A portfolio does not need dozens of holdings to cover a lot of ground.

With three carefully chosen investments, I think an investor could gain exposure to global growth, dependable infrastructure, and a business with substantial room to expand.

The key is giving each holding a clear job.

Start with global quality

I would make VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) the largest holding.

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) provides exposure to international companies selected using measures such as profitability, balance sheet strength, and earnings stability.

I like that approach because the global share market contains thousands of businesses, but they are not all equally attractive. A quality filter can direct more of the portfolio towards companies that have already shown an ability to generate strong returns without relying heavily on debt.

These businesses may sell software, medicines, consumer products, industrial equipment, or financial services. What connects them is the financial strength that can support continued investment through changing economic conditions.

International shares also give Australian investors access to industries and business models that are less prominent on the ASX.

I would expect this holding to do most of the long-term compounding.

Add dependable infrastructure

The second investment would be APA Group (ASX: APA).

APA owns and operates energy infrastructure, including pipelines and other assets that help move and store energy around Australia.

I think infrastructure can bring a different rhythm to a portfolio. Demand is linked to essential services, while many assets are supported by long-term agreements or regulated arrangements.

APA also pays dividends, which could provide some income while the wider portfolio continues growing.

The energy system is changing, and APA will need to invest carefully as Australia moves towards a different mix of generation and storage. Debt, interest rates, regulation, and project returns all deserve attention.

Even so, I like the idea of owning assets that remain deeply connected to how homes and businesses receive energy.

Include a long-term growth share

The final investment would be Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO).

Xero has developed accounting software that sits close to the daily financial activity of small businesses. Customers can use the platform for invoicing, payroll, payments, reporting, tax, and cash flow management.

That position gives Xero room to become more valuable to each customer over time.

The company can add services, improve automation, and use data to help business owners make better decisions. Its opportunity in the United States also leaves plenty of space for expansion if execution remains strong.

Xero shares can be volatile, and investors are often asked to pay a high valuation for future growth. I would therefore keep the allocation smaller than the global ETF holding.

For a long investment horizon, I think the company has the potential to become a much larger financial platform.

How I would split the money

I would put around 50% of the portfolio into the QUAL ETF, 25% into APA Group, and 25% into Xero shares.

That split would place most of the money in a diversified global holding while still leaving enough exposure to income and company-specific growth.

The exact percentages could change with an investor’s age, income needs, and tolerance for volatility. Someone closer to retirement may prefer a larger infrastructure allocation, while a younger investor may lean further towards growth.

Foolish Takeaway

A three-investment portfolio places more responsibility on every holding, so I would choose each one carefully and resist the temptation to keep adding shares without a clear reason.

This structure would give me access to established global businesses, essential Australian assets, and a company still building towards a much larger opportunity.

It would remain simple enough to follow, while offering several ways for wealth to grow over the years ahead.

The post How I would build an ASX portfolio with just 3 investments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I’d buy 4,068 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $200 a month of passive income
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?
• Here’s what brokers tip for Xero shares over the next 12 months
• Here’s what $10,000 invested in ASX tech shares 5 years ago would be worth now
• 3 ASX ETFs with strong long-term growth potential

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a bit of a sour end to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Friday. After a bumpy trading week that saw the markets swing from gains to losses, investors ended up siding with the pessimists over today’s session.

After keeping to red territory all day, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.5% lower. That leaves the index at 8,796.7 points as we head into the weekend.

This rough day for the Australian markets followed a similar session on Wall Street overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was not in a good mood, dropping 0.2% lower.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was punished even harder, falling a nasty 1.47%.

But let’s return to the local boards now and take a closer look at what was happening with the various ASX sectors this Friday.

Winners and losers

No one should be surprised to see that there were more losers than winners today.

Leading said losers were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was slammed this session, crashing 4.95%.

Broader mining shares were also slammed, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking 2.91%.

Tech stocks sank hard as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) cratered 1.6%.

Next on the red list were healthcare shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.34% dive.

Our final losers this Friday were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) lifted 0.1% by the closing bell.

Let’s turn to the green sectors now. It was utilities shares that fronted the pack, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) surging up 1.77%.

Energy stocks ran hot, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) soared 1.66% higher this Friday.

Communications shares were also in demand, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 1.62% lift.

Consumer staples stocks weren’t left out either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) bounced up 1.06% today.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) seeing its value spike 1.02%.

After REITs, we had industrial shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) enjoyed a 0.65% improvement this session.

Last and least, consumer discretionary stocks just stuck the landing, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.48% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today’s top stock was once again the financial services company AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP). AMP shares rocketed another 6.32% today to close at $2.02 each.

This seems to be a continuation of the goodwill we saw yesterday following the earnings update that was released.

Here’s the rest of today’s best: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)	$2.02	6.32%
Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)	$19.44	3.46%
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)	$30.46	3.29%
Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)	$23.21	2.88%
Amcor plc (ASX: AMC)	$63.77	2.84%
Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)	$5.04	2.65%
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)	$6.10	2.52%
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)	$17.62	2.50%
Ingenia Communities Ltd (ASX: INA)	$4.29	2.39%
Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)	$3.56	2.30%

Enjoy the weekend!

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.

More reading

• Could Woodside Energy be a takeover target?
• Alcoa smashes Q2 revenue record, boosts portfolio with South32 acquisition
• Perseus Mining: Yaouré growth drilling pays off
• Regis Resources upgrades FY27 production guidance and cost outlook
• Coles ends talks for Greencross acquisition

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Amcor Plc and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) seems to grow more popular on the ASX with each passing year. ASX investors seem to love buying ASX ETFs, likely for their simple, hands-off nature and cheap market access, which they are well known for.

The ASX’s most popular ETFs, such as the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), seem to increase their assets under management like clockwork every month. And the number of smaller, thematic ETFs has exploded in recent years. These days, you can pretty much find any ETF you can think of on the ASX.

This trend, in my view, is largely a happy one. ETFs can give ASX investors cheap access to industries and markets that were previously unavailable (or available but prohibitively expensive) to Australian investors. Australians who might have never taken the plunge of buying individual ASX shares are happy to part with their dollars when offered cheap, market-wide index funds that can simply be put into the proverbial bottom drawer and never touched again.

However, ETF investing is not without its potential risks and downsides. Today, I’m going to discuss what I consider the biggest red flag for ASX investors to watch out for when considering an ETF investment.

A big red flag when buying ASX ETFs

Any ASX ETF can theoretically find a happy place in an investor’s portfolio. Provided it aligns with their goals and risk tolerances, of course. However, I think there is one factor that should be assessed above all else when analysing your next ETF investment. That factor is the fee that the ETF will charge you.

All ASX ETFs charge their investors an annual fee for their services. That’s fair enough. After all, ETFs need to be maintained, their portfolios kept in line, their dividends distributed, and their investors kept informed. That doesn’t come free.

But although all ETFs are equal when it comes to imposing these fees, some are more equal than others. It is this fee that ASX ETF investors need to be discerning about.

Fees on ASX ETFs are wide-ranging. Some of the cheapest on the market go for under 0.05% per annum. That’s $5 a year for every $10,000 invested. Others are as high as 1%, or even greater.

Whether an ETF charges a fee of 0.05%, 0.5%, or 1% might not sound like a matter of great importance. But it is if you value your cash. Sure, that kind of difference isn’t enough to make a meaningful difference to one’s returns over a year or two. But it certainly starts to add up over five, ten, or 20 years.

When paying 1% can cost you a fortune

Just as returns from investments compound, so too do the lost potential returns of money that is eaten up by these fees. To illustrate, let’s assume one investor puts $100,000 into one ETF that is fee-free. Another investor puts the same amount into a fund that asks 1% per annum. If both ETFs return an average of 10% over 20 years, our 1% fund will turn that $100,000 into just over $600,000. But our fee-free fund will yield almost $730,300.

Yep, that 1% difference is worth more than $130,000 over two decades.

As such, all ASX investors who are thinking about buying an ASX ETF need to consider how much dead money their fund will take from them. A high fee, particularly one over 1% per annum, is, in my view, one of the biggest red flags an ETF can wave at us as investors. Ignore it at your money’s peril.

The post Buying ASX ETFs? Watch out for this red flag appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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.

Shares in Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) have appreciated by more than 56% over the past 12 months but at least two brokers believe the stock still has a way to run.

The analyst teams at both Macquarie and UBS have bullish share price targets on the company which we’ll get to shortly.

Firstly let’s look at why they’ve recently published research reports on the company.

Strong fourth quarter production meets guidance

Ora Banda earlier this week published its quarterly production report which showed the company produced a record 39,552 ounces of gold during the June quarter to meet its full year guidance target.

The company said it had closing cash at the end of the quarter of $267.7 million with total available liquidity of $468 million including an undrawn $200 million debt facility.

The company had also during the quarter launched its “Drive to 300” initiative which is a multi-year target to increase production to 300,000 ounces of gold per year.

Ora Banda Managing Director Luke Creagh said of the result:

Another transformational year for Ora Banda is a credit to the exceptional work of our teams who achieved records across nearly every metric as well as set ting up the Company to deliver outstanding value creation with the launch of our ‘DRIVE to 300’ Project. Our organic growth strategy continues to gain momentum, with material increases in Resources and Reserves, and operating cashflows continuing to strengthen the balance sheet . The business has more than $468 million of liquidity to fund capital projects as we target a doubling of production and a step-change down in unit costs by FY29.

Ora Banda’s production guidance for the current year is 125,000-140,000 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $3400-$3600. Last year’s production result was 140,949 ounces.

The company added:

Production is expected to be weighted towards the first half of FY27, with production supplemented by third-party processing through to October 2026 . Post October, the Company will commence building ore stockpiles ahead of commissioning of the new processing facility.

Ora Banda intends to spend $425 million in growth capital this year.                                                                                                           

Brokers this this ASX gold stock is going cheap

UBS said it had lowered its price target on the company due to higher capital expenditure and lower estimated earnings.

The broker’s price target for Ora Banda shares is now $1.45, down from $1.60, compared to the current price of $1.

Macquarie’s price target on the shares is $1.30.

The broker said:

OBM is firmly in its growth phase growing production from 141koz in FY26 to >300koz in FY29 by using its balance sheet (liquidity of A$468m) and internal cash flows to fund it.

The post This ASX gold stock could jump by 45% brokers say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Lithium shares have had another turbulent year to date, with the analyst team at Morgans noting that ASX lithium company share prices ran up as prices peaked in May, and have subsequently fallen back.

ASX lithium shares in focus

Three major broking houses in Morgans, UBS, and Macquarie have issued research notes on the lithium sector this week, with UBS saying they expect Australian lithium companies to generate strong cash flow over the June quarter, “as stronger realised lithium prices drive robust margins”.

They added:

With lithium prices recovering sharply since mid-CY25, producers have moved quickly to revisit and accelerate growth initiatives, although we believe the market is underestimating the capital required to deliver the next expansion phase. Concerns build around rising battery inventories, weak China NEV sales, an accelerating / uncertain supply response, though we continue to believe the market fundamentals remain strong and remain overweight lithium.

Macquarie notes that there remains limited visibility of the expansion of the major Chinese producer Jianxiawo and, therefore, its effect on the market.

Macquarie said they see significant uncertainty around the supply and demand outlook for CY27.

They added:

While future supply additions are highly visible, we believe the market may be underestimating project delays, commissioning risks and ramp-up challenges.

Which ASX lithium shares do the experts like?

Macquarie’s top pick in the sector is IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO), with a price target of $10.50.

Other companies it had assigned an outperform rating to include PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), PMET Ltd (ASX: PMT), Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV), Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8), and Global Lithium Ltd (ASX: GL1).

In contrast, Morgans has a hold recommendation on PLS shares, preferring Liontown Resources, which it has an accumulate rating on and a price target of $1.70 on, compared to $1.36 currently.

Morgans also has an accumulate rating on Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), with a $68 price target compared to $56.65 currently.

UBS also has a neutral rating on PLS shares, and buys on IGO, Liontown, PMET, and Elevra.

Morgans noted that the recent pullback in lithium prices was likely a short-term correction.

They added:

We see this recent sell-off as the market pricing in a step-change in near-term supply, not an expectation that the commodity is going to experience a severe sell off and enter another downcycle. Rather, we think investors have concluded that the probability of another leg is now considerably lower, given the CATL and Zimbabwe supply catalysts, plus incremental Australian supply coming back online. In our view, the equity rally through 1Q/2Q26 pushed several names ahead of what we’d consider fair value on a through-cycle price deck, and this correction is best read as a re-rating back toward more appropriate valuations, not a loss of confidence in sector fundamentals.   

The post What are the top picks in the ASX lithium sector right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) are trading higher after a research report from Macquarie teased the idea of the oil and gas major being a takeover target.

US major rumoured to be on the hunt

The research report issued on Friday morning argued that the Strait of Hormuz crisis has de-rated Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) assets for now, and arguably permanently.

Macquarie said this could mean there is more pressure for mergers and acquisitions in the LNG space, “making Woodside a viable target”.

The broker is arguing that consolidation in the energy sector will continue, and notes that Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM) missed out on buying assets in Guyana 12 months ago.

Quoting Bloomberg as a source, Macquarie writes that ExxonMobil is “screening LNG acquisitions including Woodside”.

They added:

With US shale consolidations done and opportunities maturing, international deals make sense again, particularly in the LNG segment (post Strait of Hormuz).

Woodside is an attractive candidate, they said, with its M&A strategy over the past five years building a company that aligned strategically with what ExxonMobil would be after.

Macquarie said ExxonMobil would have to bring an attractive offer to the table, adding, “In our view, a meaningful premium that would be much harder to deliver as a standalone entity could increase the likelihood of board engagement”.

Hurdles to the deal could be board reluctance and the company’s large retail shareholder base, Macquarie said.

Woodside Energy shares looking like a good buy

The broker has raised its price target on Woodside shares by 9% to $32.80 per share, and if a 20% weighting for M&A activity was included, this would rise to $38.50.

Woodside shares are currently changing hands for $30.29, up 2.7% on the day. The company is valued at $56.06 billion.

RBC Capital Markets is also a fan of the stock, saying in a research note earlier this week that Woodside was its top large-cap pick in the energy sector, “based on its strong longer-term growth profile, and potential to generate more near-term higher priced gas hub sales and LNG trading volumes due to the Middle East conflict”.

They added:

Woodside’s 2Q sales revenue is expected to be supported by higher crude and … commodity pricing, despite production volumes being affected by the Pluto LNG project scheduled turnaround. We expect the volatile pricing environment to create opportunity for relatively high gas hub sales and LNG trading volumes quarter on quarter. Woodside’s production growth outlook remains highly attractive, with Scarborough (Pluto LNG T-2) on stream by the end of 2026, followed by Trion oil in 2028 and Louisiana LNG in 2029.

RBC has a price target of $34.50 on Woodside shares.

The post Could Woodside Energy be a takeover target? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• With Hormuz closed, is there an opening to buy Woodside shares?

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When it comes to Australian financial services companies, at the moment it can pay to look beyond the big four banks when looking for outsized returns.

The brokers at Macquarie have this week issued reports into three ASX finance companies which they believe will perform well over the next 12 months.

Let’s see who they like.

Australian Finance Group Ltd (ASX: AFG)

Shares in this company have fallen 22.4% over the past 12 months, but the team at Macquarie think they will tick upwards over the next year.

AFG recently said in a statement to the ASX that AFG mortgage brokers had lodged $28.1 billion worth of home loans in the fourth quarter, which was the strongest June quarter on record.

AFG Chief Executive Officer David Bailey said regarding the result:

Following the strongest March quarter on record, some easing in June was expected, especially after the Federal Budget announcements on 12 May and during a tightening rate cycle. Despite divergence across states and shifting borrower sentiment mid-quarter, we delivered positive year-on-year growth and a record-high average loan size. We believe the fiscal policy changes announced during the quarter will represent a period of readjustment rather than a structural shift in underlying demand.

Macquarie said they were forecasting some headwinds for AFG as the impact of tax policy changes in the Federal Budget rolled through, and reduced their price target on the company from $3.01 to $2.26.

This remains well above the current price of $1.64.

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

Macquarie has reinitiated coverage of this stock with an outperform rating after the company released a quarterly update earlier this week.

In that report, the company said assets under management were up 6% to US$33.6 billion, while assets under management in its Lighthouse Partners division were up 8% to more than US$20 billion.

The company said:

Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, interest rate volatility and changing market conditions continue to create both opportunities and challenges for alternative investment strategies. Most of Lighthouse Partners’ strategies performed strongly during the quarter and several of NGI Strategic’s Partner Firms delivered strong performance on an absolute and relative basis during the quarter.

Macquarie said the company had a strong platform entering FY27, and the broker has a price target on the company of $3.28 compared to the current price of $2.44.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Macquarie said Netwealth’s fund inflows of $3.09 billion were slightly below consensus, while total funds under administration of $134.3 billion were in line with expectations.

The broker has maintained an outperform rating on the stock due to “robust” earnings per share growth.

Macquarie’s share price target for Netwealth is $32.25 compared to $23.79 currently.

The post Macquarie tips three ASX finance companies to return better than 30% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Alcoa Corporation Ltd (ASX: AAI) share price is in focus today after the company posted record quarterly revenue of US$4.0 billion and reported a sequential jump of 51% in adjusted EBITDA to US$901 million for the second quarter of 2026.

What did Alcoa report?

• Revenue rose 24% quarter-on-quarter to a record US$4.0 billion
• Net income attributable to Alcoa was US$407 million (US$1.53 per share)
• Adjusted net income grew 51% to US$562 million (US$2.12 per share)
• Adjusted EBITDA (excluding special items) increased to US$901 million
• Free cash flow reached US$422 million, finishing the quarter with US$1.4 billion in cash
• Set new year-to-date production records at four aluminium smelters and one alumina refinery

What else do investors need to know?

Alcoa announced a definitive agreement to acquire South32 Ltd’s (ASX: S32) interests in bauxite, alumina, and aluminium assets across Australia, Brazil, and South Africa for upfront consideration of approximately US$4.1 billion. This move is expected to bolster Alcoa’s position as a leading pure-play upstream aluminium company and deliver long-term value through operational synergies.

The company also celebrated the successful restart of its smelters in Spain, Brazil, Norway, and Australia, contributing to higher aluminium production and shipments this quarter. Alcoa completed collective bargaining agreements with unions in Australia, the United States, and Canada, ensuring stability for its workforce.

What did Alcoa management say?

President and CEO William F. Oplinger said:

During the second quarter, in addition to delivering strong financial results that captured favourable aluminium prices, our team executed on strategic initiatives, most notably the announced agreement with South32. We continue to demonstrate operational excellence and positive momentum in our disciplined approach to maximise value creation.

What’s next for Alcoa?

Looking ahead, Alcoa has lowered its 2026 alumina production and shipment guidance due to disruptions at the Pinjarra refinery following Cyclone Narelle. Nevertheless, aluminium production and shipment targets remain unchanged, and the company expects to benefit from cost efficiencies, gradual recovery in energy markets, and the integration of the newly acquired AliGroup assets.

Management anticipates a steady operational outlook for the third quarter, with forecast improvements from restored stability and lower energy prices offsetting planned maintenance activities. Alcoa remains focused on executing its growth strategy and leveraging its upgraded global portfolio for long-term shareholder returns.

Alcoa share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Acola shares have risen 49%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Alcoa smashes Q2 revenue record, boosts portfolio with South32 acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) share price is in focus after the company unveiled a growth-oriented update on its Yaouré Gold Mine, with highlights including strong open pit grade reconcilations and encouraging underground results.

What did Perseus Mining report?

• CMA underground successfully transitioned into production, ramping up towards steady-state operations
• The Yaouré open pit delivered over 24% more gold than modelled from September 2025 to March 2026
• Extension drilling at CMA underground and other areas identified potential to grow Mineral Resources
• Perseus committed $34 million in FY27 for resource drilling to expand the Mineral Resource base
• The five-year outlook for Yaouré is being reviewed as drilling continues to define new targets

What else do investors need to know?

Perseus reports that since the initial 1.52 million-ounce Ore Reserve in 2020, the Yaouré Gold Mine has replaced 76% of mined ounces, maintaining a 1.44 million-ounce reserve while extending mine life from 9 to 15 years.

Production ramp-up at the CMA underground mine included development milestones and initial stoping, with ore recovery outperforming expectations. Exploration drilling also highlighted new prospects at adjacent deposits like CMA Southwest and ROZA, expanding the scope for future production and mine life extension.

An updated Ore Reserve statement, incorporating recent drilling, is expected in August 2026. This will help clarify the impact of positive grade reconciliation trends and newly defined resources.

What did Perseus Mining management say?

Managing Director & CEO Craig Jones said:

Yaouré continues to demonstrate why it is a cornerstone asset in our portfolio. The successful transition of CMA Underground into stoping operations reflects the strength of our in-house team and their ability to execute complex underground developments safely and to schedule. Equally pleasing is the performance of the Yaouré open pit, which has now delivered more than 20% additional gold relative to our Reserve model year to date, while our drilling continues to define new mineralisation domains both at depth and along strike. Extension drilling at CMA Underground has produced encouraging results pointing to mineralisation beyond the currently defined Mineral Resource, and our exploration success beyond the boundary fence reinforces our confidence that Yaouré’s mine life can be extended well beyond current estimates. Our optimistic outlook provides confidence to invest in $34M exploration and in-fill drilling studies at Yaouré in FY27 and underscores our disciplined approach to organic growth — investing in the drill bit to convert Inferred Resources and extend the life of an asset we know intimately. This is precisely the model that has consistently created value for our shareholders, and we look forward to updating the market as these programs progress.

What’s next for Perseus Mining?

Perseus Mining is targeting further resource conversion and near-mine exploration at Yaouré, with a focus on potentially extending the mine’s operating life and increasing gold output. The $34 million investment in FY27 will fund around 123km of drilling and related studies on site.

Management’s strategy remains focused on low-risk organic growth, leveraging in-house technical teams to extract more value from existing assets. Additional drilling and resource model updates are planned for the coming year, underpinning the company’s positive production outlook and reinforcing Yaouré as a key contributor to the group’s performance.

Perseus Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perseus shares have risen 31%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

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The post Perseus Mining: Yaouré growth drilling pays off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price is in focus after the company lifted its FY27 production guidance, aiming for 360,000–400,000 ounces of gold at a group all-in sustaining cost of $2,990–$3,390 per ounce.

What did Regis Resources report?

• FY27 group gold production guidance: 360,000–400,000 ounces
• Group all-in sustaining cost (AISC): $2,990–$3,390 per ounce, including ~$88/oz of non-cash stockpile movements
• Growth capital expenditure forecast: $250–$270 million
• Exploration spend guidance: $80–$90 million
• McPhillamys Project spending: $30–$35 million planned
• Correction to 30 June 2026 cash and bullion: revised to $1.184 billion after timing adjustment

What else do investors need to know?

Production at the Duketon operation is expected to be higher in FY27, with a bias towards the second half, driven by increased output from Garden Well and Rosemont. Duketon is also leveraging the higher gold price by processing additional lower margin ounces at Moolart Well without impacting higher margin production elsewhere.

At Tropicana, the company expects a slight dip in production year on year, reflecting more processing of lower grade stockpile ore as Havana’s open pit output reduces. Group AISC is impacted by higher diesel costs and the inclusion of higher cost, but still profitable, ounces from BuckWell.

A correction to previously disclosed cash and bullion holdings at 30 June 2026 reduces the balance by $26 million, but does not affect FY26 reported gold production or closing cash.

What’s next for Regis Resources?

Regis plans to continue ramping up production at Duketon and advance the Rosemont Stage 3 underground project, targeting commercial production in late FY27. Growth capital will be front-loaded into the first half of the financial year as new open pit projects come online.

Increased exploration and sustained investment in the McPhillamys Project are intended to underpin future growth. The company remains focused on managing costs amid volatile diesel prices, with each 10 cents per litre variation affecting AISC by about $25 an ounce.

Regis Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Regis Resources shares have risen 39%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Regis Resources upgrades FY27 production guidance and cost outlook appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.