The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price has delivered a standout year for investors in 2025. The gold miner’s shares are up around 73% over the year, comfortably outperforming the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

After such a strong run, attention is now turning to what comes next for Northern Star shares in 2026.

Let’s take a closer look.

A strong finish to 2025

Several factors helped drive Northern Star’s share price higher over the past year.

The biggest tailwind has been the gold price rally, with gold climbing to around US$4,500 per ounce and hitting record highs during 2025. That strength flowed directly through to earnings and cash flow across the business.

Operationally, the company continued to deliver solid production across its portfolio, while keeping a close eye on costs. This helped support margins despite inflation pushing costs higher across the sector.

Importantly for income investors, Northern Star also increased its returns to shareholders. For FY25, the company declared a total dividend of 55 cents per share, made up of a 25-cent interim dividend and a 30-cent final dividend.

That marked the company’s largest dividend payout to date and highlighted the strength of its balance sheet.

What brokers are saying about Northern Star

Broker sentiment toward Northern Star remains positive heading into 2026, despite expectations cooling after the strong share price rally.

Several major brokers lifted their price targets during the second half of the year. Citi raised its target price by 17% to $28.10, while UBS cut its target by 2.1% to $27.60. Ord Minnett is slightly more conservative, with its target sitting around $27.00.

With Northern Star shares last trading at $26.73, brokers see some modest upside remaining.

Key things to watch in 2026

There are a few important themes investors should keep an eye on this year.

Gold prices

Gold remains the single biggest driver of Northern Star’s performance. If prices stay elevated, earnings and dividends should remain well supported.

Growth projects

The company continues to advance several major assets, including the Kalgoorlie Super Pit and longer-term growth options. Any positive updates on production growth or mine life extensions could support investor sentiment.

Dividend sustainability

After paying 55 cents per share in FY25, investors will watch closely whether Northern Star can maintain or grow dividends.

Foolish takeaway

Northern Star’s 2025 performance will be hard to repeat, but the company enters 2026 from a position of strength.

With solid assets, a strong balance sheet and reliable dividends, Northern Star shares remain well placed for long-term gold investors.

The post Here’s what I think investors in Northern Star shares can look forward to in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

There are plenty of ASX dividend shares out there for passive income investors to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s look at three excellent options that brokers rate as buys. They are as follows:

Cedar Woods Properties Limited (ASX: CWP)

Bell Potter thinks that Cedar Woods could be an ASX dividend share to buy.

It is one of Australia’s leading property developers with a portfolio that is diversified by geography, price point, and product type.

The broker is positive on Cedar Woods due to it being well-positioned to benefit from Australia’s chronic housing shortage.

It is expecting this to underpin dividends per share of 35 cents in FY 2026 and then 39 cents in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $8.56, this equates to 4.1% and 4.6% dividend yields, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $10.00 price target on its shares.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Another ASX dividend share that gets the thumbs up from analysts is Rural Funds.

It is a property company that owns agricultural assets such as cattle properties, vineyards, and cropping land. These properties are typically leased to high-quality tenants on long agreements with built-in rental increases.

This provides Rural Funds with great visibility on its future earnings and has supported solid earnings and dividend growth over the past decade.

Bell Potter is positive on the company’s outlook. It expects Rural Funds to pay dividends of 11.7 cents per share in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.97, this would mean dividend yields of 5.9% for both years.

The broker currently has a buy rating and $2.45 price target on its shares.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra could be an ASX dividend share to buy according to analysts. It is of course Australia’s telecoms leader.

It could be an attractive option due to its defensive cash flows, which are generated by its mobile, broadband, and network services. These are the kinds of essential services that Australians rely on every day for connectivity.

In addition, the company recently announced its Connected Future 30 plan, which aims to deliver strong and sustainable long-term earnings.

Macquarie is positive on the company and has an outperform rating and $5.04 price target on its shares.

As for income, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 20 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 21 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $4.87, this would mean dividend yields of 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares to buy for passive income in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• The pros and cons of buying Telstra shares in 2026
• Happy New Year: Here are two ASX stocks to watch going into 2026
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in December
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• Where to invest $10,000 into ASX 200 shares in January 2026

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

ASX 200 financial shares performed well despite a heavy second-half fall for sector leader Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index lifted 7.97% in 2025, with total returns (including dividends) of 12.05%.

By comparison, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted 6.8% and provided total returns of 10.32%.

This made financials the third best performer among the 11 market sectors last year.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), the largest company on the ASX, reached its peak in late June at $192 per share.

After a long run, which began in November 2023 and delivered about 85% capital growth for CBA investors, a correction was inevitable.

CBA shares fell 16% from their high point during the second half of the year to finish at $160.57 apiece on 31 December.

Overall, CBA shares managed a 12-month gain of just under 5%.

This pales in comparison to the capital gains of the financial sector’s top performers.

Let’s take a look at those stocks.

Which ASX 200 financial shares delivered the best capital growth?

1. Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

The Generation Development Group share price rose 66% to finish the year at $5.89 per share.

Generation Development Group is a market leader in retirement and investment solutions, including bonds.

For FY25, the company reported a 191% year-over-year lift in revenue to $141.3 million.

The underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) was $30.2 million, up 170% on FY24.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on this ASX 200 financial share for the new year.

The broker gives Generation Development shares a 12-month price target of $6.70.

2. Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price lifted 57% to finish the year at $9.41 per share.

Challenger’s CEO, Nick Hamilton, says the company built on its strong FY25 performance with a solid first quarter of FY26.

Hamilton said there was “continued momentum in annuity sales” and progress with several strategic initiatives to support future growth.

In 1Q FY26, total life sales totalled $2.5 billion, up 4%.

Fixed term annuity sales rose 29% to $1.1 billion, while lifetime annuity sales lifted 16% to $320 million.

Citi has a buy rating on this ASX 200 financial share with a price target of $10.25.

3. Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

The Hub24 share price rose by 38% to finish the year at $96.25 per share.

HUB24 operates an investment and superannuation platform.

After the company’s Investor Day in December, Bell Potter retained its buy rating with a slightly lowered target of $125.

The broker noted upside risk to the company’s funds under administration (FUA) guidance as it continues to expand its offering.

However, management also warned of higher expenses with cost growth guidance revised to 18% to 20%.

4. Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL) 

The Insignia share price ascended 28% to close at $4.56 per share on 31 December.

Insignia is a financial services company.

Last year, two takeover suitors pursued Insignia — Bain Capital Private Equity and CC Capital Partners.

In July, Insignia announced it had entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with CC Capital for $4.80 per share.

The company is yet to schedule a shareholders’ vote, saying regulatory processes are still underway.

Morgan Stanley has a hold rating on this ASX 200 financial share with a price target of $5.

5. ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price rose 27% to close at $36.34 on 31 December.

The ASX 200 bank share reached a new record of $38.93 per share in November.

Morgans has a sell rating on ANZ shares with a price target of $32.57.

The post Top 5 ASX 200 financial shares of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 Hub24 and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Challenger, Generation Development Group, and Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Australian supermarket landscape is dominated by two names – Coles and Woolworths. Not only this, but Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares also dominate the consumer staples sector in terms of market share. 

In fact, data from the ACCC shows these two companies combine for 67% of supermarket grocery sales nationally. 

These supermarket giants also make up important parts of many investors’ portfolios. 

But which presents more upside this year? 

Let’s compare the two. 

2025 performance 

Coles and Woolworths shares brought very different returns for investors last year. 

Coles shares rose by approximately 13.5% in 2025. 

Meanwhile, Woolworths shares fell by 3.6%. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 6.26%. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (^AXSJ) fell just over 1%. 

This strong performance from Coles was driven by solid supermarket sales growth and earnings in FY25.

In its full year results presentation, the company said Group EBITDA and EBIT from continuing operations (excluding significant items) increased by 11.0% and 7.5% respectively (normalised) underpinned by strong growth in Supermarkets earnings.

Meanwhile, Woolworths shares slumped on weaker sales results as earnings missed analysts expectations. 

In August, Woolworths shares dropped 12% in a single day following earnings results. 

In August, the company announced: 

• EBIT (FY2025) declined 12.6% to $2.75 billion. 
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) fell 17.1% to $1.39 billion compared with FY2024.
• Final dividend declared at 45 cents per share, fully franked, down 21.1% from the previous year’s final payout.

What are experts tipping for 2026 for Coles and Woolworths shares?

Both of these stocks may appeal to investors looking for defensive options.

Defensive shares can help protect your portfolio during periods of heightened market volatility and economic downturns.

Coles and Woolworths shares fall into this category because demand for their products (essential groceries) remains high even during an economic downturn when consumers reduce their overall spending.

On New Years Eve, The Motley Fool’s Samantha Menzies outlined the case for Woolworths shares now presenting value for investors after a weak 2025. 

Meanwhile, Macquarie is still bullish on further share price increases from Coles. 

The broker has an outperform rating and $26.10 price target on its shares. 

This indicates a further upside of more than 21% from today’s opening share price of $21.44. 

Elsewhere, TradingView has a 12 month price target of $23.83, which indicates an upside of approximately 11%. 

The post Are Coles or Woolworths shares a better buy in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

These two ASX dividend shares have a lot in common — and none of it is flashy.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) and Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) both offer an attractive dividend yield, trade at prices that still leave room for upside, and operate in businesses that rarely excite the market.

It’s the kind of boring reliability that income investors tend to love.

Here’s why.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

If you want to kick off 2026 without breaking a sweat, Sonic Healthcare might be the quiet achiever you’re looking for. No hype, no heroics, just a dependable healthcare heavyweight getting back into shape.

Sonic does the dull-but-deadly stuff: pathology and diagnostic imaging. Blood tests, scans and biopsies aren’t glamorous, but essential. And essential businesses tend to keep the lights on regardless of what markets are doing.

After a pandemic-fuelled sugar rush, Sonic’s share price came back to earth as COVID testing revenue faded and costs crept up. Investors lost interest. That’s exactly why this ASX dividend stock is worth another look. Expectations are now realistic, maybe even a little too low.

The long-term tailwinds haven’t gone anywhere. Ageing populations, rising chronic disease and more preventative testing all mean one thing: more samples through Sonic’s labs. You don’t postpone medical tests when times get tough.

Sure, risks remain. Government funding pressure and wage inflation won’t disappear overnight.

According to Bell Potter, the ASX dividend share is a good choice for passive income. The broker forecasts dividends of $1.09 per share in FY 2026 and $1.11 in FY 2027. With Sonic shares currently at $22.61, this would result in a dividend yield of 4.8% and 4.9%.

The broker has assigned a buy rating and a $33.30 price target to the ASX dividend share. Based on the share price at the time of writing, this implies a potential upside of 32% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter is on the bullish side, as the average 12-month target price is $26.73. However, that still points to 18% upside, and could bring the total gain in 2026 to well over 20%.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

Metcash won’t light up your group chat either. No, it’s just a solid business quietly getting on with it.

Metcash is the engine room behind IGA supermarkets, Mitre 10, Home Timber & Hardware and a swathe of independent liquor and foodservice retailers.

The big attraction? The dividend. Metcash has built a reputation as a dependable payer, and with the share price sitting at relatively modest levels, the yield of 5.3% looks especially tempting.

Operationally, the ASX dividend share does defensive well. Groceries, hardware and booze don’t go out of fashion, even when households tighten their belts. Long-standing relationships with independent retailers create sticky revenue, while diversification across business segments helps smooth out bumps.

The catch? Don’t expect fireworks. Growth is steady rather than spectacular, competition is fierce and margins are always under pressure.

UBS projects the ASX dividend share to increase its payout every year between FY25 to FY29. That could be great news for investors focused on passive income.

Early December, the company highlighted that its latest dividend will be worth 8.5 cents per share. It will come fully franked, as the payouts from Metcash tend to do.

Most analysts also predict moderate to strong upside. The average 12-months price target has been set at $3.93, which suggests a share price gain of 19%. That could lift total Metcash earnings, including dividends, close to the 25% mark.  

The post Snap up these reliable ASX dividend shares for income and upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

It’s no surprise that ASX gold stocks were among the top performers in 2025. Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) were two of the excelling ASX 200 shares, significantly driven by soaring gold prices.

The share price of Evolution Mining rocketed by 163% to $12.68 at the time of writing, while Regis Resources almost tripled in value to $5.7 billion.

Now the big question is: can the ASX gold stocks keep the rally going in the new year. Let’s have a closer look at the two belles of the 2025 ASX gold ball.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The outlook for further aggressive share price gains for ASX gold stocks will depend largely on how gold moves in the new year.

Evolution Mining boasts solid fundamentals: record gold output, strong cash flow and low operating costs that give it an edge when bullion is on a tear.

After a blistering run, several brokers have turned cautious on Evolution’s valuation. UBS dropped its view toward a sell at one point, trimming price targets amid weaker earnings forecasts, and flagged flat production of the gold miner ahead.

Analysts see a wide range of fair value forecasts, hinting the ASX gold stock may be pricing in more growth than justified. And with gold itself subject to dollar swings and macro flows, there’s a real risk this rocket needs to cool before blasting higher again.

Data at TradingView show that most market watchers are cautious on the $25 billion gold miner with a hold recommendation. The maximum 12-month price target is set at $14.45, a potential gain of 14%. The average price target is a lot lower at $11.20, which suggests a loss of 11%.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

Regis has also been on a tear, rebounding from losses to post a hefty profit as gold prices climbed. Broker sentiment is mixed but generally a bit more upbeat than Evolution Mining’s.  

Some analysts see solid production, beating targets and have nudged price targets higher, with healthy dividend yields rounding out the appeal.

Yet Regis Resources has its own hangups: guidance for FY26 suggests production flat or slightly softer and rising costs, hinting that the easy gains are behind it. And while demand for ASX gold stocks persists, the growth runway for Regis Resources looks less explosive than during last year’s run-up.

The most optimistic analyst sees a 27% upside for 2026 with a maximum price target of $9.60. However, the average price target is $6.95, 8% lower than the current share price of $7.55.

The two ASX gold stocks might still be a play if you’re in for the long haul, but don’t expect another runaway rally without bumps.

The post Is it too late to buy these two highflying ASX gold stocks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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 Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are one of the ways that Aussies can invest in a large blue-chip on the ASX. I think investors should consider investing in the ASX telco share at its current valuation.

The company may be best known for its mobile network, but it also has household and small business broadband customers, large enterprise customers, cybersecurity, Asia Pacific operations and infrastructure assets.

Its operations are diversified, but there’s more to weigh up than just diversification. Let’s dive in.

Positives

Telstra maintains an impressive market position in the mobile market, with a reputation for having the best network. It has a lot of good spectrum assets, the widest network coverage, and a status of reliability.

Being able to attract customers based on the quality of its network has given the company pricing power. It’s able to charge more than competitors (and increase prices), delivering a greater return on its investments in its network than competitors.

The business has seen its subscriber count increase over the years, giving the company pleasing operating leverage. It’s able to spread the cost of the network across more users, boosting profit margins. During FY25, Telstra’s mobile subscribers grew 0.6% including both consumer and wholesale users, with mobile revenue rising 3% to $11 billion and operating profit (EBITDA) grew 5% to $5.3 billion.

Growing profit is one of most important things that a business can do – Telstra’s mobile division is delivering the goods. I’m expecting more growth as Australia becomes increasingly digital and connected. FY25 saw earnings per share (EPS) grew 3.2% to 19.1 cents and cash EPS increased 12% to 22.4 cents.

Broker UBS projects the company’s reported EPS could climb to 22 cents in FY26, 23 cents in FY27, 25 cents in FY28, 28 cents in FY29 and 31 cents in FY30. That suggests EPS could rise by 62% between FY25 to FY30, which is a great outlook.

Finally, the dividend is solid and continues to grow. UBS estimates that the dividend per share could be 21 cents in FY26, translating into a future grossed-up dividend yield of approximately 6%, including franking credits.

Negatives regarding Telstra shares

The Telstra share price has performed pleasingly for shareholders, rising around 20% in the past year. However its earnings have not risen as fast as that, resulting in a higher price/earnings (P/E) ratio.

A higher P/E ratio is not preferable, but I still think the current valuation is attractive. According to the UBS forecasts, the Telstra share price is valued at 22x FY26’s estimated earnings.

I think it’s also a good idea to monitor how much Telstra charges for its mobile subscriptions, to ensure Telstra remains competitive. Competition could win market share if they’re able to offer deals that are cheap enough to win disgruntled customers. The company’s average revenue per user (ARPU) may not grow as fast in the next three years as the last three.

But, with those aspects in mind, I still think the Telstra share price is a good long-term buy.

The post The pros and cons of buying Telstra shares in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fought hard but recorded a very small decline. The benchmark index fell slightly to 8,714.3 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Friday following a poor night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day flat this morning. On New Year’s Eve on Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 0.6%, the S&P 500 was down 0.75%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.75%.

Oil prices fall

It could be a poor finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices fell. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.9% to US$57.42 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.8% to US$60.85 a barrel. This means that oil prices had their worst year since 2020.

BHP and Rio Tinto on watch

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares will be on watch on Friday. On Wednesday night, both miners’ NYSE listed shares ended the year in the red. BHP’s shares were down 0.9% and Rio Tinto shares were down 0.6%. Though, it is worth noting that both giants recorded strong gains for 2025 despite this.

Gold price tumbles

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a tough finish to the week after the gold price tumbled lower. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1% to US$4,341.1 an ounce. Traders were selling gold and silver after CME raised its precious metals futures margins again. This couldn’t stop the gold price from recording a gain of over 60% for 2025.

Tech weakness

Aussie tech stocks Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares could have a poor session after weakness in the US tech sector on New Year’s Eve. Life360’s NASDAQ listed shares fell almost 4%, which doesn’t bode well for today’s session. Nevertheless, the location technology company’s shares still recorded a gain of approximately 50% for 2025.

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

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

ASX 200 gold shares ripped in 2025 on the back of two consecutive years of extraordinary growth in the gold commodity price.

The best performing ASX 200 gold share for capital growth was Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR).

Shares in Pantoro Gold, which only joined the benchmark index in the December quarter rebalance, rocketed 220%.

Next best was Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares, up 206%.

The Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price roared 196% and Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares ripped 194%.

Rounding out the top five ASX gold shares of 2025 is Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU), up 121%.

The safe-haven asset’s ascendancy last year also led to extraordinary gains for the large-cap players.

The share price of the market’s largest gold miner, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), rose by 73% in 2025.

The second and third biggest ASX 200 gold shares more than doubled in 2025.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares ripped 164% while Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares increased 152%.

Gold price rises 65% in 2025

The gold price experienced its strongest year of gains since 1979, rising 65% last year.

The strength of last year’s rally was surprising after an impressive 27% gain in 2024.

The yellow metal clocked a new record high of US$4,533 per ounce in December. It finished the year at US$4,319.82 per ounce.

A combination of tailwinds including interest rate cuts, geopolitical tensions, and aggressive central bank buying has pushed gold higher.

Many retail investors piled into the trend fairly late, with inflows into gold ETFs rising strongly in the second half of 2025.

Even non-shares investors got in on the act, with city workers lining up in their lunch breaks to buy physical bullion from dealers.

Meanwhile, other Aussies cashed in their gold jewellery.

What’s next for the gold price?

America’s biggest bank, JPMorgan and French bank Societe Generale SA both project the gold price to reach US$5,000 per ounce in 2026.

Goldman Sachs is tipping US$4,900 per ounce by the end of the new year.

Far East Capital, a mining investment advisory firm, commented (courtesy ListCorp):

Longer term, we expect to see continued buying by the Chinese central bank as a major theme that will not terminate soon.

It now seems assured that the next test will be at US$5,000/oz. 

Ed Coyne from global asset manager Sprott Inc says the gold price rally has changed the margins of gold mining shares worldwide.

Coyne said:

What’s been interesting is that investors understand the value of gold from a diversification standpoint.

Still, they are just now starting to wake up to the opportunity in the mining stocks as well, so we’re excited about that.

He added:

Now that gold has continued to perform as it has, the margins on these mining stocks are spectacular.

The return on invested capital, the return on assets, and the return on all these different metrics look very attractive.

Their debt-to-equity ratio is very attractive. Their dividend yields are actually higher than the S&P 500.

The post Gold stars: 5 best ASX 200 gold shares of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 and JPMorgan Chase. 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.

Well, 2026 is off and running, officially. We’ve already looked at five ASX shares I’d love to add to my portfolio in 2026 this January. But that’s not enough to satisfy my ambition for 2026. I also love investing in US stocks for my ASX share portfolio, given that the United States houses the best companies on the planet.

So today, let’s talk about five US stocks that I would love to buy, or buy more of, this year.

5 US stocks I’d love to buy in 2026

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN)

First up, no one will be surprised to see Amazon. This e-commerce and cloud giant has been in my portfolio for many years. But I would love to add some more in 2026. I am still excited about this company’s future growth. Amazon’s online marketplace has never looked more dominant, given that it is entrenched in economies right around the world.

This company’s AWS cloud platform also continues to grow at an astounding pace, and seems to be carving out a place as the clear market leader in cloud-based infrastructure.

Amazon stock had a fairly flat 2025, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it is my first US stock purchase this year.

Duolingo Inc (NASDAQ: DUOL)

Duolingo is another US stock that I’ve owned for a while now, and one that has been particularly lucrative to my portfolio. I am delighted to see this language-learning company report seemingly evergreen growth year after year, both in active users and through the number of courses users can engage with (chess was a notable 2025 addition).

Despite its impressive growth rates, Duolingo is a stock that tends to be highly volatile. Over 2025, for instance, it got as high as US$544.93 and as low as US$166.27 a share. I’m hoping for more volatility this year, and a low price to pick up more shares at.

S&P Global Inc (NYSE: SPGI)

Now onto a stock that I don’t yet own, but would like to by this time next year. S&P Global is a financial services company you might know best from its stewardship of many of the world’s most important stock market indexes. These include both the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the S&P 500 Index.

The rise of index investing over the past decade or two has been a boon for S&P Global. It has been able to compound revenues and profits at a remarkably consistent rate. This is evidenced by its 52-year streak of annual dividend increases, which have averaged an inflation-crushing rise of 7.46% per annum over the past five years. If there is a pullback opportunity to buy this company in 2026, I won’t miss it.

Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ: COST)

Costco is the US stock behind the eponymous supermarket chain. Costco’s unique membership model and bulk-oriented grocery warehouses have helped the company stand out against fierce global competition, including in Australia. We can see this in action through Costco’s 21-year streak of dividend increases, which have averaged an impressive 12.97% per annum over the past five years.

Costco stock also had an uncharacteristically poor year in 2025. If this trend continues in 2026, I will be happy to add some more shares to my existing position.

Mastercard Inc (NYSE: MA)

Our final US stock is a company we’d all be familiar with, and one that is probably in your wallet as we speak. Mastercard is the global payments giant that forms a near-duopoly with its fierce rival, Visa.

Mastercard has one of the most picture-perfect growth trajectories you can imagine, with more than a decade of double-digit growth in revenues, earnings, profits and dividends in the bank. Its annual dividend growth has averaged 13.7% over the past five years.

I’ve held Mastercard shares for many years, but have always regretted not loading the boat to the brim at the time of my first purchase. If I have the opportunity to rectify this mistake in 2026, I would be delighted to.

The post I want to buy Amazon and these 4 US stocks in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Duolingo, and Mastercard. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Duolingo, Mastercard, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon and Mastercard. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.