If you have been waiting for a bigger window to top up your superannuation, it has just opened.

From 1 July 2026, the annual non-concessional contributions cap rose from $120,000 to $130,000.

This change flows through to the bring-forward rule, lifting the maximum three-year contribution from $360,000 to $390,000.

For anyone planning a large one-off contribution, an extra $30,000 of headroom is something to take advantage of.

What changed in superannuation on 1 July

Three numbers moved at the same time.

The concessional cap increased from $30,000 to $32,500, the non-concessional cap rose to $130,000, and the general transfer balance cap rose to $2.1 million.

All three increases are indexed to wages or prices, which is why they tend to move together rather than in isolation.

So, what is the transfer balance cap? The transfer balance cap sets the total superannuation balance thresholds that determine whether you can make after-tax contributions at all.

How the bring-forward rule actually works

The bring-forward rule lets eligible people under 75 use up to three years of non-concessional cap in a single financial year.

Rather than being held to $130,000, you can contribute up to $390,000 at once.

That is useful if you have sold an investment property, received an inheritance, or are making a final push in the years before retirement.

You do not apply for the arrangement. Instead, it triggers automatically the moment your non-concessional contributions exceed the annual cap in one financial year, which is why some people trigger it without meaning to.

Once triggered, the clock runs for three financial years regardless of whether you use the full amount.

The superannuation balance test that sets your limit

How much you can bring forward depends on your total superannuation balance at 30 June of the previous financial year.

The ATO sets out the tiers as follows: If your balance was below $1.84 million, you can access the full three years and contribute up to $390,000.

Between $1.84 million and $1.97 million, you get two years and a $260,000 limit.

Between $1.97 million and $2.1 million, you are held to the standard $130,000 annual cap.

At $2.1 million or above, your non-concessional cap is nil.

Those thresholds moved up alongside the transfer balance cap, which means some people who were locked out entirely last financial year are eligible to contribute again this year.

The trap that catches people out

Indexation does not apply once you are already inside a bring-forward period.

Your cap is locked at the amount that applied in the year you triggered it.

So, if you started a three-year arrangement in 2024-25 or 2025-26, you remain capped at $360,000 until that period expires.

It is an easy assumption to get wrong, and exceeding your cap means dealing with excess contributions tax and an amended assessment.

One further change is worth noting.

Division 296 also commenced on 1 July 2026, applying an additional tax to earnings attributable to total superannuation balances above $3 million.

Anyone contributing large sums while sitting near that threshold should factor this into their decision.

Foolish takeaway

Rather than investing in ASX blue chips like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), investors should pay attention to how they can optimise their superannuation.

Bigger caps are good news, but they reward planning rather than enthusiasm.

The two questions to answer before contributing are the following: What was your total super balance on 30 June, and have you already triggered a bring-forward period?

Get both right and the new limits give you meaningfully more room to compound wealth inside super.

Earnings there are generally taxed at 15% rather than at your marginal rate, great news for investors serious about their retirement.

The post The bring-forward rule just got bigger. Here’s what that means for your superannuation appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much could a $100,000 ASX share portfolio pay in dividends?
• 3 key reasons to buy BHP shares today
• $10,000 invested in CBA shares 6 months ago is now worth…
• How many BHP shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.2% to 8,839 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to sink

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Friday following a disappointing night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 65 points or 0.75% lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 1%, the S&P 500 is down 1.3%, and the Nasdaq is 2.3% lower. Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares are down 14% and weighing heavily on the latter.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a great finish to the week after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.8% to US$91.87 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 6.65% to US$100.33 a barrel. This was driven by reports that tankers were struck off Saudi Arabia.

Polynovo shares downgraded

Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) shares will be in focus today after the medical device company was downgraded by the team at Bell Potter. According to the note, the broker has downgraded Polynovo’s shares to a hold rating with a heavily reduced price target of $1.00 (from $2.00). It said: “We conclude that the top line growth rate is below our expectation and accordingly our target price is adjusted to reflect this change. Pending the full year earnings update, our initial reaction has been to slash the growth forecast to low double digit percentage growth going forward. For FY27 we now expect net sales to increase by ~$15m relative to the $20m increase achieved in FY26. We are particularly concerned by sequential period decline in US revenues in 2H26 in addition to the absence of a strategy in the outpatient care market.”

Gold price tumbles

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a poor finish to the week after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 2.5% to US$4,048.5 an ounce. Rate hike concerns are weighing on the precious metal. Also, Newmont will be releasing its quarterly update this morning.

Buy Generation Development shares

Morgans sees value in Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) shares. In response to its fourth-quarter update, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $6.89 (from $6.28). It said: “GDG has provided a 4Q26 update. We saw this as a strong result highlighted by record Investment Bond sales, and importantly, Evidentia beating expectations after a run of consecutive misses. We lift our GDG EPS by +1%-5% over the forecast period, on higher sales and FUM expectations in both key divisions. Our price target is set at A$6.89 (previously A$6.28). We maintain our BUY recommendation, with >20% TSR upside.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Oil prices are rising again. What does that mean for these ASX energy shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Guess which $1.8 billion ASX 200 stock is leaping 33% on Thursday!
• Why is the Santos share price lifting off on Thursday?
• Generation Development Group posts 36% lift in FUM and record inflows for FY26

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended PolyNovo and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) shares have been on a rollercoaster over the past year.

Earlier this year, the building products giant lost around 40% of its value as investors worried about its large US acquisition, softer earnings, and governance uncertainty.

Fast forward to today, and sentiment has shifted dramatically. James Hardie shares jumped 6% on Thursday to $36.99, taking their gain for the year to almost 20%.

So, what’s driving the turnaround?

Better-than-expected earnings

The biggest catalyst was James Hardie’s preliminary first-quarter FY27 results.

The company reported consolidated net sales of between US$1.449 billion and US$1.475 billion, comfortably ahead of previous guidance of US$1.315 billion to US$1.354 billion.

Profit also surprised on the upside. EBITDA came in between US$399 million and US$407 million, well above management’s earlier guidance of US$354 million to US$375 million.

The stronger-than-expected result suggests the company is executing better than many investors in James Hardie shares had feared.

A market leader with pricing power

James Hardie remains the dominant fibre cement manufacturer in North America and Australia.

Its strong brand, extensive distribution network, and reputation for durable products create competitive advantages that are difficult for rivals to replicate. That market leadership has historically given the company pricing power, allowing it to lift prices even when demand softens.

The expansion into outdoor living products also broadens its addressable market and creates opportunities to cross-sell products across its customer base.

Over time, management of James Hardie shares expects those benefits to support stronger margins and earnings growth.

Experts remain optimistic

Fund manager L1 Capital believes the recent rally may not be the end of the story. The firm noted James Hardie shares climbed 46% during the three months to June, helped by easing geopolitical tensions and management’s constructive FY27 outlook.

L1 expects the company’s core North American fibre cement business to return to volume growth, supported by normalising inventories, stronger execution in repair and remodel markets, gains among smaller builders, competitor exits, and continued conversion from vinyl and timber products.

Importantly, L1 believes the market is still valuing James Hardie at a discount because of lingering concerns over execution, governance, and the US housing cycle.

If those concerns continue to fade, the fund manager sees scope for both earnings growth and a higher valuation multiple.

The risks remain

The biggest risk for James Hardie shares is still the US housing market.

Demand for new homes and renovation activity remains sensitive to mortgage rates and consumer confidence. If higher interest rates continue weighing on housing, James Hardie’s sales growth could slow.

After such a strong rebound, investors are also likely to demand continued earnings upgrades to justify further gains.

Foolish takeaway

James Hardie’s latest earnings update has reminded investors why the company has long been regarded as one of the ASX’s highest-quality industrial businesses.

While risks remain, particularly in the US housing market, improving execution and stronger-than-expected earnings suggest the recent rally of James Hardie shares could still have further room to run.

The post James Hardie shares are flying. Here’s why the rally may not be over appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why are James Hardie shares jumping 9% on Thursday?
• James Hardie posts strong Q1 FY27 earnings above guidance
• Experts say these ASX 200 shares have great potential
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

When Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of diversified holding company Berkshire Hathaway on 31 December, he was a remarkable 95 years old.

After spearheading Berkshire Hathaway for some 60 years, he handed the reins over to Greg Abel, who’s been with the company since 1999.

But Buffett, being the man that he is, still keeps his finger on the market’s pulse, working from the company office and advising Abel.

What you may not know is that Warren Buffett started his career with very little money. But by the 1980s he’d notched up his first billion dollars. And, as of January this year, he was reported to be worth almost US$149 billion.

With that astonishing success in mind, here are three golden investing rules immortalised by the Oracle of Omaha that we would all do well to keep in mind.

Why Warren Buffett advises patience

While it’s tempting to believe we can out think our fellow investors, the reality is that timing the market correctly is very difficult, and requires more than a bit of luck.

Indeed, I’m not aware of a single investor who has managed to consistently time their entry and exits into the market correctly over the long-term.

And when it comes to the billions of dollars Warren Buffett amassed over the years, day trading certainly wasn’t part of his strategy.

“The stock market is designed to transfer money from the active to the patient,” he famously opined.

Which ties into this Buffett investing nugget, “I don’t invest to make a quick profit. I buy stocks with the mindset that the market might shut down tomorrow and stay closed for five years.”

So, the next time you’re tempted to buy or sell an ASX share simply because it’s getting a lot of media attention or has made some big daily moves, you may want to think again.

Instead look for quality companies, with sizeable barriers to competitor entry and solid long-term growth potential.

And then be patient.

Stick with the things that you know

Warren Buffett is also well known for avoiding investing in companies or assets that he doesn’t understand. That’s one of the reasons he never bought into the crypto markets.

“You don’t have to be smart, as long as you stick to what you know,” Buffett said.

Now we all have our different areas of expertise. So, if you think you understand global crypto markets, that doesn’t mean you should steer clear as well.

But according to the Oracle of Omaha, you should only invest in a sector or company if you understand how it works.

Invest in ASX shares providing real world value

The best investments, Warren Buffet advises, provide real world value, not just market value.

“It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price,” he said.

Again, don’t let yourself join the herd in snapping up ASX shares that are the market darlings of the hour.

Instead look for companies with great brands, a strong proven management team, and the ability to control prices.

The post 3 golden investment rules immortalised by Warren Buffett appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The bring-forward rule just got bigger. Here’s what that means for your superannuation
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• James Hardie shares are flying. Here’s why the rally may not be over
• Oil prices are rising again. What does that mean for these ASX energy shares?
• WiseTech buys FRDM.ai. What does this mean for WiseTech shares?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

Oil prices are climbing hard again, and ASX energy shares are the most direct way to play the move.

The Brent crude price rose 3.4% overnight to US$94.07 per barrel, according to Bloomberg data.

That leaves the global benchmark up more than 31% since the beginning of July.

West Texas Intermediate has followed the same path, adding 3.3% to US$87.12 a barrel.

Renewed fighting in and around Iran, combined with fresh Houthi attacks on tankers in the Red Sea, has put a war risk premium back into the crude market.

Traders are pricing the possibility that a meaningful volume of seaborne supply will not be able to reach the buyers who need it.

For Australian producers, these price rises flow almost straight through to the top line.

What higher oil prices mean for Santos

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is one of the most direct ways to benefit from this trend on the ASX.

The company sells Brent-linked crude alongside LNG that is indexed to oil benchmarks, which means a rising oil price shows up in revenue with only a modest lag.

Shares closed yesterday at $7.85 and were changing hands for $7.94 in early trade on Thursday.

On top of the price rises, there is also volume growth helping to propel top line growth.

The Pikka Phase 1 development in Alaska is producing about 20,000 barrels per day.

Management is targeting a ramp to 80,000 barrels per day during the third quarter of 2026.

Barossa gas is now feeding Darwin LNG, adding a second source of oil-linked revenue, and as such, analysts are broadly positive.

TradingView data shows 12 of the 14 analysts covering the stock rate it a buy or strong buy, with an average price target of $8.48.

Beach Energy offers more leveraged exposure to oil prices

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) gives investors more a more leveraged way of benefiting from recent price increases.

The company is a smaller producer, so every extra dollar on the barrel is more important relative to a largely fixed cost base.

The catch is that around half of its sales volumes are east coast Australian gas, which does not track Brent tick for tick.

Bell Potter has retained a hold rating on Beach with a reduced price target of 95 cents, down from $1.15. The broker expects production growth to return in FY27 as capital expenditure eases.

That should enable positive free cash flow to support balance sheet deleveraging, as well as ongoing dividends.

The broker was also positive on Beach’s east coast gas exposure and cautious on global oil markets.

A closer look at the latest earnings

Santos released its June quarter update before market open on Thursday.

Sales revenue rose 6% quarter on quarter to $1.35 billion, with Barossa and Pikka both ramping up.

Beach reported quarterly production of 4.9 million barrels of oil equivalent and total revenue of $400 million for the June quarter.

Sales volumes fell 11% against the March quarter, largely reflecting the timing of Cooper Basin oil shipments.

The company also completed the sale of its operated interest in VIC/L35 for $70 million upfront plus a future gas production royalty.

A review of Beach’s capital management framework is underway, with an update expected at the full year result.

Foolish takeaway

Oil prices are doing most of the heavy lifting for both businesses right now.

What goes up can also come back down.

As a reminder, Santos fell 8% in a single session when an earlier peace deal broke down in June.

A geopolitical risk premium can evaporate as quickly as it appears.

I think investors buying either name today need to be comfortable owning the commodity cycle, not simply the company.

For those who are comfortable, higher oil prices make the short-term return potential considerably more attractive than at this point one month ago.

The post Oil prices are rising again. What does that mean for these ASX energy shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is the Santos share price lifting off on Thursday?
• Santos reports higher Q2 revenue as Barossa, Pikka ramp up
• Broker tips up to 72% upside for one of these ASX shares 
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• The Santos share price is in the spotlight this week. Here’s why

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have been one of the most painful holdings on the ASX this year, so any positive news is worth exploring further.

On 22 July, WiseTech announced that it had entered a binding agreement to acquire FRDM.ai.

At the time, shares were trading around $33.24 on Wednesday, down roughly 51% year to date and 72% below where they sat this time last year.

Let’s look at what the company has actually bought, and whether it changes anything for the underlying investment thesis.

What WiseTech actually bought

FRDM.ai is a California-based developer of AI-powered supply chain risk and compliance intelligence. Its software maps supplier networks across multiple tiers and scores risk in real time.

That coverage spans human rights, forced labour, sanctions, denied parties, cyber exposure and geopolitical risk.

WiseTech is paying an upfront consideration of US$10 million in cash and WTC shares, with all-cash earn-outs capped at US$14.31 million.

Completion is expected on 3 August 2026, subject to customary conditions precedent.

The technology will be combined with WiseTech’s existing BorderWise, Denied Party Screening and Global Knowledge products to create a new solution called VerifyWise.

Why this could mean for WiseTech shares

The deal size is immaterial against a company of WiseTech’s scale.

However, the strategic logic is rather more interesting.

WiseTech’s compliance capability currently operates at the level of an individual transaction. VerifyWise is intended to extend that to verification across an entire multi-tier supplier network.

This is a expansion of what the company can sell, into an area where regulatory pressure around forced labour and sanctions is only intensifying.

The distribution advantage is the real point, though.

WiseTech serves more than 22,000 logistics companies across 193 countries, including 46 of the top 50 global third-party logistics providers. Selling a new compliance module into that installed base costs far less than winning those customers from scratch.

Every supplier verified through the platform also enriches the underlying data set. This is the same network effect that has made CargoWise so hard for competitors to displace.

What brokers think of WiseTech shares

Citi retained a buy rating this month while cutting its 12-month target to $52, down from $65.65, while Bell Potter also rates the shares a buy with a $71.75 target.

Bell Potter has argued that the headwinds weighing on sentiment should begin to dissipate over coming months.

Both targets imply substantial upside from current levels, and both also assume the organic growth story reasserts itself.

Foolish takeaway

A US$10 million acquisition will not rescue WiseTech shares on its own.

What it does is give management new growth levers to help revive a share price that has fallen more than 70% in a year.

I think the August result matters far more than this deal. Investors want evidence that CargoWise organic growth has stabilised and that the e2open integration is delivering the margins management has promised.

If that arrives, the FRDM.ai deal will look like a sensible bolt-on rather than a distraction.

The post WiseTech buys FRDM.ai. What does this mean for WiseTech shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 9 ASX 200 shares with refreshed buy ratings this week
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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a pleasant Thursday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares today. After yesterday’s sunny showing, investors were keen to double down on the buying this session, with the ASX 200 remaining in positive territory all day, and closing 0.18% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,839 points.

This in-form display on the ASX boards follows a more downbeat session up on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t hold on to an early lead and finished 0.012% lower.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, dropping 0.57%.

But let’s return to ASX shares now and check out what the various ASX sectors were up to this Thursday.

Winners and losers

Despite the market’s gains, we had an even split between red and green sectors today.

Leading those red sectors were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was hit hard, plunging 3.32%.

Consumer discretionary shares weren’t popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) diving 1.52%.

Next came healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up slumping 1.43%.

Communications shares were also on the nose, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 1.15% dip.

Consumer staples stocks were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) went backwards by 0.53%.

Our last losers were industrial shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slipping 0.46%.

Turning to the green sectors now, mining stocks headlined the winners. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 1.37% higher this session.

Gold shares were in demand as well, illustrated by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)’s 1.34% surge.

Energy stocks ran hot too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw its value climb 0.98%.

Utilities shares followed energy, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifting 0.65%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also enjoyed today’s market sunshine. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) vaulted up 0.52% today.

Finally, financial stocks got across the line intact, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.29% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Financial stock Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) was our best performer on the ASX today. Generation shares rocketed a massive 37.13% this session to close at $4.58 each. This extraordinary leap higher followed an exceptionally well-received quarterly update.

Here’s how the rest of today’s top stocks tied up at the dock: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)	$4.58	37.13%
Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)	$10.19	11.61%
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)	$36.99	6.14%
Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)	$0.66	5.60%
Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)	$1.43	5.56%
Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)	$1.28	3.64%
Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)	$19.36	3.58%
Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)	$1.62	3.53%
Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI)	$66.11	3.52%
Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)	$1.40	3.32%

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

• 3 ASX 300 shares that ripped 500% or more in FY26
• Why Sandfire, Domino’s and Macquarie shares are making waves on Thursday
• Guess which $1.8 billion ASX 200 stock is leaping 33% on Thursday!
• 7 ASX uranium stocks one broker says have massive upside
• Why are James Hardie shares jumping 9% on Thursday?

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares rose 2.84% and delivered a total return, including dividends, of 6.16% in FY26.

The ASX 300 underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which lifted 2.77% and gave a total return of 7%.

As always, there were outliers. And boy, did they outperform.

Here are three ASX 300 shares that were on a supersonic growth trajectory last financial year.

3 ASX 300 shares that smashed their peers in FY26

Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL)

This ASX 300 mining share ripped 2,040% higher in FY26, finishing the year at $17.23.

Sunrise Energy is working towards becoming a world-leading supplier of refined metals for advanced and emerging technologies.

The company is focused on scandium, nickel, and cobalt, which are in demand in the energy, defence, transport, and computing sectors.

Sunrise Energy owns one of the world’s largest undeveloped scandium mines, the Syerston Scandium Project, in central-west NSW.

Scandium has many uses in the modern, high-tech world.

For example, it is 3D-printed into a high-performance alloy for aerospace components.

Scandium is also in the 5G/6G semiconductors in mobile phones and communications infrastructure.

Sunrise says the project “will bring a new source of low cost, scalable and reliable supply to western markets”.

The company forecasts production of 64,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of ore to produce 60tpa of high purity scandium oxide per year.

Sunrise Energy Metals says:

This positions the Company to capture significant market share in a rapidly growing global market (currently estimated at 50-60tpa), driven by solid oxide fuel cell deployments for AI data centre power generation, defense and aerospace applications and next-generation chips/semiconductors.

Syerston has a forecast life-of-mine average cash operating cost of US$534 per kilogram of high purity scandium oxide.

This would make Syerston one of the world’s lowest-cost producers.

Today, Sunrise announced an accelerated expansion study to lift its forecast annual output to 180tpa.

The company also has the Sunrise Nickel-Cobalt Project, one of the world’s largest nickel-cobalt resources, also in central-west NSW.

Nickel and cobalt are essential ingredients in EV battery cathodes.

They are also used in high-performance alloys for aerospace, defence, and other advanced manufacturing applications.

Among the tailwinds for Sunrise Energy Metals shares in FY26 were positive updates from the company and export controls introduced by China, which forced buyers to shift focus to alternative suppliers.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

This ASX 300 healthcare share skyrocketed 1,786% in FY26 to close out the year at $4.53.

The highlight of FY26 for this respiratory imaging technology company was gaining US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its CT:VQ product in September 2025. 

CT:VQ is the world’s first non‑contrast post‑processing technology that transforms routine chest CTs into quantitative, lobar ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q) maps.

Since approval, the company has deployed its technology at several well-known academic hospitals and clinics.

They include the US Mayo Clinic, Stanford, Cleveland Clinic, UC San Diego Health, and University of Chicago Medicine.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

Minerals 260 was the best performer of the market’s gold miners in FY26.

The Minerals 260 share price soared 508% to end FY26 at 73 cents per share. 

This ASX 300 mineral explorer is building the Bullabulling Gold Project in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields.

Bullabulling is one of Australia’s largest near-term gold mines.

It has a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 130MT at 1.0g/t for 4.5Moz.  

Minerals 260 recently signed a $220 million funding deal with gold royalty company, Franco-Nevada Corporation, to advance and de-risk the project.

The post 3 ASX 300 shares that ripped 500% or more in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide an easy way to invest in international shares via our local exchange.

And Aussie investors love ’em.

There is now a record $372 billion invested across 458 ETFs on the market today, according to Betashares data.

Demonstrating their rising popularity, ASX ETFs attracted a net $30 billion of investment in the second half of FY26.

Back in 2024, $30 billion was the amount invested over the full year.

The industry is responding by introducing new products, with a record 72 new ETFs commencing trading in FY26.

This product expansion is allowing investors to direct more money into thematic trends.

Senior investment strategist, Marc Jocum from Global X commented (courtesy Australian Financial Review):

It’s been a record year for thematic ETF investing driven by the energy transition and AI, so the way Aussie investors are allocating is changing.

Historically, investors sought outperformance through active managers, but that is slowly changing as investors are now seeking outperformance through exposure selection instead – the past was ‘who’ to back, now it’s ‘what’ to back.

The Australian Securities Exchange has just released the full-year performance data for ASX ETFs in FY26.

The data reveals the six ASX ETFs holding international shares that delivered the best total returns last year.

Let’s take a look.

Top 6 international ETFs for total returns in FY26

The popularity of thematic investing is showcased in the top 6 ASX ETFs for total returns last financial year.

Total returns incorporate both share price gains and distributions (dividends).

1. iShares MSCI South Korea AUD ETF (ASX: IKO)

The IKO ETF delivered a spectacular one-year total return of 171%. The historical distribution yield is 4.6%.

This ASX ETF seeks to mirror the tech-heavy MSCI Korea 25/50 Index, providing exposure to Korea’s largest companies.

IKO ETF paid the biggest dollar-value dividend among iShares ETFs this season at $13.98 per unit.

IKO ETF is $246.58 per unit, up 2.7% on Thursday.

2. Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

The SEMI ETF produced a ripping one-year return of 161%. The historical distribution yield is 6.2%.

SEMI is linked to the massive artificial intelligence (AI) investment thematic.

Semiconductors control electrical currents in computer chips and everyday devices like smartphones.

SEMI ETF is $38.01 per unit, up 2.1% today.

3. Global X Hydrogen AUD ETF (ASX: HGEN)

The HGEN ETF returned 135% in FY26. The historical distribution yield is 0.7%.

HGEN invests in companies within the global hydrogen industry. Hydrogen is considered a powerful green energy source.

HGEN ETF is $9.89 per unit, up 0.5% today.

4. Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The ASIA ETF delivered a one-year return of 96%. The historical distribution yield is 1.7%.

ASIA ETF invests in 50 of the largest technology and online retail shares in Asia (ex-Japan).

ASIA ETF is $20.39 per unit, up 1.7% today.

5. Betashares Energy Transition Metals ETF (ASX: XMET)

The XMET ETF delivered a one-year return of 83%. The historical distribution yield is 3.6%.

This ASX ETF invests in global metals producers specifically involved in the green energy transition.

The metals in demand include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese, silver, and rare earths.

XMET ETF is $14.03 per unit, up 1.6%.

6. Global X S&P Biotech ETF (ASX: CURE)

The CURE ETF delivered a total annual return of 81%. This ETF does not pay distributions.

CURE ETF invests in genomic science companies.

They include businesses involved in gene editing, genomic sequencing, and genetic medicine and therapy.

CURE ETF is $73.83 per unit, down 1% today.

The post 6 best international ASX ETFs of FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• The ASX ETF market is set for a record year – Here are the best performers so far in 2026
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• 3 ASX ETFs that have returned better than 80% over the past year

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

Australian sharemarkets have been chopping through the past seven months as investors come to terms with global uncertainty, interest rate changes, and soaring inflation.

When times are tough, investors tend to lean towards established ASX shares that have long track records.

Here’s what brokers expect from these three well-known ASX shares next.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Supermarket giant Woolworths has performed well this year. For the year to date, its shares are up around 32%, mostly trending higher over the past seven months. 

It looks like the steady increase was driven by renewed investor confidence. Many are confident that the retailer’s earnings are recovering after a difficult period in late 2025.

Earlier this year, in February, Woolworths posted a stronger-than-expected first-half result and confirmed it is actively pursuing cost-cutting initiatives to help support margins and earnings over time. 

It looks like the efforts are coming to fruition, too.

But now, after an incredible run, Woolworths shares look to have reached their peak and are trading around fair value. 

TradingView data shows that nine out of 17 analysts have a hold rating on the supermarket stock. Another four rate the shares as a buy or strong buy, and four rate Woolworths shares as a strong sell. The average $36.33 target price now implies a potential 7% downside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

Elders is a high-quality mid-cap ASX 300 stock that is a leading supplier of fertiliser, agricultural chemicals, and animal health products to rural and regional Australia. It has strong agency positions in livestock, wool, and real estate.

The Elders share price is usually pretty stable, but in May this year it crashed 23% within a day after the release of its half-year results.

The company reported a 25% increase in operating revenue, a 19% increase in EBIT, and a 1% decrease in underlying NPAT. The figures came in well below expectations, and investors quickly sold off the shares.

The ASX shares tumbled even lower in the following few weeks, bottoming at an all-time low of $5 in late June. But they’ve now started rebounding, up around 12% to the time of writing.

It looks like many brokers think the rebound can keep going too.

TradingView data shows that the majority (five out of eight) have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. The average $6.52 target price implies a potential 17% upside at the time of writing. 

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers shares had a difficult start to the year and slumped to an annual low in mid-May. But the retail conglomerate quickly recovered, and the shares are now around 24% higher than that point at the time of writing. For the year to date, Wesfarmers shares are around 8% higher.

The business benefited from an uptick in consumer spending and news that interest rates could start falling. Wesfarmers’ sheer scale and market dominance across several retail sectors have also helped reinforce the company’s competitive advantage.

Wesfarmers has been actively expanding too, including opening new Anko stores in the Philippines, and its Kmart segment is testing larger K Home stores locally.

But now, after a huge share price rebound, Wesfarmers shares look a little overpriced.

TradingView data shows that half (seven out of 14) of analysts have a strong sell rating on the stock. Another six rate Wesfarmers shares as a hold. Only one broker now holds a buy rating. The average $77.53 target price implies a potential 12% downside, at the time of writing.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Woolworths, Elders, Wesfarmers shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Up 29% since May, can Wesfarmers shares keep surging higher?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.