Category: Stock Market

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.43% to 9,053 points on Thursday.

The benchmark index rose above 9,000 points for the first time in 14 weeks yesterday as earnings season continues.

Yesterday’s gain was largely due to a surge in Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares following the bank’s 1H FY26 report.

A surprise 6% profit lift took CBA back to the top spot on the ASX 200, displacing the recently returned BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares.

CBA shares took the title from BHP in July 2024, and BHP shares took it back last month.

On Thursday, the market remained above the 9,000-point mark, trading between a low of 9,014 points and a high of 9,105 points.

That’s not far off the market’s all-time high of 9,115.2 points reached in October last year.

Five ASX 200 large-cap shares reached new record prices today, and two more stocks reached multi-year highs.

Large-caps have a market capitalisation of $10 billion or more.

All seven ASX 200 shares are from the market’s two largest sectors — financials and materials (which incorporates mining).

Let’s take a look.

7 ASX 200 large caps setting new price milestones today

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price skyrocketed 9.1% to a record $40.57 on Thursday.

This followed the release of the bank’s 1Q FY26 report.

ANZ reported a quarterly cash profit of $1.94 billion, up 75% from the 2H FY25 quarterly average.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price lifted 3.6% to a record $41.72 in earlier trading.

There was no price-sensitive news pertaining to the big four ASX 200 bank share today.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The National Australia Bank share price rose 3.9% to a record $47.25 on Thursday.

NAB also had no news for the market.

It’s likely that both NAB and Westpac shares are simply benefiting from the slipstream of ANZ’s surge today.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) 

The diversified ASX 200 miner climbed 5.4% to an intraday high of $4.91 on Thursday.

That is South32’s highest share price since June 2022.

The price surge came on the back of the miner’s 1H FY26 report.

South32 reported a 29% increase in profit to US$464 million.

The ASX 200 mining share will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 3.9 US cents per share.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price ascended 3.1% to an intraday high of $52.64.

BHP shares have not traded at this level since April 2022.

The Big Australian is due to release its 1H FY26 report next Tuesday.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

Rio Tinto, the third largest ASX 200 mining share, reached a record $168.78, up 2.6%, in earlier trading.

The Rio Tinto share price has been on a roll since the company walked away from merger talks with Glencore last week.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price ripped 6.9% to a record $30.21 after the gold miner dropped its 1H FY26 report.

Northern Star revealed a 41% increase in statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $714.4 million.

The ASX 200 gold mining share will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 25 cents per share.

The post 7 ASX 200 large-cap shares hitting multi-year highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold into 2026
• Up 15%: Everything you need to know about the new South32 dividend
• Why ANZ, CBA, Northern Star, and Origin Energy shares are charging higher today
• The ASX 200 is back over 9,000 points! It’s thanks to just 2 ASX shares
• What’s the outlook for the silver price?

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

The Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) share price has been absolutely smashed on Thursday.

At the time of writing, the health imaging technology company’s shares are down 21.94% to $132.29. That leaves the stock down roughly 40% so far in 2026 and back to levels not seen since August 2024.

So, what on earth is going on?

Record numbers, but expectations were sky high

For the six months ended 31 December, Pro Medicus reported:

• Revenue up 28.4% to $124.8 million

• Underlying profit before tax up 29.7% to a record $90.7 million

• Underlying EBIT margin expanding to 72.6%

• Interim dividend of 32 cents per share, fully franked

Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) surged to $171.2 million, though that included unrealised gains from its investment in 4DMedical.

The company delivered solid growth across its key financial metrics. Revenue and profit both increased at close to 30%, margins expanded further, and the company continued to secure large North American contracts.

However, the scale of the sell-off suggests expectations were elevated heading into the result.

Pro Medicus was already trading on a premium valuation prior to the release, leaving limited room for any disappointment.

Management also highlighted that its largest implementation during the period went live late in October, which limited its financial contribution for the half.

Technical pressure builds after results

At a heavily discounted price of $132, Pro Medicus still commands a market capitalisation of around $13.8 billion.

The business remains capital light, generates strong margins, and has more than $1 billion in contracted revenue over 5 years. North America remains a significant growth opportunity, with Visage 7 positioned to support AI-driven workflows.

However, the chart has weakened materially.

The sell-off pushed the stock below recent support near $150, which failed to hold following the result.

At current levels, the shares are trading back at prices last seen in August 2024 and have retraced a large portion of their prior uptrend.

Momentum indicators have weakened materially. The relative strength index (RSI) has moved toward oversold territory, reflecting sustained selling pressure.

Buy the dip or value trap?

The key question is whether this move reflects short-term volatility or the beginning of a broader de-rating.

Revenue, margins, and contracted revenue continue to trend higher. The company remains highly profitable and cash generative.

However, the price investors are willing to pay for those earnings has clearly fallen.

Some may see the drop as a chance to buy a quality business at a lower price. Others may wait to see if the selling pressure eases before making a move.

Whether this proves to be attractive will depend on how quickly recent contract wins translate into stronger earnings over the next 12 to 24 months.

The post Pro Medicus shares crash 22% despite record results. Is this a rare buying opportunity? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why AMP, CSL, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster shares are crashing today
• Pro Medicus shares crash 20% on results day
• Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits
• Buy, hold, sell: Beach Energy, CSL, and Pro Medicus shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) have made it easier than ever to build a diversified portfolio without having to pick individual winners.

If you’re looking for a few funds that can play very different roles in a long-term portfolio, here are three ASX ETFs that are worth knowing about.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF you should know is the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

A lot of investors think tech means Silicon Valley. This ETF is a reminder that some of the most important technology companies sit elsewhere, especially across Asia where digital services are often integrated into everyday life in a way that looks very different to Australia.

This ETF can be viewed as a way to invest in the consumer tech ecosystem of the region, including payments, online retail, entertainment platforms, and the semiconductor supply chain that underpins global electronics.

In other words, the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF isn’t just a bet on a handful of internet giants. It has exposure to the engine room of how a huge part of the world shops, pays, and communicates. That can make it an interesting long-term growth option, albeit one that can be volatile.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

Another ASX ETF worth knowing is the Betashares Australian Quality ETF.

Most Australian index funds are dominated by what is big, not necessarily what is best. This fund is different. It tries to stack the portfolio in favour of businesses that look strong on fundamentals, the types of companies that can reinvest profitably and remain resilient when conditions change.

Instead of simply mirroring the market, it leans toward companies with high returns on equity and balance sheet strength. That tends to push the portfolio toward the kind of businesses that can quietly compound over long periods, even if they are not always the most talked about in any given month.

For investors who want Australian exposure but prefer a quality filter rather than whatever is largest, the Betashares Australian Quality ETF can be a surprisingly strong solution.

iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV)

A final ASX ETF you should know about is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This fund tracks the S&P 500, but what makes it powerful is not any single company, it is the system. Over time, the index works like a self-updating portfolio of corporate leaders. As industries change, the S&P 500 changes with them, pushing out declining businesses and adding new winners as they emerge.

That means investors get exposure to the world’s deepest capital market and many of the most globally dominant companies, without needing to pick which ones will still be leading in five or ten years.

For a long-term investor, the iShares S&P 500 ETF is one of the simplest ways to harness global compounding and let the index do the refreshing for you.

The post 3 amazing ASX ETFs you need to know appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why these ASX ETFs could be perfect for buy and hold investors
• 3 easy ways to invest in AI with ASX ETFs
• 3 ASX ETFs to target with exposure outside the US and Australia
• I would forget ANZ bank shares and buy these ASX ETFs
• 3 ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 25 years

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

ASX earnings season continues today, with some major shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) revealing their latest numbers to investors this Thursday. One of those ASX 200 shares is mining stock South32 Ltd (ASX: S32). Income investors might want to pay attention to the new dividend that South32 just unveiled.

As we went through this morning, it was an interesting set of earnings for investors to go through. The diversified miner reported US$2.81 billion in revenue from continuing operations for its first half of FY 2026, a 3% drop on the same period in FY 2025.

However, underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 9% to US$1.11 billion. Profit after tax attributable to members came in at US$464 million, up an impressive 29%.

The market is reacting positively to what the company had to say today (thus far anyway). That’s going off the fact that the South32 share price is currently (at the time of writing) up a healhty 1.2% to $4.64 a share.

But let’s dig into the latest South32 dividend that has just been revealed.

South32 shares up as dividend hiked 15%

The rise in earnings and profits that the miner showed off this morning enabled South32 to declare an interim dividend of 3.9 US cents per share. This dividend will come with full franking credits attached, as is South32’s habit. It represents a payout ratio of 40% of South32’s underlying earnings, keeping with the company’s dividend policy of paying out a minimum of 40% of its earnings as dividends.

We don’t yet know what the final amount will be in Australian dollar terms. As of today’s exchange rate, investors can pencil in about 5.5 cents per share in our local currency.

This latest interim dividend is a meaningful payout for shareholders, as it represents a hefty 14.71% hike over the interim dividend, worth 3.4 US cents per share, that investors bagged in 2025.

Together with last year’s final dividend, worth 2.6 US cents per share, this 2026 interim dividend takes South32’s 12-month payouts to 6.5 US cents per share.

Eligible shareholders will receive this interim dividend on 2 April. The ex-dividend date has been set for 5 March next month, though. If investors wish to receive this dividend from South32 but don’t yet own shares, they will need to do so by 4 March. South32 is not running a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) for this payout, though, so investors have no choice but to take the dividend as a cash payment.

South32 shares are currently trading on a trailing dividend yield of 2%.

The post Up 15%: Everything you need to know about the new South32 dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s the outlook for the silver price?
• South32 lifts profit and dividend in strong first half
• These 3 ASX 200 shares have had a stellar month. Is there more upside to come?
• Here’s an ASX 200 share that I think could beat BHP in 2026
• South32 shares rocket 70% higher. Is it too late to buy?

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.

The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price has cratered on Thursday after the financial services company dropped its full-year FY25 results.

AMP is the biggest faller on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today after the wealth manager missed market expectations.

The AMP share price is currently $1.21, down 30.66%.

According to The Australian, this is the biggest one day fall in the AMP share price since 2003, when it experienced a 36% plunge.

The wealth manager reported a 20.8% lift in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $285 million.

AMP said strong North platform cashflows and a 9% increase in total assets under management (AUM) to $161.7 billion contributed to the rise in underlying profit.

But the statutory NPAT was $133 million, which represented a 11.3% decline. AMP said this reflected legacy legal settlements.

There was a 25.6% lift in the underlying earnings per share (EPS) to 11.3 cents per share.

AMP declared a final FY25 dividend of 2 cents per share with 20% franking, taking the full-year dividend to 4 cents per share.

Broker Macquarie dubs full-year report ‘weak’

In a post-results note, broker Macquarie commented (courtesy The Australian):

Initial impressions are weak with guidance far below Visible Alpha consensus expectations across all items.

There was no buyback, dividend outlook missed in FY26/27.

In addition, revenue margins in both the S&I (Superannuation & Investments) and Platforms divisions continue to grind lower against consensus expectations of roughly flat.

Let’s address each of these points.

AMP dividend outlook

During the earnings call with investors, AMP CFO Blair Vernon said he anticipates a 4-cent per share dividend in FY26 and FY27.

On the issue of potential future capital returns to shareholders, Vernon said:

In the absence of a compelling alternative use of capital, our preferred method of capital return to shareholders beyond our current dividend approach would be via on-market buyback.

AMP CEO Alexis George made the point that AMP has already given $1.1 billion in capital back to shareholders over the past five years.

Revenue margins

AMP reported a 9.3% increase in the Platforms underlying NPAT to $106 million, with net cashflows (excluding pensions) up 85.2%.

The AUM-based revenue margin for the Platforms business was 42bps, down from 45bps in FY24.

AMP said this reflected the interaction of AUM growth and tiered fee structures, as well as the growth in Managed Portfolios.

Looking ahead to FY26, Blair said he expects that, subject to market conditions, the Platforms margin would be lower again at between 40 and 41bps.

The Superannuation & Investments segment delivered a 14.8% uplift in underlying NPAT to $62 million.

The segment’s AUM-based revenue margin of 62bps was also lower, down 1bps on FY24.

AMP said this was due to AUM growth and fee caps offset by lower investment management expenses.

Blair provided revenue margin guidance of 60 to 61bps for this segment in FY26.

What did management say?

AMP CEO Alexis George said:

2025 was an important year for AMP with resolution of legacy items and stabilisation of the portfolio.

This enabled renewed focus on winning in the segments we play, growing the wealth businesses, and building on the vision to be the place that customers come to plan for a dignified retirement…

We have a clear strategic focus and a strong balance sheet. This means we are well positioned to continue to drive organic growth, while also having the capacity to participate in inorganic opportunities when they arise.

The post AMP share price nosedives 31% on earnings miss and disappointing guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why AMP, CSL, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster shares are crashing today
• AMP FY25 result: 21% profit lift and higher AUM
• ASX 200 financials flew but tech and mining shares faltered last week
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• AMP reports FY24 results and cost allocation changes

Motley Fool contributor f=”https://www.fool.com.au/author/TMFBronwyn/”>Bronwyn Allen 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lithium shares have delivered some seriously impressive returns over the past year.

How impressive?

Well, over the past 12 months, the ASX 200 has gained a respectable 6.6%.

Despite the past month’s retrace, however, ASX 200 lithium shares have left those gains wanting.

Here’s how these leading Aussie miners have performed over the last full year:

• Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares have gained 72.1%
• Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares have gained 191.2%
• Pls Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) – formerly Pilbara Minerals – shares have gained 108.0%
• IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares have gained 88.6%

And though it was booted from the ASX 200 after its market cap crashed in 2023 and 2024, we’ll give a nod to Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares as well, up 133.3% in 12 months.

The common thread helping all of these miners smash the benchmark returns is the surging global lithium price.

Over the past eight months spodumene (a lithium bearing ore) prices have rocketed more than 200% amid expectations of strong demand and reduced supply from China. Spodumene was recently trading near US$2,000 per tonne, up from around US$600 per tonne last June.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Can these rocketing ASX 200 lithium shares keep charging higher?

If you’re looking at buying shares in the likes of PLS, Liontown, Mineral Resources or IGO, then you should expect your future returns to be heavily impacted by the going price of lithium.

So, will these surging ASX 200 lithium shares continue to enjoy a rebound in the price of the battery critical metal?

Well, that depends on who you ask.

On the bullish side, UBS recently increased its lithium price outlook by 74% after reviewing expected demand from global EV markets and energy storage demand.

The broker forecasts a 14% increase in global lithium demand in 2026 with another 16% increase in 2027. In light of this, UBS expects the spodumene price to reach US$3,131 per tonne. That’s up from UBS’s prior forecast of US$1,800 per tonne, and more than 50% above current levels.

On the more bearish side of the equation Vivek Dhar commodities analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) noted that global miners have the potential to add a significant amount of lithium supply to markets amid higher lithium prices.

According to Dhar (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

Despite these solid demand forecasts, it’s hard to believe that lithium prices can keep going, especially like it did in 2022, given the latent supply that can come online due to higher lithium prices.

ECP Asset Management partner Andrew Dale also believes the biggest gains from ASX 200 lithium shares like Liontown, PLS and Mineral Resources have probably already been delivered.

“There is a lot of appetite among investors to get exposure to hard assets like lithium, iron ore and gold,” Dale said.

He added:

The outlook for these resources remains strong; however, for investors who are currently underweight … the ship has probably already sailed, as the price for these resources is on the higher end.

The post Is it too late to buy surging ASX 200 lithium shares like PLS and Liontown? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• IGO shares move higher in Wednesday trade. Here’s why
• Why ANZ, CBA, Northern Star, and Origin Energy shares are charging higher today
• The ASX 200 is back over 9,000 points! It’s thanks to just 2 ASX shares
• That was fast! BHP relinquishes biggest ASX stock crown as CBA shares rocket
• My 10 best ASX shares to buy in February

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.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares are pushing higher today after the company released a fresh update to the market.

At the time of writing, the IGO share price is up around 0.29% to $8.70, with investors digesting the latest disclosure.

IGO remains a major player in Australia’s battery metals sector, with exposure to lithium and nickel.

Let’s take a closer look at what the management updated the market with.

What was announced?

According to the release, IGO has updated its estimates for the amount of lithium at the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia.

The revised figures are based on new drilling results and updated technical modelling. As a result, some resource and reserve categories have increased, while others have decreased compared with previous estimates.

This type of update is required under Australian mining reporting standards and is a normal part of the annual reporting cycle. Resource and reserve statements are used to support mine planning, production forecasts, and long-term capital decisions.

Greenbushes remains one of the largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits globally and is an important source of lithium supply.

Why Greenbushes is important

IGO holds an effective 24.9% interest in Greenbushes through its 49% stake in the Talison Lithium joint venture. The remaining interest is held by Albemarle.

Greenbushes produces spodumene concentrate, which is processed into lithium chemicals used in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. The mine has been in production for decades and is widely regarded as one of the lowest cost hard rock lithium mines globally.

Greenbushes is central to the company’s strategy of focusing on metals linked to clean energy and electrification.

Any changes to resource and reserve estimates are therefore closely watched by investors, including adjustments driven by modelling changes.

Other key assets

Beyond Greenbushes, IGO also owns 100% of the Nova nickel copper cobalt operation in Western Australia. Nova provides exposure to battery-related metals outside of lithium.

The company also holds a 49% stake in the Kwinana lithium hydroxide refinery. That project has faced operational challenges in recent years and remains an area of focus for management.

IGO has experienced share price volatility in recent years as lithium and nickel prices have moved significantly in both directions.

What investors will watch next

The subdued share price reaction suggests the market had largely anticipated the updated numbers.

Looking ahead, investors are likely to focus on production performance at Greenbushes and Nova, as well as lithium and nickel price trends. Further guidance updates from management will also be in focus.

The post IGO shares move higher in Wednesday trade. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is it too late to buy surging ASX 200 lithium shares like PLS and Liontown?
• The lithium price could increase by how much!
• 3 ASX 200 momentum stocks to buy right now
• Are ASX lithium shares running out of steam?
• The growing case for critical minerals – Expert

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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having another strong session on Thursday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.5% to 9,061.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are charging higher:

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price is up 8% to $40.41. Investors have been fighting to get hold of the banking giant’s shares following the release of its quarterly update. ANZ reported a first-quarter cash profit of $1.94 billion, which was up 75% on the second-half average of FY 2025. ANZ’s CEO, Nuno Matos, said: “The quarterly result highlights the early progress we are making in executing our ANZ 2030 strategy. Our productivity program aimed at removing duplication and simplifying the bank is well underway, delivering a significant reduction in expenses while growing revenue. There was an improvement across our key financial metrics, including the return on tangible equity which rose to 11.7% and cost to income ratio to below 50%.”

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is up a further 5% to $177.90. Australia’s largest bank’s shares have been racing higher this week following the release of the banking giant’s half-year results. CBA posted a 6% increase in cash net profit to $5,445 million and lifted its interim dividend by 4% to $2.35 per share. CBA’s CEO, Matt Comyn, commented: “Economic growth strengthened during the half, driven by increases in consumer demand and rising investment in AI and energy infrastructure.”

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is up 4% to $29.38. This follows the release of the gold miner’s half-year results. Northern Star revealed a 49% increase in underlying net profit after tax to $759.8 million. The company’s CEO, Stuart Tonkin, said: “This first half result demonstrates the resilience and growing returns we are embedding in our business, which allowed the Board to declare a 25cps interim dividend despite a soft operating performance. Our balance sheet remains in a net cash position notwithstanding the significant investments we are making to transform Northern Star into a lowest-half global cost producer.”

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin Energy share price is up 4% to $11.54. Investors have been buying this energy giant’s shares following the release of its half-year results. Origin Energy reported an underlying profit of $593 million. While this was down from $924 million in the prior corresponding period, it appears to have been better than feared. In addition, management upgraded its Energy Markets full-year underlying EBITDA guidance.

The post Why ANZ, CBA, Northern Star, and Origin Energy shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is it too late to buy surging ASX 200 lithium shares like PLS and Liontown?
• The ASX 200 is back over 9,000 points! It’s thanks to just 2 ASX shares
• Up 92% since August, why is the Northern Star share price lifting off again today?
• That was fast! BHP relinquishes biggest ASX stock crown as CBA shares rocket
• Origin Energy posts $557m half-year profit and upgrades guidance

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have dropped another 5.81% in lunchtime trade on Thursday as the biotech’s sharp sell-off continues for another day. 

At the time of writing, the shares are trading at an eight-year low of $153.95 a piece and are now 39.93% lower over the year. 

CSL shares have crashed by more than 14% this week alone after the ASX biotech company released a soft half-year result yesterday, following a shock CEO exit on Tuesday.

Analysts have been pretty positive on CSL shares for some time, with many tipping an extraordinary comeback this year. But I think the company’s latest update shows we may be further away from a recovery than the market realised.

Here’s another ASX healthcare stock I’d look at instead. And I think its shares could outperform CSL over the next 12 months.

The ASX share that could beat CSL

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) develops, manufactures, and distributes medical devices and provides cloud-based software to diagnose and treat a range of sleep and respiratory disorders. 

At the time of writing, its shares are down 2.27% for the day at $35.955 and 4.25% lower over the year. There has been no news out of the company this week to explain the drop, so it’s likely a flurry of investors selling up.

Late last month, ResMed posted a strong quarterly result for the period ended 31 December. The company announced an 11% year-on-year increase in revenue and an 18% increase in income from operations. 

ResMed also revealed that for the second half of FY26, it plans to increase investment in digital health solutions and innovation, aiming to expand global access to home-based care. The company also said it plans to scale up its AI-enabled technology, following recent FDA clearance for its Smart Comfort device.

I think there is an incredible amount of potential ahead for the stock this year. And analysts seem to be bullish about its outlook, too. 

Here’s what analysts expect from ResMed shares this year

Data shows that 21 out of 30 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on ResMed shares. The maximum target price is $53.82 a piece, which implies a potential 50.35% upside at the time of writing.

Morgans has a buy rating on ResMed shares and said it thinks that recent share price weakness is unjustified given the company’s sound fundamentals.

Ord Minnett is also incredibly positive about the company’s outlook this year. The broker has a buy rating on the shares and said it has a “strongly positive view on ResMed” following its latest results.

The post Here’s an ASX 200 share that I think could beat CSL in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why AMP, CSL, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster shares are crashing today
• Are CSL shares a buy after this week’s brutal selloff?
• Buy, hold, sell: Beach Energy, CSL, and Pro Medicus shares
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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 positions in and has recommended CSL and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in graphite producer Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) have taken off after the US Department of Commerce confirmed it would slap large tariffs on Chinese graphite exporters.

Syrah is part of lobby group, the North American Graphite Alliance, which had petitioned the US government to investigate whether Chinese graphite active anode material (AAM) producers were being subsidised by the Chinese government.

Syrah said in its ASX statement on Thursday that the Department of Commerce (DOC) had determined this was the case.

In its final determination, DOC confirmed that major Chinese battery and graphite AAM producers are “de facto” controlled by the Chinese government and therefore subject to the China-wide dumping rate. The antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) measures will apply to all natural and synthetic graphite AAM products and AAM contained in blended materials, components (e.g. anode slurries) and subassemblies (e.g. electrodes) imported into the United States from China.

Steep tariffs to be imposed

Syrah said the DOC set a China-wide dumping margin of 102.72% and a dumping margin of 93.5% for certain exporters to counter dumping.

The company said the decision needed to be ratified by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) and once this was done, likely in March, the duties would be in place for five years.

These duties are separate from, and additive to, other existing or potential US import tariffs on Chinese natural graphite and synthetic graphite AAM, including tariffs imposed under Section 301, Section 232 and other reciprocal or IEEPA-related measures.

Syrah said the new tariffs would be positive for its business.

If affirmed by ITC, the AD/CVD measures are expected to support a fair and competitive AAM market in the United States and materially improve Syrah’s competitive position. This may lead to earlier commencement of AAM sales from the Vidalia facility, increased demand for Vidalia AAM, increased demand for Balama natural graphite as feedstock for non-integrated AAM facilities outside China, and improved commercial outcomes with customers for Syrah.

Syrah last month reported that production from its Balama graphite mine was 34% higher than the previous quarter, coming in at 34,400 tonnes.

Shares looking cheap

The analysts at Jarden had a look at the results at the time and said the company’s ownership of key assets in the critical minerals supply chain put it in a good position.

They went on to say:

Our base case and 12-month target price is unchanged at $0.34 per share, and remains set in line with our most conservative valuation scenario outcome. Syrah controls unique assets that are highly strategic within a critical mineral supply chain. We maintain our Overweight rating accordingly. Key risks to the downside include an extended period of depressed pricing for graphite products and the potential for further equity dilution to maintain liquidity.

Syrah shares were 8.5% higher at 25.5 cents on Thursday, well below the Jarden price target of 34 cents.

The post Syrah Resources shares take off on US graphite tariff announcement 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.