At the start of 2026, fundies had high hopes for global small-caps given many Western nations, including the US, appeared poised to cut interest rates.

The war in Iran has changed that outlook.

A two-week ceasefire is now in place, however, the shock to energy supplies will take months to filter throughout Western economies.

Given oil's flow-through effect to so many parts of the economy, including grocery prices, the impact may be enough to push up inflation.

Central banks are likely to respond by either hiking rates, or delaying previously anticipated rate cuts.

In Australia, inflation was resurgent even before the war began.

We've had two rate hikes already this year, and the market is pricing in a 60% chance of another one next month.

Higher interest rates are typically a headwind for small-caps, which are typically young companies using debt to fund their growth.

Here are 3 ASX small-cap shares that fund manager, Blackwattle, is backing for solid growth.

Blackwattle holds all three of these ASX shares in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX: LIN)

The Lindian Resources share price is 88 cents, up 1.4% today.

This ASX rare earths mining share rose 26% over the past month, and is 782% higher over the past year.

Portfolio managers Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren said:

Lindian Resources (+24.7%) is a rare earths miner in the final stages of bringing online its lead project, Kangankunde.

This is a unique asset given its low mining cost and extremely low capex requirements versus other rare earth projects globally.

For these reasons the company should be able to transition to production quickly, with first ore due later this year.

In March, Lindian announced a JV with a rare earths processor, which will allow it to produce a higher-grade concentrate.

This has materially increased the value of the company as it captures more of the value chain and taps into Western markets looking to pivot away from China supply.

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

The Ridley Corporation share price is steady at $2.74 on Thursday.

This small-cap ASX agribusiness share rose 2% over the past month, and is 14% higher over 12 months.

Blackwattle also holds this ASX share in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Hawkesford and Broeren comment:

While the business may appear on the boring side, the excitement for us comes from the operational improvements executed by the management team under the current CEO, Quinton Hildebrand.

Hildebrand has guided the share price from 75c in 2020 to $2.90 by taking a strict focus on ROIC discipline.

Looking forward we are particularly excited about what can be delivered from the newly acquired fertiliser business, Incitec Pivot.

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)

Superloop shares are $3.23, up 0.8% today.

This small-cap ASX telecommunications share rose 13% over the past month, and is 60% higher over 12 months.

Hawkesford and Broeren said:

Shares rose strongly in February following a well-received 1H26 result that demonstrated clear operating leverage and broad-based growth across all key metrics and segments.

Superloop continues to take market share from incumbent telecommunications providers, supported by its competitively priced high-speed broadband offerings and vertically integrated network.

Management commentary also reinforced confidence in the company's growth trajectory, with continued subscriber additions and
improving scale across the platform expected to drive meaningful earnings expansion over the coming years.

The post 3 ASX small-cap shares this fund manager expects to outperform appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some ex-dividend dates next week

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

These companies reported half-year results in late February, contrubuting to a mostly positive outlook from the broker. 

Here's what Morgans had to say. 

Ridley delivers strong results

Ridley provides and markets stock feed and animal feed supplements.

In late February, the consumer staples company saw its share price soar after investors reacted positively to earnings results. 

Investors gobbled up these ASX shares after the company reported a large increase in first-half net profit and revenue.

Its share price is now up 13.5% year to date. 

Morgans said the 1H26 result was stronger than expected and that the Integrated Poultry Feed (IPF) segment is off to a solid start. 

RIC's outlook comments were stronger than expected for Bulk Stockfeeds and IPF but softer for the Packaged Feeds & Ingredients (PF&I). Pleasingly, IPF synergies have been upgraded to A$15m from A$7m previously. We have revised our forecasts. RIC's new FY26-28 Growth Plan will be released at its Investor Strategy Day on 10-11 March. We view this event as the next catalyst for the stock.

Based on this guidance, Morgans said it remains positive on the group's future prospects and maintains its accumulate rating. 

It also maintained its $3.20 price target.

From yesterday's closing price of $2.94, this indicates 8.84% upside.

Peoplein has plenty of upside according to Morgans

Peoplein is a workforce solutions company operating in Australia and New Zealand. The company's services include recruiting, contracting, onboarding, rostering, timesheet management, payroll, and workplace health and safety management.

It released H1 FY26 results on February 20. 

Earnings results in line with expectations at $16.1m, while ongoing operating EBITDA of $10.5m declined 9.2%. 

Morgans said the result reflected its streamlined business, following the sale of its Health and Community operations in late CY25. 

Key P&L metrics improved hoh, while still falling short of the prior year, suggesting any earnings recovery is still unproven. To this end, we continue to believe that PPE is producing cyclically low earnings, with the improvement hoh still too early to be called a trend.

Based on this guidance, Morgans retained its speculative buy recommendation on these ASX shares. 

It also maintained its $0.95 price target, which is around 45% upside from yesterday's close price.

The broker commented:

Whilst tentative, we see some early signs of improvement and reiterate our Speculative Buy recommendation and $0.95/sh price target.

The post Are these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after earnings results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In a statement to the ASX on Thursday, the company said revenue had increased 55.8% to $1.026 billion, while net profit was up 137.4% to $52.7 million.

Shareholders rewarded

Ridley also boosted its interim dividend, paying 5.1 cents per share for the first half, up from 4.75 cents for the same period the previous year.

Earnings per share for the company jumped from 6.7 cents for the first half of FY25 to 14 cents per share for the most recent half.

Breaking the result down by divisions, Ridley said the bulk stock feeds division contributed EBITDA of $27.1 million, up 24.8% on the previous corresponding period.

The company added:

The increase in segment earnings was driven by improved volumes across the majority of monogastric and ruminant species. Volumes sold in the dairy, beef and sheep sectors improved compared to the previous corresponding period, and poultry volumes were higher on a 'like-for-like' basis after adjusting for the impact of the lost Wasleys volumes following the sale of that plant in June FY25. Procurement margins also improved, as a result of buying strategies across the network. Improved efficiency was experienced across our manufacturing sites, supported by de bottlenecking projects completed in recent years.

The packaged feeds and ingredients division contributed EBITDA of $25.6 million, which was a 28.5% decline.

Ridley said this was driven by lower commodity prices for key ingredient recovery products such as meals, oils, and tallow.

The Incitec Pivot Fertilisers Distribution (IPF) business was acquired by Ridley on September 30, and contributed $10.3 million in earnings from that date.

The company added:

The contribution relates to what is seasonally a low demand quarter. The contribution of $10.3m compares with $8.6m1 (for the adjusted distribution business under previous ownership) in the previous corresponding period, despite lower sales volumes. The business continues to focus on margin management and cost control, which were the key drivers of the improved operating result.

Books looking solid

Ridley said its balance sheet remained strong.

Despite the acquisition of IPF (net assets acquired of $489.5m), the net debt only increased by $321.2m in the six month period, with the business benefitting from an improvement in working capital, adjusted by the increase in dividends, capex, tax and interest, primarily associated with the acquisition. The strong cashflow and debt position has supported the proposed increase in the interim dividend to 5.10 cps, fully franked.

On the outlook, the company said it would provide more details in early March; however, it expected earnings growth to be driven by a full contribution from the IPF business, increased market share and volume-related efficiency in the bulk stock feeds division, and processing improvements in the packaged feeds and ingredients division.

Ridley Corporation shares were 18.3% higher in early trade at $2.91. The company was valued at $922 million at Wednesday's close.

The post Which rural products company's shares are up almost 20% on solid results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Last week, The Motley Fool's Bronwyn Allen compared the performance of all 11 ASX sectors for 2025.

Coming in a disappointing 8th place was consumer staples shares. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples index (ASX:XSJ) rose just 1.43% for the year. 

For comparison, the best performing sector – materials – rose more than 31%. 

Why buy consumer staples shares?

Consumer staples shares play an important role in the economy for the everyday punter. 

These companies provide essential goods and services. 

Essentially, consumer staples are items people need rather than want, so they will continue to buy regardless of their financial situation. 

This provides some defensive advantages, as they aren't linked to market conditions as heavily as other sectors. 

For example, consumer discretionary items like electronics, travel and luxury goods are far more dependent on economic conditions and cash flow. 

If household spending is tight, you aren't going to book an overseas holiday or buy a new luxury car. 

However you still need groceries, fuel etc. 

This is the appeal of consumer staples shares. 

Two consumer staples shares with upside 

Amongst the sector that fell flat last year, there were two that fell substantially that now may present value. 

The first is Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING). 

If the name sounds familiar, that's because Inghams supplies poultry products, notably to major Australian supermarkets Woolworths and Coles, and quick-service restaurants including McDonalds and KFC.

The company has a dominant position in the poultry market in both Australia and New Zealand. 

In the last 12 months, its share price is down more than 20%. 

The first reason it may be an attractive stock is its healthy dividend. 

It is projected to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of more than 7% this year. It's hard to find a yield better than that. 

This is significantly above the ASX 200 average of 3.5%.

Furthermore, analysts' price targets suggest its current share price is below fair value. 

Estimates from TradingView and online brokerage platform SelfWealth list it as undervalued by between 4-11%. 

Another consumer staples stock that could be undervalued is Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC).

It is an animal feed manufacturer, engaged in the production and market of stock feed and animal feed supplements.

Its share price is down 4% over the last 12 months. 

This is despite solid earnings in FY25 including  EBITDA climbing 8.6% on FY24. 

SelfWealth lists this stock as undervalued by 33%, while average analyst ratings on TradingView includes a one year price target 30% higher than current levels. 

It also offers a dividend yield above 3%.

The post Two ASX consumer staples shares to buy on the cheap appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For context, in 2025, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up roughly 5%. 

The best performing sectors have been industrials and materials. These sectors have risen between 11-20% so far. 

However, when sectors underperform, there can be an opportunity to buy low. 

Here are two consumer staples shares that might fit that profile. 

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Endeavour Group is the largest consumer staples stock other than supermarket giants Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). 

It is an alcoholic beverages retailer, hotel operator, and poker machines operator. 

Endeavour's portfolio includes Australia's largest retail drinks network mainly across its Dan Murphy's and BWS brands. These account for approximately half of all off-premises retail liquor sales in Australia. 

Its share price has fallen almost 11% in 2025. 

Experts noted the company's financial results may have fallen below expectations this year. 

However, there could be a rebound for these consumer staples shares in 2026. 

It was amongst Macquarie's top picks in the sector earlier this month. 

The broker said on-premise alcohol sales have strengthened as well, rising about 3% year-on-year, potentially helped by the first Ashes test in late November.

Furthermore, in a report out of Bell Potter on December 12, the broker said it prefers Woolworths and Endeavour Group competitor over Coles. 

It expects the two to show better-looking growth numbers in the future and to benefit more from people spending outside the home.

A continued preference for WOW/EDV over COL citing the cycling of softer comps in 2Q26-3Q26 due to supply chain issues in FY25 and the greater exposure they offer to OOH.

With the broker's price target of $4.30, there is a potential upside of almost 15%. 

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

Ridley Corporation is another consumer staples share that has underperformed this year.

The company is an animal feed manufacturer, engaged in the production and market of stock feed and animal feed supplements.

In 2025, its share price has fallen 5% despite the company posting solid earnings in FY25. 

The FY25 EBITDA from continuing operations was $97.8 million, up 8.6% on FY24. 

Therefore, it could also be a buy-low opportunity within the sector.

Shares closed yesterday at $2.56 each. However TradingView has a 12 month price target of $3.35. 

This indicates an upside of more than 30%. 

The post Are these two struggling consumer staples shares a bargain? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

Investing ideas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy investing!

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

Three that have been given accumulate ratings are named below. Here's what the broker is saying about them:

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Morgans was pleased with this automotive retailer's recent update, which revealed a significant investment by Mitsubishi and its expansion into Canada through the acquisition of a 65% interest in CanadaOne. It said:

APE has executed on two highly strategic transactions: 1) taking a majority interest (65%) in CanadaOne Auto; and 2) Mitsubishi Corporation acquiring 20% of EA132. As part of the transactions, APE is conducting an underwritten entitlement offer (to raise A$452m) and Mitsubishi is investing A$50m in APE via a placement. The combined deals are ~15% EPS accretive (on LTM financials to June-25). APE's opportunity set has expanded, with the business having levers for a material earnings step-up over time across: domestic franchise auto (market share and margin); Canadian auto retail (significant market share opportunity); Independent used (global opportunities); and ancillary opportunities (enabled by scale).

The broker has put an accumulate rating and $33.35 price target on its shares.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

Another ASX 300 share that Morgans has been looking at is coal miner New Hope. It notes that the company delivered a solid result in FY 2025. And given its belief that the thermal coal price has found a floor, it is feeling positive. Especially for patient value investors. It explains:

NHC delivered increased production through FY25, reduced its FOB costs, and maintained both a high dividend yield and a strong net cash position, reinforcing its operational discipline and financial resilience. NHC's strengthening production profile is underpinned by low-cost, high-margin, long-life assets. We think that thermal coal pricing has found its natural floor and that NHC offers a resilient, high-quality exposure to the next coal price cycle. NHC looks cheap, but does suit patient/ value investors, particularly as catalysts for thermal coal look limited in the short term.

Morgans has an accumulate rating and $4.35 price target on its shares.

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

Finally, this animal nutrition products provider has recently acquired the Incitec Pivot Fertilisers distribution business. Morgans notes that this transaction has turned the company into a leading diversified Australian agricultural services provider. It said:

RIC produces premium quality, high performance animal nutrition products. Its recent acquisition of Incitec Pivot Fertilisers (IPF) distribution business has now transformed RIC into a leading diversified Australian agricultural services provider. Similar initiatives that successfully turned around the base RIC business over the last few years can now be applied to IPF, underpinning solid earnings growth. Despite strong share price appreciation since announcing the acquisition of IPF, we are positive on the group's future prospects and initiate coverage with an Accumulate rating and A$3.25 price target.

As mentioned above, the broker has an accumulate rating and $3.25 price target on its shares.

The post Morgans says accumulate these ASX 300 shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Friday despite a good night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 5 points lower this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.15%, the S&P 500 rose 0.05%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.4% higher.

Oil prices fall

It could be a poor finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) after oil prices tumbled to a four-month low overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.7% to US$60.72 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.55% to US$64.34 a barrel. Oil prices have sunk this week on oversupply concerns.

Dividend payday

It is payday for shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares on Friday. This includes biotech giant CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), financial services company Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT), energy retailer Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG), pizza seller Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), and infant formula company A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M).

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.4% to US$3,881.7 an ounce. Traders may have been taking profit after the precious metal hit a new record high.

Dyno Nobel

The team at Morgans has given its verdict on Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL) following the completion of its fertilisers business to Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC). Morgans said: "DNL's trading update was materially stronger than expected for the business it no longer wants, Fertilisers. Explosives in on track to achieve previous guidance. We have made material upgrades to our FY25 and FY26 forecasts for a much higher DAP price. However, given DNL is likely to close Phosphate Hill from September 2026, we have made material downgrades to our FY27 forecasts reflecting the highly dilutive nature of this decision. In its first year with no fertilisers, DNL is trading on a full FY27 PE of 18x and EV/EBITDA of 8.6x. We prefer ORI for exposure to the Explosives industry."

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

And while small cap ASX shares have been outperforming their larger counterparts since the first RBA cut in February, the broker doesn't believe it is too late to act. It said:

Despite recently outpacing larger peers, this trend can continue, supported by rate cut tailwinds, superior earnings growth and relatively cheap valuations.

But which small caps could be buys? Wilsons has picked out two that it is particularly positive on. They are as follows:

Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)

The first small cap ASX share that could be a buy is infection prevention company Nanosonics.

Wilsons thinks that its shares are good value given its strong growth outlook. It said:

Nanosonics (NAN), a medical device infection solutions company, is well-positioned, supported by the strong performance of its core business, TROPHON, and the upcoming launch of CORIS. Taking a medium-term view, NAN trades on a three-year forward P/E of 36x, offering five year EPS CAGR of 21% and fundamentals of increasing recurring revenues and margin expansion.

In addition, the broker is feeling positive about the aforementioned launch of its new CORIS product. It adds:

With its recent FDA approval, CORIS, the first device cleared for automated cleaning of flexible endoscopes, is set to launch in FY26 and deliver material earnings upside. CORIS has significant potential, sharing TROPHON's strengths but adding three key advantages.

These advantages are its entry into an untapped market as an unrivalled solution, its even higher consumables revenue stream, and expectations for faster adoption.

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

Another small cap ASX share that Wilsons is bullish on is Ridley Corporation.

It is an integrated animal feed manufacturer serving a mix of species and lifecycles. This includes delivering commercial stock feeds direct to farm gates, packaged feeds for stock and companion animals, and ingredients, including raw materials, additives, supplements and animal meals.

Wilsons also highlights that its shares are attractively priced based on its growth outlook. It explains:

We are attracted to Ridley's (RIC) effective strategy of reinvesting to support volume growth and premiumisation, as well as its highly accretive acquisition of a leading fertiliser distribution business. RIC screens attractively at a forward P/E of 19x while offering three year EPS CAGR of 15%.

In addition, the broker points out that the small cap has a "significant opportunity" with its fertiliser distribution business. It adds:

RIC has a significant opportunity to deliver upside to its recently acquired fertiliser distribution business (IPF). The market has already rewarded RIC for this disciplined acquisition, delivering pre-synergy EPS accretion of 18%+, rising to 25%+ with straightforward cost synergies. What is underappreciated, however, is management's ability to further optimise IPF's operations by applying the same playbook it has been executing in animal nutrients (i.e. targeted reinvestment, efficiency improvements), which has a similar business model, which could lift accretion to well over 30%.

The post Broker names 2 small cap ASX shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP Group share price is up 2.5% to $39.40. Investors have been buying BHP and other mining shares on Tuesday after the United States and China announced a trade deal. This has sparked hopes that demand for commodities will now be stronger than it would have been if this deal had not been reached.

Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Group share price is up over 4% to $4.46. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of UBS this morning. According to the note, the broker has initiated coverage on the sports technology company's shares with a buy rating and $5.00 price target. UBS highlights that Catapult is joining the rule of 40 technology club. In light of this, it feels that its shares should be trading on higher multiples and therefore sees plenty of value on offer at current levels.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is up 14% to $27.19. Investors have been buying this location technology company's shares after it released its first quarter update. Life360 reported a 32% increase in revenue over the prior corresponding period to US$103.6 million. This was driven by a 37% jump in core subscription revenue to US$76.2 million. Life360's adjusted EBITDA more than tripled to US$15.9 million. The company's co-founder and CEO, Chris Hulls, said: "Life360 started 2025 strongly, achieving record highs in MAUs, subscribers, and Q1 net additions, while making meaningful progress against our strategic roadmap."

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

The Ridley Corporation share price is up over 15% to $2.69. This morning, this integrated animal feed manufacturer completed an institutional placement to raise $99 million. The proceeds will be used to partly fund the acquisition of the fertiliser distribution business of Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL) for $300 million. Ridley Chairman, Mick McMahon, commented: "The proposed acquisition represents a unique opportunity to add Australia's number one distributor of fertilisers to Ridley's market leading positions in the provision of animal nutrition products and services."

The post Why BHP, Catapult, Life360, and Ridley shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Every one of the 11 market sectors recorded gains over the week, with consumer staples the strongest cohort, up 3.9%.

Last week's recovery followed four weeks of falls that left the ASX 200 on the brink of an official market correction.

A correction is defined as a 10% fall from the most recent peak.

The benchmark index fell 9.43% from its record closing high on 14 February to what appears to have been the trough on 13 March.

Global markets fell over the month as concerns rose about US tariffs potentially creating a trade war and sending the US into recession.

Last Thursday, the US Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates on hold at 4.25% to 4.5% seemed to lift market sentiment.

In Australia, the news prompted the largest rally in ASX 200 shares in nine weeks.

Investors were also comforted by US Fed Chair Jerome Powell stating that historically, inflation created by tariffs can be "transitory".

Judging by the strength of the market rebound, it appears many ASX 200 investors were prompted to buy the dip last week.

There were plenty of good options, with several ASX 200 blue-chip shares trading at multi-year lows following the sell-off.

And here's a fun fact for you: Did you know that one market sector actually gained value during the sell-off?

Let's recap the week.

ASX consumer staples shares lead the recovery

Let's start our coverage of the ASX 200 consumer staples sector with the supermarket shares.

Last week, the sector's biggest stock, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), ripped 7.6% higher to finish at $29.93 per share on Friday.

The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price lifted 4.51% to close at $19.46.

Shares in IGA network owner Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) rose 4.93% to $3.19 per share on Friday.

Looking at some ASX 200 food and milk shares now…

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) shares rose 4.4% to $5.24 per share.

Shares in poultry producer Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) lifted 0.3% to $3.12 per share.

Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX: SM1) shares rose 7.7% to 92 cents, while A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) sank 7.1% to $8.13.

Shares in olive oil producer Cobram Estate Olives Ltd (ASX: CBO) fell 1.8% to $1.89 apiece.

Onto the ASX 200 wine shares and alcohol retailers…

The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price slipped 1.3% to finish the week at $9.95.

Shares in BWS and Dan Murphy's owner Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) fell 2.4% to $4.02.

Among the ASX 200 agricultural shares…

The Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) share price rose 2.5% to finish the week at $7.02.

Shares in stock feed producer Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) lifted 2.8% to $2.56 per share.

The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price lost 2.7% to close at $6.89 on Friday.

The Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) share price fell 4.2% to $1.48.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 rebounds as investors seek bargains following market sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Consumer staples lifted by 0.08%, and materials shares rose by 0.01% over the five trading days.

Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 0.99% to finish the week at 8,296 points.

Technology dragged the index down, with the sector falling by a hefty 5.73% after weeks of big gains.

Historically, December is usually a strong month for shares, but this has not been the case in 2024 so far.

The month started well, with the ASX 200 resetting its record high on 3 December at 8,514.5 points.

The benchmark has since fallen 2.34%.

Overall, the ASX 200 has dipped by 1.66% in December so far after a very strong 3.38% gain in November.

A surprisingly strong labour report released on Thursday contributed to the market's poor performance last week. The unemployment rate fell in November, stoking fears of sticky inflation and delayed interest rate cuts.

Let's review what happened last week.

Consumer staple shares led the ASX sectors last week

First to the ASX supermarket shares.

The sector's largest stock, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), gained 0.46% to finish at $30.42 per share on Friday.

The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price lost 1.37% to close at $18.70.

IGA network owner Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) tumbled 3.73% to close at $3.23 per share.

Among the ASX 200 wine shares, Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) lifted 1.78% to $11.74.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares fell 1.05% to $4.26.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) fell 1.64% to $5.71 last week.

Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX: SM1) shares were steady at 37 cents by the close on Friday.

ASX 200 agricultural share Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) fell 3.25% to finish the week at $7.44.

The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price rose by 0.6% to $7.56.

Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) lifted 1.61% to $3.16 per share.

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) rose by 0.95% to $5.30 per share.

Stock feed producer Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) declined 3.27% to $2.66 per share.

Cobram Estate Olives Ltd (ASX: CBO) shares fell 0.5% to $2 apiece.

The Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) share price rose 0.36% to $1.39.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

The post Here's how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 1.64% to finish the week at 8,211.3 points.

A significant sell-off on Wall Street led to weaker trading on the Australian market last week. As we reported, rising US bond yields stoked fears of resurgent inflation and unsettled global markets.

Let's review what happened.

Consumer staple shares led the ASX sectors last week

The biggest ASX consumer staple share, Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), lost 0.58% to close at $32.69 on Friday. The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price lifted 1.23% to $18.16.

IGA supermarket network owner Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) copped a beating, with its shares losing 10.64% of their value to close at $3.19 on Friday.

The Metcash share price slide began on Tuesday following a bearish note from Goldman Sachs.

The broker downgraded the stock to a sell rating and cut its 12-month share price target by 18% to $3.10.

The broker expects Metcash to underperform over the medium term.

Then on Friday, Metcash released a trading update advising investors that it expects its 1H FY25 underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to be between $132 million and $135 million.

This compares to a $142.5 million NPAT in 1H FY24. Management blamed tough trading conditions in the hardware market. (Metcash also owns the Mitre 10 network).

ASX 200 wine share Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) rose 0.99% to finish the week at $11.77.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares lost 1.77% to finish at $4.73 apiece on Friday.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) fell 4.65% to $5.74 last week.

There was no price-sensitive news from A2M last week, however the company did announce the appointment of a new independent non-executive director, Antonio Rivera.

Synlait Milk Ltd (ASX: SM1) shares also fell significantly, by 6.49%, to close at 36 cents. On Monday, the company revealed that its CEO, Grant Watson, had resigned after almost three years at the helm.

ASX 200 agricultural share Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) gained 0.33% to close at $9.16.

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) rose by 0.19% to finish the week at $5.29 per share.

Stock feed producer Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) lifted 1.18% over the week to $2.58 per share.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

The post Here's how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ex-dividend date is the last day that you can own shares of a company and expect to receive its upcoming dividend.

You must own the stock before the ex-dividend date – not the day of – in order to qualify for the payout.

Three companies that are due to hit the cutoff date next week are Reece Ltd (ASX: REH), Ridley Corp Ltd (ASX: RIC), and Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN).

Let's take a look at these ASX All Ords shares' upcoming dividend and what it means for investors.

ASX All Ords shares go ex-dividend

Plumbing and bathroom supplies company Reece announced in its FY24 results that it will pay a fully franked dividend of 17.75 cents per share.

Morgans analysts expressed concerns about ongoing challenging trading conditions for Reece, particularly in Australia and New Zealand.

As a result, the broker has a 'reduce' rating on Reece shares, with a price target of $21.00.

Reece shares finished the session on Thursday at $27.66 per share and have advanced more than 51% over the past twelve months.

With the ex-dividend date set for October 8, investors need to be on the share registry before then to receive the payout. Here's the key dates:

• Dividend: 17.75 cents (fully franked)
• Ex-Dividend Date: 8 October
• Payment Date: 23 October

Ridley Corp 's nutritious dividend growth

Ridley operates in the animal nutrition industry. It has a market capitisation of nearly $800 million at the time of writing.

The ASX All Ords share has climbed more than 9.5% in the past month, after a difficult first half of the year.

Ridley declared a fully franked final dividend of 4.65 cents per share in its annual results, up from 4.25 cents apiece the prior year.

The ex-dividend date is scheduled for October 7 and the dividend will be paid on October 24.

It's been quiet from Ridley in the past few months, but its FY24 results showed a 5% growth in underlying pre-tax income to $92 million.

Net profit was up 1%, and the company paid 50-70% of its net profit to shareholders as dividends last financial year.

The ASX All Ords share is rated a buy from consensus estimates, according to CommSec. Here's the key dates:

• Dividend: 4.65 cents (fully franked)
• Ex-Dividend Date: 7 October
• Payment Date: 24 October

Harvey Norman: dividends in store

Retail and property giant Harvey Norman is another ASX All Ords stock going ex-dividend next week.

The company will pay a fully franked dividend of 12 cents per share, with the ex-dividend date on 15 October.

The dividend is set to be paid out on November 13.

Harvey Norman's diversified business model, combining retail operations with property ownership, has brokers positive on the stock.

Bell Potter initiated coverage with a buy rating and a price target of $5.80, citing Harvey Norman's competitive advantage and potential for growth in the consumer electronics space.

If this translates into profit growth, it could translate to dividend growth, too. Who knows.

For Harvey Norman, here are the key points investors need to know for the upcoming dividend:

• Dividend: 12 cents (fully franked)
• Ex-Dividend Date: 15 October
• Payment Date: 13 November

ASX All Ords shares takeaway

Dividend-seeking investors have a few opportunities on the horizon with these ASX All Ords shares.

Remember, to be eligible for these dividends, you need to hold the shares before the ex-dividend dates. Buying on or after the respective day means you will miss out on this payout, but receive any future payments.

The post 3 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lost 0.91% to finish the week at 7,701.7 points.

Six of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's recap.

Consumer staple shares led the ASX sectors last week

The biggest ASX consumer staple stock Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) moved 0.57% higher last week. Woolworths shares closed at $31.60 on Friday.

Among the other large sector players, Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares lifted 1.48% to $16.42 apiece.

ASX 200 wine share Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) lost 1.95% to finish the week at $11.33 apiece.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares lost 0.6% over the week to finish at $4.96 on Friday.

Among the big movers in the staples sector this week was Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC). The stock rose 7.8% despite no price-sensitive news to finish at $1.52 per share on Friday.

ASX 200 agricultural share Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV) lifted 4.47% to $3.27. Most of those gains came on Friday after the company released its 1H FY24 results.

The almond farmer and processor reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) loss of $2.1 million. But this was an improvement on the prior corresponding period of 1H FY23 when a $96.2 million loss was recorded.

Select Harvests managing director David Surveyor said:

The operating environment for the almond industry remains challenging. In the US, almond prices have been below the cost of production since the 2020/21 season.

Through this period, Select has made strong progress on its transformational program and is ready to benefit from the cyclical upturn.

The Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) share price increased 2.76% over the five days to $4.46 on Friday.

There was no news from Bega this week. However, my colleague Bernd says the price surge could relate to speculation that milk prices may fall over the months ahead, thereby reducing Bega's input costs.

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) rose 1.94% to $2.10. There was no news from the company this week.

Top broker Goldman Sachs says its key buy calls among ASX retail shares are now skewed towards consumer staples over discretionary stocks.

Goldman has buy ratings on three of the top four consumer staple shares by market capitalisation.

They are Woolworths shares with a 12-month price target of $39.40, Treasury Wine shares with a 12-month price target of $13, and Endeavour shares with a 12-month price target of $6.30.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

The post Here's how the ASX 200 market sectors stacked up last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But for every dividend, there must also be an ex-dividend date. That's the day that new investors are cut off from receiving an upcoming dividend payment. As such, we usually see a sizeable share price drop when a company trades ex-dividend. This reflects the loss of value that this lost dividend represents for new investors.

Next week, we will see no fewer than four ASX All Ords shares trade ex-dividend. So if you want to bag the latest dividends from these All Ords shares, you'd better be quick to buy before those shares trade ex-dividend. Here's what you need to know.

4 ASX All Ords shares trading ex-dividend next week

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

All Ords agricultural share Ridley is first up. This animal nutrition company announced a final dividend of 4.25 cents per share last month, which will come fully franked. That represents a pleasing rise over both this year's interim dividend, as well as last year's final dividend, which both came in at 4 cents per share.

This dividend is scheduled for payment on 26 October next month, but its ex-dividend date is set for next Wednesday, 4 October.

At present, Ridley shares offer a dividend yield of 3.58%.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

ASX All Ords metal and electronics recycling share Sims is next up. Last month, Sims revealed that its final dividend for the 2023 financial year will be worth a fully-franked 21 cents per share. That comes in comfortably above Sims' March interim dividend of 14 cents per share, but well below last year's final dividend of 50 cents per share.

Sims' payday for this dividend is also scheduled for 26 October next month, and again, the ex-dividend date will occur next Wednesday, 4 October.

Sims shares today are trading with a dividend yield of 1.81%.

KMD Brands Ltd (ASX: KMD)

Our next company worth a look at is All Ords retail share and Kathmandu owner KMD Brands. Earlier this month, KMD told investors to expect a final dividend worth an unfranked 3 New Zealand cents per share.

We don't yet know what the final amount in Australian dollars will come in at yet. But based on today's exchange rates, investors can pencil in a 2.8 cents per share dividend. That would be a welcome increase from last year's final dividend worth 2.34 cents per share. As well as June's interim dividend worth 2.32 cents per share.

Payday for this dividend is set for 20 October, with an ex-dividend date of 4 October next week.

At present, KMD shares trade with a dividend yield of 6.45%.

ARB Corproation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

Finally today, it's time to check out ASX All Ords four-wheel driving accessories company ARB. Back in August, ARB gave investors notice that its upcoming final dividend would be worth 30 cents per share, fully franked.

This represents a cut from both April's interim dividend, as well as 2022's final dividend, which were both worth 32 cents per share.

ARB shares will trade ex-dividend for this paycheque next Thursday, 5 October. Payment day will then roll around on 20 October next month.

Right now, ARB shares are trading with a dividend yield of 1.99%.

The post 4 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates to watch next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

When a company trades ex-dividend for an upcoming shareholder payment, we normally see a dip in said company's share price. That's because when a company goes ex-dividend, new investors are ineligible to receive the upcoming dividend in question. As such, the shares become notionally less valuable.

So let's discuss five ASX All Ords shares that will experience this phenomenon this week.

5 ASX All Ords shares going ex-dividend this week

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

All Ords agricultural share Ridley Corporation is first up for discussion. This company declared an interim dividend of 4 cents per share, fully franked, back in February. Investors will see this payment arrive in their bank accounts on 24 April later this month. But eligibility for new investors will be shut off when Ridley shares trade ex-dividend tomorrow, 5 April.

Clover Corporation Limited (ASX: CLV)

All Ords nutritional ingredients company Clover Corporation is next up for examination. Clover also has an upcoming dividend in store for investors. The 2023 interim dividend of 0.75 cents per share, fully franked, is coming investors' way on 27 April this month.

But again, investors will need to be quick if they wish to secure it. That's because Clover's ex-dividend date is also set for tomorrow, 5 April.

Imdex Limited (ASX: IMD)

Imdex is another All Ords share that will go 'ex-div' this week. In this mining services company's case, investors can expect to see Imdex's upcoming interim dividend arrive on 20 April. It will be a payment worth 1.5 cents per share, fully franked. But Imdex is another ASX All Ords share that will trade ex-dividend tomorrow, so time is running out for this one as well.

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

All Ords provider of off-road equipment and accessories, ARB Corp, is our next share worth checking out. ARB declared an interim dividend of 32 cents per share, fully franked, back in February. Investors will bag this dividend payment later this month on 21 April. But once more, tomorrow is the ex-dividend day for ARB.

Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW)

All Ords stalwart and construction materials company Brickworks is our final cab off the rank this Tuesday. Last month, Brickworks delighted investors with its announcement that this year's interim dividend would be the highest the company has ever paid out at 23 cents per share, fully franked.

Unlike the other shares we've discussed today, Brickworks' ex-dividend date for this payment has been set for 6 April (this Thursday). Payment will then arrive in investors' mailboxes on 2 May next month.

The post 5 ASX All Ords shares trading ex-dividend this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

WAM operates several listed investment companies (LICs). Some, such as WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE) and WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM), focus on larger companies.

There's also one called WAM Microcap Limited (ASX: WMI) which focuses on small-cap ASX shares with a market capitalisation of under $300 million at the time of acquisition.

WAM says WAM Microcap targets "the most exciting undervalued growth opportunities in the Australian microcap market".

These are the two small-cap ASX shares the fund manager outlined in its recent monthly update.

MMA Offshore Ltd (ASX: MRM)

WAM described MMA Offshore as a global provider of marine vessels and services to the offshore energy sectors, government, defence and maritime industries.

Last month, the company reported its result which showed a 16.6% increase in its revenue to $160 million and a 124.5% increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) year over year.

The fund manager explained that the positive result was driven by "improved market conditions as well as its non-core asset sales program and cash flow generation which meant MMA Offshore finished the half with one of the strongest balance sheets in its industry."

WAM also said that the small-cap ASX share has additional flexibility with its capital management initiatives. The investment team explained:

We believe the recovery within the oil and gas industries presents a unique opportunity to MMA Offshore to maximise profit returns moving forward.

Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC)

The fund manager describes Ridley Corporation as Australia's leading provider of animal nutrition solutions.

Ridley Corporation was another business that reported its result last month, which the WAM investment team called "solid". Ridley achieved revenue growth of 25.4% to $637.9 million, and EBITDA went up by 12.8% to $44.1 million. The result also included "strong" cash flow conversion.

WAM was impressed by the result considering there was the impact of weather on its operations. The investment team said that the result demonstrated "the resiliency of the company's diversified business model."

The fund manager explained:

We remain optimistic on the company's outlook, with earnings growth supported by internal improvement initiatives that will deliver earnings ahead of industry growth rates, and an under-geared balance sheet providing them with optionality to continue capital management initiatives and engage in earnings accretive acquisitions.

The post 2 exciting small cap ASX shares to buy for market-beating growth: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.