In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.55% to 8,626.8 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)

The Chalice Mining share price is down 2.5% to $1.62. Investors have been selling this mineral exploration company’s shares this week following the release of the pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Gonneville Palladium-Nickel-Copper Project. The PFS confirmed a long life, globally competitive critical minerals mine in Western Australia, which it believes will generate $4.7 billion in free cashflow (pre-tax) over an initial 23 year open-pit mine life. In response to the update, UBS retained its neutral rating but slashed its price target down to $1.75.

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

The Predictive Discovery share price is down 7% to 65.5 cents. This morning, fellow gold miner Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) revealed that it was ending its pursuit of Predictive Discovery after its proposal was no longer deemed to be superior. It is possible that some investors were counting on a bidding war breaking out between Perseus and fellow suitor Robex Resources.

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

The Premier Investments share price is down 4% to $14.43. This has been driven by the retail conglomerate’s shares going ex-dividend this morning for its latest payout. In September, the Peter Alexander and Smiggle owner released its FY 2025 results and reported a sizeable a 31.1% jump in profit. This strong form allowed the company’s board to declare a fully franked final dividend to 50 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this dividend next month on 23 January.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is down almost 11% to 50 cents. Investors have reacted negatively to news that the gold miner will sell down interests in its Simberi gold operations in Papua New Guinea. Chinese company Lingbao Gold Group (HKG: 3330) has agreed to pay $370 million for a half stake in a subsidiary that would own 80% of the Simberi gold project. The remaining 20% of the project is being sold to Kumul Mineral Holdings for $100 million. The company notes that the “transaction values 100% of the Simberi Gold Project at $800 million which represents a 31% premium to the current St Barbara market capitalisation.”

The post Why Chalice Mining, Predictive Discovery, Premier Investments, and St Barbara shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Perseus Mining ends Predictive Discovery takeover bid
• Predictive Discovery updates market on amended Robex merger
• St Barbara announces $470 million worth of deals to bolster its expansion plans
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Wesfarmers shares offer one thing no other ASX 100 stock does – can it last?

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

The Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) share price is gaining altitude today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) airline closed yesterday trading for $9.65. In late morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $9.83 apiece, up 1.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.7% at this same time.

Up 10.8% since this time last year, and trading on a 5.4% fully franked trailing dividend yield, the Flying Kangaroo has handily outpaced the 3.4% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

And while shares have retraced from their all-time closing high of $12.12 on 28 August, they remain up 22.7% from their recent 9 April lows. And some analysts believe the Qantas share price, like the Greek legend Icarus, may have flown too close to the sun.

Sanlam Private Wealth’s Ben Faulkner, for example, cautions that the ASX 200 airline stock could be in for some turbulence (courtesy of The Bull).

Is the Qantas share price in danger of overheating?

“The share price has run ahead of fundamentals, making it vulnerable to any possible downgrades, in our view,” said Faulkner, who has a sell recommendation on the stock.

Citing potential headwinds for the Qantas share price, he said, “We believe the outlook for earnings growth is modest compared to the recent past.”

Then there’s the airline’s sizeable capital expenditures. In FY 2025, the company reported capital expenditure of $3.9 billion, up 22% from the prior year.

“Fleet renewal plans and sustainability investments require substantial capital, which could potentially mute shareholder returns moving forward,” Faulkner said.

In FY 2025, Qantas had 17 new aircraft delivered, with the company reporting in August that it had placed orders for 20 additional A321XLR aircraft.

Faulkner concluded that with the Qantas share price having risen from $8.02 on April 9 to trade at $9.74 on December 4, “investors may want to consider cashing in some gains”.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 travel share?

Qantas reported its FY 2025 results on 28 August.

Highlights included an 8.6% year-on-year increase in revenue and other income, which reached $23.82 billion. And despite the increased capex, underlying profit before tax of $2.39 billion was up 15% from the prior year. Statutory profit after tax increased by 28% to $1.61 billion.

With profits up, management declared a final Qantas dividend payout of 26.4 cents per share, fully franked.

Investors were clearly pleased with the results, with the Qantas share price closing up 9.1% on the day.

The post Has the Qantas share price flown too close to the sun? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is the Qantas share price a buy today?
• Own Qantas shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026
• Buy, hold, sell: Medibank, Qantas, and Xero shares
• Experts name 3 popular 200 ASX shares to sell now
• Are Qantas shares really a turnaround story? Here’s what the numbers say

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form on Thursday and charging higher. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.6% to 8,632 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are storming higher:

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE)

The Brazilian Rare Earths share price is up 7.5% to $3.98. This follows the release of the results of a scoping study for its bauxite project. The study was very successful and estimates that it will generate average EBITDA of US$102 million and free cash flow (FCF) of US$84 million per annum over a 17-year life. This is based on a spot bauxite price of US$71 per tonne. This means the project is forecast to have an after-tax net present value (8%) of US$630 million and a payback of 1.2 years. Brazilian Rare Earths also confirmed that it continues to target a demerger of the asset into a separate listing in 2026.

Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX: FEX)

The Fenix Resources share price is up 13% to 49.2 cents. This morning, this iron ore miner released its three-year production plan. After delivering production of 2.4Mt in FY 2025, it is now aiming to increase this materially over the next three years thanks to the Weld Range Project. Fenix is targeting production of 4.2 to 4.8 million tonnes in FY 2026, 4.7 to 5.3 million tonnes in FY 2027, and then 5.4 to 6 million tonnes in FY 2028. The miner also reaffirmed its FY 2026 cost guidance of A$70 to A$80 per tonne, with sustaining capital for the three-year period estimated at $35 million to $45 million.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is up over 5% to $14.73. This follows news that the travel agent giant is making an acquisition. Flight Centre plans to acquire the United Kingdom-based online cruise agency Iglu for 100 million pounds (A$201 million) upfront. There will also be 27 million pounds (A$54 million) in performance-based earnouts. Flight Centre’s managing director, Graham Turner, said: “This acquisition delivers immediate shareholder value through EPS accretion and is a game-changer in terms of the future opportunities it unlocks in the global cruise market. Iglu brings a strong brand and a scalable technology platform that aligns with FLT’s strategic objectives.”

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Guzman Y Gomez share price is up 3% to $21.87. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Morgans this morning. According to the note, in response to its latest limited time offer, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating and $32.30 price target on the burrito seller’s shares. It said: “The product leverages existing ingredients, meaning no incremental complexity or cost for stores, a margin-friendly innovation that aligns with GYG’s operational discipline. Management has repeatedly emphasised that menu innovation is a key lever for same-store sales (SSS) growth, and this launch reinforces that commitment. We reiterate our BUY rating.”

The post Why Brazilian Rare Earths, Fenix Resources, Flight Centre, and Guzman Y Gomez shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Bapcor, Guzman Y Gomez, and NextDC
• Guess which ASX mining stock is rocketing 14% on production plans
• Flight Centre share price soaring 9% on big acquisition news
• Gina Rinehart backed ASX rare earths stock jumps 17% on big news
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts

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

The Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) share price is in focus after the company confirmed its offer to acquire Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI) is no longer being considered a superior proposal. This comes after Predictive accepted a revised bid from Robex Resources, matching Persus’ previous offer.

What did Perseus Mining report?

• The Perseus proposal to acquire Predictive Discovery is no longer deemed a superior offer.
• Predictive’s board determined Robex’s revised agreement matched Perseus’s bid under pre-existing arrangement terms.
• The binding offer made by Perseus on 3 December 2025 is now terminated.
• Announcement approved for release by Managing Director and CEO Craig Jones.

What else do investors need to know?

Predictive Discovery exercised its right to review competing offers, and Robex Resources responded promptly with a matched bid under their agreement with Predictive. As a result, Perseus has withdrawn its acquisition proposal.

The outcome removes the immediate prospect of Perseus expanding its portfolio via this transaction. Investors may wish to monitor further strategic moves from the company in the acquisition space going forward.

What’s next for Perseus Mining?

With the Predictive Discovery deal off the table, Perseus may revisit its growth strategy and capital allocation plans. While this result is a setback for expansion via acquisition, Perseus’s existing projects and operations continue unchanged.

Investors can expect the company to keep evaluating value-adding opportunities that align with its longer-term strategy, as management maintains its focus on operational execution and portfolio strength.

Perseus Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perseus Mining shares have risen 94%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Perseus Mining ends Predictive Discovery takeover bid appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Charter Hall Retail REIT unveils December 2025 quarterly distribution
• Why Chalice Mining, Predictive Discovery, Premier Investments, and St Barbara shares are sinking today
• Ampol launches $500 million subordinated notes facility to back EG Australia acquisition
• Steadfast Group share price: $127.7m in acquisitions, premium growth in FY26 investor update
• Predictive Discovery updates market on amended Robex merger

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The copper price surged to a new all-time high earlier this week, breaking through US$11,770 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange.

The metal has now climbed by more than 30% since early January, helping to drive strong gains for some of the leading ASX copper stocks.

For example, shares in the world’s biggest copper miner BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are currently flirting with 52-week highs.

Overall, BHP shares have risen by about 13.6% since the start of the year to $45.39 per share at the time of writing.

Pure-play ASX 200 copper stocks have performed even better.

Shares in Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) have soared by 43% in the same period, with Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) shares also rocketing by 81%.

But one lesser-known copper exploration stock has stolen the spotlight in recent weeks.

That company is Havilah Resources Ltd (ASX: HAV), and a major development in November sent its share price soaring.

Let’s take a closer look at what unfolded.

Diversified ASX exploration stock

Havilah operates a portfolio of five exploration projects scattered across the Curnamona Province in northeastern South Australia.

Collectively, these assets are prospective for various commodities such as copper, gold, uranium, and iron ore.

However, the group’s flagship asset is the Kalkaroo copper, gold, and cobalt project.

Management believes Kalkaroo represents one of the larger undeveloped open-pit copper deposits in Australia.

It contains 1.1 million tonnes of copper, 3.1 million ounces of gold, and 23,200 tonnes of cobalt.

And last month, Havilah signed a transformative agreement with Sandfire that could move Kalkaroo closer to production.

What happened?

In essence, the two ASX copper stocks agreed to jointly advance Kalkaroo and form a strategic exploration alliance across the Curnamona Province.

Under the agreement, Sandfire can earn an 80% interest in Kalkaroo through a two-stage earn-in structure.

Firstly, the deal involves a $105 million upfront consideration to Havilah, comprising 70% Sandfire shares and 30% cash.

Secondly, Sandfire committed to spending another $105 million after completing a new pre-feasibility study (PFS) assessing the merits of building a mine at Kalkaroo.

Separately, Sandfire will also spend $30 million in regional exploration as it looks to unearth new copper mineralisation across the Curnamona Province.

Havilah Resources Technical Director, Dr Chris Giles, commented:

We are very pleased to have reached a binding agreement with Sandfire that provides for completion of a new Kalkaroo PFS, including a substantial drilling program targeting resource upgrade and expansion…

Immediate value for Havilah shareholders will be realised via an upfront payment, which also gives Havilah a direct stake in Sandfire’s successful global mining operations via the share component.

Havliah share price in focus

The market appeared to back the agreement.

Since the deal was revealed, shares in Havilah have moved from $0.27 a month ago to $0.57 per share at the time of writing.

This equates to a 111% return for shareholders in this ASX copper stock.

For comparison, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down by around 1.8% across the same timeframe.

The post This little-known ASX copper stock has bolted 111% in just one month. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Copper miner’s shares rocket 30% on deal with Sandfire Resources

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

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is in focus after the company announced a new A$500 million delayed-draw subordinated notes facility to support upcoming strategic moves, including its proposed acquisition of EG Australia and refinancing of existing debt.

What did Ampol report?

• Launched a wholesale offering of A$500 million delayed-draw subordinated notes
• Facility can be drawn in up to two tranches of A$250 million each over a ~13-month period
• Net proceeds earmarked for EG Australia acquisition and partial refinancing of March 2027 hybrid
• Notes feature a 12-year non-call period and 30-year final maturity
• Full A$500 million facility already fully underwritten by cornerstone institutional investors

What else do investors need to know?

Ampol’s innovative delayed-draw feature gives it increased flexibility, allowing the company to tap committed capital when needed over the next 13 months. This builds on its A$500 million subordinated notes issuance in October 2025, further strengthening its capital management plan.

The new facility is not being offered to retail investors and will not require disclosure under standard Australian corporate regulations. Moody’s is expected to grant the notes 50% equity credit, consistent with Ampol’s existing subordinated notes.

What did Ampol management say?

Greg Barnes, Group Chief Financial Officer, said:

We’re delighted to announce this new financing facility, which provides Ampol with a valuable form of long-dated capital linked to our proposed acquisition of EG Australia (which is subject to clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) and future hybrid refinancing initiatives. Investor commitments and issue pricing will be fixed upfront. Current market conditions are attractive and provide an opportune time to secure long-term financing. The unique delayed-draw feature gives Ampol significant flexibility with regards to issue timing, as well as use of proceeds and cancellation rights. The transaction is another example of our proactive approach to capital management.

What’s next for Ampol?

Ampol plans to use the proceeds firstly to help finance the purchase of EG Australia, subject to regulatory approval, and secondly to refinance existing subordinated notes callable in March 2027. The move sets the company up for steady long-term funding and increases its financial flexibility.

The closing date for institutional investor offers is expected to be on or about 19 December 2025. Successful execution of the facility will help ensure support for Ampol’s current capital allocation framework and strategic growth agenda.

Ampol share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ampol shares have risen 18%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ampol launches $500 million subordinated notes facility to back EG Australia acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Charter Hall Retail REIT unveils December 2025 quarterly distribution
• Perseus Mining ends Predictive Discovery takeover bid
• Steadfast Group share price: $127.7m in acquisitions, premium growth in FY26 investor update
• Predictive Discovery updates market on amended Robex merger
• ACCC blocks Insurance Australia Group’s RAC Insurance acquisition: What investors need to know

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

If you’re unsure where to invest your hard-earned money and need a few ideas to narrow down your choices, here are the ASX 200 shares that have caught my eye this week.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Ltd (ASX: SOL)

When it comes to passive income, Australian dividend royalty Soul Patts is high on my list. The company has the longest streak of annual dividend increases on the index. In FY25, it paid a total $1.03 per share, 100% fully franked. 

At the time of writing, the shares are trading at $35.40, and analysts have a unanimous neutral stance on the stock. However, they have a consensus $43.15 target price on Soul Patts shares, which implies a potential 21.89% upside over the next 12 months.

CSL (ASX: CSL)

CSL shares also made my list last week, but the stock is still very much on my radar. 

The Australian-based global biotechnology business has suffered a couple of brutal sell-offs this year, but I think the worst is finally over for the ASX 200 company and its shares.

CSL shares have gathered a lot of attention from CommSec investors recently, and have made the list of most-traded Aussie shares by CommSec clients yet again. If investor interest continues ramping up, I think the share price could too. 

Data shows the majority of analysts have a strong buy rating on CSL with a target price as high as $274.32. That implies a potential 52.26% upside from the $180.16 trading price at the time of writing.

WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC)

In the tech space, I still have my money on WiseTech shares. The shares suffered a steep sell-off last month, but I’m not concerned. The company has previously demonstrated resilience through various economic cycles, and it’s well-positioned to benefit from surging demand in emerging tech trends like automation and cloud computing.

I think the current $71.80 trading price presents a fantastic buying opportunity for investors looking to get in on a quality stock for cheap. 

Analysts are bullish on the ASX 200 share. The data shows 14 out of 16 have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares, with a maximum target price of $178.13. At the time of writing, that implies the shares could storm 146.68% higher.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) 

Megaport shares suffered amid the tech-sector sell-off last month. The software-defined network (SDN) service provider’s shares are currently 22.25% lower than their 3.5-year peak early last month. But they’re still up an impressive 85.58% for the year to date.

And it looks like there is a mega amount of growth ahead for the company, too. Its recent acquisition of Latitude.sh boosts Megaport’s existing offerings and provides a direct entry into a large, fast-growing end market.

Analysts are bullish on this stock as well and expect the share price to rise as high as $21.70, which implies a potential 57.59% upside at the time of writing.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) 

Nextdc shares soared nearly 80% from a multi-year low in April to an annual high of $17.99 in mid-September. The soaring share price came in leaps following solid financial results in April and August. The company also experienced a flurry of contract wins and elevated demand for data centre capacity. 

It also has significant growth plans in the pipeline. The company is bringing major new facilities online across key markets. Each one of these typically ramps up utilisation over several years, which helps to drive recurring revenue higher without steep costs.

Analyst consensus is for a buy or strong buy rating on the ASX 200 company’s shares with a maximum target price of $28.89. That’s a potential upside of a huge 110.65% at the time of writing.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares I’d buy with $10,000 this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Bapcor, Guzman Y Gomez, and NextDC
• Is WiseTech shaping up as a bargain after its steep decline?
• 3 ASX dividend stocks to brighten your Christmas stocking
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

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 positions in and has recommended CSL, Megaport, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited and WiseTech Global. 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.

The Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) share price comes into focus today as the company releases an investor update highlighting $127.7 million of recent acquisitions and an average 2.4% increase in base insurance premiums across its broker networks.

What did Steadfast Group report?

• Completed $127.7 million in acquisitions year-to-date for FY26 up to 30 November 2025
• Average year-to-date base insurance premium increase of 2.4% across the network
• Head office and subsidiary cost-saving measures expected to deliver $3.6 million in annualised savings (pro rata for 2H26)
• Australasian broker network grew from 402 to 421 brokers, with a ~25% increase in broker licence fee revenue for FY26
• Strong uplift in revenue mix, with a strategic shift from commission to fee revenue
• Ongoing investment in technology and underwriting agency modernisation

What else do investors need to know?

Steadfast continues to manage its expense base carefully, reporting reductions in non-critical marketing, events, and head office roles, while leveraging group scale to manage vendor spend more efficiently. The board has approved an increase in the group’s maximum gearing ratio to 40% (excluding premium funding borrowings) to support further growth and acquisitions.

The company’s acquisition strategy remains active, with $128 million of Australasian acquisitions completed so far in FY26, and a further $202 million in the “trapped capital pipeline” expected to complete by year-end, including opportunities such as Rothbury in New Zealand. Steadfast also highlighted successful consolidation and integration initiatives within its broker and underwriting networks.

What’s next for Steadfast Group?

Looking ahead, Steadfast will maintain its dual focus on organic and inorganic growth, particularly across the Australasian and international insurance networks. The group sees further opportunity in agency hubbing and technology investment to drive efficiency and client outcomes.

Steadfast is also working cooperatively with the ACCC as Australia’s new merger control regime begins on 1 January 2026, aiming to keep acquisition processes smooth and regulatory-compliant. The company’s expanding global footprint, especially following recent European and US acquisitions, should provide further scale benefits in the coming year.

Steadfast Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Steadfast shares have declined 14%, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Steadfast Group share price: $127.7m in acquisitions, premium growth in FY26 investor update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Predictive Discovery updates market on amended Robex merger
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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

There are lots of ASX stocks to choose from on the Australian share market.

But which are buys, holds, and sells? Let’s take a look at three popular options and see if analysts are bullish, bearish, or something in between. They are as follows:

Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

This auto parts retailer’s shares have come under significant pressure this month after downgrading its guidance for a second time.

While Morgans feels that this share price weakness could make the company a takeover target again, it isn’t enough for the broker to recommend Bapcor as a buy. Instead, it has put a hold rating and $1.95 price target on its shares.

Commenting on its recommendation, Morgans said:

Management reiterated confidence in a materially improved 2H (implied ~A$40m NPAT at the midpoint); however, the magnitude and timing of today’s downgrade – coming shortly after the 20-Oct update – warrants some caution around 2H expectations. The balance sheet also appears to be a point of concern, with BAP in discussions with lenders for covenant relief in FY26, with our estimates for gearing potentially approaching/exceeding the current covenant of ~3.0x (MorgansF ~3.05x).

Given significant share price weakness, renewed corporate appeal may arise. However, absent a takeover, we view the investment case as challenged given the sharp deterioration in earnings visibility, ongoing staff turnover, margin pressure, market share losses, balance sheet risk, and anaemic sales growth.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Morgans is more positive on this quick service restaurant operator and has named it as a buy with a $32.30 price target.

The broker feels that the burrito seller’s latest limited-time offer could be a boost to sales growth and supportive of its margins. It said:

GYG has launched its latest limited-time offer (LTO): the BBQ Chicken Double Crunch (BBQ CDC). Early feedback suggests the item is one of GYG’s more indulgent menu items and taste tests have been overwhelmingly positive. The product leverages existing ingredients, meaning no incremental complexity or cost for stores, a margin-friendly innovation that aligns with GYG’s operational discipline. Management has repeatedly emphasised that menu innovation is a key lever for same-store sales (SSS) growth, and this launch reinforces that commitment. We reiterate our BUY rating.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Over at Ord Minnett, its analysts were pleased with recent updates from this data centre operator.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating on NextDC’s shares with an improved price target of $20.50.

Commenting on its deal with ChatGPT owner, OpenAI, it said:

Ord Minnett also sees upside from the agreement between NextDC (NXT) and Open AI, whose ChatGPT product is the most popular of the artificial intelligence apps, to collaborate on the development and operation of the Australian company’s S7 data centre site at Eastern Creek in Sydney’s west where it plans to build a hyperscale AI campus and a large ‘supercluster’ of GPUs (graphics processing units). ‍

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 Buy, hold, sell: Bapcor, Guzman Y Gomez, and NextDC appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

APA Group (ASX: APA) shares are in the green on Thursday morning. At the time of writing, the shares are 0.22% higher at $9.12 each. That’s a 3.18% drop over the month but an impressive 29.91% hike over the year to date.

What about passive income from APA shares?

When it comes to high-yield dividends in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), the energy infrastructure group is a quiet achiever.

APA’s business is dependable. The company operates gas pipelines and energy infrastructure across Australia, with the majority of its revenue generated from long-term contracts. That means its cash flow, and therefore its dividends, are fairly predictable too.

In fact, APA has one of the longest dividend growth streaks on the ASX, having hiked its payout every year for the last 20 years. Its yield is usually much higher than the wider market, too, which makes it an appealing option for investors seeking an ongoing passive income.

In FY25, the company increased its annual dividend distribution by 1.8% to 57 cents per security. Dividend growth is never guaranteed to continue, but it looks like increases are likely for FY26 and beyond.  

APA said it plans to increase its payout to 58 cents per security in FY26, translating into a forward distribution yield of 6.2%.

It looks like the infrastructure group could easily increase its payout to at least 59 cents in FY27 and 60 cents in FY28.

What do the experts think of the stock?

Overall, analyst consensus is for a neutral stance on the stock. Data shows that 7 out of 10 analysts have a hold rating on APA shares. Another 2 have a buy or strong buy rating, and 1 has a sell rating.

At the time of writing, the average target price is $8.88; however, some expect the share price to climb up to $9.65.

Analysts at Macquarie are much more bullish than the majority. The broker recently raised its target price on APA shares following the company’s joint-venture announcement earlier this month. 

APA signed an agreement with CS Energy on the 2nd December to develop a new gas-powered plant in Queensland. APA said the investment in the plant is expected to “deliver returns consistent with its required return hurdles, will be funded from existing balance sheet capacity and forms part of APA’s $2.1 billion organic growth pipeline”. 

The broker has an outperform rating and $9.23 target price on APA Group shares. 

The post Are APA shares a good buy for passive income? 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 Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.