Category: Stock Market

By the time Australians reach 55, retirement stops feeling theoretical and starts looking close enough to plan for.

With roughly 12 years until the age pension begins at 67, many people start taking a hard look at their super and wondering whether they are genuinely on track.

But superannuation isn’t a subject that most people want to talk about, and there is no obvious benchmark to compare yourself against.

So, what does the average 55-year-old actually have saved for retirement? Let’s break it down.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 55?

There isn’t a single precise figure for 55-year-olds, but we can get a clear estimate by looking at the adjacent age groups from data provided by superannuation fund Rest Super. It had approximately 2 million members and around $100 billion in funds under management at the end of September.

According to the data, women aged 50–54 hold an average balance of $176,824, which rises to $228,259 in the 55–59 bracket.

Men in the same groups have $237,084 and $301,922, respectively.

Taking the midpoint of each range gives us a reasonable estimate of where the average 55-year-old sits today:

• Women: approximately $200,000
• Men: approximately $270,000

If your balance is close to these figures, you are tracking broadly in line with the national average. However, being average and being retirement-ready are not always the same thing.

Is this enough for a comfortable retirement?

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), a single person needs about $595,000 in super to achieve a comfortable retirement.

This type of retirement covers everyday living expenses plus extras like private health insurance, leisure activities, and occasional travel.

Using Rest Super’s calculator, a 55-year-old woman earning $70,000 a year and starting with a $200,000 balance would reach around $375,000 by age 67. Whereas a man starting at $270,000 would finish with about $470,000.

Both figures fall short of ASFA’s comfortable benchmark.

The picture looks far brighter for couples, though. An average 55-year-old couple, combining today’s estimates, would reach roughly $812,000 by age 67. This is comfortably above ASFA’s recommended $690,000 balance for couples.

For those targeting a no frills, modest retirement, the bar is much lower. ASFA estimates a single person needs around $100,000, assuming they will receive the age pension to cover the bulk of living costs.

What if your super balance isn’t where you hoped?

Falling behind the average doesn’t mean your retirement plans are derailed. At 55, there is still meaningful time to boost your savings, particularly with higher concessional contribution caps, downsizer contributions (if eligible), and the compounding effect of strong long-term returns.

It may also be worth reviewing whether your investment option matches your time horizon, your fund’s fees and long-term performance, and whether consolidating multiple accounts could reduce costs.

Small adjustments now can translate into tens of thousands more by retirement.

Foolish takeaway

Understanding the average superannuation balance at 55 is useful, but it is only a starting point. What matters most is whether your super, combined with other savings and future income sources, aligns with the lifestyle you want in retirement.

With more than a decade ahead before reaching pension age, there’s still time to grow your nest egg.

The post Here’s the average Australian superannuation balance at age 55 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

I like to use ASX shares as the way to build my wealth. It’s easy to progressively add small amounts to my portfolio, and compounding can help grow my portfolio at a very satisfactory pace, if I choose right. Hopefully, I can reach a $1 million portfolio one day.

I don’t want to have to deal with tenants, repairs, land taxes or a rental agent – ASX shares are my preference over investment properties.

What sorts of ASX share investments are the right call? Well, I like to keep one of Warren Buffett’s sayings in mind for this.

He said that the first rule of investing is don’t lose money. The second rule is don’t forget rule number one. It’s with this mindset that I’m putting quite a bit of my regular investment money into the following ASX shares.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

I’m a big believer that investing in the best businesses makes a lot of sense because of how they compound earnings year after year. If a business grows its earnings at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) at 10%, the profit will double in less than eight years.

MFF describes its investing strategy as the following:

We take a long-term view and focus on a select group of businesses that offer attractive combinations of quality and value, clear our high opportunity cost hurdle and create the potential for self-reinforcing growth. Our portfolio today comprises approximately 25 individual investments in some of the world’s best exchange-listed businesses.

Its largest seven positions include Alphabet, Mastercard, Visa, Bank of America, American Express, Meta Platforms and Amazon.

I like this ASX share because of the combination of share price growth and dividend growth it has delivered to investors.

Its FY26 guided dividends equate to a grossed-up dividend yield of around 6%, including franking credits. It’s trading at a discount of close 10% of its net tangible assets (NTA), which looks appealing to me.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

Long-term investing is easy when you own businesses that have strong long-term potential.

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) looks to invest in US businesses that are seen to have economic moats that are expected to endure for a long time and enable them to generate strong profits for many years to come.

To put a timeframe on it, the Morningstar analysts expect the economic moat to almost certainly last a decade and more likely than not to last two decades. After that, the fund only invests when these great businesses are trading cheaper than what Morningstar analysts think they’re worth.

The MOAT ETF hasn’t needed to rely on the US tech giants for its long-term returns that have averaged in the mid-teens and I think it’s capable of delivering good returns in the coming years.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts is one of my favourite ASX share investments for diversification and long-term returns. It has already been listed on the ASX for 100 years and I think it still has a very long-term history ahead.

It operates as an investment conglomerate that has stakes (or full ownership) of a variety of listed and private businesses. Some of its investments include TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC), Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA), Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX: AIS), Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS), Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG) and plenty more.

I like how the ASX share has built a portfolio of businesses that can perform in all economic conditions and deliver rising cash flow generation along with a growing portfolio value. Its investments can organically grow themselves, plus Soul Patts regularly makes new investments.

The post 3 great ASX shares I’m buying to become a millionaire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments, Tuas, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Electro Optic Systems, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Visa, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are looking to beat the market in 2026 (who isn’t?), then read on!

That’s because the ASX 200 shares listed below have been tipped by analysts to deliver outsized returns for investors over the next 12 months. Here’s what they are recommending to investors:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The team at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) thinks that this network-as-a-service provider could be an ASX 200 share to buy.

Last week, the broker boosted its earnings estimates to reflect the recent acquisition of Latitude, which it highlights gives the company exposure to a fast-growing end market. It also provides the company with exposure to the blockchain and the growing stablecoin market. Macquarie explains:

Customers already consume compute products, but Megaport (MP1) has not historically sold compute. Latitude’s product offering is highly complementary to the existing product set and offers a direct position in a large and fast-growing end market. Stripe, Mercado Livre and Grok are new customer wins.

With multiple new compute use cases, Latitude expands value prop to high-value customers. It is particularly relevant for stablecoins, with rapid recent growth in this space.

In response, Macquarie has put an outperform rating and $21.70 price target on Megaport’s shares. Based on its current share price of $13.17, this implies potential upside of approximately 65% for investors over the next 12 months.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Another ASX 200 share that could rise strongly in 2026 according to analysts is this Mexican food focused quick service restaurant operator.

Morgans thinks that its shares are undervalued at current levels. Especially given its belief that the company’s latest limited time offer will help drive same store sales growth and be supportive of its margins. It explains:

GYG has launched its latest limited-time offer (LTO): the BBQ Chicken Double Crunch (BBQ CDC). Early feedback suggests the item is one of GYG’s more indulgent menu items and taste tests have been overwhelmingly positive. The product leverages existing ingredients, meaning no incremental complexity or cost for stores, a margin-friendly innovation that aligns with GYG’s operational discipline. Management has repeatedly emphasised that menu innovation is a key lever for same-store sales (SSS) growth, and this launch reinforces that commitment. We reiterate our BUY rating.

The broker has a buy rating and $32.30 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $21.05, this suggests that upside of 53% is possible for investors over the next 12 months.

The post These ASX 200 shares could rise 50% to 65% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Megaport. 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.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been one of the best stocks to own since 2023. It outperformed the market every year over that period, but 2026 could present some new challenges. The narrative around the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout and Nvidia’s dominance in the AI-accelerator chip niche is changing, which could have implications for its stock performance next year.

Many investors who have held the stock for a while are sitting on monster gains. But is it time for folks to take those profits and move on from Nvidia, or is it just getting started? 

All indications point toward more growth

Nvidia makes graphics processing units (GPUs) and other hardware and software to support them. It has been the leading maker of such chips by far for many years, which made it the top dog in the AI accelerator space when demand for such hardware skyrocketed. However, some rivals are stepping up their challenges.

Fellow GPU maker AMD recently announced a partnership with OpenAI to provide it with 6 gigawatts of computing power. (For reference, Nvidia’s deal with OpenAI is for 10 gigawatts). Meanwhile, Broadcom has been making headway by collaborating with several hyperscalers to design custom AI accelerators for more narrowly defined purposes. Among these application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) are Alphabet‘s Tensor Processing Units, which it has been installing exclusively in its own data centers. However, according to recent news articles, Alphabet is allegedly in talks to sell some TPUs to Meta Platforms — one of Nvidia’s largest customers.

All of this has some investors worried that Nvidia may be losing its dominance in AI. However, I don’t think that’s happening. CEO and founder Jensen Huang noted during the Q3 earnings announcement that it is “sold out” of cloud GPUs. Some AI hyperscalers may be sending some business to alternative computing providers simply because they can’t get all the computing power they need from Nvidia.

So, the narrative shouldn’t be that Nvidia is losing its dominance; it’s that Nvidia is avoiding overextending itself. This should be welcomed, as its shareholders were previously burned when the company overextended itself twice during cryptocurrency bull markets. (GPUs are also well suited for mining proof-of-work cryptos, and were in high demand for that purpose.)

The overall market for artificial intelligence computing devices is massive, and it’s OK if Nvidia doesn’t capture all of it. After all, it expects global data center capital expenditures to rise to a range of $3 trillion to $4 trillion annually by 2030.

But will all of this add up to a stock that outperforms the market in 2026?

The AI buildout continues

All of the AI hyperscalers have informed their investors that they should expect record-setting capital expenditures again in 2026. Wall Street analysts have built those forecasts into their expectations for Nvidia: The average analyst projects 48% sales growth in its fiscal 2027, which will end in January 2027. It would be hard for a stock to underperform the market while posting results like that, unless it was previously drastically overvalued.

Nvidia’s stock trades for 24 times next year’s earnings. That isn’t necessarily cheap, but it’s not terribly expensive either.

NVDA PE Ratio (Forward 1y) data by YCharts.

Compared to AMD and Broadcom, which trade for 33 and 30 times next year’s earnings, respectively, Nvidia does look cheap. It’s also the second-cheapest “Magnificent Seven” stock by this metric.

Unless something drastic happens that changes the spending plans of data center operators, I think Nvidia will outperform the market again in 2026. And with the stock down by more than 10% from its recent high, this could be a perfect time to buy shares.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Will Nvidia crush the market again in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Keithen Drury has positions in Alphabet, Broadcom, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Wilson Asset Management lead portfolio manager Matthew Haupt prefers ASX mining shares over bank stocks for 2026.

Let’s find out why.

Fundie explains preference for ASX mining shares in 2026

Haupt said a recent trip to China revealed the nation’s renewed focus on the private sector, infrastructure, and artificial intelligence (AI).

China’s economy is still growing but at a slower pace, with disinflation now entrenched and its property sector in a serious slump.

The Chinese Government appears open to stimulus and wants to take on the US in the AI race.

As a result, Haupt and his team are positive on iron ore, coal, and aluminium as China swaps property construction for AI infrastructure.

In The Australian, Haupt commented:

So there will be a huge amount of investment in AI infrastructure.

What I did off the back of this trip is I bought a whole lot of aluminium stocks, because aluminium looks pretty good. So we got Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI).

Coal looks good, so we bought Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

Haupt and his team also conducted a deep assessment on global demand for steel.

They are positive on ASX iron ore shares BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) for 2026.

This is despite all three ASX 200 mining shares reaching new 52-week highs this week amid rising commodity prices.

Resources have done pretty well but we still think they look pretty good for 2026.

What about ASX bank shares?

Haupt and his team are concerned about high valuations for ASX bank shares, with the big four all hitting record highs in 2025.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are now in decline following a phenomenal run between November 2023 and June this year.

Meanwhile, BHP shares have surged and appear to be on their way to reclaiming the No. 1 spot on the local bourse from CBA.

The prospect of an interest rate hike in Australia next year also creates a headwind for ASX bank shares.

Haupt notes the recent divergence in US monetary policy from Australian monetary policy in 1H FY26.

This week, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept interest rates on hold while the US Fed cut for the third time in four months.

The Australian cash rate is 3.6% while the US interest rate range is now 3.5% to 3.75%.

Haupt says offshore capital is rotating out of Australia and back into North Asia.

The reason why banks and a whole lot of our (major) stocks went crazy was a lot of offshore money was hitting the ASX and also our debt capital markets; basically China was seen as uninvestible.

What we’re seeing now is China’s getting better and capital is flying back.

He added:

So some of those silly valuations we saw, particularly in CBA and the rest of the banking sector and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), are in reverse now and we expect that to continue.

The post Why this fundie is backing ASX mining shares over banks in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Forget Fortescue shares, this ASX iron ore stock is better

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

Higher interest rates are bad news for many S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks, but they could offer tailwinds for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares and the other big four Aussie bank stocks.

That’s according to the latest Australian Banks report, just out from Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

According to the broker, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and CBA shares could all enjoy a material uptick in earnings per share (EPS) if the RBA hikes interest rates twice in 2026 rather than cutting once.

Should ASX investors expect RBA interest rate hikes in 2026?

Please don’t shoot the messenger.

But, yes, if you’re buying ASX stocks, including CBA shares, you should do so with the expectation that the RBA may well transition from cutting interest rates to lifting them next year amid resurgent inflation.

According to Macquarie:

Market expectations for the cash rate have shifted significantly following stronger employment, CPI, and GDP reports which suggest the economy is operating close to its capacity. This has seen pricing for the cash rate by end-26 move from ~1 additional cut (as in our current forecasts) to ~2 hikes.

Citi economist Faraz Syed is among those who are now forecasting two interest rate hikes from Australia’s central bank next year.

“We believe a tight labour market, new (higher) inflation forecasts, strong housing and household consumption all point to monetary policy being too accommodative,” Syed said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review).

“Therefore, we shift our no policy change view to 50 basis points worth of rate hikes in 2026, starting as early as February, followed by May,” he added.

What does this mean for ASX 200 bank stocks like CBA shares?

Macquarie noted that higher interest rates should drive materially higher margins for CBA shares as well as for ANZ, NAB, and Westpac.

The broker added:

Alongside the shift in rate expectations, swap rates have also moved materially higher, with 3 and 5 year swap rates increasing by ~40bps since mid-Nov. This shift in both cash rate expectations and swaps suggest material upside to bank margins if it’s sustained.

Macquarie said that some of the benefits the ASX 200 banks receive from higher interest rates would be eroded by increased competition. Though the broker still sees a significant upside to the banks’ forecast earnings.

“While we don’t expect consensus to fully reflect this potential upside, the shift in the rate outlook does suggest upside to consensus earnings as we approach February results,” Macquarie noted. “That said, higher rates also present some downside risk to bank multiples and expectations for the housing market / credit growth.”

According to the broker:

Our analysis suggests a 5-10bps upside to our current 2H27 margin forecasts if rates are sustained. However, with a significant share of this likely to be offset by increased competition, we estimate the improvement in margins would be a more modest 3-5bps upside, or 3-6% upside to earnings.

And Macquarie expects that Westpac and CBA shares will benefit more than ANZ and NAB shares if the RBA hikes rates next year.

Macquarie said:

Based on unhedged retail / business transaction deposits we estimate the ~75bps swing in cash rate expectations [from the prior expectations of a 0.25% cut to new expectations of a 0.50% rate hike in 2026] equates to 2-4bps of upside to our margin forecasts across the banks (more for CBA and WBC, and less for ANZ and NAB).

We assume full pass through on savings deposits, but competition could see a more modest impact.

The post How will interest rate hikes impact the big four ASX banks like CBA shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is everyone talking about NAB shares on Friday?
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’m avoiding this week
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• Forget CBA shares! Buy these ASX dividend shares instead for passive income
• Which stocks are looking good as rates appear to be heading north?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 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.

For many Australians, the hardest part of investing isn’t saving the money, it is deciding which shares to buy.

In fact, the fear of choosing the wrong stock can stop people from getting started altogether.

That’s where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come in. Instead of trying to pick winners, investors can buy a single ETF and instantly gain exposure to dozens or even thousands of stocks. And with regular contributions and a long-term mindset, ETFs can be one of the most reliable ways to build meaningful wealth over time.

If you want a simple, diversified portfolio you can stick with for decades, here are three ASX ETFs that could help form the foundation.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF is one of the most popular ETFs in Australia, and it isn’t hard to see why. It gives investors access to 500 of the largest and most influential companies in the United States. Its portfolio includes global giants such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), along with leaders in healthcare, financials, consumer goods, and industrials.

The US market has historically been one of the strongest wealth creators in the world, driven by innovation, population growth, productivity gains, and deep capital markets. The iShares S&P 500 ETF allows Australians to tap into these long-term themes with a single trade.

Vanguard Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VAS)

The Vanguard Australian Shares ETF offers investors broad exposure to the Australian share market, tracking the nation’s largest and most established stocks. Its top holdings include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Bunnings and Kmart owner Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

Overall, this makes the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF a simple way to own a slice of corporate Australia and could be a core building block for local investors.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

A third ASX ETF to consider for wealth building is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. It offers exposure to more than 1,200 international stocks across developed markets, including the US, Europe, the UK, and Asia.

This ETF is designed to provide broad diversification, reducing reliance on any single country or sector. Some of its major holdings include Nestlé (SWX: NESN), Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), and Toyota (TYO: 7203). By combining this fund with the others, investors can build a genuinely global portfolio without the complexity of managing multiple individual positions.

The post How to build wealth with ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 Australian ETFs to buy and hold forever
• 3 ASX ETFs perfect for building generational wealth
• If a 30-year-old invests $1,500 a month in ASX stocks, here’s what they could have by retirement
• 3 ASX ETFs that could quietly make you rich
• How to build a $100,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Nestlé and Novo Nordisk and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, BHP Group, Microsoft, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, Wesfarmers, and 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.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Over the last three years, investors have been witnessing how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting businesses and governments. Tools and services introduced by OpenAI and the cloud hyperscalers are improving corporate workflows across every industry.

As AI becomes more integrated at the enterprise level, big tech is doubling down on infrastructure investments — procuring as many chips and building as many data centers as they can. Beyond these moves, however, is another opportunity: quantum computing.

While quantum computing remains a theoretical and exploratory technological pursuit, enthusiasts argue that it has the potential to revolutionize critical processes across drug discovery, logistics, supply chains, energy patterns, assessing financial risk, and more. Management consulting firm McKinsey & Company reports that quantum computing could unlock $2 trillion in economic value by next decade.

Below, I’ll reveal my top three picks in the quantum AI landscape heading into 2026 and make the case for why each stock is a compelling long-term buy. 

1. Alphabet: The vertically integrated AI ecosystem

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) might just be the most lucrative opportunity among mega cap AI stocks. The company’s diverse ecosystem spans internet search, advertising, cloud computing, consumer electronics, autonomous driving, and custom chip designs.

By vertically integrating all of its products and services together, Alphabet has masterfully stitched AI into every fabric of its business.

For now, most of the attention Alphabet receives for its AI efforts revolves around two products: Gemini (its large language model) and its highly successful chip platform featuring the company’s tensor processing units (TPUs).

What most investors may not realize is that Alphabet is investing heavily into quantum computing as well. The company has parlayed its achievements in chip design by building its own quantum processor, called Willow.

At the moment, Willow is primarily used in simulations against powerful supercomputers — testing which technology is able to solve complex challenges more efficiently and accurately.

Alphabet is in a unique position to roll quantum computing applications into its broader suite of AI services once the company moves toward commercializing the technology.

2. Nvidia: Bridging traditional and quantum computing

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the engine powering the broader AI movement. The company’s GPUs and CUDA software are at the center of generative AI development. While this comprehensive tech stack gave Nvidia a first-mover advantage in the AI revolution, the company is beginning to face competitive forces in the chip environment.

Nevertheless, Nvidia is making quiet moves beyond data centers as it explores the quantum AI opportunity. Namely, Nvidia offers a product called NVQLink as well as an alternate version of CUDA that can be used together in hybrid classical and quantum computing environments.

I find Nvidia’s approach to quantum computing particularly savvy. Instead of spending time and effort on capital-intensive supercomputers, Nvidia is merely offering a bridge in which its hardware and software can be used in new environments as more companies lay the foundation for their own quantum roadmaps. 

3. Amazon: A hardware-software stack to keep your eyes on

When it comes to AI ecosystems, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has a striking resemblance to Alphabet. While Amazon’s main businesses are its e-commerce marketplace and cloud computing platform, Amazon also makes money from advertising, subscription services, streaming, grocery delivery, and more.

At the moment, the company’s primary source of AI growth stems from its cloud infrastructure platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS is the largest cloud computing platform by market share.

Very much like Alphabet’s Google Cloud Platform (GCP), AWS also offers its own custom chips for model development — Trainium and Inferentia. In addition, Amazon has built its own quantum processing chip, dubbed Ocelot.

Within AWS is a feature called Amazon Bracket, a quantum computing architecture that can integrate with pure plays like IonQ.

Final takeaway

There are two main themes I want to drive home from this analysis. First, Alphabet, Nvidia, and Amazon have already established successful AI businesses. Second, each company can afford to explore quantum computing even if the technology remains nascent and not a core part of their growth strategies today.

AI is going to be the main driver of growth for each of these companies for years to come. Against this backdrop, should it take another five or even 10 years for quantum computing to become widely adopted, holding on to positions in already-established AI leaders provides investors with durability and dual upside — benefiting from further secular tailwinds fueling the AI revolution while partaking in the gains from quantum applications once they are launched.

In my eyes, these tech titans represent an insulated way to gain exposure to quantum computing with little risk. For a modest sum of $1,000, investors can buy stock in Alphabet, Nvidia, and Amazon today.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post The 3 smartest quantum computing stocks to buy with $1,000 in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, IonQ, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Newmont. 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 Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) share price is in focus after the company declared an unfranked interim distribution of 15 cents per security for the six months ending 31 December 2025.

What did Goodman Group report?

• Interim distribution of 15.0 cents per security, fully unfranked
• Record date: 31 December 2025
• Ex-dividend date: 30 December 2025
• Payment date: 25 February 2026
• Distribution relates to the six-month period ended 31 December 2025
• Further details, including tax components, will be announced on 23 February 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Goodman’s interim distribution remains unfranked, as with recent dividends. There is no change to its dividend policy or payment frequency.

The company has not provided details about tax component breakdowns at this time, but has committed to sharing this information closer to the payment date. Securityholders should expect further updates by late February 2026.

What’s next for Goodman Group?

Investors should look out for the company’s full distribution and tax component details, due out in late February 2026. Goodman continues to prioritise steady distributions as part of its approach to providing income for securityholders.

Any further company updates or new developments may be revealed when the group releases its half-year results, likely to coincide with the tax component announcement.

Goodman Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Goodman Group shares have declined 21%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Goodman Group declares 15c unfranked interim distribution for H1 FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Goodman 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.