Shares in Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) have opened lower after the company said heavy rain and flooding in north-western Queensland would have a material effect on its earnings.

Queensland was battered by storms in late December, with record rainfall in the state’s north leading to flooding across wide areas of the state.

Several flood and major flood warnings remain in effect across the state, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, with the Diamantina and Flinders rivers subject to major flood warnings.

Material impact on the way

Australian Agricultural Company, or AACo as the company refers to itself, said in a statement to the ASX on Monday morning that three of its 27 properties – Carrum, Dalgonally, and Canobie – had been affected by flooding.

The company went on to say:

AACo has a herd of approximately 456,000 head of cattle. The three AACo Gulf properties impacted by the flooding are carrying a total of approximately 55,000 head of cattle (significantly lower head count than 2019 flood event in the same region). Any comparisons between the 2019 event and the current event should be approached with caution, due to current cattle valuations, operating practices, property and livestock conditions, weather and rainfall variations and seasonality. At this early stage, as conditions are evolving and remain challenging, a credible assessment of the impact on livestock and infrastructure is currently unable to be undertaken – noting there is still the possibility of further wet season impacts.

The company went on to say that the impact of the flooding on its earnings for the March 2026 financial year was yet to be determined, but was “likely to be material”.

It said further:

Management is currently assessing and managing the situation and an update will be provided as appropriate, when further assessments of the impacted properties are available.

The company said that, in keeping with industry practice and because of the large cost involved, it was not insured for the impact of flooding on its herd and infrastructure.  

It said:

Whilst the impact of the situation is continuing to be determined, the company’s balance sheet and financial position remain strong.

Good conditions elsewhere

On the upside, the company said it was experiencing favourable rainfall in southwestern Queensland and the Northern Territory, where the majority of its cattle were located, and “the company remains able to fulfil supply obligations to its key markets in line with its strategy”.

AACo shares were 3.5% down in early trade on Monday at $1.40.

The company in November announced it had almost doubled its first-half operating profit to $39.8 million, compared to $20.2 million in the previous corresponding period.

The company was valued at $874 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post Queensland floods to have a ‘material’ impact on this ASX agricultural stock’s earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why these ASX 200 stocks could be strong buys in 2026
• Guess which ASX All Ords share is leaping higher on BHP and Fortescue contract news
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Buy, hold, sell: Light & Wonder, NAB, and Woodside shares
• 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy for your SMSF

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.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.1% in morning trade today, with one ASX All Ords share leaping ahead of those gains.

The outperforming stock in question is Civmec Ltd (ASX: CVL).

Shares in the construction and engineering services provider closed on Friday trading for $1.465. At the time of writing on Monday, shares are changing hands for $1.55 apiece, up 5.8%.

This follows an ASX release this morning detailing a number of new contracts and extensions Civmec has inked with companies, including industry heavyweights BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG).

Here’s what we know.

ASX All Ords share jumps on BHP and Fortescue contracts

Investors are bidding up Civmec shares after the company revealed a series of new contracts and extensions it has recently signed with Tier-1 clients worth a combined value of more than $400 million.

As mentioned above, those companies include BHP.

The ASX All Ords share said it has secured a “significant contract” with BHP for the Port Debottlenecking Project 2 (PDP2) at Nelson Point, Port Hedland.

BHP awarded Civmec the contract to deliver the concrete and earthworks for the installation of a sixth car dumper. The car dumper is also being manufactured by Civmec at its Henderson fabrication facility.

Separately, Fortescue inked a contract with Civmec for the construction of Light Mobile Equipment and Support Mobile Equipment charger facilities and pit power infrastructure at Fortescue’s Eliwana and Flying Fish mine sites.

The ASX All Ords shares stated that the deal encompasses the construction, installation, verification, and commissioning of multiple charger facilities, along with civil works and electrical integration for transportable pit power substations.

The substations are designed for modular deployment and will support the rollout of electric excavators and drills as part of Fortescue’s decarbonisation goals.

What did management say?

Commenting on the PDP2 civils package with BHP that’s helping boost the ASX All Ords share today, Civmec CEO Patrick Tallon said, “We are absolutely delighted to be entrusted with this significant package of work.”

Tallon added:

We are honoured to be trusted to deliver, particularly given the location and complexity of the scope, which plays to Civmec’s strengths.

BHP were among our earliest clients and sustaining this healthy relationship makes this award especially meaningful, a further demonstration of our capabilities, and our proven, proactive and collaborative delivery model.

Civmec expects the $400 million of new contracts and extensions to be delivered across the second half of FY 2026 and FY 2027. The company said this will build on an uplift in activity heading into the second half of the financial year.

The post Guess which ASX All Ords share is leaping higher on BHP and Fortescue contract news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much could the Fortescue share price rise in 2026?
• 3 of the best performing VanEck ASX ETFs in the last year
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 3 Australian shares with bullish catalysts heading into 2026
• $20,000 in excess savings? Here’s how to try and turn that into a second income in 2026

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

At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) starts the year as the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 20.4%, which is down sharply week on week. Short sellers were big winners in 2025 after the uranium producer’s shares crashed in response to a very disappointing update on the Honeymoon Project.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest remain flat at 17.9%. Short sellers don’t appear to believe that this pizza chain operator’s performance will improve meaningfully in 2026.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.8%, which is up week on week again. This could be due to valuation concerns, with the burrito seller’s shares trading on sky-high multiples.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 13.1%, which is down week on week again. Potential operational challenges and uranium pricing doubts may be behind this.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 12.6% of its shares held short, which is up week on week again. Short sellers have been targeting this language testing and student placement company’s shares due to concerns over student visa changes.
• PWR Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWH) has short interest of 11.8%, which is up since last week. Short sellers have loaded up on this motorsport products company’s shares recently as it goes through a transitional period.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 11.5%, which is up since last week. This may also be due to valuation concerns for this medical device company’s shares.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 11%, which is flat week on week. This radiopharmaceuticals company’s shares were sold off last year in response to delays to FDA approvals and increased regulatory scrutiny.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.5%. The bulls and the bears have been battling it out with this counter drone technology company’s shares in recent months. It seems that the bears believe its shares are overvalued after rising 300% in 2025.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 10.4%, which is down week on week again. It seems that short sellers are closing positions after the travel agent reported a positive start to FY 2026 and a new cruise acquisition.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, PWR Holdings, PolyNovo, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PWR Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, PolyNovo, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are a lot of options out there for investors to choose from on the Australian share market.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at three popular options that Morgans has recently given its verdict on. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

Light & Wonder Inc. (ASX: LNW)

Morgans thinks that this gaming technology company’s shares are good value at current levels.

In response to a strong third quarter result, the broker retained its buy rating on its shares with a $175.00 price target. It commented:

Light & Wonder’s (NDAQ/ASX: LNW) strong 3Q25 result was met with a well-deserved positive reaction, alleviating market concerns around FY25 guidance delivery with a much more achievable 4Q25 implied outlook. Given the imminent NASDAQ delisting, the timing of this beat positions the company exceptionally well heading into FY26. LNW delivered record margin expansion across all three segments, with iGaming operating leverage the standout performer, while land-based margins surprised on favourable product mix as Grover scales and premium installed base momentum continues. Our FY25-26F estimates remain largely unchanged. We rate LNW a BUY recommendation, A$175 12-month target price.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The broker isn’t feeling as upbeat on banking giant NAB. In fact, it thinks its shares are overvalued after strong gains over the last couple of years left them trading on higher than normal multiples.

Morgans has put a sell rating and $31.46 price target on NAB’s shares. It commented:

2H25 earnings (-2% vs 1H25) missed market expectations of a flat result. While NAB has loan growth and revenue momentum heading into 1H26, it also has momentum in costs and showed signs of asset quality deterioration and tightness in regulatory capital. This is likely to see limited (if any) DPS growth and constrain capital management over coming years. We make +/-1% changes to FY26-28 forecast earnings, targeting mid-single digit earning growth over the forecast period. NAB is trading at historical extremes of key valuation metrics. The 2H25 result and earnings outlook doesn’t justify such pricing. SELL retained at current prices. Target price $31.46 (+23 cps).

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Finally, Woodside could be a top pick for investors looking for exposure to the energy sector according to Morgans.

It believes the energy giant is well-placed for solid growth through to 2032. As a result, it has put a buy rating and $30.50 price target on its shares. It said:

Execution remains best-in-class: Scarborough, Sangomar and Trion all tracking on time and budget. Louisiana progressing under de-risked funding structure. Growth to 2032 with net operating cash flow guided to ~US$9bn (+6% CAGR) with a pathway to ~50% higher dividends. Partner sell downs (Stonepeak, Williams) back-load capex and cut near-term funding by >US$5 billion. Market remains cautious on midstream Louisiana model, but it solves previous major gap in fundamentals as Pluto/NWS output declines in future years. We maintain our BUY rating and unchanged A$30.50 target price.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Light & Wonder, NAB, and Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• CBA shares returned just 4.9% last year. Should investors look elsewhere?
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Managing a self-managed super fund (SMSF) often means striking a careful balance between growth, diversification, and long-term capital preservation.

While individual shares can play a role, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are increasingly popular with SMSF trustees thanks to their simplicity, transparency, and low ongoing maintenance.

For those looking to strengthen their SMSF portfolio, here are three ASX ETFs that offer global exposure, quality, and long-term growth potential.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF provides an SMSF with exposure to 500 of the largest and most influential companies listed in the United States. These are businesses that dominate their industries and generate significant free cash flow year after year.

The fund includes household names such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), and Walmart (NYSE: WMT), alongside innovation leaders like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: PLTR).

For a retirement-focused portfolio, this fund offers broad diversification, exposure to global innovation, and participation in the long-term growth of the US economy. And that’s all in a single trade!

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF could be another ASX ETF to buy for an SMSF. It is designed around a simple but powerful idea.

That idea is to invest in fairly valued companies with sustainable competitive advantages. This currently includes high-quality businesses such as Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO), and Nike (NYSE: NKE). These stocks benefit from strong brand awareness, high switching costs, scale, or intellectual property that helps protect profits over time.

For SMSFs, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF’s emphasis on economic moats and disciplined valuation makes it particularly appealing. Especially for investors who want growth exposure while managing downside risk.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

The Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF is focused on stocks that generate strong and sustainable free cash flow. Rather than chasing hype or high revenue growth alone, this ASX ETF targets businesses with proven financial strength.

Holdings include Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Visa (NYSE: V), and Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), all of which have demonstrated an ability to convert earnings into real cash over long periods.

For SMSFs, this fund offers a blend of quality and resilience. After all, strong cash flow can support reinvestment, balance sheet strength, and shareholder returns, which are valuable characteristics for long-term retirement portfolios. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post 3 strong ASX ETFs to buy for your SMSF appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nike and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, Nike, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Johnson & Johnson and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Microsoft, Nike, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I think that the start of a new year is always a good time to take a step back and think about your investment portfolio.

If I had $5,000 to invest in January, these are five ASX 300 shares I’d be comfortable backing for the long term across travel, alternative assets, wealth platforms, software, and essential infrastructure.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

Flight Centre is one of the world’s largest travel groups, with a global footprint spanning leisure and corporate travel across Australia and New Zealand, the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. What I think makes the investment case compelling heading into the new year is how clearly management has articulated its long-term ambition.

Under its Destination 2035 strategy, Flight Centre aims to become the world’s largest and most successful corporate travel company, operating in more than 50 countries. Corporate travel is higher margin, more recurring, and structurally attractive compared to pure leisure travel. Combined with Flight Centre’s scale, global reach, increased focus on the cruise market, and reinvestment culture, this creates a powerful long-term growth opportunity.

After several volatile years for the travel sector, I believe Flight Centre enters January as a business rebuilding from a position of strength rather than speculation.

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

HMC Capital is a diversified alternative asset manager with exposure to real estate, private equity, energy transition, digital infrastructure, and private credit. It manages approximately $18.7 billion for institutional, high-net-worth, and retail investors.

What differentiates HMC Capital is its ability to execute large, complex transactions, which is something few Australian managers can do consistently. This execution capability has underpinned its rapid funds under management growth and strong track record of generating outsized returns.

As demand for alternative assets continues to grow globally, I see HMC Capital as a business well-positioned to benefit from long-term structural trends rather than short-term market cycles.

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

SiteMinder provides mission-critical software to more than 50,000 hotels globally, helping them manage bookings, pricing, and distribution across millions of rooms. As travel continues to normalise and digitisation accelerates, I believe tools like SiteMinder’s are becoming essential rather than optional.

While profitability is still maturing, the business has a strong balance sheet and a long runway for growth as it scales internationally. For January, I see SiteMinder as a higher-growth complement to more established names, one that could benefit meaningfully if its execution continues to improve.

HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

HUB24 is one of the ASX’s standouts in wealth management. Its platform sits at the centre of the adviser–client relationship, benefiting from structural tailwinds such as an ageing population, increasing superannuation complexity, and growing demand for professional advice.

The key attraction for me is operating leverage. As funds under administration grow, revenue tends to scale faster than costs, allowing margins to expand over time. HUB24 has also built a broader ecosystem of complementary technology businesses, deepening adviser relationships, and increasing switching costs.

It’s not cheap, but high-quality platforms rarely are. Pullbacks often create opportunities to accumulate businesses like this gradually.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra plays an important role in Australia’s digital infrastructure. Customer needs for connectivity are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with reliability, latency, security, and uplink capacity becoming increasingly critical across various segments.

The company is investing in what appears to be a multi-year digital infrastructure super cycle, driven by surging data demand and the rise of AI-enabled services. Telstra’s ambition to be Australia’s number one connectivity provider, and to move from selling bandwidth to selling value, positions it well for this shift.

While not a high-growth stock, Telstra offers stability, cash generation, and relevance in a future where everything depends on connectivity.

The post I would invest $5,000 in these ASX 300 shares in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 5 fantastic ASX ETFs for beginners in 2026

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended HMC Capital, Hub24, and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group, HMC Capital, and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price had a strong finish to 2025, rising by 35% in the last six months, as the chart below shows.

Of course, past performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future performance, particularly when it comes to an ASX mining share like Fortescue. It’s common for resource prices to bounce around, so it can be harder to predict what’s going to happen with a commodity company.

Let’s take a look at what experts are predicting could happen for this major miner.

Fortescue share price target

A share price target is an analyst’s projection of where they think the share price could be in 12 months following the investment call.

There are a number of analysts who have an opinion on the company. According to CMC Markets, of the 11 ratings on Fortescue, there are two buy ratings, seven hold ratings, and two sell ratings.

Of those 11 ratings, the average price target is reportedly $20. That means analysts are suggesting the Fortescue share price could fall by around 10% from where it is today. Therefore, a group of analysts are collectively suggesting that 2026 is likely to be a poor year for the ASX mining share.

But that potential return was just the average view. There’s both a potential better outcome and possibly a much worse outcome, based on analyst price targets.

On the positive side of things, one broker thinks the Fortescue share price could rise another 4% from its current level.

But one analyst thinks the ASX mining share could fall by 27% within the next year.

Expert view on the iron ore price

Iron ore is integral for Fortescue because it’s responsible for virtually all of the company’s earnings.

Pleasingly, the iron ore price has been sitting above US$100 per tonne in the last few months, allowing Fortescue to generate solid monthly profits.

Broker UBS recently said in a note that it expected the iron ore price to “remain ~$100/t over the next six months with demand stable and incremental supply growth modest”. The broker said the new African iron ore project, Simandou, is expected to add more supply in the second half of 2026.

In the medium term, UBS expects that the iron ore market will move into surplus supply, leading to the iron ore price trending “back to around the 90th percentile”. In other words, the iron ore miners from across the world with the highest mining costs may no longer be profitable, though that doesn’t include Fortescue – it is one of the world’s most efficient iron ore miners.

The broker predicts that the iron ore price could reduce to around US$90 per tonne in 2027. Fortescue would still be very profitable at that level, but its earnings would be noticeably reduced compared to today, and that would likely impact the Fortescue share price.

The post How much could the Fortescue share price rise in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

For investors who actively manage their portfolios, it can be difficult not to overreact to weekly or even daily swings in ASX shares. 

Checking stock prices daily can trigger emotional decisions when, in reality, buying and holding for the long term is a proven pathway to healthy returns.  

Quality investments not only recover from periods of volatility but also keep charging ahead. 

Investing for the long haul

For this exercise, I am focused on blue-chip stocks. 

The reason?

Of course, I could retrospectively choose a penny stock that boomed and say, “You should have bought X stock before it took off.”

But this is disingenuous, and difficult to predict.

Here at The Motley Fool, our philosophy is based on long-term, diversified investing. 

It’s kind of like my best mate’s 1996 Toyota Corolla; there’s nothing sexy about it, but it works. 

Sometimes it’s important to zoom out and look at just how successful you can be investing for the long term. 

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

Rio Tinto is one of the world’s largest metals and mining corporations.

It is also one of Australia’s largest companies by market capitalisation.

Mining is a significant part of the Australian and global economies, and companies like Rio Tinto have helped push the Australian economy forward in the last decade. 

10 years ago, these ASX shares were trading for roughly $42 each. 

Last week, Rio Tinto shares closed at just under $147.70 a piece. 

That’s good for an increase of more than 250%. 

This means a $5,000 investment 10 years ago would today be worth approximately $17,600 based on the share price alone.

That’s before taking into consideration the $7,000 in dividend payments you would have earned in passive income along the way. 

This brings the total increase to more than 400% over the 10-year period. 

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

It’s no surprise that Australia’s largest bank, and largest listed company, has also been a steady investment over the last 10 years. 

A decade ago, CBA shares were trading at just under $80 per share. 

Today, these ASX shares are sitting at just over $161 per share. 

This is good for a 100% return, doubling any investment made 10 years ago. 

BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Turning our attention to a fundamental ASX ETF, this fund from Betashares offers the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq market. 

It represents the “new economy”, so to speak, and includes large-cap US companies like Apple and Microsoft. 

Since early 2016, it has risen roughly 425%. 

This is despite falls of 20% for the fund during February 2020 and 16% from February to April this year.

This means an investor who aimed for the NASDAQ index 10 years ago has turned a hypothetical $5,000 investment into $26,250.

Foolish Takeaway 

While past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns, this exercise is just to illustrate that a traditional “non-sexy” portfolio of two of Australia’s largest companies, and the NASDAQ 100, would have turned out to be an extremely profitable investment over the last 10 years. 

These two companies and one ETF not only recovered from economic and global crises in the past, but came out the other side, proving a long-term view is a viable choice for investors. 

The post Decade darlings – these ASX shares have provided 10 years of returns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Life360, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple and Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The share market has started the new year with some healthy consolidation, creating a few interesting opportunities.

Several quality ASX 200 shares have pulled back in recent months, pushing key technical indicators into oversold territory. For patient investors, that can sometimes set the stage for a rebound.

Here are 3 ASX 200 shares I believe are worth buying this month.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

Lynas Rare Earths is one of the most strategically important companies on the ASX.

The company is the largest producer of rare earth materials outside China, supplying critical materials used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence systems and electronics.

Despite those strong long-term tailwinds, Lynas shares have pulled back from their recent highs. On Friday, the share price closed at $12.22, down almost 17% in a month.

That sell-off has pushed the stock into oversold territory from a technical perspective, suggesting selling pressure may be starting to ease.

Fundamentally, global demand for rare earths continues to grow, while supply outside China remains limited. Lynas is expanding its processing capabilities and is well positioned to benefit from Western governments pushing to secure critical mineral supply chains.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero is a high-quality software business that has struggled to keep investors interested lately.

The accounting software provider has seen its share price slide as investors rotated away from growth stocks. Xero shares closed Friday at $112.25, putting them more than 30% lower than this time last year.

That pullback has pushed the stock into oversold territory, which stands out for a business of this quality.

Xero continues to grow its subscriber base globally, while management is placing greater focus on cost control and improving margins. Over time, earnings tend to matter more than headline growth, and that shift could work in Xero’s favour.

With strong recurring revenue and a sticky customer base, the recent weakness looks more like sentiment-driven selling than a problem with the underlying business.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban offers something different from the other two stocks on this list.

The toll road operator owns high-quality infrastructure assets across Australia and North America. Its revenue is supported by long-term contracts and inflation-linked toll increases.

Shares closed Friday at $14.18 after drifting lower in recent months. That decline has pushed the stock into oversold territory.

With interest rate expectations starting to stabilise, infrastructure assets like Transurban could come back into favour. Traffic volumes remain solid, and the company continues to invest in growth projects.

For investors seeking stability and income alongside potential capital upside, the shares look appealing at current levels.

Foolish takeaway

All 3 of these ASX 200 shares are high-quality businesses that have retraced for different reasons.

With each showing signs of being oversold, I believe January could offer a compelling entry point for long-term investors.

The post Here are my top 3 ASX shares to buy in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price could have compelling upside, according to brokers.

Suncorp is one of the largest insurance businesses in Australia, along with Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG). There are a few positives to like about the business, including its potential earnings.

Let’s get into why the insurance business is attracting analyst attention.

Double-digit return potential

The broker UBS has a buy rating on Suncorp shares, with a price target of $20.85 on the business.

A price target is where the broker thinks the share price could get to in 12 months from the time of the investment call. Therefore, at the time of writing, UBS is suggesting the Suncorp share price could rise by 17% over the next 12 months. If that happened, it would very likely be a market-beating return.

After a painful five months to November 2025 due to large natural hazard costs, December was a calmer month for weather events. Even so, costs were well above its $885 million first-half allowance. UBS has forecast a catastrophe budget overrun of $420 million for Suncorp (down from $580 million).

UBS said that Suncorp is “benefitting from a more benign December for CATs.”

Across the sector, it prefers domestic general insurance exposures reflecting:

(1) likelihood of sustained personal lines rate momentum post elevated Oct/Nov domestic CAT activity, (2) consensus upside from RI [reinsurance] profit commissions for IAG, (3) support from rising bond yields, and (4) scope for ongoing capital management given strong balance sheets.

With a large float portfolio and significant portion of money invested in bonds, higher bond yields can help the company generate stronger returns for Suncorp, helping its bottom line.

What is the Suncorp share price valuation?

The forecast on CMC Markets suggests the business could deliver growing earnings per share (EPS) between FY26 to FY28.

Currently, the forecast is that the business could generate $1.14 of EPS in the 2026 financial year. That means the Suncorp share price is valued at under 16x FY26’s estimated earnings. The projections suggest EPS could rise by another 11% by FY28.

In terms of the dividend, the projection on CMC Markets suggests the business could deliver an annual dividend per share of 78.5 cents. At the current Suncorp share price, it could pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3%, including franking credits.

Excitingly, the projections suggest the payout could rise to 88.5 cents per share in the 2027 financial year and 92 cents per share in the 2028 financial year.

The post Why these brokers are bullish on the Suncorp share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX insurance stocks performed best this year?
• 3 ASX insurance shares to sell: experts
• Experts name 3 ASX 200 shares to sell now
• Suncorp shares tread water as investors digest 2026 dividend timeline
• Buy, hold, sell: Flight Centre, Suncorp, and Zip shares

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.