Author: openjargon

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are edging higher on Tuesday after the oil and gas producer released its first-quarter update.

At the time of writing, shares are up 1.15% to $2.155. The stock has now climbed around 40% in 2026, supported by stronger energy prices.

Here’s a closer look at what the company reported.

Production falls but stronger oil prices support revenue

For the 3 months ending 31 March, Karoon’s latest quarter was softer on the production side.

Total output fell across both the Bauna and Who Dat assets, with group production down about 19% compared to the previous quarter.

This was mainly due to planned maintenance at Bauna and disruption at Who Dat following a riser issue.

Sales volumes also dropped, reflecting both lower production and shipment timing. Still, revenue held up better than volumes might suggest.

Karoon reported oil and gas sales revenue of US$128.2 million, which was driven by higher realised prices across the portfolio.

Average realised oil prices lifted to around US$71 per barrel at Bauna and US$65.92 per barrel at Who Dat.

Maintenance work and outages hit output

A large part of the quarter came down to maintenance work and a few disruptions.

At Bauna, a scheduled shutdown and maintenance program reduced output, although work is progressing as planned.

At Who Dat, a riser issue led to a temporary loss of production, with around 15,000 barrels per day affected at the peak.

Repairs are underway, with the company expecting a staged return to production through mid-2026.

There is also a sidetrack well planned to help lift output again.

Cash position still holding up well

Karoon finished the quarter with US$169.4 million in cash and total liquidity of US$452.7 million.

Net debt came in at US$180.6 million.

The company also paid a final dividend of 3.1 US cents per share and kept its share buyback running during the quarter.

Full-year outlook stays the same

Despite the softer quarter, full-year guidance remains unchanged.

Karoon is still targeting production of 8.1 to 9.2 million barrels of oil equivalent for 2026.

Who Dat production is expected to sit toward the lower end of that range, reflecting the earlier disruption.

Capital expenditure guidance has been lifted slightly to cover extra work tied to the sidetrack well.

What investors are watching next

While production took a hit this quarter, pricing has helped keep Karoon’s revenue steady.

The next step is seeing if output can recover as maintenance wraps up and Who Dat comes back online.

If volumes improve while oil prices stay firm, momentum could build again.

The post Up 40% this year, this ASX energy stock is still climbing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Why Cochlear, Karoon Energy, Origin Energy, and WiseTech shares are falling today
• Experts name 3 ASX 200 shares to sell now
• ASX 200 energy shares lift as pessimism over Iran war deepens
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) opened in the red again this morning. However, three ASX shares are ignoring the noise and rocketing to fresh 52-week highs. 

At the time of writing: 

• Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV) is up 7% to fresh highs of $13.80
• SKS Technologies Group Ltd (ASX: SKS) is up 1.6% to $7.20
• Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: VFY) is up 10% to $2.19

These ASX shares are now hitting fresh yearly highs. Many investors might now be questioning if it’s too late to gain positions in these companies. 

Let’s see what analysts are projecting. 

Elevra Lithium

Elevra Lithium engages in the exploration, development, and mining of lithium raw materials. Its portfolio includes projects in Québec, Canada, the United States, Ghana, and Western Australia. 

It has been one of the many ASX lithium shares charging higher this year. 

A key catalyst has been the global oil shock linked to the Iran conflict, which has increased interest in electric vehicles (EVs) as an alternative to expensive fossil fuels. This shift is boosting expected demand for lithium, a critical battery material.

At the time of writing, this ASX lithium stock is up 72% year to date. 

However, experts are suggesting that there is limited further upside. 

The average analyst forecast via TradingView indicates a fair price target of $14.03. 

This is just 2% higher than today’s share price. 

SKS Technologies

SKS Technologies engages in the development and distribution of technology products. It provides audiovisual products & solutions and electrical and communications cabling for the commercial, retail, health, defence, and education markets.

It has been drawing positive outlooks from brokers thanks to its exposure to the booming data centre (DC) market.

At the time of writing, it is up 81% year to date and sits at $7.18 per share. 

This is significantly above recent price targets from Morgans, which recently retained its accumulate rating on its shares with a revised price target of $6.70.

Other analysts’ ratings are hovering around $6.47 per share, which is 9.8% below current levels. 

Vitrafy Life Sciences

Vitrafy Life Sciences developed a range of proprietary smart cryopreservation hardware devices and Lifechain, an integrated, cloud-based software platform, to provide a complete, vertically integrated cryopreservation solution to retain the quality of cryopreserved biomaterials.

At the time of writing, its share price is up 71% year to date. 

Unlike the previous two ASX shares mentioned above, VFY shares may still have modest upside. 

According to analyst ratings via TradingView, VFY could rise a further 6% from current levels. 

The post What are brokers saying about these ASX shares hitting 52-week highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Morgans gives its verdict on these small-cap ASX shares
• Up nearly 300% in a year, this ASX stock just hit another record high
• ASX lithium shares rally as oil shock highlights EV appeal

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

This battered ASX industrial stock is pushing higher today, up around 7% to $3.25 during Tuesday morning trade. The jump has come after the company reassured investors with a steady trading update.

The rally comes after Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) reaffirmed its FY26 outlook and provided fresh clarity on key risks, including US tariffs and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Even with today’s gain, the ASX industrial stock remains about 20% lower over the past year. That’s a sharp contrast to the roughly 10% rise in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

What did Reliance Worldwide report?

Reliance Worldwide is a global plumbing and water flow solutions company. It designs and manufactures products like push-to-connect fittings, valves, and pipes used in residential and commercial buildings.

Its earnings are closely tied to construction activity, renovation trends, and input costs like metals and resins. This makes it sensitive to both economic cycles and global supply chain pressures.

Today’s update was all about stability. The ASX industrial stock confirmed that its FY26 full-year guidance remains unchanged after nine months of trading to 31 March 2026, a key confidence signal in a volatile environment.

On tariffs, the company expects the FY26 net cost impact from US measures to land at the lower end of its previously guided US$25 million to US$30 million range. Looking ahead, the company forecasts FY27 tariff impacts to ease further to between US$5 million and US$7 million.

Importantly, there were no material changes to its broader assumptions. This includes regional outlooks, group performance, cash flow conversion, or cost-saving initiatives.

Tariffs and global risks: What’s changed?

The industrial company also flagged two notable developments in US trade policy. First, tariffs imposed under emergency powers (IEEPA) were struck down by the US Supreme Court and replaced with a temporary Section 122 tariff, set to expire in July 2026. The company has lodged a claim to recover previously paid tariffs, although the final amount remains uncertain.

Second, there have been updates to Section 232 tariffs covering key materials like steel, aluminium, and copper. Despite these shifts, the ASX industrial stock does not expect a meaningful impact on its FY26 earnings or cash flow.

What’s next?

Looking ahead, Reliance Worldwide expects to stay on track for FY26, even as higher oil prices push up costs across resin, logistics, and energy. The company is offsetting these pressures through price increases. It currently does not expect material disruption from the conflict in Iran this financial year.

That said, management of the ASX industrial stock did strike a cautious note: a prolonged escalation in the Middle East could start to influence operating conditions into FY27.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s share price jump suggests investors are breathing a sigh of relief.

The ASX industrial stock isn’t firing on all cylinders yet. However, steady guidance, easing tariff pressures, and manageable risks may be enough, for now, to rebuild confidence.

The post Why this beaten-down ASX industrial stock just spiked 7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Reliance Worldwide resets FY26 outlook, updates on tariffs and Middle East
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Heart disease technology company Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ) has struck a major deal in the US, which will lead to one of its technologies being deployed into the Mount Sinai Health System.

Growing the footprint

The company said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday that EchoSolv AS would be deployed into Mount Sinai, which comprises seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, and more than 3,760 beds

EchoSolv AS is an AI-based decision support software package for the assessment of severe aortic stenosis.

The company said Mount Sinai was a prestigious organisation to be associated with.

It added:

The system services millions of patient interactions annually, encompasses over 3,760 beds across campuses, and is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the US across multiple specialties, including cardiology and heart surgery. Its scale, research pedigree and clinical leadership position it as a high-volume, high-complexity healthcare network at the forefront of adopting advanced digital health and AI-enabled technologies. The deployment marks a significant milestone for Echo IQ and reflects the Company’s continued growth as health systems and cardiology practices seek practical AI products that can be integrated into existing clinical workflows.

Echo IQ US General Manager Nick Lubbers said the company was proud to be working with such a highly regarded health system.

He added:

This deployment is an important step in our US commercial growth and underscores increasing interest in solutions that can support cardiologists within routine echocardiography workflows. We believe EchoSolv AS offers a practical, measurement-based second look that can help physicians assess severe aortic stenosis more consistently and look forward to working with The Mount Sinai Health System to demonstrate its utility at scale.

Echo IQ shares initially traded more than 8% higher on the news on Tuesday morning before falling back to be 5.2% lower at $1.08.

Shares looking like good value

The analyst team at Morgans have a price target of $1.30 on Echo IQ shares, but has flagged that there’s further significant upside possible following FDA approval for one of the company’s other technologies, EcholSolv HF.

As they said in a note to clients recently:

We initiate coverage with a Speculative Buy rating and $1.30 price target with potential upside to $1.68 on approval/reimbursement, underpinned by near‑term FDA clearance, reimbursement progression, and a credible pathway to US commercial scaling. We expect a positive outcome from the EchoSolv HF FDA 510(k), due imminently, which unlocks the large, structurally undiagnosed US cardiac market. Combined with attractive unit economics and clear patient and hospital benefits, we see a high probability of rapid US adoption and monetisation.

Echo IQ is valued at $757 million.

The post This ASX biotech has just announced a major US deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• This ASX health tech stock just hit a new record high. Could it go even higher?
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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have slumped in morning trade on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, NAB shares are down 0.8% higher to $39.88 a piece. 

The latest decline means that shares are now down 6% for the year-to-date and 11% higher over the year.

The banking giant has been in the spotlight over the past 12 months after ASX bank stocks flew higher in 2025. The uptick in interest came off the back of higher inflation rates and anticipation of more interest rate increases.

So far this year, NAB shares have been pretty volatile. Their value has swung anywhere between $49.10 and the current trading price of $39.88. That’s around a $10 difference. 

In February, NAB reported stronger-than expected profits in its first quarter FY26 earnings result. The banking giant revealed a 15% hike in its cash earnings and a 6% increase in revenue. 

News of a hike in inflation and the Middle East conflict drove the bank’s share price even higher in early March. But broad bank sector pressure and concerns about the bank’s higher expected impairment charges have seen some investors sell up their shares.

So, if I invested $5,000 in NAB shares 6 months ago, what are they worth today?

At the time of writing, NAB shares are 10.5% lower than six months ago.

The current share price means that an investor who invested $5,000 in NAB shares six months ago would have $4,475 today.

But any investors who bought the same amount of NAB shares one year ago would now be sitting on a profit. The 11% annual increase means $5,000 would now be worth $5,550.

What’s next for NAB shares? Are they a buy, sell or hold?

It looks like the peak has passed for NAB shares.

According to TradingView data, some brokers are still optimistic that we could still see an upside ahead for the bank stock. With two out of 16 analysts ripping an upside of up to 26% to $5.50.

But the majority have a more bearish outlook. Seven analysts have a hold rating and another seven have a sell or strong sell rating.

The average target price is $39.84, which implies a small potential 0.1% downside at the time of writing. But others are much more pessimistic and think the share price could crash up to 25% to $30 a piece over the next 12 months.

The post $5,000 invested in NAB shares 6 months ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How does Morgans rate ANZ, BOQ, CBA, NAB, and Westpac shares?
• Buy, hold, sell: ANZ, NAB, and WiseTech shares
• NAB shares: Are they cheap enough to buy after the latest drop?
• Why Monash IVF, NAB, Viva Energy, and Worley shares are falling today
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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 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) is sinking today.

Pantoro Gold shares closed yesterday trading for $3.81. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are swapping hands for $3.52 each, down 7.6%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.6% at this same time, while the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down a steeper 2.1%.

Pantoro is focused on its 100%-owned Norseman Gold Project, located in Western Australia. The project has a current Total Mineral Resource of 4.6 million ounces of gold.

Here’s why investors look to be favouring their sell buttons today.

ASX 200 gold stock slides on weather woes

Pantoro Gold shares are under pressure following the release of the company’s third-quarter update (Q3 FY 2026).

For the three months to 31 March, the ASX 200 gold stock produced 17,757 ounces of gold. That’s down 19.5% quarter on quarter.

The miner sold 20,016 ounces of gold during the quarter, receiving an average price of $6,916 per ounce.

Investors will also have noted the rising costs.

Pantoro Gold reported an all-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) for the quarter of $3,204 per ounce. That’s up 24.5% from the AISC of $2,573 per ounce in Q2 FY 2025.

On the earnings front, the ASX 200 gold stock reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $88.4 million.

The miner’s cash and gold balance increased by $37.7 million over the quarter, after exploration and project capital expenditures of $32.7 million.

Over the three months, Pantoro Gold continued with its exploratory drill campaign, operating four underground diamond drill rigs and three reverse circulation (RC) surface rigs. The miner expects a fifth underground diamond drill at Norseman within the next few weeks.

The March quarter also saw Pantoro Gold announce a share buyback program. The company has since purchased some $4.63 million worth of shares under the buyback program.

What’s been hampering Pantoro Gold’s operations?

Like many miners in Western Australia, the ASX 200 gold stock was hit with wet weather and low cloud during February and March.

This impacted flights in and out of site, open-pit mining, and ore haulage activities. Pantoro’s Scotia mine also suffered flooding from Cyclone Mitchell.

As for impacts from the Middle East conflict, management noted:

To date, Pantoro has not been affected by the nation-wide fuel shortages and has long term supply contracts in place with a major Australian refiner and fuel supplier. The situation is being closely monitored with contingency planning in place should it be required in the future.

Management reaffirmed that Pantoro Gold is on track to achieve its full-year FY 2026 production guidance range of 86,000 to 92,000 ounces of gold.

The post Why is this $1.5 billion ASX 200 gold stock tumbling 8% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX gold stock just made a key move. Here’s why investors are watching closely
• How this $1.5 billion ASX 200 gold stock is on track to ramp up FY 2027 production
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price has soared in the last several weeks, and it’s close to its all-time high, as the chart below shows.

Coles isn’t just a supermarket business, though that segment makes the lion’s share of earnings. Other businesses include Coles Liquor, Liquorland, Flybuys, and Coles Financial Services (insurance, credit cards, and personal loans).

Its earnings diversification is not the reason why I think the company is appealing. Instead, there are (at least) three aspects that make Coles shares even at this level.

Inflation hedge

Time will tell how much inflation flows through the economy as a result of the Middle East conflict, but it could be noticeable or even substantial, depending on how long it takes before fuel starts flowing out of the Middle East again at a normal rate.

A few years ago, Coles showed it was very willing to pass on inflation to customers (which was a boost to revenue). Perhaps the company would handle the situation slightly differently these days.

Plenty of businesses may struggle in the face of a higher inflationary period, but Coles could be a good hedge for inflation.

Even without higher inflation, I still believe Coles is capable of delivering rising revenue thanks to Australia’s growing population, its expanding own brand product range, and a growing supermarket range.  

Improving profit margins

The company’s profit margins are regularly increasing thanks to its efforts at improving its supply chain.

Each of its profit lines improved at a faster pace than the one before it. In the FY26 half-year result, it reported revenue growth of 2.5%, operating profit (EBITDA) growth of 7.8%, EBIT growth of 10.2%, and underlying net profit growth of 12.5%.

The business has invested significantly in automated distribution centres (ADCs) and customer fulfilment centres (CFCs).

The ADCs and CFCs are helping improve in-store availability, stock freshness, and efficiencies (including costs).

With the CFCs specifically, they’re delivering a “significant uplift in customer metrics”. There has been a more than 2x perfect order rate compared to the in-store fulfilment, an increase in the range of 33% compared to the average store range, and there has been a significant increase in the net promoter score (NPS – customer satisfaction).  

Solid dividend yield

At the current Coles share price, it doesn’t offer the biggest dividend yield around. But it’s at an appealing level for investors wanting passive income.

According to the projection on CommSec, it’s forecast to pay an annual dividend per share of 76.6 cents in the 2026 financial year. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.8%, including franking credits.

The post 3 reasons why the Coles share price is a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.8% to 8,697.6 points at the time of writing on Tuesday.

The market looks set to endure a sixth consecutive session in the red despite news of Iran offering the US a new peace deal.

Analysts at Trading Economics said:

Tehran reportedly signaled via Pakistan that hostilities could cease if Washington lifted its naval blockade, agreed to a revised framework governing transit through Hormuz, and provided assurances against future military action.

The US has expressed skepticism toward the proposal and is expected to respond with counteroffers in the coming days, with Iran’s nuclear program continuing to be a key point of contention.

Meanwhile on the The Bull this week, two experts give us their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s check them out.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The Macquarie share price is $231.150, down 0.4% today and up 16% over the past month.

Jonathan Tacadena from MPC Markets has a buy rating on this ASX 200 bank share.

Tacadena likes Macquarie’s diversified business operations across more than 30 markets.

Its diversification appeals to investors, particularly in volatile markets. The trading desk has been a driver of growth in previous years and we suspect it will feature prominently at the company’s full year results due in May.

We believe the company’s outlook is bright. The company’s solid track record has stood the test of time.

Macquarie is scheduled to release its full-year FY26 results on next Friday, 8 May.

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is $1.59, up 1% today and down 43% over the past 12 months.

Tacadena has a hold rating on this ASX 200 uranium share. 

The analyst said: 

Boss has cut production guidance at its Honeymoon operation in South Australia from 1.6 million pounds drummed to between 1.4 million and 1.45 million pounds drummed.

Heavy rain had impacted third quarter production in 2026 by restricting site access and limiting the delivery of goods required for production.

The share price fell on the news, but bounced in the following days, indicating the lows may be in for BOE and downside risk is lower for now.

Any good news moving forward should reward patient investors.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is $171.77, down 0.8% today and up 7% in the year to date.

Damien Nguyen from Morgans has a sell rating on the market’s biggest company.

Nguyen said: 

CBA is Australia’s strongest major bank, with a leading retail franchise and consistent profitability. However, the market fully recognises these strengths.

The shares were recently trading at a significant premium, leaving limited upside as interest rate benefits fade and competition increases.

While the business remains high quality, future returns are likely to be more modest, in our view.

With the company’s valuation pricing in a lot of good news, we see better value elsewhere, supporting a sell view.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Macquarie, Boss Energy, CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Down 42% in a year, are Boss Energy shares now a bargain buy?
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• Buy, hold, sell: Brambles, CBA, and Macquarie shares
• Market alert: 2 major ASX bank shares could fall double digits

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

New research from the AFR and State Street shows that the ASX ETF market continues to grow at record pace. 

According to the report, the Australian market could grow to $380 billion in funds under management in 2026, up from about $320 billion last year and just $71 billion in 2020.

The rise of thematic investing

A significant shift that is contributing to this trend is the rise of thematic investing.

Traditionally, ASX ETFs were designed to track broad, diversified indexes like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) or S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX). 

However thematic funds focus on much more specific, niche sectors or “themes”. 

This focus can bring amplified returns when these sectors outperform the broader market, as investors gain concentrated exposure to high-growth areas. 

These can be areas like clean energy, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity. 

However, this same concentration also introduces higher volatility and risk, particularly if the theme falls out of favour or fails to deliver on expected growth. 

Exploring which thematic funds have outperformed can give great insight into the broader economic landscape as to which industries and sectors are outperforming. 

With that in mind, here are three of the best thematic ASX ETFs over the last three years. 

Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

This ASX ETF 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.

It has risen more than 232% in the last three years, driven by the explosion in artificial intelligence.

Semiconductors are a special type of material that can control electricity – sometimes it lets electricity flow, sometimes it blocks it.

Because of this property, semiconductors are the building blocks of modern electronics. They’re used to make microchips, which power everything from your phone to cars to medical devices.

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

This ASX ETF 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.

In the last 3 years, it has risen more than 173%. 

It has risen over the past three years mainly because a strong bull run in gold prices boosted the profits of gold mining companies, whose earnings (and share prices) tend to increase faster than the underlying commodity.

VanEck Australian Banks ETF (ASX: MVB)

Put simply, this fund gives investors exposure to a portfolio of seven ASX-listed banks and financial institutions. 

This includes the big four banks. 

It has risen approximately 48% in the last three years, driven by high interest rates boosting bank profits, and solid dividend payouts attracting investors. 

The post 3 of the best performing thematic ASX ETFs over the last 3 years 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.

European Lithium Ltd (ASX: EUR) has confirmed it plans to merge with its joint venture partner, Critical Metals Corp (NASDAQ: CRML), in a deal that will value it at more than $1 billion.

Significant takeover premium

Under the proposal, Critical Metals would acquire European Lithium in a scrip deal, offering 0.035 of its shares for each European Lithium share, valuing European Lithium at 58 cents per share.

This is more than a 100% premium from the closing price of 28.5 cents before European Lithium shares were placed in a trading halt last Friday.

European Lithium shareholders would own 45% of the combined company once the deal goes through.

European Lithium said in its statement to the ASX on Tuesday that the combination of the two companies would give shareholders exposure to “a NASDAQ-listed company with significantly higher liquidity and investor demand”.

It also points out that European Lithium’s largest asset is its 34% interest in Critical Metals.

As well as that relationship, the companies are joint venture partners in the Tanbreez rare earths project in Greenland, which Critical Metals owns 92.5% of and European Lithium the remainder.

The proposal is non-binding at this stage, and both companies have agreed to negotiate exclusively with one another, “to complete due diligence and execute a binding scheme implementation deed by 7 May 2026”.

Deal represents good value

European Lithium has established an independent board committee (IBC) to assess the merits of the deal.

European Lithium Independent Director and IBC Chair Michael Carter said:

This transaction will deliver substantial value to EUR shareholders, priced at a 136% premium. The combination will enable EUR shareholders to directly own interests in Critical Metals Corp. which will be strategically positioned as the sole owner of the Tanbreez rare earth project in Greenland and will benefit from substantial cash balances and a portfolio of critical minerals development opportunities.

European Lithium said the proposal was non-binding at this stage and shareholders did not need to take any action.

European Lithium said regarding the Tanbreez rare earths project that it was “an advanced, permitted asset poised to become a cornerstone in the global supply of rare earth elements for North America and Europe”.

Critical Metals also owns 100% of the Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria.

This was, European Lithium said, “a fully licensed, government-backed lithium mine built by the Austrian government and primed to play a central role in the region’s integrated lithium-ion battery supply chain”.

European Lithium shares were 57.9% higher in early trade at 45 cents.

The post This ASX lithium company’s shares have jumped more than 50% on major merger news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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