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

We're helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here's a sample of the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

ASX shares set to trade ex-dividend next week

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

This ASX agricultural real estate investment trust (REIT) will pay an unfranked dividend of 2.9 cents per share on 30 October.

The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, 29 September.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

This ASX REIT will pay an unfranked dividend of 4.3 cents per share on 28 October.

The ex-div date is 29 September.

Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF)

This ASX REIT will pay an unfranked dividend of 2.2 cents per share on 28 October.

The ex-dividend date is 29 September.

Tasmea Ltd (ASX: TEA)

This ASX industrials share will pay a fully-franked dividend of 8.5 cents per share on 30 October.

The ex-div date is 29 September.

Charter Hall Social Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: CQE)

This ASX REIT will pay an unfranked dividend of 4.5 cents per share on 21 October.

The ex-dividend date is 29 September.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

This ASX REIT share will pay an unfranked dividend of 6.4 cents per share on 13 November.

The ex-div date is 29 September.

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR)

This ASX REIT share will pay an unfranked dividend of 6.6 cents per share on 27 November.

The ex-dividend date is 29 September.

Arena REIT (ASX: ARF)

This ASX REIT will pay an unfranked dividend of 4.5 cents per share on 12 November.

The ex-div date is 29 September.

Waypoint REIT (ASX: WPR)

This ASX REIT will pay an unfranked dividend of 4.3 cents per share on 30 November.

The ex-dividend date is 29 September.

Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK)

This ASX consumer discretionary share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 39 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-div date is Wednesday, 30 September.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully-franked dividend of 20 cents per share on 15 October.

The ex-dividend date is 30 September.

Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP)

This ASX property share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 25 cents per share on 30 October.

The ex-div date is 30 September.

Vulcan Steel Ltd (ASX: VUL)

This ASX materials share will pay an 85% franked dividend of 3.8 cents per share on 15 October.

The ex-dividend date is Thursday, 1 October.

Imperial Pacific Ltd (ASX: IPC)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 8 cents per share on 16 October.

The ex-div date is 1 October.

NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH)

This ASX industrials share will pay a fully-franked dividend of 14.5 cents per share on 16 October.

The ex-dividend date is 2 October.

The post 15 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Brokers cut their ratings on several ASX All Ords shares this week.

Let's take a look.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is $24.53, down 3.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX materials share has fallen 7%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Sims shares to a sell rating on Monday.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $24 to $22.

This implies a potential 10% downside ahead.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

The Elders share price is $6.37, up 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX consumer staples share has increased 13%.

Bell Potter downgraded Elders shares to a hold rating yesterday.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $6.45 to $6.70.

This suggest a potential 5% upside ahead.

The broker said:

Following the recent recovery in the share price we are moving our rating from Buy to Hold.

Investments in Delta and SYSMOD are the largest drivers of near term growth, however, we see the large livestock tailwinds the agency business has benefited from the past two years facing more difficult comparisons moving forward.

We are cognisant cattle prices no longer carry the value arbitrage they once did to US90CL indicators, trading at a premium for the first time since early CY23.

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR)

The Charter Hall Retail REIT share price is $3.68, down 1.3% today.

Over the past month, this real estate investment trust (REIT) has fallen 13%.

UBS downgraded Charter Hall Retail REIT shares to a hold rating on Wednesday.

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $4.65 to $4.20.

This implies a potential 14% upside ahead.

Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL)

The Dyno Nobel share price is $3.92, down 2.4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX materials share has risen 0.4%.

Jarden downgraded Dyno Nobel shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $3.80.

This indicates a potential 3% downside over the next year. 

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH)

The Tabcorp share price is 92 cents, down 3.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX consumer discretionary share has risen 1.1%.

Morgans downgraded Tabcorp shares from buy to accumulate.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $1.02.

This suggests a potential 14% upside ahead.

Morgans said:

We gained encouragement from TAH's FY26 result, with the company responding to a modest growth environment (+1%) with disciplined cost control, while softer D&A helped underlying NPAT come in +6% ahead of market expectations and broadly in line with our estimates.

Other highlights for us included strong customer retention following the introduction of the new retail commercial model, the rollout of next-generation terminals, and a strong sports performance through the FIFA World Cup. 

EchoIQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ)

The EchoIQ share price is 50 cents, down 12% today.

Over the past month, this ASX tech share has crashed 68%.

Bell Potter downgraded EchoIQ shares from speculative hold to speculative sell this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $1.75 to 30 cents.

This suggests potential further downside of 40% over the next year. 

The post 6 ASX shares downgraded by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Thankfully, sentiment improved slightly in the afternoon. But even so, the index ended up closing with a 1.03% loss at 8,819.4 points.

This depressing Thursday for the ASX followed a similarly bearish night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was again in a foul mood, dropping another 0.77%

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't much better, losing 0.64%.

But let's grit our teeth and return to the local markets now for a post-mortem of how the different ASX sectors went this session.

Winners and losers

It was a sea of red on the ASX boards today, with not one corner of the market escaping unscathed.

The least-worst place to be was in communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) got out relatively intact, only slipping 0.13% lower.

We can say something similar for utilities stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) sliding 0.33%.

Gold shares held up relatively well too. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) took a 0.48% dip.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) fared a little worse though, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.6% retreat.

Consumer discretionary stocks were in a similar boat. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) drifted down 0.63% today.

Energy shares came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) receding 0.67%.

Healthcare stocks weren't exempt. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) shrank 0.71%.

Consumer staples shares were no safe haven either, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.75% reduction.

Financial stocks were hit hard. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) took a 0.9% dive this Thursday.

Industrial shares had a shocker, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) cratering by 1.04%.

Mining stocks were smashed too. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanked 1.62% today.

Finally, tech shares were the worst place to be, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 1.74% plunge.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold stock Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) came out on top of a fairly anaemic pile of winners this session. Ora Banda shares climbed 4.93% today, finishing the session at $1.60 each. That was despite no news or announcements from the company this Thursday.

Here's how the other winners tied up at the dock:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

What did Sims Ltd report?

• Group sales revenue increased 6.9% to $8,007.5 million
• Underlying EBITDA jumped 69.3% to $727.8 million
• Underlying EBIT surged 167.6% to $468.0 million
• Underlying NPAT rose to $289.1 million (up from $83.1 million)
• Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) improved by 7.2 percentage points to 11.7%
• Final fully franked dividend of 20.0 cents per share, bringing the full-year total to 34.0 cents

What else do investors need to know?

Sims' Sims Lifecycle Services (SLS) division delivered standout growth, with sales revenue up 77.4% to $757 million, and underlying EBIT climbing 429.8% to $172.7 million, driven by strong demand for recovered memory components in the AI infrastructure sector. Repurposed units almost doubled to 16.8 million, reflecting deepening relationships with hyperscale data centre customers.

The North American and SA Recycling segments benefited from favourable non-ferrous prices and domestic US steel demand, offsetting ongoing challenges in the Australian and New Zealand metals business due to soft steel markets and limited tariff protection.

What's next for Sims Ltd?

Looking ahead, Sims expects supportive market conditions for non-ferrous metals and AI-related asset recovery to continue into FY27. While the timing of data centre decommissioning remains variable, the company expects SLS to contribute first-half underlying EBIT between $75 million and $90 million.

The group also sees ongoing US tariffs and new electric arc furnace capacity supporting demand for ferrous scrap in North America. In Australia and New Zealand, domestic demand could strengthen over the medium term as new steel production capacity comes online. Sims remains focused on recovery optimisation, operational excellence, and disciplined growth through targeted investments and bolt-on acquisitions.

Sims share price snapshot

The Sims share price has been a very strong performer over the past 12 months, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a gain of around 50%.

View Original Announcement

The post Sims delivers strong FY26 earnings growth as AI demand fuels SLS division appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After confident gains throughout the early trading week that pushed the markets to a four-month high, investors got a reality check today, with the ASX 200 opening lower and remaining in red territory all session.

The index ended up finishing with a 0.78% loss by the time trading wrapped up, leaving it at 8,967.7 points.

This miserable Thursday for Australian investors came after an even tougher night over on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was smashed, dropping a nasty 2.19%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't quite as bad, but still fell a significant 1.74%.

Let's return to the local markets now and examine how the different ASX sectors fared amid today's rough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

There were only a couple of sectors that weren't sold off this session.

But first, it was gold stocks that were hit hardest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) saw its value plunge 3.65% this Thursday.

Mining shares were hit hard too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking 1.59%.

Consumer discretionary stocks were also on the nose. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) cratered 1.39% today.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't much better, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.99% dive.

Utilities shares were in that ballpark as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value shrink 0.85% this session.

Industrial stocks were close behind, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sinking 0.83%.

Consumer staples shares were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) gave up 0.64%.

Nor were communications stocks, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.57% dip.

Healthcare shares had more sellers than buyers, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tumbled 0.41%.

Our last losers were financial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) sliding down 0.37%.

Turning to the winners now, it was tech shares that stole the spotlight. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) shot up a healthy 0.91% this Thursday.

The other safe haven was energy stocks, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.32% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Fast food stock Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) was our top stock this Thursday. Domino's shares roared 9.08% higher to close at $19.59 each today.

This came after the company posted an earnings update after market close yesterday. Investors clearly liked what they saw.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

ASX 200 shares are currently down 0.003% to 8.748.4 points.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated new confidence in several ASX shares this week.

Here are six stocks that have been upgraded.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $12.05, down 0.08% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has ripped 22%.

Jarden upgraded Flight Centre shares to a buy rating with a $15.90 target price.

This suggests a potential 30% upside ahead.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is $1.27, down 1.5% today.

Karoon Energy shares tumbled 11% last Tuesday when the company issued production downgrades.

Calendar year 2026 total production guidance was revised to a range of 7.2 MMboe to 8.2 MMboe.

That's down from 8.1 MMboe to 9.2 MMboe previously.

Macquarie upgraded the ASX 200 energy share to a hold rating this week.

The broker's 12-month target is $1.50, suggesting an 18% upside ahead.

Oil prices have slumped back to pre-war levels following the signing of the US-Iran interim peace deal.

Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU)

The Iluka Resources share price is $6.95, down 3.2% today.

This ASX 200 mining share has risen 18% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Canaccord Genuity upgraded Iluka Resources shares to a buy rating on Wednesday.

The broker upped its 12-month price target from $8.10 to $8.45.

This implies a potential 20% upside ahead.

Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN)

The Baby Bunting share price is $1.41, up 0.7% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX consumer discretionary share has tumbled 43%.

Ord Minnett upgraded Baby Bunting shares on Thursday.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $2.30.

This implies a potential 60% upside ahead.

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

The Collins Food share price is $8.16, down 1.3% on Friday.

Over the past six months, the KFC fast food restaurant operator has lost 23% of its market valuation.

Citi upgraded Collins Foods shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $10.45 to $10.30.

This indicates capital gains of 26% over the next year. 

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is $28.13, up 0.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX industrial share has ascended 15%.

Jefferies upgraded Sims shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $31.

This indicates a potential 10% upside over the next year. 

The post 6 ASX shares with upgraded ratings from experts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This week, brokers see new potential in several ASX shares.

Let's take a look at them.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is $1.41, down 2.6% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 energy share has lost almost a third of its value.

Morgans upgraded Karoon Energy shares from a trim to hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker said:

A good company in a difficult position, dealing with multiple operational issues, albeit enjoying a nice bump in earnings resulting from the Middle East conflict.

Operator LLOG advised of ongoing operational issues leading to a 41% downgrade to Who Dat production in 2026, an 11% downgrade at group level. Down 20% in two sessions, KAR is trading close to our revised target price.

As a result, we lift our Trim rating to HOLD with a A$1.67 target price.

Morgans has a 12-month price target of $1.90, which implies very healthy upside of 35% ahead.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

The Treasury Wine Estates share price is $4.78, down 0.6% today.

Over the past month, this ASX wine share has risen 10%.

Citi upgraded Treasury Wine Estates shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $4.25 to $5.50.

This implies a potential 15% upside ahead.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is $1.96, down 4.1% today.

In 2026, this ASX 200 lithium share has gained 21% in value.

Lithium commodity prices are rapidly recovering from a devastating two-year decline.

The carbonate price is now 43% higher YTD, following a 58% rise in 2025.

Macquarie upgraded Liontown shares to a buy rating on Monday.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $2.20 to $2.30.

This implies a potential 17% upside ahead.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution share price is $12.55, down 5% today.

In 2026, this ASX 200 gold share has dipped 1%.

Macquarie upgraded Evolution shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $14 to $13.

This suggests just 3% potential upside ahead.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is $29.45, down 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX industrial share has ripped 31%.

Jefferies upgraded Sims shares to a hold rating on Wednesday.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $19 to $31.

This indicates a potential 6% upside over the next year. 

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price is 73 cents, down 0.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX consumer discretionary share has soared 31%.

On Monday, Frasers Group plc (LSE: FRAS) made an unconditional on-market cash takeover offer of 65 cents per share.

Following the bid, Morgan Stanley upgraded Accent shares to a hold rating.

The broker has a 12-month target of 75 cents.

This suggests the ASX retail share is almost fully valued.

The post 6 ASX shares upgraded by analysts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what's happening.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP is cementing its position as the biggest stock on the ASX today.

Shares in the Aussie mining giant are up 0.4% at the time of writing, changing hands for $65.48 apiece.

That's not only a new 52-week high for BHP but, if the ASX 200 share holds these gains to close, it will mark a new all-time closing high.

BHP shares look to be benefiting from an overnight uptick in global copper prices. The red metal is currently fetching US$13,774 per tonne.

Amid the resilient iron ore price and surging copper prices, BHP shares have been on fire over the past 12 months, up 75.6%. And that doesn't include the two fully-franked dividends totalling $1.96 a share the miner paid eligible stockholders over this time.

BHP shares trade on a 3% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie shares are also setting a new high-water mark today.

Shares in the diversified financial stock are up 0.9% at the time of writing, trading for $251.28 each.

If these gains are held to close, that will also mark a new all-time high for this ASX 200 share.

The Macquarie share price is now up 18.5% since this time last year. Atop those capital gains, Macquarie shares also trade on a 2.8% partly franked trailing dividend yield.

Which brings us to…

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

Joining Macquarie and BHP shares in the new 52-week-plus high club is metal and electronics recycler Sims.

Sims shares are up 1.5% in afternoon trade today, swapping hands for $29.87 each.

You'd have to go back to September 2008 to find this ASX 200 share trading at higher levels than that.

The Sims share price has surged 91.4% over the past 12 months. Sims also trades on a 0.9% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

The stock caught fresh tailwinds today following a positive trading update.

Among the highlights stoking ASX investor interest, Sims lifted its FY 2026 underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance to the range of $420 million to $435 million.

That was up from prior earnings guidance in the range of $350 million to $400 million.

Management credited the improved full-year earnings outlook to strong operating performances across both Sims' North America Metals and SA Recycling businesses.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares, including Macquarie and BHP, smashing new 52-week-plus highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The outperforming company in question is Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM).

Shares in the metal and electronics recycler closed yesterday trading for $29.44. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $31.04 apiece, up 5.4%. That gives Sims a market cap of just over $6 billion.

It also sees the ASX 200 stock up 98.9% since this time last year. And brave, or well-informed, investors who waded in and bought shares at the one-year closing lows of $13.27 on 1 October will now be sitting on gains of 133.9%.

Here's what's grabbing investor interest today.

ASX 200 stock jumps on earnings upgrade

The Sims share price is marching higher after the company released a promising trading update.

Investors are bidding up the ASX 200 stock, with Sims upgrading its FY 2026 underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance to the range of $420 million to $435 million.

That's up from prior full-year EBIT guidance in the range of $350 million to $400 million, which the company provided on 18 March.

Management cited "continued strength across non-ferrous markets, as well as improved trading conditions for ferrous" for the improved earnings outlook.

Sims said it now expects its North American Metal businesses to deliver "a significant increase" in second-half earnings (H2 FY 2026). Earnings are likely to get a boost from strong operating performances across both Sims North America Metals and SA Recycling.

The ASX 200 stock noted that ferrous prices in Asia have recently improved. However, prices in ANZ were reported to remain subdued due to ongoing elevated Chinese steel exports.

The company also said that its Sims Lifecycle Services business continues to "benefit significantly" from the fast-growing global data centre ecosystem.

With that in mind, management now expects the underlying FY 2026 EBIT for Sims Lifecycle Services to be in the range of $170 million to $175 million.

The company noted:

While the business continues to benefit from strong underlying demand and favourable long-term industry trends, the timing of customer decommissioning programs will influence the distribution of volumes and earnings between reporting periods.

What's been boosting Sims shares?

As today's update confirms, the ASX 200 stock has been enjoying a strong run this year.

At its half-year results (H1 FY 2026), released on 17 February, the company reported a 65.9% year-on-year increase in underlying EBIT to $121.1 million.

And on the bottom line, net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 70.9% to $60 million.

The post Up 134% since October, why is this $6 billion ASX 200 stock leaping higher again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Sims report?

• FY26 underlying Group EBIT expected between $420 million and $435 million (previously $350–400 million)
• Strong second-half earnings growth in North American Metals (NAM) and SA Recycling (SAR) divisions
• Sims Lifecycle Services (SLS) underlying EBIT forecast at $170–175 million for FY26
• Improved trading conditions for ferrous and non-ferrous metals globally
• Asian ferrous prices lifting, but ANZ ferrous environment remains subdued

What else do investors need to know?

The improved outlook is largely thanks to ongoing strength in non-ferrous markets and a rebound in ferrous trading conditions. Sims' North American businesses, in particular, are on track to deliver significant earnings growth in the second half of FY26, thanks to solid operational results.

Sims Lifecycle Services continues to benefit from global demand for data centre recycling and decommissioning, although earnings distribution may vary depending on clients' project timing. The company reminded shareholders that these estimates are unaudited, based on specific market assumptions, and more details will be revealed at the full-year results.

What's next for Sims?

Looking ahead, Sims is well positioned to benefit from strong long-term industry trends, like the rise of data centres and the broader push towards decarbonisation and circular solutions. Management highlighted the potential for further growth, especially if current favourable conditions in non-ferrous and North American ferrous markets persist.

Investors should keep an eye on sector dynamics—particularly ANZ ferrous conditions and global steel trade flows—as these will influence Sims' near-term performance.

Sims share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Sims shares have risen 89%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Sims lifts outlook as North American metals drive gains appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Data shows 124 ASX 200 companies are in the red today.

This includes a hefty 3.7% share price decline for the market's largest listed company, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Meanwhile, several brokers have lifted their ratings on select ASX shares this week.

Let's take a look.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is $2.98, up 3.7% today and down 19% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Last week, Endeavour unveiled a strategy involving $300 million in cost savings by FY29, including $100 million in FY27.

The group wants to strengthen Dan Murphy's price leadership, modernise BWS' digital experience, and lift its hotels performance. 

Endeavour will divest non-core assets, including most of its winery and vineyard portfolio.

The group also lowered its dividend payout ratio to a range of 50% to 75% of underlying net profit after tax (NPAT).

Citi upgraded the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share to a buy rating on Wednesday.

However, the broker reduced its 12-month price target from $3.45 to $3.25.

This still implies a potential near-10% upside ahead.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP Group share price is $62.51, down 3.7% today, and up 40% over six months.

Germany's DZ Bank AG upgraded the ASX 200 mining share to a hold rating this week.

DZ Bank has a $65 price target on BHP shares.

This suggests that only 4% upside is left for the next 12 months.

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

The Graincorp share price is $5.09, up 2% today, and down 38% over six months.

Jarden upgraded the ASX 200 consumer staples share to a hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker lowered its price target from $5.50 to $5.40.

This implies potential capital growth of 6% over the next year.

Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR)

The Dicker Data share price is $11.16, down 1.4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 technology share has lifted 22%.

Morgan Stanley upgraded Dicker Data shares to a buy rating this week.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $10.30 to $11.

This implies the tech stock is fully valued today.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) 

The Nufarm share price is $2.87, up 0.7% on Thursday and up 24% YTD.

UBS upgraded the chemical and seed technology company to a buy rating this week.

Following Nufarm's FY25 results, the broker lifted its target on the ASX 200 agriculture share from $2.80 to $3.50.

This suggests a 22% upside is on the way.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is $27.68, down 2.5% today and up 52% YTD.

Morgan Stanley upgraded Sims shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker has a $24 target, implying a 13% downside over the next 12 months.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH)

The Tabcorp share price is 80 cents, down 0.6% today and down 32% over the past month.

Morgans upgraded the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share to a buy rating this week.

The broker said:

Following the announcement of AUSTRAC's investigation this month, the TAH share price has fallen approximately 37%.

While we expect the investigation to remain an overhang for the foreseeable future, at these levels the stock appears materially undervalued.

Current trading conditions remain supportive in our view and position the company well for a strong upcoming result, despite inherent uncertainty surrounding the scope of the investigation and the quantum of potential penalties.

Morgans has a share price target of $1.07, implying 34% potential capital growth ahead.

The post 7 ASX shares attracting upgraded ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After recording losses at the start of the week, investors seemed to find their sense of optimism today, with the ASX 200 staying in green territory all session, and closing 0.7% higher. That leaves the index at 8,785.7 points.

This turn of fortunes for Australian investors followed an upbeat night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) recovered from an early slump to finish 0.45% higher.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) only just managed to get over the line, gaining just 0.026%.

But let's get back to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors this hump day.

Winners and losers

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

While this is positive, it pales in comparison to the gains that a number of ASX 200 shares posted for the period.

Here's why these were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in May:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 in May with a stunning 70% gain. Investors were buying the network solutions company's shares after it announced another major contract win for its Latitude.sh business. Megaport has secured three major GPU, CPU, network, and storage contracts across two customers with a combined total contract value (TCV) of approximately US$182.9 million (A$254 million). The company's CEO, Michael Reid, said: "We are at the forefront of an accelerating inflection point across the industry. As use cases shift from AI foundation models to inference and the edge, Megaport is becoming an essential platform for powering the applications of tomorrow with globally distributed, automated infrastructure."

IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX)

The IperionX share price was on form and raced 42% higher in May. One potential catalyst was the titanium alloys producer announcing the successful commissioning of a cutting-edge six-axis powder metallurgy press at its Titanium Manufacturing Campus. IperoinX's CEO, Anastasios Arima, said: "Commissioning this advanced SACMI press is an important milestone for IperionX. It gives us greater titanium manufacturing capacity and more flexibility to manufacture a wider range of titanium components for customers in defense, aerospace and industrial markets."

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

The Capstone Copper share price wasn't too far behind with a gain of 30% over the month. This was despite there being no news out of the copper miner. However, it is worth noting that analysts at UBS put a buy rating and improved price target of $18.00 (from $15.00) on the ASX 200 share last month. Combined with strong copper prices, this may have given its shares a boost.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price was a strong performer and rose 30% in May. This may have been driven by the company's appearance at a major investor conference last month. At the event, management spoke positively about its outlook and reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2026. It continues to expect group underlying EBIT of $350 million to $400 million for the 12 months. This will be at least double the underlying EBIT of $174.9 million that it recorded in FY 2025.

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

This awful Thursday for the local markets follows a much rosier night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fared decently, rising 0.36%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was a little more tentative, inching up just 0.07%.

But let's get back to the unhappier market now and take a closer look at what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

This included: 

• Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) rose almost 3% to hit new highs of $71.53. 
• Korvest Ltd (ASX: KOV) climbed 1.5% to hit fresh highs of $17.07. 
• Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM) rose nearly 4% to finish at $24.12. 

When ASX shares rise significantly in a short period, holders obviously enjoy quick profits. 

However it can make it difficult for prospective investors to pull the trigger due to fears of buying at the peak. 

Here is what was driving the strong performance for these ASX shares and what experts are anticipating in the next 12 months. 

Mineral Resources hits new highs 

Mineral Resources is a leading mining services company with a portfolio of mining operations across multiple commodities, including iron ore and lithium.

Its share price is now up almost 200% in the last year. 

Much of this growth has come on the back of improved lithium sentiment. 

After a brutal downturn that crushed lithium prices across 2024 and 2025, the market has started to anticipate a recovery in battery material demand as electric vehicle sales continue growing globally.

Because Mineral Resources owns significant lithium exposure through the Wodgina and Mt Marion operations, investors are increasingly viewing the company as a leveraged play on any improvement in lithium prices.

Additionally, the company recently delivered a strong quarterly update, with volumes across iron ore, lithium, and mining services all exceeding the broker's expectations.

However now sitting at just over $71 per share, it appears these ASX shares are fully valued. 

Ord Minnett recently placed a $67 price target on the stock, while Morgans recently placed fair value at $71. 

Korvest hits yearly highs

Korvest manufactures electrical and cable support systems, steel fabrication and provides associated metal treatment and galvanising services.

It is up an impressive 67% in the last 12 months. 

It has benefited during this span from optimism around Australia's infrastructure, mining, and energy-transition spending cycle.

However, in a similar vein to Mineral Resources, experts see limited further upside. 

Analysts forecasts are hovering around $17.30, right around its current share price. 

Sims could be a buy

Sims is a global leader in metal and electronics recycling. The company provides a crucial circular economy service that reduces the need for new metals and electronics.

Its share price hit fresh yearly highs yesterday, and is now up 61% in the last year. 

As Mark Verhoeven reported last week, it could be poised to benefit from rising demand for recycled metals driven by EVs, renewable energy infrastructure, and data centre growth.

Recent results show strong earnings momentum, with higher profits and improving margins across its key recycling and lifecycle services businesses, particularly in North America. This suggests both cyclical recovery and better operational execution.

Looking ahead, growth is supported by continued demand for non-ferrous metals, expansion in US recycling operations, and strong tailwinds from IT asset disposal linked to AI-driven data centre expansion.

The post Are these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after hitting fresh 52-week highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But there is a quieter, less glamorous, and arguably more interesting way to play the same trend.

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM) is the world's largest publicly listed metal and electronics recycler, and the forces driving demand for recycled metals are only getting stronger.

The company provides a crucial circular economy service that reduces the need for new metals and electronics.

What Sims actually does

Sims operates across five business segments, buying, processing, and selling ferrous and non-ferrous recycled metals across 30 countries.

The company also provides IT asset disposal and lifecycle services through its Sims Lifecycle Services division.

Consequently, every electric vehicle manufactured, every wind turbine installed, and every data centre built creates a source of future recyclable material and a driver of demand for the recycled metals Sims produces today.

In that sense, Sims sits at both ends of the green energy supply chain simultaneously.

The numbers are turning in the right direction

Sims delivered a 70.9% jump in underlying net profit after tax to $60 million for the half year ended 31 December 2025, alongside a 3.7% lift in sales revenue.

The standout performer was Sims Lifecycle Services, which delivered a 247.5% jump in underlying EBIT, driven by surging global demand for used DDR4 chips as hyperscale and AI data centre builds accelerate.

Moreover, the North America Metal and SA Recycling divisions both delivered higher trading margins, even as volumes from processed scrap reduced slightly.

Sims shares have comfortably outpaced the performance of the ASX200 these past 12 months.

The FY2026 outlook

In March 2026, Sims flagged an expected FY2026 underlying EBIT of between $350 million and $400 million.

This was driven by a strong third quarter and a materially improved second half in both its North America Metals and SA Recycling divisions.

Management noted that despite continued high Chinese steel exports putting pressure on scrap prices, Sims' Metal business remains supported by robust non-ferrous pricing and a focus on sourcing more unprocessed material.

Through its SA Recycling investment, the company has also achieved an 8.3% compound annual growth rate in sales volume from FY2021 to FY2026, with 147 operational facilities now running across 15 US states.

Furthermore, the company's Investor Day in Nashville confirmed a busy pipeline of bolt-on acquisitions through SA Recycling, reinforcing the long-term growth ambition.

Foolish takeaway

Sims does not attract the same headlines as the more trendy names in the green transition.

However, as a critical enabler of the circular economy, it benefits from the same tailwinds as lithium miners and solar developers, while offering a more established earnings base and a more attractive valuation.

For investors looking for an ASX metal recycling stock with genuine long-term credentials, Sims deserves serious attention.

The post Why this ASX stock could be a surprise winner as metal recycling demand surges appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After staying comfortably in green territory all day, the ASX 200 ended up closing a solid 1.3% higher, leaving the index at 8,793.6 points.

This happy hump day for ASX investors follows a similarly upbeat night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising 0.73%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining 1.03%.

But let's get back to the ASX now though and dive a little deeper into what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors navigated today's tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) metal and electronics recycler closed yesterday trading for $20.17. During the Thursday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $19.93 apiece, down 1.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.3% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Sim shares have strongly outperformed over the past year. Shares in the ASX 200 industrial stock have gained 45% in 12 months, racing ahead of the 15.4% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

And that doesn't include the two fully-franked dividends the company paid eligible stockholders over this time. Sims stock trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 1.4%.

And looking to the months ahead, Shaw and Partners' Jed Richards expects the stock is well-placed to deliver more outperformance (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

Should you buy Sims shares today?

"Sims offers exposure to long term stronger and sustainable commodity themes through its global metals recycling operations, particularly in Europe," said Richards, citing the first reason you might want to buy Sims shares today.

As for the second reason, Richards noted, "Demand for recycled inputs, such as lithium, copper and gold, continue to grow as electrification and decarbonisation trends advance."

Richards concluded:

The business provides leverage to improving industrial activity, although earnings can be volatile given commodity price swings and cyclical end markets.

In our view, the strategic positioning justifies a buy despite near term volatility.

The (slightly less) bullish case for the ASX 200 industrial stock

DP Wealth Advisory's Andrew Wielandt also ran his slide rule over Sims shares on The Bull this week.

"Sims is a global metals and electronics recycler providing exposure to North America, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand," said Wielandt, who has a hold recommendation on the ASX 200 stock following the strong run higher in its share price.

According to Wielandt:

The outlook for Sims is encouraging in response to the company upgrading full year earnings guidance. Impressive share price gains in the past 12 months leaves SGM a hold for now and a potential buy on further weakness. The stock has risen from $12.51 on April 9, 2025 to trade at $20.62 on April 9, 2026.

What's the latest on Sims shares?

As Wielandt mentioned above, on 18 March, Sims announced that it expects full-year FY 2026 underlying earnings before income on tax (EBIT) to be in the range of $350 million to $400 million.

That's a big leg up from FY 2025 underlying EBIT of $175 million.

Sims shares closed up 9.9% on the day of the announcement.

The post Up 45% in a year, 3 reasons to buy Sims shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But one leading broker is urging investors to stay away from them right now and put their money elsewhere.

Let's see what Shaw and Partners is saying about Australia's largest bank, courtesy of The Bull.

What is the broker saying about CBA shares?

Shaw and Partners concedes that CBA is a high-quality ASX bank share. However, it has concerns over its valuation. The broker notes that given the premium CBA shares trade on, there is little room for error.

In light of this, its analysts think investors should be selling the bank's shares at present and focus on better value options elsewhere in the sector. The broker explains:

The CBA remains a high quality banking operation, but its valuation is increasingly difficult to justify. The stock trades at a significant premium to global peers despite a mature domestic banking market and limited growth potential, in my view.

While earnings remain stable, we see better value elsewhere in the sector. We believe the current share price leaves little margin for error, supporting a sell recommendation on valuation grounds. The shares have risen from $158.74 on February 10 to trade at $181.65 on April 9.

What should you buy instead of CBA?

One ASX share that Shaw and Partners is tipping as a buy this week is Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM). It is a global leader in metal recycling and the provision of circular solutions for technology.

The broker believes that Sims provides investors with long term stronger and sustainable commodity themes. It highlights that demand for recycled inputs, such as lithium, copper and gold, is growing strongly amid the electrification and decarbonisation megatrends.

And while it acknowledges that Sims' shares can be volatile, it thinks it is worth sticking with them over the long term. It said:

Sims offers exposure to long term stronger and sustainable commodity themes through its global metals recycling operations, particularly in Europe. Demand for recycled inputs, such as lithium, copper and gold, continue to grow as electrification and decarbonisation trends advance.

The business provides leverage to improving industrial activity, although earnings can be volatile given commodity price swings and cyclical end markets. In our view, the strategic positioning justifies a buy despite near term volatility.

The post Forget CBA shares and buy this ASX 200 stock: Shaw & Partners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Sims Group report?

• SLS contributed approximately 40% of Sims Group's underlying EBIT in H1 FY26 (A$49 million out of A$121.1 million)
• Group underlying EBIT rose to A$121.1 million in H1 FY26, up from A$73.0 million in H1 FY25
• FY26 SLS underlying EBIT is forecast in the range of A$165–185 million
• FY26 Memory GB Sold forecast is 65–70 million, using new volume metric
• Resale gross margin from Memory GB Sold sits at approximately 30%–35%
• SLS has a capital-light, diversified revenue model with strong secondary market access

What else do investors need to know?

SLS is embedded in key hyperscaler decommissioning cycles, working with major cloud infrastructure players and capturing structural demand growth as hyperscalers invest in new data centres. The business continues to serve both hyperscaler and enterprise clients, combining secure execution, quality service and the ability to ramp up capacity quickly.

The newly introduced "Memory GB Sold" metric now gives a clearer picture of SLS's growth drivers, connecting volumes directly to revenue and reflecting the business's evolving role as a global leader in circular cloud solutions. SLS has also announced an expansion in Ireland, expected to be operational from July 2026, supporting future European growth.

What did Sims Group management say?

Sims Group CEO & Managing Director Stephen Mikkelsen said:

SLS is already a material earnings driver for Sims and is uniquely positioned at the intersection of structural growth trends in technology. Our capital-light business model and strong partner relationships set us up well for the next phase.

What's next for Sims Group?

SLS will continue to focus on expanding volumes with existing hyperscaler partners while onboarding new clients and growing its footprint in key regions like Ireland. The business is scaling up capacity and automation, supporting both DDR4 and next-generation DDR5 memory markets.

Management expects structural tailwinds in cloud and memory markets to drive strong demand over the coming years. SLS targets 15 million Memory GB Sold in Ireland by FY29 and aims to expand adjacent services, such as cloud migration, for enterprise clients.

Sims Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Sims Group shares have risen 39%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Sims Group earnings: SLS now core to growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.