• Is BHP the best ASX mining share to buy for the next 5 years?

    Two workers on a tablet at a mine site, with mining machinery behind them.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is already one of the biggest mining shares in the world.

    But what could the business look like in five years?

    Its commodity mix is changing, major growth projects are progressing, and some of its biggest markets could look quite different by 2031.

    So, is BHP the ASX mining share I would want to own for that journey?

    Copper could become even more important

    The biggest reason I am positive about BHP’s next five years is copper.

    It has already become a much larger part of the business. In FY26, copper contributed more than half of BHP’s underlying EBITDA for the first time, while the company produced around 2 million tonnes for the second consecutive year.

    I think the longer-term opportunity is even more compelling. Electrification, renewable energy, data centres, and AI infrastructure all require enormous amounts of copper. BHP expects global demand to rise from around 34 million tonnes a year today to more than 50 million tonnes by 2050.

    The company is positioning itself accordingly. It has growth options across Chile, South Australia, Argentina, and the United States, with management believing its copper pipeline could lift attributable production by around 40% by FY35.

    Not all of that will arrive within five years, but I think the direction is clear. BHP is becoming increasingly geared towards a commodity that could face strong structural demand.

    Iron ore still has an important job

    I would not overlook iron ore simply because copper is getting more attention.

    BHP’s Western Australian iron ore operations remain a major source of cash, and FY26 delivered record production and shipments. The business also retains its position as one of the lowest-cost major producers globally.

    That is important because iron ore can help fund the next phase of growth.

    China’s property sector remains a risk, but BHP still expects Chinese steel production to stay around 1 billion tonnes annually through the remainder of this decade, while India is becoming increasingly important as infrastructure and industrial investment expand.

    In my opinion, iron ore does not need to be the growth engine. It can remain the dependable cash generator behind the rest of the portfolio.

    A new commodity joins the mix

    The next five years should also see potash become meaningful. BHP’s Jansen project in Canada is on track for first production in mid-2027. Stage 1 is already well advanced, while Stage 2 is designed to eventually help take the combined output to around 8.5 million tonnes a year.

    Potash gives BHP exposure to agriculture and food production, which brings a different demand driver from metals such as copper and iron ore.

    I think that diversification could become increasingly valuable as Jansen ramps up.

    What could go wrong?

    BHP is still a commodity producer, so prices will have a major influence on returns.

    A sharp fall in copper or iron ore prices could outweigh operational progress, while large projects such as Jansen and future copper developments bring execution and cost risks.

    I would also expect the dividend to move around with the cycle. BHP can offer a good dividend yield at times, but I would not buy it expecting a perfectly smooth income stream.

    Foolish takeaway

    For me, BHP would be the ASX mining share I would most want to own over the next five years.

    Iron ore should continue providing substantial cash flow, copper is becoming a much bigger part of the growth story, and potash adds another long-term opportunity.

    There will be commodity cycles along the way, but I think BHP’s portfolio is moving in the right direction for the world investors are likely to face in 2031.

    The post Is BHP the best ASX mining share to buy for the next 5 years? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BHP Group right now?

    Before you buy BHP Group 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 BHP Group 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

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    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.

  • Life360 vs Droneshield: Which ASX tech stock is a better buy?

    A woman holds up hands to compare two things with question marks above her hands.

    Life360 vs Droneshield shares: Which ASX tech stock stands out?

    Picking between two innovative tech shares on the ASX can feel like comparing apples to oranges, but if you’re weighing up Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) versus Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO), you’re not alone. Both operate at the cutting edge of technology—Life360 in global safety apps for families and friends, Droneshield on the frontline of drone detection. So, which one shines brighter as a buy right now? Here’s how the numbers and business models stack up.

    The case for Life360

    Life360 is a US-based software company best known for its popular family safety and location-sharing app, available in multiple languages across the world. It boasts over 104 million monthly active users, connecting families and friends to share whereabouts, communicate, and get help with roadside emergencies, theft identification, and more. The company has also pushed into the advertising market with its acquisition of ad-tech firm Nativo, pointing to diverse revenue streams beyond just app subscriptions.

    There are a few stand-out fundamentals for Life360:

    • Market capitalisation of $4.91 billion—significantly larger than Droneshield, showing real global ambition and scale.
    • A positive earnings per share (EPS) of $0.573, paired with a P/E ratio of 24.59—showing strong underlying profitability for a tech stock, even though it’s had a rough run this year.
    • No dividend on offer, but this is common among fast-growing tech companies who’d rather reinvest in expansion.

    Year to date, the stock has fallen sharply (down 40%), but investors may see this as an opportunity to buy a global leader well below its earlier highs.

    The case for Droneshield

    Droneshield is an Australian defence tech business focused on creating artificial intelligence-powered hardware and software to detect, disrupt, and protect against rogue drones. Its product suite serves a serious need for governments, airports, and critical infrastructure, keeping unwelcome drones out of sensitive airspace. The company has growing reach in Australia, the US, and the UK, and sits at the intersection of cybersecurity, national security, and emerging technology.

    Here’s what jumps out in Droneshield’s fundamentals:

    • Market cap of $1.60 billion—quite a bit smaller than Life360, but still marking it as a noteworthy mid-cap disruptor on the ASX.
    • EPS is negative at -$0.033, and the P/E ratio is an eye-watering 433.75. This high multiple reflects the market’s expectations for future earnings growth, but also signals just how little earnings Droneshield is generating today. (Note: Droneshield’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.)
    • Like Life360, there’s no dividend on offer as the company remains laser-focused on reinvestment and scaling up.

    Year to date, the share price has also had a rough run (down 41.4%), despite megatrends like defence spending and security concerns staying front of mind globally.

    Valuation comparison

    When it comes to key valuation and size metrics, here’s how both tech businesses compare:

    Life360 Droneshield
    Market Cap $4.91 billion $1.60 billion
    P/E Ratio 24.59 433.75
    Earnings per Share (EPS) 0.573 -0.033
    Dividend Yield 0.00% 0.00%
    YTD Return -39.99% -41.40%

    Both companies don’t pay dividends, so income investors may look elsewhere. The big contrast is in valuation: Life360’s P/E ratio is much closer to what many would expect for a profitable tech stock, while Droneshield’s enormous P/E suggests the market is pricing in very strong future growth, despite its currently negative EPS.

    Recent share price momentum

    Comparing recent share price performance up to 6 October 2026:

    • Life360 closed at $20.12, slipping 0.98% on the day. Over the recent fortnight, it’s mostly traded between $18.90 and $20.50, showing a mix of swings but little clear upward momentum. Its YTD return sits at -39.99%.
    • Droneshield finished at $1.73, down 3.88% for the session. Over the same time, it’s moved between $1.58 and $1.83, likewise failing to show a bounce-back. Its YTD performance is -41.4%.

    Both stocks are down around 40% over the year to date and have struggled to generate positive momentum in recent weeks.

    Which is the better buy?

    For me, Life360 Inc stands out over Droneshield at this point. Here’s why: Life360 boasts solid positive earnings, a reasonable P/E ratio for a scale tech stock, and a diverse, global user base with proven monetisation through both subscriptions and advertising. While its share price has sunk this year, I think the fundamentals and business model are robust—and current price weakness could offer a compelling entry point for patient investors.

    Droneshield is an exciting, high-potential business in a vital industry. Yet, with its high P/E and negative EPS, I see it as much more speculative at present: the market’s pricing in a lot of future hope, rather than current profits.

    Neither pays a dividend, and both have copped it price-wise in 2026. But if I had to pick between the two right now, my pick would be Life360 for its stronger profitability, larger market presence, and more reasonable valuation. For those who crave a pure growth punt on future tech, Droneshield could appeal, but for me, Life360 offers a better mix of scale and earnings power today.

    The post Life360 vs Droneshield: Which ASX tech stock is a better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in DroneShield right now?

    Before you buy DroneShield 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 DroneShield 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

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    Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

  • 3 ASX 200 shares I think could rise more than 10% in a year

    Happy girl holding a plant and soil in front of ascending piles of coins.

    A 10% share price gain over 12 months is never guaranteed.

    But when I look across the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), there are a few shares where I think earnings growth, improving business performance, or a more attractive starting valuation could support that sort of return.

    These are three ASX 200 shares I would be watching.

    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

    Breville is the first one on my list. The appliance maker has built a strong global business around premium kitchen products, particularly coffee machines, and I think there is still plenty of room to expand internationally.

    What I like is that Breville does not need to rely on one market for growth. It has established positions in Australia, North America, and Europe, while newer markets can provide another leg over time.

    There is also a product development element to the story. Breville has consistently invested in new appliances and higher-value products, which can help support revenue growth without depending entirely on geographic expansion.

    If the company continues to grow earnings and make progress across its international markets, I think a gain of more than 10% over the next year is achievable.

    Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

    Treasury Wine Estates is a very different proposition. The wine company owns a collection of premium brands, led by Penfolds, which gives it exposure to consumers willing to pay considerably more for higher-end products.

    For me, the opportunity is about getting more value from those brands across international markets. A stronger contribution from Asia could be particularly important, while the company also has room to keep growing its premium wine portfolio in markets such as the United States.

    Of course, wine is not an easy category. Consumer demand can fluctuate, inventory needs to be managed carefully, and international markets can change quickly.

    But that also means sentiment can move sharply when trading improves. If Treasury Wine Estates can show that earnings momentum is strengthening, I think the market could become noticeably more positive on the ASX 200 share over the next 12 months.

    ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

    ResMed is my third pick. The sleep treatment company operates in a large global market, with millions of people affected by sleep apnoea and many more still undiagnosed or untreated.

    That gives ResMed a long runway even before considering further product innovation and improvements in diagnosis.

    I also like the earnings outlook. Consensus forecasts point to earnings per share (EPS) increasing from $1.54 in FY26 to $1.69 in FY27, $1.85 in FY28, and $2.02 in FY29.

    That works out to annualised earnings growth of roughly 9.5% across the three years. For a global healthcare leader, I think that is a healthy pace.

    If ResMed delivers close to those expectations and sentiment towards the shares improves, I can easily see scope for the share price to rise more than 10% over the next year.

    Foolish takeaway

    I would not buy any shares purely because I think they can rise 10% in 12 months.

    But Breville, Treasury Wine Estates, and ResMed all have business-specific reasons that I think could support a stronger share price from here.

    For me, that makes all three worth considering today.

    The post 3 ASX 200 shares I think could rise more than 10% in a year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Breville Group right now?

    Before you buy Breville Group 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 Breville Group 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

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    More reading

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