Category: Stock Market

Wondering which ASX blue chip shares to buy 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:

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL)

Catapult Wealth is feeling bearish about private health giant Medibank and has named it as a sell.

It has concerns about rising cost pressures, which it feels have created a challenging outlook for the company. It said:

MPL is a private health insurer. The Federal Government is attempting to encourage private health insurers to increase payments to private hospitals. Net profit after tax of $500.8 million in fiscal year 2025 was up a modest 1.7 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Profit before tax of $728.8 million was up 2.4 per cent. The company was recently trading on an annual dividend yield of 3.9 per cent. The risk of increasing cost pressures paints a challenging outlook. The shares have fallen from $5.26 on August 21 to trade at $4.545 on December 4.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The team at Sanlam Private Wealth has put a sell rating on the shares of airline operator Qantas.

It feels that its earnings growth outlook is now more modest than in previous years and its fleet investments will require significant capital. In light of this, it feels that the Flying Kangaroo’s shares are now overvalued. Sanlam Private Wealth said:

The share price has run ahead of fundamentals, making it vulnerable to any possible downgrades, in our view. We believe the outlook for earnings growth is modest compared to the recent past. Fleet renewal plans and sustainability investments require substantial capital, which could potentially mute shareholder returns moving forward. The shares have risen from $8.02 on April 9 to trade at $9.74 on December 4, so investors may want to consider cashing in some gains.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

One ASX share that Catapult Wealth is feeling positive on is Xero. It has recommended the cloud accounting platform provider as a buy.

It was impressed with its performance during the first half of FY 2026 and believes that recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. Especially given the potential for a meaningful re-rating of its share price if the US business starts to kick into gear. It said:

XRO is a global accounting software provider. Average revenue per user was up 15 per cent in the first half of 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. EBITDA was up 21 per cent. Rolling out bank feed connections in the United States will be a tail wind moving forward. In our view, the recent fall in the share price reflects a short-sighted assessment of revenue and subscriber growth rates. The US payments opportunity is significant, and any signs of successful execution and acceleration in growth will drive a meaningful re-rate.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Medibank, Qantas, and Xero shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Some of the most compelling investments to own could be ASX small-cap stocks that are undervalued by the market.

Fund manager Wilson Asset Management has outlined two businesses in the WAM Microcap Ltd (ASX: WMI) portfolio that could be good performers in the coming years.

WAM Microcap, a listed investment company (LIC), is looking for the “most exciting undervalued growth opportunities in the Australian micro-cap market”.

Let’s take a look at which small businesses WAM likes.

Stealth Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SGI)

The fund manager described Stealth Group Holdings as a diversified, multi-channel distribution business that supplies industrial, hardware, safety and consumer products to trade and retail customers across Australia.

During November 2025, the Stealth Group Holdings share price increased sharply (up 60%) after the company announced the acquisition of Hardware & Building Traders (HBT), Australia’s largest privately-owned hardware and industrial buying group.

The acquisition significantly increased the ASX small-cap stock’s scale, expanding distribution points from 32 to more than 1,200 independent retail and trade stores in Australia, raising purchasing volume by approximately $700 million and adding around 490 suppliers in the ecosystem.

The company increased its FY28 targets to more than $500 million in sales and provided profit margin targets that imply up to $40 million in net profit after tax (NPAT). The fund manager believes these targets are “relatively conservative” in the context of the “significant synergy potential and the company’s ability to undertake further acquisitions over time, none of which are included in these targets”.

Wilson Asset Management concluded on the ASX small-cap stock:

Whilst the share price increased by more than 60% over the month as investors priced in stronger medium-term growth and returns from the enlarged platform, we continue to see substantial re-rating potential.

EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML)

WAM described EML Payments as a global payments solutions company that powers business processes “seamlessly for growth and exceptional customer experiences”.

During the month, the EML Payments share price fell 11% after the company revealed operating trends that were weaker than expected at its annual general meeting (AGM).

The company’s FY26 first quarter update revealed a decline of underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of approximately 42% year over year, as well as a small decline in revenue. But, the company did reaffirm its full-year EBITDA guidance.

WAM noted that the update was interpreted by the market as a “weak” trading result, with soft top-line momentum.

Why does the fund manager like the ASX small-cap stock, considering these headwinds? WAM said:

Led by Chief Executive Officer Anthony Hynes, we continue to have confidence in his ability to execute on the turnaround and drive a re-rating of the share price.

The EML share price is now down around 30% in the past six months, making it a lot cheaper for interested investors.

The post 2 ASX small-cap stocks this fund manager thinks are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Wam Microcap. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended EML Payments. 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.

ASX mining stocks have been on fire lately, with rising global commodity prices and booming demand pushing share prices higher.

Two major companies grabbing headline attention recently are iron ore mining giant Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) and diversified base metal miner South32 Ltd (ASX: S32). Both miners have enjoyed a steep share price uptick over the past 6 months. But when it comes to 2026, it looks like only one ASX mining stock is tipped to continue climbing. 

Are Fortescue shares a buy?

At the time of writing on Tuesday morning, Fortescue shares are 0.59% higher at $22.21 a piece. Over the past 6 months, the stock has rocketed 41.7% higher and is now up 18.05% for the year to date.

The iron ore mining giant’s shares have been boosted by the recent resilience of the global iron ore price. Iron Ore fell to US$106.42 per tonne yesterday, down 0.76% from the previous day. Over the past month, Iron ore’s price has risen 2.36%, and is up 0.08% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity.

In its September quarter results, the miner reported that it had increased its total iron ore shipments up 4% to a new record level. Fortescue also said that for FY26, it is sticking to its guidance of 195–205Mt in total shipments, and plans to keep costs tight. 

It’s been a great year for the iron ore miner, and its share price has reaped a hefty reward. But I’m concerned that as a miner which is so reliant on the iron ore industry, any pull-pack in iron ore prices over the next 12 months could be devastating for the business.

Analysts are on the fence too. TradingView data shows the majority have a hold rating (9 out of 15) on Fortescue shares. Another 5 have a sell or strong sell rating. The average target price for the shares is $19.02, although some think it could fall to $16.20 over the next 12 months. This implies a potential downside as large as 26.9%, at the time of writing.

Are South32 shares a buy?

At the time of writing on Tuesday morning, South32 shares are down 0.15% to $3.40 each. Over the past 6 months, the stock price has climbed 12.01%, but unlike Fortescue, South32 shares are currently trading 1.73% lower than they were at the beginning of the year.

In its September quarterly report, the producer reported another strong period of operating performance. Its production highlights included a 12% increase on payable copper at Sierra Gorda, and a 33% uplift in manganese volumes. South32 has kept its FY26 production guidance unchanged across all of its operations.

Unlike Fortescue, which is heavily focused on iron ore, South32 produces essential base metals and minerals like aluminium, copper, zinc, and many others. The BHP spin-off is also focused on high-quality, low-cost assets and is transitioning towards critical metals for the energy transition. 

It’s this diversity that means the company is well positioned to benefit from rising demand and prices of a range of different metals and minerals. It also means the business is able to hedge itself against volatility in any one market. 

Analysts are bullish on the ASX mining stock too. Data shows 9 out of 14 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on South32’s shares. The maximum target price is $3.91, which implies a potential 14.4% upside ahead for investors, at the time of writing. 

Which is the better ASX mining stock right now?

It looks clear to me that South32 shares have a much better potential for growth compared to Fortescue shares. While both have benefitted from the latest rally in global commodity pricing, South32’s diversity helps and growth plans mean it looks like a better investment opportunity for investors right now.

The post Best ASX mining stock to buy right now: Fortescue or South32? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares are lower on Tuesday, down 0.3% to 8,551.9 points.

Here are three ASX 300 shares that have hit fresh 52-week low share prices, yet have buy ratings from the experts.

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

This ASX 300 retail share has a market capitalisation of $565 million.

The Accent share price is 94 cents, down 1.05% on Tuesday. This is a new 52-week low.

Accent is an Australian footwear retailer that owns several popular brands.

They include The Athlete’s Foot, Hoka, HypeDC, Platypus, Vans and Skechers.

After a trading update last month, Goldman Sachs reiterated its buy rating on Accent shares.

Accent revealed a 3.7% lift in sales during the first 20 weeks of FY26. This includes wholesale sales and sales from new stores.

On a same-store basis, sales were down 0.4% on the prior corresponding period.

Goldman Sachs analyst James Leigh put a 12-month price target range of $1.20 to $1.70 on Accent shares.

This implies a potential upside of between 27% and 81% in the new year.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

This ASX 300 communications share has a market capitalisation of $26 billion.

REA owns the popular realestate.com.au property listings portal.

The REA share price is $195, up 0.6%, on Tuesday.

Last Friday, the REA share price hit a new 52-week low of $189.14.

Morgans has an accumulate rating on REA shares with a 12-month price target of $247 per share.

This implies a potential upside of 27% in the new year.

After REA’s 1Q FY26 trading update, Morgans commented:

REA’s 1Q26 trading update benefited from a strong yield outcome (+13%), which helped to offset a softer new listings environment in the period (volumes down -8% vs the pcp).

Group revenue was A$429m (+4% on pcp), with EBITDA (ex assoc.) up 5% on pcp to A$254m.

Given REA is trading on ~42x FY26F PE (MorgansE), broadly in line with its 10-year historical average, and now with >10% TSR upside to our valuation we upgrade REA to ACCUMULATE.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

This ASX 300 financial share has a market capitalisation of $18 billion.

The Suncorp share price is $16.89, down 0.4%, on Tuesday.

Last Friday, the Suncorp share price hit a fresh 52-week low of $16.63 per share.

UBS has a buy rating on Suncorp shares with a 12-month price target of $22.

This implies a potential 30% upside over the next year for this ASX 300 insurance share.

The broker lowered its earnings forecast for Suncorp recently due to several weather events creating a rise in insurance claims.

The post 3 buy-rated ASX 300 shares at 52-week lows 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 positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

We recently looked at three ASX 200 shares that the team at Bell Potter is bullish on and has named as top picks for December. You can read about those shares here.

Two more of the best shares to buy this month according to the broker are listed below. Here’s why it is bullish on these names:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

A new addition this month is sports technology company Catapult Sports. The broker highlights that the company recently started to consistently generate positive EBITDA and free cash flow, and believes this can continue as it capitalises on the significant under penetration of its technology in elite sport.

In addition, Bell Potter likes the company due to its strong recurring revenue, recent acquisitions, and attractive valuation. It explains:

CAT is a leading global provider of athlete-tracking and performance analytics, supported by a recurring revenue base (~94% of total revenue) and a long runway for market penetration. CAT continues to execute a simple but effective strategy, growing its installed base, retaining customers, and steadily lifting contract value through additional modules and integrated workflows. Recent acquisitions have strengthened its position in scouting and tactical analytics, improving cross-sell potential, particularly across its large football customer base, and helping shift the product suite from point solutions to a unified system.

Importantly, CAT is now consistently generating positive EBITDA and FCF, marking a clear shift in the maturity of the business and supporting greater operating leverage as subscription revenue scales. Following a recent share price pullback, the stock screens more attractively relative to its growth outlook, and we see scope for a re-rate as management sustains cash generation and continues to capitalise on the significant under penetration of wearables and analytics across elite sport.

Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)

Another new addition is furniture retailer Nick Scali. It likes the ASX 200 share due to its positive growth outlook, which is being underpinned by a structural opportunity in the UK market.

Bell Potter sees a significant expansion opportunity in the UK, which it thinks could support double-digit revenue growth through to FY 2028. It also feels that the company is well-placed to benefit from recent interest rate cuts. It said:

Nick Scali (NCK) offers a strong growth profile in the small-cap consumer space, underpinned by its structural opportunity in the UK. Early traction from the initial store roll-out validates the brand’s value proposition in a less fragmented market. Our analyst sees potential for ~60 UK stores, roughly a 3x expansion on the current footprint, supporting a group revenue CAGR of 10% out to FY28 with the largest growth of ~20% coming from the newly acquired UK business. We expect to see the realisation of operating leverage as the international network scales.

In Australia, steady market share gains in the core Nick Scali brand have helped offset a still mixed macro backdrop, while continued expansion of the Plush brand provides another growth lever. NCK’s high-quality earnings model screens well relative to global home furnishing peers, with supportive demand catalysts including improving consumer sentiment and an uplift in household goods spending following rate cuts in 2025. We expect 1H earnings to benefit from favourable 2Q26 comps and expect the UK roll-out and ongoing market share gains to drive the next leg of earnings growth and support a rerate.

The post Bell Potter names more of the best ASX 200 shares to buy in December 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 Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nick Scali. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) is trading at $73.66 per unit, down 0.24% on Tuesday.

This ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) is all about growth, and it’s a bit unusual in how it invests its funds.

Instead of seeking to track the performance of single index, like most ETFs do, it invests in scores of other ETFs.

This compounds the number of stocks that it’s exposed to. In the end, it’s actually invested in more than 16,000 shares.

Talk about diversification!

Some investors may feel this is too much diversification, while others may feel this lowers the risk.

The VDHG ETF has a strategic allocation of 90% growth assets, such as shares, and 10% defensives, such as bonds.

Vanguard explains the ETF’s purpose:

The ETF provides low-cost access to a range of sector funds, offering broad diversification across multiple asset classes.

The ETF invests mainly into growth assets, and is designed for investors with a high tolerance for risk who are seeking long-term capital growth.

VDHG ETF’s make up is 36% ASX shares, 26.5% unhedged international shares, 16% hedged overseas shares, 7% international fixed interest (hedged), 6.5% international small companies, 5% emerging markets, and 3% Aussie fixed interest.

There’s a management fee of 0.27% per year.

So, if you invested $10,000 in the VDHG ETF five years ago, where would your investment be today?

Let’s do the maths…

$10,000 in VDHG ETF 5 years ago…

On 9 December 2020, the VDHG ETF closed at $57.98 apiece.

If you had put $10,000 into VDHG then, it would have bought you 172 units (for $9,972.56).

There’s been a capital gain of $15.68 per unit since that time. This equates to $2,696.96 in dollar terms.

Thus, your VDHG holding is now worth $12,669.52.

Although this ETF is focused on growth, it still pays distributions (or dividends) every quarter.

Since 9 December 2020, VDHG has paid distributions of just over 1,439 cents per unit.

So, you’ve also received $2,475.08 in income over the past five years.

In this example, we’ve assumed you took your dividends as cash.

But the VDHG does have a dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) if you prefer to keep reinvesting your dividends in more stock.

Total annual returns…

Your capital gain of $12,669.52 plus $2,475.08 in dividends gives you a total dollar return of $15,144.60 over the past five years.

As stated earlier, you invested $9,972.56 buying your 172 VDHG ETF units in 2020.

This means you have received a total return, in percentage terms, of just over 51%, or an average annual return of 10.4%.

This fits with VDHG’s long-term pattern.

Since its inception date on 20 November 2017, the ETF has produced a gross average annual total return of 10.1%, or 9.8% after fees.

The post $10,000 invested in VDHG ETF 5 years ago is now worth… 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP) share price is in free fall today.

Shares in the beleaguered S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) auto parts company closed yesterday trading for $2.35. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $1.91 each, down 18.7%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.3% at this same time.

Here’s what’s got investors reaching for their sell buttons.

Bapcor share price tanks on lower guidance

The Bapcor share price is under heavy pressure today after the company released updated guidance for the first half of FY 2026 as well as for the full FY 2026 year. And as you can guess by the market’s reaction today, the revised guidance was to the downside.

The company said that its trading performance in October and November was “below expectation”.

Bapcor’s Trade segment was a particular drag on performance. Management said that revenue fell year on year in tools and equipment, noting that parts revenue managed to grow “modestly”.

Part of the headwinds hitting the Bapcor share price arise as the company’s Trade business has been investing in pricing across specific parts categories to regain Bapcor’s market share. The company noted that these price reductions have crimped profit margins in the short term, while they are expected to drive volume growth in the future.

With the weaker-than-expected trading performance in October and November in mind, Bapcor said it now expects statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) for 1H FY 2026 to be a loss in the range of $5 million to $8 million.

Bapcor expects underlying NPAT for 1H26 (before one-off/non-recurring items) to be in the range of $5 million to $8 million.

As for the full 2026 financial year, the company now expects statutory NPAT to be in the range of $31 million to $36 million. That excludes the potential 1H26 impairment associated with the company’s New Zealand segment.

The company expects underlying NPAT for FY 2026 (before the anticipated 1H26 one-off/non-recurring items) to be in the range of $44 million to $49 million.

What did management say?

Commenting on the performance update that’s pressuring the Bapcor share price today, CEO Angus McKay said, “The weaker operational performance in October and November is disappointing.”

Looking ahead, McKay added:

Although, the turnaround of the business is more challenging and taking longer than expected we are committed to doing the difficult work that will result in a stronger, more sustainable company.

I am excited by the appointment of Craig Magill and Dean Austin to key EGM roles in the Trade and Retail segments respectively. Craig has significant Bapcor and automotive experience and Dean brings extensive retailing and merchandising experience.

With today’s intraday losses factored in, the Bapcor share price is down a painful 58.7% in 2025.

The post Why is the Bapcor share price crashing 19% on Tuesday? 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is down 0.3% today despite the best efforts of this rocketing ASX 300 healthcare share.

The surging stock in question is clinical-stage biotech company Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM).

Immutep shares closed yesterday trading for 25.5 cents. In early morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for 32.5 cents apiece, up 27.5%.

This outperformance follows news of a new strategic collaboration.

Here’s what’s happening.

ASX 300 healthcare share surges on global expansion potential

Investors are piling into Immutep shares today after the ASX 300 healthcare share reported that it has entered into a strategic collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with an Indian-based global pharmaceutical company, Dr. Reddy’s.

The agreement is for the development and commercialisation of Immutep’s Eftilagimod Alfa (efti) cancer treatment in all countries outside North America, Europe, Japan, and Greater China.

The ASX 300 healthcare share will retain its rights on efti in those markets. Immutep also retains all its global manufacturing rights for efti across all markets. The company will supply the product to Dr. Reddy’s in the licensed markets.

Immutep describes efti as a novel immunotherapy with the potential to set a new standard of care in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and chemotherapy as first-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

The company highlighted that efti is also being investigated in other indications, including head and neck cancer, breast cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma.

Under the agreement with Dr. Reddy’s, Immutep will receive an upfront payment of US$20 million (AU$30.2 million). The company said it may also receive potential regulatory development and commercial milestone payments of up to US$349.5 million, as well as double-digit royalties on commercial sales in these markets.

What did management say?

Commenting on the collaboration sending the ASX 300 healthcare share rocketing today, Immutep CEO Marc Voigt said, “This agreement with Dr. Reddy’s marks a significant milestone for Immutep and further validates the potential of efti.”

Voigt continued:

Dr. Reddy’s proven capabilities and reach in the licensed markets make them an ideal partner to maximise the impact of our innovation and serve a large number of patients across the globe.

Additionally, this partnership allows us to capture significant value for efti in the licensed markets, while retaining full rights in key markets such as North America, Europe, and Japan, and ensures we remain very well-positioned for future value creation.

M.V. Ramana, CEO Branded Markets Dr. Reddy’s, noted, “”This collaboration marks our continuous efforts to deliver first-in-class and innovative therapies for cancer treatment.”

Ramana added:

Through this agreement, we look forward to leveraging our expertise and strong market access to advance the development and commercialisation of this promising cancer therapy in the licensed markets.

The post Guess which ASX 300 healthcare share is rocketing 28% on global expansion news 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 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.

St George Mining Ltd (ASX: SGQ) has been one of the standout performers on the ASX in 2025.

Overall, shares in this ASX rare earths stock have rocketed by 350% since the start of the year to $0.09 per share at the time of writing.

This compares with a 5.03% rise for the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) across the same period.

In essence, the company is focused on brining to production its Araxá rare earths and niobium project in Brazil.

Araxá already hosts a “world class” mineral resource containing 1.7 million tonnes of total rare earths oxide (TREO) and 280,000 tonnes of niobium.

It also features shallow free-digging mineralisation that could potentially support an open pit mining operation.

The company’s ambition to build a mine received a boost in October through a major $72.5 million capital raise.

Notably, this cash injection was headlined by a strategic $22.5 million investment from mining billionaire Gina Rinehart via her Hancock Prospecting business.

The funds are now supporting a series of works designed to move Araxá closer to mining, including a mineral resource upgrade and economic evaluation.

And on Monday, the company released what it described as “exceptional” drill results that could underpin a significant increase to Araxá’s resource base.

What happened?

St George has already reported a series of significant rare earths and niobium intercepts from ongoing resource expansion drilling at Araxá.

The ASX mining stock now appears to have added another string to its bow with the most recent results unveiled yesterday.

New assays included the thickest high-grade intercept drilled at the project so far, consisting of 115.65 metres at 3.34% TREO and 0.34% niobium.

The latest drilling also delivered 100.1m at 3.96% TREO and 0.40% niobium, as well as 79.7m at 3.69% TREO and 0.40% niobium.

Management believes the results showcase strong continuity of shallow and high-grade mineralisation over broad intervals.

In turn, these outcomes could potentially support a substantial increase in total tonnage and overall grade for Araxá’s mineral resource.

St George Mining executive chairman, John Prineas, commented:

The Araxá Project is delivering exactly what we set out to achieve – consistent, high-grade results that expand the project’s scale and strengthen our confidence in what already is an exceptional, world-class Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).

He added:

Drilling continues to deliver an extension of high-grade mineralisation to the west of the MRE footprint to demonstrate that the mineral system is open and extends beyond previously defined limits. We are excited about the pending results from further drilling completed in this area to the west of the MRE.

What next for the ASX mining stock?

The high-grade mineralisation at Araxá remains open in all directions, including at depth.

Results from a further 32 completed drill holes are expected later this year.

In addition, drilling at Araxá continues around the clock with another 25 holes scheduled for this year.

St George also plans to expand the drilling into 2026.

The post This soaring ASX mining stock backed by billionaire Gina Rinehart just unveiled “exceptional” news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bart Bogacz 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.

The Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price closed 1.23% higher on Monday afternoon, at $4.95 a piece. Over the past year the Australian telecommunications company’s shares have jumped 23.5% higher.

What’s impressive is that after a 21% increase for the first 6 months of 2025, the share price has remained incredibly stable with just small fluctuations.

When compared to ASX powerhouses like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) or evening banking giant Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (ASX: WBC), the Telstra share price has far outperformed.

Over the past 12 months, BHP shares have climbed 9.56%, Coles shares have risen 14.52%, and Westpac shares have stormed 16.34% higher. These are all fantastic annual gains, but none are as steep as Telstra’s red hot 23.5% increase.

What has pushed the Telstra share price higher this year?

Telstra is a defensive stock, which means the company that tends to perform steadily, regardless of the stage of the economic cycle. After all, mobile and internet connections in households and businesses are no longer a luxury but a necessity. Investors are aware of this and many have been buying the stock to help hedge against potential volatility elsewhere. 

This is evident in the company’s financial results this year too. The business has reported strong growth throughout 2025. Its first half FY25 results in February showed strong earnings growth across almost all of its products, improved operating profit, higher returns for shareholders and plans to improve its network coverage.

The telco giant’s full-year results in August also showed stronger underlying growth and financial performance. At the time the company also said it expected year-on-year growth to continue. 

The Telstra share price has also been supported by the company’s dividends, which give its investors a reliable passive cashflow. As one of the most reliable passive income stocks on the index, it’s a popular choice with investors seeking passive income. Telstra has paid out a steadily increasing dividend yield for several years, including during the COVID pandemic period.

Is there any more upside ahead?

After a robust 2025, analysts are pretty optimistic about the outlook for Telstra shares over the next 12 months too. TradingView data shows that out of 8 analysts, 4 have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. Another 4 analysts have a hold rating.

Analysts expect the share price could rise as high as $5.40, which implies a potential 9.09% upside for investors at the time of writing.

The post Up 24% in a year! The red-hot Telstra share price is smashing BHP, Westpac and Coles appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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