Does it rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let's see what the broker is saying:

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Morgans notes that this waste management company released its investor day update this week.

While this has led to the broker trimming its medium-term earnings estimates and reducing its valuation, it still sees plenty of value in Cleanaway shares.

As a result, it has retained its buy rating with a new price target of $2.80. It said:

CWY hosted an investor strategy day and tour of its Melbourne Regional Landfill. It discussed how it intends to grow earnings and cashflows across its FY27-30 strategy period. We expect investors will be particularly pleased by management's language about expected free cashflow growth (hasn't historically kept pace with underlying earnings growth).

We moderate our EPS forecasts so as to move closer to CWY's medium term growth expectations. FY27 consensus EPS looks likely to be downgraded as higher interest rates are reflected in interest costs. Target price reset to $2.80ps given lower long-term growth assumption. BUY retained given c.21% potential TSR at current prices.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

This investment platform provider delivered a third-quarter update that was largely in-line with expectations.

Overall, Morgans believes this leaves Hub24 well-placed to deliver on its FY 2027 targets.

This has led to the broker retaining its accumulate rating on Hub24 shares with a $96.50 price target. It said:

HUB's 3Q26 net-flows of $4.0bn came in largely in-line with MorgF, albeit the period saw near-term run-rate momentum slow, with HUB's flows only marginally exceeding NWL's during the quarter. Positively, adviser growth accelerated in 3Q26, which remains supportive of net inflows outlook.

Market momentum remains positive month to date in Apr'26, placing mark-to-markets on track to recover lost momentum in Mar'26 (ASX200 +5.5% MTD) HUB's FY27 FUA growth trajectory remains on track despite near-term headwinds. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating, with a revised price target of $96.50/sh.

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

Another ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is Maas Group. It is a construction materials, equipment, and service provider.

Morgans highlights that the company is well-placed for growth thanks to work relating to Firmus data centre projects.

And after adjusting for its significant cash balance, the broker thinks Maas shares are being significantly undervalued by the market.

As a result, it has put a buy rating and $6.00 price target on its shares. It said:

MGH management have set a new course, underpinned by a growing pipeline of Firmus related data centre projects and $130m of EBITDA from the existing (and growing) civil construction and engineering division. The business currently has a market cap of $1.8bn, with a net cash balance of c.$650m (post transaction and Firmus investment) and an expanded data centre pipeline to potentially deliver c.$333m of value.

Netting out cash ($650m) and our estimate of the Firmus earnings (PV: $245m), we derive a net market cap of $870m, reflecting a PER (net of cash) of 11.8x (on the residual business) – cheap given the DC optionality and relative to peers (c.15x PER). Whilst the new strategic vision for MGH is in its infancy, the current share price is too cheap on a fundamental basis, while the blue sky potential gives investors the chance for outsized returns. On this basis, we reiterate our Buy recommendation with our target price increasing to $6.00/sh.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Cleanaway, Hub24, and MAAS shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to edge higher

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Tuesday following a poor start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 1 point higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up a fraction, but the S&P 500 is down 0.5% and the Nasdaq is 0.9% lower.

Oil prices jump

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares such as Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 4.35% to US$103.96 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.25% to US$113.98 a barrel. This leaves oil prices on track to post a record monthly surge.

Shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW), GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP), Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH), and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC). The latter will be paying its shareholders a 10 cents per share fully franked dividend next month on 20 April.

Gold price edges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a relatively positive session on Tuesday after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.1% to US$4,494.7 an ounce. This was driven by increased demand for safe haven assets.

Strike Energy named as a buy

The team at Bell Potter has named Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX) shares as a speculative buy with a 15 cents price target. This implies potential upside of over 40% for investors from current levels. It said: "STX announced that the Western Australian Economic Regulation Authority had finalised its determination for the Benchmark Reserve Capacity Price for the 2028/29 capacity year at $488,500/MW per year which could support revenues of around $42m from the South Erregulla project, before electricity sales."

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

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

Here at The Fool, our analysts do not recommend buying ASX shares simply just to get the next dividend payment.

Our market experts say the decision to buy should be more thoughtful than that, and based on fundamental analysis.

But if you already intend to buy any of these ASX shares, you might like to consider the best timing for you.

For example, you could buy before the ex-dividend date and receive entitlement to the next dividend payment.

Or you might prefer to wait until the ex-dividend date itself, when the share price usually falls, to snap up your stock.

Here are some ex-dividend dates next week

The post 20 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX shares that have fared well are listed below. Here's why the broker has upgraded them:

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

This construction materials, equipment and service provider's shares were sold off after announcing an agreement to sell its Construction Materials (CM) division and pivot to focus on digital, AI and electrification infrastructure.

Morgans appears supportive of the move and has responded by upgrading Maas shares to a buy rating with a $5.10 price target. Based on its current share price of $4.11, this implies potential upside of approximately 25% for investors.

Commenting on its upgrade, the broker said:

The pivot is cornerstoned by a $100m investment in Firmus, further aligning and supporting the recent JLE contract win. The sale of the quarries will deliver MGH a c.$550m net cash balance (post-Firmus investment), which management believe they can reinvest to deliver a 20% Return On Capital (ROC).

To this end, we see lower EPS across FY27/28 as we model a more conservative deployment of capital. At the current share price ($4.11/sh), investors are attributing negative value to the Civil business. At a peer multiple of c.10x FY27 EBIT for the Civil business, plus Corp costs, the valuation offers ample margin of safety. It is on this basis we upgrade to a Buy with a $5.10/sh price target.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Morgans thinks that recent weakness in the tech sector has dragged this health imaging technology company's shares down to an attractive level. The broker has upgraded them to a buy rating with a $290.00 price target, which suggests that upside of 75% is possible between now and this time next year.

The broker doesn't believe that this ASX tech share will be disrupted by AI. It said:

PME has been sold off heavily as investors increasingly worry that AI could structurally erode the economics and commoditise premium imaging SaaS platforms. For PME, that feels misunderstood. Bravery required with volatility high and trend weak, but this has proven to be a good time to pick up PME shares. Upgrade to BUY on weakness.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

A third ASX share that has been upgraded is realestate.com.au operator REA Group. The broker has put a buy rating and $211.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 23% for investors over the next 12 months.

It was reasonably happy with REA Group's half-year results and sees value in its shares at current levels. It explains:

REA's 1H26 result was broadly in line with expectations (being only ~1% under Visible Alpha consensus across most line items). Whilst the negative share price reaction on result day was arguably due to a variety of factors (e.g. cost outcomes in the first half, volume guidance being lowered for the full year), the result itself highlighted the resilience of the franchise in a tougher volume environment, with strong yield growth (+14%) offsetting a 6% decline in listings.

The post Morgans upgrades 3 ASX shares to buy ratings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have upgraded this construction materials, equipment and service provider's shares to a buy rating with a $5.10 price target. This follows news that Maas has agreed to sell its construction materials (CM) division, pivoting the business to focus on digital, AI, and electrification infrastructure. Morgans highlights that the sale and a $100 million investment from Firmus will leave Maas with a $550 million cash balance, which management believes it can reinvest to deliver a 20% return on capital (ROC). Overall, at the current valuation, Morgans believes there is a meaningful margin of safety for investors. The Maas share price is trading at $3.99 on Friday.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

A note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating and $22.30 price target on this data centre operator's shares. The broker highlights that Singtel and KKR have acquired ST Telemedia Global Data Centres for approximately S$13.8 billion ($15.5 billion). It estimates that this represents a 20x EV/EBITDA multiple, which is significantly greater than its 14.8x estimate for NextDC. In light of this, the broker continues to believe that NextDC shares are undervalued at current levels, making now an opportune time for investors to open positions. The NextDC share price is fetching $12.70 at the time of writing.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating and $3.60 price target on this agricultural chemicals company's shares. According to the note, the broker was pleased with Nufarm's annual general meeting presentation. It highlights that management's comments were positive and point to a strong year. In addition, Bell Potter points out that Nufarm's shares continue to trade at a material discount to global peers despite favourable indicators for omega-3 returns in FY 2026 and demand indicators in the higher margin northern hemisphere crop protection markets looking generally supportive. The Nufarm share price is trading at $2.13 this afternoon.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Maas share price is down a brutal 23.57% to $4.28, wiping hundreds of millions off its market value as investors fled the stock.

That sell-off comes despite Maas announcing a transformational transaction that will fundamentally reshape the business.

Let's dive right in!

What did Maas announce?

Maas revealed it has agreed to sell its Construction Materials division to Heidelberg Materials Australia for $1.703 billion.

The consideration includes $120 million in contingent payments, linked to the achievement of agreed post-completion, operational, and commercial milestones.

The assets being sold include Maas' quarries, concrete, asphalt, and related construction materials operations. Certain freehold land will be retained by Maas and leased back to Heidelberg under long-term commercial arrangements.

The transaction is expected to complete in the second half of CY2026. However, it is still subject to regulatory approvals, including ACCC and FIRB, along with shareholder approval.

Why investors hit the sell button

On paper, the deal looks attractive. Management highlighted that the sale price represents a premium to Maas' trading multiple and sits above comparable construction materials transactions.

However, the market appears to be focused on what Maas is giving up.

Construction Materials has been a large, stable earnings engine for the group, delivering reliable cash flows through multiple infrastructure cycles. Selling it significantly changes the earnings profile of the business.

Investors are also grappling with uncertainty around capital redeployment. While Maas has outlined its priorities, the exact timing, scale, and returns of future investments remain unknown.

How Maas plans to reset the business

Following the transaction, Maas plans to reposition the business for its next phase of growth.

Proceeds are expected to be used to reduce net debt, strengthen the balance sheet, and fund expansion across electrification, digital infrastructure, and industrial services.

As part of this shift, Maas announced a $100 million minority investment in Firmus, an AI and digital infrastructure platform developer.

Maas will hold an approximate 1.7% equity interest, providing exposure to AI infrastructure without taking on operational control.

Management says this approach reflects disciplined capital recycling rather than a wholesale bet on unproven assets.

Foolish Takeaway

Maas is reshaping the business by exiting a mature, cash-generative division and freeing up significant capital.

Today's sell-off suggests investors are uneasy about the gap between selling the asset and seeing where the proceeds are ultimately deployed.

From here, the share price will depend on execution and how quickly management can deliver returns from the next phase.

The post This ASX stock just crashed 24% after a $1.7bn deal. Here's what spooked investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

The Beach Energy share price is down over 4% to $1.20. This follows the release of the energy producer's half-year results. Beach Energy reported a 1% decline in sales revenue to $981.7 million and a 32% drop in net profit after tax to $150.2 million. This reflects a combination of production declines and weaker oil and liquids prices. Beach Energy's CEO, Brett Woods, spoke positively about the second half. He said: "Our steady financial footing and safe operational performance through a challenging half positions Beach for an active second half, particularly as Waitsia ramps up and offshore campaigns progress."

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

The Elders share price is down 4% to $7.04. Investors have been selling this agribusiness company's shares after it announced a change of leadership. Elders has named Rene Dedoncker as its new CEO, commencing 1 October 2026. He will be replacing long-serving CEO, Mark Allison. Elders' chair, Glenn Davis, said: "We are delighted to welcome Rene as our next CEO. He brings deep agricultural roots and outstanding leadership experience to Elders. He has proven expertise from his years with Fonterra and Mars, where he drove operational excellence and strategic growth on a global scale. The Board has great confidence in his ability to lead Elders into its next phase of success."

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

The Maas Group share price is down 23% to $4.30. This has been driven by news that the construction materials, equipment and service provider is selling its construction business for $1.7 billion. The company believes the deal will help fund a strategic shift into digital assets. It said: "Just as the Group positioned itself early into renewables-related infrastructure, MGH is now positioning to participate in the next wave of infrastructure investment, combining digital, AI, and electrification opportunities. The Australian data-centre and electrification markets present scalable, high-value opportunities aligned with MGH's execution DNA, integrated capabilities, and program-based delivery."

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren share price is down 10% to $13.19. This follows the release of an update on its NNZ-2591 product candidate. While the US FDA has given Neuren a pathway forward for advancing NNZ-2591 in two rare neurological conditions, some additional work will be required. This could mean it takes longer than expected for approval.

The post Why Beach Energy, Elders, Maas, and Neuren shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The deal with Heidelberg Materials Australia is expected to be complete during the second quarter of 2026 and includes $120 million in contingent payments related to the achievement of certain milestones.

Maas Group Chief Executive Officer Wes Maas said the deal made sense for the company.

We are extremely proud of the construction materials business we have built over many years. The scale, quality and performance of CM are a testament to the hard work and commitment of our people, and it is reflected in the value being recognised by Heidelberg Materials.  Heidelberg Materials is well-positioned to continue building on the CM business' strengths, leveraging its global expertise and track record in delivering major infrastructure projects while providing continuity for the business and its people. This transaction allows MGH to crystallise value from a high-quality asset while positioning the group toward the next phase of infrastructure investment – including digital infrastructure, electrification and AI-enabled assets. The sale enables a strategic refocus and disciplined redeployment of capital into areas where we see strong structural tailwinds.

The deal will require regulatory approvals, including sign-off from the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

It will also require a sign-off by Maas Group shareholders at a meeting to be held shortly.

Looking to the future

Maas said in its statement to the ASX on Thursday that the deal would help fund a strategic shift into digital assets.

As the company said:

Just as the Group positioned itself early into renewables-related infrastructure, MGH is now positioning to participate in the next wave of infrastructure investment, combining digital, AI, and electrification opportunities. The Australian data-centre and electrification markets present scalable, high-value -based delivery model.

The digital infrastructure earmarked as growth opportunities included "high-density power, fibre-connected hyperscale data centres and AI compute clusters''.

There would also be more focus on electrification, "leveraging MGH's existing electrical business and selectively adding strategic capability to expand its participation in the growing electrification sector''.

As well as expanding in these areas, the money raised from the sale would be used to pay down debt.

There would also be "consideration of potential capital management initiatives including capital returns and share buybacks, subject to final transaction proceeds, post-transaction requirements and approvals''.

The post This ASX 300 company has just inked a $1.7 billion asset sale to fund a pivot to digital appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares are down 0.54% to $5.51 in early trade, after Maas confirmed an extension to its share buyback program.

The market response appears to be subdued, despite the move signalling confidence in the company's outlook and balance sheet.

Here's what investors need to know.

What was announced?

According to the release, Maas Group's board approved an extension of the company's existing on market share buyback.

Under the updated plan, Maas can repurchase up to 10% of its issued ordinary share capital over the next 12 months. This matches the scale of the previous buyback and keeps the program in place through to early 2027.

Management said the extension supports the company's aim of delivering sustainable returns on equity for shareholders. It also reflects confidence in the underlying performance of the business and its capital position.

The company noted that the timing and volume of buybacks remain discretionary. Any purchases will depend on factors such as the share price, market conditions, and competing capital requirements.

No changes were made to guidance, and no additional capital management initiatives were announced.

Why the market reaction looks muted

While share buybacks are typically viewed as shareholder-friendly, the modest decline in Maas shares suggests the move was largely anticipated.

The company has previously indicated a disciplined approach to capital allocation, and the extension does not materially change earnings forecasts or near-term cash flow expectations.

Investors may also be weighing broader market conditions, particularly ongoing volatility in construction activity and infrastructure spending.

A quick refresher on Maas Group

Maas Group is a diversified construction materials, equipment, and services provider with exposure across civil infrastructure, mining, and property development.

The company has continued to expand its footprint through both organic growth and selective acquisitions. In recent months, Maas has highlighted stable trading conditions and solid demand across several operating divisions.

Late last year, the company also secured a major electrical infrastructure agreement. The deal strengthened its position in the infrastructure services segment and improved forward work visibility.

At its most recent AGM update, management reaffirmed guidance and pointed to resilient demand across key end markets, despite softer conditions in some parts of the construction sector.

What to watch next

Looking ahead, I will be watching how actively Maas executes the buyback, particularly if share price weakness persists.

Upcoming earnings updates will be important in assessing margins, cash generation, and capital discipline as the group balances growth and shareholder returns.

The post This ASX stock is edging lower today after a shareholder friendly move appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are some large winners that are well-known and grow profit virtually every year. But, small companies and cyclical businesses can also be exciting ideas if we buy them at the right time.

Experts from the funds management business Wilson Asset Management (WAM) have outlined two ASX shares in the WAM Capital Ltd (ASX: WAM) portfolio that could be exciting opportunities.

WAM could be well worth listening to because it has outperformed the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Accumulation Index (ASX: XAOA) over the past three years, five years, ten years, and since inception in August 1999. Before fees, expenses and taxes, the WAM Capital portfolio has returned an average of 15.3% per year since 1999.

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

WAM describes Maas Group as a diversified Australian construction materials, equipment and services provider with exposure across civil infrastructure, renewables, mining and real estate markets.

The fund manager pointed out that the Maas share price rose in December after the company announced a major project worth approximately $200 million for its electrical infrastructure subsidiary called JLE Group.

This project aims to supply, deliver and install modular electrical infrastructure for an artificial intelligence (AI) factory builder and operator with the delivery expected throughout the 2026 calendar year.

Excitingly, the project has enabled the ASX share to expand its addressable market into the fast-growing digital infrastructure market. WAM said that if the initial contract value awarded is extrapolated across the remaining pipeline, it "implies a substantial runway exists with JLE Group".

Tasmea Ltd (ASX: TEA)

The other ASX share that the fund manager highlighted from the WAM Capital portfolio was Tasmea, which operates a portfolio of trade-skilled services businesses, including electrical, mechanical, civil and water (and fluids) services.

In December, the company announced that it had completed the acquisition of WorkPac Group, a leading provider of workforce solutions in Australia.

WAM noted the deal adds to the ASX share's earnings in the high single digits, with a number of long-term benefits including revenue and cost synergies that will "support multi-year earnings growth".

Despite that positive, the Tasmea share price fell alongside the broader market – the ASX share declined 12%. WAM believes this drop was because of some concerns that this acquisition was "off strategy".

The fund manager thinks that the market is underestimating emerging pressures within the east coast labour market, with the WorkPac Group acquisition "positioning the company strongly to capitalise on an expected surge in activity associated with the Brisbane Olympics. WAM also said that the broader commodity price backdrop remains "supportive for demand" within its core verticals.

The post 2 ASX shares these experts rate as a buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are ending the week with a bang:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up 23% to $3.55. Investors have been buying this respiratory imaging technology company's shares after it entered into a commercial arrangement for the clinical use of CT:VQ with United States-based Cleveland Clinic. It is a CAT scan-based ventilation-perfusion software. 4DMedical's founder and CEO, Andreas Fouras, said: "In just over three months since FDA clearance, we've established CT:VQ at three of America's leading academic medical centres: Stanford, University of Miami, and Cleveland Clinic. This rapid adoption by elite institutions demonstrates the compelling clinical and operational advantages of CT:VQ over traditional nuclear VQ imaging."

Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP)

The Develop Global share price is up almost 6% to $4.43. This morning, the miner and mining services company revealed that it has been awarded a $200 million underground development contract. This will see the company establish access tunnels at OceanaGold's Waihi North Project in the North Island of New Zealand. Develop Managing Director Bill Beament said: "This contract reflects the strength and depth of our Mining Services division, which includes some of the most experienced underground mining specialists."

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is up 13% to $8.24. This has been driven by news that the defence and space company has won another contract. EOS has received a new $32 million order for its R400 Remote Weapon System (RWS) from a North American prime contractor supplying Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to an end-user in South America. The undisclosed customer is described as a large, investment-grade defence manufacturer. Management notes that the RWS is being supplied by EOS in a ground-to-ground configuration. The systems will be manufactured at its manufacturing facility in Canberra during 2026 and 2027.

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

The Maas Group share price is up 8% to $4.86. Investors have been buying its shares after it entered into an agreement with sovereign AI Factory builder and operator Firmus Technologies. This is for the delivery of turnkey modular electrical infrastructure for Firmus' first 100MW Launceston AI Factory cluster. The Australian construction materials, equipment and service provider advised that the agreement has an estimated total value of approximately $200 million.

The post Why 4DMedical, Develop Global, EOS, and Maas shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Small-cap stocks can offer investors greater growth prospects compared to established blue-chip options. 

With that in mind, here are two with "accumulate" ratings from Morgans. 

Wagners Holding Company Limited (ASX: WGN)

Wagners Holding Company Limited (ASX: WGN) is a diversified Australian construction materials and services provider and an innovative producer of New Generation Building Materials. 

The Wagners share price has increased by 120.57% in 2025. 

The team at Morgans has highlighted the opportunity for the business and construction materials demand across South East Queensland (SEQ). This is particularly relevant in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics. 

The level of underlying demand, along with the anticipated contribution from Olympics, has WGN well positioned for future project wins.

The team stated that, based on the additional market data and considering the current share price, there is cause for optimism in the lead-up to the 14-Nov AGM. 

On this basis, Morgans has upgraded this ASX small-cap stock to accumulate with a $3.10 price target.

Today, shares are trading at $3.11 each. 

MAAS Group Holdings Limited (ASX: MGH)

MAAS Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH) is an Australian construction materials, equipment, and services provider.

In a note from the broker yesterday, it stated that while FY26 guidance fell short of VA Consensus expectations, the outlook from management was positive. 

MGH noted margin pressure in the civil construction and hire segment, while the electrical and transmission business is ramping up and expected to play a larger role in future earnings. 

The group's project pipeline is strong, with no reported delays, and guidance reflects the project type and timing rather than weaknesses.

The broker has retained its price target of $5.45 with an accumulate rating.

Based on today's share price of $4.49, the price target from Morgans indicates an upside of 21.38% for this ASX small-cap stock. 

The post Morgans is optimistic on these two ASX small-cap stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Recently, I had a look at Wilson Advisory's Invest Now market snapshot, which picked out five of its highest conviction stock picks for investors. You can check that out here.

The Wilsons team said there were some warning signs in the market, such as domestic inflation showing signs of picking up speed and potentially tempering the outlook for further interest rate cuts.

But there are always pockets of value among stock exchange-listed companies, and along with their picks among the big end of town, the Wilsons team have also named four stocks which are worth a look in the small to mid-cap size range.

Investing ideas

So without further ado, these are the companies they're keen on.

Firstly, they have their eye on construction materials, equipment, and service provider Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH), which in August reported full-year revenue of $997.4 million, up 13%, and a net profit of $78.5 million, down 7%.

The Wilsons team is keen on Maas for its exposure to the building sector generally, as they explain:

This core business segment is led by a collection of quarries along the east coast and complemented by downstream capability in concrete and asphalt. Market conditions are attractive, including growing demand through infrastructure spend and residential housing activity, constrained supply on new quarry permitting and rational competitive behaviour.

They also suggest that growth through acquisition might be part of the Maas game plan.

They are also keen on prestige and luxury auto retailer Autosports Group Ltd (ASX: ASG), for "three broad reasons".

Firstly, the industry sector appears to be improving generally, and secondly, there is the potential for further industry consolidation.

Lastly, while the stock has re-rated, its valuation remains attractive, trading at a price to earnings discount to both automotive peers and other interest rate-sensitive consumer names.

Animal nutrition company Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) gets a tick as well, despite its shares trading close to their highs over the past 12 months.

We are attracted to Ridley's effective strategy of reinvesting in asset capacity to support volume growth in the bulk stockfeed business and the premiumisation journey for the packaged and ingredients segment. The recent acquisition of IPF Distribution offers opportunity for significant earnings improvement through cost reductions and network rationalisation, both of which management have successfully executed on within the existing Ridley business units.

And lastly, the Wilsons team also likes the look of Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN), which sells systems for sterilising medical devices and which has had recent wins in the US market.

On the speculative side of things, the Wilsons team suggests Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6) could be worth a look, but warns that it falls into the high-risk category for investors.

Clarity Pharmaceuticals is a developer of radiopharmaceutical products for the diagnosis, clinical assessment and treatment of cancer. Clarity has staked out a proprietary position around the use of 'theranostic' isotopes of copper. Combined with Clarity's proprietary 'SAR' chemistry platform, these isotopes offer longer half-lives and superior product characteristics compared to conventional isotopes used in radiopharma.

Happy investing!

The post Wilsons Advisory names four small-cap investment ideas and one speccy stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The broker has named a number of stocks it sees as good buys in the current market, pointing out that many of these companies are under-researched by brokers and operate in higher-growth sectors of the economy.

Compared to the ASX 100, the Small Ords index is far less concentrated and is less tilted towards growth-challenged sectors such as banks and iron ore. While just the banks and iron ore comprise about 38.5% of the ASX 100, these low growth sectors account for just around 1.5% of the Small Ords. While passive flows into banks (and other blue chips e.g. Wesfarmers) have supported the ASX 100's outperformance prior to this year, we believe this will unwind as valuations remain overstretched, particular considering their meagre growth outlooks.

As a result of being covered by fewer analysts, and traded by fewer investors, there was a higher degree of mispricing among smaller stocks, Wilsons says, and it also argues there are more merger and acquisition targets.

The broker also argues that small-cap stocks benefit disproportionately from rate cuts, as they are more exposed to cyclical sectors such as consumer and retail and carry more debt.

While small caps have outperformed since February as investors acknowledge the earnings boost provided by rate cuts, valuations have yet to overrun and still provide an attractive entry point.

Wilsons favours stock feed and fertiliser company Ridley Corporation Limited (ASX: RIC), saying it was reinvesting to support growth, and had made a highly accretive fertiliser acquisition.

RIC screens attractively at a forward price to earnings of 19x while offering three-year earnings per share compound annual growth rate of 15%. Management has been focusing on acquiring, expanding and de bottlenecking stock feed mills, adding incremental capacity. Increasing its scale also lowers the cost per tonne of feed, improving its unit economics and helping defend margins in a competitive market.

Wilsons also likes medical device infection solutions company Nanosonics Limited (ASX: NAN), saying the core TROPHON business is well-positioned and has an upcoming product launch.

Wilsons is predicting compound annual earnings per share growth of 21% for five years for Nanosonics.

With its recent FDA approval, CORIS, the first device cleared for automated cleaning of flexible endoscopes, is set to launch in FY26 and deliver material earnings upside.

Other companies favoured by Wilsons include Maas Group Holdings Limited (ASX: MGH), GemLife Communities Group (ASX: GLF), and Autosports Group Limited (ASX: ASG).

The post It's time to buy these ASX small-cap stocks Wilsons says appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With the August reporting season in the rearview mirror, dozens of companies have ex-dividend dates next week.

Here's a sample of the ASX shares going ex-dividend soon.

23 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week

How to make ex-div dates work for you

To receive an ASX company's next dividend, you must buy or already own the shares before the ex-dividend date.

If you're interested in buying a stock trading cum dividend, you have two options.

Buy it before the ex-dividend date, and earn a quick return with the upcoming dividend payment.

Alternatively, buy the stock on its ex-dividend date, when it will likely trade lower because the dividend entitlement is no longer attached.

We've seen examples of this recently, with CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares dropping 2.15% on their ex-dividend date.

TV network owner Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) plummeted 36% yesterday after going ex-dividend, too.

Sometimes there are exceptions, like we are seeing with WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares today.

The post 23 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Key themes across the sector include strong iron ore activity and renewables demand, with companies generally forecasting ongoing profit growth in the year ahead.

Macquarie also said balance sheets were in good shape, with a number of buybacks on foot, and Downer EDI Limited (ASX: DOW) announcing a new buyback.

Macquarie has upgraded Downer EDI to outperform from neutral and is predicting a total shareholder return of 14% over the next 12 months.

The analysts at Macquarie say there are a number of potential near-term catalysts for the stock, including defence estate renewals, with decisions on that expected by the end of this month, and power and transmission contract wins.

At MAAS Group Holdings (ASX: MGH), Macquarie says the outlook is improving, with growth expected in civil construction and hire, while there would also be tailwinds from residential land sales.

Macquarie is expecting 17% total shareholder returns from MAAS.

Meanwhile, Macquarie is expecting 15% returns from the $7.3 billion Worley Limited (ASX: WOR), where analysts said the growth guidance was "better than feared and (the) stock is screening well on a valuation basis, trading at double digit discount on price/earnings basis''.

Top pick in the sector

Macquarie's most bullish forecast was for a 26% total shareholder return over the next year from the $1.2 billion Service Stream Limited (ASX: SSM).

"Strategic M&A remains a focus, and outcome of Defence tender expected by end of September,'' Macquarie said.  

The post Macquarie predicts 17% and 26% upside for these ASX All Ords professional services stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In my mind, it's easier for a small business to double in size than it is for a large business to double in scale. There is only so much of an addressable market for companies to grow into. Eventually, they'll hit a market share growth ceiling.

The fund manager Wilson Asset Management (WAM) has picked out two compelling small ASX shares in the WAM Research Ltd (ASX: WAX) portfolio that could deliver good returns. Let's get into what the WAM investment team think of these two stocks.

Service Stream Ltd (ASX: SSM)

WAM describes Service Stream as a provider of essential network services to the telecommunications and utility sectors.

The investment team pointed out that the small ASX share delivered a strong FY25 half-year result, with revenue rising 7.9% year over year to $1.27 billion.

The fund manager noted that earnings growth was driven by "solid operational performance" across all divisions, with operating profit (EBITDA) up 16.4% and adjusted net profit after tax (NPAT) up nearly 50%.

WAM pointed out that the Service Stream share price performed well during April – it rose 6.9% compared to the 3.6% rise of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). This occurred amid broader market volatility because companies exposed to evolving tariff policies came under pressure.

The investment team then explained why they still like the business:

Service Stream's defensive earnings profile and long-term contracts reaffirms its position as a resilient, cash-generative operator.  

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

The other small ASX share Wilson Asset Management highlighted in the WAM Research portfolio was Maas Group, a diversified construction materials, equipment, and services provider with exposure to civil infrastructure, mining, and real estate markets.

WAM said that the company continues to execute its growth strategy strongly, with construction materials remaining its key engine for organic expansion and strategic mergers and acquisitions.

In late March, the Maas Group founder and CEO, Wes Maas, increased his personal stake in the business, which demonstrates his confidence in the company's outlook.

The Maas share price rose by 9.1% in April 2025, which WAM believes reflected renewed investor interest in companies exposed to the domestic economy, benefiting from lower interest rates.

The investment team explained:            

We remain constructive on Maas Group Holding's outlook, underpinned by continued portfolio optimisation, a disciplined approach to growth and strong execution.

The post 2 small ASX shares to buy that have big potential 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:

Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR)

The Imricor Medical Systems share price is up a further 8% to $1.19. Investors have been buying this medical device company's shares this week after it announced a licensing agreement with ADIS. It is a Switzerland based software company that has been working with Imricor to build artificial intelligence (AI) modules to integrate into Imricor's NorthStar 3D mapping system. Although it isn't approved for commercial sale yet, the company notes that regulatory processes are well progressed. As a result, it is busy making preparations for planned commercial launches across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East in 2025.

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

The Maas Group share price is up 9% to $5.00. This morning, the construction materials, equipment and service provider announced the successful completion of a placement. It has received commitments for approximately $140 million, which is upsized and increased from the initial $128 million. These funds are being raised at $4.65 per new share. CEO, Wes Maas, said: "The successful completion of the Placement, as well as the commitments from myself and a number of our directors and shareholders under the Conditional Placement, will allow us further runway to continue to execute on our growth and acquisition initiatives."

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is up 5% to 43.5 cents. This follows the release of an announcement from the gold miner this morning in relation to its Mali operations. Resolute Mining revealed that it has made the second settlement payment of approximately US$50 million to the Government of Mali. The remaining payment of approximately US$30 million is anticipated to be paid by the end of 2024 from existing liquidity sources. These payments are part of a framework for further detailed discussions regarding the long-term future of its operations in Mali.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price is up 3% to $3.77. Investors have been buying this almond producer's shares following the release of its full year results. Select Harvest reported EBITDA of $46 million and a net profit after tax of $1.5 million for FY 2024. This is a huge improvement on last year when it recorded an EBITDA loss of $117.1 million and a net loss of $114.7 million. Managing Director, David Surveyor, said: "Select Harvests recorded Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) of $1.5 million for FY2024. This profit is greater than a $116 million turnaround from FY2023 and shows that the business is returning to normal operations."

The post Why Imricor, Maas, Resolute Mining, and Select Harvests shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX All Ords index is up 2.03% since 1 July.

Let's take a look at some of the ASX shares that received broker upgrades this month.

These stocks now have the strongest possible consensus buy recommendation, according to CommSec.

7 ASX shares upgraded to strong buy ratings

Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

This ASX 200 energy share closed at $1.36 on Tuesday, down 2.17%.

Coronado shares have lost 18.9% in value over the past 12 months.

The ASX coal miner released its Q2 FY24 results this month. Run-of-mine (ROM) coal production rose by 23.8% compared to the previous quarter to 7.4 Mt, while saleable production lifted 21.5% to 4.1 Mt.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Coronado with a 12-month share price target of $1.85.

Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN)

This ASX 200 travel share closed at $6.18 apiece on Tuesday, up 1.64%.

Qantas shares have fallen 5.4% over the past 12 months.

There was no price-sensitive news from Qantas this month.

Goldman Sachs has a buy rating on Qantas with a 12-month share price target of $8.05.

Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW)

This ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) closed yesterday at $1.18 per share, up 0.43%.

The HealthCo Healthcare and Wellness REIT's share price has descended 17.8% over the past 12 months.

The ASX REIT had no price-sensitive news for the market this month.

The team at Bell Potter believes the recent share price weakness makes the HCW REIT a good buy.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and a $1.50 price target on HCW REIT shares.

Dusk Group Ltd (ASX: DSK)

This ASX consumer discretionary share closed at 84 cents on Tuesday, up 0.6%.

The Dusk share price is down 31.7% over the past 12 months.

We got a trading update from the specialty candles and home fragrances retailer this month.

Dusk said total sales for 2H FY24 were 5.8% lower than the prior corresponding period (pcp) compared to a fall of 9.7% in 1H FY24. The company expects total sales of $126.3 million for FY24, down 8.2% on FY23.

Management expects underlying EBIT of $6.2 million to $6.4 million (down from $16.5 million in FY23).

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

This ASX All Ords industrials share finished yesterday's session at $4.38, down 1.13%.

Maas Group shares have risen 63.4% over the past 12 months.

There was no price-sensitive news from the construction materials and services provider in July.

Tyro Payments Ltd (ASX: TYR)

This ASX All Ords financials share closed at 94 cents per share, down 0.53% on Tuesday.

Shares in the payments provider are down 32.9% over the past 12 months.

Tyro did not release any price-sensitive news this month. Morgans is bullish on Tyro, with a 12-month share price target of $1.47.

NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH)

The NRW share price closed at $3.29 on Tuesday, down 2.08%.

Shares in the diversified contract services provider increased 19.65% over the past 12 months.

NRW Holdings updated its full-year FY24 guidance this month.

The company expects to achieve its highest-ever earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) result in FY24.

The unaudited EBITDA is approximately $195 million, which is above the previous guidance of $175 million to $185 million.

The post 7 ASX shares elevated to 'strong buy' ratings in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you're looking for new stocks to add to your portfolio, Andrew Tang, an equities strategist at the brokerage firm Morgans, has you covered.

Tang has outlined his four best ideas for investors looking for new ASX All Ords shares this month.

Which 4 ASX All Ords shares should you buy in May?

These are brand-new picks for the broker and leverage two trends in the Australian economy.

As Tang explains:

Reviewing our coverage of residential developers, real estate credit providers and building materials businesses, the consistent theme is that Australia is on the cusp of a significant building boom, with record immigration levels and population growth exacerbating an already chronic housing undersupply issue.

The latest population data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the Australian population grew by 659,800 people, or 2.5%, over the 12 months to 30 September.

Net overseas migration, at 548,800 people, accounted for the bulk of this increase. Natural increase — that's births minus deaths — accounted for 111,000 new people.

The total population as of 30 September was 26,821,557.

That's a lot of people to house and feed, which leads us to Tang's four top ASX All Ords share picks for May.

Broker Morgans says buy now…

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

This company is an ASX All Ords small-cap share in the industrials market sector.

Tang says:

Although the residential division remains impacted by an uncertain interest rate environment, the investment thesis for MGH remains mostly unchanged, in that 'infrastructure spend in the regions drives job creation and residential housing demand'.

MGH's vertically integrated model allows the business to capture margin through the whole supply chain and control costs, where possible.

The Maas Group share price closed at $4.31, down 1.6% yesterday but up 10.5% year to date.

Qualitas Ltd (ASX: QAL)

This company is an ASX All Ords small-cap share in the real estate sector.

Tang says:

Industry fundamentals and operational excellence sees continued growth in 1H24, with FUM growth of 41% (yoy) and Fee Earning FUM increasing 25% (yoy), leaving ~$2.1bn of dry powder to underpin future earnings growth in a sector that is experiencing increased demand, all while banks continue to retreat from the space.

The Qualitas share price was trading 2.13% higher at $2.40 at yesterday's close and up 2.56% in the year to date.

Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP)

Fellow real estate sector stock Cedar Properties is also an ASX All Ords small-cap.

Tang explains his second ASX property stock pick:

CWP is a volume business and the demand for lots looks to be improving, with margins to invariably follow. CWP's exposure to lower priced stock in higher growth markets sees further potential to drive earnings.

On this basis, we see every reason for CWP to trade at NTA and potentially at a premium, were the housing cycle to gain steam through FY25/26.

The Cedar Woods share price closed yesterday at $4.60, down 1.71%, and is 7.8% lower in the year to date.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

A household name, Coles is an ASX All Ords large-cap share in the consumer staples sector.

Tang says:

In our view, the ongoing scrutiny on the supermarkets has affected short term sentiment in the sector, which we believe creates a good buying opportunity in COL.

While Liquor sales remain soft, we expect the core Supermarkets division (~92% of earnings) to continue to be supported by further improvement in product availability, reduction in total loss, greater in-home consumption due to cost-of-living pressures, and population growth.

The Coles share price was $16.28, down 0.18% at the close yesterday and up 1.11% in the year to date.

The post Looking for ASX All Ords shares to buy? Top broker reveals 4 best ideas this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.