Passive income is a great way for investors to build financial security, benefit from compounding, and create another income stream without working any extra hours.

The error that many investors make is thinking they need a million dollar investment portfolio to make it worth it.

The truth is, you don’t need to spend millions, or even hundreds of thousands. Any level of passive income can help contribute to your financial independence and also create a buffer against sharemarket volatility.

So, what could that passive income actually look like?

Let’s break it down, using a $50,000 investment portfolio as an example. 

What passive income can I earn off a $50,000 portfolio?

The easiest way to calculate your passive income is by multiplying your total portfolio value by your dividend yield.

But, the tricky part is that the answer varies widely depending on the dividend yield of your portfolio.

For example, $50,000 x 3% = $1,500 per year in dividend payments.

But if your portfolio has a dividend yield of around 6%, your passive income will be double the size. That’s because $50,000 x 6% = $3,000 per year in dividend payments. 

And so on. As your dividend yield increases, the passive income you can earn off your $50,000 portfolio also increases.  

These figures are based on cash dividends before any tax or franking credit benefits.

Of course, this type of money isn’t going to become a primary income stream, but it’ll certainly help create an extra buffer.

Which ASX shares will earn me $2,000 per year in passive income?

To earn an annual passive income of around $2,000, your portfolio will need to yield around 4%.

There is a huge range of ASX dividend shares available that pay around that level, so it’s certainly achievable.

For example, Argo Investments (ASX: ARG) pays just a little over the 4% mark at the time of writing. As does WCM Global Growth (ASX: WQG).

Major bank Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) pays a dividend yield of around 4.2% to its shareholders.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Transurban Group Ltd (ASX: TCL) both pay a little more. Their dividend yields are around 4.6% and 4.7%, respectively.

Of course, ideally, you’d want a mixture of shares that combine to make a 4% yielding portfolio for diversification reasons, rather than a portfolio of only one stock.

What if I want to earn closer to $4,000 per year? Is that possible?

It’s also possible to earn a little more. To earn $4,000 in passive income, you’d need a portfolio that yields 8%. 

Again, there are plenty of ASX shares that yield around this level, but it’s worth noting that a higher yield generally comes with higher risk.

The Metrics Income Opportunities Trust (ASX: MOT) is a listed investment trust (LIT) which can give investors direct exposure to private credit investments. The Trust targets a cash yield of 7% per year. It has a total target return of 8% to 10% per year, net of fees and expenses. 

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) and WAM Microcap (ASX: WMI) both yield in the low 7%.

And if you’re looking to target higher-yielding ASX shares, there are stocks like intellectual property (IP) service provider IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH), which yields around 9.6% and Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF), which yields around 11.4%, at the time of writing.

Again, I wouldn’t suggest investing solely in high-yield shares in order to earn a higher income. But it’s possible to create a portfolio mix including high-yield ASX shares and more reliable or defensive assets to get an over 8% yielding portfolio. 

The post How much passive income can I earn off a $50,000 portfolio? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• ANZ, NAB, Westpac and CBA shares: Brokers rate 2 a sell, and 2 a hold
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares
• How to build a successful ASX dividend portfolio
• 3 of the best ASX dividend stocks to supplement your superannuation
• 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 9.5%

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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended IPH Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have been one of the stronger blue-chip performers over the past year.

That’s great for shareholders. But after this big move higher, is the mining giant still worth buying?

I think the answer is yes, but the case is very different from a year ago.

The easy bargain has passed

BHP shares are trading around $58.71, up almost 50% over the past 12 months.

That is a huge move for a company of this size. Investors who bought near the lows have already done very well.

So, I would not call BHP a bargain today in the same way it was when the market was more pessimistic. But I still think the shares offer reasonable value.

According to CommSec consensus estimates, BHP is expected to generate earnings per share of $3.56 in FY26 and $3.77 in FY27.

Based on the current share price, that puts the stock on a price-to-earnings ratio of around 16.5 times FY26 earnings and 15.6 times FY27 earnings.

That does not look demanding to me for a world-class resources business with long-life assets and exposure to commodities that could remain important for decades.

The dividend profile is also attractive. CommSec estimates dividends per share of $2.10 in FY26 and $2.06 in FY27, implying forward dividend yields of around 3.6% and 3.5%.

Why I still like BHP shares

The main reason I would still buy BHP is that the company is evolving.

Iron ore remains a major part of the business, and it will likely continue driving a large share of earnings for some time. But I think the long-term investment case is becoming broader.

Copper is the key one for me. The world is likely to need more copper for electricity networks, data centres, renewable energy, electric vehicles, industrial development, and general infrastructure. It is difficult to see how many of those trends grow without significantly more copper supply.

BHP already has strong copper exposure, and I think that part of the business could become increasingly important over the next decade.

The company is also expanding into potash through its Jansen project in Canada. That adds another long-term growth option tied to food production and agricultural productivity.

Mining projects can be expensive, slow, and difficult. Capital discipline still needs watching. But I like that BHP is positioning itself beyond just the next iron ore cycle.

Why resources exposure can help

The past year is a good reminder of why resources exposure can play a role in a diversified ASX portfolio.

Since July 2025, the S&P/ASX 200 Resources index (ASX: XJR) is up 38%, while the broader ASX 200 is up just 2.8%.

That gap is significant.

Resources shares can be volatile, and they often move for reasons outside a company’s control, including commodity prices, China demand, currency moves, and global growth expectations.

But that is also why they can add something different to a portfolio.

When resources are performing well, they can provide a source of returns that may look very different from banks, supermarkets, healthcare shares, or technology companies.

Foolish takeaway

I do not think it is too late to buy BHP shares.

The easy bargain has passed, and investors today are paying a much higher price than they were a year ago.

Even so, the valuation still looks reasonable to me, the forecast dividend yield is solid, and the company has exposure to commodities that could become more valuable over the next decade.

The post Up almost 50%, is it too late to buy BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What did the market look like 10 years ago? Here’s what’s changed for the ASX 200
• How much superannuation do you need to earn $5,000 a month in passive income?
• Should you buy BHP shares FY27? Here’s what experts are saying
• Do you want to earn passive income from your superannuation? Here’s a guide to get you started
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

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 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.

While many of the biggest ASX financials stocks have seen slow growth in 2026, Cuscal Ltd (ASX: CCL) has brought strong returns.

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) is up just over 2% year to date. 

Meanwhile, Cuscal shares have risen over 10% in the same span and over 52% in the last 12 months. 

What does Cuscal do?

Cuscal 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. 

It enables a range of payment types, from physical cards to real-time payments, in the payment value chain and constantly evolves its offerings to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.

In the last 12 months, it has risen significantly on the back of a solid, growing business in a hot sector (digital payments). It has also been spurred on by strategic acquisitions and delivering the profit growth to back it up. 

Why it can continue 

A recent report from Ord Minnett has reinforced that there is still plenty of room for growth remaining. 

Ord Minnett said Cuscal’s share price has been supported by improved earnings momentum. This has been aided by the two strategically important acquisitions of Indue and Paymark. 

In addition, the FY26 price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple that investors have been willing to apply to Cuscal’s earnings has risen 21x from 11x at the time of the IPO to 21x currently. We see a forward P/E multiple of 18–20x as appropriate,given Cuscal’s strong defensive earnings growth outlook and B2B infrastructure positioning in the payments industry.

We expect FY26 results to beat market expectations, with net operating income (NOI) boosted by ongoing solid transaction volume growth and strong client deposit balances driving net interest income. Company guidance is for “mid-teens” underlying net profit growth in FY26, with Ord Minnett estimating growth of 16.8%.

Upside remains for this ASX financials stock 

‍Looking ahead, Ord Minnett believed the FY27 result will be underwritten by the contributions from Indue & Paymark. It projects further growth into FY29–30 as Cuscal banks the cost savings and other synergies from the acquisitions, and the outlook supports expectations for sustainable underlying net profit growth of 15–20% per annum. 

Based on this guidance, Ord Minnett has retained its buy recommendation on this ASX financials stock.

It has also retained its target price of $5.45.

From yesterday’s closing price of $4.89, this indicates a healthy upside of over 11%. 

The post Forget CBA shares, this ASX financials stock has strong momentum heading into FY27 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off a $50,000 portfolio?
• Up almost 50%, is it too late to buy BHP shares?
• After soaring 9% yesterday, is this ASX stock a buy, hold or sell?
• Top broker tips 47% upside for this ASX financials stock 
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $6000 per month in passive income?

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.

Mayfield Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYG) shot ahead of the ASX yesterday when it rose 9% in a single session. 

This brings its 12-month growth spree to over 152%. 

Despite already rising significantly this past year, the team at Bell Potter still believes there is more room for growth. 

Why did Mayfield Group shares rise?

Mayfield Group provides communication network solutions to government agencies, military organisations, and corporate clients

It appears Mayfield Group is enjoying strong investor interest following its announcement on July 13. 

The company  has entered into a binding Asset Sale Agreement to acquire Switchboards Division of Nilsen (SA) Pty Ltd (SDN), including its N-Series product line and associated intellectual property for a $4.0m cash consideration. 

The acquisition consideration will be funded from existing cash reserves. The deal is expected to complete on 31 July 2026, with progressive transfer of employees and assets through to 31 October 2026. SDN supplies products into the Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Defence, Mining, Utilities and Data Centre construction markets.

In simple terms, Mayfield is spending $4 million to buy Nilsen’s switchboard business. 

This includes its products, skilled employees, customer orders, and technology to grow its sales, strengthen its manufacturing business, and increase future earnings.

What did Bell Potter have to say?

Following the announcement, Bell Potter provided updated guidance on this ASX stock. 

The broker said the move broadens Mayfield’s switchboard offering across key growth markets in Australia. 

It also strengthens the company’s ability to grow organically through an expanded workforce, IP and new customer relationships. Additionally, it enables the company to pursue larger and more diverse switchboard opportunities nationally.

The acquisition includes the transfer of $3.9m of WIH and is expected to add $10-15m of revenue in FY27 (effective November 2026; $15-23m annualised). Importantly, improved utilisation at the Royal Park facility should enhance site profitability.

Healthy upside 

Based on this guidance, the team at Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation on this ASX stock. 

However, it slightly lowered its price target to $3.20 (previously $3.40). 

From yesterday’s closing price of $2.41, this still indicates 32% upside. 

The SDN acquisition is strategic, supporting MYG’s expansion into new markets and with new customers. The acquisition consideration is not onerous; MYG maintains financial flexibility to continue pursuing other M&A opportunities.

We believe this valuation rebasing has created a good buying opportunity of a small-cap industrial business which we expect to deliver EPS growth of 36.7% in FY27 and 27.5% in FY28, and has strong upgrade potential.

The post After soaring 9% yesterday, is this ASX stock a buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off a $50,000 portfolio?
• Up almost 50%, is it too late to buy BHP shares?
• Forget CBA shares, this ASX financials stock has strong momentum heading into FY27
• Top broker tips 47% upside for this ASX financials stock 
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $6000 per month in passive income?

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

A new report from the team at Bell Potter has tipped big upside for ASX financials stock COG Financial Services Ltd (ASX: COG). 

COG Financial Services is a collection of distribution businesses focused in Australia.

It provides access to credit (and related insurance) for commercial assets through a broker network and maintains the balance sheet capacity to fund direct originations, capturing some overflow on non-prime chattel mortgages. 

The acquisition of Paywise in 2023 marked a shift in the expansion and capital recycling approach, with greater strategic focus on novated leasing.

Year to date, its share price has fallen 30%, however Bell Potter is tipping a strong rebound in the next 12 months. 

Novated leasing 

Bell Potter highlighted that June was a record month for novated lease vehicle sales. 

Private buyers were up 11%, and business buyers were up 6%, even despite interest rates staying high. 

Some of this comes from normal seasonal price cuts, but carmakers also ran extra discounts through specific sales channels. 

Bell Potter expects this ASX financials company to sound upbeat about this part of the business, since electric vehicles’ share of sales jumped from 10% to 24%, marketing campaigns are working well, and BYD is running fresh cashback deals for specific orders placed in July and delivered by August.

In short, the company’s car-leasing business (novated) looks strong going into the results, driven by EV demand and discounts.

Broking 

The report from Bell Potter said ABS data on business investment won’t be released before COG reports its results. 

Therefore Bell Potter is basing its view on the broader weak economy and high interest rates, which are expected to weigh on the broking side of the business. 

Small business confidence is poor, having dropped sharply in March with little recovery since. Business investment plans hit a record low in April. 

On top of that, profit margins on loans keep shrinking, while loan volumes are actually rising. This pushes up the cost of running this part of the business.

Big upside in tact for this ASX financials stock 

Despite the mixed outlook, recent share price weakness makes this ASX financials stock an attractive proposition. 

Bell Potter has retained its buy recommendation and has an updated price target of $2.10. 

From yesterday’s closing price of $1.425, this indicates an upside potential of 47%. 

Recent commitment from government has extended the adjustment on electric vehicles and made this measure permanent. We see this as a multi-year-outcome, enhanced through successful tendering.

The post Top broker tips 47% upside for this ASX financials stock  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Investing money into your superannuation is for many Australians a great, tax-effective way to build wealth.

The downside is that the funds are locked away until we hit at least 60 years of age, but for those who start early, the magic of compound interest can build a substantial nest egg.

Superannuation calculations can help achieve your goal

So, how much superannuation do you need? That’s obviously a very subjective question, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has pegged the number at $55,923 per year for singles and $78,566 per year for couples for what they have determined to be a comfortable retirement.

ASFA’s numbers also assume the retiree owns their own home.

Today, I’m looking at how much superannuation is needed to support $6000 per month in passive income, which equates to $72,000 per year, well above the comfortable benchmark.

How much money you’ll need in your superannuation to generate this amount depends on the income stream you can depend on from your portfolio – assuming you don’t sell down any shares to generate income.

If you can generate a 7.2% return, you’d need $1 million worth of investments.

While this might sound like a high return, remember that superannuation funds benefit from franking credits – in lay terms, they are paid back the tax already paid by a company on its earnings.

If you generate just a 5% return on your investments, you’d need $1.44 million in superannuation savings, while if you were able to generate 10% returns, the figure drops to just $720,000.

How much can be generated from superannuation savings?

I would argue that it is possible to put together a diversified portfolio that can consistently generate returns of about 7%.

In terms of stocks to buy, there are some income-focused funds and exchange-traded funds that might be worth a look.

For example, WAM Active Ltd (ASX: WAA) just this week announced it had a stellar year, and declared a special dividend on top of its final dividend, which the fund said in a statement to the ASX would bring its fully-franked dividend yield to 8.6% and its grossed-up dividend yield to 12.3%.

On the ETF front, there are products such as the Betashares Global High Dividend Aristocrats ETF (ASX: INCM), which pays a quarterly dividend and, for the July quarter, paid out 5.74%.

There is also the S&P/ASX 200 Covered Call Complex ETF (ASX: AYLD), which uses a more complex strategy to deliver high yields, paying 9.64% over the past 12 months, albeit only franked at 15.3%.

There are also traditional stocks which pay strong dividends, including Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) at 6.49%, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) at 5.63%, and on the lower but dependable end, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) at 4.01%.

The post How much do I need in superannuation to receive $6000 per month in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a successful ASX dividend portfolio
• How much superannuation do you need to earn $5,000 a month in passive income?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• With Hormuz closed, is there an opening to buy Woodside shares?
• This fund’s 75% return smashed its benchmark, and it’s celebrating with a special dividend

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

A new report from VanEck has highlighted the impressive resilience of the Australian market in recent years. 

It has weathered the pandemic, inflation and the fastest interest-rate tightening cycle in decades without falling into recession.

However VanEck believes this resilience should not be mistaken for strength. 

While inflation has eased from its peak, underlying price pressures remain among the highest in the developed world, business hiring intentions are softening and consumer confidence remains subdued. Together, they point to an economy that is slowing rather than stalling.

This combination of factors reinforces that investors’ portfolios should not be overexposed to the big banks and miners that dominate the ASX 200. 

VanEck contends that there are several reasons investors should look beyond simply tracking the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). 

Trailing global equities

VanEck argues that simply buying the index is not always the most effective way to build wealth. 

The past financial year has brought this case to the fore more than ever.

Since the start of 2010, the S&P/ASX 200 has trailed the MSCI World, which tracks developed markets globally, in 11 of the past 17 financial years.

But the bigger concern is that the underperformance is getting worse. FY26 saw the underperformance run extend to four consecutive years, and the second biggest performance gap since 1996.

If Australia’s economy is entering a period of more subdued growth, investors should not be surprised if earnings growth becomes harder to find domestically. That strengthens the case for looking beyond a standard S&P/ASX 200 index fund.

The case for mid-caps 

According to the report, one option for investors looking to avoid overconcentration is to target mid-caps. 

One way to do this is through the VanEck S&P/ASX MidCap ETF (ASX: MVE). 

The fund focuses on Australia’s mid-cap companies, a part of the market that has historically offered an attractive balance between earnings growth and business maturity.

VanEck believes this could be a “sweet spot” of the market. 

They are typically more established than emerging small companies but still have meaningful scope to grow earnings. Analysts expect company profits in this part of the market to grow much faster than Australia’s largest companies, while valuations are still around their long-term averages.

MVE provides exposure to this often-overlooked part of the market through the S&P/ASX MidCap 50 Index. For investors looking to complement a large-cap Australian allocation, it offers access to businesses with greater growth potential, without moving too far down the risk spectrum.

The post The growing case for ASX mid-caps: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• PLS shares are down 28%. Are they a buy, hold, or sell?
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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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a very interesting day indeed this Tuesday. For most of the session, it looked as though the market was destined for a red day. However, investors pick up the buying in late afternoon trading.

The ASX 200 didn’t record a gain for the day, though. It didn’t record a loss either. Instead, it ended the day exactly where it started. Yep, the index was completely flat this Tuesday, moving precisely 0.00% and finishing at the 8,808.5 points it was sitting at 24 hours ago. A rare occurrence indeed.

This fascinating result for the local markets followed a decisively negative night to kick off the American trading week on Wall Street, though.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn’t in a good mood, dropping 0.26%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling 1.55%

But let’s return to ASX shares now, though and take stock of how the different ASX sectors navigated this Tuesday’s tepid trading conditions.

Winners and losers

As you may expect, we had a fairly even break between winners and losers this session.

Leading the latter were real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was hit hard today, tumbling 1.64%.

Consumer staples shares didn’t hold their value either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) tanking 0.81%.

Financial stocks also had a rough time. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) retreated 0.54%.

Industrial shares were on the nose too, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.47% slide.

That’s it for the res sectors though, so let’s get to the winners. Leading said winners were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rocketed 1.98% this Tuesday.

Utilities shares were in demand as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) soaring 1.37%.

Mining stocks ran hot too. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surged 0.67% by the closing bell.

Healthcare shares were right behind that, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)’s 0.66% jump.

Gold stocks were als in that ballpark. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) leapt 0.62% higher this session.

Consumer discretionary shares came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) advancing 0.39%.

Communications stocks got out ahead as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifted 0.21% today.

Finally, tech shares were lucky to come out intact, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’ was hit hard, plunging 2.48%.’s 0.07% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gaming technology company Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) took out this Tuesday’s top spot. Light & Wonder shares vaulted 7.98% higher today to finish at $111.60 each. We dove into this jump earlier today.

Here’s how the other winners pulled up at the kerb: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)	$111.60	7.98%
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)	$16.75	4.95%
Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)	$13.92	4.98%
IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX)	$3.71	4.51%
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)	$34.75	4.29%
Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)	$1.50	3.81%
Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)	$4.70	3.75%
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)	$11.78	3.15%
Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)	$4.24	2.91%
Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)	$5.56	2.77%

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.

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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, Light & Wonder Inc, Treasury Wine Estates, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares were under pressure again on Tuesday afternoon, falling 1% to $4.43.

That extends what has been a painful month for shareholders, with the ASX lithium stock down 28% over the past four weeks.

But don’t let that fool you. Zoom out and the picture looks far brighter. PLS shares remain up around 6% year to date and have rocketed roughly 190% over the past 12 months.

The reason? Lithium prices went on an absolute tear. Spodumene prices almost tripled over the 12 months to June 2026, propelling ASX lithium producers to some of the market’s biggest gains.

Then June arrived. Spodumene prices slipped around 12% during the month, and investors hit the sell button just as enthusiastically as they had bought weeks earlier.

So, after the sharp correction, should investors be buying the dip, sitting tight, or heading for the exits?

Lithium giveth, lithium taketh away

PLS has long been regarded as the ASX’s highest-beta lithium stock.

When lithium prices surge, PLS shares often leave rivals in the dust thanks to the company’s enormous production base, operating leverage, and world-class Pilgangoora mine.

When lithium prices head south, however, the reverse usually happens. Investors tend to reduce exposure to the sector’s biggest name first, making PLS one of the hardest-hit stocks during corrections.

That appears to be exactly what’s unfolding today. Chinese lithium carbonate futures have continued retreating after a spectacular rally earlier this year. Much of the recent weakness appears to reflect profit-taking, with traders questioning whether prices simply ran ahead of market fundamentals.

Since lithium prices remain the biggest driver of earnings expectations, weaker futures have inevitably weighed on PLS shares.

The business is still firing

Importantly, there’s little evidence the company’s operations are weakening.

PLS delivered an outstanding first-half FY26 result. Revenue jumped 47% to $624 million as higher lithium prices combined with stronger sales volumes. Underlying EBITDA exploded 241% to $253 million, while EBITDA margins expanded from 17% to an impressive 41%.

That’s exactly what investors want to see. The numbers highlight the enormous operating leverage within the business. As lithium prices rise, profits can grow at an even faster pace.

Meanwhile, Pilgangoora remains one of the world’s largest and lowest-cost hard-rock lithium operations, giving PLS shares a competitive advantage that many smaller producers simply can’t match.

The next key milestone will arrive on 31 August when the company reports its second-half FY26 results. Investors will be watching production, costs, shipments, and any commentary around lithium demand. Updates on the P2000 expansion project will also be closely monitored.

Buy, hold, or sell?

Broker sentiment has become more cautious following the recent rally. According to TradingView data, eight of the 19 analysts covering PLS rate the stock as a buy, six recommend hold, and five have a sell rating.

The average price target sits at $5.77, implying roughly 30% upside from current levels.

Opinions vary widely, though. The most bullish analyst believes PLS shares could climb to $7.30, representing upside of around 65%, while the most bearish sees the stock falling to $3.00, or about 32% below current levels.

UBS recently downgraded PLS from buy to neutral, arguing that much of the easy money from the lithium recovery has already been made.

Meanwhile, Catapult Wealth and Red Leaf Securities remain bearish, citing concerns that growing global lithium supply could place renewed pressure on prices.

The post PLS shares are down 28%. Are they a buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy, hold, sell: TechnologyOne, Pro Medicus, PLS Group shares
• 5 ASX All Ords shares that ripped 200% to 400% in FY26
• Top 5 ASX 200 lithium shares of FY26

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.

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) shares have rebounded around 9% in Tuesday lunchtime trade.

At the time of writing, the ASX gaming shares are changing hands at $112.57 a piece.

The rebound is good news for investors after the stock tumbled around 39% from an all-time high in early January. 

Despite the latest rebound, Light & Wonder shares are still down around 28% year to date and 24% below the trading levels seen this time last year.

What has happened to Light & Wonder shares today?

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of the company today to explain the latest increase, but Light & Wonder has posted an update to the ASX this morning, which could have helped reinvigorate investor confidence in the company’s outlook.

The company announced that it plans to release its financial results for the Q2 FY26, ending 30 June, before the ASX opens on the 5th of August.

Also, as part of the announcement, the company reiterated its 2026 outlook and said it continues to expect mid-to-high single-digit growth and consolidated adjusted EBITDA growth for the year, despite broad macroeconomic uncertainty.

The company also confirmed it is committed to deleveraging its balance sheet toward the mid-point of its targeted net debt leverage ratio range during 2026, and to below 3.0x in the first half of 2027, subject to the continuation of share repurchases. 

Approximately US$180 million remains under its ongoing share repurchase program. 

Do brokers rate the ASX gaming stock as a buy, sell, or hold?

The experts are uniformly bullish about the outlook for Light & Wonder shares over the next 12 months. And it looks like we could see a huge upside ahead, even after today’s share price spike.

Market Index data shows that brokers agree on a strong buy consensus on the stock, and the $192.75 target price implies a 72% upside ahead.

TradingView data shows that some experts are even more bullish. The majority (20 out of 23) have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. Another three have a hold rating.

The average target price is a little lower, at $176.2, but it still implies a potential 57% upside ahead, at the time of writing. But some analysts forecast that Light & Wonder shares could rise by up to 99% to $222.79 over the next 12 months.

My view on Light & Wonder shares

Light & Wonder has been reshaping its business in recent years, focusing on recurring revenue and higher-quality earnings. If the company’s next results are able to confirm that execution has continued improving and there is potential to build value over the long term, investor confidence and its share price could follow suit.

The post Why are Light & Wonder shares flying 9% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 fantastic ASX growth shares to buy to build real wealth
• 4 ASX 200 shares I’d buy before the end of June

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 Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.