Reaching a million dollars inside a self-managed super fund (SMSF) can sound difficult, especially if you are starting later than you might have planned.

But if you are 40 in 2026, you still have time on your side. Not infinite time, but enough for compounding to do a lot of the heavy lifting, provided you stay disciplined and realistic about what markets can deliver.

Let’s walk through how this could work in practice.

Where to start

At 40, most people are looking at a retirement age somewhere around 65. That gives you roughly 25 years of investing.

That timeframe matters far more than trying to chase high returns early on. Over long periods, steady compounding is far more powerful than sporadic bursts of performance.

For the sake of illustration, let’s assume the share market delivers an average return of 9% per year over the long term. That will not happen in a straight line. There will be great years, poor years, and periods where markets go nowhere. But over decades, this assumption is reasonable and widely used for planning purposes.

How much do you need to invest?

If you were starting from zero at age 40, reaching $1 million in an SMSF by 65 is absolutely achievable, but it requires consistency and capital.

At a 9% average return, investing around $10,000 per year for 25 years would grow to roughly $920,000. That is impressive, but it falls short of the million-dollar mark.

Increase that contribution to $11,000 per year, and you would hit your goal.

The key takeaway is that contributions matter just as much as returns. Even modest increases in annual contributions can make a big difference over time.

Why an SMSF can help

An SMSF is not for everyone, but for engaged investors, it offers a few advantages that can support long-term wealth building.

You control asset allocation. You can tilt toward growth assets earlier in life and gradually dial back risk as retirement approaches. You are not forced into a one-size-fits-all option.

You also gain flexibility. That might include holding ETFs like Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) or iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), direct shares, infrastructure, or cash when markets are stretched. Over time, good decisions around tax efficiency and portfolio construction can add incremental value.

That said, an SMSF only works if you stay disciplined. Chasing hot themes, overtrading, or reacting emotionally to market volatility can easily do more harm than good.

Stay invested through volatility

A 9% average return assumes you stay invested.

If you panic during market sell-offs, sit in cash for long periods, or constantly change strategy, that return becomes much harder to achieve. Some of the best long-term returns are generated by investing during uncomfortable periods, not euphoric ones.

This is where having a written investment plan for your SMSF can help. It gives you something to fall back on when emotions are running high.

Small improvements compound too

You do not need to be perfect.

Increasing contributions when income rises, avoiding unnecessary fees, and staying invested during downturns can add more value than trying to outsmart the market.

Even an extra 1% per year, whether through better behaviour or lower costs, can materially change the outcome over 25 years.

Foolish Takeaway

Building a million-dollar SMSF from age 40 is not about getting lucky or picking the perfect investment.

It is about time, consistency, and patience.

If markets deliver around 9% per annum over the long term, and you commit to regular contributions, staying invested, and keeping a long-term mindset, the maths will work in your favour and get you there.

The post How to build a million-dollar SMSF if you start investing in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• These ASX 200 shares could rise 20% to 55%
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• 5 ETFs for an effective global portfolio
• Here is the average Australian superannuation balance at 60 in 2026

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I think it’s a good idea to invest in undervalued ASX shares, as it gives us a greater chance of delivering pleasing returns. Analysts are always on the lookout for ideas that could be attractive and beat the market.

When one analyst thinks a business is a buy, that’s interesting. It could be an excellent buying signal if numerous analysts think the business is a buy.

The two ASX shares I’m about to outline are two of the most buy-rated businesses out there.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

According to the CommSec collation of analyst opinions on Coles shares, there are currently 10 buys on the business.

Coles runs a national supermarket business as well as a liquor division that includes Coles Liquor, First Choice Liquor Market, Liquorland, and Vintage Cellars.

Coles has a number of advantages compared to many of its competitors, including scale, product range, online delivery, and geographic reach. It’s doing so well in fact that its sales growth is currently outperforming Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

One of the brokers that recently reiterated that Coles is a buy is UBS.

UBS noted that Coles is putting effort into vertical integration in priority food categories such as meat, milk, and ready-to-eat meals (Chef Fresh). The facilities are close to and integrated with existing NSW supply chain infrastructure, including distribution centres and customer fulfilment facilities. Coles is confident it can lower end-to-end costs.

The broker noted that meat is at the centre of the plate, a key factor in how consumers perceive value. The facilities have also added shelf life at home. Fresh milk is an “important category in large customer baskets”, and Coles has increased shelf life by two days.

UBS also pointed out that ‘convenience’ meals have grown 20% in the last two years, are an evolving category, and Coles can now innovate more quickly to meet these changing customer needs.

The broker has a price target of $25 for the business, implying a double-digit percentage rise from where it is today (at the time of writing).

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Australia’s largest airline is another ASX share with numerous buy ratings on the business. There are currently 11 positive recommendations on the business, according to the CommSec collation of opinions.

UBS also rates Qantas as a buy. In its most recent note, the broker highlighted that the Australian international market is expected to grow capacity by 9% year over year. But unless passenger demand keeps pace, this could put pressure on market fares and/or load factors (plane utilisation).

Qantas is adding capacity to mainland US, New Zealand, Singapore, Bali, Thailand, and Hawaii. Jetstar is entering the Philippines.

UBS noted that Qantas is guiding that international RASK (revenue per available seat kilometre) could rise by between 2% to 3% in the first half of FY26, with the broker then projecting another 3% rise in the second half of FY26.

But the broker also noted that domestic demand is proving resilient, with 8% revenue growth expected in the first half of FY26, and the company and industry showing restraint in growing capacity too strongly. Loyalty continues to provide reliable earnings growth.

UBS maintains “some caution” about the rate of cost growth and the “medium term hump” in capital expenditure, which relates to fleet renewal.

The broker estimates Qantas could generate $1.79 billion of net profit in FY26, and it has a price target of $11.50 on the business.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• $10,000 invested in Qantas shares two years ago is now worth…
• These ASX dividend stocks are built to keep paying and paying
• Why I would buy Qantas shares in 2026
• I’d buy this ASX dividend stock in any market
• Forget Coles shares, I’d buy this roaring retailer instead

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

Are you on the lookout for some big returns for your investment portfolio? If you are, then it could be worth looking at the ASX 200 shares in this article.

Not only have they recently been named as buys, but they have been tipped to rise 20% or more over the next 12 months.

Here’s what analysts are recommending to their clients right now:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

This ASX uranium stock could be undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. Last week, the broker put a buy rating and $1.95 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $1.58, this implies potential upside of 23% for investors between now and this time next year.

Bell Potter highlights that this recommendation is based on the Honeymoon project operating with higher costs and production limitations. This could change for the better, pending its project review. It said:

We lower our TP to $1.95/sh (previously $2.00/sh) and maintain our Buy recommendation. Our valuation assumes production at Honeymoon over the short 10Y mine life is limited to ~1.6Mlbs pa and costs remain elevated, until such a time that management have completed the work to guide otherwise. NPAT changes are: FY26 -24%, FY27 -25% and FY28 -2%.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Over at Ord Minnett, its analysts think this data centre operator’s shares are dirt cheap. Especially given recent contract wins, which it feels bode well for its FY 2026 results.

The broker has put a buy rating and $20.50 price target on the ASX 200 share. Based on its current share price of $13.00, this implies potential upside of over 55% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Ord Minnett said:

NextDC (NXT) announced that contract wins had boosted contracted utilisation of its centres to 316 megawatts (MW), up 71MW, or 29%, since 30 June. Ord Minnett notes NextDC had only guided to 50–100MW of contract wins for FY26, so the latest announcement, along with industry feedback highlighting strong demand from both western and eastern hyperscalers, bodes well for the full-year outcome.

We have raised our target price on NextDC to $20.50 from $19.00 to incorporate our assumed value of the agreement with Open AI, although we have not yet changed our earnings estimates due to the lack of detail and operational timelines. We reiterate our Buy recommendation.

The post These ASX 200 shares could rise 20% to 55% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why these ASX 200 shares could still have major upside in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Bell Potter names the best ASX uranium stocks to buy now
• 2 no-brainer Australian stocks to buy with $1,000 right now
• Down 67% since June, why Goldman Sachs thinks Boss Energy shares are still overvalued

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have had a brutal year, and that has put the global biotechnology leader firmly back on investors’ radars.

Ending the week at $175.53, the company’s shares are trading a long way below their 52-week high of $282.20.

For a business that has long been regarded as one of the highest-quality companies on the ASX, that sort of pullback naturally raises an important question. Is this a rare long-term buying opportunity, or are the risks still too high?

Why CSL shares have fallen so far

The sell-off hasn’t happened without reason. Over the past year, CSL has been dealing with a combination of short-term headwinds that have weighed heavily on sentiment.

The biggest issue has been ongoing weakness in US influenza vaccination rates. This has directly impacted the company’s Seqirus division and led management to downgrade constant-currency guidance for FY 2026. Revenue growth expectations have been trimmed to 2% to 3%, with net profit after tax also revised lower at the midpoint.

At the same time, CSL flagged softer demand for albumin in China, linked to government cost-containment measures. While management believes it can largely offset this impact in the first half of FY 2026 through mitigation strategies, it has added another layer of uncertainty to the near-term outlook.

Together, these factors have also delayed the planned demerger of Seqirus, which had previously been expected this year. That delay disappointed investors who were hoping for a clearer path to unlocking value.

Is the market being too pessimistic?

Despite those challenges, a number of analysts believe the market may have pushed its pessimism too far.

One of those is Morgans. While the broker has reduced its earnings forecasts through to FY 2028 and cut its valuation, it still has a buy rating on CSL shares with a price target of $249.51. From current levels, that implies upside of more than 40%.

Importantly, the broker argues that the risk of a permanently lower base for US flu vaccinations is being over-priced. In its view, Seqirus and Vifor have been marked down heavily, and even its core plasma business, CSL Behring, is now trading below peers and well under its long-term valuation averages. It said:

Although it remains challenging to know when US influenza vaccination rates will stabilise, we believe the risk of a permanently lower base is being over-priced, with Seqirus and Vifor marked down, with even Behring trading below peers and well under its long-term average, which we see as unjustified. We lower FY26-28 net profit forecasts by up to 14.3%, with our PT decreasing to A$249.51 (from A$293.83). BUY.

For long-term investors, that disconnect between short-term uncertainty and long-term earnings power is often where opportunity emerges.

Overall, I think this is a fantastic buying opportunity. Though, patience will almost certainly be required.

The post A once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy CSL shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Building a diversified portfolio from zero doesn’t need complexity, clever trading, or a spreadsheet that looks like a NASA launch plan. With five well-chosen ETFs, investors can spread their money across Australia, the world’s biggest companies, bonds, and cash.

The backbone of any ETF portfolio is broad market exposure. A total world or developed markets ETFs give you instant access to thousands of companies across countries and sectors.

This portfolio leans on a 30% Australian base, around 35% global equities, and a stabilising mix of bonds and cash. It’s designed to be boring in the best possible way.

Australian backbone

Every portfolio needs a strong local anchor, and ETFs like BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) or Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) will do the heavy lifting. Tracking the top 200 companies on the ASX, they give instant exposure to the pillars of the Australian market: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

Banks, miners, and healthcare dominate, delivering dividends and a familiar economic link to home. At roughly 30% of a portfolio, this ETF provides stability and income without stock-picking risk.

Global heavyweights

For broad offshore exposure, iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO) owns the biggest corporate names on the planet. This ETF holds around 100 global giants, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet.

The US leads the weighting, but Europe and Japan feature strongly, giving investors exposure to multiple economies through companies with global revenue streams. IOO forms the backbone of global equity exposure without overcomplicating things.

Growth kicker

While iShares Global 100 covers the world’s blue chips, BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) adds growth firepower. Tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), it is packed with technology and innovation leaders such as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet.

This tech ETF is more volatile, but it has historically driven returns during periods of strong global growth. A modest allocation helps tilt the portfolio toward the future without dominating it.

Liquidity and safety

Cash is unfashionable until markets fall apart. When share markets wobble, bonds often soften the blow, providing income and stability. This ETF acts as the portfolio’s shock absorber rather than a return engine.

iShares Core Composite Bond ETF (ASX: IAF) invests in high-interest bank deposits, offering capital stability and ready liquidity. It won’t deliver fireworks, but it provides flexibility, whether for opportunities, expenses, or peace of mind.

Put together, these five ETFs or equivalent funds create a low-cost, diversified, easy-to-manage portfolio that spans Australian shares, global leaders, growth stocks, bonds, and cash. No guessing, just broad exposure built for the long haul.

The post 5 ETFs for an effective global portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, CSL, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BHP Group, CSL, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Turning 60 is a major financial milestone for Australians.

For many people, it is the age where retirement stops being a distant idea and starts to feel very real. The finish line is suddenly in sight, work decisions become more deliberate, and superannuation takes centre stage in household conversations.

By this point, there’s often a mix of emotions. Some people feel quietly confident about where they stand. Others are uneasy, unsure whether their super balance is enough to support the lifestyle they imagine once work winds down.

And that leads to a simple but confronting question: how does your super balance at 60 compare with everyone else’s in 2026?

Before answering that, it helps to understand what enough actually looks like.

What does a comfortable retirement really cost?

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), the amount you need in superannuation depends on the lifestyle you want in retirement.

ASFA defines a comfortable retirement as one that allows retirees to cover everyday living costs, enjoy private health insurance, participate in leisure and social activities, and afford regular domestic trips with an occasional overseas holiday.

Based on recent data, this lifestyle requires annual spending of about $54,240 for singles and $76,505 for couples from your joint Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) or Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) account.

To support that level of spending, ASFA estimates retirees need around $595,000 in super for a single person or $690,000 combined for a couple, assuming they own their home outright and are relatively healthy.

At the other end of the spectrum is a modest retirement. This supports a lifestyle slightly above the Age Pension, covering basic needs with limited discretionary spending. For this, ASFA suggests retirees need around $100,000 in super, whether single or part of a couple.

With those benchmarks in mind, where does the average 60-year-old actually stand today?

So, what is the average superannuation balance at 60?

Using the latest data and surrounding age brackets, we can estimate where Australians sit at age 60 in 2026.

For women, average superannuation balances rise from roughly $243,000 at ages 55–59 to around $313,000 at ages 60–64. Based on that progression, the average 60-year-old woman likely holds approximately $278,000 in super.

For men, balances increase from about $320,000 at ages 55–59 to roughly $396,000 at ages 60–64. That places the average 60-year-old man at around $358,000.

Put together, the average couple approaching retirement at 60 has a combined super balance of roughly $636,000.

Is that enough?

For couples, being close to $636,000 means they are within striking distance of ASFA’s comfortable retirement benchmark, especially if they continue working for a few more years or supplement super with other assets.

For singles, however, the picture is tougher. An average balance of $278,000 to $358,000 sits well below the $595,000 guideline for a comfortable retirement, suggesting many people will need to rely partly on the age pension or adjust expectations.

What if your balance is behind?

Falling below the average at 60 isn’t the end of the road.

Many Australians still have several working years ahead, and even small changes can make a difference. Continuing to work part-time, making extra concessional contributions (within annual limits), reviewing investment options, or consolidating multiple super accounts can all help improve outcomes.

Just as importantly, understanding your target lifestyle, not just the headline averages, allows you to make smarter, more confident decisions.

Foolish takeaway

The average superannuation balance at 60 in 2026 tells a clear story. Many Australians are doing reasonably well, but fewer than expected singles are fully set up for a comfortable retirement on super alone.

Knowing where you sit compared to the average is useful, but what matters most is whether your super aligns with the life you want after work. At 60, there is still time to influence the outcome.

The post Here is the average Australian superannuation balance at 60 in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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.

After getting pummelled following the outbreak of the global pandemic in the early months of 2020, Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares have staged a remarkable comeback.

Indeed, on 28 August 2025, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) airline closed at an all-time high of $12.12 apiece. That meant investors who bought the stock for $2.36 on 20 March 2020 had enjoyed a 413.6% share price gain.

And this isn’t some penny stock we’re talking about.

By early 2024, the global COVID lockdowns and ensuing travel bans were thankfully fading into history.

So, if you’d waited out the early days of Qantas recovery and bought $10,000 worth of Qantas shares two years ago, just how much would you have today?

Let’s dig into the numbers.

Qantas shares flying high

On 19 January 2024, you could have bought shares in the ASX 200 airline for $5.21 apiece.

So, for $10,000, you could have bought 1,919 shares.

On Friday, the stock closed up 1.97% at $10.38 a share.

Meaning the 1,919 Qantas shares you bought for $10,000 two years ago would be worth (a rounded) $19,919 today.

But wait. There’s more!

With the company’s profits surging, management reinstated the Qantas dividend in calendar year 2025. Management had suspended the dividend payouts in 2020 as global travel came to a standstill and the company’s revenue evaporated.

If you bought shares two years ago and held onto them through to today, you’d have received the fully-franked interim dividend of 26.4 cents a share on 16 April. And the final Qantas dividend, also 26.4 cents per share, would have hit your bank account on 15 October.

So, if we add the 52.8 cents per share back into Friday’s closing price, then the accumulated value of the shares you bought two years ago comes out to $10.908 per share.

Which brings the value of the 1,919 shares you bought for $10,000 to (a rounded) $20,932.

That represents a gain of 109.32%, with some potential tax benefits from those dividend franking credits.

What’s been lifting the ASX 200 airline stock?

Qantas shares have benefited from a range of factors over the past few years. Those include lower jet fuel costs amid slumping global oil prices and pent-up travel demand following the lifting of the COVID restrictions.

In FY 2025, this helped the airline achieve an 8.6% year-on-year boost in revenue and other income to $23.82 billion.

And on the bottom line, Qantas’ underlying profit before tax of $2.39 billion was up 15% from the prior year.

The post $10,000 invested in Qantas shares two years ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Modest vs comfortable retirement: What your superannuation really buys you
• How Qantas shares could catch a welcome uplift in 2026
• Are Qantas shares a buy, hold or sell for 2026?
• Buy, hold, sell: Fortescue, Qantas, and WiseTech shares

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.

There are not many ASX stocks that I like as much as MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) for passive income. Its dividend record, the size of the dividend increases, and the diversification it provides, are all compelling reasons to consider the business.

I like the idea of owning a diversified portfolio of ASX stocks, but many of the available businesses have operations focused on Australia (and New Zealand). There’s not much geographic diversification for the earnings.

MFF offers everything I’m looking for, which is why I’ve made it one of the largest passive income investments in my portfolio.

Let me explain further.

Excellent diversification

When we buy many ASX shares, we’re buying a small slice of a single business.

MFF’s main value is concentrated in a portfolio of global shares. One of MFF’s main goals is medium-term compounding and seeking to avoid permanent capital losses.

Its portfolio includes a number of excellent businesses that have global earnings with incredible economic moats such as MasterCard, Alphabet, Visa, American Express, Meta Platforms, Amazon, Home Depot and Microsoft.

MFF’s portfolio has a strong track record of performance. Winners have a habit of winning over the long-term, particularly if they continue investing in their products/services.

I’m excited by the long-term potential of MFF’s portfolio and how this can drive the overall shareholder returns for investors.

MFF’s ability to generate investment returns plays a big part in the attractiveness of its passive income.

Passive income of $1,000 per year

Pleasingly, the business has a very good record of paying dividends to investors. It has increased its regular annual dividend each year between 2017 and 2025. Not many large ASX stocks can say that.

MFF’s other main goal is to increase its fully franked dividend over time and I’m confident the business will increase its payout in FY26.

The ASX stock has a strong track record of growing its payout at a strong rate over the last several years. In FY25 alone, the business decided to increase its annual dividend by just over 30% to 17 cents per share.

But, for my calculation of receiving $1,000 of passive income, I’m going to use the payout figure from FY25.

To receive $1,000 of annual cash passive income with the 17 cents per share, we’d need 5,883 MFF shares. But, if we include the franking credits as part of that income goal, we’d only need 4,118 shares.

The ASX stock still trades at decent value

Is this a good time to invest? The business regularly tells investors about its underlying value regularly.

At 9 January 2026, it had approximately $5.40 of pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA). At the time of writing, it’s trading at an attractive single-digit discount to this valuation. I like being able to buy shares for less than they’re worth.

The post I’d buy 5,883 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $1,000 of annual passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market
• 31%: This could be the best dividend growth stock on the ASX
• $20,000 in excess savings? Here’s how to try and turn that into a second income in 2026
• 5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Home Depot, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, Microsoft, and Visa. 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 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares rose 7.17% and delivered a total return, including dividends, of 10.66% in 2025.

The ASX 300 slightly outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which lifted 6.8% and gave a total return of 10.32%.

Here are four ASX 300 shares that outperformed the market average by a mile.

In fact, they more than doubled in value.

Let’s take a look.

4 ASX 300 shares that more than doubled in value last year

Electro Optic Systems Holdings (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price leapt by an astounding 632% to finish 2025 at $9.44 per share.

This ASX 300 industrial share is benefiting from the global defence spending megatrend.

Electro Optic Systems produces advanced weapon systems, counter-drone solutions, and space domain awareness programs.

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

This ASX 300 gold share skyrocketed 220% to close the year at 74 cents apiece.

Predictive Discovery is developing gold deposits within the Siguiri Basin in Guinea.

Its key asset is the Tier-1 Bankan Gold Project. Bankan has a mineral resource estimate of 5.53Moz.

Predictive Discovery completed the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in June last year.

The Guinea Government has approved the environmental Impact assessment, and the exploitation permit application is in the final stages.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

Fellow gold explorer Kingsgate joined the ASX 300 in the September quarter rebalance.

The Kingsgate share price flew 340% to finish at $5.63 per share on 31 December.

Kingsgate is an Australian gold and silver producer and the owner and operator of the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand.

The ASX 300 miner also owns and operates the Nueva Esperanza Gold-Silver Project in the Maricunga Belt in northern Chile.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price roared 197% higher to close at $1.58 per share in 2025.

The ASX 300 lithium share surged on the back of rising lithium prices, which began rebounding midway through 2025.

The lithium carbonate price is at a two-year high, up 105% over the past 12 months.

Renewed global demand and low supply are powering this turn of events.

Lithium prices experienced dramatic price falls in 2023, followed by 18 months of stagnation in 2024 and the first half of 2025.

There is a greater demand for lithium now to power batteries and new infrastructure as part of the green energy transition.

EV manufacturing is also back on the rise, with EVs outselling traditional cars in China for the first time last October.

China is also trying to stabilise lithium prices by implementing policy measures to avoid overproduction.

The post 4 ASX 300 shares that ripped 100% or more in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Bell Potter names the ASX lithium stocks to buy
• Why EOS, Humm, Pantoro Gold, and Robex shares are dropping today

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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking physical gold or mining indices simply shot the lights out last year.

Their outstanding performance came on the back of a 65% rally in the gold price — its best year for growth since 1979.

And that was on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The gold price reached a new record high of US$4,533 per ounce in December 2025.

That has since been surpassed at US$$4,642.58 this month.

The gold price has been on a tear since early 2024, driven by central banks buying the yellow metal.

Goldman Sachs Research analyst Lina Thomas said central banks have increased their gold purchases by fivefold since 2022.

The catalyst was Russia’s foreign-currency reserves being frozen following its invasion of Ukraine.

Goldman Sachs says central banks hoarding gold is a long-term structural shift.

The banks see gold as a hedge amid waning confidence in the US dollar.

US tariffs and uncertainty over the US President’s next moves on global trade and geopolitics have weighed on the US currency.

Central banks also see gold as a safe-haven investment amid increasingly volatile geopolitics.

Expectations of further interest rate cuts in the world’s biggest economy continue to support the gold price.

Investors remain highly optimistic about gold, with particularly large inflows into gold ETFs worldwide in the second half of 2025.

Some gold ETFs invest in physical gold, while others invest in gold miners.

Here are two ASX gold mining ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns for investors last year.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS)

The MNRS ETF gave a total return of 149% in 2025.

MNRS seeks to mirror the performance of the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

The MNRS ETF invests in 56 gold shares, with 44% in Canada, 14% in the US, 13% in South Africa, and 8% in Brazil.

Its largest holding is Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), which is dual listed on the ASX as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM).

There are no other ASX gold shares in the fund.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $262 million and a management fee of 0.57%.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

The GDX ETF gave a total return of 139% in 2025.

The GDX ETF invests in 93 stocks, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

Its largest holding is also Newmont Corp shares.

It also holds Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares at 2.7% of investments and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) at 2%.

This ETF has total net assets of $1.71 billion and a 0.53% fee.

The post 2 ASX ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 of the best performing VanEck ASX ETFs in the last year
• Own Betashares ASX ETFs? Here’s your next dividend
• From gold to copper and lithium: Mining stocks are on a tear and these 4 ASX ETFs tell the story

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.