Author: openjargon

This ASX car stock is hovering near a 52-week low, and investors have plenty to digest. At $19.52 at the time of writing, Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) shares are down around 14% over the past month and 26% over the past 12 months.

That’s a striking reaction for a company that just delivered record first-half revenue and underlying profit. So what exactly is spooking the market?

Eagers is getting bigger — fast

Eagers is Australia’s largest automotive retailer, sitting across a sprawling portfolio of brands including Toyota, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Geely, and BYD. The $5 billion ASX car stock now represents more than 33 car brands and 11 truck and bus brands. And management shows zero signs of slowing down.

In April, Eagers completed its 65% investment in Canadian dealership giant CanadaOne Auto, effectively creating a much larger international automotive retail platform. On an FY25 pro-forma basis, the combined group would have generated $18.7 billion of revenue and $968.6 million of EBITDA. That’s a serious step-change in scale.

Then came Australia. Eagers agreed to invest 49% in Grand Motors Group, covering dealerships representing Toyota, BMW, MINI, Kia, Mazda, and Subaru, while also snapping up two Audi dealerships from Zagame. Together, those deals add roughly $630 million of annual revenue.

Now Eagers is going upmarket

The latest move might be the most eye-catching yet. Eagers has entered a non-binding agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Zagame Automotive Group, the Melbourne and Adelaide luxury-car retailer, via a joint venture with founder Bobby Zagame. The business pulled in about $600 million of revenue in the year to June 2026.

Zagame’s portfolio isn’t your average showroom. Think Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls-Royce. That deal hands the ASX car stock considerably more exposure to the luxury and super-luxury end of the market, a segment it’s had relatively little presence in until now.

But bigger doesn’t automatically mean better

On paper, the business is firing. First-half FY26 revenue surged 24% to about $8.1 billion, while underlying profit before tax hit $250.4 million. Those are genuinely strong numbers.

The concern is what comes next. CanadaOne, Grand Motors, and Zagame all represent substantial additional capital commitments, plus real integration complexity across different countries, brands, and price points.

At the same time, investors are watching margins nervously as the automotive industry navigates a major transition. New brands are flooding the market, consumer preferences are shifitng, and pricing pressure shows no sign of easing.

Bull case vs bear case

The bull case for the ASX car stock is straightforward: Eagers is assembling a diversified global automotive retail powerhouse, spanning mainstream, luxury, and international markets, that could compound earnings for years.

The bear case is just as easy to make: Management is expanding aggressively at precisely the moment the economics of traditional car retail are becoming harder to predict, and each new acquisition adds another layer of execution risk.

The post This ASX car stock is tanking. Has it overreached? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Why this ASX consumer discretionary stock could be the sector’s top pick 
• Eagers Automotive posts record 1H26 earnings on strong Canadian expansion
• How much superannuation is needed to target a $50,000 annual passive income?

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 recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are both outpacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in morning trade on Monday.

At time of writing the ASX 200 is down 0.2%.

Trading for 92 cents apiece, Tabcorp shares are up 1.1% at this same time, while NAB shares are just in the green, up 0.1% at $38.51 each.

Taking a step back, however, both stocks have underperformed the 0.1% losses posted by benchmark index in 2026.

Year to date, NAB shares have slipped 9.2% while the Tabcorp share price is down 8.1% this calendar year.

Although that’s not including the dividends both companies pay. Tabcorp trades on a 3.2% unfranked trailing dividend yield, while NAB trades on a fully franked 4.4% trailing dividend yield.

But, dividends or not, Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans expects that growing headwinds leading into 2027 put both of these popular ASX 200 stocks on the sell list (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Time to exit NAB shares?

Evans noted NAB’s relatively strong Q3 performance.

“Revenue grew by 2 per cent in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 when compared to the first half quarterly average. Cash earnings also increased by 2 per cent,” he said.

But the growth may not be sustainable in the coming quarters.

“In our view, the broader banking sector is facing several headwinds,” Evans added.

Summarising his sell recommendation on NAB shares, he said:

The Federal government announced changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing in the May Budget. Investment loan applications have slowed amid a cost of living crisis. While the NAB business is well managed and the balance sheet is solid, it’s difficult to identify any significant growth on the horizon.

Investors may want to consider taking some profits and explore superior earnings growth opportunities elsewhere.

Should you sell Tabcorp shares today?

Atop his bearish assessment for the outlook of NAB shares, Evans also issued a sell recommendation on Tabcorp shares.

“Tabcorp is the largest multi-channel wagering brand in Australia,” he said.

Looking at Tabcorp’s FY 2026 results, Evans said:

The company generated group revenue of $2.636 billion in full year 2026, up 0.8 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Group EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation] of $431.7 million was up 10.3 per cent.

But, as with NAB, Tabcorp could be facing some mounting headwinds.

Commenting on his sell recommendation, Evans said:

In our view, a major challenge for Tabcorp is the highly competitive gambling industry and the underlying trend towards digital wagering amid the risk of potentially tighter regulations. The company expects domestic wagering turnover growth in fiscal year 2027 to be broadly consistent with fiscal year 2026, excluding the FIFA World Cup.

The shares have fallen from $1.17 on May 1 to trade at 90 cents on September 17. Other stocks appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Tabcorp and NAB shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, NAB, CSL shares
• 2 ASX 200 shares to buy and 1 to sell now
• Down 15% and paying record dividends: Are CBA shares now a good buy for passive income?
• Telstra vs NAB: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy?
• 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week

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.

In Australia, 60 years old is the first retirement milestone. At this point, you can start drawing down on your superannuation (if you’ve quit working), and you’re just seven years away from potentially receiving the Age Pension payment.

But not everyone is eligible. And if you are, the amount you can get depends heavily on your income and assets.

The asset test includes absolutely everything that you own, except the home you live in.

It applies to any home contents, personal items, vehicles, real estate or property investments, your superannuation, S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares, annuities, private trusts, and any other financial investments or assets.

You’ll also need to declare any assets held outside Australia and any debts owed to you.

And that means age 60 is a crucial time to get all your ducks in a row.

The tricky thing is that the Age Pension rules, thresholds, and maximum payments are constantly changing.

And misunderstanding your limits means you could earn less, or nothing at all, when you reach age 67.

Here are six things every Australian at age 60 needs to know about the Age Pension asset test before they retire.

1. Eligibility requirements are more than just your age

To be eligible for the Age Pension, you need to meet basic requirements ahead of the income or asset test. 

That is, you need to be 67 years old (or older). You also need to be an Australian resident who has lived in Australia for at least 10 years, with at least 5 of those years in a continuous period.

2. The maximum potential Age Pension payment just increased

As of the 20th of September, the maximum fortnightly Age Pension payment increased to $1,237.70 for individuals. Couples now get a boosted $933 per person per fortnight, or $1,866 combined.

These figures include the maximum basic rate, the maximum pension supplement, and the energy supplement.

3. Asset limits for the full Age Pension differ depending on whether you’re a homeowner or not, and these also just increased

As of the 20th of September, in order to receive the full Age Pension, single homeowners can own assets (including superannuation) up to a value of $333,000 (previously $321,500), and non-homeowners can own assets up to $600,000 (previously $579,500) in retirement.

But a couple has a different threshold, and it’s not double the amount of one person. A couple combined can now own up to $499,000 (previously $481,500) in total if they own a property, or $766,000 (previously $739,500) if they don’t.

4. You can get a part payment, and these limits just increased too

You can earn over the limits above and still earn a part Age Pension.

The cut-off point for a part-payment for single homeowners is now $745,000 (previously $733,500), and $1,012,750 (previously $1,000,500) if you’re a single non-homeowner. 

Couples are also entitled to a part-payment, so long as their combined assets don’t exceed $1,121,000 (previously $1,102,500) for homeowners. 

Non-homeowning couples can own assets totalling up to a limit of $1,388,000 (up from $1,369,500 previously). 

For assets above the full pension limit, the Age Pension payment for singles or couples, regardless of whether they’re homeowners or not, reduces by $3 per fortnight for every $1,000 of assets.

5. Deeming rules apply, and they’ve also just changed

To calculate how much income you receive from your assets, Centrelink uses what it calls a “deeming rule”. Under deeming rules, instead of looking at how much your assets actually earn, it’s assumed they earn a set amount of income.

As of the 20th of September, the first $66,800 of assets of single Australians have a deeming rate of 1.75%. Anything over this amount is deemed to earn 3.75%.

Couples have a 1.75% deeming rate on their first $110,600 of combined assets (this includes superannuation). Anything over this amount is deemed to earn 3.75%.

6. Gifts aren’t exempt

Centrelink has strict rules around gifting money or assets to someone else to meet Age Pension eligibility.

Any gifts you make over a five-year period are counted towards your assets test for five years. 

You can gift assets worth up to $10,000 in any one financial year and $30,000 over any five-year period without these assets being included in the Age Pension asset test.

The post 6 things Aussies at age 60 need to know about the Age Pension asset test before they retire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I’d invest $10,000 in these strong Vanguard ETFs
• Why is this ASX lithium stock crashing 10% on Monday?
• This ASX car stock is tanking. Has it overreached?
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Tabcorp and NAB shares
• Neuren Pharmaceuticals vs Telix Pharmaceuticals: Which healthcare stock is best?

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.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals vs Telix Pharmaceuticals shares

If you’re an Aussie investor with an eye on the booming healthcare sector, chances are you’ve heard the buzz around Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) and Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX). Both companies have delivered innovative breakthroughs—one in neurological disorders, the other in targeted cancer diagnostics and therapy—and have captured strong market interest in recent years. But with some striking differences in their fundamentals, income appeal, and share price momentum, which healthcare stock is the better buy right now?

The case for Neuren Pharmaceuticals

Neuren Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company specialising in developing novel treatments for rare neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly those that affect children. Its flagship drug, DAYBUE (trofinetide), was approved by the US FDA in March 2023 as the first ever treatment for Rett syndrome, and is licensed in the US through Acadia Pharmaceuticals. According to its recent company profile, DAYBUE remains the only approved therapy for this indication. Neuren is also progressing trials of new candidates targeting additional syndromes, signalling a vibrant pipeline.

A few key fundamentals stand out:

• Neuren’s market cap sits at $2.60 billion, making it a sizeable but nimble biotech.
• It has begun generating earnings (EPS 0.154), but its P/E ratio is a lofty 131.95—which is very high even for biotechs, reflecting both growth optimism and risk.
• Uniquely among many peers, Neuren actually pays a dividend: its current yield is 0.74%, with full (100%) franking reported on its latest interim payout of $0.15 per share.

That rare combination of cutting-edge drug development, early earnings, and a dividend (albeit modest) gives Neuren a distinctive profile for income-hunting investors interested in the healthcare sector.

The case for Telix Pharmaceuticals

Telix Pharmaceuticals is another home-grown biotech success story, but with a different therapeutic focus. Telix develops and commercialises theranostic (diagnostic and therapeutic) products using targeted radiation, with emphasis on treating and imaging cancers such as prostate, kidney, and brain tumours. The company’s prostate cancer imaging agent, Illuccix, already has approvals in Australia, the US, and Canada, with the UK and Europe also on its radar. Telix boasts a substantial pipeline, with over 20 clinical trials underway across multiple countries and therapeutic areas.

Key Telix fundamentals from the dataset:

• Telix’s market cap is $5.93 billion—more than double Neuren’s—marking it as one of the sector’s heavyweights on the ASX.
• It’s also generating positive earnings (EPS 0.099), and its P/E ratio is 121.97 – Like Neuren, this figure is very high compared to the broader market.
• However, Telix does not offer a dividend at present—its yield is 0%—which is fairly standard for a rapidly reinvesting biotech but removes any immediate income appeal.

Telix’s size and global reach, plus its diverse late-stage pipeline, make it an intriguing candidate for growth investors focused on healthcare innovation.

Valuation comparison

Since both companies are ASX-listed healthcare innovators of comparable maturity, the core valuation metrics stack up as follows:

Metric	Neuren Pharmaceuticals	Telix Pharmaceuticals
Market Cap	$2.60 billion	$5.93 billion
P/E Ratio	131.95	121.97
EPS	0.154	0.099
Dividend Yield	0.74% (100% franked)	0.00%
Year To Date Return	10.2%	50.6%

Note: Both companies’ P/E ratios are extremely high relative to the general market, which is typical for biotech stocks where earnings are newly positive and future growth is heavily priced in. Also, while both have positive EPS, the relationship between reported EPS and the stated P/E may be based on different earnings definitions (trailing, underlying, or forecast), so the exact calculation might not match.

Recent share price performance

Looking at the past month: 19 August to 17 September 2026.

• Neuren Pharmaceuticals shares rose from $22.85 to $20.54 over this period—so, a decline, with notable volatility (including a single-day drop of 10.6%).
• Telix Pharmaceuticals, in contrast, jumped from $16.84 to $17.45, including several days of strong upward moves (up as much as 8.6% in a day).
• Year to date, Neuren is up 10.2%, while Telix leads with a 50.6% return.
• Only Neuren has paid a recent dividend (ex-date 15 Sep 2026, $0.15 per share, fully franked).

Which is the better buy?

While both Neuren Pharmaceuticals and Telix Pharmaceuticals are stellar examples of Aussie healthcare innovation, I’d lean toward Telix Pharmaceuticals as the better buy right now. The verdict comes down to sheer momentum and growth potential—Telix’s YTD return of 50.6% absolutely crushes Neuren’s 10.2%, and the recent price charts show Telix enjoying much stronger investor confidence. Both sport very high P/E ratios, but Telix’s rapid expansion into global cancer markets and its larger scale tip the balance for me, even without a dividend.

Neuren deserves credit for delivering both earnings and a small (but fully franked) dividend at such an early growth stage, which will appeal to income collectors who value some extra yield from their healthcare allocations. But if I had to pick between the two for exposure to biotech upside, Telix’s global opportunity, ongoing clinical advancements, and share price trajectory look more compelling.

Of course, biotech investing always carries risk, and these companies’ high valuations reflect market excitement about a promising—but not guaranteed—future. But based on the available data, my pick would be Telix Pharmaceuticals for investors seeking strong recent growth and commercial momentum in healthcare.

The post Neuren Pharmaceuticals vs Telix Pharmaceuticals: Which healthcare stock is best? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are Telix Pharmaceuticals shares on the slide today?
• Telix Pharmaceuticals: ITM merger builds a sector leader
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• Forget CSL shares, I’d buy this ASX biotech stock instead

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 positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. 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 draft. 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 initial reaction to Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)’s announcement of a $3.3 billion merger with German company ITM appears lukewarm, with its shares falling more than 6%.

Building a nuclear medicine powerhouse

The Australian company said in a statement to the ASX that it would pay ITM shareholders an upfront payment of US$1.65 billion, with additional contingent payments of US$700 million.

ITM, Telix said, is the world’s leading supplier of therapeutic radioisotopes and the only producer of globally-scaled, commercial-grade lutetium-77.

Telix said regarding the deal:

The merger will further strengthen Telix’s leadership as a vertically integrated radiopharmaceutical company with the capabilities required to develop, manufacture and deliver innovative treatments to patients globally. The combined organisation will be uniquely positioned as a radiopharmaceutical industry leader, differentiated by a world-class scaled isotope manufacturing business with a validated global distribution network, a market-leading commercial precision medicine platform and the industry’s most extensive therapeutic radiopharmaceutical pipeline.

Telix said ITM grew at a compound annual rate of 40% from 2021 to 2025 and generated US$273 million in revenue in 2025.

Telix added that the global market for radioisotopes was growing, with the nuclear medicine market expected to be worth US$34 billion by 2034.

Telix Managing Director Dr Christian Behrenbruch said:

This merger positions Telix at the forefront of the consolidation that is occurring as the industry matures. ITM is the leader in radioisotope production, with deep scientific expertise and a track record of value-adding innovation. We have enjoyed a close working relationship with ITM for many years and there is strong management alignment for the rationale behind this transaction. By combining our complementary strengths, we will create a company with commercial scale, world-leading supply and the most exciting theranostic drug portfolio in the sector.

Telix shares were 6.1% lower on the news at $16.77.

Brokers bullish on Telix Pharmaceuticals shares

Morgan Stanley recently valued the company at $23 per share following the US Food & Drug Administration approving Telix’s new drug, Pixclara, an amino acid positron emission tomography (PET) drug for imaging gliomas (brain cancer).

RBC Capital Markets also released a research note at the time, valuing the company at $19.

RBC estimated the total addressable market for Pixclara’s current use to be US$140 to US$160 million per year.

The broker added:

Assuming a penetration rate of ~60% in FY35, we estimate Pixclara’s first indication would be valued at $0.56/share with further upside potential of $0.62/share if Pixclara achieves ~80% penetration. If the company is successful in securing approval to expand Pixclara’s indication to include brain metastases, we estimate this could potentially add as much as ~$3.85/share to our price target.

The post Why are Telix Pharmaceuticals shares on the slide today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Neuren Pharmaceuticals vs Telix Pharmaceuticals: Which healthcare stock is best?
• Telix Pharmaceuticals: ITM merger builds a sector leader
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• Forget CSL shares, I’d buy this ASX biotech stock instead

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

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) has long been a popular choice with Australian income investors.

The telecommunications giant provides essential services to millions of households and businesses, while regularly returning cash to shareholders.

At around $4.86 today, would I buy Telstra shares for passive income?

Why Telstra suits an income portfolio

I think Telstra has several characteristics that work well for investors looking for regular income.

Mobile and internet services have become a normal part of household and business spending. Customers still need connectivity when economic conditions weaken, which gives Telstra a relatively dependable source of revenue.

The company also holds a strong position in Australian mobile.

Its network reaches across the country, and continued investment should help Telstra maintain the quality and coverage that customers expect.

For an income investor, I like having the dividend supported by a business selling services people use every day.

Telstra is not immune to competition or rising costs, but I think its position provides a solid foundation for shareholder returns.

What income could investors receive?

Telstra has also made growing shareholder returns part of its longer-term plans.

Consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends of 22 cents per share in FY27 and 22.5 cents per share in FY28.

At a Telstra share price of $4.86, those forecasts translate into prospective dividend yields of approximately 4.5% and 4.6%, respectively.

That is a healthy level of income in my view, particularly with franking credits potentially increasing the value of those dividends for eligible Australian investors.

While the forecast increase from 22 cents to 22.5 cents is fairly modest, I am comfortable with that.

For passive income, I would rather see the dividend gradually increase alongside the business than depend on an unusually high yield that may prove difficult to sustain.

There could still be some growth

I would not view Telstra shares purely as a dividend investment.

The company’s Connected Future 30 strategy is targeting growth in cash earnings through to FY30, which could give management more capacity to invest in the network and increase shareholder returns over time.

Mobile remains important, but Telstra also has opportunities across enterprise connectivity, infrastructure, and other telecommunications services.

I am not expecting spectacular growth from a company of Telstra’s size.

But a combination of modest earnings growth and regular dividends could still produce worthwhile total returns over a long holding period.

What would I watch?

Competition is one area I would keep an eye on.

Telstra needs to continue investing heavily in its network while ensuring customers see enough value to remain with the company.

Capital expenditure is also substantial in telecommunications, so strong revenue does not automatically translate into money available for dividends.

Still, I think Telstra’s scale and recurring customer demand put it in a good position to manage those requirements.

Foolish takeaway

Yes, I would buy Telstra shares for passive income.

At $4.86, forecast dividends of 22 cents and 22.5 cents per share offer prospective yields of around 4.5% to 4.6%, with full franking expected.

I also like that the income comes from an essential-services business with the potential to keep growing earnings gradually over time.

For investors looking for a combination of regular income and relative stability, I think Telstra remains one of the ASX shares worth considering.

The post Should I buy Telstra shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I’m planning to retire with $1 million in superannuation. How much passive income can I earn? 
• Telstra vs NAB: Which ASX blue chip is the better buy?
• How many Telstra shares do I need to buy to earn $500 of passive income every month?
• 5 ASX shares I’d recommend to beginners
• Buy, hold, sell: AGL Energy, Telstra, Zip shares

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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Three popular S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stocks are catching investor interest today following some big updates.

One is charging ahead of the 0.2% losses posted by the ASX 200 in morning trade on Monday, while the other two are trailing that performance.

Here’s what’s happening.

ASX 200 gold stock Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Resolute Mining shares are down 5% today, trading for $1.29 apiece.

The West African-focused ASX 200 gold stock is making headlines following an update on its Syama Gold Mine, located in Mali.

Resolute reported that production at Syama has remained below plan due to the challenging operating environment in Mali. This is impacting performance across underground mining, open-pit mining, and sulphide processing at the project.

The miner revised its 2026 gold production forecast for Syama to 150,000 to 160,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,300 to $2,400 per ounce.

With Resolute Mining’s other assets remaining on track, the company now expects its total gold 2026 production to be 205,000 ounces to 225,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,250 to $2,350 per ounce.

Resolute Mining CEO Chris Eger said:

While the near-term impact at Syama is disappointing, the broader business remains supported by a strong gold price environment and disciplined cost management. These actions will enable us to continue generating positive returns and build a stronger platform for operational performance in 2027.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

Bellevue Gold shares are down 1.2%, trading for $1.60 each.

This comes after the ASX 200 gold stock released an exploration update and its annual Resource and Reserve statement for its owned Bellevue Gold Project, located in Western Australia.

Bellevue said that exploration drilling will form an important element of its renewed growth strategy, with exploration set to “substantially increase” in FY 2027.

The miner also revealed that the Bellevue Gold Project now has an Indicated and Inferred Resource of 2.7 million ounces at 8.6 grams per tonne gold. That compares to 3.1Moz at 8.9g/t gold last year.

Which brings us to…

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The third ASX 200 gold stock turning heads today is Ramelius Resources. And unlike the other two Aussie gold miners, Ramelius Resources shares are leaping higher, up 4.9% and trading for $3.76 apiece.

This follows the release of the gold miner’s FY 2027 production forecast and four-year outlook.

Investors are reacting positively to Ramelius’ FY 2027 gold production guidance of 205,000 to 225,000 ounces of gold at an AISC of $2,150 to $2,350 per ounce.

And management increased the miner’s FY 2030 gold production target by 11% to 560,000 to 610,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,100 to $2,400 per ounce.

The post 3 ASX 200 gold stocks turning heads on big news today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Ramelius Resources boosts production outlook and sets new FY27 guidance
• 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week
• Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, REA Group, and Ramelius shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX 200 shares tipped by experts to jump 30% to 62%

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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are trading around $152.43 on Monday.

That is much closer to their 52-week low of $146.97 than their high of $185.59.

So, could the CBA share price return to $180 in 2027?

Could CBA shares reach $180?

I think they could.

From $152.43, the CBA share price would need to rise around 18% to reach $180.

That is a decent gain, but it does not look unrealistic to me. After all, CBA shares have already traded above $180 during the past year.

I also remain positive on the business.

CBA is my preferred major Australian bank. It has strong positions across home loans, deposits, business banking, and everyday financial services.

I particularly like its digital offering. The CommBank app has become an important part of how many customers manage their finances, helping CBA build deeper relationships across multiple products.

The bank’s size is another advantage. It has millions of customers and a large deposit base, giving it a strong platform to keep generating profits.

If CBA continues performing well, I think investors could become more positive on the shares again and push them back towards their previous highs.

Would $180 be too expensive?

This is where I would pay closer attention.

CBA has rarely looked cheap in recent years, and a share price of $180 would once again put it on a high valuation.

Consensus forecasts suggest earnings per share of $6.67 in FY27 and $6.86 in FY28.

At $180, that would put CBA shares on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 27 times FY27 earnings and 26 times FY28 earnings.

That is a substantial premium for a bank.

Still, I think CBA deserves to trade at a higher valuation than its major rivals.

In my view, it is the strongest banking business in Australia, with a powerful customer franchise, leading digital capabilities, and a track record of producing substantial profits.

So, if the business continues delivering, I think a valuation around that level could be justified.

What about the dividend?

CBA also remains an attractive income stock.

Consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends of $5.15 per share in FY27 and $5.30 per share in FY28.

At today’s share price, the FY27 forecast represents a dividend yield of around 3.4%, before including any benefit from franking credits.

That is not the highest yield available from the major banks, but income is only part of the reason I like CBA.

I think the combination of a growing dividend and the potential for the share price to recover makes the overall investment case more interesting.

Foolish takeaway

For me, $180 does not look like a stretch for CBA.

The shares have come back a fair way, but I still think the business is in good shape and remains the major bank I would most want to own.

At today’s price, I would be happy to buy and give CBA time to work its way back towards those previous highs.

The post Could CBA shares reach $180 in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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.

Coal prices have been back in focus over the past few weeks, and to be frank, the move has been pretty hard to miss.

According to Trading Economics, coal finished last week at around US$144 per tonne.

That leaves the commodity almost 11% higher over the past month and around 39% above where it was a year ago.

The other thing worth looking at is demand.

Global coal consumption is heading for another record in 2026, despite huge amounts of money being spent on renewable energy around the world.

And coal still generates more electricity than any other individual source.

So, why is it having such a strong run again?

Why are coal prices climbing again?

A lot of it comes back to what’s happening in global energy markets.

The war in the Middle East has disrupted LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed gas prices higher.

Virtually no coal travels through Hormuz, but that hasn’t stopped coal from benefiting.

This is because when gas gets too expensive, some power generators will use more coal instead.

According to the IEA, demand has picked up across China, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe.

Supply has tightened a bit as well, with China stepping up mine safety checks and Indonesia cutting its 2026 production target.

The world is burning more coal than ever

The demand numbers are pretty eye-opening as well.

The IEA now expects global coal consumption to rise 1.2% to a record 8.94 billion tonnes in 2026.

That’s quite a turnaround, considering it was previously expecting demand to fall this year.

China is still by far the biggest user, with demand expected to come in at around 5 billion tonnes.

India isn’t exactly slowing down either.

Coal consumption there is forecast to rise 4.2% to around 1.35 billion tonnes this year.

Between them, China and India will consume more than 70% of the world’s coal.

Coal is still important

This is probably the part that gets overlooked the most.

In 2025, coal provided around 34% of global electricity generation, making it the largest individual source of power worldwide.

Natural gas was a distant second at around 21%.

Yes, renewables are growing quickly and are expected to overtake coal-fired generation during 2026.

But coal isn’t disappearing anytime soon.

The IEA still expects it to remain the world’s largest single source of electricity through 2030.

At the same time, worldwide electricity demand is forecast to grow 3.6% this year and another 3.8% in 2027.

The post Coal is still the king of global power. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) share price has fallen by more than 18% since 19 August 2026, which is a hefty drop for an ASX healthcare share in a short time. When businesses fall that much, it’s worthwhile considering an investment.

Sonic Healthcare is a global pathology business with a presence across a number of countries, including Australia, Germany, the US, the UK, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

Let’s take a look at whether this is a good time to buy or not.

Defensive earnings

There’s a lot of uncertainty for the global economy at the moment, with rising interest rates, stronger inflation, AI uncertainties, and so on.

Healthcare is one of those industries, in my view, that have defensive earnings. We don’t choose when to get sick, so there’s fairly consistent demand year to year. Most people also place their health as a high priority compared to many other spending categories.

But higher interest rates are a headwind for most share prices, including defensive names. Still, I believe Sonic Healthcare’s financials can continue growing.

In FY26, revenue rose 13% to $10.9 billion, underlying operating profit (EBITDA) grew 11% to $1.9 billion, operating profit (EBITDA) rose 9% to $1.88 billion, underlying net profit rose 17% to $621 million, and statutory net profit grew 18% to $608 million.

Statutory earnings per share (EPS) grew 15% to $1.23.

Assuming the same exchange rate as FY26, EBITDA is predicted to grow to between $1.95 billion and $2.03 billion, excluding back office IT systems transformation costs of around A$30 million.

In the longer term, according to CommSec, analysts think earnings in FY28 and FY29 could grow.

With a mixture of organic growth (from tailwinds like an ageing population) and the occasional bolt-on acquisition, the future looks promising for profit growth.

The dividend yield

Sonic Healthcare has an impressive history of dividends. There have only been a couple of times over the last 35 years when the business didn’t increase its payout (it was maintained instead), and I expect that to continue in the years ahead.

The FY26 annual dividend was increased by 0.9% to $1.08. Future earnings growth is expected to support achieving of the target dividend payout ratio of between 70% to 80% of net profit.

The FY26 payout translates into a 7.2% dividend yield, including franking credits, at the time of writing. That’s a very attractive yield, in my view.

Is the Sonic Healthcare share price cheap?

At the time of writing, the Sonic Healthcare share price is trading on a price-earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 16.

I think this is a great time to invest in the business, as I don’t expect the outlook to remain as uncertain forever. Therefore, a temporary sell-off could be a long-term opportunity. Even if the P/E ratio doesn’t increase, future earnings growth (and large dividends) can help drive shareholder returns.

The post Down more than 18% in a month with a 7% yield, are Sonic Healthcare shares too cheap to ignore? 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 recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.