Category: Stock Market

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

The “Magnificent Seven” stocks have produced the lion’s share of the S&P 500‘s long-term gains. This group of stocks represents 35% of the S&P 500, and if these seven stocks continue to outperform the index, their presence in the S&P 500 will grow.

Although each of these stocks has been a long-term winner, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) may be the most promising pick of the bunch.

It looks like a promising buy in 2026 due to strong financials and long-term artificial intelligence (AI) tailwinds. Alphabet has been a cloud computing and search leader for many years, but it might just become a physical AI leader as well.

These are some of the reasons investors may want to take a closer look at Alphabet in 2026.

High cash flow lets Alphabet invest in more ventures 

Alphabet isn’t the only company that’s investing in physical AI, but few companies can compete with its cash flow and steady profits. Alphabet’s strong financial position gives it the flexibility to endure losses on start-ups for multiple years before turning a profit.

That’s part of the reason why Alphabet has silently emerged as an autonomous vehicle leader through Waymo. Alphabet recently started offering its AI chips to third parties, and it can become a multibillion-dollar segment.

Alphabet has $98.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities on its balance sheet. The tech giant also brought in $35 billion in net profits in Q3, which was up by 33% year over year.

Google Cloud used to be a small part of Alphabet’s overall business. Now, it’s one of the three giant cloud providers. Alphabet can experience similar success with Waymo, AI chips, and other parts of its business.

Alphabet has multiple high-growth business

Alphabet doesn’t just rely on online ads, which is one of the few downsides of fellow Magnificent Seven stock Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META). Google’s parent company has several businesses like search, cloud, and subscriptions, and they’re all growing.

“Alphabet had a terrific quarter, with double-digit growth across every major part of our business,” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in the company’s Q3 earnings release.

It was also the first quarter that Alphabet earned $100 billion in revenue. Google Cloud was a major highlight, with revenue up by 34% year over year. That part of the business also has a $155 billion backlog.

Cloud computing makes up roughly 15% of the company’s total revenue. As this segment grows, it will make up a larger percentage of total revenue, which can boost Alphabet’s total revenue growth rate.

The Gemini app was another key business segment. Alphabet’s AI model now has 650 million monthly active users. Alphabet has multiple growth drivers that work well with each other and have delivered excellent results over several years.

Most Magnificent Seven stocks are less diversified

Alphabet is one of the Magnificent Seven stocks driving the S&P 500 to new highs, and it’s one of the most diversified companies among the group.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) heavily relies on automobile sales, with humanoid robots offering significant potential. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) heavily relies on iPhone sales, while Meta Platforms generates almost all of its cash flow from online ads. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) relies on AI chips and software that revolves around its chips.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) are the other two well-diversified members of the Magnificent Seven. Both tech giants have competing cloud computing providers and multiple revenue streams.

However, Alphabet is experiencing double-digit growth rates across all of its key businesses. Amazon’s online store sales were only up by 8% year over year, excluding foreign exchange rates. That part of Amazon’s business accounts for more than one-third of total sales.

Meanwhile, Microsoft only delivered 4% year-over-year revenue growth for its more personal computing segment in Q1 FY26, which made up almost 30% of total revenue.

Alphabet’s key businesses are still gaining market share, and AI should accelerate growth rates while resulting in new high-growth segments making a meaningful difference in future earnings results.

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

The post Should you buy this “Magnificent Seven” stock before 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.

More reading

• Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now?
• Better (almost) $4 trillion AI stock to buy now: Microsoft or Alphabet
• Why the best-performing “Magnificent Seven” stock of 2025 is still a buy for 2026
• What Warren Buffett’s latest portfolio moves say about the market
• These 2 magnificent seven AI stocks might be offering investors a once-in-a-decade buying opportunity before the New Year.

Marc Guberti has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. 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 Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX growth shares have the potential to deliver attractive returns over time, given their earnings’ ability to compound at a strong rate.

The two businesses I’m about to cover are expected to deliver an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of profit between now and the end of the decade.

Based on the bullish price targets, both of the following stocks could see double-digit returns within the next 12 months.

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)

UBS describes Superloop as a business that provides telecommunications infrastructure, cloud and broadband services in the Asia Pacific region.

It has a wholesale division that services large-scale telco, data and telco customers, as well as retail internet service providers (ISPs) that do not have access to their own connectivity.

The business segment services small, medium and large corporate customers that purchase connectivity services to facilitate their core businesses. Finally, the consumer segment provides basic internet and mobile phone products for domestic residential use.

UBS notes that the company is expecting FY26 operating profit (EBITDA) to be between $109 million to $117 million, which would represent growth of between 18% to 27%.

Following UBS’ analysis of the ASX growth share’s AGM update, the broker noted the key area of subscription growth weakness was in the wholesale segment, meaning Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG), which only saw 1,000 additions. This was likely because its NBN plans were around 30% higher than the median (competitor) NBN reseller price.

But, since 1 November, Origin is now offering nearly the cheapest NBN plans in the market, which has reportedly driven an increase in wholesale subscription growth for the ASX growth share to an implied 4,000 per month net add rate. UBS expects wholesale subscription growth of 5,000 per month for the rest of FY26.

UBS also expects the consumer segment to add around 70,000 over the financial year, with around 5,800 per month.

The broker concluded:

We still remain very supportive of the growth opportunity that exists for Superloop given its position as the key enabler of challenger broadband market share gains. We believe challengers can lift their mkt share to c.35% from current levels of c.20% creating a still to be won A$3.1bn revenue opportunity. This underpins our forecasted 3yr cash EPS CAGR of 26%.

…We also like the upside opportunity being created in the high multiple Smart Communities earnings stream.

UBS predicts the company could grow its net profit from $42 million in FY26 to $97 million in FY30. It’s currently valued at 31x FY26’s estimated earnings. The broker has a price target of $3.40, implying a possible rise of 36% within a year.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

UBS describes this ASX tech share as an enterprise software provider which offers a suite of solutions for local, state and federal governments, financial services, education, utilities, health and community services.

The broker is optimistic on the ASX growth share because of its ongoing net revenue retention (NRR) of 115%. That figure describes how much revenue the business has made from customers that it had last year, implying 15% revenue growth year-over-year from existing customers.

There are two reasons why UBS believes NRR can continue to be at least 115%:

1. Launch of AI products provides a new monetisation opportunity; 2) UK ramp remains very strong.

The broker believes the ASX growth share can grow its profit before tax (PBT) at around 20% per year over the next five years, which is why it rates the company as a buy. If NRR grows faster than 115%, then PBT growth could be faster than 20% per year.

There are two other reasons why UBS has conviction in the growth story and the quality of the business:

3) Cash conversion: typically strong at 129%; 4) Capital management: Result included a 10cps special dividend and increase in future payout ratio range to 65-75% (from 55-65%).

In other words, the business is generating pleasing cash flow compared to its reported profits and the company is rewarding investors with more generous dividends.

UBS predicts that the ASX growth share can grow its net profit from $163 million in FY26 to $340 million in FY30. The UBS price target is now $38.70, implying a possible rise of 42% within the next year.

The post Experts rate these 2 ASX growth shares as buys this month! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Superloop versus Aussie Broadband shares: Buy, sell or hold?
• Why are ASX 200 tech stocks like Xero shares taking a beating on Monday?
• 2 ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade
• The best Australian stocks to buy today and not check again until 2035
• Buy Australian: ASX stocks positioned to beat global markets next year

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. 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.

Projecting where a stock will be in five years is no easy task.

Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic was just ramping up, and there were many questions about what the future would hold. Since then, that crisis has been resolved, and an artificial intelligence (AI) arms race has erupted. Few could have predicted the series of events that got us to today, and projecting them five years in advance isn’t going to be any easier.

However, long-term investors are required to do this. Because we’re not investing in stocks for a quarter or two at a time, we have to look at long-term trends to understand where a stock may be heading. With Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) being the largest company in the world, predicting where it’s going over the next five years is an important task for two groups of investors.

First, individual Nvidia investors need to think about whether it’s worth owning by itself. Second, general market investors need to understand where it’s going, because Nvidia makes up over 7% of the S&P 500.

With Nvidia being perhaps the most important stock in the stock market, investors need to know what the future may hold. I think the future is bright, as long as one thing happens. 

Nvidia is supplying the hardware to supply the AI buildout

Nvidia makes graphics processing units (GPUs), which are accelerated computing devices that excel in processing arduous workloads. Originally intended to process gaming graphics (thus the name), they found use cases in engineering simulations, drug discovery, and mining cryptocurrency. Eventually, they found their largest use case yet with artificial intelligence.

GPUs make for fantastic choices in these segments because they can process multiple calculations in parallel. Combine that with the ability to connect multiple units in clusters in data centers, and you have the ultimate computing resource available.

The market for AI computing power has exploded over the past few years, but it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. AI hyperscalers have all announced record-setting data center capital expenditure plans for 2026. That comes after setting records in 2025.

While some of this spending goes to data center infrastructure (think land and building costs), anywhere from a third to half goes to buying computing power. Nvidia is the most popular option for computing resources, which is why its results have been so good over the past few years.

In Q3 fiscal year 2026 (ending Oct. 26), Nvidia’s revenue rose 62% year over year to $57 billion. That’s an incredible growth rate for a company of Nvidia’s size, and marks a reacceleration from Q2’s 56% growth rate.

CEO Jensen Huang noted that they are “sold out” of cloud GPUs, showcasing the incredible demand for its products. This means many clients are likely placing orders years in advance to secure capacity for chips that haven’t even been released yet. This bodes well for Nvidia, but also gives it a decent picture of what the future holds.

Nvidia hopes to capture a huge market in the next five years

By 2030, Nvidia expects global data center capital expenditures to reach $3 trillion to $4 trillion. That’s up from the $600 billion they expect in 2025. With Nvidia expecting data center capital expenditures to rise at least 5x over the next five years, that bodes well for its business.

While the $3 trillion mark may seem like a long way away, investors must remember that Nvidia has more information than we do. As a result, I think investors need to trust the direction of this guidance.

Should that level come about, Nvidia’s revenue could 5x if it maintains its market share. For FY 2026 (ending January 2026), Wall Street analysts expect $213 billion in revenue. That would indicate Nvidia’s revenue could breach the $1 trillion threshold in the next five years, which would lead to incredible returns.

This requires the AI hyperscalers to continue spending like they are. If they do, Nvidia will be a must-own stock over the next five years. If they don’t, Nvidia may fail to live up to expectations. 

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

The post Where will Nvidia stock be in 5 years? 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.

More reading

• Down 17% from recent highs, is Nvidia stock a buy?
• Could Nvidia become the first $10 trillion company?
• 3 ASX ETFs that benefit from unavoidable megatrends
• Better Artificial Intelligence (AI) stock for 2026: Nvidia or AMD?
• 3 stocks that in 20 years have turned $5,000 into more than $1 million

Keithen Drury has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended 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.

More reading

• Dexus declares interim dividend for December 2025 half-year
• GPT Group declares 12 cent distribution for HY25
• Growthpoint Properties Australia declares 9.2c interim distribution
• GrainCorp sells GrainsConnect Canada and updates on FY26 crop volumes
• Treasury Wine Estates’ cost-cut plan and outlook: What investors need to know

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

When you reach retirement, investing priorities tend to shift.

While growth still matters, reliability, diversification, and dependable income usually take centre stage.

For many retirees, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be an ideal solution, offering exposure to dozens or even hundreds of shares while delivering regular distributions without the need to manage individual shares.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could play a role in generating passive income throughout retirement.

Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is a popular choice among income-focused investors, and it is easy to see why.

This ASX ETF invests in Australian shares with above-average forecast dividend yields, providing exposure to some of the ASX’s most established dividend payers.

Its portfolio includes major names such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS). These are businesses with long histories of generating strong cash flows and returning capital to shareholders.

For retirees, the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF offers a relatively straightforward way to access a diversified stream of Australian dividends, with the added benefit of franking credits.

Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD)

The Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF is another option for income investors to consider in retirement. It targets a basket of ASX shares with high forecast dividend yields, while applying screens designed to avoid dividend traps.

This includes avoiding companies that are projected to pay unsustainably high dividend yields, as well as those that exhibit high levels of volatility relative to their forecast dividend payout.

Current holdings include the banks and blue chips such as QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS). It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

While the Betashares Australian Quality ETF may not look like a traditional income ETF, it can still play an important role in a retirement portfolio.

This ASX ETF focuses on high-quality Australian shares with strong balance sheets, consistent earnings, and sustainable business models. Its holdings include Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).

The fund pays distributions semi-annually and currently offers a 12-month distribution yield of 3.4%, or 4.3% on a grossed-up basis. Importantly for retirees, around 61% of those distributions are currently franked. It was also recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to generate passive income in retirement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The smartest ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
• Forget Westpac shares, these ASX ETFs could be better buys
• 3 ASX ETFs that can generate more cash than your savings account
• 3 ASX ETFs to buy for passive income in December
• 3 ASX dividend stocks to brighten your Christmas stocking

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, Transurban Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, Telstra Group, and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Australia’s major energy shares are under pressure today as global oil markets tumble.

At the time of writing, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) has dropped 2.38% to $23.43, Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is down 1.06% to $6.04, and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) has fallen 2.13% to $31.88.

The catalyst is simple: oil has slipped below US$60 a barrel, a level many traders consider psychologically important for the sector. When oil breaks lower, ASX energy stocks tend to follow, and that’s exactly what we are seeing today.

Why is oil dropping?

Global crude prices are falling as traders react to renewed optimism around a potential Russia–Ukraine peace agreement. Any credible progress towards ending the conflict raises expectations that Russian oil could return more efficiently to global markets.

That matters because Russian supply disruptions have been one of the biggest drivers of volatility in energy markets over the last few years. If geopolitical tensions ease, investors anticipate a more stable and potentially higher global supply, which naturally weighs on crude prices.

With oil now trading at its lowest levels in months, energy stocks are adjusting quickly.

What this means for oil shares

For upstream producers such as Woodside and Santos, revenue is closely tied to global energy prices. When crude falls sharply:

• Selling prices decline, reducing income
• Costs can’t be reduced as easily, leading to a greater risk of margin compression
• Investor sentiment turns cautious, particularly towards companies with heavy capital expenditure pipelines

Both companies have benefited from higher commodity prices in recent years, but they are equally sensitive when the cycle turns. Today’s share price moves reflect that exposure.

Why Ampol is also trading lower

Ampol isn’t an oil producer, but its refining business and fuel margins are influenced by movements in global crude benchmarks. When oil prices fall quickly, retail and wholesale pricing can lag the move, pressuring profitability. The market typically prices this risk in immediately, which explains today’s decline.

Looking ahead

Future movements will depend on how the geopolitical situation evolves. Peace-related optimism can fade quickly, but a sustained period of lower oil prices would reshape earnings expectations across the sector.

For now, the message from the market is clear: the energy trade is shifting, and investors are reassessing their positioning as crude oil tests multi-month lows.

The post Why ASX oil stocks Woodside, Santos and Ampol are sliding today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should I sell my Woodside shares in 2026?
• Why DroneShield, Graincorp, Treasury Wine, and Woodside shares are sinking today
• 3 reasons everyone is talking about Santos shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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 Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price has had a strong year, climbing roughly 25% year to date and recently trading around $7.75. For a stock many investors had written off during the coal downturn, that’s been an impressive rebound.

The obvious question now is whether Whitehaven still has more to offer, or if most of the upside has already been captured.

What’s driving the strength?

A big part of Whitehaven’s recent run has come down to execution. The company’s September quarter update showed production and costs broadly tracking within guidance, while realised coal prices remained well above long-term averages.

Whitehaven reported managed run-of-mine production of 9 million tonnes for the quarter, with managed sales of 7.5 million tonnes. Unit costs were in the top half of FY26 guidance, but management reiterated expectations for costs to improve over the remainder of the year as volumes lift and cost savings flow through.

The company is also making progress on its cost-out program, targeting $60 million to $80 million in annualised savings by June 2026.

Coal prices still doing the heavy lifting

Thermal and metallurgical coal prices have come off their peaks, but they remain supportive. According to Trading Economics, Newcastle thermal coal prices are still sitting comfortably above pre-2021 levels, helping underpin margins for low-cost producers like Whitehaven.

That pricing environment has allowed Whitehaven to strengthen its balance sheet. Net debt sat around $800 million at the end of September, a manageable level given the current cash generation from the company.

What are brokers saying?

Broker views are mixed, which is fairly typical for coal stocks at this point in the cycle.

Jefferies recently lifted its price target to $8, while Bell Potter sits around $7. Macquarie trimmed its target to about $7 but still acknowledges Whitehaven’s solid operational performance. Morgans and Ord Minnett have also made modest adjustments to their targets, reflecting more normalised coal prices rather than company-specific issues.

Is it still a buy?

Whitehaven is never going to be a set-and-forget investment. Coal prices are volatile, sentiment can turn quickly, and long-term demand remains uncertain.

That being said, the company is in a much stronger position than it was a year ago. Production is stabilising, costs are coming down, and the balance sheet looks far healthier. Ongoing buybacks and the potential for shareholder returns also support the case.

My take

After a 25% rally, Whitehaven is no longer a deep-value turnaround play. However, for investors comfortable with commodity exposure, it still offers leverage to coal prices, enhances operational momentum, and maintains a disciplined approach to costs.

At these levels, it’s probably no longer cheap, but it’s not obviously expensive either. But as long as coal prices remain supportive and execution stays on track, Whitehaven can continue to earn its place on my watchlist.

The post Up 25% in 2025: Is Whitehaven Coal still a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this fundie is backing ASX mining shares over banks in 2026
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 7 ASX mining shares to buy for Christmas amid upgrades from Macquarie
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 4 ASX 200 stocks smashing the benchmark this week

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 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.

Freightways Group Ltd (ASX: FRW) announced today the $71 million acquisition of Victoria-based company VT Freight Express (VTFE).

Yet despite the deal being forecast to lift earnings per share by 6% in year one, the Freightways share price barely moved.

A flat share price doesn’t mean the market is unimpressed. If anything, it suggests that the company may be underfollowed by analysts and large institutional investors, or that the acquisition aligns neatly with what investors already expected from the company.

Despite owning well-known courier and package delivery brands such as Allied Express, Freightways Group remains relatively under the radar in the investor community.

That, however, could change soon as the company continues to execute its growth strategy.

While today’s news didn’t move the needle, the Freightways share price is already up around 43% year to date in 2025, reflecting strong operational momentum. The company has delivered steady revenue and earnings expansion, disciplined cost management, and an improving contribution from its Australian operations, which will grow with this acquisition.

In FY25, revenue grew 6.6% to $1.3 billion, and NPAT rose 12.9% to $80.1 million, with management signalling confidence in continued growth into FY26.

According to Freightways’ announcement, VTFE generated A$77 million in revenue over the past 12 months and operates an asset-light contractor model across all Australian states and territories. This is a structure that mirrors much of Freightways’ existing Australian operations. The business gives Freightways a stronger foothold in the B2B freight segment, complementing allied brands such as Allied Express, which focuses on B2C deliveries.

Against that backdrop, today’s acquisition looks less like a shock announcement and more like another step in Freightways’ broader Australian expansion strategy. VTFE provides density, scale, and a platform for further growth, while reinforcing Freightways’ multi-brand approach in one of its highest-potential markets.

Foolish bottom line

For investors, the key takeaway may not be today’s flat share price, but the fact that Freightways continues to extend its footprint in Australia. If the company maintains its track record of earnings growth and strategic discipline, the recent strong share price performance may not be finished yet.

The post Is this little-known stock setting up for its next move higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Freightways Group to acquire VT Freight Express in $71m deal

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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.

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

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) has had an unbelievable year. And investors should have zero complaints. As of Dec. 12, shares have climbed 63% in 2025. There is some serious positive momentum working in the company’s favor.

After such a monumental gain and a $3.7 trillion market cap, should you invest $1,000 in this top tech stock right now? 

Alphabet’s valuation looks reasonable

Investors would be wise to consider adding this dominant internet business to their portfolios. Valuation is one of the main reasons why. Shares currently trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 28, a multiple that is justified given Alphabet’s economic moat, history of innovation, and huge free cash flow.

The stock will continue winning

The stock has crushed the S&P 500 index in the past five years. And it’s poised to keep this streak going between now and 2030.

That confidence stems from Alphabet’s ability to find new avenues to make money. The company is planning to introduce ads to its extremely popular Gemini app next year, which has 650 million monthly active users. This is a smart way for the business to monetize its user base that opts to use the free service instead of a paid tier.

Alphabet generated $74 billion of ad revenue in the third quarter, a figure that should continue marching higher and lifting profits in the process.

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

The post Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? 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.

More reading

• Better (almost) $4 trillion AI stock to buy now: Microsoft or Alphabet
• Why the best-performing “Magnificent Seven” stock of 2025 is still a buy for 2026
• What Warren Buffett’s latest portfolio moves say about the market
• These 2 magnificent seven AI stocks might be offering investors a once-in-a-decade buying opportunity before the New Year.
• The 3 smartest quantum computing stocks to buy with $1,000 in 2026

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

From pharmaceutical stocks to dividend-payers, these are the ASX shares that have caught my eye this week.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

Mesoblast is a clinical-stage biotech company which develops and commercialises allogeneic cellular medicines to treat complex diseases. Its FDA-approved Ryoncil® product is in the market and the company is also in the process of developing other cellular medicines to treat other complex conditions. Some are already in the latter stages of their clinical trial pipelines. 

The company is well-positioned for growth and said it can draw additional capital from its convertible note facility as it continues to grow sales and broaden its cell therapy pipeline for other inflammatory conditions.

At the time of writing Mesoblast shares are up 2.89% for the day at $2.85 a piece. Analyst consensus is that there is a strong upside ahead for Mesoblast shares, with some forecasting a target price of $5.25. This implies the shares could hike another 84.11% over the next 12 months.

Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8) 

When it comes to income-generating stocks, I like the look of Plato right now. The ASX dividend share holds a portfolio of mature ASX-listed equities, cash, and listed futures. Its portfolio is mostly Australian companies with strong dividend payouts, which is very well diversified and liquid by design. 

Plato has consistently paid fully franked dividends of 0.55 cents per share every month since April 2022. The company said that it plans to keep its dividends steady going forward too, even amid market uncertainty. Plato is currently trading at $1.45 per share.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The beaten-down stock has suffered multiple setbacks this year. Regulatory issues and broker downgrades have dampened investor sentiment. At the time of writing the ASX biotech company’s shares have plunged another 7.56% to $11.61 a piece.

I think the tide is about to turn Telix though. The company has already had huge success with its flagship prostate cancer imaging product, Illuccix. Once it receives approval for Zircaix, it has the potential to open the door to another long road of growth. 

Analysts are very bullish too. Most have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares and think the shares could climb as high as $34.30 over the next 12 months. That’s a huge potential 195.53% upside. It looks like today’s crash could be a great buying opportunity.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

It’s been a year of ups and downs for the Australian financial technology company. But Zip has shown strong and improved earnings this year, and the company is continually pushing for even more growth. The business is actively broadening its product range and is also looking at ways to scale its US presence.

I think there is still some good momentum ahead for Zip shares. Analysts are mostly bullish on the stock and think the share price could climb as high as $6.20 in 2026. Using the $3.01 share price at the time of writing, that implies a massive potential 106.32% upside.

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra has been in the spotlight for a while now, and triple-0 concerns and buyback programs have dented its share price recently. At the time of writing the shares are $4.81 a piece.

But I like that Telstra is a defensive stock. The company tends to perform steadily, regardless of the stage of the economic cycle. And this is great news for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere. 

The company has performed well this year and has outlined some great growth plans for 2026. I’m optimistic that these can be executed. Analysts are also mostly bullish. They expect the share price could rise as high as $5.40, which implies a potential 12.38% upside for investors at the time of writing.

The post 5 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Why is everyone talking about Telstra shares this week?
• Why Cedar Woods, Humm, Star, and Zip shares are storming higher today
• Why Zip shares could rocket 60% over the next 12 months
• 1 perfect retirement stock with a 4.58% payout each month

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 Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.