Category: Stock Market

One of the biggest advantages Australian investors have today is the ability to build a globally diversified portfolio using just a few exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Instead of researching dozens of individual stocks or trying to predict which region will outperform next, you can buy broad, low-cost funds that give you instant exposure to thousands of businesses around the world.

If you’re aiming to grow long-term wealth beyond the ASX, the three simple ETFs listed below, each offering a different type of global exposure, could form the backbone of a high-quality portfolio.

Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares ETF (ASX: VEU)

To build genuine global diversification, it makes sense to start with an ETF that captures markets outside the United States, and the Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares ETF is one of the most comprehensive funds available. It holds thousands of stocks across Europe, Asia, Canada, Latin America, and emerging markets, giving investors exposure to a broad range of economies and industries.

This ASX ETF’s top holdings include Alibaba (NYSE: BABA), Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203), HSBC (NYSE: HSBC), Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), and Astra Zeneca (LSE: AZN). These companies offer exposure to global consumer goods, industrials, finance, Asian technology, and healthcare.

By including this fund, investors gain access to regions that often move independently of US and Australian markets, helping smooth long-term returns.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

For exposure to the world’s most powerful companies, the iShares S&P 500 ETF is one of the strongest options on the ASX. It tracks the S&P 500 index, giving investors a slice of America’s top businesses.

The portfolio includes giants such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), and Walmart (NYSE: WMT). These companies lead the world in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and consumer staples.

By owning this ASX ETF, investors gain exposure to growth engines that simply don’t exist on the ASX at the same scale.

BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

Finally, for investors who want to tilt their global portfolio toward quality, the BetaShares Global Quality Leaders ETF is worth a look.

It adds exposure to 150 elite stocks with strong balance sheets, high returns on capital, and durable competitive advantages.

Its holdings include Visa (NYSE: V), ResMed (ASX: RMD), LAM Research (NASDAQ: LRCX), Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), and Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE). These companies have long track records of consistent earnings, strong pricing power, and leadership positions in their respective markets.

This fund was tipped by analysts at Betashares as one to consider buying.

The post The best ASX ETFs to buy for global investing in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Lam Research, Microsoft, Nvidia, ResMed, Tencent, Visa, Walmart, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group, AstraZeneca Plc, HSBC Holdings, and Johnson & Johnson and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Lam Research, 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 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 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 Block, HMC Capital, Netwealth Group, and Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group and Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HMC Capital and Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I suddenly had $20,000 that needed to be invested before the weekend, I wouldn’t overthink it. In markets like this, the smartest approach is to focus on high-quality ASX shares with strong competitive advantages, recurring revenue, and long runways ahead of them.

Three names that immediately spring to mind are listed below. Here’s why they could be top picks for these funds:

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

If I wanted exposure to a global technology business with explosive growth potential, Life360 would be close to the top of the list. The company already has more than 90 million monthly active users worldwide and continues to grow rapidly as families adopt its location-sharing, safety, and emergency features.

What makes Life360 compelling is its subscription-based model, which has turned the business into a recurring revenue machine. Average revenue per paying subscriber keeps rising, churn is falling, and its bundled product strategy is strengthening customer loyalty.

Life360’s scale also gives it a significant data advantage, which is something competitors can’t easily replicate. As the company pushes deeper into premium features, new markets, and integrations with connected devices, it is not hard to imagine much larger revenue potential over time.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $52.50 price target on its shares.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

If I had to deploy part of my $20,000 into a blue-chip compounder, REA Group would be an easy choice. As the leading digital property platform in Australia, it benefits from extraordinary pricing power, strong network effects, and a dominant competitive position.

Even during slower patches of the housing cycle, REA is able to deliver impressive revenue and earnings growth thanks to depth products, improved listings quality, and premium advertising options. And when the real estate market strengthens, as it is expected to when interest rates fall, REA’s earnings tend to accelerate.

Beyond Australia, REA also holds strategic overseas investments, including in India, where digitisation of the property market is still in early innings. Overall, for a mix of stability, growth, and structural tailwinds, REA could be one of the strongest long-term holdings on the ASX.

Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating and $290.00 price target on its shares.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

To round out the portfolio, I would add logistics software provider WiseTech Global. Its flagship product, CargoWise, is used by the world’s largest freight forwarders and logistics companies to manage global supply chains.

The beauty of WiseTech’s business is its powerful combination of mission-critical software, long customer contracts, and exceptionally high switching costs. Once a logistics provider adopts CargoWise, replacing it is both expensive and operationally risky, which gives WiseTech enormous pricing leverage and predictability.

And while it has been having issues this year with management conduct and product delays, its long-term outlook remains as positive as ever.

Morgans remains very bullish. It has a buy rating and $127.60 price target on its shares.

The post What I’d buy if I had to invest $20,000 in ASX 200 shares before the weekend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, REA Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price is $64.78, up 3% while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.16%.

Wisetech shares hit a 52-week low of $61.49 this week.

Last month, the market’s biggest ASX tech share lost almost a quarter of its market cap.

This followed news of an investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The AFP and ASIC are looking into share trades by founder Richard White during a blackout window.

Blackwattle portfolio managers, Tim Riordan and Michael Teran, said:

While this is a distraction, we believe the refreshed board (3 new independent directors) and new management team (new CEO and CFO) is a step in the right direction towards improving governance and reducing key person risk.

In their latest bulletin, Riordan and Teran described the sell-off as “overdone”.

They noted that the Wisetech share price had lost more than 40% since the company released its FY25 results in August.

Looking ahead, though, the analysts think the outlook for the business is bright, commenting:

We remain confident that the FY27 and beyond outlook remains robust, and the selloff in the share price is a highly attractive opportunity, with WTC trading below 20x EV/EBITDA for FY27, well below its historical multiple of ~45x EV/EBITDA.

Riordan and Teran have confidence in the company’s products and its potential for growth.

They said Wisetech’s CargoWise software product suite allowed logistics services providers to maximise their productivity.

WTC has contracted 11 of the Top 25 Global Freight Forwarders to their products, providing these freight forwarders with a competitive advantage through productivity gains. WTC is a global leader in logistics services software.

We view WTC as an ‘Enduring Quality’ business, one of the highest quality companies on the ASX, continuing their multi-decade customer and product growth journey.

This significant long-term, compounding growth profile and highly attractive Risk/Reward makes the current share price selloff a significant investment opportunity.

Riordan and Teran are not alone in their backing of the ASX tech share.

Jed Richards from Shaw and Partners said Wisetech had been “oversold”, with today’s share price “presenting a strong entry point”.

On The Bull this week, Richards said he had a buy rating on Wisetech shares, commenting:

While management issues and investigations involving the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission have contributed to a plunging share price, the company’s world class logistics software and proven global growth trajectory remain intact.

Long term fundamentals and market leadership support a compelling buying opportunity for patient investors.

The post Wisetech share price a ‘highly attractive opportunity’ after sell-off: fundie appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• What I’d buy if I had to invest $20,000 in ASX 200 shares before the weekend
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• Down 56%! Why now is a strong entry point for WiseTech shares
• Brokers say buy: 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows today

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

Mayfield Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYG) has quietly become one of the standout performers on the ASX over the past 12 months. Hardly a household name, the engineering services group has seen its share price climb by more than 165% in the past 12 months as investors continue to warm to businesses tied to Australia’s accelerating energy and infrastructure build-out.

And the momentum has kept building. In a recent interview, fund manager Wilson Asset Management named Mayfield as one of the small caps they believe have meaningful upside ahead.

For a company that has spent most of its listed life under the radar, the spotlight is turning quickly.

A quiet achiever riding a generational investment wave

Mayfield specialises in critical electrical infrastructure, including switchgear, protection systems, turnkey installations, and long-duration engineering support across utilities, defence, industrial operations, and major renewables.

It’s not a flashy business, but it is deeply tied to sectors that deploy serious capital.

Australia’s electricity grid is entering a period of significant investment as the nation upgrades transmission lines, builds renewable energy generation, electrifies industry, and prepares for more data centres. Defence spending is also rising, with higher demand for secure energy systems and engineered electrical solutions.

These trends sit squarely in Mayfield’s sweet spot. Over the past two years, the company has expanded its order book, improved operational execution and steadily lifted margins — all while maintaining a strong balance sheet.

Backing the next leg of growth

Fund manager interest centres on a simple premise: Mayfield is positioned in front of structural, not cyclical, demand.

Wilson sees the company benefiting from a pipeline of grid upgrades, substation modernisation, renewable integration, and essential electrical infrastructure across defence and industrial customers. From the fund manager’s perspective, the market may not yet be fully pricing in the longevity of Mayfield’s growth runway.

That combination of contract visibility, operating leverage, and exposure to decades-long national investment themes is why Wilson Asset Management believes Mayfield could still have meaningful upside ahead.

Brokers are starting to agree

Bell Potter recently initiated coverage on the company with a buy recommendation, citing similar drivers: a growing pipeline, expanding margins, and a business model well-positioned to scale.

The broker highlighted that Mayfield’s operational improvements and tendering success could help the company mature into a national leader in several of its categories.

When both a well-known small-cap fundie and a major broker arrive at the same conclusion, it tends to put a small cap like Mayfield firmly on the market’s radar.

What could sustain momentum from here?

Even after a 165% rally, the investment thesis focuses less on what Mayfield has already done and more on where it might go from here.

Areas to watch include:

• Grid and transmission upgrades, already backed by multi-billion-dollar national commitments
• Data centre expansions, requiring sophisticated electrical protection and switching infrastructure
• Defence capability modernisation, especially around secure, high-reliability power systems
• Industrial electrification, as manufacturing facilities evolve for energy-intensive technology

Foolish Takeaway

Mayfield has moved from a quiet microcap to one of the more noticeable performers on the ASX, supported by structural tailwinds in energy, infrastructure, and defence spending. 

Whether the share price continues rising — or at what pace — is unknowable. What can be observed is the powerful compounding effect that can occur when a small business aligns itself with the right multi-year demand cycle.

For investors, Mayfield’s recent run is a reminder of what can happen when a well-run microcap grows from a relatively small base. 

The post ASX small cap doubles and this fundie says it can double again appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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 Mayfield Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It has been a busy month for brokers, with a flurry of ASX 200 shares releasing results and trading updates.

Three that went down well with analysts at Morgans are listed below. Here’s why the broker has upgraded them:

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

Morgans was pleased with James Hardie’s update and particularly its outlook. It notes that the building materials company has provided an outlook that was more positive than expected.

In light of this and its undemanding valuation, the broker has upgraded the ASX 200 share to a buy rating with a $35.50 price target. It said:

Whilst the headline 2QFY26 result was largely released in early Oct-25, the details and outlook were incrementally more positive than previously anticipated. Upgraded guidance reflects a c.6% organic decline (vs pcp), as a challenging environment sees volume declines exceed price increases. However, this is better than feared and may prove to be a bottoming in the cycle as demand stabilises.

JHX is trading on c.17.1x FY26F as the business navigates its acquisition missteps, earnings downgrades and a challenging consumer environment in North America (NA). However, at EPS of c.U$1.04/sh in FY26 we see upside from both earnings and an undemanding PER (ave PER. 20x). It is on this basis we upgrade to a BUY recommendation and $35.50/sh target price.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

Another ASX 200 share that has been given the thumbs up by Morgans is Nufarm. Although its performance in FY 2025 was weak, it was better than feared.

And with management expecting a strong year in FY 2026 and the deleveraging of its balance sheet, the broker thinks now is a good time to invest. It has upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $3.20 price target. It said:

While NUF’s FY25 result was weak, it was slightly above guidance. A solid Crop Protection result was overshadowed by a poor Seed Technologies performance. Gearing was far too high at 2.7x, however it was better than feared Outlook comments were upbeat. In FY26, material earnings growth and a reduction in leverage ratios is expected. We have upgraded our forecasts. Now that there is certainty on Seed Technologies future, industry operating conditions have improved and there is a clear pathway to deleveraging the balance sheet, we upgrade NUF to a Buy recommendation and A$3.20 price target.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

Finally, this enterprise software provider’s shares were sold off this week despite delivering a result that was largely in line with expectations.

The broker thinks this has created an opportunity for investors and has upgraded the ASX 200 share to an accumulate rating with a $34.50 price target. It said:

TNE’s FY25 result was largely in line with our expectations with the group delivering, PBT growth of +19% to $181.5m ahead of its 13-17% guidance range, and in line with consensus. The negative share price reaction appears to have been driven by softer than expected ARR/NRR print, which saw a 2% miss to ARR growth expectations vs consensus, despite this, the group continues to deliver, with ARR of $554.6m (+18% YoY), which along with its NRR growth of 115% continues to see TNE Ontrack to achieve its long-term ARR growth aspirations.

We modestly pare our EPS forecasts by 1-3% in FY26-28F. and move to an ACCUMULATE rating, with our target price $34.50 now reflecting a TSR of +19% following TNE’s post result share price movement.

The post Morgans just upgraded these ASX 200 shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

If you are searching for big potential returns for your portfolio, then HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC) shares could be worth considering.

That’s because the team at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) believes that this ASX 200 stock could be heading materially higher from current levels.

What is the broker saying about this ASX 200 stock?

Macquarie notes that the investment company has reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2026. It said:

FY26 pre-tax OEPS guidance reaffirmed of at least 40cps (MRE: 33cps; VA: 38cps). Conservatively, we exclude the 8.5cps Neoen arranging fee.

The broker also highlights that there are some key concerns, which have been weighing on its share price, that should be addressed in the next 6 to 12 months. It adds:

Key concerns to be addressed over the next 6-12 months, according to HMC. This is needed to restore market confidence. Key items include: 1) resolution of Healthscope (incl any rent-reset); 2) advancing the selldown of the Australian data-centre platform and US operational assets; and 3) third-party capital partnering to sell-down HMC’s balance sheet exposure across energy transition.

But the main reason to be positive is its valuation. The broker points out that the ASX 200 stock is trading at a discount to its net tangible assets (NTA) and believes that little value is being placed on its funds management platform. Macquarie explains:

Trading 8% below NTA of $3.24ps with limited value ascribed to the funds management platform. We believe this is overly negative in the context of our 10% EPS CAGR forecast (which is conservative based on HMC’s AUM targets, although some conservatism is currently warranted). We estimate +150% valuation upside if HMC can re-rate to comps trading on 20x active EBITDA, and +64% on our current valuation (10x).

Big potential returns

As mentioned above, Macquarie believes this ASX 200 stock could rise over 150% if it can re-rate to comparable multiples.

However, for now, the broker has reaffirmed its outperform rating and $4.90 price target on HMC Capital’s shares.

Based on its current share price of $3.18, this implies potential upside of 54% for investors over the next 12 months.

It also expects dividend yields of approximately 4% for FY 2026 through to FY 2028.

Commenting on its outperform recommendation, Macquarie said:

Outperform, $4.90 TP. Line of sight on HMC’s $50bn 3-5 year AUM target has turned opaque over the past year given numerous challenges. However, this is more than captured in the share price with the stock trading on 10x FY26E P/E (LTA 23x). Execution on key concerns over the next 6-12 months is key.

Catalysts: Potential removal from S&P/ASX 200; Neoen sell-down targeted for 2H26; Healthscope resolution; sell-down to third-party capital at DGT; evidence of AUM growth towards HMC’s $50bn 3-5 year target.

The post Macquarie says this ASX 200 stock can rise 150% 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 HMC Capital and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HMC Capital. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

MA Financial Group has initiated coverage on ASX gold share Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) with a buy recommendation and a 12-month price target of $1.60.

With Black Cat shares trading at $1.02 on Thursday, up 2.51% for the day, this means the financial services group foresees potential upside of 57% for investors who buy the ASX gold share today.

MA Financial says this ASX gold stock “screens attractive across many metrics in our broader gold coverage”.

Let’s investigate.

What is Black Cat?

Black Cat is a Western Australian gold miner and antimony explorer.

The company has 100% ownership of three gold exploration and historical projects in prime gold mining regions of Western Australia.

They are Paulsens Gold in the Pilbara, the Kal East Gold Project east of Kalgoorlie, and the Coyote Gold Operation in the Western Tanami.

Kal East

Kal East is located to the east of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder mining centre.

It comprises approximately 650 square km of tenements with four existing mining centres called Myhree, Fingals, Majestic, and Trojan.

Black Cat says it is one of the largest undertested landholdings within 50km of Kalgoorlie.

Black Cat achieved first gold at Kal East in the second half of 2024.

The current JORC 2012 Mineral Resource totals 18.8mt at 2.1 g/t au for 1,294,000 oz.

The company has plans to build a traditional Carbon-In-Leach central processing facility near the Majestic Mining Centre, approximately 50km east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Paulsens

Paulsens is a historical mine located in the Ashburton Basin in the Eastern Pilbara region. 

It first produced gold in 2005 and was put into care and maintenance in 2017.

Black Cat acquired it in 2022 and recommenced production in December 2024.

Paulsens has a 450ktpa processing plant on site. The current JORC 2012 Mineral Resource totals 4.4mt at 3.9 g/t au for 549,000 oz.

Coyote

These tenements sit across the Northern Territory and Western Australian border in the Tanami Goldfields region.

Coyote is a historical operation that first produced gold in 2006 and went into care and maintenance in 2013.

Black Cat bought it in 2022.

There are three explored deposits named Callie, the Tanami Goldfield, and Groundrush, plus a 300ktpa processing plant. The miner is exploring the site and plans to restart the mine in FY28.

The current JORC 2012 Mineral Resource totals 3.7mt at 5.5 g/t au for 645,000 oz.

Black Cat’s production goals and broader strategy

Black Cat’s total resources are 2.5Moz at 2.9 g/t Au, with plans to expand to 3Moz within five years.

In an investor presentation released this week, Black Cat said it was targeting an annual gold production rate of more than 100,000oz in FY26 and 130,000oz in FY27.

The longer-term goal is 200,000oz per annum by FY29, after Coyote begins production in FY28.

In a note, MA Financial noted that Black Cat’s financial position was attractive amid record commodity prices:

BC8 is fully unhedged and debt-free, offering full exposure to current record AUD gold prices, and positioning early production phases for strong margin capture.

The business has a large resource base across Paulsens and Kal East that can be progressively converted into reserves, underpinning a longer production outlook beyond the current mine plan.

Rainy day fund

Part of the company’s strategy is retaining some of its gold in stored bullion.

As of 30 September, Black Cat had 5,104oz stored and a total of $90 million in cash, bullion, and investments on its balance sheet.

Managing Director Gareth Solly said:

It is hard to justify producing a safe haven asset in gold and then converting that asset into an asset losing its purchasing power, in cash.

At the end of the day, we are in the gold business.

Investors can choose Black Cat because they are seeking leverage to gold.

But it’s not just leveraged to gold…

In addition to its gold mines, Black Cat is developing one of Australia’s largest antimony deposits at Mt Clement.

The antimony resource estimate is about 794kt at 1.7% Sb.

Antimony is a flame retardant that is also used to harden metals and make lead-acid batteries and bullets.

MA Financial says:

Renewed strategic focus on critical minerals (including antimony) could raise investor interest in Mt Clement and attract grant or partnership funding, given Mt Clement’s permits lie within NAIF jurisdiction and shares development synergies with Paulsens
infrastructure.

The ASX gold share has a market capitalisation of $716 million.

The post ASX gold share to lift 57% in a year: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

For decades, Australians were taught that wealth begins with property. Yet with house prices stretching further away from incomes and deposits taking longer to save, this traditional path has become harder to start.

But that hasn’t stopped Australians from building wealth — they’re simply building it differently.

A Finder Wealth Building Report from late 2024 revealed that around 7.7 million Australians invest in ASX-listed businesses, roughly one in three adults.

This isn’t a new trend — it’s a growing one. And it shows that property is no longer the only game in town.

Why property is no longer the automatic starting line

Australia’s love of property hasn’t disappeared, but affordability challenges might force a rethink.

Younger investors — and increasingly, older ones too — are recognising that building wealth can begin long before a home purchase becomes realistic. Investing in businesses offers several advantages that property can’t match:

You can start small.
Investing in businesses via the share market today can start with as little as hundreds of dollars, not hundreds of thousands.

You remain flexible.
If circumstances change, you can adjust your portfolio or access cash easily — not wait months and incur tens of thousands in costs.

You diversify from day one.
Property ties you to a single asset in one suburb. A portfolio can span dozens of industries and global trends.

No leverage required.
Property often starts with a large mortgage. Share market investing doesn’t require debt at all.

These advantages aren’t abstract. They’re increasingly essential in a world where housing is demanding more from household budgets than ever before.

A growth engine working behind the scenes

The long-term performance of listed businesses has been one of Australia’s strongest and most reliable wealth engines. Successful companies reinvest earnings, expand markets, grow revenues, and adapt to changing economic conditions. That built-in compounding is a major reason the sharemarket has historically delivered competitive long-term returns.

And unlike property, where financial outcomes depend on a single location and a single cycle, a portfolio of businesses can capture growth from across the economy. Technology, healthcare, retail, infrastructure, resources, and financials each rise and fall at different times. The breadth allows investors to benefit from global growth, not just the fortunes of their local postcode.

High-quality companies have been long-term compounds, such as ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB), Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE), and Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK), while diversified ETFs like the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) and the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), offer exposure to sectors that have compounded value year after year.

Equity markets have quietly outperformed property

The Finder report highlighted a critical insight:

The largest companies in Australia, the US and globally have outpaced Australian house price growth over the past decade.

This doesn’t mean property is a poor investment. It simply means the idea that “property always wins” is outdated. Business ownership has delivered exceptional returns for Australians who started early and stayed consistent.

Property concentration is widening inequality 

Another insight from the report is that Australia’s heavy reliance on property has contributed to widening wealth inequality:

• 16% of high-income households own multiple properties
• Only 6% of middle-income households do
• Just 5% of Gen Z own more than one property

And when property is stripped out, average household net wealth drops dramatically — from $573,252 to $196,778.
This illustrates the increasing concentration of Australian wealth and why diversifying through business ownership is no longer optional for many.

A Foolish path to long-term wealth

None of this diminishes the role of property. But it does highlight a shift to the common local narrative: wealth does not have to begin with real estate.

Investing in businesses provides Australians with a practical and flexible path to grow their capital, build financial security, and create options — even as property becomes increasingly difficult to enter. 

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The Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) share price is in focus after the group upgraded its FY26 operating earnings per security (OEPS) guidance by 5.5% to 95.0 cents, thanks to strong investment activity and growing revenue across key business segments.

What did Charter Hall report?

• FY26 OEPS guidance upgraded by 5.5% to 95.0 cents per security (from 90.0 cps)
• This represents a 16.7% increase on FY25 OEPS of 81.4 cents per security
• Increased transaction volumes across Property Investments, Development Investment, and Funds Management
• Equity inflows from both existing and new investors remain healthy
• FY26 guidance excludes any performance fee revenue

What else do investors need to know?

Charter Hall is experiencing positive momentum, with more deals closing and rising investment activity since 30 June 2025. The group’s Property Investments and Funds Management divisions are seeing operational gains and higher revenue, driven by strong demand from institutional and retail investors.

Charter Hall manages a diverse portfolio spanning office, industrial, retail, and social infrastructure properties. The uplift in guidance signals management’s confidence in continuing growth, supported by disciplined financial management and active engagement with customers.

What’s next for Charter Hall?

Assuming no major changes in market conditions, Charter Hall expects continued momentum leading into FY26, with upgraded earnings guidance now set at 95.0 cents per security. The group remains focused on growing platform activity and delivering strong outcomes for its investor customers.

Charter Hall will announce its Financial Half Year 2026 Results on 19 February 2026. Management expects ongoing demand for its property funds and further investment opportunities across core sectors.

Charter Hall share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Charter Hall shares have risen 53%, outpacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

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The post Charter Hall upgrades FY26 earnings guidance amid strong property momentum 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 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 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.