In morning trade, the NRW share price is up 1.68% to $6.07. That move leaves the stock ahead roughly 145% over the past 12 months, placing it among the better performers in the industrials sector.

The latest move comes after a fresh update released to the market today.

Here's what was announced.

Fresh contract wins add to workload visibility

According to the release, NRW's wholly owned subsidiary, Fredon, has secured a series of new electrical and mechanical contracts with a combined value of around $160 million.

The largest component is an electrical package tied to a major Commonwealth infrastructure project in Northern Australia, valued at about $110 million.

Work is expected to be completed by mid-2028.

There is also a $23 million design and construct contract linked to the Festival Towers project in Adelaide. This follows around 12 months of early contractor involvement work, with completion targeted for 2028.

Another contract includes a $24 million mechanical package for a joint venture hospital project in South Australia, with completion expected around mid-2027.

Additional wins include a $5 million electrical contract for bus charging infrastructure in South Australia, as well as work on charging systems at the Oakleigh bus depot in Victoria.

Diversification remains a key part

NRW has built its growth profile across several end markets, including mining services, civil construction, and infrastructure.

The latest contract awards show its engineering and maintenance division continuing to pick up work outside traditional resources exposure.

Management noted the mix of contracts reflects demand across infrastructure and renewables-linked activity, particularly where specialised electrical capabilities are required.

This diversification has reduced reliance on commodity cycles and supported more consistent earnings.

Strong run backed by project delivery

NRW's share price has trended higher over the past year as the company continues to deliver regular project wins and maintain a strong order book.

The stock is now trading toward the upper end of its recent range, with investors still backing delivery across its core divisions.

With multiple projects stretching out over several years, revenue visibility has improved, which supports higher valuation multiples.

Foolish takeaway

NRW is not relying on one project or one cycle. Work is coming through across infrastructure, energy, and essential services, which gives earnings a more stable base.

After a 145% run, a lot of the easy upside has already been captured. But the steady flow of new contracts and a multi-year pipeline still point to earnings growth from here.

This usually comes down to delivery. If projects keep moving on time and margins hold, the share price can keep moving higher.

The post Why this $2.8 billion ASX stock is climbing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday despite a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 24 points or 0.25% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 2.85%, the S&P 500 jumped 2.5% and the Nasdaq stormed 2.8% higher.

CSL shares given hold rating

Bell Potter still thinks it is too early to buy CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the biotherapeutics giant's shares with a $155.00 price target (from $175.00). It said: "The current share price reflects a materially de-rated PE multiple of ~15x our FY27 NPAT forecast, bringing CSL in line with the global biopharma peer set which also trades at an avg PE of 15x. While CSL doesn't face the same extent of generic/biosimilar competition as these biopharma peers, it does have a lower growth outlook of ~2.5% revenue CAGR (3yr) per our forecast compared to >4% avg for global peers."

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices crashed overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 14.6% to US$96.42 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 12% to US$96.19 a barrel. This has been driven by the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Dividend payday

Today is payday for shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares. This includes CSL, Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM), Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH), Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX), and NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH). CSL will be rewarding its shareholders with a $1.81 per share dividend later today.

Gold price lifts

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.3% to US$4,748.1 an ounce. Traders appear to believe that falling oil prices could limit interest rate hikes, which would be good news for the precious metal.

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

In Australia and globally, several powerful themes are driving investment. Electrification is reshaping energy systems, requiring significant spending on transmission infrastructure, renewable generation, and storage. At the same time, strong commodity prices are supporting mining companies, while large-scale infrastructure projects — including those linked to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics — are lifting activity domestically.

Against this backdrop, two ASX-listed companies, Wagners Holding Company Ltd (ASX: WGN) and NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH), have delivered standout share price performance over the past 12 months, rising over 157% and 94%, respectively.

But after such strong gains, are the fundamentals keeping pace?

Riding the infrastructure and construction wave

Wagners is a construction materials and infrastructure business with exposure to concrete, cement, composite materials, and aviation services. The company generates revenue by supplying essential inputs into infrastructure, civil construction, and mining projects — sectors that are currently benefiting from elevated investment levels.

Recent updates suggest Wagners has been experiencing strong trading momentum, supported by higher demand across its key divisions. In particular, infrastructure activity in Queensland and major project pipelines have been contributing to increased volumes and improved pricing outcomes.

The company has also continued to invest in its proprietary composite technologies, which offer lighter and more durable alternatives to traditional materials. This positions Wagners to benefit not only from near-term construction demand but also longer-term structural shifts in how infrastructure is built.

Looking ahead, the outlook appears supported by sustained infrastructure spending and population growth, particularly in regions such as southeast Queensland. If project activity continues to ramp up, Wagners could see further earnings growth, provided cost pressures remain controlled.

NRW Holdings: Leveraged to mining services growth

NRW Holdings operates as a mining services contractor, providing civil, mining, and drill and blast services to resource companies. Its revenue is largely tied to contract work across mine development, production, and infrastructure.

The company has benefited from strong commodity prices, which have left many miners with robust balance sheets and the ability to fund expansion projects and exploration programs. This has translated into a growing pipeline of work for contractors like NRW.

Recent results highlight solid profit growth and a healthy order book, with the company securing new contracts and maintaining strong utilisation across its fleet. Importantly, NRW's diversified exposure across commodities and clients helps mitigate reliance on any single project or resource.

The outlook remains favourable as mining investment continues, particularly in bulk commodities and critical minerals linked to the energy transition. As long as commodity markets remain supportive, demand for mining services is likely to stay elevated.

What could drive the next leg of growth?

Both ASX shares are benefiting from trends that appear durable rather than cyclical in nature.

Electrification requires significant capital investment in infrastructure. Mining companies are expanding to meet demand for key resources. And government-backed infrastructure pipelines remain strong.

However, after such significant share price appreciation, future returns may depend more heavily on continued earnings growth rather than multiple expansion.

For Wagners, this means maintaining margins while scaling production and delivering on project demand. For NRW, it comes down to converting its order book into sustained revenue and profit growth while managing costs.

If both companies can continue to grow revenue and earnings, maintain or expand margins, and avoid valuation compression, there is potential for further upside over time.

As always, the key will be execution.

The post 2 ASX shares booming on electrification and mining. Is there more upside ahead? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

If you've had your eye on an ASX share for a while, and you're ready to buy, the ex-dividend date can provide a deadline to act.

Might as well buy and pick up the next dividend payment if the stock is trading at an acceptable price, right?

Alternatively, you could play a longer game, and wait for the ex-dividend date to arrive before buying the stock.

This can be a good strategy because share prices tend to fall on the ex-dividend date.

This happens because the stock is fundamentally worth less without the next dividend payment attached.

Many companies offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs).

DRPs allow investors to instruct the company to use their dividends to buy more shares on their behalf, instead of paying cash.

After lodging your DRP form, this process becomes automatic.

It's an easy, passive way for investors increase their shareholdings in a company over time.

And every now and then, a company will offer a discount to shareholders participating in the DRP.

Bonus!

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 14 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By the time trading wrapped up today, the ASX 200 had gained a healthy 1.09% after initially rallying even harder this morning (up 2% at one point). This session's rise leaves the index at 8,692.6 points.

This happy Tuesday for the Australian markets follows an optimistic start to the American trading week in the early hours of this morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) returned from the weekend with a spring in its step, rising 0.5%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more enthusiastic, gaining a rosy 1.38%.

But let's return to the local markets now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors were lifted, or not, by today's market tide.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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.

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

The diversified mining services company said in a statement to the ASX on Thursday that its revenue came in at $2 billion for the half, up 19.5% compared with the previous corresponding period, while net profit was 40.8% higher at $72.8 million.

NRW said that during the half, it successfully acquired and integrated the Fredon business – a national provider of electrical, mechanical infrastructure, technology, and maintenance services – and had now incorporated its results into its own figures.

The company said the growth in revenue was driven by strong performance in its civil and MET division, which supplies a diversified range of mining services, while revenue in the mining division was down due to the completion of several projects.

 The company added:

Looking ahead, Civil is well positioned, supported by a robust tender pipeline, sustained demand from tier‑one miners and major infrastructure programs emerging across Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. Additionally, the outlook for Civil's Urban development business in Queensland remains strong. Mining continues to benefit from favourable market and weather conditions, including growing opportunities in gold, copper and battery metals, and a solid base of long‑term contracts that underpin stable volumes and disciplined capital returns. MET is building on its strong first‑half performance, with notable tender activity, expanding national and international opportunities, and continued investment in innovation. Our newest division, EMIT, through Fredon, is set for strong growth as demand accelerates across data centres, health, aged care, defence and renewables.

Outlook looking good

NRW said it had an order book of $7.5 billion across the group and was bidding on $9.2 billion in future tenders.

The company said it ended the half with $342.4 million in cash.

NRW managing director Jules Pemberton said it was a solid result.

I am delighted to present a very strong set of financial results for the first half of FY26, reflecting the strength of our diversified business model and the disciplined execution of key projects delivered across the Group. We have delivered earnings growth and a strong cash performance while positioning NRW to benefit from a broad range of future opportunities. Following the successfully executed acquisition of Fredon, I have been very impressed by the business and the people that make up that business, and I see significant upside opportunities from their exposure to several growth sectors including data and defence.

The company declared a fully franked dividend of 8.5 cents per share, up from 7 cents for the same period last year.

The company also upgraded its full-year EBITDA guidance to $275-$285 million, up from $260-$265 million previously.

NRW shares were 8.5% higher on Thursday at $6.11 after hitting an all-time high of $6.57 earlier in the day. The shares have almost tripled from lows of $2.21 they hit during the past 12 months.

The post NRW Holdings shares hit all time high on solid profit results 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.

At the time of writing, the NRW share price is up 4.64% to $5.41. That adds to a strong run for the stock, which has climbed around 60% over the past 12 months.

Let's unpack what was in today's update.

A major win at Rio Tinto's West Angelas

The largest contract announced is a bulk earthworks award from Rio Tinto for its West Angelas Sustaining Project (WASP), Deposit H.

NRW will deliver bulk earthworks to support access to five new satellite pits, along with haul roads, concrete overpass arch construction, and associated infrastructure. The contract is valued at around $175 million, with a peak workforce of around 220 personnel.

Works are expected to commence in early 2026 and run through to completion in 2027. Importantly, the award builds on NRW's long standing relationship with Rio Tinto at West Angelas, one of Western Australia's key iron ore hubs.

Roads and infrastructure add further momentum

The company also secured a second contract through its wholly owned subsidiary, NRW Contracting Pty Ltd.

Main Roads Western Australia has awarded the group the reconstruction and realignment of Toodyay Road between Dryandra and Toodyay. The initial scope covers Separable Portions 1 and 2 and is valued at $46 million.

The project aims to improve safety and traffic flow through road geometry upgrades, overtaking lanes, and intersection improvements.

Construction and procurement are expected to begin in early 2026, subject to contract execution.

Dampier Link Bridge rounds out the update

In a further contract win, NRW Contracting, in a 50/50 joint venture with Braidwood Marine and Civil, has been awarded Stage 2 of the Dampier Cargo Project by Pilbara Ports.

This package covers the design and construction of the Dampier Link Bridge, creating a continuous wharf connection between the refurbished Dampier Cargo Wharf and the new Dampier Bulk Handling Facility. The value of NRW's share of the joint venture work is approximately $49 million, with a project duration of about 12 months.

Management noted there is no material capital outlay required for any of the announced contracts.

Foolish takeaway

NRW continues to execute across multiple fronts, with more than $220 million in new work secured and minimal capital requirements supporting the stock's strong performance over the past year.

The latest contracts highlight NRW's diversified exposure across mining, transport, and civil infrastructure. A growing contract book improves earnings visibility into 2026 and beyond, while long standing relationships with tier one clients continue to generate repeat work.

The post Why this ASX 200 stock is rising after landing major new contracts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

To narrow things down, let's take a look at three shares that brokers have just given their verdicts on. They are as follows:

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

This gold miner's performance in the first half of FY 2026 has gone down well with analysts at Bell Potter.

In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $13.50.

Commenting on its quarter, Bell Potter said:

CYL delivered record quarterly production from Plutonic, sourcing ore from three operations: Plutonic, Plutonic East, and Trident OP. K2 is slated as the fourth mine, with higher-grade ore expected before 30 June 2026. Development of Old Highway the fifth mine, progressed with key approvals; we model first production in 2HFY27, contributing ~35kozpa at steady state. OP mining at Trident is expected to conclude in 2HFY26, transitioning to high grade UG operations. We forecast Trident UG to reach steady state of ~50kozpa by 2027. These five mines are to underpin CYL's 10-year ~200kozpa strategy, which we forecast to be achieved by FY29.

NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH)

Over at Morgans, its analysts have been looking at this contract services provider's shares.

The broker sees value in the company's shares at current levels and believes there is scope for a re-rating. As a result, it has put an accumulate rating and improved price target of $6.00 on its shares. It said:

In our view, NWH has scope to re-rate to 11x FY26/27 EBIT in the near term. The company's relative valuation has lagged the sector following a challenging FY25, marked by cash collection issues, an unexpected CFO transition, material weather disruptions in QLD, and a weak met coal market. With the exception of weather – which remains inherently difficult to forecast – these issues are in the rear-view mirror. We expect a strong 1H26, with demand indicators suggesting that earnings momentum will extend into 2H26.

Our FY26 EBITA forecast has been upgraded to near the top of the guidance range of $260-265m, which translates to +26% EPS growth. We view guidance as conservative, though we remain within the range given weather risk in 2H. We lift our price target to $6.00 (from $4.50) and maintain our Accumulate recommendation.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

Bell Potter remains positive on this ASX uranium share. It has retained its buy rating and lifted its price target to $12.50.

The broker believes that Paladin Energy is entering a stable period and highlights that the Patterson Lakes South project is being largely overlooked by the market. It said:

Our target price is increased to $12.50/sh (previously $11.35/sh) on adjustments to our production, sales and costs outlook. PDN is entering a period of relative stability, with rising uranium spot and term prices. As LHM production steadies, the market should gain comfort around performance. We believe the market is ascribing very little value to Patterson Lakes South (PLS), which provides upside as the project is de-risked. EPS changes in this report are: FY26 -69%, FY27 -29% and FY28 -6%.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Catalyst Metals, NRW, and Paladin Energy shares 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.

That's according to the analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

Here's why.

3 ASX All Ords stocks with pending AGMs

In a new Australian Equity Strategy report, released today, Macquarie noted, "We're in a style Bizarro world the last six months with loss makers and traps outperforming, while quality underperforms."

The broker said these loss makers and traps, which are comprised of both value and growth stocks, have counted among the best ASX All Ords performers over the last six months.

However, Macquarie cautioned, "These high-risk styles are poor over the long term but often work in booms. When the boom fades, so does their performance… This won't last."

As for the broader Aussie stock market outlook, Macquarie remains bullish.

"We think we are in a correction, as leading indicators are improving. That said, another Fed cut would help stocks regain momentum."

According to Macquarie:

We remain positive on the growth outlook and equities into 2026. Australia's consumer is the most optimistic in years, while business conditions are improving. Ex-US global momentum is still strong and global easing continues. Stronger growth has caused some indigestion for equities as RBA cuts have been priced out, and a similar dynamic is occurring globally.

As for what's been happening with ASX All Ords stocks during the AGM season, Macquarie noted this "has been positive despite the market volatility, with net guidance upgrades. This is consistent with improving activity".

Turning to the few remaining pending AGMs, Macquarie said it is positive on engineering and mining services company Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND) and also positive on contract services provider NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH).

The broker said the global logistics software solutions provider WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) is "least favoured" ahead of its AGM.

Macquarie noted:

Positive view. MND and NWH would have been buy ideas except both have already given positive updates in recent weeks, so they have already played out. However, these are still the only names with upcoming AGMs in Stages 1 or 2 with upgrades.

Commenting on ASX All Ords tech stock WiseTech, Macquarie said:

Least preferred. WTC is the last remaining AGM where the analyst expects it to be a negative catalyst, momentum is in Stage 4 and there have been recent consensus downgrades (just below our 20% threshold).

The post Macquarie names 2 ASX All Ords stocks set to benefit and 1 likely to suffer following their upcoming AGMs 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.

AGM season refers to the period each year when most listed companies hold their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) – typically between October and November in Australia.

During the AGM season, companies provide updates on current trading conditions and outlook for the new financial year. 

They also often provide earnings guidance or commentary on performance since their last results. 

For analysts and investors, AGM season is important because it offers fresh insights into company performance and management tone between formal reporting periods like full year or half year results. 

It can also trigger share price movements as markets react to upgraded or downgraded guidance. 

Here is an overview of Macquarie's analysis on the third week of the AGM season. 

Investor sentiment improving

Macquarie said investors continue to react positively to AGM updates. In a reversal of August results, Global Cyclicals are having a good AGM season.

The broker also noted US corporate results for Q325 are the strongest in over a year with broad beats across EPS, sales, margins and dividends. This signals an improving US economy. 

It said US results usually beat, and at +47% the positive EPS surprise in 3Q25 is the strongest in over a year, with beats across sales, margins and dividends. 

Companies are exceeding expectations across sales, margins, and dividends, indicating an improving economy despite some delayed data from the US government shutdown. 

Energy and Materials sectors are leading in performance and analyst upgrades, while Communications is the weakest sector.

At the time of writing (before US CPI release), the market was pricing a 99% chance of a 25bps Fed cut in October, and 92% chance of 50bps by year-end.

Key picks from AGM meeting

In its report, Macquarie highlighted a few companies as key picks. 

The standout is Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN). 

It is a leading global supplier of protective gloves and bodywear for use in healthcare and industrial settings.

Macquarie Research Equities expects a positive AGM, momentum is in Stage 2 and consensus is upgrading.

The broker also said Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) and NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) are buys for the rest of the AGM season. 

The post What's Macquarie's top pick for the third week of AGM season? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The good news is that this didn't stop some ASX 200 shares from recording very strong gains.

Let's now look at some of the best-performing shares on the benchmark index during the month:

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 index in September with a gain of 41%. There were a number of catalysts for the counter drone technology company's strong performance. One was its inclusion in the ASX 200 at the quarterly rebalance. In addition, it announced that it was significantly expanding its research and development (R&D) operations in the United States and revealed that it has surpassed 4,000 systems sold worldwide with the receipt of a package of two standalone contracts totalling $7.9 million for handheld systems for delivery to the U.S. Department of Defense. Finally, news that the EU wants to make a "drone wall" across its Eastern borders gave its shares a major boost late in the month.

Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP)

The Greatland Resources share price wasn't far behind with a gain of 35% last month. It was one of a number of ASX 200 gold shares that raced higher in September thanks to the booming gold price, which reached multiple record highs. The likes of Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) and Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) also stood out with gains of 34% and 32%, respectively, during the month.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas share price was on form and charged 21% higher last month. Investors were fighting to get hold of the rare earths producer's shares after the price of these elements surged. As we covered here, neodymium, which is a key ingredient in permanent magnets that power electric vehicles (EVs), was up 58% since the start of the year. In addition, the team at Morgan Stanley put an overweight rating on its shares with an improved price target of $14.75 (from $12.85). Though, its shares have now surpassed this.

NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH)

The NRW Holdings share price was a strong performer with a gain of 20.5%. A key driver of this was news that the contract services provider executed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Fredon Industries for an enterprise value of up to $200 million, on a debt free cash free basis. Management advised that Fredon has clear visibility on FY 2026 forecast earnings and is expected to generate revenue of ~$840 million and EBIT of ~$40 million.

The post These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall again on Thursday following a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 16 points or 0.2% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.6%, but the S&P 500 fell 0.1% and the Nasdaq dropped 0.3%.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a tough session on Thursday after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.8% to US$64.01 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.8% to US$67.93 a barrel. This was driven by concerns over US demand.

ASX 200 shares go ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are scheduled to go ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes infant formula company A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M), hearing solutions company Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) contractor NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH), and mining giant South32 Ltd (ASX: S32). The latter will be rewarding its shareholders with a fully franked 4 cents per share final dividend next month on 16 October.

Gold price tumbles

It could be a subdued session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.8% to US$3,693.8 an ounce. The precious metal dropped despite the US Federal Reserve cutting interest rates and suggesting two more cuts are coming this year.

Buy Sonic Healthcare shares

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $33.30 price target on the healthcare company's shares. It said: "Sonic Healthcare is a stock that looks attractive on a dividend screen, with rising yields and sustained earnings growth supporting the security of income for investors. SHL's performance has been inconsistent over previous periods where COVID-19 artificially inflated margins, as the business pivoted to provide testing services, with the subsequent decline post-COVID negatively impacting earnings."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday 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.

For those looking beyond the banks and blue-chip healthcare giants, industrials and infrastructure are emerging as compelling alternatives. These sectors offer exposure to essential services, government-backed projects, and structural tailwinds like population growth, the energy transition, and the digital economy. 

Four industrial stocks showing strong momentum

Duratec (ASX: DUR)
Duratec specialises in asset remediation and protective coatings. Its work helps extend the life of critical infrastructure, from bridges and ports to defence facilities. With governments and corporations alike focusing on maximising the use of existing assets rather than building from scratch, Duratec has seen growing demand. Its recent results highlighted a robust project pipeline and a steady lift in revenue, supporting share price gains in 2025.

Tasmea (ASX: TEA)
Tasmea is an integrated engineering and services group working across mining, utilities, and industrial clients. It generates a large share of revenue from recurring maintenance contracts, which provide visibility and resilience in uncertain times. The company has reported strong order book growth and is building a reputation as a reliable partner for essential industries. Investors have begun to notice, with Tasmea's shares steadily trending higher this year.

GenusPlus (ASX: GNP)
As Australia's energy grid shifts toward renewables, GenusPlus stands to benefit. The company provides design, construction, and maintenance services for electrical infrastructure, including transmission lines and substations. With major investment planned in renewable projects and interconnectors, GenusPlus is positioned squarely in the middle of the energy transition. The company recently posted rising earnings and a solid pipeline of contracted work, helping its shares outperform the broader market.

NRW Holdings (ASX: NWH)
NRW Holdings has become one of the most diversified contractors on the ASX, with exposure to mining, civil, and urban infrastructure projects. The company recently acquired Fredon, a specialist electrical services business, boosting its exposure to energy and resources. Its share price has surged over 75% in the past 6 months, prompting Macquarie to upgrade the stock to outperform with a higher price target. 

Classic ASX infrastructure plays

Vanguard Global Infrastructure ETF (ASX: VBLD)
For those seeking a broad approach, VBLD offers exposure to more than 130 infrastructure companies worldwide. Its largest weighting is to the United States, but it also holds assets across transport, energy, and telecommunications. Infrastructure spending is expected to exceed $80 trillion globally by 2040, and this fund gives investors a simple, diversified way to ride that megatrend.

Transurban (ASX: TCL)
Toll roads may not be glamorous, but they're some of the most dependable infrastructure assets around. Transurban operates major road networks in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and North America. Its revenues are often inflation-linked, while traffic volumes continue to climb with population growth. The company recently reported steady increases in toll revenue, reinforcing its reputation as a reliable income generator.

APA Group (ASX: APA)
APA owns and operates Australia's largest network of gas pipelines. While traditional energy assets face transition risks, APA has been diversifying into renewables and storage. Its regulated asset base provides steady cash flow, supporting dividends that appeal to income-focused investors. Management has flagged new growth opportunities as the energy system evolves, positioning APA as a defensive yet forward-looking infrastructure play.

NextDC (ASX: NXT)
Data centres have become critical infrastructure in the digital age. NextDC provides secure, high-capacity facilities for cloud providers, enterprises, and government clients. The company is expanding across Australia and Asia, with more than 100MW of capacity in development. Demand for cloud and artificial intelligence workloads is surging, and fund managers like WAM Leaders are bullish on its long-term growth prospects. NextDC has delivered solid earnings and guided to further revenue and operating earnings growth in FY26, making it a standout in digital infrastructure.

Foolish Takeaway

With some ASX blue chips stumbling, investors are increasingly searching for fresh growth and reliable income elsewhere. Industrials and infrastructure stocks combine defensive characteristics with exposure to megatrends such as energy transition, transport demand, and the rise of digital connectivity.

The post Where money is moving after ASX stalwarts stumble appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

On 9 April, shares in the contract services provider closed at one-year lows of $2.31.

Yesterday, NRW shares finished the day changing hands for $4.14 apiece. That sees shares up 79.2% in less than five months.

Taking a step back, shares in the ASX 200 industrials stock are up 19.7% since this time last year. Though that's not including the 16.5 cents per share in fully franked dividends the company paid eligible shareholders over the full year.

At yesterday's closing price, NRW shares trade on a fully franked dividend yield (partly trailing, partly pending) of 4.0%.

The final dividend of 9.5 cents per share is still up for grabs. If you'd like to bank that passive income, you'll need to own the stock at market close on 17 September. NRW shares trade ex-dividend on 18 September. You can then expect to get paid on 8 October.

Now, here's why Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) just boosted NRW Holdings to an outperform rating.

ASX 200 industrials stock makes key $200 million acquisition

On Tuesday, 2 September, NRW announced it had entered into a binding agreement to acquire Sydney-headquartered Fredon Industries for an enterprise value of up to $200 million.

Fredon provides multi service Electrical, Mechanical (HVAC), Infrastructure, Technology, and Maintenance services. According to the release, the company has a long track record of strong revenue growth and cash flow generation, "supported by a capital light operating model".

The ASX 200 industrials stock closed up 6.3% on the day as investors responded positively to the news.

Commenting on the acquisition, NRW CEO Jules Pemberton said, "Fredon represents a strategically and financially compelling acquisition for NRW, with the potential to drive further growth across the business and create long-term shareholder value."

Pemberton added:

Fredon is highly complementary to NRW's existing operations and, with its well-recognised brand and strong long term client relationships, provides an attractive platform to expand into adjacent disciplines…

With a combined workforce of around 11,500 people, broader geographic reach, and enhanced capabilities across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, we are well positioned to deliver an expanded range of services and project solutions to clients in the infrastructure, resources, and commercial sectors.

Why Macquarie raised NRW to outperform

The team at Macquarie sounded a positive note on the ASX 200 industrial stock's acquisition.

According to the broker:

The acquisition of Fredon creates a strategic "4th Pillar" of operations, labelled "EMIT" (Electrical, Mechanical, Infrastructure, Technology), complementing the existing Civil, Mining, and MET (Mining Equipment Technology) segments.

Fredon opens up new addressable markets driven by energy transition, electrification, automation and digital innovation. Fredon's current pipeline comprises 52% mechanical, 38% electrical, 7% infrastructure, and 3% technology.

Macquarie noted that Fredon has $1 billion of work in hand (WIH), a $3.6 billion pipeline, and around $2 billion of submitted tenders. The broker said this provides "good visibility into the forecast ~$840m FY26 revenue and an expected step-up in FY27".

Connecting the dots, Macquarie raised its target price for the ASX 200 industrials share to $4.45 (up from $3.95).

That's 7.5% above Thursday's closing price. And it doesn't include those upcoming FY 2026 dividends.

The post This ASX 200 industrials stock has surged 79% since April. Here's why Macquarie just upgraded it to outperform appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.