New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares have delivered investors some seriously outsized returns over the past year.
How seriously?
Well, in late morning trade on Monday, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) coal stock are trading for $5.68 apiece. This sees the share price up 41.7% since this time last year, smashing the 2% 12-month losses posted by the ASX 200.
And that’s not including the two fully-franked New Hope dividends, totalling 40 cents per share, that the coal miner paid out (or shortly will pay out) over this period. If we add those back in, then the accumulated value of New Hope shares has surged 51.6% in a year.
New Hope stock traded ex-dividend on 21 September. If you held shares at market close on 21 September, you can expect the final fully-franked 30-cent-per-share dividend to land in your bank account on 15 October.
At current prices, New Hope stock trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 7%. That equates to a grossed-up yield of 10.1%, once we account for those franking credits.
Atop its own operational successes on and below the ground, New Hope has been benefiting from resurgent global coal prices.
At US$144 per tonne, thermal coal (primarily used for energy production) prices are up approximately 35% in 12 months. And thermal coal prices have lifted more than 21% since the end of February, amid the worldwide energy crunch following the outbreak of the Iran war.
But following on this strong run, is the ASX 200 coal stock now a buy, hold, or sell?
New Hope shares: Buy, hold, or sell?
Fairmont Equities’ Michael Gable recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 coal miner (courtesy of The Bull).
“I remain bullish about this thermal coal producer, as the war in Iran is leading other countries to lift demand for thermal coal to offset instability in gas markets,” Gable noted.
Commenting on the miner’s recent performance and passive income appeal, Gable said:
The company generated saleable coal production of 11.5 million tonnes in full year 2026, up 7.6 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Production was above market expectations as was the final, fully franked dividend of 30 cents a share.
Along with lifting production, New Hope also increased its total coal resources over the year, which grew to 2.96 billion tonnes as at 31 May, up from 2.55 billion tonnes year on year.
Summarising his hold recommendation on New Hope shares, Gable concluded, “The share price uptrend since early July is sustainable, in my view.”
The post Up 42% and paying a 7% dividend yield, should I buy New Hope shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Should you invest $1,000 in New Hope right now?
Before you buy New Hope shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and New Hope wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
* Returns as of 1 August 2026
.custom-cta-button p {
margin-bottom: 0 !important;
}
More reading
- Why I’d invest $50,000 of superannuation in New Hope, Mineral Resources and BHP shares
- Soul Patts vs Macquarie Group: Best ASX dividend stock for retirees?
- Which ASX shares just got downgraded by brokers?
- Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, REA, Telix Pharmaceuticals shares
- Whitehaven Coal vs New Hope: Which ASX coal share offers better value today?
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.