Category: Stock Market

Buying an exchange-traded fund (ETF) is easy. Holding it through rising markets, falling markets, and changing headlines is usually the harder part.

I think the best buy-and-hold ETFs make that decision easier by giving investors exposure they can remain confident in for years.

For that reason, the three Betashares ETFs below would be high on my list.

Betashares Global Shares ETF (ASX: BGBL)

I would begin with a broad international holding. The BGBL ETF invests in approximately 1,000 stocks across more than 20 developed markets outside Australia. That gives investors access to many of the businesses shaping how the world spends, communicates, travels, receives healthcare, and adopts new technology.

I like this fund because it does not require investors to predict which country or industry will lead the next decade.

The United States represents a large part of the portfolio, but the ETF also reaches into Europe, Japan, Canada, and other developed markets. Its holdings span technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer goods, industrials, and more.

That breadth allows the portfolio to change naturally as companies rise and fall in importance.

There will be periods when international shares struggle or the Australian dollar weighs on returns. But over a long holding period, I think the BGBL ETF provides a straightforward way to participate in the growth of global businesses that are largely absent from the ASX.

Betashares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200)

Australian investors may already earn their income, own property, and hold superannuation assets locally. Even so, I think Australian shares can still deserve a place in a balanced portfolio.

The A200 ETF owns 200 of the largest companies listed on the ASX.

This gives investors exposure to the businesses financing Australian homes, supplying commodities to global markets, operating supermarkets, building infrastructure, providing healthcare, and paying many of the market’s largest dividends.

The local market has a sizeable weighting towards banks and resources companies, so the A200 ETF will move with interest rates, commodity prices, and the health of the Australian economy. That concentration is one reason I would hold it alongside international shares rather than rely on it alone.

For someone who wants broad local exposure without choosing between individual banks, miners, retailers, and healthcare companies, I think this fund is an attractive long-term holding.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The final Betashares ETF takes a more selective approach.

The QLTY ETF holds 150 global stocks outside Australia that rank highly on measures linked to quality, including profitability, balance sheet strength, and earnings stability.

I see this as a way to lean a portfolio towards businesses that have already shown an ability to manage capital well.

Strong companies can often keep investing when weaker competitors are forced to retreat. They may have loyal customers, healthier margins, lower debt, or products that remain in demand through changing economic conditions.

A quality screen will not protect investors from every fall. These companies can still become expensive, disappoint the market, or struggle when investors favour more speculative areas.

But for money I wanted to leave invested for many years, I would be comfortable placing greater weight on businesses with strong financial foundations.

Foolish takeaway

Buy-and-hold investing works best when the portfolio does not need constant repair.

The BGBL ETF could provide broad access to global growth, the A200 ETF can keep investors connected to Australian earnings and dividends, while the QLTY ETF offers exposure to financially strong international businesses.

Combined, I think this makes these Betashares ETFs great buy and hold options for Australian investors.

The post Why these Betashares ETFs could be strong buy and hold investments 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 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 average age of retirement in Australia is 65. At this point, you can access your superannuation regardless of whether you’ve started work or not, and you’re just two years from potentially receiving the Age Pension.

But just because age 65 is the average doesn’t mean you have to wait until then if you don’t want to.

Perhaps you want to retire a little earlier at age 63? That’s predictably doable, but only if you have enough in your superannuation to support yourself.

Let’s break down what retirement at age 63 might look like, and how much you’ll need to make it happen.

What could a comfortable retirement look like?

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) splits retirement into two broad categories: comfortable and modest.

ASFA defines a comfortable retirement as one that gives retirees a good standard of living well beyond the age pension. It budgets for expenses beyond a modest retirement, including top-tier private health insurance and regular leisure activities. It allocates funds for home repairs or renovations, and perhaps even an annual holiday.

Meanwhile, a modest retirement is defined as being able to cover expenses just slightly above what the full Centrelink Age Pension would provide from age 67.

How much will a comfortable retirement cost?

According to ASFA, a comfortable retirement is expected to cost around $55,923 per year for single Australians and roughly $78,566 per year for a couple living together.

But the catch is that these figures assume you’ll be retiring at age 67, will need to fund roughly 10 years of retirement, will be eligible to receive a part Age Pension, own your home in full, and already have an emergency fund set aside.

How much superannuation do I need to fund that?

In order to fund a comfortable retirement, ASFA calculates that at age 67, single Australians will need around $630,000. Meanwhile, couples will need a superannuation balance of around $730,000.

But, if I want to retire earlier at around age 63, how much extra will I need?

If you’re planning to retire earlier, at age 63, you’ll need to factor in those four additional years.

I’ve done a quick calculation using ASFA’s figures to work out the sum you actually need in your superannuation to be able to retire at age 63 and have the same lifestyle quality.

At age 63, singles will need to have closer to $854,000 in their superannuation. 

Meanwhile, couples will need a combined balance of around $1.05 million at age 63. 

These figures assume you’ll need to fund the additional four years of retirement between the ages of 63 and 67.

But remember, if you don’t own your home outright, you’ll also need to consider how you’ll pay your mortgage or rent, along with your other bills, and budget accordingly.

How does your superannuation balance compare? Are you on track?

The post How much superannuation do I need to retire comfortably at age 63? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $60k annual passive income?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• AMP shares have surged 80% since March. What’s next?
• Buying South32 shares? Here’s the dividend yield you’ll get right now
• Why this undervalued ASX All Ords tech stock is tipped for ‘significant growth’

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.

It was a wild, but ultimately positive, session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Tuesday.

After opening sharply lower and spending most of the session in red territory, the ASX 200 ended up staging a late afternoon recovery, closing with a minuscule 0.023% rise. That leaves the index at 8,793.3 points.

This bumpy day for ASX investors followed a rough start to the American trading week on Wall Street’s boards last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) started the week on a sour note, falling 0.59%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared slightly better, though, dropping by 0.048%.

But let’s return to the local markets now and take stock of what the various ASX sectors were up to this Tuesday.

Winners and losers

Despite the broader market’s nominal lift, green sectors outnumbered red sectors this session.

Leading those red sectors were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) crashed 1.05% lower today.

Communications shares were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) tumbling 0.88%.

Consumer discretionary stocks weren’t popular either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) saw its value tank 0.83%.

We could say the same for financial shares, as you can verify by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.71% dive.

Next up were industrial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) had dipped 0.34% by the closing bell.

Our last losers were consumer staples shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slipping 0.08%.

Turning to the green sectors now, these were led by gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared 3.64% higher this Tuesday.

Tech shares ran hot as well, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’s 3.26% surge.

Mining stocks were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) jumped 1.33% today.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were next, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) leaping 0.61%.

Then we had energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw a 0.4% increase this session.

Finally, utilities stocks got over the winner’s line, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)’s 0.22% lift.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold miner Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) took out today’s top spot. Minerals 260 shares spiked 7.69% higher this Tuesday to close at 64 cents apiece.

There wasn’t any news out from the company, but most gold shares had a strong session.

Here’s how the other winners landed their planes: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)	$0.63	7.69%
NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)	$14.06	7.74%
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)	$4.35	6.62%
Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)	$0.66	6.45%
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)	$10.89	5.63%
Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)	$1.26	5.46%
Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)	$18.95	5.10%
Emerald Resorces Ltd (ASX: EMR)	$5.23	5.02%
Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)	$4.82	4.78%
Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)	$3.02	4.50%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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 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.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares climbed to a fresh five-year high of $2.11 during Tuesday afternoon trade, extending one of the strongest rallies on the ASX this year.

The financial services company’s shares have soared 18% over the past five trading days following last week’s upbeat earnings update, taking their gain over the past 12 months to around 32%.

So, after a remarkable turnaround, should investors buy, hold, or sell?

A dramatic reversal

The latest rally marks a stunning recovery from mid-March, when AMP shares slumped to a one-year low of $1.14. Since then, the stock has surged roughly 80%.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing. AMP shares plunged about 26% in February after the company delivered a disappointing FY25 result that fell well short of market expectations.

Broader concerns over geopolitical tensions and Australia’s inflation outlook also weighed on financial stocks during the first half of the year.

Sentiment began to improve in April. AMP’s first-quarter update revealed Platforms’ net cash flows had surged 45%, while Superannuation & Investments delivered improved net cash outflows. Investors took the figures as a sign that the company’s turnaround strategy was gaining traction.

That optimism accelerated last week. AMP told the market it expects first-half underlying net profit of between $170 million and $180 million, well above the $131 million reported a year earlier. The stronger earnings outlook reinforced confidence that operational improvements are translating into better financial performance.

AMP has also benefited from growing expectations that the Reserve Bank of Australia will continue lowering interest rates, a backdrop that generally supports sentiment towards financial companies.

What do the experts think?

Broker sentiment remains broadly positive, although much of the recent optimism now appears reflected in the share price.

According to TradingView data, six of the ten analysts covering AMP have either a buy or strong buy recommendation. Three rate the shares as a hold, while one recommends selling.

However, the average price target now sits at $2.02 per AMP share, implying the stock is trading slightly above consensus fair value after its recent rally.

The most optimistic analyst sees AMP reaching $2.19 over the next 12 months, suggesting a further gain of around 5%.

Foolish Takeaway

AMP’s turnaround story has gathered considerable momentum over recent months.

Improving business flows, stronger profit expectations, and a more supportive interest rate outlook have all helped restore investor confidence after a difficult few years.

That said, after an 80% rally since March and fresh five-year highs, much of the good news may already be priced into AMP shares.

With broker price targets sitting close to current trading levels, existing shareholders may be inclined to hold, while prospective investors may want to wait for either another improvement in earnings or a more attractive entry point.

The post AMP shares have surged 80% since March. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

When it comes to high-yield investments on the ASX, investors often look to the big blue-chip miners. Although mining stocks tend to be more volatile than other blue-chip shares, especially the big four banks, in the income department, they can also be more generous if the timing is right. That’s certainly the case with South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares.

Most ASX investors gravitate towards BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), or Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) if they are searching for a high-yielding investment in the mining space. But South32 isn’t far behind them. In fact, many long-term BHP shareholders also own a slice of South32, thanks to the two companies’ demerger about 10 years ago.

So today, let’s dive into South32 shares and analyse this dividend stock’s income potential.

The South32 share price is having a wonderful day so far this Tuesday. At the time of writing, the miner has jumped a healthy 4.78% and is sitting at $4.28 a share. This is probably thanks to the operational results we saw from the company yesterday.

South32 shares: What sort of dividend yield is on the table?

At this share price, South32 is trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2.21%. That is derived from the last two dividends South32 shares have doled out. The first of those was the final dividend from September 2025, worth 3.93 cents per share. The second was the interim dividend from this April, worth 5.52 cents per share. Both payments came with full franking credits attached, as is South32’s habit.

That 12-month total of 9.45 cents per share gives us that trailing yield of 2.21%.

As an ASX mining stock, South32’s dividends will always be more volatile than your average ASX blue chip. To illustrate, it was only back in 2022 when the miner paid out an annual total of 37 cents per share in dividends.

So income investors should keep this at the front of mind when considering any mining stock, including South32, for their dividend portfolios.

As it happens, many ASX experts aren’t exactly bullish on this company’s immediate future either. Earlier this month, my Fool colleague examined why brokers at Morgans had classed South32 shares as a hold, with a trimmed 12-month share price target of $4.50. Although that is comfortably above the miner’s current valuation, Morgans does warn that the recent sale of the company’s aluminium business leaves South32 as “a simpler and, in important respects, a better business, but also a smaller and less valuable one”.

That arguably implies that South32’s rather unimpressive 2.21% dividend yield won’t be subject to much in the way of upward pressure in the foreseeable future. But let’s see what happens.

The post Buying South32 shares? Here’s the dividend yield you’ll get right now 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX All Ords tech stock Acusensus Ltd (ASX: ACE) is pushing higher today.

Acusensus shares closed yesterday trading for $1.125. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $1.13 apiece, up 0.4%.

For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.2% at this same time.

Taking a step back, while Acusensus shares remain up 21% over 12 months, the ASX All Ords tech stock has slumped 33.8% in 2026.

And according to Ellerston Capital Australian equities portfolio manager James Barker, that sees this ASX share trading in bargain territory (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review).

Here’s why.

Why this ASX All Ords tech stock is positioned for growth

Asked which stock in his fund is the most undervalued by the market, Barker pointed to Acusensus.

He noted:

Acusensus is a founder-led Australian company whose artificial intelligence camera technology catches drivers using their phones, speeding or not wearing seatbelts, with long-dated government contracts to run road safety enforcement programs across Australia, New Zealand, the US and the UK.

Spurring his bullish outlook, he said that the ASX All Ords tech stock has the potential for significant market growth in the United States.

According to Barker:

It operates in four Australian states and or territories, runs New Zealand’s nationwide mobile speed camera program, and has started to get traction in the large US market – a significant growth opportunity.

Revenue should grow around 40% in FY26, with government-backed contracted revenue providing strong visibility for a company this size. Success in the US would step-change the business, and we do not believe this is factored into the price.

What’s the latest from Acusensus?

Acusensus reported its half-year results (H1 FY 2026) on 26 February.

Highlights for the six months to 31 December included a 40% year-on-year revenue boost to $40.3 million. And adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 9% to $3.9 million.

On the bottom line, the ASX All Ords tech stock reported a gross profit of $16.4 million, up 21% from H1 FY 2025.

Turning to the balance sheet, as at 31 December, the company held cash (including term deposits) of $41 million.

Commenting on the results on the day, Acusensus co-founder and managing director Alexander Jannink said, “The first half of this financial year has been a remarkable period for Acusensus.”

He noted:

We’ve not only delivered record revenue growth, but importantly, we have expanded our reach and are making significant strides in our mission to reduce road trauma and make roads safer globally.

As for the growth opportunities in the US, Jannink said, “A personal highlight for me was securing our first major, long-term contract in the United States with the Connecticut Department of Transportation.”

The post Why this undervalued ASX All Ords tech stock is tipped for ‘significant growth’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• AMP shares have surged 80% since March. What’s next?
• Buying South32 shares? Here’s the dividend yield you’ll get right now
• Up 29% since May, can Wesfarmers shares keep surging higher?
• Down 61%: Can this ASX defence stock rebound, or is it time to sell up?
• Ampol shares rallied 40% to hit fresh 2-year high. Buy, sell or hold?

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.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares have been on a tear since plumbing a one-year closing low of $71.26 on 18 May.

During the Tuesday lunch hour today, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) conglomerate – whose retail subsidiaries include Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart Australia, Officeworks, and Priceline – are trading for $91.73 apiece.

That sees the Wesfarmers share price up an impressive 28.7% in just two months.

Taking a step back, the ASX 200 stock is up 12.2% in 2026, well ahead of the 0.4% year-to-date gains posted by the benchmark index.

And that’s not including the $1.02 per share fully-franked dividend the company paid to eligible stockholders on 31 March. Wesfarmers stock trades on a 2.8% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

Looking ahead, however, Alto Capital’s Tony Locantro believes the company may struggle to deliver further outperformance over the coming months (courtesy of The Bull).

Wesfarmers shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

“Market leading businesses include retailers Bunnings, Kmart Group and Officeworks,” Locantro noted.

As for Wesfarmers’ recent financial performance, he said:

The company delivered a strong first half result in full year 2026, reporting net profit after tax of $1.603 billion, up 9.3%, reflecting continued earnings growth across its retail portfolio amid disciplined operational execution.

But following the strong gains posted by Wesfarmers shares, Locantro issued a sell recommendation on the stock. He concluded:

Despite these strong fundamentals, much of the company’s quality and long-term growth outlook appear fully reflected in its premium valuation. While Wesfarmers remains an outstanding long-term business, future upside may be constrained by elevated market expectations.

Given the strong share price performance and demanding valuation, the current risk-reward balance supports taking profits at current levels.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 stock?

Wesfarmers reported its half-year results (H1 FY 2026) on 19 February.

The 9.3% year-on-year profit boost Locantro mentioned above was driven by a 3.1% increase in half-year revenue to $24.21 billion.

And earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) leapt by 8.4% to $2.49 billion.

“Wesfarmers’ increase in profit was supported by strong earnings contributions from our largest divisions – Bunnings, Kmart Group and WesCEF,” Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said of the results.

Addressing the challenging market conditions the company faced in the six months to 31 December, Scott added:

Despite a modest improvement in consumer demand, higher costs continued to weigh on many households and businesses, and residential construction activity remained subdued. The divisions performed well, driving productivity to mitigate cost pressures and keep prices low for customers.

Amid high market expectations, Wesfarmers shares closed down 5.6% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 29% since May, can Wesfarmers shares keep surging higher? 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 positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in ASX defence stock, Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB), have fallen further into the red in Tuesday trading. 

At the time of writing, the shares are down another 0.5% and are trading at $3.38 each.

The drop means the shares have now fallen by more than 50% year to date and are also around 45% lower than this time last year.

What does Austal do?

Austal is an Australian-based global shipbuilding company specialising in the design, construction, and support of defence and commercial vessels.

These include naval vessels, defence surface warfare combatants, and law enforcement patrol boats.

The company also installs and maintains vessel command and control systems, communication and radar technology, and information management systems.

What happened to the ASX defence stock?

Its share price spiked to an all-time high of $8.76 in January as tailwinds pushed ASX defence sector stocks higher overall.

The company also won a few new contracts in late December, including a contract extension worth more than $135 million to build two new Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Australian Border Force, bringing the total contracted to 14 vessels. 

Austal was also awarded a $1.029 billion design and construct contract to build 18 Landing Craft Medium (LCM) vessels for the Australian Army under the Commonwealth’s Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement.

In January, US President Donald Trump also said the 2027 US defence budget should be US$1.5 trillion, well above the US$901 million approved so far. Other countries also began bolstering their defence spending.

In February, Austal posted its first-half FY26 results, revealing a 34.4% year-on-year increase in revenue. Its EBIT also climbed 41.3%, and net profit climbed 21.4%. But it also cut its earnings guidance for FY26, citing an accounting issue. 

The news spooked investors and triggered a sell-off that Austal shares have struggled to recover from.

Surprisingly, even news of the increase of conflict in the Middle East didn’t do enough to convince investors to buy back in.

The shares are now down 61% from that January peak.

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

If broker forecasts are anything to go by, it’s time to load up on Austal shares while they’re still cheap.

TradingView data shows that there are only three analyst ratings on the ASX defence stock. One is a hold, and the other two are a strong buy.

They all agree on some element of upside ahead, although the range is pretty significant.

The minimum $4.10 target price implies a potential 20% upside.

The average $6.14 target price implies a potential 80% upside, at the time of writing.

And the maximum $7.71 target price implies that the shares could jump 126% higher over the next 12 months.

The post Down 61%: Can this ASX defence stock rebound, or is it time to sell up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares have climbed around another 0.5% to a fresh two-year high of $38.08 in Tuesday trade.

At one point this morning, the petroleum company’s shares were trading as high as $38.33.

Today’s increase means the shares are now up 19% for the year to date, and have rallied 40% higher over the past 12 months.

What has pushed Ampol shares to a multi-year high?

Ampol’s shares have been driven higher by a combination of volatile global oil supply and company growth, including improved production and profit.

The company is Australia’s largest transport energy distributor and retailer, with more than 1,800 Ampol-branded service stations across the country. 

Unsurprisingly, its shares have rocketed higher on the back of conflict in the Middle East and concerns about global oil supply.

Ampol shares have jumped 37% higher since the war between the US and Iran ramped up in late February.

The shares suffered a temporary lull towards the back end of June when it looked like the two nations had reached a peace deal. Even so, the ceasefire was unstable, and even though the Strait of Hormuz partially reopened, supply continued to be very constrained and unpredictable. 

But Ampol shares rocketed higher again this morning as the peace talks fell apart in early July and the region descended into war again.

According to Trading Economics, the price of WTI crude oil has also surged higher this month, and is trading over the US$83 per barrel mark at the time of writing. 

There is still some way to go before the price returns to the US$113 per barrel level seen in April, but it is still significantly higher than the US$60 per barrel levels seen earlier this year.

Prices for Brent oil, gasoline, heating oil, and Ethanol have also jumped higher over the past month.

It’s not only oil supply and prices supporting this year’s share price rise.

Ampol has also posted a few updates that have gathered investor attention. In June, Ampol received the green light, with conditions, from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a proposed acquisition of fuel and convenience store operator EG Australia. 

The company previously confirmed a 10% increase in refinery production, higher refiner margins, and increased production in its Q1 FY26 trading update.

What are brokers tipping for Ampol shares next?

It looks like we could see some more upside for Ampol shares over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the shares. The $38.75 target price currently implies a potential 2% upside.

TradingView data shows something similar. Out of 10 analysts, eight have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. One more rates Ampol shares as a hold and one as a sell.

The average $38.29 target price implies a potential 1% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing. Whereas, the maximum $46.50 target price implies the shares have the potential to surge another 23%.

The post Ampol shares rallied 40% to hit fresh 2-year high. Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) shares are charging higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) coal stock closed yesterday trading for $5.68. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $5.96 apiece, up 4.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% at this same time.

Yancoal shares have been strong performers in 2026, up 20.2% since market close on 31 December. That compares favourably to the more modest 0.5% gain posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

And that’s not including the 12.2 cents per share fully-franked dividend Yancoal paid eligible stockholders on 15 April.

The ASX 200 coal stock trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 3.1%.

But following these strong share price gains, is the coal miner still a buy today?

Yancoal shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Investor Pulse’s Mark Elzayed recently analysed the outlook for the resurgent coal miner (courtesy of The Bull).

“Yancoal is balancing strong fundamentals against a near term overhang,” he said.

Elzayed elaborated:

In April, YAL announced it would acquire 80% of the Kestrel metallurgical coal mine in the Bowen Basin for US$2.4 billion. The acquisition is accretive over the long term, but adds leverage.

Summarising his hold recommendation on Yancoal shares, Elzayed concluded:

Diesel cost inflation threatens to push 2026 unit costs toward the top end of its guidance range. Consensus targets of about $7.02 on July 15 imply upside, but integration and coal price risks argue for holding the stock rather than adding.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 coal stock?

Yancoal reported its second-quarter (Q2 2026) results after market close on Monday.

Highlights for the three months to 30 June included a 20% quarter on quarter lift in attributable saleable coal production to 10.8 million tonnes. That presents a new quarterly production record.

The Yancoal share price also looks to be getting a lift today, with the company reporting that the average prices it received for most of its seaborne thermal coal increased by 14% to 19% over the quarter.

As for the rising diesel costs that Elzayed mentioned above, Yancoal noted:

While diesel price pressure has eased compared to early 2Q, some price uncertainty remains. We are still incurring higher prices, but the outlook for the overall impact on our 2026 operating costs has moderated.

Commenting on the company’s recent US$2.4 billion acquisition, Yancoal CEO Sharif Burra said:

In April, we announced the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Kestrel Coal Mine. Adding a large, long-life asset that produces hard-coking coal at strong margins is a compelling step forward in Yancoal’s growth strategy.

The post Up 20%, are Yancoal shares still a good buy right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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