Author: openjargon

After posting a new record high earlier in the month, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed up 1.1% in August, with plenty of help from a basket of surging ASX 200 stocks.

Below we look at five of the best large-cap ASX shares to have bought at market close on 31 July and held through to 31 August.

And all but one of our top performers have something in common.

Can you guess what it is?

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

Westgold Resources shares surged 34.7% in August, closing the month at $6.37.

The ASX 200 gold stock was supported in part by a resurgent gold price. The yellow metal ended August trading for US$4,450 per ounce. That saw the gold price up 10% over the month, according to data from Bloomberg.

Westgold also released a number of positive exploration and resource updates over the month. And the miner reported its full-year FY 2026 results on 28 August.

Highlights included record revenue of $2.33 billion, up 79% year-on-year. And underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $480 million was up 452%.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

Regis Resources shares leapt 36.3% in August to end the month trading for $8.30 each.

Regis also will have benefitted from the rising gold price.

And the ASX 200 stock released some strong FY 2026 results on 21 August.

Regis Resources reported a 43% year on year increase in gold sales revenue to $2.35 billion. And on the bottom line the miner achieved a record NPAT of $715 million, up 181% from FY 2025.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Moving away from ASX gold shares, for a moment, CSL shares also shot the lights out in August.

Shares in the ASX biotech giant closed August trading for $171.57 each, up 39.4% for the month.

CSL shares got a big lift on 18 August after the company released its FY 2026 results.

The company reported a 1% year-on-year decline in revenue to US$15.8 billion. And underlying NPATA of US$3.1 billion was down 2%.

But investors were favouring their buy buttons amid a rosier outlook for FY 2027.

Following what they labelled a ‘reset year’, management said they steady revenue in FY 2027, with underlying NPAT forecast to grow by around 5%.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)

Moving back into the gold space, Vault Minerals shares soared 39.8% in August, ending the month at $6.67 a share.

On 20 August, Vault Minerals also spurred investor interest after it released some strong FY 2026 results.

Highlights included a 31% year on year increase in revenue from metal sales to $1.88 billion. And Vault achieved a statutory NPAT of $278.4 million.

Which brings us to…

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The fifth ASX 200 stock you would have done well to buy and hold throughout August is Genesis Minerals.

Shares in the Aussie gold miner closed out the month trading for $8.22, up a whopping 44.0% in August.

Genesis Mineral released its FY 2026 results late in the day on 20 August.

The company reported an 89% year on year increase in sales revenue to $1.74 billion. And the miner’s underlying NPAT was up 147% to $547 million.

The post The 5 best ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in August revealed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 3 ASX shares to buy in September 2026
• CSL shares are up more than 40% in a month. What just happened in the US?
• 5 things reporting season taught ASX investors about FY27
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Where will CSL shares be in 12 months? Brokers weigh in

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

Superannuation has had an excellent run of late, and a rate rise this month would be the first real test of it.

The Reserve Bank of Australia meets on 29 September. Morgan Stanley expects a hike, which would be the first move higher in this cycle.

Most Australians will not think about what that means for their retirement savings. But given the implications, this question is worth five minutes of your time.

How your superannuation has actually performed

The average superannuation fund did well in FY26.

Chant West estimates the median growth fund returned around 9% in FY26, making it a fourth consecutive year of strong returns.

International listed shares did most of the heavy lifting.

Every asset class delivered a positive return over the year with the single exception of Australian real estate investment trusts.

It’s important to compare this performance to two broadly-held ASX market ETFs.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index across 321 securities for a fee of 0.07% a year.

The fund returned 5.79% over the year to 31 July 2026 and 8.92% annually across the past decade.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) is far more concentrated, holding 92 companies led by Commonwealth Bank, BHP Group and the other major banks.

Its forecast yield is 4.2%, or 5.5% once franking credits are counted, and it returned 17.87% over the year to 31 July 2026.

What a rate rise would actually do

The Reserve Bank held the cash rate at 4.35% on 11 August.

Its statement left little doubt about the direction of future interest rates.

The Board will continue to do what it considers necessary to bring inflation sustainably back to target, including increasing the cash rate target further if upside risks materialise.

However, not everyone agrees the move comes this month.

For example, Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis sees November as the more likely date.

A hike would hit a superannuation fund in three places.

Bond prices fall when yields rise, so the defensive part of your portfolio takes an immediate mark-to-market hit.

Australian real estate investment trusts and infrastructure assets are repriced lower, because their long-dated cash flows are worth less.

Bank shares face slower credit growth and higher deposit costs, and they are a very large part of the local index.

The parts of your superannuation that would hold up

Not everything suffers.

Cash and term deposit allocations earn more, which helps anyone in a conservative or pension-phase option.

Similarly, resources companies are largely driven by commodity prices rather than domestic rates.

And then there are global equities, which are the biggest single driver of most balanced funds, and which respond to United States policy far more than Australian policy.

What I would not do

Switching your superannuation to cash ahead of a possible rate rise is the classic mistake.

You crystallise any loss, you miss the recovery, and you have to be right twice to come out ahead.

For investors who care about long-term returns, time in the market is much more important than timing the market.

Foolish takeaway

A September rate rise would trim returns, not wreck them.

Bonds and rate-sensitive Australian shares would take the hit, while cash and global equities would cushion it.

If your superannuation sits in a default balanced option and you have twenty years to run, the correct response is almost certainly nothing at all.

If you are drawing an income and are heavily weighted toward bank shares, it may be worth checking your allocation.

Either way, the decision should reflect your time horizon, which is usually much longer term than a single rate decision.

The post Could a September rate hike hurt your superannuation returns? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I think the VAS ETF is a top pick for beginners and experienced investors
• Are these 2 top Vanguard ETFs still worth buying today?
• How to build an ASX portfolio you do not need to check every day
• VGS vs VHY: Which Vanguard ETF comes out on top?
• How many Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) units do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?

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 recommended BHP Group and Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

DUG Technology Ltd (ASX: DUG) has had an unremarkable year from a share price performance point of view, returning just 3% over the past 12 months.

But the team at Shaw and Partners is predicting bigger things for the company this year, and has a bullish price target on the shares, which I’ll get to shortly.

Shares fall on soft order book

The company’s shares fell more than 20% when they released their FY26 results recently, despite the company delivering a solid set of figures.

The oilfield software and services company’s revenue from customers came in at US$86.4 million, up 38% from the previous year, while net profit of US$2.6 million was up from a loss of US$4.4 million.

Commenting on the result, Managing Director Dr Matthew Lamont said:

FY26 was a record year for DUG. Revenue grew 38% and normalised EBITDA grew 78%, lifting our margin to 32% from 25%. We returned to profit and generated US$20.9 million of cash from operations. Earnings grew at twice the rate of revenue, which shows the operating leverage in this business. These results come from a long period of through-the-cycle investment rather than a single good year. Intellectual property is the centre of everything we do, and we now monetise it in four ways: services, software, HPC and multi-client. They are not separate businesses, they are different ways of selling the same core technology. We saw all of them perform extremely well during FY26 and we’re excited about the future of each business.

Dr Lamont said the industry was busier than it had been in years, with high oil prices driving increase in exploration budgets.

He added:

That means exploration in harder places, where imaging quality decides whether a prospect is drillable, which is precisely the problem we built our technology to solve. We enter FY27 within an energised industry, with a large pipeline of opportunities, a contracted software and HPC base, and a growing multi-client library. We’re excited for what lies ahead.

Broker says shares are looking oversold

Shaw and Partners noted that the company’s forward order book of US$33.6 million was down 35% year on year, but said that management attributed this largely to timing.

They added:

Management stressed that unlike previous periods when a falling order book created concern, internally there is currently optimism, with projects remaining in the pipeline rather than being lost and significant acquired seismic data still to flow into processing.

Shaw and Partners has a price target of $3 per share on DUG, which is significantly above the current share price of $1.63. The company is valued at $223.7 million.

The post Shaw and Partners says this ASX software company could rise 84% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Expert names 2 ASX tech shares to buy today
• DUG Technology share price sinks 22% on FY26 results
• DUG Technology scores US$9.3m software and HPC contract

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 recommended Dug Technology. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares have suffered a tough 12 months. 

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider’s shares have swung wildly anywhere between $1.38 and $4.93 per share thanks to strong headwinds and fluctuating investor sentiment.

The ASX tech stock has faced several major headwinds over the past 12 months. 

The falling share price is mostly the result of a sector-wide sell-off of technology stocks. Investors were spooked by concerns about rising competition, slowing growth, and margin compression, and it caused a sharp sell-off through late-2025 and into early-2026.

This was exacerbated further by rising concerns around conflict in the Middle East. In early-2026, many investors rotated away from high-growth technology stocks and towards more stable assets.

A sharp increase in the value of some ASX tech shares in 2025, including Zip, also sparked concerns that tech companies were overvalued and overdue a price correction. 

Where are Zip shares trading now?

At the time of writing, Zip shares are up around 1% and changing hands at $2.53 a piece.

The increase means the shares are now around 24% lower for the year to date and down 41% from 12 months ago.

Are Zip shares too cheap to pass up?

Analysts are incredibly bullish on Zip shares, with widespread anticipation that we’ll see a significant upside over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows all brokers agree on a strong buy rating, and the $3.95 target price implies around a 58% upside, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something similar. All 13 analysts have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. The average $4.52 target price implies a potential 81% upside ahead, at the time of writing. Although some are confident that Zip shares can climb another 141% to $6.03 over the next 12 months.

UBS recently confirmed its buy rating and $4.70 target price on Zip shares. The broker said that the outlook for the current year was better than expected, providing comfort around the defensive qualities of the buy now, pay later business model through slowing economic times.

The team at Macquarie also agrees. The broker has a buy rating and $3.50 target price on the shares. Macquarie said “Zip’s outlook remains attractive as management executes the market opportunity in the US, supported by performance in AU”.

What is expected to drive the ASX tech shares higher this year?

Zip’s financial results have been strong through the past few quarters. Its latest full-year FY26 results announcement last month shows that growth has continued accelerating. The fintech business posted a huge 57.9% increase in its cash EBTDA. It also reported a 24.7% increase in total revenue, and a 45.7% hike in its NPAT for FY26.

The company also said it expects its cash EBTDA to climb even higher in FY27, by around 26% thanks to strong growth and greater scale across the business.

Zip has undergone a major reset over the past few years. It is now heavily concentrated on product growth and global expansion, especially in the US. It looks like this reset is finally translating to improved revenue and a boost in investor confidence.

Zip is currently pursuing a dual sharemarket listing on the Nasdaq in the US in the hope that it could help drive an even opportunity for business expansion in the area. 

The post Is it time to get greedy with Zip shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Short sellers are targeting these ASX shares. Should you worry?
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 2 ASX fintech shares to buy for their huge US growth potential
• 2 ASX shares tipped to grow 60% or more in the next 12 months
• 3 reasons why the Zip share price could be a great buy

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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia 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.

ASX dividend shares are about to deliver one of the biggest income weeks of the year.

Reporting season closed on Monday, and final dividends declared through August are now flowing.

Eleven ASX 200 names go ex-dividend this week alone.

Miss an ex-dividend date by a single day, and you miss the payment entirely.

With that in mind, here are three worth knowing about.

Why these ASX dividend shares are worth the timing

Energy and resources did the heavy lifting for income investors in FY26.

Utilities shares paid an average yield of 5.98% across the year, with energy at 5.14% and materials at 4.63%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) averaged 4.23%.

All three companies below are in that first group, and each has lifted its payout on the back of strong commodity prices.

1. Origin Energy: Ex-dividend Wednesday

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is the first of the three we’ll discuss.

The company’s shares trade ex-dividend on 2 September, so you need to own them before today’s close.

The company declared a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, taking FY26 distributions to 60 cents, with payment landing on 2 October.

The FY26 result was a mixed one.

Statutory profit rose to $1,574 million, but underlying profit fell to $1,159 million from $1,490 million a year earlier.

The far more encouraging number was adjusted free cash flow, which jumped to $2,074 million from $1,207 million.

Chief executive Frank Calabria pointed to the build-out behind that cash.

Our portfolio is increasingly well positioned for a changing energy market, with new battery capacity brought into commercial operation on time and on budget.

2. Woodside Energy: Ex-dividend Thursday

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) goes ex-dividend on 3 September, with payment on 25 September.

The interim dividend is 57 US cents per share, fully franked, or roughly 79.5 Australian cents, which represents an 80% payout ratio and a yield of about 5.9%.

Woodside’s half-year numbers were solid.

Operating revenue rose 13% to US$7,446 million, net profit after tax climbed 27% to US$1,672 million, and free cash flow more than doubled to US$352 million.

Production actually fell 13% to 86.5 million barrels of oil equivalent, held back by planned maintenance and cyclone disruption.

The larger story is the company’s Scarborough project, now 98% complete and on track for its first LNG cargo in the fourth quarter of 2026.

One caution for income investors: the dividend reinvestment plan remains suspended.

3. Ampol: The monster payout

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) is the biggest cheque of the three by a wide margin.

The fuel retailer and refiner declared an interim dividend of $1.85 per share, fully franked, up 362.5% on last year’s equivalent payment.

The company’s shares trade ex-dividend on 4 September, with money arriving on 30 September.

The driver was an extraordinary refining result.

Group earnings rose 152% to $1.64 billion, and net profit excluding significant items jumped 376% to $857 million, while statutory profit of $1.36 billion compared with a $25 million loss a year earlier.

The forward yield sits near 6%, and Ampol does not offer a dividend reinvestment plan either.

Refining margins are deeply cyclical, and this half was helped enormously by conflict-driven disruption to global supply.

The catch with buying ASX dividend shares this way

Buying purely to capture a payment rarely works as neatly as it looks on paper.

Share prices typically fall by roughly the dividend amount on the ex-dividend date.

You are moving money from one pocket to another and paying tax on the way through, and while franking credits soften that, they do not eliminate it.

The strategy makes far more sense when you wanted to own the business anyway.

Foolish takeaway

I would not buy any of these three purely to collect a cheque three weeks from now.

Ampol offers the largest payment and the most cyclical earnings behind it.

Woodside has the clearest growth catalyst in Scarborough.

Origin has the weakest earnings momentum but the most improved cash flow.

For income investors, ASX dividend shares will be doing a great deal of the heavy lifting this month.

The post Top 3 ASX dividend shares to buy before they go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Chasing dividends? 11 ASX shares in top-paying sectors going ex-dividend this week
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 2 ASX dividend shares I’d buy right now for passive income
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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.

Following recent profit reports two brokers have issued research notes on junior fintech companies they think will outperform.

One of the benefits of being small in relative terms is that the potential share pirce upside can be large.

Let’s see who the brokers like.

Beforepay Group Ltd (ASX: B4P)

Shaw and Partners has issued a new research note on Beforepay with a bullish share price target, based on their estimate that the company will be able to grow its earnings per share by 164% this financial year.

Beforepay allows people to get advances on their pay, as well as offering small personal loans.

The company recently reported net profit of $15.7 million, up 57% and “rapid” growth in personal loans.

Total cash advances were up 19% on the previous year to $963 million, mainly driven by an increase in the size of advances to an average of $456.

The company’s personal loans business grew by 728% during the year to $16.9 million.

Beforepay Chief Executive Officer Jamie Twiss said:

FY26 was an outstanding year for Beforepay, delivering record Cash NPAT of $15.7 million, up 57%, while continuing to grow strongly across the business. We’re particularly excited by the rapid growth of Personal Loans, which scaled significantly during the year, and the opportunities ahead as we realise the benefits of interest on Pay Advances and our new, lower-cost debt facility. We enter FY27 with real momentum and are incredibly excited about the next phase of Beforepay’s growth.

Shaw and Partners said Beforepay was currently trading at a steep discount to its peers in the small cap financial sector.

The broker has a price target of $2.90 on Beforepay shares compared to $1.80 currently.

Credit Clear Ltd (ASX: CCR)

Broker Morgans said Credit Clear’s recent profit report was a “standout result”, with organic revenue growth of 9% complemented by strong contributions from two acquisitions.

Revenue of $60 million, up 28% year on year, exceeded guidance, and underlying EBITDA of $10.4 million, up 41% year on year, was also strong.

Morgans said:

CCR has driven growth and scale to become a key player in the domestic contingent collections market. We see CCR as well positioned to continue to consolidate its position in ANZ and the much larger UK market, organically and via M&A in the coming years. We derive a $0.30/sh price target, which informs our Speculative Buy recommendation.  

Credit Clear shares are currently changing hands for 17 cents.

The post 2 ASX fintechs to buy for 60% to 70% returns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Short sellers are targeting these ASX shares. Should you worry?
• Buy, hold, sell: South32, Mineral Resources, BHP shares
• Where I’d invest $20,000 in ASX shares this spring
• ASX gold shares soared 34% in August. Is the run over?
• Is the ANZ share price good value in September?

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.

Short sellers are targeting a familiar group of ASX shares this week, and two names are in sharp focus.

ASIC publishes an aggregated short position report covering every listed security.

It is one a genuinely useful public windows into what professional money is betting against.

This week’s table is led by DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) at 14.9% and Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) at 13.6%.

Why these ASX shares are being shorted

Short interest above 10% is unusual.

It generally means a fund has done the work, taken a view, and is willing to pay to hold the position.

The list also includes 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) at 12.4%, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) at 12.3% and CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) at 12.1%.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has also entered the top ten at 10.9% after a strong recovery in its share price.

The common thread is not weak businesses, but rather a gap between what the market is paying today and what these companies currently earn.

DroneShield: growth without profit

DroneShield is the most shorted stock on the ASX, and its half-year result showed why the argument remains unresolved.

Revenue jumped 74% to $125.8 million, and recurring revenue climbed 229% to $11.5 million.

The counter-drone specialist also swung to a statutory net loss of $32.2 million, from a $2.1 million profit a year earlier.

Underlying EBITDA was a $12.4 million loss.

Cash and term deposits stood at $180 million at 30 June, so funding is not the immediate concern.

Interestingly, more than half of revenue now comes from Europe and the United Kingdom.

The complications sit elsewhere.

The company changed chief executive during the half, with Angus Bean replacing Oleg Vornik, and Hamish McLennan took over as chairman.

An ASIC investigation also remains unresolved, and that alone keeps some institutions on the sidelines.

Lotus Resources: a ramp-up under scrutiny

Lotus Resources is a different case entirely.

The uranium producer restarted its Kayelekera mine in Malawi and is ramping toward steady-state production of 2.4 million pounds of uranium oxide a year.

The resource stands at 51.1 million pounds, the mine life is around ten years, and all-in sustaining costs are expected near US$45 per pound.

Binding offtake agreements cover 3.5 million pounds of sales between 2026 and 2029.

With uranium spot prices near US$89 per pound, the economics look comfortable on paper.

Short sellers are questioning the timeline rather than the orebody.

Ramp-ups slip, and a developer without steady production has no earnings to defend its valuation.

Short interest here has fallen sharply in recent weeks, which suggests some of that scepticism is already being unwound.

What short interest does not tell you about ASX shares

Plenty of heavily shorted companies go on to perform perfectly well.

Short interest tells you that someone is betting against a business, but not that they are necessarily right.

It also creates a risk of its own, because a crowded short position can unwind violently after a single piece of good news.

Foolish takeaway

I generally treat the short report with a fair bit of caution.

However, when more than one share in ten is sold short, it is worth understanding the bear case properly before you buy.

For DroneShield, that case is about profitability and governance.

For Lotus Resources, it is about execution.

Neither argument is unanswerable, but both are good reasons to approach these ASX shares carefully.

The post Short sellers are targeting these ASX shares. Should you worry? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Don’t panic if these 9 ASX 200 shares fall today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 ASX 200 shares with 33% to 61% upside post-results: experts
• Why 4DMedical shares could still rise 65%
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

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 Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd and Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX mining shares finished strongly in August, driven by stronger commodity prices and robust FY26 earnings. Among some of the biggest names are South32 Ltd (ASX: S32), Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Let’s take a look at how the mining giants are tracking today. And what brokers tip for the next 12 months.

Buy South32 shares

The ASX miner announced a substantial jump in its ore reserve estimate at its Sierra Gorda mine in late-August. The increase comes after significant drilling to define the orebody, providing more certainty over future production. The update extends the mine’s reserve life by another five years, to 2045.

The company also posted a robust FY26 financial results last week. The miner posted a 1% increase in revenue from continuing operations, a 28% increase in EBITDA, and a 55% increase in underlying earnings.

At the time of writing, the shares are flat for the day at $5.16 a piece. South32 shares are now up around 45% for the year to date and are 89% higher than 12 months ago.

Going forward, brokers are positive about the outlook for the stock. Market Index data shows the majority have a buy rating but after a recent rally, the $5.09 average target price now implies a downside of around 1%.

Buy Mineral Resources shares

The lithium miner posted its strongest-ever annual results last week. Mineral Resources reported a 44% year-on-year increase in revenue, an 183% increase in underlying EBITDA, an 831% increase in underlying NPAT, and a 236% increase in reported NPAT for FY26.

Management also announced it would bring back shareholder dividends. For FY26, the miner will pay a fully-franked dividend of 83 cents per share.

Mineral Resources said its record performance was driven by growth in the company’s Mining Services division, the ramp-up of Onslow Iron to nameplate capacity, and improved results in its lithium operations.

At the time of writing, the lithium miner’s shares are up around 0.5% for the day and are changing hands at $64.79 a piece. For the year-to-date the shares are now 17% higher, and they’re a huge 76% above trading levels seen this time last year.

Going forward, it looks like analysts are positive about the shares. But after a strong rally this year we could be reaching around fair value. Market Index data shows the majority have a buy rating on Mineral Resources shares, and the $65.36 average target price implies a potential 1% upside ahead.

Hold BHP shares

BHP started trending higher in early August as the market grew more bullish on copper prices.

But the share price picked up pace after the miner reported its record FY26 earnings results on the 18th of August. The mining giant posted a strong operational performance across all its key segments. It also announced an impressive 27% increase in its underlying EBITDA. 

Investors were clearly thrilled with the update and many rushed to snap up a stake in the mining company.

At the time of writing, BHP shares are up largely flat for the day so far, and are changing hands for $66.20 a piece.

But it looks like the experts are now concerned that the ASX mining shares have now passed their peak. Market Index data shows the majority have a hold rating on BHP shares. The $61.78 average target price now implies a potential downside of around 7%, at the time of writing.

The post Buy, hold, sell: South32, Mineral Resources, BHP shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 3 ASX shares to buy in September 2026
• Want to bank the boosted BHP dividend? You’d better hurry!
• Buy, hold, sell: Mineral Resources, Ansell, CBA shares
• BHP shares are pulling back from a record high. What now for ASX investors?
• Are these 3 top Betashares ETFs a buy in September?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

Spring has arrived, which can be a good excuse to take another look at a portfolio and consider what might be worth adding.

If I had $20,000 ready to invest today, I would put it behind three businesses I think have plenty of room to grow over the years ahead.

Here’s what I would buy.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus would probably receive the largest portion of my money.

Its Visage software is already used by some of the largest healthcare systems in the US, yet the company estimates it still has only around 11% of that market.

I think that is a powerful combination. Pro Medicus has proved its technology can handle the demands of major hospital networks, while most of the potential US market remains available.

The opportunity is also expanding beyond radiology. Cardiology and enterprise imaging could allow Visage to handle more of the medical images produced across a healthcare organisation. Artificial intelligence may create further opportunities as hospitals look for faster and better ways to work with growing volumes of imaging data.

Over a long timeframe, I think Pro Medicus can win many more customers while becoming increasingly valuable to those it already serves.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie gives me exposure to a very different type of long-term opportunity.

This ASX share is best known for fibre cement building products, particularly in North America, where its products are used across housing construction and renovation.

What interests me is the amount of existing housing that will need to be repaired, renovated, or upgraded over the coming decades.

Homeowners do not need a housing boom for that spending to happen. Ageing properties eventually need work, and James Hardie’s products can benefit when owners replace siding or invest in improving their homes.

The company’s acquisition of AZEK also expands its presence across outdoor living products such as decking and railing. I think that gives James Hardie more ways to participate when homeowners spend money improving the outside of their properties.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

My final investment would go into Sigma Healthcare.

Following its merger with Chemist Warehouse, investors now have exposure to one of Australia’s best-known pharmacy and retail businesses.

I think the next stage of the story could increasingly happen overseas. Chemist Warehouse already has a growing presence in New Zealand and has started testing the UK market. If its value-focused retail model travels successfully, the addressable opportunity becomes far larger than Australia alone.

There is still room to grow domestically through stores, online sales, pharmacy services, and the wider distribution business.

I think Sigma now has several avenues to become a much larger healthcare and retail company over time.

Foolish takeaway

With $20,000 to invest this spring, I would be comfortable putting the entire amount to work across these three ASX shares.

Most importantly, I would be buying with several years in mind and giving each business time to pursue the opportunities already in front of it.

The post Where I’d invest $20,000 in ASX shares this spring appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Warren Buffett’s playbook: 3 cheap ASX shares that could soar up to 60%
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform in final week of earnings season
• 4 ASX shares scoring upgrades in the final week of earnings season

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 recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Gold shares delivered the standout month of the Australian reporting season.

Morgan Stanley calculates that the sector rose 34% across August.

The gold price then fell 2.9% on Friday night to US$4,529.90 an ounce.

Traders were reacting to rising expectations of United States interest rate hikes, so the question that remains is whether September can continue August’s good momentum.

Why gold shares ran so hard

Gold spent most of August trading around US$4,500 an ounce.

At that level, the economics of an Australian gold mine look extraordinary.

My colleagues noted that the conversation has shifted away from the gold price itself and toward cash flow, balance sheets and dividends.

That is what a maturing sector looks like, however, any future gains may be harder to come by.

Northern Star: a record year with a warning attached

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) is the largest of the ASX gold shares and the clearest illustration of the problem at hand.

The company’s FY26 result delivered revenue of $7.6 billion, underlying EBITDA of $4.3 billion and underlying net profit after tax of $1.8 billion.

The company sold 1.54 million ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $2,698 an ounce.

Lastly, the full-year dividend rose to 55 cents per share.

Then you reach the cash flow statement.

Underlying free cash flow was just $190 million, because capital spending at KCGM has hit its peak.

FY27 guidance sharpens the point further, with production of 1.5 million to 1.65 million ounces expected at an all-in sustaining cost of $3,050 to $3,450 an ounce.

That is a rise of several hundred dollars an ounce in a single year.

There is a leadership change to absorb as well.

Stuart Tonkin stepped down as managing director on 28 August, with Ryan Gurner serving as interim chief executive until Suresh Vadnagra takes over on 5 October.

Capricorn Metals: the low-cost alternative

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) is a fraction of Northern Star’s size. The company produced a record 123,589 ounces in FY26 at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,629 an ounce.

Cash costs before royalties were only $1,251 an ounce.

Cash and gold holdings stood at $507 million, and the company declared a fully franked final dividend of 5 cents per share in late August.

FY27 should be bigger.

Capricorn is guiding to 137,000 to 147,000 ounces as the Karlawinda expansion is commissioned, heading toward a 150,000 ounce annual run rate.

Costs are expected to rise to between $1,900 and $2,100 an ounce, which is still well below Northern Star’s guidance.

Behind that is Mt Gibson, where reserves now stand at 5.2 million ounces and federal environmental approval has been granted.

What could end the run in gold shares

Two things would do it.

The first is a sustained fall in the gold price, and the rate hike expectations driving Friday’s move are a genuine risk.

Higher real interest rates make a non-yielding asset less attractive, and gold has always been sensitive to that.

The second is cost inflation, which the FY27 guidance from both companies already flags clearly.

Foolish takeaway

A 34% month is most likely not repeatable, and I would not buy this sector expecting one.

What has changed is that the better operators are now generating real cash and paying real dividends.

Capricorn looks like the more disciplined business on cost, while Northern Star offers scale and a much larger production base.

Both need the gold price to hold somewhere near current levels to justify their FY27 spending plans.

For investors who want exposure, gold shares are worth owning as a portfolio hedge.

The post ASX gold shares soared 34% in August. Is the run over? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things reporting season taught ASX investors about FY27
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Northern Star shares slide 5% as investors digest another surprise
• Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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.