What did Brambles report?

• The Federal Court handed down its judgment on the class action relating to alleged misleading or deceptive conduct in 2016–2017.
• Most claims against Brambles were dismissed, with the Court only upholding certain claims for periods between 16 November 2016 and 23 January 2017.
• The Court dismissed all claims relating to medium-term FY19 targets.
• The total quantum of potential damages remains uncertain; financial impact is not yet determined.

What else do investors need to know?

Brambles is currently reviewing the extensive, 1,200-page Federal Court judgment to consider its legal and financial options. The company has insurance arrangements in place but says that final damages are unclear until further steps — including any appeals — are finalised.

Brambles has committed to keeping the market informed as it assesses both the financial risk and mitigation options. Management emphasised their ongoing disclosure obligations.

What's next for Brambles?

Brambles stated it is assessing potential grounds for appeal, as well as the process for quantifying any damages. Until appeals or other legal proceedings conclude, the financial impact — if any — remains uncertain.

Investors can expect further updates as Brambles reviews the judgment and finalises its response. The company is also continuing to focus on its core logistics operations across global markets.

Brambles share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Brambles shares have risen 12%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 16% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Brambles shares: Class action judgment update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday despite a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 24 points or 0.25% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 2.85%, the S&P 500 jumped 2.5% and the Nasdaq stormed 2.8% higher.

CSL shares given hold rating

Bell Potter still thinks it is too early to buy CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the biotherapeutics giant's shares with a $155.00 price target (from $175.00). It said: "The current share price reflects a materially de-rated PE multiple of ~15x our FY27 NPAT forecast, bringing CSL in line with the global biopharma peer set which also trades at an avg PE of 15x. While CSL doesn't face the same extent of generic/biosimilar competition as these biopharma peers, it does have a lower growth outlook of ~2.5% revenue CAGR (3yr) per our forecast compared to >4% avg for global peers."

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices crashed overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 14.6% to US$96.42 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 12% to US$96.19 a barrel. This has been driven by the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Dividend payday

Today is payday for shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares. This includes CSL, Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM), Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH), Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX), and NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH). CSL will be rewarding its shareholders with a $1.81 per share dividend later today.

Gold price lifts

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.3% to US$4,748.1 an ounce. Traders appear to believe that falling oil prices could limit interest rate hikes, which would be good news for the precious metal.

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

Here are three worth considering for your set-and-forget investing portfolio.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)

While the name is often thought of in terms of the pharmacies, the company divested its last remaining interests in the retail chain in 2020. Today, it is an investment company that owns a portfolio designed to build wealth steadily over time.

In 2025, it completed a merger with building materials manufacturer Brickworks Limited, ending five decades of cross-shareholdings between the companies. The new arrangement created a $14 billion investment powerhouse, further improving liquidity and transparency.

Why is Washington H. Soul Pattinson a solid ASX dividend share?  

Soul Patts' diversification across multiple uncorrelated sectors is its defensive moat. Diversification on this scale smooths earnings, reduces volatility, and allows long-term capital allocation.

The model is a simple one – a long-running investment conglomerate that invests in high-quality businesses and compounds capital, and it is in a robust financial position. Soul Patts holds pre-tax net assets of $13.5 billion as at 1H26, up 14.6% on the prior corresponding period (PCP). And cash holdings of $427 million, providing resiliency if things go wrong. However, the scale of its diversification also gives it ample coverage here.

As for its growth runway, Soul Patts invests in both listed and unlisted businesses across the globe, providing almost limitless investment opportunity. And it remains a family-run enterprise, despite its scale, so management skin in the game is apparent too.

And when it comes to returns, Soul Patts comes through here too. It has paid dividends every year since it listed on the ASX over a century ago. And every year for the last 27 years, the dividend has grown year on year.

You will pay a premium, but the valuation is justified for set-and-forget investors given its solid track record and high-quality balance sheet.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear is a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, with a market share of around 60% in developed markets. It has solid recurring revenue streams too, with patients returning for upgrades or device accessories.

Why is Cochlear a solid ASX dividend share?

A quality, trusted healthcare product that makes meaningful change in people's lives creates customer stickiness — patients often stay in the Cochlear ecosystem. Its global reputation and position in a tightly regulated market give it a solid defensive moat, and its balance sheet remains resilient despite some challenges of late.

Its business model is easy to understand — we all know what Cochlear does. Today, more than 1 million people across the globe use a Cochlear device. And with an aging population, the demand for hearing devices is set to increase in the coming years, creating a growth runway. It is also a known innovator, consistently investing in Research & Development. As technology advances, I believe Cochlear will remain at the forefront.

However, it has faced some setbacks of late, which has seen the share price fall 37% in the last twelve months. Delays in transitioning patients to its new Nucleus Nexa device have contributed to underlying net profits falling 9%, missing analysts' expectations.

That said, it retains strong cash holdings, with operating cash flow increasing by $26.9 million to $136.8 million and free cash flow up by $24 million to $82.7 million in its 1H26 reporting.

It also recently announced a dividend of $2.15, flat against the prior corresponding period. While this has some worried that it might signal the end of steadily increasing dividends for the healthcare leader, I think it will bounce back in the second half as the Nucleus Nexa rollout regains momentum.

For me, recent conditions have created an opportunity for set-and-forget investors to get in on a market leader at an attractive price.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

Brambles operates CHEP, the world's largest pallet-pooling network, providing reusable pallets, crates, and containers used across the globe. Its model creates a cost-effective and efficient circular logistics solution for manufacturers and retailers, and its service is widely considered the benchmark in pallet pooling.  

Why is Brambles a solid ASX dividend share?

Brambles has a classic defensive moat built on scale, network effect, and customer stickiness. The scale of its services means it is disruptive and difficult for customers to switch, and given the quality of its service, they have little incentive to consider a move.

While global logistics is complex, its business is relatively simple. Brambles rents shipping pallets to its customers, collects, repairs, reissues, and repeats. This circular model gives it largely predictable cash flows.

Brambles 1H26 reporting showed a resilient balance sheet with sales revenue and underlying profit increasing, and free cash holdings of US$481.7 million, up $52.5 million on 2025. It also reported an interim dividend of US$0.23 per share, up 21% on FY25.  

These results are particularly strong in the current global climate, with demand headwinds in some markets and increasing inflation-driven cost pressures. 

While it has a moderate to high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, I think you are paying for quality here. With solid dividends, a wide defensive moat, and a resilient balance sheet, the current share price represents fair value for set-and-forget investors, in my view.  

The post 3 reliable ASX dividend shares for set-and-forget investing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday despite a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 33 points or 0.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.05%, the S&P 500 is down 0.25%, and the Nasdaq is 0.1% lower.

Oil prices sink again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session on Wednesday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 8.6% to US$86.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 8.4% to US$90.65 a barrel. Optimism over a resumption of supply from the Strait of Hormuz put pressure on prices.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

Another group of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes supply chain solutions company Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), appliance manufacturer Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG), waste management company Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY), and mining technology company Imdex Ltd (ASX: IMD). Breville is paying eligible shareholders a 19 cents per share fully franked interim dividend later this month on 27 March.

Gold price jumps

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.9% to US$5,201.7 an ounce. Easing inflation worries and US dollar weakness were drivers of this gain.

Buy Eagers Automotive shares

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has upgraded the automotive retailer's shares to a buy rating with a $28.50 price target. It said: "Our updated TP of $28.50 is >15% premium to the share price so we upgrade our recommendation from Hold to Buy. Yes, we acknowledge Eagers is consumer facing but we see resilience in the both the new and used vehicle market in Australia as well as Canada."

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

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

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

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

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

Here's why earnings diversity is critical – and how you can achieve it without leaving the ASX.

It's likely your risks are already concentrated in Australia

Most Australian investors instinctively look to the ASX for their first and often biggest investments. It feels familiar, you're dealing in Australian dollars, you may avoid some additional tax filing requirements, and your money stays in Australia's highly regulated environment. And that's before we even get into the benefits of Australia's franking credits system. 

But Australia is a small pond. It makes up less than 2% of the global equity market and only 0.33% of the world's population, so you risk putting all your eggs in one very small basket. 

Additionally, it's likely that you're heavily exposed to the Australian economy before you start your portfolio. Your job, your salary, your house and most of your large assets probably sit here. And for most Australians, superannuation is tilted toward domestic shares. It means you're already flying in one weather system, and if a storm hits the Australian economy, you're exposed to it on many fronts.

The good news is that you can achieve global exposure without leaving the ASX.

Follow the money on the ASX

Where a company is located is largely irrelevant today. In fact, you could build a portfolio across the ASX, NASDAQ, Nikkei and FTSE, assuming you have achieved diversification, and still be disproportionately invested in one region because that's where your investments make most of their revenue.

Instead of looking for overseas-based companies to achieve this, you can follow the money and stay on the ASX, by considering:

• Where does the company earn most of its income?
• Where are the majority of its customers based?
• What currency does it transact in?

It's these factors that determine its exposure to economic, social, regulatory and geopolitical – and, therefore, your geographic diversification.

What ASX shares can I invest in to gain global exposure?

You can build geographic diversity on the ASX with some solid performers. Here are three that are worth a look to get you started:

• Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC) The packaging giant makes most of its money in the US (50%), followed by Western Europe (28%). In fact, Australia and New Zealand combined account for only 1% of its revenue.
• Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA):  Codan makes most of its communications technology and metal detecting equipment sales across North America (40%), Europe and the Middle East (29%) and Africa (18%).
• Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB):  This large supply chain logistics player brings most of its sales revenue from the Americas (55%) and Europe and the Middle East (37%).

Foolish bottom line

When your income, assets and super are already tied to Australia, doubling down by investing purely in Australian‑centric companies can leave you over-exposed to one economic climate. By focusing on earnings geography rather than company location, you open your portfolio to the other 98% of global market opportunity, all without leaving the relative comfort of the ASX.

The post Diversification: Why earnings geography matters more than company location appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Wilsons team said they're looking to invest "across the spectrum of sectors and styles, however, stock selection typically reflects a bias towards reasonably priced, high-quality businesses with sustainable growth, consistent with our investment philosophy''.

Looking to beat the market with quality companies

That investment philosophy is based around five core principles, with the first being that earnings are the primary driver of shareholder returns.

The team is also looking for "high-quality businesses with strong competitive advantages, high returns on capital, and robust balance sheets, which tend to outperform over the long run''.

They will also be keeping an eye on the macroeconomic outlook, which "informs sector tilts and stock selection''.

The Wilsons team said regarding their approach:

Our portfolio construction process combines bottom-up fundamental analysis with top-down sector and commodity views. It is designed to ensure that stock and sector weightings directly reflect our level of conviction, with capital systematically allocated toward our highest-conviction ideas. For Industrials, position sizing is primarily driven by bottom-up stock conviction rankings, based on a rigorous assessment of business quality, valuation and momentum (with an emphasis on earnings). This is overlaid with top-down sector tilts where applicable, which can scale final position sizes up or down. For Resources, we adopt a top-down starting point, forming views on relative commodity attractiveness before assessing preferred exposures within each commodity based on company-specific fundamentals.

Mining looking strong

The Wilsons team said at the moment they are positive towards the resources sector for a number of reasons, including resilient global growth, a softer US dollar, government policy that is looking to onshore production, and structural demand tailwinds such as the energy transition.

They added:

Within the commodity complex, we are particularly positive towards base metals (copper, aluminium), gold, and critical minerals (rare earths), where we see favourable supply/demand dynamics and supportive medium-term pricing. We remain neutral on energy and modestly underweight iron ore, reflecting less attractive supply/demand dynamics.

The Wilsons portfolio is underweight on banks versus the ASX 200, albeit they are looking more favourably on the sector following the reporting season, and the portfolio has no exposure to retail and domestic cyclicals.

As the Wilsons team said:

As we have written about previously, the monetary policy backdrop has become increasingly challenging for companies exposed to domestic consumer spending, with the RBA having raised rates in February and markets fully pricing at least one further hike later this year. This environment presents risks to retailer earnings and valuations at a time that valuations are already relatively full – particularly for high-quality large cap exposures.

Now to the top 10 companies, and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) tops the list followed by Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), and finally Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

The post In Wilsons Advisory's ideal portfolio, what are the 10 top stock picks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here are three fresh ratings from the team out of Morgans.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

Brambles is the world's largest supplier of reusable wooden pallets and crates used for storing and transporting goods. 

According to Morgans, the company's 1H26 earnings were better than expected, driven by supply chain and productivity improvements. 

The broker also said management has adjusted FY26 revenue growth guidance to between 3-4% (vs 3-5% previously) with underlying EBIT growth guidance maintained at between 8-11%. 

Free cash flow (before dividends) is now expected to be between US$950-$1100m (vs between US$850-950m previously) due mainly to lower pallet purchases. 

Based on this guidance, Morgans adjusted FY26/27/28F underlying EBIT by +2%/+1%/+0%. 

Our target price rises to $27.00 (from $25.70) and we move our rating to ACCUMULATE (from HOLD). Following another solid result, we believe BXB is well positioned to deliver earnings growth through continued conversion of white-wood pallets to pooling and further margin improvement driven by ongoing operational efficiencies, including enhanced use of its digital and data capabilities.

From yesterday's closing price, this target indicates an upside of roughly 10%. 

PWR Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWH)

PWR Holdings is a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of cooling solutions for motorsports and the performance automotive industry.

According to Morgans, the 1H26 result was above expectations, driven by strong growth in Motorsports (new Formula 1 regulations) and Aerospace & Defence (delivery of most of a US government contract).

Our target price increases to $11.15 (from $8.50) due to a roll-forward of our model to FY27 forecasts. We continue to view PWH as a high-quality business, supported by a strong balance sheet, an experienced management team, and access to large addressable markets that offer significant growth potential. With the disruption from relocating to the new Australian manufacturing facility now behind it, we believe PWH is well positioned to embark on its next phase of growth.

Morgans maintained its accumulate rating on these ASX shares. 

From yesterday's closing price of $9.75, there is a potential upside of 14.36%. 

MoneyMe Ltd (ASX: MME)

MoneyMe is a digital consumer credit business. The company touts its technology and AI as offering financial solutions targeted at younger people.

MME's 1H26 was broadly per expectations, achieving gross revenue of ~A$117m, on a gross loan book of ~A$1.75bn. Momentum seen in originations growth (+18% to A$536m) continues to augur well for 2H26, and we expect MME to maintain a balance between profitability and growth as it seeks to benefit from scale. 

Our price target remains unchanged at A$0.21 and we maintain our Speculative Buy recommendation.

From yesterday's closing price of $0.115, Morgans sees an upside potential of 82.6% for these ASX shares. 

The post 3 ASX shares that look cheap according to Morgans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Today's intraday peak beat the last record set on 21 October last year.

The new high follows robust results from some of Australia's largest companies, as earnings season continues today.

Strongly rising oil prices overnight have also lifted the ASX 200 today on concerns that US military action in Iran may be imminent.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is 9,102.5 points, up 1.06%.

Let's review some of today's strongest results.

Shares driving the ASX 200 higher today

ASX 200 communications is the top-performing market sector after Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares hit a 9-year high.

Telstra shares rose 5.6% to $5.24 after the telco reported a 10% lift in its underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $1.2 billion for 1H FY26.

ASX 200 industrial sector heavyweight Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) saw its shares lift 6.4% to an intraday high of $25 per share.

Brambles reported a 7% increase in its underlying and operating profit (constant currency) to US$792 million for 1H FY26.

ASX 200 healthcare large-cap Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) ripped 14% to an intraday peak of $24.14 per share. 

The pathology and radiology services provider reported an 11% increase in NPAT to $262 million for 1H FY26.

ASX 200 financial sector mid-cap Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) skyrocketed 21% to an intraday high of $104.21 per share.

The wealth management platform provider revealed an 80% lift in statutory NPAT and increased its interim dividend by 50%.

Hub24 shares are the fastest risers on the ASX 200 today.

Energy is the second strongest sector on Thursday, primarily due to higher oil prices.

Analysts at Trading Economics said:

Reports indicated that any US military action would likely unfold as a weeks-long campaign, with Israel's government advocating an outcome aimed at regime change in the Islamic Republic. 

Unemployment remains at 4.1%

The ASX 200 hit a new record despite stronger-than-expected jobs data released today.

This morning, the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that unemployment stayed steady in January at 4.1%.

The ABS said the number of workers rose by 18,000. This was comprised of 50,000 new full-time jobs and 33,000 fewer part-time jobs.

According to reporting in the Australian Financial Review (AFR), the consensus market expectation was 4.2% and 20,000 new jobs.

Generally speaking, strong jobs data adds to the case for further interest rate hikes to combat resurgent inflation.

The Reserve Bank of Australia lifted the cash rate for the first time in more than two years this month.

The post ASX 200 lifts to record high amid strong earnings and new jobs data appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Brambles report?

• Sales revenue (continuing operations): US$3,533.5 million, up 2% (constant FX)
• Underlying Profit and Operating profit: US$792.0 million, up 7% (constant FX)
• Operating profit after tax: US$507.4 million, up 11%
• Basic EPS (continuing operations): 37.2 US cents, up 13%
• Free Cash Flow before dividends: US$481.7 million, up US$52.5 million
• Interim dividend: 23.00 US cents per share, up 21% on 1H25

What else do investors need to know?

Brambles managed to offset weaker consumer demand in key markets, like the US and Europe, with strong net new customer growth. The company also benefited from operational efficiencies and disciplined cost control, helping expand margins despite flat overall volumes.

During the half, Brambles invested in digital and asset quality initiatives, enhanced customer service levels, and continued its share buy-back program, purchasing US$191 million worth of shares as part of a planned US$400 million FY26 buy-back.

The company continues to push its Serialisation+ technology program, with significant customer uptake in Chile and ongoing pilot programs in the US and UK. These digital initiatives are aimed at further improving supply chain visibility and efficiency for customers.

What did Brambles management say?

Brambles' CEO Graham Chipchase, said:

We delivered a resilient first-half result, with strong operating leverage and free cash flow outcomes, despite ongoing demand headwinds in key markets. This performance demonstrates our sustained focus on increasing the value we bring to customers' supply chains, maintaining commercial discipline as we grow and delivering efficiencies across all parts of the business.

What's next for Brambles?

Brambles updated its FY26 outlook off the back of first-half results. It now expects full-year sales revenue growth of 3–4% at constant currency (narrowed from 3–5%), while Underlying Profit growth guidance remains unchanged at 8–11%. Free Cash Flow before dividends is upgraded to between US$950–1,100 million (was US$850–950 million).

Management notes that while consumer demand may stay subdued, ongoing cost efficiencies and strong net new business wins should provide resilience. Investments in automation, digitisation, and the Serialisation+ rollout are expected to support Brambles' long-term growth and customer value.

Brambles share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Brambles shares have risen 20%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Brambles profit up, cash flow upgraded in half-year 2026 earnings 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.

So what does that mean for Australian shares, and which ones might be the victim of a higher dollar?

The analyst team at Wilsons Advisory recently put out a research note to their clients which sets out what some of the tailwinds are for the local currency.

Rates pushing the dollar higher

One of the major factors was the Reserve Bank of Australia's board decision to raise interest rates this week, and the expectation that it might raise rates again in the near future.

This contrasted, the Wilsons team said, with the US, where rates are expected to be cut "multiple times''.

A high interest rate creates demand for our dollar, as global investors can get better interest rates on their cash holdings if they move into Australian investments.

Wilsons went on to say:

This policy divergence is widening the AU-US interest rate differential, with futures markets currently implying the RBA cash rate will be 110 basis points higher than the Fed funds rate at year-end, enhancing the Australian dollar's appeal to investors globally.

Support for the Australian dollar was also coming from ongoing strength in commodity prices, Wilson said, bolstered by "a resilient global growth outlook'', and also by general weakness in the US dollar against most major currencies.

Wilsons added:

On balance, our base macro view points to further moderate upside in the AUD from current levels.

Swings and roundabouts

The forecast strength in the dollar creates different effects depending on how a business is set up.

It's a boon for those businesses buying goods and services in US dollars, while for those getting paid in US dollars, it's a downside.

Wilsons said 40% of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) companies' profits were derived offshore, but counterintuitively, resources companies, for example, tended to do well when the dollar was high, as commodity prices were often also high at the same time.

They added:

Additionally, Australian dollar strength often occurs amidst global risk-on environments, when positive investor sentiment encourages capital flows into Australian equities and other risk assets, providing support to valuations. Taken together, the impact of a stronger Australian dollar varies meaningfully across sectors and individual companies, creating a dispersion of winners and losers.

Companies that were exposed to the US dollar weakness in a negative fashion, Wilsons said, included ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME).

Consumer-facing businesses were also at risk, with those exposed including Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL), Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE), and Breville Ltd (ASX: BRG), while tech stocks such as Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) and CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) were also exposed.

Among the financials, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and insurer QBE Ltd (ASX: QBE) were exposed, as were Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) and Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).

Wilsons added:

These companies face near-term foreign headwinds to earnings (when considered in AUD terms), tempering our enthusiasm towards the group at the margin. However, we are sanguine that much of this impact is already reflected in valuations. P/E multiples have generally de-rated materially over the past six months, suggesting currency effects have been at least partially priced in by the market. Additionally, our preferred exposures – RMD, ALL, CAR, BXB and GMG – still offer attractive medium-term earnings growth prospects, even after accounting for adverse foreign impacts, which allows us to remain convicted in these names. Lastly, foreign exchange headwinds must be considered within the context of an otherwise broadly positive macro backdrop for offshore earners, with the currency impact to an extent offset by the superior US economic growth outlook and the prospect of multiple Fed cuts this year.

The post What the stronger Australian dollar means for your shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Below, we look at three companies that have managed to shrug off this week's tech-driven market retrace to jump higher. As you might expect, there are no tech stocks among them.

So, without further ado…

ASX 200 stocks rising in this week's sinking market

The first stock that's managed to post gains this week is Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB).

Shares in the supply chain logistics company – which counts as the world's largest supplier of reusable wooden pallets and crates – closed last Friday trading for $22.40. With just a few hours left before this Friday's closing bell, shares are changing hands for $23.19.

That sees this ASX 200 stock up 3.5% for the week.

There's no fresh price-sensitive news out from Brambles this week. But with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) down 13.1% over the week, investors may see the logistics company as a defensive alternative to growth stocks.

Moving on to the second ASX share lifting off despite the broader market retrace, we have GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG).

Shares in the ASX 200 financial services stock closed last week trading for $1.57 and are currently trading for $1.70.

This sees the GQG Partners share price up a solid 8.1% over the week, also with no recent price-sensitive news out from the company.

Which brings us to…

Leading the pack

The top performing share on my list for the week is Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC).

Shares in the global packaging giant closed last Friday at $62.49. Shares are currently trading for $68.93 each. This sees the Amcor share price up 10.3% for the week.

The ASX 200 stock closed up 3.5% on Wednesday following the release of its December quarter results. Shares closed up another 6.7% on Thursday.

Highlights from the quarter included a 68% boost in net sales to US$5.45 billion. That strong growth was largely driven by the company's acquisition of United States-based packaging company, Berry Global. Amcor first announced the deal to acquire Berry on 20 November 2024, and completed its all-stock acquisition on 30 April 2025.

In other core financial metrics, Amcor reported an 83% year-on-year increase in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$826 million.

In light of this performance, and catching the interest of passive income investors, management declared an unfranked interim dividend of 93 Aussie cents per share.

Unlike most ASX 200 dividend stocks, Amcor pays quarterly dividends, with the latest declared payout up 356% from the prior corresponding quarter.

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

Four ASX shares that have managed to avoid the selloff today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is up almost 2% to $23.13. This is despite there being no news out of the supply chain solutions company on Friday. However, it is possible that some investors see Brambles as a defensive option and a way to avoid the broad market weakness today. Its shares are now up approximately 18% since this time last year.

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

The HMC Capital share price is up 2% to $4.13. Investors have been buying this investment company's shares after it announced a new strategic partnership which will see KKR-managed funds invest up to $603 million into HMC's Energy Transition Platform. Management notes that the investment will introduce KKR as a strategic partner alongside HMC in the platform's existing 652MW operational assets and its significant 5.7GW BESS and wind development pipeline. HMC Capital's managing director and CEO, David Di Pilla, said: "We are delighted to be working with an experienced global investor of KKR's calibre. KKR's investment validates the quality of the Platform we have built and sets the foundation for HMC to play a major role in Australia's transition to net zero carbon by 2050. KKR's capital will enable the Platform to materially grow operating capacity, cash flow and progress the strategically valuable development pipeline."

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

The ResMed share price is up 2.5% to $38.42. This follows a decent night of trade for the sleep disorder-focused medical device company's NYSE-listed shares on Thursday. One leading broker that would be supportive of this buying is Morgans. Earlier this week, it upgraded ResMed's shares to a buy rating with a $47.73 price target. This implies potential upside of over 20%.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

The Rio Tinto share price is up 0.3% to $157.55. Investors have been buying the mining giant's shares after it abandoned its plans to merge with Glencore (LSE: GLEN).  The miner stated: "Rio Tinto is no longer considering a possible merger or other business combination with Glencore plc, as Rio Tinto has determined that it could not reach an agreement that would deliver value to its shareholders." In response, Glencore said: "The key terms of the potential offer were Rio Tinto retaining both the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles and delivering a proforma ownership of the combined company which, in our view, significantly undervalued Glencore's underlying relative value contribution to the combined group, even before consideration of a suitable acquisition control premium."

The post Why Brambles, HMC Capital, ResMed, and Rio Tinto shares are rising 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.

The return has been driven by a few of Australia's largest businesses including Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG).

Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. It'd take a very optimistic investor to suggest those ASX blue-chip shares are going to rise another 20% over the next 12 months.

Investors may also be thinking of getting ahead of a potential Santa rally. According to the data of the last 50 years as of 2024, ASX 200 shares have averaged a 1.78% return in December, compared to an average monthly return of 1.36% for the other 11 months.

But, the Santa rally doesn't always happen. The strong performance of the share market and current higher valuation should be on investors' minds when considering whether to invest in ASX 200 shares.

Points for being patient

The share market is largely driven by two factors – earnings and how much investors are willing to pay for those earnings.

While earnings have crept higher in the last year for plenty of businesses, it isn't profit growth that has driven the market. Investors are seemingly more willing to pay a higher price/earnings (P/E) ratio than last year.

There is no rule that says we have to invest our money at the current valuations if we don't want to.

Warren Buffett once made a baseball analogy about investing, talking how former baseball batting star Ted Williams would wait until he saw a good delivery to swing:

If he waited for the pitch that was really in his sweet spot, he would bat .400. If he had to swing at something on the lower corner, he would probably bat .235.

The trick in investing is just to sit there and watch pitch after pitch go by and wait for the one right in your sweet spot. And if people are yelling, 'Swing, you bum!,' ignore them.

We just don't know when pessimism will next hit the market. It could be next week, it could be December, or it could take considerably longer.

But, we may not necessarily need to wait to invest.

There are always long-term opportunities

Just because an individual ASX 200 share, a sector, or even the whole share market is valued highly doesn't automatically mean there are no opportunities.

Share prices are always changing and that means the opportunity on offer is shifting.

An individual business could still be significantly undervalued. That could be one that delivers strong long-term earnings growth, more than justifying today's valuation, even if it's quite high.

Or, the market may be undervaluing an ASX 200 share's near-term earnings (or underappreciating its net asset value (NAV) ).

Currently, I'm looking at ASX 200 shares like Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) and Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) as opportunities, as well as other share ideas.

The post Should Australians buy ASX 200 shares before a potential Santa rally? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Wednesday despite a decent night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day largely flat. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.4%, the S&P 500 rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.4% higher.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good day after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.7% to US$62.69 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.6% to US$66.43 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher after Israel fired a missile into Qatar.

Shares going ex-dividend

Another group of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and are likely to trade lower. This includes logistics solutions company Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), languages testing and student placement company IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL), and private health giant Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL). The latter will be paying its shareholders a fully franked 10.2 cents per share final dividend next month on 9 October.

Gold price softens

It looks set to be a slow session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Wednesday after the gold price pulled back overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.2% to US$3,670.5 an ounce. Traders appear to have been taking profit after the precious metal hit a record high.

Capricorn shares upgraded

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares could be heading higher according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has upgraded the gold miner's shares to a buy rating (from hold) with an improved price target of $13.10 (from $10.80). It made the move on valuation grounds, highlighting a disconnect between US and Aussie gold stocks. The broker said: "The underperformance of Aussie gold equities has been getting our attention over the last couple of months. Specifically, the disconnect that has emerged between ASX-listed producers and the North American / global names that dominate the offshore indices."

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

Its analysts have named a number of ASX 200 shares as buys following earnings season. Here are two blue chips that it is bullish on:

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

The first ASX 200 share that could be a buy according to Ord Minnett supply chain solutions company Brambles.

The broker was pleased with its performance in FY 2025, highlighting that its EBIT was in line with expectations. This was despite a decline in like-for-like (LFL) volumes that dragged on its revenue.

Looking ahead, the broker believes that Brambles is well-placed for growth thanks to strong operating leverage and a return to LFL growth. It said:

Despite the fall in LFL volumes, growth in new business picked up to 3% in the June quarter as customers were won over by the advantages of the pallet-pooling model. ‍ We expect strong operating leverage in the business will allow Brambles to generate EBIT growth in the double digits even if sales only rebound to the 3–5% growth rate in company guidance.

Gearing of 1.1x is outside the lower bound of Brambles' 1.5–2.0 target range, which implies balance sheet headroom of circa US$2.5 billion, which could support further capital management past the just announced share buyback. We raised our target price on Brambles to $29.40 from $24.90 post the result and reiterate our Buy recommendation.

As mentioned above, Ord Minnett has a buy rating and $29.40 price target on the company's shares. Based on its current share price, this suggests that upside of 11% is possible between now and this time next year.

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

This plumbing products company could be a blue chip ASX 200 share to buy according to the broker.

Although its performance in FY 2025 was disappointing, Ord Minnett appears to believe this is the cyclical low. As a result, the broker feels that investors should be taking advantage of recent share price weakness and load up. It commented:

Despite improved lead indicators in Australasia, Reece expects a slow housing market recovery in that market. In the US, improved housing markets will require significantly lower interest rates to drive activity. With improvement in end markets yet to materialise, we downgrade FY26/FY27 earnings by 16% and 19%. Overall, the near-term outlook for Reece remains challenging.

Despite this Reece continues to invest through the cycle to pursue its growth ambitions. We maintain our BUY recommendation and expect earnings and returns to improve from a cyclical low.

Ord Minnett has a buy rating and $14.50 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of almost 40% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Ord Minnett says these blue chip ASX 200 shares can rise 10% to 40% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sycamore said (courtesy news.com.au):

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

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

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

Industrials led the ASX 200 sectors last week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

Looking for investment inspiration?

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

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

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

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

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

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

35 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

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