Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are flat at $3.15 a piece at the time of writing on Tuesday afternoon. Over the past month the shares have dived 10.5%, wiping some of the 35.2% gains made over the past 6 months. For the year-to-date Zip shares are 6.06% higher.

It’s clearly been a year of ebbs and flows for the Australian financial technology company. But right now I think the stock is a screaming buy. Here’s why.

1. Zip has had strong and improved earnings this year

The buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) provider delivered record profitability amid macroeconomic uncertainty in FY25.

In the first quarter of FY26, the company said that its total transaction value grew 38.7% to $3.9 billion and income was up 32.8% to $321.5 million. Meanwhile, net bad debts were flat at 1.6% of TTV, and the cash operating profit grew by 98.1% to $62.8 million.

At its annual general meeting (AGM) last month, the company also said it is on track for its full-year FY26 results and plans to be within all target ranges previously announced in August.

2. The company is pushing for growth

The Australian financial technology company has operations in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States and provides customer service in 12 countries. 

Zip now offers point-of-sale credit and digital payment services to consumers and merchants via interest-free BNPL technology. The company currently has two consumer products: Zip Money and Zip Pay.

But the business is also actively broadening its product base beyond traditional BPNL options too. In late October, the company announced that its US segment is expanding its partnership with Stripe, a programmable financial services business. 

Zip is looking at ways to scale its US business too. Zip management has said that the company is still considering a secondary sharemarket listing in the US which would reduce dependence on Australian markets and potentially introduce more opportunity for business expansion. A dual listing on Nasdaq which could help the business tap into US capital markets and boost its valuation among US-based investors.

3. The outlook for Zip shares looks bullish

I think there is still some opportunity for more momentum ahead for Zip shares.

Analysts are bullish on the shares too. TradingView data shows 8 out of 10 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Zip shares. The minimum target price is $4.85 while some analysts think that Zip shares could reach as high as $6.20 over the next 12 months. At the time of writing that implies an upside as high as 96.5% for investors.

Macquarie analysts initiated coverage of the Australian financial technology company in late October, saying it expects Zip to deliver rapid growth going forward. It has an outperform rating and $4.85 target price on Zip shares. The broker also listed Zip shares among its list of best ASX stocks to buy amid a rising interest rate environment. 

UBS currently has a buy rating on Zip shares, but a higher price target of $5.40. That implies a possible rise of approximately 71.4% over the next year. The team was particularly impressed by stronger-than-expected earnings growth last quarter.

The post 3 reasons why Zip shares are a screaming buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why did Zip shares rebound 19% this week?

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

US stocks are on track to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) for a third consecutive calendar year.

In the year to date, the S&P 500 Index (SP: INX) is up 16.4% while the ASX 200 is up 5%.

In 2024, the S&P 500 rose about 25% while the ASX 200 lifted about 9%.

In 2023, US stocks ascended 24% while the ASX 200 rose 8%.

The last time Aussie shares did better than US stocks was 2022, when the S&P 500 fell (19.5%) compared to just (5.5%) for the ASX 200.

Bear in mind that these rises and falls exclude dividends, which add to total returns, and ASX 200 shares pay more than US stocks.

But the point remains: US shares have done better for three consecutive years.

Might this continue, or is it time to take profits?

Let’s defer to the experts.

Is it time to bail out of US stocks?

Hell no, according to respected global broker Morgan Stanley.

In fact, Morgan Stanley says US stocks are likely to continue outpacing their global peers in 2026.

And it’s willing to quantify it.

In its 2026 investment outlook, Morgan Stanley projects S&P 500 shares will experience capital gains of 14% next year.

By comparison, the broker expects a 7% rise for Japan’s TOPIX and a 4% gain for the MSCI Europe.

The broker expects US earnings and cash flow growth due to a market-friendly policy mix, interest rate cuts, corporate tax cuts from the ‘One Big Beautiful Act’, positive operating leverage, and the re-emergence of pricing power and AI-driven efficiency gains.

Serena Tang, Morgan Stanley’s Chief Global Cross-Asset Strategist, said:

There will be some bumps along the way, but we believe that the bull market is intact.

The broker anticipates that European and emerging markets are unlikely to benefit from similar tailwinds, commenting:

Tepid forecasts for growth in the eurozone and structural challenges, with the region losing ground in manufacturing to China, cloud the outlook for European equities. 

Chinese stocks face headwinds from the country’s slow reflation progress. 

In Japan, the narrative is more positive: stocks are likely to get support from fiscal and regulatory reforms, besides domestic flows into equities.

Morgan Stanley expects the artificial intelligence revolution will continue full speed ahead in 2026.

The broker said tech-related financing for AI and data infrastructure is set to be the dominant theme in credit markets next year. 

Morgan Stanley predicts a total $3 trillion investment in data centre-related capex, but says less than 20% has been deployed so far.

2025 vs. 2026

Morgan Stanley says policy and macroeconomic uncertainties dominated markets in 2025.

Looking ahead, the broker assesses a shifting investment landscape that is more favorable for risk assets like shares.

Companies and nations are likely to benefit from AI-related productivity gains amid lower inflation in 2026.

Tang said:

The triumvirate of fiscal policy, monetary policy and deregulation are all working together in a way that rarely happens outside of a recession.

This unusually favorable policy mix allows markets to shift focus from global macro concerns to asset-specific narratives—particularly those related to AI investments.

Morgan Stanley recommends that investors take an overweight position in equities in 2026, with a strong preference for US stocks.

Check out which US shares are most popular with Aussie investors and why.

The post US stocks outperform ASX 200 for third consecutive year: Is it time to bail? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Pilbara Minerals shares have been one of the most prominent lithium stocks on the ASX for years now. The company first started attracting major attention in 2015, when it rose by about 900% at one point.

In subsequent years, the gains continued, including an incredible run between October 2020 and October 2022 that saw investors enjoy a return of 1,700%.

Of course, it hasn’t been all sunshine and roses. Given the seemingly perpetually volatile lithium market (and sentiment that surrounds it), Pilbara shares were always a wild ride. Between August 2023 and June 2025, Pilbara shares lost 75% of their value. But for those holding on, the company has once again rallied over the past six months, bouncing back with a ~205% gain as of current pricing.

That leaves the company with a year-to-date gain of 82.35% in 2025 alone.

But those looking at Pilbara shares over the past few days might be a little confused. That’s because the ASX no longer houses any company by the name of Pilbara Minerals Ltd.

If one searches for the ‘PLS’ ticker code, they will come across a company called PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS).

So what’s going on here?

Pilbara Minerals shares undergo a PLS facelift

Well, back at its annual general meeting in June, what was then Pilbara Minerals revealed that it intended to change its name to PLS Group. Shareholders duly ratified the change with a vote at the AGM, and the name change became official on 3 December last week.

Here’s how the company explained the name change:

[Our flagship lithium Pilgangoora Operation in Western Australia] is complemented by the Colina lithium development project in Minas Gerais, Brazil, secured through the acquisition of Latin Resources in February 2025. This milestone was the catalyst for our rebrand from Pilbara Minerals to PLS, signalling a new era as we boldly position for future growth.

Given Pilbara Minerals’ ticker has always been ‘PLS’, this name change to PLS Group is arguably nothing too substantial. Aside from emphasising its now-global network. It is still the same company, with the same management team, running the same portfolio of lithium mines and processing plants. But it is a big change nonetheless for a company that has long captured the attention of ASX investors. Let’s see what the future holds.

The PLS Group share price is currently trading at $4.12 a share, up 2.2% so far this Tuesday. That leaves this ASX 200 lithium stock with a market capitalisation of $13.26 billion.

The post PLS? Why did Pilbara Minerals shares just change name? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Looking for a large-cap ASX healthcare share that’s forecast to deliver some potentially outsized gains in 2026?

Then you might want to have a look into Summerset Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SNZ).

The dual-listed New Zealand based company develops, owns, and operates integrated retirement villages in New Zealand and Australia.

Summerset shares closed yesterday trading for $11.09. In thin trade today, shares are down 1.7%, trading for $10.90 apiece (or NZ$11.75 on the NZX.)

This sees the ASX healthcare share commanding a market cap of NZ$2.98 billion, or AU$3.43 billion.

Summerset shares struggled for much of the year and remain down 9.2% in 2025. But the stock has been on the rebound trail since early October, with shares now up 15.7% from the 3 October close.

And according to the analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), the year ahead should see the Summerset share price continue to charge higher.

Herer’s why.

Should you buy the ASX healthcare share today?

In a new report covering the New Zealand retirement village sector, Macquarie cites research from JLL noting that 1,800 retirement units were built in the nation over the 2024 calendar year.

According to Macquarie:

This takes total RV stock to ~43,600 (ex care), which is equivalent to a 14.7% penetration rate for people aged 75+ based on cohabitation rates and not excluding those which will reside in care

Looking to the growth market ahead for ASX healthcare share Summerset, the broker said, “Demographic tailwinds remain strong which will underpin execution of development pipeline across the sector while a shortfall will exist.”

Macquarie noted:

Over the next decade, a further ~175k people will enter the 75+ demographic which based on current penetration would make up around 2,000 units p.a. of incremental demand (net, while gross will be higher with decommissions), or a 3.8% CAGR.

Out of the listed retirement village developers and operators in New Zealand, Macquarie said, “We think Summerset has the most upside given track record of development execution.”

The broker has a 12-month price target of NZ$16.00 on Summerset shares. That’s 33.0% above the current share price on the NZX.

As for risks that could see the dual-listed ASX healthcare share struggle to achieve those gains, Macquarie noted those include “quantum and speed of improvement in housing market conditions, and associated impact on sales including St Johns”.

Macquarie added, “Success and speed of ramp-up in Australia is a key driver of growth in the medium to long term.”

The post Macquarie forecasts this $3.4 billon ASX healthcare share is set surge 33% 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. 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 delivered its latest exploration update, highlighting strong drilling results at key targets like Garden Well Underground and Tropicana.

What did Regis Resources report?

• Over 100 exploration prospects and projects at various stages are being evaluated across the portfolio
• Garden Well Underground drilling confirmed continuity of gold mineralisation beyond current mine designs
• Beamish South drilling identified gold intersections similar to Garden Well, highlighting new open pit and underground potential
• Continued high-grade results at Rosemont Stage 3 Underground, with the mineralised system now extending roughly 300 metres beyond previous designs
• Strong, consistent high-grade intersections at Ben Hur Underground, further defining structure continuity
• Tropicana Underground drilling outlined new potential additions to the Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource base

What else do investors need to know?

The latest update is a replacement for the previous day’s announcement, with extra detail added on Competent Person disclosures for key exploration targets and a retraction of a non-material Garden Well Underground Mineral Resource subset. The company also clarified its reporting on visual mineralisation, ensuring only intervals with supporting assay results are presented as mineralised.

Detailed drilling programs across Garden Well, Beamish South, Rosemont, Ben Hur, Kintyre, and Tropicana continue to build geological confidence. These results are supporting ongoing reserve conversions, longer-term studies, and mine life extension strategies across both the Duketon and Tropicana operations.

What did Regis Resources management say?

Jim Beyer, Managing Director and CEO said:

Our exploration teams continue to deliver solid progress across the business. The work completed over the past six months has strengthened our understanding of the underground growth pipeline at Duketon and confirmed further extensions at Tropicana. The team’s systematic approach is building confidence by providing a steady flow of opportunities to support future studies, Reserve conversion and long-term mine life planning. We are very encouraged by the results to date and see ongoing potential across our portfolio as drilling continues into the second half of FY26.

What’s next for Regis Resources?

Drilling programs are set to continue, with the aim of upgrading resources and unlocking new underground and open pit opportunities. The focus remains on infill conversion, extension drilling, and drilling from new underground platforms, especially at Garden Well, Rosemont Stage 3, Ben Hur, and Tropicana.

Management highlights that the exploration pipeline supports long-term production planning and potential resource growth, with further updates expected as more results are received and assessed.

Regis Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 moths, Regis Resources have risen 159%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Regis Resources delivers gold exploration update 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed 0.18% higher on Friday last week. At the time of writing on Tuesday lunchtime, the index is 0.3% lower for this week so far. The market is subdued ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s December cash rate announcement this afternoon.

Here’s what Australian shares investors were snapping up during the first week of December, according to new CommSec data.

Droneshield takes the top spot for another week

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares were the most-traded Australian shares among CommSec clients between the 1st and 5th of November, based on contract note volumes either bought or sold weekly. The data shows that 58% of activity volume for the week was from buyers.

The AI drone operator’s shares dropped another 3% during the course of the week. Droneshield shares have been under significant pressure recently following the US CEO resignation, employee share sell-offs, and accidental ASX release. Analysts have said the selling is way overdone and that the stock is now priced very attractively.

Investors were selling up their BHP shares

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares came under heavy selling pressure last week, too. With a huge 80% of activity from CommeSec clients being sales of the mining giant’s stock. Over the course of the week, the ASX miner’s shares climbed just over 6%. This was mostly driven by an uptick in commodity prices.

The copper price hit a new all-time high of US$11,400 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange overnight on Wednesday. This means the base metal has now risen by more than 30% since the start of the year. Its increased use in the energy transition has been behind its strong rise.

Zip shares caught investor attention

Investor interest in Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares stormed higher last week. The company’s stock has delivered explosive growth over the past six months; however, over the course of last week, the shares dropped nearly 10%. There has been no price-sensitive news out of the company recently, so the dip is likely investors taking their profits after a strong price rally in the months before. Over the past 6 months, Zip shares have climbed 35.9%.

What else were investors buying and selling last week?

CommSec clients were also interested in Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) shares last week.

There was also a lot of activity around Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares throughout the week, but this was mostly investor selling.

The post 10 most-traded ASX shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

One of the reasons I bought Wesfarmers Limited (ASX: WES) shares many years ago was the unique business model it offered – one that no other ASX 100 share possesses.

That unique offering is the stable of four of the best retail companies in Australia, supplemented by a diverse range of other businesses.

Wesfarmers is essentially a retail company, if we go by the numbers anyway. Its four retailing jewels, Bunnings, Target, Kmart and OfficeWorks, habitually bring home the lion’s share of both revenues and earnings.

Over FY2025, for example, Wesfarmers reported total revenues of $45.7 billion. Of that $45.7 billion, its four big retailers contributed $34.45 billion, or over 75%, to that total. Bunnings alone was responsible for $19.56 billion.

The remaining revenues and earnings are generated by Wesfarmers’ other divisions, which include WesCEF (Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy, and Fertilisers), Industrial and Safety, and Wesfarmers Health.

In effect, Wesfarmers can be thought of as a company that owns four of the best retail businesses in Australia, supported by a range of other diversified sources of income.

No other ASX 100 share can match this unique offering. Perhaps the only one that might come close is Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV), owner of Smiggle and Peter Alexander. But Premier is a pure-play retailer, with no supplementary diversification. Plus, it has recently been making moves to downsize its portfolio.

Can the unique offering from Wesfarmers shares last?

The ASX is an ever-changing institution. Plus, conglomerates of Wesfarmers’ nature are increasingly rare around the world. The temptation to spin off bits and pieces of companies like Wesfarmers is always there. Wesfarmers itself has done this in the past, most notably with Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL). Coles was formerly part of Wesfarmers, but was spun out of the company’s nest back in 2018.

So how long can Wesfarmers maintain its unique offering to ASX investors?

Well, I have confidence that it will. Wesfarmers is a very old company, having been in operation for over a century. Its managers know what has always worked for the company and its shareholders, and what hasn’t. Every move Wesfarmers has made in recent history has benefitted its investors mightily. That ranges from the sale of Coles to the acquisitions of Priceline and Kidman Resources. The latter fortuitously occurred right before the lithium boom.

Wesfarmers shares have returned healthy capital growth and meaningful dividend income for decades. I’m confident that its unique nature among other ASX 100 shares will allow it to continue doing so for many years to come.

The post Wesfarmers shares offer one thing no other ASX 100 stock does – can it last? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

If you have a high tolerance for risk, then you may want to check out the speculative ASX stocks listed below.

That’s because they could be destined to deliver huge returns for investors over the next 12 months according to analysts. Here’s what they are recommending to clients:

Epiminder Ltd (ASX: EPI)

This newly listed medical device and information solutions company could be an ASX stock to buy according to Morgans.

It believes the company’s epilepsy diagnosis and management system is well-placed in a market estimated to be worth US$1.1 billion in just the United States. It said:

Epiminder (EPI) aims to transform epilepsy diagnosis and management through the Minder system, the first FDA-approved sub-scalp EEG capable of continuous brain monitoring for months or years. Unlike current short-duration EEG tests, Minder provides long-window, high-fidelity that enables more accurate diagnosis and better treatment decisions. EPI is targeting a phased US commercial launch in 2H26.

EPI’s initial focus is drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients with inconclusive EEG results, a segment representing up to 45,000 patients annually in the US and a US$1.1bn market opportunity. IPO proceeds will fund completion of the DETECT demonstration study, development of the next-generation G1 Minder® system, and initial build-out of US commercial infrastructure. Key near-term catalysts include the targeted 2H26 release of the G0 device and start of the DETECT study.

Morgans has initiated coverage with a speculative buy rating and $2.33 price target. Based on its current share price of $1.19, this suggests that upside of 96% is possible between now and this time next year.

Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)

Over at Bell Potter, its analysts see huge potential returns on offer with this mineral exploration company’s shares.

The broker was pleased with the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the 100%-owned Gonneville Palladium-Nickel-Copper Project. It believes it positions Gonneville as a globally significant, long-life, low-cost critical minerals project with an improved and simplified development plan. It said:

CHN has outlined a development plan for Gonneville that positions it as a globally significant, long-life, low-cost critical minerals project that is a close strategic fit with western government objectives to diversify, de-risk and secure critical minerals supply chains. This is a materially improved and simplified development plan with reduced upfront costs compared with the original hydrometallurgical circuit.

The PFS delivers strong production and financial metrics at cyclically low prices and demonstrates high leverage to rising commodity prices. These are all factors we believe will support Gonneville’s development and attract a significant amount of government backed debt funding. This will likely carry relatively low service costs, relatively long maturity dates and leave a relatively small equity funding requirement, in our view. Optionality to extend the mine life into a multi-generational asset strengthens the funding case further.

In response, Bell Potter has retained its speculative buy rating with a trimmed price target of $4.00. Based on its current share price of $1.64, this implies potential upside of 140% for investors.

The post These speculative ASX stocks could rise 90% to 140% 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 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 copper price continued its powerful run on Monday, setting a fresh all-time high after climbing past US$11,770 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

The metal has now gained more than 30% in London since the start of the year, comfortably outpacing the broader market.

For context, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index in up by 5.16% during the same period.

This record-breaking copper rally appears to be a boon for BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

In recent years, the ASX 200 mining stock has steadily expanded its copper exposure through a series acquisitions and strategic investments.

Such efforts have propelled the company into the world’s largest copper miner, having producing 500,000 tonnes of the metal in just the third quarter of 2025.

And BHP shares have benefited accordingly.

Since early January, the stock has climbed by 11.84% to $44.68 at the time of writing.

Overall, BHP shares are currently flirting with 52-week highs.

But the copper boom could still have plenty of room to run, according to US investment firm Citigroup (NYSE: C).

Let’s find out why the broker is bullish on the metal.

Strong outlook

Demand for copper remains supported by both traditional and fast-growing modern applications.

Amongst others, the metal is central to the global energy transition, with significant use in electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.

It is also a critical component in AI data centres thanks to its conductivity and efficiency in power distribution and cooling.

Such factors hint at the prospect for long-term growth in global copper consumption.

In turn, analysts at Citi have now projected global end-use consumption to rise by 2.5% next year, as reported in the Australian Financial Review.

The broker cited a lower interest-rate environment and fiscal expansion in the US as drivers of growth, alongside European demand and the global energy transition.

Citi analysts, led by Max Layton, stated:

We have conviction in copper upside through 2026 supported by multiple bullish catalysts, including an incrementally constructive fundamental and macro backdrop. 

As a result, Citi sees the copper price averaging US$13,000 per tonne in the second quarter of next year, under a base-case scenario.

This equates to more than 10% upside from current levels.

Implications for BHP shares?

Any further strength in the copper price is likely to be welcome news for BHP shares.

The ASX 200 mining powerhouse holds a vast portfolio of copper mines spanning Chile, Peru, South Australia, and Arizona.

All up, it produced two million tonnes of the metal in FY25.

Furthermore, copper contributed 45% of its underlying operating earnings (EBITDA) during the year, up from 29% in FY24.

BHP is also moving to expand its total copper output.

The group recently outlined plans to invest A$840 million in South Australian copper projects, including its the giant Olympic Dam operation.

The post BHP shares take centre stage as Citi tips record-breaking copper price to storm even higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bart Bogacz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.