On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had another poor session and tumbled into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.35% to 8,782.9 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rebound

The Australian share market looks set to rebound on Thursday following a strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 24 points or 0.27% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 1.6%, the S&P 500 is up 1.5%, and the Nasdaq is pushing 1.6% higher.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Thursday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.4% to US$60.61 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.5% to US$65.22 a barrel. This was driven news of a force majeure at the Tengiz oilfield.

Buy DroneShield shares

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares could be heading higher according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the counter-drone technology company’s shares with an improved price target of $5.00. It said: “We believe the key catalyst for DRO in CY26 is the potential awards stemming from the US Public Safety market, notably from the US$250m funds allocated to states hosting the FIFA World Cup and the America 250 events for C-UAS protection. We would be disappointed if DRO did not receive material awards from these events.”

Gold price rises again

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price continued its rise overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.1% to US$4,818.5 an ounce. Strong safe haven demand has given the precious metal a lift.

BHP given hold rating

The team at Morgans thinks that BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are fairly value right now. In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its hold rating with an improved price target of $47.90. It said: “We have applied upgraded metal price forecasts, driving the upgrade in our target price but not transforming the value proposition, with BHP still appearing fair value. In our sector investment strategy we view BHP as a core holding on earnings and portfolio quality grounds as well as dividend profile, we maintain our Hold rating.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX shares to buy for growth and dividends
• When do you sell an ASX 200 share that’s tripled in value?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: Northern Star, Pro Medicus, and Web Travel shares
• Why 4DMedical and these ASX shares are up 200%+ in just a year

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

These 2 ASX shares both have lost some serious ground over 6 months. The share price of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) respectively tumbled 22% and 18%.

Here are two very different ASX shares that tick both the potential growth and income boxes — one cyclical, one defensive. Let’s check them out.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Let’s start with the larger ASX 200 share, Santos – market capitalisation $20 billion – has had a bumpy run. But beneath the volatility sits a business entering a crucial growth phase.

The oil and gas producer has spent years pouring capital into major projects, and those investments are now close to paying off. The ASX 200 share’s biggest strength is scale and asset quality.

Santos controls long-life LNG and gas assets across Australia and Papua New Guinea, with new developments such as Barossa and Pikka set to materially lift production over the next few years.

As these projects move from build to cash-generation mode, free cash flow is expected to improve sharply. That opens the door to both higher shareholder returns and balance-sheet repair.

The flip side is commodity exposure. Santos’ earnings and share price remain tightly linked to oil and gas prices, which can turn quickly. Project execution risk also lingers, especially given regulatory scrutiny and cost pressures across the energy sector.

On dividends, Santos operates a flexible, cash-flow-linked policy. Management has committed to returning a large portion of free cash flow to shareholders as conditions allow, rather than locking in a fixed payout.

That approach can lead to uneven dividends year to year, but at current prices the yield of 5.96% remains attractive. If energy prices hold and new projects deliver as planned, there’s scope for both rising dividends and a share price recovery.

Brokers are backing Santos’ income and growth outlook. Most analysts rate the ASX energy share a buy, with an average 12-month price target of $7.33. That is 21% upside from the current $6.06 share price.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

Sonic Healthcare offers a very different proposition: steady earnings, defensive characteristics, and dependable dividends. The ASX diagnostics share operates pathology and imaging businesses across Australia, Europe, the US and the UK, giving it geographic and revenue diversification few ASX healthcare peers can match.

Its core strength is resilience. Demand for medical testing doesn’t disappear in economic downturns, and long-term drivers such as ageing populations and preventative healthcare support steady volume growth. Sonic has also grown through disciplined acquisitions, adding scale while protecting margins.

However, this is not a fast-growth stock. Cost inflation, labour shortages and periodic integration issues can weigh on earnings momentum. The market also tends to lose patience when growth slows, which can cap near-term share price performance.

Sonic’s dividend policy is shareholder-friendly and predictable. It pays dividends twice a year and has a long track record of maintaining or gradually increasing payouts. The dividend yield is solid for a healthcare stock, 5.05% at current levels. It’s supported by recurring cash flows rather than one-off windfalls.

For investors, the ASX 200 share offers modest growth potential alongside income stability.  Bell Potter has initiated coverage with a buy rating and a $33.30 price target, implying 30% upside from the current $23.33 share price.

This is more bullish than the market consensus target of $26.04, almost 12% upside. Including a forecast 5% dividend yield, total returns could be well over 15%.

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

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Down 22% with 6% yield: Are Santos shares a serious buy?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Is the Santos share price too cheap to ignore?

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

Vanguard will pay dividends to investors in the Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS) today.

The official dividend amount is 95.08 US cents per unit.

Vanguard did the currency conversion last Friday, and the AUD payment today will be $1.4155 per unit.

What is the VTS ETF?

The Vanguard US Total Market Shares Index ETF provides exposure to the full US stock market, or about 3,500 companies.

VTS seeks to mirror the performance of the CRSP US Total Market Index (NASDAQ: CRSPTM1) before fees.

An investment in the VTS ETF includes some of the world’s biggest companies.

They include the Mag 7 stocks — Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ: GOOG), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA).

There’s also two new favourites among Aussie investors, AI and defence software company Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ: PLTR) and semiconductor stock Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ: AMD).

There’s also Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class A (NYSE: BRK.A) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (NYSE: BRK.B).

How did VTS perform in 2025?

US stocks outperformed ASX 200 shares for a third consecutive year in 2025.

At the time of writing, the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) has not yet released total return data for the CRSPTM1 index.

However, we can use other US stock indices to get an idea of how the total US market, which is what VTS captures, performed.

The US benchmark index, the S&P 500 Index (SP: INX), soared 16.39% and delivered total returns of 17.88%.

The Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, rising 20.36% with total returns of 21.33%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI), which tracks 30 S&P 500 stocks, rose 12.97% and gave a total return of 14.92%.

By comparison, S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose 6.8% and produced total returns of 10.32%.

So, there was a clear outperformance of US stocks vs. ASX shares.

However, those stronger returns did not translate directly to VTS holders because the stronger AUD against the USD diluted them.

After conversion into AUD, the VTS returned 8.79% to Aussie investors last year, or 8.76% after the 0.03% management fee.

That’s less than the ASX 200’s total return of 10.32%.

This highlights the role of the currency exchange in ASX ETF returns.

For the past few years, the currency exchange magnified the returns for VTS investors, but things have now changed.

In 2025, the Aussie dollar rose from about 62 US cents in January to about 67 US cents by December.

Investors may wish to consider hedged ETF options if they believe the AUD is likely to remain stronger than the USD for a prolonged period.

Vanguard does not offer a hedged version of the VTS ETF.

The post Own VTS ETF? It’s a great day for you! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX ETFs with big gains and low fees
• 3 unstoppable Vanguard ETFs to buy even if there’s a stock market sell-off in 2026

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 Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Reaching the big 4-0 is a milestone for several reasons. It’s often when individuals reflect on the achievements they’ve made in their lives so far, and also when they set goals for the future.

Essentially, it’s the milestone between childhood and retirement. And when you think about retirement, you think about superannuation.

Reaching retirement age might sound exciting, but what if you don’t have enough money in your superannuation to fund your lifestyle when the time finally comes? 

Here’s a rundown of exactly what you need at the age of 40, and how to catch up if you’re already behind.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 40?

There isn’t an exact figure for age 40, but according to Rest Super, the average superannuation balance for Australians aged 40-44 is $140,680 for men and $109,209 for women. 

Although at the age of 40, it would be safe to assume that something between the figure of the average for the bracket below (35-39) and the figure for 40-44 year olds would be acceptable. For men aged 35-39 the average super balance is $96,112, and for women it’s $76,020.

How does yours compare?

What do you need for a comfortable retirement?

According to the latest ASFA Retirement Standard, the benchmark for a comfortable retirement, is just over $54,000 per year for a single person and $76,000 per year for a couple.

To support that level of spending, ASFA estimates you’ll need a super balance of roughly $595,000 as a single and $690,000 as a couple by the age of 67.

The figures also assume that you own your own home outright and assume you’re receiving the age pension.

For a modest retirement, you’ll need around $100,000 more. But if you don’t own your own property and will be renting privately in retirement, for that same modest lifestyle you’ll need a much higher superannuation balance.

For a renter with a modest lifestyle, which translates to $49,676 a year for singles and $67,125 a year for couples, their superannuation balance should be $340,000 to $385,000 by age 67.

However, unfortunately, the gap between the average Australian superannuation balance, and what is needed to fund retirement, is significant.

How to catch up if your superannuation is behind

The good news is, there are things Australians can do to boost your superannuation balance before it’s too late.

You can make extra concessional or non-concessional contributions, whether this is salary sacrificing or after-tax (within your annual limits). 

You can take advantage of any government initiatives to match contributions and propel your balance just that little further.

It’s important to make sure your super fund is performing well. Even slightly underperforming a benchmark such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over a long period of time can greatly impact the end balance.

And of course, review your investment strategy to ensure it actually aligns with your retirement goals and risk appetite.

The post Here’s the average Australian superannuation balance at 40. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Westgold Resources doubles cash build and sets new production record in Q2 FY26
• Beach Energy shares: quarterly revenue drops, Waitsia ramps up
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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.

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.

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• 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
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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.

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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.