Looking for ASX shares to buy? If you are, then it could be worth hearing what analysts are saying about the three below, courtesy of The Bull.

Are they buys, holds, or sells? Let’s find out:

Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN)

The team at Fairmont Equities sees value in this ASX uranium stock. It believes Bannerman stands to benefit from increasing demand for uranium, which it expects to outstrip supply in the coming years.

As a result, it has named it as an ASX share to buy this week. Fairmont explains:

Bannerman is a uranium development company. Its flagship Etango project is based in Namibia. The uranium sector continues to appeal because demand should continue to outpace supply for the next several years. The company recently announced a joint venture with the China National Nuclear Corporation. The deal de-risks the Etango project and reduces funding risk involving development. BMN is exposed to potential upside in uranium prices.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Morgans thinks that Australia’s largest bank is undoubtedly a high-quality company. However, due to its stretched valuation, it isn’t a buyer at current levels.

In addition, with much of the good news now priced in, the broker is recommending investors sell CBA shares. It commented:

CBA is a high quality company. But the bank’s valuation has stretched well beyond peers, reflecting investor preference for safety and consistency. Much of the good news, including strong deposit margins and sector leading returns, is already priced in, leaving limited scope for upside from here. We see better value elsewhere in the sector and believe the current premium leaves the stock vulnerable to even modest disappointment, which supports our sell rating at these levels.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Morgans is a little more positive on telco giant Telstra, but not enough to justify a buy recommendation.

The broker has named Telstra shares as a hold. It thinks the stock is fairly valued at current levels, stating:

This telecommunications giant offers stable earnings, a strong mobile network and dependable dividends, making it a defensive holding in a volatile market. However, while its core mobile business continues to perform well, the growth outlook is steady rather than exciting. The stock appears fairly valued at recent levels, reflecting its predictable cash flows and limited near term catalysts. For now, Telstra remains suitable as an income‑focused hold due to its defensive earnings stream, but we don’t see a compelling reason to materially increase exposure.

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

More reading

• 3 must-own ASX blue-chip dividend stocks for Aussie investors
• 1 miner, 1 bank, and 1 ASX tech share I’d buy this month
• 3 reasons to buy Telstra shares right now
• How the CBA share price rocketed 17% in February
• 5 top ASX 200 shares I’d buy in March

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 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.

ASX dividend stocks are a popular choice for investors seeking long-term growth potential and steady income.

But when it comes to deciding exactly which ASX dividend stocks to go for, there are plenty of options. Almost too many. There are dividend stocks that pay dividends every single month, and others that pay quarterly or annually. Some are fully franked, and some aren’t. There are high-yield stocks, and then there are your blue-chips.

Blue-chip stocks are generally large, well-established, and financially stable companies. They have a strong track record, have reliable earnings, and pay frequent dividends.

If you want a dividend stock that will steadily increase its dividend over time and have solid growth potential, blue-chip stocks are what you need to look at.

Here are three blue-chip dividend stocks that I think all Aussie investors should own in their portfolios. 

BHP Group (ASX: BHP)

Mining giant BHP is one of the largest and most established companies on the ASX, with a strong balance sheet and low debt, even during volatile markets.

In FY25, BHP’s dividend payouts were lower than those received the previous year, reflecting shifts in commodity prices over the 12-month period. But it continues to be a heavyweight for passive income. 

The miner recently reported impressive half-year earnings. On the bottom line, the ASX 200 miner achieved a 22% increase in underlying profit to US$6.20 billion.

This saw management declare a fully-franked interim dividend of 73 US cents (AU$1.03) a share, up 30% in Aussie dollar terms and up 46% in US dollar terms.

Macquarie previously forecast that BHP will pay its shareholders US$1.09 per share in FY26, with a potential dividend yield of 5.7% including franking credits. 

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Internet access and mobile phone connectivity are no longer a perk but a necessity for everyday life. That means Telstra shares tend to perform steadily, regardless of the stage of the economic cycle. 

The ASX dividend stock offers a reliable income stream to investors, too. In fact, one of the best things about Telstra is that its dividend payout ratio is close to 100% of its earnings. That unlocks a good dividend yield.

In its February half-year results, the company declared an interim dividend of 10.5 cents per share, up 10% from the prior period. The dividend was 90.5% franked, with 9.5 cents franked and 1 cent unfranked. On an annualised basis, that represents 21 cents per share for the full year. 

In FY25, Telstra shares paid a fully franked dividend of 19 cents per share.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is another blue-chip company that offers a fantastic passive income. The business owns several leading retailers, including Bunnings, Kmart, Officeworks, and Priceline.

The business recently posted a strong FY26 half-year result, which included a fully-franked interim dividend of $1.02 per share. That’s an increase of 7.4%.

Analyst forecasts suggest the retail giant could deliver an annual dividend per share of $2.16 in FY26, which would be a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.9%, including franking credits.

The post 3 must-own ASX blue-chip dividend stocks for Aussie investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why the BHP share price rocketed 16% in February
• 1 miner, 1 bank, and 1 ASX tech share I’d buy this month
• Why Wesfarmers shares are a retiree’s dream in 2026
• 3 reasons to buy Telstra shares right now
• 5 top ASX 200 shares I’d buy in March

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

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) shares hit a 52-week low of $45.88 today. That leaves the gaming stock down almost 40% from its high.

When a high-quality ASX 200 tech stock falls that far, I think it’s worth looking if this has created a buying opportunity.

In Aristocrat’s case, I believe it has.

Why is this ASX 200 tech stock out of favour?

One of the big concerns weighing on gaming and software-related ASX shares this year has been artificial intelligence (AI).

Investors are asking whether AI-generated content could lower barriers to entry in gaming, reduce differentiation, or allow competitors to catch up more quickly. In theory, that could pressure margins and market share.

But when I look at Aristocrat’s recent annual general meeting update from last month, I see a company leaning into AI rather than running from it. Management highlighted that AI investment across the group is focused on improving content creation, speeding up prototyping, enhancing quality control, and accelerating delivery into market segments.

In other words, AI is being used as a productivity and innovation tool, not something that replaces Aristocrat’s core competitive advantages.

This is still a content-led business. Aristocrat’s strength lies in its intellectual property, deep customer relationships, hardware integration, and global distribution footprint. AI might change how games are built, but it does not automatically recreate decades of brand equity and installed base scale.

The core business is still performing

Strip away the noise, and Aristocrat is still growing. In FY25, revenue was $6.3 billion, up 11%, with EBITDA margins expanding to 41.7%. That is not the profile of a business in structural decline.

In North America, Aristocrat lifted its gaming operations market share to 43% and outright sales share to 31%, both all-time highs. It also held 9 of the top 10 premium leased indexing game titles in December 2025, according to industry data.

Those numbers tell me that, despite investor anxiety, customers are still voting with their wallets.

The ASX 200 tech stock is also pushing deeper into online real money gaming and iLottery, where it holds roughly a 70% share of the US iLottery market. That segment alone represents a long runway for expansion.

A stronger, more focused Aristocrat

Another underappreciated point, in my view, is the significant work that has been done to simplify and focus the portfolio.

The sale of Plarium and Big Fish’s social casual assets means Aristocrat is now more tightly aligned around land-based gaming, social casino, and regulated online gaming. Management has also emphasised its strong balance sheet and minimal leverage.

That matters in volatile markets. A strong balance sheet gives flexibility. It allows continued investment in design and development, selective acquisitions, and share buybacks when appropriate.

From what I can see, this is not a company scrambling to defend itself. It is one that CEO Trevor Coker believes has laid “significant foundational work” for sustainable long-term success.

So, should you buy?

At $45.88 and consensus estimates pointing to earnings per share of $2.58 in FY26, this ASX 200 tech stock is trading on a forward P/E ratio of just 18x.

I think that indicates that the market is pricing in a lot of fear. But when I look at the fundamentals, I see a global leader with growing market share, expanding margins, strong cash flow, and multiple growth avenues across land-based and online gaming.

That does not eliminate risk. AI could reshape the industry faster than expected. Regulatory changes could impact online growth. Execution always matters.

However, for long-term investors willing to tolerate some volatility, I think the current risk-reward looks far more attractive than it did near the highs.

The post Down almost 40% and at a 52-week low, should you buy this ASX 200 tech stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU) shares are higher in mid-afternoon trade on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the Fletcher share price is up 1.38% to $2.95.

This comes despite weakness in the broader market. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 1.32% as investors react to escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Here’s what the company announced.

Higgins secures 10-year road maintenance contracts

According to the release, Fletcher announced that its subsidiary, Higgins Contractors, has officially signed major road maintenance contracts with New Zealand’s transport authority.

The contracts cover the East Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Hawke’s Bay regions. Each agreement runs for 10 years, starting from April 2026.

Higgins had previously been named as the preferred contractor in December 2025. However, the agreements have now been formally signed and locked in.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Reding said the agreements are an important milestone for Higgins and provide a strong platform for the next decade.

The company also reminded investors that it has entered into a binding agreement to sell its Construction Division to VINCI Construction. The final purchase price could change depending on the outcome of key contract negotiations.

Fletcher and VINCI are still working through the details and will update the market separately.

What does Fletcher actually do?

Fletcher is one of New Zealand’s largest building materials and construction companies.

It operates across New Zealand and Australia. The business makes and supplies building products such as plasterboard, insulation, roofing, piping, and concrete. It also runs trade and retail distribution businesses that supply builders and tradespeople.

Through subsidiaries like Fletcher Construction and Higgins, the group also works on large infrastructure and construction projects.

In recent years, management has reviewed the business and explored selling non-core divisions to streamline operations and strengthen financial performance.

Foolish Takeaway

Fletcher has faced a challenging period, with pressure on earnings and margins in its recent financial results. The share price has also been volatile over the past year, trading between roughly $2.64 and $3.44.

The modest share price gain reflects investor support for the long-term nature of the new road maintenance contracts. Government-backed work that runs for a decade can provide more stable and predictable revenue.

The company is still progressing broader restructuring efforts, and investors will be watching for updates on the proposed sale of the Construction Division.

Any progress on asset sales and restructuring will likely remain a key driver of sentiment this year.

Fletcher shares are outperforming the wider market in what has been a weak session for the ASX.

The post Fletcher Building shares lift as ASX 200 slides. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Fletcher Building shares steady on half-year results and construction exit

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 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.

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX: LIN) shares are defying the broader market on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX rare earths stock is up 25% to 66.2 cents, even as the ASX 200 index sinks 1.2% into the red.

In fact, at one stage today, its shares were up as much as 35% to 71.5 cents.

Why is this ASX rare earths stock rallying?

The surge comes after Lindian Resources announced that it has executed a binding term sheet to acquire 100% of an operating mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) processing facility in Kazakhstan via a joint venture structure.

According to the release, the acquisition will be made through an incorporated joint venture between Lindian (51%) and local partner RA Group LLP (49%).

The two parties will acquire the SARECO hydrometallurgical plant, which was previously owned and operated by a joint venture between Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation and Kazatomprom, for a purchase price of US$15 million.

Importantly, this move transforms the ASX rare earths stock from a concentrate-only producer into a company with downstream MREC production capability, which is a higher-value product that typically attracts stronger payabilities.

A step-change in strategy

Management described the transaction as a “defining step” that fast-tracks Lindian’s transition into an integrated rare earths company with downstream capability.

The purchase price may be US$15 million, but only US$3 million is payable upfront following due diligence. The remaining US$12 million is deferred until three months after commercial MREC production begins, which is expected around the first half of 2027.

This certainly could be a great deal for the ASX rare earths stock. To put it into perspective, Lindian noted that comparable new cracking and leaching plants can cost in excess of A$500 million to construct.

By acquiring an already constructed and operational plant, Lindian also avoids the lengthy permitting, construction, and funding risks associated with greenfield development.

A compelling transaction

Commenting on the deal, the company’s executive chair, Robert Martin, said:

The acquisition of the SARECO Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate facility is a defining step for Lindian. It fast-tracks our transition from a concentrate producer to an integrated rare earths company with downstream capability, materially enhancing margins, commercial flexibility and long-term strategic value. This transaction positions Lindian to be one of the very few non-Chinese companies globally producing both rare earth concentrate and MREC.

What makes this transaction particularly compelling is the capital efficiency. Securing a fully constructed, operational cracking facility for US$15 million, compared to over half a billion dollars typically required for greenfield downstream development, allows Lindian to avoid years of development, construction, permitting and balance sheet risk whilst maintaining our first to market approach. This downstream capability strengthens our negotiating position on all offtake discussions and expands our addressable customer base as we move toward dual production in 2026.

The post Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing 35% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Boss Energy, Lindian, Magellan, and New Hope shares are rising today

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.

S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are down 1.5% at 9,289.9 points on Tuesday.

The ASX All Ords hit an all-time high of 9,436.2 points on Friday, the final day of earnings season, and fell 0.13% yesterday.

Today, the market is substantially lower as investors continue to weigh how the US and Israel attack on Iran will affect world order.

Energy is the only sector in the green today as oil and gas prices continue to climb on expectations of disrupted global supply.

Meanwhile, three ASX All Ords shares have hit 52-week lows today.

Are they a buying opportunity, or is it best to steer clear?

Let’s defer to the experts.

4 ASX All Ords shares slumping to 52-week lows

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

This ASX All Ords financial share fell to a 52-week low of $2.54 on Tuesday.

That’s a 72% deterioration over 12 months, but Morgans sees the upside.

The broker retained its buy rating on HMC Capital shares after reviewing the company’s 1H FY26 report.

In a note, Morgans commented:

We still see value in HMC, with our market-to-market NTA at c.$2.30 per share, or c.$3.00 when we factor in our valuation for the listed co-investments (HDN, HCW, DGT), while the c.$60m of recurring funds management EBITDA adds additional value.

Morgans lowered its 12-month price target from $4.85 to $4.45.

Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS)

The Healius share price tumbled to a 52-week trough of 66 cents today.

This ASX All Ords healthcare share has halved in value over the past 12 months.

Morgans reiterated its hold rating after reviewing the pathology services provider’s 1H FY26 report.

The broker commented:

While management maintained FY26 earnings in line with consensus and operational discipline is improving, sustainable earnings leverage remains an open question and dependent on execution.

The broker gives the ASX All Ords healthcare share a 12-month target of 80 cents.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT)

This ASX All Ords real estate investment trust (REIT) fell to a 52-week low of $1.93 on Tuesday.

The data centre specialist has lost more than 55% of its value over the past year.

Morgans is optimistic, however, after going over the company’s 1H FY26 results.

The broker commented:

DGT continues to trade at a c.50% discount to NAV of A$4.62/security, yet that NAV does not yet reflect the full value of the 88MW SYD1 expansion, which management estimates will deliver a further c.A$1.50/security of NAV uplift at a targeted 15% yield on cost.

Acknowledging the share price weakness, we continue to see the opportunity in DGT, retaining our Buy rating with a $4.15/sh price target.

Beacon Lighting Group Ltd (ASX: BLX)

This ASX All Ords consumer discretionary share reached a 52-week low of $2.02 today.

That’s a 41% fall over 12 months.

However, Morgans upgraded Beacon Lighting from accumulate to buy on the back of its 1H FY26 report.

The broker commented:

BLX 1H26 result was weaker than expected, driven by softer sales in both retail and trade, which has tempered expectations of a meaningful recovery in the 2H.

Whilst earnings recovery is likely longer dated, we see long-term opportunity in trade, store network growth, and margin expansion as the cycle turns.

The broker lowered its share price target from $3.80 to $3.20.

The post 4 ASX All Ords shares at 52-week lows. Should you buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares had remarkably different runs in the month just past.

While Coles shares underperformed the 3.7% gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in February, Woolies stock raced ahead of those gains.

On 30 January, Coles shares were trading for $21.28. When the closing bell sounded on 27 February, shares were changing hands for $20.56 apiece, down 3.4% for the month.

Woolworths shares, on the other hand, closed out January trading for $30.94 and ended February at $36 each, up 16.4%.

Here’s what’s been happening with the ASX 200 supermarket giants.

Woolworths shares rocket on results

The biggest news out of Woolworths in February was the release of the company’s half-year results on 25 February.

Woolworths shares closed up 13% on the day after reporting (before significant items) a 3.4% year-on-year increase in sales for the six-month period to $37.14 billion.

And with all of the company’s segments achieving year-on-year earnings growth, the ASX 200 supermarket achieved 14.4% growth in earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to $1.66 billion.

On the bottom line, Woolies reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $859 million, up 16.4% year on year.

The Woolworths shares also likely got a boost from passive income investors after management increased the fully-franked interim dividend by 15.4% from last year’s payout to 45 cents per share.

If you want to bank the interim Woolworths dividend, you’ll have to hurry. Woolies stock trades ex-dividend tomorrow, meaning you’ll need to own shares at market close today to receive that payout. You can then expect to receive the Woolworths dividend on 2 April.

Coles shares hammered on results

Coles released its own half-year results two days later, on 27 February.

Unlike Woolworths shares, Coles stock closed down 7.4% on the day the supermarket reported.

Market expectations were clearly high following Woolworths’ strong results, with Coles coming under selling pressure despite reporting a 2.5% year-on-year increase in sales revenue to $23.6 billion.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) – excluding significant items – of $2.21 billion increased by 7.8%.

And Coles’ NPAT of $676 million was up 12.5% from H1 FY 2025.

With profits up, management declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 41 cents per share. That’s up 10.8% from last year’s interim payout.

You’ve got a little more time if you’re looking to grab the Coles dividend. The ASX 200 stock trades ex-dividend on 10 March, meaning you’ll need to own shares at market close on 9 March. You can then expect to see that passive income payout on 30 March.

Comparing the results between the two supermarket giants, Woolworths shares look to have benefited from materially stronger key growth metrics than Coles posted in the first half.

The post Here’s how Woolworths shares smashed Coles shares in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

A new investment fund, the Kapstream Investment Trust (ASX: KIT), is looking to raise $300 million in new capital and list on the ASX by the end of March.

The Trust will take the money raised and invest it in its investment manager’s other funds, the Kapstream Absolute Return Income Fund, the Kapstream Absolute Return Income Plus Fund, and the Kapstream Private Investment Fund.

Those funds, in turn, invest predominantly in fixed income securities and securitised warehouse financing.

Monthly dividend stream targeted

The goal, the Trust’s offer document says, is to target a return of the official cash rate set by the Reserve Bank of Australia, plus 3.5%, with monthly dividends envisaged.

The offer document goes on to say:

The units seek to provide investors with a means of diversifying their own portfolios and generating regular income. We expect the units will have lower correlation to domestic and international listed equity markets and are expected to have greater correlation to bond and credit markets.

The offer opened on February 16 and is scheduled to close on March 4, with a minimum raise of $200 million and a maximum of $300 million. The shares are to be offered via brokers only.

The offer document says further regarding the investment philosophy:

The investment strategy of the trust is to invest predominantly in a diversified portfolio of investment grade Australian and global fixed income securities as well as asset backed securities typically in the form of warehouse financing . The trust may also hold cash on a temporary or limited basis. The trust may over time also acquire a portfolio of direct assets that fall within the investment strategy and may, subject to applicable law and the ASX Listing Rules, also invest in other funds managed by Kapstream that provide exposure to assets that fall within the investment strategy.

The offer document also explained the details of warehouse financing.

Warehouse financing is a form of private debt securitisation which provides capital to lenders to ‘on‑lend’ and is a critical part of lending businesses, commonly in the nonbank sector. Underlying borrowers are widely diversified across mortgage, auto, personal, professional, and other receivable and loan types.

The managers of the trust will be paid a management fee but not a performance fee, the offer document says.

The shares in the trust are expected to start trading on the ASX on March 30 under the ticker KIT.

The post This new listed fund is looking to raise $300 million, and will pay a monthly dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 must-own ASX blue-chip dividend stocks for Aussie investors
• Down almost 40% and at a 52-week low, should you buy this ASX 200 tech stock?
• Fletcher Building shares lift as ASX 200 slides. Here’s why
• Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing 35% today?
• 4 ASX All Ords shares at 52-week lows. Should you buy?

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.

Kingsgate Consolidated Limited (ASX: KCN) shares are in the red in early-afternoon trade on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the ASX stock is down 1.43% at $7.225 a piece.

Despite today’s dip, the stock is still 25.22% higher year to date and an enormous 435.56% higher than this time last year. 

The increase means the stock has significantly outperformed the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), which climbed 10.21% over the same period, and has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), which increased 52.04% over the year.

Who is Kingsgate and what does it do?

Kingsgate is engaged in gold and silver mining, development, and exploration, operating on the Pacific Rim and with headquarters in Sydney, Australia.

Its main operation is the Chatree Gold Mine in Thailand, which restarted in 2023 after the Thai government halted all gold mining in the country in 2016. Kingsgate also operates the 100%-owned Nueva Esperanza Silver Gold Project in Chile’s Maricunga Belt. 

The gold miner was added to the ASX 300 Index amid a quarterly rebalance in September. The company has a market capitalisation of $1.95 billion.

What pushed the ASX stock higher over the past year?

Kingsgate has ridden the wave of soaring gold prices over the past year as investors flock to safe-haven assets amid worsening geopolitical instability. 

The gold price spiked at an all-time high of US$5,419 in late January. A dramatic buy-the-dip rally sent the metal’s price south earlier this month, but recent geopolitical turmoil has seen investors flock back to the asset. 

The gold price held above US$5,300 on Monday, paring earlier gains after spiking past US$5,419. At the time of writing on Tuesday morning, the gold price has climbed another 0.58% for the day to US$5,353. 

What do analysts expect next?

Even after Kingsgate’s price surge over the past year, it looks like there could be room for more in 2026.

According to TradingView data, two analysts have ratings on the ASX 300 gold miner. One has a hold rating, and the other has a strong buy rating. The average target price is $8.07 per share, which implies a potential 12.15% upside at the time of writing.

The post This ASX stock soared 435% in 12 months, and is tipped to keep climbing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 must-own ASX blue-chip dividend stocks for Aussie investors
• Down almost 40% and at a 52-week low, should you buy this ASX 200 tech stock?
• Fletcher Building shares lift as ASX 200 slides. Here’s why
• Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing 35% today?
• 4 ASX All Ords shares at 52-week lows. Should you buy?

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.

Shares in WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1) are trading lower in mid-afternoon trade. This comes after the company released a new drilling update from its flagship Luni Niobium Project.

At the time of writing, the WA1 share price is down 1.26% to $17.27. The stock opened in the green but has since seesawed and slipped modestly into the red.

Let’s take a closer look at what the company announced to the ASX.

Infill program lifts confidence in indicated resource

According to the release, WA1 said infill drilling at Luni continues to deliver strong niobium grades. The latest holes include new intersections located immediately next to the existing western indicated mineral resource estimate.

Some of the standout results were:

• 13.7 metres at 2.8% Nb2O5 from 54 metres
• 6.5 metres at 6.6% Nb2O5 from 56.5 metres
• 8.2 metres at 3.2% Nb2O5 from 152 metres
• 13.1 metres at 2.8% Nb2O5 from 143.9 metres
• 22 metres at 2.4% Nb2O5 from 67 metres
• 93.1 metres at 2.1% Nb2O5 from 67.8 metres

Drilling in the eastern indicated area also returned strong results, including 25.3 metres at 3% Nb2O5 and 12.4 metres at 6.1% Nb2O5.

Management said these results could allow more high-grade material to be upgraded into higher confidence categories. A revised mineral resource estimate is expected in the June quarter.

Resource update in focus

WA1 carried out a large drilling program at Luni in 2025 using both diamond and air core rigs. Since the project was discovered, about 85,000 metres have now been drilled, with more assay results still to come.

The diamond drilling has been aimed at better defining the existing mineral resource and increasing confidence in it. Infill holes were mostly drilled on a 50 metre by 50 metre grid in the eastern indicated area and a 100 metre by 100 metre grid in the western inferred area.

WA1 said the latest results show the high-grade mineralisation is consistent and help define its shape, thickness, and grade. More drilling and metallurgical test work is still underway as the company continues its development studies.

About WA1 Resources

WA1 Resources is an S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) company that explores and develops mineral projects in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Its main project is the Luni Niobium Project, which forms part of the wider West Arunta region.

WA1 has a market capitalisation of about $1.3 billion and roughly 74.3 million shares on issue. Over the past 12 months, the share price has risen around 30%, showing strong investor interest in niobium discoveries in the West Arunta area.

Despite today’s volatility, attention is expected to remain on the next resource update and upcoming drilling results.

The post WA1 shares wobble as new high-grade Luni results hit the market 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 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.