Category: Stock Market

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have just wrapped up what was an exceptionally lucrative year. The ASX 200 mining giant rose from $117.46 a share at the end of 2024 to the $146.82 we saw the miner close out 2025 at last week. That’s a gain worth almost exactly 25%.

Much of these gains came in the latter half of 2025, with the Rio share price rising more than 44% between late June and late December. Not bad, considering the broader market’s gains for 2025 were far more muted at just under 6%. Particularly given that Rio investors also enjoyed two decent dividends over the year just gone, worth about 4% at current pricing.

Despite these rosy returns, Rio shares have evidently not decided to rest on their laurels now that 20206 is underway. Since 1 January, Rio Tinto stock has put on another 1.4%, including today’s gains of just over 1%.

What’s even more exciting, though, is Rio Tinto’s new all-time record high.

Yep, Rio Tinto shares hit a new record this Monday. After opening at $148.29 a share this morning, today’s trading saw the miner get as high as $150.14 a share.

Not only is that price a new all-time high for Rio, but it is also the first time in the company’s long history that we have seen a ‘$150’ at the front of its ticker.

A long time coming for Rio Tinto shares’ latest record high

It’s taken a long time for Rio shares to get to where they are today. Way back in 2008, Rio reset what was then its record high by reaching $123 a share. But the global financial crisis quickly put a stop to that momentum. It took until 2021 for Rio Tinto shares to finally topple that previous high.

Even today, someone who bought Rio shares at that 2008 peak and kept holding would only be up by about 22% from that 2008 high. That doesn’t include dividends, which would have improved that rather paltry metric substantially.

So why are Rio shares doing so well in early 2026?

Well, investors seemed to have taken note of how well commodity markets fared in 2025. As my Fool colleague Bronwyn noted last week, raw materials saw significant price spikes last year. Copper, aluminium, silver, and lithium all saw healthy increases, and all happen to be metals that Rio Tinto mines and processes.

Given Rio’s large-scale operations and relatively low cost bases, perhaps investors are piling in anticipation of further price rises, or possibly broader economic inflation. Let’s see how Rio Tinto shares fare over the rest of January and beyond.

The post Own Rio Tinto shares? They just hit a new record high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares had one of the wildest rides you will ever experience on the Australian share market in 2025.

The counter drone technology company’s shares had plenty of ups and downs, but ultimately delivered the goods (and more) for investors.

What happened with DroneShield shares in 2025?

After ending the previous year at 77 cents, the DroneShield share price was as high as $6.71 at one stage last year.

However, some heavy insider selling and the accidental release and subsequent retraction of a contract win announcement weighed heavily on sentiment.

This meant that DroneShield shares ultimately ended the period at $3.08, which represents an annual return of 300%.

The catalyst for this was the announcement of an endless stream of major contract wins, which underpinned explosive sales and profit growth.

For example, in October, DroneShield released its third quarter results and revealed revenue of $92.9 million and cash receipts of $77.4 million. This was a 1,091% and 751% increase, respectively, over the prior corresponding period.

Since then, it has continued to win significant contracts. This includes an $8.2 million contract from an in-country reseller for delivery to a western military end-customer and a $49.6 million contract with an in-region European reseller that is contractually required to distribute the products to a European military end-customer.

In addition, DroneShield addressed investor concerns by announcing plans to establish a mandatory minimum shareholding policy (MSP) for all directors and members of senior management.

What’s next?

The good news is that there could be further market-beating returns for investors in 2026 according to analysts at Bell Potter.

Late last year, the broker put a buy rating and $4.40 price target on DroneShield’s shares. Based on its current share price of $3.31, this implies potential upside of 33% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter highlights that the company has an approximate $2.5 billion sales pipeline to attempt to convert in the first half of the year. The broker said:

We believe DRO has a market leading RF detect/defeat C-UAS offering and a strengthening competitive advantage owing to its years of battlefield experience and large and focused R&D team. We expect 2026 will be an inflection point for the global counter-drone industry with countries poised to unleash a wave of spending on RF detect and defeat solutions. Consequently, we believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2.5b potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26e.

The post Why did DroneShield shares rocket 300% in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Biome Australia Ltd (ASX: BIO) share price is in the spotlight on Monday. This comes after the company released a strong sales update to the market.

At the time of writing, the Biome share price is up 10.84% to 46 cents, making it one of the stronger performers on the ASX today.

By comparison, the broader S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) is currently flat.

So, what did Biome report, and what else could be driving the share price higher?

Sales keep growing despite a tough quarter

According to the release, Biome reported Q2 FY26 revenue of $6.48 million. That result represents 40.9% growth compared to the same quarter last year and 9.1% growth compared to the previous quarter.

This is a strong result because the December quarter is usually a slower time for the business. There are fewer trading days, and pharmacies often focus more on gift items than health products.

Even with those challenges, Biome still delivered its strongest second-quarter result on record. This shows demand for its probiotic products remains strong.

A solid first half of the year

Looking beyond the quarter, Biome also shared its half-year results for FY26.

Total sales for the first half came in at $12.42 million, which is 40.2% higher than the same period last year. This compares with $8.86 million in the first half of FY25.

Management said the result reflects continued demand for its Activated Probiotics products. These products are backed by clinical research and are mainly sold through healthcare practitioners and pharmacies.

Why investors are paying attention

There are a few reasons why the market has responded positively today.

First, revenue growth above 40% is impressive for a consumer healthcare company. Second, achieving that growth during a seasonally slower period makes the result even more encouraging.

Biome also operates in the healthcare sector, which many investors see as more defensive. Demand for health products often holds up better when economic conditions are uncertain.

With a market capitalisation of around $102 million, investors may be starting to reassess how fast Biome can grow if current trends continue.

What to watch next

While today’s update focused on sales, profitability will be the next area of interest for investors. The market will now start looking for signs that growth is translating into improving earnings.

But so far, Biome appears to have started FY26 well.

The next few months should give a clearer picture of whether that growth can continue.

The post This ASX small-cap stock just jumped 10%. 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.

A market return of 9% to 10% in 2026 would be a good result by almost any standard. But good market returns don’t stop investors from asking a familiar question: where could the upside come from on top of that?

For me, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares stand out as one of the few ASX heavyweights that could realistically do more than just keep pace. And the reasons have less to do with iron ore and more to do with copper.

A different cycle is doing the heavy lifting

When investors think about BHP, iron ore is usually at the forefront of their minds. It remains enormously important, but the most powerful driver of potential outperformance heading into 2026 is copper.

Copper prices have moved to record highs, reflecting a structural mismatch between demand and supply. Electrification, renewable energy, electric vehicles, data centres, and artificial intelligence are all highly copper-intensive. At the same time, new copper supply is expensive, slow to develop, and increasingly constrained.

This is not a short-term commodity spike. I think it’s a multi-year theme, and BHP is increasingly leveraged to it.

BHP owns some of the world’s most significant copper assets, including Escondida in Chile and a growing copper province in South Australia. Operationally, copper volumes have been trending higher, supported by improved throughput and ongoing investment.

More importantly, management has been explicit about copper’s role in BHP’s future. The company is actively prioritising capital toward copper growth options across existing assets and future developments. It has also been looking at acquisitions to increase exposure.

That gives BHP leverage not just to today’s prices, but to where copper prices could settle over the next decade.

If copper prices remain elevated, that upside flows directly into cash generation.

Iron ore provides the ballast

While copper offers upside, iron ore provides stability. Even if iron ore prices moderate from recent levels, BHP’s assets sit at the low end of the global cost curve. That means strong margins can persist even in less favourable pricing environments.

The result is dependable cash flow that supports dividends, balance sheet strength, and reinvestment, all of which reduce downside risk, in my opinion.

This balance matters. BHP doesn’t need perfect commodity conditions to perform well. It needs reasonable conditions across multiple commodities, with at least one area delivering upside. Heading into 2026, copper looks well-positioned to be that engine.

Capital discipline

One of the key reasons I’m comfortable backing BHP shares in 2026 is its capital discipline.

After years of learning hard lessons, the company has become far more selective with growth spending. Capital is increasingly directed toward assets with long lives, strong returns, and strategic relevance, such as copper and potash, rather than chasing volume for its own sake.

The Jansen potash project, due to come online later this decade, is a good example. While it won’t drive 2026 earnings, it adds long-term diversification and optionality without compromising near-term financial strength.

This disciplined approach increases the likelihood that higher commodity prices actually translate into shareholder returns, rather than being diluted by poor capital allocation.

What could still hold BHP shares back

Of course, BHP isn’t risk-free. A sharp slowdown in global growth, particularly in China, would weigh on commodity demand.

Furthermore, commodity prices are inherently cyclical, and sentiment can turn quickly. And as the world’s largest miner, BHP won’t deliver explosive upside in a straight line. But I think those risks are well understood, and arguably well priced.

Foolish Takeaway

With copper prices at record highs, long-term supply constraints in place, improving copper exposure, and iron ore providing a strong cash-flow foundation, BHP enters 2026 with a favourable mix of upside potential and downside protection.

I wouldn’t expect BHP to rocket. But in a year of solid market returns, it has a credible path to doing better than the index and rewarding patient investors along the way.

The post Could BHP shares outperform the ASX 200 in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Market selloffs can feel uncomfortable, but history shows they are a normal part of long-term investing.

Sharp pullbacks often punish weaker businesses, while high-quality assets tend to recover and go on to make new highs.

For investors willing to look past short-term volatility, periods of market stress can actually strengthen long-term returns.

That’s where broad, low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come into their own. Rather than trying to predict which individual shares will hold up best, owning diversified ASX ETFs allows investors to stay invested through sell-offs and benefit from eventual recoveries.

With that in mind, here are three low-cost Vanguard ETFs that could prove unstoppable even if markets struggle in 2026.

Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VAS)

The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF provides investors with exposure to the 300 largest stocks listed on the Australian share market. Its portfolio includes household names such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL), and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL). These are businesses that dominate their industries and generate reliable cash flow.

During market downturns, these types of companies often hold up better than smaller, more speculative stocks. Many even continue paying dividends, which can help cushion returns while investors wait for sentiment to improve. Over the long run, Australia’s biggest stocks have demonstrated an ability to grow earnings through multiple economic cycles, making the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF a solid core holding in uncertain times.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

For investors worried about putting all their eggs in one market, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF could be worth considering. It offers instant global diversification by holding a slice of thousands of stocks across developed markets. This includes global leaders like Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nestle (SWX: NESN), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).

This global spread means that weakness in one region can be offset by strength in another. Even during global selloffs, many of the world’s largest multinationals continue to grow revenues and invest for the future. Over time, that resilience has helped global equity markets recover from wars, recessions, and financial crises, rewarding patient investors.

Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS)

Finally, the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF goes beyond just the largest American stocks. It provides exposure to the entire US share market, spanning large, mid, and smaller stocks across every major sector.

While technology giants like Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL) feature prominently, this Vanguard ETF also includes industrials, healthcare firms, and consumer businesses that can perform well even when growth slows. This breadth gives investors access to innovation and economic growth without relying on any single theme to succeed.

The post 3 unstoppable Vanguard ETFs to buy even if there’s a stock market sell-off in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, CSL, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and Nestlé and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, BHP Group, CSL, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Physical gold posted an exceptional year of gains last year, adding more than 67% in value in US dollar terms over the period.

Such a strong run might have some gold holders feeling nervous about whether it’s time to pocket their gains and look elsewhere for investment ideas, but according to MineLife director Gavin Wendt, the fundamentals for further strength in the gold price are still firmly in place.

Mr Wendt recently issued a research note looking into gold and said there are several tailwinds for the price of the precious metal, which should underpin further gains even after its “record-breaking rally” in 2025, which has seen gold double in value in less than two years.

Global uncertainty a tailwind

One of the big factors, often cited as an impetus for gold buying, is “macro uncertainty”, Mr Wendt said – and keep in mind this research note was issued before the US’ military strike on Venezuela in recent days.

As Mr Wendt wrote in his research note:

Gold has long reflected global economic and political stress, with its price typically rising during periods of heightened uncertainty. In the wake of the global financial crisis, gold surged past $1,000. During the Covid 19 pandemic, it climbed to $2,000. Then, when Trump announced tariffs in April, it surpassed the $3,000 mark. The $4,000 mark was hit during the recent prolonged US government shutdown.

Mr Wendt said global demand for gold remained strong, with World Gold Council figures showing buyer demand hit a record quarterly figure of 1313 tonnes in the third quarter of 2025.

This surge was driven by strong investment demand, including purchases via exchange-traded funds, bars and coins, as well as significant buying by central banks. ETF investors added 222 tonnes of gold holdings, marking the biggest quarterly inflow in years. Bar and coin demand remained robust at 316 tonnes. Meanwhile, central banks bought 220 tonnes, up nearly 30% from the second quarter, led by emerging markets.

Governments buying up

Mr Wendt said central banks remained a key pillar of support for the gold price, with China’s central bank buying up gold for 13 months in a row and central banks overall adding a net 53 tonnes to global central bank reserves in October alone.

China is also attempting to widen its presence in the bullion market by extending gold storage facilities to foreign banks – an offer Cambodia has already accepted, signalling Beijing sees gold as more than a reserve asset, it’s also a tool of financial influence.

Mr Wendt said despite the high gold price, supply growth “tends to be slow and relatively inelastic”, with various factors such as sovereign risk, permitting delays, and funding challenges to blame.

What we therefore see is that many cashed-up gold producers are happy to acquire existing projects to secure production growth rather than fund new projects, thus minimising risk.

Mr Wendt did not put a figure on how high he thought gold might go, but said the reasons previously mentioned “strongly suggests that this bull run has further to go”.

Downside risks include a major market sell-off, which could force investors to dump gold in order to raise cash. However, I expect the downside to be limited (to US$4,000/oz), as any weakness will likely attract renewed interest from both retail and institutional buyers.

The post Is the gold bull run over? Far from it according to this market expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shares in Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG) are little changed on Monday after the company released a brief update to the ASX.

At the time of writing, the listed investment company (LIC)’s shares are up 0.32% to $9.15.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is slightly higher by 0.1%.

While today’s announcement is mostly administrative, it provides useful visibility for income-focused investors.

Let’s take a look at what’s ahead for the start of the year.

Key dates now locked in

According to the release, Argo confirmed the key dates tied to its half-year results and interim dividend for early 2026.

The company will release its half-year results for the period ending December 31, 2025, on Monday, February 9, 2026. That announcement will also include confirmation of the interim dividend, subject to board approval.

For shareholders, the important dividend dates are:

• Ex-dividend date: Friday, 13 February 2026

• Record date: Monday, 16 February 2026

• Last day to elect the DRP or DSSP: Tuesday, 17 February 2026

• Dividend payment date: Friday, 20 March 2026

Why this matters for income investors

Argo is widely held by investors seeking steady, tax-effective income rather than rapid capital growth. As a long-established LIC, its appeal lies in diversification, low turnover, and consistent fully-franked dividends over time.

While today’s announcement does not reveal how large the interim dividend will be, it does give shareholders a clear roadmap for early 2026. That can be very useful for retirees and self-managed super fund investors who rely on predictable income streams.

Argo’s most recent final dividend for 2025 was 20 cents per share, fully franked. Over the longer term, the company has built a strong reputation for maintaining dividends through market cycles, supported by a conservative investment approach.

A steady performer in a volatile market

The relatively muted share price reaction reflects the administrative nature of the update. There was no change to earnings guidance or portfolio positioning, and nothing unexpected for investors already familiar with Argo’s dividend pattern.

That said, the shares continue to trade at a modest premium to net tangible assets, which is common for well-regarded LICs with long dividend track records.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s update is unlikely to shift Argo’s share price in the short term, but it reinforces the stock’s position as a dependable income option.

With key dividend dates now confirmed for early 2026, investors have greater clarity around timing, which matters for anyone planning regular income.

That helps explain why Argo continues to attract income-focused investors, even though the share price has moved little over the past year.

The post Argo just locked in its key dates for 2026. Here’s what investors need to know 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.

Retirees are often looking for companies or other entities that pay out regular, fully-franked dividends, which can supply a solid, and hopefully low-risk income stream.

Betashares recently shared its investing ideas for 2026, and among them were two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) they offer, which they say are set up to deliver just that.

So let’s have a look at the ETFs they are recommending for income investors.

Betashares Australian Enhanced Credit Income Complex ETF (ASX: ECRD)

The name of this  ETF is quite a mouthful, but to put it in simple terms, it invests in a portfolio of bonds issued by the “Big four” Australian banks and Australian investment-grade corporate bonds.

The ETF’s managers also seek to increase returns by borrowing, with its strategy in its own words, “using a combination of investors’ money and funds borrowed at institutional rates to enhance income potential, with all gearing managed within the fund and no risk of investor margin calls”.

The Betashares website goes on to say:

The gearing ratio of between 66.7% and 71.4% means that the fund’s geared exposure is anticipated to vary between about 300% and 350% of the fund’s net asset value on a given day. The fund’s portfolio exposure is actively monitored and adjusted to stay within this range.  

Betashares does warn that a geared investment might not suit everyone’s risk profile.

Gearing magnifies gains and losses and may not be a suitable strategy for all investors. Investors in geared strategies should be willing to accept higher levels of investment volatility and potentially large moves (both up and down) in the value of their investment. 

ECRD is set up to pay out dividends on a monthly basis and has a running yield of 7.68% per annum, although the fund was only set up in November, so there’s not a lot of historical data to go on.

Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD)

This Australia-focused ETF has a monthly trailing dividend yield of 4.55%, and according to the Betashares website, a total return over the past year of 11.79% against the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s 5.47%.

HYLD provides exposure to the top 50 Australian companies, but does not aim to buy them all.

As is explained on the Betashares website:

HYLD seeks to improve on traditional high-dividend strategies by aiming to screen out potential ‘dividend traps’ such as companies projected to pay unsustainably high dividend yields, as well as companies that exhibit high levels of volatility relative to their forecast dividend payout. HYLD can be used as an investor’s core Australian shares exposure, aiming to provide higher income than the broad Australian share market, and the potential to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index.

The ETF’s top three holdings are ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), followed by the miners BHP Group (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO).

HYLD pays its fully-franked dividend in the first week of each month.

The post Searching for the perfect retirement ETF? These two might fit the bill as monthly income providers appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

After tumbling 8.6% on Friday, the first trading day of 2026, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are in the green today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock closed on Friday trading for $24.43. In early afternoon trade today, shares are changing hands for $24.73 apiece, up 1.2%.

Despite today’s rebound, that leaves the Northern Star share price down 7.5% here on the second trading day of the new year.

Before we look at whether that makes the Aussie gold mining giant a buy today, let’s recap why investors punished the stock on Friday.

Why did Northern Star shares tumble on Friday?

Investors were reaching for their sell buttons on Friday after the gold miner reported lower than expected gold sales of around 348,000 ounces for the December quarter.

Management cited equipment failures and unplanned maintenance at production sites including Jundee, South Kalgoorlie, and Thunderbox for the reduced output.

And Northern Star shares got walloped after the miner downgraded its full year FY 2026 gold sales guidance to between 1.6 million and 1.7 million ounces, down from prior guidance of 1.7 million to 1.85 million ounces.

But did investors overreact on Friday?

Is the ASX 200 gold stock a good buy for 2026?

Despite the miner’s December production issues, I’m still bullish on Northern Star shares.

On a company specific level, on Friday the Motley Fool reported:

The company is focusing on stabilising operations, completing its plant expansion at KCGM, and recovering output at Jundee and Thunderbox. The expanded plant at KCGM is on schedule.

And even with reduced sales in FY 2026, Northern Star is booking heady profits.

The miner forecasts full year all in sustaining costs (AISC) in the range of AU$2,300 to AU$2,700 per ounce.

The spot price of gold remains near its all-time highs, currently trading for US$4,391 (AU$6,565) per ounce.

And with gold catching tailwinds from ongoing central bank buying, potential additional interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve, and rising geopolitical tensions following the US incursion into Venezuela, Northern Star could be enjoying even juicier margins in the year ahead.

Indeed, Global X forecast the gold price will reach US$5,000 per ounce in 2026. Global X said the gold price could even hit US$6,000 per ounce if global equity markets perform poorly or geopolitical tensions increase.

Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy, also expects we’ll see gold trade for US$5,000 per ounce in 2026.

According to Hansen:

As we head into 2026, gold is no longer just a hedge against inflation or falling rates – it is increasingly a cornerstone asset in a world defined by fragmentation, fiscal strain, and geopolitical uncertainty.

Despite Friday’s tumble, Northern Star shares remain up 58% since this time last year.

The post Should you buy the early 2026 big dip in Northern Star shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

With most brokers taking a well-earned break over the holiday period, there haven’t been many notes hitting the wires.

But don’t worry! Summarised below are three recent recommendations that remain very relevant today. Here’s what brokers are saying about these ASX shares:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts retained their outperform rating on this travel agent’s shares with an improved price target of $17.85. It noted that Flight Centre has signed an agreement to acquire the UK’s leading online cruise agency, Iglu, for 100 million British pounds. Macquarie was pleased with the move, highlighting that Iglu has a 15% share of the UK market and upwards of 75% of online bookings. It also sees the cruise industry as attractive with further acquisition opportunities. Macquarie points out that Flight Centre is leveraging its scale and balance sheet to accelerate its growth with strategic acquisitions. Outside this, Macquarie likes Flight Centre due to its belief that the company will achieve its guidance in FY 2026, which is being supported by improving consumer trends. The Flight Centre share price is trading at $14.80 this afternoon.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

A note out of Ord Minnett reveals that its analysts retained their buy rating on this data centre operator’s shares with an improved price target of $20.50. The broker was pleased to see that NextDC has signed an agreement with ChatGPT’s owner OpenAI for its proposed S7 data centre in Eastern Creek, Sydney. It notes that this centre will be a hyperscale AI campus and the largest in the southern hemisphere with a capacity of 650MW. It thinks there is a lot to like from the plan and believes it could be a big boost to its valuation if it goes ahead as planned. The NextDC share price is fetching $12.30 at the time of writing.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Analysts at Citi retained their buy rating and $7.25 price target on this energy giant’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes that Santos is well-positioned for a re-rating when the oil price bottoms out. It highlights that the company is emerging from its capital expenditure cycle with stronger cash margins, rising free cash flow, and higher quality earnings. In addition, the broker expects improving returns on invested capital (ROIC) through the next decade and Santos’ gearing to normalise as the Barossa and Pikka operations ramp up. In light of this, the broker thinks now could be a good time for investors to pick up the company’s shares. The Santos share price is trading at $6.10 on Monday afternoon.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Can Santos shares reignite after a 20% slide?
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.