Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares have delivered a strong return for long-term investors over the past decade.

That may surprise some people.

Airlines are not usually thought of as easy buy-and-hold investments. They are exposed to fuel prices, labour costs, competition, aircraft availability, economic conditions, and travel demand.

Qantas also had to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely disrupted global aviation and forced airlines into survival mode.

But investors who bought a decade ago and held on have been well rewarded.

The share price return

In May 2016, Qantas shares were trading at around $3.25. This means that a $1,000 investment would have bought approximately 308 Qantas shares.

Today, the company’s shares are priced at $9.10.

This means those 308 shares would now be worth approximately $2,803

It means the value of the shares alone has increased by close to 180% over the past decade.

That is despite Qantas going through one of the most difficult operating periods in its modern history in 2020. Border closures, grounded aircraft, weak international travel, and pandemic uncertainty all weighed heavily on the airline sector.

Many companies would have struggled to recover from that kind of shock.

Qantas did not just survive. It eventually returned to profitability, resumed dividends, and continued returning capital to shareholders.

Dividends made a difference

The capital growth is only part of the story.

According to CommSec, Qantas paid several dividends over the period, although payments were interrupted for a number of years around the pandemic.

Since the final dividend paid in 2016, Qantas has paid total dividends of $1.356 per share.

For an investor holding 308 shares, that would add approximately $418 in cash dividends.

That figure excludes the value of franking credits. It also assumes the investor took the dividends in cash rather than reinvesting them.

When the current share value and dividends are added together, the original $1,000 investment would now be worth approximately $3,220.

That is a very strong result for a cyclical airline stock.

Share buybacks helped too

Another factor worth noting is Qantas’ use of share buybacks.

Buybacks do not show up in the same way as dividends for an individual shareholder. Investors do not receive cash directly unless they participate in an off-market buyback.

But buybacks can still be important. By reducing the number of shares on issue, they can support earnings per share and potentially help the market place a higher value on the remaining shares. 

Qantas has undertaken several buybacks over the past decade, and this would have contributed to the overall shareholder return story.

Are Qantas shares still attractive?

I think Qantas remains an interesting ASX share today.

The airline has a strong position in Australian aviation, with Qantas and Jetstar giving it exposure across premium and lower-cost travel. Its loyalty business is also a valuable asset, and fleet renewal should support the customer experience and operating efficiency over time.

But I would still treat Qantas differently from a defensive blue-chip share.

Airline earnings can move quickly when fuel prices rise, competition increases, or demand softens. Investors need to be comfortable with that cyclicality.

Even so, the past decade shows what can happen when a business with a strong market position gets through a crisis and starts returning cash to shareholders again.

Foolish takeaway

A $1,000 investment in Qantas shares a decade ago would now be worth approximately $3,220, including cash dividends but excluding franking credits.

That is an impressive outcome.

Qantas shareholders had to sit through a very difficult period, including the pandemic disruption that hit airlines hard. But the combination of share price growth, dividends, and buybacks has produced a strong long-term return for those who stayed patient.

The post If you invested $1,000 in Qantas shares a decade ago, here’s what they would be worth now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Charter Hall, Coronado Global, Meeka Metals, and Qantas shares are racing higher today
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Qantas shares
• 2 top ASX 200 dividend stocks to help boost your superannuation income
• 5 ASX shares that could bounce back in the second half of 2026
• Is now the time to buy ASX travel shares with brokers tipping up to 100% upside?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.

When it comes to your retirement, it’s important to know how you’re going to fund your lifestyle. At that point, some of the first questions you’d probably ask are: When can I access my superannuation? And when am I eligible for the Age Pension?

In both cases, it’s mostly dependent on your age.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’re entitled to, and when.

When can I access my superannuation?

There are two age brackets for accessing your super balance, and they depend on your working situation.

Once you reach your preservation age, you can access your superannuation if you have stopped working permanently.

For Australians born after the 1st of July 1964, this is age 60. It could be as early as age 55 if you’re born before the 1st of July 1960.

But you don’t have to retire if you don’t want to. If you continue working after age 60, you can continue to accrue superannuation, but you can’t access it until you reach age 65.

Once you reach age 65, you can gain automatic access regardless of whether you’re still working or not.

Once you’ve reached the appropriate milestone for your situation, you have two choices: you can access your superannuation as a lump sum, or you can set up an account-based pension and withdraw a regular amount. This means that the remaining balance is still invested and will continue to compound.

There are also exceptions to the two rules above.

Some Australians might be able to access their super earlier in times of financial hardship, on compassionate grounds due to a terminal medical condition or permanent incapacity, or if you’re a temporary resident leaving Australia with no plans to return.

When can I access the Age Pension?

The Age Pension is a fortnightly sum paid to Australians aged 67 years or older to help fund their retirement.

You can start receiving the Age Pension once you reach the qualifying age of 67 years. You’ll also need to meet eligibility requirements. 

That means, even if you can access your superannuation, it could still be a few more years before you can get the additional Age Pension payments.

The maximum fortnightly Age Pension payment is $1,100.30 for single Australians or older. Couples can get up to $829.40 per person per fortnight. 

The rates don’t include any additional potential supplement rates.

The amount you’ll receive can also vary depending on where you fall under the Age Pension assets and income tests. It is possible to receive a part-payment if your income and/or assets exceed the threshold, and the amount is generally calculated on a sliding scale.

The post At what age can I access my superannuation and the Age Pension? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: L1 Long Short Fund, Metcash, and Wesfarmers shares
• Analysts name 3 ASX shares to sell now
• If you invested $1,000 in Qantas shares a decade ago, here’s what they would be worth now
• Buy, hold, sell: Wesfarmers, Telstra, CBA shares
• Why Arafura Rare Earths, Dalrymple Bay, Tuas, and Woodside shares are falling today

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.4% on Monday as the world awaits news of a potential US-Iran deal.

Meanwhile on The Bull this week, two experts give us their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s check them out. 

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is $165.12, down 0.3% today and down 4.6% over the past month.

Mark Elzayed from Investor Pulse has a buy rating on the market’s biggest bank. 

Elzayed said: 

CBA remains Australia’s dominant retail bank. The recent sharp sell-off has created a more attractive entry point for long term investors.

The bank generated unaudited cash net profit after tax of $2.7 billion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, up 4 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Lending and deposits continued to grow despite a softer economic backdrop.

CBA also maintains strong capital levels and recently paid a fully franked interim dividend of $2.35 a share for the first half of fiscal year 2026.

The shares fell heavily following housing concerns flowing from the Federal Budget. We see scope for a recovery once sentiment stabilises.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price is $75.44, up 1% today and down 8% in the calendar year to date.

Elzayed gives Wesfarmers shares a hold rating.

He explains: 

Wesfarmers is a diversified industrial conglomerate. It owns market leading businesses, including Bunnings, Kmart and Officeworks, generating resilient earnings, even in softer economic conditions.

We believe it makes sense to hold Wesfarmers given it generated net profit after tax of $1.603 billion in the first half of 2026, up 9.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

Revenue of $24.2 billion was up 3.1 per cent. Bunnings and Kmart continued delivering strong sales growth.

The group also lifted its fully franked interim divided by 7.4 per cent to $1.02 a share, highlighting confidence in cash generation and balance sheet strength.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

The Telstra share price is $5.37, down 0.3% today and up 1% over the past month.

Jed Richards from Shaw and Partners gives Telstra shares a sell rating. 

Richards said: 

Telstra is currently trading at elevated levels, in our view, with its defensive appeal pushing the share price higher.

However, underlying growth remains limited, and the dividend yield is becoming less attractive as the share price rises.

Recent updates show steady but low growth across its core business segments, according to our analysis.

Valuations are now stretched and the risk-reward balance is less compelling. We would be inclined to take a profit at theses levels.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Wesfarmers, Telstra, CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: L1 Long Short Fund, Metcash, and Wesfarmers shares
• Analysts name 3 ASX shares to sell now
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Telstra and Woodside shares
• Experts recommend CBA and these ASX shares as buys
• Why I think CBA shares are a blue-chip buy in June

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

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on track to start the week with a solid gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.4% to 8,692.8 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is down 11% to 27.5 cents. The catalyst for this has been news that the rare earths developer has raised $350 million through an institutional placement. The company is raising the funds at a 16.1% discount to its last close price. Arafura’s CEO and managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: “The strong support received for this capital raising is a clear endorsement of the Nolans Rare Earths Project and Arafura’s role in building a diversified, Western rare earths supply chain. With this successful result and the Board’s recent Final Investment Decision, we look forward to commencing construction of this nationally significant project, which we are targeting in around September 2026.”

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI)

The Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure share price is down almost 2% to $5.50. This has been driven by the terminal infrastructure and services provider’s shares going ex-dividend this morning. Earlier this month, the company declared a quarterly dividend of 6.75 cents per share. This will be paid to eligible shareholders next month on 12 June.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

The Tuas share price is down a further 4% to $2.22. Last week, this Singapore-based telco terminated its proposed acquisition of M1 Limited. This followed news that authorities had suspended the review of the deal after Tuas’ Simba business allegedly used spectrum it did not own. It said: “Simba continues to co-operate with the investigation being undertaken by the Infocomm Media Development Authority into potential breaches of the Telecommunications Act and the conditions of Simba’s Facilities-Based Operator Licence. Tuas will keep shareholders updated in relation to that investigation.”

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is down 4% to $30.84. Investors have been selling this energy producer’s shares following a pullback in oil prices on Monday. Traders have been selling oil amid optimism that the US and Iran will soon sign a peace deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It isn’t just Woodside shares that are falling on the news. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 2% at the time of writing.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Dalrymple Bay, Tuas, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Analysts name 3 ASX shares to sell now
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Telstra and Woodside shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Why this ASX infrastructure stock could be a great passive income choice
• 3 ASX 200 shares crashing in this week’s rebounding market

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 broker team at UBS has digested last week’s Federal Budget, and, not surprisingly, it has raised some concerns about how it impacts investing.

Property market at risk

In the words of the UBS team, it was “the most consequential to investment markets in decades”, and risks putting pressure on the all-important property market.

This would, in turn, add “another headwind to stock prices which were already facing challenges from persistently high oil and a hawkish RBA”.

The big issue which came out of the Budget, of course, was changes to negative gearing rules for both property and shares, but which specifically removed the ability to negatively gear investments in residential property – except for new builds.

UBS said Australia has not really had a bear market in property over the past few decades, except for a “short, sharp slip in prices” in 2018-19.

Should property prices come under pressure, it will have implications for the broader economy and the share market in the short to medium term, they said.

But interestingly, UBS believes that over the longer term, the Federal Budget will shift more money towards the share market.

As they said:

We believe that the long run impacts from the Budget should be equity friendly, via making it a relatively more appealing place to invest versus residential property. But shorter-term, we believe this budget raises the risk of pressuring the property market, adding another headwind. A property market unwind, and the associated negative wealth effect impacts it would bring, has long been a tail risk for investors in Australia. We believe this budget raises the risk of this scenario playing out.

Banks to bear the brunt

UBS banks analyst John Storey said Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) were the most exposed among the banks should there be a slowdown in mortgage growth.

The UBS note said:

John also points that Budget tax changes which reduce incentives towards property investing would be slightly negative to the banks’ margins given that investor loans typically price better than prime owner-occupier loans.

In terms of broad investing themes, UBS is overweight on the healthcare, industrials, and mining sectors.

It is underweight on banks, consumer discretionary, and real estate.

Within resources, UBS has added BHP Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) to its preferred stock list, as well as ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ).

They also said the government’s tax changes “improve the relative appeal of non-housing investments”, which should help platforms such as HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB).

They also added Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) to their preferred list.

The post Why the Federal Budget could be a downer for your share portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: L1 Long Short Fund, Metcash, and Wesfarmers shares
• Analysts name 3 ASX shares to sell now
• If you invested $1,000 in Qantas shares a decade ago, here’s what they would be worth now
• At what age can I access my superannuation and the Age Pension?
• Buy, hold, sell: Wesfarmers, Telstra, CBA shares

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is pushing higher on Monday as miners help drive another rebound for our local share market.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.48% to 8,698 points.

The move has taken the ASX 200 to its highest level in around 2 weeks, helped by a strong session across the resources sector.

The ASX 200 is now up 0.78% over the past week and 4.03% over the past year.

It still remains slightly lower in 2026, so investors are not looking at a clean breakout just yet.

But after a choppy month, buyers are returning to several parts of the market.

So, what is driving the ASX 200 higher today?

Miners are doing the heavy lifting

A large part of today’s move is coming from the resources sector.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are trading higher as coking coal prices jump following a deadly mine explosion in China. The mining giant is up 1.26% to $60.05.

Reuters reported that Dalian coking coal futures rose nearly 8% after the incident in Shanxi province. Authorities have since launched safety inspections, raising concerns about a tighter coal supply.

Coal stocks are also among the strongest names on the ASX 200. Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) is up 8.09% to $8.82, while Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) is 6.57% higher at $6.98.

The broader resources sector is also helping. The S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) is up 1.40%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is up 2.04%.

Oil drop helps risk appetite

The ASX 200 is also getting a hand from a calmer mood across global markets.

Brent crude oil has fallen back below US$100 a barrel after hopes grew for a potential deal involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude dropped 5.1% to US$98.29 as investors reacted to signs of progress, although US President Donald Trump also said there was no rush to finalise an agreement.

But the drop in oil prices is weighing on energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is the weakest area today, with the sector down 2.22%.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) is down 5.81% to $1.9875, while Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) is 3.93% lower at $30.84.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is also under pressure, falling 3.40% to $7.96.

Wall Street gives a steadier lead

Wall Street finished higher on Friday before the Memorial Day long weekend in the United States.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) closed 0.6% higher, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq gained 0.2%.

That gave investors a more positive lead heading into Monday, even with US markets closed for the public holiday.

Trading volumes may be lighter today because of the US holiday and closures in parts of Europe.

The post ASX 200 hits 2-week high as miners lead the charge 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 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.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have both been strong investments to hold in 2026.

Currently trading for $5.37, Telstra shares are up 10.2% year to date. And that’s not including the 10.5 cent per share partly franked dividend the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) telco paid eligible stockholders on 27 March.

Woodside shares have enjoyed an even stronger run of late. At time of writing on Monday, shares in the ASX 200 oil and gas giant are changing hands for $30.90 each, up 30.6% this calendar year.

Atop those capital gains, Woodside also paid out a fully franked 83.5 cent per share dividend on 27 March.

To put this performance in perspective, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% so far in 2026.

But following on this strong run, and with market dynamics potentially becoming more difficult, Shaw and Partners’ Jed Richards believes the time has come to sell both of these blue-chip ASX stocks (courtesy of The Bull).

Time to take profits on Woodside shares?

“Woodside has benefited from elevated oil and gas prices driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” Richards said. “However, in our view, the share price strength appears largely macro driven rather than based on underlying company improvements.”

Indeed, the Brent crude oil spiked from US$72 per barrel on 27 February, the day prior to the onset of the Iran war, to trade at more than US$118 per barrel on 29 April. Brent crude is currently fetching US$99 per barrel amid hopes that a peace deal is within reach.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Woodside shares, Richards said:

Given Middle East tensions are expected to ease over time, energy prices could soften and reduce earnings support. The stock now appears fully valued.

In response to share price gains, it makes sense to lock in profits and re-allocate the proceeds to opportunities with stronger growth outlooks.

Are Telstra shares a sell?

Atop recommending exiting Woodside shares, Richards also believes Telstra shares could struggle to outperform over the coming months following its recent run higher.

“Telstra is currently trading at elevated levels, in our view, with its defensive appeal pushing the share price higher,” he said. “However, underlying growth remains limited, and the dividend yield is becoming less attractive as the share price rises.”

Telstra shares currently trade on a 3.7% partly franked trailing dividend yield.

Explaining his sell recommendation, Richards concluded:

Recent updates show steady but low growth across its core business segments, according to our analysis. Valuations are now stretched and the risk-reward balance is less compelling.

The shares have risen from $3.89 on February 10, 2025 to trade at $5.45 on May 21, 2026. We would be inclined to take a profit at these levels.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Telstra and Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Catapult Sports, IAG, Telstra, and Tuas shares are falling today

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

No company’s quarterly 13F filings are perhaps more watched than those of Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B). For decades, investors have pounced on Berkshire’s quarterly updates to glean some insights into the stocks that legendary stock picker Warren Buffett has been buying or selling over the most recent quarter.

Although Buffett may have vacated the CEO chair at Berkshire, he remains at the company as chairman and oracle. Even so, Berkshire’s first 13F filing of 2026 is also the first that covers the tenure of new CEO Greg Abel.

As we discussed earlier this afternoon, Abel has certainly put his stamp on the Berkshire portfolio, with several notable buys. The most dramatic of these was a tripling-down of its Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) position, making it Berkshire’s fifth-largest investment.

We’ve already been through Berkshire’s stock purchases today, though, so let’s get to the stocks that the company was selling over the first three months of 2026.

What stocks did Berkshire sell last quarter?

Long-time Berkshire watchers might be shocked to hear that the company sold positions in no fewer than 20 companies over the three months to 31 March. 14 of those 20 positions were closed out entirely.

Here are the stocks that Berkshire no longer owns:

• Atlanta Braves Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: BATRK)
• Liberty Latin America Ltd (NASDAQ: LILA)(NASDAQ: LILAK)
• Diageo plc (NYSE: DEO)
• Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE)
• Lamar Advertising Co (NASDAQ: LAMR)
• Charter Communications Inc (NASDAQ: CHTR)
• Formula One Group (NASDAQ: FWONK)
• Heico Corp (NYSE: HEI)
• Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN)
• Pool Corp (NASDAQ: POOL)
• Domino’s Pizza Inc (NASDAQ: DPZ)
• UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE: UNH)
• Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA)
• Visa Inc (NYSE: V)

These are the stocks that Berkshire reduced its holdings of, but didn’t sell down entirely:

• Liberty Live Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: LLYVK)
• Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC)
• Davita Inc (NYSE: DVA)
• Nucor Corp (NYSE: NUE)
• Contellation Brands Inc (NYSE: STZ)
• Chevron Corp (NYSE: CVX)

What should we take from these sells?

Some very interesting names there indeed. Perhaps the most shocking sell-offs to note are the household names Amazon, Visa and Mastercard. These have been in Berkshire’s portfolio for a few years, and Buffett himself has sung the praises of all three businesses. It will be interesting to hear Abel explain these sales.

Chevron, another long-term Berkshire holding, is also notable. This oil stock was Berkshire’s largest sale of the quarter, with the company offloading almost US$10 billion worth of Chevron (35.2% of its stake). Contellation Brands (an alcoholic beverage manufacturer famous for its Corona label) was also notable, with Berkshire selling 95.1% of its position. It is curious why the other 4.9% remains on the company’s books.

It was also interesting to see that Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Berkshire’s largest position that has been reduced almost every quarter in recent years, was left untouched.

Berkshire Hathaway was a net seller over the quarter, with the sheer number of portfolio cuts and shaves outweighing the buys, and the huge Alphabet purchase in particular. It seems that Greg Abel isn’t afraid to shake things up.

The post Berkshire Hathaway just sold these stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, Domino’s Pizza, Heico, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Constellation Brands, Diageo Plc, Pool, and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Heico, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) have charged more than 7% higher on no news of note, however, a research report issued by UBS could explain why investors are piling into the stock.

Shares looking like a good buy

UBS has upgraded its rating on the miner and aluminium producer to a buy, saying that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted the market for Alcoa’s products and will continue to do so.

The broker’s analyst team said:

We upgrade Alcoa to Buy as we believe smelter outages due to the protracted conflict in the Middle East will more than offset near-term demand risks resulting in stronger for longer aluminium prices & premiums. This will more than offset lower for longer alumina prices resulting in earnings resilience that is not priced in.

UBS said demand indicators for aluminium were soft and inventories in China were elevated, therefore, “against this backdrop we expect London Metals Exchange (LME) prices to consolidate near-term”.

But longer term, “we are constructive on the outlook for aluminium and believe tighter fundamentals will support elevated prices of more than $3,000/t over the next 1-2 years”.

UBS said, using conservative LME prices, they were forecasting “sequentially higher” EBITDA and free cash flow for the company in the second quarter, while divestments could drive the company’s net debt below its target range of US$1 to US$1.5 billion, “opening the door for buybacks in 2H26 that will act as a positive catalyst”.

UBS said it expected more than three million tonnes worth of supply disruption from the Middle East conflict, “resulting in deficits that are likely to support higher aluminium prices & premiums over the next 1-2yrs, regardless of if/when flows through the straits of Hormuz resume”.

On the capital management front, UBS said Alcoa said during its 2025 investor day that it was targeting the monetisation of US$500 million to US$1 billion in assets from 2026-30.

Press reports confirmed that Alcoa is in advanced negotiations to sell its idle Massena East aluminium smelter in New York to the digital asset and Bitcoin mining firm, NYDIG, Alcoa have indicated a potential sale in 2026; we do not factor this into our net debt forecasts but this could lead to accelerated cash returns.

UBS is forecasting Alcoa to have net debt of less than US$500 million by the end of 2026, which they say could open the door to a buyback.

Bullish target price

UBS has a price target of $110 on Alcoa shares compared to $100.41, up 7.6% on Monday.

Alcoa is valued at $24.62 billion.

The post Why are Alcoa shares among the top ASX 200 performers today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Alcoa announces June 2026 dividend

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.4% to 8,694.5 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are racing higher:

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

The Charter Hall share price is up 6% to $20.48. Investors have been buying the integrated diversified property investment and funds management company’s shares after it upgraded its guidance for FY 2026. Charter Hall now expects FY 2026 operating earnings of $1.03 per share, which is up from $1.00 per share previously. The company’s managing director and CEO, David Harrison, said: “Australia continues to attract institutional capital as a stable and highly dependable real asset market. We are seeing increased allocations from existing institutional investors alongside new domestic and offshore inflows seeking diversified exposures. The resilience of unlisted property returns, and inflation hedge characteristics continue to support strong investor demand, with Australia remaining a preferred destination for global capital.”

Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

The Coronado Global share price is up 20% to 25.7 cents. This has been driven by news that the coal miner has reached an agreement to sell its interest in the Logan Mining Complex located in the United States. While there is only expected to be a nominal cash consideration, management expects the transaction to be free cash flow positive through the elimination of ongoing holding costs and future obligations. Coronado Global’s interim CEO, Gerry Spindler, said: “This transaction represents a further step in streamlining Coronado’s portfolio and focusing on our high-quality core assets. The divestment transfers future obligations associated with Logan while enabling us to prioritise capital and operational focus elsewhere.”

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)

The Meeka Metals share price is up 15% to 13.2 cents. Investors have been buying the gold miner’s shares after it announced that ore development has commenced at Judy North. It notes that the previously unmined Judy North orebody has been accessed from the existing decline with ore development commencing in May and currently ramping up. The good news is that development grade is performing in line with expectations. Meeka’s managing director, Tim Davidson, said: “While Judy North is a new mining area with no previous development history, it clearly displays the same very high gold grades that are typical of the other active mining areas at Andy Well.”

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price is up almost 5% to $9.10. Investors have been buying the airline operator’s shares after oil prices pulled back meaningfully. The catalyst for this has been optimism that the US and Iran could be close to signing a peace deal and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The post Why Charter Hall, Coronado Global, Meeka Metals, and Qantas shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 122% in a year, why is this ASX All Ords coal stock surging 19% on Monday?
• Guess which ASX 200 share is racing 5% higher after upgrading its earnings guidance
• Charter Hall lifts FY26 guidance as capital inflows surge
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Qantas shares
• 7 ASX shares with strengthened buy ratings this week

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.