Author: openjargon

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares have climbed around another 0.2% to a three-year high of $38.60 on Tuesday morning.

At the time of writing, the shares are up a huge 31% year to date. They’re also around 23% higher than 12 months ago.

It’s been a bumpy ride for the ASX supermarket giant’s shares over the past 12 months, with its share price jumping anywhere between $25.51 and $38.55 a piece. 

While the volatility has continued throughout the first six months of 2026, the shares have been generally trending higher.

The latest dip came about after Woolworths posted its third-quarter sales update in late April. For the 13 weeks to the 5th of April, the supermarket major reported total sales of $18.1 billion, up 4.5% from Q3 in FY25. Its Australian Food sales were up 5.9% year on year to $13.8 billion. 

The company said that underlying trading momentum remained solid, but management noted they have seen “some signs of increased customer caution”.

Investors were spooked and quickly offloaded their shares.

But the stock was quickly considered oversold and undervalued, and investors started buying back in. Over the past five weeks alone, Woolworths shares have rebounded nearly 19%.

Why is everyone snapping up Woolworths shares again?

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of Woolworths since its third-quarter sales result in late April, but the retail giant has hit headlines recently.

Two weeks ago, the AFR reported that Woolworths has outlined plans to offshore hundreds of corporate roles as part of a $400 million office cost reduction push. 

The corporate jobs include staff in financial, human resources, and IT. It comes as part of the company’s plan to simplify operations and reduce costs to maintain its competitive advantage.

A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed the outsourcing but declined to say how many workers would be affected. The corporate office employs almost 10,000 staff.

It looks like investors were pleased with the news. The Woolworths share price ended the day in the green and has climbed higher since.

The update comes on the back of the company’s better-than-expected first-half profit result, an upgraded outlook, and progress on its cost-savings plans.

The question now is, can confidence keep building further?

Are Woolworths shares a buy, sell, or hold now?

Analysts are divided about the outlook for Woolworths shares over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a hold rating, but the $35.46 average target price implies a potential 8% downside at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something very similar. The majority of analysts have a hold rating on the supermarket stock. The average $35.02 target price also implies a 9% downside at the time of writing. Even the maximum $39 target price only implies a minor 1% upside after the latest price rally.

The post Woolworths shares soar to new multi-year high: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• One ASX dividend and one ASX growth stock to buy now
• How to build an ASX share portfolio that can survive a market selloff
• Woolworths shares vs Coles: Buy, hold, or sell these ASX giants?
• Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today?
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Telstra, Wesfarmers, and Woolworths shares

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 Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) is marching higher today.

Catalyst Metals shares closed yesterday trading for $6.10. In early morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $6.32 apiece, up 3.6%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Among the tailwinds helping lift the miner today is the overnight uptick in the gold price. Currently trading for US$4,191 per ounce, the gold price is up 1.2% since this time yesterday (according to data from Bloomberg).

Here’s what else is grabbing investor interest.

ASX 200 gold stock gains on resource boost

Catalyst Metals shares are marching higher after the miner released an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Trident underground gold deposit, located in Western Australia.

The ASX 200 gold stock is currently developing the Trident mine, where it recently completed an open pit to enable development of an underground portal.

Catalyst’s Trident underground will be the fourth mine to be developed on the Plutonic Belt. The other three are Plutonic East, Trident open pit, and K2.

When Catalyst acquired Trident in 2023 to complete a consolidation of the Plutonic Gold Belt, the project had a resource of 524,000 ounces at 3.6 grams of gold per tonne.

The miner noted that the resource now stands at 1.1 million ounces at 5.4g/t Au.

Promisingly, Catalyst said that the more tightly drilled indicated resources have increased by 20% from prior estimates to 633,000 ounces at 6.3g/t Au. The company expects this will underpin a roughly 10-year mine plan at an average run-rate of some 60,000 ounces per year.

The ASX 200 gold stock highlighted that Trident remains the second-largest deposit on the Plutonic Belt. The project is expected to form a second, higher grade base load ore source for the central Plutonic processing plant.

That’s all part of Catalyst’s plan to increase its annual gold production from 100,000 ounces to 200,000 ounces.

What did Catalyst Metals management say?

Commenting on the updated MRE that is helping lift the ASX 200 gold stock in early trade today, Catalyst Metals managing director & CEO James Champion de Crespigny said, “Our exploration team continues to have success across the belt, meaningfully growing Trident, Plutonic Main, Cinnamon, K2 and Old Highway. “

Champion de Crespigny added:

This 145% increase in Trident’s indicated resources, and achievement of this 1-million-ounce milestone, is a testament to their persistence.

A key focus now is on developing the Trident orebody. With the open pit completed, the successful development of the underground, and path to around 200,000 ounces, is becoming ever more likely.

Catalyst expects the first stoping ore from the underground mine in the first half of calendar year 2027.

The post Guess which ASX 200 gold stock is jumping today on a 20% resource boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 7 ASX gold stocks to buy now
• 2 ASX growth shares experts think could double over 12 months
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 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.

Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) shares were trading higher after the company announced a major funding development as well as a new deal to supply rare earths to a global automotive company.

Project funding secured

The company said in a statement to the ASX that Export Finance Australia (EFA) had confirmed that Iluka would have full access to a $1.65 billion non-recourse loan to build its Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia.

Iluka also said that Civmec Ltd (ASX: CVL) had been awarded the contract for the structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and instrumentation works to complete the refinery’s construction.

The company said regarding the financing:

Iluka anticipates Tranche 1 of this funding, comprising $1.25 billion, will be fully drawn at the end of 2026, at which point the refinery is expected to be 75% complete. EFA has confirmed availability of the remaining $400m to complete Eneabba’s construction. Commissioning of the refinery is scheduled for mid 2027.

Regarding the offtake agreement, Iluka said it had struck a multi-year agreement to supply magnet rare earth oxides (neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium) to the global automotive company.

Iluka said further:

The offtake agreement is take-or-pay; commences in 2028 for an initial term of four years; and represents approximately 10% of Iluka’s planned production over that period, being 1,200t of magnet rare earth oxides (Nd, Pr, Dy and Tb). Offtake volumes are in line with the commissioning (2027) and ramp up timeline for the Eneabba refinery. The agreement sets pricing at the higher of minimum and market-linked prices for each product to balance the dual risks of downside price volatility and security of supply. Iluka’s minimum revenue over the contract period is US$155 million.3 Assuming industry forecast pricing, Iluka’s revenue over the contract period would be US$172 million.

Iluka said the identity of the automotive company was commercial in confidence.

Managing Director Tom O’Leary said the offtake agreement was a particularly important milestone for the company’s rare earths business.

He added:

Our first rare earths customer is a globally recognised automotive company and I am delighted that Iluka has been entrusted to deliver refined critical minerals as part of its supply chain. We look forward to a collaborative and successful partnership. Beyond being Iluka’s first, the agreement is significant in that it encompasses the full suite of light and heavy magnet rare earth oxides and contains minimum prices agreed between commercial parties that are independent of those backed by governments.

Mr O’Leary said the deal “demonstrates increasing recognition of Iluka’s position as a credible, vertically integrated supplier, with diverse feedstock sources spanning internal operations and third-parties. Discussions with other prospective customers are ongoing”.

Shares trading higher

Iluka shares were 2.2% higher at $8.31 in early trade. Civmec shares were steady at $1.98.

The post Which rare earths miner has locked in a $1.65 billion funding deal? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Iluka Resources signs multi-year rare earths supply deal
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have been on fire over the past 12 months.

Thanks largely to their exposure to the booming copper price, the mining giants have hit record highs in recent weeks.

One ASX copper share that is nowhere near its high is Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX: AIS).

But it might not stay that way for long if Bell Potter is on the money with its recommendation.

What is the broker saying about this ASX copper share?

Bell Potter notes that Aeris Resources is close to completing its acquisition of Peel Mining Ltd (ASX: PEX). This will give it ownership of the Mallee Bull and Wirlong copper projects. It said:

The Scheme of Arrangement by which AIS has acquired 100% of Peel Mining (PEX, not rated) has become effective. The transaction gives AIS ownership of the Mallee Bull and Wirlong copper projects which contain a combined Resource of 10.6Mt @ 1.85% Cu for 197kt contained Cu. They sit within a ~150-200km trucking radius of Tritton. Combined with the current Resource at Tritton this is a total Resource of 29.5 Mt @ 1.73% Cu for 511kt contained Cu. Consideration is all scrip, comprising the issue of 300.0m shares to PEX shareholders and is expected to complete on 1 July 2026.

It sees a lot of positives from the deal, highlighting that it adds development optionality and derisks production. The broker explains:

The strategic rationale is to significantly increase AIS’ Cobar region resource base, materially extending the mine life at Tritton, adding development optionality and derisking production. The high-grade Mallee Bull deposit is the subject of a maiden Ore Reserve Estimate (ORE) to be released in 1QFY27 and contribute to an updated life-of-mine (LOM) plan for Tritton.

Additionally, we expect an updated ORE for the Constellation deposit, as well as Resource extensions at Avoca Tank and Budgerygar deposits where recent drilling has intersected ore-grade mineralisation significantly below the current Resource at Avoca Tank and thicker than expected mineralisation within in the Budgerygar Inferred Resource. These acquisitions and exploration successes are providing more visibility on mine life at Tritton than at any time since its initial development.

Major upside potential

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating and 90 cents price target on the ASX copper share.

Based on its current share price of 40.2 cents, this implies potential upside of 120% for investors over the next 12 months.

Speaking about its investment thesis, the broker said:

We make no material changes to our valuation with this update. We continue to look to AIS’ quarterly production performance and updates on the development of the Constellation deposit at Tritton for key near-term catalysts. AIS is a copper-dominant producer, with its near-term outlook highly leveraged to the copper price and increasing production at Tritton.

Tritton is a strategic regional asset with corporate appeal and capacity to leverage value from stranded assets, in our view. With upside to our Target Price supported by growing free cash flow and low valuation multiples it remains a key pick for CY26. Our Target Price of $0.90/sh is unchanged and we maintain our Buy recommendation.

The post Forget BHP and Rio Tinto, this ASX copper share could rise 100%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down 8%, is the BHP share price a buy?
• Here’s where I would invest $5,000 in ASX shares
• 4 ASX ETFs to help you sleep through market crashes
• Close to retirement? 4 ASX shares for decades of income
• 5 ASX 200 shares I would buy if I were starting from scratch

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is in focus after the company announced the successful restart of its Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit at the Geelong Refinery, with production set to return to over 90% of normal capacity following April’s fire. For April and May 2026, the Geelong Refining Margin was US$23.9 per barrel from a refining intake of 6.5 million barrels.

What did Viva Energy Group report?

• Restart of the Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU) at Geelong Refinery, restoring production to over 90% of normal capacity
• Geelong Refining Margin (GRM) averaged US$23.9 per barrel for April and May 2026
• Refining intake reached 6.5 million barrels over the two-month period
• Alkylation unit remains offline, impacting gasoline production from LPG by-product
• Assessment of Alkylation unit repair or replacement options is underway

What else do investors need to know?

Viva Energy’s swift action means most refining operations are now back online, significantly boosting capacity after April’s incident. However, the Alkylation unit, which helps turn LPG into gasoline, will remain offline through 2027; the company is currently assessing its options to either repair or replace this equipment.

The incident has also prompted a detailed investigation, with early findings pointing to a failure in the Alkylation unit’s piping as the cause. Insurance discussions for property damage and business interruption are ongoing, helping to manage financial impacts.

What’s next for Viva Energy Group?

Viva Energy is prioritising the repair or replacement of the Alkylation unit, but expects Geelong Refinery will operate at slightly reduced capacity into 2027. The restart of the RCCU should help the company improve refining margins and product yields as it returns to normal operations.

The company will continue its investigation into the incident’s cause and work closely with insurers as part of its recovery plan.

Viva Energy Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Viva Energy shares have declined 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Viva Energy Group: Geelong Refinery nears full capacity after fire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Centuria Capital Group wraps up $300m equity raise and shares resume trading
• Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites
• Stockland announces FY26 distribution and DRP update
• Transurban Group overhauls NSW toll enforcement, ditches paper notices
• Iluka Resources signs multi-year rare earths supply deal

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 Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) share price is in focus after the company announced a successful $300 million equity raising, with the institutional placement and entitlement offer both completed.

What did Centuria Capital Group report?

• Raised approximately $200 million from an institutional placement
• Secured about $65 million through the institutional component of a 1-for-17 entitlement offer
• Combined institutional raise totals approximately $265 million
• Retail entitlement offer to open, aiming to raise an additional $35 million
• New securities issued at $2.00 per security
• Settlement and allotment to occur on 30 June and 1 July 2026 respectively

What else do investors need to know?

The institutional component of Centuria’s entitlement offer was strongly supported, with around 82% take-up by eligible institutional securityholders. Approximately 133 million new securities will be issued and will rank equally with existing holdings.

The retail entitlement offer opens on 26 June and closes on 7 July 2026. Eligible securityholders in Australia and New Zealand on record as of 24 June will be invited to participate. Normal trading in Centuria shares is expected to resume today, 23 June 2026.

What’s next for Centuria Capital Group?

Centuria expects to use the proceeds from the equity raising to strengthen its balance sheet and support future growth initiatives. Full details for retail investors will be provided in the offer booklet, with all new securities issued ranking equally from the date of issue.

Looking ahead, management highlighted a continued focus on investment opportunities across real estate and bond products, aiming to capitalise on its strong assets under management and investor demand in key sectors.

Centuria Capital Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Centuria Capital Group shares have risen 26%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Centuria Capital Group wraps up $300m equity raise and shares resume trading appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Viva Energy Group: Geelong Refinery nears full capacity after fire
• Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites
• Stockland announces FY26 distribution and DRP update
• Transurban Group overhauls NSW toll enforcement, ditches paper notices
• Iluka Resources signs multi-year rare earths supply deal

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.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares have suffered a volatile start to 2026, but it looks like the share price could finally be turning a corner.

After crashing over 40% from a multi-year high late last year, Zip shares continued tumbling through the first few months of 2026. The share price swung anywhere between $1.45 and $3.56 a piece.

But after hitting a 52-week low in mid-March, the share price has changed trajectory and is slowly trending back up again.

At the close of the ASX on Monday afternoon, the shares were down around 0.7% to $2.90 a piece.

The decline represents a minor slide for the day, but a 100% rebound from the dip in mid-March.

Zip shares are also now nearly 5% higher than 12 months ago.

So, if I bought $7,000 of Zip shares 3 months ago, what are they worth now?

While the share price fell quickly through early-2026, Zip shares have rebounded strongly from its annual low three-months ago.

The 100% increase means that $7,000 invested in the technology company’s shares in the dip three months ago is already worth a huge $14,000!

Even $7,000 invested in Zip shares 12 months ago are now finally returning a profit. Your $7,000 investment made in June last year would now be worth $7,350.

Why have Zip shares started climbing higher?

The digital financial services company was caught up in a tech sector-wide sell-off in late-2025 and into 2026.

This was likely exacerbated by investors taking gains off the table after a strong share price rally and a disappointing first-half FY26 result in February. 

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of Zip to explain the rebound over the past few months. It’s likely the result of a long-awaited shift in investor sentiment. 

I think the turnaround shows that investors are finally buying back into the growth potential for the ASX 200 tech stock.

Zip’s financial results have been robust over the past few quarters. Its latest third-quarter FY26 results announcement in mid-April showed that growth has finally started to accelerate. The company upgraded its FY26 cash guidance to reflect its improved optimism. 

Zip has undergone a major reset over the past few years. It is now heavily concentrated on product growth and global expansion, especially in the US. It looks like this reset is finally translating to improved revenue and a boost in investor confidence.

Zip is currently pursuing a dual sharemarket listing on the Nasdaq in the US in the hope it could help drive an even opportunity for business expansion in the area. 

Can the share price keep climbing?

TradingView data shows that the majority of analysts are very bullish on the outlook for Zip shares over the next 12 months. Out of 12 analysts, 11 hold a buy or strong buy rating on the ASX tech stock. 

They tip a 32% upside to an average target price of $3.82, at the time of writing. But some are even more optimistic and expect the shares to rocket another 86% to $5.40 each.

The post If I’d invested $7,000 in Zip shares 3 months ago, guess what I’d have now! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 96%: What on earth has happened to Zip shares?
• Could this ASX 200 share double by 2030?
• 3 amazing ASX growth shares to buy and hold forever
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 reasons to buy Zip shares today

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.

The Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) share price is in focus after the company announced further steps in its global manufacturing footprint rationalisation. Reliance Worldwide expects a US$9 million annual uplift to group operating earnings by the end of FY27.

What did Reliance Worldwide report?

• Planned closure of brass casting, forging, and machining operations in Moorabbin and Braeside, Victoria, plus smaller sites.
• Expected net annual EBITDA benefit of US$9 million across the group by end FY27.
• One-off net charge of US$100 million to US$110 million in FY26 (excluded from operating earnings).
• Around 85 employees impacted by Australian brass manufacturing closures.
• Transition of APAC brass component supply to third-party Asian vendors in 2025.

What else do investors need to know?

These manufacturing changes follow a steady decline in demand for brass production in Australia. This is due in part to Reliance Worldwide’s investment in automating its Alabama facilities and designing products that use less brass, alongside a strategy to increasingly replace brass with stainless steel.

The company anticipates an adverse EBITDA impact of US$9 million on APAC region results after the closures. However, these are expected to be more than offset by an estimated annual Americas region benefit of US$18 million.

What’s next for Reliance Worldwide?

Reliance Worldwide’s focus moving forward is on sourcing from third-party vendors and ongoing optimisation of its supply chain. The company expects its overall brass requirements to continue declining, supporting a shift towards more cost-effective materials and manufacturing strategies.

Management anticipates these steps will deliver net financial benefits from FY27, with project cash outflows mainly relating to redundancy and asset exit costs, and the bulk of the one-off charges non-cash in nature.

Reliance Worldwide share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Reliance Worldwide shares have declined 12%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Stockland announces FY26 distribution and DRP update
• Transurban Group overhauls NSW toll enforcement, ditches paper notices
• Iluka Resources signs multi-year rare earths supply deal
• Up 1,700% and more, what’s next for these ASX 200 shares?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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.

You do not need a huge amount of money to start investing.

Even $500 can be enough to begin building long-term wealth on the ASX.

The key is to keep things simple. With a smaller amount, investors can either choose a broad exchange traded fund (ETF) or start building positions in high-quality ASX shares over time.

Here are three options that could be worth considering.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The first option to look at is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to 500 of the largest listed companies in the United States.

That includes many of the world’s strongest businesses across technology, healthcare, finance, consumer goods, communication services, and industrials.

For someone investing $500, this can be a simple way to gain global exposure straight away.

The US share market has been home to many great long-term compounders, and this ETF gives investors access to that market without needing to choose individual shares.

If I were investing my first $500, this would be one of the top options on my list.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Another option is Pro Medicus. This healthcare technology company provides medical imaging software to hospitals and radiology groups.

Its Visage platform helps doctors and specialists view, manage, and interpret large volumes of medical images quickly and efficiently.

That may sound like a niche area, but it is an important part of modern healthcare.

Hospitals are producing more imaging data than ever, and they need systems that can handle that complexity without slowing clinicians down. This has worked in Pro Medicus’ favour, with the company consistently winning major contracts with large health networks overseas.

Its shares can be volatile because the company often trades on high expectations. However, for investors with a long-term view, Pro Medicus could be a great buy and hold pick.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

A third option to consider is Wesfarmers. It is one of Australia’s highest-quality blue-chip companies, owning a collection of well-known businesses, including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, and its chemicals, energy and fertilisers operations.

That gives the company a diversified earnings base across retail and industrial markets.

Bunnings remains one of the strongest retail franchises in Australia, while Kmart has built a powerful position in value-focused retail.

Wesfarmers also has a long track record of disciplined capital allocation, with a willingness to invest in growth, reshape the portfolio, and return capital to shareholders when appropriate.

For investors using $500 to start building a portfolio, Wesfarmers could be a high-quality individual share to consider.

The post Where to invest $500 on the ASX right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Pro Medicus shares are flying 35% higher. Time to cash out?
• One ASX dividend and one ASX growth stock to buy now
• 3 reasons why the Wesfarmers share price is a buy
• The ASX investing strategy that could quietly make you rich
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Steadfast, and Wesfarmers shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Your 60s are a turning point in your life where the priority for your superannuation and your finances needs to switch from growth to preservation.

After all, at the age of 61, you’re just four years from the average Australian retirement age and six years from potentially receiving the Age Pension payment. 

The question is, do you know exactly how much you have in your super, and exactly how much money you need to fund your retirement when you decide to stop working.

Here’s a rundown of what the average Aussie has at age 61, and what you actually need to retire comfortably.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 61?

There isn’t an exact figure for the average superannuation balance at age 61, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has a good guideline.

ASFA’s data shows that at age 60 to 64, the average Australian male has around $395,852 in their superannuation. Meanwhile, the average 60 to 64 year old female has less, at approximately $313,360.

How does your balance compare to the average Aussie the same age?

What does a comfortable retirement look like?

ASFA defines a comfortable retirement as being able to maintain a good standard of living above and beyond the Age Pension. 

It assumes you’ll have top-level private health insurance, own a good brand of car, and do regular leisure activities. 

It allocates funds to set aside to build an emergency fund, for home repairs or renovations. And perhaps even go for the occasional meal out, and an annual domestic trip.

How much will that cost me?

According to ASFA, a comfortable retirement for Australians aged 65 to 84 years old is expected to cost around $54,840 per year for single Aussies. It is expected to cost roughly $77,375 per year for a couple. 

These figures also assume that you’ll be entitled to receive a part Age Pension payment once you reach age 67.

That means ASFA’s data indicates that by age 67, single Australians need a superannuation balance of approximately $640,000. And couples should have closer to $730,000.

How do I know if I’m on the right track?

Unfortunately, at up to $395,852, the average superannuation balance at age 61 falls short of what Aussies at the same age actually need in order to reach the retirement lifestyle they want.

I’ve crunched the numbers and it turns out that in order to reach the superannuation balance needed by age 67, at age 61 you’d need closer to $519,000 in your super.

That’s significantly higher than the average balance for both men and women the same age.

How can I bridge the gap between my average balance and what I actually need?

At age 61, it’s not too late to catch up.

The first thing to do is check that your super fund is performing well and your risk profile is appropriate for your age. 

Next, you’ll need to focus your attention on making extra contributions however you can. Individuals can make concessional (before-tax) super contributions, such as salary sacrificing, taxed at a reduced rate and up to an annual cap. You can also make after-tax payments within your annual limits. 

It also makes sense to check in with Government contribution rules. There are several rules and co-contribution rules you might be eligible for, depending on your personal circumstances. Every cent counts when it comes to compound growth!

The post Average superannuation balance for 61 year olds in 2026. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If I’d invested $7,000 in Zip shares 3 months ago, guess what I’d have now!
• Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites
• Where to invest $500 on the ASX right now
• I’d buy this ASX share because it offers almost everything an investor could want
• The US-Iran peace deal just wavered. Here is what this means for these ASX shares

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.