Category: Stock Market

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gave back its intraday gains to record a small decline. The benchmark index dropped slightly to 8,867.4 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise on Wednesday despite a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 31 points or 0.35% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.25%, but the S&P 500 is down 0.1% and the Nasdaq is 0.25% lower.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Wednesday after oil prices eased overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.35% to US$64.14 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.1% to US$68.96 a barrel. Traders appear to be waiting to see what happens next with the US and Iran tensions.

CSL shares on watch

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares will be on watch for two reasons on Wednesday. The first is because the biotherapeutics giant is scheduled to release its eagerly awaited half-year results for FY 2026. The second reason is the shock announcement of the exit of its CEO, Dr Paul McKenzie, during the close of play on Tuesday. CSL’s shares were heading for a positive finish before crashing 5% into the red during the closing auction on the news. Dr McKenzie is stepping down with immediate effect. CSL’s chair, Dr Brian McNamee AO, said: “Paul and the Board have determined that now is the right time for new leadership to continue to drive CSL’s strategic transformation and performance.”

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a relatively poor session on Wednesday after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.65% to US$5,048 per ounce. Traders were taking profit ahead of the release of US jobs and inflation data.

Buy WiseTech shares

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating on the logistics solutions company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $87.50 (from $100.00). It said: “WiseTech is currently trading on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.18x which is the lowest forward multiple in its listed history of almost ten years.” It adds that “the recent sell-off in the share price and the reduction in the forward EV/EBITDA multiple is unjustified and represents a key buying opportunity.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Experts name 3 ASX 200 giants to sell today
• Should you buy BHP, CSL, and DroneShield shares? Here’s my take
• Are Nick Scali and Northern Star Resources shares a buy, hold or sell before earnings results?
• Did you know WiseTech shares are trading at their biggest discount in their history?
• These 3 ASX 200 stocks have already soared 20% to 30% in 2026

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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.

After a year of solid outperformance, it may be time to hit the sell button on these three S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) giants.

That’s according to Family Financial Solutions’ Jabin Hallihan and Alto Capital’s Tony Locantro, who believe the companies’ outperformance over the past months leaves them in overvalued territory (courtesy of The Bull).

The ASX 200 giants facing the analysts’ knife are National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), which has a market cap of just under $135 billion; Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which commands a market cap of $99 billion; and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), with a market cap of just over $40 billion.

Atop of the dividends all three companies pay, NAB shares have gained 8.5% over the past 12 months; Wesfarmers shares are up 14.9%; and Northern Star shares have rocketed 57.8%.

Now, here’s why it may be time to take profits.

ASX 200 giants on the chopping block

“NAB is Australia’s largest business bank, benefiting from an oligopolistic market structure,” Family Financial Solutions’ Hallihan noted.

Commenting on his sell recommendation on this ASX 200 giant, Hallihan said:

Statutory net profit of $6.759 billion in full year 2025 was down 2.9% on the prior corresponding period. A credit impairment charge of $833 million was up from $728 million in the previous year.

In our view, the shares are materially overvalued and leave little margin for error. Capital is better redeployed into discounted quality.

Hallihan also has a sell recommendation on Wesfarmers shares.

“This industrial conglomerate owns high quality businesses, such as Bunnings and Kmart Group,” he said.

“The company is diversified, with other businesses including Officeworks, Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers and industrial safety,” he added. “Diversification is a benefit as it spreads risk.”

But Hallihan is also concerned over this ASX 200 giant’s current valuation. He concluded:

However, in our view, the stock remains significantly overvalued, with optimism already priced in. The stock was recently trading on a lofty price/earnings ratio above 32 times, so it’s exposed to a correction on signs of any weakness.

We would be inclined to trim holdings and re-invest the proceeds in stocks offering better value.

Also tipped as a sell

Alto Capital’s Tony Locantro noted, “Northern Star’s share price has performed strongly, supported by higher gold prices and improved sentiment towards large market capitalisation producers.”

But with the ASX 200 giant running into some recent operational headwinds, Locantro concluded:

However, the company’s most recent production report disappointed, with output and cost guidance undershooting market expectations. While the longer-term outlook for gold remains positive, recent operational softness tempers near term confidence.

With much of the upside already reflected in the share price, the risk-reward balance favours taking profits at current levels.

The post Experts name 3 ASX 200 giants to sell today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Are Nick Scali and Northern Star Resources shares a buy, hold or sell before earnings results?
• Are these the best blue-chip ASX shares money can buy?
• How I would aim to build a $500,000 ASX retirement portfolio
• 3 ASX mining shares to sell: experts

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.

When it comes to building a self-managed super fund (SMSF) portfolio, investors typically prioritise business quality and the ability to generate reliable returns across many market cycles.

Balance sheets, competitive positions, and long-term relevance tend to matter more than short-term momentum.

With that in mind, here are three ASX 200 shares I’d be comfortable holding inside an SMSF for the long haul.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The first ASX 200 share I would be comfortable holding in an SMSF is Goodman Group.

Goodman has evolved well beyond a traditional property trust. It focuses on high-quality industrial property, logistics facilities, and data centres in major global cities. And it often develops these assets in partnership with long-term capital providers, as we saw here with CPP Investments.

This model allows Goodman to recycle capital, fund growth without excessive balance sheet risk, and maintain exposure to structural tailwinds such as ecommerce, supply chain optimisation, and digital infrastructure. For an SMSF, that combination of asset backing and growth optionality is attractive.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Another ASX 200 share that could suit an SMSF is Macquarie Group.

It operates a diversified global financial services business, with earnings generated across asset management, infrastructure, commodities, and advisory activities. This diversity is very attractive for SMSF investors as it helps smooth results across economic cycles and reduces reliance on any single revenue stream.

What makes Macquarie particularly attractive for long-term investors is its capital discipline. The group has a strong track record of investing alongside clients, managing risk conservatively, and returning surplus capital to shareholders when appropriate.

For an SMSF, Macquarie offers exposure to global financial markets without needing to constantly trade or reposition. This arguably makes it a solid candidate for a buy and hold approach.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

A final ASX 200 share I’d be comfortable owning in an SMSF is supermarket giant Woolworths Group.

It operates in a part of the economy that rarely disappears from household budgets. Food, groceries, and everyday essentials tend to see consistent demand regardless of economic conditions, which helps underpin revenue stability.

Beyond its supermarket dominance, Woolworths continues to refine its operations through digital channels, loyalty programs, and supply chain improvements. These initiatives are protecting margins and its market share.

Overall, for an SMSF, Woolworths offers a blend of defensive characteristics and steady cash generation. These are qualities that can be valuable when building a portfolio that is designed to last through to retirement.

The post The ASX 200 shares I’d be comfortable holding in an SMSF appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 amazing ASX shares that could build serious wealth for investors
• Are these the best blue-chip ASX shares money can buy?
• Macquarie shares taking off today as assets under management top $736 billion
• 5 ASX stocks that are still good value at over $100 a share
• Are Woolworths shares a good buy today amid rising interest rates?

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

When I look at the ASX right now, I’m not trying to make bold calls or predict the next big move. I’m simply asking a straightforward question: are there high-quality shares I’d still feel good about buying at today’s prices?

My answer is yes for the three ASX shares in this article, but for different reasons.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP is the kind of stock I would own when I want exposure to resources and strong cash flow generation.

The near-term outlook for iron ore and other bulk commodities can move around, but BHP’s portfolio is increasingly about copper. That matters. Copper demand is being driven by electrification, renewable energy, data centres, and electric vehicles. Those trends are structural, not cyclical.

On top of that, BHP’s balance sheet is strong and its capital discipline has improved materially over the past decade. Even in softer commodity environments, it has the capacity to generate free cash flow and return capital to shareholders.

For me, this is less about timing a commodity cycle and more about owning a global leader with assets that will be relevant for decades.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL has been through a frustrating period, and that’s why I’m more constructive now than I was a few years ago.

Slower plasma margin recovery, weaker influenza vaccine demand in the US, softer albumin sales in China, and the disappointment around CSL112 have all weighed on sentiment. Add in regulatory and tariff setbacks and it’s easy to see why investors lost patience.

But the core business remains intact. CSL still operates in an oligopolistic plasma market with very high barriers to entry. Demand for immunoglobulins continues to grow globally, and efficiency initiatives should gradually support margins over time.

Expectations are now far more realistic. I don’t think CSL needs everything to go right to deliver acceptable returns from here.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

DroneShield is an ASX share that I think has a lot of promise.

Counter-drone technology has gone from niche to essential. Military conflict, critical infrastructure protection, and public safety concerns are driving global demand for detection and mitigation systems. DroneShield operates right in the middle of that shift.

The company’s sales pipeline can be lumpy and contract timing will always create volatility. But its addressable market is large, defence budgets are rising, and its technology is already proven in the field. SaaS revenue and software upgrades also add a higher-margin layer to the story over time.

I wouldn’t expect a smooth ride, but I think the long-term opportunity is being underestimated.

Foolish takeaway

BHP offers strength and cash flow, CSL offers recovery potential, and DroneShield offers long-term growth. For me, that combination makes all three worth buying right now, as long as you’re investing with a long-term mindset.

The post Should you buy BHP, CSL, and DroneShield shares? Here’s my take appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• CSL prepares for half-year results as CEO transition comes into focus
• CSL names Gordon Naylor interim CEO as Dr Paul McKenzie retires
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 amazing ASX shares that could build serious wealth for investors
• 3 beaten-down ASX 200 shares to pick up in February

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

Two of the best performing ASX 200 stocks over the last 12 months have been Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares. 

Nick Scali shares have climbed more than 41% in the last year. 

Northern Star Resources shares are up 52% in that same period. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up about 4.5% since February 2025. 

Both of these ASX companies will report HY26 earnings this week, and stock prices can swing significantly based on earnings results. 

Investors may be able to avoid losses, or scoop up gains by buying or selling ahead of these results. 

With that in mind, here is what experts are tipping. 

Northern Star Resources: reporting Thursday 12 February

Northern Star Resources is a global-scale Australian gold producer with projects in Australia and North America.

Like many gold shares, it has enjoyed a bull run over the last year thanks to record commodity prices. 

There has been a significant surge into safe-haven assets like gold over the last year on the back of geopolitical uncertainty and global conflict.

This has helped push Northern Star Resources shares more than 50% higher in the last year. 

It has outpaced the S&P/ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index (ASX: XMM), which is up 44.5% in that time. 

There is now a growing sentiment now is the time to cash in on gold producers like Northern Star Resources shares. 

Recently, the gold stock received a sell recommendation from one expert who said despite a positive long-term gold outlook, weaker-than-expected recent production, tempered near-term confidence. 

It’s possible the current share price already reflects much of the upside, suggesting the risk-reward now favours taking profits.

Similarly, Alto Capital believes that Northern Star Resources shares are a sell. 

However, it is worth noting that brokers such as UBS still anticipate the price of gold to continue rising in 2026. 

Should these gold shares dip on earnings results news, it could create a more ideal entry point. 

Nick Scali: reporting Friday 13 February 

Nick Scali shares have also enjoyed a stellar 12 months. 

They were some of the best retail shares to own in 2025, and have continued positive momentum in 2026. 

Despite such a strong rise, sentiment remains positive on this ASX 200 stock. 

One key aspect to watch in the upcoming report is the dividend announcement.

Despite hovering around all-time highs, Nick Scali shares could still have more growth ahead. 

Bell Potter recently placed a buy recommendation and $27.00 price target on this ASX 200 stock. 

That indicates a further upside of just over 11% from yesterday’s closing price of $24.25. 

The post Are Nick Scali and Northern Star Resources shares a buy, hold or sell before earnings results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX mining shares to sell: experts
• UBS raises gold price target to US$6,200 per ounce for this quarter
• Experts name NAB and these ASX 200 shares as sells
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Gold price recovers as reasons for buying ‘remain in place, but are also compounding’

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

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have fallen heavily over the past 12 months.

The decline has been so severe that the logistics solutions technology company’s shares are now trading at their biggest discount in their history according to Bell Potter.

WIseTech shares trading on huge discount

Bell Potter highlights that WiseTech shares are currently trading on an estimated FY 2027 EV/EBITDA multiple of around 18 times.

It notes that this is the lowest multiple that they have traded on during their history on the ASX boards, which spans almost a decade. The broker explains:

WiseTech is currently trading on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.18x which is the lowest forward multiple in its listed history of almost ten years. There are perhaps several reasons for the relatively low multiple including recent management and board upheaval, shift to a new pricing model, large acquisition risk, potential for a downgrade/soft downgrade to FY26 guidance and erosion of its competitive moat from agentic AI.

While Bell Potter acknowledges that there have been reasons to be bearish at times, it feels the extent of this decline is unjustified. It adds:

These are all valid concerns to varying degrees but at this stage they do not individually or collectively cause us to change our forecasts and we continue to forecast high teens revenue growth and strong margin expansion in both FY27 and FY28 largely driven by the integration of e2open (and the realisation of synergies), the launch of new products including CTO and the shift to the new pricing model. We therefore believe the recent sell-off in the share price and the reduction in the forward EV/EBITDA multiple is unjustified and represents a key buying opportunity.

Big return potential

According to the note, Bell Potter has reaffirmed its buy rating on WiseTech shares with a trimmed price target of $87.50 (from $100.00).

Based on its current share price of $50.59, this implies potential upside of 73% for investors over the next 12 months.

To put that into context, a $10,000 investment would turn into approximately $17,300 by this time next year if Bell Potter is on the money with its recommendation.

Commenting on its buy rating, the broker concludes:

We have rolled forward our PE ratio and EV/EBITDA valuations by a year – so FY27 is now the base – and apply multiples of 55x and 30x respectively. We have also increased the WACC we apply in the DCF from 8.4% to 8.6% through an increase in the beta relating to the risk around erosion of the competitive moat from agentic AI.

The net result is a 13% decrease in our PT to $87.50 which is >15% premium to the share price so we maintain our BUY recommendation. Potential catalysts include the upcoming H1 result where in our view reiteration of the FY26 guidance would be a positive given the risk of a soft downgrade and the larger-than-usual H2 skew.

The post Did you know WiseTech shares are trading at their biggest discount in their history? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• What is happening to these ASX software shares?
• Why are ASX 200 tech shares like WiseTech and NextDC going gangbusters on Monday
• Why now could be the time to buy WiseTech shares
• Why I’m planning to act this week and buy ASX shares

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

Sun Silver Ltd (ASX: SS1) shares have experienced phenomenal growth, rising 160% over the past 12 months.

East Coast Research thinks there is more room to run for this ASX silver share, despite volatility in the commodity price.

In a new note, East Coast Research has revealed a 12-month price target of $6.54 for Sun Silver shares.

This tip implies a staggering 235% potential upside from the stock’s closing value of $1.955 on Tuesday.

Before we find out why East Coast expects such strong growth, let’s check in on Sun Silvers’ recent performance.

How did Sun Silver shares survive the commodities rout?

Sun Silver shares reached an all-time high of $2.73 on 29 January.

That was the same day that the silver price reached a record of US$121 per ounce.

Then came the fall.

A major metals market sell-off last week saw the silver price nearly halve to a low of about US$67 per ounce, before rebounding.

Sun Silver shares followed suit, and remain nearly 30% off their historical high now.

The silver price is US$81.51 per ounce at the time of writing, down 2.2% and up almost 160% year over year.

Silver retains an impressive 2026-to-date growth rate of 15.5%.

What’s the latest news with Sun Silver?

Sun Silver is developing the Maverick Springs Silver-Gold Project in Nevada, US.

The project has a JORC Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 539 Moz silver equivalent (AgEq) at 71g/t AgEq.

This includes 347.2Moz of silver (Ag) at 45.5g/t Ag and 2.25Moz of gold (Au) at 0.30g/t Au.

Sun Silver says this makes Maverick Springs the largest pre-production primary silver project on the ASX and within the US.

Last month, Sun Silver tripled its landholding by staking 427 additional lode claims to the north and south of the existing project.

Sun Silver also announced that further drilling had uncovered more thick silver-gold and antimony mineralisation at Maverick Springs.

In its December quarterly update, Sun Silver said it expects “further significant growth” for the silver/gold mineral resource estimate on the back of recent drilling results, as well as the potential for a maiden antimony mineral resource estimate.

Why will this ASX silver share rocket 235%?

In its note, East Coast Research praised Sun Silver for adding 59 Moz to its mineral resource estimate in the December quarter.

SS1’s impressive recent 3rd Mineral Resource upgrade in under 2 years since listing places its Maverick Springs Project as a standout, strategically significant U.S. primary silver asset at a time when silver is becoming an important element of the North American / western-based secure supply chain thematic.

East Coast said the scale of Maverick’s growth potential was unusual for an already large silver mining project.

Maverick Springs continues to reaffirm our original thesis that, apart from just peer set leading primary silver asset scale, the asset is still open for notable further exploration upgrade.

SS1’s last 2 Mineral Resource upgrades have increased both scale and silver equivalent grades, which is an uncommon facet of large projects.

Sun Silver began trading on the US OTCQX market under the code (OTCQX: SSLVF) during the December quarter.

East Coast says this is “setting the stage for an eventual material rerate that rewards SS1 stockholders from the U.S. markets’ silver premium”.

East Coast said it viewed the recent pullback in the silver price as “an opportune time to increase exposure to silver, given that the medium- to long-term structural thesis supporting silver remains intact”.

The silver price is supported by continuing safe-haven demand and rising industrial use in the green energy transition.

Given all these tailwinds, East Coast said its most conservative estimate for the Sun Silver share price is $5.96 within 12 months.

Its bull case is $7.11, a whopping 264% higher than where the ASX silver share closed yesterday.

The post Sun Silver shares to soar 235% in 12 months, tips expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 333% since April, why is this ASX silver share tumbling on Friday?
• ASX All Ords shares smashing 52-week highs today
• 2 ASX mining shares up 200% in a year and tipped to keep rising
• ASX silver shares streak higher as silver price nears US$100

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 new report from Global X has identified some key global investment themes that ASX investors should be aware of. 

Billy Leung, Senior Investment Strategist, reinforced that while gold and silver have dominated recent headlines, there is still plenty of opportunity in other corners of the market.

Here are three other themes investors should be aware of. 

AI infrastructure 

According to Global X, the narrative around AI is currently evolving. 

Reports are emerging that OpenAI is testing alternatives to Nvidia. 

According to Reuters, OpenAI has been unsatisfied with some of Nvidia’s latest artificial intelligence chips, and it has sought alternatives since last year. 

While this has raised concerns around potential market share loss for Nvidia, switching costs across AI hardware, software stacks and developer ecosystems remain high, both in time and capital.

Mr Leung said the more important takeaway is not a sudden loss of Nvidia’s dominance, but the continued broadening of the AI value chain. 

As AI workloads scale, opportunities extend beyond leading chip designers into the infrastructure layer supporting compute, networking and data centre build-out.

SpaceX and xAI

Another emerging story is that SpaceX and xAI are reportedly planning to merge ahead of a potential mega IPO, valuing the combined entity at around US$1.25 trillion. 

If realised, this would be one of the largest technology listings in history. It would also reshape the investable universe across launch services, satellite communications and frontier technologies.

This analysis supports a case for investing in defence shares because it points to a powerful overlap between defence, aerospace, and the rapidly accelerating space economy.

It could generate tailwinds for defence and aerospace companies supplying propulsion, satellites, sensors and mission-critical systems.

India and US Trade

Finally, the US is set to cut tariffs on India to 18% following commitments by Prime Minister Modi to curb Russian oil purchases and increase US imports. 

According to Global X, the announcement triggered sharp moves in India futures, easing a key macro overhang and reinforcing India’s role within US-aligned supply chains. 

This development has been supportive for Indian equities and the rupee. 

While near-term volatility will persist, the combination of external resilience, domestic liquidity and institutional depth supports the case for India as a structural growth market rather than a macro risk trade.

How to gain exposure with ETFs

For investors looking into these themes more deeply, there are several thematic ASX ETFs that track these sectors. 

For global AI exposure: 

• Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI)
• Global X Ai Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF)

Global defence: 

• Global X Defence Tech ETF (ASX: DTEC)
• Beta Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR)

For exposure to India: 

• Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)
• Global X India Nifty 50 ETF (ASX: NDIA)
• VanEck India Growth Leaders ETF (ASX:GRIN)

The post Investment themes investors should be watching closely – Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX ETFs to buy with $20,000 in February
• 3 excellent ASX ETFs for Aussie investors to buy in February and beyond
• 3 super ASX ETFs to add to your SMSF
• 3 of the best ASX ETFs to buy in February with $3,000
• 3 ASX ETFs that returned 40% to 100% in 2025

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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) closed 0.03% lower on Tuesday afternoon. For the year-to-date the index is still 1.6% higher and is 4.53% above this time last year. The gains so far this year are sturdy, but there are some stocks which have already significantly outperformed the ASX 200 index.

Here are three of them.

Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)

Uranium development company, Deep Yellow, has had a fantastic start to 2026. It was one of the best stock performers on the ASX 200 index in January as tailwinds from its solid quarterly update and overall improving sentiment in the uranium sector drove the share price higher.

The company reported a strong cash balance of A$187.1 million for the quarter ending 31st of December. The company also revealed that engineering and infrastructure at its Tumas project is on track. 

Demand for uranium is expected to continue quietly climbing this year as governments ramp up activity on nuclear power.

Deep Yellow shares jumped 7.14% higher on Tuesday to close the day at $2.55 a piece. And for the year-to-date the shares are now an impressive 30.77% higher.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

Paladin is another uranium production company that focuses on developing and operating uranium mines globally. Its share price has also been pushed higher off the back of surging demand for uranium so far in 2026. 

The company’s production and financials are very strong too. In its December 2025 quarterly report, Paladin announced a 16% quarter-on-quarter increase in uranium production and reaffirmed full-year FY26 production guidance of between 4 and 4.4 million pounds of uranium. The ASX 200 miner is also on track for full mining and processing operations by FY27.

Paladin Energy share closed Tuesday 5.48% higher at $12.13 a piece. The gain pulled the ASX 200 stock’s share price up 19.74% for 2026 so far.

Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP)

Greatland Resources is an ASX 200-listed gold and copper mining stock. It focuses on discovery, development, extraction, processing, and sale of precious and base metals. 

The miner’s share price has surged this year as copper shares rally. Demand comes from a jump in demand for safe haven commodities amid global geopolitical uncertainty and a rapid decline in the US dollar. Greatland has also benefited from a gold price rally this year. 

It wasn’t the commodity boom which pushed the ASX 200 stock higher though, it also posted record drilling and grades at its Telfer site, a strong Q4 cash flow and progress in its mine expansion plans in January. 

At the close of the ASX on Tuesday, Greatland Resources shares were 3.47% higher at $12.82. For the year-to-date the share price has jumped 21.4%.

The post These 3 ASX 200 stocks have already soared 20% to 30% in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX Limited CEO to step down as CHESS project enters new phase
• Computershare lifts outlook and dividend after solid 1H26 earnings
• CSL names Gordon Naylor interim CEO as Dr Paul McKenzie retires
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares closed 2.99% higher on Tuesday afternoon. While the uptick is good news for investors, the stock has a while to go before it recovers losses made over the past four months.

For the year to date, Life360 shares have declined 18.33%. They’re also 52.18% below the all-time high of $55.44 achieved in October last year.

What happened to Life360 shares?

The US-based software development company took the tech industry by storm last year. The dual-listed (on the Nasdaq and the ASX) company was earmarked as an unstoppable ASX growth share after the launch of its new GPS pet-tracking feature.

There was never any real price sensitive news out of the tech company to explain the dramatic investor sell-off. Rather, it looks like the decline is a combination of investors selling up to take profit off the table after a period of strong price growth, combined with overall sector wide weakness across the tech sector.

Earlier this month there was concern that artificial intelligence could disrupt traditional platforms and software models. This damped investor sentiment and caused a further pullpack in the share price.

This year’s headwinds come off the back of a sharp share price correction across the tech sector in late 2025. 

The company delivered a standout quarterly update last month. The result beat expectations and caused a share price surge of nearly 30%.

Life360 reported strong user growth, with monthly active users (MAU) reaching 95.8 million. That marks the highest Q4 MAU level in the company’s history and represents an intake of an additional 16.2 million users over calendar year 2025.

But it wasn’t enough to keep confidence high and the uptick was short-lived. 

What’s ahead for Life360 in 2026?

Life360 said it expects to see strong user acquisition and monetisation in both its core US and fast-growing international markets this year. 

Following its new pet-related software, the business plans to turn its attention to an elderly-focused solution.

Some even think the user growth could accelerate in 2026 if engagement remains strong.

In short, Life360 is well positioned for growth in 2026. If that eventuates, then the current share price is a bargain for investors who want to get in on the stock. Especially ahead of the next uplift.

Data shows that analysts are mostly bullish on the outlook for the tech stock. Out of 13 analysts, 10 have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. The maximum price target is $49.68 which implies a potential 87.41% upside for investors at the time of writing.

The post Life360 shares drop 50% from their peak: 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 positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.