ASX lithium shares ran extraordinarily hard in FY26.

Spodumene prices surged approximately 196% over the twelve months to June 2026. This powered ASX lithium producers to among the strongest returns in the market.

Then came June.

Spodumene prices fell by around 12% in June, triggering a sharp, rapid reversal across the sector.

The question now is whether the cooling is temporary or the beginning of a more sustained retreat.

PLS Group: The largest ASX lithium share takes the hardest hit

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has had the most dramatic ride of the three.

PLS shares reached a two-and-a-half-year high of $6.38 in May before retreating significantly since then.

The pullback reflects two forces operating at the same time.

Softer lithium futures prices flowed directly through to earnings expectations, while investors who rode PLS from below $2 a year ago have been taking profits after an extraordinary run.

Importantly, the underlying business remains solid.

PLS reported underlying EBITDA surging 241% to $253 million in the first half of FY26. Encouragingly, EBITDA margins expanded from 17% to 41%.

UBS downgraded PLS from buy to neutral with a $4.95 price target, reflecting the view that the easy gains from the initial recovery have been captured.

Liontown: Ramp-up risk compounds the price fall

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) carries the highest risk of the three because it is still ramping up its Kathleen Valley mine in Western Australia.

A 12% fall in the spodumene price compounds operational risk rather than simply reducing a profit margin on an established operation.

Liontown fell 30.2% in June to $1.69, the sharpest decline of the three.

Despite the sell-off, the longer-term picture remains positive for believers in Kathleen Valley.

UBS retained its buy rating on Liontown and raised its target to $2.20, citing the quality of the deposit and the improving ramp-up trajectory.

The current share price sits comfortably below that target, implying meaningful upside if lithium prices stabilise and the ramp-up continues on track.

IGO: Diversification provides some insulation

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) is the most operationally diversified of the three ASX lithium shares.

Lithium exposure is diversified through its share of Greenbushes and the Kwinana Lithium Hydroxide Refinery alongside nickel production from Nova.

That diversification provides some insulation from the spodumene price cooling that hit pure-play producers hardest.

IGO fell 23.1% in June to $7.37, a meaningful decline but less severe than Liontown’s.

The Kwinana Refinery showed strong improvement in the most recent quarter.

Production increased to 3,047 tonnes in Q3 FY26, up from 2,120 tonnes in Q2. This represented 51% of nameplate capacity, while Greenbushes delivered an EBITDA margin of 75% in the same period.

IGO’s positive operational trajectory is important because it demonstrates the lithium division is improving regardless of short-term spodumene pricing.

The bigger picture for ASX lithium shares

The June pullback is a reminder that lithium stocks are commodity stocks.

They are not immune to price cycles. A 12% monthly fall in spodumene is a direct headwind regardless of how strong the longer-term EV demand story is.

UBS previously raised its lithium price forecast by 74%, forecasting spodumene reaching US$3,131 per tonne over the medium term, well above current levels.

The structural demand drivers, including electric vehicle adoption and battery energy storage growth, have not changed.

But until that demand shows up more consistently in the monthly price data, volatility will remain the defining feature of this sector.

Foolish Takeaway

Lithium prices cooled sharply in June, and PLS, Liontown, and IGO all paid the price.

Each is still materially higher than twelve months ago, but June’s falls are a timely reminder that commodity leverage works in both directions.

For investors who believe the long-term lithium demand story remains intact, the recent pullback may be creating a more attractive entry point than was available at May’s peaks for these ASX lithium shares.

The post Lithium prices are cooling. Here’s what that means for these ASX lithium shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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 Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price is in focus today after the company decided not to match Genesis Minerals Ltd’s (ASX: GMD) rival bid for Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU), and expects to receive a break fee of approximately A$50.7 million.

What did Regis Resources report?

• Regis will not submit a counteroffer to Genesis Minerals’ proposal for Vault Minerals.
• Regis expects to receive a break fee of about A$50.7 million from Vault.
• The company holds a debt-free balance sheet with $1.2 billion in cash and bullion.
• Strong free cash flow generation continues across its gold operating portfolio.
• Recently reinstated Ore Reserves at McPhillamys gold project following a completed Pre-Feasibility Study.

What else do investors need to know?

Regis Resources emphasised that its disciplined approach to acquisitions remains unchanged. The board determined that the terms needed to match Genesis’ offer for Vault Minerals did not meet its value and return thresholds.

By not raising its bid, Regis remains well-funded, allowing the company to focus on its current portfolio and organic growth pipeline. The recently reinstated Ore Reserves at McPhillamys mark a significant milestone for one of its development projects.

What’s next for Regis Resources?

Looking ahead, Regis is committed to developing its established portfolio of gold operations. The company continues to advance the McPhillamys gold project, as recently outlined in its Pre-Feasibility Study.

Management reaffirmed their strategy to prioritise disciplined growth and maintain a robust balance sheet, positioning Regis for future opportunities in the gold sector while focusing on delivering value to shareholders.

Regis Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Regis Resources shares have risen 44%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Regis Resources steps back from Vault Minerals bid, secures break fee 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 summary of the company announcement. 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.

I think the best Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for buy-and-hold investors are the ones that make long-term investing easier. 

They give investors broad exposure, keep the investment process simple, and allow time to do more of the work.

Three Vanguard ETFs I would consider buying and holding are in this article.

Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF (ASX: V500)

The first Vanguard ETF I would look at gives investors exposure to one of the most powerful business markets in the world.

The V500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, which means investors get access to hundreds of large US companies through one ASX-listed fund.

I like this ETF because the US market has a rare mix of scale, ambition, innovation, and reinvestment. Many of the companies in the S&P 500 index have spent decades building global brands, deep customer relationships, and products used by businesses and consumers around the world.

I also like that the index can refresh itself over time. Businesses that grow in importance can become larger parts of the fund, while those that lose relevance can fade.

For investors who want a simple way to back US corporate strength over the long term, I think the V500 ETF is a strong option.

Vanguard Global Technology Index ETF (ASX: VTEK)

The second Vanguard ETF is more focused. The VTEK ETF gives investors access to global technology companies.

Technology investing can sometimes sound like chasing the latest trend, but I think the stronger long-term case is much more practical. Businesses want to automate more work, protect data, improve productivity, manage customers, process payments, analyse information, and use artificial intelligence more effectively.

Those needs are unlikely to disappear. The VTEK ETF provides exposure to the companies building the tools, platforms, chips, software, and digital infrastructure behind that shift.

This ETF can be more volatile than a broad market fund. Technology valuations can move quickly when expectations change. But for patient investors, I think that volatility can be worth accepting as part of a long-term growth allocation.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

I think this Vanguard ETF is one of the simplest long-term building blocks on the ASX.

It gives investors exposure to a large portfolio of developed-market shares outside Australia.

What I like about the VGS ETF is that it spreads money across many countries, industries, currencies, and business models. That can be useful for Australian investors who want their portfolio to reach beyond the local market.

I also think it can help investors avoid overthinking every decision. Instead of trying to pick which overseas company, country, or sector will perform best, investors can own a broad basket and let the market sort through the winners and losers over time.

Foolish takeaway

I think these three Vanguard ETFs could all earn a place in a long-term portfolio.

The combination gives investors access to US market strength, global technology growth, and broad developed-market diversification.

There will still be weak years. Even excellent ETFs can fall when markets become nervous.

But for investors who want simple buy-and-hold exposure to global wealth creation, I think these Vanguard ETFs are among the best options on the ASX.

The post The best Vanguard ETFs to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.