Blue-chip investing does not have to mean buying the same few ASX names every time.

There are plenty of large, high-quality companies outside the most obvious banks, miners, and supermarket giants. Some of them have global earnings streams, strong industry positions, and long runways for growth.

If I were looking to buy ASX 200 blue-chip shares in June, these are two I would consider.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman is one blue-chip share I would buy.

It is often placed in the property bucket, but I think that misses part of the point.

Goodman has spent years building a portfolio and development pipeline around locations that modern businesses need. These are sites close to cities, transport links, consumers, supply chains, and increasingly power infrastructure.

That is a valuable position to be in. The world is asking more from physical infrastructure. Companies want faster logistics, more efficient distribution, and better-located facilities. At the same time, the growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasing demand for data centres and the land and power needed to support them.

Goodman is one of the few ASX 200 shares that can benefit from both trends.

The share price can be sensitive to interest rates, development costs, and expectations around data centre growth. But I like the way Goodman combines real assets with a disciplined operating model and global customer relationships.

For me, it is a blue chip that still has meaningful growth optionality.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

Aristocrat is the second blue-chip ASX 200 share I would consider buying.

This is a business with a very different profile. It has a strong position in gaming machines, digital gaming, and content development.

What I like about Aristocrat is its product quality. In gaming, the best content can keep players engaged and help venue operators earn strong returns from their machines. That gives Aristocrat an advantage if it continues to invest well in design, maths, themes, hardware, and user experience.

The company also has a strong balance sheet and a history of returning capital to shareholders when it has the capacity to do so. That financial strength gives it room to invest, make acquisitions, and manage through softer periods.

There are risks. Gaming is regulated, consumer behaviour can change, and digital growth is not guaranteed. But Aristocrat has built a global business with valuable intellectual property, deep customer relationships, and a strong track record in product innovation.

I think that makes it one of the more attractive ASX 200 blue chips outside the usual defensive names.

Foolish Takeaway

A blue-chip portfolio does not need to be built only around the most familiar ASX shares.

What I like about these two businesses is that they have already achieved scale, but still have ways to keep growing. One is tied to the physical infrastructure needed by modern supply chains and digital services. The other depends on product quality, intellectual property, and global customer relationships.

Both carry risks, but for investors looking beyond the usual blue-chip choices in June, I think these two ASX 200 shares are worth a closer look.

The post 2 of the best ASX 200 blue-chip shares I’d buy in June appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is Goodman Group a buy for dividend income today?
• How to make $2,000 of monthly passive income from ASX shares
• Want to retire earlier? This mix of ASX shares and ETFs could help
• 6 ASX 200 shares with fresh buy ratings this week
• Brokers rate these 6 ASX 200 shares a strong buy, and tip upsides of up to 227%

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 positions in and has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. 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 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is just about flat in morning trade today, but don’t blame this surging ASX 300 stock.

The outperforming company in question is gold and rare earths miner Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR).

Dateline Resources shares closed yesterday trading for 15 cents. At time of writing, shares are changing hands for 16.5 cents apiece, up 10%.

This sees the Dateline Resources share price up a whopping 43.5% since last Friday’s close.

Here’s what’s stoking ASX investor interest today.

ASX 300 stock jumps on rare earths buzz

Dateline Resources shares are charging higher following an exploration update at its Music Valley Heavy Rare Earth Project, located in the US state of California.

The ASX 300 stock conducted a magnetic and radiometric survey in March, which spanned 20,520 highly prospective acres.

Mitre Geophysics has now completed processing of the Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) datasets from Music Valley.

The company said the results highlight “numerous structures” across the project area, increasing the likelihood for HREE concentration. It has identified three priority prospect areas for more detailed exploration, including sampling and drilling campaigns.

The Thorium (Th) rich domains revealed by the survey were said to likely be the best proxy for HREE mineralisation.

According to the release:

The high Th is considered a proxy for elevated HREE in the minerals monazite and xenotime. The processed data highlighted a number of structurally complex zones on the western side of the project for further examination.

Dateline’s rare earths and geology experts are now on the ground to confirm the geophysical interpretations.

What did Dateline Resources management say?

Commenting on the survey results helping boost the ASX 300 stock today, Dateline Resources managing director Stephen Baghdadi said, “Music Valley has always had the ingredients of a significant heavy rare earth district.”

He added, “What these surveys have done is show us where those ingredients come together.”

Digging into the geology, Baghdadi said:

The interpretation has identified a series of structurally complex zones associated with elevated thorium signatures and favourable Pinto Gneiss geology. These are precisely the types of settings where we would expect rare earth mineralisation to be concentrated.

Looking ahead, he concluded:

Rather than searching across a large land package, we are now focusing on a small number of highly prospective target areas. Tony Mariano Jr and Russell Mason are currently ground-truthing these prospects, and that work will guide the next phase of sampling and drill targeting.

The post Up 44% this week, guess which ASX 300 stock is surging again today on big rare earths news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this ASX gold stock has surged more than 210% in the past year and what investors need to know

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

Major blue-chip shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) are a popular choice for investors seeking reliable passive income.

Bank stocks are generally considered cyclical rather than classically defensive, but large-scale banking giants like CBA certainly have defensive qualities.

Banking and credit are usually seen as an essential service. This means the sector can remain relatively stable in times of economic volatility.

As a result, banks like CBA are able to record a consistent operational performance and earnings, even when markets are mostly weak.

Another bonus is that the bank is huge, dominant, and highly profitable. This means investors generally consider it a safe haven when markets are unstable. Scarcity of quality stocks on the ASX also means investors tend to put major players, like CBA, on a pedestal. 

Its huge scale has enabled the bank to generate a long history of paying a regular fully-franked dividend every year, dating back to 1992. 

Generally, CBA has also raised its dividend over time as profits have grown, with the exception of periods of economic decline, such as the Global Financial Crisis in 2008-09 and during COVID-19.

How many CBA shares can you get for $5,000?

At the time of writing, CBA shares are trading at $162.64 a piece.

That means that your $5,000 investment would buy around 30 of the ASX bank’s shares. 

What dividend does CBA pay its shareholders?

The banking giant pays its shareholders two fully-franked dividends per year, in March and September.

CBA most recently paid its shareholders an interim dividend of $2.35 per share, fully franked, in March this year.

Based on the latest forecasts, the bank is forecast to pay a total dividend of $5.15 in FY26. It is then forecast to pay shareholders $5.45 per share in FY27.

Based on the current share price of $162.64, that translates to a forward dividend yield of around 3.2% for FY26. For FY27, the forward dividend yield is closer to 3.4%, at the time of writing.

So, what’s the estimated passive income for FY26 and FY27?

Using the estimated payout figures above, we can calculate roughly how much income to expect from a $5,000 investment in CBA shares. 

If the banking giant pays the expected $5.15 per share in FY26, then your 30 CBA shares would generate a total of $154.50 in passive income.

Assuming the $5.45 dividend forecast for FY27 also comes to fruition, your 30 shares would generate an estimated $163.50 in passive income for the year.

Does that mean CBA shares are a good buy for passive income?

CBA shares are currently viewed as overvalued versus its peers. And if the highly anticipated share price correction actually happens, it could affect the amount of passive income paid to shareholders.

But keeping in mind that ASX bank stocks are cyclical investments, even a near-term decline could rebound in the mid-term. I personally think CBA shares are still a solid investment for passive-income-seeking investors.

The post If I invest $5,000 in CBA shares today, what passive income would I get in FY27? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Got $10,000? I’d buy these ASX 200 shares right now
• Forget CBA and buy these ASX dividend shares
• What does the RBA decision mean for the big four bank shares?
• Brokers rate these 4 ASX 200 shares as a sell!
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for CBA shares

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.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) has been one of the most interesting real estate investment trusts (REITs) to have watched on the ASX over the past decade or so. Heck, it’s been one of the most interesting stocks in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Goodman spent years as a clear market darling. Its units rocketed 50% between late 2014 and late 2017, and then by another 210% or so between 2017 and 2021.

The REIT’s fortunes have been far more volatile since. To illustrate, Goodman lost more than 40% of its value over the first two-thirds of 2022, only to regain it all and then some by early 2025. But the past 18 months or so have once again seen the pendulum swing back, with Goodman today more than 15% away from its all-time high of over $38 a share at current pricing.

Indeed, at today’s price (at the time of writing) of $32.26 a unit, Goodman has spent the past 12 months drifting 6.6% lower.

This fluctuating unit price is only one of the characteristics of this ASX REIT that arguably make it interesting, though. Another is its income potential.

Most investors know REITs as generous providers of dividend income, albeit typically without franking credits.

For example, popular REITs like Scentre Group (ASX: SCG) and Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) are currently offering yields of 4.6% and 6.75%, respectively.

Yet Goodman is a conspicuous miser, trading on a trailing yield of just 0.75% today. Even so, Goodman remains a popular ASX investment. So today, let’s talk about whether it can be considered a worthwhile income investment too.

Is Goodman Group a buy for ASX dividend income in 2026?

If you are searching for a fat yield, Goodman is probably not the stock for you. Unlike most of its REIT peers, Goodman is still very much in growth mode. The company clearly prioritises expansion of its property portfolio over paying out dividend distributions as income to its shareholders.

Goodman is well-known for its investment in future-facing industries. Most of its best properties are used for data centres, logistics warehousing, and e-commerce fulfilment.

The company’s results and focus are clearly on expanding its investments in these areas further, not on providing its investors with a large, rising yield. This is evidenced by its recent payouts. Goodman has consistently paid two dividends of 15 cents per unit each year since 2019. That doesn’t look like it will change in 2026 either.

This indicates that the REIT is not likely to pivot to an income-prioritising strategy anytime soon.

Investors invest in Goodman Group for the capital growth potential, not its dividend prowess. As such, ASX investors looking for dividend income might wish to look elsewhere.

The post Is Goodman Group a buy for dividend income today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to make $2,000 of monthly passive income from ASX shares
• Want to retire earlier? This mix of ASX shares and ETFs could help
• 6 ASX 200 shares with fresh buy ratings this week
• Brokers rate these 6 ASX 200 shares a strong buy, and tip upsides of up to 227%
• Goodman Group announces June 2026 distribution

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 positions in and has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares are in the spotlight again on Wednesday.

In morning trade, the defence and space company’s shares are up 9% to $9.52.

This compares favourably to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is largely flat at the time of writing.

In addition, it means that EOS shares are now up a remarkable 240% over the past 12 months.

To put that into context, a $5,000 investment a year ago would now be worth over $17,000.

Why are EOS shares storming higher again today?

Investors have been scrambling to buy the company’s shares today after it announced another big contract win for the recently acquired MARSS business.

According to the release, EOS’ Command and Control (C2) business, MARSS, has been selected as C2 provider for the BAE Systems (LSE: BA.) Anti Threat System (BATS). It is a next-generation, counter-drone (CUAS) capability.

Management advised that the MARSS NiDAR platform will serve as the intelligent “nerve centre” for BAE Systems’ Anti Threat System. Its AI-powered C2 platform, NiDAR, will be used to integrate sensors and effectors across the defence giant’s global BATS CUAS capability.

The company believes this selection by BAE Systems underscores MARSS’ position as one of very few companies with the ability to deliver advanced, AI-powered C2 platforms that accelerates decision-making from minutes to seconds across detection, classification, and defeat.

It thinks this capability positions MARSS as an ideal partner to support BAE Systems as it delivers market-leading CUAS solutions to meet the growing demand from NATO and international clients.

EOS advised that the collaboration agreement was signed at the Eurosatory Defence and Security Exhibition in Paris.

MARSS will provide both software licensing and technical support for BAE Systems’ CUAS demonstrations and deployments. It notes that in time, this may give rise to customer contracts for BAE Systems and for MARSS.

Should you invest?

While it has not had time to respond to today’s news, Bell Potter has been positive on EOS shares. Late last month, the broker put a buy rating and $10.60 price target on them.

In light of this, despite its heroics over the past 12 months, it is possible that there could still be more gains to come for shareholders over the next 12 months.

Time will tell if that proves accurate, but contract wins like the one with BAE Systems certainly help the bull case.

The post EOS shares rocket 9% on BAE Systems deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Aussie Broadband, Coles, EOS, and Santos shares are falling on Monday
• EOS shares climb as new US order boosts growth outlook
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• EOS shares are sliding again. Here’s what investors are worried about
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended BAE Systems. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is just about flat today, despite the best lifting efforts of this ASX 200 stock.

The outperforming company in question is Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM).

Shares in the metal and electronics recycler closed yesterday trading for $29.44. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $31.04 apiece, up 5.4%. That gives Sims a market cap of just over $6 billion.

It also sees the ASX 200 stock up 98.9% since this time last year. And brave, or well-informed, investors who waded in and bought shares at the one-year closing lows of $13.27 on 1 October will now be sitting on gains of 133.9%.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest today.

ASX 200 stock jumps on earnings upgrade

The Sims share price is marching higher after the company released a promising trading update.

Investors are bidding up the ASX 200 stock, with Sims upgrading its FY 2026 underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance to the range of $420 million to $435 million.

That’s up from prior full-year EBIT guidance in the range of $350 million to $400 million, which the company provided on 18 March.

Management cited “continued strength across non-ferrous markets, as well as improved trading conditions for ferrous” for the improved earnings outlook.

Sims said it now expects its North American Metal businesses to deliver “a significant increase” in second-half earnings (H2 FY 2026). Earnings are likely to get a boost from strong operating performances across both Sims North America Metals and SA Recycling.

The ASX 200 stock noted that ferrous prices in Asia have recently improved. However, prices in ANZ were reported to remain subdued due to ongoing elevated Chinese steel exports.

The company also said that its Sims Lifecycle Services business continues to “benefit significantly” from the fast-growing global data centre ecosystem.

With that in mind, management now expects the underlying FY 2026 EBIT for Sims Lifecycle Services to be in the range of $170 million to $175 million.

The company noted:

While the business continues to benefit from strong underlying demand and favourable long-term industry trends, the timing of customer decommissioning programs will influence the distribution of volumes and earnings between reporting periods.

What’s been boosting Sims shares?

As today’s update confirms, the ASX 200 stock has been enjoying a strong run this year.

At its half-year results (H1 FY 2026), released on 17 February, the company reported a 65.9% year-on-year increase in underlying EBIT to $121.1 million.

And on the bottom line, net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 70.9% to $60 million.

The post Up 134% since October, why is this $6 billion ASX 200 stock leaping higher again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Sims lifts outlook as North American metals drive gains
• 7 ASX shares attracting upgraded ratings this week
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in May
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares 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 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.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares are having a volatile start to trade on Wednesday.

The travel agent’s shares were down 4% at one stage before rebounding to be 2.5% higher at $12.12.

Why were Flight Centre shares sinking?

Investors were selling the company’s shares after it downgraded its earnings guidance for FY 2026.

According to the release, less than a month since its last trading update, management has revised its underlying profit before tax guidance range to $275 million to $295 million.

This is below its previous guidance range of $310 million to $345 million, with the mid-point of its new range broadly in line with FY 2025’s underlying profit before tax of $286 million.

Management stressed that this reflects temporary, conflict-driven headwinds, and is not a deterioration in the underlying business, which grew underlying profit before tax almost 10% over the first three quarters.

It notes that fourth-quarter disruption is expected to reduce leisure earnings by around $50 million, compared to previous expectations, with a further $5 million impact in touring businesses and a $5 million to $10 million foreign exchange impact.

One bright spot is that its global corporate business has been less affected and is on track to deliver strong FY 2026 profit growth.

Looking ahead, management is hopeful that the US-Iran peace deal agreed this week will provide a clearer runway into FY 2027 and a significant earnings tailwind. However, it is unlikely to meaningfully improve the FY 2026 result trajectory given its timing.

However, this guidance downgrade has been overshadowed by news that the company is launching a buyback.

Management commentary and buyback

Commenting on the guidance downgrade, Flight Centre’s managing director, Graham Turner, said:

The change in our short-term expectations reflects a temporary, conflict-driven headwind layered over what was shaping as a very solid year. It has been driven by an external shock – the Middle East conflict disrupting peak leisure travel – not by a deterioration in our underlying business.

Group-wide, the company delivered almost 10% UPBT growth across the first three quarters of FY26, accelerating to ~20% growth during Q3. Even after absorbing Q4 disruption, the group still expects an underlying profit broadly in line with FY25.

Turner also revealed that Flight Centre plans to buy back up to $200 million of shares on the belief that they are undervalued. He adds:

Looking ahead, we have strong foundations and growth prospects in both the leisure and corporate sectors. This is reflected in the Board’s decision to launch a new up-to-$200m buy-back – which clearly signals that we see our shares as undervalued at current levels.

In leisure, our strategy continues as we work to strengthen Flight Centre brand, expand in growth sectors, including cruise, tour and luxury, and embed the new World360 Rewards program, which now has more than 420,000 members. The $200m profit milestone the business was on track to achieve during FY26 remains a viable, near-term target given that travel downturns are historically short and followed by rapid rebounds

The post What’s going on with Flight Centre shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

The Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) share price is in focus today after the company reported US$80 million in adjusted EBITDA from operations for April and May 2026, with operations rebounding strongly in May. Key highlights also include an expected US$70 million working capital distribution and progress at the Excelsior Nickel Cobalt HPAL project.

What did Nickel Industries report?

• Adjusted EBITDA from operations of approximately US$80 million for April and May 2026
• April EBITDA of US$29 million impacted by Hengjaya Mine downtime and planned maintenance
• May EBITDA rebounded to approximately US$51 million
• Release of RKEF working capital with ~US$70 million to be received by early July 2026
• Refund of US$15 million option fee from Shanghai Decent relating to the ONI matte converter
• ENC project commissioning progressing, with first ore received in May and MHP expected by July

What else do investors need to know?

Nickel Industries opted not to move forward with its investment in the ONI matte converter, instead favouring HPAL technology, which supports higher margins and a greener production footprint. This led to a US$15 million refund from its largest shareholder, Shanghai Decent, highlighting collaboration and strong relationships.

The company’s strategic focus continues to be on developing the Excelsior Nickel Cobalt (ENC) HPAL project, which is receiving ore and progressing toward producing mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) by mid-July 2026. Nickel cathode production is on track for mid-August, while commissioning of the refinery and leach-circuit is due in late June, aiming to register its cathode with the LME and SHFE.

What did Nickel Industries management say?

Managing Director Justin Werner said:

We are very pleased with the Company’s recent performance. After a softer April, impacted by downtime at the Hengjaya Mine and planned maintenance at the RKEFs, our operations rebounded strongly in May to deliver approximately US$51m in Adjusted EBITDA, underscoring the quality and resilience of our asset base.

Our balance sheet also continues to strengthen, with our RKEF operations unwinding a substantial amount of working capital and Nickel Industries expects to receive around US$70m in distributions by early July. Together with the US$15m option-fee refund from Shanghai Decent, this reflects strong cash generation and disciplined capital management across our portfolio.

Commissioning of our transformational ENC project is well underway, with ore received at the limonite feed preparation plant in May, slurry to the ENC Smelter in the coming week, MHP anticipated by mid-July and nickel cathode expected by mid-August – defining milestones as we diversify our production towards the electric vehicle battery supply chain.

What’s next for Nickel Industries?

Looking ahead, the company is focused on ramping up production at the Excelsior Nickel Cobalt HPAL project. Expectations are for first mixed hydroxide precipitate production in July and first nickel cathodes by mid-August, which should strengthen the company’s position in supplying the global electric vehicle battery supply chain.

With the anticipated inflow of US$70 million from RKEF operations and cost discipline across its portfolio, Nickel Industries says it remains committed to sustainable growth, carbon footprint reduction, and capital management. The company is also targeting registration of its nickel cathode on major global exchanges in the coming months.

Nickel Industries share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Nickel Industries shares have risen 38%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Nickel Industries posts US$80m EBITDA and HPAL progress in operating update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Growthpoint Properties Australia delivers leasing momentum, maintains FY26 guidance
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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.

If you have a high tolerance for risk, then it could be worth looking closely at Alpha HPA Ltd (ASX: A4N).

That’s because the team at Bell Potter believes this ASX 300 share could rise materially from current levels.

What is Alpha HPA?

Alpha HPA is the owner of the HPA First Project in Gladstone, Queensland, which is aiming to supply high-purity aluminium-based products to the semiconductor, lithium-ion battery, and light emitting diode (LED) manufacturing sectors.

Bell Potter notes that the project’s proprietary technology is expected to disrupt incumbent HPA production through delivering ultra-high purity products with significantly lower unit costs.

The broker highlights that a recent update revealed letters of intent and commercial supply agreements. It said:

A4N’s positive marketing update points to product offtake Letters of Intent exceeding 12ktpa, further maturity in commercial supply agreements from Stage 1 production, adoption of HPA in semiconductor tooling, and product demand projections exceeding 50ktpa by 2030. Four new LOIs include: 324tpa for semiconductor thermal fillers (2 x LOIs to South Korea & Japan); 180tpa for catalyst applications; and up to 5,000tpa from a Tier-1 lithium-ion battery group which follows a multi-year cycle of product qualification.

Commercial supply agreements have been added with US and European semiconductor Chemical Mechanical Planarisation customers and with Japanese and South Korean semiconductor thermal filler customers. A4N’s modelling sees demand for key products HPA and High Purity ATH exceeding 50ktpa by 2030, including around 30ktpa from the semiconductor sector.

Bell Potter thinks this leaves the ASX 300 share well-placed to unlock its debt funding. It adds:

The update puts A4N in a strong position to meet Conditions Precedent to draw on its $400m debt funding from Export Finance Australia and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. A key CP was 100% offtake coverage from Stage 2 (10ktpa). We expect that A4N will now be working with the lenders on the basis that a significant offtake threshold has been reached, to enable debt release in 2H 2026.

In the interim, A4N is well funded, with $212m cash at the end of the last quarter. A4N’s sales from its current smaller-scale Stage 1 facility are important market seeding to demonstrate the unmatched capability of A4N’s HPA First products. The demand modelling, in particular from the AI data centre-driven semiconductor sector, adds further confidence with respect to the debt CPs and future expansion potential.

Big potential returns for this ASX 300 share

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its speculative buy rating and $1.50 price target on Alpha HPA’s shares.

Based on its current share price of 86 cents, this implies potential upside of approximately 75% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its speculative buy recommendation, Bell Potter concludes:

Over 2H 2026, we expect A4N to firm-up existing offtake LOI volumes and progress to sales contracts for Stage 2 capacity. A key catalyst will be drawing on the project’s committed NAIF and EFA debt facility, which we expect in 2H 2026. A4N’s recent commentary relating to potential volume expansions beyond Stage 2 give us further comfort on the long-term adoption of HPA by the semiconductor sector and therefore product demand. We have made no changes to our A4N valuation or positive outlook in this report.

The post Bell Potter says this ASX 300 share could rise 75% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Got $10,000? I’d buy these ASX 200 shares right now
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• Growthpoint Properties Australia delivers leasing momentum, maintains FY26 guidance
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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.

If I had $10,000 to invest in S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares today, I would focus on quality rather than chasing the market’s most speculative names.

These are two ASX 200 shares I would consider buying right now.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

ResMed is an ASX 200 share I would consider buying today with part of the $10,000.

The company is a global leader in sleep apnoea treatment and connected care. Its devices help patients start therapy, while masks, accessories, software, and data tools support ongoing treatment.

What I like about ResMed is the combination of medical need and repeat use.

Sleep apnoea is not a one-off issue for many patients. Once someone is diagnosed and starts therapy, they tend to need ongoing support, replacement masks, accessories, monitoring, and software-linked care.

That can create a strong relationship between the company, clinicians, providers, and patients, as well as recurring revenue.

I also like that the market opportunity remains very large. Sleep health is still underdiagnosed in many places, and awareness should keep improving as healthcare systems focus more on chronic conditions, fatigue, cardiovascular risk, and quality of life.

ResMed is not immune to competition, pricing pressure, product cycles, or regulatory changes. Investors also need to watch how weight-loss drugs affect diagnosis and treatment behaviour over time.

But I think it has a strong global position in the healthcare market, which should remain important for decades to come.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Another ASX 200 share I would buy is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

CBA often looks expensive compared with the other major banks. That is a fair point, and valuation always needs to be considered.

But I think CBA’s premium reflects a genuinely strong franchise.

The bank has a central role in Australian financial life. It touches mortgages, deposits, everyday transaction accounts, credit cards, business banking, merchant services, payments, and digital banking.

That gives CBA scale, data, trust, and regular customer engagement.

I think the digital side is particularly important to the investment thesis. Banking is not just about branch networks anymore. Customers expect fast apps, simple payments, useful tools, and a reliable experience. CBA has invested heavily in that area, and I think it helps strengthen the customer relationship.

Bad debts, margins, funding costs, and regulation remain risks. But I believe CBA has the management team and franchise strength to navigate these risks over time and continue growing earnings and dividends.

Foolish Takeaway

A $10,000 investment can be split across businesses that do very different things.

I would want companies with strong positions, long-term relevance, and the ability to keep adapting as conditions change. These two shares will not be perfect in every market environment, but I think they offer a useful blend of quality, growth, income potential, and resilience.

That is why I would be happy to put money into them today.

The post Got $10,000? I’d buy these ASX 200 shares right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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