If you are wanting some exposure to the booming gold price, then read on!

That’s because the team at Bell Potter has identified as ASX 200 gold stock that it believes could rise very strongly from current levels.

Which ASX 200 gold stock?

The gold miner that Bell Potter is bullish on this month is Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL).

Catalyst Metals is a mid-tier Australian gold miner and developer with 100% ownership of two key projects. These are the Plutonic Gold Operation in Western Australia and the Bendigo Gold Project in Victoria. Bell Potter highlights that these assets are located in highly prospective, low sovereign risk jurisdictions.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter has resumed coverage on the ASX 200 gold stock and is feeling very positive due to its 10-year growth strategy. It explains:

We see CYL as an emerging mid-tier gold producer in Western Australia, operating within a stable, low-risk jurisdiction. The Company is embarking on a 10-year growth strategy for its Plutonic Gold Operations (PGO), targeting a 200kozpa production rate. This will be achieved by developing five mines under a hub-and-spoke model and leveraging latent processing capacity at the 1.8Mtpa processing plant.

Production is anticipated to double from 100kozpa in FY26 to 200kozpa from FY29 (~28% CAGR), due to the forecasted increase in tonnes and grade (3.13g/t vs 2.27g/t in FY26) as higher grade mines come online. CYL remains debt free with no gold hedging contracts, allowing full exposure to gold price upside, particularly attractive in the current gold bull market.

Big potential returns

According to the release, the broker has put a buy rating and $9.30 price target on the ASX gold stock.

Based on its current share price of $6.55, this implies potential upside of 42% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

We recommence coverage of CYL with a BUY recommendation and a $9.30/sh TP. CYL is considered undervalued against its peers (EV/EBITDA 5.3x, FY26E/27E FCF yield of 1.5% to 7.1%). We view CYL as derisking the Plutonic gold hub with a clear line of sight to a 200kozpa steady state (FY29). Execution on the plan (five mines feeding an underutilised 1.8Mtpa plant) and Reserve growth towards >2Moz are viewed as the key drivers of multiple re- ratings and margin expansion.

The post Why this emerging ASX 200 gold stock could rise 40%+ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Morgans names 3 ASX 200 shares to buy in November

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 DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT) share price drew attention today as the company announced Michael Juniper as its new CEO. Juniper’s appointment comes alongside a strategic management reshuffle and a continued focus on data centre expansion to meet rising demand for cloud and AI services.

What did DigiCo Infrastructure REIT report?

• Michael Juniper appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure
• Chris Maher to transition to Managing Director, Group Head of Government & Strategic Programs for HMC Capital
• Ongoing development of next-generation data centre campuses in Australia and North America
• Portfolio of 13 data centres with 76MW installed and a 156MW development pipeline
• Strong focus on energy solutions to support future growth in cloud and AI services

What else do investors need to know?

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT highlighted the growing importance of government and regulatory engagement as policy on data, AI, and energy evolves. The transition of Chris Maher into a specialist government role is intended to strengthen DigiCo’s capabilities in navigating these changes.

Michael Juniper brings a notable track record, previously helping build AirTrunk into Asia-Pacific’s largest hyperscale platform. His appointment is expected to guide DigiCo through its next growth phase, particularly as demand for digital infrastructure and data capacity increases.

What did DigiCo Infrastructure REIT management say?

Michael Juniper, CEO and Managing Director, said:

I am honoured to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of DGT. DGT is uniquely positioned as Australia’s sovereign digital infrastructure platform, with strong foundations and a high-quality global portfolio. Demand from cloud, AI and GPU-led workloads is accelerating, and DGT is building a future-ready organisation that is required to support these next-generation requirements.

What’s next for DigiCo Infrastructure REIT?

Under its new leadership, DigiCo plans to continue expanding its network of data centres across Australia and North America. The trust will further develop its capabilities in energy solutions, aiming to provide sustainable, long-term infrastructure for customers operating cloud and AI workloads.

The company is also prioritising close engagement with government and regulatory bodies to adapt to ongoing changes in the digital and energy sectors. This is expected to help DigiCo maintain momentum during its next phase of strategic growth.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT share price snapshot

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT shares have declined 44% in the past 12 months, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen around 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post DigiCo Infrastructure REIT appoints new CEO and sets strategic growth path appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s going on with this ASX AI share on Monday?
• Telix Pharmaceuticals updates investors as first patient is dosed in Phase 3 prostate cancer trial
• National Storage REIT agrees to $4bn Brookfield-GIC buyout: What it means for investors
• Corporate Travel Management and Boss Energy shares dumped from ASX 200
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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 Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) share price is in focus today after the company announced the first patient has been dosed in Part 2 of its ProstACT Global Phase 3 trial for treating advanced prostate cancer. The company also confirmed plans for a key Part 1 data readout and further regulatory engagement.

What did Telix Pharmaceuticals report?

• First patient dosed in ProstACT Global Phase 3 trial (randomised treatment expansion, Part 2)
• Part 2 to enrol about 490 patients across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada
• Approval granted to also commence trial sites in China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Türkiye, and the UK
• Part 1 data to be submitted to the US FDA, aligning public results disclosure
• No newly reported revenue or financial figures in this update

What else do investors need to know?

ProstACT Global is the first Phase 3 trial to test a PSMA-targeted radio antibody drug combined with standard-of-care therapies versus standard-of-care alone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The global rollout is accelerating, with applications underway to expand into European sites.

The company highlights potential patient benefits, including different targeting and fewer side effects such as kidney toxicity and dry mouth compared to current radioligand therapies. The clinical trial’s expansion signals Telix’s growing international ambition, including approaching both US and European regulators for further approvals.

What did Telix Pharmaceuticals management say?

Dr. David N. Cade, Group Chief Medical Officer, said:

Dosing the first patient into Part 2 of the randomized treatment expansion of ProstACT Global trial is a significant milestone for Telix’s late-stage prostate cancer therapeutics pipeline. We look forward to presenting the preliminary data from Part 1 of the study to the FDA and EMA in the coming months.

What’s next for Telix Pharmaceuticals?

Telix plans to submit Part 1 data to the FDA to enable US site participation in the clinical trial and expects to share preliminary results publicly in line with its regulatory strategy. In parallel, the company is seeking further expansion into Europe and other international markets.

With global recruitment underway and regulatory milestones ahead, Telix aims to strengthen its late-stage oncology pipeline and broaden its impact for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Telix Pharmaceuticals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Telix Pharmaceuticals shares have declined 40%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Telix Pharmaceuticals updates investors as first patient is dosed in Phase 3 prostate cancer trial appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• National Storage REIT agrees to $4bn Brookfield-GIC buyout: What it means for investors
• Corporate Travel Management and Boss Energy shares dumped from ASX 200
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 6 ASX shares including Ora Banda and Aussie Broadband ascend into ASX 200
• Guess which ASX mining stock was just promoted to the S&P/ASX 50?

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 positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. 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 next meeting of the US Federal Reserve is on the cards this week, and all eyes are on whether rates will be cut to spur on the US economy.

The research team at Wilsons Advisory say the market is pricing in an 89% chance that US rates will go lower, which has implications for the share markets in the US and in Australia.

As they said in a note to clients this week:

While there are no absolute certainties in central bank crystal ball gazing, it would appear a cut from the Fed is highly likely. Incremental evidence of ongoing labour market softness, a relatively modest inflation uplift from tariffs, alongside some relatively dovish comments from key Fed board members are adding to market confidence that the Fed is set to cut.

Implications for the stock market

So what does this mean for stocks here and in the US?

The Wilsons research team says a further rate cut should be supportive for stock prices both in the US and in Australia.

Looking at the empirical relationship between Fed easing cycles and equity market performance shows the US equity market has had a strong tendency to rise when backed by the supportive combination of Fed easing and an economic soft landing. Indeed, we find no instances (since 1980) of poor US market performance when the Fed is in easing mode, and the US economy achieves a ‘soft landing’. This keeps us constructive on US equities despite full valuations and lingering concerns around the AI capex boom.

And there is also a correlation between Australian equities rising when the Fed is easing and the US economy continuing to grow, Wilsons says.

This appears to hold regardless of whether the RBA is easing in sync with the Fed or not. This is comforting in the face of rising uncertainty as to whether the RBA’s next move in domestic rates in 2026 is actually up rather than down.

Australian sentiment changing

As far as the next moves from the Reserve Bank of Australia on rates, Wilsons says the market is now pricing in a move higher “in the back end of 2026”.

This is in contrast to the market pricing for two cuts in 2026 a little over six weeks ago.

Wilsons said Australia inflation has been a “big surprise” in recent months.

This has caused expectations for the cash rate to move from two cuts in 2026 to the market now pricing for a likely hike. This swing in rate expectations played a part in the recent 7% correction in the Australian equity market however renewed expectations for lower US interest rates have helped the local market edge up from its recent lows.

The post What will a likely US rate cut mean for Australian shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Telix Pharmaceuticals updates investors as first patient is dosed in Phase 3 prostate cancer trial
• National Storage REIT agrees to $4bn Brookfield-GIC buyout: What it means for investors
• Why Santos shares are a key energy stock to watch
• The ultimate ASX ETF portfolio for beginners in 2026
• 2 unstoppable ASX growth shares to buy and hold

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

The National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR) share price is in focus after the company announced it has entered into a binding Scheme Implementation Deed with a consortium led by Brookfield and GIC. Under the proposed deal, NSR securityholders will receive a total value of $2.86 cash per security, representing a 26.5% premium to the last undisturbed price. The scheme values NSR’s equity at $4.0 billion and an enterprise value of $6.7 billion.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• Entered a binding scheme with Brookfield and GIC consortium for a total cash consideration of $2.86 per security
• Scheme values equity at approximately $4.0 billion and enterprise value at $6.7 billion
• Total consideration represents 26.5% premium to last undisturbed price as of 25 November 2025
• Scheme consideration is a 10.9% premium to NSR’s net tangible asset (NTA) value of $2.58 per security
• Board unanimously recommends voting in favour, subject to no superior proposal and independent expert support
• Potential permitted distribution of up to 6 cents per security, deducted from the cash offer if paid

What else do investors need to know?

The proposed transaction follows a period of negotiation and confirms earlier speculation that NSR was in acquisition talks. If the permitted distribution is paid for the half-year ending 31 December, the cash component of the scheme price is reduced by 6 cents. The board has also suspended the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRP) effective immediately in light of the scheme.

The board’s unanimous recommendation comes with support from an independent expert and is subject to a shareholder vote, court approvals and a range of regulatory clearances including from the Foreign Investment Review Board and New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office. Subject to conditions, implementation could occur in the second quarter of 2026.

What did National Storage REIT management say?

NSR Managing Director Andrew Catsoulis said:

This proposal is an endorsement of the strong fundamentals and long-term growth strategy of NSR, which has evolved from a single storage centre originally developed at Oxley Queensland in 1995 to Australia and New Zealand’s leading owner and operator of self-storage centres with over 290 centres today providing over 1.6 million square metres of state of the art storage space for its customers. We are confident this position will be further strengthened with the Consortium’s support.

What’s next for National Storage REIT?

Securityholders are not required to take any action at this time. Details of the proposal, including the Scheme Booklet and independent expert’s report, will be provided ahead of a vote anticipated for April 2026. If approved and all conditions are satisfied, the implementation of the scheme is expected in the second quarter of 2026.

The board will pay close attention to regulatory clearances and any competing proposals that may arise, with a ‘superior proposal’ clause providing flexibility. If the transaction proceeds, NSR will be removed from the ASX and its shares delisted.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the National Storage REIT shares have climbed 16%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT agrees to $4bn Brookfield-GIC buyout: What it means for investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Telix Pharmaceuticals updates investors as first patient is dosed in Phase 3 prostate cancer trial
• Corporate Travel Management and Boss Energy shares dumped from ASX 200
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 6 ASX shares including Ora Banda and Aussie Broadband ascend into ASX 200
• Guess which ASX mining stock was just promoted to the S&P/ASX 50?

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.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares have become one of the most watched names in the Australian energy sector – and not for all the right reasons.

It’s understandable that the gas producer’s stock has mostly declined this year. On Friday, Santos shares ended at $6.52, down 19% from their peak mid-August.  

Some experts suggest the ASX energy stock is now a strong option, given its improved stability. Let’s take a closer look.  

Takeover drama and heated debate

This year has seen plenty of takeover drama and heated debate about Santos’ environmental record.

The gas producer is currently at a pivotal point in its operations. Santos is generating strong cash flow and is driving future growth by expanding LNG facilities and advancing carbon-management initiatives.

Santos benefits from growing supply and solid contracts, with projects like Barossa expected to increase LNG volumes for Asian markets seeking reliable, high-calorific gas.

The $21 billion business also signed mid-term LNG supply agreements this year, highlighting firm demand for its output. Those operational gains, if sustained, should translate into stronger cash flow and greater optionality for returns to shareholders.

Projects in PNG and Alaska

Santos’ strengths include scale and a strong project pipeline. Barossa and international projects in PNG and Alaska diversify revenues and reduce dependence on single assets.

Santos has also been positioning itself on low-emission technologies which it argues will help smooth the company’s path through an energy transition.

Regulatory issues and operational hiccups

The optimistic outlook is tempered by significant risks. Santos faced a failed takeover attempt by an ADNOC-led group, revealing governance and regulatory issues that can swiftly lower its share price when deals collapse.

Operational hiccups such as outages and weather disruption at offshore assets, commodity price volatility, and persistent criticism over the effectiveness and optics of emission programs leave the company exposed to both market and reputational risk.

Outlook and what analysts say

It’s clear that Santos shares are not without risk. However, they do offer investors exposure to a major, cash-generating gas company with upcoming production growth and plans for lower-carbon operations.

Analysts remain cautiously constructive, reflecting a mix of buy and hold calls. The average 12-month analyst price target sits around $7.40, a 14% upside from the current share price.   

Looking to 2026, analysts at Macquarie expect that Santos shares will face headwinds from falling natural gas prices. Macquarie has an outperform recommendation and an $8 price target on Santos shares. That represents a potential upside of 23% from Friday’s closing price.

In a recent note, the broker highlights:

We believe an underweight position in Oil & Gas is warranted, given our still bearish oil and LNG outlooks. Within this, Santos remains our top pick, where we see value appeal on an absolute and relative basis (and clear catalysts to re-rate). We see significant value in STO following the deal break with XRG/ Carlyle and expect this to be better recognised once customer deliveries commence from Barossa gas project via Darwin LNG (within weeks) and Pikka oil in Alaska (1Q-2026).

The post Why Santos shares are a key energy stock to watch appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Should you buy Santos, Beach Energy or Woodside shares? Here’s Macquarie’s top pick
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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

If you’re just starting your investing journey, the share market can feel intimidating. There are endless stocks to research, endless opinions to sort through, and endless fear of getting it wrong.

That’s why, for most beginners, the smartest move isn’t trying to pick individual winners. It is building a simple, diversified ASX ETF portfolio that quietly compounds in the background, with no guesswork required.

With 2026 fast approaching, now could be a perfect time to set up a clean, low-maintenance portfolio that can grow with you for decades. And the best part? You only need a handful of high-quality ETFs to cover the world.

Here’s what could be the ultimate ASX ETF portfolio for beginners in 2026.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

Having some local exposure is always a good idea and the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF is a great way to achieve this. It tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index, meaning you instantly own a slice of the nation’s leading 300 stocks. This includes Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF could be another top holding for a beginner portfolio. It tracks Wall Street’s S&P 500 Index, which has historically outperformed most global markets for decades.

With this ASX ETF you instantly get exposure to US giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). These companies are shaping the future of AI, cloud computing, entertainment, and software, which are sectors that continue to expand at a rapid pace.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

Once your base is built, adding a layer of quality can significantly improve long-term returns.

The Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF selects stocks with exceptionally strong balance sheets, consistent earnings, and durable competitive advantages. These are businesses that tend to outperform during downturns and accelerate when markets recover.

Its top holdings typically include global leaders like ASML (NASDAQ: ASML), Visa (NYSE: V), and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL). This fund was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF could be a powerful option for beginners.

This ASX ETF holds the region’s most influential tech innovators, including Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD), SK Hynix, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE: TSM). As millions more consumers across Asia move online, this sector is positioned for multi-decade expansion.

The post The ultimate ASX ETF portfolio for beginners in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to invest your first $1,000 in the share market the smart way
• 5 ASX ETFs for beginner investors in 2026 and beyond
• 3 high-quality ASX ETFs to buy in December
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• Which of the most popular ASX ETFs has brought the best returns this year?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Baidu, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, Visa, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, BHP Group, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Visa, Wesfarmers, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Genuine long-term wealth rarely comes from trading in and out of whatever is popular.

Instead, it often comes from owning a handful of elite businesses, the sort that keep expanding their markets, improving their earnings power, and strengthening their competitive edge year after year.

On the ASX, several ASX growth shares fit that description, but two in particular stand out as long-term compounders with momentum firmly behind them.

Here are a couple of unstoppable ASX growth shares to buy and hold for years.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 has transformed from a family-tracking app into a full-scale digital safety platform with growing subscription muscle. What makes the company so unstoppable isn’t just its massive user base, it is the rate at which that base is evolving.

Recent updates show explosive momentum. It reported accelerating subscriber growth, rising average revenue per user (ARPU), strong cash generation, and global monthly active users approaching the 100-million mark. This scale gives Life360 significant optionality.

With a platform that already lives on the smartphones of tens of millions of families, Life360 can expand into adjacent categories such as home security, insurance partnerships, vehicle telematics, and commerce integrations. Very few consumer apps enjoy this type of engagement or monetisation leverage.

And because Life360’s model is subscription-driven, revenue compounds each year even without massive user growth. Add the potential benefits of international expansion and its advertising business, and it is clear why many analysts view it as one of the ASX’s emerging global leaders.

Morgan Stanley recently put an overweight rating and $58.50 price target on its shares.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Another ASX growth share that could be a top buy and hold option is NextDC. It provides the physical backbone the digital economy runs on.

Demand for data centre capacity has surged with the rise of cloud computing, streaming, ecommerce, and especially artificial intelligence. Every AI model, every cloud migration, and every tech platform relies on compute and storage, which NextDC delivers through some of the most advanced, energy-efficient data centres in the region.

What makes NextDC unstoppable isn’t just industry tailwinds, it is the company’s aggressive build-out strategy. Major new facilities are coming online across key markets, and each one typically ramps up utilisation over many years, driving recurring revenue higher without proportionate increases in cost.

An example of this is the deal it has just signed with ChatGPT’s owner, OpenAI. The two parties are looking at building the largest data centre in the southern hemisphere, with OpenAI as its anchor tenant.

Combined with the rest of its development pipeline across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, this leaves NextDC well-placed for growth over the next decade and beyond.

Morgans is bullish on the company and recently upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $19.00 price target.

The post 2 unstoppable ASX growth shares to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 explosive ASX ETFs to buy and hold
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Why Bendigo Bank, NextDC, Nuix, and Vulcan Energy shares are rising today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360 and Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.