The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate (ASX: XRE) index has dropped more than 14% year to date. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 3% in the same period. 

Despite the fall, real estate remains an important part of the Australian economy. 

Real estate activities (including renting, buying, selling, and property services) make up a significant share of Australia's GDP.

Right now, there appears to be opportunity for investors to buy low on real estate shares and REITs.

The team at Bell Potter recently provided updated guidance on the sector. 

Here is where the broker sees opportunity. 

Little delineation last week 

In Monday's report, the broker said there was little delineation between REITs and the broader ASX 200 last week (-0.5%). 

However REITs are now -15% vs. XJO 3mths rolling and as our strategy team points to, it has been the key sector underperformer vs all others since start of the Middle East conflict.

We are positive low future supply, strong fundamentals sub-sectors though (retail particularly non-discretionary; industrial) – Buy Region Group (ASX: RGN), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI). 

Here's how these stocks are currently performing. 

Region Group (ASX: RGN)

Region Group specialises in leasing out convenience-focused properties that offer everyday goods and services. More than half of the rent is derived from specialty tenants, which are mostly non-discretionary, such as food and liquor, pharmacy and healthcare, and general services.

It is down roughly 3% since the start of the year and is trading today for approximately $2.28 per share. 

However, Bell Potter currently has a price target of $2.75 on the ASX real estate stock. 

This indicates an upside potential of approximately 20%. 

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) 

CIP is a real estate investment trust that owns around four billion dollars of industrial properties. These include manufacturing facilities, distribution warehouses, and data centres.

Its share price has fallen almost 11% year to date. 

Bell Potter's updated price target for this ASX real estate stock is $3.60, which is 22% higher than today's share price. 

It also offers a strong dividend yield.

Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI)

Dexus is an Australian real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of workplace-focused properties. 

Its share price is down 11.3% in 2026 and is changing hands today for approximately $2.38 per share. 

Bell Potter recently placed a share price target of $3.00. 

If this real estate stock hits this target, it would represent a 26% climb from today's share price. 

The post Where is opportunity in the ASX real estate sector? Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because the broker has just released its latest top Australian picks from the small-cap side of the market. These are its panel of favoured ASX shares that it believes offer attractive returns over the long term.

Two that make the list in April are named below. Here's why it is bullish on them:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

This sports technology company has been named as an ASX share to buy in April by the broker.

It likes Catapult due to its strong position in a market that is expected to double in value to US$72 billion by 2030.

Commenting on its recommendation, Bell Potter said:

Catapult Sports is a leading global provider of elite athlete wearing tracking solutions and analytics for athlete tracking. The key target market of Catapult is elite sporting teams and organisations and the acquisition of SBG also now gives the company a presence in motorsports. The pro sports technology market is currently valued at US$36bn in 2025 and is forecast to double to US$72bn by 2030.

We view CAT as a market leader entering a stronger phase of cash generation and operating leverage, with an underpenetrated global customer base and expanding analytics suite providing a long runway for subscription growth and valuation upside.

Region Re Ltd (ASX: RGN)

Bell Potter has added Region Group to its best ideas list in April. It is a neighbourhood shopping centre landlord which counts the likes of Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) as major tenants.

The broker believes the company is well-placed for both growth and to pay a generous dividend in the near term. It also highlights its attractive valuation, with the ASX share trading at a discount to its net tangible assets (NTA). Bell Potter explains:

We add Region Group (RGN), Australia's largest landlord of neighbourhood shopping centres – a portfolio of highly resilient income streams heavily weighted to non-discretionary retail tenants (Woolworths and Coles). The business delivered a solid 1H26 result with a pickup in NOI and an upgrade to full year FY26 guidance, which doesn't account for any potential acquisitions, buyback activity, and growth in its funds management platform.

RGN also ranks amongst the most hedged in its peer group, with interest costs largely locked in for the next two years (100% hedged for FY26, 87% hedged in FY27), providing strong earnings visibility and a buffer to rising funding costs. The stock trades at a -9% discount to NTA, 6.0% 1yr forward DPS yield, and is an internally managed REIT with a largely open register in one of the most attractive risk-adjusted sub-sectors of real estate.

The post Bell Potter names the best ASX shares to buy in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Region Group report?

• Extension of on-market buy-back for up to $100 million of RGN securities
• Buy-back period extended to 21 April 2027 (unless completed or terminated earlier)
• 14.4 million securities bought back to date at an average price of $2.298 per security
• Total value of securities bought back to date: $33.1 million
• Buy-back supports capital management and portfolio optimisation

What else do investors need to know?

The buy-back is being undertaken in line with the "10/12" rule of the Corporations Act 2001, ensuring regulatory compliance while affording flexibility. Region Group says the timing and number of shares bought back will depend on prevailing market conditions and share price.

This initiative aims to optimise the portfolio and maintain the company's capacity to fund ongoing capital requirements and future growth opportunities. Investors can view more details in the accompanying Appendix 3C released to the ASX.

What's next for Region Group?

Region Group remains focused on its strategy of ongoing portfolio optimisation and disciplined capital management. The continuation of the buy-back provides scope to support the share price while retaining capacity for growth initiatives.

Investors will be watching to see how Region Group balances returning funds to shareholders through buy-backs with investing in future developments and acquisitions.

Region Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Region Group shares have risen 5%, slightly trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Region Group extends $100m securities buy-back – earnings update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who believe that it could generate big returns for investors over the remainder of 2026.

Which ASX 200 stock?

The stock in question is Region Re Ltd (ASX: RGN). It is an internally managed REIT owning and managing a portfolio of approximately 100 neighbourhood and sub-regional shopping centres around Australia.

Bell Potter notes that the ASX 200 stock has released its half-year results and was pleased with what it saw. It said:

RGN announced its 1H26 result with FFO / share of 7.9c directly in-line with BPe and Visible Alpha consensus. FY26 guidance has been upgraded to FFO / share of 16.0c (was 15.9c, BPe 15.9c, VA 15.9c) and AFFO / DPS of 14.1c.

The broker also highlights that the company's outlook is improving. It adds:

Whilst not in our forecasts, we see potential avenues for further growth beyond stated guidance. Potential factors, which are not included in guidance, include: (1) further accretive acquisitions above RGN's marginal CoC, (2) further deployment of FUM with capital partner (pro-forma FUM now c.$840m vs FY25 $711.5m), (3) recommencement of buy-back (c.16% complete at $2.39 avg.).

Big potential returns

In response to the results, Bell Potter has reaffirmed its buy rating on the ASX 200 stock with an improved price target of $2.75.

Based on its current share price of $2.33, this implies potential upside of 18% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, the broker is expecting a dividend yield of approximately 6%. This boosts the total potential return to 24%.

Bell Potter highlights that the company's shares are trading at a discount to net tangible assets (NTA) despite offering a generous dividend yield and having a "strong runway."

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter concludes:

No change to our Buy recommendation. We continue to see strong runway for RGN, with interest expense variability largely hedged out and, in our view, conservative guidance amid the backdrop of improving property fundamentals, trading at 14.6x FY26e FFO and a -9% discount to NTA offering a 6.0% yield.

Our target price increases accounting for these earnings changes, roll forward of our valuations. Our DCF valuation increases +3.1% accounting for the above changes. Our SOTP increases by +0.3%, reflecting our updated assumption for -10bp cap rate compression in our NAV (vs. -15bp previously).

The post This ASX 200 stock has a 'strong runway' and offers a 24% total return appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Region share price is up 2.59% to $2.38. Over the past 12 months, the stock is around 10% higher.

Here are the details of the results.

Earnings and distributions move higher

Region reported Funds From Operations (FFO) of 7.9 cents per security, representing a 3.9% increase on the prior corresponding period.

Adjusted FFO (AFFO) came in at 6.9 cents per security, up 3%, reflecting additional capital deployed as vacancies were leased.

The interim distribution was declared at 6.9 cents per security. That represents a payout ratio of 87% of FFO and 100% of AFFO, in line with management's stated distribution framework.

Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) rose sharply to $180 million, up from $81.8 million a year earlier. This increase was driven largely by higher investment property valuations rather than operating income.

Operating performance remains steady

Operationally, the portfolio delivered modest but consistent growth.

Comparable net operating income increased by 3.7% during the half, supported by supermarket sales growth of 3.1% and non-discretionary specialty sales growth of 3.3%.

Portfolio occupancy improved to 97.7%, up 20 basis points from June 2025. Specialty vacancy declined to 4.5%, down from 5.4% six months earlier.

Average specialty rent rose to $930 per square metre, representing annualised growth of 5% since December 2022. Fixed rent reviews averaged 4.3% and were applied across 96% of specialty and kiosk tenants.

During the period, 177 specialty leasing deals were completed, with average leasing spreads of 3.4% and tenant retention of 79%.

Balance sheet and capital management

Assets under management increased to $5.4 billion, up 3.9% since June, supported by valuation gains and fund growth.

Net tangible assets rose to $2.56 per security, up 3.6% over the half.

Gearing stood at 32.7%, which sits at the lower-end of Region's 30% to 40% target range. The company reported a weighted average cost of debt of 2.89%, with 100% of debt hedged or fixed.

Region also continued its on-market security buyback, purchasing 6.7 million securities at an average price of $2.39, for total consideration of $16 million.

Outlook and guidance

Management upgraded FY26 earnings guidance.

Region now expects FFO of 16 cents per security for the full year, up from prior guidance of 15.9 cents. AFFO guidance was maintained at 14.1 cents per security.

Target distribution payout ratios remain approximately 90% of FFO and 100% of AFFO.

Foolish Takeaway

Region's half-year result shows steady income growth, improving occupancy, and disciplined capital management.

The headline profit lift was largely valuation-driven, with underlying earnings growth continuing at a steady pace.

The post This ASX retail REIT just reported its half-year results. Here's what stood out appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Region Group report?

• Greg Chubb to become CEO and Managing Director from 9 March 2026
• Anthony Mellowes to step back from day-to-day operations on 8 March 2026
• Mellowes to remain with the company until 31 May 2026 to support the transition
• ASX announcement confirms Board authorisation of the succession plan

What else do investors need to know?

The Board has confirmed that Anthony Mellowes will assist with handover during his remaining tenure, aiming for a smooth leadership transition. This change forms part of a planned succession, as announced in September 2025, with no disruption expected to daily business operations.

Region Group emphasises its commitment to keeping investors updated on leadership changes and assures that Greg Chubb's experience aligns with its ongoing strategy.

What's next for Region Group?

With Greg Chubb set to take the reins in March, Region Group is focused on ensuring a seamless leadership transition. The company expects business to continue as usual during the changeover, with ongoing support from Anthony Mellowes.

Investors can look forward to hearing more about Greg's vision for Region Group closer to his official start date. The company will update the market as further details emerge.

Region Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Region Group shares have risen 10%, running ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period. 

View Original Announcement

The post Region Group names Greg Chubb as new CEO and Managing Director appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

They have revealed a number of shares that they believe are best buys right now and could offer good returns in 2026. Let's see what the broker is bullish on in January:

Region Group (ASX: RGN)

The first ASX share that could be a best buy is Region Group. It offers a defensive way to gain exposure to Australian retail property. The company owns a portfolio of neighbourhood and sub-regional shopping centres anchored by supermarkets and essential services. This positioning helps stabilise rental income, as demand for food, healthcare, and everyday services tends to hold up even when discretionary spending softens.

Bell Potter sees value in Region Group's focus on convenience-based retail, which benefits from high foot traffic and resilient tenant demand. With inflation-linked rental growth and improving operating conditions across parts of the retail property sector, the broker believes the company is well placed to deliver steady income and long-term value for investors. It said:

Whilst the immediate catalyst is valuation uplift, we also see a strong case for medium-term rental growth (c.15% under rented vs. benchmark; 9.7% specialty occupancy cost ratio is low vs historical levels/peers), adding to our longer-term conviction in the stock.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Another ASX share that Bell Potter is bullish on is Telix Pharmaceuticals. It specialises in radiopharmaceuticals used in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, which is an area of medicine that continues to attract strong interest and investment globally.

Its flagship products and development pipeline position Telix at the heart of medical innovation and increasing demand for more targeted cancer therapies.

Bell Potter is positive on Telix's commercial momentum and longer-term growth outlook. As adoption of its products expands and new therapies progress through development, the broker believes Telix has the potential to deliver strong earnings growth over time. Especially with potential product approvals on the horizon. It said:

We are confident regarding the approval in CY 2026 of Zircaix following resubmission of the Biological License Application (BLA). The FDA rejected the original BLA due to CMC (chemistry manufacturing & control) matters at Telix's manufacturing partner. There were no matters related to safety or efficacy.

We expect the market for Zircaix once approved will be in excess of US$500m. The product has been included in guidelines for disease management in the US and Europe and continues to be available in the US under the expanded access program. Elsewhere, sales of Iluuccix/ Gozellix in the PSMA franchise continue to grow and were recently boosted by the refresh on the pass through pricing.

The post Bell Potter says these ASX shares are best buys in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In a note to clients on the broker's tips for 2026, the Bell Potter team said there were a number of reasons to be positive on the sector, "and expect that macro-driven weakness could be met with valuation support''.

This was because they expected earnings growth to come from a variety of factors, including growth in rental incomes, the potential for debt-funded acquisitions, and stable underlying property fundamentals with occupancy rates strong across most sectors except for offices.

So who do they like in the sector?

Aspen Group (ASX: APZ)

This real estate investor targets the provision of "affordable accommodation" to households with income of less than $100,000, Bell Potter says, adding that it is a "very defensive" market segment.

It went on to say:

The national undersupply equation means that this will remain a crucial pillar of the housing market and will be upheld by robust demand and government subsidy for the foreseeable future.

The Bell Potter team said they see "strong runway ahead" for Aspen, which upgraded its earnings outlook in its first-quarter update, and there was "further risk to the upside" for the remainder of the year.

Aspen is a recent ASX300 inclusion but remains under-owned across the market, and recent inclusion into EPRA NAREIT should underpin additional index/ passive buying.

Bell Potter has a $5.95 price target on Aspen shares compared with $5.57 currently.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Centuria, the Bell Potter team said, is Australia's largest pure-play industrial real estate investment trust, with $3.9 billion in total assets.

The trust's portfolio is 85% metro infill, mostly on the eastern seaboard, diversified across 87 assets altogether.

The Bell Potter team went on to say:

The capital transaction market for industrial has improved significantly across calendar year 2025, and indeed, we see strong runway for the sector and in turn valuations into calendar year 2026 with material levels of dry powder capital already raised awaiting deployment.  Centuria provides access to a best in class, scaled, east coast portfolio of industrial property yet trades at a circa 14% discount to net tangible assets.

Bell Potter has a $3.65 price target on the shares compared with $3.37 currently.

Region Group (ASX: RGN)

This company is Australia's largest landlord of neighbourhood shopping centres, Bell Potter said, with its 100 or so assets providing "highly resilient" income, with about 90% of rent derived from non-discretionary tenants.

The Bell Potter team went on to say:

As a result Region has historically (and likely will continue to) outperformed the market during volatile equity markets – a characteristic we find particularly attractive in the current climate.

The analysts said there were several positive signals in the market, including robust population growth, strong non-discretionary tenant sales, an undersupply of retail floor space, and increased capital appetite for the sector.

They added:

Whilst the immediate catalyst is valuation uplift, we also see a strong case for medium-term rental growth.

Bell Potter has a $2.70 price target on the shares compared with $2.44 currently.

The post Bell Potter favours these three real estate stocks heading into 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Region Group report?

• Total investment property portfolio valuation increased from $4,374.1 million to $4,503.3 million.
• "Like-for-like" portfolio valuation rose by $95.7 million over the half.
• Weighted average capitalisation rate improved by 0.10% to 5.87%.
• Pro forma gearing sits at 32.6%, within management's 30%–40% target range.
• NTA per unit increased by 8 cents to $2.55, assuming no other balance sheet changes.

What else do investors need to know?

A total of 21 properties, or just over a quarter of the Region Group portfolio by value, were externally valued. This resulted in a $30.6 million valuation increase for these assets. The remainder of the properties were internally valued, contributing an additional $98.6 million increase.

Management said the updated valuations provide greater confidence in the group's balance sheet strength and help support prudently-managed gearing. The group continues to focus on disciplined capital expenditure and maintaining a diverse property base.

What's next for Region Group?

Looking ahead, Region Group is maintaining its focus on portfolio quality and conservative gearing. With a target gearing range of 30% to 40% and a capitalisation rate now at 5.87%, the company is well positioned to respond to future changes in market conditions.

The group indicated it will continue investing strategically in its existing properties to drive incremental value over time. Shareholders can expect ongoing updates on valuations and the group's approach to capital management.

Region Group share price snapshot

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

View Original Announcement

The post Region Group grows property valuations in December 2025 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Region Group report in FY25?

• FFO of 15.5 cents per security, up from 15.4 cents in FY24
• Adjusted FFO (AFFO) of 13.7 cents per security, up from 13.6 cents in FY24
• Distribution of $159.1 million, equating to 13.7 cents per security (100% of AFFO)
• Statutory profit after tax of $212.5 million, up from $17.3 million last year
• Assets Under Management of $5.2 billion, an 8.7% increase on FY24
• Net Tangible Asset (NTA) per security increased to $2.47

What else do investors need to know?

Region Group's portfolio now spans 100 retail properties, anchored heavily by major supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles. The business reported comparable net operating income growth of 3.2% thanks to strong leasing and expense management.

During FY25, Region acquired a new neighbourhood centre, divested non-core assets, and invested $75 million into portfolio developments, sustainability projects, and value creation opportunities. Occupancy remains high at 97.5%, with the majority of expiring tenants retained.

What's next for Region Group?

Looking forward, Region Group plans to drive sustainable earnings by maintaining strong leasing performance, increasing fixed rent reviews, and focusing on expense management. Management aims to strategically grow the portfolio through selective acquisitions and divestments while continuing capital management initiatives such as the ongoing security buy-back.

Assuming market conditions remain steady, the company has reaffirmed FY26 guidance for at least 15.9 cents per security in FFO and 14.0 cents per security in AFFO.

Region Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Region Group shares have increased 7%, running slightly behind the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has increased 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Region Group holds its AGM after positing higher profit and resilient returns in FY25 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a decent start to the week following a good finish to the last one on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 24 points or 0.3% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.4%, the S&P 500 rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.7% higher.

Oil prices weaken

It looks set to be a subdued start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices fell on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 1.4% to US$62.68 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 1.1% to US$66.68 a barrel. This may have been driven by news that the US plans to put further sanctions on Russia.

New Hope goes ex-dividends

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares are going ex-dividend on Monday morning and could trade lower today. The coal miner released its full year results earlier this month and declared a fully franked final dividend of 15 cents per share. This will be paid to eligible shareholders next month on 8 October.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good start to the week after the gold price pushed higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up a 0.75% to US$ 3,705.8 an ounce. Traders were buying gold amid optimism over the US Federal Reserve's rate cut outlook.

Buy Region shares

Region Re Ltd (ASX: RGN) shares could be a top option for investors in the real estate sector according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $2.70 price target on the convenience-based retail property company. It said: "[W]e see clear signs for further valuation growth, especially considering RGN's strong weighting to higher value east coast land, noting some of these comps are non-east coast locations. Despite this, RGN, the largest owner of neighbourhood centres in the country (c.7% of highly fragmented market), still trades at a slight -1.2% discount to NTA vs. a c.15-20% premium during prior growth cycles, and our view for -20-30bps cap rate compression on a 12m view in sector NAV vals."

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

Some REITs focus on commercial real estate like offices, hospitals, shopping centres, warehouses etc. 

Others specialise in residential property investment.

Adding these holdings to your portfolio can be a great strategy to get exposure to Australia's real estate market. This could be particularly appealing to investors that don't have the capital to invest in physical real estate, but still want the upside of this sector. 

Fundamentals are building

Over the weekend, broker Bell Potter released a report analysing the ASX REIT market. 

In the report, Bell Potter said fundamentals continue to improve in Australia's retail real estate market as new supply fails to keep up with growing appetite for space.

Population growth remains robust, and retail turnover is growing, up +1.2% in June (vs. expectations for +0.4%). As per our CoTW, vacancy is now just 4.9% nationally after 6 consecutive periods of decreases (or flat movement).

Development still doesn't stack up, with new supply in Q2 falling -53% short of the 10yr average.

The broker said experts noted the opportunity lies within strategic buying (calling out NSW & VIC) in high growth catchments and uplift opportunities through remixing.

Which ASX REITs are set to benefit?

Based on the brokers analysis, there are three ASX REITs with significant upside – all receiving a "buy" recommendation.

The first is Region Group (ASX: RGN). Region Group specialises in leasing out convenience-focused properties that offer everyday goods and services.

We continue to remain positive on RGN (Buy; TP: $2.65) which is the largest landlord of neighbourhood-based shopping centres in Australia, with strong exposure to the east coast and ample opportunity to push rents.

Based on its current share price of $2.35, the broker expects approximately 12.8% upside. 

The ASX REIT with the highest upside according to Bell Potter is HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC). 

HMC currently has more than $7.5 billion of assets under management (AUM) across real estate and private equity strategies. 

Bell Potter has a $8.15 price target, which indicates an upside of 124.5% from its current share price of $3.63. 

Thirdly, Bell Potter has tipped upside for Goodman Group (ASX: GMG). 

It specialises in industrial and commercial properties, owning, developing, and managing a global portfolio worth around $80 billion.

The broker has a price target of $39.35, which indicates an upside of approximately 11%. 

The post Bell Potter's buy recommendations in the ASX REIT sector appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

They have been named by analysts at Bell Potter as the best ASX real estate shares to buy in FY 2026. Here's what it is recommending:

Aspen Group Ltd (ASX: APZ)

The first share that gets the thumbs up from Bell Potter is Aspen Group. It is a leading provider of quality, affordable accommodation to Australian households with income under $100,000 per annum.

Bell Potter believes it is in a strong position to grow its earnings at a solid rate in the coming years. It explains:

The group has a sector agnostic, high ROE focus on sub-sectors that are nonfungible and repeatable over time. APZ's target tenant/owner sits within a very defensive segment of the market – affordable living. The national undersupply equation means that this will remain a crucial pillar of the housing market and will be upheld by robust demand and government subsidy for the foreseeable future.

APZ has upgraded guidance 3 times in FY25, and has recently stated intentions for at least 10% EPS growth over the medium term (we see upside to this, BPe c.13% 3 year EPS CAGR).

The broker has a buy rating and $3.90 price target on its shares.

Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP)

Another ASX real estate share that could be a buy is property developer Cedar Woods.

The broker believes that it is well-placed for growth thanks to Australia's chronic housing shortage. It said:

CWP's pipeline is diversified by product type, price point and geography, enabling them to maintain smooth earnings throughout the cycle to ride the tailwind that is Australia's undersupply of housing.

We believe CWP is being held down (c.+15% premium to NTA vs long-term +30%) by noise from larger residential peers, and not being appropriately rated by the market (only 11x & 10x 1 year & 2 year FWD PE) for its exposure (soon to be earnings) to stronger markets such as WA, SA and SEQ. The longstanding management have a track record of being conservative (and beating) guidance, so the (1) +15% NPAT growth target set in April and (2) commentary around strong growth in FY26 demonstrates the strong level of confidence in how things are going.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $7.30 price target on its shares.

Region Re Ltd (ASX: RGN)

Finally, Australia's largest landlord of neighbourhood shopping centres could be an ASX real estate share to buy in FY 2026 according to the broker.

It thinks its shares are being undervalued by the market, creating an opportunity for investors. The broker explains:

At current levels (trading in-line with NTA) we believe the market is not ascribing any value to the likelihood of cap rate compression (and hence valuation growth) across RGN's portfolio. This is despite several positive signals in the direct market: robust population growth, strong non-discretionary tenant sales, undersupply of retail floorspace and increased capital appetite for neighbourhood retail assets.

Whilst the immediate catalyst is valuation uplift, we also see a strong case for medium-term rental growth (c.15% under rented vs. benchmark; 8.9% occupancy cost low vs historical levels/peers), adding to our longer-term conviction in the stock.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.65 price target on its shares.

The post The best ASX real estate shares to buy in FY26 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 post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

On Friday, the financial market indices provider announced its latest changes that will become effective prior to the open of trading on Monday 18 March.

These changes were revealed following its March quarterly review and will see some big names entering and exiting the major indices.

Earlier today, we looked at the new additions and the exits from the benchmark ASX 200 index.

Now let's see what changes are being made to the illustrious ASX 100 index.

ASX 100 index changes

According to the release, travel agent giant Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) and high-flying health imaging technology provider Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) will be joining the index in two weeks.

They will be replacing alumina producer Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC) and Region Re Ltd (ASX: RGN). It was previously known as Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group and is an internally managed shopping centre focused real estate investment trust.

While being kicked out of the ASX 100 index could be a blow to Region, it probably won't mean much for Alumina. That's because it could be leaving the ASX boards in the not so distant future.

Last week, the company received a non-binding, indicative, and conditional proposal from Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA), and the two parties entered into a transaction process and exclusivity deed.

What else was announced?

In other news, there has been one change made in the ultra-exclusive ASX 50 index.

Joining the index later this month will be insurance giant QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE). It will be taking the place of gold miner Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), which has been demoted.

The post Guess which are the 2 newest members of the ASX 100 index appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Rather unusually, the ASX 200 managed to rise today even though we saw a lot of red ink on Wall Street overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a bumpy but overall negative showing, falling by 0.04% last night, while the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dropped far harder, recording a loss of 1.16%.

Let's now dive in for a look at which ASX 200 sectors were behind these happy rises on the local share market though.

Winners and losers

As you might expect, it was a sunny day for most ASX sectors this Tuesday. Miners and real estate investment trusts (REITs) led the way, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) rising by 1.16% and 1.95% respectively.

Financials shares also had a solid session, exemplified by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) clocking a 0.66% gain.

ASX energy shares also had a decent showing, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) lifting by 0.21%. As well, ASX consumer staples shares enjoyed the green today, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) recording a 0.3% rise.

Turning to the more disappointing corners of the market, today's worst-performing sector turned out to be communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lost 0.65% of its value.

ASX tech shares and industrials were also dragging down the markets. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) shed 0.37%, while the S&P/ASX Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) lost 0.06%.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Let's now see which ASX shares led today's charge higher. The share that gets the best-performing crown today goes to KFC-operator Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF). Collins rocketed a whopping 17.68% to finish up at $9.25 after posting a very well-received earnings report for FY2023.

Here are the other ASX stars of today's trading:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making 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.

An ex-dividend date is the day that investors buying shares will no longer be entitled to the declared dividend, or distribution. For example, if the ex-dividend date is 26 June 2023, then investors need to own shares by the end of trading on 25 June 2023.

Also, it's common for the share price of a business to drop on the ex-dividend date, because investors have lost out on the value of the dividend.

I'm going to tell you about nine ASX 200 shares that are going ex-dividend really soon.

Arena REIT No 1 (ASX: ARF)

The childcare centre real estate investment trust (REIT) has an ex-distribution date of 29 June 2023, which is the upcoming Thursday, so 28 June 2023 is the last day to gain entitlement to the 4.2 cents per unit distribution.

This quarterly payment will be paid on 3 August 2023.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

This is a large REIT focused on industrial properties in metropolitan areas. The ex-distribution date is this upcoming Thursday. That means 28 June 2023 is the last day investors can buy this stock to get access to the payment of 4 cents per share.

The cash will head to investors from the ASX 200 share on 18 August 2023.

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (ASX: CQE)

This is another REIT that owns a lot of childcare centre buildings. The ex-dividend date for this one is 29 June 2023 as well, which is Thursday. Investors have until 28 June 2023 to buy shares and gain entitlement to the distribution.

The payment date for this is 21 July 2023.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH)

The ASX 200 healthcare share is going to go ex-dividend on 26 June 2023, which is the upcoming Monday. That means today is the last day to buy shares to receive the NZ27 cent dividend.

There's quite a quick turnaround with this dividend payment, with the payment date being 7 July 2023.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman is one of the largest industrial property businesses in the world. The ex-distribution date is 29 June 2023, which is next Thursday. The last date to buy shares is 28 June 2023 to ensure entitlement to the upcoming distribution of 15 cents per security.

The payment date for this distribution is 25 August 2023.

GPT Group (ASX: GPT)

GPT Group is another large property business. The ex-distribution date is 29 June 2023, which is next Thursday. The last date to buy units is 28 June 2023 to ensure entitlement to the upcoming distribution of 12.5 cents per security.

Investors will get the distribution on 31 August 2023.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT owns a portfolio of shopping centres that are leased to various tenants. The ex-distribution date from the ASX 200 share is 29 June 2023, which is next Thursday. The last date to buy shares is 28 June 2023 to ensure entitlement to the upcoming distribution of 2.075 cents per unit.

The payment date for this upcoming payout is 30 August 2023.

Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)

Mirvac is an ASX 200 share that is a property business across different sectors, including residential, retail, office and industrial.

The ex-distribution date from the ASX 200 share is 29 June 2023, which is next Thursday. The last date to buy shares is 28 June 2023 to ensure entitlement to the upcoming distribution of 5.3 cents per security.

The payment date is 31 August 2023.

Region Re Ltd (ASX: RGN)

It's the owner of a portfolio of shopping centres around Australia. The ex-distribution date from this is 29 June 2023, which is next Thursday. The last date to buy shares is 28 June 2023 to ensure entitlement to the upcoming distribution of 7.7 cents per security.

The planned payment date for this one is 31 August 2023.

The post 9 ASX 200 shares trading ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That was despite the market's major sectors posting a daily loss.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) fell 1.6% amid lower oil prices.

The Brent crude oil price slipped 0.3% to US$93.26 a barrel overnight while the US Nymex crude oil price dropped 0.6% to US$84.58 a barrel.

It was also a rough day for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), which slumped 1.2% following yesterday's 2.5% gain.

However, their falls were offset by the ASX 200's remaining nine sectors, which all gained as the federal government prepared to hand down its budget tonight.

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) and the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) led the way, lifting 1.7% and 1.6% respectively.

But which ASX 200 share outperformed all others on Tuesday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top performing stock was Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA). Shares in the lithium favourite lifted nearly 11% despite no news having been released by the company.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making 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.