Category: Stock Market

Shares in Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) pulled back on Monday despite a plan that will involve it spinning out some non-core assets into a cashed-up new company.

The gold miner said on Monday it would create a new company called Valiant Gold Ltd, which would “unlock value” from assets that were not currently part of Westgold’s three-year forward plan.

Shareholders to be dealt in

Westgold shareholders would be able to participate in a $20 million priority offer of new shares in the company, which aims to raise $65-$75 million overall prior to listing, anticipated to occur in the third quarter of FY26.

The company would contain Westgold’s current Reedy and Comet projects, “an exploration and development package including four small historic underground mines with recent production history and a combined mineral resource of 15.6 million tonnes at 2.4 grams per tonne of gold for 1.2 million ounces”.

Westgold Managing Director Wayne Branwell said it made sense to build a dedicated team around the assets, which would focus on bringing them to production.

By establishing Valiant, we create an independent, well-funded gold company that can bring forward value from smaller assets such as the Comet and South Emu-Triton underground mines and unlock the exploration potential across the Reedy and Comet packages. Valiant will have a fast-track to cashflow with an ore purchase agreement (OPA) to be entered into with Westgold. This collaborative, capital efficient model is proven, as demonstrated by Westgold’s investment and OPA with New Murchison Gold (ASX: NMG). This model saw NMG transition from explorer to producer, with gold production from NMG’s Crown Prince deposit now delivering high grade oxide ore to Westgold’s Meekatharra processing hub.

Mr Bramwell said Vailant would look to replicate this success.

With several small underground mines in care and maintenance, a range of open pit opportunities, and exploration upside, the Valiant team has multiple near-term restart and growth options to deliver near term cashflow.

Westgold said a Board and management for the company had already been selected, with Brendan Tritton named as Managing Director.

Broker gives it the tick

Analysts at RBC Capital Markets said the move was positive for Westgold shareholders.

Westgold’s spin-off of exploration assets currently outside its 3-year outlook is a laudable attempt to realise value for assets otherwise forgotten by the market. New company Valiant should place greater exploration and project emphasis on spun-out assets than would a broader Westgold, which already has a material pipeline of mine upgrades and development options. We maintain our view that a recent doubling in gold price has created material industry-wide opportunities for realising new mine & mill combinations. This vehicle adheres to that principle, with meaningful overall gold resources.

RBC has a price target of $7.80 on Westgold shares, compared with $5.91 on Monday, down 3.1%. The 12-month high for the shares is $6.25.

Westgold was valued at $5.6 billion at the close of trade on Friday.

The post Westgold Resources shares fall from near-record highs despite plans to spin out new company appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Westgold unveils spin-out of non-core Reedy and Comet gold assets
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this travel agent’s shares with an improved price target of $17.85. It notes that Macquarie has just signed an agreement to acquire the UK’s leading online cruise agency, Iglu, for 100 million British pounds. Macquarie highlights that Iglu has a 15% of the UK market and upwards of 75% of online bookings. It was pleased the move and points out that Flight Centre is leveraging its scale and balance sheet to accelerate its growth with strategic acquisition. The broker sees the cruise industry as attractive with further acquisition opportunities. Outside this, Macquarie likes Flight Centre due to its belief that it will achieve its guidance, which is being supported by improving consumer trends. The Flight Centre share price is trading at $14.98 this afternoon.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Another note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have initiated coverage on this diversified financial services company’s shares with an outperform rating and $6.70 price target. The broker highlights that Generation Development Group’s businesses are market leaders in growth sectors, and well positioned to scale. This includes the key Evidentia (managed accounts) segment, which is poised to capture an outsized share of industry growth over 2024 to 2030. Another positive is that management incentives support alignment with investors, with the top end of long term incentives requiring an earnings per share growth hurdle of +27.5%. The Generation Development Group share price is fetching $5.64 at the time of writing.

GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating on this power and communications infrastructure and services provider’s shares with an improved price target of $7.50. It notes that GenusPlus has been awarded several major contracts since its FY 2025 results, including this month’s major Western Renewables Link contract. The good news is that the broker expects this trend to continue. It highlights that the company provides investors with concentrated exposure to a long-duration tailwind in rising investment levels for renewable energy generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure. It points out that its current record $2.6 billion+ orderbook of transmission and BESS work packages reflects this thematic. The GenusPlus share price is trading at $6.26 on Monday.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today 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 positions in and has recommended GenusPlus Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group, Generation Development Group, and GenusPlus Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I have long written about the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT) and its place as a beloved holding in my personal ASX share portfolio. But what of its younger sibling, the VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT)? 

MOAT is an ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) that has been around for just over ten years. Over this timespan, it has delivered some impressive returns to its investors, returning an average of 15.17% per annum since inception (as of 30 November). 

This ETF works by holding a relatively concentrated portfolio of exclusively American stocks (usually between 40 and 60) that all show characteristics of possessing a wide economic moat. 

A moat is the term first coined by legendary investor Warren Buffett. It describes an intrinsic competitive advantage that a company can possess. This advantage can come in a few different forms. It could be a strong brand that commands consumer loyalty. It could also be a low-cost advantage, a network effect, or selling a product that consumers find difficult to avoid buying. 

Buffett himself has stated that he usually looks for companies that possess some kind of moat for Berkshire Hathaway‘s investment portfolio. It’s always worked well for Buffett, and that same strategy seems to have worked well for the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. 

Some of MOAT’s current holdings include Nike, Boeing, Salesforce, Adobe, Mondelez International, Alphabet and Caterpillar.

But what of the International Wide Moat ETF?

MOATs and GOATs

Perhaps due to the success of its original MOAT fund, ETF provider VanEck launched the International Wide Moat ETF back in 2020.

This fund aims to extend the successful MOAT strategy to international markets, with the fund investing in companies from markets like Japan, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada. The United States is still in play, though, making up about 40% of GOAT’s portfolio at present. 

So while MOAT sticks to the United States, GOAT branches out, currently holding stocks like Yaskawa Electric Corp, Kubota Corp, GSK plc, and Roche Holdings. That’s in addition to many of the US stocks listed above.

Unfortunately, though, GOAT’s successful strategy doesn’t seem to be a happy traveller. Whilst MOAT has returned a healthy 15.88% per annum over the past three years, and 14.79% per annum over the past five, GOAT hasn’t kept up. It has returned just 11.53% per annum over the past three years. That drops to 10.62% per annum over five.

Those are still decent returns to be sure. But they pale against what the US-centric MOAT has delivered.

Foolish takeaway

Warren Buffett has always focused on investing in the United States, and perhaps GOAT’s underperformance shows us why. Until GOAT shows it has the potential to successfully replicate the wide moat investing strategy beyond the United States of America with consummate returns, I’ll be sticking to MOAT.

The post Is the VanEck International Wide Moat ETF (GOAT) a buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Caterpillar, Mondelez International, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Boeing, Nike, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended GSK and Roche Holding AG and has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Nike, Salesforce, 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.

Shares in resources technology company Calix Ltd (ASX: CXL) traded almost 10% higher on Monday after its recently announced joint venture with Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) passed a key milestone

Calix said that Rio Tinto had completed due diligence for the Zesty Green Iron Demonstration Project, which paved the way for an initial cash payment of $3 million to the junior environmental technology company.

Major agreement to produce green iron

Calix in mid-November announced that it had executed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Rio Tinto – one of the world’s leading iron ore producers – for more than $35 million in cash and in-kind support for the demonstration of the company’s zero emissions steel technology.

Under the agreement, the project will be based in Kwinana, Western Australia, and the agreement also covers help to enable the future commercialisation of the technology.

The cash payments would total $8 million, including the $3 million to be paid now following due diligence, and a further $5 million prior to a final investment decision to go ahead with the project.

Rio could also take up shares in a Zesty subsidiary business to the value of its $8m contribution to the project, and would be able to use the technology under a global, non-exclusive agreement.

Range of funds to be used

Calix said in November that the demonstration project would also be supported by a grant of up to $44.9 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), subject to matched funding being secured.

The company said at the time:

The Kwinana site is in close proximity to the NeoSmelt project for downstream processing of direct reduced iron being developed jointly by Rio Tinto, BHP, BlueScope and Woodside. It provides access to established utilities, ports and other infrastructure, and is in relative proximity to other sources of iron ore in Australia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Rio’s in-kind contributions would support the project to reach a final investment decision through the provision of the project site, technical support, engineering services, and advocacy.

Calix said further:

Subject to a positive final investment decision and construction of the plant, Rio Tinto will provide up to 10,000 tonnes of a range of Pilbara iron ores for use in plant commissioning and operations, and introductions to potential users of the Zesty green iron product for material testing and downstream processing to steel.

The Zesty technology uses a combination of electric heating and hydrogen reduction to produce green iron, and ultimately green steel.

Calix shares traded as high as 56.5 cents on Monday before settling back to be 6.3% higher at 54.7 cents.

The company was valued at $111 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post Rio Tinto milestone sends shares in resources tech stock higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are sinking today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) biotech stock closed on Friday trading for $183.93. In afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $180.67 apiece, down 1.8%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.6% at this same time.

With today’s intraday losses factored in, CSL shares are down a painful 35.8% in 2025. And CSL’s dividend payouts won’t do much to take the sting out of those losses. The ASX 200 biotech stock currently trades on a 2.5% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

If you’ve been following along with Australia’s third-largest listed company (currently commanding a market cap of just under $88 billion), you’ll know that its troubles really began on 19 August.

The stock closed down 16.9% on the day, as investors reacted negatively to the release of CSL’s full-year FY 2025 results.

One of the issues that had investors reaching for their sell buttons was the lower-than-expected level of influenza vaccine demand in the United States.

Investors also were caught off guard by management’s announcement that the CSL Seqirus segment – one of the world’s largest influenza vaccine businesses – was going to be spun off into a separate ASX-listed company.

That plan has since been temporarily put on the back burner as the company waits for improved conditions in the US influenza vaccine market.

Which brings us back to our headline question…

Should you buy the big dip on CSL shares now?

EnviroInvest’s Elio D’Amato recently analysed the outlook for the biotech giant’s share price (courtesy of The Bull). And he believes there’s likely more pain to come before the stock finds solid support.

“I recommended selling CSL in TheBull.com.au in February 2025 after the biotechnology giant posted a lacklustre first half result in fiscal year 2025, in my view,” he said.

“The shares have substantially fallen from $261 on February 24. The stock was trading at $178.83 on December 11,” D’Amato noted.

And CSL shares certainly weren’t helped by management’s FY 2026 guidance downgrades.

“CSL recently cut revenue and profit growth forecasts for fiscal year 2026,” D’Amato said.

CSL stock closed down 15.9% on 28 October, the day of that announcement. That came after management downgraded CSL’s revenue growth guidance to 2% to 3% (from the prior 4% to 5%). And the company’s net profit after tax before amortisation (NPATA) growth guidance was reduced to 4% to 7% (from the prior 7% to 10%).

Commenting on his sell recommendation, D’Amato said:

The company’s vaccine division Seqirus is under pressure from declining vaccination rates in the United States. Plasma collection remains healthy, but integration costs involving CSL Vifor, a leader in iron deficiency and nephrology, amid restructuring expenses continue to weigh on margins and cash flow, in my view.

D’Amato concluded, “In the absence of near-term catalysts and years of share price stagnation, capital could be better deployed elsewhere until the outlook improves.”

The post Down 36% in 2025, should you buy CSL shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Trying to time the market can be exhausting and unnecessary.

History shows that the biggest gains tend to flow to those who buy quality assets and simply give them time to work, rather than jumping in and out based on headlines or short-term forecasts.

That’s where long-term, buy-and-hold investing really shines. By owning diversified, high-quality exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and holding them through market cycles, investors can harness the power of compounding while avoiding the stress of constant decision-making.

With 2026 approaching, there are a handful of ASX ETFs that stand out not as trades for the year ahead, but as foundations you could buy and never feel the need to sell. Here are three to consider:

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The first ASX ETF I’d buy and never sell is the iShares S&P 500 ETF, which tracks the performance of 500 of the largest stocks listed in the United States.

This fund gives exposure to some of the world’s most dominant and profitable businesses across technology, healthcare, consumer goods, financials, and industrials.

Its holdings include Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), Visa (NYSE: V), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). While the tech giants often grab headlines, the real strength of this ETF is its breadth. It owns stocks that have proven their ability to grow earnings through multiple economic cycles. Over generations, that resilience can be incredibly powerful.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

For long-term investors, ignoring Asia’s growth story could be a costly mistake. The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF provides investors with exposure to leading technology stocks across Asia, excluding Japan, where digital adoption and innovation continue to accelerate.

Its holdings include Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD), and Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU).

These businesses sit at the heart of global supply chains, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. While volatility is part of the journey, the long-term opportunity tied to rising incomes, population growth, and technology adoption is hard to ignore.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

The final ASX ETF to potential buy and never sell is the Betashares India Quality ETF.

India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, supported by favourable demographics, a rapidly expanding middle class, and ongoing digital transformation.

This ETF focuses on high-quality Indian stocks with strong balance sheets and sustainable earnings. Holdings include HDFC Bank (NSEI: HDFCBANK), Infosys (NYSE: INFY), Reliance Industries (NSEI: RELIANCE), ICICI Bank, and Tata Consultancy Services (NSEI: TCS). Over decades, exposure to a structurally growing economy like India could be a powerful wealth driver. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betshares.

The post The ASX ETFs to buy in 2026 and then never sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Baidu, Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group, HDFC Bank, and Johnson & Johnson 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 Microsoft, Nvidia, Visa, 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.

The TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) share price has had a rough ride over the past year. Even with today’s 1.5% lift to $3.86, the stock is still well below prior levels after a stretch of network issues, capital management changes, and growing investor uncertainty.

With 2026 fast approaching, many investors are now wondering if this could finally be the year TPG starts to rebuild confidence.

TPG has also released its key dates for 2026, giving shareholders a clearer view of when major updates and dividends will land.

Here is what I’ll be watching over the next 12 months.

Full-year results kick off the calendar

TPG’s first big moment arrives on 27 February 2026, when it unveils its full-year results and announces its next dividend.

This update will be crucial for several reasons. Investors will want to see:

• How the business is recovering after the 000-network outage
• The financial impact of its recent capital initiatives
• Whether margins and mobile subscriber trends are stabilising
• Any early signs of earnings momentum returning

The ex-dividend date falls on 5 March, with payment on 2 April, giving ample time for investors to jump on the dividend.

AGM and mid-year reset

Shareholders will hear straight from management again at the Annual General Meeting on 8 May 2026. After a challenging year, this is likely to be an important opportunity for TPG to lay out its strategy and provide reassurance that operational issues are firmly behind it.

The company then hits its half-year reporting period, ending on 30 June, before delivering interim results on 21 August 2026. That update will also include TPG’s interim dividend.

Here are the key dividend dates:

• Interim dividend ex-date: 27 August
• Record date: 31 August
• Payment date: 29 September

What could drive a turnaround

TPG has spent months navigating outages, investigations, and major capital returns. But with its free float increasing and large reinvestment plans completed, 2026 may provide a cleaner run for the business.

A few things I will be watching closely:

• Improvements in network performance and customer satisfaction
• Progress in integrating fibre assets and improving mobile coverage
• Evidence that operating costs are being brought under control
• More consistent earnings as short-term disruptions pass

If TPG can tick a few of these boxes, the share price could begin to move in the right direction.

Foolish Takeaway

TPG has had a tough stretch, but the company now has a clear calendar of catalysts in 2026. With dividends back on track and several opportunities to rebuild investor confidence, next year could be an important one for the telecom giant.

The results will speak for themselves, but 2026 is already looking like a year worth keeping on the radar.

The post Could 2026 be a turning point for TPG? Here’s what I’m watching appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.8% to 8,627.7 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)

The ASX share price is down almost 7% to $53.03. Investors have been selling the stock exchange operator’s shares after it committed to a strategic package of actions with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). These commitments address the findings contained in an interim report from the expert ASIC Inquiry Panel and are designed to deliver confidence in ASX as a provider of critical market infrastructure. One action will be ASX accumulating an additional $150 million of capital above net tangible asset (NTA) value by 30 June 2027. This will then be in place until agreed milestones in the revised accelerate program are completed to the satisfaction of ASIC.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is down over 2% to $179.77. This is likely to have been driven by a broker note out of Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) on Monday. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the biotech giant’s shares to a neutral rating with a reduced price target of $188.00. It said: “With the risk of share losses from CIs in CIDP, we downgrade CSL to Neutral (from Outperform). We also see risks to FY26 guidance, given it is in the second half club, noting significant headwinds in 1H26. Our TP declines -32% from A$275.20 to A$188.00 reflecting a shift away from DCF valuation (~A$228) given uncertainty in CSL’s long-term earnings profits and towards PE valuation based on a basket of comps with similar EPS growth (~$175).”

Galan Lithium Ltd (ASX: GLN)

The Galan Lithium share price is down almost 2% to 26.5 cents. This is despite the release of a positive update on the progress of its phase 1 construction activities for Hombre Muerto West (HMW), as it advances towards its final stages. Galan’s managing director, Juan Pablo Vargas de la Vega, said: “The project is transitioning into an exciting final phase of construction and commissioning. The momentum being built across the team gives us confidence as we move toward becoming a producing lithium company.” It is possible that profit taking from some investors is overshadowing the news. After all, its shares are up almost 70% since the start of November.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The Nextdc share price is down almost 2% to $13.28. This appears to have been driven by weakness in the tech sector on Monday. Investors have been selling AI stocks following a selloff on the tech-focused Nasdaq index on Friday night.

The post Why ASX, CSL, Galan Lithium, and NextDC shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) share price is edging higher today, trading around $4.87, up 0.2%. This comes after the company announced a significant leadership update that will take effect from 1 January 2026.

Given MFF’s focus on stability and disciplined returns, this is a meaningful update for shareholders. Here’s what the company shared on the ASX this afternoon.

A new CEO steps in

According to the release, MFF has appointed Gerald Stack as its new CEO and Managing Director. Stack is a well-regarded figure in Australian funds management, with over 30 years of experience, including 18 years at Magellan Financial Group (ASX: MFG), where he led the global infrastructure business and oversaw assets exceeding $16 billion.

Stack only joined MFF in September 2025 as head of Investment Management, so today’s promotion doesn’t come as a big surprise. Given the market’s reaction, it’s a clear sign the investors want him steering the company into its next stage of growth.

Chris Mackay, meanwhile, will hand over his portfolio manager duties but remain on the board and slide into an Executive Director role focused on investments and capital. As Mackay has been a big part of MFF’s track record, shareholders will also probably welcome the fact that he’s staying close to the action.

Why this change matters

MFF highlighted that the leadership shift sits within its broader transition to a longer-term operating model. The fund now manages an investment portfolio of roughly $3.1 billion in assets and net cash and has expanded its internal investment capabilities through Montaka Global Investments.

The company noted several important achievements:

• Employee headcount has grown meaningfully
• The fund continues to prioritise disciplined risk management
• Portfolio liquidity and transparency remain key priorities
• MFF has grown its balance sheet significantly over the long run

MFF Chair, Annabelle Chaplain, described the leadership expansion as the “right balance of continuity and growth”.

Dividend update

MFF also announced its intention to pay a fully franked dividend of 10 cents per share for the six-month period ending 31 December 2025, subject to legal and commercial considerations. This would be an increase on the fully-franked dividends of 9 cents per share previously paid in October 2025 and 8 cents in April 2025.

Foolish Takeaway

Leadership changes can sometimes unsettle a market, but this one appears to have landed smoothly. With a strong balance sheet, improving dividends, and an expanded investment capability, MFF looks well placed for the years ahead.

For long-term, income-focused investors, it continues to look like a steady and reliable option worth keeping on the watchlist.

The post MFF Capital just announced a major leadership change. Here’s what it means for investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a disappointing decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.8% to 8,629.6 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up 6% to $2.36. This has been driven by news that the respiratory imaging technology company has received regulatory approval for its CT:VQ product. It is the world’s first and only non-contrast, CT-based ventilation-perfusion imaging solution. Management notes that this approval marks a significant expansion of 4DMedical’s presence in North America. This approval allows immediate commercial deployment of CT:VQ across Canada through the company’s strategic partnership with electronics giant Philips.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is up 25% to $6.27. Investors have been scrambling to buy this defence and space company’s shares after it made a big announcement. EOS revealed that it has signed a binding conditional contract worth $120 million to manufacture and supply a 100kW high energy laser weapon to a company in the Republic of Korea. This conditional contract represents the second export order for a 100kW class laser defence system, following a first export order to a Western European customer earlier this year.

Gorilla Gold Mines Ltd (ASX: GG8)

The Gorilla Gold Mines share price is up 9% to 51.2 cents. This follows news that the gold developer has upgraded the estimated mineral resource for its Comet Vale project to 860,000 ounces of contained gold. Gorilla Gold’s CEO, Charles Hughes, said: “The Comet Vale Project is rapidly emerging as a camp-scale gold development project, with this resource update incorporating the three new, high-grade discoveries that Gorilla has made within the project area over the past year.”

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is up 2.5% to $19.45. Investors have been bidding this pharmaceutical company’s shares higher after it received FDA approval for a new product. The regulator has given the thumbs up to Daybue STIX, which is a dye- and preservative-free powder formulation of trofinetide for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Neuren’s CEO, Jon Pilcher, said: “The Neuren team is excited about the approval of this new treatment option for Rett syndrome families and the continued investment and innovation for trofinetide by our global partner, Acadia.”

The post Why 4DMedical, EOS, Gorilla Gold, and Neuren shares are racing higher today 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 positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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.