• BHP shares are up 53%. Here are 5 reasons why they may not be done yet

    View of a mining or construction worker through giant metal pipes.

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares slipped fractionally to $60.78 during Monday afternoon trading. That follows a softer month, with the mining giant down around 7%.

    But zoom out, and the picture flips completely: BHP shares have surged roughly 34% year to date and a stunning 53% over the past 12 months.

    After a run like that, the obvious question is whether there’s anything left in the tank. Here are five reasons the answer might be yes.

    1. BHP is quietly becoming a copper giant

    Forget the old image of BHP shares as an iron ore miner with side hustles. Copper is now doing the heavy lifting. In FY 2026, copper contributed more than half of BHP’s underlying EBITDA for the first time ever, with production hitting roughly 2 million tonnes.

    It gets bigger from here. BHP’s copper growth pipeline could lift attributable production by around 40% by FY 2035. That’s a full-throttle bet on a metal the company believes is set to ride the electrification, digitalisation, and power-demand supercycle.

    2. Iron ore hasn’t gone anywhere

    None of this means BHP is walking away from iron ore. WA Iron Ore delivered record production in FY 2026 and, according to BHP, remains the world’s lowest-cost major iron ore operation. The target now is production above 305 million tonnes a year.

    That’s not a dying business propping up a new one. It’s a cash-printing machine that can bankroll the next growth chapter of BHP shares without forcing shareholders to gamble on unproven ventures.

    3. A massive potash bet flying under the radar

    BHP is about to add an entirely new commodity to its arsenal. The Jansen potash project in Canada was 84% complete at the end of FY 2026 and remains on track for first production in mid-2027 — with an expected operating life beyond 60 years.

    That’s exposure to global food security and agricultural demand, sitting alongside BHP’s traditional commodity mix. It’s a diversification play most miners simply can’t match.

    4. The cash machine just got louder

    BHP generated US$9.8 billion of free cash flow in FY 2026 — an 83% jump. Net debt fell below US$9 billion, and the company handed shareholders US$8.7 billion in dividends, its biggest annual payout in four years.

    For income investors in BHP shares, that’s not a footnote. That’s the headline.

    5. Growth without losing the plot

    Here’s the part that should reassure the sceptics: BHP isn’t just throwing cash at new mines and hoping for the best.

    Management is squeezing productivity and technology out of existing operations, with unit costs running 6% lower on average across major assets in FY 2026 — despite inflation and rising diesel costs working against them.

    Should investors keep watching BHP shares?

    A 53% gain over 12 months means valuation and commodity price risk can’t be brushed aside. But the real story here isn’t the share price, it’s that BHP itself is changing shape.

    This isn’t the old BHP shares wearing a higher price tag. It’s a copper-led growth business, propped up by a world-class iron ore operation, a brand-new potash division, and a cash engine running hotter than ever.

    The real question for investors isn’t whether BHP has already run too far. It’s whether this reinvention can deliver another leg of growth, without BHP losing the shareholder return discipline that made it a market darling in the first place.

    The post BHP shares are up 53%. Here are 5 reasons why they may not be done yet 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 Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. 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.

  • Why is this ASX gold share rocketing 7% on Monday?

    Group of business people joining together silver and golden coloured gears on table at workplace.

    It has been a strong start to the week for Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares.

    The gold miner is up 6.98% to $3.83 in midday trade on Monday after releasing its latest update to the market.

    However, the stock is still down around 8% since the start of 2026.

    So, what’s behind the sudden buying?

    Gold output could triple by FY30

    According to the release, Ramelius expects to produce between 205,000 and 225,000 ounces of gold in FY27.

    All-in sustaining costs (AISC) are forecast at between $2,150 and $2,350 per ounce.

    From there, though, production is expected to really start stepping up.

    Ramelius is guiding for 250,000 to 300,000 ounces in FY28, before climbing again to 410,000 to 460,000 ounces in FY29.

    By FY30, the company is targeting annual production of 560,000 to 610,000 ounces, with AISC of $2,100 to $2,400 per ounce.

    That would be 11% above its previous FY30 production plan and around 205% higher than FY26 output.

    A lot of that growth should come from Mt Magnet, which could produce 420,000 to 460,000 ounces in FY30.

    Rebecca-Roe is expected to contribute another 140,000 to 150,000 ounces that year.

    Ramelius is spending heavily to get there

    Of course, getting production up to those levels won’t be cheap.

    Ramelius expects growth capital expenditure of between $480 million and $570 million in FY27.

    A large chunk of that is set to go towards Mt Magnet.

    The cost of expanding the processing plant has now increased to around $280 million, up from the previous estimate of $223 million.

    The company said the increase reflects higher costs, greater fixed-price coverage, and extra infrastructure work.

    The expanded plant is targeted for completion in the December 2027 quarter and should lift total throughput to 4.3Mtpa.

    Commercial production is expected to start in the March 2028 quarter.

    Ramelius has plenty of firepower

    The good news is Ramelius isn’t heading into this spending phase short on funding.

    The company said its cash, gold, and investment holdings currently sit above $1 billion.

    That includes proceeds from the recent Edna May hub sale, which brought in $210 million in cash and another $90 million worth of Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS) shares.

    Ramelius said the growth plan remains fully funded, which gives it a bit more breathing room while spending ramps up.

    Management also expects the stronger production profile to start showing up in cash flow later in the decade.

    By FY30, Ramelius is forecasting free cash flow of as much as $1.5 billion, based on a gold price of $5,500 per ounce.

    The post Why is this ASX gold share rocketing 7% on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Ramelius Resources right now?

    Before you buy Ramelius Resources 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 Ramelius Resources 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 Aaron Teboneras 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.

  • Is Life360 one of the best ASX growth shares to buy?

    Happy mum and dad with daughter smiling on couch after relocation to new home.

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) has been one of the standout ASX growth shares in recent years.

    The company is still growing its user base, subscriptions, and advertising revenue at a strong rate.

    With the shares trading around $18.72 on Monday, is Life360 still one of the best ASX growth shares to buy?

    The growth story still has plenty of room

    What I like about Life360 is that it has already built a huge global audience, but I do not think the business is close to reaching its full potential.

    The company finished the second quarter with around 102.4 million monthly active users (MAUs), showing just how large the platform has already become.

    I still think there is plenty of room to add to that number globally. Just over half of its MAUs are from the US market, which demonstrates its significant global opportunity. 

    There is also an opportunity to make more from the users already on the platform. Despite increasing by 27% year on year to 3.2 million in the second quarter, Paying Circles still only represent 3.1% of its overall MAUs.

    Advertising gives it another way to generate revenue from the much larger group of users who do not take out a subscription.

    That is what I find interesting about the growth story. Life360 can keep adding users, convert more of them to paid memberships, and build advertising alongside that.

    If it can keep making progress across those areas, I think the business could be considerably larger in a few years.

    Life360 shares could become very cheap

    This is probably the part of the investment case I find most interesting at the current Life360 share price.

    Consensus forecasts point to earnings per share of 54.4 cents in FY26, rising to $1.16 in FY27 and $2.14 in FY28.

    At $18.72, that puts the shares on a P/E ratio of roughly 34 times forecast FY26 earnings.

    But the valuation falls quickly if Life360 delivers the earnings growth analysts are expecting.

    The shares would be trading at around 16 times FY27 earnings and less than nine times FY28 earnings.

    For a company that is still growing its user base, subscriptions, and advertising revenue at a strong rate, I think that would be dirt cheap.

    Of course, those forecasts are far from guaranteed.

    Life360 will need to keep growing revenue and translate more of that growth into profit. But if it gets anywhere close to the current expectations, I think today’s share price could eventually look very inexpensive.

    What could go wrong?

    The biggest risk for me is that the earnings forecasts prove too optimistic.

    A lot needs to go right for earnings per share to increase from 54.4 cents in FY26 to $2.14 in FY28.

    Growth could slow, advertising may take longer to develop, or the company could decide to invest more heavily than expected.

    That could leave the shares looking much less cheap than the current forecasts suggest.

    Foolish takeaway

    I think Life360 is one of the ASX growth shares I would want to own.

    The business continues to grow strongly, and there are several ways for it to make more from its huge global audience.

    If Life360 comes close to delivering the profits currently expected over the next few years, I think today’s share price could prove to be a very good entry point.

    The post Is Life360 one of the best ASX growth shares to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you buy Life360 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 Life360 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 positions in and has recommended 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.

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