If you are looking for big potential returns, then Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares could be worth considering.

That’s because the team at Bell Potter believes this biotechnology company’s shares could more than double in value over the next 12 months.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that the US FDA has approved an additional potency assay for Ryoncil. It was pleased with the news, given its past experience with potency assays. It explains:

Investors familiar with the journey of Ryoncil through the FDA will be painfully aware of the delays to commercialisation, attributable at least in part, to perceived shortcomings in the then potency assays. Potency measurement is complex in a biological asset, particularly where the starting material may differ from batch to batch and with a multifactorial mechanism of action. 

MSB had not previously disclosed the development of this assay, however, it collaborated with the FDA on the project. The assay will be part of a quality control matrix for the release of each batch of Ryoncil in conjunction with the existing potency assays for IL-2Ra inhibition and CAP (Cell Adhesion and Proliferation). At its core, Ryoncil is a highly potent anti-inflammatory designed to suppress multiple mechanisms of the immune system response to a bone marrow graft by the host, including the proliferation of host T-cells which form part of the cytokine storm that occurs during severe GvHD.

The broker feels this could be a major de-risking event. It adds:

In practical terms, the assay completes the QA circle and represents a significant derisking event. The company is entirely dependent on a single manufacturing site at Lonza, Singapore for the production of Ryoncil. The new assay pavs the way for MSB to commission a second manufacturing site, most likely in the US. We expect this may commence with a second contract manufacturer. The assay allows the company to further tighten the manufacturing specifications on commercial batches.

The assay will be equally applicable to the manufacture of rexlemestrocel-L. MSB has extensive IP around both Ryoncil and Rexlemestrocel-L (aka Revascor). Ryoncil carries Orphan Drug Designation and long life patents. The development of the new TIBA assay further extends the moat around future revenues.

Should you buy Mesoblast shares?

According to the note, in response to the news, the broker has retained its buy rating and $4.45 price target on Mesoblast shares.

Based on its current share price of $2.16, this implies potential upside of 106% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Could Mesoblast shares rise over 100% in 12 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Mesoblast wins FDA nod for new Ryoncil potency test
• 2 ASX 200 shares tipped by brokers to return 73% and 83%
• Brokers rate these 5 ASX shares as a strong buy, and tip upsides of 28% to 62%
• 7 ASX healthcare stock picks from Bell Potter

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

Lynas Rare Earths vs Mineral Resources shares: Which mining stock has more upside?

Investors looking at Australia’s mining sector might find themselves weighing Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) against Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN). Both are heavyweights with exposure to crucial elements for the green energy transition, but their businesses, financial metrics, and risk/reward profiles differ sharply. Here’s how these two ASX mining stocks stack up if you’re hunting for upside potential.

The case for Lynas Rare Earths

Lynas Rare Earths is a globally significant player in a highly specialised field—rare earth elements. As one of the few producers outside China, Lynas mines and processes rare earths primarily at its Mt Weld site in Western Australia and its Malaysian facilities. These critical materials are fundamental for tech like electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other green energy gear. As noted in its latest public snapshot, Lynas is also pushing forward with rare earths supply chain projects in the US, highlighting its growth ambitions and strategic value.

Looking at Lynas’s fundamentals, a few points stand out:

• Market cap: $14.48 billion, making it the larger of these two miners
• P/E ratio: 66.50, signalling high expectations from the market
• Year to date return: 17.93%, a solid gain for 2026 so far

However, Lynas currently pays no dividend, so it’s a pure growth play at present.

The case for Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources offers something different—a diversified mining and mining services business with major exposure to iron ore and lithium. The company not only operates its own mines but also delivers end-to-end mining services across WA and beyond. Its strategy is to build scale and efficiencies, aiming to become a top-five lithium hydroxide producer while supplying iron ore to global markets. As per its company overview, Mineral Resources also has a vertically integrated battery manufacturing ambition, leveraging both resource extraction and downstream processing.

Mineral Resources shows strong credentials on several financial fronts:

• P/E ratio: 10.25, much lower than Lynas’s
• Earnings per share (EPS): 5.338
• Dividend yield: 1.52%, fully franked (100%), so investors get tax-effective income
• Market cap: $10.76 billion
• Year to date return: 2.19%

The company’s dividend history is impressive, with a record of consistent, fully franked payouts spanning more than a decade—something income-focused investors might really value.

Valuation comparison

The numbers tell a story of two very differently positioned miners:

	Lynas Rare Earths	Mineral Resources
Market Cap	$14.48b	$10.76b
P/E Ratio	66.50	10.25
Earnings per Share	0.221	5.338
Dividend Yield	0.00%	1.52% (100% franked)

Lynas’s earnings multiple is more than six times that of Mineral Resources, which suggests the market is pricing in much higher growth or scarcity value for rare earths. Note: Lynas Rare Earths’ reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

Mineral Resources, by contrast, is trading on a low double-digit earnings multiple and generating sizeable franked dividends for shareholders. This could indicate the stock is valued more on its current earnings power and less on blue-sky potential.

Recent share price performance

Comparing their recent share price action up to 24 September 2026:

• Lynas Rare Earths closed at $14.39 on 24 September 2026, with a year-to-date return of 17.9%. Over the past month, the shares have seen some volatility, swinging between $13.83 and $16.40, but have generally traded higher from their mid-year levels.
• Mineral Resources finished at $54.18 on 24 September 2026, with a year-to-date return of 2.2%. The shares have been more subdued lately, moving between $52.83 and $65.46 during the month, but trending flat to slightly down over this timespan.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m weighing Lynas Rare Earths against Mineral Resources with upside in mind, my pick would be Lynas Rare Earths. The market is clearly pricing in strong long-term growth as rare earths play a bigger part in electric vehicle and renewable supply chains. While its high P/E means it’s priced for a lot of future success—and it doesn’t pay a dividend—the company is uniquely placed outside of China and has achieved momentum this year.

Mineral Resources is no slouch, with a solid (and fully franked) dividend and much lower valuation. It’s arguably the steadier play, especially for those seeking income or concerned about volatile commodity cycles. But for investors squarely focused on capital growth and long-term thematic tailwinds, I’d lean toward Lynas despite the market optimism already baked in.

The post Lynas Rare Earths vs Mineral Resources: Which ASX mining stock shines? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I’d invest $50,000 of superannuation in New Hope, Mineral Resources and BHP shares
• Buy, hold, sell: BOQ, Harvey Norman, Lynas shares
• Why has the Mineral Resources share price fallen 12% this week?
• Could this evolving development smash ASX lithium shares like Liontown, Mineral Resources and PLS?
• UBS names its 10 top ASX picks for the next 3-6 months

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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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. 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares hit a 15-week low before closing at 8,665 points on Friday, down 0.76% for the week.

Here’s how John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities rates these three ASX 200 heavyweights (courtesy of The Bull). 

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price rose 0.77% last week to close at $176.95 on Friday.

Athanasiou has a buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

He said: 

CSL’s recovery is gaining momentum after forecasting underlying profit growth guidance of about 5 per cent in fiscal year 2027. Guidance exceeded market expectations.

Immunoglobulin sales improved in the second half of fiscal year 2026 amid the company announcing a further share buy-back of $1.1 billion.

The outlook for this global health care company is improving after prolonged underperformance.

CSL shares have risen from $92.24 on June 3 to trade at $179.19 on September 24.

Successfully meeting or exceeding its targets leaves room for a potentially higher share price considering the stock was trading above $300 in calendar year 2024.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price fell 0.54% last week to close at $60.72 on Friday.

Athanasiou has a hold rating on this ASX 200 mining share. 

He explained:

BHP remains a high quality, diversified resources company, supported by iron ore and increasing exposure to copper.

However, a softer global growth outlook and uncertainty surrounding Chinese commodity demand limit the case for aggressively buying the stock at this point.

Existing investors can continue holding for its balance sheet strength, dividends and long term copper exposure.

Copper contributed 54 per cent of group underlying EBITDA in full year 2026.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The Commonwealth Bank share price fell 1.05% last week to finish at $150.83 on Friday.

Athanasiou has a sell rating on this ASX 200 bank share. 

He said: 

CBA is Australia’s highest quality major bank, but, in my view, quality doesn’t always represent value.

Its premium valuation leaves limited room for disappointment as rising interest rates potentially slow credit growth and increase borrower stress.

Investors could use the opportunity to take profits and consider better-value alternatives elsewhere in the banking sector.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CBA, BHP, CSL shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in ASX dividend shares to receive $15,000 passive income per year?
• Buying CBA shares? Here’s the dividend yield you’ll get today
• Why I’d invest $50,000 of superannuation in New Hope, Mineral Resources and BHP shares
• Northern Star vs BHP: Which ASX share is better for passive income?
• $10,000 invested in Pro Medicus and CSL shares 3 years ago is now worth…

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.