Author: openjargon

Despite the horror final week, DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares managed to cap off a solid run in January.

In the first month of 2026, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gained a solid 1.8%.

As for DroneShield, the ASX 200 drone defence company closed on 31 December trading for $3.08 a share. When the closing bell sounded on 30 January, shares were changing hands for $3.32 apiece.

This saw the drone defence stock up 7.8% for the month, flying ahead of the benchmark.

As for that horror final week, things were tracking far better at the close on 22 January, when DroneShield shares were trading for $4.73 each.

Amid broader weakness in growth stocks and the company scaling back its forecast sales pipeline, the share tumbled a painful 29.8% over the last week of January.

Here’s what’s been happening.

DroneShield shares rocket in first three weeks of 2026

DroneShield shares surged 53.6% in the first three weeks of January without any fresh company-specific news being released.

Investors likely had an eye on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, alongside renewed rising tensions in the Middle East, spurred by unrest in Iran and the nation’s dubious nuclear ambitions. Drones and counter-drone technologies are increasingly being used in both conflict areas.

And in the United States, President Donald Trump caught global attention when he pushed for a US$1.5 trillion dollar defence budget in 2027. That’s up some US$500 billion from the nation’s 2026 defence budget. That’s a whole lot of zeros after those dollar signs, some of which will be allotted to drone defences.

ASX 200 defence stock takes a nosedive

DroneShield shares closed down 6.5% on 27 January, with even steeper falls over the following three trading days, following the release of the company’s December quarter update (Q4 2025).

Now, I thought the quarterly results were actually quite impressive.

Highlights included a 94% year-on-year increase in revenue to $51.3 million. And cash receipts from customers surged 142% to $63.5 million.

This helped the company achieve positive operating cash flow of $7.7 million, up from the $8.9 million loss reported for Q4 2024.

On the balance sheet, the ASX 200 defence stock had a cash balance of $210.4 million as at 31 December.

Despite these strong metrics, DroneShield shares look to have come under selling pressure after the company reduced its sales pipeline estimate to $2.1 billion, down from the prior estimate of $2.55 billion.

Europe makes up the bulk of that sales pipeline, with 66 projects valued at $1.3 billion. The US comes in at number two, with 127 projects valued at $303 million.

DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornik said the company had scaled back its previous assumptions on demand from the US civilian sector. He noted that potential customers, including airports and data centres, are still deciding how much they want to spend on drone defence.

The post How DroneShield shares soared ahead of the benchmark in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 3 ASX 200 shares have soared over 200% in a year!
• These were the 10 most traded Australian shares last week
• Why Droneshield’s future earnings matter more than ever
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why 4DMedical, DroneShield, New Hope, and Zip shares are pushing higher 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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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) has climbed 1.12% in early afternoon trade on Tuesday. Over the year to date, the index has risen 1.71% and it’s 5.93% higher than this time last year. The index increase is decent, but some ASX shares have significantly outperformed.

Here are the top three performers over the past 12 months, and each of them has posted gains of over 200%!

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

At the time of writing on Tuesday afternoon, Droneshield shares are up 6.52% to $3.68 a piece. That translates to a 10.36% year-to-date increase and has pushed the stock price a huge 492.74% above where it was this time last year.

The counter-drone technology company has been firmly in the spotlight over the past six months. Its share price spiked to an all-time high in October before crashing 74% over the next six weeks. The trading price is now 44% below that previous peak, but analysts are bullish that the ASX 200 company’s share price will keep on climbing this year.

The business is robust; it posted a strong quarterly result last week, and it has a fantastic growth strategy in place for 2026. 

The team at Bell Potter recently said that the company’s sales growth was stronger than it had expected, giving it a competitive advantage going forward. 

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Resolute Mining shares are 4.44% higher at $1.34 a piece at the time of writing. For the year to date, the shares are up 8.23% and they’re now an impressive 253.16% above trading levels this time 12 months ago.

The ASX 200 mining stock reached a seven-year high of $1.50 a piece late last week and delivered very strong fourth-quarter results the week prior. 

The robust results support the potential for more share price gains going forward, too. TradingView data shows analysts have a buy consensus on the shares, with a maximum target price of $250 a piece. That implies a potential 85.63% upside for investors at the time of writing. 

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

The Westgold share price has climbed 1.08% in early afternoon trade on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $7.08 each. For the year to date, the gold miner’s shares have climbed 9.69% and over the year, they’ve surged 213.05%.

The ASX 200 company and its shares have ridden the wave of the latest gold price rally. Meanwhile, the miner also revealed record gold production and doubling of its cash build for the December quarter. 

The team at RBC Capital Markets think Westgold shares have more room to run too. The broker gives the stock a buy rating with a price target of $7.80, which implies a potential 10.2% increase this year, at the time of writing. 

The post These 3 ASX 200 shares have soared over 200% in a year! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These were the 10 most traded Australian shares last week
• Atlas Arteria maintains distribution guidance while French tax extended
• Why this ASX 200 share is a retiree’s dream
• Why Droneshield’s future earnings matter more than ever
• Xero highlights AI progress and Melio momentum in US market update

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 DroneShield. 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.

New Hope Corp Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares are edging lower today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) coal stock closed yesterday trading for $4.63. In afternoon trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $4.62 apiece, down 0.2%.

Over the past month, New Hope shares have gained 13.3% amid a roughly 10% increase in coal prices. Thermal coal is trading for US$116 per tonne, near its highest level in 12 months.

Taking a step back, shares in the ASX 200 coal stock remain down 5.5% since this time last year. Though those losses will have been more than erased by the 34 cents a share in fully-franked dividends New Hope paid out over this time.

New Hope stock currently trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 7.4%.

Which brings us back to…

Why New Hope shares are tipped to outperform in 2026

Baker Young’s Toby Grimm recently ran his slide rule over the Aussie coal miner (courtesy of The Bull).

Citing the first reason he has a buy rating on New Hope shares, Grimm said, “The extension of Origin Energy’s Eraring coal fired power station is a reminder that demand for thermal coal is likely to remain robust for longer than many investors believe.”

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) reported that extension on 20 January, noting it would extend the operation of all four units of the coal-fired power station from 19 August 2027 to 30 April 2029, “to support energy supply in NSW through the energy transition”.

Commenting on that decision, Origin CEO Frank Calabria said:

We’ve taken the decision to extend Eraring’s operations after assessing a range of factors, including the needs of our customers, market conditions and the important role the plant plays in the NSW energy system.

Among other reasons he’s positive on the stock, Baker Young’s Grimm also pointed to the strong growth New Hope reported at its latest quarterly results:

New Hope group saleable coal production of 2.7 million tonnes for the quarter ending October 31, 2025 was up 7.1% on the previous quarter. Underlying EBITDA [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation] of $107.9 million for the quarter was up 15.5% on the prior quarter.

As for the third reason New Hope could outperform in the year ahead, Grimm said, “New Hope has a strong balance sheet, and we feel the market is undervaluing NHC’s growth potential through the New Acland stage 3 development.”

The new Acland stage 3 development is an approved expansion of New Hope’s thermal coal mine in Queensland.

And the fourth reason you might want to buy New Hope shares today, according to Grimm, “Recently trading on a modest forecast earnings multiple in fiscal year 2026 and an attractive fully franked dividend yield, the stock screens as attractive.”

The post Up 13% in a month, 4 reasons to buy New Hope shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why 4DMedical, DroneShield, New Hope, and Zip shares are pushing higher today
• Why analysts say Hub24, New Hope, and Xero shares are buys
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• After strong dividend yields? Look at these 3 ASX energy shares

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.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares both raced ahead of the 1.8% gains delivered by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in January. And one stock significantly outperformed the other.

Woodside closed out December trading for $23.59 a share. At market close on 30 January, shares were changing hands for $25.37 apiece. This saw Woodside shares up 7.6% for the month.

But Santos stockholders fared even better.

Santos shares closed on 31 December at $6.17 each. On 30 January, shares closed the day trading for $7.01 apiece, putting Santos shares up 13.6% for the first month of 2026.

Both ASX 200 energy shares enjoyed a strong uplift in global oil prices over the month.

Spurred by the United States military action in Venezuela and fears of a larger-scale conflict with Iran, the Brent crude oil price soared from US$60.75 per barrel on 2 January to US$70.69 per barrel on 30 January, up 16.4%.

Both ASX 200 energy shares also reported their quarterly results in January.

Here’s what grabbed investor interest.

Woodside shares gain on record full-year production

Woodside shares closed up 2.7% on 28 January following the release of the company’s December quarter update.

Investors reacted positively, with Woodside reporting all-time high production of 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe). That exceeded the company’s full-year guidance of 192MMboe to 197MMboe.

Woodside achieved that new milestone despite a 4% quarter-on-quarter fall in production to 48.9 MMboe.

And despite a year-on-year decline in average realised prices, Woodside’s full-year revenue of US$12.94 billion was in line with 2024.

On the major growth project front, the company reported its Scarborough Energy Project was 94% complete, with first LNG still targeted for Q4 2026. And Woodside’s Trion Project is now 50% complete, with first oil targeted in 2028.

Santos shares leap on free cash flow surge

Santos’ outperformance of Woodside shares in January was in part driven by an even more positive investor response to Santos’ own December quarterly update.

Santos shares closed up 5.3% on 22 January after the company reported a 5% quarter-on-quarter increase in production to 22.3 MMboe.

And Santos’ free cash flow from operations surged 30% from the September quarter to $380 million, with $1.23 billion in sales revenue up 9%.

As for Santos’ major growth projects, the Barossa LNG project commenced LNG production, with its first cargo loaded for delivery to Japan in January.

And drilling at the company’s Pikka phase 1 project in Alaska was reported to be nearing completion.

Santos and Woodside share price snapshot

Despite the strong run in January, Santos shares remain down 4% over the past 12 months (at the time of writing).

Woodside shares are up 1.8% over this same period.

The post Buying ASX energy shares? Here’s how Santos and Woodside shares stacked up in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2028 for Woodside shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 3 ASX 200 shares I would buy in February
• ASX 200 energy shares lead the market as oil and uranium prices spike

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is trading in the green at Tuesday lunchtime, up 1.21% at the time of writing. It’s a welcome uplift after Australian shares dropped 0.8% at the close of the index last week.

The index was largely affected by selling pressure among investors offloading their gold mining stocks. This was after the metal price slumped from its peak.

New data from CommSec reveals the Australian shares that were most traded by its clients last week, highlighting investor sentiment and market momentum.

Most traded Australian shares in the last week of January

CommSec’s data shows that Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) continues to be a firm favourite among its clients. The drone operator’s shares were the most traded Australian stock between the 26th and 30th of January.

Droneshield shares have gathered a lot of attention recently. The company is making great progress, and its share price continues to recover following the price crash late last year.

The shares are now just 43.4% below their all-time high of $6.60 seen in October. Over the course of last week, 58% of Droneshield activity was investors buying, but 42% was investors selling up and taking some recent gains.

At the time of writing, Droneshield shares are up 8.41% for the day to $3.74 a piece. For the year to date, the shares are up 12.16%. Analysts widely rate the shares as a buy following the company’s strong quarterly update last week. 

Next on CommSec’s most traded Australian shares list are Global X Metal Securities Australia Ltd (ASX: ETPMAG) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). 

The data shows that 69% of trades in the silver exchange-traded fund ETPMAG were purchases, after surging silver prices were thrust into the spotlight last week. Meanwhile, 65% of trades in the mining giant BHP were sales after the miner took the top spot as the largest stock on the ASX.

What else were investors interested in last week?

CommSec clients were also interested in Global X Physical Gold Structured (ASX: GOLD), 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX), PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), and Perth Mint Gold Structured Product (ASX: PMGOLD). Most activity for each of these shares was buying.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) shares also made the top 10 most traded shares list during the week, but the majority of activity (41%) was investor selling.

The post These were the 10 most traded Australian shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Appen, Imricor, Qoria, and Xero shares are storming higher today
• Why Droneshield’s future earnings matter more than ever
• The growing case for critical minerals – Expert
• ASX small-caps could be where the next wave of returns comes from
• Why this incredible ASX tech stock could be ‘set to conquer’

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 Appen, DroneShield, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide an easy-peasy way to invest in international shares via our local exchange.

US stocks are particularly popular given the S&P 500 Index (SP: INX) has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) for three years.

The two biggest ETFs by market capitalisation that provide exposure to the US market are iShares Core S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV) and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

IVV ETF tracks the S&P 500, while VGS tracks the MSCI World ex-Australia (with net dividends reinvested) AUD Index.

About 70% of the VGS portfolio is US stocks.

Neither ETF has currency hedging, and this eroded returns for Aussie investors last year given the weaker USD against the AUD.

The Aussie dollar rose from about 62 US cents in January 2025 to about 67 US cents by December.

Our currency reached a three-year high of 71 US cents last month. It is 69.65 US cents at the time of writing.

The US dollar has been weakening due to expectations of US interest rate cuts, concern over the economic impact of new tariffs, and broader geopolitical and trade uncertainties.

Meanwhile, the AUD is stronger amid expectations of rate hikes in 2026 and strong demand for Australia’s commodities, particularly gold.

This extra demand supports our currency because foreign buyers must pay for our exports in Australian dollars.

Rising commodity prices amplify the total demand for the AUD even further.

With all this at play, should ASX ETF investors consider switching into, or buying, products with currency hedging to insulate their returns?

Vanguard’s take on currency hedging

Major ASX ETF provider Vanguard describes the pros and cons of hedging as follows:

For investors, a strengthening AUD would be a headwind for unhedged portfolios, reducing returns on international assets. 

Conversely, a weaker AUD boosts unhedged returns and benefits Australian companies earning profits overseas.

Vanguard says short-term volatility in currencies is inevitable, and hedging is more about managing long-term risk rather than chasing returns. 

Hedging is not a one-size-fits-all decision.

The choice should come after building a plan, setting an asset allocation and considering costs. 

The decision doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing either.

Many investors and their advisers aim for a “least regret” approach by hedging around 50% of the portfolio.

A word from Global X

Justin Lin, from ETF provider Global X, said foreign exchange and currency exposure has been front of mind for investors in recent times.

Lin says AUD currency-hedged ETFs are best viewed as “tools for short-term, tactical asset allocation rather than long-term buy and hold”.

Investors may want to consider tactical currency hedging when they expect significant fluctuations in exchange rates that could impact their returns.

For example, if interest rates are rising in their home country but decreasing or unchanged in the country where they hold investments.

In this scenario, the home currency may appreciate, reducing the value of their foreign investments.

Hedging options with ASX ETFs

Vanguard and other ETF providers offer currency-hedged versions of some of their most popular ASX exchange-traded funds.

For example, VGS is unhedged, while Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares (Hedged) ETF (ASX: VGAD) is its hedged counterpart.

Take a look at their performance in 2025.

As you can see, the percentage of price growth between VGS and VGAD widened over the year as the AUD strengthened against the USD.

So, VGAD did better.

Here’s another example.

Last year, the S&P 500 delivered total returns, including dividends, of 17.88%. However, IVV ETF investors received a total return of 10.75% due to the impact of the currency exchange.

The hedged version of IVV ETF is iShares S&P 500 (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: IHVV), which returned 16.88% (after fees).

As you can see below, IHVV began outperforming IVV in terms of the percentage of capital growth in April last year.

In the end, IHVV did best.

The post Should you consider currency-hedged ASX ETFs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 10 most popular ASX ETFs on the market today
• An easy and effective ASX portfolio with just 3 investments
• How a beginner investor could build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio
• 3 Vanguard ETFs for smart investors to buy in February
• VAS and IVV: 3 reasons these two ASX ETFs belong in a long-term portfolio

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF and iShares S&P 500 Aud Hedged ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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 1.1% to 8,873 points.

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

Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

The Brainchip share price is down 2% to 15.2 cents. This semiconductor company’s shares have been under heavy selling pressure since the release of another disappointing quarterly update. Despite entering the commercialisation stage a few years ago, Brainchip revealed cash receipts of just US$0.4 million for the three months ended 31 December. Given that its market capitalisation is still $350 million, it wouldn’t be surprising if the selling continues if there’s no meaningful improvement in its sales.

Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX: CCP)

The Credit Corp share price is down over 15% to $12.07. Investors have been selling this debt collector’s shares following the release of its half-year results. Credit Corp posted a 4% increase in revenue to $283.6 million and flat net profit after tax of $44.1 million. Looking ahead, management believes it can still achieve its net profit after tax guidance range of $100 million to $110 million. Investors don’t appear confident it will get there.

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

The Graincorp share price is down 3% to $6.00. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). This morning, the broker downgraded the grain exporter’s shares to a neutral rating (from outperform) with a reduced price target of $6.60 (from $8.30). Macquarie appears concerned that margins could remain under pressure in the near term, which could weigh on its earnings growth.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is down 12% to $14.25. This morning, Neuren Pharmaceuticals revealed that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given a negative trend vote on its marketing authorisation application for trofinetide in the European market. Neuren’s CEO, Jon Pilcher, commented: “Given the totality of experience with trofinetide in clinical trials and real world use over many years, this negative trend vote is frustrating for us and the Rett syndrome community in the EU. We fully support Acadia’s intention to seek re-examination of the CHMP opinion in February, if necessary.”

The post Why Brainchip, Credit Corp, Graincorp, and Neuren shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Credit Corp share price crashes 14% following H1 FY26 result
• Guess which ASX 200 healthcare share is crashing 22% on Tuesday on European blow
• Top broker weighs in after Graincorp shares plummet 14%
• Why Appen, Brightstar, Graincorp, and Northern Star shares are sinking today
• GrainCorp shares slide nearly 15%. Is this ASX 200 stock now oversold?

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 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 NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) share price is powering higher on Tuesday after the company revealed a series of significant contract wins.

At the time of writing, the NRW share price is up 4.64% to $5.41. That adds to a strong run for the stock, which has climbed around 60% over the past 12 months.

Let’s unpack what was in today’s update.

A major win at Rio Tinto’s West Angelas

The largest contract announced is a bulk earthworks award from Rio Tinto for its West Angelas Sustaining Project (WASP), Deposit H.

NRW will deliver bulk earthworks to support access to five new satellite pits, along with haul roads, concrete overpass arch construction, and associated infrastructure. The contract is valued at around $175 million, with a peak workforce of around 220 personnel.

Works are expected to commence in early 2026 and run through to completion in 2027. Importantly, the award builds on NRW’s long standing relationship with Rio Tinto at West Angelas, one of Western Australia’s key iron ore hubs.

Roads and infrastructure add further momentum

The company also secured a second contract through its wholly owned subsidiary, NRW Contracting Pty Ltd.

Main Roads Western Australia has awarded the group the reconstruction and realignment of Toodyay Road between Dryandra and Toodyay. The initial scope covers Separable Portions 1 and 2 and is valued at $46 million.

The project aims to improve safety and traffic flow through road geometry upgrades, overtaking lanes, and intersection improvements.

Construction and procurement are expected to begin in early 2026, subject to contract execution.

Dampier Link Bridge rounds out the update

In a further contract win, NRW Contracting, in a 50/50 joint venture with Braidwood Marine and Civil, has been awarded Stage 2 of the Dampier Cargo Project by Pilbara Ports.

This package covers the design and construction of the Dampier Link Bridge, creating a continuous wharf connection between the refurbished Dampier Cargo Wharf and the new Dampier Bulk Handling Facility. The value of NRW’s share of the joint venture work is approximately $49 million, with a project duration of about 12 months.

Management noted there is no material capital outlay required for any of the announced contracts.

Foolish takeaway

NRW continues to execute across multiple fronts, with more than $220 million in new work secured and minimal capital requirements supporting the stock’s strong performance over the past year.

The latest contracts highlight NRW’s diversified exposure across mining, transport, and civil infrastructure. A growing contract book improves earnings visibility into 2026 and beyond, while long standing relationships with tier one clients continue to generate repeat work.

The post Why this ASX 200 stock is rising after landing major new contracts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Catalyst Metals, NRW, and Paladin Energy shares

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 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.

When people think about passive income, they often assume you need a six-figure portfolio to make it worthwhile. I don’t think that’s true. With the right structure, even $20,000 can be enough to start generating a reliable monthly income stream, without constantly watching the market or trading in and out of ASX shares.

Here’s how I’d think about doing it.

Where to start

Most ASX shares pay dividends twice a year. That can be frustrating if the goal is steady cash flow. One of the biggest advantages of income-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is that many of them pay monthly, smoothing income and making budgeting far easier.

Instead of relying on one company’s dividend policy, you’re tapping into income generated across dozens or even hundreds of underlying holdings.

The core of the portfolio

If I were starting with $20,000, I’d anchor the portfolio with a diversified Australian equity income ETF like Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

This type of fund provides exposure to large, dividend-paying Australian shares across sectors like banks, resources, infrastructure, and telecommunications. Importantly for Australian investors, much of the income tends to be franked, which can significantly boost after-tax returns.

I like this as a core holding because it balances yield with quality. You’re not betting on one company to keep paying dividends. You’re spreading that risk across the market.

However, it only pays out income quarterly, so we can’t rely solely on this one.

Adding monthly passive income

To lift the income and introduce true monthly cash flow, I’d add a dedicated monthly income ETF such as Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester Active ETF (ASX: HVST).

This type of fund uses a rules-based strategy to focus on Australian shares expected to deliver strong dividend and franking outcomes. The income is paid monthly, which is ideal for investors who want regular cash flow rather than waiting for semi-annual or quarterly payouts.

I wouldn’t put everything into a fund like this, because the strategy can be more active and returns may vary year to year. But as a component of a broader income portfolio, I think it plays a useful role.

Diversifying beyond shares with bonds

Finally, to make the portfolio more resilient, I’d include a bond-based income ETF such as VanEck Emerging Income Opportunities Active ETF (ASX: EBND).

Bond income behaves differently to share dividends. While it comes with its own risks, especially in emerging markets, it can help diversify income sources and reduce reliance on equity markets alone. For a passive income portfolio, that diversification matters.

What this portfolio could realistically deliver

Depending on market conditions, a portfolio like this could aim for a blended yield somewhere around the 5% range. On $20,000, that’s roughly $1,000 per year in income, paid progressively through the year rather than in two large chunks.

Over time, as dividends grow and income is reinvested or topped up, that monthly cash flow could build into something far more meaningful.

Foolish takeaway

A bullet-proof passive income portfolio isn’t about finding the perfect stock. For me, it’s about structure, diversification, and consistency.

With just $20,000, it’s possible to build a portfolio that pays income monthly, spreads risk across assets and strategies, and doesn’t require constant attention. For investors who value steady cash flow and peace of mind, I think this kind of approach is a sensible place to start.

The post How to build a bullet-proof monthly passive income portfolio with just $20,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form and charging higher on Tuesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 1.1% to 8,875.2 points.

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

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is up 12% to $1.88. Investors have been buying this artificial intelligence data services company’s shares since the release of a strong quarterly update last week. Appen reported revenue of $73.4 million for the three months. This was a 10% lift on the prior corresponding period and a 33% increase on the third quarter of FY 2025. Commenting on the quarter, Appen’s CEO, Ryan Kolln, said: “Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26.”

Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR)

The Imricor Medical Systems share price is up 2% to $1.99. This morning, this medical device company revealed that Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI) has joined the VISABL-AFL clinical trial. It notes that this will support the U.S. FDA approval process for Imricor’s ablation products. OHI is now the fourth U.S. site to join the trial. Imricor’s Chair and CEO, Steve Wedan, added: “Oklahoma Heart Institute represents a highly sophisticated cardiology-led model of care, with the clinical vision and infrastructure already in place to support advanced MRI-guided procedures. The fact that cardiology owns and operates their MRI system creates a streamlined environment for innovation, reducing organisational complexity while enabling physicians to focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for patients.”

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

The Qoria share price is up 19% to 40 cents. This follows news that the cyber safety company is merging with its peer, Aura. It is a US-based provider of intelligent online safety solutions to individuals and families. Aura will acquire all Qoria shares through an all-scrip deal at a price equivalent to 72 cents per share. Qoria’s CEO, Tim Levy, said: “The internet was created to connect us, yet online safety has eroded, making trust paramount for parents, guardians and organisations, in general, for the protection of our activities online. The combination of Aura and Qoria pioneers a lifelong digital safety ecosystem; a new category that meets the urgent need for technology, education, and trust to protect people – confidently and safely, throughout their entire lives.”

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is up 3% to $96.46. Investors have been buying this cloud accounting platform provider’s shares following the release of an update on its AI and US plans. Xero also reiterated its FY 2026 guidance. It advised that total operating expenses as a percentage of revenue is expected to be around 70.5%, including the Melio business. In addition, management reaffirmed its aim of more than doubling its FY 2025 group revenue in FY 2028.

The post Why Appen, Imricor, Qoria, and Xero shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Appen and 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.