• 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold for my kids

    Smiling teenager boy and laughing girls show off their balancing skills by walking in a row on a wall in the autumnal sunny city park.

    The financial future of my kids is high up on my priority list. The goal is straightforward. I want to invest in ASX shares that have the potential to thrive for decades.

    That’s because my kids are still in the single digits. So there is no point in chasing the next big growth stock. Instead I’m after consistent growth and good quality businesses that can stand the test of time.

    Here are three ASX shares which I think fit the bill.

    Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

    Transurban is a long-term favorite of mine. It’s a global infrastructure business that builds and operates urban toll road networks, tunnels, and bridges and operates 22 assets across Australia, the US, and Canada.

    The business is widely considered a high-grade defensive ASX dividend stock because its toll road services are essential.

    Even in the event of a downturn, people still need to travel to work and transportation will always continue. Transurban’s toll roads typically have stable traffic volumes year-round, which means the business enjoys resilient cash flow regardless of economic conditions.

    Another bonus is that most of its toll roads are on an annual contract. This means Transurban is able to increase its toll prices each year in line with rising inflation.

    Over the past year, the ASX shares have been relatively stable, fluctuating mildly between $13.25 a piece and $15.62 a piece. Over the past 12 months, the shares are up around 7%.

    It’s this stability and consistent earnings that means Transurban is able to pay a reliable dividend to its shareholders too.

    In February, the toll road operator paid an interim dividend of 34 cents per share, unfranked, to its shareholders.

    For FY26, the company has forecast a distribution of 69 cents per security, which implies a forward dividend yield of around 4.1%, at the time of writing.

    Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Ltd (ASX: SOL)

    If I were to focus on long-term dividend income. Soul Patts is another ASX share I’d consider buying for my kids. 

    Soul Patts is an Australian diversified investment house. It’s often compared to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway because it invests in a broad portfolio of assets ranging from ASX-listed companies, to private credit, to real estate, and others.

    It is widely regarded as Australian dividend royalty and it’s also one of the few ASX shares that have continually raised its dividend payments over the past 28 years.

    Soul Patts historically pays its fully-franked dividends twice per year in May and a final dividend in December. It occasionally also pays shareholders an additional special dividend.

    For the first half of FY26, Soul Patts paid a fully-franked interim dividend of 48 cents per share. This was a 9.1% increase on the prior corresponding period.  At the time of writing, the ASX shares have a grossed-up dividend yield of around 2.4%, including franking credits.

    Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

    The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF is an entirely different type of investment. It is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq CTA Cybersecurity Index and it gives investors easy access to cybersecurity-focused companies.

    As an ETF, HACK allows Australian investors to invest in a diversified basket of international cybersecurity stocks without having to purchase individual shares on overseas exchanges. It typically holds around 30 to 40 companies involved in software, hardware, and services protecting digital infrastructure, data, and networks.

    Cybersecurity is becoming more important across the world as cyberattacks grow in sophistication, frequency, and scale. 

    I also think it will also become a larger cost for businesses as more activity moves online and businesses expand on their use of artificial intelligence.

    The fund also pays a semi-annual dividend to its shareholders. Earlier this month, HACK paid its most recent $0.615682 per unit dividend to its investors. 

    As at 30th June 2026, the HACK ETF has a 12-month gross distribution yield of 2.5%.

    The post 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold for my kids appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF right now?

    Before you buy BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF 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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF wasn’t one of them.

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    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, Transurban Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

    Smiling man working on his laptop.

    On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and pushed higher. The benchmark index rose 0.35% to 8,823 points.

    Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to jump

    It looks set to be a great session for Australian investors on Thursday despite a subdued night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 75 points or 0.85% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, the S&P 500 is 0.05% lower, and the Nasdaq is down 0.35%.

    Hold Beach Energy shares

    Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are around fair value despite falling heavily this year according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the energy producer’s shares with a reduced price target of 95 cents (from $1.15). It said: “BPT is in a production replacement cycle with respect to exploration and appraisal. Production growth should return in FY27 and capex ease, enabling positive free cash flow to support balance sheet deleveraging and ongoing dividends. We are positive on BPT’s exposure to Australian east coast gas markets (around half of sales volumes) and cautious with respect to global oil markets.”

    Oil prices rise again

    ASX 200 energy shares Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session after oil prices charged higher again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.3% to US$87.12 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3.65% to US$94.33 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil higher after the US claimed that Iran is not serious about signing a peace deal.

    Buy Paladin Energy shares

    Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares are undervalued according to Bell Potter. In response to its quarterly update and release of FY 2027 guidance, the broker has retained its buy rating on the uranium producer’s shares with a trimmed price target of $14.80 (from $15.30). It commented: “We retain our Buy recommendation. We have a positive medium- to long-term outlook for the uranium market, supported by barriers to new supply and demand growth linked to electrification, energy security and AI-related power requirements. PDN has around ~53% exposure to spot prices out to 2030. Production at LHM continues to improve with higher-grade mined ore feeding the processing plant and continued process optimisation.”

    Gold price climbs

    It could be a good session for ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.55% to US$4,139.4 an ounce. Safe haven demand sent the gold price to a two-week high.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Beach Energy right now?

    Before you buy Beach Energy 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 Beach Energy 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 16 June 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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.

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    Three children wearing athletic short and singlets stand side by side on a running track wearing medals around their necks and standing with their hands on their hips.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed a happy hump day this Wednesday. After a bumpy start to the week, investors seemed to be in a positive mood all session today. After some bouncing around, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.34% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,823 points.

    This excitable Wednesday on the ASX comes after an even more upbeat night over on the American markets.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a great mood, rising 0.74%.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more jubilant, gaining 1.29%.

    But get back to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into what the different ASX sectors were doing this hump day.

    Winners and losers

    Despite the broader market’s gains, there were a few sectors that were left out in the cold.

    First amongst those were again healthcare shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tanked 1.93% today.

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were also shunned, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) diving 1.44%.

    Consumer discretionary stocks matched that loss. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) also tumbled 1.44%.

    Tech shares were on the nose too, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’s 1.07% slump.

    Communications stocks weren’t much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) dipped 0.93% this session.

    Utilities shares came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) shedding 0.75% of its value.

    Industrial stocks fared better, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) saw its value decline 0.08% this Wednesday.

    Our final losers were consumer staples shares, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)’s 0.02% slip.

    Turning to the winners now, it was gold stocks that came out on top. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) enjoyed a 3.98% surge today.

    Broader mining stocks also ran hot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) roaring 2.3% higher.

    Energy shares didn’t miss out either. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) jumped 0.67% this session.

    Last and least, financial stocks joined the party, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.19% increase.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Titanium stock IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) was our index winner this Wednesday. IperionX shares rocketed 8.67% higher today to close at $3.51 each. Although there was no news out from the company, most mining shares had a stunner today.

    Here’s how the other chart-toppers pulled up at the kerb: 

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) $3.51 8.67%
    Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) $4.27 7.56%
    Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) $1.11 7.28%
    FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM) $1.78 6.91%
    Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) $9.13 6.66%
    Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) $6.29 6.61%
    Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) $4.85 6.13%
    Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) $6.10 5.90%
    Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB) $3.72 5.68%
    Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) $5.92 5.34%

    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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    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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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 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.