I am lucky enough to own an ASX 200 share that has tripled in value over just the past two-and-a-half years. I did not buy this stock with the expectation that I would see much of a significant gain, and indeed, it has come as a bit of a surprise. So perhaps I should sell it. Let’s discuss that prospect.

This ASX 200 winner is none other than Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM). Newmont is the largest gold miner listed on the ASX. I was issued Newmont shares back in November of 2023 as a result of the acquisition of Newcrest Mining. Newcrest was an Australian gold producer before Newmont, a US-listed gold heavyweight, swallowed it up. It replaced Newcrest’s shares on the ASX with its own secondary listing.

Originally, my Newcrest position was an insurance bet of sorts. Normally, I don’t go for mining or energy companies as I believe their potential as long-term wealth compounders is inherently limited by their reliance on external and volatile commodities markets. But I put that conviction aside for this relatively small position in Newcrest, now Newmont. That was due to concerns that I had that the global economic order was facing some structural issues, and that gold (at least at 2021 prices) was an effective hedge, or insurance policy, against these issues.

Perhaps unfortunately, this has since been proven prudent. Gold has hopped on a rocket ship over the past year or two, no other way to put it. This is probably due to a number of factors, including the erratic economic and foreign policy of the Trump Administration, rising geopolitical tensions, inflation, ballooning government debts, and frenzied buying from central banks eager to diversify away from the US dollar.

Newmont’s phenomenal run

As recently as 2023, gold was under US$2,000 an ounce. Just this week, that same ounce has hit a new record high of over US$4,700. This has resulted in my Newmont shares rising from the $60 each that I received them at to the $179.50 price at the time of writing.

Like most gold miners, Newmont’s costs of extracting a single ounce of gold are relatively fixed. This means that any increase in the price of gold can help Newmont’s profits accelerate on an exponential scale. To illustrate, let’s say it costs Newmont US$1,500 to extract an ounce of gold. If the gold price rises from US$2,000 to US$3,000, it has jumped 50%. But Newmont’s profit margin from extracting that ounce rockets 200%.

That’s basically why my investment in Newmont has tripled since 2023.

Time to sell this ASX 200 share?

With most of my investments, I typically adopt a ‘let your winners run’ mentality. That’s why my portfolio still has most of its best performers within it, including Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), and probably will for the foreseeable future.

Newmont is different, though. As we touched on above, I don’t hold this position as a long-term wealth builder, but as an insurance policy. I’m not going to try and time a sell when I think gold prices have topped out. But I will continue to hold it as long as global geopolitical and economic tensions continue to sit at this historically elevated level.

The post When do you sell an ASX 200 share that’s tripled in value? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Want to buy gold in 2026? Here are 3 ways to do it
• 2 ASX 200 gold shares to buy and 1 to sell: experts
• Gold, silver hit new highs as US punishes Europe with tariffs over Greenland stance

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Newmont, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Evolution Mining, Lynas Rare Earths, Paladin Energy, and Sovereign Metals shares are racing higher today
• Why is this $4.6 billion gold company’s share price hitting record highs?
• Up 156% in a year, Evolution Mining shares rocketing again today on record setting results
• Buying Lynas shares? Here’s why the ASX rare earths stock is flying higher in Wednesday’s sinking market
• Emerald Resources: Memot gold resource climbs 27% to 1.7Moz

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Newmont. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

Successful long-term investing is all about staying exposed to high-quality businesses over time.

For investors with a multi-year horizon, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be powerful tools.

They offer diversification, reduce single-stock risk, and make it easier to stay invested through market cycles. The key is choosing ETFs that are built to compound rather than chase short-term trends.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that stand out for long-term investors.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The first ETF that could be a top long-term option is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF. It is designed around one simple idea: owning businesses that are hard to compete with.

This ASX ETF invests in US stocks that are judged to have sustainable competitive advantages, such as strong brands, high switching costs, or dominant market positions. Just as importantly, it targets these companies when they are trading at attractive prices.

For long-term investors, this approach encourages patience and discipline. Rather than constantly rotating into what is fashionable, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF focuses on quality businesses that can defend profits over many years. That combination of competitive strength and valuation support makes it well suited to long-term ownership.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF is another ASX ETF that could be a good option for long-term investors. It offers exposure to the backbone of global equity markets.

This ETF tracks the S&P 500 Index, which includes many of the world’s largest and most profitable companies. Over long periods, this group of businesses has demonstrated a strong ability to adapt, innovate, and grow earnings.

For long-term investors, the iShares S&P 500 ETF provides scale and simplicity. It is not reliant on any single sector or trend, yet it still captures global innovation through established market leaders. Holding this fund allows investors to participate in global growth without needing to predict which individual company will outperform next.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

Finally, the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF could be worth considering for a buy and hold investment. It takes a more selective approach to global investing.

This ASX ETF focuses on stocks that score highly in certain quality metrics. This includes returns on equity, balance sheet strength, and earnings stability. These characteristics often point to businesses with strong management, pricing power, and resilient business models.

For long-term investors, the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF offers a smoother way to access global markets. By prioritising quality metrics, it aims to reduce exposure to weaker balance sheets and more volatile earnings profiles. This is never a bad idea when making long-term investments.

The team at Betashares recently recommended the fund to investors.

The post The best ASX ETFs for long-term investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX ETFs with big gains and low fees
• Why Aussies are pouring into ASX ETFs at a record pace
• 5 strong ASX ETFs to buy in your 30s
• Own MNRS or ARMR ETFs? Here’s why it’s a big day for you
• The best ASX ETFs to buy for an SMSF

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF 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.

There are a lot of ASX shares out there for investors to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at three popular shares and see what Morgans is saying about them.

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

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

This gold miner has been given a hold rating and $26.00 price target by Morgans. While it is a fan of Northern Star, it hasn’t been impressed with its recent performance.

And with potentially more challenges to come, it thinks investors are better off sitting on the sidelines for the time being. The broker said:

NST has revised FY26 guidance lower after another soft sales quarter, cutting the midpoint ~8% to 1,650koz (from 1,775koz). The downgrade reflects ongoing operational challenges across all hubs, including grade, throughput and utilisation constraints. This marks the second guidance miss in as many years. While we remain constructive on NST’s long-term growth pathway, we are adopting a more cautious (previously bullish) short-to-midterm production outlook, maintained until delivery consistency improves.

We now forecast FY26 sales of 1,589koz (-9%), marginally below updated guidance (1,600–1,700koz). We lift our AISC to A$2,770/oz, reducing forecast EBITDA and EPS by 16% and 22% respectively. Rating revised to HOLD, price target A$26.00ps (previously A$27.41ps). The downgrade partly offset by our higher spot scenario of US$3,500/oz (from US$3,250/oz).

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

This health imaging technology company’s shares have been hammered due to the tech selloff.

Morgans thinks that this could be an opportunity to start accumulating shares and sees fair value at $290.00.

Commenting on the ASX share, the broker said:

PME’s share price has continued to decline since our last update, despite stable fundamentals and a consistent outlook. This decrease appears to be due to a broader market shift away from high-growth stocks, as there have been no major new contracts or company-specific changes for PME since our previous report. Business quality remains solid with high margins, long-term contracted revenues, and a growing contract book which underpins the demand and safety in the financial profile over the coming years.

No change to valuation (A$290 p/s) and longstanding positive outlook, just a better entry point. Upgrade to an ACCUMULATE recommendation, with the view that current prices represent a reasonable opportunity for partial positions, noting ongoing volatility in the name could still yet present further downside.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

Another ASX share that Morgans thinks investors should accumulate is WebBeds owner Web Travel. It has a price target of $5.20 on its shares, which is around 11% higher than current levels.

Morgans was pleased with its recent trading update and highlights its undemanding valuation. It said:

While WEB reported strong top line growth, this did not translate into strong NPATA growth (fell 7.4% on the pcp). However, cashflow was stronger than expected and the balance sheet is in a strong net cash position. Pleasingly, WEB’s trading update was stronger than expected and top line growth has accelerated. FY26 guidance was slightly stronger than expected and we have upgraded our forecasts.

WEB’s outlook comments for FY27 were also upbeat. With 19% [now 11%] upside to A$5.20 price target and trading on undemanding fundamentals, we upgrade to an Accumulate recommendation.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Northern Star, Pro Medicus, and Web Travel shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 2 undervalued ASX shares worth buying today
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d load up on if markets crashed tomorrow
• Northern Star shares hit record high on cost guidance update
• Northern Star Resources revises FY26 cost guidance after lower gold sales

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

The Australian share market has historically provided investors with an average annual return in the region of 10%.

Not all shares rise in line with the market. Some underperform and some outperform. And then sometimes there are ASX shares that go even further and not just double in value, but more than triple in value.

Three ASX shares that have accomplished this over the past 12 months are listed below. Here’s why they have smashed the market:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up an incredible 670% since this time last year. This has been driven by the medical technology company gaining US FDA approval for its non-contrast computed tomography (CT) ventilation and perfusion imaging solution, CT:VQ.

In addition, it revealed a significant expansion of its distribution agreement with Koninklijke Philips (NYSE: PHG) and announced several contract wins with healthcare institutions. The company has even managed to raise $150 million via an institutional placement during this time. That would have been unthinkable 12 months ago when its market capitalisation was a fraction of what it is today.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 530% over the past 12 months.

Investors have been scrambling to buy this counterdrone technology company’s shares after it won a series of lucrative contracts. This includes a $49.6 million contract from an in-region European reseller that is contractually required to distribute the products to a European military end-customer.

In addition, with Western nations committing to large increases in defence spending, geopolitical tensions rising, and favourable changes to modern warfare, investors appear to believe that the contracts could continue to roll in for DroneShield this year.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is up 204% since this time last year. Investors have been buying the lithium miner’s shares after the price of the battery making ingredient rebounded strongly.

A year ago, Liontown was operating with unit costs that were barely breaking even. However, this looks likely to be very different in 2026 with prices surging and costs coming down thanks to its underground mining.

The company’s CEO, Tony Ottaviano, said: “We’ve laid the foundations through FY25 and the early part of FY26. The focus from here is on continued execution, cost discipline, and unlocking the full performance of the Kathleen Valley operation.”

The post Why 4DMedical and these ASX shares are up 200%+ in just a year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4DMedical shares crash 20% this week: Should investors cut their losses on the once-booming stock?
• These 2 ASX All Ords shares tripled in value last year. Can they keep going?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Should you buy DroneShield, Westpac, and BHP shares?
• Why 4DMedical, ARB, Inghams, and Qoria shares are tumbling 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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are trading in the green on Wednesday afternoon. At the time of writing, the shares are up 1.38% at $48.44 a piece.

The mining giant has had a great start to the year, up 5.86% already in 2026. The share price stormed higher through December last year, too, and is now 19.29% higher than where it was trading this time last year.

What has driven BHP shares higher?

Copper futures rocketed higher into early 2026 and reached record-high levels. Copper futures rocketed past US$6/lbs to an all-time high in early January, extending the huge rally seen throughout December. 

For context, on the 1st of December, Copper was US$5.09/lbs, and it eased to around US$5.87 yesterday.

Copper is a key material for the global energy transition, is used in electric vehicles, and is a critical component in AI data centres. And as the world’s largest copper producer, BHP has certainly benefited from the surge in copper prices.

At the same time, the mining giant has reported some strong production figures over the past year, meaning it is well placed to absorb some of that extra demand.

4 reasons why I think the shares are a must-buy

1. Production is growing

BHP upgraded its copper production guidance yesterday. Its production guidance has increased for group copper, Escondida, and Antamina. But NSWEC and Samarco are also now guiding to the upper half of their ranges, and BMA is now guiding to the lower half due to ongoing geotechnical challenges at Broadmeadow.

2. The company is expanding

The latest update follows an announcement in December that it has struck up a new US$2 billion infrastructure agreement with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), an investment group owned by BlackRock, to own and control 51% of the project due for completion by the end of FY26, subject to approvals. This latest agreement is part of BHP’s plan to drive growth through its capital products, strategic acquisitions, and asset development.

3. The business is diverse

BHP is a highly diverse business. While the focus is on copper right now, the mining giant also produces iron ore, nickel, metallurgical coal, and potash. It also produces gold, silver, and uranium at some sites.

This diversity means BHP’s share price is not solely reliant on the trajectory of one commodity.

4. It offers passive income

The miner offers a great passive income for investors who need reliable cash flow. 

BHP shares have delivered two fully franked dividends a year for over a decade. The payouts peaked at record levels in 2021 and 2022 when iron ore prices surged above US$200 per tonne, pushing BHP’s revenue and profit margins sky-high.

Over the past 12 months, BHP paid an interim dividend of 79.1 cents per share on 27 March and a final dividend of 91.9 cents per share on 25 September, both fully franked. That’s a full-year passive income payout of $1.71 per share.

The post 4 reasons why I think BHP shares are a must-buy for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• 5 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 this week
• Why this fund manager is buying BHP shares
• Should you buy DroneShield, Westpac, and BHP shares?
• BHP shares rise on solid half and copper upgrade

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

HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) has been a top ASX performer, with its share price up an extraordinary 286% over the past five years.

That kind of run is enviable, but the valuation inevitably raises eyebrows as the stock now trades at around 100x trailing earnings. So why are investors still willing to pay up?

Growth at scale (and still accelerating)

The most obvious reason is growth, which continues to surprise to the upside.

HUB24’s latest quarterly update shows that it is scaling rapidly across its platform and technology businesses, with its platform funds under administration increasing 29% from a year ago.

Importantly, this growth is occurring at a meaningful scale with platform funds under administration now exceeding $127 billion.

This sort of growth at scale for a tech platform can lead to strong profitability, and investors are willing to pay for that growth.

While the headline multiple looks extreme, on a one-year forward basis, the valuation falls to roughly 68x earnings. That’s still expensive, but it reflects expectations that earnings will continue to compound strongly rather than plateau.

Structural industry tailwinds

HUB24 also benefits from powerful industry tailwinds.

Australia’s wealth industry is undergoing long-term structural change: advisers are consolidating platforms, regulatory complexity is rising, and technology is becoming essential to productivity. The shift toward fewer, higher-quality platforms favours established players with scale and deep integrations.

HUB24 has positioned itself as a premium, adviser-aligned platform at exactly the right time. It’s a powerful narrative for investors who don’t want to swim against the tide and would rather have their investments powered by strong industry tailwinds.

High margins and operating leverage

Another key part of the valuation story is profit margins.

According to HUB24’s strategy deck released in late November 2025, group revenue has grown at a 4-year CAGR of 38%, while underlying EBITDA has grown at 46% and underlying net profit after tax at 61% over the same period. That gap highlights the business’ operating leverage.

As revenue scales, a growing share of it drops through to profit. Platform EBITDA margins have also expanded steadily, supported by recurring revenue and a cost base that doesn’t rise linearly with funds under administration.

With roughly $400m of revenue and almost $100m of underlying net profit, profit margins are high, and this combination of strong growth and expanding margins is exactly what supports premium valuation multiples.

An emerging oligopoly

Finally, investors increasingly view HUB24 as part of a small group of long-term winners, alongside peers like Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL).

Platform businesses tend to become oligopolistic over time. Scale attracts advisers, advisers attract flows, and flows justify further investment in technology, thereby reinforcing the competitive moat. Once established, these advantages can be difficult for smaller competitors to overcome until the next big shift occurs.

The risks of paying up

For all of HUB24’s desirable traits, none of them completely insulates the risks for investors.

A 100x earnings multiple leaves little room for disappointment, and sharp drawdowns are to be expected, particularly during market volatility or if growth slows. Even great businesses can see their share prices fall when expectations reset.

Foolish bottom line

HUB24’s valuation reflects more than just hype. Investors are paying for growth at scale, structural tailwinds, high margins, and a belief that the company is helping shape a concentrated platform market.

That doesn’t make the shares low-risk, but it does help explain why, even after a 286% rise in five years, the market is still willing to pay a premium.

The post Up 286% in 5 years, why are investors paying 100x earnings for HUB24 shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• 3 underappreciated ASX growth shares I would buy with $1,000
• Why this incredible ASX 200 stock could rise almost 25%
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Bellevue Gold, DroneShield, Hub24, and Telix shares are storming higher today

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned.  The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models and recommendations again. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes this week.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this 4×4 automotive parts company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $35.80. This follows the release of a half year update which revealed underlying profits well short of expectations. This was driven by weaker than expected margins. In addition, export sales were softer than the broker was expecting during the half. Nevertheless, Macquarie thinks its shares offer value for money following recent weakness and reaffirms its outperform rating. The ARB share price is trading at $27.38 on Wednesday afternoon.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $56.50 price target on this mining giant’s shares. The broker was pleased with the Big Australian’s performance during the second quarter. This was particularly the case with its iron ore operations, which outperformed expectations. In addition, it was pleased to see its copper operations deliver production ahead of forecasts, largely due to the key Escondida mine. All in all, Morgan Stanley has seen nothing to change its positive view of the stock. The BHP share price is fetching $48.31 at the time of writing.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating and $125.00 price target on this investment platform provider’s shares. According to the note, the broker was impressed with the company’s performance during the second quarter. It highlights that it achieved the highest quarterly inflow on record. In addition, it points out that management provided similarly positive comments around its pipeline. Bell Potter backs this up, noting that its own channel checks indicate that Hub24 continues to rank first for future flow intentions. In light of this and with the current forward multiple around average levels, the broker sees value in Hub24’s shares at these levels. The Hub24 share price is trading at $101.39 today.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 286% in 5 years, why are investors paying 100x earnings for HUB24 shares?
• 3 underappreciated ASX growth shares I would buy with $1,000
• Why this incredible ASX 200 stock could rise almost 25%
• Should you buy the dip on these ASX 200 stocks?
• 5 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 this week

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ARB Corporation, Hub24, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation, BHP Group, and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Servcorp Ltd (ASX: SRV) are rocketing higher today, up 8.18% to $7.67 after the company delivered an upgrade to its FY26 outlook.

The global serviced offices provider released fresh guidance this afternoon, shedding light on how the business is tracking as FY26 progresses. Recent share price behaviour and shareholder activity are providing additional context.

Let’s take a closer look at the release.

FY26 guidance upgraded

In an ASX announcement released today, Servcorp lifted its FY26 outlook across all key metrics.

Underlying NPBT is now expected to be between $80 million and $84 million, up from previous guidance of $72 million to $76 million. Underlying free cash flow guidance was also upgraded to no less than $100 million, compared with prior guidance of at least $90 million.

Importantly for income investors, Servcorp said its dividend is not expected to be below 32 cents per share, up from a previous floor of 30 cents.

Management attributed the upgrade to strong operating momentum, improved occupancy, pricing discipline, and leverage from mature locations. Cost control and better cash conversion across the global portfolio also played a role.

The company now enters the year with a strong balance sheet, high cash levels, and no debt.

Insider buying sends a strong signal

One of the more notable developments over the past year has been the level of insider buying at Servcorp.

Founder, CEO, and Executive Chairman, Mr Alfred George Moufarrige, has been a consistent buyer of Servcorp shares. According to disclosed director transactions, he has purchased well over 400,000 shares across multiple transactions in 2025, with several large off-market buys around the $7 level.

While insider buying is never a guarantee of future performance, sustained buying by a founder-led CEO is often interpreted as a strong vote of confidence in the company’s outlook and valuation.

Dividend appeal and technical picture

At the current share price, Servcorp offers a trailing dividend yield of around 4%, fully franked. With free cash flow guidance upgraded and a payout ratio near 50%, the dividend appears well supported.

From a technical perspective, Servcorp shares remain in a broader uptrend. The stock is trading above its 200-day moving average, with support forming around $6.80 to $7. Resistance remains near the recent highs around $7.40.

Foolish Takeaway

Servcorp may not be the most exciting stock on the ASX, but steady earnings, rising cash flow, a solid dividend, and insider buying make it one to watch.

With upgraded guidance now in place and a strong balance sheet underpinning returns, the company appears well-positioned to deliver reliable income while continuing to compound value over time.

The post Servcorp upgrades guidance, insiders keep buying. Is this ASX dividend stock quietly setting up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 286% in 5 years, why are investors paying 100x earnings for HUB24 shares?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Why is this gold miner’s share price heading higher today?
• A 3.5% ASX dividend stock paying cash every month
• Up 300% since August, why this surging ASX gold stock could keep racing higher

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

Shares in St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) have traded more than 5% higher after the company published a positive prefeasibility study for its 15-Mile processing hub.

The gold miner said in a statement to the ASX that the study “confirms outstanding project economics and optimal environmental and social outcomes”.

It added that the project had a post-tax payback period of less than one year, using a gold price of US$3000 per ounce, and would generate post-tax cash flow over the life of the mine of $2 billion.

The current gold price is sitting well above the figure used for the company’s calculations, with the precious metal currently changing hands for US$4835.45 per ounce.

Long life mining project

St Barbara said the project would have a stable production profile of more than 100,000 ounces of gold per year over more than 11 years, which did not include any potential upside from exploration in the region.

The project would cost about $308 million to build, and would have an all-in sustaining cost of production of US$1188 per ounce, “underpinned by fundamentals of low open pit strip ratios, strong recoveries from conventional free milling ores, proven operating experience from Touquoy and costs shared across three mining areas”.

Touquoy refers to the company’s existing mine, where open-cut mining is proposed to restart soon.

St Barbara said the 15-Mile development was expected to be funded from cash flow from the New Simberi gold project in Papua New Guinea and Touquoy once it had restarted.

The company said further re the project:

The project includes three operating locations, with all ore processing and tailings management occurring at 15-Mile, while Beaver Dam and Cochrane Hill are to operate as satellite mines. The prefeasibility study design leverages the existing Touquoy processing plant equipment. The proposed Touquoy restart would have no adverse impact on the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project development timeline as the remnant surface ore stockpiles are anticipated to be processed before relocation of the Touquoy processing plant to 15-Mile.

St Barbara Managing Director Andrew Strelein said the prefeasibility study showed 15-Mile had “outstanding” economics.

The completion of the prefeasibility study is a key milestone as we continue to de-risk the project. St Barbara is well-positioned to take the project to environmental and social impact assessment processes over FY26 and in parallel with the feasibility study.

Shares in St Barbara have tripled over the past 12 months, up from 19.2 cents to 61.5 cents on Wednesday, up 4.2% on the day.

The company was valued at $713.8 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post Why is this gold miner’s share price heading higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Clarity, DroneShield, St Barbara, and Treasury Wine shares are charging higher today

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.