When it comes to copper, many investors will turn to Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares.

That makes sense, the mining giant owns Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia, which is one of the largest known copper-gold deposits in the world.

But there’s another name that could be worth considering if you’re looking for copper exposure according to Bell Potter.

Which ASX copper share?

The share that Bell Potter is recommending to investors is AIC Mines Ltd (ASX: A1M).

It is a copper production and exploration company focused on the 100%-owned Eloise Copper Project (ECP) in Queensland.

Bell Potter is feeling positive following a site visit to the Eloise copper mine, which is undergoing an expansion to its production capacity. It said:

We attended a recent site visit to A1M’s 100%-owned Eloise copper mine in QLD. It is currently being expanded from nameplate of 725ktpa to nameplate of 1.1Mtpa. The expansion is targeting to lift Eloise’s copper production from ~12-13ktpa to ~20ktpa. The expansion commenced during the September quarter 2025, with a scheduled 18- month construction period targeting commissioning in the December quarter 2026, for which it remains on schedule.

The good news is that Bell Potter believes the expansion is on target. It explains:

Based on our observations at the site visit, we are comfortable with the view that the Eloise mine expansion is on schedule and mill commissioning will commence in the December quarter 2026. Major components of the process plant are on site, including the recent installation of the ball mill onto its foundations, marking a key critical path milestone. Structural steel erection is largely complete with the crushing circuit 95% mechanically complete and dry commissioning planned for July.

Integration of the new crushing and grinding circuit with the existing circuit is well progressed, with 8 of 9 tie-ins complete. Much of the plant is sized for 1.5Mtpa throughput, providing optionality for a low-cost staged expansion later in Eloise’s mine life.

Time to buy

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the ASX copper share with an improved price target of $1.00.

Based on its current share price of 70.5 cents, this implies potential upside of approximately 42% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

EPS changes with this update are: FY26: -1%, FY27: +5% and FY28: +8%, on a less conservative ramp-up schedule. A1M represents leveraged copper exposure via its Eloise Copper Project with a clear, organic growth strategy being advanced. We retain our Buy recommendation and lift our NPV-based target price to $1.00/sh.

The post Forget Rio Tinto and buy this ASX copper share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Owning Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares has been a pleasing choice for earnings growth over the last 30 years – it has been an excellent long-term performer.

The ASX bank has a closer connection with customers than many other banks, as shown by its high percentage of loans originated through proprietary channels. In other words, it doesn’t rely on brokers for most of its loan flow.

I think its ability to connect with customers, including winning many new customer transaction accounts each year, is key to the bank continuing to grow strongly while also achieving a good profit margin.

Let’s look at what’s expected of the ASX bank share in the coming years and how much it could grow earnings.

FY26

The 2026 financial year has nearly finished for Commonwealth Bank, but it’ll still be a month or so until we hear how the company has performed in the period to June 2026.

The projection on Commsec suggests that CBA’s earnings per share (EPS) could rise in FY26. The independent forecast implies that the business could generate $6.54 of EPS for the financial year. At the current CBA share price, it’s valued at close to 25x FY26’s estimated earnings.

The latest update from the bank was for three months to 31 March 2026. It reported statutory net profit of $2.6 billion, while cash net profit was $2.7 billion – this was up 4% year-over-year, but down 1% on the quarterly average of the FY26 first half.

Impressively, the bank reported excellent growth in both loans and deposits. Annual growth to March 2026, business lending grew 12.5% (1.2x the overall loan system), household deposits grew 9.1% (1.1x the banking system), and home lending increased 7.1% (1x the loan system).

One of the main negatives of that result was a $316 million loan impairment expense, with higher collective provisions reflecting “heightened geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty”. Its underlying portfolio credit quality remained “sound”.

The higher RBA cash rate can help CBA earnings because it means it can lend out money from balances that CBA doesn’t pay interest on (namely transaction accounts) at a higher loan interest rate. However, the higher rates also come with a higher risk of loan defaults by borrowers.

Pleasingly, the bank’s lending growth has been strong enough to drive year-over-year earnings higher.

Can it continue to deliver good growth amid the Federal budget changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax?

Let’s look at the profit forecast for next year.

FY27

According to the projection on Commsec, the business could grow EPS by (just) 2.7% in FY27.

Earnings growth is essential to push the CBA share price higher over time, but 2.7% growth is not exactly exciting. Higher profit can also help fund larger dividend payments from the ASX bank share.

According to that forecast for FY27, the business is valued at 24x FY27’s estimated earnings.

It’s a great bank, but there are many other ASX shares that could grow earnings faster and trade at more attractive valuations.

The post Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2027 for CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Are CBA shares a good buy for passive income?
• Why US stocks have hit record highs while ASX shares have barely risen in 2026
• Want a pay rise? These ASX dividend shares keep delivering
• How much passive income can I make from ASX shares?
• Why this fundie is overweight CSL and underweight CBA shares

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.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have finally taken a breather.

The Rio Tinto share price has slipped around 8% over the past month, but that barely dents what has been an outstanding run. The mining heavyweight is still up an impressive 67% over the past 12 months, making it one of the best-performing ASX blue chips and even outpacing rival BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

So, after such a stellar rally, is there still a case for buying Rio Tinto shares?

Here are three reasons long-term investors may think so.

World-class iron ore assets

Rio Tinto’s biggest strength remains its iron ore business.

The company owns some of the world’s highest-quality, lowest-cost mines in the Pilbara, giving it a significant competitive advantage over many global rivals.

Because these operations sit so low on the cost curve, Rio Tinto can continue generating healthy profits even when iron ore prices soften. When prices rise, those same assets become cash-generating machines.

Its scale, infrastructure, and decades of operational expertise create barriers to entry that few competitors can match.

Reliable cash flow and dividends

Rio Tinto shares have long been one of the ASX’s premier dividend stocks.

While dividends naturally fluctuate with commodity prices, the company has consistently returned a substantial share of its profits to shareholders through dividends and, at times, share buybacks.

That shareholder-friendly approach is supported by a strong balance sheet, disciplined capital allocation, and exceptional cash generation.

For income investors, few miners have Rio’s track record of rewarding shareholders throughout the commodity cycle.

Growing exposure to future-facing commodities

Although iron ore remains Rio Tinto’s biggest earnings driver, the company is steadily broadening its portfolio. It is investing heavily in commodities expected to benefit from the global energy transition, including copper, lithium, and aluminium.

Copper is essential for electrification, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. Lithium demand continues to grow as battery production expands, while aluminium is increasingly used in lightweight transport and clean-energy infrastructure.

These investments give Rio Tinto shares exposure to long-term structural growth trends while its iron ore business continues funding expansion.

The key risk

Investing in Rio Tinto shares is not without risk. Rio Tinto still derives the majority of its earnings from iron ore, making the company highly sensitive to Chinese steel demand and fluctuations in iron ore prices.

If either weakens significantly, profits and dividend payments could come under pressure.

Foolish takeaway

Rio Tinto combines three qualities that long-term investors often seek: world-class mining assets, exceptional cash generation, and growing exposure to commodities that should remain in demand for decades.

While its fortunes will continue to rise and fall with the iron ore cycle, Rio’s diversified growth strategy and history of rewarding shareholders make a compelling case that the recent pullback could present another opportunity for patient investors.

The post Why Rio Tinto shares could be a smart long-term buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Forget Rio Tinto and buy this ASX copper share
• BHP shares have lost momentum. Should investors be worried?
• Buy, hold, sell: Woodside, Xero, BHP shares
• Why US stocks have hit record highs while ASX shares have barely risen in 2026
• Want a pay rise? These ASX dividend shares keep delivering

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.