With just a few days left until the end of FY26, investors have their final chance to snap up ASX 200 shares with high-growth potential for the year ahead.

Here are four of my top ASX 200 picks, and they’re all tipped to climb higher over the next 12 months.

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

Tech-based gaming company Light & Wonder’s share price climbed to an all-time high in early 2026. But they then crashed by 44% by early May after a disappointing FY25 result and a mixed first-quarter FY26 result.

The ASX 200 gaming company’s share price has rebounded by around 20% since then, but it has barely made a dent in the losses suffered earlier in the year. Light & Wonder has been reshaping its business in recent years, focusing on recurring revenue and earnings improvement. If execution continues improving, it could continue to build value over the long term.

Brokers are bullish and unanimously rate the ASX 200 shares as a strong buy. They expect a 59% upside to $192.75 over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Mexican-themed fast-food restaurant chain’s shares hit a historic low in early April but have since rebounded by around 24%.

After multiple headwinds and sombre sentiment so far this year, Guzman Y Gomez shares look like they have finally changed course. The latest rebound comes on the back of news that the company closed its struggling US stores in late May. Instead, it plans to focus its business expansion on Asia and Australia. Its long-term goals remain intact, including plans to reach 1,000 restaurants in Australia and improve network EBITDA.

The majority of brokers rate the ASX 200 shares as a strong buy. They tip a 24% upside to an average $23.37 target price, at the time of writing.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The ASX 200 tech stock has been in the spotlight in late June after media reports alleged that the Australian Federal Police is investigating founder Richard White over alleged trafficking matters. The company responded, saying that the investigation relates to White in a personal capacity and said that there is no suggestion of an alleged investigation into the company itself. But investors have still rushed for the exits. It’s the latest of a long line of headwinds for the company over the past 12 months.

Nevertheless, I think WiseTech has a strong competitive advantage in the global logistics industry. I also think the company’s future hinges on its FY26 results. If it manages to reach or exceed its upgraded guidance, I think we’ll see a turnaround in investor sentiment.

Brokers are bullish, and most hold a strong buy rating. The average $72.39 target price implies a potential 152% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)

The ASX 200 gold miner has faced headwinds from higher mining costs and softer gold prices, and it’s caused significant volatility in its share price so far in 2026. Investor sentiment has also dropped, and many have rushed to sell up their shares and rotate into larger, more stable assets instead.

However, the miner has posted record-breaking production results this year and raised its production guidance for FY26. The ASX 200 gold miner forecasts production of 430,000 to 490,000 ounces of gold, which implies production up to 63% higher than FY25.

Gold prices are forecast to rebound this year, which could hike the value of high-performing gold miners like West African Resources.

Brokers unanimously rate the ASX 200 gold miner’s shares as a strong buy. The average $5.89 target price implies a potential 86% upside at the time of writing.

The post 4 ASX 200 shares I’d buy before the end of June appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have been incredibly choppy throughout the first six months of the year.

The banking giant’s share price has swung wildly between $147.22 and $183.52 per share as it has endured multiple headwinds from rising inflation, higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and a reversal in investor confidence.

Analysts are pretty bearish about CBA’s outlook, too. In fact, many have considered the banking giant’s shares significantly overvalued relative to its peers for some time now. 

TradingView data shows that 14 of 16 analysts have a sell or strong sell rating on CBA shares. The other two have a hold rating.

The average $126.36 target price implies a potential 23% downside ahead, at the time of writing. But some think the shares could crash up to 45% to as little as $90 each.

If analyst predictions are anything to go by, we can assume that the peak has passed for CBA shares.

It’s not all about share price gains and losses, though. CBA is also a popular choice for income-seeking investors.

Here’s why.

CBA shares offer investors a great passive income opportunity

CBA is a cyclical stock, but has the added nuance of offering some strong defensive qualities. The banking giant is huge in scale and dominates the ASX banking sector. 

At the time of writing, CBA is the largest bank listed on the ASX with a market capitalisation of around $278 billion. It is also the second-largest company listed overall, second only to BHP Group. 

This market dominance means CBA can be more resistant in times of economic volatility versus some of its smaller mid-tier peers.

The scarcity of quality stocks on the ASX also means that worried investors sometimes place major companies like CBA on a pedestal. 

The bank is also often viewed as a safe haven when markets soften overall. This is regardless of whether the business fundamentals support any sustained growth. 

This is perhaps why CBA shares have remained relatively buoyant this year, despite broker analysis and forecasts of significant downside.

The advantage, of course, is that this buoyancy is fantastic news for investors earning a passive income from CBA shares.

What does CBA pay its shareholders?

CBA has a long history of paying regular fully-franked dividends twice per year alongside its financial results. 

And it pays its shareholders a good rate, too. 

It most recently paid a fully-franked interim dividend of $2.35 per share in late-March.

Looking ahead, the bank is forecast to pay a total dividend of $5.15 per share to shareholders in FY26. It is then expected to pay around $5.45 per share in FY27.

At the time of writing, this translates to a forward dividend yield of around 3.1% for FY26. For FY27, the forward dividend yield is about 3.3%.

The post Are CBA shares a good buy for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 3 ASX blue chip shares to buy and hold for the next 20 years

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 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.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) is not the kind of ASX share that usually gets investors excited.

Some businesses are built around disruption, new products, and big swings in expectations. Telstra is built around something more basic: keeping people connected. For investors heading into the new financial year, I think that simplicity could be attractive.

More than a phone company

Telstra’s core strength is that its services sit inside everyday life.

Mobile connectivity now touches almost everything. People use it for banking, work, maps, security, entertainment, shopping, travel, messaging, and managing households. Businesses use it to process payments, communicate with customers, support staff, connect devices, and keep operations moving.

That gives Telstra a level of relevance that is easy to take for granted.

I also think the mobile network remains the company’s strongest advantage. Network quality can still influence customer decisions, especially outside major city centres or among users who rely heavily on their phones. Telstra has spent years building scale, coverage, and brand trust in this part of the market.

That does not make the business exciting in a fast-growth sense. But it does give Telstra a role that can remain valuable through different economic conditions.

Income with a steadier profile

Another attraction is income. Telstra has become a cleaner dividend story over recent years, and I think that can make it useful for investors who want dependable cash flow without taking on the same level of cyclicality as miners or discretionary retailers.

The company is still exposed to competition, regulation, capital spending, and customer price sensitivity. But telecommunications is a service people usually keep paying for, even when household budgets are stretched.

That resilience can be useful in an income portfolio.

Why I’d consider buying

For me, the investment case comes down to usefulness.

Telstra does not need to reinvent daily life to be valuable. It needs to keep providing the infrastructure and services that daily life increasingly relies on.

There is also something attractive about owning a business that can quietly compound through pricing discipline, customer retention, network leadership, and disciplined investment.

There are risks to consider. Mobile competition can increase quickly, and capital expenditure is part of the industry. But I think Telstra’s scale gives it a strong starting point.

Foolish takeaway

Telstra will rarely be the loudest growth story on the ASX.

Yet I think it can still be a worthwhile share to own heading into FY27. The business sits inside a service people use constantly, has a leading mobile position, and offers a dividend profile that many investors may find appealing.

In a market where some shares need a lot to go right, Telstra’s appeal is much simpler. It provides something essential, keeps investing in its network, and gives shareholders exposure to a steady stream of cash flow. That can be more powerful than it first sounds.

The post Why Telstra shares could be a top ASX buy for the new financial year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold for my kids
• Where should I invest inside SMSFs instead of property?
• 3 ASX stocks that should be in every retirement portfolio 
• Here’s what brokers tip for Telstra shares over the next 12 months
• Want passive income? These 3 ASX dividend stocks could deliver

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 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.