Category: Stock Market

Last year was fantastic for ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) exposed to ripsnorting commodity prices and mining stocks.

Here are four examples.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS)

The MNRS ETF gave a total return, including dividends, of 149% last year.

MNRS tracks the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

The MNRS ETF invests in 56 gold shares, with 44% in Canada, 14% in the US, 13% in South Africa, and 8% in Brazil.

Its largest holding is Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), which has CDIs listed on the ASX as Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM).

Newmont CDI shares are the only Aussie representation in the fund.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $301 million and a management fee of 0.57%.

MNRS ETF is $20.01 per unit, up 2.62% today.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

The GDX ETF gave a total return of 139% last year.

The GDX ETF invests in 93 shares, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

The biggest holding is Newmont shares, and it’s also invested in Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

This ETF has total net assets of $1.9 billion and a 0.53% fee.

GDX ETF is $166.60 per unit, up 2.21% today.

Global X Physical Silver Structured (ASX: ETPMAG)

The ETPMAG ETF delivered 133% returns last year.

This ETF simply tracks the silver price, so it pays no dividends.

The silver price ripped 147% higher last year. But get this: as of today, the commodity is up 272% year over year. It’s nuts!

Silver is a key input for solar panels, electric vehicles, data centres, and modern tech equipment such as smartphones and laptops.

The commodity was added to the US Critical Minerals list in November due to a global shortage and rising demand.

ETPMAG is backed by physical silver. Each physical bar is segregated, individually identified, and allocated.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $2 billion and a 0.49% fee.

ETPMAG ETF is $154.99 per unit, up 1.77% at the time of writing.

Global X is further capturing silver’s run by launching a brand-new ETF this week, the Global X Silver Miners ETF (ASX: SLVM). 

Global X Physical Platinum Structured (ASX: ETPMPT)

The ETPMPT ETF gave a total return of 109% last year.

Like gold and silver, platinum is flying. The metal’s price rose 125% in CY25 and is currently up 170% over 12 months.

Platinum is one of six metals in the Platinum Group Elements (PMEs).

PMEs are on the critical minerals lists of many countries, including the US and Australia.

Platinum is primarily used in the automotive industry. It’s in the catalytic converters that reduce a vehicle’s emissions.

ETPMPT is also backed by physical platinum, with segregated, individually identified, and allocated bars.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $123 million and a 0.49% fee.

ETPMPT ETF is $359.07 per unit, up 1.05% today.

The post 4 ASX ETFs that produced 110% to 150% returns in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Global X releases new ASX ETF targeting silver shares
• Silver is on fire. Why prices just jumped 7% today
• 3 ASX ETFs off to a hot start in 2026
• $10,000 invested in GDX ETF a year ago is now worth…
• ASX gold shares go crazy as gold price rips toward US$5,000 on Friday

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Global X Physical Precious Metals Basket – Global X Physical Silver. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) surged 7.5% in US after-hours trading after the tech giant delivered a strong fourth-quarter result and doubled down on its ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) spending plans.

For Australian investors, the move is highly relevant. Meta is a major holding in several ASX-listed ETFs, including the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), ETFS FANG+ ETF (ASX: FANG), and the Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI).

What did Meta report?

Overall, Meta’s numbers were impressive. Fourth-quarter revenue jumped 24% year on year to US$59.9 billion, while earnings per share rose 11% as costs climbed sharply. Advertising demand remained strong, daily active users across Meta’s platforms increased, and management guided to around 30% revenue growth in the March quarter was a clear acceleration from full-year growth.

But the result wasn’t really about last quarter’s earnings. It was about spending.

Meta now expects capital expenditure of US$115 billion – US$135 billion in 2026, as it pours money into data centres, AI infrastructure, and what CEO Mark Zuckerberg has described as “personal superintelligence“.

That’s an extraordinary number and one that would normally make investors nervous, but the market welcomed it.

The reason is straightforward. Meta is funding this AI arms race from a position of strength. Its core advertising business is growing rapidly, generating enormous cash flows, and still delivering operating margins above 40%. Management has also indicated that, despite the surge in investment, 2026 operating income should be higher than 2025.

The bigger question is whether the spending will ultimately be worth it.

In the near term, AI investment is likely to boost investor sentiment around Meta as an “AI winner” whilst also potentially boosting revenue growth but weighing on earnings-per-share growth in 2026 as depreciation and infrastructure costs ramp up.

Investors, therefore, need to look beyond next year to assess the payoff.

The bull case is that current investments strengthen Meta’s moat, and if Meta’s AI push leads to new products, better ad performance, and sustained elevated growth beyond 2026, the current spending surge could prove highly profitable over time.

Foolish bottom line

Meta’s rally is a vote of confidence that Zuckerberg and his team are striking the right balance between growth, profitability, and AI investments.

There was also a sense, going into the result, that Meta wasn’t priced at an extreme valuation multiple relative to its growth, though execution risk remained. The sharp share price reaction suggests investors are increasingly confident that Meta is on the right track.

The post Meta shares soar as huge AI investments continue appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s my buy list if the stock market crashes in 2026
• Investing in the VanEck International Quality ETF (QUAL)? Here’s what you’re really buying
• Here’s how the US Magnificent Seven stocks performed in 2025
• 4 pros and cons of buying the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (VAS) in 2026!
• 5 fantastic ASX ETFs for beginners in 2026

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Meta Platforms and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

With cost-of-living pressures biting, retail is a difficult space to be in at the moment.

That said, it doesn’t mean there aren’t companies that stand out from the pack and are worth looking at from an investment perspective.

RBC Capital Markets has looked at the sector broadly and come up with some key picks for your portfolio.

For a start, they say broadly that things certainly are competitive:

While we expect the sector to report in-line revenue, we anticipate elevated discounting and competition may present downside risk to gross margin outcomes as evidenced by Super Retail Group‘s and Endeavour Group‘s recent announcements. Woolworths and JB Hi-Fi stand out as other names facing potential downside risk to gross margins.

So who does the RBC team think will surprise on the upside this reporting season?

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

RBC has had a look at Collins Foods and says its FY26 net profit guidance “looks conservative to us”.

The company is guiding for growth in the mid to high teens; however, RBC has done the sums and believes it’s likely to come in at the top of that range.

They also point out that chicken “may be structurally oversupplied in Australia”, which could be good news on the cost front for the KFC operator.  

RBC has a price target of $12.80 on Collins Foods shares compared with $10.75 currently.

Coles Group Limited (ASX: COL)

When it comes to Coles Group, RBC says market share trends will be the focus, with Woolworths Ltd (ASX: WOW) discounting to gain market share.

We believe a narrowing of share tends in the second quarter is likely, though we forecast Coles has done a better job of protecting margins.

RBC said, “outsized cash flow growth will provide scope for Coles to invest in further entrenching structural cost advantages.”

RBC has a price target of $24 on Coles, compared with its current price of $20.76.

Super Retail Group (ASX: SUL)

Over at Super Retail, RBC says much of the negative news has been released before the reporting season.

They say the company has scope to grow across multiple brands.

Supercheap Auto has an opportunity to improve execution (store format, range) to take share from Autobarn. Rebel top-line trends remain solid, and stronger execution should enable Rebel to more effectively deliver margin outcomes going forward.

RBC says with sales growth figures already pre-released, the focus for reporting season will be on cash flow, the balance sheet, and the first eight weeks of trade in the second half.

RBC has a price target of $16.10 on Super Retail shares, compared with its current price of $14.50.

The post Which ASX retail stocks look like good buying ahead of the looming reporting season? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 top ASX dividend share buys for passive income in February
• Brokers rate these 3 top ASX shares as buys for February
• 5 ASX stocks to hold for the next decade
• 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields
• Passive income: How to earn safe dividends with just $20,000

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

Expectations were already high heading into Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) latest quarterly update.

The biotech delivered another milestone-filled quarter, with rising revenues and continued progress toward commercialisation in the United States.

Yet instead of pushing higher, Mesoblast shares have slipped 3.33% to $2.61 as the market digested the numbers.

Today’s reaction appears investors are looking for more than just the company’s progress alone.

Here’s what was reported.

Revenue lifts as Ryoncil rollout continues

According to the release, Mesoblast reported net revenues of US$30 million for the quarter, driven by continued uptake of Ryoncil in the United States.

Gross sales reached US$35 million for the quarter. Demand continues to build following FDA approval for use in children with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.

In addition, more treatment centres are coming online. Mesoblast also pointed to steady progress in real-world use, with early post-approval data showing survival outcomes broadly consistent with clinical trial results.

The group continues to work with hospitals and payers to support broader adoption, as awareness of the therapy increases across specialist treatment centres.

Cash burn remains the key focus

While revenue growth is encouraging, the quarterly cash flow statement explains the share price reaction.

Mesoblast recorded net operating cash outflows of US$15.6 million for the quarter. Research and development spending remained high, while manufacturing and operating costs also continued as the company supports commercial scale-up.

At quarter end, Mesoblast held US$130 million in cash and cash equivalents. That gives it around 11.6 quarters of funding based on current burn rates, which provides breathing room but not financial flexibility.

The company also drew down US$75 million from a new US$125 million credit facility during the quarter. While this strengthens short-term liquidity, debt funding always raises investor concerns around future dilution or refinancing risk.

Progress on pipeline beyond Ryoncil

Beyond its approved product, Mesoblast continues to advance several late-stage programs.

The confirmatory Phase 3 trial for chronic low back pain remains active across multiple US sites. The company also highlighted regulatory engagement with the FDA around a potential biologics licence application for heart failure, which could become a meaningful driver if timelines stay on track.

Foolish takeaway

Mesoblast’s latest update shows a business that is transitioning out of its development phase and into commercial execution.

From here, the biotech’s shares are likely to be judged quarter by quarter on revenue growth, costs, and how quickly the company can reduce its cash burn.

That means the market will start looking at progress to show up in the financials. Until it does, short-term share price swings are likely to continue.

The post This ASX 200 stock just reported a milestone quarter. So why are its shares falling? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Mesoblast posts revenue jump and new funding: Key takeaways for investors
• Has this ASX 200 stock just turned the corner after 7% surge?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• This rising ASX 200 stock isn’t done yet – or is it?
• Mesoblast just cleared a key FDA hurdle. So why are investors exiting?

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.

Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) this week announced a solid 34% increase in its graphite production, with at least one analyst flagging that the company’s shares likely have some decent upside from where they’re trading at the moment.

Syrah this week announced that production from its Balama graphite mine was 34% higher than the previous quarter, coming in at 34,400 tonnes.

The company characterised the performance as “strong”, with improved recovery and high product quality; however, Syrah actually sold its product at a loss, with production costs of US$535 per tonne exceeding the sale price of US$506.

Syrah said it was targeting “no less than 30,000 tonnes” of natural graphite in the March quarter, and that it had the ability to return to higher capacity utilisation as natural graphite demand increases.

The company said:

There is solid demand for Syrah’s natural graphite products, particularly in the ex-China market, due to global supply disruptions and growing spherical graphite production capacity outside of China. Syrah expects to continue breakbulk shipments to ex-China destinations supplying active anode material production (AAM) through 2026, with ongoing container sales shipments to industrial customers outside China, primarily for coarse flake products where greater market shares is being pursued.

Value-added materials in focus

At the company’s Vidalia AAM production facility in the US, testing continued, “incorporating feedback from multiple customers” the company said.

Syrah has offtake agreements for AAM with Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ: LCID).

The company added:

Timing of sales commencement under these offtake agreements is being determined by customer qualification progress in testing, as well as very significant commercial and US policy considerations. The agreements with Tesla and Lucid underpin future sales approaching the 11.25ktpa AAM production capacity of the Vidalia AAM facility. The company is working towards achieving earliest possible AAM revenue from Vidalia.

Shares looking cheap

The analysts at Jarden have run the ruler over the Syrah quarterly and maintained their price target of 34 cents per share, which would be a 41.6% increase from current levels.

They said that despite the company currently mining at a loss, its 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. SYR 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.

The Jarden team said they continued to expect a final investment decision on the phase three expansion of Vidalia this calendar year, “with work to commence in CY27 and 45ktpa AAM production reached in CY31”.

They added that they expect to see margin improvement from Balama as production increases over the year.

The post Looking for double digit returns? This ASX graphite producer might be for you appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Fortescue, Life360, PLS, and Syrah shares are dropping today
• ASX All Ords mining stock sinking on big Tesla news

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 positions in and has recommended Tesla. 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.

Planning for your retirement can be confusing, especially when you’re trying to work exactly how much superannuation you need before that day comes.

Working out the figure which will suit your needs depends entirely on your current living situation, your expected retirement age and what type of retirement you expect to have. 

Do you own your own house? What type of travel do you expect to to? Do you have any debts?

In Australia, your retirement is generally split into two broad categories: modest and comfortable.

A modest retirement, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) is defined as being able to cover expenses slightly above what the full Centrelink Age Pension would provide. 

This includes basic health insurance with limited cap payments, a cheaper model of car, infrequent exercise, a limited budget for home repairs, minimal utility expenses, limiting dining out and maybe an annual domestic trip. It assumes you own your home outright.

Then a comfortable retirement lifestyle is defined as one which allows retirees to maintain a good standard of living. 

This includes top level private health insurance, ownership of a reasonable car brand, regular leisure activities, funds for home repairs and renovations, occasional meals out, and an annual domestic trip.

It goes without saying that every Australian strives for a retirement lifestyle under option B: a comfortable retirement. 

So what does that cost?

How much does a comfortable retirement cost?

Again, according to ASFA, a comfortable retirement is expected to cost approximately $54,240 per year for individuals and $76,505 per year for couples.

How much superannuation do I need for that?

ASFA has run the numbers on the assumption that the retiree(s) will draw down all their capital, receive a part Age Pension, and is a home owner. 

The association has calculated that a comfortable retirement lifestyle for a couple requires a superannuation balance of approximately $690,000 and for a single person this is approximately $595,000.

Help! My superannuation balance is no where near that figure

If your superannuation falls short of the figures above, you aren’t alone. 

The average superannuation balance for Australians aged 40-44 is $140,680 for men and $109,209 for women. For those aged in the 60-64 bracket, the average superannuation balance is $395,852 for men and $313,360 for women. It’s clear, then, that using those figures, a comfortable retirement lifestyle is out of reach for many of us.

But, the good news is, there are things you can do to boost your superannuation balance before it’s too late.

You can make extra concessional or non-concessional contributions, whether this is salary sacrificing or after-tax (within your annual limits). 

You can take advantage of any government initiatives to match contributions and propel your balance just that little further.

It’s important to make sure your super fund is performing well. Even slightly underperforming a benchmark such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over a long period of time can affect your end balance.

And of course, review your investment strategy to ensure it actually aligns with your retirement goals and risk appetite.

The post How much superannuation do you need to retire comfortably? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Genesis Minerals posts record production, strong cash in December 2025 quarter
• Champion Iron posts record iron ore sales and profits in Q3 FY26
• Viva Energy shares: 4Q25 sales volumes rise, margins improve
• Capricorn Metals reports record Q2 cash flow and resource growth
• Qube Holdings updates investors on Macquarie Asset Management proposal

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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) economists are taking a fresh look at what ASX investors and mortgage holders can expect from interest rates in the year ahead.

This follows Wednesday’s unexpected, and decidedly unwanted, inflation report.

As you’re likely aware, yesterday the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3.8% in the 12 months to December. That marked a surprising 0.2% increase from the 3.4% CPI print in the 12 months to November.

And potentially impacting the RBA’s interest rate decision when the central bank meets again next Tuesday, 3 February, trimmed mean inflation (the RBA’s preferred gauge) edged up to 3.3% from 3.2%. That’s well above the midpoint of the RBA’s target range of 2% to 3%.

Overnight, ASX investors also learned that the US Federal Reserve opted to keep rates in the world’s biggest economy on hold for now at 3.50% to 3.75%.

The official cash rate in Australia currently stands at 3.60%.

But is it set to move higher?

What CBA now expects the RBA to do with interest rates

Cutting straight to the chase, in a report released on Wednesday, CBA noted:

The Reserve Bank of Australia is widely expected to increase the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent when it meets next week, following a surprise uptick in underlying inflation.

“The latest inflation data confirms that price pressures, while easing, are still too high,” Belinda Allen, head of Australian economics at CBA said.

As for higher interest rates, she added, “The accumulation of evidence supports our view that a cash rate hike is needed to ensure inflation returns to the midpoint of the target band by the end of 2027.”

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank also pointed to the strength of the Aussie jobs market.

The unemployment rate declined to 4.1% in December, amid an ongoing increase in employment.

According to CBA economists, a tightening jobs market could put upward pressure on wages, making the RBA’s inflation battle more difficult.

Robust household consumption, up 2.8% in 2025, could also push the RBA towards increasing interest rates next Tuesday.

“These areas of strength suggest the economy has more momentum than the Reserve Bank anticipated just a few months ago,” Allen said.

“We expect the RBA to lift the cash rate by 25bp to 3.85% next week,” she said.

Allen concluded, “The RBA’s reaction function is the wild card with uncertainty over the board’s urgency to hike.”

The post Is the RBA about to increase interest rates? Here’s the latest forecast from CBA appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build income on the ASX without losing sleep at night
• Should I sell my CBA shares in 2026?
• Forget CBA shares: I’m buying shares in another Aussie bank
• Bye bye CBA: BHP is back as the ASX 200’s biggest stock
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, CBA, and Rio Tinto shares

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.

If I were sitting on $50,000 in savings, I wouldn’t be comfortable leaving it all in cash for too long. Not because markets can’t pull back, but because over time I think quality businesses give you a far better chance of building wealth than a savings account ever will.

This is how I’d think about putting that money to work across S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares heading into February.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Bunnings and Kmart owner Wesfarmers has a habit of quietly building future growth engines long before they matter to earnings. Whether it’s investing in healthcare, data-led retail, or newer formats that sit outside its traditional big-box strengths, management consistently uses the balance sheet to buy time and flexibility.

What I like right now is that expectations feel more grounded. After a strong run, the share price has cooled, but the business hasn’t lost its ability to create value through reinvestment and experimentation. If even one of its newer initiatives scales meaningfully over the next few years, Wesfarmers could look very different again.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman is where I’d look for long-term structural growth. Rather than being a traditional property trust, this ASX 200 share sits right in the middle of logistics, automation, and data centre demand. Those themes aren’t going away, regardless of short-term economic noise. The fact that Goodman is still trading well below its highs, even as its development pipeline continues to expand, makes it more interesting to me.

This is the kind of stock I’d expect to quietly compound over many years if management keeps executing.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA is one of those businesses that reminds you how powerful a dominant digital platform can be. What appeals to me most is that REA doesn’t need a booming property market to perform. It needs listings, engagement, and pricing power, all of which it continues to demonstrate. Over time, it has proven it can monetise its audience in ways competitors simply can’t match and I expect this to continue in the future.

I see REA as a high-quality ASX 200 stock that deserves a spot in most portfolios.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Wealth technology company Hub24 is a stock I would want to own for the next decade. The ongoing shift toward professional advice, platform consolidation, and transparent investment solutions continues to work in Hub24’s favour. What stands out to me is that growth isn’t just coming from market movements, but from genuine market share gains and adviser adoption. At the end of September, its platform was the sixth largest in Australia with a market share of 9.3%. This was up from 7.9% a year prior.

It’s not cheap, but businesses that keep winning rarely are. If Hub24 continues to deliver, I think its shares could outperform through to 2030.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre is the most cyclical stock in this group. The travel booking business has rebuilt itself significantly over the past few years, with a stronger focus on corporate travel, higher-margin segments like cruising, and a more disciplined cost base. Travel demand doesn’t need to explode for Flight Centre to perform, it just needs to remain resilient.

I like owning an ASX 200 share like this when sentiment is still mixed, but the underlying business is on firmer footing than it was in the past.

Foolish Takeaway

If I were investing $50,000 today, I’d focus on quality, diversification, and businesses I’d be comfortable holding through ups and downs.

This mix gives me defensive strength through Wesfarmers, structural growth through Goodman and Hub24, platform dominance via REA, and cyclical upside through Flight Centre.

The post Where I would invest $50,000 in ASX 200 shares in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 1 ASX blue-chip stock I’d consider buying with the ASX 200 around 8,900
• How a beginner investor could build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio
• Why I think these buy-rated ASX shares could be top picks
• 3 no-brainer ASX shares to consider buying now with just $100
• I’d buy 328 shares of this ASX 200 stock to aim for $1,000 a year

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24 and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Hub24, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group, Goodman Group, Hub24, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One of the best performers on the All Ordinaries index today has been Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR) shares.

At the time of writing, this ASX stock is up 18% to a 52-week high of $2.25.

Why is this ASX stock jumping today?

Investors have been bidding this medical device company’s shares higher today after it made a big announcement.

According to the release, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for the company’s NorthStar Mapping System under the premarket notification process.

NorthStar is the first and only MRI-native 3D mapping and guidance system to receive FDA clearance. It is Imricor’s first capital equipment and first software-centric product approval in the United States.

Management notes that this marks the ASX stock’s second FDA clearance, after receiving 510(k) clearance for the VisionMR Diagnostic Catheter earlier this month. It believes the approval significantly strengthens Imricor’s position as the market leader in MRI-guided interventional procedures.

This was no overnight success. The company highlights that NorthStar’s clearance by the U.S. FDA marks the culmination of years of research, development, 3rd party partnerships, and regulatory work. The system is designed and intended to be the central hub of every interventional cardiac MRI lab (iCMR).

And there may be more to come. Management is expecting multiple regulatory clearances and approvals this calendar year, as its full MRI-guided electrophysiology platform is progressively introduced to the market.

This FDA clearance enables the ASX stock to commercially market NorthStar in the United States, which is the world’s largest electrophysiology market.

Commenting on the news, Imricor’s chair and CEO, said:

At Imricor, we have been building a comprehensive suite of uniquely MRI-compatible devices for two decades. These devices, which include both consumable products and capital equipment, enable doctors to harness the superior soft tissue imaging of MRI to precisely guide minimally invasive procedures in a 100% radiation-free setting. Our goal is to enable better, faster, safer and less expensive treatments for patients worldwide; and as the world’s largest market, the United States is critical to our goal.

When it comes to iCMR procedures, NorthStar is the central hub that brings everything together. It’s designed to not only facilitate diagnostic cardiac electrophysiology and ablations procedures, but also to provide MRI guidance capabilities for other procedures. And since NorthStar is primarily a software product, it ushers in Imricor’s software era in which AI will play a big role in the future. NorthStar’s platform provides a path for capability expansion that is virtually unlimited, and we will continue to invest in and expand its capabilities for years to come.

The post Guess which ASX stock is jumping 18% on FDA approval news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Develop Global, Imricor Medical, Light & Wonder, and PWR shares are storming higher today
• Which biotech company’s shares have rocketed to a new high on good news?

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.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price is under pressure on Thursday, down 4.91% to $2.035. The move follows the release of the company’s December quarterly update and a separate capital markets announcement.

Here’s what investors need to know.

A turning point quarter at Kathleen Valley

The December quarter saw Liontown start to deliver on its long-awaited ramp-up.

The company successfully completed open pit mining at Kathleen Valley and transitioned to a fully underground operation. Underground ore mined jumped 37% quarter on quarter to 308kt, while development metres increased 17%.

Liontown processed 642kt of ore during the quarter and produced 105,342 dry metric tonnes (dmt) of spodumene concentrate, up 21% on the prior quarter. Lithium recoveries improved to 63%, and plant availability held steady at 92%.

Costs also moved in the right direction. Unit operating costs fell 17% quarter on quarter to $910 per dmt sold, while all-in sustaining costs (AISC) declined 22% to $1,059 per dmt. The company also reported operating cash flow at breakeven, a significant improvement from the prior period.

Management reiterated that underground ramp-up remains on track, with production targeted to reach 1.5Mtpa by the end of FY26 and 2.8Mtpa steady state by FY27.

Pricing, sales and liquidity improve

Liontown generated $130 million in revenue during the quarter after selling 112,122 dmt of concentrate at an average realised price of US$900 per dmt on a SC6 basis.

SC6 is a standard grade of lithium concentrate containing about 6% lithium. It is the main product sold by hard-rock lithium miners.

One positive was Liontown’s first spot auction, which cleared at US$1,254 per dmt SC6. This showed buyers are willing to pay up outside long-term contracts. Liontown also signed a new binding offtake agreement with Canmax, giving it greater flexibility and more exposure to spot pricing.

The balance sheet remains strong. Liontown finished the quarter with $390 million in cash and 13,800 dmt of saleable concentrate on hand.

LG conversion removes a major overhang

Alongside the quarterly update, Liontown confirmed LG Energy Solution will convert its US$250 million convertible note into shares.

As a result, LG will own about 8% of the company. While this increases the number of shares on issue, it removes future interest costs and clears a long-standing uncertainty for investors.

After the conversion, Liontown will have no remaining convertible debt and more flexibility to fund growth.

Foolish takeaway

The company delivered a materially stronger operational quarter and removed a major overhang from its balance sheet. But with expectations high, the market appears to be focusing on near-term risks rather than longer-term progress.

Liontown is coming out of a heavy investment phase, with costs easing and underground production continuing to ramp up. If execution holds, the recent share price weakness may look attractive to patient investors.

The post This ASX lithium stock is being sold off today. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Liontown earnings: Revenue surges and underground transition completed in Q2 FY26
• Liontown shares in focus as LG Energy Solution swaps $250m debt for equity
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Experts call time on these rip-snorting ASX 200 mining shares
• Lynas, South32, Liontown: Can these surging shares go higher?

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.