unit.

In a December 2024 update where the business announced a 3% increase of the portfolio value from June 2024, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT said that it is benefiting from positive net operating (rental) income growth and the stabilisation of property prices.

The business said its point of difference remains its "value accretive and tenant-demand led development pipeline, underpinning future growth over the long-term."

The ASX dividend share is trading at a 17.5% discount to the net tangible assets (NTA) at June 2024 of $1.44. Hence, I'd call this a cheap ASX dividend share.

BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

This REIT owns a large portfolio of warehouse properties that are leased to Bunnings, one of the businesses owned by Wesfarmers. Wesfarmers is one of the main shareholders of BWP, with a 22.3% holding at 30 June 2024.

BWP grew its distribution in FY24 to 18.29 cents after keeping its payout stable since 2020. It achieved like for like rental growth of 4.2% in FY24, which includes the average inflation-linked lease increase of 5.3%. Six market rent reviews finalised during FY24 led to rents increasing 4.4% on the previous rent.

In my view, Bunnings is one of the largest and most resilient businesses in Australia. It is a great tenant for BWP.

BWP expects its distribution per unit to grow by 2% in FY25, which implies a potential FY25 distribution yield of 5.5%.

It's trading at an 11% discount to the NTA of $3.79 at 30 June 2024, which looks appealing to me.

With a possible interest rate cut getting close in Australia, both BWP and HomeCo Daily Needs REIT look like appealing cheap ASX dividend shares to me for retirees.

The post Retirees: 2 cheap ASX dividend shares to buy in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.