We're helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

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

To receive the next dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates coming up 

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

This ASX healthcare share will pay an 85% franked dividend of $1.30 per share on 14 October.

The ex-dividend date is Monday, 21 September.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

This ASX coal share will pay a fully franked dividend of 30 cents per share on 15 October.

The ex-dividend date is 21 September.

Southern Cross Engineering Ltd (ASX: SXE)

This ASX industrials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 7.5 cents per share on 7 October.

The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, 22 September.

Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: LFS)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 5.5 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-dividend date is 22 September.

Fleetwood Ltd (ASX: FWD)

This ASX industrials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 9.5 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 22 September.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share on 16 October.

The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, 23 September.

IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)

This ASX industrials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 7.9 cents per share on 8 October.

The ex-dividend date is 23 September.

Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE)

This ASX utilities share will pay an unfranked dividend of 6.3 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 23 September.

Bisalloy Steel Group Ltd (ASX: BIS)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 13 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is Thursday, 24 September.

Salter Brothers Emerging Companies Ltd (ASX: SB2)

This ASX financial share will pay a 50% franked dividend of 2 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

Wiseway Group Ltd (ASX: WWG)

Wiseway Group shares will pay a 100% franked dividend of 0.006 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

PRL Global Ltd (ASX: PRG)

PRL Global shares will pay a 100% franked dividend of 3 cents per share on 23 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

Teaminvest Private Group Ltd (ASX: TIP)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 1.5 cents per share on 5 October.

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 25 September.

The post 13 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what you need to know before investing a single dollar of your super balance.

Franking credits and diversification

Whether you're investing from your savings account or tapping into your superannuation, if you're after passive income, I recommend sticking to the larger end of the market. So, generally, S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dividend stocks.

These tend to have less volatile share price moves and more stable dividend payments than small-cap ASX dividend shares.

I'd also preference ASX 200 shares paying fully franked dividends. This gives you credit for the 30% in taxes the companies you're buying have already forked over to the ATO on the profits they made.

Then there's the crucial 'don't put all your eggs in one basket' rule.

If you're investing a sizeable portion of your superannuation savings to target $60,000 of passive income in 2027, then you'll want to invest in a diverse range of say 15 to 20 stocks.

Ideally these will operate in various sectors and locations. This will reduce the risk of your passive income stream taking an outsized hit if any single company or sector runs into a rough patch.

And finally, keep in mind that the dividend yields you generally see quoted are trailing yields. Future yields may be higher or lower depending on a range of company specific and macroeconomic factors.

With that said…

How much superannuation do I need to invest for a $60,000 passive income?

Precisely how much superannuation you'll need to invest to achieve your 2027 $60,000 passive income goal will, of course, depend on the yield you achieve from the ASX shares you're buying.

Using the below three diverse ASX 200 dividend stocks as an example, here's what you might expect, without needing to draw down on your initial investment.

First up, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares.

Over the past full year, Westpac paid two fully franked dividends, totalling $1.54 a share. At the recent Westpac share price of $34.23, the ASX 200 bank stock trades on a fully franked 4.5% trailing dividend yield.

Next up, I'd look at investing some of my superannuation into ASX 200 coal stock New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC).

New Hope paid a 10 cent per share fully franked interim dividend on 20 April. The 30 cent per share final dividend is still up for grabs. To score that, you'll need to own New Hope shares at market close this Friday. You can then expect to get paid on October.

At the recent share price of $6.57, New Hope shares trade on a fully franked dividend yield (partly trailing, partly confirmed) of 6.1%.

And third, we have ASX 200 telco Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

Over the past year Telstra has paid out two 90% franked dividends totalling 21 cents per share. At the recent share price of $4.83, Telstra shares trade on a 4.4% trailing dividend yield.

If you were to invest the same amount of your superannuation into each of the above ASX 200 dividend stocks, you could expect to earn a yield of 5.0%.

To earn $60,000 of passive income in 2027 you'd then need to invest $1.2 million today.

The post How much of my superannuation do I need to invest to earn $60,000 of passive income in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 started in red territory this morning and only got worse over the session. By the time trading ended, the index had lost 0.88% of its value and had settled at 8,672.5 points.

This rather terrible Tuesday for Australian investors came after a similarly downbeat night on Wall Street overnight to kick off the American trading week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) did start strong, but ended up recording a 0.29% loss.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, dropping 0.56%.

But let's get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the various ASX sectors handled today's difficult trading conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite today's pessimism, we still saw a few sectors make hay.

But first, it was gold shares that copped the worst of it. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up crashing 3.08%.

Broader mining stocks had a rough one as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) cratering 2.21%.

Continuing with the commodities theme, energy shares also had a shocker. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) tanked 1.62% this session.

Financial stocks had a day to forget as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 1.08% plunge.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) fared a little better. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) still lost 0.59%, though.

Industrial shares were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sliding 0.43%.

Our last losers this Tuesday were utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) ended up slipping down 0.12%.

Let's turn to the green sectors now. Leading the winners were healthcare shares, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 1.5% surge.

Consumer staples stocks held their value, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) jumped 0.88% this session.

Its consumer discretionary counterpart was just behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) leaping 0.87%.

Communications stocks were spared as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) advanced 0.32%.

Finally, tech shares managed to stay on the right side of the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.29% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Healthcare stock 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) was our chart-topper this Tuesday. 4DMedical shares roared 8.72% higher this session to close at $3.74 each.

This came despite no fresh news or announcements from the company today.

Here's how the other top stocks landed their planes:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

After all, one is an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock, while the other is an ASX 200 coal stock.

One thing they do have in common is their strong outperformance today.

In morning trade on Tuesday, the ASX 200 is down 0.5%.

New Hope shares, on the other hand, are up 2.9%, changing hands for $6.46 each. And Zip shares are soaring 4.3%, trading for $2.19 apiece.

Zip shares look to be getting a boost today after the company announced that, in line with its 20 August announcement, Zip commenced the on-market share buyback of up to $50 million worth of its shares on Monday.

As for New Hope, the coal miner released its FY 2026 results this morning.

New Hope reported a full-year net profit after tax (NPAT) of $161 million. And management declared a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, up from last year's final passive income payout of 15 cents per share.

That's this week's price action.

Now, if you'd invested $10,000 in both ASX 200 stocks three years ago, here's what you'd have today.

(As for our benchmark, the ASX 200 has gained 19.5% since 15 September 2023.)

New Hope share gains driven by dividends

Three years ago, New Hope shares were trading for $6.22 apiece.

So, for $10,000, you could have bought 1,607 shares in the ASX 200 coal miner.

At today's $6.46, you could sell those same shares for $10,381.

While that's not much of a capital gain over three years, we haven't factored in the New Hope dividends yet.

We can't count the 30-cent-per-share final dividend declared today, as you'd need to own the stock at market close this Friday to be eligible for that passive income.

But if you'd owned the coal miner for the past three years, you would have received the past six fully-franked dividends totalling $1.13 a share.

If we add that back into today's share price, then the accumulated value of the New Hope shares you bought for $10,000 three years ago is now worth $7.59 each.

And those 1,607 shares are worth an accumulated $12,197.

Zip shares strong rebound from post-pandemic beating

Unlike New Hope shares, Zip shares were beaten down badly by 15 September 2023, trading for just 32 cents each.

For $10,000, then, you could have picked up 31,250 shares in the ASX 200 BNPL stock.

Now, Zip doesn't pay any dividends.

But at today's $2.19 share price, those 31,250 shares are worth a cool $68,438.

How about in 2026?

It's a vastly different story in 2026.

Year to date, Zip shares remain down 34% while New Hope shares have surged 61% and paid an interim dividend.

The post $10,000 invested in Zip and New Hope shares 3 years ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the New Hope share price is up 2.55% to $6.44, just below its 52-week high of $6.49.

It's been a strong run for the stock, and today's gain has taken it even closer to a new high.

And while profit fell from last year, there were still a few things investors seemed to like.

So, what stood out?

Production keeps climbing

One of the better parts of the update was the continued lift in coal production.

New Hope produced 11.5 million tonnes of saleable coal during FY26, up 7.6% from a year earlier.

Coal sales rose even faster, climbing 11.8% to 11.8 million tonnes.

Bengalla produced 8.2 million tonnes on New Hope's 80% interest basis, while New Acland lifted production 17.3% to 3.3 million tonnes.

But the higher volumes weren't enough to make up for weaker coal prices.

New Hope's average realised coal price fell 10% to $145.20 per tonne, while group FOB cash costs increased 7.9% to $88.90 per tonne.

That hit earnings pretty hard, with underlying EBITDA falling 32.8% to $514.3 million.

Net profit after tax (NPAT) came in at $161 million, down 63.4% from the previous year.

Cash is still coming in

Even with profit down, New Hope still brought in plenty of cash.

Operating cash flow came in at $564.1 million, while the company finished July with $778.5 million in available cash.

And shareholders are seeing some of that cash come back their way.

New Hope declared a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, taking total dividends for FY26 to 40 cents per share.

That's up from 34 cents per share in FY25, despite the big drop in profit.

The company also has an on-market share buyback of up to $100 million in place.

What happens next?

New Hope still has more production to bring on.

New Acland is working towards around 5 million tonnes of saleable coal a year, while Maxwell should contribute more as production ramps up.

Over the longer term, New Hope is aiming for group saleable coal production of around 15 million tonnes.

Of course, coal prices will have a big say in how earnings look.

If coal prices hold up, having more tonnes to sell should help earnings as that extra production comes through.

And with plenty of cash in the bank, New Hope can keep spending on growth while still paying shareholders along the way.

The post New Hope shares near 52-week high. Here's what stood out in the result appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did New Hope report?

• Total coal resources grew to 2.96 billion tonnes as at 31 May 2026, up from 2.55 billion tonnes in 2025
• Bengalla Mine resources increased by 262 million tonnes, including a jump in underground resources from 76Mt to 100Mt
• New Acland Mine resources rose by 151 million tonnes, supported by new drilling and updated geological models
• Total recoverable reserves increased to 844 million tonnes (2025: 818Mt)
• Marketable reserves climbed to 516 million tonnes, compared with 507Mt the previous year

What else do investors need to know?

Recent exploration at Bengalla extended into new Exploration Licences, uncovering additional open cut and underground coal resources. At New Acland, drilling over the past two years within approved pit boundaries enabled a revised, JORC-compliant resource update.

Further mine planning and economic analysis are needed before new Bengalla resources can be converted to reserves. A concept-level study is complete, and pre-feasibility works are ongoing to support Bengalla's operational life beyond current approvals. Meanwhile, resource and reserve estimates for other New Hope assets were unchanged from last year, as no new exploration was conducted outside the two main operating mines.

What's next for New Hope?

The company will continue pre-feasibility studies at Bengalla to assess options for extending mining into prospective exploration areas. At New Acland, ongoing data collection and drilling may inform future approvals and potential extensions to the mine's life.

Management says further resource upgrades could occur with additional exploration and technical work, though future reserve conversions will depend on regulatory approvals and detailed mine planning.

New Hope share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, New Hope shares have risen 44%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post New Hope reveals major 2026 coal resource increases appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dropped 2.94% and closed at a 10-week low of 8,741.2 points.

Nine of the 11 market sectors fell into the red.

Let's review.

Brent crude oil price jumps 12%

Brent crude, the international benchmark oil price, jumped 12% last week to above US$108 per barrel on Friday.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil also leapt 12% to above US$103 per barrel.

US heating oil rose 12% and gasoline increased 5%.

The UK gas price jumped 15%, German gas rose 14%, and European gas increased 13%.

This occurred as the Iran-backed Houthis sought to take control of Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export route.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and gas is shipped, has been effectively shut down since March.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter and a US ally, has been exporting via the Red Sea and Strait of Bab el-Mandeb instead.

The Red Sea and the strait run alongside Yemen, where the Houthis are based.

The rebels seized a Yemeni port city called Mocha, and are now advancing toward other cities closer to Bab el-Mandeb.

While all this was happening, Iran and the US continued to exchange fire with no hope of a peace deal in sight.

The US-Iran conflict has helped push up inflation in Australia, the US, and other nations.

Last week's oil price spike raised the chances of an interest rate rise in Australia and the US this month.

Traders rate the likelihood of a rate rise in both countries in September at 70%.

The US stock market also slumped last week, and American bond yields hit multi-year highs.

Australia's 3-year government bond yield rose above 5% on Friday, the highest level in 15 years.

These were among the factors contributing to the ASX 200's slump last week.

Energy shares led amid broader market downturn

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price gained 3.24% to close at $32.86 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price ascended 4.63% to $8.59.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares edged 1.38% higher to $41.21.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price jumped 4.83% to $3.04.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares ripped 5.17% to close the week at $1.83.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares rose 2.33% to 88 cents apiece.

The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price increased 2.5% to $8.60.

Whitehaven shares were one of 9 ASX stocks upgraded by experts last week.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price gained 3.77% to $6.33.

Uranium miner Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) tumbled 12.14% to $10.28 per share.

The Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) share price fell 3% to $1.46.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

Next week 33 ASX shares are set to trade ex-dividend.

The post Energy shares rose while the ASX 200 slumped last week. Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After ending last week on a somewhat sour note, investors came back from the weekend with a bit of a spring in their steps this morning. That enthusiasm faded somewhat over the day, but the ASX 200 still managed to close 0.056% higher. That leaves the index at 9,010.9 points.

This lukewarm start to the Australian trading week followed a far more downbeat end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a tough session, dropping 0.51%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared a little better, but still fell 0.29%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets now for an examination of how the various ASX sectors performed this Monday.

Winners and losers

We had plenty of winners and losers today.

Leading the latter were tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had an awful time of it today, plunging 2.6%.

Gold stocks were also out of favour, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanking 1.24%.

Utilities shares weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) sank 0.99% this Monday.

Healthcare stocks weren't riding to the rescue either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.81% dive.

Communications shares found themselves on the losing team as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) was clipped by 0.76%.

We could say something similar for consumer staples stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) drifting down 0.6%.

Its consumer discretionary counterpart was in a similar boat. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) lost 0.46% this session.

Our last red sector was real estate investment trusts (REITs), as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.06% slip.

Turning to the green sectors now, it was energy stocks that shone the brightest. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) surged 1.78% higher this Monday.

Mining shares were in demand too. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) enjoyed a 0.42% lift today.

Industrial stocks also fared well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) adding 0.2% to its total.

Finally, financial shares managed to close the day with a rise, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.15% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Property stock Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) was our top stock this Monday. Ingenia shares rocketed 14.79% higher today and closed at $4.19 each. This sharp surge was sparked by a takeover offer from a private equity firm.

Here's the rest of today's best:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

Inflation concerns, fears about more interest rate increases, and rising oil prices are spooking investors this week.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC), Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ), and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) are just some of the many companies under pressure today.

Let's take a look at how their shares are tracking and what brokers tip next.

Hold New Hope shares

New Hope shares have fallen around 1.5% and are trading at $6.02 per share at the time of writing. After a rocky start to 2026, the thermal-coal miner's shares are now up around 49% for the year to date.

New Hope's operational picture has strengthened over the past couple of quarters, and its latest quarterly update in mid-August shows an increase in saleable coal production, higher coal sales, and an improved underlying EBITDA. 

The company also expects its Bengalla mine to return to its targeted production rate, and a ramp-up of production at its New Acland mine.

Brokers are mostly optimistic about the outlook for New Hope. But after the latest price rally, some are concerned that the shares are now fully priced. Market Index data shows the majority have a hold rating on the ASX shares. The $5.67 target price implies around a 6% downside, at the time of writing.

Hold BOQ shares

BOQ shares were caught up in an ASX bank stock sell-off throughout August. Investors have become spooked about how banks will cope with falling mortgage demand, a weaker housing market, higher inflation, and renewed concerns about interest rate hikes.

The intermediate bank's shares have had a volatile run this year. They've fluctuated anywhere between a high of $7.43 and a low of $5.91. 

At the time of writing, BOQ shares are down slightly, around 0.1%, and trading at $6.56 a piece. The shares are now around 1% lower year to date.

In early August, BOQ announced a $295 million capital return to shareholders and a fully-franked special dividend of 15 cents per share.

The bank also reported a $47 million pre-tax ($33 million post-tax) impairment charge. This was related to technology and other asset reviews and will be recognised as a notable item in its FY26 results. BOQ is expected to post its full-year FY26 results in mid-October.

Investors weren't thrilled with the update, and its shares tumbled around 6% shortly following the results announcement.

And it looks like the shares are still trading above fair value. According to Market Index, the majority of brokers have a hold rating on the shares. But the $6.06 average target price still implies a potential downside of around 8%, at the time of writing.

Buy Santos shares

Santos shares have trended higher so far in 2026, as recurring tensions between the US and Iran continue to fuel concerns over global oil supplies and support energy prices. 

Then, in mid-August, the shares spiked to a four-year high of $8.45 per share after the company posted its FY26 results.

Santos reported a 2% year-on-year increase in sales revenue to US$2.62 billion. Production volumes were also higher, up 1.7% to 48 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe).

But the oil and gas giant also posted a 19% decline in its half-year statutory net profit after tax (NPAT), which fell to US$355 million. 

At the time of writing, Santos shares are down around 0.3% and changing hands at $8.26 per share. The share may have softened slightly today, but over the past month, Santos shares are up around 8%, and they're 34% higher year to date.

And going forward it looks like they could climb even higher. Market Index shows that all brokers have a strong buy rating on the shares. And the $8.57 average target price implies a potential 4% upside, at the time of writing.

The post Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, BOQ, Santos shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's see what the broker is saying about these ASX shares this morning:

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Bell Potter has downgraded this drinks giant's shares to a hold rating with a reduced price target of $3.60 following the release of its FY 2026 results.

While the broker is feeling reasonably upbeat about the BWS and Dan Murphy's owner, it feels that any potential upgrades are already priced in. It said:

We see consensus revision risk as skewed to the upside, with Retail yet to fully benefit from improved consumer price perception following the shelf price resets. However, the current value-to-growth arithmetic suggests these potential upgrades are already priced in, with EDV sitting at the more expensive end of ASX 100 valuations. 

We note that VA consensus has yet to reflect an uplift in Hotels EBIT despite the company's accelerated investment in Hotel renewals, presenting further upside to earnings in FY29 onwards, although this is likely offset by rent reviews which will impact FY29-30.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

Bell Potter remains positive on this retail giant following the release of its FY 2026 results.

Although the broker suspects that trading conditions could remain challenging in the near term, the broker believes this will be a cyclical low. As a result, it has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $81.00. Bell Potter said:

While we anticipate challenging trading conditions over the next ~9 months for the overall Consumer Discretionary sector with our views of FY27 as the cyclical low point for most retailers, we see the ability of JBH to relatively outperform the peer group from 2H27e onwards.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

The broker has retained its hold rating and $5.00 price target on this coal miner's shares following its results release.

While pleased with its performance in FY 2026 and positive on its outlook, Bell Potter appears to believe its shares are fully valued now. It explains: 

We retain a Hold recommendation and apply a 10% premium to our sum of the parts valuation with energy security concerns exacerbated by geopolitical issues. NHC's low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. 

Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour, JB Hi-Fi, and New Hope shares  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This rather indecisive session for the Australian markets came after an even nastier end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had another tough session, dropping 0.77%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling a horrid 1.4%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets, and take a closer look at what was happening across the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

Tech shares were the sector that was singled out for punishment this Monday. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was slammed, tumbling 1.54%.

Utilities stocks fared better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) still tanked by 0.63%.

Healthcare shares were in a similar boat. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) saw its value dive 0.49% today.

Mining stocks weren't popular either, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 0.34% dip.

Gold stocks were also no safe haven. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up sinking 0.23%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) followed right behind gold, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) dipping 0.17%.

Our last losers this Monday were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slipped 0.07% by the closing bell.

Let's turn to the winning sectors now. Leading the charge were energy stocks, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 1.8% surge.

Consumer staples stocks also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) roared 0.43% higher this session.

Communications shares saw high demand too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifting 0.39%.

Industrial stocks came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) advanced 0.16% today.

Finally, consumer discretionary shares got themselves over the line, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.11% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's winner was healthcare share 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX). 4DMedical shares soared 7.19% higher this session to close at $3.43 each. This may have been a reaction to last week's announcement.

Here's the rest of today's best: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

After opening sharply lower at the start of morning trading, the ASX 200 did recover a little over the day. But it wasn't nearly enough to save investors from a loss. By the time trading finished, the index had lost 0.26% and closed at 8,762.5 points.

This depressing Thursday for the local markets came after a mixed night over on the US markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't in a good place, dropping 1.09%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared far better, rising 0.2%.

Let's get back to the local markets now and check out how today's tough trading conditions have percolated down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's bad mood this Thursday, there were plenty of sectors that were spared from a sell-down.

But first, it was mining stocks that got slammed the hardest today. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) ended up crashing 1.48% lower.

Gold shares had another rough one too, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tumbling 1.24%.

We can say the same for real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sank 1.1% by the closing bell.

Financial stocks were a little better, though, as illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.15% slip.

Turning to the green sectors now, energy shares had a blowout. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) ended up surging 1.67% higher.

Utilities stocks also ran hot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) soaring 1.28%.

Consumer staples shares were solid. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) galloped 0.97% higher this session.

Tech stocks were in demand too, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.92% bounce.

Communications shares fared decently. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) added 0.89% to its total today.

As did consumer discretionary stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) advancing 0.58%.

Healthcare shares stayed afloat. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifted 0.13% this Thursday.

Finally, industrial stocks got over the line, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.12% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top stock was building supplies company Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU). Fletcher shares rocketed 7.55% this session to $2.99 each.

This followed the stock releasing some updated earnings guidance, which investors clearly appreciated.

Here's how the other winners pulled up at the kerb: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

That return was comprised of 2.77% capital growth and a 4.23% average dividend yield.

That's an improvement on last year's payout.

In FY25, dividends made up 3.84% of the total 13.81% return.

That was well below the long-term average of about 4.5%.

This last financial year, the market moved closer to the norm.

What pushed dividend yields higher last year?

The increase partly reflects higher earnings among resources companies due to rising commodity prices.

This contributed to an outstanding performance in the ASX 200 materials sector, which lead the 11 market sectors last year.

Materials stocks soared 47.48% and paid a healthy above-average dividend yield of 4.63%.

The energy sector paid an even higher dividend yield at 5.14% in FY26.

But neither paid the best dividend yield of the 11 market sectors.

That title belongs to a much more defensive segment.

Experts say capital gains tax (CGT) changes may prompt investors to seek better yield.

If that rings true for you, the following list will give you a general guide as to which sectors pay best.

Let's take a look at the dividend yields of each of the 11 market sectors in FY26.

Which ASX sectors delivered the best dividend yields?

The sectors are listed in order of highest dividend yield for FY26.

Utilities

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 11.87%.

Dividends made up 5.98% of that total return.

Energy infrastructure company APA Group (ASX: APA) was the sector's best performer for growth.

APA Group shares rose 24%, and are currently trading on a trailing dividend yield of 5.84%.

Energy

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was 14.51%.

Dividends represented 5.14% of that return.

ASX 200 coal  producer New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) had the strongest share price growth at 44%.

New Hope Corporation shares have a trailing dividend yield of 4.78%.

Materials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was 52.11% in FY26. 

Dividends made up 4.63% of that return.

The best performer was gold explorer, Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6), which rocketed 508% in FY26.

Minerals 260 does not pay dividends.

The largest company in the materials sector is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which has a trailing yield of 3.47%.

Consumer Staples

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 13.72%. 

Dividends represented 3.63% of that return.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) was the top-performing consumer staples share, rising 29%.

Woolworths shares have a trailing yield of 2.24%.

Financials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was 1.69%. 

The index lost 1.89% of its market cap last year, but dividends of 3.58% brought the sector into the green.

New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company, Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) was the fastest riser, lifting 29%.

Infratil shares have a trailing dividend yield of 1.22%.

Industrials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was 5.24%.

Dividends made up 3.55% of that return.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares were the fastest risers, rocketing 261%.

Electro Optic Systems does not pay dividends.

The biggest company in the sector is Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), which has a trailing yield of 4.68%.

Real estate & REITs

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was a negative 2.24%.

The index dropped 5.32% in FY26, but an average dividend yield of 3.08% mitigated the capital loss.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) outperformed with capital growth of 19%.

The ASX 200 real estate investment trust (REIT) has a trailing dividend yield of 2.3%.

Communications

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was a negative 9.41%.

The sector lost 12.4% of its value, but an average dividend yield of 2.99% partially offset the loss.

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) shares rose the most, lifting 26%.

Aussie Broadband has a trailing dividend yield of 1.03%.

Consumer discretionary

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) produced a negative total return of 1.21%.

The index fell 3.56%, but an average dividend yield of 2.35% reduced the impact.

The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price experienced the most growth, rising 22%.

Eagers Automotive shares have a trailing dividend yield of 3.43%.

Healthcare

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was a negative 36.15%.

The healthcare index fell 37.4%, and an average dividend yield of 1.25% did little to buoy investors' spirits.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) was the outperformer, with its share price skyrocketing 1,786%.

4DMedical does not pay dividends.

The largest company in the sector is CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), which has a trailing dividend yield of 3.38%.

The healthcare sector is experiencing an extraordinary bounce back, with value investors returning just last month.

Since the pivot point on 3 June, the healthcare index has soared 23%.

Technology

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was a negative 36.97%.

The index lost 37.22% of its value, and a tiny average dividend yield of 0.25% was barely noticeable to investors.

The Aussie tech sector is comprised predominately of younger growth companies, and not many pay dividends yet.

ASX 200 tech shares tanked in FY26, with only four shares experiencing capital growth.

The stand-out was Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares, which rocketed 119%.

Codan shares have a trailing dividend yield of 0.8%.

Technology is also on the rebound after bottoming out on 30 March.

The post Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The benchmark index hit a record 9,202.9 points on 26 February before finishing the year at 8,778.7 points on 30 June.

There are 11 market sectors within the ASX 200.

In this article, we name the top-performing shares by capital growth in each market sector. 

No. 1 shares of the ASX 200 market sectors 

These were the No.1 shares of each market sector based on 12-month share price growth (excluding dividends).

We have listed the sectors from strongest to weakest.

Six of the 11 sectors declined in value last year. 

Materials

The ASX 200 materials sector was the best performer by far. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 47.48% and produced total returns of 52.11% in FY26. 

Australia is in the midst of a new mining boom with five key factors driving a new commodities supercycle.

The green energy transition, artificial intelligence (AI) build-out, and central banks diversifying their reserves with gold drove strong commodity price rises in FY26.

The best performing share within the ASX 200 materials sector was gold explorer, Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6).

The Minerals 260 share price ripped 508% to finish at 73 cents per share on 30 June. 

Consumer Staples

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) rose 10.09% and delivered total returns of 13.72%. 

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) was the top-performing consumer staples share of the year.

The Woolworths share price rose 28.67% to $40.03 in FY26.

Energy

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rose 9.37% and delivered total gross returns of 14.51%.

ASX 200 coal  producer New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) recorded the strongest share price growth.

New Hope Corporation shares increased 44.32% to finish the year at $5.34 per share.

Utilities

The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) rose 5.89% and delivered a total return of 11.87%.

Energy infrastructure company APA Group (ASX: APA) was the best performer of the utilities sector. 

The APA Group share price ascended 24.11% to finish FY26 at $10.14.  

Industrials

The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) edged 1.69% higher and produced total returns of 5.24%.

ASX 200 defence share Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) recorded the highest capital growth.

The Electro Optic Systems share price soared 261% to finish the year at $10.30. 

Financials

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) fell 1.89% in value, but dividends lifted the total return into the green at 1.69%. 

New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company, Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) was the best performer of the financials sector.

The Infratil share price lifted 28.8% to finish the year at $12.61.

Consumer discretionary

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) fell 3.56% and produced a total negative return of 1.21%.

The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price experienced the most growth in the consumer discretionary sector. 

The Eagers Automotive share price rose 21.83% to finish the year at $21.26. 

Real estate & REITs

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) dropped 5.32% and delivered a total negative return of 2.24%.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) outshone its property sector peers.

The ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) rose 19.12% to $22.66 on 30 June. 

Communications

The S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) tanked 12.4% and delivered a negative total return of 9.41%.

Telco stock Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) rose the most in FY26. 

The Aussie Broadband share price ripped 26.09% to $4.93 on 30 June.

Technology

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) dove 37.22%, with a total negative return of 36.97% in FY26. 

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares outperformed in the technology sector last year.

The Codan share price screamed 119.49% higher to $44.14 on 30 June.

Healthcare

Healthcare was the worst-performing sector of FY26.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) tumbled 37.4% and delivered a negative total return of 36.15%.

The 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) share price was absolutely unstoppable in FY26. 

Shares in 4DMedical skyrocketed 1,786% to $4.53 on 30 June. 

The respiratory imaging tech company was not only the shining star of the healthcare sector.

It was also the No. 1 stock for capital growth overall in FY26.

The post Top ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Amongst those shares, notable names included: 

• Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) rose 4%
• Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ) hit a multi-year high
• New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) climbed 2%. 

There were various catalysts for the continued success of these ASX shares. Here's what investors were reacting to and what experts are saying moving forward. 

Ampol hits new 52-week high thanks to billion dollar deal 

It's been a great week for Ampol shareholders this week, as Australia's largest listed petroleum refiner and distributor has risen roughly 8% in the last two days. 

Investors have been gobbling up the company's shares after it announced that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has approved Ampol's acquisition of fuel and convenience retailer EG Australia.

The company said the approval is conditional on Ampol's divestment of 41 sites. 

Ampol said it has entered into a binding agreement to sell the 41 sites to Metro Petroleum.

Citing its strong balance sheet, Ampol said it will cash settle the scrip component of the purchase price. The seller of EG Australia will receive a net cash consideration of approximately $1.115 billion.

Its share price is now up 42% over the last 12 months. 

Much of this has come on the back of conflict in the Middle East and concerns about global oil supply earlier this year.

However it now appears the ASX stock is approaching full valuation. 

9 analyst forecasts via TradingView have a one year average price target of $37.89, which is just 4% higher than current levels. 

Aurizon hits multi-year high

Aurizon is Australia's largest rail freight operator hauling bulk commodities, largely coal, as well as iron ore and agricultural products.

Its share price climbed another 1% yesterday, taking it to new multi-year highs. 

Aurizon shares have now climbed over 20% year to date.

This has largely come on the back of positive earnings results and a subsequent dividend boost. 

Despite this, experts are largely looking at the company as a hold after hitting fresh 52-week highs. 

The average price target sits roughly 9% below current levels. 

New hope keeps rising

New Hope is an Australian thermal coal miner.

Like many ASX energy shares, it has enjoyed big returns in 2026. 

For the to date, its share price has climbed an impressive 52%. 

Yesterday, it hit fresh 52-week highs of $6.17 per share. 

However, it also appears to have climbed past fair value. 

Bell Potter recently placed a hold rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

This indicates a downside of 19%. 

The post Can these ASX shares hitting 52-week highs keep rising? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Well, let's see if analysts believe the popular ASX shares in this article are worthy of your hard-earned money.

Here's what they are saying about them:

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Morgans was relatively pleased with Goodman's third-quarter update.

It appears to believe the update demonstrates the company's strong position in the rapidly growing data centre (DC) market. The broker said:

GMG's 3Q26 update reinforced a deliberate strategy: deploy balance-sheet capital ahead of customer commitments to win the race for power-enabled metro data centre (DC) capacity. WIP is set to step from $14.5bn at Mar-26 to a record c.$18bn by Jun-26 (Consensus $17.7bn), with the power bank lifted to 6.4GW.

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.

Morgans has put a buy rating and $36.00 price target on Goodman's shares.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Ord Minnett has responded positively to news that this network-as-a-service company's Latitude business has won three major contracts. It said:

Ord Minnett's forecasts for revenue, operating earnings (EBITDA) and EPS for FY26 are unchanged, although capital expenditure assumptions have increased to reflect infrastructure required for the new contracts. Our EBITDA forecasts for FY27 and FY28, however, have been raised by 29% and 34%, respectively, while our EPS estimates have increased by 29% and 55% for FY27 and FY28, respectively. In turn, this has driven an increase in our Megaport target price to $14.50 from $12.00. ‍

Megaport has indicated a two‑year EBITDA payback on capital expenditure of US$101 million for the new contracts, implying EBITDA of circa US$50 million per annum, or an EBITDA margin of 75% at maturity.

Ord Minnett has an accumulate rating and $14.50 price target on Megaport's shares.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

This coal miner delivered a strong quarterly update this month, with production and sales comfortably ahead of expectations.

However, it wasn't quite enough for Bell Potter to give New Hope shares an upgrade. It said:

We retain a Hold recommendation and apply a 10% premium to our sum of the parts valuation with energy security concerns exacerbated by recent geopolitical issues. NHC's low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation.

Bell Potter has a hold rating and $5.00 price target on its shares.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Goodman, Megaport, and New Hope shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Instead, it has become one of the best performing commodities of 2026, and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shareholders have been among the biggest beneficiaries.

The company's third-quarter FY 2026 update, released this week, tells investors a great deal not just about New Hope itself but about the state of the broader coal market right now.

What the quarterly update showed

New Hope reported a 5% quarter-on-quarter increase in group run-of-mine coal production to 4.3 million tonnes for the April quarter.

Group coal sales rose 10.4% to 3.2 million tonnes, while the average realised sales price improved 1.2% to $140.7 per tonne.

Together, those improvements lifted underlying EBITDA 21.7% to $130.1 million compared to the prior quarter.

At its key operating asset, Bengalla Mine in the Hunter Valley, saleable coal production rose 13.5% to 2.1 million tonnes and Free On Board (FOB) cash cost fell 12.4% to $74 per tonne, tracking well below the company's FY 2026 guidance range of $81 to $89 per tonne.

That cost performance gives New Hope some protection against any near-term softening in coal prices.

What this tells us about the coal market

The quarterly update is also a useful window into the broader thermal coal market, and the picture it paints is more constructive than many investors might expect.

The Newcastle thermal coal benchmark averaged US$127.6 per tonne during the April quarter, up 16.5% on the prior quarter, driven by a combination of factors.

Middle East tensions have pushed natural gas prices higher, causing power stations across Asia to switch back to cheaper coal as a substitute fuel.

Moreover, cold weather across North Asia simultaneously lifted heating demand, while Japan and South Korea continued to prioritise grid stability through reliable coal-fired baseload generation.

Meanwhile, a longer-term supply squeeze is developing in the background.

Years of reduced investment in new coal mine development, driven by ESG pressures on banks and institutional investors, also has led to global supply gradually tightening as demand falls more slowly than anticipated.

That mismatch benefits low-cost producers like New Hope, who is now selling into a progressively tighter market.

The balance sheet and shareholder returns

Beyond the operational numbers, New Hope also took meaningful balance sheet action during the quarter.

The company successfully issued $300 million in new convertible notes due 2032 while repurchasing $293.3 million of notes due 2029, extending its debt maturity profile and reducing near-term refinancing risk.

The cash balance at quarter end stood at $571 million.

Shareholders also received a fully-franked interim dividend of 10 cents per share during the quarter, totalling $84.3 million.

Foolish Takeaway

New Hope's quarterly update confirms that the coal price recovery is real.

For investors comfortable with the ESG considerations that come with owning a thermal coal stock, New Hope offers a cash-generative, low-cost producer with a strong balance sheet and a track record of returning capital to shareholders.

For those who are not, the update at least provides a useful read on what is driving energy markets in 2026.

The post Here is what this ASX stock's quarterly update tells investors about the coal market in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Interestingly, the brokers don't agree on whether the company is fully valued at the moment, with Macquarie breaking ranks with an outperform rating on the shares.

We'll have a closer look at some of the broker share price targets for New Hope shortly.

First, let's have a look at what they announced this week.

Robust production numbers

The company said in its quarterly report that its coal production was "strong", coming in at 4.3 million tonnes for the quarter, up 5% on the previous quarter.

Coal sales were 10.4% higher at 3.2 million tonnes, while the average realised price inched up from $139 per tonne to $140.70 per tonne.

New Hope said the underlying EBITDA for the quarter was $130.1 million, up 21.7% on the previous quarter, and the company had cash of $571.6 million.

The company said the conflict in the Middle East had been supportive of higher coal prices.

It said:

During the quarter, geopolitical conflict in the Middle East caused disruption and uncertainty to global energy markets. Global coal markets observed favourable price movements during the quarter, driven by concerns surrounding Middle Eastern LNG availability and shifting gas-to-coal for power generation. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (JKT) increased coal imports, prioritising energy security amidst LNG supply disruption. Japan and South Korea have eased restrictions on older coal plants and postponed planned retirements. The Company anticipates increased demand in the coming quarter, as the Northern Hemisphere moves out of the shoulder season and into Summer. Looking ahead, the Group's forward sales book remains well supported with the majority of production for the next three months sold.

Broker dissent

In terms of the brokers that follow the company, both Bell Potter and Morgans have a hold recommendation on New Hope shares.

Bell Potter said they had increased their price target for the company from $4.50 to $5, after they applied "a 10% premium to our sum of the parts valuation with energy security concerns exacerbated by recent geopolitical issues''.

Their price target is still below the current share price of $5.44, however.

Morgans has a price target of $5.25 on the shares, up from $5 previously, saying New Hope "continues to be well-positioned to deliver low-cost, high-margin cash flow from its operations''.

They added:

We believe coal prices can rebound meaningfully above consensus over time, and NHC is positioned to capitalise, driving stronger cash flow and shareholder returns.

Macquarie, however, is an outlier with a bullish price target of $7 on New Hope shares.

Macquarie said:

Improving (stabilising) performance at Bengalla (hitting target run rates) and ongoing ramp-up at New Acland positions New Hope well in what could become a tighter market for thermal coal as global energy disruptions continue from the Middle East conflict.

The post Analysts are split over whether New Hope shares are a buy or a hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

New Hope shares climbed a further 3% yesterday, and are now up 50% over the last 12 months. 

New Hope is an Australian thermal coal miner. It has two operating mines: the 100%-owned New Acland coal mine in the Darling Downs, Queensland and its 80%-owned Bengalla coal mine in New South Wales.

Another great week 

On Monday, this ASX energy stock released a quarterly report.

It reported: 

• Group ROM coal production: 4.26Mt, up 5.0% on the previous quarter
• Saleable coal production: 3.01Mt, up 8.7% quarter-on-quarter
• Total coal sales: 3.20Mt, a 10.4% quarterly lift
• Average realised sales price: $140.7/t, up 1.2% from prior quarter
• Underlying EBITDA: $130.1 million, up 21.7% from the previous quarter
• Available cash: $571.6 million at quarter end. 

Investors have been reacting positively to these results. This ASX energy stock is up 6% across two days of trading this week. 

Bell Potter weighs in 

Following these results, the team at Bell Potter issued an updated report on this ASX energy stock. 

The broker noted FY26 revised guidance was reiterated and group production and sales are tracking towards the upper end of the ranges provided. 

Coal production was 3.0 million tonnes, above Bell Potter's forecast of 2.7 million tonnes.

The broker also said New Hope strengthened its balance sheet through a $300 million refinancing, while noting that any diesel cost increases from Middle East tensions could potentially be offset by stronger coal prices and demand.

NHC's diesel providers have reassured supply in the short term. Around 20% of NHC's overall cost base is diesel price related. In the event of a prolonged Middle East conflict, diesel cost impacts could be more than offset by stronger thermal coal demand and prices as coal is substituted for disrupted LNG supply.

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter updated its assumptions for coal prices and the Australian dollar, leading to earnings forecast changes:

• FY26 earnings forecast cut by 17%
• FY27 forecast raised by 19%
• FY28 forecast raised by 12%. 

Limited upside 

Following recent share price growth, the team at Bell Potter now sees this ASX energy stock as a hold. 

The broker now has a $5 price target on New Hope shares, which indicates a 9% downside from the current share price of $5.51. 

NHC's low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation.

The post Why it could be time to move on from this booming ASX energy stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Is the broker now positive on them? Or has it turned negative? Let's find out:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Morgans notes that this network-as-a-service company has announced a series of major contract wins for its recently acquired Latitude.sh business.

The broker was impressed with the contract wins and has upgraded its estimates to reflect them.

This has led to Morgans reaffirming its buy rating on Megaport's shares with an improved price target of $15.50. Based on its current share price of $12.63, this implies potential upside of 23% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the company, the broker said:

MP1 has announced a series of large contract wins which are financially and strategically significant. MP1 will use its globally unique communications platform to connect servers and GPU clusters in numerous DCs across the US.

DC power constraints are a growing issue and MP1 was uniquely able to stitch together multiple sites to provide consolidated inference solutions. We update our forecasts to reflect recent contract wins, lifting our TP to $15.50 per share. We retain a BUY recommendation.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

Another ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is coal miner New Hope.

It released its third-quarter update this week and performed comfortably ahead of expectations. In fact, Morgans highlights that New Hope's group coal sales were 20% better than consensus forecasts.

It was also a similar story for production and its underlying earnings for the period.

However, due to its current valuation, this strong performance wasn't enough for a buy rating from Morgans.

It has retained its hold rating on New Hope shares with a $5.25 price target. Based on its current share price of $5.48, this implies potential downside of 4.2% over the next 12 months. It commented:

NHC delivered a materially stronger-than-expected 3Q26, with group coal sales of 3.2Mt beating consensus by ~20%. Saleable Production was also strong at 3.01Mt, beating consensus by ~10%. Bengalla achieved a FOB cash cost ($AUD/t) of $74, down from $84.4 in the prior quarter.

Underlying EBITDA (unaudited) of ~A$130m came in ~22% ahead of the prior quarter, supported by higher volumes and a meaningful step-down in unit costs. We maintain a HOLD rating with a target price of A$5.25ps.

The post What is Morgans saying about Megaport and New Hope shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.