S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose 2.77% and produced total returns, including dividends, of 7% in FY26.  

Here, we look at which ASX 200 large-cap shares achieved the most capital growth last year. 

Large-cap stocks have a market capitalisation of $10 billion or more.

Many investors favour ASX 200 large-cap shares because they are typically well-established companies that pay reliable dividends.  

Let’s check out last year’s best six performers. 

Best ASX 200 large caps for share price growth

1. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Formerly known as Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group is the largest lithium miner on the ASX 200. 

The PLS Group share price ripped 275% in FY26. 

The ASX 200 large-cap lithium share closed out FY26 at $5.02.   

The company’s flagship is the Pilgangoora Operation, the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium mine. 

Like all ASX lithium shares, PLS Group benefited from surging commodity prices in FY26. 

Lithium spodumene soared 278%, and carbonate rose 160% over the financial year.  

2. Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price rebounded strongly in FY26, rising 188%.  

Mineral Resources produces lithium and iron ore, and offers a raft of specialised services to other miners. 

The ASX 200 large-cap mining share finished the year at $62.65. 

Value investors returned to Mineral Resources shares in FY26 after corporate governance and financial problems pushed the share price to a 5-year low of $14.05 in April 2025. 

Mineral Resources stopped paying dividends to save cash and reported its strongest half-year result ever for 1H FY26.

Soaring lithium prices and the ramp-up of its Onslow iron ore project contributed to the company’s stronger earnings. 

3. Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price ripped 115.26% higher in FY26.

The ASX 200 large-cap rare earths share finished the year at $18.06 apiece.  

The Lynas share price had several tailwinds last year. 

Firstly, restricted exports from China amid rising trade and geopolitical tensions continued to push commodity values higher. Neodymium was among them, rising 80%.  

This helped Lynas deliver an impressive 1H FY26 report, with net profit after tax (NPAT) jumping from $5.9 million to $80.2 million year over year.

Arguably, the most important company-specific catalyst for share price growth in FY26 was the long-term extension of Lynas’ supply agreement with Japan Australia Rare Earths B.V. (JARE) through to 2038.

The deal included a US$110 per kilo floor price for neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide and annual purchase commitments.

4. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price soared 61.63% in FY26.

The ASX 200 large-cap mining share also took back its crown as the market’s largest listed company during the year. 

The BHP share price finished FY26 at $59.40. 

A rising copper price, which hit a record US$6.60 per pound in May, contributed to BHP’s strong share price rise last year.  

While the Big Australian is still a major iron ore producer, it is now also the world’s largest copper producer.

In 1H FY26, copper accounted for more than half of BHP’s underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA). 

5. Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

The Rio Tinto share price roared 61.03% higher in FY26. 

Rio Tinto is also a major iron ore producer, but has diversified into lithium and copper in recent years. 

In FY26, lithium and copper were among the fastest-rising commodities relevant to Australia. 

This helped push the ASX 200 large-cap mining share to a closing price of $172.51 on 30 June. 

6. Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NST)

The Newmont Corporation share price increased 64.07% in FY26. 

The ASX 200 large-cap gold share benefited from a resilient gold price last year. 

The gold price rose by 18% in FY26, which was a far more subdued performance compared to FY25. 

Newmont shares finished the financial year at $134.52 apiece. 

The post 6 ASX 200 large-cap shares that rose 60% to 275% in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is it smart to invest $5,000 into BHP shares?
• The ASX 200 sector that outperformed the benchmark 7 to 1 in FY26. Can it keep delivering?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• If I’d invested $4,000 in PLS Group shares 12 months ago, guess what I’d have now!

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

With only a few hours of trade left before today’s closing bell, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.9% since last Friday’s close, with these three surging ASX 200 stocks leaving those gains in the dust.

Here’s what’s been catching ASX investor interest this week. 

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

Genesis Minerals shares closed last Friday trading for $5.39. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $6.18 apiece. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 14.7% for the week.

Most of those gains are being delivered today after the Aussie gold miner released a business update.

Investors reacted positively to the miner reporting that its FY 2026 gold production hit 285,400 ounces. That’s towards the higher end of Genesis Minerals’ full-year guidance of 260,000 ounces to 290,000 ounces.

On the cost front, the gold mine also reported its full-year all-in sustaining cost (AISC) came within its FY 2026 guidance range of $2,500 to $2,700 per ounce.

And the balance sheet is growing, with Genesis Minerals reporting underlying cash and equivalents of $258 million, up from $253 million in March. 

Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT)

The second ASX 200 stock shooting the lights out this week is financial services company Perpetual.

Perpetual shares closed last Friday at $15.19 and are currently trading at $19.12. This sees the Perpetual share price up 25.9% over the week.

Perpetual shares leapt 16.8% on Wednesday after the company announced that it had received, and rejected, an unsolicited, non-binding takeover proposal from Windflower. According to the release, Windflower is indirectly controlled by EQT AB. 

Under the terms of the indicative proposal, Perpetual shareholders would have received $21.64 per share in cash, or almost 40% above Tuesday’s closing price.

In explaining its rejection, the Perpetual board noted:

The indicative proposal was highly conditional and did not adequately represent fair value for Perpetual shareholders in the context of a change of control transaction and the board determined that it was not in the best interests of Perpetual shareholders.

Which brings us to…

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The top-performing ASX 200 stock on my list today is Neuren Pharmaceuticals.

Shares in the biopharmaceutical company closed last Friday trading for $12.20. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $16.71 each. This sees the Neuren share price up 37% for the week.

Neuren shares closed up a whopping 36.1% on Monday after announcing a crucial regulatory win in the European Union (EU) for its lead drug, DAYBUE.  

DAYBUE is intended to treat neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome.

Commenting on the positive decision from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), Neuren CEO Jon Pilcher said, “I am so delighted for all stakeholders to see this positive outcome from the CHMP re-examination process recommending marketing authorisation for DAYBU in the EU.”

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks storming higher this week on big announcements appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Genesis Minerals: FY26 guidance met and growth projects advance
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why this ASX 200 winner is halted on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 reasons to buy this recovering ASX biotech stock

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are popular for many reasons, including easy exposure to international shares via our local exchange.  

US stocks are particularly popular given that the S&P 500 Index (SP: INX) has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) for several years. 

Currency-hedging can reduce or amplify the returns for investors, and we are seeing this play out right now. 

It’s dividend season, and a closer look shows distributions from some hedged ETFs are more than triple their unhedged counterparts. Woah.  

This largely has to do with changes to the US currency.

Since early CY25, the US dollar has been weakening against a strengthening Aussie currency. 

The Aussie dollar rose from about 62 US cents in January 2025 to a four-year high of 74 US cents in May this year. 

This has helped turbocharge distributions for some currency-hedged ETFs this season. 

The US dollar has been weakening amid expectations of interest rate cuts, concerns about the economic impact of fiscal policy, and broader geopolitical and trade uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the AUD is stronger as the outlook for interest rates improves, and rising commodity prices support our terms of trade.

Strong demand for our metals and minerals, driven by the green energy transition and the build-out of artificial intelligence (AI), also supports our currency, as foreign buyers typically pay for exports in Australian dollars.

Let’s take a look at some examples of the hedging impact on ASX ETF distributions this season. 

ASX ETF distributions: Hedged vs. non-hedged 

The unhedged VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) will pay $11.61 per unit this season. (By the way, MOAT is one of six ETFs paying a 10% dividend yield in a single payment this season.) 

Its currency-hedged counterpart, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: MHOT), will pay $20.54 per unit. That’s a 75% higher distribution than MOAT. 

The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), the market’s largest ETF tracking the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), is paying a distribution of 23.3 cents per unit this season. 

The currency-hedged version of IVV, iShares S&P 500 (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: IHVV), will pay more than 10x that amount — 270.27 cents per unit.

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) will pay 90 cents per unit this season. 

The hedged version of this ETF, Betashares Nasdaq 100 Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: HNDQ), will pay 30% more at 120 cents per unit. 

iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO), which tracks the S&P Global 100 (Net) Index and is made up of 79% US stocks, is paying out 182 cents per unit this season.

The iShares Global 100 (Currency-hedged) ETF (ASX: IHOO) will pay investors 1,082 cents per unit, or almost 6x the IOO ETF. 

Global X S&P World ex Australia GARP ETF (ASX: GARP) will pay 70.76 cents per unit this season. 

Global X S&P World ex Australia GARP (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: GHRP) will pay almost 4x that amount at 269.5 cents per unit. 

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS), which invests in 1,500 stocks in developed nations outside Australia, and has a 77% US exposure, will pay 81.54 cents per unit. 

Its currency-hedged counterpart, Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VGAD), will pay more than triple that amount at 293.5 cents per unit. 

Final distributions confirmed

ETF providers have confirmed their final distribution amounts for this season. 

If you own Vanguard ETFs, see this season’s final distributions here.

Interested in VanEck ETFs? View final distributions here.

If you own Betashares ETFs, see final distributions here.

If you’re invested in iShares ETFs, see final distributions here.

Invested in Global X ETFs? Find out final distributions here.

The post The currency-hedged ASX ETFs magnifying dividends by up to 10x this season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Own NDQ, ARMR, HACK or other Betashares ASX ETFs? Dividends just announced
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Vaneck Morningstar Wide Moat (Aud Hedged) Etf, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and iShares S&P 500 Aud Hedged ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF – Currency Hedged, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.