ASX financials stocks have shown some resilience in 2026 despite broader market sell-offs.
The S&P/ASX 200 Financials (ASX: XFJ) index remains flat year to date.
This week, two ASX financial stocks have received positive outlooks from brokers.
Here's what's behind the optimistic view.
Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)
Navigator Global Investments is a holding company.
It is an alternative asset management firm with diverse partnerships across investment styles, product types, and client bases. Navigator Global Investments has around US$73 billion in assets under management and is currently partnered with 11 businesses.
It has fallen 28% year to date, however a key announcement could be good news for the ASX financials stock according to Morgans.
The company released an announcement on Monday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a strategic minority ownership interest and a preferred economic interest in Georgian and its affiliates ("Georgian").
Georgian is a Toronto, Canada based AI-focused growth equity firm with USD $5.9 billion in assets under management.
Stephen Darke, NGI CEO, commented,
Our strategic partnership with Georgian is the latest example of NGI executing our strategy to provide growth capital to leading alternative investment firms globally. Artificial intelligence will be one of the dominant investment themes of the next century, and in Georgian we have found an aligned partner that is a true pioneer in the field.
Following the announcement, the team at Morgans updated its outlook on this ASX financials stock.
Morgans said it expects EPS to increase by 1-3% following the transaction.
It also rates Navigator Global Investments shares a buy, however reduced its price target to $2.98 (previously $3.35).
From yesterday's closing price of $2.12, this indicates an upside of approximately 40%.
Cuscal Ltd (ASX: CCL)
Cuscal Ltd is a payment and regulated data services provider in Australia. The group offers a comprehensive suite of payment infrastructure solutions to a diversified client base.
In a note out of Bell Potter yesterday, the broker updated its outlook on this ASX financials stock after the Reserve Bank of Australia announced surcharging on debit and credit cards should end from 1 October 2026.
This could impact Cuscal margins removing a key revenue mechanism tied to merchant card payments.
However, Bell Potter said its buy rating and target price is unchanged.
We view the outcome today as a mild indirect positive for CCL whose customer base are price takers with low exposure to credit and view subscription-based models are an emerging second leg of growth.
Bell Potter has maintained its price target of $5.10 on this ASX financials stock, which indicates a potential upside of 28% from yesterday's closing price.
The post Experts name 2 ASX financials stocks to watch closely appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
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