The de-merger saw Webjet Ltd (ASX: WJL) strengthen its focus on business-to-consumer (B2C) travel. Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) focuses on business-to-business (B2B) travel, primarily through WebBeds, a platform that connects travel agents and hotels, airlines and online travel agencies.

The share price of Web Travel Group is down 30% over the past year, currently trading at around the $2.80 mark, down from the $5 range at the tail end of FY25. While Webjet has seen small growth, around the 10% mark, over the last 12 months to $0.58, it doesn't appear that the value investors hoped the de-merger would release has materialised. 

So, what's happening now? Is it just the current climate or is there more to the story? And are these ASX travel shares a buy right now? 

What's happening in the broader travel space?

Australians love to travel. And although cost-of-living pressures, concerns about the fuel crisis and the safety of travel during the Middle East war are putting the brakes on for some travellers, Australian travel authorities are still forecasting growth in the coming months.

But when household budgets are squeezed, travel is often one of the first items on the chopping block. And current airfare elevation due to fuel prices and supply concerns is not sweetening the pot for already stretched travellers.

Business travel is, of course, less likely to be affected by cost. However, many companies are showing caution, possibly due to safety concerns and/or the optics of extensive travel as the fuel crisis continues. In late March, it was reported that Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) had suspended travel for all corporate team members.

Is Webjet a buy right now?

As a B2C travel brand, Webjet is feeling the pinch. Despite positive volume forecasts within the travel industry, investors are wary. Its 1H26 reporting showed a 3% decline in Total Transaction Value (TTV) on the prior corresponding period (PCP).

Webjet's discretionary, consumer-facing and volume sensitive model is exactly the kind investors tend to avoid late in an economic cycle.

That said, the business itself is not in bad shape. It has good margins within an industry known for thin ones and a net cash balance of $111.9 million with no debt. In addition, its non-air income streams are a solid contributor at over 30% of OTA revenue.

So is this ASX travel share a buy? If you believe that global travel volume will bounce back, the current share price is an attractive entry point for a business with a good balance sheet.

Is Web Travel Group a buy right now?

Web Travel Group is a different proposition as it doesn't work directly with consumers and isn't as tied to the Australian economic context. It earns its revenue from transaction volumes across a diversified global network.

It delivered some solid 1H26 results:

• TTV up 22% on the prior corresponding period (PCP)
• Above guidance TTV margin
• WebBeds EBITDA up 21% on PCP
• Solid cash position with $481 million cash, $699 million available liquidity and a $200 million undrawn revolving credit facility

Of course, this was before the Middle East war and the resulting impact on travel. Investors are clearly unsettled across the sector, with most ASX travel shares seeing significant volatility. There may also be some poor sentiment, with some investors feeling the de-merger has not delivered on its promises yet.

In addition, Web Travel Group is a more complex model, deriving revenue from across multiple jurisdictions and currencies. This complexity can make it less appealing to investors when there are significant sector-wide cyclical challenges.

That said, in my opinion, Web Travel Group is a buy right now. While it may not have fully delivered on its de-merger promises yet, for me, it is a solid global travel platform that has been temporarily mis-priced due to macro and sector uncertainty.

The post Webjet and Web Travel Group: Are these ASX travel shares a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) travel agency closed Friday trading for 52.5 cents. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 55 cents apiece, up 4.8%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 0.9% at this same time.

As you're likely aware, Webjet first listed as an independent entity on the ASX in September 2024. That followed its spin-off from Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB).

Since listing, the Webjet share price has experienced some steep ups and downs, with 2026 seeing shares take another sharp fall, down 37.5% since 2 January.

Today, investors learned that the company will be searching for new leadership.

Webjet share price gains on CEO departure

Investors are bidding up the Webjet share price today after the company announced that CEO and managing director Katrina Barry has resigned from her position.

Barry took the reins as CEO at Webjet in June 2024 in the lead-up to its demerger from Web Travel.

Webjet said that Barry will remain aboard until May to support the transition to new leadership and help manage the full-year results release.

The board said it will now launch a search process for her successor.

What did management say?

"Katrina led the business during the successful demerger and ASX listing of the group's B2C business to become Webjet Group," Webjet chairman Don Clarke said about the changing of the guard that's looking to help boost the Webjet share price today.

"She then developed a new five-year strategic roadmap for the group and focused on the upgrade of the company's brand, marketing, and technology capabilities", he added.

Commenting on her time as CEO of Webjet, Barry said:

Over the past 21 months, we have made remarkable progress: setting a new five-year strategy and growth plan for the group, revitalising the iconic OTA brand and marketing strategy, driving profitability in the New Zealand business units, initiating evolution and enhancement of the technology and business travel platforms, and uplifting leadership capability.

How could the Middle East conflict impact the Webjet share price?

Turning to potential travel disruptions caused by the war in Iran, management noted:

While global uncertainty continues to influence travel behaviour, demand to date has remained resilient, with travellers increasingly favouring domestic and short-haul destinations across Asia and the Pacific.

The Webjet share price looks to be catching tailwinds with the company reaffirming its full-year FY 2026 guidance of underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the range of $28 million to $29 million. That excludes the Webjet Business Travel segment, which is expected to reduce underlying EBITDA by $600,000 to $900,000 in the second half of FY 2026.

The post Webjet share price lifting off on CEO bombshell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three that the broker has been looking at are in this article. Let's see whether it rates them as buys, holds, or sells. Here's what you need to know:

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Morgans was a touch disappointed with this hearing solutions company's half-year results. It notes that the Nucleus Nexa system was to blame, with contracting taking longer than anticipated.

In response to its results, the broker has retained its hold rating with a trimmed price target of $214.93. It said:

The 1H26 result was softer than expected, with revenue, margins and profit negatively impacted mainly on longer than anticipated contracting for the newly launched Nucleus Nexa system (Nexa). Soft Cochlear Implants (CI) growth mis-matched sales, reflecting unfavourable emerging market mix and delayed developed market momentum, while Services was flat and Acoustics surprised to downside on increased competitive pressures.

While Nexa adoption accelerated late in the half and management maintained FY26 guidance, but now is targeting the lower end of the range, it increases reliance on a strong 2H recovery which appears optimistic, especially in light of flat GM and FX headwinds. We adjust our FY26-28 estimates and lower our target price to A$214.93. We maintain a cautious stance, but move to HOLD on share weakness.

Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)

Another ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is uranium developer Deep Yellow.

The broker has made some changes to its financial model to reflect first production timing, its cash balance, and its uranium price assumptions. This has resulted in the broker retaining its speculative buy rating with an improved price target of $2.56. It said:

We update our outlook and forecasts for DYL to reflect a series of changes at the corporate, project and macro level since our last update. Key revisions include adjustments to first production timing at Tumas, cash position and an uplift to our bull-case uranium price assumption. We maintain our SPECULATIVE BUY rating and increase our price target to A$2.56ps (from A$1.92ps).

Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL)

A third ASX share Morgans has been looking at is online travel agent Webjet. It notes that takeover talks have ended and Webjet has downgraded its earnings guidance.

The broker appears to believe that this may not be the last downgrade and has concerns over cyclical and structural threats. As a result, it has put a hold rating and 61 cents price target on its shares. It said:

WJL announced that potential takeover discussions with both Helloworld (HLO) and BGH Capital have ceased. WJL has downgraded its FY26 EBITDA guidance by another 7-9%. Earnings uncertainty remains high given cyclical and structural threats and at a time when WJL is investing in its business for longer term success. Given WJL is no longer in play, focus returns to the fundamentals of the business which look challenged in the near term. We retain a Hold rating with a new price target of A$0.61.

The post What is Morgans saying about Cochlear, Deep Yellow, and Webjet shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Webjet is an Australian online travel company known for its popular website that allows customers to compare and book flights, hotels, and holiday packages.

Yesterday, its share price tumbled 2.6%. 

This follows on from the losses from Friday last week which saw Webjet shares tumble more than 20% after the announcement of a failed takeover bid.

What happened?

Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO), which already owns a stake in Webjet, made a conditional offer to buy the rest of the company late last year. 

Here is the timeline: 

• 19 November 2025 Webjet announced it had received a non-binding and indicative offer from Helloworld Travel o acquire 100% of the shares in Webjet that Helloworld did not already own by way of a scheme of arrangement at an all-cash price of A$0.90 per share. 
• 21 November 2025 Webjet announced it had received a revised non-binding and indicative offer from BGH Capital to acquire all the shares in Webjet not already owned by BGH and its associates via an off-market takeover at an all-cash price of A$0.91 per share (Revised BGH Proposal).

However, after several weeks of due diligence and negotiations, neither Helloworld nor BGH Capital submitted a formal binding proposal that Webjet's board felt was certain and attractive enough. 

According to a release Webjet ended the talks and the proposed takeover ended. 

What now?

Webjet management reinforced that its time, focus and resources should return wholly to executing the company's existing strategy.

After yesterday's share price fall, Webjet shares are trading at $0.56. 

That's a decline of 26% across two days of trading. 

It now sits almost 36% lower than the start of the year. 

So, could this be an opportunity to buy the dip?

Morgans weighs in 

In a note out of the team at Morgans, the broker said Webjet has downgraded its FY26 EBITDA guidance by another 7-9%.

Earnings uncertainty remains high given cyclical and structural threats and at a time when WJL is investing in its business for longer term success. 

Given WJL is no longer in play, focus returns to the fundamentals of the business which look challenged in the near term.

The broker has retained a hold rating on Webjet shares. 

It also has updated its price target to $0.61.

From yesterday's closing price, that indicates an upside of approximately 9%. 

Based on this target, it seems any further share price dip could make it an attractive buy-low option. 

The post Where to next for Webjet shares after a 26% crash? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Webjet shares jumped significantly when the potential takeover was first announced in mid-November, increasing from 76 cents to 88 cents in one session.

At the time, Helloworld said that it had submitted a non-binding, indicative proposal to the board of Webjet, to acquire the company for 90 cents per share.

The company went on to say:

Helloworld believes the proposal represents a compelling offer for all Webjet's shareholders, with the opportunity to realise a premium valuation and 100% cash consideration. Further we believe that Helloworld and Webjet are logical partners and that a combination provides a strong platform for both companies to achieve their long-term strategic objectives.

The proposal was conditional on the satisfactory completion of due diligence by Helloworld, required regulatory approvals, and a unanimous recommendation in favour by the Webjet board.

A competing takeover offer from BGH Capital at 91 cents per share was also pitched in November.

Talks called off

Webjet said on Friday morning in a statement to the ASX that neither party had put forward a proposal which they could take to shareholders.

The company said:

Over the last 12 weeks, Webjet has engaged constructively with Helloworld and BGH, providing both parties with due diligence access. The Webjet Board has not however received a proposal from either party that is consistent with the respective indicative proposals or capable of being put to shareholders. The Webjet Board does not believe there is sufficient certainty that a binding proposal that is capable of being recommended by the Webjet Board will be received from either party within an acceptable timeframe. As a result, the Webjet Board has determined that management's time, focus and resources should return wholly to executing the Company's existing strategy. Accordingly, discussions with both Helloworld and BGH have now ceased.

The company said its board remained open to engaging with parties on any change of ownership proposal in the future about a "proposal that represents compelling value for shareholders and offers sufficient certainty of execution within an acceptable timeframe''.

The company also updated the market as to trading conditions, saying it had been a challenging period, and underlying EBITDA for FY26 was expected to be in the range of $28 to $29 million, excluding Webjet Business Travel, "which is delivering in line with plan and as foreshadowed is expected to reduce underlying EBITDA by circa $600-900 thousand in 2H26''.

Webjet also said it would restart its $25 million share buyback, which was put on hold while the takeover talks were on foot.

Webjet shares were changing hands for 60 cents on Friday morning, down 22.6%.

The post Webjet Group shares plunge as Helloworld takeover plans fall through appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK)

The Gentrack share price is up 7.5% to $6.82. This morning, this billing software company revealed that its new g2 platform has been selected to enhance operations and customer experience at Pennon Water Services. It is one of the UK's leading business water and wastewater retailers. This marks the first customer to adopt g2 in the UK, and the first g2 water implementation. In other news, Bell Potter reaffirmed its buy rating on Gentrack's shares with a reduced price target of $9.80. It said: "We are positive on secular tailwinds in decentralised energy driving utility billing stack transformations broadly."

Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

The Kogan share price is up over 1% to $3.03. Investors have been buying this online retailer's shares following the release of an update at its annual general meeting. Kogan revealed that in the first four months of FY 2026, adjusted EBITDA was $10.1 million with a margin of 6.5%. The latter is within its guidance range of 6% to 9%.

Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL)

The Webjet share price is up over 2% to 91 cents. This has been driven by news that the online travel agent has received another takeover offer. Helloword Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) made an offer of 90 cents per share earlier this week, but this morning BGH Capital has joined the bidding with a 91 cents per share proposal. In response, the company said: "After carefully considering the revised BGH proposal, the Webjet board has agreed with BGH's request to provide BGH with an opportunity to conduct due diligence, subject to the parties agreeing to a mutually acceptable non-disclosure agreement."

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is up 4% to $66.82. This morning, this logistics solutions technology company released its annual general meeting update and reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2026. WiseTech's new CEO, Zubin Appoo, said: "Looking ahead, we reconfirm our guidance and expect revenue between $1.39 and $1.44 billion and EBITDA of $550 to $585 million. As outlined when we announced our FY25 Results in August, the e2open integration will temporarily impact margins – and that is exactly as planned. We have a clear execution roadmap, backed by more than three decades of successfully integrating strategic acquisitions and rebuilding margin strength. We know how to do this."

The post Why Gentrack, Kogan, Webjet, and WiseTech shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However, analysts at RBC Capital Markets believe that yet another bidder could enter the fray, potentially driving the price paid for the company even higher.

HelloWorld lobbed a potential bid for Webjet earlier this week, stating it would look to acquire the company for $0.90 per share, subject to due diligence and other conditions, including a unanimous recommendation from the Webjet board in favour of the deal.

This has been followed on Friday morning by a once again non-binding offer from BGH priced at 91 cents per share, which is also seeking a unanimous recommendation from the Webjet board.

The BGH bid follows a previous proposal put to Webjet in May this year to buy the company for 80 cents per share.

BGH already controls major stake

Webjet said in a statement to the ASX on Friday that BGH already had control over a significant proportion of the company's issued capital.

As it told the ASX:

Pursuant to a co-operation agreement with Portfolio Services Pty Ltd, an entity associated with Ariadne Australia Ltd and Gary Weiss, BGH has a total relevant interest of 18.3% in Webjet ordinary shares.

Conditions associated with the BGH bid include that it attain control over at least 75% of Webjet shares and the required regulatory approvals.

Similar to the HelloWorld bid, the Webjet board will now allow BGH access to its books to conduct due diligence.

As the company said:

After carefully considering the revised BGH proposal, the Webjet board has agreed with BGH's request to provide BGH with an opportunity to conduct due diligence, subject to the parties agreeing to a mutually acceptable non-disclosure agreement.

Webjet shares were trading at 91.5 cents on Friday morning, up 2.5 cents.

Analysts at RBC Capital Markets believe that the takeover tussle may intensify even further, as they said in a note issued to clients on Friday.

Two competing bidders, with the board granting both access to due diligence would indicate to us that Webjet is very much in play. We continue to believe Webjet possesses attributes (strong market position, brand awareness, cash generation and cash balance etc.) that would appeal to both trade and financial buyers alike. We do not consider it unreasonable that another bidder may enter the fray.

RBC has a price target of $1.10 on Webjet shares.

Solid first-half results

Webjet earlier this week reported its first-half results and declared an inaugural dividend of 2 cents per share.

The company announced on Wednesday that its first-half revenue totalled $67.9 million, representing a 1% decrease from the same period last year, while net profit increased to $6.2 million, a 41% rise.

Webjet said it was a "challenging trading environment for the group", with bookings down 8% and total transaction volumes down 3%.

Domestic bookings were down by 10%, while international bookings were up 4% and made up 22% of total flight bookings.

The company will pay a 2-cent first-half dividend, equivalent to 100% of underlying net profit, "consistent with the announced intention of maximising the distribution of franking credits as they become available, including the payment of special dividends above the target ratio".

Webjet said a proposed buyback program was on hold for now.

Webjet Managing Director Katrina Barry said the results were "broadly in line with expectations, demonstrating the resilience of our business, despite experiencing challenging market conditions".

The post How high could the bidding war for Webjet go? 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 climbing:

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

The Nufarm share price is up 9% to $2.33. This follows the release of the agricultural chemicals company's FY 2025 results. Nufarm reported a 3% decline in underlying EBITDA (uEBITDA) to $302.5 million for the 12 months. But, excluding the impact of the emerging Omega-3 and Bioenergy platforms, the company's uEBITDA was up 10% on the prior corresponding period. Management is guiding to earnings growth and positive cash generation in FY 2026. Nufarm's outgoing CEO, Greg Hunt, said: "In FY26, we have good momentum in Crop Protection, clear direction and opportunity in Seed Technologies and are well placed to grow earnings, generate cash and reduce leverage."

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is up 4% to $1.93. This has been driven by the release of a trading update ahead of its annual general meeting. The investigative & analytics software provider revealed that its annualised contract value (ACV) currently stands at $230 million. This represents a 12.1% increase on the prior corresponding period and a modest 0.7% lift since June 2025. Looking ahead, it expects its full year ACV to be in the range of $240 million to $260 million in FY 2026.

Silver Mines Ltd (ASX: SVL)

The Silver Mines share price is up almost 10% to 17 cents. This follows the release of strong diamond drilling results at the Bowdens silver deposit. Silver Mines' managing director, Jo Battershill, commented: "It's quite unbelievable that even after 36 years of exploration, resource, infill and extensional drilling at the Bowdens Silver Deposit, we have just drilled the largest ever silver mineralised intercept at this incredible deposit! These results are validation of the quality of the Bowdens Silver Deposit and of the hard work and targeting the technical team have undertaken to deliver this program."

Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL)

The Webjet share price is up 17% to 88.5 cents. Investors have been buying this online travel agent's shares after it received a takeover approach from rival Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO). Helloworld has made a proposal to acquire all Webjet's shares for a cash consideration of 90 cents per share. This represents a 19% premium to its last close price. Helloworld's CEO, Andrew Burnes AO, said: "Our proposal represents compelling value for Webjet shareholders. A combination of Webjet and Helloworld would create a powerful business proposition in the dynamic travel bookings industry. We are committed to working collaboratively with Webjet's Board and management team to progress this transaction expeditiously and with minimum disruption to the Company." The Webjet Board has agreed to provide Helloworld with an opportunity to conduct due diligence.

The post Why Nufarm, Nuix, Silver Mines, and Webjet shares are roaring higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The conditional Helloworld bid is priced at 90 cents per share, 19.2% higher than the 75.5 cents closing price of Webjet shares on Tuesday.

The price is also lower than the levels at which Webjet shares were trading as recently as August.

Due diligence kicks off

Webjet said in a statement to the ASX on Wednesday that the board had considered the offer and agreed to provide Helloworld with an opportunity to conduct due diligence, but cautioned there was no guarantee any deal would eventuate.

The proposal is conditional on the satisfactory completion of due diligence by Helloworld, required regulatory approvals, and a unanimous recommendation in favour by the Webjet board.

As Webjet said in a statement to the ASX:

The Webjet board notes that there is no certainty that the Helloworld proposal will result in a binding offer for the company or a completed transaction. Further announcements will be made in relation to the Helloworld Proposal as appropriate.

Results reflect challenging conditions

Also on Wednesday, Webjet announced its first-half financial results, including the payment of an inaugural 2 cents per share, fully franked dividend.

The company said on Wednesday that first-half revenue came in at $67.9 million, down 1% on the same period last year, while net profit was $6.2 million, up 41%.

Webjet said it was a "challenging trading environment for the group", with bookings down 8% and total transaction volumes down 3%.

Domestic bookings were down by 10%, while international bookings were up 4% and made up 22% of total flight bookings.

The company will pay a 2-cent first-half dividend, equivalent to 100% of underlying net profit, "consistent with the announced intention of maximising the distribution of franking credits as they become available, including the payment of special dividends above the target ratio''.

Webjet said a proposed buyback program was on hold for now.

Webjet managing director Katrina Barry said the results were "broadly in line with expectations,  demonstrating the resilience of our business, despite experiencing challenging market conditions''.

She went on to say:

As communicated last week as part of the update on preliminary 1H26 results and outlook for the balance of the year, with the expectation of a softer market continuing into 2H26, we have made prudent adjustments to our plans to ensure capital is deployed responsibly in the current environment on a balanced basis. Importantly, while remaining vigilant to near term trading conditions, our focus on delivering sustainable long-term growth remains unchanged.

Ms Barry said the company was confident that its FY30 strategic plan provided the right framework to maximise shareholder value, "with doubling total transaction volume as a key – though not the sole – measure of success''.

She added:

We have the right capabilities to deliver on this plan – with deep sector experience, proven execution in scaling travel businesses, and a blend of seasoned executives and fresh perspectives. This positions the business well to continue to progress the next stage of growth and evolution to deliver enhanced shareholder value over the medium term.

The post This travel company has announced a takeover offer and an inaugural dividend on the same day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is down 30% to $2.29. Investors have been hitting the sell button today after insiders sold down their holdings. This includes its CEO, Oleg Vornik, offloading approximately 14.8 million shares through an on-market for $49.5 million. But it is worth remembering that he retains a significant amount of vested and unvested equity in the business. As a result, it is fair to say that his interests remain firmly aligned with shareholders.

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

The Graincorp share price is down 10% to $8.01. This follows the release of the grain exporter's full year results. Graincorp posted a net profit after tax of $40 million, which is down 35% from $62 million a year earlier. The company's managing director and CEO, Robert Spurway, commented: "Disciplined planning and focused execution enabled GrainCorp to deliver a resilient FY25 result, as we responded effectively to a challenging global margin environment."

Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL)

The Webjet Group share price is down 21% to 68.5 cents. This follows the release of a trading update from the online travel booker. Webjet revealed that revenue is expected to be down 1% to $67.9 million in the first half, with underlying EBITDA falling 9% to $14.4 million. Webjet's CEO, Katrina Barry, said: "The subdued near-term outlook for the business has not altered our focus on delivering sustainable long-term growth. Whilst market conditions and performance have become challenging in the past few months, our strategy and long-term growth trajectory remain unchanged. Near-term market conditions impact timing, but not the underlying strength of our business or the value creation opportunity ahead. We remain confident that our FY30 Strategic Plan is the right path to maximise shareholder value."

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is down almost 6% to $131.89. This is despite the cloud accounting platform provider delivering a strong half year result this morning. Xero posted a 20% increase in operating revenue to NZ$1,194 million and a 21% jump in EBITDA to NZ$377.9 million. Xero's CEO, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, said: "Xero's H1 FY26 results reinforce our ability to deliver as we continue to do what we said we would do, in line with our strategy. We have demonstrated strong momentum, with our portfolio of large markets and our products contributing to our macro-resilient growth."

The post Why DroneShield, Graincorp, Webjet, and Xero shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company was putting a positive spin on its first half results, saying the underlying EBITDA of $14.4 million was in line with expectations and the company had shown "resilience in (a) tough trading environment".

But the company's forecast for full-year earnings was downgraded by 9% to 14% to $30 to $32 million in an "ongoing subdued trading environment".

The company's shares fell as low as 68.5 cents before recovering to be 16.7% lower at 72.5 cents in early trade.

Bookings down

Among other metrics reported on Thursday, Webjet said bookings were down 8% against the same period last year, revenue was 1% lower at $67.9 million, and underlying net profit was $7.8 million, up 16%.

The company said in its statement to the ASX:

Webjet Group's underlying results for the first half of FY26 were broadly in line with the company's expectations, demonstrating resilience in a challenging trading environment across the industry and investment for future growth.

The travel industry suffered a number of shocks in the half the company said, including heightened tension in the Middle East, tariff-related trade disruptions, general cost of living pressures, and higher Australian domestic airfares.

For (Webjet's) core flights product, the above meant the domestic leisure market remained subdued. The international outbound sector saw some strong demand, however predominantly in lower-revenue short-haul Asian destinations rather than the higher revenue long-haul destinations to Europe and North America.

Webjet said it had an "unleveraged balance sheet" and would give more guidance on capital management plans at its annual general meeting on 19 November.

On the outlook, the company said it was sticking to its FY30 Strategic Plan; however, it would pull back on investment while times were tough.

Any further pull-back of discretionary spend would only disrupt the Company's clearly defined transformation roadmap, enable competitors to move ahead in a fast-paced environment, and limit the focus on creation of long-term shareholder value. Importantly, with the necessary investment for growth, Webjet Group will be better placed, ready to leverage its brand value when the market returns.

Shares still looking cheap

RBC Capital Markets said they expected investors might view the results announcement cynically, and said first-half earnings were about a 17% miss against consensus estimates.

The broker went on to say:

Management are expecting FY26 earnings to be down 9-14% however, this update is closer to a 16-21% downgrade versus consensus expectations of $38 million. The downgrade is even larger when considering that Locomote, a recent acquisition, is expected to generate underlying EBITDA losses of $600-900k in the second half of 2026 – these losses have been excluded from guidance.

RBC has a price target of $1.30 on Webjet shares.

The post Why are Webjet shares getting smashed today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The vast majority of the operating profit (EBITDA) is generated by the online travel agency (OTA) segment called Webjet, which made $51.6 million EBITDA in FY25. It also has a cars and motorhome segment (which used to be called GoSee), which made $1.6 million of EBITDA in FY25.

Why the ASX small-cap stock has the potential to soar

The company says that it has a plan to double its total transaction value (TTV) in five years, which is the value of the bookings going through its platform.

Webjet believes that the Australia and New Zealand travel sector has a total addressable market (TAM) of $103 billion, which is a large figure to target. That's broken down into domestic flights, international flights, hotels, packages, business travel, car and motorhome hire, and 'other'.

The ASX small-cap stock's main focus is on domestic flights but it has identified avenues where it can deliver significant growth by FY30, growing its TTV from $1.6 billion in FY24 to at least $3.2 billion by FY30.

It wants to become the first choice for Australasians to book travel. It's going to do this with a few different goals.

First, it wants to expand its market share of international flights from 20% of bookings to between 25% to 30% share of bookings, driven by enhanced content and tech and expanded engagement and reach.

Second, it wants to deliver an expanded hotels and packages offering. It wants to go from a flight-first model where hotels and packages are secondary, to a focused hotel offering and significantly scaled and tech enhanced packages product.

Third, the ASX small-cap stock wants to provide a tailored business travel offering, with a distinct stand-alone offering to address demand for a seamless digital experience.

Finally, it wants to refresh the brand and deliver a loyalty opportunity. Webjet wants to revitalise its brands with a "deeply value-adding experience that compels members to make Webjet, Airport Rentals or Motorhome Republic their first choice for booking travel."

Locomote acquisition

The company recently completed the acquisition of Locomote, an online business travel technology company with a fully developed end-to-end corporate booking platform

Management believes this acquisition, which will be rebranded Webjet business travel, will accelerate its FY30 growth strategy and capture a greater share of the business travel market.

By making this deal, the company enables a prompt delivery of a tailored solution.

Foolish takeaway

The ASX small-cap stock has a promising future and if it's able to capture more market share then its earnings and operating leverage could increase. I think it's one to watch in the current environment, along with some other appealing growth names.

The post Why I think this ASX small-cap stock is a bargain at 86 cents appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In fact, they're pretty bullish on four stocks in the sector, predicting returns of as much as 67.4%.

So why are they thinking this way? Basically travel companies at the global level are looking pretty healthy, with the latest quarterly figures looking "more optimistic", Jarden says.

In terms of overseas companies, Expedia raised its sales guidance to 3% to 5% based on strong growth in the business to business and room night metrics outside of the US, Jarden says.

And hotel operator Marriott said there was strength in leisure demand and growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Locally, Jarden has a buy rating on Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares, and has a price target of $17.20 on the stock, compared with $12.35 at the moment.

Expectations are low, with Flight Centre (in our view) taking a more cautious approach to guidance. We see Flight Centre as an increasingly capital-light business with margin upside and believe it should trade above its current circa-12 times one-year forward PE (price to earnings ratio). All else equal, we see FY26 earnings per share risk as increasingly skewed to the upside.

Jarden analysts said demand in the airline sector across the Asia-Pacific grew at the second strongest rate globally, behind Latin America, "with expectations that trends improve through FY26, aided by potentially easing geo-political impacts through 2H26".

In Australia, figures released by Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) showed travel was making a strong contribution to overall card spend, Jarden said, "accelerating through September''.

Driving improving spend is inflationary pressure on domestic and shorter distance trips to Asia.

Which stocks should you buy?

Jarden's top pick in the sector from a share price return point of view is Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO), with its price target of $2.80, 60.9% above the current price of $1.74.

Jarden also has an overweight recommendation on Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) shares, and a price target of $5.30 compared with $4.07 currently.

It also has an overweight recommendation on Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL), with a price target of $1.20 against 88 cents currently.

In contrast, Jarden analysts see Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) as fully priced, with a price target of $16 against the current price of $16.07.

The Australian travel sector has lagged global companies, which could turn if we see earnings per share revisions move positive again. We see this as increasingly likely as the global travel backdrop improves. 

The post Looking for gains of better than 50%? Have a look at these travel stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) travel agency closed yesterday trading for 87 cents. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for 89 cents apiece, up 2.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is up 0.6% at this same time.

It was only back on 4 April that the Webjet share price hit an all-time closing low of 50 cents. If you were brave enough to buy the dip on that date, you'll be sitting on gains of 78% as I pen this.

As you're likely aware, Webjet began trading as an independent entity on 23 September, following its demerger from Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB).

Today's boost follows the release of the company's full-year results for the 12 months ending 31 March (FY 2025).

In light of its September split from Web Travel, the company noted:

Webjet Group has elected to adopt predecessor accounting to ensure continuity and comparability in its financial reporting and elected to present previous corresponding period (pcp) financial information as if it had always operated independently. Consequently, the comparative numbers are only representative in nature.

Here are the highlights from FY 2025.

Webjet share price lifts on first full-year results

Investors are bidding up the Webjet share price after the company reported 1.53 million bookings over the 12 months. While that's down 7% from FY 2024, it's broadly in line with expectations.

FY 2025 saw Webjet achieve a total transaction value (TTV) of $1.5 billion, down 6% year on year. Revenue of $140 million was down 3%.

Earnings went the other way, however. The Webjet share price could be getting support today with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) up 1% year on year to $39 million. The company credited its continued focus on improving revenue/TTV margins and disciplined cost management for the earnings growth.

Webjet cited a "challenging macro-economic environment" over the year, with its online travel agency impacted by a softening domestic flights market and Rex Airlines going into voluntary administration.

However, the company noted this was partly offset by growth in its higher margin international flight bookings.

Post the reporting period, Webjet also received and then rejected a non-binding takeover proposal from BGH Capital.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results helping boost the Webjet share price today, CEO Katrina Barry said, "We're pleased to have delivered a solid result in line with expectations, despite a challenging consumer environment."

Barry added:

This performance reflects the strength of our underlying business, the commitment of our people, and our disciplined focus throughout a period of significant change, including the successful completion of the demerger…

Trip Ninja continues to be a strategic asset and innovation engine within the Group. Over the past year, the platform has expanded its customer base, added three new travel intermediary partners, and launched a powerful new analytics engine to uncover value in flight retailing.

What's ahead for the Webjet share price?

Looking at what could impact the Webjet share price in the year ahead, the company expects to begin paying dividends in FY 2026. Webjet also said it intends to implement an on market share buyback "when circumstances permit".

The company noted that it is making "strong progress" on its FY 2030 strategic priorities.

For FY 2026, management expects underlying EBITDA to be broadly in line with FY 2025.

The Webjet share price is now up 11% since market close on 23 September.

The post Up 78% since April, why is the Webjet share price taking off again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's have a look at which stock is in the crosshairs of a suitor.

Why ASX All Ords stock?

The stock in question is online travel booking company Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL).

Its shares are up almost 3.5% to 92 cents in morning trade on the back of news that private equity firm BGH Capital wants to acquire a controlling interest.

However, investors hoping for a big premium price tag may be severely disappointed. That's because the non-binding indicative offer that has been tabled is below where its shares trade today.

According to the release, the BGH Capital proposal is for a cash offer of $0.80 per Webjet share and is based on a number of key assumptions. This includes assumptions relating to cash levels, no external debt, no dividends or other distributions including by way of buyback being announced, and no business acquisitions prior to implementation.

Based on the where this ASX All Ords stock is currently trading, this offer represents a discount of 13%.

Though, it is worth noting that Webjet shares were trading at 66 cents last week and have rallied amid speculation that a large investor was building a stake in the company. So, it was a decent premium to last week's share price.

What's next?

The release notes that BGH Capital has indicated that while the transaction structure remains under consideration, its intention is to seek a controlling interest.

It has also indicated it is open to some existing shareholders retaining an ongoing equity interest, with the potential for ongoing access to liquidity by retaining its public listing. This is subject to appropriate tax and legal considerations.

The private equity firm has requested due diligence to assist it formulate a binding proposal.

Webjet's management team has warned shareholders that the proposal is non-binding and there is no certainty that it will proceed in accordance with its terms or even at all. As a result, it has told shareholders that they do not need to take any action in relation to the proposal at this time.

Following today's rise, Webjet's shares are up over 90% from the 52-week low they reached in early April.

The post Guess which ASX All Ords stock just received a takeover offer 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 climbing:

Chrysos Corporation Ltd (ASX: C79)

The Chrysos Corporation share price is up 19% to $4.91. This follows news that the mining technology company has signed an agreement with gold giant Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM). The agreement will see Newmont use Chrysos' PhotonAssay technology for its gold mining projects. The two parties have also entered into a contract for an initial PhotonAssay unit to be installed at its Ahafo mine in Ghana, with deployment expected in the first half of FY 2026. Chrysos CEO Dirk Treasure commented: "We are proud to have secured both a Master Services Agreement and an initial lease contract with the industry's leading gold miner."

GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

The GQG Partners share price is up 5.5% to $2.28. Investors have been buying this investment company's shares following the release of latest funds under management (FUM) update. GQG Partners reported FUM of US$163.6 billion. This is up from US$161.9 billion at the end of March. The company also announced its quarterly dividend, which will be 5.87 cents per share. This annualises to a dividend yield just over 10%.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The Macquarie Group share price is up almost 5% to $205.28. This has been driven by the release of the investment bank's full year results this morning. Macquarie reported a net profit of $3.72 billion for the 12 months. This was up 5% year on year and slightly ahead of consensus estimates. Commenting on the result, CEO Shemara Wikramanayake said: "Against a backdrop of ongoing market and economic uncertainty, Macquarie's client franchises remained resilient over the past year, delivering new business origination and underlying income growth, contributing to our history of unbroken profitability."

Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL)

The Webjet Group share price is up 4% to 83.5 cents. This morning, this online travel agent revealed that an undisclosed buyer was looking to acquire an additional 5% stake. It said: "WJL became aware after market close of an undisclosed buyer seeking to acquire up to 5.0% of the shares in WJL (excluding current interest) representing approximately 19.6 million shares in WJL at a fixed cash price of $0.80 per share, with the ability to increase the offer size at the buyer's discretion. The undisclosed buyer is said to have an undisclosed interest below 5%."

The post Why Chrysos, GQG Partners, Macquarie, and Webjet shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

How tough?

Well, since market close on 27 September, the Webjet share price has plunged 42%.

For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 2.2% over this same period.

The ASX All Ords stock has been struggling as high interest rates and sticky inflation have impacted demand for its services.

At Webjet's half year results in November (its first report as an independent company), management noted that "ongoing cost of living pressures continue to subdue demand for travel, particularly for domestic flights".

But with interest rates widely expected to come down in 2025, perhaps as early 20 May when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) next meets, now could be an opportune time to buy the very deep dip on Webjet shares.

That's according to Red Leaf Securities' John Athanasiou (courtesy of The Bull).

Why this ASX All Ords stock is a buy

"WJL was formed in September 2024 after Webjet Limited shareholders approved a demerger to enable two listed parent companies," said Athanasiou, who has a buy recommendation on the ASX All Ords stock.

Athanasiou explained:

WJL operates Australia and New Zealand's online travel agent (OTA) business. WJL also operates GoSee, a global motor home and car rental e-commerce site and Trip Ninja, a travel technology business.

And he's bullish on Webjet's business reset, noting, "This reset is aimed at unlocking value and improving agility."

As for interest rates cuts and the growth outlook for Webjet shares, Athanasiou said:

A strategic re-investment in brand and customer experience amid a potential tailwind from lower interest rates that encourages travel leaves WJL well placed for growth in the long term.

What's been happening with Webjet since the demerger?

With the crashing Webjet share price having also materially lowered the company's market cap, Webjet was removed from the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) on 24 March as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices March quarterly review.

There hasn't been much other news out from Webjet post its demerger aside from its initial half year results.

Commenting on the outlook for the ASX All Ords stock at the time, Webjet managing director Katrina Barry said:

As outlined in our demerger investor presentation, we have clear and robust strategic priorities to deliver growth and enhance our leadership positions in online travel marketplaces.

Our planned initiatives are progressing well with several showing exciting potential and we are accelerating investment in technology platforms and other key growth drivers. With the demerger now behind us, Webjet Group is solely focused on growth…

And according to Red Leaf Securities' Athanasiou, the ASX All Ords stock could be set to deliver on that growth, potentially with a little help from lower interest rates.

The post How lower interest rates could send this beaten down ASX All Ords stock flying appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With international travel rebounding and corporate bookings returning, investor interest in the sector is picking up.

So, with several top travel stocks trading well below their highs because of recent volatility, the question becomes: which one should you buy?

Here's a look at three of the Australian travel sector's biggest names and what leading brokers are saying about them.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

Following the spin-off of its online travel agency division into the newly listed Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL), Web Travel Group is now laser-focused on its wholesale hotel distribution platform, WebBeds.

According to Goldman Sachs, that's a good thing. The broker has a buy rating and a $7.00 price target, suggesting a massive 75% upside from the current share price of $4.00. Goldman notes:

WEB is the second largest hotel bed wholesaler globally with <10% of the global hotel wholesale market… We believe WEB is well placed to continue to grow in key US/APAC growth markets.

While margins may moderate as the company expands in lower-margin regions, WebBeds' scale, global reach, and growth runway could make it a compelling pick for investors looking for exposure to the B2B side of travel.

Flight Centre Travel Group (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre is still the best-known travel name on the Australian share market — and it is not going away anytime soon. The company has emerged from the pandemic leaner, more tech-savvy, and focused on profitability over footprint.

Morgans is a fan of the company. So much so, it has an add rating and $19.80 price target on its shares, which implies around 53% upside from current levels. The broker points to ongoing earnings recovery and momentum in its corporate division as key reasons to stay optimistic.

For investors looking for a household name with brand power and global reach, Flight Centre could be the one.

Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)

Corporate Travel Management offers exposure to the global business travel recovery — and that story still has legs. With offices across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, this ASX share is well diversified and continues to grow both organically and via acquisitions.

Morgan Stanley is a fan, with an overweight rating and $18.30 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of 51% from current levels. The broker likes the company's improving margins, which are being driven partly by vertical integration and automation.

Corporate Travel Management may not be as well-known as the others, but its scalable model and leaner operations mean it could be the quiet achiever of the sector.

The post Should I buy Web Travel Group, Corporate Travel Management or Flight Centre shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I'd say it's much easier for a business to double in size from $200 million to $400 million than it is to go from $2 billion to $4 billion.

I'm bullish about the business Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL) because of its plans to grow significantly in the coming years.

Webjet recently undertook a three-month strategic review of its business, extensively using data and objective analysis to examine various aspects, including its current situation, momentum, outlook, competitive dynamics, and the future of travel and technology. The opportunity identified by that review is exciting, in my view.

The ASX small-cap stock plans to double by FY30

The business aims to deliver significant growth in the coming years, with a goal of doubling total transaction value (TTV) between FY24 and FY30 to reach at least $3.2 billion. It plans to achieve this through greater investment. There are five areas of focus for the business.

First, it plans to revitalise its Webjet brand.

Second, it's going to expand its total addressable market through adjacencies identified in its deep dive.

Third, it plans to capture more of the customer travel wallet through a new loyalty program and enhanced member offers.

Fourth, the ASX small-cap stock is going to "optimise" its core business of domestic flights, motorhomes, and cars.

Finally, it wants to maintain its "operational excellence".  

A key part of the company's above plans is to expand its international flights market share. Around 20% of its bookings are outbound international flights, and it wants to grow this to 25% to 30% with "enhanced content and technology, and expanded enhancement and reach".

It plans to achieve this international travel growth through expanded content and pricing options, new tech and user interface enhancements, deepened customer engagement, and optimising customer conversion.

It also wants to provide a distinct standalone offering for business travel to address demand for a seamless digital experience.

The company also wants to provide an expanded hotels and packages offering for customers. According to Webjet, 74% of people would like to book all of their travel in one place.

However, the ASX small-cap stock expects to invest up to $15 million in FY26 to drive some of the growth mentioned above, which could lead to a "temporary compression during the investment phase" of profit margins. The FY30 operating profit (EBITDA) margin is expected to exceed the current levels, driven by revenue growth, scale efficiencies, and operating leverage.

The post I'd buy this exciting ASX small-cap stock which plans to double in size by 2030 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

According to a note out of Morgan Stanley, its analysts have initiated coverage on this biotechnology giant's shares with an overweight rating and $313.00 price target. The broker is seeing opportunities in the healthcare sector following an underperformance over the past 12 months. In addition, it highlights that CSL's shares are trading at a discount to their 10-year average multiples. This is despite Morgan Stanley expecting strong earnings growth from the company over the next three years thanks to margin expansion in the key CSL Behring business. The CSL share price is trading at $253.27 on Friday.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have upgraded this small business lender's shares to an add rating with a $2.08 price target. The broker made the move following significant share price weakness after a selloff in the banking sector and the sell-down of two early investors. Morgans feels that this has created a buying opportunity. Though, perhaps not for traditional bank investors as Judo is growth-focused and doesn't pay dividends. But it could certainly be worth buying according to Morgans. That's because if management can deliver on its growth plans, the broker believes that it could generate substantial returns for investors in the coming years. The Judo Capital share price is fetching $1.74 at the time of writing.

Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL)

Analysts at Ord Minnett have retained their buy rating on this online travel booker's shares with an improved price target of $1.59. According to the note, the broker was pleased with Webjet's investor day update. It highlights that management is aiming to grow its total transaction value (TTV) to $3.2 billion by FY 2030. This will be double current levels. In addition, with management targeting an EBITDA margin of at least 27%, this bodes well for its earnings growth over the coming years. While some of what is being planned has led to near term earnings downgrades, it thinks investors will be rewarded for being patient. Based on Ord Minnett's forecasts, Webjet shares are currently being valued at 10x FY 2026 earnings. The Webjet share price is trading at 54 cents on Friday.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.