This is the perfect time to evaluate where the best opportunities are to invest $1,000, $10,000 or even more into ASX shares.

There are a number of great businesses Aussies can buy that could deliver strong long-term returns such as Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG), Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) and Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG). I own shares in each of those names because of my optimistic view of their outlooks.

But, if I had to pick four ideas to invest $10,000 today based on their growth potential and the underlying valuation, I’d spread the money across these names.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

There a few businesses on the ASX that have a long-term track record of delivering good compounding returns over very long stretches of time. Soul Patts is an investment conglomerate, but, unlike Berkshire Hathaway, its success has not been reliant on the investment decisions of just one or two individuals.

Soul Patts has built a diversified portfolio across a variety of sectors including industrial properties, building products, resources, telecommunications, financial services, credit and plenty more.

With the Soul Patts share price down 18% since September 2025, at the time of writing, it looks better value to me. Its portfolio defensive positioning means it doesn’t often fall more than 10%, so this could be an appealing trigger point.

I’m expecting long-term compounding from this ASX share as its existing and future investments grow and deliver value for the company. Expansion of its international investing efforts could be a very pleasing development if that happens in 2026 and beyond – the company has a small part of its portfolio dedicated to international investments.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

This online retailer of furniture, homewares and home improvements took a big dive towards the end of 2025 after its revenue growth of 18% in FY26 to 20 November 2025 disappointed investors.

But, I think it’s a potential mistake to think the company’s growth prospects have been permanently reduced, so the sell-off could be overdone.

I believe the transition to online shopping will continue, with Australia’s online penetration homewares and furniture at 20% of the overall sector, compared to 29% for the UK and 35% for the US. I think that bodes well for the ASX share as a leader in the e-commerce space.

Pleasingly, certain segments of the business are growing revenue at a faster pace. In the AGM update, it revealed home improvement revenue was up 40% year-over-year, while trade and commercial revenue increased 23% year-over-year.

With revenue continuing to climb at a solid double-digit pace and good prospects for margin improvements in the years ahead, I think this is an underrated ASX share.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The US share market has a lot of great businesses and some Australians may be missing out on investment exposure if they don’t have any money allocated to that market.

The MOAT exchange-traded fund (ETF) allows Aussies to invest in a portfolio of around 50 US businesses that are judged to have economic moats, or competitive advantages, that are expected to (probably) endure for at least 20 years.

There are always good investments out there, but with the local and global share market trading at near all-time highs, it could be prudent to be more selective with what we by.

This exchange-traded fund only invests in the great businesses once Morningstar analysts think the businesses are trading at good value.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne provides enterprise software to local councils, governments, businesses, universities and other education providers.

The TechnologyOne share price has dropped around 30% in the last six months, making this investment an appealing opportunity right now, in my view.

The ASX share is targeting $1 billion of annual recurring revenue (ARR) by FY30, with this being driven by providing better software options for existing clients (and generating more revenue from them) and winning new subscribers. For example, it recently won two London councils, which bodes well for future wins in the UK.

With expectations of growing profit margins and geographic expansion, I think the ASX share has a very promising future and is well worth a buy today with revenue and profit regularly rising at a mid-teen growth rate in percentage terms.

The post Where I’d invest $10,000 in 2026 in ASX shares aiming to beat the market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to make $20,000 of passive income from ASX shares
• $20,000 in excess savings? Here’s how to try and turn that into a second income in 2026
• Buy, hold, sell: Aristocrat, James Hardie, and TechnologyOne shares
• 10 excellent ASX ETFs to buy in 2026
• 5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Breville, Guzman Y Gomez, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, Tuas, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have a reputation for dividends. Shareholders or prospective investors may be wondering how much passive income the ASX bank share could pay in 2026 with a sizeable investment.

ASX bank shares tend to trade on a relatively low price/earnings (P/E) ratio and have a fairly generous dividend payout ratio, resulting in a compelling dividend yield for investors.

While banks do have significant capital requirements and may need money to invest in initiatives every so often, it’s not a surprise to me when banks deliver a large dividend payout for investors.

Let’s look at how large the payout could be in 2026.

Analyst forecasts for owners of Westpac shares

The broker UBS currently projects that the ASX bank share could pay a dividend yield of 4.4% in FY26. That projected yield excludes the potential franking credits.

Including franking credits, Westpac could deliver a grossed-up dividend yield of around 6.25%, which is a decent yield and better than what Australians could get from one of its term deposits.

If an investor had $10,000 in Westpac shares today, it could see $440 of cash passive dividend income from the ASX bank share in FY26, or $625 of overall income, including the franking credits.

Is this a good time to invest in the ASX bank share?

Last month, the bank held its AGM and there were two main themes that UBS highlighted.

Firstly, the broker noted that Westpac CEO Anthony Miller is targeting a cost to income (CTI) ratio below the average of its pears and a return on tangible equity (ROTE) above the average of peers by FY29.

Before the AGM, the goal of Westpac was to “improve” those metrics compared to peers. UBS suggested this reveals “improving confidence in UNITE’s implementation”. UNITE is a key, significant initiative by Westpac to improve performance and profitability. This could play an important role for the passive income in the coming years.

UBS wrote about Westpac’s view on UNITE:

UNITE [is] expected to be completed in FY29 and has finalised the scope of 10 work packages with the majority of initiatives on track (8 complete, 51 underway). Current guidance for UNITE spend is expected to increase ~36% to $850-950M in FY26E (~40% of total investment spend FY27-28 and lower in FY29), expensing ~75%.

Questions from the floor were focused on themes that have been discussed in other bank AGMs this year: digital scams, branch closures, sustainability initiatives and efforts as well as AI and job stability were all discussed. Q1 26 update is scheduled to be released on the 13th Feb 2026.

In our view, to achieve these two objectives, strict discipline and consistent progress on Project UNITE are essential.

However, achieving some of the goals could be challenging because UBS expects higher lending growth and higher operating expenditure, primarily due to increased IT costs.

UBS expects owners of Westpac shares to see net profit of $7.26 billion, putting the bank valuation at more than 18x FY26’s estimated earnings.

The post If I invest $10,000 in Westpac shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s what Westpac says the RBA will do with interest rates in 2026
• Buying ASX shares? Why, and how, you should prepare for higher interest rates in 2026
• BHP, Macquarie, and Westpac: Naughty or nice? 3 popular ASX shares examined
• Why today is a great day to own ANZ and Westpac shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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.

Building wealth through the share market doesn’t require perfect timing or complex strategies. Some of the most successful investors follow a fairly straightforward process and adhere to it through both good times and bad.

As we arrive in 2026, there’s no shortage of uncertainty. But that doesn’t mean the opportunity to build long-term wealth has disappeared. It just means having a clear plan matters more than ever.

Here are five steps I believe are key to building wealth with ASX shares in 2026.

1. Focus on quality

I don’t spend much time trying to forecast where the market is headed next month or even next year. Instead, I focus on owning high-quality businesses like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

These are companies with competitive advantages, strong balance sheets, and products or services that remain relevant regardless of economic conditions. Over time, quality tends to assert itself, even if the journey is volatile.

Trying to predict macro events is hard. Owning great businesses is simpler.

2. Invest regularly

One of the most effective habits for building wealth is consistency.

Rather than waiting for the perfect moment to invest, I prefer to invest regularly. This approach smooths out market volatility and reduces the risk of letting emotions drive decisions.

Markets will fluctuate in 2026. They always do. Consistent investing helps turn that volatility from a source of stress into a long-term advantage.

3. Harness the power of compounding

Compounding is powerful, but it requires patience.

Building meaningful wealth with ASX shares usually happens gradually, then suddenly. Small gains reinvested over long periods can lead to outcomes that surprise even disciplined investors.

The key is giving your investments time, resisting the urge to constantly trade, tinker, or chase short-term trends. The longer quality businesses are allowed to compound, the more powerful the results tend to be.

4. Manage risk

In uncertain markets, risk management matters just as much as return potential.

I pay close attention to balance sheets, diversification, and position sizing. Avoiding permanent capital loss is far more important than maximising returns in any single year.

That also means being honest about risk tolerance. If a portfolio keeps you awake at night, it’s probably taking on too much risk, regardless of potential upside.

5. Stay invested

Finally, building wealth with ASX shares requires staying the course.

Every year brings reasons to be cautious. There will always be headlines predicting crashes, recessions, or bubbles. One day, those warnings will be right. But stepping out of the market too often can be far more damaging than riding through volatility.

I’ve found that staying invested, while continuing to add to high-quality holdings, has been far more effective than trying to sidestep every potential risk.

Foolish Takeaway

Building wealth with ASX shares in 2026 doesn’t require bold forecasts or constant action. It requires discipline, patience, and a focus on quality.

By investing consistently, managing risk, and allowing compounding to work over time, investors give themselves the best chance of achieving long-term success, even in uncertain markets.

The post 5 steps to building wealth with ASX shares in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 strong ASX ETFs that could be top buys in 2026
• How to make $20,000 of passive income from ASX shares
• The pros and cons of buying Zip shares in 2026
• How much superannuation do you really need to retire comfortably in Australia?
• Watch this ugly duckling ASX 200 gold stock in 2026

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL, Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

As we arrive in 2026, many investors are thinking about where long-term growth could come from over the next decade.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can be a powerful way to position for those opportunities, offering diversification and exposure to major global themes without the need to pick individual stocks.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could be top buys in 2026 for investors focused on long-term growth.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF could be worth considering in 2026. It gives investors exposure to companies at the forefront of automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence. These technologies are no longer speculative concepts; they are already reshaping the world.

The fund holds a diversified portfolio of global leaders, including NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), and ABB Ltd (SWX: ABBN). While all three benefit from the AI and automation boom, NVIDIA stands out as a key enabler. Its chips power everything from data centres to advanced AI models, making it one of the central beneficiaries of accelerating AI adoption worldwide.

The fund was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

Another ASX ETF that could be a buy this year is the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF. It provides investors with access to some of the most influential technology companies across Asia.

This includes exposure to businesses driving innovation in e-commerce, semiconductors, gaming, and artificial intelligence across China, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Key holdings include Tencent Holdings Ltd (SEHK: 700), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (NYSE: TSM), PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD), and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE: BABA). Among these, TSMC plays a particularly critical role. As the world’s leading semiconductor foundry, it manufactures advanced chips used by many of the biggest global technology companies, making it a foundational player in the digital economy.

As Asia’s middle class continues to expand and digital adoption accelerates across the region, the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF appears well-placed for the future. It was also recently recommended by Betashares.

Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF (ASX: BEMG)

A final ASX ETF that could be a top pick for 2026 is the Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF. It offers broad exposure to large and mid-cap companies across emerging economies. These markets are often driven by powerful tailwinds such as population growth, urbanisation, and rising consumer demand.

The ETF provides exposure to over 1,000 stocks across 24 emerging market countries, with major holdings including SK Hynix Inc, Xiaomi (SEHK: 1810), and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KRX: 005930).

For investors looking to diversify beyond developed economies and tap into faster-growing regions, the Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF could play a valuable role in a long-term portfolio. Betashares recently recommended this one to investors as well.

The post 3 strong ASX ETFs that could be top buys in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 no-brainer AI stocks to buy hand over fist for 2026
• 5 fantastic ASX ETFs for beginners in 2026
• Own Betashares ASX ETFs? Here’s your next dividend
• What are the 2 top artificial intelligence (AI) stocks to buy right now?
• 10 excellent ASX ETFs to buy in 2026

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Abb, Intuitive Surgical, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group and Xiaomi. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When people talk about passive income from shares, the conversation often jumps straight to dividend yields and payout schedules.

But that misses the bigger picture. The most reliable way to generate meaningful, sustainable passive income from ASX shares is not to chase income first.

Here’s one way to think about building a $20,000 annual passive income stream.

Start thinking in ownership

Passive income from ASX shares is simply your share of business profits. The more high-quality businesses you own, the larger your slice becomes.

Instead of looking for the biggest dividend yields today, a better starting point is looking to build ownership in great businesses.

For most investors, this means spending years focusing on portfolio growth, not income. High-quality ASX shares reinvesting profits tend to compound faster than high-yield stocks that distribute most of their cash.

How much do you need

To generate $20,000 a year in passive income at an average 5% yield, you need a portfolio worth $400,000.

That number can sound intimidating, but it needn’t be.

In the accumulation phase, most investors are better off owning a mix of growth-focused ASX shares and broad ETFs.

Reinvesting all dividends during this phase quietly accelerates compounding. That’s because you are buying more shares without adding new capital, which increases future income potential without effort.

Over 10 to 20 years, this approach can dramatically increase the size of the portfolio compared to income-first strategies.

Which ASX shares?

Investors may want to focus on ASX shares that have strong business models and positive long term growth outlooks.

Companies that tick these boxes include Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), and Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO).

They all have the potential to deliver strong returns over the next decade (and beyond), which could help Aussie investors build up the capital they need to then start generating meaningful passive income.

Speaking of which, starting at zero, if you were able to invest $500 a month into ASX shares, you would arrive at a $400,000 portfolio in 21 years if you averaged a 10% per annum return.

If you want to get there sooner, increase your monthly contributions. $1,000 a month would take 15 years, all else equal.

Foolish takeaway

The real secret to earning $20,000 of passive income from ASX shares is not finding the perfect dividend stock. It is building a portfolio large enough that average yields do the work for you.

Once you reach that point, income generation will be surprisingly easy.

The post How to make $20,000 of passive income from ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, REA Group, and Xero shares
• 3 Australian shares with bullish catalysts heading into 2026
• Buy, hold, sell: Aristocrat, James Hardie, and TechnologyOne shares
• How to retire with a $1 million ASX share portfolio
• 5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026

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

The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price has seen enormous volatility since the beginning of April 2025, as the chart below shows. I think it’s a good idea to consider whether the buy now, pay later business is a good investment right now or not.

Zip has a sizeable presence in both ANZ and the US, which are two of the best places for the business to operate, in my view.

Zip has made a lot of progress over the years, and its potential future growth could be one of the best reasons to consider the business, according to the broker UBS.

Positives about Zip shares

The latest update from the business was its FY26 first quarter which showed top-line momentum in the US and a strong cash operating profit (EBTDA) margin outcome, according to UBS.

The broker noted that Zip’s US total transaction value (TTV) and revenue accelerated further – in US dollar terms, it grew TTV by 47%, up from 45% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. This was supported by customer growth of 12% year-over-year, prompting Zip to upgrade its estimate for US TTV growth to more than 40%, up from growth of more than 35%.

UBS suggested the strength in the first quarter of FY26 would mean a strong second quarter, considering the larger customer base and “continued proof of engagement” through the metrics of spending per customer, higher average order value (AOV) and frequency. That bodes well for Zip shares.

The broker says that ANZ metrics – portfolio yield, excess spread and net transaction margin (NTM) – are strong and UBS is predicting a catch-up of receivables growth from here.

Negatives

On the negative side of things, Zip saw its operating expenditure growth accelerate to 18% in the first quarter of FY26.

The buy now, pay later business is also seeing its US loss rate increase. Even so, UBS said that “a pickup in this metric makes sense given greater growth from new customers (vs existing and re-activated dormant customer) and is still at a comfortable level balancing growth and profitability.”

There’s also a general question of whether some investors may want to own part of a buy now, pay later business. I also think it could be somewhat vulnerable in the next financial recession in Australia and the US, considering how many customers it has now and how some payments could be delayed.

Is the Zip share price a buy?

UBS thinks so, with a buy rating on the company. The broker’s price target on the buy now, pay later business is $5.40. That implies a possible rise of 64%, which would be a very compelling return over the next year, if that happened.

The post The pros and cons of buying Zip shares in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 179% since April, why it’s not too late to buy Zip shares for 2026
• The best Australian stocks to buy in 2026
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• 2 great ASX shares to buy for 2026: experts
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

How much superannuation you need for a comfortable retirement is one of the most common and most important questions Australians ask as retirement starts to come into view.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single number that works for everyone. The amount of super you need depends on the lifestyle you want, whether you are retiring as a single or a couple, and how long your savings will need to last.

That said, there are reliable benchmarks that can help you understand what comfortable actually means in dollar terms, and whether your current balance is likely to get you there.

What does a comfortable retirement actually mean?

The most widely used benchmark comes from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). It breaks retirement into two broad standards: comfortable and modest.

According to ASFA, a comfortable retirement allows retirees to enjoy more than just the basics. It includes private health insurance, a reliable car, regular social activities, eating out occasionally, and the ability to take domestic holidays, plus an overseas trip every few years. Importantly, it is about maintaining independence and choice, not luxury.

ASFA estimates that to achieve this level of retirement at age 67, you need approximately:

• $595,000 in superannuation for a single person
• $690,000 combined for a couple

These figures assume you own your home outright and will receive at least a part age pension.

How much superannuation for a modest retirement?

A modest retirement covers the essentials. It allows retirees to meet basic living costs, maintain a simple lifestyle, and enjoy limited leisure activities, but with far less flexibility.

ASFA estimates that a modest retirement requires around $100,000 in superannuation for both a single and a couple.

This level of retirement relies far more heavily on the age pension and leaves little room for unexpected expenses or lifestyle upgrades.

What if you won’t reach the comfortable number?

Falling short of ASFA’s comfortable benchmark doesn’t mean retirement will be unpleasant, it just means trade-offs.

Australians commonly adjust by retiring a year or two later, working part-time in early retirement, downsizing their home, and reducing discretionary spending like travel.

In many cases, small changes can bridge surprisingly large gaps.

And if you’re behind but still have time to build that nest egg, you could look at making additional contributions to your superannuation. You could also look at switching funds if yours is consistently underperforming benchmarks.

Foolish takeaway

There’s no magic number that guarantees a perfect retirement. But ASFA’s benchmarks provide a useful reality check.

If you’re aiming for comfort and flexibility, around $600,000 as a single or $700,000 as a couple is a solid target. If your balance is lower, the age pension, lifestyle choices, and timing could help you bridge the gap.

The post How much superannuation do you really need to retire comfortably in Australia? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Fastest rising ASX 200 share of each market sector in 2025
• Northern Star Resources trims FY26 gold guidance after soft December quarter
• Nickel Industries partners with Sphere Corp in landmark ENC deal
• Judo Capital’s loan book tops $13.4bn in FY26 update
• Here’s what I think investors in Northern Star shares can look forward to in 2026

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 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 years, this ASX 200 gold stock sat awkwardly at the gold table. Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) was not quite a dud, but rarely the star.

Now the gold mining share has climbed to an all-time high to close Friday at $4.20, starting the new year 3.4% higher. This gain comes on top of last year’s surge of 102%.

As a result, the underperforming small speculative Perth miner is now an $8 billion company.

Intriguing mid-tier miner

The ASX 200 gold stock, like many of its rivals, soared on the back of record gold prices. Gold reached record highs in 2025 as lower interest rates in most major economies boosted its performance. 

Ramelius is a Western Australian gold producer through and through. Its engine rooms are Mt Magnet and Edna May, supported by a stable of satellite pits and underground operations.

However, Ramelius Resources has also quietly rebranded itself and is evolving into one of Australia’s more intriguing mid-tier gold producers. At its core, the company mines, processes, and sells gold from a range of WA operations.

Never Never deposit

The real plot twist for this ASX 200 gold stock came with the acquisition of Spartan Resources and its Dalgaranga Gold Project. Suddenly, Ramelius wasn’t just steady — it was ambitious.

Dalgaranga brings scale, high-grade optionality and the tantalising Never Never and Pepper deposits. These have quickly become one of the more talked-about discoveries in the mid-tier gold space.

The ASX 200 gold stock has grown its mineral resources every year since 2016 and continues to spend strongly on exploration, with a budget of $80 to $100 million earmarked for exploration this financial year.

Buy-now gold share

That’s why Ramelius is suddenly a buy-now candidate. Management is openly targeting a move towards 500,000 ounces a year by the end of the decade.

That would push Ramelius out of the awkward middle ground and into proper mid-tier territory. A place where institutions start taking you seriously and valuation multiples tend to behave better.

The strengths are stacking up. Ramelius runs a concentrated, low-risk WA portfolio, generates strong operating cash flow and now boasts a much larger resource base post-merger.

Of course, it’s not all glitter. Costs have crept higher, as they have across the sector. Integrating Dalgaranga won’t be instant or painless, and execution risk remains the biggest swing factor. And like every gold miner, Ramelius lives and dies by the gold price in the short term.

So, what do analysts think?

The tone has shifted. Brokers are warming to the growth story.

The ASX 200 gold stock enjoyed a big boost last month after announcing it intends to buy back up to $250 million in shares over the next 18 months. The Ramelius board also revealed an increase in the minimum dividend to 2.0 cents per share each year.

That’s why most brokers are sporting strong buy recommendations and 12-month target prices clustered around $4.70. This points to an 11% upside.

However, the most optimistic analysts see potential gains for the ASX 200 gold stock of over 50% in 2026.  

The post Watch this ugly duckling ASX 200 gold stock in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What on earth is going on with ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Can surging ASX 200 gold shares like Evolution Mining keeping smashing the benchmark in 2026?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

If you are wondering which ASX shares to buy, hold, or sell, then read on!

That’s because Morgans has given its verdict on the three popular shares named below.

Here’s what it is saying about them:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Morgans thinks that banking giant Commonwealth Bank of Australia is overvalued at current levels. It has put a sell rating on CBA shares with a $96.07 price target.

The broker feels that there a risk of poor future investment returns due to its current valuation. In response to its recent quarterly update, Morgans said:

The market’s response to a mild earnings miss for a stock priced for perpetual perfection was today’s sharp share price decline. WBC seemed to be a beneficiary. We’ve downgraded FY26-28F EPS and DPS by c.3%. Lower earnings also reduces terminal ROTE and sustainable growth in our DCF valuation. DCF-based target price declines to $96.07/sh. We remain SELL rated on CBA, recommending clients aggressively reduce overweight positions given the risk of poor future investment returns arising from the even-now overvalued share price and low-to-mid single digit EPS/DPS growth outlook.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

Another ASX 200 share that Morgans has been running the rule over is realestate.com.au operator REA Group.

It was pleased with its solid performance during the first quarter of FY 2026, highlighting yet another strong yield outcome.

However, it isn’t enough for a buy rating. Morgans has put an accumulate rating and $247.00 price target on its shares. It said:

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. We make minor changes (-1%) to our FY26-FY28 EPS estimates. Our DCF-derived price target is lowered to A$247 (from A$254). 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.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Finally, this cloud accounting platform provider has also been given an accumulate rating by Morgans with a $141.00 price target.

While its first half performance was in line with expectations, it has trimmed its estimates to reflect the acquisition of Melio. Morgans said:

XRO’s 1H26 result was largely in line with expectations but higher investment expenses in the 2H and the inclusion of Melio into our forecasts lowers our EBITDA and FCF forecasts. Our prior XRO research presented our first take on XRO including Melio numbers and now, following its 1H26 result and greater clarity on costs, we reduce our short-term forecasts and formally publish our combined XRO and Melio forecasts. Our target price reduces ~30% to $141 on lower peer multiples and lower FCF per share. We retain our Accumulate recommendation, noting it may take some time for management to build investor confidence in the value add of Melio and return XRO back to rule of 40 growth.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CBA, REA Group, and Xero shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 fantastic ASX ETFs for beginners in 2026
• How did the CBA share price perform in 2025?
• 5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026
• The top ASX growth stocks that could rebound in 2026 after a brutal year
• 3 ASX 200 bargain buys heading into the new year

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in REA Group and 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.

It’s interesting when one analyst thinks an ASX share is a buy, however it could be a compelling buy signal if numerous experts are calling that ASX share a buy.

Share prices are changing all the time, giving investors the opportunity to buy at good value if they appear undervalued.

While analyst predictions aren’t necessarily going to be precisely correct, I think it could be very worthwhile to look at which businesses are expected to deliver big returns and underrated earnings.

Let’s take a look at two ASX shares that are highly rated today.

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

According to the collation of analyst ratings by Commsec, there are currently nine buy recommendations on this company, which is a substantial number.

UBS describes ALS as a leading analytical and testing services business with operations spanning the mining, natural resources, environmental, food, pharmaceutical, industrial and inspection sectors. It provides testing, sampling and remote monitoring to those sectors.

UBS is one of the brokers that rates the business as a buy, with a price target of $20.87.

The broker notes that the company’s FY26 first half result was solid, with net profit 3% of what the market was expecting thanks to stronger performances from both the life sciences and commodities divisions.

Operating profit (EBIT) growth of 15% was driven by organic revenue growth of 7%. The commodities division achieved 12% organic revenue growth, while geochemistry revenue grew 14%.

Mineral sample volumes were up in the low double-digits, thanks to supportive commodity prices for gold and copper, as well as demand from onshoring and mineral security trends. Geochemistry demand continues to come from major miners.

UBS notes that ALS’ guidance means the company expects organic revenue growth of between 6% to 8%, up from between 5% to 7%, with commodities growth upgraded to between 12% to 14%, up from 5% to 7%.

The broker suggests ALS’ view on its profit margins is “conservative”.

UBS is optimistic on this ASX share because of the view that the record gold price “should drive a recovery in exploration activity”, supporting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% for earnings per share (EPS) over the next three years.

GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

GQG is a funds management business that gives clients the option to invest in different strategies such as US shares, international (excluding US) shares, global shares and emerging market shares.

According to the Commsec collation of analyst opinions, there are currently seven buy ratings on the ASX share. UBS is one of the brokers that rates GQG shares as a buy.

After a period of fund underperformance because of the defensive setting of GQG portfolios due to high AI-related valuations, the month of November saw GQG outperform.

UBS said the fund manager delivered 360 basis points (3.60%) of “alpha validating GQG’s defensive posture amid increasing scepticism around the AI buildout”.

The broker noted that the business reached US$166.1 billion of funds under management (FUM) in November 2025, a rise of 1.5% month over month, with client FUM net flows contributing negative 1.5% and investment returns contributing 3%.

When the GQG share price was trading at $1.73, UBS noted it’s trading at a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 8 and the dividend yield was around 12%.

UBS said its team continues “to see value appeal as a market-hedge with the dividend underpinned by relatively resilient FUM trends.”

The broker also believes that recent outflows have been “resilient”, considering the depth of GQG’s recent underperformance. But, in early December, UBS saw that there are indications the net flows for December 2025 could show signs of improvement, with trackable flows in positive territory in-line with the first half of 2025 monthly experience.

UBS has a price target of $2.10 on the business, which assumes the business will trade at a P/E ratio of 10.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I’d buy 21,819 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $200 a month of passive income
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 30% I’d buy right now
• At 13.4%, this ASX 200 dividend stock has the largest yield on the index
• Why Cogstate, European Lithium, GQG Partners, and Lindian Resources shares are falling today
• GQG Partners share price in focus after November FUM update

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