What did National Storage REIT report?

• The Supreme Court of NSW has approved the share scheme of arrangement and provided advice on the trust scheme.
• All issued stapled securities of National Storage REIT will be acquired by entities jointly owned by the Brookfield Funds consortium and GIC Investor affiliates.
• Lodgement of court orders and constitution changes has occurred with ASIC, making the schemes legally effective.
• Trading in NSR securities is expected to be suspended from the close of trading today.
• Scheme Record Date: 7.00pm (Sydney time), 29 April 2026.
• Implementation Date: 8 May 2026, with scheme consideration to be paid to securityholders.

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage REIT has now met all legal and procedural requirements to implement the transaction. This means the previously announced acquisition is proceeding as planned, with no expected delays at this time.

The effective suspension of trading marks the transition of NSR from a listed entity to ownership by the Brookfield consortium, subject to the final implementation steps. Securityholders will receive their scheme consideration after the implementation date.

Both the record date for determining entitlements and the implementation date are still indicative and could change if necessary. Any changes will be announced to the ASX.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

Looking ahead, the focus shifts to finalising the transaction. Securityholders should expect payment of consideration on or shortly after 8 May 2026, subject to confirmation of final dates.

National Storage's business will move under the private ownership of the Brookfield consortium, marking a new chapter for the company and its customers across Australia and New Zealand.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage REIT shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT: Court approves Brookfield-led buyout appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• National Storage REIT to be removed from the S&P/ASX 200 Index, pending final court approval of its acquisition.
• The removal and replacement process will take effect before the open of trading on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.
• Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) will join the S&P/ASX 200 Index in NSR's place.
• The acquisition involves a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management and GIC.

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage REIT's removal from the S&P/ASX 200 comes as the company approaches the completion of its acquisition by a global consortium. This follows a period of market speculation about National Storage's future on the index and under new ownership.

The change is subject to final court approval of the acquisition, a common step when listed entities are taken over and cease to be independent ASX-listed companies.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

If the court approves the acquisition as expected, National Storage REIT shares will be delisted, and investors will receive their consideration from the takeover consortium. The company's removal from the S&P/ASX 200 may affect portfolios tracking the index and eligibility for certain funds.

Investors might want to keep an eye out for the final court decision and any further updates from the consortium regarding the acquisition timeline and settlement process.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index which has risen 16% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT to exit ASX 200 after takeover announcement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• The consortium of Brookfield and GIC has proposed to acquire 100% of National Storage REIT for $2.80 cash per security.
• Eligible securityholders who held units as at 31 December 2025 have received a 6 cent permitted distribution, giving a total of $2.86 per security.
• Kroll, the Independent Expert, valued NSR securities at $2.72–$2.86 and found the deal fair and reasonable.
• National Storage's enterprise value sits at around $6.7 billion, with FY26 1H underlying earnings up over 8% and REVPAM up 5.3%.
• The business now operates 300 centres, serving more than 100,000 customers across Australia and New Zealand.

What else do investors need to know?

The proposed transaction is structured as a scheme of arrangement and trust scheme, requiring both security holder and court approval. Meetings took place on 15 April 2026 to vote on several resolutions relating to the buyout and company structure changes.

Directors unanimously recommended the transaction and confirmed they would vote their own holdings in favour, with no superior offer having emerged. Major regulatory approvals, such as from FIRB and the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office, have already been secured.

If approved, remaining steps include court approval expected on 21 April 2026, with implementation set for 8 May 2026. Trading in NSR securities will be suspended following effectiveness, and eligible holders as of the record date will receive their cash consideration promptly.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

The focus now turns to the court's decision and the final implementation of the acquisition. If all conditions are met, the transaction is expected to deliver a certain, all-cash outcome for investors — within the Independent Expert's fair value range.

After a period of strong growth as a listed entity, National Storage REIT is set to transition to private ownership. The board expressed gratitude for stakeholder support and optimism for the company's ongoing role in self-storage innovation under new ownership.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage REIT shares have risen 28%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT: Scheme meetings confirm buyout pathway appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That adds to what has already been a strong 12-month run for the company.

Shares in the storage giant are up 0.54% to $2.785 at the time of writing, leaving the stock up about 28% over the past year.

That keeps it trading just below the $2.86 per security takeover price proposed by the Brookfield and GIC-backed consortium back in December.

Today's move suggests investors are growing more confident that the gap to the offer price may continue to close.

Foreign approvals tick another box

In a statement to the ASX, National Storage confirmed that the required FIRB and New Zealand overseas investment approvals for the proposed acquisition have now been secured.

That now removes two of the key regulatory hurdles tied to the all-cash $2.86 per stapled security offer from the Brookfield and GIC consortium.

The company said all foreign competition approvals and clearances have now also been received.

The remaining steps are the final scheme approvals, including securityholder backing at next week's meeting and subsequent court approval.

With most of the regulatory work now complete, investors will be looking ahead to the vote as the next step before the deal can be finalised.

Why buyers are staying disciplined

The modest lift in the share price makes sense given that most of the takeover premium was already captured when the binding offer was announced.

At $2.78, the stock is trading at only a small discount to the scheme consideration, showing investors largely expect the deal to proceed while still leaving a small margin for timing risk.

And that discount may continue to narrow as the 15 April securityholder vote approaches.

The board has unanimously recommended the scheme, with directors saying they intend to vote their own holdings in favour unless a superior proposal emerges.

The business itself still stacks up

While takeover progress is driving short-term trading, National Storage's underlying business has also remained solid.

The REIT remains Australia and New Zealand's largest self-storage operator, with more than 290 locations and over 100,000 customers.

Its latest interim distribution of 6 cents per security also keeps the trailing yield above 4%, which has helped support investor interest even as the stock trades near the deal value.

Unless an unexpected obstacle emerges, the next major catalyst looks set to be the scheme meeting result and final court timetable.

The post Why this ASX REIT is quietly pushing back toward its takeover price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has ticked 1.9% higher this week off the back of renewed confidence, but over the month, it's still down 6.7%, and down 2.4% for the year to date.

Despite the decline, there are two more unusual ASX 200 dividend shares that are still making money.

National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

National Storage REIT is the largest self-storage provider in Australia and New Zealand. It's unique because it is the only ASX-listed entity focused purely on storage. 

The majority of its 230-plus self-owned storage facilities are mostly located on city fringes, suburban, and regional areas. They are owned and operated, but they also have long-term leaseholds.

The company offers self-storage, business storage, climate-controlled wine storage, vehicle storage, and other value-added services such as vehicle and trailer hire, packaging, and insurance.

As a storage business, the company is generally resilient to market pressures. Its share price has remained stable over the past month, unlike many other companies in the ASX 200 Index. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $2.78 each. That's a 0.2% increase over the past month, a 1.46% increase for the year to date, and a 25.8% hike from the share price this time last year.

The ASX company has a history of paying reliable half-year dividends to its investors, too. Its most recent interim dividend, paid in February, paid investors 6 cents per share, fully franked. At the time of writing, this translates to a trailing dividend yield of 4.2%.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

Viva Energy Group is Australia's second-largest vertically integrated refined transport fuel supplier. The company makes, imports, blends, and delivers about one quarter of Australia's fuel requirements. It also supplies lubricants, solvents, and bitumen. 

The ASX stock is unusual because, as a fuel refiner and retailer, it has exposure to both the infrastructure and energy sectors.

Recent fuel supply pressures have created a strong tailwind for the business, and its share price has soared higher. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $2.36. That's a huge 35.6% uplift over the past month alone. The share price has also risen 13.4% over the year to date and 33.2% from this time last year.

Viva Energy has paid half-yearly dividends to its shareholders since 2022. The company is due to pay its investors a final dividend of 3.94 cents per share, fully franked, next week. For the full year, the company has paid a total dividend of 6.77 cents per share, which equates to a dividend yield of around 2.9% at the time of writing. 

The post As the ASX indexes sink, these unique dividend shares are making investors money appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• IFRS profit after tax: $73.7 million (Earnings per stapled security 5.27 cps)
• Underlying earnings: $84.3 million (Underlying EPS 6.0 cps, up 8.2%)
• Group revenue per available metre (REVPAM): $286/m², up 5.3%
• Operating margin: 68%
• Net tangible assets (NTA): $2.61 per stapled security, up 1.2%
• Interim fully-franked dividend: 6.0 cps, payable 20 February 2026

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage REIT settled 18 acquisitions worth $200 million during the half, expanding its portfolio with 13 operational centres and five sites for future development. Alongside this, 11 new developments were completed in 1H FY26, adding 99,000 square metres of net lettable area.

The company also released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting further progress on environmental goals, including efforts to reduce and offset Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 through solar installations, LED upgrades, and other energy efficiency measures.

In December 2025, NSR entered into a scheme implementation deed with a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management and GIC. If approved, securityholders are set to receive $2.86 per stapled security at an implied equity value of $4.0 billion.

What did National Storage REIT management say?

Managing Director Andrew Catsoulis said:

Our strong 1H FY26 earnings result has demonstrated both the resilience and embedded capacity for growth of NSR's business. Underlying earnings for the period increased by 8.2% to $84.3 million, or 6.0 cps, operating margin was 68% and NTA increased to $2.61 per stapled security. NSR's total assets increased from 30 June 2025 by 7.4% to $6.1 billion, as the total asset value of NSR's property portfolio rose by 6.2% to $5.65 billion, with valuation uplift again driven predominantly by improved operational performance, with the weighted average capitalisation rate remaining steady at 5.87%.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

Looking ahead, National Storage REIT continues to focus on portfolio expansion, with 43 active development projects and a pipeline of about 401,000m² of new space. The acquisitions and development pipeline give management clear visibility over medium-term growth.

The proposed acquisition by the Brookfield-GIC consortium remains subject to shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, management maintains its strategy of maximising occupancy and rental rates while progressing its sustainability commitments.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage REIT shares have risen 23%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT grows profit and portfolio in 1H FY26 results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• Estimated fully franked interim dividend of 6 cents per stapled security for the period 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025
• Dividend record date: 31 December 2025
• Dividend payment date: 20 February 2026
• Further dividend details to be provided in Appendix 3A.1 (estimate)
• Withdrawal of all previous earnings guidance in light of recent scheme announcement

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage REIT has withdrawn all prior guidance announcements following the scheme announcement, meaning investors should not rely on earlier outlook statements. The company advised that more detail on the estimated dividend will be released via an Appendix 3A.1 estimate.

National Storage continues as the largest self-storage provider in Australia and New Zealand, operating over 290 storage locations for both residential and commercial customers.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

Investors can expect a more detailed dividend estimate once the company lodges its Appendix 3A.1. The withdrawal of guidance points to the uncertainty pending the outcome of the recent scheme announcement—shareholders may wish to keep an eye out for further updates.

The company will continue managing its large portfolio across Australia and New Zealand through the anticipated transition period, aiming to maintain stable service and performance.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage REIT shares have risen 18%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT declares estimated dividend and updates investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

National Storage, in late November, was forced to reveal that it was in takeover talks with Brookfield Property Group and GIC Investments after an article alluding to the deal was published by The Australian.

Bid now recommended by board

At the time, the then potential bid was "non-binding, indicative and conditional"; however, the NSR board on Monday said it would back the bid in the absence of a superior offer.

As the company said in a statement to the ASX:

The board of NSR unanimously recommends that NSR securityholders vote in favour of the transaction, in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to the independent expert concluding in the independent expert's report (and continuing to conclude) that the transaction is in the best interests of NSR securityholders. Subject to the same qualifications, each NSR director intends to vote all NSR stapled securities controlled or held by them in favour of the transaction resolutions.

National Storage chair Anthony Keane said the board believed the transaction provided an attractive valuation and certainty for shareholders.

As he said:

The offer from the consortium follows a number of earlier offers and a period of negotiation. The decision to recommend this offer follows extensive work by the NSR board and its advisers to assess the fundamental value of NSR and its medium-to-long term prospects. Accordingly, the NSR board is unanimous in its recommendation that the transaction represents a compelling outcome for NSR securityholders.  

Shareholders in NSR will receive $2.86 per share, which will be reduced by 6 cents per share if the company pays out a dividend of that amount before the deal goes through.

Regulatory sign-off needed

The deal is subject to approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board and the New Zealand Office of Overseas Investment.

It will also need to be voted on by National Storage shareholders, with the meeting at which this vote is to take place likely to be held in April.

The deal is also subject to a break fee of $40 million should the consortium or National Storage decide to pull out of the transaction.

An independent expert's report on the deal will now be completed and provided to shareholders before they are due to vote on the transaction.

National Storage shares were changing hands for $2.80 on Monday morning.

The post National Storage shares up as board recommends takeover bid appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• Entered a binding scheme with Brookfield and GIC consortium for a total cash consideration of $2.86 per security
• Scheme values equity at approximately $4.0 billion and enterprise value at $6.7 billion
• Total consideration represents 26.5% premium to last undisturbed price as of 25 November 2025
• Scheme consideration is a 10.9% premium to NSR's net tangible asset (NTA) value of $2.58 per security
• Board unanimously recommends voting in favour, subject to no superior proposal and independent expert support
• Potential permitted distribution of up to 6 cents per security, deducted from the cash offer if paid

What else do investors need to know?

The proposed transaction follows a period of negotiation and confirms earlier speculation that NSR was in acquisition talks. If the permitted distribution is paid for the half-year ending 31 December, the cash component of the scheme price is reduced by 6 cents. The board has also suspended the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) effective immediately in light of the scheme.

The board's unanimous recommendation comes with support from an independent expert and is subject to a shareholder vote, court approvals and a range of regulatory clearances including from the Foreign Investment Review Board and New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office. Subject to conditions, implementation could occur in the second quarter of 2026.

What did National Storage REIT management say?

NSR Managing Director Andrew Catsoulis said:

This proposal is an endorsement of the strong fundamentals and long-term growth strategy of NSR, which has evolved from a single storage centre originally developed at Oxley Queensland in 1995 to Australia and New Zealand's leading owner and operator of self-storage centres with over 290 centres today providing over 1.6 million square metres of state of the art storage space for its customers. We are confident this position will be further strengthened with the Consortium's support.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

Securityholders are not required to take any action at this time. Details of the proposal, including the Scheme Booklet and independent expert's report, will be provided ahead of a vote anticipated for April 2026. If approved and all conditions are satisfied, the implementation of the scheme is expected in the second quarter of 2026.

The board will pay close attention to regulatory clearances and any competing proposals that may arise, with a 'superior proposal' clause providing flexibility. If the transaction proceeds, NSR will be removed from the ASX and its shares delisted.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the National Storage REIT shares have climbed 16%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT agrees to $4bn Brookfield-GIC buyout: What it means for investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There has been a flurry of takeover bids recently, with targets ranging from small gold prospectors, such as Venus Metals Corporation Ltd (ASX: VMC), to major companies like logistics provider Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB).

And in the case of the latter, and fellow takeover target National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR), there's still the potential to make short-term gains, given each company's share price is still trading at a discount to the offer price.

Qube trading at a decent discount

In the case of Qube, Macquarie Asset Management has launched a conditional bid for the company at $5.20 per share.

That was a significant premium to the $4.07 at which the company's shares were trading at the time of the bid.

And while the shares have consistently traded higher than levels before the bid, they are still only changing hands for $4.64, meaning canny investors could make a windfall gain – should the bid actually go through.

Keep in mind that it is still conditional on satisfactory due diligence and a unanimous recommendation from the Qube board.

The board has granted Macquarie a period of exclusive due diligence, having previously negotiated for a higher price from Macquarie, and said at the time the possible deal was made public that, in the absence of a better offer, they do expect to endorse the bid.

Interestingly, UniSuper, which is a significant shareholder in Qube, has increased its shareholding in the company from 5.25% to 9.95% since the potential takeover bid was announced.

National Storage also in play

In the case of National Storage, the company was forced to divulge in late November that it had been approached by Brookfield Property Group and GIC Investments about a potential takeover, priced at $2.86 a share. This followed an article in The Australian hinting at the possible deal.

Like the Qube bid, the National Storage takeover offer is at this stage non-binding and conditional, but investors once again could make gains if it were to go through.

The National Storage bid is priced at $2.86, minus the likely 6-cent dividend to be paid by the company, which compares with the current share price of $2.71.

That implies a much lower premium of just 3.3% for investors who buy in now; however, some might be betting that a higher offer is in the wings.

In the case of Venus Metals Corporation, that company's share price is actually trading higher than the 17-cent-per-share offer price from Queensland coal billionaire Chris Wallin's company QGold.

QGold's offer is an on-market offer, meaning the company is actively buying shares at the offer price; however, Venus stated in a recent ASX announcement that it appeared the company was buying shares at higher prices, between 18 cents and 19 cents, in recent sessions.

Venus said this week it was currently preparing a target's statement, which would be released to the ASX on December 8.

Venus shares closed Thursday's trading session at 20 cents, well above the on-market bid price.

The post These two takeover targets are still trading below their potential bid prices appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what's been grabbing investor interest this week.

Two ASX 200 stocks leaping more than 19%

The first outperforming company this week is Qube Holdings Limited (ASX: QUB).

Shares in the logistics solutions provider closed last Friday trading for $4.07. In early afternoon trade today, shares are changing hands for $4.85 apiece. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 19.2% over the week.

Most of those gains were delivered on Monday. That came after Qube announced that Macquarie Assessment Management had lobbed a takeover bid for the company. Macquarie is offering $5.20, or 27.8% above the prior day's closing price. This values Qube at $11.6 billion.

Qube's directors indicated their unanimous initial support for the takeover deal, barring a superior offer.

Moving on to the second ASX 200 stock shooting the lights out this week, we have Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares.

Shares in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock closed last week at $2.85 and are currently trading for $3.41 each. This puts Zip shares up 19.7% for the week.

There was no new price sensitive news out from Zip this week. But investors look to have been buying Zip shares amid rising hopes of a December interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve.

Economists at JPMorgan now expect the Fed to reduce rates by 0.25% in December, with another 0.25% cut pencilled in for January. That's partly based on recent dovish comments from Fed members, like John Williams, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The US is a growth market for Zip, which already generates more than half its revenue in the world's top economy. And BNPL stocks like Zip have proven to perform materially better in low and falling rate environments.

Leading the charge

Which brings us to the top weekly-performing ASX 200 stock on my list today, National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR).

Shares in the largest self-storage provider in Australia and New Zealand closed last week trading for $2.25. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $2.71. That puts the National Storage share price up 20.4% for the week.

As with Qube, the ASX 200 stock leapt higher this week following news of a potential takeover offer.

Shares surged on Wednesday, after the company confirmed media speculations that Brookfield Property Group and GIC Investments had lobbed an unsolicited, non-binding takeover proposal.

The offer, should it get the green light, would see National Storage shareholders receive $2.86 per share for their current holdings.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares smashing the benchmark this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company asked for its shares to be halted from trade before the start of the session on Wednesday after The Australian reported that Brookfield Property Group and GIC Investments were running the ruler over the $3.2 billion self-storage giant.

Company definitely in play

National Storage initially did not confirm that talks were afoot; however, late in the trading day on Wednesday, the company confirmed that it had indeed been approached about "an unsolicited, non-binding, indicative and conditional proposal".

As the company said:

Under the terms of the indicative proposal, NSR securityholders would receive $2.86 cash per stapled security on the basis that a dividend or distribution of 6 cents in respect of the financial half year ending 31 December 2025 may be paid, in which case, the cash payable per stapled security will be reduced by the amount of the dividend or distribution paid. The indicative proposal follows earlier confidential, unsolicited, non-binding and indicative proposals from the consortium and a period of negotiation including the provision of limited due diligence.

The proposal is subject to conditions, including satisfactory due diligence and a unanimous recommendation from the National Storage board. It would also be subject to regulatory approvals, including sign-off from the Foreign Investment Review Board.

National Storage stated that it had assessed the proposal and decided to grant the consortium the right to conduct due diligence.

It went on to say:

The NSR Board has also agreed to provide a period of exclusivity to the consortium ending on 7 December 2025 unless a superior proposal is received before that time and the NSR board determines to pursue it, in which case exclusivity will end at that time. The exclusivity arrangements comprise customary non-solicit, no talk, no due diligence and notification of approach obligations.

National Storage shares closed on Wednesday up 19.5% at $2.70, but still well below the potential bid price.

Takeover hype spills over to Abacus

News of the takeover approach for National Storage also put a rocket under shares in Abacus Storage King (ASX: ASK), which closed 9.3% higher on Wednesday at $1.52.

National Storage is a shareholder in Abacus, holding a stake of just under 5%, and Abacus was itself the target of takeover suitors earlier this year.

Ki Corporation and US-listed firm Public Storage (NYSE: PSA) brought a $1.47 per security bid to the company, which was rejected in May, but left Ki Corporation with a 63.5% stake in the business.

Abacus said at the time that its net tangible asset value was $1.73 based on an independent valuation, and hence the consortium's bid was too low.

The post This ASX storage REIT's shares surge as takeover talks confirmed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Abacus is a player in the booming self-storage industry in Australia and has grown to be worth $1.83 billion after listing on the ASX in August 2023.

Takeover in the wings

One of the company's key competitors, and a shareholder in Abacus itself, is National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR), which on Wednesday asked that its shares be placed in a trading halt.

NSR, as reported by The Australian, is currently fielding a potential takeover offer purportedly from Brookfield and GIC, and has asked that its shares be suspended while negotiations continue.

It's my bet that traders are looking at the potential NSR deal and wondering whether Abacus might be wrapped into a larger play either now or down the track.

Abacus in predators' rights

Abacus has this year been itself the target of a protracted takeover attempt by Ki Corporation and US-listed firm Public Storage (NYSE: PSA), with the $1.47 per security bid rejected in May.

Abacus said at the time that its net tangible asset value was $1.73 based on an independent valuation, and hence the consortium's bid was too low.

The consortium's bid was withdrawn in August, however, not before Ki Corporation ended up with control over 63.5% of the shares in Abacus.

In fact, three shareholders now control almost 95% of Abacus shares, with a company called Abacus Property Group holding 20.9% and Runway Technologies holding 10.2%.

Add to that NSR's shareholding of just under 5%, which it declared early this year, and you can account for nearly all of the Abacus shares in issue.

With major private equity players running the ruler over NSR, it stands to reason they might do the same for Abacus, and either launch a separate bid or look to take out both entities and combine them into one.

Any such deal could generate significant merger synergies.

Abacus shares were trading 10.4% higher after news of the NSR deal broke, to be changing hands for $1.54.

NSR, meanwhile, asked that its shares be placed in a trading halt pending an announcement "in relation to a potential control transaction for all of NSR's stapled securities''. The trading halt will remain in place until an announcement is made or until the start of trade on 28 November, the statement to the ASX said.

The post Why are this storage outfit's shares more than 10% higher today? I'll tell you my theory appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company on Wednesday morning asked that its shares be placed in a trading halt pending an announcement, "in relation to a potential control transaction for all of NSR's stapled securities''.

The trading halt will remain in place until an announcement is made or until the start of trade on 28 November, the statement to the ASX said.

Bid being pulled together

The Australian is reporting that investment firms Brookfield and GIC are in negotiations with NSR, but that a deal has not been finalised.

NSR listed on the ASX in late 2013, with the company's Chair, Anthony Keane, telling the company's annual general meeting last month that total returns to shareholders since that time had been more than 330%.

He went on to say:

Our compound annual growth rate for both our underlying earnings and total revenue of over 20% per annum over the last 11 years, stands as one of the best and most consistently performing (listed property trusts) over this period.  

Mr Keane said the company now operated more than 280 storage centres in every state and territory across Australia and New Zealand.

As he said:

We are not a passive rent collector. Our business spans multiple retal areas including revenue management, the operation of multisite, geographically diverse businesses, SEO … marketing, AI and call centre operation to name a few focus areas.

Growth plans afoot

Mr Keane said the company had spent $664 million on growth projects in FY25 across acquisitions, completed developments, and expansion opportunities.

This is unrivalled in the Australian and New Zealand markets and underpins our exceptional and unique ability to identify, execute and capitalise upon key opportunities in the self-storage sector. Our significantly expedited development pipeline has over 50 current and future development projects comprising approximately 49,000 square metres of new lettable area that is expected to be completed and brought online over the next two to three years. This reflects NSR's increasing focus on high value accretive new development opportunities and will allow us to further build on our advantages of critical mass and economies of scale in the coming years.  

NSR also owns a 4.78% stake in fellow storage provider Abacus Storage King Ltd (ASX: ASK).

NSR shares last changed hands at $2.26, in the midpoint of their trading range over the past 12 months, which is $2.05-$2.55.

The post Takeover bid in the wings for this major self storage outfit appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But which ones could be buys right now? Let's take a look at three that brokers are recommending to clients:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The first ASX dividend share that could be a buy is Accent Group. It is an Australian footwear retailer that owns popular brands such as HypeDC, Platypus, and The Athlete's Foot.

Bell Potter remains positive on the company. It highlights its market leadership, strategic growth initiatives, the ongoing expansion into apparel, and the rollout of the Sports Direct brand across Australia as reasons to buy.

It expects this to support the payout of fully franked dividends of 7.8 cents per share in FY 2026 and 9.2 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on the latest share price of $1.18, this equates to attractive dividend yields of 6.6% and 7.8%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $1.80 price target on its shares.

National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

National Storage could be another ASX dividend share to buy according to brokers.

It is the largest self-storage provider in Australia and New Zealand with over 250 locations providing tailored storage solutions to almost 100,000 residential and commercial customers.

UBS is recommending the company to clients. This is due partly to its resilience and attractive valuation. In addition, it is expecting some good dividend yields in the near term.

The broker is forecasting payouts of 12 cents per share in FY 2026 and FY 2027.  Based on its current share price of $2.27, this would mean dividend yields of 5.3% for both years.

UBS has a buy rating and $2.57 price target on its shares.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Finally, Transurban could be an ASX dividend share to buy.

It operates a network of toll roads across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and North America. This includes CityLink in Melbourne, the Cross City Tunnel in Sydney, and Clem7 in Brisbane.

The team at Citi is positive on the company and believes it is positioned to increase its dividends to 69.5 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 73.7 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $15.06, this would mean dividend yields of 4.6% and 4.9%, respectively.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $16.10 price target on the ASX dividend share.

The post Buy these ASX dividend shares for 4% to 7% yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But which ones could be buys right now? Let's take a look at three that analysts rate highly. They are as follows:

National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

National Storage REIT could be an ASX dividend share to buy according to analysts at UBS.

It is Australia and New Zealand's largest self-storage operator, with more than 230 storage centres across both countries.

Demand for self-storage has proven remarkably resilient over the years, supported by population growth, urbanisation, and lifestyle trends such as downsizing and flexible workspaces.

UBS expects this to continue and underpin dividends per share of 12 cents in FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.29, this would mean dividend yields of 5.2%.

The broker currently has a buy and has a $2.57 price target on its shares.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

Another ASX dividend share that analysts are tipping as a buy is Sonic Healthcare.

It is a leading pathology and diagnostic imaging provider that has operations across the world.

Bell Potter believes the company's performance is about to improve meaningfully, which could make now a good time to invest. It highlights that this is expected to be "driven by right sizing the business, the impact of acquisitions in FY24 and normalising organic operations post COVID."

With respect to income, Bell Potter is forecasting dividends per share of $1.09 in FY 2026 and then $1.11 in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $21.06, this represents dividend yields of 5.2% and 5.3%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $33.30 price target on its shares.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

A third option for income investors is Telstra. It is of course Australia's largest telecommunications company.

Macquarie thinks it would be a good pick for income investors. Especially given its belief that the company is positioned to grow its mobile market share over the next 12 months.

Macquarie expects this to support the payment of fully franked dividends of 20 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 21 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price, this would mean dividend yields of 4% and 4.2%, respectively.

The broker has an outperform rating and $5.04 price target on its shares.

The post Buy Telstra and these ASX dividend shares for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's a plan that could help you pull in $10,000 a year in passive income from ASX shares.

Already have plenty of firepower?

Plenty of quality ASX shares and exchange traded funds (ETFs) out there average a 5% dividend yield. This means that if you are already sitting on a $200,000 nest egg, you could immediately turn it into a $10,000 a year passive income by building a balanced portfolio that averages this yield.

Starting at zero

Not many of us are lucky enough to have $200,000 sitting around to put into the share market. But don't worry, spare capital, time, and compounding can build a portfolio of this size. As a rough guide, $1,000 a month compounded at 10% per annum would get you to ~$200,000 in 10 years. If your budget is $500 a month to put into ASX shares, you would need 15 years to hit this target. None of this is guaranteed, but it shows what disciplined investing and time can achieve.

Growth first, income later

There's no point focusing on income when you are in the growth stage of building a portfolio. Investors would be better off leading toward compounding engines. These are quality large caps and growth names with strong balance sheets, pricing power, and long runways. Think Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) for industrial property and data centres, Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) or WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) for recurring, high-margin software, and a broad global index ETF like the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) for instant diversification. The aim here is to grow the pie faster.

Once you have grown your portfolio to the desired target of $200,000, it is time to start thinking about income. At this point, you might want to gradually tilt your portfolio towards dependable dividend payers. Consider Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), APA Group (ASX: APA), National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR), or a diversified income ETFs such as the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY). You want resilient cash flows, sensible payout policies, and businesses that can lift dividends over time.

Foolish takeaway

The way to $10,000 in passive income from ASX shares depends on where you start. If you don't have the capital yet, build it methodically, favour quality growth first, then pivot to reliable dividend payers as you near the finish line. Stay consistent, let compounding work, and you can turn investing into a quiet second paycheck.

The post The easy way to generate $10,000 of passive income from ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you have $5,000 to put to work today, spreading that across a few high-quality dividend payers could be a smart move.

But which stocks?

Here are three ASX dividend stocks that analysts think could be buys right now. They are as follows:

National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

UBS rates National Storage REIT as a buy and has a $2.80 price target on its shares.

It is Australia and New Zealand's largest self-storage operator, managing more than 230 storage centres across both countries.

The ASX dividend stock benefits from predictable, recurring revenue as individuals and businesses rent storage units for the long term. Demand for self-storage has proven remarkably resilient, supported by population growth, urbanisation, and lifestyle trends such as downsizing and flexible workspaces.

Citi expects this demand to underpin dividends per share of 11.8 cents in FY 2026 and then 12.3 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.43, this would mean dividend yields of 4.9% and 5.1%, respectively.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

If you're looking for stable, inflation-linked income, Rural Funds Group deserves a spot on your watchlist. Bell Potter rates it as a buy with a $2.45 price target on its shares.

This real estate investment trust owns a portfolio of high-quality Australian agricultural assets, including almond orchards, vineyards, macadamia farms, and cattle properties, which it leases to well-established operators.

Rural Funds' income is largely insulated from market volatility, with rental revenues largely tied to inflation, providing steady and predictable returns.

Bell Potter expects this to underpin dividends per share of 11.7 cents in FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.95, this equates to dividend yields of 6% for both years.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra is Australia's largest telecommunications company. Macquarie thinks it would be a good pick for income investors and has an outperform rating and $5.04 price target on its shares.

After years of industry turbulence, Telstra has emerged stronger, streamlining its operations, cutting costs, and benefitting from growing demand for mobile data and 5G connectivity.

Macquarie expects this demand to support the payment of fully franked dividends of 20 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 21 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $4.90, this would mean dividend yields of 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.

The post Where to invest $5,000 in ASX dividend stocks today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did National Storage REIT report in FY25?

• Gross revenue up 10.4% to $392 million
• Underlying earnings rose 6.4% to $164.0 million
• IFRS profit of $236.1 million
• Underlying EPS up 5.3% to 11.9 cents per stapled security
• Net Tangible Assets (NTA) increased to $2.58 per security, up 2.4%
• FY25 total return of 7.2%

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage continued to ramp up its expansion, deploying around $664 million into new acquisitions, developments, and expansion opportunities during FY25. This included the completion of 14 development projects that added 98,000 square metres of new lettable area and the settlement of 28 acquisitions totalling $303 million.

Occupancy and rate growth remained positive, with the rate per square metre rising to $347 and group REVPAM (revenue per available square metre) increasing by 1% to $277. The company now manages over 280 storage centres with total built capacity reaching 1.52 million square metres.

What's next for National Storage REIT?

Looking to FY26, National Storage is targeting minimum underlying EPS of 12.4 cents per stapled security and underlying earnings greater than $173 million. The group's development pipeline features more than 50 projects, with approximately 490,000 square metres of new lettable area scheduled for completion over the next two to three years.

The company remains focused on organic growth, strategic acquisitions, investment in technology, and sustainability initiatives, including progressing towards its emissions reduction targets by 2030.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the National Storage REIT share price has fallen 6%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen around 8% over the same period.

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