Author: openjargon

Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK) shares have had a rough run in 2026.

On Thursday, the ASX 200 stock hit a 52-week low of $13.70. That leaves the furniture retailer’s share price down around 40% this year.

I can understand why some investors are cautious.

Consumer spending is under pressure, interest rates remain a key concern, and the housing market outlook has become more uncertain following the Federal Budget. Furniture is also a big-ticket category, so demand can be sensitive to household confidence.

Even so, I think Nick Scali could be a top buy at current levels for patient investors.

The valuation looks attractive

The first thing that stands out is the valuation.

According to CommSec, consensus estimates are for Nick Scali to generate earnings per share of 98.7 cents in FY26, $1.02 in FY27, and $1.13 in FY28.

Based on a share price of $13.70, that puts the stock on around 13.4 times estimated FY27 earnings.

That looks very reasonable to me for a retailer with a strong brand, high margins, a net cash balance sheet, and a long store rollout opportunity.

The dividend outlook also looks useful.

CommSec consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends per share of 78.1 cents in FY26, 79 cents in FY27, and 84.7 cents in FY28. At $13.70 per share, that implies forecast dividend yields of around 5.7%, 5.8%, and 6.2%, respectively.

Those dividends are not guaranteed. But if Nick Scali can deliver something close to those numbers, investors would be collecting a meaningful income stream while waiting for sentiment to recover.

A strong brand in a difficult category

Furniture retail is not an easy market.

Customers can delay purchases when money is tight. Housing turnover can affect demand. Competition is always there.

But Nick Scali has spent years building a premium brand with a clear position in the market.

I think that is important because furniture is a category where trust, style, quality, and showroom experience can all influence the buying decision. The company is not simply competing on the lowest price.

The latest half-year update gives a sense of the underlying strength. In Australia and New Zealand, written sales orders rose 10.5% in the first half, while revenue increased 13.1% and gross margin improved to 65.9%.

I do not think investors need to buy the stock because of one half-year result. But those figures suggest the core ANZ business was still performing well earlier in the year despite a tougher consumer backdrop.

The UK could be the longer-term swing factor

The bigger opportunity may be offshore.

Nick Scali has been working through its UK rebranding and refurbishment program, and that has weighed on near-term performance. Store closures during the process affected revenue, and the UK business still made a loss in the first half.

But I think investors should look at what the company is trying to build.

The UK gives Nick Scali a much larger market to attack over time. The company has indicated a long-term opportunity of 60 to 70 UK stores, compared with 19 at the end of December.

There are encouraging signs. With the refurbishment program mostly complete, management said material improvements were being seen in written sales compared with the prior year. In January, total UK written sales were $6.7 million, and four Nick Scali branded stores trading on a like-for-like basis were up 32%.

That does not mean the UK expansion will be smooth. It may take time, money, and patience. But if the format works, it could become a major growth driver over the next decade.

Foolish Takeaway

This ASX 200 stock has fallen hard, and the near-term outlook is not risk-free.

Consumer spending could remain challenged, and uncertainty around housing may continue to weigh on sentiment toward furniture retailers.

But at around 13.4 times estimated FY27 earnings, with forecast dividend yields above 5%, I think a lot of caution is now reflected in the share price.

Nick Scali still has a strong brand, high margins, a net cash position, and a clear offshore growth opportunity.

For investors willing to look beyond the current weakness, I think this ASX 200 stock could be a top buy at its 52-week low.

The post Down 40%: Why this ASX 200 stock could be a top buy at a 52-week low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy calls from the experts this week
• Brokers say these 2 ASX shares are highly undervalued — here’s why I agree
• CSL and Wesfarmers among scores of ASX shares hitting fresh 52-week lows
• 3 star ASX dividend income stocks for the rest of 2026
• Bell Potter names the best ASX dividend shares to buy

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

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) announced $254 million in new contracts this week, sending its shares surging more than 35%.

This effectively reassured investors and validated Megaport’s business model.

The network solutions company announced three major new contracts through its Latitude.sh subsidiary worth a combined US$182.9 million, or approximately A$254 million in total contract value.

These wins are tied directly to the booming artificial intelligence infrastructure market. 

The share price responded immediately on the day of announcement, surging more than 35% to hit an intraday high of $13.51.

What Megaport announced

Latitude.sh secured three new GPU, CPU, network, and storage contracts across two undisclosed US-based technology customers running artificial intelligence and inference workloads. 

Two of the contracts, representing approximately 90% of the total contract value, carry 36-month initial terms. 

The third runs for 24 months. 

Together the deals generate approximately US$65.2 million, or A$90.6 million, in annualised recurring revenue once fully deployed. 

Megaport will invest approximately US$101 million in additional capital expenditure, primarily for NVIDIA GPU, compute, network, and storage hardware, with a payback period of approximately two years.

The momentum behind this

This week’s announcement does not arrive in isolation. 

Less than three weeks ago, Megaport announced a separate A$35.4 million compute and storage contract with a different US customer operating in the developer tooling and agentic AI space. 

Since Latitude.sh joined the Megaport group in November 2025, on-demand ARR from the subsidiary has grown 31% to US$58.7 million as of 25 April 2026. 

Megaport won these contracts because its Latitude.sh subsidiary combines bare metal compute and storage capabilities with Megaport’s existing global network infrastructure.

This gives customers a single, integrated platform for deploying AI workloads at scale. 

The company’s ability to offer GPU, CPU, network, and storage services under one roof, with near-instant provisioning across more than 1,100 enabled locations globally, makes it an attractive partner for fast-growing US technology companies that need scalable, secure infrastructure.

Foolish takeaway

Megaport shares remain down year to date even after this week’s extraordinary rally.

But this announcement firmly positions the company as a serious player in AI infrastructure, with locked-in recurring revenue from major US technology clients. 

For investors comfortable with technology sector volatility, this week’s news marks a significant moment in the Megaport story.

The post Why Megaport just landed its biggest ever AI infrastructure contract appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is this ASX tech stock rocketing 35% today?
• Why Codan, Medallion, Megaport, and Mineral 260 shares are storming higher today
• Why Graincorp, Air New Zealand and Megaport shares are turning heads on Thursday
• Why Megaport shares and Xero shares are making big moves on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Megaport. 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.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares were sold down heavily on Thursday after the company released its FY26 results.

But while the market saw something it did not like, I still see a global software platform with a large market opportunity, improving scale, and several ways to become more valuable over time.

Here are three reasons I would buy the stock after its results.

The core business is still growing strongly

The first reason is simple: Xero is still growing at a very healthy rate.

This is not a business that has run out of room. In FY26, operating revenue increased 31% to NZ$2.8 billion, while adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to NZ$757.4 million. The company also generated free cash flow of NZ$554 million.

That combination is important. Plenty of tech companies can grow revenue quickly. Fewer can do it while also producing meaningful cash flow.

Xero also added 506,000 customers during the year, taking total customers to 4.92 million. Average revenue per user increased 23%, and annualised monthly recurring revenue rose 37% to NZ$3.3 billion.

For me, that points to a platform that is becoming more valuable as it scales.

Small businesses need accounting, payroll, payments, invoicing, compliance, and reporting tools. Xero is building deeper relationships with those customers and giving them more reasons to stay inside its ecosystem.

That is exactly the kind of software business I want to own for the long term.

The US opportunity looks more interesting

The second reason I would buy Xero shares is its growing US opportunity.

Australia and New Zealand remain strong markets for the company, but the US is where the long-term upside could be much larger.

Xero said its US momentum was strong, with revenue increasing 240%, or 30% on an organic basis excluding Melio. The Melio acquisition also gives Xero a stronger position in bill payments, helping it combine accounting and payments on one platform for US small businesses.

I think this could be a meaningful step.

The US small business market is enormous, and Xero has historically been much smaller there than in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

If Xero can build a stronger payments offering, improve brand awareness, and deepen its accountant and bookkeeper relationships, the US could become a much bigger contributor over time.

There is execution risk. The company is investing heavily, including extra US brand spend in FY27. Melio also needs to be integrated well.

But I think Xero is right to invest where the opportunity is largest.

AI could make Xero more useful

The third reason is artificial intelligence (AI).

I do not think investors should buy Xero simply because it mentions AI. Plenty of companies are doing that.

What interests me is that Xero has the ingredients to use AI in practical ways.

It has millions of small-business customers, years of financial data, relationships with accountants and bookkeepers, and workflows that are often repetitive and time-consuming.

That creates room for AI to improve the product rather than just sit beside it.

Xero said its JAX beta has already reconciled more than 40 million transactions with a reported accuracy of 97%. It also said customer adoption of new GenAI-specific features launched over the past 18 months reached 500,000 users.

The company has also announced XeroForce, a natural language AI agent builder designed to help accountants, bookkeepers, and small businesses automate finance and accounting tasks.

If Xero can use AI to save customers time, reduce manual work, and make the platform more valuable, I think it can strengthen its competitive position.

Foolish Takeaway

Xero shares may remain volatile after the result. But I think the sell-off has created an opportunity.

The tech stock is still growing strongly, producing free cash flow, expanding in the US, and building a more complete financial platform for small businesses.

For patient investors, I think this is the kind of ASX tech share worth buying when the market takes a short-term view.

The post 3 reasons I would buy Xero shares following its results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Bapcor, Coles, Graincorp, and Xero shares are tumbling today
• Why Megaport shares and Xero shares are making big moves on Thursday
• Why Xero shares are falling despite a big jump in revenue
• Xero FY26 result: Revenue surges 31% but profit dips due to Melio acquisition costs
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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

Long-term growth often comes from backing areas of the economy that are becoming more important over time.

That does not mean trying to predict every market move. It means finding themes with durable demand, global relevance, and enough runway to keep expanding for years.

Here are three ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) that could appeal to growth-focused investors.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

Cybersecurity is now a core part of how businesses operate. Companies are moving more systems into the cloud, handling more customer data, and relying on digital payments, remote access, and online infrastructure.

That creates a bigger attack surface. It also means cybersecurity spending is becoming less discretionary.

This fund provides exposure to global companies involved in protecting networks, devices, identities, and data. Its holdings include Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD), and Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO).

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the need for security tools is unlikely to fade. This ETF offers a simple way to invest in that long-term trend.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

Another ASX ETF that could suit growth investors is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Automation is spreading across more industries as companies look to improve productivity, reduce costs, and operate with greater precision.

This is not just about factory robots. It also includes medical robotics, industrial automation, sensors, machine vision, and artificial intelligence tools that help businesses make better decisions.

This fund gives investors exposure to companies operating across this ecosystem. Its holdings include Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Keyence, and ABB (SWX: ABBN).

As labour shortages, rising costs, and efficiency demands continue to shape business investment, automation could remain a major growth theme for years. This bodes well for the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

A third ASX ETF worth a closer look is the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF.

Gaming has become one of the world’s largest entertainment markets. It now stretches across consoles, mobile devices, online platforms, cloud gaming, esports, and digital content.

This fund provides exposure to global companies involved in video game development, gaming hardware, and related technology. Its holdings include names such as Nintendo, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), and Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700).

The industry has several ways to grow. More games are becoming live services, in-game spending continues to expand, and gaming intellectual property is increasingly being used across film, merchandise, and other media.

With entertainment continuing to move online, the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF offers exposure to a global industry with long-term growth potential.

The post 3 ASX ETFs for investors chasing long-term growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold in 2026
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• Are these the best ASX ETFs to buy with $1,000 now?
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• 3 incredible ASX ETFs to buy to supercharge your portfolio

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 Abb, BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, Cisco Systems, CrowdStrike, Intuitive Surgical, and Nintendo. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Electronic Arts and Palo Alto Networks and has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a volatile and ultimately successful day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Thursday. After stints in both positive and negative territory this session, investors ended up siding with optimism and sent the index up a fractional 0.12% by the closing bell.

That leaves the ASX 200 at 8,640.7 points.

This rather wild day on the ASX follows a mixed night up on the American markets overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t quite hold its own and ended up dropping 0.14%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was in a better mood and gained a healthy 1.2%.

Let’s return to the local markets now, though, and see what kind of movements were happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How high does Macquarie think Codan shares will go?
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• 4 ASX 200 shares upgraded by brokers this week

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Macquarie Group, Megaport, and PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and PEXA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in ASX technology company Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) raced more than 20% higher on Thursday after the company announced it had raised another $15 million and a new major shareholder emerged.

Strong demand for new shares

The company said in a statement to the ASX that a share purchase plan priced at $4.05 per share had raised the new funds, bringing the total raised, including an institutional placement, to $102 million.

Shareholders who took up the new shares are already sitting on healthy gains, with Weebit Nano shares changing hands for $6.08 at market close on Thursday, up 21.6%.

Weebit Nano Chief Executive Officer Coby Hanoch said:

The Board and I are incredibly grateful for the strong support we continue to receive from our loyal retail shareholder base. Weebit is at an exciting juncture in the Company’s history with AEC-Q100 (automotive grade) qualified ReRAM, multiple licensing agreements with leading foundries and IDMs, two commercial product prototypes integrated with Weebit ReRAM, and a world class executive team. While our ReRAM technology already outperforms competitor offerings across most technical parameters, this capital enables us to scale up and accelerate the commercialisation of our ReRAM technology to cement our market leadership and expand our footprint. The ReRAM race will be run and won in the coming years, and we want to make sure we not only have the best technology in the market but are able to support emerging AI demands alongside a significant step-up in licensing agreements.

Mr Hanoch said the company’s strengthened balance sheet would help it accelerate its growth ambitions and address new market segments.

Major Israeli backer

A separate lodgment with the ASX on Thursday identified Israeli company Meitav Investment House as a significant shareholder in the company with a 5.37% stake.

The website of the publicly-listed investment house says it manages more than ILS407 billion for more than one million clients.

Weebit Nano also earlier this month said two of its customers had successfully taped out (released to manufacturing) chip designs intended for mass production, with both including the Weebit ReRAM module.

The company said at the time:

Tape-out by product customers is an important milestone on the path to mass production and marks the achievement of one of the three 2026 targets set at Weebit’s 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Weebit Nano shares have appreciated from lows of $1.43 over the past 12 months.

The ASX technology company is now valued at $1.42 billion.

The post Why did shares in this ASX technology company surge more than 20%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 211% in a year, why are Weebit Nano shares rocketing another 12% today?
• Why Brainchip, Minerals 260, Nuix, and Weebit Nano shares are racing higher today
• ASX 200 tech shares rocket 13% as long-awaited sector rebound accelerates

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.

Yesterday was a session for the ages. At least for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares.

The ASX’s largest bank, and, until recently, largest stock, was hit with what was possibly its worst one-day fall in history yesterday. The bank ended trading on Tuesday at $171.57 a share. But CBA had a horror show of a day yesterday, and ended up finishing the session at just $153.67 a share. That was a fall worth a whopping 10.43%. That’s pretty significant when you are the largest stock on the index (well, after yesterday’s performance, CBA lost its crown to BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)).

This drop was enough to drag the entire S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: JXO) down yesterday, a pretty remarkable feat when almost every other corner of the markets did quite well.

A shocker for this ASX 200 bank stock

Today, CBA plunged even further upon market open, hitting a new 52-week low of $151 a share this morning. However, investors seem to have decided that enough is enough. At the time of writing, Commonwealth Bank stock is back in the green, currently up 0.54% at $154.50. Even so, there is no doubt that this market darling has lost quite a bit of paint this week.

The catalysts for yesterday’s drop seemed to be a reaction to the new budget on Tuesday night, which investors seem to be concluding will hurt ASX banks like CBA. The abolition of negative gearing and a tighter capital gains tax don’t exactly bode well for short-term property prices, after all.

Also playing a role was CBA’s quarterly update, which was released yesterday morning. As we covered at the time, this update revealed that CBA experienced flat operating income over the three months to 31 March, but did manage to post a 4% increase in cash profits against the prior corresponding quarter.

But what seemed to get up investors’ noses was the bank’s outlook. CBA warned that economic and geopolitical risk is rising, and put its money where its mouth is, increasing its collective provisions for loan impairment by $200 million. That was after recording impairments of $316 million for the quarter.

CBA shares were primed for a correction

I was not at all surprised to see CBA taken down to earth yesterday. As I have written about many times before, this bank has enjoyed an uncommonly generous valuation from ASX investors for a long time now. CBA is a high-quality company to be sure, arguably one of the best in Australia. But it is also a massive and mature company without a significant growth runway ahead of it. To illustrate, CBA posted a 6% rise in net cash profits to $5.45 billion back in its half-yearly earnings in February. Pre-provision profits were up 5% to $8.13 billion.

Solid numbers, sure, but nothing to write home about.

Yet CBA still trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 25 today. That’s notably higher than its next-closest rival, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB). NAB shares are on a P/E ratio of about 18 today. For some additional context, Instagram-owner Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META) currently asks a P/E of 22.4. CBA’s price-to-book (P/B) ratio is also looking lofty for a bank at a huge 3.8.

So I think CBA shares were an accident waiting to happen. They potentially still are at the current share price. As such, you won’t see me buying this dip.

The post The CBA share price crash was an accident waiting to happen. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, Life360, and Macquarie shares
• Are CBA shares a buy after the latest sell-off?
• Why I would buy CBA and DroneShield shares after selloffs this week
• Down 10%: 3 key takeaways from CBA results
• BHP shares regain their market crown as CBA slides 10%

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares have slipped further into the red on Thursday.

At the time of writing, the shares are down 3.72% to $10.76 a piece.

The latest tumble means the uranium producer’s share price has shed 14% of its value this week alone.

There is still some good news for investors, though. After a strong rally through 2025 and into early 2026, Paladin Energy shares are still 7% higher year to date and 65% higher than last year.

The uranium stock has significantly outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has fallen just over 1% year to date but is 4% higher over the past year.

Why have Paladin Energy shares crashed this week?

The shares plunged 12% on Wednesday alone after the company posted its latest results for the nine months to 31st March.

The uranium producer posted a significant turnaround in earnings, including a US$34.4 million gross profit, up from a US$21.7 million deficit in the prior corresponding period, and a US$1.7 million NPAT, up from a US$30.1 million loss previously.

Revenue also climbed to US$209.1 million, from US$138.2 million year on year.

But it looks like investors were spooked by the company’s cash flow position. Operating cash flow showed an outflow of US$36.4 million, compared with an inflow of US$14 million in the prior corresponding period.

Paladin is currently spending heavily to support its Patterson Lake South (PLS) project in Canada while continuing the ramp-up of operations at its Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia. It looks like investors are wary about the company’s rising spending commitments.

Is the latest sell-off a buying opportunity? Or a signal to sell up?

It looks like analysts are relatively divided at the moment.

Market Index data shows brokers have a hold rating on the uranium stock, but they tip a potential 17% upside to $12.94 over the next 12 months.

TradingView data is a little more positive. Out of 14 analysts, six have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock, and another six have a hold rating.

The average $13.06 target price implies a potential 21% upside ahead. But some are tipping the shares could fly 61% higher to as high as $17.27 each.

I’d sit tight for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Paladin Energy shares start to peak again in the near future, once investors have digested its latest results.

The post Are Paladin Energy shares a buy after crashing 14% this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why CBA, Healius, Paladin Energy, and Temple & Webster shares are sinking today
• Why is this ASX uranium stock crashing 11% after returning to profitability?
• Paladin Energy posts profit as revenue rebounds in FY26 earnings
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 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.

Trading in Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares has been frozen on Thursday after the gold miner requested a trading halt.

The halt came through during early afternoon trade, with the Resolute share price sitting at $1.397.

Before trading was paused, the stock was up 0.87% for the session.

It has also been a strong week for shareholders, with Resolute shares up about 12% over the past 5 trading days.

The latest move adds to a much bigger rally. The gold stock is now up 14% in 2026 and almost 139% over the past year.

Here’s why trading has been put on hold.

Trading halt lands

According to the ASX notice, trading in Resolute shares has been halted at the company’s request.

The halt relates to a further announcement regarding the company’s scoping study for the ABC Project in Cote d’Ivoire.

Unless ASX decides otherwise, Resolute shares will remain in a trading halt until the earlier of normal trading on Monday, 18 May, or the release of an announcement to the market.

This means investors will have to wait for more details before the stock can trade again.

It comes just a day after Resolute released the scoping study details for the ABC Project, giving investors fresh numbers to weigh up.

ABC study points to long-life gold project

In its release, Resolute said the scoping study confirmed attractive economics and growth potential at ABC.

The company said the project could support a large-scale open-pit operation with 82.8 million tonnes of plant feed at 0.76 grams per tonne of gold.

That would contain 2 million ounces of gold over an average 12-year mine life.

The study also points to total gold production of 1.7 million ounces, with average output of 141,000 ounces per year.

Resolute is also estimating average annual output of 163,000 ounces across the first 5 years.

It has flagged an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,565 an ounce over the initial period.

Why this project stands out

The main drawcard is the size of the potential returns at current gold prices.

At a gold price of US$3,500 an ounce, Resolute said ABC could deliver a post-tax net present value of US$1.2 billion and an internal rate of return of 39%.

The payback period is estimated at 1.4 years from first production, which is short for a project of this size.

There is also leverage to a stronger gold price. Resolute said the post-tax NPV could rise to US$2.3 billion if gold reaches US$4,750 an ounce.

The only catch for now is the upfront capital cost, which has been estimated at US$648 million.

Foolish Takeaway

Resolute shares have had a strong run lately, helped by firmer gold prices and renewed interest in the company’s growth options.

The ABC study gives investors a new project to weigh up, and the early numbers are worth a closer look.

But the trading halt means the market is still waiting for the next update before deciding what to do next.

The post This ASX gold stock just hit pause after a 12% weekly jump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 142% in a year, ASX 200 gold stock lifting today on potential fourth operating mine
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Deep Yellow, Develop Global, Resolute Mining, and Santos shares are pushing higher today
• Why Resolute shares are on watch after this major quarterly update
• Will these top-performing ASX stocks keep charging higher?

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.

If you are hunting for some new portfolio additions, then it could pay to hear what brokers are saying about the three ASX shares in this article.

Does the broker rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let’s dig deeper into things:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Morgans remains bearish on CBA shares. In response to the banking giant’s third-quarter update, the broker has retained its sell rating with a reduced price target of $119.40.

The broker was disappointed with CBA’s performance, highlighting that its growth has slowed since the first half. And even after a heavy share price decline, it thinks CBA shares are expensive. Morgans said:

3Q26 earnings were below 1H26 growth expectations, both before and after the impact of topping up loan loss provisions. The balance sheet as per the CET1 capital ratio also looks a little tighter than we had previously budgeted. FY26-28 EPS forecasts downgraded c.3-5%. Target price reduced 4% to $119.40. SELL retained, with potential total return of c.-19% at current prices (including c.3.3% dividend yield). Even after today’s c.10% sell-off, CBA’s valuation metrics remain extended and don’t provide a sufficient margin of safety.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The team at Bell Potter remains bullish on this family safety and location technology company following its first-quarter update.

Following a review of the update, the broker retained its buy rating with a reduced price target of $32.50.

Bell Potter highlights that the company outperformed on all metrics but monthly active users (MAUs). And that miss was due to a technical issue on Android devices, which has since been resolved.

Commenting on its outlook, Bell Potter said:

There is perhaps a lack of short term catalysts but we do see sequential improvement each quarter in revenue and EBITDA for the remainder of the year. The biggest downside risk we see is a downgrade to the MAU growth guidance – we are at 16.9% growth versus guidance of 17-20% – whereas the biggest upside risk is further upgrades in the revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Morgans was impressed with this investment bank’s performance in FY 2026. It notes that Macquarie outperformed expectations, with a profit result comfortably ahead of consensus expectations.

However, it feels that Macquarie shares are fully valued now and has retained its hold rating with a $248.00 price target. It said:

MQG delivered a very strong FY26 result with NPAT (A$4.8bn) up +30% on the pcp and +8% above company-compiled consensus. Whilst acknowledging this result was aided by significant volatility in commodity markets that assisted CGM, MQG’s performance was generally strong across the board.

Our price target rises to A$248 (previously A$223) on our earnings changes and a valuation roll-forward. MQG is a quality franchise, and a proven performer, but with <10% upside to our PT, we maintain our Hold call. We increase our MQG FY27F/FY28F EPS by +9%/+2%. Our price target rises to A$248 (previously A$223) on our earnings changes and a valuation roll-forward.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CBA, Life360, and Macquarie shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.