Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are losing ground today.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) lithium miner closed Friday trading for 28 cents. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 26.5 cents apiece, down 5.4%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 0.4% at this same time.

If you already own or have been following this ASX lithium stock, you’ll know that outsized daily price moves are nothing new for the Core Lithium shares.

Indeed, after the miner hit a multi-year closing low of 5.7 cents on 7 April, shares then rocketed an eye-watering 487.7% to close at a one-year-plus high of 33.5 cents on 8 January.

Following that meteoric rise, there looks to have been some profit-taking going on.

While the share price is still up a remarkable 364.9% since the April lows, shares have fallen 20.9% since 8 January.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Should you buy the retrace in Core Lithium shares?

Core Lithium suspended mining operations at its flagship Finniss lithium project in January 2024.

But with lithium prices rebounding, Core Lithium shares could get another big leg up if Finniss returns to production in 2026, as I suspect it might.

It was only back in June that spodumene, a lithium-bearing ore, was trading for just US$575 per tonne. Last week, the same tonne was fetching more than US$2,000 per tonne.

With miners across the world reducing production in recent years, and a number following Core Lithium and suspending operations entirely, global lithium supplies have tightened amid strong demand growth. That’s being driven by the growing global EV market alongside fast-growing demand for sustainable energy storage systems, spurred by power-hungry AI data centres.

Commenting on the impact of the fast-rising lithium price, Pls Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) CEO Dale Henderson said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

At US$2,000 per tonne or above, you’re at a level that is above the consensus average of what the long-term price needs to be for the market. At these levels, a whole number of assets become profitable.

And in what could spur further gains for Core Lithium shares, the team at Barrenjoey expect lithium prices will reach US$3,250 per tonne in 2026.

“The rally has been driven by consistent destocking of lithium chemicals in China as lithium-ion battery production has continued to surprise the market to the upside, particularly energy storage system battery shipments,” Glyn Lawcock, head of resources research at Barrenjoey, said.

So, will we see Core Lithium bring Finniss back online this year?

Commenting on the mothballed Finniss project on 13 October, Core Lithium CEO Paul Brown said:

During the September quarter we built on the Restart Study, delivering a 42% uplift in Ore Reserves with the inclusion of Carlton [in Finniss reserves] … We are well-capitalised and focused on advancing Finniss towards restart and a Final Investment Decision.

Foolish Takeaway

While I don’t expect we’ll see Core Lithium shares return to the $1.67 highs we saw back in November 2022 this year, should lithium prices keep marching higher and Finniss reopen, today might be an opportune time to buy the stock.

The post Up 365% since April, should you buy the recent dip in Core Lithium shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Silver, lithium, and critical minerals commodities book double digit gains in just one week
• 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
• Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher

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.

RBC Capital Markets has taken on the difficult task of picking, as it says, “winners amongst winners” in the surging gold sector, and has come up with four names it believes will outperform.

The analyst team at RBC said gold’s 13% or so increase over the second half of the financial year had driven strong equity returns.

They went on to say:

While valuations are no longer as cheap, they remain acceptable relative to gold’s strength. We maintain our original FY26 investment framework and continue to favour miners delivering meaningful near-term production growth.

A key theme over the second quarter of the year just finished, they said, would be the fact that some gold miners would be moving to a tax-paying position as accrued losses were used up.

They flagged Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS), and Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) as falling into this category.

They went on to say:

Balance sheets across our coverage remain in strong net cash positions, well-positioned to self-fund growth commitments. We cautiously favour investments in growth over operational/valuation safety. Gold’s price strength has unlocked previously dormant in-ground value, and we believe now is the time to realise this latent value as potential projects.

Best of a good bunch

The companies RBC has an outperform rating on are Westgold, Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL), Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU), and Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL).

On Westgold, RBC expects the company to deliver production for the quarter of 93,000 ounces of gold at a cost of $2824 per ounce, which is ahead of consensus estimates of 90,000 ounces.

The RBC team said any second-quarter weakness should be considered against the company’s strong three-year production growth, and a pathway to producing 500,000 ounces of gold per year beyond FY28 at a cost of less than $2500 per ounce.

Regarding Bellevue Gold, which has already released its second quarter result, RBC said higher production was expected in the second half and, “Continuation of higher recoveries … over the financial year presents upside to our forecasts”.

Vault Minerals, the RBC report says, is expected to report 92,000 ounces of gold produced during the quarter, in line with consensus estimates.

This will have been the company’s last hedged quarter, RBC says, and future earnings growth will come from the hedge book “rolling off”.

Regis has also already released its second-quarter results, and RBC said it expected high free cash flow yields from the company for the 2026 and 2027 financial years.

The post Broker picks ‘winners amongst winners’ in the gold sector appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I think ASX 200 gold shares like Newmont and Northern Star will keep surging higher in 2026
• ASX 200 materials sector dominates as scores of mining shares hit new highs
• 4 ASX shares to buy in the market’s best-performing sector of 2025
• Why this ASX 200 gold stock is tipped for a ‘major re-rate’ in 2026
• Why 4DMedical, Regis Resources, Unico Silver, and WiseTech Global shares are pushing higher

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 having a poor start to the week. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.4% to 8,867.7 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

The Catalyst Metals share price is up 6% to $9.53. This morning, this gold miner released drilling results from the Cinnamon trend at the Plutonic Gold Belt. According to the release, the latest drilling results have confirmed a high-grade zone along a 400m strike length, which remains open in both directions. Catalyst’s managing director and CEO, James Champion de Crespigny, commented: “Since Catalyst acquired Plutonic, it has only had the time and capital to explore at Plutonic and Trident. Both Reserves have doubled under Catalyst’s ownership. The next target was Cinnamon. The results today, and those released back in October 2025, suggest the potential to replicate this success again.”

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price is up 2% to $15.81. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Morgan Stanley this morning. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the rare earths producer’s shares to an overweight rating with a $17.55 price target. Although the broker suspects that Lynas’ quarterly update could fall short of consensus estimates, it believes investors should overlook this. Especially given recent strength in rare earths prices.

Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV)

The Polynovo share price is up 3% to $1.24. This has been driven by the release of the medical device company’s half year update. PolyNovo revealed that it achieved unaudited group sales of $68.2 million for the first half of FY 2026. This represents a 26% increase year on year. Including BARDA revenue, total group revenue rose 17.6% to $70.4 million. PolyNovo’s new CEO, Bruce Peatey, said: “We are pleased to see strong growth across key markets, supported by a broader adoption across multiple indications, new products, and expanded geographies—giving us confidence in continued momentum through 2026.”

St George Mining Ltd (ASX: SGQ)

The St George Mining share price is up almost 14% to 12.5 cents. Investors have been buying this mining exploration company after it released strong drilling results from the 100%-owned Araxa Rare Earths and Niobium Project in Brazil. According to the release, the company recorded exceptional assays of very thick and very high-grade rare earths and niobium mineralisation.

The post Why Catalyst Metals, Lynas, Polynovo, and St George Mining shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 300 stock jumps 6% on strong half-year results and cash flow surge
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• ASX 200 materials sector outperforms as mining shares continue their ascent
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy 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 PolyNovo. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

Shares in Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) are under pressure, despite the company releasing a positive regulatory update today.

The Mesoblast share price is down almost 15% over the past week and is trading around $2.59 this afternoon, down another 1.89%. That puts the stock at a 2-month low, despite news of progress with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

So, what’s driving the weakness?

What did the FDA say?

According to the release, the FDA said Mesoblast’s lead treatment, rexlemestrocel-L, helped reduce pain levels. The feedback relates to patients with long-term lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease.

The update follows a Type B meeting with the FDA, where the regulator reviewed results from Mesoblast’s first Phase 3 trial. The FDA said the pain reduction results looked better for patients treated with rexlemestrocel-L and that the data support the treatment working as intended.

The FDA also noted that strong reductions in opioid use seen in at least one major trial could potentially be included on the product label. Mesoblast said many patients treated with rexlemestrocel-L were able to reduce or stop opioid use for long periods after treatment.

A second Phase 3 trial is already underway in the US and is now more than halfway enrolled. Mesoblast expects recruitment to finish later this year, which keeps the regulatory process moving forward.

So why is the share price falling?

Despite the positive announcement, the share price reaction has been underwhelming.

Part of the weakness appears to be technical. Mesoblast shares have pulled back sharply over the past week and are now trading at their lowest level in roughly 2 months, which can weigh on short-term sentiment.

There is also likely some profit-taking at play. The stock rallied strongly late last year, and some investors appear to be taking profits after the update rather than waiting for the next stage.

Adding to the pressure, director activity may have unsettled some investors. Filings show that Executive Director Dr Eric Rose recently sold around 640,000 shares on market at prices near $2.97, ahead of the recent pullback. While director sales do not necessarily reflect concerns about fundamentals, they can influence near-term confidence.

What investors need to keep in mind

Mesoblast remains a high-risk, high-reward biotech stock. While the FDA response is encouraging, the product is still not close to being commercialised.

With the share price on the back foot, investors appear to be weighing long-term potential against short-term uncertainty. However, with more work still needed before approval, the share price is likely to remain volatile.

The post Mesoblast just cleared a key FDA hurdle. So why are investors exiting? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are these ASX 200 shares a buy after yesterday’s sell off?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Codan, DroneShield, Mesoblast, and Woodside shares are storming higher today
• Why are Mesoblast shares jumping 10% to a 52-week high?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has followed Wall Street’s lead and dropped into the red. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.3% to 8,879.1 points.

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

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

The Fortescue share price is down almost 2% to $22.40. This may have been driven by the release of a broker note out of Morgan Stanley this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the iron ore miner’s shares to an underweight rating with a $19.75 price target. This implies potential downside of approximately 12% from current levels. The broker is expecting strong realised prices for the second quarter of FY 2026. However, it thinks costs could be higher and Iron Bridge production could soften. And due to recent share price strength, it feels its shares are overvalued now and downgrades them to underweight.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is down almost 7% to $27.23. This follows a similar decline by the location technology company’s NASDAQ listed shares on Wall Street on Friday night. This appears to have been driven by broad weakness in the tech sector as investors rotate into other areas of the market.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is down 4% to $4.49. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner on Monday. Though, it is worth noting that Australian Super revealed that it has been selling down its holding in the company. Last week, it sold down its stake from 16.27% to 15.11%. Despite today’s share price weakness, the lithium miner’s shares remain up over 80% since this time last year.

Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR)

The Syrah Resources share price is down 3% to 29.5 cents. This follows the release of an update on the graphite producer’s offtake agreement with Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA). The parties have an agreement for the supply of natural graphite active anode material (AAM) from Syrah’s 11.25ktpa AAM facility in Vidalia, Louisiana. Today’s update reveals that the parties have agreed to amend the offtake agreement to extend the final qualification date to 16 March 2026. This is subject to the consent of the United States Department of Energy. Tesla has the right to terminate the offtake agreement if Syrah does not provide conforming AAM samples from Vidalia by this date.

The post Why Fortescue, Life360, PLS, and Syrah shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 unstoppable ASX shares to buy with $3,000
• ASX All Ords mining stock sinking on big Tesla news
• ASX 200 materials sector outperforms as mining shares continue their ascent
• BHP vs. Fortescue shares: Goldman Sachs says 1 will rip and 1 will dip
• Still under $30, these wealth-builders may not stay cheap for long

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) Chief Economist Shane Oliver is expecting the Australian share market to deliver returns of 8% this year and for interest rates to remain on hold, in a new investment outlook for 2026 published this week.

Dr Oliver said he also expected balanced growth super funds to return about 7%, and expected house price growth to slow to 5%-7%.

Returns defy global uncertainty

Dr Oliver said, despite a somewhat unsettled year just past, investment returns held up.

He added:

Despite uncertainty around US President Trump’s policies, geopolitics and interest rates, 2025 saw strong investment returns on the back of falling interest rates, solid economic and profit growth globally and expectations for stronger profit growth in Australia. AI enthusiasm boosted US shares although they were relative underperformers globally. This saw average superannuation funds return around 9%. This is the third year in a row of returns around 10% and over the last five years, they returned 7.7% pa.

Dr Oliver said there were several reasons to be wary on the investment front this year, including that share valuations remain “stretched relative to history, with US shares offering little risk premium over bonds and Australian shares not much better”.

Other areas of concern included the surge in AI shares, which “shows some signs of being a bubble”, risks to the Chinese economy, and the fact that some central banks are at or close to the bottom when it comes to interest rates.

Interest rates to stay on hold

In terms of Australian rates, Dr Oliver said he believed interest rate increases would likely not come until 2027.

He wrote:

In Australia we expect some fall back in underlying inflation to allow the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) to avoid rate hikes, but it’s a close call.

Geopolitical risk was also expected to remain high, and Dr Oliver said the mid-term elections in the US were historically associated with pullbacks in the market.

The Ukraine war is yet to be resolved, problems with Iran could flare up again with a possible US military strike, US tensions with China could escalate again, political uncertainty will likely be high in Europe with the rise of the far right, the US intervention in Venezuela could turn bad for the US (and may be interpreted as a ‘green light’ for China and Russia to act in their own spheres of influence). Trump’s grab for Greenland threatens the NATO appliance. And the midterm elections in the US are often associated with share market volatility with an average 17% drawdown in US shares in midterm election years since 1950. This is arguably evident in Trump’s increasingly erratic and populist policies.

Dr Oliver expects Australian economic growth to come in at 2.2%, and profit growth in Australia to come in at 10% after three years of falls.

The post How much will markets and rates rise this year? AMP’s Shane Oliver makes a prediction appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Catalyst Metals, Lynas, Polynovo, and St George Mining shares are pushing higher today
• Mesoblast just cleared a key FDA hurdle. So why are investors exiting?
• Why Fortescue, Life360, PLS, and Syrah shares are dropping today
• Guess which surging ASX gold share is leaping another 18% today on high-grade results
• The figures are in – how did super funds perform last year?

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.

Small-cap ASX gold share Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX: YRL) is kicking off Monday with a bang.

Yandal Resources shares closed on Friday trading for 25 cents. At tithe me of writing in late morning trade today, shares are swapping hands for 29.5 cents each, up 18%.

For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.3% at this same time.

With today’s intraday boost factored in, Yandal shares are up a whopping 110.7% since this time last year.

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

ASX gold share leaps on exploration results

Investors are piling into Yandal shares today after the miner reported on promising assay results from the New England Granite prospect situated within its Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Gold Project in Western Australia.

The ASX gold share drilled 38 air-core (AC) holes as part of its exploration drilling program.

The fire assay results (which test the gold content via a smelting process) from those holes have now been received.

Among the top results, Yandal reported 6 metres at 6.3 grams of gold per tonne from 36 meters, including 2m at 18.2 g/t Au from 36m from one hole.

Likely piquing ASX investor interest, the miner said the high-grade gold intercept in this hole presents a key target. It correlates with an intrusive contact adjacent to the main New England Granite intrusive complex, and it is associated with a previously defined structure.

Looking ahead, Yandal plans to commence reverse circulation (RC) drilling to follow up on the high-grade air-core intercepts within the prospect in April.

What did management say?

Commenting on the strong assays boosting the ASX gold share today, Yandal Resources managing director Chris Oorschot said, “These air-core results continue to build on the discovery potential of the broader New England Granite [NEG] target area.”

Oorschot added:

Our best intercept, which includes 2m @ 18.2g/t, is associated with an intrusive contact proximal to an interpreted northeast striking structure. This same structure may have also been intercepted 120 metres to the southwest with 2m @ 6.0g/t in 25IWBAC142.

We will assess whether similar grades continue into fresh rock and test strike continuity associated with the intrusive contact. Positive results would signify another potential gold discovery within NEG.

As for the next steps, Oorschot concluded:

Today’s results reinforce the potential we see in the structural targets identified on the western side of the four-kilometre by two-kilometre intrusive complex…. Once heritage clearances are received, we are well prepared to quickly respond with an expanded AC drilling program across the western side of NEG.

The post Guess which surging ASX gold share is leaping another 18% today on high-grade results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Catalyst Metals, Lynas, Polynovo, and St George Mining shares are pushing higher today
• Mesoblast just cleared a key FDA hurdle. So why are investors exiting?
• Why Fortescue, Life360, PLS, and Syrah shares are dropping today
• How much will markets and rates rise this year? AMP’s Shane Oliver makes a prediction
• The figures are in – how did super funds perform last year?

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.

Superannuation funds have had another strong year, with the median growth fund returning an impressive 9.3% for the 12 months to the end of December, according to figures just released by Chant West.

This result, for a fund with 61%-80% of investments in growth assets, follows returns of 9.9% in 2023 and 11.4% in 2024, translating into nearly 35% growth over the past three years.

Chant West Senior Investment Research Manager Mano Mohankumar said super fund members invested in higher risk portfolios did even better last year.

Offshore returns impressive

Mr Mohankumar said international share markets were the key driver of 2025’s strong performance, delivering 18.6% on a currency-hedged basis, despite uncertainty around tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

He explained further:

International shares in unhedged terms was lower, with a 12.5% return due to the appreciation of the Australian dollar over the year (up from US$0.62 to US$0.67). On average, growth funds have 31% in total invested in international shares and 25% allocated to Australian shares, with Australian shares also contributing meaningfully, returning 10.7%. It also helped that all major asset classes generated positive returns over the period.

Mr Mohankumar said Chant West was still in the process of calculating the final returns for unlisted asset classes, such as property, infrastructure, and private equity, “all of which were in positive territory”.

He added:

We estimate that unlisted infrastructure finished with gains in the 7% to 10% cent range, with private equity likely to finish with a low double-digit return. Unlisted property, which was in the red in each of the two previous years, is expected to finish with a positive return in the 3% to 6% range. Listed real assets were also up, with Australian listed property returning 9.7%, while international listed property and international listed infrastructure yielded gains of 7.5% and 11.6%, respectively. Within the traditional defensive asset classes, cash, Australian bonds and international bonds returned 4%, 3.2% and 4.4%, respectively.

Returns higher than historical trend

Mr Mohankumar said that the returns achieved over the past three years should not be considered normal, given the typical long-term goal of beating inflation by 3.5% per year, which is just more than 6% per year.

He added:

Since the introduction of compulsory super, the annualised return is 8% and the annual CPI (consumer price index) increase is 2.7%, giving a real return of 5.3% a year – well above that 3.5% target. Even looking at the past 20 years, which includes three major share market downturns – the GFC in 2007-2009, COVID-19 in 2020 and the high inflation and rising interest rates in 2022 – super funds have returned 6.9% a year, which is still comfortably ahead of the typical objective.

The post The figures are in – how did super funds perform last year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 unstoppable ASX shares to buy with $3,000
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Why this ASX small cap has hit the pause button again
• ASX All Ords mining stock sinking on big Tesla news
• Up 81% since April, ASX All Ords gold stock reveals latest exploration success

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.

There are certain ASX shares that look unstoppable to me because of the strong outlook of the businesses. The more that a company can scale its operations and increase its bottom line, the more likely it is that share price gains can occur.

The three businesses I’m about to highlight have risen strongly in the last 12 months, and I’m expecting these companies to deliver more earnings growth in the coming years. I already own one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another of them enters my portfolio this year.

L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G)

L1 Group is a fund manager that offers various investment strategies, with multiple funds offering short selling as part of the investment strategy.

The business recently joined the ASX boards by acquiring Platinum, and now investors can get a piece of this growing business.

The ASX share’s assets under management (AUM) grew by approximately $700 million over the three months to December 2025. This was driven by positive investment returns and strong L1 Global Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: GLS) inflows after a capital raising, partially offset by Platinum legacy outflows predominantly from the Platinum International Fund.

I expect these trends to continue in the coming years, with strong investment performance and further net inflows.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

This is a software business that enables families to stay connected and know they’re safe. Its offerings include location sharing, safe driver reports, and crash detection with emergency dispatch. It also has an offering for pet tracking.

As the world becomes increasingly digital and risks become highlighted and amplified by technology, Life360 can provide reassurance.

The ASX share has more than 50 million monthly active users (MAU) in the US, making it one of the top technology apps in the country. The company also said that it provides advertisers with a “powerful way to reach families with high intent in real-world moments when decisions are made, from a quick trip to the grocery store to a top at a local coffee shop”.

It’s also seeing strong growth in places like Australia and other international locations. As a technology business, it has pleasing operating leverage, giving it a good outlook for profit and cash flow growth in the coming years.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

Tuas is one of the most promising non-tech companies on the ASX, in my view.

The business offers telecommunication services in Singapore, with a focus on mobile users, though it also has a small (but growing) broadband segment. Its aim to provide value for customers is drawing many thousands of new customers each year.

Tuas has seen its mobile subscriber base reach 1.34 million as of the first quarter of FY26, helping increase its scale and grow its profitability. It’s growing at a double-digit rate in percentage terms.

The ASX share is about to become much more profitable if and when the M1 acquisition (a competitor) goes through.

It could be a particularly good investment if it successfully expands into other markets.

The post 3 unstoppable ASX shares to buy with $3,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX shares to buy and hold for the next decade
• Still under $30, these wealth-builders may not stay cheap for long
• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX 200 shares this month
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 incredible ASX shares to buy in January

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Tuas. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

According to a note out of Morgan Stanley, its analysts have upgraded this uranium producer’s shares to an overweight rating with a $2.05 price target. The broker sees value in the company’s shares at current levels. Particularly given its belief that its Honeymoon operation could outperform production and sales expectations. It also suspects that its costs could be lower than consensus estimates. Outside this, the broker sees a number of potential catalysts on the horizon that could support its shares. This includes updates on the Gould’s Dam and Jason deposits. The Boss Energy share price is trading at $1.77 on Monday.

Mader Group Ltd (ASX: MAD)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have upgraded this specialised contract labour provider’s shares to a buy rating with a price target of $9.00. The broker made the move on valuation grounds following a sizeable pullback in its share price. It feels this share price weakness offers investors a more attractive risk-reward proposition. Bell Potter also highlights that Mader’s outlook is positive thanks to favourable trading conditions in both the Australian and North American markets. Outside this, it feels that the disclosure of the company’s next five-year strategy could be a near-term catalyst for its share price. The Mader share price is fetching $8.19 at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Analysts at UBS have retained their buy rating on this buy now pay later provider’s shares with a trimmed price target of $5.20. According to the note, the broker believes that significant share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. It notes that this has been driven partly by an inquiry into the industry. However, there has been good news with President Trump calling for 10% caps on credit card interest rates. It feels that this could mean tighter conditions for credit card lending and push consumers to buy now pay later services. Though, it does concede that a lot will depend on how Zip’s fees are interpreted by law makers. The Zip share price is trading at $3.04 on Monday.

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

More reading

• Why Bell Potter just upgraded this ASX All Ords share to a buy rating
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 3 reasons why Zip shares are worth a look
• These ASX 200 shares could rise 20% to 55%

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