A Morningstar survey of the income potential and tax effectiveness of large-cap Australian equity funds caught our readers' attention this week alongside API's value-adding acquisition and a look at five top-ranked financial stocks.

5 dividend hits, 4 misses in funds study

Dividends remained quite stable, while realised capital gains fluctuated from year to year, according to a Morningstar study that tracked 34 large-cap equity funds over 11 years.

Pharma stock looks attractive after latest acquisition

Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (ASX: API) remains a buying opportunity for value investors following its $127 million acquisition of cosmetic skin and laser hair removal company Clearskincare Clinics, according to Morningstar. 

5 top-ranked financial stocks

The investment return outlook for Australia's big four banks may have divided commentators but there are other ASX-listed large-cap financial stocks worth watching.

3 funds ready for a comeback

Pendal, Lazard and Robeco have underperformed in recent years, but could be due for a change in fortune.

Reading between the lines of falling SMSF establishments

SMSFs now account for around 27 per cent of Australia’s $2.6 trillion superannuation pool, down from 30 per cent three years ago. 

Super funds post another stellar year

Australian super funds are closing in on a decade of positive returns as the median growth fund ends the year up by 9.2 per cent, according to a report by superannuation research house Chant West.

AMP's fair value cut amid bank probe disaster

Morningstar has downgraded its fair value estimate for AMP, saying the revelations of the banking royal commission have been an "unprecedented disaster" for the once venerable wealth management giant.

Pendal breaks into global best ideas list

Australian asset manager Pendal Group has joined California cloud-computing company ServiceNow and Italian electricity provider Enel as new entrants in Morningstar's list of Global Best Equity Ideas.

5 best and worst performing equity funds of FY2018

Big bets on Flight Centre (ASX: FLT) and Reliance Worldwide (ASX: RWC) paid off for one Australian fund manager, while overweight positions on Telstra (ASX: TLS) hurt others, according to the latest Morningstar data. 

Shale sale will end painful chapter for BHP

The $US10.8 billion BHP will receive for its US shale assets is a fair price and ends a painful chapter for the world's top miner, says Morningstar.

  

More from Morningstar

• How to diversify your portfolio: listed Australian and global property

• Investing Basics: a beginner's guide to ETFs

• Make better investment decisions with Morningstar Premium | Free 4-week trial

 

Lex Hall is a Morningstar content editor, based in Sydney.

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