ASX copper explorers don’t often move like this, and Kaoko Metals Ltd (ASX: KAO) had one of the great sessions on Wednesday.

The shares closed at $1.85 after gaining 151.7%.

They touched $2.28 during the day.

That is a long way from the 20 cent offer price at which the company raised roughly $6.5 million earlier this year.

As a result of all of this, the company’s market capitalisation now sits near $66 million.

What this ASX copper explorer announced

The news came from the Chalkos Copper-Silver Project in northwestern Namibia.

Two drill holes from the maiden campaign intersected broad zones of visible copper mineralisation.

One returned 60.25 metres of mineralisation, including a stronger 32.36 metre zone within it.

Kaoko describes the ground as sitting in the Damara Belt, which management considers geologically comparable to the Central African copper systems.

The company also holds the Karibib copper, gold and tungsten project in central Namibia, where it has an 85% earn-in.

Both assets were the reason for the float, and both were described as drill-ready at listing.

Here is what was missing from the announcement

However, some key bits of information were left out.

Visible mineralisation is what a geologist can see in the core, not what a laboratory has measured.

No assay results have been reported, and as such nobody yet knows the copper grade.

Those results are expected within four to six weeks.

Until they arrive, the entire 151% remains quite speculative.

The ASX noticed the same thing and issued a price and volume query, the so-called speeding ticket.

The speeding ticket is a routine request, and asks whether the company is aware of anything explaining the move.

Why ASX copper is suddenly interesting

The backdrop around copper helps explain the enthusiasm.

Copper prices rose 3.7% across August while iron ore fell 2%, which is an unusual split for a market as iron ore heavy as ours.

Additionally, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) specifically credited copper for driving its record FY26 result.

Electrification demand keeps growing while new discoveries have become scarce, which is why exploration success is being rewarded this aggressively.

That is why this ASX copper discovery is drawing this much attention right now.

Investors who missed the move in the large producers have been hunting further down the market for exposure.

What has to happen next

Three things determine whether this can continue for Kaoko Metals.

First, the assays need to confirm commercial grades.

Second, the zones need enough width and continuity.

And finally the company needs to fund the follow-up drilling, which almost certainly means raising capital at some point.

A share price near $1.85 makes that raising far less dilutive than it would have been in July, which is one of the benefits of a move like this.

Foolish takeaway

Buying an ASX copper explorer before its assays is a speculative bet on geology.

The odds are not in the buyer’s favour, because most exploration campaigns disappoint.

A $66 million market capitalisation is not demanding if Chalkos turns out to be a true discovery, but it is far too high if the grades are disappointing.

The post This ASX copper explorer is up 390% since its May IPO. Is it still a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why is this ASX small cap up 160% to get an ASX ‘speeding ticket’?

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG) share price is in focus after the company noted only a 2.55% increase to the industry-wide government funding rate, with inflation and wage pressures running well ahead of this increase.

What did Regis Healthcare report?

• The AN-ACC starting price will rise 2.55% from $295.64 to $303.19 per resident per day from 1 October 2026
• The hotelling supplement will remain at $22.15 per resident per day
• Government has kept the care minute requirements and funding categories unchanged
• Recent cost drivers: 4.75% wage increase for award-based workers; up to 4.4% increase for nurses; 3.8% CPI growth

What else do investors need to know?

Regis Healthcare pointed out that the 2.55% funding uplift lags well behind sector cost growth, driven by higher wages and inflation. The annual wage review and recent Fair Work Commission decisions mean that wages for nurses and care staff are rising significantly faster than aged care government reimbursement.

The company reaffirmed its strategy to manage ongoing margin pressure, noting initiatives such as raising room prices, rolling out Higher Everyday Living Fee (HELF) services, and enhancing both revenue optimisation and operational efficiency.

What’s next for Regis Healthcare?

Regis says it will continue advocating for adequate sector funding to support growing demand for residential aged care. Its ongoing strategy to mitigate rising costs includes service enhancements, pricing adjustments, and operational improvements.

The company remains focused on delivering high-quality care to its 10,000 residents and clients, supported by a 13,000-strong team, while navigating ongoing policy and inflationary challenges.

Regis Healthcare share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Regis Healthcare shares have declined 23%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Regis Healthcare reacts to government funding change appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Regis Healthcare reports higher FY26 profits and dividend

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.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares are back near their lowest level in a year after another fall on Wednesday.

The counter-drone stock finished the session down 2.83% at $1.72, taking its 2026 decline to around 44%.

It has been quite a reversal from last year, when DroneShield shares climbed as high as $6.71.

There was some hope of a turnaround in early August when the share price pushed above $2.20, but that bounce didn’t last long. The stock has since drifted lower again and is now only around 5% above its 52-week low of $1.62.

Still, I think the setup is becoming much more interesting at these levels.

Here’s why.

Revenue keeps climbing

The recent half-year result certainly gave investors a few things to worry about.

Underlying EBITDA swung to a $12.4 million loss, while DroneShield reported a statutory net loss of $32.2 million.

But the top line continues to move in the right direction. First-half revenue jumped 74% to $125.8 million, while recurring revenue increased 229% to $11.5 million.

DroneShield also had $240 million of committed FY26 revenue as at 21 August. That covers between around 90% of its full-year revenue guidance of $250 million to $270 million.

There is another $43 million already committed for FY27 and beyond, while the company finished June with $180 million in cash and term deposits and no debt.

More growth ahead?

I also like what the company is doing on the product side.

DroneShield recently launched its new RfAI-3 software engine and flagship RfRecon hardware, which is designed to identify, locate and assess radio-frequency activity.

Bell Potter believes these products can help drive more contract wins, particularly in Europe, and said the top end of FY26 revenue guidance “looks achievable”. The broker kept its ‘buy’ rating after the half-year result, although it trimmed its price target from $2.50 to $2.40.

From yesterday’s closing price, that suggests potential upside of around 40%.

Canaccord Genuity is even more bullish with a $2.60 target, although not every broker agrees for now. Jefferies sits at $1.45 and Ord Minnett at $1.50.

Why I’d be buying

DroneShield is clearly not a low-risk stock. It is still losing money, margins need to improve, and short interest remains very high at 15.5%.

But a lot has also changed in the share price.

At $1.72, investors are paying a very different price to the $6-plus levels seen last year, while revenue, committed orders and the product pipeline continue to grow.

I wouldn’t try to pick the exact bottom. But if I wanted long-term exposure to the counter-drone sector, I’d be comfortable buying a small position around these levels.

The post DroneShield shares have fallen 44% in 2026. Here’s why I’d buy the dip appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Short sellers are targeting these ASX shares. Should you worry?
• 5 ASX 200 shares with 33% to 61% upside post-results: experts
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.