Category: Stock Market

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the diversified S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) conglomerate – whose retail subsidiaries include Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart Australia, Officeworks and Priceline – closed on Friday trading for $83.99. During the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $82.40 each, down 0.7%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% at this same time, pressured by a new round of global tariff threats from United States President Donald Trump over the weekend.

Taking a step back, Wesfarmers shares have gained 8.5% over the past 12 months, not including dividends. The stock trades on a fully franked dividend yield (partly trailing, partly pending) of 2.5%.

Now, here are four reasons you might want to pick up some shares today.

Should you buy Wesfarmers shares today?

Shaw and Partners’ Jed Richards recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 conglomerate (courtesy of The Bull).

The first reason he has a buy recommendation on Wesfarmers shares is one that legendary investor Warren Buffett would most likely agree with. Buffett, as you may recall, famously advises, “A great manager is as important as a great business.”

As for Wesfarmers, Richards noted, “This industrial conglomerate remains one of the best managed companies in Australia.”

Richards added:

Its management team consistently demonstrates smart capital allocation and a disciplined acquisition strategy amid maintaining a strong oversight on operations across its diverse group of businesses. This quality of leadership gives me confidence that Wesfarmers can continue delivering long term value, even through changing economic conditions.

The second reason Richards is bullish on the stock is the diversification it offers.

“Its diversified revenue streams across retail, chemicals and industrial operations also provide resilience that few companies can match,” he noted.

And Richards’ third reason for his buy recommendation relates to Wesfarmers’ strong half year (H1 FY 2026) results.

According to Ricards:

The company posted its first half results for fiscal year 2026 on February 19. Revenue of $24.212 billion was up 3.1% on the prior corresponding period. Statutory net profit after tax of $1.603 billion increased 9.3%.

And I’ll add a fourth reason you might want to buy Wesfarmers shares today. Though depending on when you’re reading this, you’ll have to be quick!

When the company reported its half year results last Thursday, management declared a fully-franked interim dividend of $1.02 per share, up 7.4%.

And Wesfarmers stock trades ex-dividend tomorrow, 24 February.

So if you want to score that passive income payout, you’ll need to own shares at market close. You can then expect to receive that Wesfarmers dividend on 31 March.

The post 4 reasons to buy Wesfarmers shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 of the best Aussie stocks I would buy
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2030 for Wesfarmers shares
• 2 more ASX 200 blue chip stocks that increased dividends this week
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• Buy, hold, sell: Lovisa, Wesfarmers, and Rio Tinto shares

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. 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 tough start to the week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.5% to 9,038.2 points.

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

Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6)

The Clarity Pharmaceuticals share price is up 12% to $3.92. This morning, the company announced another patient in its SECuRE Phase II trial achieved undetectable disease following treatment with its 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA therapy. Clarity’s executive chair, Dr Alan Taylor, said: “The momentum of data we are generating with our lead SAR-bisPSMA product in both theranostic and diagnostic trials is strong, with excellent results to date on all fronts. We are beyond excited to see yet another patient achieve undetectable disease following their 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA treatments.”

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is up 17% to $8.57. This follows the release of the defence company’s FY 2025 results. EOS reported revenue from continuing operations of $128.5 million, which is down 27% year on year. However, looking ahead, management revealed that its unconditional order book stood at $459 million on 31 December 2025. This is up 238% from $136 million a year earlier. Importantly, EOS aims to realise 40% to 50% of the current order book during 2026.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is up 16% to $1.58. Investors have been buying this investigative analytics and intelligence software provider’s shares after it released its half-year results. Nuix reported an 8.4% increase in annualised contract value (ACV) to $234.4 million. A key driver of this has been the Nuix Neo offering, which reported ACV growth of 148% year on year to $46.8 million. It now represents 20% of the company’s total ACV. Commenting on the AI threat, Nuix’s interim CEO, John Ruthven, said: “The rapidly evolving AI landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for enterprise software companies. Nuix is well positioned to capitalise on these dynamics through our BYO AI framework, which allows customers to integrate their preferred AI models whilst Nuix Neo provides the critical enterprise infrastructure required by regulated industries.”

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

The Reece share price is up 16% to $16.15. This follows the release of the plumbing parts company’s half-year results. Reece reported a 6% increase in revenue to $4,648 million but a 20% decline in net profit after tax to $144 million. The latter is better than Morgans was expecting. It was forecasting a 22.9% decline in net profit to $139.5 million.

The post Why Clarity Pharmaceuticals, EOS, Nuix, and Reece shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why are EOS shares rocketing 17% today?
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• Reece HY26 results: Profit falls despite higher sales revenue
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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

Shares in gold and antimony project developer Nova Minerals Ltd (ASX: NVA) have held up in the face of an attack from a short seller, which claims the company’s value could fall to zero.

Over the weekend, Spruce Point Management issued a research report on Nova Minerals, casting doubt on the company’s ability to bring its Estelle project in Alaska into development.

Claim Nova’s not up to the task

Spruce Point, which is a short seller and would stand to gain from a fall in Nova’s shares, said it had looked at the company’s project and management, and concluded that “investor expectations are too high”.

They went on to say:

While the mining exploration and resource production business is notoriously risky with many factors outside of the company’s control, we express concerns with management’s lack of consistent focus, inability to meet deadlines, and difficulties realising value in previously promoted strategic investments. We estimate that Nova’s share price has near-term downside risk of approximately 45% – 60% but under certain scenarios, including a potential loss of a $43.5m Department of War award, up to 100% downside and we believe it is likely to significantly underperform the junior gold mining index.

Spruce said there were significant challenges in bringing the Estelle project to fruition, including the harsh Alaskan environment, and also cast doubt on whether the geologist who signed off on Nova’s resource estimations even exists.

Nova: Report is hogwash

Nova’s three-page response to the report says that, while it sees a place for short selling in a functioning market, the claims put forward by Spruce were incorrect.

The company said:

The majority of the report consists of statements that are historical, selective, or non-material, and whether accurate or not, are wholly irrelevant to the Company’s operations, assets, or prospects. The company will not be responding to these statements and provides the following examples for context only.  

One example cited by Nova was regarding Spruce’s claim that “Alaska is cold, receives snowfall, has harsh weather conditions, lacks urban infrastructure in its mountainous interior, and that some community members oppose development.”

The company went on to say:

The company can confirm that all of this is true and has been true for quite some time. Alaska’s climate and geography have been well documented since at least 1867, when the United States purchased the territory. These are inherent characteristics of resource development in Alaska and have been consistently disclosed by the company. Every major gold mine operating in Alaska today was developed in the same conditions.

Nova also confirmed that other companies had previously held its mining claims, but said that it had invested more than $100 million in exploration and development at the project, and added that the company’s US$43.4 million grant from the Department of War followed a rigorous two-year due diligence project.

Nova added:

A refinery site has been secured, procurement of key mining and processing equipment is well underway, with initial deliveries to site imminent, and first production targeted for late 2026/2027. At the same time, the company is also progressing its pre-feasibility study on one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold deposits.

The company also confirmed that the consulting geologist who had signed off on the company’s reports was registered with the Australian Institute of Geologists.

Nova shares were 2.7% higher in early trade at 77 cents. Nova was valued at $342.1 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post A short-seller attack has failed to dent this gold developer’s prospects appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shares in Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) are trading higher after the company reported higher first-half revenue but lower profits, in a period management characterised as a “resetting” phase for the business.

In a statement to the ASX on Monday, Adairs said revenue was up 5.9% to $329 million for the first half, while gross margin fell 120 basis points to 57.7% and net profit was 33.8% lower at $12.8 million.

The company added:

Adairs sales and margin gained momentum through Q2 after a challenging Q1 where heavy clearance activity was undertaken. Mocka achieved another outstanding result and is poised to accelerate further with the opening of retail stores. The management changes at Focus on Furniture provides the opportunity to reset operations and strategy to unlock the potential of this business.

Breaking down the results

The Adairs division delivered first-half sales of $229.4 million, up 4%, supported, the company said, by strong execution through sales events including Black Friday, Christmas, and Boxing Day.

Underlying earnings of $18.6 million were down 10%, primarily attributable to Q1 clearance sales, the company said.

During the half, two new stores were opened, two were upsized and refurbished, and one closed.

In the Focus on Furniture division, sales were up 1% to $63.1 million while like for like sales declined 3.3%.

In the Mocka division, sales hit a record $36.5 million, up 29.8%, “driven by product innovation and effective customer acquisition strategies, particularly in Australia”, Adairs said.

Adairs added:

Australian sales increased +44.5%, with customers responding to on-trend, great-value new ranges. New Zealand returned to growth, with sales up +8.2%, supported by new product and continued positive results from the shop-in-shop trial, which contributed $1.2 million in sales.

Mocka will open its first standalone retail store in May this year, the company said.

Managing director Elle Roseby said regarding the results that they were heading in the right direction.

Whilst the results across the brands were mixed, I’m pleased with the material progress we have made and the significant decisions we have actioned to reposition and reset our businesses. This work positions us well for sales growth, margin expansion and earnings improvement into 2H. Specifically, I’m pleased with the extent to which we were able to clear excess inventory in Q1 at Adairs, leading to improved performance in Q2. At Focus on Furniture we have made the important changes to the leadership team which allows us to reset our operational approach and strategy. Finally, I’m delighted with the continued growth at Mocka and the opportunity that gives us to open our first standalone retail store for Mocka in 2H

Adairs shares were trading 4.1% higher at $1.898 on Monday morning. The company was valued at $320.9 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post This retailer’s shares are up despite mixed results, as the business goes through a reset period appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) shares are soaring on Monday.

At the time of writing, the ASX gold stock is up 33% to a 52-week high of 56 cents.

Why is this ASX gold stock surging?

The catalyst for today’s explosive move is the release of a major strategic funding agreement that significantly strengthens the company’s balance sheet and accelerates development of its flagship gold project.

According to the release, the ASX gold stock has signed a $220 million strategic funding package with Canadian gold royalties and streaming giant Franco-Nevada Corp (NYSE: FNV) to accelerate and de-risk the development of the 4.5Moz Bullabulling gold project located 65km from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

Management notes that the funding has been secured on highly attractive terms, which it believes validates the quality of Bullabulling as one of Australia’s leading gold development projects.

In exchange for $170 million, Franco-Nevada Corp will increase its total royalty over the project to 2.45%. This compares to a 1% royalty that currently exists over certain project tenements.

Franco-Nevada Corp will also invest $50 million by subscribing for approximately 111 million Minerals 260 shares at an issue price of 45 cents per new share. This was a 7% premium to its last closing price.

The gold giant will hold 4.9% of shares on issue following this investment.

Commenting on the funding package, the ASX gold stock’s managing director, Luke McFadyen, said:

This is a fantastic outcome for Minerals 260 and our shareholders. Securing a $220 million funding package with the world’s leading gold royalty company at this early stage of Bullabulling’s development is a major endorsement of the project and a milestone that will allow us to accelerate the Project towards production, expand our exploration strategy and de-risk our funding pathway.

Franco-Nevada is an existing royalty holder and expanding our relationship with this financing is highly value accretive relative to other available funding options. Their extensive due diligence across all areas of the Project validates Bullabulling as one of the leading gold projects in Australia.

Franco-Nevada’s president and chief executive officer, Paul Brink, added:

Bullabulling is a large and growing orebody and one of the most attractive gold development projects in Australia. After a full review by our team of the rapid and impressive progress made by Minerals 260, we are excited to increase our exposure to the Project.

The post Why is this ASX gold stock surging 33% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Data#3 shares fall 6% despite steady profit growth
• Why are ASX 300 tech stock Nuix shares jumping 27% in Monday’s falling market?
• Regis Resources lifts underground reserves at Tropicana Gold Mine
• Why are EOS shares rocketing 17% today?

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) is sinking today.

Shares in the Aussie fuel supplier closed on Friday trading for $28.98. In late morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $27.82 apiece, down 4.0%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.2% at this same time amid investor concerns over the new global tariffs proposed by United States President Donald Trump over the weekend.

Taking a step back, Amplo shares remain up 2% over the past 12 months, not including dividends. Ampol currently commands a market cap of around $6.6 billion.

Here’s why the stock looks to be facing headwinds today.

ASX 200 energy stock drops on full year results

Investors are bidding down Ampol shares following the release of the company’s full year results for the 2025 calendar year, despite some positive growth figures.

Highlights include a 20% year-on-year increase in replacement cost operating profit (RCOP) earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.44 billion.

Management noted that in 2025 Ampol achieved earnings growth achieved across its Convenience Retail, Fuels and Infrastructure and New Zealand segments.

Turning to profits, RCOP net profit after tax (NPAT) leapt 83% to $429 million.

However, the ASX 200 energy stock could be catching headwinds today due to the company reporting a 33% year-on-year decline in statutory NPAT, which fell to $82.4 million in 2025.

On the passive income front, Ampol declared a fully franked final dividend of 60 cents per share. That’s up 20% from the 2024 final dividend. At the current share price, that represents an instant yield of 2.2%.

If you want to bank the final Ampol dividend, you’ll need to own shares at market close on 5 March. The ASX 200 energy stock trades ex-dividend on 6 March.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results, Ampol CEO and managing director Matt Halliday said:

The financial performance in 2025 is a high quality and broad-based result that reflects the steps taken in recent years to strengthen our delivery and increase our exposure to the more stable and growing business segments. The five-year compound annual growth rate of the combined EBIT from these businesses is about 11%.

Halliday added that this earnings growth includes the contribution of Ampol’s acquisition of Z Energy.

With a look ahead, Ampol shares could also be under some pressure today with the ASX 200 energy stock noting that “global market uncertainty remains elevated amid geopolitical developments involving Iran, Venezuela and Russia/Ukraine”.

Ampol concluded:

While it is too early to be conclusive on the implications, the integrated nature of Ampol’s value chain means we are well placed to navigate changing conditions through our Trading and Shipping operations and the Lytton refinery to maintain supply for our customers.

The post Why is this $6.5 billion ASX 200 energy stock starting the week with a whimper? 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.

Shares in Data#3 Limited (ASX: DTL) were down 6% on Monday morning (at the time of writing) after the IT services group delivered modest profit growth for the first half of FY26, with softer margins in its Software Solutions business tempering investor enthusiasm.

While gross sales reached record levels, the market appeared focused on margin pressure and ongoing headwinds in parts of the Services segment.

What did Data#3 report?

Data#3 reported gross sales of $1.54 billion for the half year to 31 December 2025, up 9% on the prior corresponding period.

Statutory revenue increased 8% to $423 million, while gross profit edged up 0.3% to $144 million.

Net profit before tax rose 4.5% to $33.5 million, and net profit after tax increased 3.7% to $23 million. Basic earnings per share lifted 3.6% to 14.95 cents.

The board declared a fully franked interim dividend of 13.50 cents per share, up 3%, representing a payout ratio of 90.3%.

What else do investors need to know?

The key issue this half was margin pressure in Software Solutions.

Gross margin on sales declined to 9%, down from 10% in the prior period, primarily due to Microsoft incentive program changes that took effect from 1 January 2025.

While Software gross sales rose 8.9% to $1.1 billion, gross profit from that segment fell 4.6%, and profit declined 9.4%.

In contrast, Infrastructure Solutions delivered strong growth. Gross sales increased 17.6% to $275.2 million, with management profit more than doubling as operating leverage improved.

Services delivered mixed results, with Managed Services and Consulting growing, but Project Services and recruitment remaining challenged amid softer economic conditions.

The balance sheet remains strong, with no borrowings and closing cash of $125.4 million.

What did management say?

Managing Director Brad Colledge said first-half performance was in line with expectations and highlighted ongoing cost discipline and automation initiatives.

He noted that the Microsoft incentive changes were most impactful in the first half, but mitigation strategies are in place and Software gross profit is expected to return to growth in the second half.

What’s next for Data#3?

The company did not provide specific FY26 guidance but reiterated that earnings are typically skewed to the second half, with a sales peak in May and June.

Management expects Infrastructure Solutions to remain strong, driven by Windows 11 device refresh cycles and AI-related demand, while Software gross profit is forecast to be consistent with FY25 for the full year.

Share price snapshot

Despite steady profit growth and a rising dividend, the 6% share price fall suggests investors were hoping for stronger margin expansion.

For now, the market appears to be weighing short-term Software margin pressure against the company’s longer-term positioning in AI, cloud and infrastructure growth themes.

Data #3 shares are up 8% over the last 12 months.

The post Data#3 shares fall 6% despite steady profit growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) tech stock Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) shares are on fire today.

Shares in the investigative analytics and intelligence software provider closed on Friday trading for $1.36. In early trade on Monday, shares leapt to $1.73, up 27.2%. After some likely profit-taking, in later morning trade, shares are changing hands for $1.65 apiece, up 21.3%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.3% at this same time.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest today.

Nuix shares leap on return to profitability

Investors are bidding up Nuix shares following the release of the company’s half-year results covering the six months to 31 December (H1 FY 2026).

Highlights include an 8.4% year-on-year increase in annualised contract value (ACV) to $234.4 million. Management highlighted that ACV has increased by 2.6% since June.

And Nuix Neo demonstrated tremendous growth, with ACV up 148% year on year (and up 67% since June) to $46.8 million. This now represents 20% of the company’s total ACV.

According to the ASX 300 tech stock, Nuix Neo’s AI strategy centres on a “Bring Your Own AI” framework, which allows customers to integrate any AI model they wish, helping to safeguard AI tools when working with sensitive data.

First-half revenue, meanwhile, was up 15.2% to $121.2 million. While statutory earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $26.5 million increased by 72.7% from H1 FY 2025.

Underlying cash flow also surged over the six months, rising 307.3% year on year to $28.4 million.

And Nuix shares look to be getting a big lift with the company reporting a statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $11.1 million, up from a net loss of $10.4 million in H1 FY 2025.

As at 31 December, the ASX 300 tech stock had a cash balance of $57.8 million, up 88.4% from a year earlier.

Looking ahead, the company reaffirmed its full-year FY 2026 ACV guidance range of $240 million to $260 million. ACV is expected to be weighted to the second half, in line with previous years.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results sending Nuix shares surging today, interim CEO John Ruthven said, “The first half results demonstrate further momentum in our business transformation, with ACV growth of 8.4% and particularly impressive Nuix Neo growth of 148%.”

As for potential impact of the ongoing AI revolution, Ruthven added:

The rapidly evolving AI landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for enterprise software companies. Nuix is well positioned to capitalise on these dynamics through our BYO AI framework, which allows customers to integrate their preferred AI models whilst Nuix Neo provides the critical enterprise infrastructure required by regulated industries.

This approach creates competitive advantages through robust enterprise controls whilst enabling flexible integration with emerging AI technologies, creating a strong structural advantage as the AI ecosystem continues to evolve.

The post Why are ASX 300 tech stock Nuix shares jumping 27% in Monday’s falling market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why is this ASX gold stock surging 33% today?
• Why is this $6.5 billion ASX 200 energy stock starting the week with a whimper?
• Data#3 shares fall 6% despite steady profit growth
• Regis Resources lifts underground reserves at Tropicana Gold Mine
• Why are EOS shares rocketing 17% today?

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

The Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price is in focus today after the company reported strong growth in underground Ore Reserves at the Tropicana Gold Mine, with underground reserves growing over 500,000 ounces since 2021 and a material increase in confidence in long-term mine life.

What did Regis Resources report?

• Regis 30% share of Tropicana JV Mineral Resources is 26Mt at 1.9 g/t Au for 1.6Moz as at 31 December 2025.
• Regis 30% share of Tropicana JV Ore Reserves is 12Mt at 1.5 g/t Au for 0.6Moz as at 31 December 2025.
• Underground Ore Reserves within the Tropicana joint venture (100%) have grown by 0.2Moz net of depletion in CY25, now totalling 0.9Moz.
• Total Tropicana JV Ore Reserves (100%) stand at 1.9Moz, including 0.8Moz open pit, 0.9Moz underground, and 0.3Moz stockpiles.
• Since the initial underground Ore Reserve was declared in 2018, total underground reserve growth of 1.3Moz has exceeded depletion by around 500koz (100%).

What else do investors need to know?

Exploration at Tropicana in 2025 focused on both expanding known mineralisation and identifying new underground targets. Drilling increased confidence in down-plunge extensions and uncovered new areas to support upcoming resource definition.

Underground resource classifications improved, with Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources increasing to 2.5Moz from 2.2Moz, demonstrating ongoing replacement of mined ounces and supporting future project life.

The Tropicana JV’s work through the year has established a strong pipeline of underground growth projects, with further drilling planned to test high-priority zones like Boston Shaker, Havana, and the Cobbler conceptual target.

What did Regis Resources management say?

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Jim Beyer said:

It is very pleasing to see the Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources at Tropicana continue to grow and extend the mine life in line with our expectations. The ongoing, year on year growth delivered by the team is an excellent result for our shareholders and clearly continues the trend of underground Ore Reserves growth exceeding depletion. Impressively, before depletion, Ore Reserves within the undergrounds at Tropicana have grown by over 500k ounces of gold since 2021.

What’s next for Regis Resources?

Ongoing drilling at Tropicana is expected to further define and extend underground reserves, with several high-priority areas identified for exploration. Management remains confident that these initiatives will underpin the mine’s ability to generate strong cash flows well into the next decade.

The company continues to focus on replacing mined ounces each year, aiming to maintain a long mine life and robust resource base. Developments at Tropicana should support Regis Resources’ long-term growth strategy and deliver ongoing value for shareholders.

Regis Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Regis Resources shares have risen 181%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 9% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Regis Resources lifts underground reserves at Tropicana Gold Mine 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.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares are racing higher on Monday.

At the time of writing, the ASX defence stock is up 17% to $8.61.

This follows the release of its FY 2025 results before the market open.

EOS shares rise on results day

Investors have been buying EOS shares today despite it recording a drop in revenue for FY 2025.

It seems investors are instead focusing on a sharply strengthened order book, improved balance sheet, and signs that the company’s three-year turnaround has positioned it for growth.

According to the release, for FY 2025, EOS reported revenue from continuing operations of $128.5 million. This is down 27% year on year.

And while its gross margin improved significantly to 63%, up from 48% in FY 2024, underlying EBITDA came in at a loss of $24.4 million. This is wider than the prior year’s $11.6 million loss.

However, statutory net profit after tax was $17.5 million, boosted by a $91 million gain on the sale of EM Solutions.

While its earnings numbers were mixed, the market appears to be looking ahead.

Order book surges

A major highlight was EOS’ unconditional order book, which increased to $459 million at 31 December 2025. This is up 238% from $136 million a year earlier.

The ASX defence stock signed $424 million worth of contracts during the year, compared to just $70 million in FY 2024.

Key wins included a $125 million high energy laser weapon (HELW) export contract, a $108 million LAND 400-3 remote weapon systems contract, and multiple Slinger counter-drone system orders.

Management stated it aims to realise 40% to 50% of the current order book during 2026.

Importantly, the order book does not include the conditional US$80 million Korean laser weapon contract or any future contribution from the planned MARSS acquisition.

Balance sheet reset

EOS also materially strengthened its balance sheet during the year. All borrowings were repaid, and the company ended FY 2025 with $106.9 million in cash.

It has also secured a new $100 million term loan facility, which remains undrawn and available to support growth.

Positioned for a defence super-cycle

Management described 2025 as the final year of its three-year turnaround program and pointed to supportive global defence spending conditions.

The company has commercialised its high energy laser weapon system, expanded geographically into Europe and the Middle East, and announced the acquisition of MARSS to add AI-enabled command-and-control capabilities.

With a significantly larger order book, a clean balance sheet, and exposure to fast-growing counter-drone and space control markets, investors appear to be bidding EOS shares higher on the belief that FY 2026 could mark a return to earnings growth.

The post Why are EOS shares rocketing 17% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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