Category: Stock Market

The Tasmea Ltd (ASX: TEA) share price has cooled sharply in recent weeks, falling close to 20% from its November peak.

That pullback comes after a blistering run earlier in 2025, when the ASX industrials stock surged more than 115% in just six months and firmly put itself on investors’ radars.

So has Tasmea flown too close to the sun, or is this the kind of pullback long-term investors tend to watch closely?

What does Tasmea actually do?

Tasmea operates a portfolio of specialist industrial service businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Its operations span asset maintenance, engineering services, infrastructure support, and industrial contracting — work that tends to be recurring, non-discretionary, and closely tied to essential infrastructure.

That positioning has become increasingly attractive as capital spending cycles lift across energy, utilities, transport, and industrial assets. Unlike more cyclical industrials, Tasmea’s exposure is spread across maintenance and operational services rather than one-off construction projects.

This has helped underpin steady revenue growth and improve earnings visibility, which has been a major driver behind the share price rally seen through the first half of 2025.

Why the Tasmea share price surged in 2025

Tasmea’s strong performance this year has been driven by a combination of operational execution and sector tailwinds.

The company has continued to expand margins, integrate acquisitions effectively, and benefit from ongoing demand for outsourced industrial services. At the same time, broader market interest has shifted toward profitable, cash-generative industrial growth stocks after several ASX stalwarts began to stumble.

As one recent analysis highlighted, investors have increasingly looked beyond traditional blue chips and into businesses offering steady growth without relying on speculative narratives.

Tasmea fitted that brief neatly.

Brokers still see upside

Despite the recent pullback, at least one broker remains constructive on the outlook.

A recent broker note suggested Tasmea still has meaningful upside potential from current levels, pointing to earnings momentum, disciplined capital allocation, and ongoing demand across its end markets.

Importantly, the broker’s thesis does not rely on short-term multiple expansion. Instead, it assumes continued growth in revenue and profits as infrastructure owners prioritise maintenance, reliability, and compliance over the coming years.

That distinction matters in a market where sentiment can swing quickly.

Short-term nerves versus long-term fundamentals

None of this guarantees a rising share price in the near term.

Equity markets remain on edge, valuations across many sectors are being reassessed, and even high-quality ASX growth stocks are not immune to bouts of volatility. After such a strong run earlier in the year, some degree of consolidation was always likely.

However, long-term investors tend to focus less on month-to-month share price fluctuations and more on whether a business can sustainably grow its earnings over many years.

If Tasmea continues to execute in 2026 as it has recently — growing revenue, maintaining margins, and deploying capital sensibly — history suggests that the share price should eventually reflect that progress, even if the path is uneven.

Foolish Takeaway 

Tasmea’s pullback looks less like a structural break and more like a pause after a rapid ascent.

For investors hunting ASX stocks for growth with exposure to real-world infrastructure and industrial services, Tasmea remains one to watch. The business fundamentals appear intact, sector tailwinds remain supportive, and broker sentiment suggests the long-term growth story is far from over.

Whether the current price proves attractive will ultimately depend on time horizon — and patience.

The post Is this ASX industrials stock a buy after a 20% pullback from all-time highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Broker tips 20% upside for this ASX industrials stock

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 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.

It is becoming more and more common for investors to prioritise ethical, social, and governance (ESG) impact when investing. One way to do this is by investing in an ethically focused ASX ETF. 

There are now plenty of options on the ASX to choose from that utilise some form of screening to align with specific investor goals. 

These can be related to actively choosing companies engaged in a specific cause, or by something called negative screening.

This is when ASX ETF providers build a fund by excluding companies that don’t align with specific values or are engaged in harmful activities. 

These could be companies that operate in sectors like tobacco, weapons manufacturing, gambling, etc. 

This is often called ethical investing, impact investing, or ESG investing. 

It is helpful for investors to be able to actively avoid companies that don’t align with their values. 

However, one might also argue that excluding companies isn’t the same as ‘putting your money where your mouth is,’ and actively investing in companies making positive change.

At the end of the day, alongside these causes, investors ultimately still want to build wealth. 

There is a fund that has been able to combine actively investing in climate-positive companies, while also bringing strong returns in 2025. 

Betashares Capital Ltd – Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF (ASX: ERTH)

According to Betashares, this fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that comprises a portfolio of up to 100 leading global companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from products and services that help to address climate change and other environmental problems through the reduction or avoidance of CO2 emissions. 

This covers clean energy providers, along with leading companies tackling green transport, waste management, sustainable product development, and improved energy efficiency and storage.

By supporting companies that are leading the fight to create a more sustainable planet, investors in ERTH can be confident that their investment dollars are having a positive impact.

This is one of the few ASX ETFs I could find that is actively investing in climate-positive companies rather than just using negative screening. 

It does also use negative screening, to exclude companies with direct involvement in the fossil fuels industry (coal, oil, and natural gas). 

Alongside its innovative structure, the fund has also brought strong returns in 2025. 

Since January, it is up 12.68%. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), Australia’s benchmark index, is up approximately 5.29% year to date.

The post Which ethical ASX ETF is on track to deliver the best returns in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The ASX dividend stocks I’d trust to pay me through retirement
• Up 10x since July, could this hot ASX stock be the next Droneshield?
• DroneShield bags $49.6m European military contract: What investors need to know
• Is there opportunity in 2026 outside the big four bank shares?
• Meridian Energy lifts hydro storage and sales in November 2025 update

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 it comes to retirement investing, reliability matters more than excitement.

Chasing the highest dividend yield can backfire, but owning businesses with durable cash flows, strong market positions, and a track record of paying dividends can make all the difference.

If I were building a portfolio designed to support me through retirement, these are three ASX dividend stocks I’d feel comfortable owning for the long haul.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA Group is arguably one of the most dependable income stocks on the Australian share market.

As a leading energy infrastructure business, it owns and operates gas pipelines, electricity transmission assets, and power generation infrastructure that underpin Australia’s energy system.

Much of its revenue is regulated or contracted over long periods, which provides excellent visibility over future cash flows. This stability has allowed APA to steadily increase its distributions over time, even through periods of economic uncertainty. In fact, it has successfully lifted its dividend every year for over a decade.

Energy demand isn’t going away, and as Australia transitions its energy mix, APA’s infrastructure remains critical. That combination of necessity, scale, and long-term contracts is exactly what income investors want heading into retirement. It currently trades with a trailing dividend yield of 6.3%.

Telstra Group (ASX: TLS)

Telstra is another stock that I think fits naturally into a retirement-focused portfolio. As Australia’s largest telecommunications provider, it plays an essential role in keeping households and businesses connected.

Mobile data usage continues to grow and Telstra’s dominant infrastructure gives it an advantage that few competitors can match. These qualities support steady earnings and underpin the company’s ability to pay consistent dividends.

Telstra’s recent strategic focus on simplification, cost control, and disciplined capital allocation has further strengthened its investment case. The telco giant’s shares currently trade with a trailing 3.9% dividend yield.

Woolworths Group (ASX: WOW)

Woolworths rounds out this trio as a classic defensive income stock. Supermarkets tend to perform well across economic cycles because people continue to buy food and essentials regardless of broader conditions.

Woolworths’ scale, supply chain efficiency, and strong private label offering give it pricing power and resilient margins. This underpins reliable cash generation, which in turn supports its dividend payouts.

And while Woolworths may not offer the highest dividend yield on the market, its dividends are backed by a business model that prioritises consistency over volatility. For retirement investors, that reliability can be far more valuable than chasing higher but less dependable income streams.

Woolworths shares currently trade with a trailing dividend yield of 3.1%.

The post The ASX dividend stocks I’d trust to pay me through retirement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Vulcan, Woolworths shares
• $30,000 of Telstra shares can net me $1,671 of passive income!
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• 3 Aussie passive income stocks delivering decades upon decades of dividends
• 2 premier ASX shares for your retirement fund

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. 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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Telstra Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you ever needed a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change on the ASX, look no further than 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX).

At the start of 2025, this little-known medical imaging company was trading for 48 cents per share. By the end of July, the share price was down 50% and had sunk to just 24 cents, the kind of low that makes even loyal shareholders question their sanity.

Fast-forward to today, and 4DMedical is changing lives, especially for its shareholders.

Its share price has skyrocketed to $2.44, which is a whopping 10x return since the end of July, and a five-bagger for anyone who invested at the start of the year.

To put that into dollar terms, a $10,000 investment in 4DMedical made in January would now be worth $50,000, whilst an investor who invested $10,000 during the July dip could be looking at up to $100,000 today.

For many households, that’s the difference between “maybe one day” and “we could actually buy that car and book that Europe trip right now”.

But how has 4DMedical become one of the hottest ASX stocks of 2025?

A 5-year struggle snaps into a 10x move

For most of its life on the ASX, 4DMedical has struggled to meet the expectations of the initial IPO excitement. After IPO’ing in 2020 at $1.25 and peaking at $2.60, the company spent years grinding lower and was at one stage down 90% from its highs.

But 2025 finally brought something different: commercial traction.

Investors stopped hearing promises and started seeing proof.

4DMedical delivered a wave of commercially meaningful wins and renewals with world-class institutions like the University of Michigan and Stanford; the addition of CT:VQ to Philips‘ North American catalogue backed by a $15 million commitment; FDA clearance in September unlocking a US$1.1 billion market; a strategic $10 million investment from ASX giant Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME); a fully underwritten $30.2 million option exercise securing its funding runway; and most recently, Canadian regulatory approval enabling immediate commercial deployment across Canada.

Each milestone reinforced the same message: 4DMedical’s technology is not just innovative, it is being adopted, validated, and scaled.

Could 4DMedical be the next Droneshield?

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) became the most exciting stock on the ASX by dominating a niche with powerful global demand. As positive announcement after positive announcement came in, there seemed to be no limit to investor demand for Droneshield shares.

In its own way, 4DMedical is beginning to exhibit similar characteristics, including a large market opportunity, commercial adoption by US hospitals, and a leading technology platform, all built on the highly scalable software-as-a-service business model.

Is 4DMedical’s success guaranteed? Of course not. Commercialisation in healthcare is notoriously difficult.

But investors don’t chase certainties; they chase asymmetric upside, and 4DMedical is one of the ASX stocks right now with a genuine shot at turning into something much larger.

Foolish bottom line

4DMedical is no longer just a speculative moonshot; it is becoming a growth company with a credible story, and for early believers, a wealth-changing story.

It has captured investors’ imaginations for good reason, but whether it becomes the next Droneshield or not will come down to execution. For the first time since its IPO, it feels like the company’s future and its share price are finally moving in the same direction.

The post Up 10x since July, could this hot ASX stock be the next Droneshield? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• DroneShield bags $49.6m European military contract: What investors need to know
• 3 ASX mid-cap rockets that could become future blue chips
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why 4DMedical, EOS, Gorilla Gold, and Neuren shares are racing higher today
• Key Canadian approval sends 10-bagger biotech’s shares higher

The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) share price is in focus today after the company announced a $49.6 million contract with a European military customer, with all deliveries and payments expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2026.

What did DroneShield report?

• Secured a $49.6 million contract for handheld counterdrone systems, accessories, and software updates
• Customer is a longstanding European reseller for a military end-customer
• Majority of hardware is already in stock for prompt delivery
• All deliveries and payments anticipated to be completed in Q1 2026
• Brings total contracts from this reseller over three years to more than $86.5 million

What else do investors need to know?

A significant portion of the $49.6 million order is already on the shelf, making it possible for DroneShield to deliver quickly and boost cash flow in early 2026. The company does not expect further material conditions to be satisfied for this contract, which should streamline the revenue recognition.

DroneShield also confirmed that there are currently no obligations for further orders from this specific reseller or end-customer, providing clarity on future pipeline expectations.

What’s next for DroneShield?

DroneShield is focused on completing deliveries and receiving payment for this contract in the first quarter of 2026. The company continues to develop AI-based defence solutions, with a customer base spanning military, government, and critical infrastructure sectors.

With this major contract and a growing history of international defence deals, DroneShield looks set to maintain its innovative approach and build on its reputation in counterdrone technology.

DroneShield share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Droneshield shares have risen 293%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post DroneShield bags $49.6m European military contract: What investors need to know appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 10x since July, could this hot ASX stock be the next Droneshield?
• Meridian Energy lifts hydro storage and sales in November 2025 update
• Contact Energy reports lift in November sales and renewable projects progress
• 3 ASX mid-cap rockets that could become future blue chips
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.

There is always plenty of coverage on the big four bank shares in Australia – and for good reason. 

These four banks sit inside the top 6 largest companies in Australia weighted by market capitalisation. 

Earlier in December I covered the success of Australia And New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) shares in 2025 compared to its peers. 

But what about the ASX bank shares outside the big four?

Here is an overview of how some of the others have performed. 

A tough year for bank shares

Across the board, it has been overall a down year for bank shares. 

Starting with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), which has fallen more than 20% since the start of the year. 

That included two horror days of trading in November. 

On 11 November, shares lost 8.5% following the release of the company’s first-quarter (Q1 FY 2026) results. 

Two weeks later, on 25 November, shares fell another 7.4%. 

Elsewhere, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) has also struggled in 2025. 

While it does offer banking services, it is primarily involved in investment and commercial banking and asset management, with Macquarie now in the top 50 global asset managers.

Its share price is down more than 9% since the start of the year.

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) is one of Australia’s largest regional banks still operating independently of the ‘Big Four’ banks. 

Its share price has also faced volatility this year, and is down approximately 2.7% year to date. 

Finally, Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO), which focuses on lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), has fallen just over 7%. 

Most notably, in April, Judo Bank’s share price crashed 19% after releasing its third-quarter update. 

Which has the most upside in 2026?

While 2025 has been rough on these bank shares, there is one drawing positive attention from experts. 

Judo Bank is tipped by brokers to rebound in 2026. 

It appears this may have already begun to be priced in, as its share price is up 12% over the last month since its AGM.

Macquarie has an outperform rating and $1.90 price target on Judo Bank shares. 

This indicates an upside of almost 11% from yesterday’s closing price of $1.72. 

There are other brokers even more bullish. 

UBS placed a $2.20 price target on Judo Bank shares in November, and TradingView currently has a consensus price target of $2.15.

These targets indicate an upside of between 25 – 28%. 

The post Is there opportunity in 2026 outside the big four bank shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 813% in 5 years, why Macquarie expects this surging ASX 200 stock to keep outperforming in 2026
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Bendigo And Adelaide Bank and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX: MEZ) share price is in focus today after the company released its monthly operating report for November 2025, highlighting national hydro storage reaching 153% of historical average and a 12.1% rise in retail sales volumes compared to November last year.

What did Meridian Energy report?

• National hydro storage increased from 143% to 153% of historical average by 8 December 2025.
• South Island storage reached 157% of average, North Island storage climbed to 132% of average.
• November 2025 inflows were 149% of historical average, with year-to-date inflows the highest since 1988/89.
• Retail sales volumes in November rose 12.1% year on year, with residential segment up 23.2%.
• National electricity demand was 5.9% higher than in November 2024.
• Meridian’s total New Zealand customer connections grew by 20% since November 2024.

What else do investors need to know?

November was the warmest on record for New Zealand, with temperatures above average in most areas and higher rainfall for the North Island and the west of the South Island. Despite drier conditions in the east, strong hydro inflows supported impressive storage levels.

Meridian’s generation for November was 2.7% higher than the same month last year, mainly due to increased hydro output. Year-to-date generation is tracking 12.7% ahead of last year, and the average price received for generation in November rose 93.3% compared to November 2024.

Higher demand from New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd (NZAS) also featured, with average load rising to 569MW from 451MW a year ago.

What’s next for Meridian Energy?

Investors can keep an eye on Meridian’s ability to maintain strong hydro inflows and storage as summer progresses, supporting both generation and retail sales. The company continues to benefit from rising electricity demand and expanded customer connections.

Ongoing investment in renewable energy and a focus on operational efficiency position Meridian well for future growth, though weather patterns and wholesale market dynamics will remain key factors to watch.

Meridian Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Meridian Energy shares have declined 8%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement.

The post Meridian Energy lifts hydro storage and sales in November 2025 update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
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• Westgold unveils spin-out of non-core Reedy and Comet gold assets

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

Wondering which popular ASX shares to buy, hold, or sell? Let’s take a look at what analysts are saying about three popular options, courtesy of The Bull.

Here’s what they are recommending to their clients:

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

This biotechnology giant’s shares have fallen hard this year for a number of reasons. But EnviroInvest isn’t recommending that investors buy them just yet and has labelled them as a sell.

It highlights that declining vaccination rates are weighing on its performance and feels that capital could be better deployed in other opportunities. EnviroInvest said:

CSL recently cut revenue and profit growth forecasts for fiscal year 2026. 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. In the absence of near-term catalysts and years of share price stagnation, capital could be better deployed elsewhere until the outlook improves.

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

One ASX share that EnviroInvest is positive on is Vulcan Energy. It has put a buy recommendation on the Germany-based lithium developer.

EnviroInvest was pleased with the announcement of its financing package and gives it a materially stronger strategic positioning. It said:

Vulcan recently secured a €2.2 billion ($A3.929 billion) financing package to fully fund phase one of its Lionheart project, It’s Europe’s first fully integrated, zero carbon lithium and renewable energy project. Funding enables immediate construction. The package includes €1.185 billion in senior debt, €204 million in German government grants, €150 million from KfW, plus strategic equity from HOCHTIEF, Siemens and Demeter. Phase one targets 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year. With funding risk removed and execution underway, VUL’s strategic positioning is materially stronger.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

This supermarket giant has been named as a sell by Alto Capital. It fears that higher costs and subdued discretionary spending could weigh on its growth and profitability. It explains:

The supermarket giant’s full year 2025 results fell short of market expectations, highlighting margin pressure and subdued sales growth. WOW was recently trading on a lofty price/earnings ratio of about 37 times, which leaves limited upside, in our view. Rising costs combined with subdued discretionary spending suggest growth and profitability may remain constrained. We believe much of the upside is already priced in, so investors may want to consider taking some gains in a high cost, low growth environment.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Vulcan, Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths 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 Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN) share price is in focus today after the company reported a lift in both mass market electricity and gas sales to 319 GWh in November 2025, up from 290 GWh a year ago. Wholesale contracted electricity sales also rose to 845 GWh from 733 GWh, showing growth across both its Customer and Wholesale businesses.

What did Contact Energy report?

• Mass market electricity and gas sales reached 319 GWh (up from 290 GWh in November 2024)
• Wholesale contracted electricity sales jumped to 845 GWh (733 GWh in November 2024)
• Average electricity sales price was $353.82/MWh (previously $307.43/MWh)
• Unit generation cost rose to $39.62/MWh (from $34.43/MWh a year earlier)
• Customer netback improved to $138.75/MWh (up from $134.39/MWh)
• Total customer connections grew to 667,000 (from 635,000)

What else do investors need to know?

Contact Energy has several renewable energy projects underway, including the Glenbrook-Ohurua battery project (expected online Q1 2026), Kowhai Park Solar (expected Q2 2026), and Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal project (expected Q3 2027). These investments total over $1 billion and reflect the company’s focus on low-carbon energy solutions and future growth.

Hydro storage levels remained strong, with South Island and North Island controlled storage well above long-term averages as of December 2025. Nationwide electricity demand was up 4.1% versus November 2024, signalling a generally positive market environment for the company.

What’s next for Contact Energy?

Contact Energy is pressing ahead with its major development projects, which are expected to bolster renewable output and further diversify its generation mix. The company continues to manage gas contracts and energy storage closely, positioning itself to meet rising demand and future-proof its operations.

ESG remains a priority, with ongoing investment in emissions reduction, water management, biodiversity, and community initiatives. Investors should watch for further project updates and operational data in the coming quarters.

Contact Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Contact Energy shares have declined 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Contact Energy reports lift in November sales and renewable projects progress appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Meridian Energy lifts hydro storage and sales in November 2025 update
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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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.

Most ASX investors would turn their heads at a stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that returned close to 20% over more than nine years.

Investing in ASX shares has always generated inflation-beating, wealth-building returns for long-term investors. But those that invest in ASX index funds are used to an average return of something like 8.5% per annum over the past few decades. Those are get-rich-slow kinds of returns, not get-rich-quick.

But at 17.8% per annum, those lines begin to blur.

Yes, that’s the return that the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK) has generated for its investors since this ASX ETF’s inception in August of 2016 (as of 28 November). Yep, HACK units have gone from the ~$5 per unit level they floated at back then to the $14.84 the fund commanded on 28 November. Adding in the divided distributions that HACK had paid out along the way, and we get to that magic 17.8% figure.

More recent years have been even more lucrative for owners of the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF. HACK units have returned an average of 22.84% per annum over the three years to 28 November.

As the name implies, this ASX ETF invests in a global portfolio of the leading companies in the cybersecurity space. Most of its holdings (about 79%) are US stocks, but countries like India, Israel, France and Canada are also represented. Some of its major holdings include Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet.

The risks and rewards of this ASX ETF

Past performance is never a guarantee of future success. But let’s talk about one reason investors might wish to buy this ETF, and one reason they might wish to avoid it.

First, the good. Cybersecurity is obviously a growth industry. Every year, more and more of our personal lives, business, government interactions and commerce move to the internet. This is a trend that is unlikely to abate anytime soon. Individuals, governments, and businesses are thus arguably going to be willing to spend more and more money on protecting their customers’ and clients’ personal information, not to mention their own reputations, from threats going forward.

We know how much a company’s reputation can be damaged by a cybersecurity breach. Just ask Optus.

These trends should benefit the companies in the Betasahres Global Cybersecurity ETF immensely if so. And that bodes well for this ETF’s continuing prosperity.

But what of the downsides? Well, this ETF represents one very narrow and concentrated corner of the global economy, with no real diversification.

If some kind of crisis or black swan event engulfs one or more of HACK’s major holdings, it could result in a permanent loss of capital for investors. Unlike broad-market index funds, there are no companies from other corners of the economy to dilute this risk and provide the strength of diversification.

Of course, it’s impossible to know what that risk might be. But we do know that only investing in one corner of the economy comes with inherent risk. That’s why, if I bought this ETF, I would keep it as a small slice of a diversified stock portfolio.

The post Meet the ASX ETF that has returned 17.8% for 9 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 3 exciting ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 20 years
• 2 ASX stocks I’m very bullish about for the next decade

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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, Cisco Systems, and Fortinet. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom and Palo Alto Networks. 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.