Author: openjargon

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) this week announced record gold production guidance for this year and, looking further out, said it expects to average more than half a million ounces of gold production per year for the next decade.

It was a positive announcement, though it led the team at Macquarie to slightly lower its price target for the company.

They are still bullish on the stock, however, and think investors can make serious gains over the next 12 months.

We’ll get to the details of their share price target shortly.

Firstly, what did West African Resources announce?

Strong production profile

The company said its ore reserves had increased to seven million ounces of gold, which would underpin 5.3 million ounces of gold production from 2026 to 2035.

West African Executive Chair Richard Hyde said there could be further upside:

WAF’s updated 10-year production outlook forecasts the production of 5.3 million ounces of gold over the next decade, with production peaking in 2030 at 596,000 ounces. Our unhedged Mineral Resources now stand at 13.6 million ounces of gold, while Ore Reserves total 7.0 million ounces. We see potential to improve annual production further through our ongoing drilling programs where we plan to drill more than 100,000m annually targeting extensions at M5 South underground, beneath M5 North open-pit and Toega underground. Our 2026 10-year production plan highlights WAF’s strong and sustainable long-term future.

The company said its Sanbrado and Kiaka projects, along with surrounding exploration licenses, had “strong potential” for new discoveries and extensions of existing resources.

The company added:

Current efforts are focused on near mine exploration to maximise value from our operating assets, where mineralisation remains open at depth. West African plans to further expand its owner operated drilling fleet in 2026 with the purchase of two additional surface diamond rigs to accelerate resource and reserve growth.

Shares looking cheap

The analyst team at Macquarie ran the ruler over this week’s announcement and said that the production forecast was in line with consensus estimates.

However, they said that the higher overall production over the next 10 years was offset by higher expected costs across the operations.

They said the company had also hinted at paying a dividend, so they had factored a 10-cent per share dividend into their calculations on the company’s shares.

Macquarie has a 12-month price target of $4.50 on West African shares, which they reduced by 10 cents from $4.60, compared with the current share price of $3.37.

That would be a return of 33.5% if achieved.

The post After new production guidance, how high could this ASX gold stock go? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Challenger, Magellan, Northern Star, and West African Resources shares are storming higher
• Guess which ASX 200 gold stock is lifting off today on record breaking news
• West African Resources: 2026 production guidance forecasts record gold output
• 2 ASX gold miners to buy for solid share price gains, according to Barrenjoey
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is building on yesterday’s gain and moving higher again on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.64% to 8,624 points, adding to Tuesday’s 0.25% rise and putting it at its highest level in about two weeks.

The move extends the rebound from last week’s 10-month low after a difficult March for our Aussie share market.

Gains are broad across the ASX, with 146 stocks rising against 49 falling, showing solid buying support across the top 200 names.

Here’s what is driving the rebound.

Relief from offshore markets keeps momentum alive

The main reason for today’s gains is another strong lead from Wall Street and growing optimism that tensions in the Middle East may ease.

Local shares are moving higher after US markets rallied overnight on hopes Washington could wind back its involvement in Iran within weeks.

Wall Street had a strong overnight session, with the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rising 2.9%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gaining 2.5%, and the Nasdaq climbing 3.8%.

The bigger flow-through now is oil prices and what that means for inflation expectations.

Any sign of easing tensions may limit further energy price rises, a major reason the ASX 200 remained under pressure through March.

Miners and big banks are doing the heavy lifting

Much of today’s move is coming from the ASX’s biggest index names.

Among the top miners, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is up 4.49%, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has climbed 4.25%, and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is up 3.15%.

The banks are also adding support, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) all trading in positive territory.

With miners and banks both higher, the index is getting strong support from its largest sectors.

This combination is helping keep the benchmark near session highs heading into afternoon trade.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s move suggests confidence is returning to the ASX after a difficult March, but it may still be an attractive time for long-term investors to start picking up quality shares at lower prices.

Many leading ASX names remain well below where they were trading before last month’s sell-off, which could leave value on offer if conditions continue to improve.

At the same time, it still makes sense to keep some cash on the sidelines in case global tensions flare up again and drag the market lower.

That way, investors can take advantage of current weakness while still leaving room to buy more if another downturn creates even better opportunities.

The post ASX 200 charges higher again as relief rally gathers pace appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These were the worst-performing ASX 200 shares in March
• How to invest during an ASX share bear market when you’re worried about prices falling more
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in March
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Paladin Energy shares: Judicial review challenges EIS approval

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX: LIN) shares are on the slide on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX rare earths share is down 13% to 77.2 cents.

Why is this ASX rare earths share falling today?

The rare earths developer’s shares are under pressure today following the announcement of a large capital raising.

According to the release, Lindian has received firm commitments to raise approximately $100 million via a single tranche placement to institutional investors and strategic critical minerals funds.

The funds are being raised at 75 cents per new share, which represents a 15.25% discount to its last close price.

In total, approximately 133.3 million new shares will be issued as part of the placement.

What will the funds be used for?

The ASX rare earths share revealed that the capital raising is designed to accelerate development of its flagship Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi.

Specifically, proceeds will be used to fund Stage 1 development through to first production and cash flow, as well as support Stage 2 expansion activities and the integration of the SARECO MREC downstream processing facility.

Importantly, the company notes that this funding provides a pathway to bring both the mine and processing facility into operation without the need for project debt.

Management believes this will reduce execution risk and allow the company to maintain a clean balance sheet as it transitions toward production.

Lindian is targeting first production from Stage 1 and the SARECO facility by the fourth quarter of 2026.

Beyond this, the company is advancing studies for a potential Stage 2 expansion, which could significantly increase production capacity over time.

Commenting on the news, Lindian Resources’ executive chair, Robert Martin, said:

We are very pleased with the strong level of institutional support received for this Placement, including significant participation from high quality existing and new investors, reflecting Lindian’s growing global profile and the strategic importance of Kangankunde as one of the next rare earths producers to supply emerging global supply chains.

Importantly, Stage 1 at Kangankunde and our SARECO MREC facility are both fully funded without the need for any debt drawdowns to reach first cash flows allowing us to be in production at both operations debt free and with a clean balance sheet. This capital also allows Lindian to accelerate Stage 2, bring forward key development activities and materially reduce execution risk, while advancing our downstream strategy through the SARECO MREC facility, which provides a clear and capital-efficient pathway to capture additional value beyond Rare Earths Monazite Concentrate production.

The post Why is this ASX rare earths share sinking 13% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Dateline, Karoon Energy, Lindian, and PEXA shares are falling today
• Why Endeavour, Lindian, Magellan, and WiseTech shares are storming higher today
• Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing 35% today?
• Why Boss Energy, Lindian, Magellan, and New Hope shares are rising today

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.

Australians think they need $800,000 in superannuation for a comfortable retirement, new research from iSelect shows, while the median amount they have saved is well short of this, at $180,000.

Many not sure what’s needed

The life insurance comparison provider surveyed more than 3,000 people across Australia, the US, and Canada about their retirement savings aspirations and found that 41% of Australians surveyed reported not knowing how much money they would need to retire.

The next highest band, at 25%, believed they needed between $500,000 and $1 million to retire, while 9% thought they needed $1 million to $2.5 million.

The median amount came out at $800,000, while the median amount currently held in superannuation came out at $180,000.

Perhaps worryingly, 37% of people reported not knowing how much superannuation they had put aside.

ISelect said further:

22% of Australians said they have up to $100,000 saved for their retirement, and 24% reported to have between $100,000 and $500,000 saved. 4% of savvy savers in Australia reported having more than $1,000,000 already saved in their retirement fund.  

iSelect pointed out that the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia says that singles retiring at age 67 would need $630,000 and couples would need $730,000 to achieve a comfortable retirement.

A large 73% of those surveyed by iSelect said that cost of living increases will either severely or moderately impact their retirement plans, while only 7% said it would have no effect.

Aiming for 65

In terms of the age of retirement, iSelect said:

According to our study, Aussies plan to retire at an average age of 65.2 years, despite the Australian state pension being available from age 67. Out of the respondents who aren’t retired, 30% said they plan to retire between 40 and 60 years of age. This is followed by 27% who aim to retire between 61 and 65 years, with the majority (31%) of Aussies planning to retire between the ages of 66 and 70 years. Remarkably, 12% of respondents anticipated they would retire between 71 and 100.

iSelect said men appeared to have a better handle on their retirement savings than women, although 32 % still said they didn’t know how much superannuation they would need compared with 51% of women.

When it came to their actual retirement savings, men reported savings of $230,000, whereas women’s median savings were considerably lower at $100,000. The Super Members Council recently reported that women are being hit hardest by unpaid super, costing the typical working woman more than AU$26,000 in savings by retirement. Our findings have reported an even bigger difference.

iSelect said that approaching retirement, adults aged 55-64 report needing $750,000 and have saved $400,000, while those aged 65-74 expect to need $700,000 and have just $250,000 saved.

The post How much superannuation do Aussies think they need to retire, and how much do they actually have? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These were the worst-performing ASX 200 shares in March
• How to invest during an ASX share bear market when you’re worried about prices falling more
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in March
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Paladin Energy shares: Judicial review challenges EIS approval

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form and charging higher on Wednesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 1.75% to 8,630.6 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR)

The Dateline Resources share price is down almost 4% to 43.75 cents. This morning, this gold developer completed a $50 million placement to leading institutional investors. These funds were raised at a discount of 40 cents per new share. Dateline’s managing director, Stephen Baghdadi, commented: “This raise drew strong support from high-quality institutional investors, a clear endorsement of what Colosseum represents. We’re not standing still. Enabling works are already underway and we’re pushing ahead on multiple fronts to make sure the project is ready to move into production quickly when the time comes.”

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is down 3% to $2.00. This is despite there being no news out of the energy producer. However, given there is optimism that the Middle East conflict could soon come to an end, it is possible that investors are expecting oil and gas prices to retreat in the near term.

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX: LIN)

The Lindian Resources share price is down 13% to 77.2 cents. This has also been driven by a capital raising today. The rare earths developer revealed that it has received firm commitments to raise approximately $100 million via a single tranche placement to institutional investors and strategic critical minerals funds. These funds are being raised at a 15.25% discount of 75 cents per new share. Lindian Resources’ executive chair, Robert Martin, commented: “We are very pleased with the strong level of institutional support received for this Placement, including significant participation from high quality existing and new investors, reflecting Lindian’s growing global profile and the strategic importance of Kangankunde as one of the next rare earths producers to supply emerging global supply chains.”

PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA)

The PEXA share price is down almost 17% to $12.68. This morning, the team at UBS downgraded the property settlement company’s shares to a neutral rating (from buy) and cut its price target to $15.70 (from $17.50). The broker made the move on the belief that risks are skewed to the downside at present.

The post Why Dateline, Karoon Energy, Lindian, and PEXA shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How ASX 200 energy shares like Santos, Beach and Woodside surged in March’s sinking market
• This ASX mining stock just banked $50 million. So why are its shares falling?
• 4 ASX 200 energy shares rated buys
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PEXA Group. 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 are jumping higher again today. At the time of writing, the shares are up 4.7% to $168.92 a piece.

Today’s uptick means the shares are now up 14.4% year to date and 44.3% over the past year.

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the ASX miner, though. 

The share price spiked at an all-time high of $169.74 in mid-February. 

But then war in the Middle East broke out later in the month, sending shockwaves across markets and reigniting inflation and interest rate concerns. 

It caused Rio Tinto’s share price to crash nearly 15% in the first three weeks of March as investors sold up their ASX shares over fears of commodity price weakness and operational disruptions.

If I bought $7,500 worth of Rio Tinto shares 10 days ago, what are they worth now?

After a sharp investor sell-off, investors have started buying back in and causing a rebound in the share price.

Since reaching a 10-week low of $144.1 per share on the 23rd of March, Rio Tinto shares have surged 16.8% higher to the trading price at the time of writing.

The turnaround means that $7,500 invested in Rio Tinto shares in the dip 10 days ago is already worth $8,760.

Meanwhile, investors who bought $7,500 of shares 12 months ago would be jumping for joy. Today, that investment would be worth $10,822.50.

Why have Rio Tinto shares rebounded?

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of the miner recently to explain the share price recovery. 

But the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) fought back last week, posting a 4.6% gain. It seems like investors are taking advantage of the sell-off and are buying in the dip in the hope that Iran and the US will come to an agreement, which will end the war.

The long-term outlook for mining shares is incredibly positive, with some stating that Australia is in the early stages of a new mining boom. This boom is expected to be driven mostly by a transition to green energy, which could support a huge long-term demand for metals. 

At the same time, Western countries want to become more self-sufficient in key resources, manufacturing, and energy supply.

Can we expect more upside ahead?

Analysts are mostly positive about the outlook for Rio Tinto shares over the next 12 months. 

TradingView data shows that seven out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the miner’s shares. Another seven have a hold rating, and 1 a sell rating.

Analysts expect a maximum target price of $190.42, which implies a potential 13% upside at the time of writing. 

The post $7,500 invested in Rio Tinto shares 10 days ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 reasons why the Rio Tinto share price could be a buy
• ASX 200 mining shares ride a rollercoaster in March quarter
• Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour, Magellan, and Rio Tinto shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why are Australian aluminium shares charging higher today?

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.8% to 8,633.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are climbing:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is up almost 10% to 30.7 cents. This morning, this rare earths developer announced binding agreements with two cornerstone investors which secure equity subscriptions totalling approximately $230 million. Commenting on the equity subscriptions, Arafura’s managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: “Today marks a transformational milestone for Arafura and the Nolans Project. The execution of binding equity subscriptions from these two government agencies is a powerful endorsement of the strategic importance of Nolans to western supply chains.”

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

The Eagers Automotive share price is up 8% to $24.38. This follows the release of an update from the automotive retailer this morning. Eagers Automotive revealed that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with the owners of Grand Motors Group to acquire 49% of their interest in a portfolio of dealerships located on the Gold Coast and in Metro Sydney. It is a multi-brand dealership group generating consolidated revenue of approximately $490 million for the 12 months ended December 2025.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is up 6% to $19.91. Investors have been buying this family safety technology company’s shares on Wednesday following a strong rise by its NASDAQ-listed shares overnight. This was driven by improving investor sentiment amid optimism that the war in the Middle East could soon end. The technology sector is having a particularly strong session. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index rise 3% today.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is up 3.8% to $121.36. As well as benefiting from a rebound in the tech sector today, this health imaging technology company’s shares have been boosted by an announcement. Pro Medicus revealed that it is undertaking an on-market share buy-back. The maximum number of shares that the company can buy back is 10.45 million, according to the notice. However, due to its current share price, the actual figure will almost certainly be lower than this.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Eagers Automotive, Life360, and Pro Medicus shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech and Life360 going gangbusters on Wednesday?
• Which ASX rare earths company’s shares are trading higher on new funding news?
• Why this ASX giant’s shares just hit the accelerator today
• How to invest during an ASX share bear market when you’re worried about prices falling more
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CBA, and Pro Medicus shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360 and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dropped 7.8% in March, despite the best lifting efforts of most ASX 200 energy shares.

Indeed, from market close on 27 February through to the closing bell on 31 March, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rocketed a jaw-dropping 18.5%.

Here’s how these top Aussie oil and gas producers fared over the month just past:

• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares jumped 23.8%
• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares gained 17.8%
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares gained 18.2%
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares surged 32.9%

So, why were investors piling into the energy sector in March?

ASX 200 energy share leap on oil price surge

The massive outperformance for ASX 200 energy shares like Woodside and Karoon was driven by a surge in oil and gas prices following the US and Israeli attack on Iran.

On 27 February, Brent crude oil was trading for US$72.50 a barrel, according to data from Bloomberg. On 31 March that same barrel was fetching US$107.50, up more than 48% over the month.

That meteoric increase came as some 20% of the world’s oil supply routes were upended by the war’s essential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with gas supplies also hit by attacks on Middle East LNG plants.

Atop hoping for share price gains, investors also look to have been buying the ASX 200 energy shares with hopes that surging profits will see them declare supersized dividends later this year.

What else happened with the Aussie energy giants in March?

Beach Energy, Santos and Woodside were among the ASX 200 energy shares to release significant announcements in March.

On 9 March, Beach and Santos announced that they had taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) to proceed with their joint venture Moomba Central Optimisation  (MCO) project, located in South Australia.

Commenting on the decision, which saw Santos shares close up 2.4% on the day and Beach Energy shares gain 1.3%, Beach Energy CEO Brett Woods said:

The MCO project will unlock significant value from the Cooper Basin asset, driven by efficiencies gained from the rationalisation of existing satellite facilities into a new centralised compression facility, and supporting future production growth from the Central Fields.

March also saw Woodside reveal its new CEO, after former CEO Meg O’Neill stepped down in December following four years in the top role.

On 18 March, the ASX 200 energy share reported that Liz Westcott was taking over as CEO and Managing Director, effective immediately.

Westcott had been serving as acting CEO since O’Neill stepped down in December. Before that she served as Woodside’s Executive Vice President and COO, Australia.

The post How ASX 200 energy shares like Santos, Beach and Woodside surged in March’s sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in March
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• How are these 5 ASX share giants really tracking in 2026?
• Why 4DMedical, New Hope, Santos, and St George Mining shares are dropping today
• 4 ASX 200 energy shares rated buys

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

March was a tough month for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). A broad market selloff led to the benchmark index recording a monthly decline of 7.8%.

While that was bad, some ASX 200 shares posted even greater declines. Here’s why these were the worst-performers on the index last month:

Iperionx Ltd (ASX: IPX)

The IperionX share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 with a decline of 48.7% in March. Last month, the advanced materials company released its half-year report for the six months to 31 December 2025. IperionX revealed that it recorded a net loss of US$34.8 million for the period. This was much larger than the US$16.2 million loss reported in the prior corresponding period. Despite this heavy decline, IperionX’s shares remain up 30% on a 12-month basis.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price was out of form and sank 35.8% last month. The main catalyst for this was the gold miner downgrading its production guidance for FY 2026 a second time. Northern Star revealed weaker-than-planned milling performance at the KCGM operation and reduced mining productivity across several operating areas. As a result, it now expects FY 2026 production to come in ~1.5 million ounces. This compares to its most recent guidance of 1.6 million to 1.7 million ounces, which was downgraded from 1.7 million to 1.85 million ounces.

Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)

The Deep Yellow share price wasn’t far behind with a decline of 33.7%. As well as broad weakness in the uranium industry, this may have been triggered by speculation that the company could soon launch a capital raising. However, Deep Yellow denied this will be the case. It stated: “Deep Yellow Limited notes the media speculation on 4 March 2026 regarding a potential capital raising. In response to the report, Deep Yellow confirms the Company is not undertaking a capital raising at this time.”

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price was a poor performer and tumbled 31.9% in March. This was driven by significant weakness in the gold price during the month. The precious metal came under pressure after surging oil prices sparked fears of rising inflation and higher interest rates. The latter are bad for the gold price as they boost Treasury yields, which reduces the appeal of gold as a safe haven asset.

The post These were the worst-performing ASX 200 shares in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to invest during an ASX share bear market when you’re worried about prices falling more
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in March
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Paladin Energy shares: Judicial review challenges EIS approval
• AGL Energy gives green light to $490m Kwinana gas project

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.

It’s a strong rebound for James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) shares on Wednesday.

Shares in the ASX 200 heavyweight have surged 6.9% to $27.91 in early afternoon trade, snapping a weak run that saw the stock fall 17% over the past month. Even after today’s bounce, James Hardie shares remain down around 26% over the past 12 months.

So, what’s driving the rally?

Steep sell-off

There’s no obvious company-specific news behind the move, which suggests something else is at play.

One likely explanation is a classic case of an overdone sell-off.

James Hardie shares have been caught in the broader downturn linked to US housing concerns, but its underlying business remains strong.

This is a company with a genuine competitive moat and pricing power. That is mainly because of its dominant position in fibre cement siding and trim, particularly in the US, where it generates most of its earnings.

Solid earnings surprise

That kind of market leadership doesn’t disappear overnight. In fact, its latest results show the business is still performing well operationally. For the three months to 31 December 2026, net sales jumped 30% to $1.24 billion, while adjusted EBITDA rose 26% to $329.9 million.

There were some weaker points — operating income fell 15% and net profit dropped 52% — but those declines reflect costs and timing factors rather than a collapse in demand.

Outdoor game-changer

Another reason investors may be stepping back in? Growth.

The acquisition of AZEK, a US outdoor living specialist, could be a game-changer. It significantly expands James Hardie’s addressable market beyond siding into decking, railing, and broader exterior products.

In other words, the company is evolving into a more diversified building products platform. This opens the door to new revenue streams and long-term growth.

Softer housing factored in

And then there’s valuation of James Hardie shares.

After a steep pullback from previous highs, James Hardie stocks are no longer priced for perfection. The market has already baked in softer housing conditions and uncertainty around integrating AZEK.

But if US housing stabilises over the next couple of years — and synergies from the acquisition start to flow — earnings could rebound in a meaningful way. That’s what makes today’s setup interesting.

Foolish Takeaway

Investors may be looking at James Hardie shares and seeing a high-quality operator trading at a cyclical discount, rather than at peak optimism.

The bottom line? With no clear news driving the jump, today’s rally looks like a shift in sentiment. After a heavy sell-off, investors may be starting to recognise the underlying strength and long-term potential of this ASX industrial giant.

The post Why are James Hardie shares storming higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I’d buy dirt-cheap ASX shares now and aim to hold them for a decade
• How I’d invest $20,000 in ASX shares right now to help build long-term wealth
• Down 40%: 2 ASX 200 blue-chip shares to buy
• I’d listen to Warren Buffett and buy quality ASX shares at fair prices today

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.