BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares ended last week 1.5% higher, climbing back above the $60 mark after recovering from a weak June.

While the mining giant lost around 6% during the month, the stock is still up an impressive 58% over the past 12 months.

So, where do brokers see BHP shares heading in FY27, and are they still worth buying today?

What do the experts think?

After a stellar 12-month run, analysts have become more measured on BHP shares. Most brokers now have a hold recommendation on the mining stock. They seem to suggest that much of the recent optimism is already reflected in the share price.

According to consensus estimates, the average 12-month price target sits around 6% above current levels, suggesting analysts still expect modest gains, but not another breakout year.

Morgan Stanley remains among the more bullish brokers. Last week, the investment bank reaffirmed its buy rating on BHP shares and maintained a 12-month price target of $67.50. That implies upside of more than 10% from current levels, excluding dividends.

For income-focused investors, BHP’s sizeable dividend payments could further enhance total returns if commodity prices remain supportive.

Why BHP remains a quality miner

BHP continues to stand out as one of the world’s highest-quality diversified mining companies.

Its portfolio spans iron ore, copper, potash and metallurgical coal, giving investors exposure to commodities that are expected to play an important role in global infrastructure spending and the energy transition.

Copper, in particular, has become an increasingly important growth driver. Rising demand from electrification, renewable energy and artificial intelligence-related infrastructure is expected to support long-term consumption, and BHP has been investing heavily to expand its exposure to the metal.

Meanwhile, its low-cost iron ore operations in Western Australia continue to generate strong cash flows, providing the financial strength to invest through commodity cycles while rewarding investors in BHP shares with dividends.

Why did BHP shares fall in June?

Despite its strong long-term performance, BHP shares came under pressure during June.

The decline largely reflected weaker iron ore prices, as investors became increasingly concerned about slowing steel demand in China. Continued uncertainty surrounding China’s property sector and broader economic growth also weighed on sentiment across the mining sector.

The company also disappointed investors in June with another cost blowout at its Jansen potash project. That and some profit taking likely added to the selling pressure.

However, the pullback proved short-lived, with BHP shares regaining momentum and reclaiming the $60 level last week.

The risks to watch in FY27

While BHP remains well positioned over the long term, investors should be aware of several risks. Commodity prices remain the biggest variable. A sustained decline in iron ore or copper prices would likely pressure earnings and dividends.

China also remains a critical market for BHP, meaning any further slowdown in construction activity or industrial production could affect demand.

In addition, large mining projects face ongoing risks from cost inflation, operational disruptions and regulatory changes.

Even so, BHP’s strong balance sheet, diversified asset base and disciplined capital allocation leave it well placed to navigate periods of market volatility.

With analysts expecting further, albeit more modest upside, BHP shares could still appeal to long-term investors seeking exposure to high-quality mining assets and reliable dividend income in FY27.

The post Should you buy BHP shares in FY27? This is what experts think appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is it smart to invest $5,000 into BHP shares?

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.

For many Australians, the 50s are when superannuation suddenly becomes very real.

In your 30s and 40s, retirement can still feel distant enough to ignore. There are mortgages, children, bills, career changes, and everyday costs competing for attention. Super often sits quietly in the background, growing slowly and receiving very little thought.

But by the time you reach your 50s, the balance starts to matter in a different way. Retirement is no longer an abstract future event. It is close enough that the decisions you make now can have a meaningful impact on how much choice you have later.

The final stretch can do a lot of work

One of the biggest misconceptions about super is that if you are behind by 50, the game is already over.

That is not true. In fact, the decade before retirement can be one of the most powerful periods for superannuation growth. This is because your balance is usually much larger than it was earlier in life, which means investment returns can have a bigger dollar impact.

A 7% return on a $50,000 balance is useful. The same return on a $300,000 superannuation balance is much more meaningful.

This is also the period where many Australians reach their highest earning years. If mortgage pressure has eased or children are becoming more independent, there may be more room to make additional contributions.

Small changes can still matter

The good news is that improving your superannuation in your 50s does not always require major sacrifices.

Reviewing fees, checking whether your investment option still makes sense, consolidating accounts, and considering extra contributions can all help. None of these steps may feel life-changing on their own, but together they can make a noticeable difference over 10 to 15 years.

The key is that the changes need to happen while there is still time for them to work.

Waiting until retirement is only a year or two away leaves far fewer options.

Being too conservative can be costly

As retirement gets closer, many Australians naturally become more cautious. That is understandable, because nobody wants to see their super fall sharply just before they stop working.

But being too conservative too early can create its own risk.

A person retiring in their 60s may still need their super to last 20 or 30 years. That means growth still matters, even after retirement begins.

The right investment mix will depend on personal circumstances, but moving completely away from growth assets too early may reduce the ability of a super balance to keep up with inflation and withdrawals.

Retirement is not a single date

Another reason your 50s matter is that retirement does not have to happen all at once.

Some people work full time until a set date and then stop completely. Others gradually reduce hours, move into consulting, or work part time for several years.

That flexibility can be important. Even a few extra years of income can reduce pressure on super, allow contributions to continue, and give investments more time to compound.

For many Australians, the path to retirement is less like flicking a switch and more like slowly turning down the volume on work.

Foolish takeaway

Your 50s are not too late to make a difference to your superannuation.

They may actually be the years where smart decisions count the most. A larger balance, higher earnings, and a clearer view of retirement can all work together to improve your outcome.

The important thing is not to panic if you feel behind. It is to pay attention, take control, and use the time you still have wisely.

The post Why your superannuation in your 50s may matter more than you think 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.

Something big is about to happen to millions of Australian investment portfolios.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp (NASDAQ: SPCX) is expected to be included in the Nasdaq-100 index this week, less than a month after its 12 June listing.

The inclusion is driven by the Nasdaq-100’s fast-track rules for extraordinarily large listings. This allows a company to be added to the index far more quickly than the standard schedule if its market cap is large enough to justify it.

SpaceX, now trading at US$160 per share at a valuation exceeding US$2 trillion, clearly meets that threshold.

For Australian investors, the implications are more direct than many realise.

What Nasdaq-100 inclusion actually means

The Nasdaq-100 is not just a list of large technology companies. Instead, it is the benchmark that underpins hundreds of billions of dollars in index-tracking funds and ETFs around the world.

When SpaceX joins that index, every fund that tracks the Nasdaq-100 must buy SpaceX shares, mechanically and at scale, regardless of what any portfolio manager thinks of the company’s valuation.

Estimates suggest between US$22 billion and US$27 billion in mechanical index buying will be required across QQQ and Russell 1000 trackers once the inclusion becomes effective.

What inclusion means for NDQ holders

The most direct impact for Australian retail investors is felt through the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ). NDQ is one of the most widely held ETFs in Australia.

Anyone who owns NDQ, or other ASX-listed US-focused ETFs including the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) and the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), will own SpaceX shares once the inclusion is effective.

That happens automatically, without the investor needing to do anything.

For investors who want Nasdaq-100 exposure and are comfortable with SpaceX as a holding, NDQ remains the simplest and most liquid way to access that index from the ASX.

For investors who are concerned about SpaceX’s valuation or its GAAP losses, it is worth noting that the inclusion means they will own SpaceX whether they want to or not.

What inclusion means for RCKT holders

For the Betashares Space Industry ETF (ASX: RCKT), index inclusion has come even faster.

SpaceX has already been included in RCKT following the fund’s fast-track inclusion feature. This allowed SpaceX to enter the Solactive Space Industry Index far more quickly than standard timelines would normally permit.

SpaceX now represents 25.9% of the RCKT portfolio, making it the fund’s single largest holding by a wide margin.

That means RCKT holders already own a meaningful and direct slice of SpaceX, alongside the fund’s 28 other holdings across the global space economy. Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile remain as the next two largest positions.

For investors who want concentrated and thematic exposure to the space economy, RCKT now offers something NDQ cannot: a dedicated space fund with SpaceX as its dominant holding.

The trade-off remains that RCKT is a smaller, less liquid fund with a higher management fee of 0.57% per annum compared to NDQ’s 0.22%.

What inclusion means for superannuation investors

Beyond direct ETF holdings, the Nasdaq-100 inclusion has implications for the millions of Australians whose superannuation funds allocate to international shares.

The vast majority of Australian super funds allocate a large portion of their international shares exposure to US equities. Those allocations typically include the largest companies in the US market.

Once SpaceX is in the Nasdaq-100, it becomes a holding in most institutional portfolios that benchmark against that index.

For most superannuation members, that exposure will be small relative to the overall portfolio. But it will exist, automatically, without any action required.

The risk worth understanding

SpaceX is not a conventionally profitable company.

The company posted a GAAP net loss of US$4.94 billion in 2025. This was driven by losses in the xAI and Space divisions that offset the Starlink connectivity business’s profitability.

A company trading at US$2 trillion with significant GAAP losses is a demanding proposition even for investors who are excited about the long-term Starlink and space economy opportunity.

Nasdaq-100 inclusion forces index-tracking funds to own it regardless.

Foolish takeaway

SpaceX joins the Nasdaq-100 this week. Millions of Australian investors will automatically own a piece of the world’s most valuable space company through their ETFs and super funds.

For both RCKT and NDQ holders, exposure arrives without any further action required.

Whether SpaceX at US$2 trillion is a good investment is a separate question.

The post SpaceX will be included in the Nasdaq index this week. Here’s what that means for ASX investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• The best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
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• Why I think these Vanguard ETFs are perfect buy and hold investments
• Why is the SpaceX stock price trading higher?

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 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 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.