But rather than simply chasing the highest dividend yields available today, I would recommend investors own businesses that can grow over time.

With that in mind, these four ASX passive income shares would be on my long-term shortlist.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre may not be the first company that comes to mind for passive income, but I think it has an interesting long-term case.

The travel company has rebuilt strongly since the pandemic and once again has the capacity to return cash to shareholders.

I especially like its exposure to both leisure and corporate travel. Those businesses give Flight Centre several ways to benefit as travel spending grows over time.

The dividend will probably be more cyclical than those of some defensive companies, particularly if economic conditions weaken.

But I think there is room for earnings and dividends to grow as the business becomes larger and more profitable. For investors willing to accept some volatility, I would be happy to own Flight Centre for income and growth.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is a much more defensive option. Australians need groceries regardless of what is happening in the economy, giving the supermarket giant a relatively dependable source of sales.

That stability is one reason I think Coles can work well in an income portfolio.

The company also has opportunities to grow through population increases, online shopping, and continued investment in its supply chain and automated distribution network.

I am not expecting spectacular growth from Coles. But a business capable of steadily increasing earnings and returning part of those profits to shareholders can be a valuable long-term holding, particularly when passive income is the priority.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

Lottery Corporation is another business I think suits an ASX buy-and-hold passive income strategy.

It operates many of Australia's major lottery brands, giving it a strong position in a market with high barriers to entry.

I like the relatively simple nature of the business. Lottery tickets require little physical infrastructure compared with many other consumer businesses, and the company can generate substantial cash from its established brands.

There is still some variability depending on jackpot activity, but I think the underlying business is well-placed to keep generating cash over the long term.

That should give management the capacity to continue paying dividends while investing enough to maintain the strength of its brands and digital offering.

Amcor plc (ASX: AMC)

Amcor provides a different source of passive income.

The packaging company supplies products used across food, beverages, healthcare, personal care, and many other everyday categories.

That gives the business exposure to demand that can remain relatively resilient through different economic environments.

I also like Amcor's global scale. Packaging is not a particularly exciting industry, but that is not necessarily a problem for an income investment.

What I want is a business capable of generating cash consistently and returning some of it to shareholders.

Amcor's large international operations and exposure to everyday consumer products make it the type of company I would be comfortable holding through a range of market conditions.

Foolish takeaway

I would happily own these four ASX passive income shares for the long term rather than focusing only on the ASX stocks offering the highest yields today.

They give investors exposure to travel, supermarkets, lotteries, and packaging, with each business generating cash in a different way.

For me, that mix of income and the potential for earnings to grow over time is much more interesting than simply chasing yield.

The post Why I'd buy and hold these ASX passive income shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) remains at the top of the table with short interest of 17%, up from 15.9% last week. The uranium producer continues to attract short sellers, possibly due to concerns over its ability to ramp up production at Kayelekera and deliver the expected financial benefits.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has seen its short interest rise to 16.2%. Short sellers may be questioning whether the counter-drone technology company's growth can justify its valuation, particularly with the ASIC investigation still creating uncertainty.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has short interest of 12.3%, which is up slightly week on week. Despite encouraging progress with its US commercial rollout, short sellers may believe its current revenue base is too small to support its market valuation.
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest rise to 12%. The pizza chain operator remains under pressure as it works to improve store profitability and restore earnings growth following a difficult period.
• IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) has jumped to fifth with short interest of 11.7%, up from 10.6% last week. Short sellers may have concerns over the titanium company's valuation and how quickly it can turn its growing production capacity into meaningful earnings.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest ease to 11.4%. The Penfolds owner continues to face challenging conditions in the Americas, with short sellers potentially questioning how quickly its restructuring efforts will improve profitability.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has 11.2% of its shares held short, which is broadly unchanged since last week. Uncertainty over the timing of a sustained lithium price recovery may be keeping short sellers interested in the miner.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has returned to the top ten with short interest of 11%. Despite recently securing US FDA approval for Pixclara, short sellers may still be questioning how quickly its expanding product portfolio can drive earnings growth.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest ease slightly to 11%. Short sellers may remain wary of disruption to international travel and whether the company can deliver a meaningful improvement in margins.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 10.9%, which is broadly flat week on week. The uranium producer continues to attract short sellers, possibly due to doubts over its ability to meet production expectations and keep operating costs under control.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares 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 expected to drop

It looks set to be a tough session for Australian investors on Thursday following a disappointing night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 63 points or 0.7% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 1.2%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.45%, and the Nasdaq was a fraction lower.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M), Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), South32 Ltd (ASX: S32), and West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF). Flight Centre is rewarding its shareholders with a 30 cents per share fully franked dividend next month on 16 October.

Oil prices tumble

ASX 200 energy shares Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 3.5% to US$102.07 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 3% to US$105.62 a barrel. This follows reports that Saudi Arabia's damaged pipeline will restart in the coming days.

Dyno Nobel on watch

Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL) shares will be on watch today after the explosives company released an investor update. The company revealed that it is performing positively in FY 2026 and is on track to achieve its group guidance for a net profit after tax (before one-offs) of $325 million to $340 million. It also believes it is on track to deliver on its $600 million EBIT ambition in FY 2028. 

Gold price falls

It could be a subdued day for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.7% to US$4,302.2 an ounce. Traders were selling gold after the US Federal Reserve lifted interest rates.

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

That's because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has moved back to the top of the table with short interest of 15.9%, up from 15% last week. Short sellers may still have doubts over the uranium developer's path to production and whether stronger uranium demand will arrive quickly enough to support its plans.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has short interest of 15.4%, which is broadly unchanged week on week. The counter-drone technology company remains a favourite with short sellers, possibly due to its valuation and uncertainty surrounding the ASIC investigation.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest ease to 12.2%. Its valuation remains very high relative to its current revenue base, which appears to be keeping short sellers interested despite its significant commercial potential.
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has short interest of 11.8%, which is down again week on week. Short sellers may still need convincing that its restructuring efforts can deliver the earnings recovery investors are hoping for.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest ease slightly to 11.7%. Weakness in luxury wine demand and uncertainty around the pace of improvement in the Americas could be keeping short sellers interested.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has seen its short interest rise to 11.6%. The buy now pay later company's strong recovery may have prompted some short sellers to question whether its valuation now leaves enough room for disappointment.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has 11.2% of its shares held short, which is up slightly week on week. Short sellers may be betting that the lithium market remains difficult for longer, delaying a meaningful recovery in margins and cash flow.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest rise to 11.1%. This may reflect concerns over the strength of consumer travel spending and how quickly the company can improve margins.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 11%, which is up from 10.7% last week. Short sellers may remain cautious over production expectations and whether the uranium price can stay strong enough to support the current outlook.
• IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.6%. Short sellers may be questioning the company's valuation and the execution required as it works to scale up its US titanium operations.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We're helping you monitor ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here are some of the ASX shares due to trade ex-dividend next week.

To be eligible for the dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares going ex-dividend next week

Check out which ASX shares go ex-dividend today.

The post 33 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Among the 11 market sectors, utilities is in the lead today, up 0.2%, while technology is the laggard, down 1%.

Meanwhile, on The Bull this week, two experts share their views on three ASX 300 shares.

Let's take a look.

Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR)

The Dicker Data share price is $14.46, down 1.8% today and up 45% over 12 months. 

Mark Elzayed from Vestra Capital has a buy rating on this ASX 300 tech share. 

He said: 

This technology company distributes hardware and software solutions. It benefits from enterprise spending on AI capable servers, network upgrades and end point security hardware.

It generated gross revenue of $2.1 billion in the first half of 2026, up 14.2 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Net profit after tax of $60.7 million was up 54.1 per cent. Management has upgraded full year gross revenue guidance to between $4.3 billion and $4.4 billion, alongside profit before tax guidance of between $162 million and $165 million.

Double digit top line momentum, an appealing dividend yield and increasing exposure to AI infrastructure spending provides a bright outlook, in my view.

Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV)

The Polynovo share price is $1.06, up 1.4% today and down 28% over 12 months. 

Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group has a hold rating on this ASX 300 healthcare share. 

Bromley said: 

The company provides dermal regeneration solutions via its NovoSorb biodegradable polymer technology.

Total revenue of $150 million in full year 2026 was up 16.1 per cent on the prior corresponding period. EBITDA of $12.1 million was up 8.1 per cent.

While growth has moderated from earlier years, the longer-term opportunity remains significant as PolyNovo expands geographically and broadens adoption across burns, trauma and complex wounds.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $11.46, down 0.2% today and down 7% over 12 months. 

Bromley has a sell rating on this ASX 300 travel share. 

He explained: 

The global travel agency group delivered record total transaction volumes in full year 2026. However, underlying profit before tax of $278 million declined by 4 per cent as Middle East disruption weighed heavily on the leisure business.

We view geopolitical uncertainty, airline capacity constraints and softer consumer conditions as headwinds.

We see better risk-adjusted opportunities elsewhere.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Dicker Data, Polynovo, Flight Centre shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

On Monday, Flight Centre shares were trading for $11.54 apiece. That sees shares in the ASX 200 travel stock down 6% over 12 months.

Though that doesn't include the two fully-franked dividends totalling 42 cents a share Flight Centre paid eligible stockholders over this time. Flight Centre trades on a full-franked 3.6% dividend yield.

As for CommBank, shares in the ASX 200 bank stock were recently trading for $161.06 each. This sees the CBA share price down 4.3% over 12 months.

CBA also paid two fully-franked dividends over the past year, totalling $5.05 a share. CBA stock trades on a 3.1% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

And looking ahead, Medallion Financial Group's Stuart Bromley believes both big-name ASX 200 stocks are likely to keep underperforming in the upcoming months (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

Time to sell CBA shares?

"CBA remains Australia's highest quality major bank," Bromley said.

He noted:

The company posted cash net profit after tax of $10.982 billion in full year 2026, up 7 per cent on the prior corresponding period. The full year dividend of $5.05, fully franked, is up 4 per cent.

However, Bromley issued a sell recommendation on CBA shares.

He explained:

Despite the strong result, we believe the valuation is stretched, particularly as higher interest rates weigh on housing activity and credit growth. CBA shares were recently trading at historically elevated valuations compared to global peers. Better valuation opportunities exist elsewhere.

As for CBA's passive income potential, Bromley concluded, "The recent dividend yield of 3.16 per cent lacks appeal."

Which brings us back to…

Time to exit Flight Centre shares?

Atop his bearish outlook for CBA shares, Bromley also issued a sell recommendation on Flight Centre shares.

According to Bromley:

The global travel agency group delivered record total transaction volumes in full year 2026. However, underlying profit before tax of $278 million declined by 4 per cent as Middle East disruption weighed heavily on the leisure business.

We view geopolitical uncertainty, airline capacity constraints and softer consumer conditions as headwinds. We see better risk-adjusted opportunities elsewhere.

Commenting on the impact of the Iran war last month, Flight Centre CEO, Graham Turner said:

In Q4, the Middle East conflict disrupted travel patterns, That was an external shock, not a change in the leisure business's underlying strength, and momentum is already returning, with July TTV at record levels for the month.

Flight Centre shares closed down 7.4% when the company reported those results on 26 August.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Flight Centre and CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) remains at the top of the table with short interest of 15.4%, which is up week on week. The counter-drone technology company continues to attract plenty of attention from short sellers, possibly due to its valuation and the ongoing ASIC investigation.

Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has seen its short interest jump to 15%. Short sellers may still have concerns over the uranium developer's funding requirements and the execution needed to deliver its growth plans.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has short interest of 12.3%, which is down slightly week on week. The medical imaging technology company remains heavily shorted as investors weigh its significant growth potential against a very high valuation.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease to 12%. Short sellers may be unconvinced that the pizza chain operator's restructuring and store closures will be enough to restore strong earnings growth.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has short interest of 11.8%, which is down slightly week on week. Weakness in parts of the global wine market and uncertainty around the company's recovery continue to give short sellers something to focus on.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has 11.1% of its shares held short, which is broadly unchanged since last week. Short sellers may be expecting lithium prices to be under pressure, which would weigh on margins.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has seen its short interest rise to 11.1%. The buy now pay later company's strong share price recovery may have encouraged some investors to bet that expectations are becoming too optimistic.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) has returned to the top ten with short interest of 10.9%. Short sellers may have concerns over rural spending conditions and the outlook for earnings growth across the agribusiness.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has seen its short interest fall to 10.7%. Despite this, short sellers may still believe expectations for uranium prices and future production are running ahead of reality.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest ease again to 10.6%. Short sellers may remain cautious on the travel agent due to margin pressure, consumer spending conditions, and disruption to international travel.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you are, then it could be worth seeing if the team at Morgans rates these popular ASX shares as buys this week.

Here's what the broker is saying about them:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

While Morgans wasn't blown away with this travel agent's FY 2026 results, it remains positive.

It continues to believe the Flight Centre share price will be materially higher once operating conditions ultimately improve. As a result, it has a buy rating and $14.25 price target on its shares. It said:

FLT's FY26 result came in at the lower end of guidance which is disappointing given its 18 June trading update. Leisure was the key miss for us. Corporate had a strong year (+28% NPBT growth), while Leisure was weak (NPBT -22%) given the Middle East conflict. Outlook comments disappointed with Corporate expected to have a weak 1H27, followed by growth in the 2H27. Pleasingly, Leisure is off to a strong start. With one-off costs associated with Productive Operations and World360 Rewards now being placed above the line, we have made minor downgrades to our forecasts. 

While investors will need to be patient for another six months, FLT's fundamentals remain attractive (FY27F PE of 11.6x) and we retain a Buy rating with a new A$14.25 price target. When operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price will be materially higher.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Qantas delivered a result that was in line with expectations in FY 2026 despite facing a major fuel cost headwind.

In response, the broker has retained its accumulate rating (between buy and hold) with a trimmed price target of $10.60. Morgans said:

Strength in the mix – QAN delivered a broadly in-line FY26 result despite a significant fuel cost headwind in 2H26, with a stronger-than-expected performance from Jetstar offsetting softer Domestic earnings. Group Underlying PBT of $2.06bn finished ~3% ahead of consensus, highlighting the resilience and diversification of the earnings base. 

TRASK tailwind emerges – QAN expects Domestic and International TRASK to increase 8-10% in 1H27 while Group capacity remains broadly flat, pointing to a more supportive revenue backdrop despite elevated fuel costs. We maintain our ACCUMULATE rating with a reduced-price target of A$10.60ps (previously $11.50).

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers also delivered a result that was largely in line with expectations in FY 2026.

And while trading in FY 2027 has been softer than expected, Morgans remains relatively positive. It has an accumulate rating and $85.00 price target on Wesfarmers' shares. The broker commented:

WES's FY26 result was broadly in line with expectations, although trading in early FY27 was slightly softer, with management also flagging higher capex in FY27. Earnings from Bunnings, Kmart Group and Health were largely in line with expectations, while Officeworks was slightly above our forecasts. WesCEF was modestly weaker than anticipated. Management noted that while consumer demand remains resilient, cost-of-living pressures persist and customers continue to be value-conscious. We make minimal changes to FY27-29F group EBIT but decrease underlying NPAT by 1-2% due to higher net interest expense. 

Despite these changes, our target price rises to $85.00 (from $81.10) as we believe the increased investments WES is making in the near term will drive sustainable growth over the long term. This is particularly evident across its retail businesses (Bunnings, Kmart Group, Officeworks and Priceline), where investment should strengthen customer value propositions in a subdued consumer environment and position the divisions to capture stronger growth when economic conditions improve. ACCUMULATE rating maintained.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Flight Centre, Qantas, and Wesfarmers shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Following the August reporting season, brokers have reviewed their ratings and 12-month price targets on hundreds of ASX stocks.

Here are some companies that scored reaffirmed buy ratings following their latest financial reports.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $175.12, up 0.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has ripped 41% higher.

Morgans renewed its buy rating on CSL shares with a 12-month price target of $187.71.

This suggests a potential 7% upside ahead.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is $63.69, up 2.5% today.

This ASX 200 mining share has ascended 10% over the past month.

RBC Capital reiterated its buy rating on Mineral Resources shares with a price target of $80.

This implies a potential 25% upside ahead.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

The Santos share price is $8.26, up 7.4% today.

This ASX 200 energy share has increased 8% over the past month.

Citi renewed its buy rating on Santos shares.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $8.30 to $9.

This suggests a potential 9% upside ahead.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price is $64.01, down 1% today after going ex-dividend.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 copper share has risen 5%.

Morgan Stanley reaffirmed its buy rating on BHP shares.

The broker raised its 12-month target from $67.50 to $68.

This suggests a potential 6% upside ahead.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas share price is $15.46, up 2.3% today.

This ASX 200 mining share has leapt 10% over the past month.

JP Morgan reiterated its buy rating on Lynas shares with a price target of $19.10.

This implies a potential 23% upside ahead.

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

The Nine Entertainment share price is 97 cents, up 1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 communications share has fallen 2%.

Morgan Stanley reaffirmed its buy rating on Nine shares with a 12-month target of $1.40.

This suggests a potential 42% upside ahead.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The Coles share price is $23.58, up 0.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer staples share has fallen 3%.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy rating on Coles shares.

The broker increased its price target from $25 to $25.80.

This implies potential capital gains of 9% ahead.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price is $9.35, up 1.3% today.

This ASX 200 travel share has fallen 9% over the past month.

Morgan Stanley renewed its buy rating on Qantas shares with a $12.80 target.

This implies potential capital growth of 36% over the next year.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The NextDC share price is $12.70, down 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 tech share has fallen 6%.

UBS renewed its buy rating on NextDC shares with a $23.45 target.

This suggests a potential 85% upside ahead.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is $11.31, up 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 uranium share has soared 20%.

Canaccord Genuity renewed its buy rating on Paladin Energy shares.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $15.40 to $15.80.

This suggests a potential 40% upside ahead.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $11.52, down 0.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 travel share has fallen 13%.

JP Morgan renewed its buy rating on Flight Centre shares with a $15.30 target.

This suggests a potential 32% upside ahead.

The post 11 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings post-results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has returned to the top of the table with short interest of 14.9%, which is down slightly week on week. The counter-drone technology company remains a popular target for short sellers. This could be partly due to the ongoing uncertainty created by ASIC's investigation.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has seen its short interest fall sharply to 13.6%, but it remains the second most shorted ASX share. The uranium developer's recent capital raising may have eased some pressure, though short sellers still appear to be questioning development timelines and uranium demand.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has short interest of 12.4%, which is broadly unchanged since last week. The medical imaging technology company continues to divide the market. While some investors see a large commercial opportunity, short sellers may be focusing on the gap between its market valuation and its current revenue base.
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease to 12.3%. The pizza chain operator is trying to reset the business after a difficult period of store closures, impairments, and weaker trading. Short sellers may be waiting for clearer evidence that the turnaround will succeed.
• CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) has short interest of 12.1%, which is flat since last week. This may reflect concerns over the auto listings company's outlook in a difficult operating environment.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 12%. Short sellers may have concerns over weak wine demand and the pace of the Penfolds owner's recovery.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has 11.2% of its shares held short, which is down slightly week on week. Short sellers appear to believe the market is too optimistic on production, costs, and uranium prices.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has seen its short interest rise to 11.1%. Short sellers may be betting that prices for the battery-making ingredient remain under pressure, which would be bad news for margins.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.9%. Its strong share price recovery may have led some short sellers to question whether expectations have run too far, especially given weak consumer spending.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest ease to 10.8%. Short sellers may still have concerns over Middle East disruption, margins, and travel demand.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As earnings season nears its end, Morgans has reviewed the following companies' reports and given them a buy rating.

Here's why.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech share price is $41.14, up 4% today and down 59% over 12 months.

WiseTech released its FY26 results this week.

Morgans reiterated its buy rating on the ASX 200 tech share.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $67 to $62.50.

This implies a potential 52% upside ahead for WiseTech shares.

Morgans said:

WTC's FY26 result was largely in line with Morgans forecasts (MorgansF), with FY26 revenue of US$1,396m and EBITDA of US$558m coming in towards the lower end of its initial FY26 guidance range.

While CargoWise revenue growth of +11% was softer than expected, WTC delivered annualised run-rate savings of ~US$115m in FY26, supporting further margin expansion into FY27.

FY27 guidance will see revenue growth 2H-weighted, reflecting the timing of growth initiatives, while Underlying EBITDA guidance of US$725-780m implies EBITDA margins tracking back towards 49-51%.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $12.07, down 1% today and down 5% over 12 months.

Flight Centre released its FY26 report this week.

Morgans reiterated its buy rating on the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share.

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $14.80 to $14.25.

This implies potential capital gains of 18% ahead for Flight Centre shares.

Morgans said:

FLT's FY26 result came in at the lower end of guidance which is disappointing given its 18 June trading update. Leisure was the key miss for us. Corporate had a strong year (+28% NPBT growth), while Leisure was weak (NPBT -22%) given the Middle East conflict.

Outlook comments disappointed with Corporate expected to have a weak 1H27, followed by growth in the 2H27. Pleasingly, Leisure is off to a strong start.

While investors will need to be patient for another six months, FLT's fundamentals remain attractive (FY27F PE of 11.6x) …

When operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price will be materially higher.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

The Netwealth share price is $21.40, down 0.5% today and down 38% over 12 months.

Netwealth released its FY26 earnings this week.

Morgans increased the ASX 200 financial share to a buy rating with a $27.50 target.

This implies potential gains of 28% ahead for Netwealth shares.

Morgans said:

NWL reported FY26 Revenue +21%; EBITDA +18%; and NPAT +16% on pcp, which was largely in line with MorgF / Consensus expectations.

Whilst flows momentum 1Q27 to date has seen a slower start, NWL reaffirmed its FY27 Flows guidance of $18-20bn, with the cadence of flows from MS and other sources expected to step up over the course of the year.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares to buy post-results: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade today, two of the well-known ASX shares are outpacing the 0.2% gains posted by the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), while one is trailing the benchmark.

Here's what's catching investor interest.

Virgin Australia shares rise on renewed dividend

Virgin Australia shares are up 1.1% at the time of writing, swapping hands for $2.84 apiece.

This follows the release of the ASX 300 airline's full-year FY 2026 results.

Highlights included a 13.4% year-on-year increase in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to $753 million.

And on the bottom line, Virgin Australia shares look to be getting support today from the airline's 21.9% increase in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $404 million.

The company also issued its first dividend since relisting on the ASX in June 2025. Management declared a fully-franked dividend of 7.6 cents per share.

Air New Zealand shares sink on net loss

Air New Zealand also released its FY 2026 results today.

But unlike Virgin Australia shares, Air New Zealand shares are down 0.8% following the release, trading for 32.3 cents each.

On the positive side of the ledger, the Kiwi airline reported a 3.9% year-on-year increase in revenue to NZ$7.0 billion.

However, operating cash flow of NZ$819 million was down 12.8% from FY 2025.

And the company posted a net loss after tax of NZ$242 million.

Much of the pressure has come from surging jet fuel costs amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Air New Zealand management noted, "The Middle East conflict increased fuel cost by an estimated $328 million compared to what we expected going into the second half, and by $205 million after hedging."

Flight Centre shares lift amid board shakeup

Joining Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia shares in creating a buzz today, we find Flight Centre.

After reporting its FY 2026 results on Wednesday, today the ASX 200 travel stock announced some major leadership changes.

Flight Centre revealed that Gareth Turner will join the board as an independent non-executive director. Turner will succeed Rob Baker, a 13-year veteran of the company's board.

Commenting on Turner's appointment, Flight Centre chair Gary Smith said:

Gareth brings deep financial and commercial experience across the technology, telecommunications and travel and tourism sectors, along with a strong track record as a CFO.

The board looks forward to drawing on his expertise as our company continues to evolve and targets near-term and longer-term growth opportunities.

Flight Centre shares are up 0.6% at the time of writing, trading for $12.26 apiece.

The post Why is everyone talking about Flight Centre, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia shares on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you are, then it could be worth hearing what analysts at Morgans are saying about the three listed below.

Is the broker bullish or bearish on them? Let's find out.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

This pizza chain operator delivered an underlying profit that was ahead of expectations in FY 2026.

However, Morgans believes the earnings beat was low quality and driven by lower net interest expense and depreciation and amortisation. 

As a result, the broker has retained its hold rating on Domino's shares with a $20.00 price target. It said:

Underlying NPAT of A$121.6m (+4.0% on the pcp) beat MorgansF A$117.8m and Visible Alpha A$119.4m and finished at the top end of pre-released guidance, but the beat was low quality, with EBIT up 1.0% to A$200.1m and carried by lower D&A (-15.7% on the pcp) and net interest expense. The balance sheet is strong, with net leverage down to 1.86x, free cash flow of A$164.1m and a 32.5cps final dividend (+51.2%) with a 50% payout ratio.

FY27 started soft with -5.8% same-store sales (SSS) for the first 8 weeks. We maintain HOLD and lift our price target to A$20.00 (from A$17.60); we view the reset as necessary, but the recovery is cost led and volume growth needs to return.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Morgans was disappointed with this travel agent giant's FY 2026 results, highlighting that its profits were at the lower end of its guidance range and its guidance was underwhelming.

Nevertheless, due to its cheap valuation, the broker has retained its buy rating with a $14.25 price target. It commented:

FLT's FY26 result came in at the lower end of guidance which is disappointing given its 18 June trading update. Leisure was the key miss for us. Corporate had a strong year (+28% NPBT growth), while Leisure was weak (NPBT -22%) given the Middle East conflict. Outlook comments disappointed with Corporate expected to have a weak 1H27, followed by growth in the 2H27. Pleasingly, Leisure is off to a strong start. 

With one-off costs associated with Productive Operations and World360 Rewards now being placed above the line, we have made minor downgrades to our forecasts. While investors will need to be patient for another six months, FLT's fundamentals remain attractive (FY27F PE of 11.6x) and we retain a Buy rating with a new A$14.25 price target. When operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price will be materially higher.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

This logistics technology company delivered a result that was largely in line with expectations in FY 2026.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating on WiseTech shares with a price target of $62.50. It said:

WTC's FY26 result was largely in line with Morgans forecasts (MorgansF), with FY26 revenue of US$1,396m and EBITDA of US$558m coming in towards the lower end of its initial FY26 guidance range. While CargoWise revenue growth of +11% was softer than expected, WTC delivered annualised run-rate savings of ~US$115m in FY26, supporting further margin expansion into FY27. 

FY27 guidance will see revenue growth 2H-weighted, reflecting the timing of growth initiatives, while Underlying EBITDA guidance of US$725-780m implies EBITDA margins tracking back towards 49-51%. Our Underlying EBITDA forecasts are revised by +3%/-2% in FY27-FY28F and we retain our BUY rating with a price target of A$62.50ps (previously A$67.00ps).

The post Buy, hold, sell: Domino's, Flight Centre, and WiseTech shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Flight Centre share price is down 6.79% to $12.08.

The reaction is probably not what shareholders were hoping for, especially with a few solid numbers in the result.

But once you dig a little deeper, there are also some weaker spots that help explain why the market has reacted this way.

Let's take a closer look at the numbers.

FY26 results were mixed

Flight Centre reported record total transaction value (TTV) of $25.7 billion, up 4.7% from FY25, while revenue increased 2.5% to $2.9 billion.

Underlying EBITDA also moved higher, rising 3.9% to $466 million. However, underlying profit before tax went the other way, falling 4% to $278 million.

Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 38% to $149 million, while earnings per share (EPS) jumped 43% to 70.9 cents.

Shareholders also received some good news on the dividend front, with Flight Centre declaring a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share. This takes the full-year payout to 42 cents, up 5% on FY25.

The company said trading was strong through the first 9 months before conflict in the Middle East disrupted travel during the fourth quarter.

Flight Centre estimates the disruption cost its leisure business around $60 million in profit.

Why are Flight Centre shares falling?

The weaker result from Flight Centre's leisure business looks to be one of the biggest reasons investors are selling the shares today.

Barrenjoey analyst Matt Ryan said underlying profit before tax came in around 2% below market expectations, while the leisure division missed consensus by about 8%.

There was still growth in travel volumes, with leisure TTV rising 7.4% to $12.6 billion. But that didn't flow through to earnings, with underlying EBITDA falling 6.7% to $250 million and underlying profit before tax dropping 21.7% to $139 million.

The corporate business had a stronger year, with underlying profit before tax rising 28% to $240 million.

Furthermore, there's also a few reasons for investors to be cautious heading into FY27.

Flight Centre expects corporate earnings to be more heavily weighted toward the second half, with first-half profit likely to come in below last year.

Flight Centre pointed to the Middle East war, upfront investment, currency movements, and contract timing as reasons for the softer start.

What happens next?

Despite the subdued mood, there are still a few positive signs heading into FY27.

Flight Centre said July delivered record TTV and its strongest July leisure profit since 2015.

Long-haul travel from Australia is also starting to improve, which could help the business over the year ahead.

RBC Capital Markets highlighted the strong July performance, although there's still some uncertainty around how quickly earnings can recover.

Investors should get a better idea in November, when Flight Centre plans to provide its FY27 earnings guidance at its AGM.

The post Flight Centre shares are sinking 7% after its FY26 results. Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Flight Centre Travel Group report?

• TTV rose 4.7% to a record $25.7 billion
• Revenue grew 2.5% to $2.9 billion
• Underlying EBITDA increased 3.9% to $466 million
• Statutory NPAT jumped 38% to $149 million
• EPS climbed 43% to 71c per share
• Final fully franked dividend of 30c, bringing total FY26 dividends to 42c per share (up 5%)

What else do investors need to know?

Despite an impressive run through the first three quarters, Flight Centre faced a $60 million Q4 profit hit in leisure travel from heightened Middle East tensions, slowing TTV growth for the full year. Corporate travel proved resilient, with profit growth outpacing TTV, and Corporate Traveller surpassing $5 billion TTV for the first time.

The company sharpened its focus on capital management, completing $400 million in share buy-backs and issuing a $450 million convertible note. FLT also generated $80 million in cash from non-core asset sales, including Cross Hotels and Resorts and its Pedal Group stake.

What did Flight Centre Travel Group management say?

Flight Centre's CEO, Graham Turner, commented:

FY26 was a story of mixed fortunes for our company – nine months of strong momentum and progress, interrupted by three months of external disruption that left profit broadly in line with FY25. Through the first three quarters we were tracking well ahead of the prior year in both leisure and corporate.

Then, in Q4, the Middle East conflict disrupted travel patterns, That was an external shock, not a change in the leisure business's underlying strength, and momentum is already returning, with July TTV at record levels for the month. The $200m profit the business was on track to achieve during FY26 remains a viable, medium-term target given that travel downturns are historically short and followed by rapid rebounds.

What's next for Flight Centre Travel Group?

Early trading in FY27 is encouraging, with the leisure division delivering record July TTV and a strong profit pipeline, especially in cruise and long-haul outbound travel. Management expects corporate profits to be weighted towards the second half of FY27, factoring in ongoing Middle East instability, up-front expansion spending, and the timing of major new account ramp-ups.

Looking ahead, Flight Centre is focusing on cost discipline, digital initiatives—including AI to enhance the customer experience—and further market share growth. Earnings guidance for FY27 will be provided at the AGM in November.

Flight Centre Travel Group share price snapshot

The Flight Centre share price has traded flat over the past 12 months, compared to a modest gain of almost 3% for the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO).

View Original Announcement

The post Flight Centre Travel Group delivers record year despite Q4 challenges appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has returned to the top of the table with short interest of 17.2%, which is up sharply week on week. Short sellers may be focusing on funding risk, the company's development pathway, and uncertainty around the uranium market after its heavily discounted capital raising.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has seen its short interest ease to 15%. Short sellers still appear to have concerns over the ASIC investigation into the counter-drone technology company, as well as valuation risk.
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has short interest of 12.6%, which is down slightly week on week. This suggests some short sellers remain unconvinced by the pizza chain operator's turnaround plans.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest rise to 12.4%. The medical technology company remains heavily shorted due to its elevated valuation and modest revenue base. FY 2026 revenue came in at just $7.2 million.
• CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) has short interest of 12.1%, which is up week on week. Its recent result was well received by the market, but short sellers may still have concerns over its valuation, auto market conditions, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on online classifieds over time.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 11.8%. Short sellers may be targeting the Penfolds owner due to weak luxury wine demand, excess supply in the Americas, and uncertainty around the pace of its recovery.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has 11.3% of its shares held short, which is down slightly week on week. This uranium producer continues to be targeted despite a positive update. This suggests that short sellers may still be wary of execution risk and uranium market volatility.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has seen its short interest fall to 11%. This elevated short interest may be due to concerns over pressure in leisure travel, softer consumer spending, and the company's ability to keep improving margins.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.7%. Short sellers may be expecting a slower recovery in prices for the battery-making ingredient, which could weigh on earnings and cash flow.
• Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) has also entered the top ten with short interest of 10.6%. This agribusiness company may be attracting short sellers due to uncertainty around rural conditions, farmer spending, and the timing of an earnings recovery.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

To narrow things down, let's look at three top dividend shares that could be worth considering this month:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre could be an ASX dividend share to buy now.

The travel agency company has been through an extremely difficult period, but its earnings base is now rebuilding as travel demand normalises and the business becomes more efficient.

Flight Centre has exposure to both leisure and corporate travel, giving it more than one way to benefit if consumers and companies continue spending on trips, events, conferences, and overseas experiences.

The company is also no longer just a pure recovery story. If management can keep costs under control and improve margins, there may be scope for stronger profits and larger dividends over time.

Speaking of which, according to a recent note out of Morgans, its analysts expect a fully franked 48 cents per share dividend in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $12.75, this would mean a dividend yield of 3.8%.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT could be another ASX dividend share to buy.

The property company owns a portfolio of neighbourhood and large-format retail assets that are focused on everyday spending.

Its tenants include supermarkets, healthcare providers, pharmacies, pet stores, childcare operators, and other businesses linked to daily needs.

That gives the REIT a relatively defensive flavour. After all, people may delay big-ticket purchases when conditions are tough, but groceries, medicines, healthcare, and essential services remain part of normal household spending.

For FY 2027, Ord Minnett expects a dividend of 8 cents per share. This represents a 6.9% dividend yield at current prices.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Rural Funds could be a third ASX dividend share to buy now.

It owns a portfolio of agricultural assets, including farmland, cattle properties, vineyards, orchards, and water entitlements.

Rather than operating all these assets itself, Rural Funds generally leases them to agricultural businesses under long-term agreements.

That gives investors exposure to agriculture without taking on all the direct operating risk of farming.

Agriculture can be cyclical, and asset values can move around. But demand for food does not disappear, and high-quality agricultural land can be valuable over the long term.

Bell Potter expects this to underpin an 11.7 cents per share dividend in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.18, this would mean a dividend yield of 5.4%.

The post 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Well, to narrow things down for you, let's take a look at three Australian shares that brokers are tipping as buys right now.

Here's what they are recommending:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre could be an Australian share to consider for investors.

The travel company has been through a brutal few years, with the pandemic, inflation, airfare volatility, and geopolitical uncertainty all making life difficult.

But the long-term picture is still attractive. Travel remains a big part of how people want to spend their money. Holidays, business trips, events, conferences, visiting family, and overseas experiences are not going away.

Flight Centre also has exposure to both leisure and corporate travel, giving it more than one path to growth if conditions improve.

The company has been working hard to become leaner and more efficient, which could help earnings recover as demand normalises.

Analysts at Morgans remain positive on Flight Centre and have a buy rating and $14.80 price target on its shares.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Another Australian share that could be worth a closer look is NextDC.

It operates data centres, which are becoming increasingly important infrastructure assets in the digital economy.

Every time businesses use cloud computing, artificial intelligence, streaming, online payments, cybersecurity tools, or data-heavy software, demand for secure and reliable data centre capacity grows.

This puts NextDC in a strong long-term position.

The company is investing heavily to expand its footprint, which can weigh on near-term profits and cash flow. But that investment is also what gives it the potential to become a much larger business over time.

In many respects, this means that NextDC is a way to invest in the pipes and power behind the digital world.

UBS is a fan of NextDC and has a buy rating and $22.55 price target on its shares.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

A final Australian share to consider is ResMed.

The sleep treatment company makes devices, masks, software, and connected health products used to treat sleep apnoea and other breathing-related conditions.

This is a huge and still underpenetrated market. Many people with sleep apnoea remain undiagnosed, while those who are treated often need ongoing masks, accessories, support, and device upgrades.

That gives ResMed a powerful combination of new patient growth and repeat demand.

It also has a global footprint, trusted products, and a strong position in connected healthcare.

There can be short-term noise around competition, pricing, and investor sentiment. But over the long term, helping people sleep and breathe better remains a very attractive market.

Analysts at Macquarie are bullish on ResMed and have an overweight rating and $46.80 price target on its shares.

The post Where to invest $5,000 in Australian shares now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) remains at the top of the table with short interest of 15.7%, which is up again week on week. Short sellers may still have concerns over the ASIC investigation into the counter-drone technology company, as well as valuation risk.
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest rise to 12.7%. This suggests some short sellers remain unconvinced by the pizza chain operator's turnaround plans, particularly given its store closures, write-downs, and the challenge of restoring sales momentum.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 12%, which is down slightly week on week. Short sellers may still have doubts over whether the uranium miner can deliver consistently from Honeymoon and support a stronger production outlook beyond the next couple of years.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest fall materially to 11.8%. However, the medical technology company remains heavily shorted due to its elevated valuation and modest revenue base. FY 2026 revenue came in at just $7.2 million.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has 11.6% of its shares held short, which is down slightly week on week. Short sellers may be focused on pressure in leisure travel, softer consumer spending, and the disruption caused by the Middle East conflict.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has 11.5% of its shares held short, which is down week on week. This uranium producer continues to be targeted despite a positive quarterly update, which suggests short sellers may still be wary of execution risk and uranium market volatility.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has seen its short interest fall to 11.3%. Some short sellers appear to have closed positions after the uranium developer's deeply discounted capital raising and heavy share price decline.
• CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) has short interest of 11.3%, which is down week on week. Its recent result was well received by the market, but short sellers may still have concerns over the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on online classifieds.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has seen its short interest ease again to 11%. Regulatory uncertainty appears to remain a key concern, with investors watching closely for progress across the radiopharmaceuticals company's US approval pipeline.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has returned to the top ten with short interest of 10.9%. Short sellers may be targeting the Penfolds owner due to weak luxury wine demand, excess supply in the Americas, and the uncertainty created by its latest restructuring.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.