BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) shares have pushed to a new peak, capping off a strong run that has firmly put the industrial heavyweight back in the market spotlight.

BlueScope shares raced to a new record level of $31.63 on Monday, bringing the gain for this year to almost 30%.

Long regarded as a steady, cyclical performer, BlueScope shares are now enjoying renewed investor attention – and not without reason.

What’s next for BlueScope shares?

Takeover bid as catalyst

The immediate catalyst behind the rally has been takeover interest. A non-binding indicative proposal from a consortium led by SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and Steel Dynamics, Inc (NASDAQ: STLD), put a clear valuation marker on BlueScope shares. It reignited interest in a stock that had already been performing well.

The offer represented a material premium to where BlueScope shares had been trading, prompting a swift re-rating as investors priced in deal potential. The takeover proposal offered to acquire all BlueScope shares at a price of $30 cash per share.

The BlueScope board unanimously rejected the unsolicited takeover proposal from the consortium.

Stronger resilient operations

The rise of BlueScope shares hasn’t been purely takeover-driven. BlueScope enters this period from a position of strength. Australian construction activity has strengthened, boosting demand for BlueScope’s coated and painted steel products, like Colorbond and Zincalume.

The company also has a diversified geographic footprint, with meaningful exposure to Australia, North America, and Asia. Its North American operations have delivered resilient margins, benefiting from infrastructure spending and disciplined industry capacity.

Strong cash generation has allowed BlueScope to reward shareholders through dividends and capital management, reinforcing its appeal to income-focused investors.

Operationally, BlueScope has also shown an ability to manage through steel’s inevitable cycles. Cost control, product mix improvements, and a focus on higher-value coated and painted steel products have helped smooth earnings volatility compared to past cycles.

Steep energy and raw-material prices

That said, risks remain. BlueScope remains exposed to the global steel cycle. The company still faces steep energy and raw-material costs at home. The board of BlueScope flagged this as a threat to the competitiveness of Australian manufacturing.

Its recent full-year profit collapse — down nearly 90% following an impairment on its US coated-products division — highlighted weaknesses in parts of its global portfolio. The company also continues to grapple with lower returns on equity compared with industry rivals, raising questions about capital efficiency.

What next for BlueScope shares?

Looking ahead, the path for BlueScope shares hinges on two key factors. First, whether it will receive any other takeover proposals, potentially lifting the share price further or at least underpinning current levels.

Second, whether operating conditions remain supportive enough to justify BlueScope’s higher valuation even without corporate action.

Analysts are generally upbeat, with most market watchers recommending BlueScope Steel shares as a buy or even a strong buy.

Several major brokers see further room for gains, with average 12-month price targets at $31.58 and some high-end estimates of $37. This implies a 19% upside at the current share price of $31.09.

The post So BlueScope shares go to all-time high of $31. Big deal. What next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why BHP, BlueScope, Catalyst Metals, and Ryman shares are storming higher today
• 5 ASX 200 mining stocks including Mineral Resources and BHP shares smashing new 52-week highs today
• BlueScope share price pushes higher amid $438m special dividend
• BlueScope returns $438m to shareholders with special dividend

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 recommended Steel Dynamics. 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.

Gold has been one of the standout assets on global money markets over the past 12 months, no doubt about it. For one, as investors rushed to buy gold, the precious metal spent 2025 minting plenty of new all-time highs (which is quite a remarkable achievement for an asset that has been priced for thousands of years).

This has continued into 2026, with gold now getting pretty close to US$4,700 an ounce. That same ounce was going for just over US$2,700 12 months ago, meaning gold has risen by more than 70% since early 2025. As such, we can see how lucrative investing in the yellow metal has been for investors lately.

The underlying fundamentals that have likely pushed gold up so high arguably remain in place. Major economies around the world, most particularly the United States and Japan, are still heavily indebted, with no signs of a turnaround. Geopolitical tensions remain elevated. And central banks continue to purchase gold at historically high rates.

With these factors in play, many Australian investors might wish to buy gold (or more of it) in 2026. If that’s you, here are three ways you can do so.

How to buy gold in 2026

Bullion remains the gold standard

For many precious metal investors, there is no alternative to buying raw gold bullion, in either bar or coin form. This is the only way an individual can truly own gold. Whilst owning the yellow metal outright has a certain appeal, it is also costly. You will be paying a decent spread on bullion purchases from a dealer. Additionally, the costs of transporting, insuring and storing gold can be burdensome.

This is why many investors prefer easier options.

Buy gold ETFs

One of those options is buying a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF). Gold ETFs work by pooling investors’ money together and purchasing gold bullion on their behalf. This bullion is usually stored in a bank vault, with each unit of the ETF representing a specific amount of gold. The price of the gold ETF should rise and fall alongside the price of gold over time. Some ASX examples of gold ETFs include Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD), the Global X Physical Gold Structured ETF (ASX: GOLD) and the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG).

Many investors like this approach to buying gold as it removes many of the costs and inconveniences of owning the physical metal. The downside is that you don’t actually possess the gold you are buying, and have an indirect ownership stake in the metal.

Mining stocks

Finally, ASX investors can consider buying gold mining companies. There are many gold miners on the ASX. Some of the largest names are Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

These miners own vast tracts of gold and extract and sell the metal for a profit. Gold miners often outperform the gold price in a bull market, as they disproportionately benefit from increasing prices, thanks to their relatively fixed costs. That’s why owning gold miners is the preferred choice for a gold investment for many professionals.

There are outsized risks involved with this approach, too, though. For one, buying shares of a gold miner is not a direct investment on gold itself. A miner’s fortunes can be influenced by factors outside the process of gold itself. That could be anything from bad weather to incompetent corporate management.

For another, again, you do not own gold directly if you buy shares of a gold miner. This may make owning shares of one unappealing for the enthusiastic gold bug.

The post Want to buy gold in 2026? Here are 3 ways to do it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 gold shares to buy and 1 to sell: experts
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Gold, silver hit new highs as US punishes Europe with tariffs over Greenland stance
• Resolute Mining shares have surged 217% in a year. Can the momentum last?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Newmont. 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 Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) are trading lower today. This comes despite the medical device company delivering a solid half-year trading update just one day earlier.

On Monday, the Polynovo share price finished almost flat, down just 0.41%, as investors digested the announcement. However, selling pressure has returned on Tuesday, with the stock now down 7.5% to $1.11.

That leaves Polynovo shares down almost 50% over the past 12 months. It marks a sharp reversal for a company that was once one of the ASX’s standout growth stories in the healthcare sector.

So, what did the company report, and why has the update failed to lift the share price?

What did Polynovo report?

Polynovo said it delivered another strong half-year, with sales continuing to grow.

Total sales for the six months reached $68.2 million, up 26% on the same period last year. Growth was broad-based, led by the United States, where sales rose 25.3% to $51.7 million.

The company’s main product, NovoSorb MTX, also performed strongly. Sales jumped to $6.2 million, up 195% from a year earlier, as more hospitals used it to treat burns and complex wounds. Sales outside the US rose 28.3%.

Including government BARDA revenue, total group revenue increased 17.6% to $70.4 million.

Cash flow improved, with Polynovo generating $9.5 million in operating cash, compared with a $12.5 million outflow a year earlier. The company ended December with $29.3 million in cash and access to additional funding if needed.

So why is the share price falling?

Despite the solid numbers, the update was largely in line with what the market expected.

After a tough year for the share price, investors are looking for clearer signs that growth can pick up, especially in the United States, which is Polynovo’s most important market.

Some investors are also cautious about timing. The company is still working through key approval and reimbursement steps in the US, including progress with Medicare.

Until there is more certainty around these milestones, some investors are choosing to stay on the sidelines.

What it means for investors from here

Polynovo’s share price has been falling for much of the past year, well before this update was released. From that perspective, Tuesday’s drop looks more like a continuation of weak sentiment than a direct response to the results.

That said, the business is still growing, generating cash, and expanding its products into new markets.

For long-term investors, the key issue is whether that growth can turn into steady profits and restore confidence in the stock. Until then, share price swings are likely to continue.

The post Polynovo shares fall despite yesterday’s upbeat update. Here’s what investors are watching appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

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 positions in and has recommended PolyNovo. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended PolyNovo. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 gold shares have delivered exceptional returns for investors due to the soaring gold price over the past two years.

The gold price increased another 65% in 2025, its greatest annual rise in more than four decades, building on its 27% gain in 2024.

Strong central bank purchasing, lower interest rates, and less confidence in the US dollar as the reserve currency fuelled the rally.

A Goldman Sachs poll conducted in November found that one in three institutional investors expect gold to rise above US$5,000 per ounce this year.

Today, the gold price is US$4,665 per ounce, up 1.5% at the time of writing.

Gold reached a new closing record of US$4,678.29 per ounce yesterday after the US imposed tariffs on eight European countries.

The US did so to punish these nations’ opposition to America’s ambition to buy Greenland from Denmark for security purposes.

Warwick Grigor, an analyst at mining investment company Far East Capital, says gold has continuing tailwinds in 2026.

In an article, Grigor commented:

There is not much doubt that the gold price will continue to rise during 2026. Sure, there will be volatility and some people are already saying that gold is a sell, but you would have to be very brave to exit gold just now.

While ever the gold price is strong, sentiment in the resources sector will be positive and liquidity will be likewise strong.

With all this in mind, let’s take a look at some new broker ratings on three of the largest ASX gold shares.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The Genesis Minerals share price is $7.58, up 0.13% on Tuesday.

This ASX 200 gold share has risen by 163% over the past 12 months. It is the fourth largest gold miner on the market.

Bell Potter resumed coverage on Genesis Minerals shares this month.

The broker raised its rating from hold to buy and increased its 12-month price target to from $4.45 to $8.65.

This implies a potential upside of 14% for investors this year.

Bell Potter said:

We believe GMD to be a high-quality gold producer, expanding production underpinned by a large Mineral Resource portfolio (18.6Moz), into a rising gold price environment.

Management’s disciplined approach to counter-cyclical growth has seen shareholders rewarded (12m rolling shareholder return – 194%).

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

Evolution Mining had the best capital growth of all ASX 200 large-cap shares last year.

It is the ASX 200’s second-largest gold miner.

On Tuesday, Evolution Mining shares are 0.8% lower at $13.42 apiece. They have risen 143% over the past year.

Last week, Goldman Sachs reiterated its sell rating on Evolution Mining shares.

The broker raised its share price target from $9.95 to $12.40.

This implies a potential downside of almost 8% in 2026.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM)

The Newmont Corporation share price is $170.89, down 0.44% today and up 155% over the past 12 months.

Goldman Sachs thinks the ASX 200’s third largest gold mining share is a buy.

The broker reiterated its rating last week, and lifted its 12-month price target from $154.50 to $185.10.

This suggests a potential upside of 8% in 2026.

The post 2 ASX 200 gold shares to buy and 1 to sell: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Gold, silver hit new highs as US punishes Europe with tariffs over Greenland stance
• Resolute Mining shares have surged 217% in a year. Can the momentum last?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

When investors look at the ASX, it is not unusual to see very different types of companies sitting side by side. A defence technology specialist, a major bank, and a global mining giant can all appear attractive for completely different reasons.

So should you buy DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) today?

Here is how I think about each one.

DroneShield shares

DroneShield is the most speculative stock of the three, but also the one with potentially the most asymmetric upside.

The company operates in counter-drone technology, an area that has become increasingly important for defence, government, and the protection of critical infrastructure. As drones become cheaper, more capable, and more widely used, the need to detect and neutralise unauthorised drones continues to grow.

While its revenues are harder to predict due to the lumpy nature of its contracts, underlying demand drivers are structural rather than cyclical. I believe this means that the overall trajectory for revenue is up over the next decade.

For investors who can tolerate volatility and think long term, I believe DroneShield shares are a buy. However, this is with the understanding that patience will be required.

Westpac shares

Westpac is a very different proposition for investors.

As one of Australia’s major banks, it offers scale, a strong deposit base, and a history of paying dividends. For income-focused investors, that alone can make its shares appealing.

However, Westpac’s earnings growth has been more subdued than some of its peers, and its returns have been less consistent over time. While the bank is well capitalised and stable, it does not stand out as the most attractive opportunity in the sector right now.

For that reason, I would classify Westpac as a hold rather than a buy. It can continue to play a role in a diversified portfolio, but I would not be rushing to add to a position at current levels.

BHP shares

BHP sits at the opposite end of the spectrum to Westpac.

The company is a global resources leader with exposure to iron ore, copper, and other commodities that are central to long-term economic development. While commodity prices move in cycles, BHP’s scale and asset quality allow it to generate strong cash flows through different conditions.

What makes BHP particularly attractive at the moment is its growing exposure to copper, which is increasingly important for electrification, infrastructure investment, and energy transition themes. That provides a longer-term growth angle alongside income.

On that basis, I see BHP shares as a buy for investors comfortable with commodity cycles.

Foolish takeaway

DroneShield, Westpac, and BHP each offer something different.

DroneShield provides exposure to a growing defence technology niche with higher risk and higher potential reward. BHP offers scale, income potential, and long-term relevance through its commodity exposure. Westpac, while stable, looks more like a hold than a buy at this point.

For me, DroneShield and BHP stand out as the more compelling options today, while Westpac is best approached with a more neutral stance.

The post Should you buy DroneShield, Westpac, and BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• BHP shares at 52-week high: Here’s why I’m not buying

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in DroneShield. 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.

In investing, time is your greatest advantage, and quality is your best defence.

While short-term trades can grab headlines, it is long-term compounding that builds real wealth.

The challenge? Finding ASX 200 shares you can back with confidence and hold through whatever the market throws your way.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at three ASX 200 shares that analysts rate highly and could be top options to buy and hold for the next 10 years. Here’s what they are recommending:

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear is a global leader in hearing implant technology and one of Australia’s best examples of long-term innovation.

With more than 54,000 implantable hearing devices sold worldwide in FY 2025 and almost a million since its founding, Cochlear has built a strong competitive moat through its research and development focus, clinical relationships, and high switching costs.

The ASX 200 share operates in a growing market, driven by ageing populations, rising awareness of hearing health, and emerging middle classes in developing markets. This bodes well for its future growth.

The team at UBS is positive on Cochlear. It recently put a buy rating and $350.00 price target on its shares.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

It is hard to find a more agile and forward-thinking financial institution than Macquarie Group.

The company has built a business that goes far beyond traditional banking. It is a global leader in asset management, infrastructure, energy transition financing, and structured finance, and has proven it can grow and evolve with the times.

Macquarie is also one of the few Aussie financials with truly global exposure, giving investors a powerful hedge against domestic slowdowns. Its ability to identify emerging opportunities, execute at scale, and deliver shareholder value has made it a standout performer over the past two decades.

The team at Ord Minnett appears to believe this can continue long into the future. It is positive on the investment bank and has a buy rating and $255.00 price target on its shares.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Finally, Wesfarmers may be best known for owning Bunnings, Kmart, and Officeworks, but its success comes from more than just retail dominance.

What makes Wesfarmers unique is its conglomerate model and disciplined capital allocation. Over the years, it has shown an ability to manage diverse businesses effectively, spin off or exit when the time is right, and reinvest into high-quality growth areas.

Overall, Wesfarmers combines defensive earnings from retail with exposure to emerging growth platforms like data, digital innovation, and clean energy through Covalent Lithium. This appears to have positioned it well to grow its earnings and dividends over the next decade.

Macquarie is a fan. It has an outperform rating and $91.00 price target on its shares.

The post 3 ASX shares I would hold for the next 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) is back in focus after another sharp sell-off.

The lithium producer’s shares are down 9.82% today to 25.3 cents, placing it among the biggest fallers on the ASX. The move extends recent weakness, with the stock now down almost 10% over the past month.

However, Core Lithium shares are still up more than 180% over the past year, which underlines just how volatile lithium stocks can be.

So, what is driving today’s drop?

Why Core Lithium shares are under pressure

The recent sell-off appears to be driven by a mix of technical factors and renewed weakness across the lithium sector.

After rallying strongly into late 2025, Core Lithium failed to hold above the 30-cent level. Once that support broke, selling pressure accelerated. Short term traders appear to be taking profits after the stock’s huge run over the past year.

From a technical perspective, momentum has clearly weakened. The relative strength index (RSI) has been trending lower and is now moving toward oversold territory. At the same time, the share price has slipped toward the lower end of its Bollinger Band range, which can signal selling pressure may be easing.

Key support sits around 25 cents. A break below that level could open the door to further downside, while resistance is now clustered between 29 and 31 cents.

Lithium prices have pulled back again

The broader lithium market has also lost some momentum.

Lithium carbonate prices in China have retraced from recent highs, easing back toward CNY 151,000 per tonne. While prices are still well above levels seen earlier in 2025, the pullback has reminded investors that the lithium recovery remains uneven.

Supply concerns, shifting demand expectations, and policy changes in China continue to drive sharp moves in pricing.

The bigger picture for Core Lithium

Core Lithium operates the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory, one of the few Australian hard rock lithium operations with direct access to export infrastructure via Darwin Port.

That strategic positioning has helped underpin the stock’s strong performance over the past year. However, the market remains cautious about near term earnings, costs, and lithium price volatility.

For long-term investors, the key question is whether lithium prices can stabilise at higher levels as electric vehicle demand continues to grow through 2026 and beyond.

Foolish Takeaway

Core Lithium’s sharp fall has pushed the share price back toward a level where buyers have stepped in before.

Big price swings are likely to continue, especially while lithium prices keep moving around. For long-term investors, this pullback may be worth keeping an eye on, but caution is still important in a sector this unpredictable.

The post One of the ASX’s biggest losers today. What is happening at Core Lithium? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 365% since April, should you buy the recent dip in Core Lithium shares?
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• Brokers rate 3 ASX All Ords shares that more than tripled in value in 2025
• Why Core Lithium, Paladin Energy, Pro Medicus, and Rio Tinto shares are dropping today
• 12 ASX lithium shares rip to 52-week highs

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.

News that recurring revenues have delivered a record quarter for Rent.com.au Ltd (ASX: RNT) sent the company’s shares almost 20% higher in early trade.

The company said that it had posted record quarterly revenue of more than $1 million for the first time in the three months to the end of December, up 34% on the same quarter last year.

Long-term revenue

The company said increasing recurring revenues from its RentBond and RentPay products was driving the growth, with 67% of revenues coming from recurring sources.

Rent.com.au Chief Executive Officer Jan Ferreira said it was a solid quarter.

Exceeding $1 million in quarterly revenue for the first time is an important milestone for the Group. Achieving this result in a quarter that has historically been seasonally softer is exciting because it highlights the strength of Rent.com.au’s evolving business model which prioritises customer solutions that have strong recurring revenue streams. With a well-capitalised balance sheet, the group remains on track to achieve cashflow positivity by the end of 2026.

Rent.com.au has two main products, one of which is RentBond, which is a “move now pay later” product designed to cover rental costs such as bond payments, rent in advance, and moving expenses.

The company’s other product is RentPay, which is a “digital rent payment and money management app that offers renters greater control and flexibility while streamlining workflows for agents”.

Building on growth

In a trading update in December, the company said annuity revenue from RentBond was running at more than $100,000 in a month for the first time, “demonstrating accelerating product uptake and recurring revenue growth”.

Mr Ferreira said at the time that demand for new RentBond loans “continues to be very strong, highlighting the growing value of our offering for renters”.

He went on to say:

As our annuity revenue builds, seasonality is becoming far less relevant to our performance, giving us greater confidence in our ability to scale consistently throughout the year.

The company said on Tuesday it was well-capitalised, with $7.5 million in cash and $5 million in undrawn debt at the end of December.

Shares in the company were trading at 5.1 cents by noon, up 6.3%, after earlier trading as high as 5.7 cents, up 18.8%.

The shares have almost quadrupled over the past year from lows of 1.5 cents.

The company last year posted a net loss of $3.69 million on revenue of $3.34 million.

The company was worth $55.7 million at the close of trade on Monday.

The post This junior fintech’s shares have rocketed almost 20% on good news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• One of the ASX’s biggest losers today. What is happening at Core Lithium?
• Why 4DMedical, ARB, Inghams, and Qoria shares are tumbling today
• Why this $2.6 billion ASX 200 gold stock is leaping higher again on Tuesday
• Why Bellevue Gold, DroneShield, Hub24, and Telix shares are storming higher today
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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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form and sinking into the red on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.6% to 8,819.3 points.

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

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is down 7% to $4.46. This is despite there being no news out of the medical technology company. However, with its shares up almost 700% since this time last year, there could be some profit taking going on today. In addition, last week, 4DMedical raised $150 million through an institutional placement. Those shares are expected to be issued later this week on 22 January.

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

The ARB share price is down 11.5% to $28.59. Investors have been selling this 4×4 automotive parts company’s shares following the release of a trading update. ARB revealed that unaudited sales revenue for the first half was $358 million. This is down 1% on the prior corresponding period. Things were worse for its earnings due to margin weakness. ARB advised that it expects to report underlying profit before tax of approximately $58 million for the half. This represents a 16.3% decline compared with the prior year.

Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

The Inghams share price is down 5.5% to $2.51. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). According to the note, the broker has downgraded the poultry producer’s shares to an underperform rating with a reduced price target of $2.20. This implies potential downside of 12% from current levels. The broker believes that Inghams could fall short of expectations in FY 2026 due to cautious consumers. In addition, it highlights that a competitor could put pressure on pricing when its new facility comes online later this year.

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

The Qoria share price is down 30% to 34.5 cents. This follows the release of the digital safety company’s quarterly update. The company revealed that it exited the quarter with annualised recurring revenue (ARR) of $149 million, which is up 19% year on year. It also reported cash receipts of $79.1 million, which was up 20% on the prior corresponding period. Despite this, it still recorded negative free cash flow for the quarter.

The post Why 4DMedical, ARB, Inghams, and Qoria shares are tumbling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• ARB shares are crashing 15% today. What’s spooking investors?
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• Analysts say these ASX dividend shares are top buys
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• ASX income stocks: A once-in-a-decade chance to get rich

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 and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) is charging higher today.

Bellevue Gold shares closed yesterday trading for $1.695. During the Tuesday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $1.755 apiece, up 3.5%. That gives the miner a market cap of $2.6 billion.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.5% at this same time.

Today’s outperformance is nothing new for the ASX 200 gold stock.

Fuelled by a recent series of mining successes and a surging gold price (currently US$4,666 per ounce), the Bellevue share price is up 92.5% over the past six months, racing ahead of the 1.9% six-month gains posted by the benchmark index.

Here’s what’s piquing investor interest again today.

ASX 200 gold stock leaps on quarterly results

The Bellevue Gold share price is jumping higher following the release of the company’s December quarterly update.

The ASX 200 gold stock reported quarterly gold production of 32,031ounces, up 10% quarter on quarter, with gold poured of 31,656 ounces.

The three months saw Bellevue sell 31,905 ounces of gold, up 7.4% from the December quarter. The company achieved an average realised price of AU$4,292 per ounce.

Investors will also have noted the falling sustained costs. Bellevue Gold reported an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) for the quarter of AU$2,989 per ounce, down 9.2% quarter on quarter. Pleasingly, management expects AISC to reduce further through the second half in line with Bellevue’s full-year FY 2026 guidance.

In other notable achievements, the ASX 200 gold stock said that its gold recovery during the quarter remained at record highs, averaging 96.1%. This continues to outperform the recovery assumptions management used in setting guidance.

The miner reaffirmed its FY 2026 production guidance of 130,000 ounces to 150,000 ounces of gold and AISC guidance of AU$2,600 to AU$2,900 per ounce.

Turning to the balance sheet, as at 31 December, Bellevue Gold had $165 million of cash and gold on hand and a debt of $100 million.

What did management say?

Commenting on the quarterly results helping lift the ASX 200 gold stock today, Bellevue Gold managing director Darren Stralow said, “As expected the quarter was a continuation on the journey of increasing production through FY26 with grades continuing to increase and record ore tonnes mined.”

Stralow added:

This trend ensures we are on track to meet FY26 guidance, with second-half production to reflect our move into higher-grade areas of the mine. At the same time, we are reducing the hedge book ahead of schedule, paving the way for increased margins and free cashflow.

The post Why this $2.6 billion ASX 200 gold stock is leaping higher again on Tuesday 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 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.