Author: openjargon

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares are edging higher on Monday after a difficult end to reporting season.

At the time of writing, the Endeavour share price is up 0.96% to $3.14.

That follows a rough week for shareholders, with the stock falling around 12% and briefly touching a 3-month low of $3.08.

However, a new ASX filing released after market open has given investors something else to think about.

So, has the recent sell-off gone too far?

CEO loads up

According to the latest ASX filing, chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka bought 323,468 Endeavour shares across 25, 26, and 27 August.

The purchases were made at prices between $3.06 and $3.106 per share and totalled just under $1 million.

That lifted her indirect holding from 4,196 shares to 327,664 shares.

This is a pretty sizeable purchase, especially after the shares were hit hard following last week’s FY26 result.

Endeavour shares are now down around 18% over the past 12 months and are trading well below their 52-week high of $4.12.

Why have Endeavour shares been falling?

The latest result showed why investors have been nervous.

Endeavour reported FY26 sales of $12.2 billion, up 1.3%, but underlying group earnings fell.

Underlying EBIT dropped 8.7% to $845 million, while underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) came in at $363 million, down 14.8%.

Retail was the biggest drag, with sales rising just 0.7% to $10 billion and underlying EBIT falling to $464 million.

Hotels held up better, with sales increasing 4.2% to $2.2 billion and underlying EBIT rising to $462 million.

Statutory profit was much weaker at $52 million after the group booked $372 million of pre-tax restructuring costs and asset write-downs.

The final dividend was also cut, with Endeavour declaring 12 cents per share for FY26.

The next test for Endeavour

Hrdlicka is now pushing ahead with a major restructure aimed at simplifying the business and improving returns.

That includes selling winery assets, cutting grape production, and reviewing weaker parts of the retail and hotel portfolio.

There have at least been some better signs early in FY27. In the first 7 weeks, retail sales were up 4.6%, while hotel sales increased 2.2%.

Brokers are still cautious, though. Recent price targets range from $2.50 at Macquarie to $3.10 at Bell Potter, putting most below the current share price.

The next test will be whether that early sales growth can continue through the rest of the first half.

Keep an eye out for Endeavour’s AGM, which will be held on 30 October.

The post Endeavour shares fell 12% last week. Is the CEO calling the bottom? 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 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.

Winton Land Ltd (ASX: WTN) has been suspended from quotation on both the ASX and NZX, after recent board changes resulted in non-compliance with governance rules.

What did Winton Land report?

• Winton Land Limited shares suspended from the ASX under Listing Rule 17.2, following a request by the company.
• Suspension also enacted on the NZX upon the advice of NZ RegCo.
• Three directors, including two independent directors, resigned effective 31 August 2026.
• The board now has only one independent director, breaching NZX Listing Rule 2.13.2 for board and audit committee composition.
• Suspension to remain until governance requirements are met and the NZX lifts its suspension.

What else do investors need to know?

The core issue prompting this suspension is the sudden reduction in independent directors on the Winton board, leaving the company in breach of key NZX Listing Rules around board independence and audit committee composition. These rules are designed to ensure robust governance and investor confidence.

Winton Land Limited states that it expects to address these issues by appointing at least one new independent director and restructuring its audit committee. Once these steps are taken and Winton complies with the relevant governance requirements, the company anticipates both the ASX and NZX suspensions will be lifted.

What’s next for Winton Land?

Looking ahead, the immediate priority for Winton is to restore compliance with the NZX governance requirements. This will involve making new independent director appointments and ensuring the audit committee is properly composed.

Until the necessary changes are confirmed and approved by NZX, the Winton Land share price will remain suspended. Investors will be updated as soon as the company meets the listing requirements and trading resumes.

Winton Land share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Winton Land shares have declined 50%, significantly trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

View Original Announcement

The post Winton Land shares suspended following board resignations 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.

The Cobre Ltd (ASX: CBE) share price is in focus after the company secured majority ownership of the Sierra Atacama Copper Project, taking a decisive step in expanding its copper production platform.

What did Cobre report?

• Became majority owner (62.86% stake) in the Sierra Atacama and Bergbau copper projects in Chile
• Completed USD $12 million capital raise via pro rata entitlement of new convertible non-voting shares
• Secured option to acquire 100% ownership of the Project Companies through the Final Option mechanism
• Sierra Atacama Copper Project moving towards increased copper cathode production into 2027

What else do investors need to know?

The conversion of preference shares and exercise of control options positions Cobre to take the reins at one of Chile’s major copper developments. The pathway remains open for Cobre to consolidate full ownership in the Sierra Atacama and Bergbau projects, subject to the Final Option as previously disclosed.

Cobre’s strategic timing aims to capitalise on rising long-term global copper demand, with supply constraints giving producers a potential advantage. The company’s broader exploration portfolio could also uncover further resources and extend operational life.

What did Cobre management say?

Executive Chairman Martin Holland said:

Today marks a defining moment in Cobre’s evolution. Securing majority ownership of the world-class Sierra Atacama Copper Mine positions Cobre at the heart of one of the most compelling long-term copper opportunities globally.

We are increasing our ownership to majority owner at precisely the right time. Global copper demand is entering an unprecedented period of structural growth, while supply is becoming increasingly constrained. Against this backdrop, Cobre is building a meaningful and growing copper production platform.

With Sierra Atacama ramping up our annual production of copper cathode into 2027, majority ownership provides Cobre with greater exposure to the significant operating and cash-flow upside from this growth.

At the same time, our exploration portfolio provides substantial additional upside, including the potential to unlock further resources and extend the scale and life of our operations.

We believe Cobre is entering a new phase — transitioning from an emerging copper producer into a substantial, growth-focused copper company. For our shareholders, this is a pivotal moment and one that we believe has the potential to create significant long-term value.

What’s next for Cobre?

Cobre is now poised to ramp up copper production from the Sierra Atacama project into 2027. Management highlighted that majority control will help unlock both operational and cash-flow upside, as well as provide scope to pursue further growth and resource expansion.

Looking ahead, Cobre’s focus is on strengthening its production platform, consolidating further ownership, and advancing exploration to grow its resource base and extend mine life. The company’s strategy is to transition from a junior producer to a significant force in the copper industry.

Cobre share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Cobre shares have soared more than 700%, strongly outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

View Original Announcement

The post Cobre secures majority control of Sierra Atacama Copper Project appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why I think the VAS ETF is a top pick for beginners and experienced investors

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.

Some investments make sense whether someone is buying their first shares or has been investing for decades.

I think the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) falls into that category.

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) provides a simple way to own a large part of the Australian share market through a single investment.

The VAS ETF is a straightforward place to begin

For someone new to investing, choosing individual shares can feel daunting.

The VAS ETF removes much of that pressure by tracking the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO). Instead of deciding which Australian shares will perform best, investors gain exposure to hundreds of businesses.

That includes major banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and miners like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), as well as healthcare companies, retailers, industrial businesses, and technology shares.

I think this can help beginners avoid putting too much money behind one early stock pick while they are still learning how the market works.

It also keeps the strategy easy to follow. An investor can regularly add money to the fund, reinvest dividends if they choose, and give the underlying businesses time to grow.

Experienced investors can still find plenty to like

Having more investing experience does not mean every part of a portfolio needs to become more complicated.

An experienced stock picker might own a collection of companies where they have particularly strong convictions, while using this Vanguard ETF to maintain exposure to the wider Australian market.

That means they do not need to personally identify every company that could perform well.

If a business becomes increasingly valuable, its influence within the market can grow. If another company loses ground, its importance can decline.

I like the idea of having part of a portfolio automatically track the Australian share market while leaving individual stock picking to areas where I believe I have a stronger view.

There is an income component to the VAS ETF

Australian shares have traditionally returned a meaningful amount of cash to shareholders through dividends.

Because the VAS ETF owns hundreds of those companies, investors receive payouts generated from the underlying portfolio. Franking credits can also form part of those distributions.

I would still view the ETF primarily as a long-term investment rather than simply chasing income. But receiving distributions while retaining exposure to potential capital growth gives investors more than one way to benefit over time.

Simplicity has value at every stage

I think investors sometimes assume they should make their portfolios more sophisticated as they gain experience.

I am not convinced that is necessary. Keeping part of a portfolio simple can reduce the number of decisions that need to be made and make it easier to stay invested through periods of volatility.

The VAS ETF will still fall when the Australian market struggles, so diversification does not remove risk. But it avoids having the outcome depend on a small number of companies.

Foolish takeaway

The reason I like the VAS ETF is that investors do not need to outgrow it.

It can provide a simple starting point for someone making their first investment and remain a strong portfolio holding years later.

For investors wanting broad Australian exposure without constantly choosing individual winners, I think the ETF deserves serious consideration.

The post Why I think the VAS ETF is a top pick for beginners and experienced investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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.

The August reporting season is now basically done, and investors have had a lot to take in.

Some companies delivered stronger-than-expected numbers, others disappointed, and plenty of share prices saw big moves along the way.

But once you get past the individual results, a few key points start to stand out.

The Australian recently rounded up some of the biggest takeaways from reporting season, including Morgan Stanley’s latest views.

With that in mind, here are 5 things I think investors have learned over the past month.

1. The economy is starting to slow

The first is that softer economic conditions are beginning to show up in company results.

Morgan Stanley strategist Chris Nicol pointed to weaker credit growth and softer consumer spending as signs the slowdown is starting to bite.

That is something I’d keep an eye on, particularly across banks, housing-related companies, and consumer stocks.

A number of businesses were still able to protect earnings through cost control, but that will get harder if revenue growth continues to slow.

2. Healthcare has bounced back quickly

Healthcare has been one of the stronger areas of the market recently, with Morgan Stanley noting the sector has climbed almost 20% in 2 months.

That comes after a pretty rough period earlier in the year.

The next question is whether earnings can keep improving enough to support the rally.

After such a quick move, investors will probably want to see more than just better sentiment from here.

3. AI is becoming more about costs

Artificial intelligence was mentioned plenty during the reporting season, but one thing caught my attention.

It is becoming less about the excitement around AI and more about what it can actually do for company costs.

Businesses are increasingly looking to AI to improve productivity and reduce labour costs as skills shortages persist.

4. Gold miners are in a much stronger position

Gold stocks have had a huge month, with Morgan Stanley pointing to a 34% rise across the sector in August.

The gold price has also been trading around US$4,500 an ounce, giving producers plenty of breathing room.

That means the conversation is starting to move beyond the gold price itself.

Investors are now paying closer attention to cash flow, balance sheets, and dividends, which could become more important if gold stays around these levels.

5. Takeover activity is starting to pick up

The last thing worth mentioning was the pickup in mergers and acquisitions.

August included several takeover approaches and proposed deals, putting corporate activity back on the radar.

Nicol believes a stronger deal-making cycle could become a bigger driver of market returns if earnings growth slows.

Foolish takeaway

Reporting season was mixed, but it did show a market becoming more selective.

At the same time, inflation remains a problem, and Morgan Stanley now expects the RBA to raise interest rates in September.

That leaves investors with plenty to watch as the market moves into the final 4 months of 2026.

The post Reporting season is over. Here are 5 big lessons ASX investors should take away appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Morgans names 3 ASX tech stocks to buy
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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 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.

Want some exposure to the tech sector? If you’ve answered yes, then it could be worth checking out the three ASX tech stocks in this article.

That’s because they have recently been named as buys by the team at Morgans. Here’s what it is recommending to clients:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Morgans was pleased with Megaport’s performance in FY 2026 and guidance for the year ahead. It notes that this is being driven by record performances from both its Network and Compute businesses.

In light of this and its very positive earnings growth outlook, the broker has put a buy rating and $25.00 price target on the ASX tech stock. It said:

MP1’s FY26 underlying EBITDA and FY27 EBITDA guidance were above market expectations. Both Network and Compute delivered record growth. At first glance, simple maths suggests MP1’s funding position looks tight. However, there is nearly $500m of additional funding that got lost in translation. We think MP1 ends FY27 with nearly $600m of surplus liquidity (assuming no new deals get signed). Our maths is explained in detail overleaf. Deals already contracted deliver $620m of annualised contracted EBITDA which means after EBITDA lifts 3x YoY in FY27, it will more than double into FY28, based on deals already signed. We upgrade to a Buy recommendation and $25 target price.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

Another ASX tech stock that has been given the thumbs up by Morgans is software provider Objective Corporation.

While it was disappointed with a legacy contract loss, it expects annual recurring revenue (ARR) momentum to continue in FY 2027 and beyond.

So, with its shares down near multi-year lows, the broker has retained its buy rating with an $8.50 price target. It said:

OCL’s FY26 result was largely in line with expectations. The result came however with more sticker shock in the form of another legacy contract loss leading to a further $3.2m ARR reduction. OCL enters FY27 with ARR of $114.1m. Despite this softening & FX headwinds during the year, OCL continued to see strong underlying SaaS growth momentum and progress of a number of strategic milestones (including the launch of Build Australia), which is key to ARR momentum and FY27+ outlook. Rebasing our forecasts for OCL’s revised FY27 ARR and guidance sees our NPAT estimates reduce by ~18-21% in FY27-28F. Following these revisions OCL is trading on FY27F P/E of 24x, with a share price near 5 years lows. We therefore reiterate our BUY rating with a revised PT of $8.50/sh.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Finally, Morgans remains positive on this logistics software company and believes it is an ASX tech stock to buy now.

After delivering a result that was largely in line with expectations, Morgans retained its buy rating on WiseTech shares with a $62.50 price target. It said:

WTC’s FY26 result was largely in line with Morgans forecasts (MorgansF), with FY26 revenue of US$1,396m and EBITDA of US$558m coming in towards the lower end of its initial FY26 guidance range. While CargoWise revenue growth of +11% was softer than expected, WTC delivered annualised run-rate savings of ~US$115m in FY26, supporting further margin expansion into FY27. FY27 guidance will see revenue growth 2H-weighted, reflecting the timing of growth initiatives, while Underlying EBITDA guidance of US$725-780m implies EBITDA margins tracking back towards 49-51%. Our Underlying EBITDA forecasts are revised by +3%/-2% in FY27-FY28F and we retain our BUY rating with a price target of A$62.50ps (previously A$67.00ps).

The post Morgans names 3 ASX tech stocks to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport, Objective, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Objective and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in 2026, with its shares up around 12% this year.

At approximately $24.05, they are now trading close to a record high.

So, after that run, is there still value left for investors?

The price reflects high expectations

Coles is not trading like a bargain. According to CommSec, consensus earnings per share forecasts stand at 98.2 cents in FY27, $1.05 in FY28, and $1.15 in FY29.

At the current share price, that puts Coles on a P/E ratio of roughly 24.5 times forecast FY27 earnings.

I think investors are clearly being asked to pay a premium for the predictability and quality of the business.

But the multiple becomes easier for me to accept when I look further ahead. If earnings reach $1.15 per share in FY29, the current price represents around 21 times those forecast profits.

That gradual improvement is a big part of why I still see value here.

Coles has ways to improve what it already has

The growth story does not depend on Australians suddenly buying far more groceries.

Coles has spent heavily on automation across its distribution and online fulfilment operations. I think the next few years can increasingly be about extracting benefits from those investments.

Moving products through the network more efficiently can help with costs and availability, while automated fulfilment gives Coles more capacity to handle online orders as shopping habits continue changing. That is an attractive position for a mature retailer.

Additionally, with its FY26 results this month, Coles said it is accelerating investment in its new store and renewal programs, as well as priority data and technology initiatives, over the next two years.

This includes opening approximately 45 new supermarkets in infill locations and high-growth corridors, as well as the renewal of approximately 150 supermarkets.

Income could rise with earnings

The dividend forecasts also point in a positive direction. Consensus estimates are for fully-franked dividends per share of 83.5 cents in FY27, 88.8 cents in FY28, and 97.4 cents in FY29. This represents dividend yields of 3.5% to 4%.

I would not buy Coles purely for income, particularly at the current share price.

But I like seeing dividend growth alongside the expected increase in earnings. It gives shareholders another way to benefit if the company delivers on the current outlook.

What could go wrong?

A premium valuation leaves less room for disappointment.

Competition with Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Aldi remains strong, while cost pressures or weaker execution could make achieving the expected earnings growth harder.

That is why I would view Coles as a quality business at a reasonable price rather than a cheap share.

Foolish takeaway

The recent rally has certainly made Coles less attractive than it was at the start of the year.

Still, I think the next few years could justify the premium investors are paying today. Earnings are forecast to keep rising, dividends are expected to follow, and Coles has already made major investments that could improve how efficiently the business operates.

At around $24.05, I still see enough long-term value to consider Coles a buy.

The post Up 12%: Is there still value in Coles shares? 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 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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are edging lower today, which could offer an opportune buying opportunity.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed on Friday trading for $67.30. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $66.55 apiece, down 1.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, one year ago, you could have bought BHP shares for just $42.70 apiece. You’d then have enjoyed the whopping 55.9% share price gains over the past 12 months.

And that doesn’t include the two fully-franked BHP dividends, totalling $2.431 a share, that the miner has paid (or shortly will pay) for the full 2026 financial year (FY 2026).

At the current share price, BHP stock trades on a fully-franked dividend yield (partly trailing and partly pending) of 3.7%.

And looking ahead, Morgans’ Damien Nguyen forecasts more outperformance to come from Australia’s biggest miner and the biggest stock on the ASX by market cap (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Should I buy BHP shares today?

“BHP offers exposure to a portfolio of high-quality mining assets and remains well positioned to benefit from long term demand for copper and other critical minerals,” Nguyen said.

Citing the first reason you might want to buy BHP shares today, he said, “A strong operating performance, healthy cash generation and a disciplined approach to capital allocation continue to support the investment case.”

Nguyen added:

BHP appeals for potential capital growth, income and for diversified resources exposure. The company posted an attributable profit of US$9.8 billion in full year 2026, up 9% on the prior corresponding period. Revenue of US$58.8 billion was up 15%.

Then there’s BHP growing investment and returns from its copper mining operations.

“While iron ore remains important, increasing copper exposure provides leverage to electrification and decarbonisation trends,” Nguyen said.

Indeed, for FY 2026, the ASX 200 miner reported a 48% year-on-year increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from its copper division to US$18.2 billion.

That represented 54% of the miner’s full-year earnings. And it marked the first time its copper division accounted for the majority of BHP’s full-year earnings, taking that mantle from its iron ore operations.

As for the third reason you might want to buy BHP shares today, Nguyen concluded, “BHP recently declared a final fully franked dividend of 99 US cents a share.”

That equates to AU$1.392 per share (according to CommSec).

And that final passive income payout is still up for grabs.

If you want to bank the final BHP dividend, you’ll need to own shares at market close on Wednesday, 2 September. BHP trades ex-dividend on Thursday. You can then expect to be paid on 23 September.

The post Up 56%! 3 reasons to still buy BHP shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has had a strong run, but I still think there is a good reason to look at the shares today.

For me, the investment case is increasingly about what the business could look like several years from now.

At around $178.04, I would be happy to buy.

I am comfortable with the price

According to CommSec, consensus earnings per share forecasts stand at $12.07 in FY26 and $12.04 in FY27.

Clearly, analysts are not expecting much earnings growth in the near term.

But at the current share price, Rio Tinto is trading at just under 15 times forecast earnings. I think that is a reasonable multiple for a global miner with several major assets that could become increasingly important over the years ahead.

Mining earnings rarely move smoothly. Commodity prices can rise and fall considerably, so I would not expect Rio Tinto to deliver predictable annual growth like a software company.

Instead, I am interested in whether today’s investments can leave it producing more of the commodities the world needs in 5 or 10 years.

The business is gradually changing

Iron ore remains enormously important to Rio Tinto, but I think copper could become a much bigger part of how investors view the company.

Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia is central to that opportunity.

The underground operation is still ramping up and is expected to turn Oyu Tolgoi into one of the world’s largest copper mines. That gives Rio Tinto a substantial source of additional production without needing copper prices alone to drive future growth.

I like the timing. Copper is needed across electricity grids, renewable energy, data centres, electric vehicles, and wider electrification. Developing major new mines can take many years, which could make high-quality existing and emerging supply increasingly valuable.

Rio Tinto also has other copper opportunities in its pipeline, giving the company more than one potential route to increase its exposure.

For me, this longer-term story is more important than whether earnings move slightly higher or lower between FY26 and FY27.

Investors are being paid along the way

There is also a healthy income component. Consensus forecasts are for fully-franked dividends of $6.64 per share in FY26 and $6.62 in FY27.

I think receiving substantial, fully-franked dividends while Rio Tinto develops its copper operations adds to the appeal of holding the shares patiently.

Of course, dividends from miners can move significantly with commodity prices and earnings, so I would never treat those forecasts as guaranteed.

Foolish takeaway

I think it is a good time to buy Rio Tinto shares.

The near-term growth forecasts are hardly exciting, but I do not think they capture the strongest part of the investment case.

At around 15 times forecast earnings, I believe investors are paying a reasonable price for a major global miner whose production mix could become increasingly attractive as copper’s importance grows.

I would be happy to buy Rio Tinto today and give that story several years to develop.

The post Is it a great time to buy Rio Tinto shares? 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 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.

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are creating a stir today.

In morning trade on Monday, two of the big-name ASX shares are outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ‘s 0.2% losses at this time, while one is trailing.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor attention.

Telstra shares in the green amid board shakeup

Telstra shares are up 0.6% today, trading for $4.64 apiece.

Investors are tuning into the ASX 200 telco today after the company reported that Bridget Loudon-Harris will step down from the Telstra board on 13 October after six years as a director.

Loudon-Harris has served as a member of Telstra’s People and Remuneration Committee since October 2022.

Commenting on the positive impact Loudon-Harris has had in helping to support Telstra shares, chairman Craig Dunn said:

The board has benefited greatly from Bridget’s valuable insights and constructive challenge across strategy, disruption, AI, transformation and performance culture. Having an entrepreneur and digital native around the table has allowed us to bring a diverse and very important perspective to the board.

Liontown shares jump on record revenue

Like Telstra shares, Liontown shares are outperforming today, up 2.1% and changing hands for $1.22 apiece.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 lithium miner’s full-year FY 2026 results.

Over the year, Liontown produced 391,992 dry metric tonnes (dmt) and shipped 381,997 dmt of lithium concentrate at (5.1% Li₂O average grade).

And FY 2026 saw Liontown record its first-ever net profit after tax (NPAT), which came in at $93 million. The company reported record revenue of $639 million, up 114% from FY 2025.

Importantly, FY 2026 also saw Liontown transition its Kathleen Valley lithium project into a 100% underground operation.

Liontown CEO Tony Ottaviano commented:

The market handed us two very different halves in the year. Prices were weak early, so we kept costs tight and preserved cash. When the market turned, we backed our own read of it and we are now reinvesting in Kathleen Valley with the same discipline.

Northern Star shares slide amid top leadership changes

Joining Liontown and Telstra shares in turning heads today, we find Northern Star.

Shares in the ASX 200 gold mining giant are down 3.9% at the time of writing, trading for $23.82 apiece, pressured in part by a sliding gold price.

This morning, Northern Star also reported that, as previously revealed, Suresh Vadnagra will succeed Stuart Tonkin as managing director and CEO commencing on 5 October.

Tonkin stepped down as Northern Star’s managing director and CEO on Friday, 28 August. Ryan Gurner, who has worked alongside Turner as deputy CEO since 2 July, will serve as interim CEO until Vadnagra takes the reins in October.

Commenting on Tonkin’s departure, Northern Star chairman Michael Chaney said:

Through his financial acumen, integrity and leadership, Ryan has made a significant contribution to Northern Star’s growth and success over his eleven years with the Company, a period marked by substantial value creation.

The post Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Liontown FY26 results: Maiden profit, record revenue as lithium prices rebound
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform in final week of earnings season
• Why gold stocks have regained their shine: Expert
• 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.