Building a diversified portfolio from zero doesn’t need complexity, clever trading, or a spreadsheet that looks like a NASA launch plan. With five well-chosen ETFs, investors can spread their money across Australia, the world’s biggest companies, bonds, and cash.

The backbone of any ETF portfolio is broad market exposure. A total world or developed markets ETFs give you instant access to thousands of companies across countries and sectors.

This portfolio leans on a 30% Australian base, around 35% global equities, and a stabilising mix of bonds and cash. It’s designed to be boring in the best possible way.

Australian backbone

Every portfolio needs a strong local anchor, and ETFs like BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) or Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) will do the heavy lifting. Tracking the top 200 companies on the ASX, they give instant exposure to the pillars of the Australian market: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

Banks, miners, and healthcare dominate, delivering dividends and a familiar economic link to home. At roughly 30% of a portfolio, this ETF provides stability and income without stock-picking risk.

Global heavyweights

For broad offshore exposure, iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO) owns the biggest corporate names on the planet. This ETF holds around 100 global giants, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet.

The US leads the weighting, but Europe and Japan feature strongly, giving investors exposure to multiple economies through companies with global revenue streams. IOO forms the backbone of global equity exposure without overcomplicating things.

Growth kicker

While iShares Global 100 covers the world’s blue chips, BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) adds growth firepower. Tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), it is packed with technology and innovation leaders such as Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet.

This tech ETF is more volatile, but it has historically driven returns during periods of strong global growth. A modest allocation helps tilt the portfolio toward the future without dominating it.

Liquidity and safety

Cash is unfashionable until markets fall apart. When share markets wobble, bonds often soften the blow, providing income and stability. This ETF acts as the portfolio’s shock absorber rather than a return engine.

iShares Core Composite Bond ETF (ASX: IAF) invests in high-interest bank deposits, offering capital stability and ready liquidity. It won’t deliver fireworks, but it provides flexibility, whether for opportunities, expenses, or peace of mind.

Put together, these five ETFs or equivalent funds create a low-cost, diversified, easy-to-manage portfolio that spans Australian shares, global leaders, growth stocks, bonds, and cash. No guessing, just broad exposure built for the long haul.

The post 5 ETFs for an effective global portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• I would put $10,000 of my savings into these ETFs
• Invest in the best stocks in the world with these ASX ETFs
• Investing in the VanEck International Quality ETF (QUAL)? Here’s what you’re really buying
• 3 ASX ETFs that could be perfect for beginner investors in 2026
• Own IOO ETF? Here’s what happened with your investment in 2025

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, CSL, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BHP Group, CSL, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Turning 60 is a major financial milestone for Australians.

For many people, it is the age where retirement stops being a distant idea and starts to feel very real. The finish line is suddenly in sight, work decisions become more deliberate, and superannuation takes centre stage in household conversations.

By this point, there’s often a mix of emotions. Some people feel quietly confident about where they stand. Others are uneasy, unsure whether their super balance is enough to support the lifestyle they imagine once work winds down.

And that leads to a simple but confronting question: how does your super balance at 60 compare with everyone else’s in 2026?

Before answering that, it helps to understand what enough actually looks like.

What does a comfortable retirement really cost?

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), the amount you need in superannuation depends on the lifestyle you want in retirement.

ASFA defines a comfortable retirement as one that allows retirees to cover everyday living costs, enjoy private health insurance, participate in leisure and social activities, and afford regular domestic trips with an occasional overseas holiday.

Based on recent data, this lifestyle requires annual spending of about $54,240 for singles and $76,505 for couples from your joint Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) or Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) account.

To support that level of spending, ASFA estimates retirees need around $595,000 in super for a single person or $690,000 combined for a couple, assuming they own their home outright and are relatively healthy.

At the other end of the spectrum is a modest retirement. This supports a lifestyle slightly above the Age Pension, covering basic needs with limited discretionary spending. For this, ASFA suggests retirees need around $100,000 in super, whether single or part of a couple.

With those benchmarks in mind, where does the average 60-year-old actually stand today?

So, what is the average superannuation balance at 60?

Using the latest data and surrounding age brackets, we can estimate where Australians sit at age 60 in 2026.

For women, average superannuation balances rise from roughly $243,000 at ages 55–59 to around $313,000 at ages 60–64. Based on that progression, the average 60-year-old woman likely holds approximately $278,000 in super.

For men, balances increase from about $320,000 at ages 55–59 to roughly $396,000 at ages 60–64. That places the average 60-year-old man at around $358,000.

Put together, the average couple approaching retirement at 60 has a combined super balance of roughly $636,000.

Is that enough?

For couples, being close to $636,000 means they are within striking distance of ASFA’s comfortable retirement benchmark, especially if they continue working for a few more years or supplement super with other assets.

For singles, however, the picture is tougher. An average balance of $278,000 to $358,000 sits well below the $595,000 guideline for a comfortable retirement, suggesting many people will need to rely partly on the age pension or adjust expectations.

What if your balance is behind?

Falling below the average at 60 isn’t the end of the road.

Many Australians still have several working years ahead, and even small changes can make a difference. Continuing to work part-time, making extra concessional contributions (within annual limits), reviewing investment options, or consolidating multiple super accounts can all help improve outcomes.

Just as importantly, understanding your target lifestyle, not just the headline averages, allows you to make smarter, more confident decisions.

Foolish takeaway

The average superannuation balance at 60 in 2026 tells a clear story. Many Australians are doing reasonably well, but fewer than expected singles are fully set up for a comfortable retirement on super alone.

Knowing where you sit compared to the average is useful, but what matters most is whether your super aligns with the life you want after work. At 60, there is still time to influence the outcome.

The post Here is the average Australian superannuation balance at 60 in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Forget CBA and buy these ASX dividend shares
• Why is everyone talking about the Westpac share price this week?
• As CBA shares struggle, is BHP set to retake the biggest ASX stock crown?
• CBA vs. Westpac: Which is the better ASX bank stock for 2026?
• CBA shares could crash below $100 in 2026: Here’s why

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 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.

After getting pummelled following the outbreak of the global pandemic in the early months of 2020, Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares have staged a remarkable comeback.

Indeed, on 28 August 2025, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) airline closed at an all-time high of $12.12 apiece. That meant investors who bought the stock for $2.36 on 20 March 2020 had enjoyed a 413.6% share price gain.

And this isn’t some penny stock we’re talking about.

By early 2024, the global COVID lockdowns and ensuing travel bans were thankfully fading into history.

So, if you’d waited out the early days of Qantas recovery and bought $10,000 worth of Qantas shares two years ago, just how much would you have today?

Let’s dig into the numbers.

Qantas shares flying high

On 19 January 2024, you could have bought shares in the ASX 200 airline for $5.21 apiece.

So, for $10,000, you could have bought 1,919 shares.

On Friday, the stock closed up 1.97% at $10.38 a share.

Meaning the 1,919 Qantas shares you bought for $10,000 two years ago would be worth (a rounded) $19,919 today.

But wait. There’s more!

With the company’s profits surging, management reinstated the Qantas dividend in calendar year 2025. Management had suspended the dividend payouts in 2020 as global travel came to a standstill and the company’s revenue evaporated.

If you bought shares two years ago and held onto them through to today, you’d have received the fully-franked interim dividend of 26.4 cents a share on 16 April. And the final Qantas dividend, also 26.4 cents per share, would have hit your bank account on 15 October.

So, if we add the 52.8 cents per share back into Friday’s closing price, then the accumulated value of the shares you bought two years ago comes out to $10.908 per share.

Which brings the value of the 1,919 shares you bought for $10,000 to (a rounded) $20,932.

That represents a gain of 109.32%, with some potential tax benefits from those dividend franking credits.

What’s been lifting the ASX 200 airline stock?

Qantas shares have benefited from a range of factors over the past few years. Those include lower jet fuel costs amid slumping global oil prices and pent-up travel demand following the lifting of the COVID restrictions.

In FY 2025, this helped the airline achieve an 8.6% year-on-year boost in revenue and other income to $23.82 billion.

And on the bottom line, Qantas’ underlying profit before tax of $2.39 billion was up 15% from the prior year.

The post $10,000 invested in Qantas shares two years ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I would buy Qantas shares in 2026
• Modest vs comfortable retirement: What your superannuation really buys you
• How Qantas shares could catch a welcome uplift in 2026
• Are Qantas shares a buy, hold or sell for 2026?
• Buy, hold, sell: Fortescue, Qantas, and WiseTech shares

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.

There are not many ASX stocks that I like as much as MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) for passive income. Its dividend record, the size of the dividend increases, and the diversification it provides, are all compelling reasons to consider the business.

I like the idea of owning a diversified portfolio of ASX stocks, but many of the available businesses have operations focused on Australia (and New Zealand). There’s not much geographic diversification for the earnings.

MFF offers everything I’m looking for, which is why I’ve made it one of the largest passive income investments in my portfolio.

Let me explain further.

Excellent diversification

When we buy many ASX shares, we’re buying a small slice of a single business.

MFF’s main value is concentrated in a portfolio of global shares. One of MFF’s main goals is medium-term compounding and seeking to avoid permanent capital losses.

Its portfolio includes a number of excellent businesses that have global earnings with incredible economic moats such as MasterCard, Alphabet, Visa, American Express, Meta Platforms, Amazon, Home Depot and Microsoft.

MFF’s portfolio has a strong track record of performance. Winners have a habit of winning over the long-term, particularly if they continue investing in their products/services.

I’m excited by the long-term potential of MFF’s portfolio and how this can drive the overall shareholder returns for investors.

MFF’s ability to generate investment returns plays a big part in the attractiveness of its passive income.

Passive income of $1,000 per year

Pleasingly, the business has a very good record of paying dividends to investors. It has increased its regular annual dividend each year between 2017 and 2025. Not many large ASX stocks can say that.

MFF’s other main goal is to increase its fully franked dividend over time and I’m confident the business will increase its payout in FY26.

The ASX stock has a strong track record of growing its payout at a strong rate over the last several years. In FY25 alone, the business decided to increase its annual dividend by just over 30% to 17 cents per share.

But, for my calculation of receiving $1,000 of passive income, I’m going to use the payout figure from FY25.

To receive $1,000 of annual cash passive income with the 17 cents per share, we’d need 5,883 MFF shares. But, if we include the franking credits as part of that income goal, we’d only need 4,118 shares.

The ASX stock still trades at decent value

Is this a good time to invest? The business regularly tells investors about its underlying value regularly.

At 9 January 2026, it had approximately $5.40 of pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA). At the time of writing, it’s trading at an attractive single-digit discount to this valuation. I like being able to buy shares for less than they’re worth.

The post I’d buy 5,883 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $1,000 of annual passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 10 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 in 2026 to beat the market
• 31%: This could be the best dividend growth stock on the ASX
• $20,000 in excess savings? Here’s how to try and turn that into a second income in 2026
• 5 ASX shares I want to buy in 2026

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Home Depot, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, Microsoft, and Visa. 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 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares rose 7.17% and delivered a total return, including dividends, of 10.66% in 2025.

The ASX 300 slightly outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which lifted 6.8% and gave a total return of 10.32%.

Here are four ASX 300 shares that outperformed the market average by a mile.

In fact, they more than doubled in value.

Let’s take a look.

4 ASX 300 shares that more than doubled in value last year

Electro Optic Systems Holdings (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price leapt by an astounding 632% to finish 2025 at $9.44 per share.

This ASX 300 industrial share is benefiting from the global defence spending megatrend.

Electro Optic Systems produces advanced weapon systems, counter-drone solutions, and space domain awareness programs.

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

This ASX 300 gold share skyrocketed 220% to close the year at 74 cents apiece.

Predictive Discovery is developing gold deposits within the Siguiri Basin in Guinea.

Its key asset is the Tier-1 Bankan Gold Project. Bankan has a mineral resource estimate of 5.53Moz.

Predictive Discovery completed the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in June last year.

The Guinea Government has approved the environmental Impact assessment, and the exploitation permit application is in the final stages.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

Fellow gold explorer Kingsgate joined the ASX 300 in the September quarter rebalance.

The Kingsgate share price flew 340% to finish at $5.63 per share on 31 December.

Kingsgate is an Australian gold and silver producer and the owner and operator of the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand.

The ASX 300 miner also owns and operates the Nueva Esperanza Gold-Silver Project in the Maricunga Belt in northern Chile.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price roared 197% higher to close at $1.58 per share in 2025.

The ASX 300 lithium share surged on the back of rising lithium prices, which began rebounding midway through 2025.

The lithium carbonate price is at a two-year high, up 105% over the past 12 months.

Renewed global demand and low supply are powering this turn of events.

Lithium prices experienced dramatic price falls in 2023, followed by 18 months of stagnation in 2024 and the first half of 2025.

There is a greater demand for lithium now to power batteries and new infrastructure as part of the green energy transition.

EV manufacturing is also back on the rise, with EVs outselling traditional cars in China for the first time last October.

China is also trying to stabilise lithium prices by implementing policy measures to avoid overproduction.

The post 4 ASX 300 shares that ripped 100% or more in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking physical gold or mining indices simply shot the lights out last year.

Their outstanding performance came on the back of a 65% rally in the gold price — its best year for growth since 1979.

And that was on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The gold price reached a new record high of US$4,533 per ounce in December 2025.

That has since been surpassed at US$$4,642.58 this month.

The gold price has been on a tear since early 2024, driven by central banks buying the yellow metal.

Goldman Sachs Research analyst Lina Thomas said central banks have increased their gold purchases by fivefold since 2022.

The catalyst was Russia’s foreign-currency reserves being frozen following its invasion of Ukraine.

Goldman Sachs says central banks hoarding gold is a long-term structural shift.

The banks see gold as a hedge amid waning confidence in the US dollar.

US tariffs and uncertainty over the US President’s next moves on global trade and geopolitics have weighed on the US currency.

Central banks also see gold as a safe-haven investment amid increasingly volatile geopolitics.

Expectations of further interest rate cuts in the world’s biggest economy continue to support the gold price.

Investors remain highly optimistic about gold, with particularly large inflows into gold ETFs worldwide in the second half of 2025.

Some gold ETFs invest in physical gold, while others invest in gold miners.

Here are two ASX gold mining ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns for investors last year.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS)

The MNRS ETF gave a total return of 149% in 2025.

MNRS seeks to mirror the performance of the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

The MNRS ETF invests in 56 gold shares, with 44% in Canada, 14% in the US, 13% in South Africa, and 8% in Brazil.

Its largest holding is Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), which is dual listed on the ASX as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM).

There are no other ASX gold shares in the fund.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $262 million and a management fee of 0.57%.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

The GDX ETF gave a total return of 139% in 2025.

The GDX ETF invests in 93 stocks, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

Its largest holding is also Newmont Corp shares.

It also holds Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares at 2.7% of investments and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) at 2%.

This ETF has total net assets of $1.71 billion and a 0.53% fee.

The post 2 ASX ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Own Betashares ASX ETFs? Here’s your next dividend
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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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

Goldman Sachs upgraded its 12-month share price forecasts on BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) this week.

As many commodity prices race higher, taking mining stocks with them, Goldman is among many brokers updating their price targets.

Goldman’s new targets reveal it thinks one of these ASX 200 mining giants will rip, while the other will dip in the new year ahead.

Let’s review.

Forecast for BHP vs. Fortescue shares in 2026

BHP is the largest ASX 200 mining share with diversified operations encompassing iron ore, copper, and met coal.

The miner also has a nickel mining operation in care and maintenance since mid-2024, and is building a potash project in Canada.

Fortescue is the second-largest ASX 200 mining share.

It’s a pure-play iron ore business with a young green energy division focused on hydrogen and ammonia.

Why are BHP and Fortescue shares rising in 2026?

Of course, the iron ore price heavily impacts both BHP and Fortescue share prices.

Over the past 12 months, the iron ore price has risen by 7% amid uncertainty in China’s economy.

Meanwhile, the copper price has streaked ahead.

Copper futures are up 37% over the past 12 months and reached a record above US$6 per pound last week.

This is highly relevant to the BHP share price, given the miner is now the world’s largest copper producer.

The met coal price has also lifted 27% and potash has lifted 24% over the past 12 months.

While BHP’s nickel operations are on hold, a 13% annual lift in the nickel price also bodes well for the share price.

BHP intends to review its decision to temporarily suspend Western Australia Nickel within 12 months.

As for share price growth, BHP hit a two-year high of $49.75 per share on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Fortescue shares hit an 18-month high of $23.38 on 11 December.

The Fortescue share price traded close to that level this week.

The ASX 200 mining share reached $23.10 on Thursday and $23.35 in the previous week.

So, which will rip and which will dip?

Goldman is among three brokers who think the BHP share price will return to the $50-plus range in the new year.

This is significant because the BHP share price has not been above $50 since January 2024.

In fact, the all-time record high for BHP shares is just over that threshold at $50.84, reached on 28 December 2023.

Last week, Bank of America reiterated its buy rating on BHP shares and raised its 12-month price target from $49 to $56.

Also last week, Barclays maintained a hold rating on BHP shares with a price target of $50.22.

This week, Goldman Sachs maintained a buy rating on BHP and lifted its target from $48.10 to $57.70.

That’s the highest BHP share price target we have seen to date.

In short, Goldman foresees that the BHP share price will rip in 2026.

The new target price implies a potential upside of about 18% from where BHP shares closed yesterday.

With Fortescue shares, Goldman Sachs foresees a dip in 2026.

This week, Goldman Sachs reiterated its hold rating on Fortescue shares.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $19.30 to $22.70.

This implies a minor downside of 0.5% from where Fortescue shares closed on Friday.

The post BHP vs. Fortescue shares: Goldman Sachs says 1 will rip and 1 will dip appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brokers issue new price targets on soaring ASX 200 mining shares
• Buying BHP and Rio Tinto shares? Here’s how the ASX mining giants are partnering up
• $10,000 invested in WIRE ETF a year ago is now worth…
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Fortescue shares vs. BHP: Which delivered superior returns in 2025?

Bank of America 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. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Barclays Plc. 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.

There is a wide range of ASX shares that could deliver market-beating returns in the coming months and years. We don’t have to go with the most well-known blue chips, tech shares or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to achieve the desired return.

Analysts are always on the lookout for businesses that seem undervalued relative to their prospects, which could happen to be the case with any company in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO).

While the ASX shares below may not be the most popular investment ideas, analysts think they’re buys and could rise from here.

News Corp (ASX: NWS)

News Corp is the business behind a number of newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The Australian, Herald Sun, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, and The Sun. It also owns News.com.au, HarperCollinsPublishers, MarketWatch, and Dow Jones, as well as stakes in REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) and Realtor.com.

Broker UBS currently has a buy rating on News Corp, with a price target of $64.50, implying a solid rise over the next 12 months. The broker said the ASX share’s FY26 first quarter was “good” with revenue and operating profit (EBITDA) slightly ahead of expectations, with “notable outperformance from Move and News Media”, reflecting healthy operating conditions going into FY26.

In UBS’ view, Dow Jones remains “the key to a meaningful NWS stub re-rate, more so than other segments like Move”. The broker explained:

Key catalysts we are waiting for include: 1) acceleration in both rev and EBITDA growth at Move as we start to see first signs of green shoots, with further US rate cuts likely to support adjacency products and leads uptake; and 2) announcement of further AI deals.

We reiterate our Buy rating; with short- and medium-term drivers intact, we view NWS’s fwd EBITDA of 12x and PE of 28x as attractive vs the past five-year average.

UBS predicts the company could generate US$1.08 of earnings per share (EPS) in FY26 and then $1.29 in FY27.

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

IAG is one of Australia’s largest insurance businesses with brands like NRMA, SGIO, SGIC, ROLLiN’, and NZI.

UBS has a buy rating on the business, with a price target of $9.10. That also implies a rise of more than 10% in the next 12 months.

The broker noted that the ASX share has fully integrated its recently acquired RACQ Insurance business into its group reinsurance cover, confirming this will support targeted reinsurance synergies.

IAG’s whole of account quota share has been expanded by 2.5% to 35% of gross earned premium (GEP) – IAG expects this to further reduce earnings volatility by sharing premiums and losses with reinsurers.

UBS predicts that the business could generate $1 billion of net profit in FY26.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Judo is a financial institution focused on providing loans to small and medium businesses. It also offers term deposits as a form of funding its loans.

UBS rates Judo as a buy, with a price target of $2.20, implying a strong return over the next year if the market agrees with the broker’s optimism.

The broker thinks the ASX share is well placed to meet FY26 targets.

Judo’s net interest margin (NIM) – the profit it makes on its lending in percentage terms – guidance of over 3% is based on funding mix improvements, mainly relating to its deposit offering. The business is offering more term deposit durations, including five, seven, and eight-month terms.

UBS also noted that new business origination “looks strong” for the company, with agriculture and regional lending doing a lot of the heavy lifting for its growth.

Judo is expecting operating leverage to be a “multiplier” as it continues to scale with capacity.

The broker forecasts that the ASX share could make a net profit of $131 million in FY26 and $166 million in FY27.

The post Brokers rate these 3 ASX shares as buys in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX media share to buy: News Corp, Nine or REA Group?
• Are Nine Entertainment or News Corp shares a better buy?
• Australian Bank Stocks: Which ones look like a buy (and which don’t)
• Why are IAG shares slipping today?
• IAG integrates RACQ Insurance into reinsurance

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.

When high-quality or fast-growing businesses drop well below their previous highs, it can create an attractive setup for patient investors. Especially when the underlying growth story hasn’t disappeared, but sentiment has.

Right now, there are a couple of ASX shares that still trade under $30 per share, despite once commanding far higher prices. They aren’t guaranteed winners, but they are the kind of wealth-builders that can surprise on the upside when conditions improve.

Here are two that stand out.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 Inc has built a global platform around family safety, location sharing, and digital peace of mind. It operates a subscription-based model with strong network effects, meaning the product becomes more valuable as more people use it.

Despite continuing to grow its user base and improving monetisation, Life360 shares are currently trading at $29.62. That’s a long way below their 52-week high of $55.87.

This pullback reflects a broader derating of growth stocks rather than a collapse in the company’s fundamentals. Markets have become far more demanding when it comes to profitability, margins, and cash flow, and that shift has weighed heavily on technology names.

However, Life360’s long-term opportunity remains substantial. The company is still early in its global growth journey, with significant scope to lift average revenue per user and expand its subscription base over time.

Bell Potter sees a lot of value in its shares. It has a buy rating and $52.50 price target on them.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is a very different type of business, but one that also fits the fallen favourite profile.

The enterprise software provider has spent decades building mission-critical systems for governments, councils, and large organisations. Its shift to a SaaS model has delivered recurring revenue, high customer retention, and strong long-term growth. These are traits the market once rewarded very generously.

Today, TechnologyOne shares are changing hands at $27.23, well below their 52-week high of $42.88. That decline has been driven by slightly softening (but still quick) growth and broader weakness across technology stocks, rather than a breakdown in the business itself.

With long-term contracts, sticky customers, and predictable cash flows, TechnologyOne remains a high-quality operator. If sentiment toward profitable software stocks improves, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the market reassess how much it is willing to pay for that stability and growth.

Morgan Stanley is bullish on TechnologyOne. It has an overweight rating and $36.50 price target on its shares.

The post Still under $30, these wealth-builders may not stay cheap for long appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360 and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS) has gone from under-the-radar to one of the most talked-about tech stocks on the ASX.

The drone connectivity specialist is extending its rally today as buying momentum continues to build.

At the time of writing, Elsight shares are up 5.51% to $4.02. Earlier in the session, the stock briefly touched $4.03, the highest level it has ever traded.

The move caps off an extraordinary run. Elsight shares are up almost 45% over the past month and more than 1,032% over the past year, making it one of the strongest performers on the ASX.

What does Elsight do?

Elsight is a technology company focused on secure communications for drones and unmanned systems.

Its core product, called Halo, allows drones to stay connected over long distances by combining multiple networks, including cellular, satellite and radio links, into one stable connection.

This type of technology is critical for drones used in defence, public safety, industrial inspections and emergency services. It allows drones to fly beyond the operator’s line of sight while maintaining reliable control and live data feeds.

Strong momentum behind the scenes

Over the past year, Elsight has delivered a string of positive updates, including growing customer adoption, expanding international partnerships and improving financial performance.

The company reported record revenue in 2025 and also reached cash flow positive, marking an important milestone.

Recent contract wins, particularly in the US and Europe, have helped reinforce confidence that Elsight’s technology is gaining real commercial traction.

Management buying shares sends a clear signal

Over the past year, multiple Elsight directors have bought shares on market, often at prices well below current levels. These purchases have not been one-off trades, but a series of repeat buys across different points in the rally.

Most recently, executive director David Furstenberg and non-executive chairman Ami Shafran both bought 20,425 shares each in early February 2025 at around 36.8 cents per share. Earlier purchases were also made throughout 2024, with directors buying shares in the 30 to 50 cent range, long before the stock’s recent surge.

Non-executive director Howard Digby has also been an active buyer, adding shares on several occasions during 2024 at prices between 35 cents and 44.5 cents.

Keep in mind that this buying activity stands out given how much the share price has since risen.

What investors should keep in mind

Despite the impressive gains, Elsight remains a small, fast growing tech stock, and that comes with risk.

The share price has moved very quickly, so periods of volatility should be expected. The company is also not widely covered by major brokers, meaning sentiment can shift sharply on news flow.

Still, the broader outlook is hard to ignore. With drone usage expanding globally and secure connectivity becoming essential, Elsight appears well placed in a growing market.

The post This ASX drone tech stock just hit a record high. Here’s why investors are piling in appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.