What did SGH report?

• Revised non-binding indicative offer of A$32.35 per BlueScope share (total equity value: A$15 billion)
• Offer is 14% above their previous adjusted proposal and 47% above BlueScope's adjusted prior closing share price
• Full cash consideration for BlueScope shareholders
• SGH intends to retain BlueScope's Australia and Rest of World operations; Steel Dynamics to acquire North American assets
• Offer subject to regulatory, shareholder, and due diligence conditions

What else do investors need to know?

SGH and Steel Dynamics describe the offer as their best and final proposal unless a superior competing bid emerges for all or a significant portion of BlueScope Steel. The transaction would see BlueScope split, with SGH keeping Australian and global businesses, while Steel Dynamics acquires BlueScope's North American operations.

Regulatory approvals, due diligence, and formal documentation are still outstanding, but both companies state they are confident about satisfying all required conditions. The revised proposal fits SGH's capital allocation strategy and supports its plan to further develop BlueScope's operations outside North America.

What's next for SGH?

If approved, the acquisition would reshape SGH's business, positioning it as the owner of BlueScope's domestic and global segments, while Steel Dynamics would expand into North America. Both SGH and Steel Dynamics remain engaged in discussions and are committed to progressing due diligence, legal documentation, and regulatory processes.

The companies have stated that further updates will be provided to the market as developments arise, and there remains no certainty the offer will result in a completed transaction.

SGH share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, SGH shares have declined 13%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post SGH Ltd confirms $32.35 per share BlueScope bid appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

SGH is an Australian diversified operating and investment Group with market leading businesses and investments in Industrial Services, Energy and Media sectors.

This ASX 200 stock is well within Australia's largest 50 companies by market capitalisation, but has faced some volatility over the last 12 months. 

Its stock price has fluctuated between $43 and $55 over the past year.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 4.76% in that same period. 

The ASX 200 stock closed yesterday at $45.78. 

The waiting game

A new report from Bell Potter yesterday has identified key cyclical drivers in the company's mining and construction sectors. 

The broker said the read-through for WesTrac from OEM Dec'25 quarterly updates was generally positive. 

The WesTrac segment of the company provides heavy equipment sales and support to customers. 

Bell Potter said it remains constructive on the near-term outlook for WesTrac's Product Support division. 

We anticipate greater demand for aftermarket services as iron ore Majors continue to deliver quarterly production records and as gold production lifts by a +12% CAGR over FY25-27 (Aus. Gov. estimate). 

The broker said execution of re-commissioning plans of idled hard rock lithium production would be a positive for WesTrac's services and parts demand.

However, for the construction sector, Bell Potter said overall activity remains mixed. 

Roading work done fell -5% YoY in the Sep'25 quarter across the East Coast, with NSW and QLD suffering a -15% YoY decline while VIC grew 10% YoY. 

While booming infrastructure sub-sectors like electrical generation and transmission are anticipated to provide some demand reprieve, the lower consumption intensity of aggregates and concrete compared with Roading would not be a like-for-like demand replacement for Boral.

Ongoing inflationary trends in Concrete, Cement and Aggregate indices suggest normalising demand from construction markets and a deceleration in price-led EBIT margin expansion.

The report did note that positively, Australia Residential building approvals (R3M basis) continue to trend higher, breaking a 4-year high in Nov'25. Australia non-residential building approval value grew 20% YoY in Nov'25, the 13th consecutive month of positive growth. 

Short term headwinds for this ASX 200 stock

Based on this guidance, the broker has maintained its hold recommendation, and has an updated price target of $51.80. 

From yesterday's closing price of $45.78, that indicates an upside of 13.16%. 

SGH is facing short-term cyclical headwinds in construction markets, offsetting generally healthy operating conditions in the mining sector. SGH will cycle tough comps in FY26 given strong margin expansion at Boral and robust Product Sales growth at WesTrac in FY25.

The post Bell Potter tips 13% upside for this ASX 200 industrials stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the $13 billion S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) industrial stock closed Friday trading for $30.24. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $29.91 apiece, down 1.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.6% at this same time as investors eye a potential RBA interest rate hike tomorrow.

That's today's price action for you.

Now here's what's happening with the company's top management.

BlueScope shares under new management

BlueScope shares are slipping today after the company confirmed that Tania Archibald has today started in her new role as managing director and CEO.

The company first announced Archibald's appointment to the top position on 5 November.

BlueScope gave a nod of appreciation to outgoing CEO Mark Vassella, who led the company for eight years. Over that time, the ASX 200 industrial stock returned $4.2 billion to shareholders and invested $3.7 billion in growth. BlueScope shares have also more than doubled in value over the past eight years.

A word from the new CEO

Commenting on her first day as CEO, Archibald said:

Our current $2 billion investment program is now entering the final phase. We're poised to deliver strong cash flows. And I intend to capitalise on it for the benefit of shareholders. As the investment phase ramps down, the delivery phase ramps up.

Looking at what could impact BlueScope shares in the year ahead, she said the company's portfolio is "well positioned".

According to Archibald:

In the United States, steel demand remains robust and there is no better place in the world to make and sell steel. In Asia, BlueScope maintains a unique footprint across major growth economies, while in New Zealand the EAF has reset the operating model and cost base. In Australia, ongoing population growth is driving steel demand across all sectors including housing and infrastructure.

BlueScope shares not for sale 'on the cheap'

Archibald also turned her attention to recently lobbed – and summarily rejected –takeover offer in joint proposal by SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and Steel Dynamics Inc (NASDAQ: STLD).

The nonbinding proposal, which valued BlueScope at $13.2 billion, was announced on 6 January.

Today, Archibald said:

The board rejected the proposal, and I supported that rejection. It very significantly undervalued this company. It sought to transfer value away from our shareholders by buying BlueScope on the cheap.

The board remains open to any proposal that genuinely reflects BlueScope's fundamental value. But we are not sitting here waiting. We are getting on the front foot to accelerate the delivery of BlueScope's value.

BlueScope shares closed up a sharp 20.8% on the day the takeover proposal was reported.

The post BlueScope shares slipping as new CEO backs rejection of $13.2 billion takeover offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did SGH report?

• Confirmed a Non-Binding Indicative Offer (NBIO) to acquire 100% of BlueScope Steel Ltd for $30.00 per share in cash
• The offer represents a 27% premium to BlueScope's last close and a 33% premium to its 3-month and 52-week average prices
• Total equity value of the deal is $13.2 billion (AUD)
• Following the proposed transaction, SGH would retain BlueScope's Australian, Asian, and Pacific businesses while Steel Dynamics acquires North American operations
• No new equity required; funding to be sourced from existing cash reserves and debt

What else do investors need to know?

The SGH and Steel Dynamics proposal would see BlueScope's North American operations on-sold to Steel Dynamics, while SGH retains the Australia and Rest of World businesses. The exclusive partnership between SGH and Steel Dynamics is subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals typical of deals of this size.

SGH intends to offer current BlueScope directors board positions for continuity and plans to keep key management in place for the ongoing Australian business. The companies emphasise that there is no certainty the proposal will lead to a binding agreement, and the offer price will adjust down for any BlueScope dividends paid after 12 December 2025.

What did SGH management say?

Ryan Stokes, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of SGH, said:

We believe BlueScope's Australian business is a strong strategic fit for SGH and we have a proven track record of driving performance improvement in domestic industrial businesses. We intend to leverage our disciplined operating model and capital allocation approach to deliver better outcomes for stakeholders.

What's next for SGH?

SGH and Steel Dynamics will commence confirmatory due diligence, having committed substantial resources to progress the transaction. SGH will update investors as developments arise and has already lined up financial and legal advisors to support the process.

There is no guarantee the proposal advances to a definitive agreement, but both companies are confident in their ability to secure regulatory and shareholder approvals. Investors should watch for further updates as negotiations proceed.

SGH share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, SGH shares have declined 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post SGH confirms $13.2 billion acquisition offer for BlueScope Steel appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did BlueScope report?

• Received an unsolicited, indicative takeover offer at $30.00 per share in cash
• The proposal comes from a consortium comprising SGH and Steel Dynamics
• The arrangement would see SGH acquire BlueScope, then on-sell its North American businesses to Steel Dynamics
• Bid is subject to due diligence, Board recommendation, shareholder and regulatory approval, and other conditions
• BlueScope has previously rejected three similar unsolicited approaches valuing shares up to $29.00 each

What else do investors need to know?

BlueScope's Board and advisers are carefully reviewing the latest proposal, weighing it against the company's underlying value and long-term strategy. The Board points to BlueScope's portfolio of quality assets, expected cash flow increases, and $2.3 billion committed to sustainable earnings growth as key factors in their evaluation.

Previous bids were knocked back for undervaluing BlueScope and coming with significant execution risks, including uncertainties around regulatory outcomes. The company has made it clear that shareholders need not take any action for now.

What's next for BlueScope?

BlueScope's Board says it is committed to optimising shareholder value and regularly reviewing all options to accelerate value realisation. The company is continuing to deliver on its capital pipeline, pursue productivity improvements, and realise value from major landholdings.

Any future developments regarding the takeover proposal will be shared as required under BlueScope's disclosure obligations. For now, the Board is focused on thorough due diligence and protecting shareholders' interests.

BlueScope share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, BlueScope shares have risen 29%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post BlueScope fields $30-per-share takeover bid from SGH, Steel Dynamics appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 industrials stock are trading at $47.20 each.

This marks a 9.2% decline from yesterday's close.

In contrast, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is trading flat.

The sell-off follows the release of the company's FY25 results this morning. And it appears that the group's guidance for FY26 may have triggered the fall.

Let's take a closer look to see what happened.

Operational background

SGH was originally formed in 2010 as Seven Group Holdings.

It has since grown into one of the largest diversified businesses on the ASX, with its operations spanning industrial services, energy, and media.

The company's portfolio of businesses includes WesTrac – a heavy equipment sales and services provider where SGH acts as the sole dealer for the Caterpillar brand.

It also owns the Coates equipment hire business, mobile lighting and power solutions specialist Allight, as well as Boral – Australia's largest integrated construction materials company.

Elsewhere, SGH holds a portfolio of oil and gas projects, including a 30% stake in Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT).

Finally, the ASX 200 industrials stock owns a 40% interest in Seven West Media (ASX: SWM) – one of Australia's leading integrated media businesses.

What happened in FY25?

The results for FY25 appear to be solid, with SGH achieving its targeted earnings growth and margin expansion.

Operating earnings (EBIT) of $1.54 billion jumped by 8% from the previous year, with net profit after tax (NPAT) of $924 million rising by 9% during the same period.

The company's EBIT margin of 14.3% also improved by 93 basis points.

Management attributed this margin expansion to cost efficiencies at Boral and Coates, pricing discipline, as well as growth in earnings.

Notably, operating cash flow ballooned by 49% year on year to reach $1.95 billion.

And the group's fully franked FY25 dividend of 62 cents per share grew by 17%.

So why the share price dip?

SGH is guiding for low to mid single-digit EBIT growth in FY26, despite the margin improvements in FY25.

And this outlook could be weighing on the company's share price.

Analysts at UBS noted that the FY25 numbers came broadly in line with expectations, as reported in the Australian Financial Review.

However, the group's guidance for FY26 is 5% lower than UBS forecasts and 9% below consensus estimates, which may explain the soft market reaction.

That said, UBS has retained a buy rating on SGH, setting a price target of $60 per share for this ASX 200 industrials stock.

This represents 27% upside potential from the company's share price at the time of writing.

The post Is this ASX 200 industrials stock a buy after crashing 9% 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.

But the broader market's fall hasn't stopped more than a dozen ASX 200 shares from hitting new 52-week highs this Tuesday. Those do include some of the ASX bank shares, but we've already discussed these highs extensively here at the Fool.

So here are 12 non-bank stocks that are also scaling new heights this session.

12 ASX 200 shares at new 52-week highs this Tuesday

*at the time of writing

What can these new 52-week highs tell us?

Most of these stocks don't have any direct news we can point to explaining their new highs. However, sifting through these ASX 200 shares, some patterns can be spotted.

First of all, many of these ASX 200 shares are tech stocks, or at least companies that often move in line with the ASX tech sector. Those include Xero, Life360, and TechnologyOne, but they could also be extended to Pro Medicus, Zip Co, and REA Group.

Tech shares are one of today's best-performing ASX 200 sectors, so it's not too surprising to see these companies clock new highs this Tuesday. In almost every case here, these new highs are just extensions of a recent run of good form.

Other shares seem to be benefitting from recent (and excitement-inducing) individual announcements. For instance, fund manager HMC Capital has been in demand ever since it announced plans to launch a new data centre-focused investment.

Meanwhile, investors have been pushing JB Hi-Fi shares higher for more than a week now, following the electronics retailer's well-received quarterly update late last month.

Other ASX 200 shares listed here might just be benefitting from a boost in investor sentiment, perhaps driven by a new broker opinion. That could well be the case with Seven Group, which enjoyed an upgraded buy rating from broker Bell Potter last month.

Whatever the reasons for these new 52-week highs today, it just goes to show that a sinking ASX doesn't always drag everything down with it.

The post 12 non-bank ASX 200 shares smashing new 52-week highs 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.

Meantime, brokers are rethinking their recommendations and 12-month price targets after analysing company results.

Here are 3 ASX 300 shares that have received upgrades from broker Bell Potter following their recent earnings reports.

Bell Potter upgrades 3 ASX 300 shares following results

Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) 

Bell Potter has maintained its buy rating on Seven shares but increased its 12-month price target to $46.

The ASX 300 industrial share is currently trading for $39.95, down 1.53% on Tuesday.

Seven Group reported a 10% lift in revenue to $10.6 billion and a 14% increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.9 billion.

Net profit came in at $850 million, a 30% increase. This surpassed the broker's forecast of $822 million and partly contributed to its decision to raise the price target for this ASX 300 share.

The broker said:

As well as this, SVW's business and investments are market leaders in their respective industries, with scale, brand and industry expertise underpinning commercial advantages that are hard to replicate by competitors. Bell Potter remains positive on the near-term outlooks for mining production, engineering construction and transitional energy markets, hence the buy rating is maintained.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Bell Potter has maintained its buy rating on Life360 shares but has upped its 12-month price target from $19 to $20.50.

The ASX 300 technology share is currently trading for $19.15, down 1.64% on Tuesday.

In its second-quarter update, the location-tracking software company reported a 20% bump in revenue at US$84.9 million. Annualised monthly revenue lifted 23% to US$304.8 million.

Life360 also reported positive adjusted EBITDA of US$11 million and a net loss of US$11 million.

Bell Potter noted that Life360 beat market expectations on revenue and total paying circles. It also said Life360 had upgraded its guidance for both revenue and EBITDA for the full year.

Temple & Webster (ASX: TPW)

Bell Potter has maintained a hold rating on Temple & Webster shares but has raised its price target from $11.40 to $12.20.

The ASX 300 consumer retail share is currently trading for $11.47, up 0.26% on Tuesday.

Temple & Webster reported record revenue of $498 million, up 26%. However, EBITDA fell 43% to $8.4 million, and net profit after tax (NPAT) was down 78% to $1.8 million.

The online furniture retailer said active customer numbers lifted 31% over the year to a record 1.1 million.

The broker said it upped the 12-month share price target because of near-term earnings upgrades factored in from Temple & Webster's 26% revenue growth rate so far in FY25.

The broker added:

The hold rating is maintained as at the price target of $12.20 the total expected return for investors is below 15%.

The post 3 ASX 300 shares receiving upgraded price targets following their results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While this means that we get to take a look under the hood of many of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)'s most prominent shares, it also means that it's that happy time of the year when dividends start raining down on investors.

But before a dividend comes an ex-dividend date.

When an ASX 200 share announces a dividend, it simultaneously has to pick an ex-dividend date to precede it. This ex-dividend date rules a line in the sand over which shareholders receive the cash from a company's dividend (or the additional shares if a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) is selected).

Put simply, if an investor owns a dividend-paying company's shares as of the market close on the last trading day before a company trades ex-dividend, they make the cut. But if an investor buys those same shares on or after the company's ex-dividend date, the seller will retain the rights to that particular dividend.

This is why we usually see a substantial share price drop when a company goes 'ex-div'. This share price drop reflects the loss of value for new investors of that single dividend payment.

So today, let's check out the ASX 200 shares that are scheduled to trade ex-dividend over the coming week.

Six ASX 200 income shares set to trade ex-dividend next week

*Dividend yield at the time of writing

Foolish takeaway

So some big names there, particularly CBA. CBA's dividend is arguably one of the most anticipated metrics every ASX earnings season. This week saw the bank reveal a record-high final dividend of $2.50 per share (fully franked of course), which investors will no doubt appreciate next month.

JB Hi-Fi's dividend is also worthy of discussion. The $1.83 cited above includes JB's ordinary final dividend for FY024 of $.03 per share and a special dividend worth 80 cents per share.

Both payments have the same ex-dividend and payment date, so they will effectively function as a single payment this earnings season.

We'll be back with more ASX ex-dividend dates next week, so stay tuned.

The post 6 ASX 200 shares that will trade ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

At the time of writing, Seven Group shares are trading at $39.93 apiece, nearly 9% higher on the day.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up less than 1% at the same time.

Let's see what the company posted.

Seven Group share price jumps on strong FY24 results

The major highlights from Seven Group's year include:

• Revenue of $10.6 billion, up 10% year on year.
• Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.9 billion, an increase of 14% year over year.
• Industrial Services Businesses EBIT came to $1.3 billion, up 28%
• WesTrac posted $623 million in pre-tax income, up 25% year over year
• Boral EBIT was $372 million, up 61%
• Net profit came to $850 million, reflecting a 30% increase
• Final dividend for the Seven Group share price of 30 cents per share, fully franked, a 30% increase

What else happened in FY24?

During FY24, Seven Group made several acquisitions and grew its net profit by 30% year over year.

One standout is the company increasing its ownership of Boral to 100%. The acquisition gives it full access to Boral's cash flow and assets. Management says this could benefit the Seven Group share price.

Revenue growth of 10% was underscored by "growth in customer activity and demand", most notably at its WesTrac business.

The company also invested $537 million in inventory at WesTrac to support increased customer activity and growth in FY25.

With the profit growth, operating margins increased by 106 basis points to 13.4%, driven by operating performance in all the company's portfolio businesses.

Meanwhile, the board declared a final dividend of 30 cents per share, up 30% from the previous year.

What did management say?

Seven Group Holdings' Managing Director and CEO, Ryan Stokes, expressed satisfaction with the company's performance:

We are very pleased to have delivered another strong result this year, with increasing operating leverage resulting in a 20% growth in SGH EBIT.

Our Industrial Services businesses, which delivered 28% EBIT expansion, underpinned SGH's results, with outstanding performance in FY24 from WesTrac and Boral.

Over the last decade, SGH has delivered an 18% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in EBIT,
highlighting the quality and core-plus nature of our Industrial Services businesses, enhanced by operating discipline and financial agility..

What's next?

Looking forward, management has provided guidance for "high single-digit EBIT growth in FY25". This could impact the Seven Group share price.

It says it is well-positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities across its core sectors, including infrastructure, construction, and industrial services.

WesTrac, Boral, Coates and Beach are each expected to contribute. In particular, WesTrac has " one of the strongest capital sales pipelines in a decade supports the growth outlook".

Seven Group share price snapshot

The Seven Group share price has demonstrated strong momentum following its FY24 results.

After a choppy year, the stock is up nearly 8% since January and more than 49% in the past year.

The post Seven Group share price on fire as profits jump 30% in FY24 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 pushing higher:

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

The AGL Energy share price is up 3% to $11.12. This follows the release of the energy company's full year results this morning. AGL reported a 63% increase in EBITDA to $2.22 billion and a 189% lift in underlying net profit after tax to $812 million. This allowed the AGL board to increase its unfranked final dividend by 52% to 35 cents per share. Looking ahead, management is guiding to underlying EBITDA of $1.87 billion and $2.17 billion in FY 2025.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is up 9% to $4.16. Investors have been buying this gold miner's shares following the release of its results for FY 2024. Thanks to strong production growth, higher realised prices, and lower costs, Evolution Mining delivered a 67% increase in underling EBITDA to $1,513 million. This allowed the miner to increase its fully franked final dividend by 150% to 5 cents per share. Looking to FY 2025, management believes it is well-placed to generate strong free cash flow with "the gold spot price $560 per ounce above the FY24 achieved price."

Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is up 8% to $142.27. This has been driven by the release of the health imaging technology company's FY 2024 results. Pro Medicus reported a 29.3% increase in revenue to $161.5 million and a 36.5% lift in net profit to $82.8 million. This was ahead of the consensus estimate of $161.1 million for revenue and $80 million for net profit after tax. Commenting on the future, its CEO notes that Pro Medicus has "a bit over 7% of the total addressable market (TAM) in the US and growing, so there is still a huge amount of runway ahead of us."

Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW)

The Seven Group share price is up 8.5% to $39.82. Investors have been buying this diversified investment company's shares after its FY 2024 results impressed. Seven reported a 10% increase in revenue to $10.6 billion and a 30% lift in net profit to $850 million. Seven's CEO, Ryan Stokes, said: "We are very pleased to have delivered another strong result this year, with increasing operating leverage resulting in a 20% growth in SGH EBIT. Our Industrial Services businesses, which delivered 28% EBIT expansion underpinned SGH's results, with outstanding performance in FY24 from WesTrac and Boral."

The post Why AGL, Evolution Mining, Pro Medicus, and Seven shares are roaring higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was a volatile week with the ASX 200 spiralling 1.11% lower on Thursday.

This was due to Magnificent Seven stocks Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) disappointing Wall Street with their earnings reports overnight on Wednesday.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) limped forward by just 0.087% over the week to finish at 7,921.3 points on Friday.

Only four of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's review.

Industrials led the ASX market sectors last week

Among the sector's big players, Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) shares lost 0.39% to close at $12.72 apiece on Friday.

During the week, the toll road operator announced plans to expand the Logan Motorway in South-East Queensland.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) shares rose by 1.27% to finish at $15.10 on Friday. The Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) share price rose by 3.17% to finish at $26.98. Neither company released any news last week.

The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price lifted 1.35% to $6.05 on Friday. Jed Richards, senior advisor at Shaw and Partners, has a buy rating on Qantas shares and says there are four reasons to invest.

Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) shares lifted 5.12% to finish at $27.50 per share on Friday.

Morgan Stanley recently retained its overweight rating on Computershare but trimmed its 12-month price target to $29.40. The broker expects the company to announce another sizeable buyback during earnings season next month. The latest daily notification reveals Computershare has purchased more than 14.4 million shares since the current buyback began in August 2023.

Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) shares rose by 2.27% to close on Friday at $37.89 apiece.

Despite major share price growth of 52.9% in FY24, which made Seven the No. 1 stock in the industrials sector for the year, Barrenjoey sees more growth ahead. The broker recently raised its rating on Seven shares to overweight with a 12-month share price target of $40.

The ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) share price lifted 2.74% to finish the week at $14.99.

On Thursday, ALS said legal proceedings against a wholly-owned subsidiary had begun, and it would vigorously defend claims by Korea Midland Power Co. Ltd of losses attributable to alleged discrepancies in the certified attributes of four coal shipments between May 2018 and May 2019.

Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX: AIA) shares fell 3.29% over the week to finish at $6.76 on Friday. Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) shares fell by 0.1% to close at $9.72 apiece.

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 Australian reports that brokers have upgraded their ratings on these three ASX shares.

Let's check them out.

3 ASX shares just upgraded by the experts

ASX communications share has 'a very strong position', says Citi

Citi has raised its rating on ASX large-cap communications share CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) from hold to buy. The broker has placed a 12-month price target of $39.80 on Car shares.

The broker expects double-digit earnings growth over the medium term. It is tipping earnings per share (EPS) growth of 17% for FY24 compared to the 13.2% achieved in FY23.

We'll find out if Citi is right on 12 August when Car Group reports its full-year results.

Citi analyst Siraj Ahmed said:

While another RBA rate rise and weakening demand are risks to the Australian business, we see Car Group having a very strong position and expect it to deliver solid growth even in a tough environment.

Goldman Sachs also has a buy rating on Car shares. The broker recently raised its price target to $41.40.

As we recently reported, Car Group was the top-performing stock of the communications market sector in FY24. The Car share price surged by 48% over the financial year.

The ASX communications share is currently $35.89, up 2.08% today and 14.33% in the year to date.

Broker positive on ASX real estate share

JP Morgan has commenced coverage on ASX mid-cap property share PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA). The broker has given the stock an overweight rating and a $15 price target over the next 12 months.

Late last month, the Australian Registrars National Electronic Conveyancing Council (ARNECC) ceased its interoperability program, which aimed to enable more competition for electronic conveyancing services. The news lifted PEXA shares by 2.06% on the day.

PEXA will release its full-year FY24 results on 21 August.

The PEXA share price is $14.21, up 3.57% on Tuesday and 28.83% in the year to date.

10% potential upside on ASX industrials share

Barrenjoey has raised its rating on diversified industrials and investment company Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) to overweight. The broker has a 12-month share price target of $40 on the stock.

Seven Group was the No. 1 stock for price growth in the industrials market sector in FY24. Seven shares rose by 52.9% over the 12-month period.

Last week, Seven announced it would pay a fully franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, up 30% on last year. The ex-dividend date is 19 August, and shareholders will be paid on 2 September.

This brings Seven's total dividends for FY24 to 53 cents per share, equating to a dividend yield of 1.45%.

The Seven share price is $36.35, up 1.42% on Tuesday and down 2.21% in the year to date.

The post Brokers say buy! 3 ASX shares receiving upgrades today 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 charging higher:

Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)

The Ora Banda Mining share price is up 14% to 40.5 cents. Investors have been buying this gold miner's shares after it announced the approval of the development of the Sand King Underground mine. This mine is at the 100% owned Davyhurst Gold Project in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Today's approval paves the way for the company to grow its gold production to 150,000 ounces per annum in FY 2026. As a comparison, it has provided production guidance of 100,000 ounces to 110,000 ounces for FY 2025.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is up 7% to $14.13. Investors have been buying Paladin Energy and other ASX uranium stocks in response to news of a new uranium extraction tax increase in Kazakhstan. There are concerns that this tax increase could impact supply growth from the world's largest uranium producer, Kazatomprom. This appears to have given sentiment a big boost. It could have also led to short sellers buying back shares in a hurry to close their positions.

Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW)

The Seven Group share price is up 2.5% to $35.90. This morning, this investment company announced its dividend for the second half of FY 2024. According to the release, Seven Group's board has declared a fully franked final dividend of 30 cents per share. This represents a 30% increase on the prior comparative period and brings its total dividends to 53 cents per share in FY 2024. Its final dividend has an ex-dividend date of 19 August 2024 and will be paid to eligible shareholders on 2 September 2024.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is up 12.5% to $19.74. This has been driven by some good news out of the United States. Telix revealed that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) rule to improve payments for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals for Medicare patients in the United States. This facilitates continued patient access after transitional pass through payment status expires. Management commented: "Telix welcomes the proposed rule, which will facilitate more equitable and reliable access to advanced imaging for all patients and support physicians to prescribe the most clinically appropriate solution."

The post Why Ora Banda, Paladin Energy, Seven Group, and Telix shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 rose from a closing value of 7,203.3 points on the last trading day of FY23 to a closing value of 7,767.5 points on the last trading day of FY24.

The index fell from July to October last year before an early Santa Rally in November began amid speculation that interest rates would be cut in 2024 due to falling inflation.

There are 11 market sectors comprising the benchmark index.

Let's take a look at which ASX 200 share was the top performer in each sector in FY24.

The best ASX 200 market sector shares in FY24

Based on 12-month stock price growth (not including dividends), these were the best ASX shares of each market sector in the last financial year.

Healthcare

Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) shares were not only the healthcare sector's best performers for price growth but also the top stock of the entire ASX 200 in FY24. 

The company delivered a 118.3% share price gain over the 12 months.

The Pro Medicus share price is $130.13 on Friday, up 0.56%.

Materials

In the materials sector, ASX 200 gold mining stock Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED) delivered 89.5% capital growth in FY24. The company was boosted by a rising gold price.

The ASX 200 gold miner is trading at 37 cents today, up 0.54%.

Energy

In the ASX 200 energy sector, uranium stock Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) soared by 77.5%.

The ASX 200 energy stock is trading at $1.41 today, down 0.35%.

Industrials

Diversified industrial and investment company Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) was the No. 1 stock in the ASX 200 industrials sector with 52.9% capital growth in FY24.

The ASX 200 industrials share is trading at $36.05 today, down 4.07%.

Communications

Beep, beep! Car Group Limited (ASX: CAR) zoomed past its peers in the communications sector in FY24, racking up a 48% share price gain.

The ASX 200 communications stock is trading at $33.67 today, down 0.75%.

Technology

Social networking app developer Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) was the No 1. stock in the technology sector in FY24 with an outstanding 115.4% gain.

(Fun fact: The tech sector was the leader of the pack among the 11 sectors in FY24.)

The ASX 200 tech stock is trading at $15.87 today, up 0.063%.

Consumer discretionary

Budget jewellery retailer Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) led the consumer discretionary stocks in FY24 with a 70.3% share price gain.

The ASX 200 retail stock is trading at $31.38 on Friday, up 1.26%.

Real estate & REITs

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) soared in FY24 on the back of the artificial intelligence theme. With 73.1% share price growth, Goodman outperformed its real estate sector peers in FY24.

The ASX 200 property share is $35.35 on Friday, down 0.099%.

Consumer Staples

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) was the No. 1 consumer staples stock of the year in FY24. The Bega share price lifted 49.1% over the 12 months.

The ASX 200 consumer staples share is trading at $4.24 today, down 0.7%.

Financials

Diversified financial services company Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) was the best ASX 200 financials stock of FY24, following an 82.9% surge in its share price.

Hub24 shares are trading at $46.67 today, down 0.66%.

Utilities

In the utilities sector, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) was the No. 1 stock in FY24, with share price growth of 29.1%.

The ASX 200 utilities share is trading at $10.74 on Friday, up 0.47%.

The post The best ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY24 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.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY) is the ASX 100 stock in question. And it's seemingly having an awful day.

Cleanaway shares closed at $3.01 each yesterday. But this morning, the waste management company opened at just $2.60 and is currently trading at $2.67 a share, down a nasty 11.3% for the day thus far.

So why is this ASX 100 stock so clearly bucking the market and having such a miserable session this Wednesday?

What's up with the Cleanaway stock price?

Well, to answer that, we need a little more context. So sure, this fall that Cleanaway shares are experiencing today looks dramatic. But it follows an even more unusual move we saw happen yesterday.

Yesterday was a relatively calm day for this ASX 100 stock. At least it was, until a few minutes before market close. These few minutes unexpectedly saw Cleanaway shares rocket around 15% up to a new 52-week high of $3.01, which is where the stock closed at yesterday afternoon.

This morning's plunge just took some of the steam out of yesterday's late pricing surge. Cleanaway shares remain comfortably above where they started the day yesterday.

What on earth is going on with this ASX 100 stock?

Well, some ASX releases put out by Cleanaway shed some light on this rather bizarre situation.

The ASX 100 stock received an ASX speeding ticket yesterday evening for the shenanigans of its share price in the afternoon. In its query, the ASX noted the "change in the price of CWY's securities from $2.65 at 4PM to $3.01 at the completion of the closing auction today".

In its response this morning, Cleanaway blamed the spike on "media speculation regarding a possible takeover offer by Seven Group Holdings Limited".

Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) is the conglomerate behind several other businesses, including oil and gas, media and heavy equipment.

According to several media outlets, including Bloomberg, Seven "has been seeking financing for a potential takeover of Melbourne-based Cleanaway Waste".

Seven has been silent on this whole affair so far. However, Cleanaway released a supplementary ASX filing this morning, which stated the following:

Cleanaway confirms that it is not in any discussions with SGH in relation to any form of corporate transaction or otherwise, nor has it received an approach or offer from SGH.

So given Cleanaway shares' reluctance to go back to where they were before yesterday's spike today, it looks as though investors remain hopeful that there's something here.

But for now, at least, it looks as though this rather strange chapter in Cleanaway's share price history has closed.

The post Why did this ASX 100 stock just crash 11%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.