The S&P/ASX 300 index (ASX: XKO) tracks the largest 300 companies here in Australia by market capitalisation.

Year to date, the ASX 300 index has slightly outperformed the ASX 200 index, which is the benchmark index here in Australia. 

So what does this tell us?

Broadly speaking, there were companies that sat outside the largest blue-chip stocks that had strong returns this year. 

Last week I covered two ASX 200 stocks that doubled in 2025. 

This proves that there is still plenty of upside even amongst large companies. 

Here are two ASX 300 shares that outperformed these and tripled in value in 2025. 

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

One of the hottest covered topics this year has been the success of gold shares.

Global gold prices have climbed to all-time highs (above US $4,400/oz) in late 2025, driven by safe-haven demand, expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts, and geopolitical tensions.

One of the winners in this bull run has been Kingsgate Consolidated. 

It is a gold and silver miner, explorer, and mine developer operating in the Pacific Rim. The company’s main project is the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand. 

Kingsgate also operates the 100%-owned Nueva Esperanza Gold/Silver Project in Chile.

At the start of 2025, these ASX 300 shares were trading for approximately $1.29 each. 

Yesterday, shares closed at $5.52. 

That’s a 327.9% rise in less than 12 months. 

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Another emerging theme in 2025 has been the investor push towards defence stocks. 

Global and Australian spending in defence is increasing at a rapid rate due to global conflict. 

One of the key benefactors in 2025 has been DroneShield, one of the most hotly covered ASX 300 stocks this year. 

It has secured several milestone contracts this year. 

The company develops and sells artificial-intelligence-powered hardware and software to detect drones used by the likes of terrorists and criminals. The company’s solutions protect people, organisations, and critical infrastructure from the intrusion of drones.

It rose almost 8% yesterday alone, taking its yearly growth to 300%. 

It’s worth noting this hasn’t come without volatility.

From January to October it rose more than 700%, before losing ground in the last couple of months. 

Do these ASX 300 shares have further upside?

For investors who were not fortunate enough to reap the benefits of these massive gains in 2025, there could be further upside. 

A recent report from Bell Potter included a $4.40 price target for DroneShield shares. 

This indicates a further 46% upside for the ASX 300 stock. 

For Kingsgate shares, TradingView has a one year price target of $6.83, which indicates a further 23% upside from yesterday’s closing price of $5.52. 

The post Investors tripled their returns with these ASX 300 shares this year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why DroneShield, Meteoric Resources, NextDC, and Nick Scali shares are charging higher today
• Why is everyone talking about DroneShield shares today?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX 200 stocks storming higher in this week’s sinking market

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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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 ended 0.7% higher at the close of the ASX on Monday afternoon, to $176.31 a piece. Over the past 6 months the shares have shed 26.78% of their value and they’re now trading 37.3% lower than the beginning of 2025.

It’s no secret that CSL shares have been through the ringer this year. The Australian biotech company’s shares suffered a brutal sell-off in mid-August. This followed its FY25 results and surprise restructure announcement and news of a strategic demerger sparked investor panic. 

As a result, the CSL share price tanked, losing around a fifth of its value within just one week. At the time, analysts said the investor reaction was way overdone and unwarranted but the confidence dip only continued.

Fast forward to just two and a half months later and the company’s share price dropped another 19.2% to a seven-year low of $170.77 in late-October. This happened when it downgraded its FY26 revenue and profit growth guidance. 

CSL management originally forecast revenue growth of 4-5% and net profit after tax before amortisation (NPATA) growth of 7-10% for FY26. But in October revenue guidance was downgraded to 2-3% and NPATA growth guidance to 4-7%. 

CSL also said its planned demerger of its Seqirus business will be pushed back.

So, should you buy CSL shares before the end of the year?

CSL has faced a number of headwinds this year, and its share price has suffered several sharp plunges. But I think we could be beginning to see green shoots of recovery.

But CSL’s core business remains robust and demand for its products continues to grow globally. The company is also entering a key investment phase which could help boost its financials and I’d expect investor confidence to follow suit.

I think that at the current trading price of just $176.31, which is close to its seven-year low, investors have the opportunity to buy the biotech company’s shares at a rare discount.

What do the experts think?

Analysts are optimistic that the shares are getting ready to rocket higher. Data shows that 13 out of 18 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on CSL shares. The maximum target price is $274.26 a piece. At the time of writing this implies the shares could storm 55.55% higher in 2026. 

The team at UBS think that CSL shares are materially undervalued at current levels. The broker recently put a buy rating and a $275.00 price target on them. 

The post Should you buy CSL shares before 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I think these ASX blue chips shares are primed for a major rebound in 2026
• The easy way ASX investors can build wealth like Warren Buffett
• How to turn $25,000 into $100,000 with ASX stocks
• Why I think these 3 ASX shares are top-quality buying at today’s prices
• Why I’d buy dirt-cheap ASX shares now and aim to hold them for a decade

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. 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.

Every market cycle produces its winners and losers. And sometimes, the losers aren’t poor-quality companies at all, they are simply dealing with temporary headwinds.

That’s what makes times like these so interesting. Several high-quality ASX blue chips have been marked down over the past year, not because their businesses are broken, but because the market has lost patience.

For investors who are willing to look beyond the next quarter, that disconnect can create attractive entry points.

Here are two ASX blue chip shares I believe are primed for a major rebound in 2026.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL has spent decades earning its reputation as one of the highest-quality companies on the ASX. Its plasma therapies, vaccines, and specialty medicines give it a deeply entrenched position in global healthcare, which is a sector where scale, expertise, and regulatory trust matter enormously.

Yet despite this, CSL shares have been hit hard in 2025. Concerns over a margin recovery at CSL Behring, uncertainty surrounding the Seqirus demerger, weak influenza vaccine rates in the United States, and noise around US tariff policy have clouded what remains a fundamentally strong long-term outlook.

Strip out the market anxiety, and the underlying story hasn’t changed for this biotech. Plasma collections continue to rise, new therapies are advancing through its R&D pipeline, and CSL is investing heavily in North American manufacturing to support future growth. The company’s earnings power and competitive moat remain intact.

It is rare to see CSL trading at such a meaningful discount to its long-term averages. If sentiment improves in 2026, this blue chip ASX share could be one of the ASX’s rebound stories.

Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech has transformed global logistics software with its flagship CargoWise platform, which is now used by some of the biggest freight forwarders and supply-chain operators on the planet. Its model is sticky, scalable, and increasingly global, which is the kind of combination tech investors dream about.

However, the past year brought a rare step backwards in market sentiment. Founder controversies, delays to product launches, and a shift to its business model have led to a significant share price pullback. But none of these issues reflect a deterioration in the long-term fundamentals.

CargoWise continues to expand its reach through acquisitions, large enterprise customers are deepening their usage, and WiseTech is still growing at a strong rate.

If its performance improves, it stays clear of further controversies, and transitions successfully to its new business model in 2026, I think the rebound could be sharp for this blue chip ASX share.

The post I think these ASX blue chips shares are primed for a major rebound in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should you buy CSL shares before 2026?
• The easy way ASX investors can build wealth like Warren Buffett
• 2 ASX 200 shares with massive upside potential according to brokers
• Why Domino’s, HMC Capital, Regis Healthcare, and WiseTech shares are falling today
• How to turn $25,000 into $100,000 with ASX stocks

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended 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.

Interest in artificial intelligence (AI) boomed in 2025 as rapid technology developments and improving investor confidence pushed ASX AI shares higher for the year. 

Here are 3 ASX AI stocks which are tipped to soar even higher in 2026.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) 

Megaport provides network-as-a-service (NaaS) connectivity that helps power AI applications that need fast data speeds. It lets businesses quickly and securely link up to cloud services, data centres and other digital infrastructure, without the need for physical hardware.

It’s this strong link to cloud computing which puts Megaport in a good spot for long-term growth. As more companies lean into AI and keep scaling up their digital operations, demand for flexible, high-speed connectivity should only keep growing.

Megaport expanded its network presence in the first half of FY25 and launched new products to boost its offering. More recently, Megaport completed an institutional placement in mid-November. This was just a day after it revealed that it was raising $220 million to fund the acquisition of Latitude.sh for US$150 million in cash and scrip. The acquisition boosts Megaport’s existing offerings further and gives it a direct entry into a large, fast-growing end market.

At the ASX close on Monday, Megaport’s share price closed 2.46% higher at $12.90. Over the past year the shares have rocketed 73.85% higher. And analysts are bullish that the shares will keep climbing in 2026 too. TradingView data shows 10 out of 14 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares with a maximum target price of $21.70 for 2026. That implies an upside of 68.22% next year. 

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Another ASX AI stock set to climb higher in 2026 is NextDC. It’s Australia’s leading independent data centre operator and it provides secure facilities where businesses can store their IT systems to keep their networks running smoothly and reliably.

At the time of writing, its share price has tumbled nearly 30% since peaking at an annual high of $17.99 in mid-September. The company suffered a huge protest vote against its remuneration report at its annual general meeting (AGM) in November. It has also been caught up in the tech-led market pullback over the past couple of months.

At the close of the ASX on Monday its shares were 6.62% higher for the day at $12.73. Over the past year they’ve fallen 17.01%.

But it looks like NextDC has great prospects for 2026, and analysts are bullish that the company can pull off significant growth throughout the year. Nextdc has an aggressive expansion plan to meet an ever-increasing demand for data storage and cloud services. 

Data shows analysts consensus that the shares are a buy, with a target price as high as $28.89 per share. At the time of writing that implies a huge 126.94% upside in 2026.

Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ) 

Macquarie Technology is one of Australia’s leading data centres, which provides infrastructure for cloud computing, cybersecurity, and telecommunications. The business has posted 20 consecutive half-years of operating income growth. 

It is clearly fast-growing, although its share price has fluctuated wildly over the past 12 months anywhere between $91.39 and $52.66.

At Monday’s close of the ASX, the share price was 3.17% higher at $68 a piece. Over the past year, its shares have dropped 20.37% but the company is optimistic that it’ll have more growth ahead and analysts seem to agree. 

Forecasts for Macquarie Technology have a maximum estimate of $112 throughout 2026. That implies a potential upside of as much as 64.71% at the time of writing.

The post 3 ASX artificial intelligence stocks with up to 130% upside in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.

Last week I covered three ASX ETFs that have historically performed well but fell flat in 2025. 

These centred around sectors like financials and real estate that had a slow second half of the calendar year. 

As the year comes to a close, I am continuing my search for funds that underperformed this year. 

While past performance isn’t a guarantee of future performance, these funds had a strong track record of bringing investors strong returns. 

With that sentiment in mind, here are two more ASX ETFs that have fallen below historical performance in 2025. 

VanEck Msci International Small Companies Quality ETF (ASX: QSML)

This fund gives investors a diversified portfolio of 150 international developed market small-cap quality growth securities.

The success of small-cap companies has been an emerging story in 2025. 

Data shows attention is increasingly shifting to smaller and mid-sized companies.

These can offer potential for outsized growth and portfolio broadening. 

This fund may be set to catch these tailwinds in the next 12 months. 

According to VanEck, this fund focuses on quality small companies that have delivered outperformance over the long term relative to other global small companies benchmarks and also relative to large- and mid-cap benchmarks.

In 2025, the fund has risen a modest 4.9%. 

However historically, it has brought returns of more than 11% per annum including dividends. 

The fund was first listed in early 2021. 

The fund is largely weighted towards US securities, with almost 80% of the underlying holdings being US companies. 

By sector, its largest exposure is to: 

• Industrials (38.2%)
• Financials (18.9%)
• Information Technology (12.1%)

Etfs Morningstar Global Technology ETF (ASX: TECH)

According to Global X, this ETF seeks to invest in companies positioned to benefit from the increased adoption of technology. 

This includes companies whose principal business is in offering computing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and/or cloud and edge computing infrastructure and hardware.

At the time of writing, it is made up of 39 underlying holdings. 

Its largest exposure is to companies focussed on: 

• Software (34.4%)
• Semiconductors and semiconductor equipment (21.1%)
• Financial services (12.4%)

It is heavily weighted towards US companies, with more than half its portfolio being US based holdings. 

So far in 2025, it has fallen more than 8%. 

However in the last 5 years, it has a p.a. return of 8.45%. 

With global investment in these booming sectors continuing, there’s good reason to believe in a bounce back for this fund in 2026. 

The post Two ASX ETFs I’m targeting for a bounce back next year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Investors tripled their returns with these ASX 300 shares this year
• Should you buy CSL shares before 2026?
• I think these ASX blue chips shares are primed for a major rebound in 2026
• 3 ASX artificial intelligence stocks with up to 130% upside in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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 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.

On Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week with a disappointing decline. The benchmark index rose 0.9% to 8,699.9 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to edge higher

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Tuesday following a decent start to the week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 6 points higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.5%, the S&P 500 is 0.6% higher, and the Nasdaq is up 0.5%.

Oil prices jump

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares such as Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.7% to US$58.06 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.7% to US$62.11 a barrel. Traders were buying oil after Donald Trump took action against Venezuelan tankers.

Elders dividend

It is a good day to be a shareholder of agribusiness company Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD). Later today, the company will be rewarding them with their latest dividend payment. Last month, Elders released its FY 2025 results and reported a 34% jump in underlying net profit after tax. This allowed the company’s board to declare a fully franked final dividend of 18 cents per share.

Gold price storms higher

ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a good session on Tuesday after the gold price stormed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.8% to US$4,467.4 an ounce. The precious metal hit a record high on US rate cut optimism and increased safe haven demand.

BHP and Rio Tinto set to rise

It could be another good day for miners such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) on Tuesday. Both mining giants are up around 2% in late trade on Wall Street, which bodes well for today’s performance. Rio Tinto’s NYSE listed shares have hit a 52-week high overnight, whereas BHP’s NYSE listed shares are just a fraction short.

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

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

Owning Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) shares could be a pleasing choice for long-term dividend income.

It may not have a reputation for being an ASX dividend share year, but if it’s able to deliver year after year growth, then it could build a reputation for reliability.

There’s no guarantee of how dividend payments are going to play out, but analysts are optimistic that the owner of the Chemist Warehouse, Amcal and Discount Drug Store brands could perform for investors. It has a presence in Australia and New Zealand, as well as countries including Ireland and the UAE.

FY26

The 2026 financial year is Sigma Healthcare’s current financial year, so it’s the most relevant for investors to know.

According to the forecast from the broker UBS, the owner of Chemist Warehouse is predicted to deliver an annual dividend per share of 4 cents.

UBS says that Chemist Warehouse, the key driver of Sigma Healthcare, is the leader in the attractive health and beauty market, which is growing at 6% per year, according to UBS’ estimates.

Pleasingly, the broker expects Sigma Healthcare to continue gaining market share in the coming years. Due to leadership in price and range, regulatory advantages, compliance and its ability to fulfil online and in-store orders.

The sales growth, with both like-for-like (LFL) sales and store network expansion going well, is delivering operating leverage.

Chemist Warehouse LFL sales growth is expected by UBS to increase to 13.2% to in FY26. Its store count is forecast to grow at 33 per year because of franchisor support, acquisitions and international growth in existing and possibly new markets.

Combined with gross profit growth and the realisation of synergies after the merger, the company’s sales should support operating profit (EBIT) margin growth, according to UBS. The broker predicts the EBIT margin can grow from 10.1% in FY26 and rise each year to 11.6% in FY30.

With all of that in mind, UBS predicts that owners of Sigma shares could receive an annual dividend per share of 4 cents in FY26.

FY27

Chemist Warehouse sales are expected to see LFL growth of 10.2% in FY27 and then high single digit growth through to the end of the decade thanks to an ageing population, health prioritisation, higher value medicines and greater category participation and spending per consumer in health and beauty.

This could help drive the company’s annual dividend per share to 5 cents in FY27.

FY28

Sales, margins and profit could continue to rise in the 2028 financial year. This could help deliver a rise in the company’s dividend per share to 6 cents.

FY29

The good times are predicted to continue into the 2029 financial year, giving the business even more economic firepower to increase the payout.

In FY29, UBS predicts the business could hike its payout again to 7 cents per share.

FY30

The final year of this series of projections could see the business decide to declare a dividend per share of 8 cents. If these forecasts prove correct, it would mean the dividend doubles between FY26 and FY30.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for Sigma shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Macquarie names its top ASX consumer staples and consumer discretionary stock picks
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• Is Sigma Healthcare share a healthy buy, after hitting new lows?
• Should I buy Sigma Healthcare shares for the Chemist Warehouse exposure?
• Buy, hold, sell: Sigma Healthcare, CSL, and Lynas shares

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 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.

Warren Buffett didn’t build his fortune by being clever every week. He built it by being patient for decades.

That lesson is easy to admire and surprisingly hard to follow, especially in today’s market.

Share prices move every second the market is open, headlines swing from fear to euphoria, and investors are constantly tempted to do something.

Warren Buffett’s success is a reminder that, more often than not, the smartest move is to do very little, once you own the right businesses.

Time in the market

Buffett has often said that his favourite holding period is forever. That doesn’t mean he never sells, but it does mean he gives great businesses the time they need to compound.

Earnings grow, competitive advantages strengthen, and short-term setbacks fade into the background.

For ASX investors, this is a powerful idea. Australia has fewer global giants than the United States, but it still has companies capable of delivering long stretches of value creation if investors are willing to hold through uncomfortable periods.

A good example of this is CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL). Its share price has gone through multiple rough patches over the years, driven by temporary margin pressure, regulatory noise, or changing sentiment toward healthcare stocks. Investors who sold during those periods often missed the recovery that followed as the company continued to grow its global plasma and biotech operations.

Ignore the noise

Another key Warren Buffett lesson is ignoring short-term share price moves and focusing instead on how the business itself is performing. He doesn’t worry about daily volatility if the company’s competitive position and long-term economics remain intact.

On the ASX, realestate.com.au operator REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) is a good example. Property cycles come and go, listing volumes rise and fall, and sentiment can swing wildly. But the underlying strength of REA’s digital platform, pricing power, and dominant market position has allowed it to grow earnings over long periods regardless of short-term housing market fluctuations.

It is worth remembering that patience here doesn’t mean blind faith. It means understanding the business well enough to distinguish between temporary headwinds and permanent damage.

Compounding rewards patient ASX investors

Compounding often gets described as the eighth wonder of the world, and it works best when investors stay invested. Every year a quality business reinvests profits, improves efficiency, or expands its addressable market, the effect builds on itself.

This is why selling too early can be so costly. Many ASX success stories delivered the bulk of their returns over long holding periods, not in quick bursts. TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), for example, has rewarded investors who were prepared to hold through years of steady, sometimes unexciting progress as its recurring revenue model quietly compounded.

Foolish takeaway

Warren Buffett’s patience isn’t passive. It is deliberate. He spends time selecting high-quality businesses, then gives them the space to perform.

For ASX investors today, I think the lesson is clear. You don’t need to predict the next market move or trade frequently to succeed. By owning strong businesses, tuning out the noise, and letting time work in your favour, you give yourself the same advantage Buffett has relied on for decades

The post The easy way ASX investors can build wealth like Warren Buffett appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to turn $25,000 into $100,000 with ASX stocks
• Why I think these 3 ASX shares are top-quality buying at today’s prices
• How to build significant wealth like Warren Buffett with ASX shares
• Why I’d buy dirt-cheap ASX shares now and aim to hold them for a decade
• Where will CSL shares be in 5 years?

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

As 2025 hurtles towards its close, the turn of the calendar is a great time to take stock of both our stock market portfolios and our investing habits and assess if they are fit for 2026.

It has been a profitable, if a little volatile, year for investors in 2025. The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 6.04% since 1 January as it currently stands, while the American S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) has put on a more impressive 16.46%. 

But as to what 2026 might bring? No one knows. 

With that in mind, here are three golden rules of investing that I think most investors will benefit from following into the new year and beyond.

3 golden rules of stock market investing for 2026

Have a plan and stick to it

Most investors will tell you they have a plan, but when markets start doing things that we don’t like, that plan often gets thrown out the window. The old saying about fixing the roof when the sun is shining applies well here. As we venture out into 2026, take some time to take a look at each of your portfolio’s positions, why they are there, and what you think might happen to them if markets get a serious case of the wobbles. It’s best to trim or sell out of companies that you might not have faith in when everything is rosy. Not when investors are panic-selling.  

So why not take the opportunity to take a look at your entire portfolio over the Christmas break, and decide what you’d like to see from it next year? I’m already preparing a watchlist for 2026 so that any dividends or surplus cash I enjoy next year will quickly find a new home. 

Ignore the fads

One of the most consistent trends in investing is the emergence of fads. One year it might be lithium or battery stocks, the next, uranium miners, cryptocurrency shares, or AI stocks. 

These fads tend to see huge amounts of money rush into any company that might possibly stand to benefit from a future trend. It is usually an illogical and exuberant phenomenon to watch, and one that tends to fizzle out at some point. This is usually built on an initial trend that offers a genuine opportunity. But it eventually gets ahead of itself as investors become so excited at the prospect of a quick buck that fundamentals are forgotten. 

These fads can be dangerous for investors, and in my experience, are best avoided. Keep an eye out for whatever craze hooks investors in 2026. It could be AI, or some other hot corner of the market where investors start to see unlimited upsides that don’t eventuate.

Focus on the stock market basics

I heard a fair bit of ‘there’s a stock market crash just around the corner’ in 2025. No doubt those calls will grow louder in 2026, particularly if the S&P 500 starts to look like it is headed for another 16% year. Eventually, there will be another market crash. History teaches us that it is inevitable. However, no one knows whether the next one will be in 2026, 2028, or 2035.

It is foolish, at least in my opinion, to base investment decisions on what you might think will happen to the entire market down the road. I don’t even look at what’s going on in the economy. All I focus on with my investments is whether ‘the company is growing at a healthy pace, and how likely is it to continue to grow’. The best companies can survive and thrive in all economic climates. So I think sticking to investing fundamentals and finding those companies is the best way to devote your investing time in 2026. 

The post 3 golden rules of investing to live by in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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• 1 Magnificent 7 stock to buy in 2026 (and 1 to avoid)

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd and Nick Scali. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.