BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares rose 7.61% last week to close at a new 52-week high of $44.84 on Friday.

The market’s largest mining stock was not alone in this feat.

Fellow ASX 200 heavyweight iron ore shares Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) also hit new 52-week highs.

The Fortescue share price rose 3.27% to close at a 52-week high of $22.11 on Friday.

Rio Tinto shares reached a new 52-week high of $140.58 on Thursday and closed 4.68% higher for the week at $138.47 apiece.

The market’s largest pure-play copper stock, Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), also reached a record high of $17.20 on Thursday.

Commodity prices push miners higher

Stronger iron ore and copper prices pushed these four ASX 200 mining shares to new price milestones last week.

Iron ore rose 2.9% to US$107.88 per tonne.

That may not sound like a big price increase, however, it’s significant given the overall year-to-date (YTD) gain is only 4.1%.

Copper futures rose 4% to US$5.40 per pound on Friday, up a stunning 35.5% for the year.

Stronger iron ore and copper prices are particularly positive for BHP and Rio Tinto shares.

Both miners have significantly expanded their copper operations, with BHP now the world’s largest copper producer.

BHP also has high-quality metallurgical coal operations, and the coking coal price lifted 6% last week to US$209.50 per tonne.

Meanwhile, other tailwinds for Rio Tinto shares are rising aluminium and lithium prices, up 14% and 25%, respectively, in the YTD.

Rio Tinto also promised investors a ‘stronger, sharper, and simpler‘ business model in a strategy update last week.

Boosted BHP share price moves miner closer to No 1. spot

BHP is not only the largest mining share but also the second biggest company by market capitalisation on the ASX 200.

Last week’s share price surge has potentially put BHP on a path to overtaking Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) as Australia’s most valuable listed company.

If this occurs, it would be a reclamation for BHP shares.

CBA took the title in July last year after an unprecedented share price surge made it the world’s most valuable bank stock.

CBA shares are now in a steep correction.

The CBA share price has plummeted almost 20% from a record $192 apiece in late June to $154.21 on Friday.

Now, just $30 billion of market cap separates BHP ($228 billion) and CBA shares ($258 billion) at the top of the ASX 200 table.

BHP vs. CBA shares: what do the experts say?

Most major brokers have a neutral or buy rating on BHP shares with minimal share price growth projected over the next 12 months.

Last week, JP Morgan reiterated a hold rating on BHP with a 12-month share price target range of $42.25 to $46.27.

Citi also placed a hold rating on the ASX 200 mining stock with a price target of $46.27.

Ord Minnett has a buy rating on BHP shares with a price target of $45.

Morgan Stanley also gives the ‘Big Australian’ a buy rating. The broker predicts the BHP share price will lift to $48 by this time next year.

Conversely, most brokers have a sell rating on CBA shares.

Morgans has a sell rating on CBA with a share price target of $96.07. This suggests a potential 38% downside over the next 12 months.

Ord Minnett has a sell rating with a price target of $105 on CBA shares. Jarden says sell with a target of $100.

UBS says sell with a target of $125 and Goldman Sachs also gives a sell rating with a target of $132.84.

The post BHP shares surge 8% on their way to reclaiming the No. 1 title from CBA appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to invest your first $1,000 in the share market the smart way
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform as iron ore and copper prices strengthen
• Expert lists its top resources shares to target in December
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Major ASX 200 mining shares hit 52-week highs

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week in the red. The benchmark index was down 0.2% to 8,634.6 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a poor start to the week despite a decent finish to the last one on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 13 points or 0.15% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.2%, the S&P 500 rose 0.2%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.3% higher.

Oil prices rise

It could be a decent start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices pushed higher on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 0.7% to US$60.08 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 0.8% to US$63.75 a barrel. Stalling Russia and Ukraine peace talks gave prices a boost. Though, over the weekend, the US claims that progress was made.

Quarterly rebalance

A number of ASX 200 shares will be on watch today after being kicked out of the benchmark index at the December quarterly rebalance. Leaving the ASX 200 index on 22 December are Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP), Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE), Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD), HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC), Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING), and IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH).

Gold price flat

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) will be on watch after the gold price traded flat on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was steady at US$4,243 an ounce. However, the precious metal had a good week, driven by expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this month.

Buy Catalyst Metals shares

Bell Potter thinks that Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) shares are in the buy zone right now. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the gold miner’s shares with an improved price target of $9.30. It said: “We view CYL as derisking the Plutonic gold hub with a clear line of sight to a 200kozpa steady state (FY29). Execution on the plan (five mines feeding an underutilised 1.8Mtpa plant) and Reserve growth towards >2Moz are viewed as the key drivers of multiple re- ratings and margin expansion.”

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

More reading

• 6 ASX shares including Ora Banda and Aussie Broadband ascend into ASX 200
• Guess which ASX mining stock was just promoted to the S&P/ASX 50?
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform as iron ore and copper prices strengthen
• Investors can target $1,240 a year in dividend income from $20,000 in this ultra-high-yielding ASX 200 gem – here’s how
• Should you buy Santos, Beach Energy or Woodside shares? Here’s Macquarie’s top pick

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management and HMC Capital. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended HMC Capital and IPH Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A swarm of metals have been shining brightly throughout 2025.

From gold and silver to rare earths, copper, and even a long-awaited rebound in lithium.

Commodity markets have been rocking.

And some ASX mining stocks with exposure to these resources have surged with them.

For example, the world’s biggest gold miner Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) has seen its share price rise by 129% just this year.

And shares in leading ASX 200 lithium miner Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) have ballooned by 197% since the start of June.

But another lesser-known critical metal is also having its moment.

That metal is tungsten, and one under-the-radar ASX mining stock appears to be riding the boom.

Strategic metal

Tungsten is best known for having the highest melting point of any pure metal.

Its unique combination of hardness, density, and thermal resistance makes the metal indispensable across a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.

It is commonly used in high-performance cutting tools and wear resistant metal parts, as well as high-temperature components in aerospace and industrial furnaces.

The metal also features in radiation shielding, precision counterweights in aircraft and vehicles, medical devices, specialty electronics, and electrical elements such as lamp filaments.

Unlike some other metals, tungsten is not typically sold as a raw ore.

Instead, it is chemically refined into products like ammonium paratungstate (APT), which is then processed further.

And in recent weeks, APT prices have soared.

Global supply pressures

Tungsten is officially classified as a critical mineral by numerous countries including the US, UK, and Australia.

This stems from its essential role in defence, aerospace, electronics, and manufacturing, as well as a high supply risk due to China’s production dominance.

According to the US Geological Survey, China produced 83% of the world’s tungsten in 2024.

And earlier this year, Beijing announced export controls on the metal, raising fresh concerns  for defence and technology industries across western nations.

So what?

These concerns now appear to be playing out, with the European tungsten market experiencing significant supply challenges over the past few weeks.

More specifically, China’s export controls have reportedly halted APT flows into Europe, causing the price of the metal to spike.

On Friday, the APT price in the Dutch port of Rotterdam averaged US$800 per metric tonne unit (MTU) – a measure equivalent to 10 kilograms.

At the start of November, it averaged less than US$690 per MTU.

And around this time last year, the APT price was sitting below US$400 per MTU.

This powerful price rally appears particularly timely for one ASX mining stock looking to develop its Australian tungsten deposit.

Significant tungsten project

Tungsten Mining NL (ASX: TGN) is a mineral exploration business advancing its flagship Mt Mulgine tungsten project in Western Australia.

Management considers Mt Mulgine to be amongst the largest tungsten deposits outside of China.

In early November, the group unveiled results from a scoping study assessing the merits of building a mine.

According to the company, the study demonstrated Mt Mulgine to be a “globally significant” critical minerals project with potential for long-term and low-cost production.

And shares in the ASX mining stock took off like a rocket.

Share price in focus

Over the past month, Tungsten Mining shares have surged by about 95% to close out Friday at $0.215 apiece.

Not only that, but the ASX mining stock has given shareholders plenty of reasons to smile over the past six months.

Overall, shares in the company are up more than 200% since early June.

For comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has risen by 2.1% across the same timeframe.

The post This obscure ASX mining stock has rocketed by 95% in just one month. Here’s why. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 24% I’d buy right now
• Is the NAB share price a buy for passive income?
• 6 ASX shares including Ora Banda and Aussie Broadband ascend into ASX 200
• Own Westpac shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026

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 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 a number of compelling ASX dividend stocks that have fallen noticeably in recent times, giving investors the ability to receive a higher dividend yield. Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI) is one business that looks appealing.

A share price decline leads to a similar increase in the dividend yield. For example, if the dividend yield was 5% and the share price declines 10% then the dividend yield becomes 5.5%. A 20% decline would mean the dividend yield becomes 6%.

Dexus Industria is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns a portfolio of industrial properties across the country. I think this is a good time to look at the business whilst it’s trading at a large discount.

ASX dividend stock credentials

The business is expecting to grow its payout in the 2026 financial year – a rising distribution/dividend is one of the most appealing factors of a good ASX dividend stock, in my view.

It’s expecting to increase its payout from 16.4 cents per security in FY25 to 16.6 cents in FY26.

That potential payout for FY26 translates into a forward distribution yield of around 6%. I think that’s a really positive yield, in my opinion, with a superior offering to term deposits and the possibility of further payout growth in future years.

With the ASX dividend stock’s compelling outlook, I think the business is a compelling buy for a few reasons.

Why it looks like a buy

Every REIT tells investors what its underlying worth is for each result with a net tangible asset (NTA) and net asset value (NAV) figure. This includes the value of the properties, the loans, cash and other assets and liabilities.

Dexus Industria REIT reported that at 30 June 2025, it had NTA of $3.34. That means the ASX dividend stock is currently trading at a 17% discount, which I think is an appealing discount.

The business says that it’s focused on enhancing portfolio attributes that deliver organic income growth and that it’s “well positioned to continue generating a secure income stream with embedded rental growth, while delivering on its development pipeline”.

The business is optimistic on the industrial property market. It said:          

Industrial market conditions remain favourable, supported by continued low vacancy across core markets. Demand has moderated from the extraordinary levels reached in recent years. However, strong population growth, higher online penetration rates, and a more supportive interest rate outlook are expected to continue to support industrial activity and demand. With continued high land and construction costs, supply levels are expected to remain moderate, supporting rental growth and occupancy levels. With that in mind, I think the future looks very positive for the ASX dividend stock.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 24% I’d buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What is Bell Potter’s view on REITs?

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.

The major ASX bank shares are typically as seen as stable and sturdy options for passive income. The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price typically trades at a lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio than other sectors.

When the P/E ratio is lower, it means investors can receive a higher dividend yield.

In the FY25 result, NAB decided to pay an annual dividend per share of $1.70, which was 1 cent per share higher than FY24. At the time of writing, that translates into a trailing grossed-up dividend yield of around 6%, including franking credits.

Let’s have a look at the likelihood of pleasing dividends in the coming years.

Could the ASX bank share deliver good passive income?

At this stage, analysts are not expecting much dividend growth in the 2026 financial year, if any.

The forecast on CMC Markets suggests the bank may deliver another annual dividend per share of $1.70 in FY26. That would mean another grossed-up dividend yield of approximately 6%, including franking credits.

Shareholders could then see a slight increase of the annual payout to $1.705 per share in FY27, according to the projections. This possible dividend is so similar to the FY26 projected amount that the grossed-up dividend yield (including franking credits) still comes to around 6%.

That’s not a bad passive income yield at all, though there are other ASX dividend shares out there with larger yields and have a stronger possibility of dividend growth.

Is the NAB share price a buy?

The more important question, I believe, is whether the ASX bank share is trading at an attractive valuation to buy. Dividends are only one part of overall returns – capital growth (and avoiding capital losses) is very important too.

UBS currently has a neutral rating on the ASX bank share, though it has a price target of $42.50. That implies a possible rise of 4%, which isn’t very much.

There’s a mixed view on the business among other analysts. According to CMC Markets, of nine recent ratings on the bank, there are four sell ratings, three hold ratings and two buy ratings.

According to the collation of analyst views on CMC Markets about the ASX bank share, the average price target is $39.40, implying a possible decline of around 4% over the next 12 months.

The most optimistic price target suggests a potential rise of just over 10%, at the time of writing. However, the most negative price target implies a possible decline of more than 20% in the next 12 months, so the likely passive income would not be enough to offset that.

Time will tell whether the bulls or the bears end up being right. For me, I wouldn’t buy NAB shares at this stage if I were aiming for market-beating capital growth because of its limited earnings growth potential for the foreseeable future amid strong competition.

The post Is the NAB share price a buy for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold?
• Down 8% and 11% in November – Is this the start of a long slide for NAB and CBA shares?
• Buying NAB shares? Here’s how the bank aims to cement its market leading business
• ANZ shares are lagging the other big banks: Here’s why
• Here is how Morgans rates the big four ASX 200 bank 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.

Gold miner Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) is one of six ASX shares set to join the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) later this month.

S&P Dow Jones Indices announced its December quarter rebalance after the market closed on Friday.

Of the six companies joining the index, four are miners.

The others are fellow gold miners Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) and Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG), and Canadian uranium miner, Nexgen Energy Ltd (ASX: NXG).

Telecommunications share Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) will also ascend into the ASX 200 index.

Another business joining the ranks of Australia’s top 200 listed companies is nuclear technology developer, Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX).

What is an index rebalance?

The S&P Dow Jones Indices team reviews Australia’s leading indices every quarter.

Rebalances ensure our indices accurately rank Australia’s largest companies by market capitalisation.

Indices are important because they enable us to monitor and measure the market’s performance.

The ASX 200 is the benchmark index for the Australian share market.

But other indices, like the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) and S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), are also very important.

What does getting into the ASX 200 mean for a stock?

Gaining entry into the ASX 200 is a clear sign that a company is doing well and investors have confidence in its future.

Companies have to meet market capitalisation and liquidity requirements to make it into the ASX 200.

Getting into the ASX 200 can have a direct impact on the share price because it triggers a lot of passive investment.

Many exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and managed funds are designed to track the performance of the ASX 200.

This necessitates buying stocks when they enter the ASX 200, and selling stocks that are removed every quarter.

This often leads to extra trading activity around the rebalance date, which may influence a share’s price.

Rebalances matter more than ever due to the growing number of Australians preferring to invest in ETFs over individual shares.

The latest Betashares data shows Australians invested a record $5.99 billion into ASX ETFs in October.

A record $321.7 billion in funds are invested across more than 400 ETFs on the market today.

ASX ETFs are a form of passive, diversified investment that many investors perceive as lower risk.

They are a basket of shares that investors can buy in one trade for a single brokerage fee, with low ongoing management fees thereafter.

This next rebalance will become effective on 22 December.

The post 6 ASX shares including Ora Banda and Aussie Broadband ascend into ASX 200 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Guess which ASX mining stock was just promoted to the S&P/ASX 50?
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform as iron ore and copper prices strengthen
• Investors can target $1,240 a year in dividend income from $20,000 in this ultra-high-yielding ASX 200 gem – here’s how
• 2 big ASX 200 shares this fund manager rates as buys

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

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have put in a strong performance in 2025.

Stock in Australia’s oldest bank has lifted by about 17% in the year-to-date (YTD) and reached a record $41 in November.

The ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is up about 23% YTD and reached a new record of $38.93 last month.

The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price has risen 9% in 2025 and reached an all-time high of $45.25 last month.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have risen by just 0.25% in 2025 after reaching a record $192 in June.

What about dividends?

Westpac shares paid a full-year FY25 dividend of 153 cents per share.

The consensus estimate among analysts on CommSec is for Westpac to pay a full-year FY26 dividend of 155 cents per share.

This equates to a forward dividend yield of about 4.1%.

Looking ahead to 2026

Westpac has released its corporate calendar for 2026. Here are the dates for investors to note.

Westpac will release its 1H FY26 results and announce its interim dividend on 5 May.

The ex-dividend date for the interim Westpac dividend will be 8 May.

The record date will be 11 May.

Westpac will pay the dividend on 26 June.

The ASX 200 bank will announce its FY26 full-year results and final dividend on 2 November.

The ex-dividend date for the final dividend will be 5 November.

The record date will be 6 November.

Westpac shares will pay the dividend on 21 December.

The annual general meeting is scheduled for 16 December.

Should you buy Westpac shares?

Macquarie has an underperform rating on Westpac shares.

The broker’s 12-month price target is $31, indicating significant potential downside in 2026.

In a recent note, Macquarie mentioned that Westpac has seen strong growth in its business lending segment.

The bank now has about 16% market share of business lending compared to the segment leader, NAB, with 22%.

The broker also noted a modest improvement in Westpac’s net funding position over the past three months.

Morgan Stanley also has a sell rating on Westpac shares with a price target of $34.10.

Ord Minnett has a sell rating with a price target range of $30 to $31 per share.

Jarden has a sell rating with a price target range of $30 to $32.

Citi has a hold rating on the ASX 200 bank share with a price target of $38.50.

UBS also has a hold rating on Westpac with a share price target of $40.

The post Own Westpac shares? Here are the dividend dates for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold?
• Buying NAB shares? Here’s how the bank aims to cement its market leading business
• Forget Westpac shares and buy these ASX dividend stocks
• Westpac versus CBA shares: Which bank is a better buy for 2026?
• ANZ shares are lagging the other big banks: Here’s why

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

Recently, the ASX small-cap stock Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) has experienced one of the toughest falls on the ASX. It’s down around 60% in the past year, as the chart below shows.

The footwear ASX retail share has disappointed investors a number of times in the past 12 months after delivering weak trading updates.

In November, the company’s trading update was again not quite as strong as hoped.

With such a volatile and cyclical industry like discretionary retail, I think this could be a good time to invest amid retail pain and no recovery in retail trading conditions in sight – that’s partly why the Accent share price has fallen so far.  

The business is nearing the depths of how much it fell during the COVID-19 crash in 2020, so at this valuation I think it’s attractively opportunistic to consider the business for a couple of key reasons.

Cheap valuation

Firstly, on valuation grounds.

It certainly seems true that the ASX small-cap stock’s near-term earnings are going to be weaker than investors were expecting a year ago. But, are long-term earnings likely to be 60% lower forever (based on the share price decline)? I doubt it.

FY26’s earnings may be disappointing, but FY27 or FY28 earnings could positively surprise in the same way that FY26 earnings have suddenly negatively surprised the market. At this lower valuation, I think investors have a good margin of safety for the long-term.

For now, analysts are expecting a large rise of earnings per share (EPS) in FY27. For example, the projection from UBS suggests a possible EPS rise of 28% and the EPS forecast on CMC Markets suggests a rise of 35%.

UBS’ longer-term projections suggest EPS could climb to 11 cents in FY28, 13 cents in FY29 and 15 cents in FY30.

Five years is a long time in the retail world, but I think a recovering net profit could help give confidence again.

While UBS was unimpressed by the recent update, it still thinks the company’s costs and margins can improve in the longer-term.

Sports Direct Australia

Secondly, the growing potential growing influence of Sports Direct Australia.

Accent is seeing mixed performance within its business, with some brands performing (such as The Athlete’s Foot and Hoka), and some not (such as Platypus, Vans and Skechers).

In the coming years, Sports Direct Australia could be the key to whether the ASX small-cap stock recovers to former share price heights or not.

This business is Accent’s partnership with Frasers to open dozens of large sports stores across the local market. Not only can Sports Direct Australia sell Accent brands, but it can also sell Frasers brands (like Lonsdale, Everlast, Karrimor, Hot Tuna and more) and key global brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, ASICS, New Balance, Under Armour and Puma.

The ASX small-cap stock is planning to have at least three stores open in FY26 and at least 50 stores over the next six years. This initiative could be a gamechanger.

This expansion will mean incurring various costs as it establishes Sports Direct Australia ahead of the sales generation, so investors will need to be patient.

I think long-term investors could be well-rewarded if they buy Accent shares at this level, but there could be plenty of volatility over the next year or two.

The post Why I think this ASX small-cap stock is a bargain at 96 cents appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX retail shares: 2 to buy and 1 to sell amid rising inflation
• These 2 ASX 300 shares are bargain buys
• Why Accent Group, EOS, Mayne Pharma, and Pilbara Minerals shares are falling today
• What’s Morgans’ view on Accent Group shares after Friday’s sell off?
• What’s driving a 9% divergence in ASX 200 consumer staples vs. discretionary shares?

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

ASX dividend stalwarts could be the right investments to buy in this uncertain era because of the resilient dividend income they can provide investors.

The listed investment company (LIC) Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI) should be one of the businesses that income-focused investors look closely at because of multiple factors, in my opinion.

It offers much more than a solid dividend yield for investors, though that is a strong starting point. Let’s get into why it’s a good buy today.

Dividend yield

One of the first things that Australians may look at is how much passive income they’re expecting from an investment.

Pleasingly, the business has maintained or grown its annual ordinary dividend every year this century. That’s a pleasingly consistent level of passive income compared to many other stocks known for their dividends.

In FY25, the business slightly increased its annual payout to 26.5 cents per share, which translated into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.3%, including franking credits.

Diversification

One of the reasons that AFIC is a compelling ASX dividend stalwart is because of the useful diversification it offers.

It’s invested in a wide array of ASX shares from different sectors, giving the portfolio pleasing diversification.

Some of the LIC’s larger holdings include BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

As time goes on, I think AFIC’s portfolio is likely to become even more diversified.

I like that some of its portfolio is allocated towards more growth-focused businesses such as Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD), ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB) and REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), helping drive returns and capital growth for AFIC over time.

Low fees

Some LICs have high levels of management fees, while AFIC is one of the LICs with the lowest fees. That means more of the portfolio returns stay in the hands of shareholders, rather than being lost to a fund manager.

The business currently has a low management cost of 0.16% and no additional fees.

Good value ASX dividend stalwart

There are a number of different ways to value a business – AFIC regularly tells investors about its net tangible assets (NTA) value, which is predominantly the share portfolio value and cash.

On 28 November 2025, the business had a pre-tax NTA of $7.91. The AFIC share price is trading at a discount of around 10% to its underlying value, which I think is a very appealing valuation and I think this makes it an appealing time to invest for the long-term.

The post An ASX dividend stalwart every Australian should consider buying 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 positions in and has recommended ARB Corporation, CSL, Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, ResMed, Transurban Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, ResMed, Telstra Group, and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation, BHP Group, CSL, Goodman Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.