Australia’s community of ASX shares investors is getting bigger and younger, according to new research from CommSec.

CommSec recorded 11.5% growth in active customers over FY26, with trading volumes up 27%, and traded value up 33%.

Millennials were the dominant investor group in FY26, representing 37% of active trading accounts.

Young investors were more proactive, with the total trade value among clients under 40 years increasing 55% in FY26.

By comparison, trade value among customers aged over 40 years rose 30%.

Gen Z (born 1997-2012) accounts for just 1.6% of the wealth held by CommSec investors, but they were the most active traders.

Gen Z represented 19% of active market participants in FY26.

CommSec said Gen Z was turning to ASX shares to build wealth because they were priced out of Australia’s property market:

Where 40 years ago, Baby Boomers and Gen Xers could buy a typical first home in Sydney or Melbourne for around 3-4 times the average salary of the time, Gen Zers face a price ratio of up to 14 times their average salary, following several decades of property values far outpacing average wage growth.

Consequently, investing in the stock market to generate capital has become an appealing alternative to property for many Gen Zers…

First-time ASX shares investors

First-time investor activity in FY26 was strongest amongst clients aged under 40 years at 66%, up from 63% in FY24.

Female investors accounted for 42% of first-time investors, up from 36% two years ago.

Overall, 66% of active investors on CommSec in FY26 were men and 34% were women.

Gillian Bowen, Head of Media and Markets at CommSec, said:

Australians are investing in greater numbers than ever before, but the path they’re taking increasingly reflects their life stage, priorities and financial circumstances.

Younger investors are entering the market earlier and are highly engaged, while older generations continue to hold significant pools of wealth built over decades.

Young Australians’ portfolios were primarily full of ASX shares.

The most traded ASX shares among Millennials were: Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO), PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP), and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL).

The most traded among Gen Z were: Droneshield, PLS Group, Zip, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares.

While younger investors retained the home bias of previous generations, they were increasingly engaged in overseas markets.

Younger investors more open to international shares

Younger Australians were increasingly focusing on international shares, the research showed.

About 10% of Gen X (born 1965-1980), Millennials (1981-1996), and Gen Z portfolios on CommSec contained international shares.

That compared to 5% for Baby Boomer (born 1946-1964) portfolios.

CommSec said global tech shares featured prominently among the most traded shares for all investor groups in FY26.

The most traded US stocks among Millennials were: Tesla, Nvidia, Super Micro Computer, and Space X.

The most traded among Gen Z were: Tesla, Nvidia, ProShares UltraPro QQQ, and Direxion Daily TSLA Bull 2X ETF.

More than two-thirds of Gen Z investors held exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the largest proportion of any generation.  

The most traded ASX ETFs among Gen Z investors were: BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO), iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV), and Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

Average value of portfolios

The average Gen Z shares portfolio on CommSec was worth about $20,000.

Millennials’ portfolios were worth an average $66,000.

The average Gen X shares portfolio was worth $233,000.

Baby boomers held the most wealth, with the average portfolio worth $541,000.

The average number of shares held within a portfolio was surprisingly small.

Gen Z portfolios had, on average, three stocks or ETFs.

Baby boomers had an average of eight shares in their portfolios.

The post ASX shares investors are getting younger and trading more often: CBA report appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, CSL, DroneShield, Nvidia, Tesla, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Superannuation is an important part of building long-term wealth, but the money is generally locked away until retirement.

That is why I also like the idea of building a separate ASX share portfolio that can grow alongside it.

Here is how I would approach it.

I would make regular investing part of the plan

I would start by deciding how much money I could comfortably invest on a regular basis.

It might be $500 a month, $1,000 a month, or simply whatever is left after other financial commitments.

The important thing for me would be consistency. I would rather steadily build positions in good businesses than spend months waiting for the perfect time to enter the market.

Share prices will inevitably fluctuate, but regular investing means I can keep adding during both strong and weak periods.

I would focus on businesses that can keep growing

For a portfolio designed to build wealth outside superannuation, I would want companies with opportunities that extend well beyond the next year or two.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) is the type of business I have in mind. It already serves millions of small businesses, but its potential global market is far larger. Xero can keep adding customers while expanding the financial tools available through its platform.

I would also consider businesses such as ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), where long-term demand could benefit from more people being diagnosed and treated for sleep apnoea.

I would not expect every investment to rocket higher. I would simply want a collection of quality businesses capable of increasing earnings and becoming more valuable over many years.

I would keep the portfolio diversified

Owning ASX shares outside superannuation also gives me the freedom to build the portfolio around my own preferences.

I could combine growth companies with more established businesses, such as big four bank National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) or supermarket operator Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) could make diversification even easier. The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS), for example, would give me exposure to a large collection of global companies alongside my Australian holdings.

I think that mix would make me less dependent on any one company, sector, or even the Australian economy.

I would give the portfolio a purpose

One reason I like building wealth outside superannuation is flexibility.

The portfolio could eventually help fund an earlier retirement, reduce working hours, pay for travel, or simply provide another financial asset that is accessible before preservation age.

During the building stage, I would generally reinvest dividends and leave successful investments alone.

But knowing the money is accessible gives the portfolio a different role from superannuation.

Foolish takeaway

I see an ASX share portfolio outside superannuation as something I could build quietly over many years.

Regular investing, quality businesses, and sensible diversification would form the foundation.

Over time, the goal would be to create another meaningful pool of wealth that gives me more choices well before traditional retirement arrives.

The post How I’d use ASX shares to build wealth outside my superannuation appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Xero shares jump 33% from a 7-year low: Buy, sell or hold?
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• Are these ASX tech stocks finally a buy again?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares jumped another 5% to $16.44 in Thursday afternoon trading, taking the ASX healthcare stock close to double its value since early February.

After such a stunning run, the obvious question is: where do brokers see Telix shares going over the next 12 months?

A powerful moat

Telix operates in one of the most specialised corners of healthcare: radiopharmaceuticals. These products combine radioactive isotopes with targeted therapies and diagnostics, helping doctors detect and treat diseases such as cancer with greater precision.

Importantly, this isn’t an industry where newcomers can simply walk in and compete overnight. Telix has built specialised capabilities, commercial infrastructure and a growing portfolio of products.

Turning a corner

Telix shares really turned a corner in February following a series of positive announcements from the company.

In August, Telix reported a 22% year-on-year increase in revenue to US$477 million, tracking towards the upper end of its FY26 guidance. Gross margin improved to 55%, while its Precision Medicine segment delivered an impressive 65% margin.

Adjusted EBITDA jumped 146% to US$52 million, while profit after tax reached US$38 million. That included a US$40 million payment from Regeneron.

Telix also reaffirmed its FY26 revenue and other income guidance of more than US$1 billion, with research and development expenditure expected to be between US$230 million and US$270 million.

That’s a powerful combination for Telix shares: revenue growth, expanding margins and improving profitability.

Can Telix shares keep climbing?

According to TradingView data, the analyst community remains remarkably bullish.

Fourteen of 17 analysts rate Telix shares a buy or strong buy, while the remaining three have a hold rating. The average price target sits at $25.05, implying potential upside of roughly 53% from $16.44 at the time of writing.

But there is a dissenting voice worth considering.

Bell Potter was pleased with Telix’s first-half performance but warned that competition could weigh on revenue later in the year. The broker now believes Telix shares are approaching fair value.

As a result, Bell Potter downgraded the stock from buy to hold while retaining its $19 price target.

That target still represents potential upside of roughly 16% from $16.44. However, the downgrade raises an important question after Telix’s extraordinary gains: how much of the good news is already priced in?

Foolish takeaway?

For investors, the bull case remains compelling. Telix is growing rapidly in a specialised market, profitability is improving, and most brokers still see substantial upside. But after a 98% surge, expectations are inevitably higher.

Telix shares may have plenty more room to run, but investors are no longer buying an undiscovered biotech. They’re buying a rapidly growing healthcare company with a much higher valuation and much higher expectations.

The post Telix shares are up 98%: Is there more upside to come? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Telix shares are tumbling. Is the stock finally at fair value?
• Why were Telix shares just downgraded?
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• 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week
• Telix Pharmaceuticals delivers robust half-year earnings and pipeline progress

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