Over the past few months, we’ve been looking at the dividend stocks on the ASX that pay out income every single month.

Monthly dividend payers are a rare breed in Australia. Biannual dividend shares that fork out two payments per year are the norm, while quarterly dividend stocks are less common. But there are only a handful of monthly dividend payers. Let’s talk about another one that has only joined the ASX recently.

That monthly dividend payer is WAM Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: WMX).

WAM Income Maximiser is a listed investment company (LIC) run by the LIC-focused Wilson Asset Management (WAM). It began ASX life in May last year, debuting at $1.50 a share. The company is currently up 8% from that IPO price at $162 at the time of writing.

Like most LICs, WAM Income Maximiser invests in an underlying portfolio of assets that it manages on behalf of its investors. In this case, that portfolio consists of both ASX shares and corporate debt instruments. The ASX shares are mostly blue-chip dividend stocks, including (as of the latest data) BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). This portion of WAM Income Maximiser’s assets accounts for about 73.3% of the entire portfolio.

The corporate debt component makes up another 26.7% of the portfolio. 54% of the debt is classified as either A- or AAA-rated debt, with 28% rated at BBB and the last 18% consisting of hybrid assets.

Together, these shares and debt assets provide WAM Income Maximiser with investment income, which it passes through to investors as fully-franked dividends.

How much monthly income does this ASX dividend stock pay out?

WAM Income Maximiser paid out its first dividend in August last year and has paid a monthly dividend ever since. As we haven’t yet had a full 12 months of income, we cannot come to an accurate annual dividend yield figure as of yet. But we’ll attempt some creative accounting regardless.

WAM Income Maximiser’s first dividend, paid out on 29 August 2025, came to 0.2 cents per share. Each month, the LIC has increased its payouts by 0.5 cents. Investors bagged 0.25 cents per share in September, 0.3 cents in October, and so on. The company has provided guidance that its January dividend (set for payment on 30 January) will be worth 0.45 cents per share. That will be followed by a 0.5-cent per share payout in February and a 0.55-cent dividend in March.

There are two potential paths we can anticipate here. Assuming WAM Income Maximiser continues on its past trajectory, the company could pay a 0.6-cent-per-share dividend in April, 0.65 cents in May, and so on. Once August rolls around, investors will have received a total of 5.7 cents per share in dividends. That would result in the company trading at a dividend yield of 3.52% today.

More conservatively, we can take an average of the dividends WAM Income Maximiser has already paid out and apply that to the next few dividends. That average is 0.38 cents per share, which, if applied ot the current share price, would give this monthly dividend stock a yield of 2.79% today.

Would I buy this monthly ASX dividend stock?

Monthly dividend payers have a certain (and understandable) appeal amongst ASX investors. However, I wouldn’t be buying this particular one. For one, WAM Income Maximiser hasn’t gotten off to a great start, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) since its inception. Sure, a period of less than 12 months is arguably not enough time to rule out a stock for performance reasons. But this is not my only concern.

Wilson Asset Management has a patchy track record when it comes to the performance of its LICs. We’ve looked at the underwhelming return that its flagship WAM Capital Ltd (ASX: WAM) has delivered before. WAM Capital has been a disappointing investment for a long time now, with its shares currently down 18.8% over the past five years. WAM Research Ltd (ASX: WAX) has lost 22.1% over that same period, while WAM Global Ltd (ASX: WGB) shares have lost 0.4%.

Before WAM Income Maximiser’s debut, Wilson Asset Management launched WAM Strategic Value Ltd (ASX: WAR) in 2021. This LIC is down almost 16% from its 2021 debut at today’s pricing.

WAM Income Maximiser also charges a relatively expensive fee. Investors pay 0.88% per annum to have their money in this LIC. Additionally, they are slugged an additional 20% performance fee if the fund outperforms a benchmark. That benchmark is calculated using 60% of the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index and 40% of the Bloomberg AusBond Bank Bill Index. That means that WAM Income Maximiser can underperform the broader Australian stock market and still collect a performance bonus from its shareholders.

Foolish takeaway

Weighing all of this up, I would prefer to invest in cheaper monthly ASX dividend stocks that don’t charge performance fees like WAM Income Maximiser. Two of my favourite monthly payers are Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8) and the BetaShares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD). Both offer monthly payouts but with far lower fees. Over time, this factor alone will probably make a significant difference for investors.

The post A 3.5% ASX dividend stock paying cash every month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL and Plato Income Maximiser. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX gold stock Titan Minerals Ltd (ASX: TTM) has been on a tear since plumbing one-year lows in August.

How much of a tear?

Well, on 5 August, you could have bought shares at the closing price of 29 cents.

In afternoon trade today, Titan Mineral shares are up 1.8% trading for $1.16 each. That sees the ASX gold stock up a blistering 300% in just over five months.

Or enough to turn an $8,000 investment into $32,000.

Atop from enjoying a surging gold price (gold is currently trading for US$4,824 per ounce), Titan Minerals has also impressed investors with strong results from its ongoing exploratory drilling campaign at its Dynasty Gold Project, located in Ecuador.

And it’s with these results in mind that the team at Euroz Hartleys believe Titan Minerals shares can keep leaping higher in 2026.

ASX gold stock expanding its footprint

Titan Minerals shares closed up 15.4% on 14 January after the ASX gold stock reported on “exceptional wide, high-grade results” from infill drilling at the Cerro Verde prospect, situated within Dynasty.

“Our infill drilling has highlighted the quality and remarkable predictability of the Dynasty gold orebody, with latest results set to support resource classification upgrades and a robust MRE update suitable for feasibility studies,” Titan Minerals CEO Melanie Leighton said on the day.

Having pored over those results, Euroz Hartleys analyst Mike Milligan said:

Latest resource infill and extensional drilling results from Titan’s 100%-owned Dynasty Gold Project continues to support an upgrade in resource classifications and growth ahead of the late Q1CY26 resource update… Recent drilling from the Brecha-Comanche target, Cerro Verde has delivered wide, high-grade vein-hosted mineralisation with significant results.

And Euroz Hartleys expects the ASX gold stock is poised to deliver a significant resource upgrade this year.

Milligan said:

Dynasty has a current resource of 43.5Mt @ 2.2g/t Au & 15.7g/t Ag for 3.1Moz gold and 22Moz silver, of which Cerro Verde contains over 60% or 1.9Moz gold & 12Moz silver, which is clearly set to increase.

We continue to see potential for gold equivalent resource growth towards 4Moz AuEq [gold equivalent], which could be significantly higher if the bulk tonnage porphyry mineralisation extends as anticipated.

Titan Minerals shares could also get further support amid merger and acquisition interest.

Milligan noted:

While key de-risking milestones such as feasibility studies remain ahead, TTM has confirmed a substantial resource base and is attracting strong M&A interest, reinforcing its value proposition.

Connecting the dots, Euroz Hartleys maintained its speculative buy rating on Titan Minerals with an increased price target of $1.70 a share.

That represents a potential upside of 46.6% from current levels.

The post Up 300% since August, why this surging ASX gold stock could keep racing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 of the hottest ASX metals and mining shares right now
• Titan Minerals shares leaping 14% on Wednesday on ‘spectacular’ gold results

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

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares are trading in the red again in Wednesday lunchtime trade. At the time of writing, the shares are 2.75% lower at $4.24 a piece.

Since peaking at an all-time high of $5.20 per share on Monday morning this week, 4DMedical shares have crashed 20%.

For the year to date, the shares are now down 6.61%. But thanks to an enormous 1,470.37% gain over the past 6 months, the shares are still 643.86% higher than this time last year.

In the grand scheme of things, when discussing a 600%+ annual gain, a 20% decline this week doesn’t look like much. But it does make you question, is the price rally for one of 2025’s fastest-growing stocks on the planet finally over? 

What has driven the 4DMedical share price higher over the past year?

The healthcare technology company is focused on advanced respiratory imaging. 

Its flagship product, CT:VQ, uses software to convert standard CT scans into detailed functional lung images. The technology helps diagnose and monitor conditions such as pulmonary embolisms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory illnesses.

4DMedical rocketed to success in August last year following some successful partnerships and new commercial contracts. A run of positive financial results, increased adoption of the technology, and achieved milestones throughout sent the share price flying. 

One of the biggest catalysts for the share price this year has been accelerating adoption in the United States. In early January, the company announced that UC San Diego Health had begun clinical adoption of its flagship CT:VQ product. There has already been uptake by major institutions, such as Stanford University, the Cleveland Clinic, and the University of Miami.

Why has the stock plunged over the past two days?

There has been no price-sensitive news out of the company this week to explain the price drop. Given that 4DMedical’s share price has increased so strongly over the past 6 months, it’s likely that the latest decline is investors taking their gains off the table.

The question is, does this present a great opportunity for investors to get into the stock? Or will more follow suit and send the share price south?

Time to panic or a buying opportunity?

In 2026, 4DMedical plans to focus on accelerating the rollout of its CT:VQ imaging product. This will be through strategic partnerships and new contracts. The company hopes that 2026 will be a transformative year driven by increased product adoption and long-term commercial growth.

The problem is, 4DMedical is still in its infancy, and it isn’t profitable yet. The business is mostly forecast to break even in 2026, so it has its work cut out to reach the level of growth needed to keep its shares on the same trajectory.

TradingView data shows analysts have a consensus buy rating on the stock, but target prices are significantly below the current trading price and most likely out of date, given how fast the stock has climbed over the past couple of months.

My gut is that there will be more to come from 4DMedical shares this year. But I expect volatility ahead as we enter the next growth phase.

The post 4DMedical shares crash 20% this week: Should investors cut their losses on the once-booming stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 700% in 12 months! Why this ASX tech stock just raised $150m
• Why are 4DMedical shares in a trading halt today?

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

Shares in Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) are back in focus after the company released an operational update that appears to be lifting investor confidence.

The Vulcan share price is up 5.29% today to $4.38, adding to gains of around 10% over the past month. The move follows successful production test results from the company’s first new Lionheart well in Germany.

A key production milestone achieved

According to the release, Vulcan reported successful production flow test results from its LSC-1b sidetrack well. The well forms part of Phase One of the Lionheart Project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley.

The production test equipment was run at full capacity, confirming the well can deliver strong flow rates. Vulcan said the results support a potential production rate of 105 to 125 litres per second, in line with assumptions in its field development plan.

Earlier drilling results were encouraging, but a previous completion issue meant production performance could not be confirmed at the time. That issue has now been resolved, allowing Vulcan to successfully test the well’s production and flow rates.

Why Lionheart is so important

Phase One of the Lionheart Project is central to Vulcan’s strategy of producing carbon-neutral lithium for European electric vehicle batteries.

Once operational, the project is expected to produce around 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year, enough for roughly 500,000 electric vehicle batteries annually. It also includes the co-production of renewable energy, with around 275 GWh of power and 550 GWh of heat per year.

The company has already secured project financing, and construction for Phase One is now underway. First commercial lithium production is targeted for 2028, with Vulcan aiming to position itself as a strategic supplier to Europe’s battery and EV supply chain.

Execution on the ground

The update also pointed to strong drilling performance. The well was completed safely, ahead of schedule, and without any lost-time incidents.

Management said key measures such as reservoir quality, lithium grade, temperature, and pressure are meeting or beating expectations. That should make the next stages of the project easier to execute as Vulcan moves from drilling into the build phase.

What investors are weighing up next

Even after the recent rise, Vulcan shares are still well below their 2024 highs. That shows many investors remain cautious about execution, timelines, and funding.

This latest update helps ease one of the biggest concerns. It shows the Lionheart wells can deliver flow rates that look commercially viable.

If Vulcan keeps meeting key milestones through 2026 and 2027, today’s share price could look much more attractive in hindsight.

The post Up 10% in a month. Is this ASX lithium stock finally back on track? 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.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares are sinking today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) diagnostic and therapeutic product developer closed yesterday trading for $11.49. During the Wednesday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $10.83 each, down 5.7%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% at this same time.

Unfortunately for stockholders, today’s underperformance is par for the course this past year, with Telix shares down 59% over 12 months.

Telix has faced headwinds on several fronts over the past months, including regulatory filing issues with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Shares closed down 18.8% on 28 August when the company announced that the FDA had identified deficiencies relating to the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) package for Telix’s renal cell carcinoma imaging agent, TLX250-CDx (Zircaix).

Should you buy the big dip on Telix shares?

Looking ahead, the team at RBC Capital expect a much stronger year from the ASX 200 healthcare stock (courtesy of The Bull).

The broker recently upgraded Telix shares to an outperform rating. Noting the outsized share price retrace over the past year, RBC Capital said the current valuation represents a “compelling risk/reward profile” for longer-term investors.

RBC Capital has a $17 price target on the stock. That represents a potential upside of 57% from current levels.

What’s happening with the ASX 200 healthcare stock today?

Telix released its December quarter update (Q4 2025) after market close yesterday.

Telix shares are under pressure today despite the company reporting that it had met its full calendar year 2025 revenue guidance, reporting revenue of US$804 million (AU$1.2 billion).

However, this did come in on the lower end of the company’s guidance of US$800 million to US$820 million, which was upgraded in October from US$770 million to US$800 million.

Fourth quarter revenue of US$208 million was up 46% year on year.

Commenting on the results that have yet to boost Telix shares today, managing director Christian Behrenbruch said, “Telix’s precision medicine business delivered excellent sequential growth in Q4 2025, driven in part by the successful US launch of Gozellix.”

The company’s precision medicine division achieved Q4 revenue of US$161 million, up 4% from Q3.

Behrenbruch noted:

This revenue growth outpaced a 3% increase in dose volumes, demonstrating the positive impact of our two-product strategy on market share and pricing. With strong early uptake of Gozellix and a robust pipeline of key accounts integrating Gozellix and ARTMS technology, Telix is well positioned for sustained growth in 2026.

The post Top broker tips 57% upside for beaten-down Telix shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

If you have an appetite for investing in minerals explorers that are in the development phase, according to the team at Bell Potter, it might be worth casting an eye over Sky Metals Ltd (ASX: SKY).

Earlier this week, the company reported, in its words, “exceptional high-grade tin and silver intercepts” in the first batch of new drill results from its Tallebung project in New South Wales.

These included intercepts of 3m at 604 grams per tonne of silver, 0.68% tin from a depth of 24m, 8m at 59.4 grams per tonne of silver, and 0.26% tin from a depth of 49m, among many more.

The company said the drilling “continues to demonstrate that the deposit remains open in all directions, with further assay results expected in the coming weeks”.

Lots of work underway

Sky Managing Director Oliver Davies said the results were encouraging.

With tin and silver prices reaching record highs, this is an outstanding time to be reporting such impressive early results from our ongoing multi‑rig drilling program at Tallebung. Tin has surged above US$53,000/t on the London Metals Exchange – more than four times the copper price – highlighting the exceptional value of high‑grade tin discoveries such as this. The high-grade intercepts from the southern and central parts of the deposit reinforce Tallebung’s status as a premier near‑term development opportunity, particularly against the backdrop of rising tin, silver and tungsten prices. We look forward to receiving further assay results in the coming weeks as drilling continues with multiple rigs, and to advancing the project rapidly toward potential tin‑silver‑tungsten production.

The company also said it expected to publish an updated mineral resources estimate in the first half of the year.

Analysts like what they see

Bell Potter said in its research note published this week that they also expected the company to publish a development study for the project, which would “provide a preliminary economic outlook for a potential low-cost, open pit mining operation that could generate three high-value products; tin concentrate, tungsten concentrate, and silver”.

The Bell Potter team added:

Tallebung is emerging as a strategic source of near-term tin, silver and tungsten supply in a stable jurisdiction. SKY is rapidly de-risking the project into development amidst a backdrop of rising tin, silver and tungsten prices. We expect news flow over the coming months to include drill results (ongoing); updated mineral resource estimate (current half); mine development study (current half); flowsheet optimisation (ongoing); and permitting activities (ongoing).

Bell Potter has upgraded its price target on the shares from 12 cents to 21 cents, with a speculative rating on the shares.

The Sky Metals share price was 15 cents on Wednesday morning, and is well above 12-month lows of 3.2 cents.

Sky Metals was valued at $127.8 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post Up 300% over a year, this minerals explorer still has further to go, one broker says appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 reasons to buy CBA shares in 2026 and one reason not to
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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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have started 2026 on a softer note.

Since the beginning of the year, the CBA share price has pulled back by around 8% to $147.80. That move has reopened a familiar debate for investors. Is this a buying opportunity in one of the ASX’s highest-quality blue chips, or simply a reminder that even great businesses can be fully valued?

As we head through 2026, I think there are three clear reasons why CBA shares could still appeal to long-term investors. But there is also one important reason why some investors may choose not to add more.

Earnings resilience through the cycle

CBA’s greatest strength remains the stability of its earnings.

The bank holds a dominant position in Australian home lending and transaction banking, supported by a vast customer base and strong brand recognition. That scale allows CBA to generate consistent profits even when economic conditions become more challenging.

While margins and credit growth can fluctuate, CBA has historically delivered strong returns on equity relative to its peers. Loan quality remains sound by historical standards, and the bank has tended to take a conservative approach to provisioning.

For investors seeking exposure to the Australian economy with a relatively defensive earnings profile, CBA continues to stand out within the banking sector.

Reliable dividends backed by a strong balance sheet

Dividends remain a central part of the CBA investment case.

Consensus estimates suggest the bank could pay dividends of around $4.80 per share in FY26. At current prices, that equates to a fully-franked dividend yield of roughly 3.2%, before franking credits.

That yield is not the highest on the ASX, but it is supported by recurring earnings, a robust capital position, and a business model that prioritises sustainability over aggressive growth. CBA’s ability to continue paying dividends through different economic environments has been a key reason for its long-term appeal.

For income-focused investors who value reliability over headline yield, CBA remains a compelling option.

Quality and scale still matter in uncertain markets

CBA is rarely the best-performing stock during speculative rallies.

However, when conditions become less certain, quality and scale often reassert themselves. CBA’s ongoing investment in technology, digital banking, and operational efficiency has strengthened its competitive position over time.

Those investments have helped improve customer engagement, reduce costs, and support long-term profitability. While I do not expect CBA shares to deliver outsized short-term gains, I think they remain well-positioned to compound steadily over time.

For many portfolios, that dependability plays an important role.

One reason not to buy CBA shares

Despite these positives, there is a sensible reason why some investors may choose not to add CBA shares in 2026.

Australian portfolios are often already heavily exposed to the banking sector, either through direct holdings or via broad market ETFs. Adding more CBA shares on top of existing bank exposure can increase concentration risk and reduce diversification.

Even though CBA is the highest-quality bank in my view, it is still exposed to the same macro drivers as the rest of the sector, including interest rates, housing activity, and regulatory settings. Investors who already have sufficient exposure to banks may be better served by allocating new capital to other sectors or international assets instead.

In that context, choosing not to buy more CBA shares can be a disciplined diversification decision rather than a negative view on the business itself.

Foolish Takeaway

The recent pullback in CBA shares has made the stock more interesting to revisit in 2026.

Earnings resilience, reliable dividends, and business quality remain strong reasons to consider Commonwealth Bank for long-term portfolios. However, investors should also be mindful of how much exposure they already have to the banking sector.

For some, CBA may be a high-quality addition. For others, it may already be doing enough heavy lifting within a well-diversified portfolio.

The post 3 reasons to buy CBA shares in 2026 and one reason not to appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX: SVM) shares are soaring on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX rare earths stock is up 27% to 76 cents.

Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing?

Investors have been bidding the rare earths explorer’s shares higher after it announced a major breakthrough at its flagship Kasiya Project in Malawi.

According to the release, Sovereign Metals has recovered strategic heavy rare earth elements from material that was previously considered waste, potentially opening up a valuable new revenue stream at very little extra cost.

Sovereign revealed that it has recovered a monazite concentrate rich in heavy rare earths from the tailings produced during rutile processing at Kasiya. Essentially, this means the company has found valuable rare earths in leftover material that would normally be discarded.

Early testing showed the monazite contains exceptionally high levels of dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium. These are heavy rare earth elements that are critical for advanced technologies such as electric vehicles, defence systems, jet engines, and high-performance magnets.

The release reveals that the concentration of these heavy rare earths at Kasiya is much higher than at the world’s largest rare earth mines, which are mostly dominated by lower-value light rare earth elements.

Why is this important?

Heavy rare earths are rare, expensive, and strategically important. Dysprosium and terbium are essential for high-temperature magnets used in defence and clean energy technologies, while yttrium is critical for aerospace and semiconductor applications.

Adding to their appeal, China has recently restricted exports of these elements, which has increased global concern around supply security. As a result, ASX rare earths stocks with exposure to heavy rare earths have become increasingly attractive to investors.

Commenting on the news, the company’s CEO, Frank Eagar, said:

This is an exceptional development that has the potential to fundamentally enhance Kasiya’s strategic significance. With simple processing, our upgraded laboratory has recovered a valuable monazite concentrate product from the rutile tailings stream, with heavy rare earth content that the world’s major producers simply cannot match. These are precisely the elements that matter most to nations seeking to protect and grow their critical mineral supply chains.

Dysprosium and terbium enable permanent magnets to function in advanced technologies, including robotics, fighter jets, guided missiles, and naval propulsion systems. Yttrium protects jet engines and hypersonic vehicles from extreme temperatures. China imposed export controls on all three in April 2025, and Western supply chains are now acutely exposed. What makes this value addition particularly significant is that this product was recovered from our rutile processing tailings stream.

The post This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 27% on big news 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

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record another decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.4% to 8,777.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M)

The 29Metals share price is down 31% to 42.7 cents. The catalyst for this has been the copper miner undertaking an equity raising. 29Metals revealed that it has raised $119 million from institutional investors at an offer price of 40 cents per new share. This represents a 35.5% discount to its last closing price of 62 cents. 29Metals’ CEO, James Palmer, commented: “This equity raising is expected to allow us to maintain our commitments to our strategic growth objectives to accelerate value realisation across the portfolio. Specifically, the ongoing investment in Gossan Valley, progression of a Restart Definitive Feasibility Study at Capricorn Copper and drilling to test priority exploration targets across the portfolio.”

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

The Navigator Global Investments share price is down 3.5% to $3.10. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Morgans. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the investment company’s shares to an accumulate rating (from buy) but with an improved price target of $3.71.

Praemium Ltd (ASX: PPS)

The Praemium share price is down 6.5% to 78.5 cents. This morning, this investment platform provider released its second quarter update. Praemium revealed a 14% increase in funds under administration to $70.5 billion. This may have been softer than the market was expecting. The company’s CEO, Anthony Wamsteker, was pleased with the quarter. He said: “The December quarter continued to see strong inflows into Spectrum. We are pleased that the demand we’re seeing reflects the strength of our offering and the opportunity to grow our market share in the HNW segment. Since launch we have achieved $1.4 billion in new business gross inflows.”

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is down 4.5% to $99.43. This has been driven by broad weakness in the tech sector on Wednesday following a poor night of trade on Wall Street’s Nasdaq index. It isn’t just Xero that is falling today. Almost all tech stocks are being sold down. This has led to the S&P/ASX All Technology Index dropping 2.75% at the time of writing.

The post Why 29Metals, Navigator Global, Praemium, and Xero shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Medical device company Anteris Technologies Global Corp (ASX: AVR) has requested a pause in trading of its shares on the ASX today while it undertakes a major capital raising.

Trading will remain halted until the earlier of the company releasing an announcement to the market or the resumption of normal trading on Friday.

So, what’s going on?

A large capital raising

The company is seeking to raise US$200 million through an underwritten public offering of common stock. On top of that, underwriters have the option to place an additional US$30 million in shares if demand is strong.

It’s a huge capital raise, but investors will be particularly interested in the proposed investment by US medical device giant Medtronic (NYSE: MDT).

Medtronic steps in as a strategic investor

Alongside the public offering, Anteris has also agreed to a strategic private placement with Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical device companies.

Under the agreement, Medtronic is expected to invest up to US$90 million, which would ultimately allow Medtronic to own between 16% and 19.99% of Anteris following the capital raising (depending on final pricing and allocations).

Given Medtronic’s scale and pedigree, investors will no doubt be interested in seeing how the two businesses can partner and ultimately grow the value of Anteris.

What will the money be used for?

According to Anteris, the funds raised will be used to support the next stage of growth of its structural heart business.

Key priorities include:

• advancing the DurAVR® Transcatheter Heart Valve global pivotal trial
• expanding manufacturing capabilities
• funding ongoing research and development, alongside general working capital

In short, the capital raise is designed to strengthen Anteris’ balance sheet and fund its clinical and commercial ambitions.

When will trading resume?

The company has indicated that trading will resume once it issues an announcement detailing the outcome and pricing of the capital raising, or at the latest when the market reopens on Friday.

Until then, the trading halt ensures that the process can be completed without prejudices to investors who might have otherwise traded shares on incomplete information.

Anteris shares have had a tough time over the past 12 months, with the share price down 21% over that period.

The post Here’s why Anteris shares are in a trading halt today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended Medtronic. 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.