Author: openjargon

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is in focus today after the company reported a strong Lytton Refiner Margin and lifted preliminary FY25 profit figures.

What did Ampol report?

• Lytton Refiner Margin (LRM) for Q4 FY25 was US$15.14 per barrel, up from US$4.60 year-on-year
• Preliminary Group RCOP EBITDA for FY25 of approximately $1,435 million
• Preliminary Group RCOP EBIT for FY25 of approximately $945 million
• Convenience Retail volumes fell 4.4% to 3,489 million litres (ML) over the year
• Total sales volume (Group) declined 7.7% to 25,175 ML
• Refinery production rose 4.9% year-on-year to 5,519 ML

What else do investors need to know?

Ampol’s Convenience Retail business in Australia achieved mid-single digit EBIT growth, showing resilience despite a dip in volumes. In New Zealand, the fourth quarter delivered a stronger EBIT, helping full-year results remain steady amid challenging conditions.

The fuels and infrastructure segment in Australia posted high single-digit percentage RCOP EBIT growth, even as wholesale volumes declined. International fuels and infrastructure delivered a modest profit, reflecting the company’s focus on supplying its own operations in Australia and New Zealand.

What’s next for Ampol?

Ampol will detail its final audited FY25 results on 23 February 2026. Management highlights a continued focus on operational performance and margin optimisation in both refining and retail segments.

The company looks to maintain momentum in convenience and infrastructure while navigating changing market dynamics, especially in the face of economic challenges across its markets.

Ampol share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ampol shares have risen 7%, running slightly ahead of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ampol FY25 profits rise on refinery margin 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.

I think that one of the best ways to grow wealth is to make buy and hold investments.

The good news is that exchange traded funds (ETFs) make this style of investing easier than ever by allowing you to buy large groups of shares in one go.

But which Australian ETFs could be good buy and hold forever options? Let’s take a look at three top funds:

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

The first Australian ETF that could be a forever-style hold is the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF.

Rather than relying on judgement calls or stock selection, this ETF simply mirrors the Australian share market itself. As companies grow, shrink, merge, or disappear, the index adjusts automatically. That means the portfolio is always evolving without needing to take action.

This is a powerful idea for long-term investors. You are not betting on which shares will win, only that Australian businesses as a whole will continue to generate profits over time. Dividends, franking credits, and gradual capital growth are all captured along the way.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF works because it removes decision-making. For many investors, that simplicity is exactly what allows them to stay invested for decades.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

Another Australian ETF to consider is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF, which takes a more selective approach.

Instead of owning the entire market, the fund focuses on ASX shares with strong balance sheets, high returns on equity, and consistent earnings. In other words, it leans toward businesses that tend to do fewer things wrong over time.

In addition, quality-focused portfolios often experience less extreme swings than the broader market, which can make them easier to hold through periods of uncertainty. That can matter just as much as returns when investing over very long timeframes.

Overall, the Betashares Australian Quality ETF could suit investors who want Australian exposure, but with a built-in tilt toward financial strength and discipline rather than size alone.

The team at Betashares recently recommended this ETF.

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

A final Australian ETF to look at is the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF.

It provides investors with exposure to Australia’s technology sector, including software, payments, and digital platform businesses. This is a space defined by innovation, but also by volatility, and that has been on full display recently.

This ASX ETF is currently down almost 25% from its 52-week high amid broader weakness across global tech shares. This could prove to be a compelling opportunity for buy and hold investors.

This fund was also recently recommended by Betashares.

The post 3 Australian ETFS to buy and hold forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) share price is in focus today after the gold miner reported operating cash inflows of $388.6 million for the December quarter and finished the year with $584.1 million in cash and cash equivalents.

What did West African Resources report?

• Operating cash inflow: $388.6 million for the quarter; $789.7 million for the year to date
• Ending cash and cash equivalents: $584.1 million at 31 December 2025
• Payments to suppliers and employees: $229.3 million for the quarter; $616.7 million for the year to date
• Capital expenditure (property, plant, equipment): $112.9 million for the quarter; $430.0 million for the year
• Borrowings: $24.3 million proceeds raised; $27.9 million repayments in the quarter
• No dividends announced during the quarter

What else do investors need to know?

West African Resources has a robust financial position, with total available funding of $584.1 million at quarter end. The group increased its cash balance significantly over the quarter, highlighting strong operating performance and ongoing cash generation.

The company continues to invest in property, plant, and equipment, supporting its production operations. Financing activity included both the drawing and repayment of borrowings during the quarter, with major secured loans arranged through Sprott Resource Lending Corp and Coris Bank International SA, as well as unsecured equipment finance.

What’s next for West African Resources?

Looking ahead, West African Resources appears well-funded to support further production and possible expansion projects, with no indication of funding shortfalls. The company’s consistent cash flows from its mining operations offer a foundation for ongoing site development and potential new exploration activities.

Investors will likely watch for future updates on production volumes, expansion projects, or any material changes in capital allocation as the company builds on its strong cash position.

West African Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, West African Resources shares have risen 132%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post West African Resources posts strong December quarter cash inflows 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.

It’s fair to say the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is off to a strong start in 2026. 

Australia’s benchmark index is up approximately 2% already in January. 

This has been led by resources and materials sectors that have both risen by roughly 10%. 

Two strong performing individual ASX 200 stocks have been Alcoa Corp (ASX: AAI) and Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC). 

However, yesterday both companies endured a heavy sell-off, with share price drops of 9% and 5% respectively. 

The question investors might now be asking is if this is a buy the dip situation or if these stocks have already peaked.

Let’s find out. 

Alcoa Corp (ASX: AAI)

Alcoa is a vertically integrated aluminum company whose operations include bauxite mining, alumina refining, and manufacturing primary aluminum. 

It is the world’s largest bauxite miner and alumina refiner by production volume, and the eighth-largest aluminum producer. Profits are closely tied to prevailing commodity prices along the aluminum supply chain.

Its share price is up roughly 50% in the last 12 months, and remains up 5% in 2026 even including yesterday’s heavy fall. 

It has benefited from tailwinds over the last year including rising commodities, strategic decisions, and new capital flows into hard assets. 

There was no price sensitive news out of the company yesterday, however the stock price tumbled almost 9%. 

After hitting 52 week highs prior to releasing its full-year FY25 earnings, it appears this ASX 200 stock is now coming back down closer to fair value. 

So should investors buy the dip?

Analyst ratings via TradingView suggest fair value for Alcoa Corp shares is around $87.86. 

This is just 3% higher than yesterday’s closing price. 

Based on this price target, it seems there is limited upside potential for this ASX 200 stock. 

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

Lynas Rare Earths have been another mining stock that has enjoyed a bull run in the last 12 months. 

Its stock price is up almost 150% in the last 12 months, including 31% just in January 2026. 

However yesterday it appears investors were profit taking as the stock price fell 5%. 

The company is primarily involved in the exploration, development, and processing of rare earth minerals in Australia and Malaysia. It is one of few rare earth producers outside of China.

Expert ratings of this ASX 200 stock are mixed. 

Morgan Stanley is the most optimistic, with a price target of $19.45 suggesting an upside of 21.49%. 

However, Bell Potter believes that this ASX 200 stock has peaked. 

The broker has a price target of $11.15, which indicates a downside of 30%. 

The post Should you buy the dip on these red hot ASX 200 stocks? 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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares closed higher on Tuesday, up 0.92% to 8,941.6 points.

In this article, three experts provide their views on three big names in the marketplace today.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price closed at $4.50 on Tuesday, up 2.51%, after hitting a 52-week high of $4.54.

Morgans has a buy rating on this diversified ASX 200 mining share with a 12-month price target of $5.

The broker increased its price target from $4.50 after South32 released its 2Q FY26 update last week.

Morgans said South32 achieved a modest beat on consensus expectations for operations, supported by strong alumina and silver output.

The broker commented:

FY26 guidance on operated assets unchanged, Brazil Aluminium under review.

We have applied updated house precious metal forecasts to our estimates.

Post-Illawarra divestment, S32 is ~90% base metal producer with limited execution risk (ex-Hermosa) and enjoying a healthy (and material) upgrade cycle from copper, aluminium and silver prices.

Positioned to benefit from the upcycle, we maintain our BUY rating with a A$5.00 Target Price (was A$4.30).

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

The Sigma Healthcare share price closed at $3.09 on Tuesday, up 0.98%.

On The Bull this week, Remo Greco from Sanlam Private Wealth revealed a hold rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share.

Greco explained:

At its recent annual general meeting, this retail pharmacy franchisor and pharmaceutical wholesaler announced it would continue to roll out new stores domestically and internationally. It would revitalise the Amcal and Discount Drug Store brands.

Chemist Warehouse network sales were up 17.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 and like-for-like sales were up 14.7 per cent.

So far, SIG appears to be delivering on its lofty expectations.

Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The Technology One share price closed at $27.11, down 0.26% today.

Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group has a hold rating on this ASX 200 tech share.

Bromley described the company as a high quality, recurring revenue software business with product depth and customer loyalty.

However, he noted the share price pullback, with Technology One losing 31% of its value over six months.

Bromley commented:

Near term momentum has been lacklustre, with growth rates moderating.

The share price pull-back leaves TNE as a hold, or even presents an opportunity to accumulate a longer term powerhouse during a period of sector- wide re-pricing.

TNE remains a structural leader in enterprise applications and we don’t see this market strength ceasing any time soon.

The post Sigma Healthcare, TechnologyOne, South32 shares: Buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in South32. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX ETFs are a great investment tool for instant diversification.

Many investors see ETFs as a way to reduce risk/overexposure. 

However many investors also assume this limits upside. 

It’s true that an ASX ETF isn’t going to double in a day of trading like a speculative penny stock. 

But thematic funds can still post market beating gains. 

As a benchmark, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 2.45% year to date. 

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) is up 1.72%. 

Here are three ASX ETFs that are off to a red hot start to the year – bringing investors big returns compared to these benchmark indexes. 

BetaShares Global Gold Miners ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: MNRS)

Gold shares and gold mining companies were one of the headline stories of 2025 as investors looked towards the safe-haven asset. 

This investment trend has continued into 2026. 

The Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF has already risen 22.92% since the start of the year. 

According to Betashares, the fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that comprises the largest global gold mining companies (ex-Australia), hedged into Australian dollars.

The fund is up 191% over the last 12 months. 

At the time of writing, it is made up of 49 holdings, with its largest geographical exposure being to: 

• Canada (44.0%)
• United States (14.3%)
• South Africa (13.4%)

Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE)

This ASX ETF soared more than 7% higher yesterday. 

After yesterday’s surge, the fund is now up approximately 19% year to date and 112% over the last 12 months. 

According to Global X, it provides access to a global basket of copper miners which stand to benefit from being a key part of the value chain facilitating growth in major areas of innovation such as technology, infrastructure and clean energy.

It is currently made up of 39 Australian and international holdings all operating in the metals and mining sector.

Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

Another fund off to a hot start in 2026 is the Global X Semiconductor ETF. 

It has risen by more than 11% year to date and 54% over the last 12 months. 

According to Global X, it seeks to invest in companies that stand to potentially benefit from the broader adoption of tech-enabled devices that require semiconductors. 

This includes the development and manufacturing of semiconductors.

These companies are primarily located in United States (62.25%), Taiwan (11.85%) and Netherlands (11.75%).

The post 3 ASX ETFs off to a hot start in 2026 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.

I’m sure if investors had a time machine, they would go back to this time last year and buy DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares.

Since then, this popular ASX defence stock has risen an incredible 575%.

But perhaps you don’t need a time machine after all. That’s because Bell Potter believes there is a small cap ASX defence stock which has the potential to deliver incredible returns over the next 12 months.

Though, it is a high risk, high reward play, which means it would only be suitable for investors with a high tolerance for risk.

Which ASX defence stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is tipping as a speculative buy is AML3D Ltd (ASX: AL3).

It is a $97 million welding, metallurgical science, robotics, and software business, which produces automated 3D printing systems that utilise wire additive manufacturing (WAM) technology to produce metal components and structures.

Bell Potter highlights that WAM is particularly useful for the printing of large scale complex industrial parts for the defence, oil & gas, and aerospace sectors.

What is the Bell Potter saying?

The broker highlights that there are growing demand signals from the UK and European defence sectors for AML3D’s offering, with its order book increasing strongly. It said:

AL3’s December 2025 quarterly report points to increased system orders in the US, emerging demand signals from the UK and European defence sectors and ongoing R&D in Australia to support the next generation of ARCEMY systems. AL3’s order book is now $16.5m, which includes $9m of orders on hand at the opening of FY26 plus more recently announced orders including $1.7m from FasTech (US contract printer), $4.5m from HII (Newport News Shipbuilding ordering two ARCEMY systems) and $1.2m from Austal (for a rapid deployment system).

Bell Potter also highlights that the ASX defence stock’s US expansion strategy is gathering momentum, adding:

AL3 continues to advance its US expansion strategy and while the key orders in this quarterly had previously been reported, the report highlights that the revenues are expected to be forthcoming in the current financial year. Delivery into the July 2025 US Navy LOI is yet to reach critical mass (only the HII order so far) and is the key opportunity for sales growth through HII and other defence sector prime contractors.

UK/Europe is also a key opportunity where system sales should commence and accelerate in the coming quarters. AL3’s sales model (upfront payments from customers) has again enabled maintenance of a strong balance sheet.

Big potential returns

According to the note, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating and 40 cents price target on the ASX defence stock.

Based on its current share price of 18 cents, this implies potential upside of 120% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its recommendation, Bell Potter concludes:

AL3’s technology is particularly suited to maritime applications, giving it strong leverage into demand growth from the US Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base and the US SHIPS Act. Over FY26-27, we expect AL3 to increase deployment of ARCEMY systems to the US and Europe, increase prototyping activity and ultimately commence commercial scale production of components.

There is potential for the Navy LOI to expand beyond the Maritime Industrial Base to land-based assets. AL3 will also look to deploy its technology into non-defence sector industrial manufacturing.

The post Is this ASX defence stock the next DroneShield? Broker tips 120% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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.

Consumer staples stock Ricegrowers Ltd (ASX: SGLLV) has been gaining some serious momentum over the last year. 

Recent performance saw it added to the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) during 2025. 

The company offers rice and related products. 

Business activities of the company are operated under Rice Pool, International Rice, Rice Food, Riviana, CopRice, and Corporate segments. 

The principal activities of the company and its entities consist of the purchase and storage of paddy rice, the milling, processing, manufacturing, procurement, distribution, and marketing of rice and related products, animal feed and nutrition products, groceries, and others.

Recent performance

This consumer staples stock closed trading yesterday at $16.17 per share. 

That’s a 53% increase over the past year. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) is up just 0.82% over that same period. 

The consumer staples sector in general has been one of the poorest performing in the last year. 

This growth from Ricegrowers isn’t just exclusive to the last 12 months. 

According to Bell Potter, since transitioning its listing to the ASX in 2019, Ricegrowers has achieved compound revenue growth of +11% p.a., compound EBITDA growth of +17% p.a. and compound EPS growth of +15% p.a. 

Initiated coverage from Bell Potter

The team at Bell Potter has initiated coverage on this ASX consumer staples stock with a buy recommendation. 

The broker says it expects FY27e to be a year of earnings consolidation given the materially reduced NSW rice crop (to a 7-year low). 

Bell Potter also highlighted the 2030 targets from the company. 

At the heart of the strategy SGLLV has a stated aspirational targets of reaching $3.0Bn in revenues, improving profitability margins and delivering consistent paddy prices >$500/t to create a more stable rice pool in the Riverina (@~500kt). 

Central to the strategy is doubling the revenue base in ANZ, USA and the Middle East, continuing to develop the rice based snacking business and enhancing growth in the consumer and pet food portfolios.

Attractive valuation 

The team at Bell Potter said the current valuation is relatively attractive compared to similar businesses. 

The broker said parts of its rice business are comparable to dairy processors, its stockfeed operations are similar to other listed feed companies, and its cropping exposure is in line with agricultural peers. 

Even though grain processors usually trade at lower valuations than dairy or FMCG companies, SGLLV’s current valuation of about 8–9x future EBITDA looks cheap versus a more reasonable long-term blended valuation of around 10–11x.

Bell Potter currently has a price target of $18.75. 

This indicates a potential upside of almost 16% from yesterday’s closing price. 

The post Up 50% in 6 months, this ASX consumer staples stock is tipped to keep rising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Sigma Healthcare, TechnologyOne, South32 shares: Buy, hold, or sell?
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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 recommended Ricegrowers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Australian share market has delivered wealth-building returns for decades. As we covered last year, long-term investors would have been far better off investing (through an ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF)) in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX XJO) than if they had bought government bonds, or even worse, left their money in the bank.

Most investors who buy individual ASX stocks have beating ‘the market’, represented by an ASX 200 index fund, as one of their goals. But this is easier said than done. Even professional investors can struggle to outperform the ASX 200 over long stretches of time.

But there might be a shortcut that investors wanting the best returns can exploit. So today, let’s look at two ASX ETFs that have historically delivered returns that have well-exceeded the Australian share market.

For some context, the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ), the largest ASX 200 index fund on the ASX, returned 10.36% over the 12 months to 31 December 2025 (including dividend distributions). It has averaged 11.31% per annum over the past three years, 9.83% per annum over the past five, and 9.2% over the past ten.

2 market-beating ASX ETFs to consider

First up, we have the BetaShares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO). This fund holds a portfolio of global companies that are selected based on levels of free cash flow that they consistently generate. These stocks, according to the provider, “have historically tended to outperform broad global equity benchmarks over the medium to long term”.

Some of CFLO’s current holdings include Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL), Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ: COST), Visa Inc (NYSE: V) and Johnson and Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).

This ETF has only been around since November 2023. However, the index that it tracks has been around a lot longer, meaning we can still analyse its performance against the ASX 200. Over the three years to 31 December, this index has returned an average of 10.14% per annum, extending 0 14.68% per annum over the past five years, and 13.61% over ten. Those metrics handily beat out the Australian share market.

Next, let’s check out the BetaShares Global Royalties ETF (ASX: ROYL). This is a rather unique ASX ETF in that it holds a portfolio of global companies that earn a substantial portion of their revenues from royalty payments. Depending on the stock, those royalties could come from mines, intellectual property like music streaming, or financial deals.

Some of ROYL’s current largest holdings include Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (NYSE: WPM), Texas Pacific Land Corp (NYSE: TPL)  and Universal Music Group N.V.

This ASX ETF has returned an average of 15.38% over the three years to 31 December 2025. The index that it tracks has delivered a return of 19.81% per annum over the past five years, making it another ASX 200 market beater.

The post Want to beat the market? Try these 2 ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Costco Wholesale, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Costco Wholesale, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares closed 1.49% higher on Tuesday afternoon, at $182.29 a piece. That means the ASX-listed biotechnology company’s share price is now 6.01% higher for the year-to-date, but it’s still 33.1% below levels seen this time last year.

The global company researches, develops, manufactures, and markets products to treat and prevent serious human medical conditions. It’s well-known that the company faced several strong headwinds in 2025 which sent its share price tumbling. 

The company’s shares suffered a brutal sell-off in mid-August after its FY25 result and surprise restructure announcement. Two and a half months later, the company’s share price dropped another 19.2% to a new low of $170.77 in late-October when it downgraded its FY26 revenue and profit growth guidance. 

Have CSL shares finally reached the bottom?

In early-January, the share price dropped even further to an all-time low of $168.29. But it is currently on the strongest upward trajectory seen in months. It looks like we could finally be past the worst for CSL and instead be beginning to see green shoots of recovery.

The company has great growth potential and a strong core business too. Demand for its biotherapies and vaccines has continued to grow globally. Meanwhile, its plasma business operates one of the largest plasma collection networks in the world. 

CSL is entering a key investment phase which could help boost its financials. I’d expect that investor confidence will pick up as the company’s financials start to accelerate.

Could the shares climb as high as $300 this year?

CSL shares last passed the $300 per share barrier back in October 2024. While I’m optimistic that we’ll see a robust upside for CSL shares in 2026, I’m not sure the recovery will be strong and fast enough to return to the same level just yet.

Analysts don’t think it’ll be far off though.

TradingView data, 14 out of 18 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on CSL shares. The average target price is $227.08, which implies a potential 24.57% upside at the time of writing.

But some analysts think the shares could climb as high as $263.35 in 2026. This suggests a potential 44.47% upside from the share price at the close of the ASX on Tuesday afternoon.

Morgan Stanley is very positive on its outlook and expects a recovery this year. Meanwhile, the team at UBS think that CSL shares are materially undervalued at current levels. 

If everything travels in the right direction and CSL shares reach that broker expectations this year, then I think $300 per share could be possible in 2027. That is unless we see stronger-than-expected company growth, powerful catalysts or a wave of broker re-ratings which propel the biotech’s stock higher than expected.

The post Could CSL shares reach $300 in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.