Evolution Mining vs Northern Star Resources shares

Australia boasts some world-class gold stocks, but if you’re mulling a $1,000 investment, should you go for Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) or Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)? Both are ASX giants in the gold space, each with their own strengths and quirks. Here’s my take on how Evolution Mining vs Northern Star Resources shares stack up for an investor today.

The case for Evolution Mining

Evolution Mining is one of Australia’s biggest listed gold miners, with a portfolio spanning both domestic and Canadian operations. Its key projects include the Cowal mine in New South Wales—often flagged as Evolution’s main earnings engine—alongside assets in Queensland, Western Australia, and Canada.

In terms of the numbers, a few points stand out. First, Evolution Mining trades on a P/E ratio of 18.07, which is noticeably lower than Northern Star’s, making it appear more attractively valued relative to earnings. Its dividend yield sits at 3.12%, also above its peer—a sign of a shareholder-friendly payout policy. Every dividend in recent years (and those forecast) is fully franked, which can be a draw for Aussie investors looking to maximise after-tax returns. The company’s year to date (YTD) share price return is a positive 6.94%. That positive momentum, combined with a market cap of $26.89 billion, underlines Evolution’s strong standing in the local resources scene.

Evolution’s consistent 100% franking on dividends and a steady payout track over the past decade make it a solid choice for those seeking reliable income streams.

The case for Northern Star Resources

Northern Star Resources is another major Australian gold producer with a global reach, owning mines across Western Australia and North America. The company’s flagship production centres are at Kalgoorlie and Yandal (WA), and Alaska’s Pogo goldfields. Northern Star has grown rapidly through clever acquisitions and puts plenty of focus on ongoing exploration to keep its pipeline healthy.

Looking at the data, Northern Star boasts a market cap of $34.75 billion—making it the larger player in this comparison. Its stated earnings per share (EPS) of 1.157 is quite a bit ahead of Evolution’s (though see the note below about EPS/P/E calculation consistency). However, the P/E ratio is 21.08, higher than Evolution’s, so the market is effectively paying more for each dollar of Northern Star’s earnings.

On the dividend front, the current yield is 2.26%, with a mixed history for franking—recent dividends have shifted between 0% and 100% franking, whereas Evolution’s are uniformly fully franked. Notably, despite higher total dividends per share in the most recent period, the actual yield trails Evolution due to the higher share price. The company’s share price is down 6.7% YTD, indicating some recent underperformance versus Evolution.

Valuation comparison

Here are the key valuation and yield metrics side-by-side:

	Evolution Mining	Northern Star Resources
Market Cap	$26.89 billion	$34.75 billion
P/E Ratio	18.07	21.08
Dividend Yield	3.12%	2.26%
Dividend per Share	0.42	0.55
Franking	100%	Varies (recently mixed 0%/100%)
Earnings per Share (EPS)	0.660	1.157
YTD Return	6.94%	-6.70%

Note: Northern Star Resources’ 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.

Which is the better buy?

Both Evolution Mining and Northern Star Resources are established, profitable, and highly regarded gold stocks on the ASX. For my $1000 today, though, I’d lean toward Evolution Mining. Here’s why: Evolution offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.12% vs 2.26%), with fully franked payments—maximising take-home value for local investors. Its current P/E ratio is lower, which might indicate better value compared to Northern Star at current prices. Evolution has also delivered positive share price momentum this year, while Northern Star has gone backwards. While Northern Star is the larger of the two and boasts higher stated EPS, the mixed franking and higher P/E make it less appealing at the moment, especially with its 2026 share price still lagging. For ASX investors chasing strong potential returns and fully franked income in gold, my pick would be Evolution Mining on today’s numbers.

The post Evolution Mining vs Northern Star Resources: Which gold stock is better for a $1,000 investment? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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. 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.

The S&P/ASX Small Ords Index (ASX: XSO) is down 14% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) has edged 1% lower in 2026 so far.

Let’s check out some new buy recommendations from three experts on three ASX small-cap shares.

Challenger Gold Ltd (ASX: CEL)

The Challenger Gold share price is $1.46, down 1.9% today and down 51% over 12 months. 

Challenger is developing the Hualilan gold project in Argentina.

Philippe Bui from Medallion Financial Group has a buy rating on this ASX small-cap mining share. 

On The Bull this week, Bui said: 

A 35,000 metre drilling program provides near term catalysts through resource growth and mine-plan optimisation. Management is targeting commercial production from this operation by early 2029.

We see potential for a re-rating as engineering, approvals and financing progresses. CEL is suitable for investors who are comfortable with higher risk.

Janus Electric Holdings Ltd (ASX: JNS)

The Janus Electric share price is 52 cents, down 2.8% today and up a staggering 420% over 12 months. 

Janus is a heavy transport electrification company.

It converts diesel prime movers into electric vehicles using a patented zero-carbon battery-swap system in Australia and the US.

Tom Fairchild from Lazarus Capital Partners has a speculative buy call on this ASX small-cap utilities share. 

He explained: 

The macro case is compelling as Australia imports about 87 per cent of its diesel. Freight transportation uses almost half of the imported diesel. Electrifying trucks means owners don’t have to rely on imported diesel.

Conversions appeal in terms of fuel savings over the longer term and reduced emissions.

Revenue is growing, but the company reported a $9.1 million statutory loss after tax in full year 2026. However, the share price has risen from 14 cents on July 1 to trade at 69 cents on October 8.

The outlook appears prosperous, but a speculative buy at these levels.

Artrya Limited (ASX: AYA)

The Artrya share price is $3.10, up 1.6% today and up 9% over 12 months. 

Artrya is a commercial-stage medical technology company.

Mark Gardner of MPC Markets has a buy rating on this ASX small-cap healthcare share. 

Recently on The Bull, Gardner said: 

Artrya is a commercial stage medical technology company, providing exposure to AI-led coronary imaging as the US commercial roll-out begins. The company’s Salix platform reads coronary CT scans and flags patients at risk of a heart attack.

The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Salix coronary plaque module.

The company is establishing a platform for recurring revenue growth, although revenue is relatively small at this stage. US foundation partners have converted to paying contracts.

The recent share price sell-off has created an appealing entry level prior to the next US hospital announcement.

The post 3 ASX small-cap shares to buy amid sector weakness: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Some investments are well suited to being bought and held for decades.

For me, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a good place to look, particularly when they provide exposure to established businesses with long-term growth potential.

One fund that stands out is the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV).

But is it one of the best ETFs to buy and hold for the long term?

Why I like the IVV ETF

The IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors exposure to approximately 500 of the largest companies listed in the United States.

I think that is a strong foundation for a long-term investment. The US market is home to some of the world’s most successful businesses, many of which generate revenue from customers across the globe.

This means that although the IVV ETF invests exclusively in US-listed companies, its underlying businesses have exposure to economic growth well beyond America.

I also like the way the S&P 500 evolves over time. Companies that grow and become more important to the US share market can gain greater influence within the index, while those that decline can eventually be replaced.

For investors planning to hold an ETF for 20 or 30 years, I think that is a valuable feature.

The portfolio can change alongside the economy without requiring investors to constantly make decisions about which individual shares to own.

Plenty of growth ahead

Another reason I like the IVV ETF is its exposure to businesses driving major changes across the global economy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an obvious example. Major holding NVIDIA has become a major supplier of the technology powering AI development, and the IVV ETF gives investors exposure to its growth.

Investors would also be owning a slice of AI leaders Microsoft, Broadcom, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms.

But I think the longer-term opportunity extends well beyond the companies developing AI infrastructure.

Businesses across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and other industries are finding new ways to use technology to improve productivity and expand their operations.

The S&P 500 contains established companies across many of these sectors, which could allow the IVV ETF to benefit from a range of developments over the coming decades.

Low costs make a difference

Another reason I think the iShares S&P 500 ETF suits a buy-and-hold strategy is its low management fee.

The ETF charges just 0.04% annually. This means investors pay only $4 in management fees for every $10,000 invested.

Over several decades, keeping fees low can make a meaningful difference, particularly when investment returns are reinvested and allowed to compound.

As with all investments, there are risks to consider. The IVV ETF is heavily exposed to the US market, with some of its largest technology companies accounting for a significant share of the index.

If these businesses struggle or US shares underperform other markets, returns could disappoint. Currency movements can also affect Australian investors.

Foolish takeaway

I think the IVV ETF is one of the best buy-and-hold options available on the ASX.

It provides exposure to successful global businesses, offers long-term growth potential, and charges very low fees.

For me, it is the kind of ETF I would be happy buying today and continuing to add to over many years.

The post Is the IVV ETF one of the best buy and hold picks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• IVV ETF and other iShares funds are paying dividends today. Here’s how much
• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX ETFs in October
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy in October
• VGS vs IVV: Which ETF would I buy with $10,000?
• How much must I invest in IVV ETF shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Alphabet, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, 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.