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

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

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

Earnings resilience through the cycle

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

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

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

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

Reliable dividends backed by a strong balance sheet

Dividends remain a central part of the CBA investment case.

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

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

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

Quality and scale still matter in uncertain markets

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

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

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

For many portfolios, that dependability plays an important role.

One reason not to buy CBA shares

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

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

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

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

Foolish Takeaway

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

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

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

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

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d load up on if markets crashed tomorrow
• 3 reasons some brokers think it’s time to sell CBA shares
• Why a smaller dividend yield can lead to more passive income
• Here is the average Australian superannuation balance at 60 in 2026
• Forget CBA and buy these ASX dividend shares

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

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

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

Why is this ASX rare earths stock rocketing?

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

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

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

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

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

Why is this important?

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

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

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

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

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

The post This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 27% on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Evolution Mining, Lynas Rare Earths, Paladin Energy, and Sovereign Metals shares are racing higher today

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

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

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

29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M)

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

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

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

Praemium Ltd (ASX: PPS)

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

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

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

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

More reading

• Why is this ASX copper stock crashing 31%?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX 200 shares that could be top buys for growth
• Xero breaks below $100 for the first time since 2023. What is happening?
• 3 ASX 200 shares for smart investors to buy and hold

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

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

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

So, what’s going on?

A large capital raising

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

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

Medtronic steps in as a strategic investor

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

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

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

What will the money be used for?

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

Key priorities include:

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

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

When will trading resume?

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

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

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

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

More reading

• Up 300% over a year, this minerals explorer still has further to go, one broker says
• 3 reasons to buy CBA shares in 2026 and one reason not to
• This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 27% on big news
• Why 29Metals, Navigator Global, Praemium, and Xero shares are sinking today
• Why Evolution Mining, Lynas Rare Earths, Paladin Energy, and Sovereign Metals shares are racing higher today

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form again on Wednesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.3% to 8,786.4 points.

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

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is up 8% to $14.64. Investors have been buying this gold miner’s shares following the release of its quarterly update. For the three months, Evolution Mining reported record group operating mine cash flow of $1.1 billion and underlying group cash flow of $541 million. This was driven by gold production of 191,000 ounces, copper production of 18,000 tonnes, and its sector-leading all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,275 per ounce. At the end of the period, its cash balance stood at $967 million.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price is up 6% to $16.13. This has been driven by the release of the rare earths producer’s second quarter update. Lynas reported a modest increase in gross sales revenue to $201.9 million for the quarter. Though, this was a sizeable 43% increase on the prior corresponding period. Positively, the company’s average selling price increased to $85.60 per kg across all rare earth products. At the end of December, the company had cash and short term deposits of $1,030.9 million.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is up over 12% to $13.09. The catalyst for this has been the release of the uranium producer’s quarterly update. Paladin Energy revealed that its uranium production increased 16% on the previous quarter to 1.24M pounds. This was driven by an uplift in ore feed grade as a result of a higher proportion of mined ore processed. The company’s CEO, Paul Hemburrow, was pleased with the quarter. He said: “As global interest in nuclear energy continues to strengthen, I am delighted by our progress in ramping-up operations at Langer Heinrich Mine. The new level of production achieved during the quarter provides insight into the robust performance that can be achieved from this strategic uranium asset.”

Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX: SVM)

The Sovereign Metals share price is up 23% to 74 cents. This morning, the mineral exploration company announced a significant and strategic rare earth value addition to its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi. Sovereign Metals advised that it has successfully recovered a monazite product containing high-value heavy rare earth elements (REE) from the tailings stream generated during rutile processing at its upgraded Lilongwe laboratory facilities.

The post Why Evolution Mining, Lynas Rare Earths, Paladin Energy, and Sovereign Metals shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 27% on big news
• Up 156% in a year, Evolution Mining shares rocketing again today on record setting results
• Buying Lynas shares? Here’s why the ASX rare earths stock is flying higher in Wednesday’s sinking market
• Why are Paladin Energy shares jumping 12% to a 52-week high?
• Paladin Energy lifts uranium output and sales in December quarter

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 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.

Shares in Emerald Resources Ltd (ASX: EMR) have hit a new record high after the company announced a major upgrade to the gold resource at its Memot project in Cambodia.

The company said in a statement to the ASX on Wednesday that the project now had an indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate of 45 million tonnes of ore at a grade of 1.2 grams per tonne of gold, for a total of 1.7 million ounces of gold.

This was a 27% increase from the previous estimate, the company said, with a 22% increase in the high confidence “inferred” classification.

Future looking bright

Emerald Managing Director Morgan Hart said the company was progressing its plans well.

This update, together with the recent grant of the Industrial Mining Licence and execution of the Mineral Investment Agreement, positions the Project to commence development in 2026. Ongoing exploration work, including extensional drilling at Memot, is expected to further expand on the resource and future reserves. “Progress at the Memot Gold Project, together with continued advancement of our 100% owned Dingo Range Gold Project in Western Australia and strong performance from our 100% owned Okvau Gold Mine in Cambodia, signals a period of significant growth for Emerald.

Mr Hart said the company remains “firmly on track to deliver its objective of becoming a 300,000 to 400,000 ounce-per-annum gold producer”.

Building a regional base

The company applied for a gold exploration licence at Memot, 95km from its Okvau gold mine, in 2021.

The company has since spent US$26.7 million on exploration at Memot, which it says equates to a discovery cost of $18 per ounce of gold.

The company is envisaging a contractor-operated open-cut mining program at the site, where it is continuing to drill for more resources, as it said:

The Memot Gold Project remains open along strike and at depth, with drilling ongoing to test mineralisation in both directions. Access for effective lateral extensional drilling targeting the north-east trending intrusion is currently being hampered by rice paddy farming. The current land purchasing program is underway and is expected to open up areas planned exploration drilling for additional resource extension.

A 16,000m infill drilling program has also started, designed to improve confidence in the mineral resource estimate.

Emerald Resources shares hit a record of $7.45 on the news before settling back to be 5.4% higher at $7.41.

The shares have more than doubled from lows of $3.24 over the past 12 months. The company was valued at $4.64 billion at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post Why is this $4.6 billion gold company’s share price hitting record highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Emerald Resources: Memot gold resource climbs 27% to 1.7Moz
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

Gold stocks are marching higher again, and today’s stock in focus is Aurelia Metals Ltd (ASX: AMI), whose share price is up 5% today.

This comes after the miner released a strong quarterly update that reinforced confidence in both its near-term cash flow and longer-term growth plans.

Here’s what got investors excited from the announcement.

Strong production drove a big jump in cash flow

Aurelia reported gold production of 11.7koz for the quarter, taking year-to-date output to 22.1koz and keeping the company on track to deliver FY26 guidance of 40koz at the midpoint.

Base metals production was also solid, with copper, zinc, and lead volumes all increasing quarter on quarter.

Crucially, this translated into operating cash flow of $42.9 million from the Cobar region, a sharp 5x increase from the prior quarter.

That level of cash generation allowed Aurelia to fund growth capital, exploration, tax payments, and bond requirements without putting pressure on the balance sheet.

At quarter end, the company held $85.6 million in cash, with total available liquidity of around $116 million.

Federation mine continues to impress

One of the standout features of the update was the Federation mine, where the ramp-up continues ahead of plan.

Ore mined increased by more than 20% quarter on quarter, while grades improved materially as mining advanced further into the orebody. Zinc, lead, and gold grades all rose, supporting expectations that Federation will be a meaningful contributor to group production and cash flow in FY26 and beyond.

Management also flagged the potential to exceed planned volumes this financial year if current momentum continues.

Growth projects remain firmly on track

Beyond current operations, investors were reassured by steady progress at Great Cobar, Aurelia’s high-grade copper growth project.

Mine development advanced to around 500 metres per quarter, key infrastructure works are underway, and project milestones remain on schedule. Combined with planned plant upgrades at Peak, Aurelia is positioning itself to lift throughput capacity materially over the next 12–18 months.

The company reiterated its longer-term ambition of reaching ~40ktpa of copper equivalent production by FY28, funded largely through internal cash flow.

Foolish bottom line

Aurelia’s update showed disciplined execution across production, costs, and capital allocation at a time when commodity prices are doing some of the heavy lifting.

The market liked that this translated into meaningful cash generation with signs of more progress to come.

Following today’s increase, Aurelia Metals’ share price is now up 18% year to date. For investors, this share price move reflects growing confidence that Aurelia can convert operational momentum into sustainable cash flow, while steadily building toward its next phase of growth. When strong commodity prices meet solid execution, the market pays attention.

The post Here’s why Aurelia Metals shares are up 5% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this $4.6 billion gold company’s share price hitting record highs?
• Why is this ASX copper stock crashing 31%?
• Dateline shares halted as investors await key announcement
• Forget Telstra shares, I’d buy this ASX telco stock instead
• Up 156% in a year, Evolution Mining shares rocketing again today on record setting results

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M) shares are having a day to forget on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX copper stock is down 33% to 41.5 cents.

Why is this ASX copper stock crashing?

The catalyst for today’s decline has been news that the copper miner is raising funds at a deep discount.

According to the release, the ASX copper stock has successfully completed the institutional component of its underwritten 1 for 3.66 accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer.

The institutional entitlement offer will raise approximately $119 million at an offer price of 40 cents per new share. This represents a 35.5% discount to its last closing price of 62 cents.

The ASX copper stock notes that the institutional entitlement offer received strong support from eligible existing institutional shareholders, with existing shareholders (excluding EMR Capital) subscribing for approximately 92% of their entitlements.

New shares that were not taken up by both eligible and ineligible institutional shareholders have been fully allocated to eligible institutional investors.

The company will now push ahead with its retail entitlement offer which is expected to raise approximately $31 million.

The company’s CEO, James Palmer, commented:

The level of support shown by our existing shareholders, as well as new investors, has been very encouraging. This equity raising is expected to allow us to maintain our commitments to our strategic growth objectives to accelerate value realisation across the portfolio. Specifically, the ongoing investment in Gossan Valley, progression of a Restart Definitive Feasibility Study at Capricorn Copper and drilling to test priority exploration targets across the portfolio.

I encourage eligible retail shareholders in Australia and New Zealand to consider the terms of the retail entitlement offer when it opens on 28 January 2026.

Why is it raising funds?

The ASX copper stock advised that proceeds of the equity raising will be used for working capital for the impact of Xantho Extended seismicity to facilitate ongoing investment in Gossan Valley, progression of Capricorn Copper towards restart, including a Restart Definitive Feasibility Study and drilling of exploration targets across the portfolio. James Palmer said:

We have a clear plan to recommence mining at Xantho Extended in April 2026. In the meantime, this equity raising is expected to allow us to maintain our commitments to our strategic growth objectives to accelerate value realisation across the portfolio. Specifically, the ongoing investment in Gossan Valley, progression of a Restart Definitive Feasibility Study at Capricorn Copper and drilling to test priority exploration targets across the portfolio.

The post Why is this ASX copper stock crashing 31%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this $4.6 billion gold company’s share price hitting record highs?
• Here’s why Aurelia Metals shares are up 5% today
• Dateline shares halted as investors await key announcement
• Forget Telstra shares, I’d buy this ASX telco stock instead
• Up 156% in a year, Evolution Mining shares rocketing again today on record setting results

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

Shares in Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) are in a trading halt today after the company requested a temporary pause in trading from the ASX.

The halt was put in place on 21 January 2026 and will remain until Dateline releases an announcement or trading resumes on Friday, 23 January 2026.

Strong share price run before the halt

Dateline shares had been moving higher before trading was paused.

The stock was last trading at around 37.5 cents, following a sharp rise over recent weeks. Earlier this month, the shares were closer to the mid-20-cent range, showing how quickly investor sentiment has improved.

Looking further back, Dateline has delivered an extraordinary turnaround over the past year. In early 2025, the shares were trading for less than 1 cent, valuing the company at only a few million dollars.

At current levels, the stock has risen more than 12,400% in 12 months, turning it from a penny stock into one of the market’s stronger short-term performers.

What does Dateline do?

Dateline is a mining and exploration company with projects located in the United States.

Its main asset is the Colosseum Gold Project in California, which the company owns outright. The project already hosts a gold resource and is located close to the Mountain Pass region, an area known for rare earths mining.

Alongside gold, Dateline has highlighted the potential for rare earths elements, which are considered strategically important for defence, technology, and clean energy supply chains.

The company also owns the Argos Strontium Project, another US-based asset that could play a role in specialist industrial applications.

Recent board changes add experience

Earlier this month, Dateline strengthened its board by appointing new Non-Executive Directors with strong experience across the North American mining sector.

The new directors bring skills spanning project development, mine operations, and capital markets, gained through decades of working in the industry. This added experience could prove important as Dateline advances its US-based assets toward more defined development pathways.

The appointments were seen as a step toward moving the company beyond early exploration and into more advanced development planning.

All eyes on the upcoming announcement

Once the trading halt is lifted, attention will turn squarely to the content of Dateline’s market update.

Investors will be looking for clarity on the company’s direction, including progress on project development, funding plans, and strategic initiatives. The market will also be watching for guidance on timing, particularly any milestones that could shape Dateline’s near-term outlook.

Given the strong share price move leading into the halt, the reaction is likely to depend on how closely the announcement aligns with current expectations.

Until then, Dateline remains on watch as investors wait for further details.

The post Dateline shares halted as investors await key announcement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 9,800% in a year, this ASX gold stock just delivered another major drilling surprise

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.

Telstra Group (ASX: TLS) shares are trading in the red on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing the stock is down 0.52% to $4.76 a piece. 

For the year-to-date, the shares have fallen 2.36%, but the share price is still 18.87% above where it was this time last year.

The telco is a fantastic defensive stock. It seems to perform steadily, regardless of what stage of the economic cycle we’re in. This is attractive for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere. 

The company’s financial performance was robust in 2025. Its latest full-year results, released in August, showed stronger underlying growth and financial performance. At the time, Telstra also said it expected its year-on-year growth to continue. 

But Telstra shares have been in the spotlight recently. The telco giant underwent a buyback of its shares between late-November to mid-December. 

Around the same time, the company hit headlines amid concerns about its calling reliability. A Senate inquiry is reportedly examining cases where Triple Zero calls may have failed, including situations linked to older devices and network/handset software interactions. 

And it looks like the two things, alongside an overall contraction of the telco market since late 2025, have softened investor confidence. TradingView data shows 7 out of 11 analysts have a hold rating on Telstra shares, with an average target price of $4.94. This is just 4.16% above the current trading price at the time of writing.

While Telstra shares are a great buy for passive income, and it’s possible the shares could resurge after this period of instability, there is another good quality ASX telco stock which I think offers an even better opportunity for investors right now.

This ASX telco stock is set to leap higher

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC) is an Australian-based fixed-line internet service provider. It provides broadband services to consumers and businesses, as well as wholesale solutions to other downstream internet services entities. 

Its services include Wi-Fi management, mobile services, and National Broadband Network products. The company owns an extensive fiber network and is also a part-owner of the Indigo subsea cable. 

The telco has rapidly expanded in recent years with several large acquisitions in recent years, including Exetel (an internet retailer) in 2021 and Uecomm (a fiber infrastructure) in 2024.

At the time of writing, Superloop shares are down 0.21% for the day to $2.38. For the year-to-date the shares have slumped 6.47%, but the stock is currently 15.22% above where it was this time last year.

The telco’s shares follow a very similar pattern to Telstra shares, but analysts are significantly more bullish about Superloop’s potential for growth this year.

The team at Jarden recently said the Superloop business is under appreciated by the market. The broker also thinks that the business is best positioned (versus its competitors) to beat current market expectations. 

Jarden has a buy rating and $3.40 target price on Superloop shares. TradingView data shows some analysts are even more bullish on the stock. Out of 9 analysts, 8 have a buy or strong buy rating on Superloop, with a maximum price target of $3.75 a piece. That implies the shares could rise another 56.9% over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

The post Forget Telstra shares, I’d buy this ASX telco stock instead 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.