We believe National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) is entering a structurally more attractive phase of its earnings cycle, one that the market is only partially pricing. FY25 confirms that NAB has completed a difficult multi-year transition from remediation-heavy execution towards balance-sheet-led growth, operational leverage, and disciplined capital deployment. In our view, National Australia Bank is no longer just a “solid major bank.” It is increasingly a business-banking-centric compounder, with improving margin resilience, strengthening deposit mix, stabilising asset quality, and credible technology-driven productivity optionality.
We see HY2025 as the first genuinely credible step in EVO’s multi-year turnaround. Not a cosmetic clean-up. Not a one-off bounce. A real shift. Occupancy is climbing, labour stability is improving, centre-level margins are widening, and cashflow finally has the shape of something we can underwrite. Management has been making tough decisions — cutting deadweight centres, fixing staffing inconsistencies, and rebuilding trust in local communities — and the P&L now reflects it.
Woodside Energy Group currently looks more like a cyclical value income stock than a value trap, supported by a 6%+ fully franked dividend, reasonable valuation and low production costs, despite compressed free cash flow during its heavy investment phase. The key risks remain commodity prices and execution, with sustained strength above A$27 and firmer oil/LNG markets needed to confirm upside momentum.
Fortescue Ltd is a low-cost iron ore producer with strong cash flow and attractive fully franked dividends, but earnings remain highly exposed to iron ore prices and Chinese demand. Trading around mid-cycle valuation levels, the stock looks fairly valued, with upside dependent on stronger commodity prices and successful expansion into magnetite and green energy.
Beach Energy is a gas-focused Australian producer supplying the domestic east coast market, with most output coming from the Cooper, Otway and Perth basins. The key growth driver is the Waitsia Gas Project, which could lift production and cash flow as it ramps up. The stock offers a high fully franked dividend but remains sensitive to energy prices and project execution.
Acrow Limited is an Australian engineering and equipment rental company supplying formwork and scaffolding to construction and infrastructure projects. The business generates recurring income from its large hire fleet and has delivered strong revenue growth in recent years. Despite recent share price weakness, it offers solid cash flow and a fully franked dividend yield above 5%.
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