Author: openjargon

A strong share price run is not protecting IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG) shares from a heavy fall today.

The electrical solutions company is down 8.24% to $5.68 on Thursday after releasing its FY26 earnings guidance.

It has still been a big year for shareholders, with IPD shares up around 29% in 2026 and 60% over the past 12 months.

Here’s what the company told investors.

Guidance still points to growth

According to the release, IPD expects FY26 underlying EBITDA of between $54.5 million and $55.3 million.

At the midpoint, this represents growth of about 18% compared with FY25 statutory EBITDA.

The company also expects underlying EBIT of between $46.3 million and $47.1 million, which would be around 19% higher on the same basis.

Excluding the recently acquired Platinum Cables business, IPD is still expecting growth.

On that measure, underlying EBITDA is forecast to land between $50.5 million and $51.3 million, while EBIT is expected between $42.7 million and $43.5 million.

Both would be around 10% higher than FY25 statutory results.

The guidance is based on unaudited results for the 10 months to the end of April, along with management forecasts for May and June.

What’s driving the growth?

The update points to an improvement coming from more than one part of the business.

IPD said revenue is expected to rise in FY26, supported by strong growth across its core business and EX Engineering.

CMI Electrical is also expected to deliver a record result, with revenue forecast to move above the levels it was generating before IPD bought the business.

Data centre revenue is another area moving higher, with a 25% increase expected compared with the prior corresponding period.

Data centre demand is still attracting plenty of attention across the market, as businesses spend more on power, infrastructure, cloud computing, and AI-related capacity.

IPD also expects gross profit margins to improve through the second half.

The company said its order book is continuing to shift towards more complex and competitive work, which is helping margins.

Costs are also taking up a smaller share of revenue after IPD invested in the business.

What does IPD do?

IPD isn’t a household name for many retail investors, but it sits in a part of the market with several long-term tailwinds.

The company provides electrical products and services across power distribution, energy management, automation, industrial communications, hazardous area equipment, EV charging, and electrical engineering.

Its portfolio includes IPD, Addelec, EX Engineering, CMI Electrical, and Platinum Cables.

Together, these businesses give IPD exposure to infrastructure spending, electrification, data centres, industrial upgrades, and energy-related projects.

Foolish takeaway

The update IPD provided today wasn’t bad at all. The company is still guiding to higher earnings, stronger revenue, and better margins.

This fall looks more like a reaction to how far the share price has already run.

After a 60% gain over the past year, investors may have wanted more than just steady growth. Some may also be taking profits while the stock is still well ahead for 2026.

The post Up 60% in a year, so why is this ASX stock tumbling 8% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shares in AFT Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: AFP) are trading higher after the company announced a 24% increase in profit on strong revenue growth.

Solid full-year effort

The company said in a statement to the ASX that net profit had increased to NZ$14.1 million on revenue of NZ$254.7 million, up 22%.

The company will pay a dividend of NZ2.5 cents per share and gave guidance for operating profit in FY27 of NZ$28 to NZ$32 million, up from NZ$24.4 million.

The company is also targeting increased revenue of NZ$300 million for the current financial year, with the company’s reporting period running until the end of March.

AFT chair David Flack said it was another strong result, “reflecting the strength of our core Australasian business and the benefits of our increasing geographic and product diversification”.

He added:

We have continued to invest for long-term value creation – progressing international hubs, executing licensing opportunities, and advancing a portfolio of valuable innovative products that can support our ambition to exceed $300 million sales this financial year.

Revenue growth in FY26 was driven by continued momentum in Australia, steady expansion in New Zealand, and a growing contribution from AFT’s International and Asian hubs as they scale.

The company said:

Australasia remained the cornerstone of AFT’s earnings and cash generation, growing revenue by 16% to reach $210.5 million. In the Australian market we saw broad-based strength across OTC brands and ongoing uptake across prescription medicines. The growth was also supported by a steady stream of new launches and portfolio expansion which remains a key focus. New Zealand delivered steady growth with continued opportunities across key categories including allergy, dermatology and eyecare.

Expanding in known markets

The company said it was continuing its strategy of building international business hubs in markets that share similar commercial and regulatory dynamics to its Australasian operations.

The company said:

During FY26, the company continued to expand its footprint across the UK, Europe, North America, and South Africa, progressing each hub along the path from establishment to development. In the United Kingdom, AFT continued to broaden distribution of Maxigesic tablets (marketed as Combogesic) from Boots and SuperDrug to now include independent pharmacies. The initial launches of Combogesic IV in several London NHS hospitals continued to progress, with sales momentum linked to formulary inclusion.

In Europe, the company said it was making progress with a portfolio of injectables acquired from an insolvent company, “with updated regulatory dossiers and licenses now supporting planned EU launches that are expected to make a meaningful contribution in FY27”.

The company said it was well-funded, with net debt of $38.6 million at the end of March, within its target leverage range.

AFT shares were 2.4% higher in early trade at $2.93. The ASX healthcare company is valued at $299.9 million.

The post This ASX healthcare company’s profit has rocketed 24% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

There are many attractive shares on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) that could generate decent returns and perhaps even robust passive income. 

But which are the best options for investors who want to buy and hold for several years?

Here are two of my top picks.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

It’s been a bloodbath for Xero shares over the past year. After spiking at an all-time high of $194.21 in June last year, the cloud-based accounting software provider’s shares have lost 60% of their value, at the time of writing.

It’s been a step-and-continuous decline, too. Aside from a couple of small rebounds, the share price has consistently tumbled downwards. In early April, the ASX 200 shares dropped to a four-year low of $71.46 each.

The share price decline was mostly the result of a sector-wide sell-off of technology stocks following rising concerns that AI could disrupt traditional software models. Many investors were worried that smarter, cheaper tools could reduce the need for subscription platforms like Xero.

At the same time, investor concerns about the company’s Melio acquisition and its potentially overvalued share price led many to sell up. 

But I see Xero as an attractive long-term investment.

Its business model, which is often referred to as “sticky”, means it has recurring revenue, global exposure, and good profitability. 

The company is actively expanding its presence and its product suite. The company is still a relatively small market player, which means there is a large amount of potential future growth. These growth opportunities include expansion in the UK and US, as well as payroll and workflow automation offerings. 

Xero’s latest FY26 result shows the company is growing, too. It posted a 31% hike in operating revenue last week, and its adjusted EBITDA is up 18%.

Analysts rate the ASX 200 shares as a strong buy and forecast the shares to climb by 202% to $236.45 over the next 12 months alone, at the time of writing. I think the shares have the potential to accelerate even further over the next few years.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

Brambles shares crashed 20% earlier this week after the company scaled back its guidance figures for FY26. The ASX 200 supply pallets and crates supplier revised its sales revenue growth forecast to 2% to 3%, down from prior guidance of 3% to 4% revenue growth (at constant exchange rates).

Profit guidance was also cut, with Brambles now expecting FY26 profit growth of 3% to 5%, down from prior guidance of 8% to 11%.

The company said that it has to spend more on repairing its pallets to bring them up to standard for customers who were increasingly automating their processes.

Brambles said it was progressively increasing its repair quality to meet this demand, which has created a bottleneck. But the company noted that the “material” cost increase is short-term. 

It looks to me like the company is going through a rough period, and its shares are oversold. 

Looking ahead, Brambles expects to expand margins by at least 3 percentage points in FY28 compared with FY24. Ongoing investment in innovation, digital capability, and customer solutions is a key part of the company’s longer-term strategy.

It’s also widely considered a defensive stock. Its business underpins essential fast-moving consumer goods and grocery supply chains, and its recurring business model means it can maintain stable earnings across different phases of the economic cycle. 

I think that once it’s through the latest short-term operational bottleneck, the company will switch back into a growth gear.

Analysts are still bullish on the stock, even after this week’s sell-off. The majority (8 out of 15) rate the shares as a buy or strong buy. They also tip the shares to climb up to 70% higher over the next 12 months, as high as $27.90, at the time of writing.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares I’d buy today and hold for years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) is charging higher today.

Shares in the ASX titanium products producer closed yesterday trading for $4.66. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $4.86 apiece, up 4.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.4% at this same time.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest.

ASX 200 stock jumps on titanium manufacturing milestone

The IperionX share price is leaping higher after the ASX 200 stock reported that it has successfully commissioned its advanced 300-ton, six-axis SACMI powder metallurgy press at the company’s Titanium Manufacturing Campus, located in the US state of Virginia.

IperionX said the new press triples its existing powder metallurgy capacity, as well as expanding the range of titanium powder-to-product components that can be manufactured in the US.

The SACMI press also improves product flexibility and production repeatability. This will allow IperionX to create more complex near-net-shape titanium components like fasteners, gears, brackets, and actuators for defence aerospace and industrial customers.

The ASX 200 stock noted:

Compared with conventional uniaxial pressing systems, the SACMI press provides higher compaction force, multi axis movement, improved repeatability and enhanced geometry control. These capabilities are expected to support customer programs that require more complex component designs, tighter process control and higher-volume production pathways.

On the productivity front, the company said its titanium manufacturing platform is capable of up to 24 pressing cycles per minute. That works out to some 11 million single-cavity parts per year.

The company said its manufacturing pathway can reduce titanium waste, production cost, and lead times, without impacting titanium’s critical performance characteristics.

What did IperionX management say?

Commenting on the successful commissioning of the press that’s helping lift the ASX 200 stock today, IperionX CEO Anastasios Arima said, “Commissioning this advanced SACMI press is an important milestone for IperionX.”

Arima added:

It gives us greater titanium manufacturing capacity and more flexibility to manufacture a wider range of titanium components for customers in defence, aerospace and industrial markets.

Titanium is a critical material, but its use has often been limited by cost and supply chain challenges. By combining our US-sourced titanium powder, patented HAMR process, powder metallurgy pressing and HSPT sintering and forging, IperionX is building a more scalable platform for domestic titanium manufacturing.

Looking ahead, Arima concluded:

This new press, together with our upcoming furnace expansion, is designed to help move customer programs from prototypes toward repeatable, higher-volume production.

With today’s intraday moves factored in, the IperionX share price is up 35% in 12 months.

The post Guess which ASX 200 stock is lifting off today on a major US milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares are pushing higher on Thursday.

In morning trade, the ASX defence stock is up 2.5% to $8.12.

Why is this ASX defence stock rising today?

Investors have been buying the defence and space company’s shares this morning after it made a positive announcement.

According to the release, EOS has now completed the acquisition of the MARSS business for an upfront consideration of US$36 million (A$50.4 million).

There is also an earnout component, which has a maximum cap of EUR140 million (~A$227 million).

MARSS is a Europe-based provider of command and control (C2) systems, which are critical for effectively countering drones. Its proprietary C2 technology, NiDAR, provides advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled decision making and sensor-effector orchestration to rapidly counter asymmetric drone threats.

EOS notes that by combining its own best-in-class effector and sensor capabilities with MARSS’ C2 technology, it is transforming from a component supplier to an integrated counter-drone systems provider, with strong software and AI capabilities.

Earlier this month, the company revealed that MARSS had secured new orders totalling EUR102 million (~A$165 million) from an existing customer in the Middle East to take its existing order book to EUR135 million (~A$217 million).

It notes that the addition of MARSS’ A$217 million order book to EOS’ existing A$509 million order book would illustratively increase EOS’ total order book to A$726 million. This bodes well for its near-term sales growth.

‘A significant addition’

Commenting on the transaction, the ASX defence stock’s CEO and managing director, Dr. Andreas Schwer, said:

We are pleased to have completed the MARSS acquisition – this is a significant addition to EOS’ capability. In recent months, the MARSS NiDAR platform has been protecting critical assets in the Middle East from drone attacks. We welcome the MARSS team to EOS and look forward to working together to secure and execute the commercial opportunities that lie ahead.

The CEO of the MARSS business, Johannes Pinl, added:

We are very proud of the MARSS team and the success of the NiDAR Counter-Drone Command and Control platform. With systems and personnel supporting operations across the Middle East, MARSS remains committed to protecting critical sites and advancing our capabilities. We are pleased to become part of EOS and look forward to growing our business together.

The post Here’s why this ASX defence stock is charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

I still think ASX dividend shares are the best way to generate passive income, despite interest rates going higher. Yes, money in a savings account (or term deposit) is safer. However, if I’m not saving for a specific goal, I’d want to invest in the stock market with a good dividend yield for passive income.

Businesses can offer a good dividend yield, but it’s the potential for organic capital and dividend growth that puts them ahead of a term deposit, in my view.

There are plenty of great ASX dividend shares with yields below 8%, so we don’t necessarily need to choose only high-yielding ideas, but this article is about those with exceptionally high yields, like the two below.

WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE)

WAM Leaders is one of the largest listed investment companies (LICs) on the ASX. Its goal is to actively invest in large, high-quality businesses on the ASX.

At the end of April, some of its largest positions were names like Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), and Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI).

As a LIC, the business is able to turn profits from investment returns generated into paying dividends.

Its solid investment returns have enabled the business to steadily increase its dividend each year since FY17, a pleasing record of consistency.

Its investment returns, before fees, expenses, and taxes, have averaged 11.9% per year since inception in May 2016. That’s almost 3% per year better than its benchmark, though past outperformance is not a guarantee it will continue to deliver future outperformance.

It expects to pay an annual dividend per share of 9.6 cents in FY26, translating into a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.5%, including franking credits. It’s one of the few ASX dividend shares with a double-digit yield that I’d be willing to buy, and I expect it can continue to slightly increase the dividend each year.

Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG)

Shaver Shop is an ASX retail share that sells a variety of hair removal products, including a number of exclusive products from high-quality brands. It also has its own brand called Transform-U.

Impressively, the business started paying a dividend in 2017 and hasn’t cut its payout since, despite various wider financial impacts during that period.

It has increased its dividend every year, except FY24, when it maintained the dividend. We’ll see what it pays in FY26.

The ASX dividend share’s latest two half-year dividends come to 10.3 cents per share. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 11.3%, including franking credits.

Shaver Shop is doing its best to continue growing profits and hiking its dividend. Its plans include opening more stores across Australia and New Zealand, expanding its Transform-U product range, selling more online, and perhaps working with additional shaver brands.

According to the forecast on CMC Invest, the Shaver Shop share price is valued at 11 times FY26’s estimated earnings.

The post 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 8% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Goodman Group, Shaver Shop Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) shares are catching the eye on Thursday.

In morning trade, the ASX rare earths stock is up 14% to 33.5 cents.

Why is this ASX rare earths stock in the spotlight?

This morning, Gina Rinehart-backed Arafura Rare Earths revealed that its board has made a final investment decision (FID) for the Nolans Rare Earths Project.

According to the release, the decision is to proceed with the development and follows a number of key recent developments under the company’s comprehensive, multi-year financing and offtake strategy.

This includes binding commitments from sovereign-backed institutions across four nations and binding offtake agreements with leading manufacturers across the globe.

The ASX rare earths stock will now turn its focus to construction of the Nolans Project, targeting commencement from September 2026.

Once operational, the company notes that the Nolans Project has the potential to be among the most consequential contributions to Australian industrial productivity in the Northern Territory’s modern history.

It highlights that independent economic analysis commissioned ahead of FID concludes that the project will deliver a forecast economic benefit of $25.2 billion to gross territory product over the planned initial 38-year life of mine.

‘A long-awaited milestone’

Commenting on the news, Arafura Rare Earths’ chair, Mark Southey, said:

The Board’s decision today marks the delivery of a long-awaited milestone for Arafura and its stakeholders. It is the culmination of a deliberate and patient strategy. We have always believed that the right partners would define the quality and durability of the Nolans supply chain. Together with our customers, investment partners and financiers across Europe, Korea, Canada, the United States and Australia, we are now ready to deliver our transformational Project.

This sentiment was echoed by the company’s CEO and managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo. He said:

The achievement of FID reflects years of disciplined execution and partnership building. The offtake relationships we have established with Hyundai, Kia, Siemens Gamesa, Traxys and the various types of economic support provided by the Australian Government are not transactional arrangements. They reflect a shared recognition that the diversification of global rare earth supply chains is an imperative, not merely an opportunity.

The Australian Government has taken a decisive and proactive approach, developing an economic toolkit that supports the rare earths sector in the near term that will deliver independent and functional markets into the future. On behalf of the Board, I extend my thanks to all our stakeholders for your continued support and for entrusting us to build a company that will play a defining role in the world’s technology and energy transition for decades to come.

The post This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 14% on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are under pressure on Thursday morning.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 gold stock is down 4% to $18.65.

This compares unfavourably to a 2% gain by the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index in early trade.

Why are Northern Star shares falling today?

Investors have been selling the gold miner’s shares today following news of a leadership change.

According to the release, Northern Star’s managing director, Stuart Tonkin, has advised the board of his intention to step down during the first quarter of FY 2027.

Tonkin will remain in the role until that time, which the company notes will see the conclusion of its current strategic plan and the commissioning of the KCGM Fimiston Mill Expansion.

Major leadership change

Tonkin has been with Northern Star for 13 years, serving as chief operating officer and chief executive officer.

The company notes that during his tenure, it grew from a small Western Australian gold miner into Australia’s largest ASX-listed gold producer, with three production centres and more than 10,000 staff and contractors across Western Australia and Alaska.

It also highlighted his role in major acquisitions and integrations, including Plutonic, Kanowna Belle, Kundana, Jundee, South Kalgoorlie, Pogo in Alaska, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, the merger with Saracen Minerals, and the takeover of De Grey Mining.

Commenting on his decision to leave, Tonkin said:

After 13 years leading Northern Star through significant growth, I’m proud to leave the Company in an exceptional position. The team, the assets and the outstanding growth outlook is unique and after many years of rewarding challenges, I have decided to step down.

I am very proud of what we have achieved at Northern Star and I want to especially thank my executive team and all our staff and contractors for the role they’ve played in building such a great company over the years, there is an exciting future ahead.

Northern Star’s chair, Michael Chaney, thanked Tonkin for his contribution, noting that he would leave a legacy of assets and growth opportunities for the company. He commented:

On behalf of the Board and our shareholders, I want to thank Stu for his phenomenal efforts over the last 13 years. He can be rightly proud of his achievements, and he will leave a legacy in the form of assets and growth opportunities that will deliver benefits for all stakeholders for decades to come. Along with my fellow Directors, I look forward to working with Stu to achieve a smooth transition to a new leader in the coming months.

Succession process underway

Northern Star said the board has started a formal process to facilitate an orderly transition to a new managing director.

A leading global search firm will be appointed shortly, with the board to consider both internal and external candidates.

2026 has been very turbulent for Northern Star shares and this latest news certainly adds to it. So much so, following today’s move, the gold miner’s shares are down almost 25% year to date.

The post What’s going on with Northern Star shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Copper is already trading near record highs, but according to a new report from Pitt Street Research there could be more good news to come for investors will an “extreme” copper crunch on the way.

Pitt Street has this week sent a research note to its clients arguing that copper could be the best performing metal in the 2020s, and has named two producers which it says are well placed to benefit.

Let’s have a look at what they’re saying about copper supply first.

Deficits to grow

Pitt Street Research argues that copper has the potential to mirror gold’s stellar performance, as “the emerging supply/demand gap … is only going to continue to grow”.

They added:

Global copper consumption is ~26.5Mt today, and the deficit is a modest ~200,000tpa. But consumption is forecast to rise sharply as EVs (~80kg copper vs ~25kg for ICE cars), renewable energy, grid infrastructure and data centres scale simultaneously. Bloomberg has estimated that demand will reach ~35Mt by 2035 and ~50Mt by 2050.  

Pitt Street said no major new world-class copper deposit had entered production at scale in more than a decade, and existing mines are ageing and ore grades are declining.

New discoveries also take 7-10 years to come into production, they said.

They added:

The crunch will mean significantly higher copper prices. We are already seeing an impact with LME copper prices up >50% in 18 months and believe more growth is to come. ASX will gain exposure to the upside in the copper price. However, not all copper companies are created equal. The companies that will do the best will be the companies that have high-quality projects in favourable jurisdictions with persistent operational performance.

Miners worth a look

In terms of ASX-listed copper producers, Pitt Street Research likes Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR).

While Evolution is mainly thought of as a gold producer, Pitt Street said they have good copper exposure embedded within their high-quality assets.

Pitt Street said:

Ernest Henry is a large-scale iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposit with a long mine life to at least 2040 and significant resource depth. The operation contains approximately 1.4Mt of copper and 2.8Moz of gold in resources, supporting long-term production of around 50kt copper per annum. Beyond Ernest Henry, Evolution also has exposure through Northparkes, creating a broader copper portfolio. Copper contributes approximately 25% of group revenue, with a strategic target of increasing this to 40% over time. This indicates a deliberate shift towards greater copper leverage.

And finally, to Sandfire, Pitt Street said they had diversified from a single asset producer into a diversified global copper company with producing assets in Europe and Africa.

Pitt Street said:

All things considered, we believe Sandfire represents a direct, scalable and relatively low-cost copper exposure, with both operational stability and growth. In the context of the copper price scenarios, it offers strong leverage in the base and bull cases, while remaining resilient in downside environments due to its cost position.

The post With an “extreme” copper crunch coming, here are 2 shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Evolution Mining shares crash 36% from an all-time high: Buy, sell or hold?
• Why ASX gold miners Evolution Mining and Northern Star could keep shining in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why are Sandfire, Capstone and BHP shares jumping in Wednesday’s sinking market?

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 IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) share price is in focus after the company announced it has successfully commissioned a cutting-edge six-axis powder metallurgy press at its Titanium Manufacturing Campus in Virginia, with production capacity now tripling across high-value titanium components.

What did IperionX report?

• Commissioned a 300-ton, six-axis SACMI powder metallurgy press, tripling existing titanium component manufacturing capacity
• Platform enables production rates of up to 11 million parts annually using single-cavity tooling
• Press supports more complex titanium components for defence, aerospace and industrial markets
• Designed to integrate with new HSPT furnace capacity slated for arrival in June
• Manufacturing pathway aimed at reducing production costs, waste, and lead times

What else do investors need to know?

The newly commissioned SACMI press vastly expands the range of titanium products IperionX can manufacture in the United States, including fasteners, gears and brackets, supporting defence and aerospace supply chains.

With the addition of the SACMI press, IperionX can now deliver enhanced product flexibility, complex geometries, and more consistent production, allowing the company to serve larger and more demanding customer programs. The press uses titanium powder made from U.S.-sourced feedstocks through IperionX’s patented processes, bypassing traditional supply chains.

Installation and commissioning of new HSPT furnaces will begin after their arrival in June, helping to accelerate customer qualification and high-volume manufacturing.

What did IperionX management say?

CEO Anastasios (Taso) Arima said:

Commissioning this advanced SACMI press is an important milestone for IperionX. It gives us greater titanium manufacturing capacity and more flexibility to manufacture a wider range of titanium components for customers in defense, aerospace and industrial markets.

Titanium is a critical material, but its use has often been limited by cost and supply chain challenges. By combining our U.S.-sourced titanium powder, patented HAMR process, powder metallurgy pressing and HSPT sintering and forging, IperionX is building a more scalable platform for domestic titanium manufacturing.

This new press, together with our upcoming furnace expansion, is designed to help move customer programs from prototypes toward repeatable, higher-volume production.

What’s next for IperionX?

IperionX plans to further integrate the SACMI press with new furnace operations to fast-track customer qualification, low-rate initial production and large-scale titanium component manufacturing. Management aims to support U.S. industry with more reliable, cost-effective domestic titanium supply, particularly for defence, aerospace, automotive and electronics markets.

The company’s continued innovation in titanium metal technologies supports strategic expansion and new partnerships as manufacturing capacity grows in the coming months.

IperionX share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, IpeirionX shares have increased 31%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post IperionX expands U.S. titanium manufacturing with new six-axis press 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.