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

The benchmark index hit a record 9,202.9 points on 26 February before finishing the year at 8,778.7 points on 30 June.

There are 11 market sectors within the ASX 200.

In this article, we name the top-performing shares by capital growth in each market sector. 

No. 1 shares of the ASX 200 market sectors 

These were the No.1 shares of each market sector based on 12-month share price growth (excluding dividends).

We have listed the sectors from strongest to weakest.

Six of the 11 sectors declined in value last year. 

Materials

The ASX 200 materials sector was the best performer by far. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 47.48% and produced total returns of 52.11% in FY26. 

Australia is in the midst of a new mining boom with five key factors driving a new commodities supercycle.

The green energy transition, artificial intelligence (AI) build-out, and central banks diversifying their reserves with gold drove strong commodity price rises in FY26.

The best performing share within the ASX 200 materials sector was gold explorer, Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6).

The Minerals 260 share price ripped 508% to finish at 73 cents per share on 30 June. 

Consumer Staples

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) rose 10.09% and delivered total returns of 13.72%. 

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) was the top-performing consumer staples share of the year.

The Woolworths share price rose 28.67% to $40.03 in FY26.

Energy

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rose 9.37% and delivered total gross returns of 14.51%.

ASX 200 coal  producer New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) recorded the strongest share price growth.

New Hope Corporation shares increased 44.32% to finish the year at $5.34 per share.

Utilities

The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) rose 5.89% and delivered a total return of 11.87%.

Energy infrastructure company APA Group (ASX: APA) was the best performer of the utilities sector. 

The APA Group share price ascended 24.11% to finish FY26 at $10.14.  

Industrials

The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) edged 1.69% higher and produced total returns of 5.24%.

ASX 200 defence share Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) recorded the highest capital growth.

The Electro Optic Systems share price soared 261% to finish the year at $10.30. 

Financials

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) fell 1.89% in value, but dividends lifted the total return into the green at 1.69%. 

New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company, Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) was the best performer of the financials sector.

The Infratil share price lifted 28.8% to finish the year at $12.61.

Consumer discretionary

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) fell 3.56% and produced a total negative return of 1.21%.

The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price experienced the most growth in the consumer discretionary sector. 

The Eagers Automotive share price rose 21.83% to finish the year at $21.26. 

Real estate & REITs

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) dropped 5.32% and delivered a total negative return of 2.24%.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) outshone its property sector peers.

The ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) rose 19.12% to $22.66 on 30 June. 

Communications

The S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) tanked 12.4% and delivered a negative total return of 9.41%.

Telco stock Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) rose the most in FY26. 

The Aussie Broadband share price ripped 26.09% to $4.93 on 30 June.

Technology

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) dove 37.22%, with a total negative return of 36.97% in FY26. 

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares outperformed in the technology sector last year.

The Codan share price screamed 119.49% higher to $44.14 on 30 June.

Healthcare

Healthcare was the worst-performing sector of FY26.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) tumbled 37.4% and delivered a negative total return of 36.15%.

The 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) share price was absolutely unstoppable in FY26. 

Shares in 4DMedical skyrocketed 1,786% to $4.53 on 30 June. 

The respiratory imaging tech company was not only the shining star of the healthcare sector.

It was also the No. 1 stock for capital growth overall in FY26.

 

The post Top ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Up 275% in a year! Why this ASX defence stock refuses to cool down
• How to get started with a portfolio delivering $500 a week in passive income
• How much passive income can I earn off a $100,000 portfolio?
• 5 best-performing ASX 200 shares of FY26

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 Aussie Broadband and Electro Optic Systems. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares closed in the red on Thursday afternoon.

The shares ended the day down 1.3% at $28.03 a piece.

It looks like the latest decline is a mix of oil price weakness and an overall sentiment slump across the sector.

The oil and gas giant’s shares are now down around 22% from a three-year high of $35.80, recorded in early-April this year.

But thanks to a strong rally earlier in the year, the shares are still around 18% higher than 12 months ago.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is around 1.5% higher than 12 months ago, at the time of writing.

So, if I invested $5,000 in Woodside shares 6 months ago, what would they be worth now?

On the first day of trading in 2026, Woodside shares sold for $32.82 a piece. That’s around 18% lower than the share price at the time of writing.

That means, if you’d invested $5,000 in Woodside shares on the first day of trading in 2026, you’d be sitting on closer to $5,900 today.

Can the oil and gas giant’s shares keep climbing?

The experts are divided about the outlook for Woodside shares over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows that most brokers have a buy rating on the shares. The average $22.19 target price implies a potential 17% upside at the time of writing.

Analysts on TradingView are more reserved. Out of 14 analysts, half have a hold rating, another five have a buy or strong buy rating and two rate Woodside shares as a sell or strong sell.

The $32.81 average target price implies a potential 17% upside, at the time of writing. But some are very bullish and think Woodside shares could rocket another 63% to $45.42 over the next 12 months.

Fairmont Equities has a buy rating on the ASX energy share. The broker believes that Woodside’s shares have been oversold recently, creating a buying opportunity for investors. It expects tighter crude oil supplies to lead to higher prices moving forward. And as the biggest oil stock on the ASX, Woodside is expected to attract investors when sentiment around the oil price starts shifting.

Niv Dagan from Peak Asset Management has a hold rating on the stock. Dagan said that while the energy giant continues to execute strongly, quarterly production has been affected by seasonal weather events.

Mark Gardner from MPC Markets is more bullish and has a buy rating on Woodside shares. He doesn’t think the market is fully pricing in the production uplift from the company’s major growth projects.  

 

The post $5,000 invested in Woodside shares 6 months ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why ASX 200 energy stocks like Woodside and Santos shares got smashed in June
• These ASX shares could generate $5,000 per year in passive income
• Australia’s biggest ASX shares: The heroes and villains of 2026
• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, Codan, and Woodside shares

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income
• ASX 200 claws back early losses as bank shares jump
• Why are Northern Star Resources shares higher today?
• Should you buy property or stocks? Here’s what you need to consider
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.