After delivering standout returns through much of 2025 and into 2026, ASX gold shares have finally lost some of their shine. 

Supported by a surging gold price, persistent geopolitical uncertainty, and strong investor demand for safe-haven assets, many of the sector’s biggest names climbed to record or multi-year highs. 

More recently, however, a pullback in the gold price and a wave of profit-taking have seen many ASX-listed gold miners retreat from their peaks, prompting investors to weigh up whether this is simply a healthy correction or the start of a more prolonged downturn.

A new report from VanEck suggests the long-term outlook remains positive despite the recent pullback. 

Sentiment switches

Imaru Casanova, Portfolio Manager, Gold and Precious Metals, VanEck said gold has pulled back roughly 25% from January highs. 

At the end of June, the apparent end of the conflict in the Middle East further eroded gold’s safe-haven appeal, as markets shifted toward a risk-on environment and equity markets traded near recent highs. 

Gold is now trading around US$4,000 per ounce, representing an approximately 25% pullback from its January highs. However, gold stocks remain the best-performing asset class over the past year, and gold continues to outperform most other major asset classes.

There’s still gold in these hills

However, the long-term case remains supported by inflation, central bank buying and lower real rates.

Gold stocks have historically outperformed the metal itself in rising gold price environments. 

However, investors may not need to wait for the next leg higher in gold to begin increasing exposure. 

At current prices, these companies are already generating record cash flow, as Q1 2026 earnings made abundantly clear. Gold has traded at an average price of approximately US$4,700 per ounce so far in 2026. With all-in sustaining costs for the sector estimated to average below US$2,000 per ounce in 2026, margins remain very strong even at US$4,000 gold.

According to the report, this gives companies the ability to finance growth, pay dividends and repurchase shares. 

Gold stocks continue to trade at valuations that remain low relative to historical levels, while the sector appears to be in strong financial and operational health by historical standards. 

Current equity prices appear to reflect more conservative assumptions than those implied by prevailing gold prices.

If investors rotate capital away from sectors with much richer valuations, particularly against a backdrop of rising risk of a pullback, gold stocks could be beneficiaries.

How to gain exposure to gold shares

There are many individual ASX gold shares for investors to consider. 

Some of the most popular include: 

• Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) – One of the largest gold mining companies in the world 
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) – Large mining company with projects in Australia and the United States

Another option is to target gold shares using an ASX ETF. 

For example, VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) includes over 105 companies involved in the gold mining industry. 

Or, the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG) provides exposure to the price of physical Australian gold bullion rather than to gold mining companies.

The post Why gold shares remain a strong long-term option despite recent pullback: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Which ASX copper and gold stock could rocket 200%?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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.

Owning National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares could be a rewarding investment for the year ahead (and beyond).

Investors may normally expect a good dividend from ASX bank shares, but there’s more to the total shareholder return (TSR) than just dividends. Capital gains can be useful or even provide the majority of the return over a particular time period.

A year is a relatively short-term timeframe for investing, but that’s usually the time frame analysts consider when they give their expectations for the share price – it’s called a share price target.

Let’s look at the forecast for both the NAB share price and dividend.

Analyst projections for NAB shares

According to CMC Invest, there have been 10 ratings on the ASX bank share within the last 12 months. Of those, two were buys, four were holds, and four were sells.

Of those 10 analysts, the average price target is $36.90. At the time of writing, that implies a possible decline of around 7% over the next 12 months.

If someone had invested $10,000, the forecast decline could mean those NAB shares are only worth $9,300 in 12 months.

But don’t forget there’s also the forecast dividend. According to CommSec, the business could pay an annual dividend per share of $1.70 in FY26. While the dividend is projected to increase to $1.72 per share in FY27, I’ll be conservative and stick with the lower $1.70 dividend per share estimate.

At the time of writing, that projection translates into a forecast dividend yield of 4.3%. The TSR figure doesn’t usually include franking credits, so I won’t include it for my calculations.

The projected payout could translate into a cash payout of close to $430. That would take the overall $10,000 investment to approximately $9,700. In other words, investors could see a net loss of 3%, or approximately $300, over the next 12 months.

Is this a good time to invest in the ASX bank share?

This is seemingly not a good time to invest. Analysts are suggesting the NAB share price is overvalued, and investors may see negative returns if the bank’s valuation goes backwards.

Of course, a 12-month period isn’t the right time frame to judge a business. Over a longer time period, the NAB share price could rise, and the TSR could be much more positive, with dividend payments adding additional returns each financial year.

With all of the above in mind, I think there are better ASX share opportunities out there with a $10,000 investment.

The post By July 2027, NAB shares could turn $10,000 into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I invest $10,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn an annual $60,000 passive income?
• 3 ASX dividend shares I’d buy for passive income right now
• What are experts tipping for the big four bank shares in the back half of 2026?
• ANZ, NAB, Westpac and CBA shares: Brokers rate 2 a sell, and 2 a hold

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 underperformed materially over the last 12 months.

While this is disappointing for shareholders, it could have created a compelling buying opportunity for others.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who believe the ASX tech stock could have huge upside potential.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that there has been a bit of a rally in the tech sector recently. However, WiseTech shares have missed out due to a number of reasons. It said:

There has been a tech rally of sorts on the ASX over the past couple of months and this has been led by some of the large cap names including Pro Medicus, Block and Life360. One large cap which has not rallied, however, is WiseTech and this is likely due to a number of factors including further negative press reports around founder and Chief Innovation Officer Richard White, concern around the potential future loss of key customer DSV and risk around both the FY26 result and FY27 guidance and whether each meets market expectations. 

The good news is that Bell Potter believes that a change could be coming for its shares. This is especially the case given its belief that WiseTech will deliver on its guidance for FY 2026 and provide guidance that meets expectations. It adds:

In our view, however, these negatives will start to dissipate over the coming months and indeed have already commenced with the appointment earlier this month of Raelene Murphy to Chair which we regard as a positive move. We also believe the company will achieve its FY26 guidance when it reports next month – albeit with some risk around revenue but this should be made up by the margin – and the FY27 guidance will meet expectations following downgrades by the sell-side (ourselves included) over the past few months. 

This potential reduction in negatives could lead to a rally in the share price and this may have already started with the appointment of the new Chair. Some positive outlook statements at the result next month could provide further impetus and, as examples, may include expectations of large freight forwarders shifting to the new pricing model in FY27 and DSV shifting more DB Schenker volumes onto CargoWise.

WiseTech shares tipped to double

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $71.75 price target on the company’s shares.

Based on its current share price of $34.95, this implies potential upside of 105% over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy thesis, Bell Potter said:

There is also no change in our target price of $71.75 and we maintain the BUY. We believe the stock looks value on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.15x and is trading at an excessively large discount to the Technology One multiple of c.27x. We note WiseTech has higher forecast earnings growth than Technology One over the next few years given the expected margin recovery post the e2open acquisition.

The post Why WiseTech shares could rocket 100% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX 200 shares in July
• Are Macquarie, Qantas, and WiseTech shares buys?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Worley, and ResMed shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global. 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.