Author: openjargon

Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) announced this week that its cash pile had surged to $948 million and that its gold production was likely to come in near the top of guidance. But have its shares run too hard on the back of the company’s performance?

The team at Jarden certainly thinks so, saying in a research note published this week that the stock is seriously overvalued.

They noted that the shares are up about 100% over the past three months compared with the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has been flat over the same period.

Valuation just too high

Jarden said the company’s market capitalisation has increased by almost $5 billion over the past three months, “and we estimate that the current Greatland share price implies a long-term gold price of about US$4,600 per ounce into perpetuity”.

The Jarden analysts added:

Whilst management have executed well on the key mining controllables, we simply do not believe that spot gold prices (or a market capitalisation of $9.7 billion compared to a purchase price of US$475m) is sustainable for the high-cost Telfer operation, and high-quality (but technically challenging) Havieron development project.

Jarden increased their 12-month price target for Greatland shares to $5.50 – well below the current price of $13.89, based on a long-term gold price of just US$2400 per ounce.

They did note that this target price would increase to $13 using a gold price of US$5000 per ounce, which is much closer to the actual spot gold price of US$5481.89.

Jarden said it changed its rating on Greatland shares to underweight and reiterated its preference for Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) and Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) in the mid-tier gold sector.

Production numbers looking strong

Greatland earlier this week said it had produced 86,273 ounces of gold during the December quarter, up 6.7% on the previous quarter, at an all-in sustaining cost of $2196 per ounce.

The company also produced 3528 tonnes of copper during the quarter.

Cash flow from operations came in at $406 million, and the company had a closing cash balance of $948 million at December 30, up from $750 million at the end of the September quarter.

Greatland Managing Director Shaun Day said it was a solid result.

We are pleased to have delivered another strong operational performance in the December quarter, with gold production of 86,273 ounces at an AISC of $2,196 per ounce. Key drivers included continued growth in open pit ore mined (a 32% increase in volume of mill feed mined) and maintained high gold recovery of 88.4%, continuing the strong trend from last quarter. “Based on the first half performance, we currently expect full-year production to trend towards the upper end of the guidance range of 260,000 – 310,000 ounces, and full-year AISC towards the lower end of the guidance range of $2,400 – $2,800 per ounce.

Mr Day said the company had “full upside” to the gold price rise during the quarter, and the company “achieved an average realised price of over $6,300 per ounce”.

The post Is it time to sell this surging gold producer? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which gold producer has built a cash pile of almost $1 billion?
• Greatland Resources delivers strong Q4 cash flow and mine expansion progress
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX gold shares go crazy as gold price rips toward US$5,000 on Friday
• Greatland Resources posts record drilling and grades at Telfer

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 Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is in focus today after the company reported managed ROM coal production of 11.0 million tonnes for the December quarter, up 21% on the prior period, and equity sales of 7.0 million tonnes, lifting 18% quarter-on-quarter.

What did Whitehaven Coal report?

• Managed ROM coal production of 11.0Mt for the quarter, up 21% on September
• Equity sales of produced coal reached 7.0Mt, up 18% on prior quarter
• Unit cost of production at ~A$135/tonne for H1 FY26, at the low end of guidance
• Net debt reduced to A$0.7 billion as at 31 December 2025, down from A$0.8 billion
• A$60–80 million annualised cost-savings target on track for FY26
• Share buy-back of 6.3 million shares in H1 FY26 for A$45 million

What else do investors need to know?

Whitehaven’s Queensland and New South Wales operations both showed solid production gains during the December quarter. QLD managed ROM production came in at 5.6Mt, while NSW managed ROM lifted 23% to 5.4Mt, with Narrabri reporting particularly strong volumes.

Coal market conditions supported higher prices for metallurgical coal. Whitehaven’s QLD operations achieved an average sale price of A$225/t, while NSW saw average thermal coal prices at A$163/t, nearly at parity with key industry benchmarks.

Cost discipline remains a focus, with unit costs at the more favourable end of expectations. The company continues to implement cost-saving initiatives across the business, aiming for up to A$80 million in annualised savings by June 2026.

What did Whitehaven Coal management say?

Paul Flynn, Managing Director & CEO:

With a solid second quarter of production and sales, Whitehaven closed the first half of FY26 with 20.0Mt of managed ROM production including 11.0Mt in the December quarter.

We continue to experience strong demand for Whitehaven’s products, with 12.8Mt of equity coal sales for the first half including 7.0Mt for the quarter. Metallurgical coal prices improved during the period, while thermal prices were steady on the previous quarter.

Cost discipline remains a priority, and with a half year unit cost of A$135/t, we are tracking well within the guidance range of A$130-145/t.

Whitehaven’s financial position remains strong, with net debt of ~A$0.7b and liquidity of A$1.5b at 31 December 2025.

What’s next for Whitehaven Coal?

Whitehaven says its FY26 guidance remains unchanged, with ROM coal production and sales expected to be at the upper half of the targeted range. The company expects its unit costs for the half to be around A$135/t, and capital expenditure is within plans.

Management is progressing key growth projects such as the Narrabri Stage 3 Extension and the Winchester South metallurgical coal project. The company plans to maintain strict capital discipline and will update investors on cost-saving progress at the half-year results in February 2026.

Whitehaven Coal share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Whitehaven Coal shares have risen 52%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Whitehaven Coal posts strong Q2 production and cost control appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Perpetual reports mixed results in FY26 second quarter update
• AMP reports FY24 results and cost allocation changes
• Perseus Mining posts quarterly gold output and solid cash, progresses key projects
• IGO posts improved earnings on higher lithium price, Nova strength
• Mineral Resources upgrades lithium guidance on strong Q2 sales

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.

Gold has surged to fresh all-time highs this week, pushing above US$5,300 per ounce for the first time ever. The move extends one of the strongest rallies the precious metal has seen in decades.

Prices are now up more than 20% over the past month, with spot gold currently trading around US$5,321 after hitting a record intraday high of US$5,325.49.

The surge reflects rising demand for defensive assets as investors respond to ongoing global uncertainty.

Why is gold surging?

A renewed rush into safe-haven assets has been the main driver. Rising geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and ongoing uncertainty have unsettled markets, pushing investors toward gold as a store of value.

Currency moves have also helped. The US dollar has weakened in recent weeks, which makes gold cheaper for overseas buyers and boosts global demand.

Central banks are another important source of support. Many have been steadily increasing their gold holdings as they diversify away from the US dollar. That buying has continued into 2026, helping support prices as gold trades at record levels.

Interest rate expectations are also influencing demand. Markets are increasingly expecting interest rate cuts later this year. Lower rates make gold more attractive compared to cash and bonds, which offer less return when rates fall.

Strong demand is also being seen on the ground. Bullion dealers across Australia have reported long queues and strong retail interest as everyday investors look to buy physical gold during the rally.

How far can gold go from here?

Major investment banks have turned increasingly bullish. Several institutions now see gold prices holding above US$5,000 for an extended period, with some forecasts pointing toward US$5,500 or even US$6,000 if current conditions persist.

That said, short-term pullbacks are always possible after such a sharp move. Profit-taking, shifts in sentiment, or changes in currency markets could trigger volatility. Still, many analysts argue that the underlying drivers supporting gold remain firmly in place for now.

How can investors gain exposure?

Investors have several ways to gain exposure to gold, depending on their preferences and risk tolerance.

Buying physical gold bars or coins remains a popular option, though storage and insurance can add complexity.

Another approach is using exchange-traded products that track the gold price. For Australian investors, Global X Physical Gold Structured (ASX: GOLD) offers a simple way to gain exposure to physical gold through the ASX, without the need to store bullion directly.

Gold mining shares are another option, offering potential leverage to rising gold prices.

Foolish bottom line

Gold’s surge above US$5,300 highlights how strongly investors are responding to today’s mix of geopolitical risk, currency weakness, and shifting interest rate expectations.

While the rally may not be smooth from here, gold’s role as a defensive asset stands out in the current environment.

The key question is no longer whether the gold rally can continue, but how much exposure investors are comfortable taking on.

The post Gold hits $5,300! How far can this rally go? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• With gold up 71%, which is the best ASX gold ETF to buy?
• Want to buy gold in 2026? Here are 3 ways to do it

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.

The Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT) share price is in focus today after the company reported a mixed performance across its business divisions in its second quarter FY26 update, with total group assets under management decreasing to $227.5 billion.

What did Perpetual report?

• Total assets under management (AUM) fell 1.9% to $227.5 billion at 31 December 2025.
• Net outflows of $7.8 billion, or $6.6 billion excluding cash, in the quarter.
• Corporate Trust’s funds under administration (FUA) rose 2.1% to $1.31 trillion.
• Wealth Management’s FUA remained flat at $21.9 billion.
• First-half 2026 performance fees expected to be about $10 million, mainly from J O Hambro and Perpetual Asset Management strategies.
• 1H26 significant items (post tax) are expected between $54 million and $63 million, with no impairments anticipated.

What else do investors need to know?

Perpetual’s Asset Management division saw net outflows and unfavourable currency movements, partially offset by positive market moves. Barrow Hanley and J O Hambro both experienced outflows, while Perpetual Asset Management recorded net inflows on new fixed income strategies.

The Corporate Trust arm delivered growth across all major segments, with particular strength in Debt Market Services and Managed Fund Services. Digital and Market Assets under Administration jumped 4.1% to $585.8 billion.

Discussions are ongoing with Bain Capital Private Equity over the sale of the Wealth Management business. While advanced, there is still no certainty the deal will go ahead, and more information is expected at the half-year results in February.

What did Perpetual management say?

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Bernard Reilly said:

The quarter saw a mixed performance across our businesses. Corporate Trust performed strongly across all three of its segments, Asset Management was impacted by net outflows and Wealth Management was stable despite the ongoing sale process for the business.

What’s next for Perpetual?

Perpetual will provide another update on the potential Wealth Management sale as part of its half year 2026 results, scheduled for 26 February 2026. Management remains focused on keeping expense growth below guidance and continuing investment in the Corporate Trust business.

The outlook includes careful management of costs, as the company tracks positively against its 2%–3% full-year expense growth guidance. Investors can also expect further updates on assets under management performance and progress across the group’s individual boutiques.

Perpetual share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perpetual shares have declined 14% trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Perpetual reports mixed results in FY26 second quarter update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Whitehaven Coal posts strong Q2 production and cost control
• AMP reports FY24 results and cost allocation changes
• Perseus Mining posts quarterly gold output and solid cash, progresses key projects
• IGO posts improved earnings on higher lithium price, Nova strength
• Mineral Resources upgrades lithium guidance on strong Q2 sales

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 AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price is in focus today after the company announced changes to its cost allocation and cost-to-income methodology. AMP reported underlying NPAT of $236 million and revenue of $1,252 million for FY24.

What did AMP report?

• FY24 revenue: $1,252 million
• Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT): $236 million for FY24
• Total controllable costs: $648 million in FY24
• New cost-to-income ratio methodology; restated FY24 CTI at 67.6%
• Re-allocation of $48 million in FY24 costs from Group to business units
• Controllable cost guidance for FY26: $630–$640 million

What else do investors need to know?

AMP has overhauled how it allocates costs following its Business Simplification program. The business unit results for prior periods have been restated, but this doesn’t affect group-wide NPAT or overall controllable costs.

The updated cost-to-income (CTI) ratio methodology, now aligned with industry peers, removes some investment income from the calculation. This offers a more apples-with-apples comparison for investors.

AMP is sticking with its cost guidance for FY25, while FY26 costs are expected to rise moderately to account for inflation and the expansion of AMP Bank GO.

What’s next for AMP?

Looking ahead, AMP expects to keep FY25 costs in line with prior guidance, while projecting a slight increase in FY26 as it invests in scaling up its banking operations and responds to inflationary pressures.

Management believes these changes will give investors a clearer, more meaningful picture of how AMP’s business units are tracking, and supports the company’s focus on ongoing simplification and efficiency.

AMP share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, AMP shares have declined 3%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post AMP reports FY24 results and cost allocation changes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Whitehaven Coal posts strong Q2 production and cost control
• Perpetual reports mixed results in FY26 second quarter update
• Perseus Mining posts quarterly gold output and solid cash, progresses key projects
• IGO posts improved earnings on higher lithium price, Nova strength
• Mineral Resources upgrades lithium guidance on strong Q2 sales

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 team at Vanguard have released an updated outlook on Australian and global equities. 

In its Investment and Economic Outlook report, the investment firm provided commentary on Australia, USA, Mexico, Japan, UK, Canada, Europe, and China. 

Chinese equities have been an emerging story for global investors thanks to the country’s AI development and exposure.

China is a global leader in semiconductor production, but it isn’t limiting its AI participation to this segment. 

Last month, I covered that Chinese companies engaged in battery manufacturing and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been benefiting from the Chinese AI boom. 

However, a new report from Vanguard has provided a more modest outlook on Chinese equities moving forward. 

AI to drive near-term growth, but upside is limited

In yesterday’s report from Vanguard, the ETF provider said China’s AI development appears faster but less impactful than that of the US. 

According to the report, China’s front-loaded strategy is driven by a strong digital ecosystem, robust energy infrastructure, greater acceptance of AI, aggressive government funding, and a vast talent pool in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Vanguard said these factors imply near-term upside risk, but it sees more limited upside potential for capital deepening and productivity gains. 

Efficient models and strong infrastructure reduce the need for heavy investment, and China’s labour market is significantly less exposed to potential AI automation because jobs are far more concentrated in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction than in the US.

Commenting on this outlook, Grant Feng, Vanguard Senior Economist, said: 

Faster AI adoption in China will boost real growth in the near term, but the upside potential is limited for future capital deepening and productivity gains. Structural headwinds are strong, and AI alone won’t be enough to lift the economy.

The report said Vanguard expects GDP growth to ease modestly to 4.5% in 2026, with tariff drags partly offset by a rebound in manufacturing and infrastructure investment. 

How can Aussie investors get exposure to Chinese equities?

For Aussie investors more bullish on the Chinese market, there are a few pure-play thematic ETFs to consider. 

The first is the iShares China Large-Cap AUD ETF (ASX: IZZ). 

As the name suggests, it is designed to measure the performance of 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese companies that trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

It has risen roughly 13.8% in the last year. 

Investors more focused on Chinese tech exposure might consider the Global X China Tech ETF (ASX: DRGN). 

It offers access to 20 leading Chinese technology companies listed in Hong Kong and Mainland across 15 core sectors, including semiconductors, robotics, software, and internet platforms.

It has risen more than 20% in the last year. 

Finally, VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW) offers exposure to roughly 120 Chinese companies with growth prospects in sectors that make up ‘the New Economy’. 

These are sectors such as technology, health care, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary.

It has risen 14% in the last 12 months. 

The post Should Aussie investors have exposure to Chinese equities in 2026? – Expert  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) share price is in focus after the gold miner delivered quarterly gold production of 88,888 ounces and finished the period with a cash and bullion balance of US$755 million.

What did Perseus Mining report?

• Gold production of 88,888 ounces in the December 2025 quarter, down from 99,953 ounces in the prior quarter
• All-In Site Costs (AISC) increased to US$1,800 per ounce (up from US$1,516 in Q1 FY26)
• Average realised gold price reached US$3,437 per ounce
• Operating cashflow of US$145 million for the quarter
• Cash and bullion balance at quarter-end of US$755 million, plus US$229 million in listed securities
• Company paid an additional 2% royalty in Côte d’Ivoire, totalling US$20 million in Q2

What else do investors need to know?

Perseus Mining continued to advance major development projects. The CMA Underground at Yaouré delivered its first ore in January 2026, marking a key step toward commercial production, while the Nyanzaga project in Tanzania remains on schedule for first gold production in January 2027.

During the quarter, Perseus launched an unsuccessful takeover offer for Predictive Discovery Limited. Additionally, the company refinanced and upsized its debt facility to US$400 million, improving future funding flexibility. On the sustainability front, the group maintained a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of zero, though tragically two contractor fatalities occurred in an offsite accident.

What did Perseus Mining management say?

Managing Director and CEO Craig Jones said:

Despite some operational headwinds in the December quarter, particularly at Yaouré, our team has kept a strong focus on safety and advancing our growth projects. We remain well placed to deliver on our FY26 production targets and continue investing in the future of Perseus.

What’s next for Perseus Mining?

Perseus continues to guide for full year FY26 gold production of 400,000 to 440,000 ounces, with group AISC expected in the range of US$1,600–1,760 per ounce. The company flagged that production will be weighted to the second half, given higher grade ore is expected from Edikan and Sissingué. Key project milestones ahead include ramping up the CMA Underground and keeping Nyanzaga development on track. Exploration will also remain an area of active investment across its African portfolio.

Perseus Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perseus Mining shares have risen 127%, strongly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Perseus Mining posts quarterly gold output and solid cash, progresses key projects appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Whitehaven Coal posts strong Q2 production and cost control
• Perpetual reports mixed results in FY26 second quarter update
• AMP reports FY24 results and cost allocation changes
• IGO posts improved earnings on higher lithium price, Nova strength
• Mineral Resources upgrades lithium guidance on strong Q2 sales

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.

If you have $5,000 to invest and want exposure to the technology sector, it could make sense to focus on businesses with proven products and long-term growth runways rather than short-term hype.

With that in mind, here are three ASX tech shares I would consider buying today.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The first ASX tech share I would buy with the money is Catapult Sports. It is a sport analytics and wearables company.

Its technology and analytics software are used by elite teams to monitor athlete performance, manage workloads, and reduce injury risk. Once embedded, these systems become part of day-to-day decision-making for coaches and performance staff.

After years of investing in product development and global reach, the focus is shifting more toward cash generation and operating leverage. With a large installed customer base, expanding analytics capabilities, and recent acquisitions, growth no longer relies solely on signing new teams, but on extracting more value from existing relationships.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Another ASX tech share I would buy with $5,000 is Pro Medicus.

Its health imaging platforms are designed to handle enormous volumes of medical data with speed and precision, which is becoming increasingly important as imaging complexity grows and radiologist shortages persist.

What sets Pro Medicus apart is not just the quality of its technology, but how it wins business. Contracts are typically large, long-term, and with major hospital groups, particularly in the United States. Once installed, the software becomes deeply integrated into clinical workflows, creating very high switching costs.

Rather than chasing rapid expansion at any cost, Pro Medicus has built a business that prioritises margins, discipline, and scalability, which can be a powerful combination over time.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

A final ASX tech share I would consider for the money is WiseTech Global.

WiseTech provides software that supports global logistics and freight forwarding. Its platform handles complex regulatory, compliance, and operational tasks that become more challenging as supply chains grow more interconnected.

What often gets overlooked is how incremental WiseTech’s growth can be. The company continually adds functionality, acquires complementary businesses, and deepens its role within customer operations. These changes may not always grab headlines, but they strengthen customer reliance on the platform.

While sentiment has been hit hard due to executive controversies and product launch delays, I believe this is just a minor blip on a very big future.

The post 3 ASX tech shares I would buy with $5,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price is in focus after the company posted a solid December quarter, highlighting stronger operational performance at Nova and a 16% lift in the realised spodumene price at Greenbushes.

What did IGO report?

• Group sales revenue of $82.4 million, down 22% on the previous quarter
• Group underlying EBITDA up 55% to $29.9 million
• Positive operating cash flow of $12.8 million and underlying free cash flow of $13.4 million
• Greenbushes spodumene production increased to 352kt (up 10%), with sales of 328kt
• Nova nickel production rose to 3,790 tonnes, up 11%; copper to 1,776 tonnes (+29%)
• Net cash increased to $298.9 million at quarter end

What else do investors need to know?

IGO continued to deliver on safety, with its Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) improving from 8.0 to 5.8. The company recorded no serious potential incidents for the quarter, reflecting a stronger safety culture and refreshed risk controls.

At Greenbushes, first ore from CGP3 was processed in December, marking a major milestone. Spodumene production and EBITDA margin (64%) both improved, supported by higher ore grades and a stronger lithium price. However, Kwinana lithium hydroxide production declined to 2,120 tonnes due to planned maintenance, limiting output to 35% of nameplate capacity for the quarter.

Board renewal is underway, with Dr Vanessa Guthrie AO appointed Chair from 1 January 2026, and a new CFO, Johan van Vuuren, to join in April. IGO is also progressing a transaction to transfer certain Forrestania nickel assets to Medallion Metals, while retaining rights over nickel and lithium.

What’s next for IGO?

IGO’s outlook for the rest of FY26 remains steady. Greenbushes spodumene output is expected to come in just below the lower end of guidance, but capex is running below forecast thanks to disciplined capital management. Attention will stay on ramping up the new CGP3 plant.

At Kwinana, production should remain within prior guidance. The Nova operation continues to perform ahead of plan, with stable nickel volumes and costs. Investors can expect more portfolio optimisation, ongoing exploration, and board renewal activity through the year.

IGO share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, IGO hares have risen 73%, strongly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post IGO posts improved earnings on higher lithium price, Nova strength 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 Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price is in focus today after the miner released a strong Q2 FY26 update, with lithium sales up 29% and iron ore shipments hitting record levels.

What did Mineral Resources report?

• Quarterly attributable lithium spodumene production: 138,000 dmt SC6; sales: 143,000 dmt SC6 at US$1,094/dmt, up 29% on the previous quarter
• Iron ore: Onslow Iron shipped 8.7Mt (100% basis) with 1H26 costs tracking at $52/wmt, near the bottom end of guidance
• Lithium FY26 volume guidance upgraded: Wodgina to 260–280k dmt SC6 (previously 220–240k); Mt Marion to 190–210k dmt SC6 (previously 160–180k)
• Group liquidity strengthened to over $1.4B; net debt reduced to about $4.9B from $5.4B
• Binding agreement for POSCO Holdings to acquire a 30% stake in MinRes’ lithium operations for ~US$765M

What else do investors need to know?

The company maintained FY26 volume and cost guidance across all divisions except for the higher lithium volumes. Operating performance in mining services also improved, with a 5% quarterly increase in production volumes to 85Mt.

MinRes continues to reduce its net debt as Onslow Iron ramps up to nameplate capacity, and the liquidity position is bolstered by strong operating cash flows and financing activities, including a recent US$700M bond issue and successful refinancing of existing notes.

Board renewal saw two new Independent Non-Executive Directors welcomed, and the safety record improved, with the LTIFR dropping to 0.00 for the quarter. MinRes also advanced key iron ore and lithium projects and flagged ongoing exploration at Wodgina and Mt Marion.

What’s next for Mineral Resources?

Looking ahead, the Wodgina and Mt Marion lithium upgrades put MinRes in a strong position to benefit from higher pricing into the second half of FY26. The company is focused on completing the POSCO transaction and managing its capital structure as it maintains operating discipline.

Further iron ore cost improvements are targeted as new projects like Lamb Creek and lower-cost ore sources come online, supporting long-term production and margin stability. MinRes continues to assess the possible restart of Bald Hill and development options at Mt Marion.

Mineral Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Mineral Resources shares have risen 73%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period. 

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The post Mineral Resources upgrades lithium guidance on strong Q2 sales 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.