A small group of ASX shares have ex-dividend dates this month.

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

So, if you're looking for some extra income before the end of the financial year (EOFY), these ASX shares provide options.

Ex-dividend dates also provide another opportunity.

Share prices usually fall on ex-dividend dates, so you may be able to pick up a stock you've been watching for a lower price.

Among the shares going ex-dividend this month are ASX agriculture stock Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV).

The almond producer will trade ex-dividend on 17 June and pay investors 3.5 cents per share on 15 July.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Select Harvests shares with a 12-month price target of $5.30, compared with $3.86 currently.

ASX 200 iron ore share Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) has an ex-dividend date of 11 June and will pay 2 cents per share on 8 July.

RBC Capital has a buy rating on Champion Iron with an $8.11 target, compared to $4.30 per share today.

Several of Wilson Asset Management's listed investment companies (LICs) will also go ex-dividend this month.

These include WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), which will trade ex-dividend on 10 June.

WCM Global Growth investors will receive a dividend of 2.2 cents per share on 30 June.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates in June

The post 15 ASX shares going ex-dividend before EOFY appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

They've issued a bunch of new research notes, and I've selected three focused on ASX 200 companies that Macquarie has given an outperform rating to.

Let's see what they're saying.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Santos held its annual investor briefing this week, which focused on the company's growing free cash flow.

The company's Barossa and Pikka projects are also now producing, with Macquarie saying Santos was now past "peak capex".

Santos' break-even oil price is now US$45 to US$50 per barrel, compared to current prices of about US$88 per barrel.

Macquarie said Santos outlined US$4.9 billion in shareholder returns over CY26-30 and a US$2.5 billion reduction in debt by 2030.

Macquarie said in its research note:

Santos now has a suite of higher-quality opportunities to pursue in Alaska, PNG, Beetaloo (potentially Bedout). This focus should see it create currently unrecognised value from its existing footprint.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.15 on Santos shares compared to the current price of $7.73.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

Web Travel Group earlier this week delivered a strong set of full-year numbers, reporting that total transaction volume (TTV) was up 20% year over year to $5.8 billion, driven by "significant organic growth in the Americas and Europe", while TTV margins improved by 0.1% to 6.8%.

Revenue increased 20% to $394.1 million while net profit was up from $11.1 million in FY25 to $35.5 million.

Macquarie said while TTV was in line with consensus estimates, TTV margins were better than expected.

They said margins could come under pressure as the Middle East conflict drags on, but that the company's ongoing investment should position them well for any recovery in travel activity.

As Macquarie said:

Outlook continues to be impacted by ongoing conflict disruption and uncertainty, continued investment supports WEB's ability to improve margins as it scales over the medium term.

Macquarie has a price target of $4.05 on Web Travel Group shares compared with $2.70 currently.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

Infratil, which invests in data centre and renewable energy businesses, this week reported that full-year EBITDAF rose 11% to NZ$989 million, while total asset value increased 13% to NZ$20.6 billion.

The company said its earnings were mainly driven by investments in its Australasian data centre business CDC and its US renewable energy business Longroad Energy, and it expected earnings to increase by 21% in FY27.

Macquarie said there were several potential catalysts to boost the share price, including the possible sell-down of an additional $1 billion in assets, which would simplify the company.

Further announcements around contracting for signings to CDC could also be a positive, they said.

Macquarie has a price target of $17.23 on Infratil shares compared to $13.17 currently.

The post Macquarie names 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After some morning wobbles, the ASX 200 spent most of the session in green territory, and ended up closing with a happy 0.69% rise. That leaves the index at 8,717.7 points.

This pleasant Wednesday session for Australian investors comes after a mixed return to trading for the American markets last night, following Monday's public holiday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up some initial optimism to close down 0.23%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared better, gaining a solid 1.19%.

But let's return to the local markets now and look a little closer at what was happening with the different ASX sectors this hump day.

Winners and losers

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

That's because the team at Morgans believes they could rise 9% to 27%. Here's what the broker is saying:

Aroa Biosurgery Ltd (ASX: ARX)

This medical device company delivered an FY 2026 result that was in line with expectations.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating on Aroa Biosurgery's shares with an improved price target of 79 cents. Based on its current share price of 62 cents, this implies potential upside of 27%. It said:

ARX posted its FY26 result which was in line with the recently released trading update and our forecast. Higher sales and marketing spend in FY27 results in a flat EBITDA, however the benefits of this investment will be seen in FY28/29 where a significant step up is expected. As a result of changes to forecasts and the roll forward of our model, our target price increases to A$0.79 (from $0.77). We maintain a BUY recommendation.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Another ASX share that Morgans is positive on is industrial property company Goodman.

In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating with a $36.00 price target. Based on the current Goodman share price of $29.86, this implies potential upside of 20% for investors. Morgans commented:

Operationally the update was mixed, with pre-committed share, production rate and Yield On Cost (YOC) all relatively flat hoh. The structurally important note was management's view that industry DC capex requirements likely exceed global capital market funding capacity, a backdrop that favours those with secured power, sites and locked-in capital partners. FY26 OEPSg guided to 'at least 9%' (prior 9%; MorgansF 9.2%; Consensus 9.8%), marginally up.

We partially reverse the discretionary discount applied in our March sector update (-10% to -5%) reflecting growing conviction in the capital-scarcity moat and peer pre-commit validation, noting that GMG's own leading indicators have not yet inflected. BUY reiterated; TP to A$36.00/sh.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

A third ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is infrastructure investment company Infratil.

The broker was pleased with its FY 2026 results, noting that earnings grew quicker than expected.

As a result, the broker has retained its accumulate rating with an increased price target of $13.80. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 9%.

Commenting on the company, Morgans said:

IFT's FY26 result was strong with net proportionate EBITDA from continuing operations lifting ~11% YoY and coming in 4% ahead of our forecast. Proportionate capex was above our forecast. It lifted 17% YoY and is set to lift ~57% in FY27 as management recycles capital to reinvest in IFT's key growth assets. Portfolio Asset Value lifted 13% YoY to NZ$20.6bn, in line with our expectations.

IFT declared a 13.65c final dividend, in line with earlier guidance. We retain our ACCUMULATE recommendation and lift our Target Price ~22% to $13.80, following CDC's largest ever contract win.

The post Morgans says these ASX shares can rise 9% to 27% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company, which invests in data centre and renewable energy businesses, said full-year EBITDAF was up 11% to NZ$989 million, while its total asset value was up 13% to NZ$20.6 billion.

Outlook seen as weak

Infratil said it expected earnings to increase 21% in FY27, which RBC Capital Markets said came in below their expectations and which were "soft" and "underwhelming".

The company said its earnings were mainly driven by investments in the Australasian data centre business CDC and the US renewable energy business Longroad Energy.

Infratil Chief Executive Officer Jason Boyes said the company was "very pleased to deliver a 13.9% total shareholder return across FY26, despite ongoing market noise and volatility".

Demand for efficient AI infrastructure is striking and may be the investment opportunity of a lifetime. CDC's announcement in early May of Australasia's largest ever data centre contract has swept aside the market ups and downs of FY26, adding approximately 35% of returns since 31 March. CDC has demonstrated Australasia's opportunity to attract global computing capacity, supported by regional stability, competitive build costs and access to renewable energy.

Infratil said CDC now had more than 1 gigawatt of contracted capacity and was forecasting earnings growth of more than 150% to more than $1 billion in FY28.

The company said that Longroad was also benefiting from data centre expansions.

Longroad Energy's EBITDAF increased 170% to US$121 million in FY26 and is forecast to grow strongly as more generation enters operation. It has lifted its solar and battery projects under construction to a record 2GW in FY26 which combined with the 3.5GW already in operation, will deliver total generation capacity equivalent to about half of New Zealand's current capacity. With electricity demand in the USA projected to increase by about 30% to 50% by 2040, Infratil has agreed to provide a further US$300 million to support Longroad's acceleration over the next two years.

Longroad is targeting US$1 billion in earnings by CY29/30, Infratil said, underpinned by the recent acquisition of a very large-scale, circa 2.8 gigawatt solar and battery development.

Sticking to the strategy

Mr Boyes said the company was constantly on the lookout for new opportunities, with data centres and renewables likely to remain the best bets.

We're exploring more opportunities to bring power and data centre expertise together – delivering integrated solutions for customers in a way that is more efficient and at greater scale. Longroad, for example, has established a dedicated data centre team and is progressing options to develop more than 4GW of grid-connected data centres, co-located with its solar and battery storage projects. These options could include simply providing the sites as powered land, or with powered shells developed by Longroad or with other partners.

Infratil shares were 6.4% lower on Tuesday at $12.22. The company is valued at $13.05 billion.

The post Why are this ASX data centre company's shares down more than 6% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Yesterday, Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN) found itself in exactly that position, with its shares suspended from trading on both the NZX and ASX while its major shareholder Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) completed a significant stake sale.

Trading has since resumed.

But investors may still be seeking a clear explanation of what happened and what it means going forward.

What triggered the halt

The halt was triggered after Contact Energy was notified that Infratil had launched a fully underwritten institutional block trade to sell a portion of its stake in the company.

Contact said the halt was necessary to ensure on-market trading was not distorted by the off-market sale process, stating:

"Contact is not otherwise involved in the process."

Infratil ultimately sold 53.5 million ordinary shares, representing a 5% stake in Contact Energy, at $9.25 per share, generating gross proceeds of approximately NZ$495 million.

After the transaction, Infratil's stake in Contact Energy fell from approximately 14.3% to around 9.08%.

The trading halt was in place for one day, with trading resuming once Contact confirmed the sale process had concluded.

Why did Infratil sell?

Importantly, the sale does not appear to reflect any loss of confidence in Contact Energy itself.

According to Infratil's management, the move was about creating flexibility for future growth opportunities rather than a negative view on the business.

Infratil CEO Jason Boyes said:

We received our initial stake in Contact as part of the sale of Manawa Energy in July 2025 and we remain confident in Contact and the sector's outlook. While we have no immediate funding requirements and our divestment programme is on track, we consider it prudent to reposition this capital now. Infratil remains supportive of Contact and has committed to retaining its remaining shares through to, at least, Contact's FY26 full year results announcement.

Reassuringly for investors, the decision seems to reflect a capital allocation decision rather than a fundamental concern about Contact's outlook.

What does this mean for Contact Energy investors?

In the short term, a large block of shares entering the market can place temporary downward pressure on the stock simply due to the increase in supply.

However, the longer-term investment case for Contact Energy rests on the company's underlying business performance, which has been going well.

Contact lifted electricity and gas sales in April 2026 while progressing new renewable projects and cutting generation costs, continuing a pattern of steady operational delivery.

The company's Contact31+ strategy, backed by a NZ$125 million retail share offer earlier this year, is advancing a pipeline of renewable energy developments that management believes will drive earnings growth over the next decade.

Furthermore, Contact Energy is a 100% renewable electricity generator and retailer operating in New Zealand's highly regulated energy market.

This should translate into very predictable cash flows and a competitive moat that may attract long-term investors.

Foolish takeaway

A trading halt caused by a shareholder selling down a stake, while alarming, does not have to be a major cause of concern for investors.

In Contact Energy's case, the business itself has not changed, the strategy has not changed, and the selling shareholder has publicly committed to retaining its remaining position.

For existing investors, the short-term supply overhang may create a more attractive entry point than was available yesterday.

The post Why trading was paused for this ASX energy share and what it means for investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN)

The Contact Energy share price is down 6% to $7.70. This follows news that major shareholder Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) has completed the sale of a 5% stake in the energy company. Infratil's CEO, Jason Boyes, advised that the transaction would provide additional flexibility to fund future growth opportunities. He said: "We received our initial stake in Contact as part of the sale of Manawa Energy in July 2025 and we remain confident in Contact and the sector's outlook. While we have no immediate funding requirements and our divestment programme is on track, we consider it prudent to reposition this capital now. This means we're well prepared to support future growth opportunities across our portfolio."

IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)

The IPD Group share price is down 11% to $5.50. Investors have been selling this electrical solutions provider's shares following the release of guidance for FY 2026. IPD advised that it expects FY 2026 underlying EBITDA of between $54.5 million and $55.3 million. This represents growth of around 18% at the midpoint compared with FY 2025 statutory EBITDA. However, this seems to have fallen short of the market's expectations for the year.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down 2% to $19.00. This has been driven by news that the gold mining giant's CEO is stepping down. The company's managing director, Stuart Tonkin, has advised the board of his intention to step down during the first quarter of FY 2027. Tonkin has been with Northern Star for 13 years. He said: "After 13 years leading Northern Star through significant growth, I'm proud to leave the Company in an exceptional position. The team, the assets and the outstanding growth outlook is unique and after many years of rewarding challenges, I have decided to step down."

Tower Ltd (ASX: TWR)

The Tower share price is down 7% to $1.57. This morning, the New Zealand-based insurance company announced its half-year results and reported a 40% decline in underlying net profit after tax to NZ$36.8 million. Management advised that this half "compares against an exceptionally strong prior-year half, which benefited from unusually benign weather conditions and favourable claims experience."

The post Why Contact Energy, IPD, Northern Star, and Tower shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The deal will see Infratil earn almost NZ$500m after it sells 53.5 million shares at NZ$9.25 each through a fully underwritten institutional block trade.

After the sale, Infratil's stake in Contact Energy will drop to roughly 9.08%.

Why is Infratil selling?

According to Infratil's management, the move is about creating flexibility for future growth opportunities rather than losing confidence in Contact Energy itself.

Infratil CEO Jason Boyes said the company remains confident in both Contact Energy and the broader energy sector outlook. He noted that Infratil originally received its Contact Energy stake as part of the Manawa Energy transaction, which was completed in 2025.

Boyes also said Infratil currently has no immediate funding pressures, but believes it is prudent to reposition its capital now so that the company is ready to support future growth opportunities across its portfolio.

That explanation makes sense given how infrastructure investors typically operate.

Companies like Infratil regularly recycle capital by selling mature investments and redirecting funds into new opportunities with potentially stronger long-term returns. Infratil has investments spanning renewable energy, digital infrastructure, healthcare, and data centres. These are all sectors that require substantial amounts of capital to grow.

Importantly, Infratil is not completely exiting Contact Energy.

The company said it intends to retain its remaining shares through at least Contact Energy's FY26 results announcement in August 2026, subject to customary exceptions.

Contact Energy shares were placed in a trading halt prior to the announcements, and its investors will likely be focused on the large volume of shares being sold into the market. Big sell-downs can sometimes place short-term pressure on a stock simply because of the increase in supply.

Longer term, though, investors will probably pay closer attention to Contact Energy's underlying business performance and Infratil's next move with the cash raised from the sale.

Infratil shares are up 28% so far in 2026, whilst Contact Energy shares are roughly flat from where they started the year.

The post Why is Infratil cashing out of its Contact Energy shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 spent today's entire session in red territory and ended up closing down 0.49%. That leaves the index at 8,701.8 points.

This rough start to trading this week for Australian investors comes after a more positive end to the American week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) barely broke even, inching just 0.025% higher.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more confident, though, rising a happy 1.71%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now for a look at what was happening with the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

One of this week's outperformers is involved in the critical metals space, the second is investing in AI infrastructure, and the third is a major Aussie gold miner.

Which outperforming ASX 200 stocks am I talking about?

I'm glad you asked!

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares continue strong momentum

First up, we have Capricorn Metals.

Shares in the ASX gold miner closed last Friday trading for $11.77. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $13.65 apiece. That puts this ASX 200 stock up 16% in this week's flat market.

There was no fresh price-sensitive news out from Capricorn Metals this week.

But the stock will have enjoyed an improving gold price and outlook amid rising hopes for a Middle East peace deal this week.

Capricorn Metals released its quarterly results after market close on 28 April.

With the miner reporting record quarterly cash flow from operations of $143.1 million and declaring its first-ever dividend, investor interest remained strong this week.

Moving on…

ASX 200 stock Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) rockets on data centre news

The second-best performing ASX 200 stock on my list for the week is infrastructure investment company Infratil.

Infratil shares closed last week trading for $10.45 and are currently trading for $12.42, up 18.9%.

Most of those gains were delivered on Wednesday.

Infratil shares closed up 15% on the day after announcing that data centre operator CDC had inked a 30-year contract for 555MW in new data centre capacity with a major United States customer.

Infratil is the largest shareholder in CDC.

Investors reacted positively to Wednesday's announcement, which amounts to Australia's largest data centre contract in history. Indeed, the contract is equivalent to some 40% of Australia's total data centre capacity in 2025.

Commenting on the contract that sent the ASX 200 stock surging on Wednesday, Infratil CEO Jason Boyes said:

This contract reflects the strong global track record CDC has established in delivering large-scale, future-proofed and sustainable data centre campuses, and consolidates its position as the largest data centre provider across Australia and New Zealand.

Which brings us to…

IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) shares attract director interest

The best-performing ASX 200 stock on my list this week is titanium products producer IperionX.

IperionX shares closed at $4.50 last Friday. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $5.59, up 24.2% in this week's flat market.

There was no fresh price-sensitive news out from IperionX this week. But investor interest remains strong, with the company potentially enjoying long-term support from increased global defence spending, ramping up demand for critical metals.

Investors may also have noted that the company's directors have been snapping up shares.

As The Motley Fool reported last Friday, IperionX executive chairman Todd Hannigan bought $2.07 million worth of shares in late April. And CEO Anastasios Arima also bought more shares, valued at some $494,000.

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

After staying comfortably in green territory all day, the ASX 200 ended up closing a solid 1.3% higher, leaving the index at 8,793.6 points.

This happy hump day for ASX investors follows a similarly upbeat night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising 0.73%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining 1.03%.

But let's get back to the ASX now though and dive a little deeper into what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors navigated today's tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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

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

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT)

The DigiCo Infrastructure REIT share price is up 22% to $2.89. This morning, the data centre company announced a binding agreement to sell its CHI1 facility in Chicago for US$750 million. This represents a 5% premium to its November 2024 purchase price. The sale is expected to complete in the first quarter of FY 2027. This will take its pro forma net debt to approximately $0.5 billion, while gearing is expected to drop from 36% to 17%. Management intends to redeploy capital into the SYD1 development in Sydney, which it describes as its most compelling growth opportunity. It may also look at returning funds to shareholders.

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

The HMC Capital share price is up 15% to $2.90. This follows the release of a business update from the investment company today. Management advised that fund management earnings are maintaining their growth trajectory and tracking to guidance. As a result, it has reaffirmed its pre-tax operating earnings per share guidance of greater than 40 cents per share. It has also reaffirmed its dividend guidance of 12 cents per share. That represents a 4.1% dividend yield at current prices.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

The Infratil share price is up 12% to $11.77. This follows news that its 49.7%-owned data centre business, CDC, has signed Australia's largest-ever data centre contract. It has agreed a 555MW deal with a US investment grade customer, taking total CDC contracted capacity to over 1 gigawatt. When fully deployed, management estimates that CDC's total contracted capacity would deliver annualised EBITDA of approximately NZ$2 billion. Infratil's CEO, Jason Boyes, said: "Today's announcement underscores Australasia's opportunity to attract global computing capacity, supported by regional stability, competitive build costs and access to renewable energy."

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas Airways share price is up over 2% to $8.59. This appears to have been driven by a pullback in oil prices after Donald Trump signalled that progress is being made with a US-Iran peace deal. This would be good news for Qantas, especially given how fuel is the company's largest expense.

The post Why DigiCo, HMC Capital, Infratil, and Qantas shares are taking off today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX stock is now up around 23% year to date, comfortably outperforming the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is essentially flat over the same period.

So what's driving the sharp move higher?

Largest data centre deal

The catalyst for the soaring share price is a landmark contract signed by CDC Data Centres. The company has secured what is being described as Australia's largest-ever data centre deal.

ASX stock Infratil is an infrastructure investment company with assets spanning renewable energy, healthcare, airports and digital infrastructure. One of its most important holdings is CDC, a rapidly growing operator of hyperscale data centres across Australia.

CDC sits at the centre of rising demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence infrastructure and sovereign data storage. It builds and operates large-scale, highly secure facilities that underpin the digital services used by governments, enterprises and global technology firms.

The $555MW mega-deal explained

The latest contract is a major milestone for CDC and the ASX stock. CDC has signed a 555MW long-term agreement with a US investment-grade customer. The deal includes a 30-year contract for 555MW of new capacity, with options to extend for a further 20 years. With this agreement,

CDC's total contracted capacity now exceeds 1 gigawatt. That's more than double its previous contracted base.

Importantly, the scale of this deal highlights CDC's dominant position in the market. The 555MW alone represents roughly 40% of Australia's total expected data centre operating capacity in 2025, underlining just how significant this expansion is for the industry.

The capacity is already under development and scheduled to come online across FY28 and FY29. That means it fits within existing construction plans and does not require a major change in capital strategy.

Strong financial position and growth runway

CDC's balance sheet remains robust, with about $3.9 billion in cash and undrawn facilities as of 31 March. Earlier this year, shareholders including ASX stock Infratil contributed a further $500 million in equity. However, the latest contract does not require additional funding beyond current plans.

The earnings outlook also remains strong. CDC has maintained FY27 EBITDAF guidance of A$680 million to A$720 million, with FY28 EBITDAF expected to exceed A$1 billion. Beyond this contract, CDC continues to scale aggressively, with a development pipeline of around 1.6GW through to 2034.

The business has also strengthened its funding position. Moody's Investors Service assigned CDC's Australian operations a Baa2 (Stable) credit rating, improving access to global debt markets.

Foolish Takeaway

The market reaction reflects the scale and quality of this contract. A long-duration agreement with a major international customer provides strong revenue visibility. It also reinforces CDC's position as a leading player in Australia's data infrastructure boom.

For Infratil, it strengthens one of its key growth engines. It also helps explain why the ASX stock is extending its strong run in 2026.

The post Why is this $10 billion ASX stock racing 12% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Infratil report?

• CDC secures a 30-year contract for 555MW in new data centre capacity, with options to extend by 20 years
• Total CDC contracted capacity surpasses 1GW, more than doubling with this agreement
• CDC FY27 EBITDAF guidance remains at A$680m to A$720m; FY28 EBITDAF expected to exceed A$1 billion
• Annualised EBITDAF of approximately A$2 billion projected when all contracted capacity is deployed
• CDC expects FY27 capex of A$3.8bn to $4.2bn (excluding land), supporting construction of new sites

What else do investors need to know?

CDC's contract will use capacity already under development, due to be operational across FY28 and FY29. The 555MW capacity alone represents roughly 40% of the total Australian data centre operating capacity forecast for 2025, underlining CDC's position as the largest provider in Australasia.

CDC's balance sheet remains strong, with A$3.9 billion in cash and undrawn facilities as at 31 March. Earlier this year, CDC shareholders, including Infratil, provided a further A$500 million in equity, but the new contract fits fully within CDC's current growth plan and won't require more capital from investors.

What's next for Infratil?

CDC is aiming for its newly contracted capacity to become operational through FY28 and FY29. Longer-term, CDC continues to develop more sites, with a current pipeline of 1.6GW for future builds through to 2034, and plans for further expansion in response to strong demand.

Moody's recently assigned CDC's Australian business a Baa2 (Stable) credit rating, enhancing access to global debt markets to help fund its construction and growth. All up, Infratil sees CDC's expansion as a major driver of earnings and value for its shareholders.

Infratil share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Infratil shares have risen 2%, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Infratil shares: CDC inks Australia's largest data centre contract appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite several stints in green territory this morning, the ASX 200 ended up closing in the red by the time trading wrapped up this afternoon, dropping 0.1%. That leaves the index at 8,525.7 points.

This miserly day for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising by 0.66%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining a rosy 0.77%.

But time to return to the local markets now and see how today's falls were distributed amongst the different ASX sectors today.

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

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is up 3% to $3.67. This follows the release of a trading update from the sports technology solutions company this morning. Catapult revealed that it expects its annual contract value (ACV) for FY 2026 to be in the range of US$133 million to US$134 million with low churn. This represents reported year-on-year growth of 27% to 28% on a constant currency basis. In addition, EBITDA is expected to grow by approximately 50% year-on-year as its profitability continues to outpace its strong top-line growth. This reflects the accelerating operating leverage in Catapult's business model and the company's continued discipline in managing its fixed and variable cost base.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 5.5% to $4.50. This is despite there being no news out of the counter-drone technology company. However, with the war in the Middle East demonstrating just why its technology is growing in importance, it seems that some investors are betting on DroneShield's strong growth continuing over the medium term.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

The Infratil share price is up over 2.5% to $9.49. This morning, this infrastructure investment company upgraded its guidance for FY 2027. Infratil now expects FY 2027 EBITDAF of A$680 million to A$720 million. This is up from its previous guidance of ~A$660 million. For FY 2026, it now expects to achieve the lower end of its A$390 million to A$400 million EBITDAF guidance range. Infratil's CEO, Jason Boyes, commented: "Our focus is on supporting CDC to deliver more capacity to meet the growing demand for data centre space across Australasia. Infratil, along with CDC's other major shareholders, recently provided A$500 million in equity funding to support the acceleration of CDC's construction programme."

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

The Qoria share price is up 3.5% to 30 cents. This follows the release of an update on the cyber safety company's proposed merger with Aura. Qoria provided an update on Aura's performance for the two months ended 28 February. It revealed that Aura's annual recurring revenue reached US$238 million, which is up 30% year-on-year, with total subscribers up 35% to 1.3 million. In light of this, the Qoria board continues to unanimously recommend the proposed merger.

The post Why Catapult, DroneShield, Infratil, and Qoria shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Upwards revision

In a statement to the ASX on Thursday, the company said that it had previously forecast that CDC's FY25 EBITDAF would double to about $660 million in FY27.

Infratil now estimates that this figure will increase to $680 million to $720 million "based on the updated outlook for delivery of existing contracted capacity and the expectation for continued strong demand''.

The company also said that FY26 EBITDAF was expected to come in at the lower end of the guidance range of $390 million to $400 million, "reflecting the timing of existing contracted capacity that has been weighted toward the back end of FY26''.

Infrastructure of the future

CDC Chief Executive Officer Greg Boorer said recent geopolitical developments have highlighted Australasia's secure position and competitive differentiation as a strategic location for data centres.

He added:

We attended the largest AI event in the United States last week, and one of the key takeaways is that large-scale intelligence generation will be critical to future economic prosperity. The good news is that Australasia is globally front of mind as a preferred secure option for large-scale intelligence generation. As a result, we're having even more conversations with our strategic customers about their increased capacity needs, and we're continuing to build new intelligence generation capacity as fast as we can to meet that increasing demand.

Infratil said CDC had the largest pipeline of data centre capacity in Australia, with 18 operational sites and another five under construction.

The company added:

An important contributor to CDC's ability to fast track development is the minimal water usage enabled by its closed-loop water cooling system. CDC added almost 200 megawatts of built operating capacity in the December quarter.

Infratil Chief Executive Officer Jason Boyes said data centre demand remained very strong.

He added:

Our focus is on supporting CDC to deliver more capacity to meet the growing demand for data centre space across Australasia. Infratil, along with CDC's other major shareholders, recently provided A$500 million in equity funding to support the acceleration of CDC's construction programme.

The Infratil earnings update coincided with an investor tour of CDC's Eastern Creek campus, where two additional data centres are nearing operational status.

Infratil shares were 5.2% higher in early trade at $9.72.

The company was valued at $9.23 billion at the close of trade on Wednesday.

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What did Infratil report?

• Upgraded FY27 EBITDAF guidance to A$680–$720 million (previously ~A$660 million)
• FY26 EBITDAF expected at lower end of A$390–$400 million, due to timing of contracted capacity
• A$500 million equity raise completed to support accelerated growth at CDC
• Bank debt upsizing to A$2.1 billion expected by March 2026
• Strong pipeline with 18 operational CDC data centres and five under construction

What else do investors need to know?

CDC, Infratil's Australasian data centre business, continues to benefit from robust demand for secure, large-scale data centre infrastructure—especially supporting AI and cloud workloads. Two new data centres at CDC's Eastern Creek campus are nearing operational status, which will significantly boost available capacity.

The business maintains its position as the largest data centre operator in Australasia, with market-leading water efficiency thanks to closed-loop cooling systems. Minimal water use has enabled CDC to add almost 200 megawatts of capacity in the latest quarter, while maintaining environmental credentials.

What did Infratil management say?

Infratil CEO Jason Boyes commented:

Our focus is on supporting CDC to deliver more capacity to meet the growing demand for data centre space across Australasia. Infratil, along with CDC's other major shareholders, recently provided A$500 million in equity funding to support the acceleration of CDC's construction programme.

What's next for Infratil?

Looking ahead, Infratil plans to keep expanding CDC's footprint, meeting ongoing demand for secure data centre capacity across Australia and New Zealand. The higher formal EBITDAF guidance for FY27 reflects management's confidence in CDC's strong contract pipeline and expectations for continued growth in digital infrastructure.

Investment in skills and sustainable technology will remain a priority, alongside developing new sites and supporting the transition to clean energy.

Infratil share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Infratil shares have declined 6%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

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By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 6.8% and produced total returns of 10.32%.

ASX financials were the third-best performer among the 11 market sectors last year.

Looking ahead, here are five ASX financial shares that the experts are backing for price growth in 2026.

5 ASX financial shares with new year buy ratings

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

The Hub24 share price rose by 38% to finish 2025 at $96.25 per share.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Hub24 shares with a price target of $125.

On Thursday, the investment and superannuation platform provider is trading at $95.53 per share, up 2%.

The broker's price target suggests potential gains of 31% in the new year.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

The Infratil share price fell 15.8% in 2025 to close at $9.74 on 31 December.

Today, Infratil shares are $9.88 apiece, up 0.5%.

Morgans has just initiated coverage on this ASX financial share with an accumulate rating.

The broker has put a price target of $11.30 on the New Zealand-based investment company.

This suggests a potential 14% upside over the new year ahead.

Morgans said:

Infratil (IFT) is a high quality, concentrated structural growth investor targeting 11-15% pa post fee returns. IFT's investors have enjoyed c.18% pa returns over the last ~30 years.

Assuming delivery of target returns, post fees the Net Asset Value (NAV) should nearly double over the next five years and create substantial value for equity holders.

The share price is currently trading at a 30% discount to NAV.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Retirement and investment solutions provider Generation Development Group was the best performer of the financials sector in 2025.

The Generation Development Group share price rose 66% to finish the year at $5.89.

Macquarie gives Generation Development Group shares an outperform rating with a 12-month price target of $6.70.

Today, the ASX financial share is trading for $5.90, up 0.3%.

The broker's target implies a potential upside of 14% for investors who buy the stock today.

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

Navigator Global Investments shares increased 72% last year to close at $2.96 on 31 December.

Ord Minnett has a buy rating on this ASX small-cap financial share with a price target of $3.50.

Today, the alternative asset manager is trading at $2.98 per share, up 4.9%.

The broker's price target suggests potential gains of 17% in the new year.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

Challenger shares also performed strongly last year, rising 57% to finish the year at $9.41 apiece.

Citi has a buy rating on this ASX financial share with a price target of $10.25.

Today, the Challenger share price is $9.39, down 0.2%.

The broker's price target implies a potential upside of 9% for 2026.

The post 5 ASX financial shares to buy in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials (ASX:XFJ) index dropped almost 9% from November 10 to December 1. 

This may have created some buy low opportunities in the sector, and one ASX financials stock that fits the bill is Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT). 

It is down approximately 12% in 2025, which includes a drop of more than 8% since November 12.

The company is engaged in the ownership of an infrastructure business, which provides services to individuals and communities.

The team at Morgans recently initiated coverage on this financials stock. This included an accumulate rating and a healthy upside following the stock price fall in the past month or two. 

Receives investment grade credit rating

The positive report from Morgans came a day after S&P Global Ratings assigned its 'BBB+' long-term and 'A-2' short-term issuer credit ratings to Infratil on December 22.

According to S&P Global, the outlook on the long-term rating is stable. 

A report from S&P Global said the rating on Infratil reflects its stable funding, underpinned by substantial permanent capital, and its access to committed bank facilities through many funding relationships. 

It did note the company's material single-name concentration risk and the illiquid nature of the asset portfolio partially offset these strengths.

Morgans view on this financials stock

In a note out of the broker last week, Morgans said Infratil is a high quality, concentrated structural growth investor targeting 11-15% per annum post fee returns. 

The broker said investors have enjoyed 18% per annum returns over the last 30 years. 

Assuming delivery of target returns, post fees the Net Asset Value (NAV) should nearly double over the next five years and create substantial value for equity holders. 

Morgans also said the share price is currently trading at a 30% discount to NAV. 

Assuming a return to a more normalised 20% discount would lift the share price by ~10% and from there NAV needs to lift for the share price to lift. 

Both seem likely, in our view. We initiate coverage with an ACCUMULATE rating and $11.30 target price. This report is the first part of a series that reviews IFT's assets in more detail.

Price target upside 

This ASX financials stock closed trading pre-christmas at $10 per share. 

Based on the target price of $11.30, this indicates an upside of 13%. 

Elsewhere, TradingView has a one year price target of $11.61 which indicates roughly 16% upside. 

Online brokerage platform Selfwealth lists this financials stock as undervalued by 17%. 

The post Morgans just initiated coverage on this financials stock tipping strong upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.