• Up 143% in 2025, ASX All Ords gold stock announces 82,000-ounce gold boost

    Miner puts thumbs up in front of gold mine quarry.

    ASX All Ords gold stock Ausgold Ltd (ASX: AUC) is slipping today.

    Ausgold shares closed up 4% yesterday, trading for $1.04. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $1.02 apiece, down 1.9%.

    For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.3% at this same time.

    Today’s underperformance is unusual for the miner in 2025.

    Amid a surging gold price and Ausgold’s own successes on the ground this year, investors who bought the ASX All Ords gold stock on 2 January are now sitting on gains of 142.9%.

    Here’s what the miner reported this morning.

    ASX All Ords gold stock ramping to production

    In an ASX release before market open, Ausgold announced that it had completed the updated Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) for its 100%-owned Katanning Gold Project (KGP), located in Western Australia.

    The ASX All Ords gold stock needed to update its June 2025 DFS following a key land acquisition deal adjacent to Katanning, which it reported in August.

    The miner explained that its June 2025 KGP Ore Reserve was artificially constrained to remain within the eastern boundary due to land access restrictions. At the time, Ausgold didn’t expect to be able to mine the area outside of its existing land holdings in the near future. As such, this was excluded from the June DFS.

    Now, following its expanded tenure position, the ASX All Ords gold stock said it has completed a further optimisation of the KGP mine plan. Ausgold expects to add incremental life-of-mine gold production from areas within the Central Zone of the deposit. And management said mining costs will come down after Ausgold relocates waste dumps to more strategic locations, reducing haulage distances.

    Digging into the numbers, the life-of-mine forecast gold production increased by 82,000 ounces to 1.22 million ounces. Ausgold expects to be able to increase its average annual gold production to 143,000 ounces in the first four years.

    And costs will come down as well, with the all-in sustaining cost (AISC) now forecast to be $2,157 per ounce over the first four years and $2,252 per ounce over the life-of-mine.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the DFS results, which could support the ASX All Ords gold stock longer-term, Ausgold executive chairman John Dorward said, “We are delighted with the outcomes of the optimised DFS Update, which clearly demonstrate the robust financial returns that will be generated by the KGP.”

    Dorward added:

    In addition to the extensive drilling program currently underway, we are progressing pre-development activities at pace, including front-end engineering and design and tendering of key contracts including construction of the workforce accommodation facility, power supply and EPC/EPCM and debt financing, whilst in parallel progressing activities to finalise permitting for the project.

    The post Up 143% in 2025, ASX All Ords gold stock announces 82,000-ounce gold boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Ausgold Limited right now?

    Before you buy Ausgold Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Ausgold Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    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.

  • Bell Potter names the best ASX tech stocks to buy in 2026

    Five happy friends on their phones.

    The Australian tech sector has had a relatively tough time in 2025, with only a handful of tech stocks outperforming the market.

    But Bell Potter doesn’t think this should put you off from investing in the sector in 2026. In fact, it has just picked out three of the best ASX tech stocks to buy and is predicting strong returns from them. Here’s what it is recommending:

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    Life360 has been on form in 2025, rising by over 50%. However, things were significantly better at the beginning of October, with the location technology company’s shares pulling back by 37% since then.

    Bell Potter thinks this is an opportunity in 2026 and has put a buy rating and $52.50 price target on its shares. It said:

    Life360 has had a large pullback in its share price like many other stocks in the technology sector (peak of ~$55 in early October down to ~$35 in mid November). Outside of the general correction in the sector there was one factor specific to the company which also drove down the share price – slowing monthly active user or MAU growth in 3Q2025. Q3 is traditionally the strongest quarter for MAU growth so the relatively slow growth was a big surprise and was also not well explained by the company.

    Outside of this number, however, everything was as expected or better and importantly paying subscriber growth was still strong. Our view is the outlook remains very positive for the company and the one quarter of relatively soft MAU growth was an aberration. We therefore expect a return to reasonable or even strong MAU growth in 4Q2025, and this could also serve as a potential catalyst for the share price.

    WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

    Another ASX tech stock that has pulled back materially this year is logistics solutions technology company WiseTech.

    Bell Potter remains positive and believes that new products, a new commercial model, and the acquisition of e2open will help drive growth. It has put a buy rating and $100.00 price target on its shares. It commented:

    WiseTech has also had a large pullback in its share price but this has been more driven by company specific issues like slowing growth in the core business, management and board upheaval and insider trading allegations against CEO and founder Richard White. These issues, however, are starting to subside and focus is returning to the outlook for the core business which is improving with the launch of new products, a new commercial model and the integration of a large acquisition (e2open).

    These initiatives are all expected to help drive a much stronger 2HFY26 result relative to 1HFY26 and then the first full year of benefits will be evident in FY27. All of these changes/initiatives are not without risk and there is still some risk of a soft downgrade to revenue guidance in FY26 at the half year result but the 12-month outlook is positive in our view.

    CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

    A third ASX tech stock that could be a best buy in 2026 according to the broker is auto listings company CAR Group.

    With its shares trading on a lower than normal price to earnings (P/E) ratio, the broker sees now as an opportune time to invest. It has a buy rating and $42.20 price target on its shares. It said:

    Similarly to both 360 and WTC, CAR has seen a drawdown in recent months, though lacks a company specific driver which in our view provides an entry opportunity. CAR is diversified throughout verticals (automotive and non-automotive) and geographies (Australia, North America, South Korea, Brazil, and Chile), with revenues supported by a dealer subscription model which can provide for a level of safety against volatility in listings volumes.

    CAR is trading around two-year lows at a P/E of ~28x, despite a defined product rollout map to drive value from its market-leading networks in its large, addressable markets, which includes C2C payments, pay-per lead model, regional expansion and scope to develop market-based legacy advertising practices, underpinning a steady growth profile in our forecast EPS through FY26e-FY28e.

    The post Bell Potter names the best ASX tech stocks to buy in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you buy Life360 shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • Could Nvidia become the first $10 trillion company?

    A tech worker wearing a mask holds a computer chip.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) reached a major milestone this year — and I’m not talking about the launch of a new artificial intelligence (AI) product. The AI giant saw its market value soar past $4 trillion to make it the world’s biggest company — Nvidia surpassed Microsoft and Apple, two players that each have held that position in recent years.
     
    Since, Nvidia has held onto the top spot, and its market value soared as high as $5 trillion before returning to levels of about $4.3 trillion. The reason for the market cap gain is clear: Investors see Nvidia as the ultimate stock to buy to benefit from the AI boom. Nvidia makes the world’s No. 1 graphics processing units (GPUs), or the chips powering the development and use of AI. And the company has built out its offerings to include a wide range of related products and services.

     

    Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »

    Considering all of this, could Nvidia become the first $10 trillion company? Let’s find out. 

    An amazing growth story

    Before answering that question, let’s take a quick look at this amazing growth story. Nvidia, for a number of years, focused on selling GPUs to video gaming companies. But, when talk of AI started to circulate about a decade ago, Nvidia knew it could play a significant role and jumped on the opportunity. The company designed GPUs for this powerful new technology, building its reputation as an expert and leader in the field.

    All of this fueled massive growth in revenue, with sales climbing in the double and triple digits as the AI boom advanced. Customers rushed to Nvidia for chips and related tools to power their large language models, and Nvidia, seeing the potential ahead, pledged to innovate on an annual basis to satisfy the need for speed and efficiency. This commitment to innovation is what has kept — and should continue to keep — Nvidia ahead of the rest.

    Now, let’s take a look at our question: Could Nvidia become the first company to reach $10 trillion? To reach that level, Nvidia stock would have to climb 128% to about $411, which seems like a reasonable feat for this company over, say, a five-year period. (Nvidia soared 1,200% over the past five years.) But it’s important to consider whether Nvidia’s growth rate would support such a price.

    Nvidia’s price in relation to sales

    We can gather clues by looking at Nvidia’s price-to-sales ratio. Today, the company trades for 23x trailing 12-month sales, but over the past year, this ratio has most often been around 25 or even higher. Nvidia’s sales reached $130 billion in the latest fiscal year, and analysts project levels of $213 billion for the current fiscal year and $316 for the next fiscal year (fiscal 2027). That suggests year-over-year growth of 63% in this fiscal year and 48% in the next fiscal year.

    Now let’s use the example of $400 billion in annual revenue by the end of the decade. This represents growth of only 27% from the fiscal 2027 projected figure — a much lower growth rate than Nvidia has delivered in recent years. Nvidia could reach a $10 trillion market value in this example, because at this revenue level, the company’s P/S ratio would be 25.

    This means, mathematically, it’s possible for Nvidia’s market value to reach these levels. But does it have the business to fuel such revenue gains?

    I’m optimistic, and here’s why: Nvidia is the GPU market leader and is innovating to ensure its position. Meanwhile, we’re now in a major stage of infrastructure ramp-up, meaning big cloud service providers are expanding data centers to accommodate soaring AI demand. And players like Meta Platforms, aiming to train models in-house and grow their own AI programs, also are turning directly to Nvidia for its products. In fact, Nvidia has predicted that AI infrastructure spending may reach as much as $4 trillion over the coming five years.

    Nvidia, which already works closely with these deep-pocketed customers, may be one of the biggest winners of this movement. And all of this could shepherd this top AI company to yet another major milestone: $10 trillion in market value by 2030.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Could Nvidia become the first $10 trillion company? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

    Before you buy Nvidia shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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    Adria Cimino 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 Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. 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 Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why are DroneShield shares jumping 20% today?

    A female soldier flies a drone using hand-held controls.

    DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares are on the move on Tuesday morning.

    At the time of writing, the counter drone technology company’s shares are up 20% to $2.76.

    Why are DroneShield shares jumping?

    Investors have been scrambling to buy the company’s shares this morning after it made a big announcement before the market open.

    According to the release, DroneShield has received a contract valued at a total of $49.6 million from an in-region European reseller.

    It notes that this European reseller is contractually required to distribute the products to a European military end-customer. However, it was not at liberty to disclose who that end-customer is.

    Though, management confirmed that it does not consider the identity of the counterparty/customers to be information that a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of the DroneShield’s securities.

    In addition, it stressed that the announcement contains all material information relevant to assessing the impact of the contract on the price or value of the DroneShield’s shares and is not misleading by omission.

    What is the contract for?

    The release notes that the $49.6 million contract is for handheld counter drone systems, associated accessories, and software updates.

    The good news is that DroneShield has a large portion of this stock on-the-shelf. As a result, it expects to complete all deliveries in the first quarter of 2026.

    Cash payments are also expected to be fully received during the same quarter and no additional material conditions need to be satisfied.

    This isn’t the first order from this reseller. DroneShield revealed that it over the past three years, it has received 15 contracts from this reseller totalling over $86.5 million. And while it likely won’t be the last, there are no obligations for any additional contracts from this reseller or end-customer.

    Should you invest?

    The team at Bell Potter sees a lot of value in DroneShield shares at current levels.

    While it hasn’t responded to this news yet, it last had a buy rating and $5.30 price target on its shares. This is more than double where they currently trade. The broker said:

    We believe DRO has the market leading counter-drone offering and a strengthening competitive advantage owing to its years of experience and large R&D team, focused on detect and defeat capabilities. We expect 2026 will be an inflection point for the global counter-drone industry with countries poised to unleash a wave of spending on soft-kill detect and defeat solutions. Consequently, we believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2,550m potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26.

    The post Why are DroneShield shares jumping 20% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in DroneShield Limited right now?

    Before you buy DroneShield Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and DroneShield Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

  • Expert tips 165% upside for this ASX mining stock as rare earths tailwinds persist

    A happy construction worker or miner holds a fistful of Australian dollar notes.

    Rare earths remained firmly in the spotlight throughout 2025, as rising geopolitical tensions heightened concerns over global supply.

    This group of 17 elements is critical to a wide range of modern-day industries, including clean energy, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and robotics.

    However, supply remains highly concentrated with China accounting for around 60% of global rare earths production and more than 90% of refining capacity.

    This market dominance has prompted some Western nations like the US to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China.

    As a result, several ASX mining stocks with rare earths projects outside of China have surged this year.

    For instance, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) has been a strong performer with its share price soaring by 93% since the start of January.

    The company operates the Mt Weld mine in Western Australia which is widely regarded as one of the most significant rare earths deposits in the world.

    However, Lynas is not the only ASX rare earths stock attracting attention.

    According to Australian financial advisory firm Bell Potter, another player could be poised for serious upside.

    Bell Potter’s view on rare earths

    Bell Potter believes the tailwinds driving the rare earths boom in 2025 are likely to persist.

    These include ongoing geopolitical tensions, US government investment in mining, and expanding separation and magnet manufacturing capacity.

    That said, the broker cautioned that a wave of new supply could potentially enter the rare earths market in upcoming years.

    As a result, Bell Potter’s preference is for projects in the bottom quartile of the cost curve and relatively low capital and execution risk.

    And the broker identified Verdis Mining and Minerals Ltd (ASX: VMM) as one such opportunity.

    Economically significant project

    Verdis is developing its Colossus rare earths project in Brazil, located within the geologically fertile Poços de Caldas rare earths complex.

    Management considers Colossus to be amongst the most economically robust rare earths projects globally.

    A recent economic assessment outlined a 20 year initial mine life and a modest two-year payback period for a potential mine at the project.

    However, a subsequent reserve estimate hinted that production could possibly extend for up to 40 years.

    Bell Potter noted that Colossus is progressing through initial permitting, with a Preliminary Licence (LP) awaiting final approval.

    It added that the project has indicative debt support for the project from within Brazil, France, and Canada.

    The broker also appears drawn to the project’s potential for hosting dysprosium and terbium.

    These two elements play a key role in high-performance magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defence sector technology.

    Bell Potter commented:

    Once in production, we believe VMM will be one of the lowest operating cost rare earth projects globally, and a meaningful provider of heavy rare earth elements Dysprosium and Terbium (Dy + Tb).

    Share price in focus for this ASX mining stock

    Verdis shareholders have already enjoyed a standout year.

    Overall, shares in this ASX mining stock have rocketed by 184% since the start of January.

    This compares with a 5.4% rise for the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) across the same period.

    However, Bell Potter believes this powerful rally could have plenty of fuel left in the tank.

    The broker has assigned a speculative buy rating and set a price target of $2.65 per share for this ASX mining stock.

    This represents potential upside of 165% from Monday’s closing price of $1.00 per share.

    The post Expert tips 165% upside for this ASX mining stock as rare earths tailwinds persist appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Viridis Mining And Minerals right now?

    Before you buy Viridis Mining And Minerals shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Viridis Mining And Minerals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

  • Is this ASX industrials stock a buy after a 20% pullback from all-time highs?

    Three happy industrial engineers analysing the share price.

    The Tasmea Ltd (ASX: TEA) share price has cooled sharply in recent weeks, falling close to 20% from its November peak.

    That pullback comes after a blistering run earlier in 2025, when the ASX industrials stock surged more than 115% in just six months and firmly put itself on investors’ radars.

    So has Tasmea flown too close to the sun, or is this the kind of pullback long-term investors tend to watch closely?

    What does Tasmea actually do?

    Tasmea operates a portfolio of specialist industrial service businesses across Australia and New Zealand. Its operations span asset maintenance, engineering services, infrastructure support, and industrial contracting — work that tends to be recurring, non-discretionary, and closely tied to essential infrastructure.

    That positioning has become increasingly attractive as capital spending cycles lift across energy, utilities, transport, and industrial assets. Unlike more cyclical industrials, Tasmea’s exposure is spread across maintenance and operational services rather than one-off construction projects.

    This has helped underpin steady revenue growth and improve earnings visibility, which has been a major driver behind the share price rally seen through the first half of 2025.

    Why the Tasmea share price surged in 2025

    Tasmea’s strong performance this year has been driven by a combination of operational execution and sector tailwinds.

    The company has continued to expand margins, integrate acquisitions effectively, and benefit from ongoing demand for outsourced industrial services. At the same time, broader market interest has shifted toward profitable, cash-generative industrial growth stocks after several ASX stalwarts began to stumble.

    As one recent analysis highlighted, investors have increasingly looked beyond traditional blue chips and into businesses offering steady growth without relying on speculative narratives.

    Tasmea fitted that brief neatly.

    Brokers still see upside

    Despite the recent pullback, at least one broker remains constructive on the outlook.

    A recent broker note suggested Tasmea still has meaningful upside potential from current levels, pointing to earnings momentum, disciplined capital allocation, and ongoing demand across its end markets.

    Importantly, the broker’s thesis does not rely on short-term multiple expansion. Instead, it assumes continued growth in revenue and profits as infrastructure owners prioritise maintenance, reliability, and compliance over the coming years.

    That distinction matters in a market where sentiment can swing quickly.

    Short-term nerves versus long-term fundamentals

    None of this guarantees a rising share price in the near term.

    Equity markets remain on edge, valuations across many sectors are being reassessed, and even high-quality ASX growth stocks are not immune to bouts of volatility. After such a strong run earlier in the year, some degree of consolidation was always likely.

    However, long-term investors tend to focus less on month-to-month share price fluctuations and more on whether a business can sustainably grow its earnings over many years.

    If Tasmea continues to execute in 2026 as it has recently — growing revenue, maintaining margins, and deploying capital sensibly — history suggests that the share price should eventually reflect that progress, even if the path is uneven.

    Foolish Takeaway 

    Tasmea’s pullback looks less like a structural break and more like a pause after a rapid ascent.

    For investors hunting ASX stocks for growth with exposure to real-world infrastructure and industrial services, Tasmea remains one to watch. The business fundamentals appear intact, sector tailwinds remain supportive, and broker sentiment suggests the long-term growth story is far from over.

    Whether the current price proves attractive will ultimately depend on time horizon — and patience.

    The post Is this ASX industrials stock a buy after a 20% pullback from all-time highs? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Tasmea right now?

    Before you buy Tasmea shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Tasmea wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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.

  • Merriam-Webster just released its word of the year. 2025 words of the year say a lot about the AI world users can’t quit

    Young businesswoman designer feeling exhausted while working on desktop computer in the office.
    2025's words of the year reflect a generation frustrated with job prospects, AI, and online culture.

    • 2025's words of the year reflect a generation frustrated with job prospects, AI, and online culture.
    • Platforms have chosen terms like "fatigue," "AI slop," and "rage bait."
    • For the first time, Dictionary.com chose a word that is also a number as its Word of the Year.

    Everyone is over 2025.

    Various platforms and dictionaries released their word of the year in December, and the choices widely reflect a sense of inescapable uncertainty, exhaustion, and skepticism of the tech world.

    "There's no denying that 2025 has been a year defined by questions around who we truly are," said Casper Grathwohl, President of Oxford Languages, "both online and offline."

    From early-career job seekers stuck in unemployment, to low-quality social media content generated by AI, and workers struggling to keep up with AI, here is a list of words that dictionaries and culture-watchers say encapsulate the zeitgeist of 2025.

    Merriam-Webster: 'Slop'

    The American dictionary publisher chose the four-letter word for a year when AI content oozed into every corner of the internet.

    The dictionary defines "slop" as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence," such as "absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, 'workslop' reports that waste coworkers' time."

    According to Merrian-Webster, "slop" originally referred to "soft mud" in the 1700s, and later evolved to mean "a product of little or no value" over the next hundred years.

    The word was aptly chosen for a year where musicians and artists are protesting the proliferation of AI-generated tracks mimicking their voices and styles, and surveys show that readers are skeptical of AI-generated content in their news diet.

    "The word sends a little message to AI," said the dictionary. "When it comes to replacing human creativity, sometimes you don't seem too superintelligent."

    Glassdoor: 'Fatigue'

    Workers are tired, according to job search platform Glassdoor.

    The site that allows workers to post reviews of companies they have worked for or interviewed with coined "fatigue" as its word of the year, after the term saw a 41% spike in mentions across the platform in 2025.

    Glassdoor cited how job seekers are growing increasingly frustrated with endless applications that go nowhere, and how emotionally exhausted workers are with the rapid rise of AI.

    When Glassdoor asked professionals if they felt like the news cycle was draining their energy at work, 78% said yes. On top of that, job seekers are becoming increasingly frustrated as more "job huggers" hold onto their positions in a low-hire, low-fire job market.

    In an ironic admonition, Glassdoor wrote, "Yes, things could be better, but they could also be much worse."

    Collins Dictionary: 'Vibe coding'

    "Vibe coding," a term coined by Andrej Karpathy, a prominent AI researcher, refers to the use of natural language prompts to instruct AI to write computer code instead of writing it from scratch.

    Collins said that its word of the year and its contenders mark a "further shift towards a tech-dominated world."

    According to OpenAI's annual enterprise report, code-related queries increased 36% for workers whose primary job is not engineering. Companies like Anthropic also said that its in-house AI, Claude, is now writing 90% of code for its teams.

    Oxford Dictionary: 'Rage bait'

    If you ever feel so angry over online content that you feel compelled to repost it and give the comment section a piece of your mindyou may have encountered the Oxford Dictionary's word of the year: "rage bait."

    Oxford defined the word as "online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive, typically posted in order to increase traffic to or engagement."

    According to Oxford's data, the use of "rage bait" has tripled in 2025 compared to the year before, hinting at "a deeper shift in how we talk about attention — both how it is given and how it is sought after."

    Cambridge Dictionary: 'Parasocial'

    Many people seem unable to quit social media. And that could be largely due to "parasocial" relationships, which Cambridge Dictionary coined as word of the year.

    The term refers to one-sided "relationships that people form with celebrities, influencers, and AI chatbots," Cambridge Dictionary wrote.

    For example, how fans often feel a deep connection to Taylor Swift's lyrics about heartbreak, to the spontaneity of podcast hosts, and the "emotionally meaningful" and "in some cases troubling" connection between users and AI chatbots.

    Business Insider has documented various instances where people become emotionally dependent on an AI model or form long-term relationships with AI girlfriends. The release of AI companions by platforms like Grock, including a flirtatious anime girl, can increase the likelihood of such parasocial relationships.

    Macquarie Dictionary: 'AI slop'

    The Australian English dictionary chose "AI slop" as its top word of the year, highlighting concern over "low-quality content created by generative AI, often containing errors, and not requested by the user."

    The rise of AI-generated content has contributed to longer and more annoying memos at work that don't actually push productivity forward, as well as tricked some news platforms into publishing inaccurate information, such as when the Chicago Sun-Times published an AI-generated summer reading list that matched real authors with books they never wrote.

    "While in recent years we've learnt to become search engineers to find meaningful information, we now need to become prompt engineers in order to wade through the AI slop," said the Macquarie Dictionary Committee.

    Dictionary.com: '67'

    Dictionary.com chose a numeral — the number 67 — as its word of the year, for the first time since the site started naming word of the year in 2010.

    The word, pronounced "six seven" instead of "sixty-seven," experienced a dramatic rise in search volume since the summer of 2025 and increased more than sixfold since June, said Dictionary.com.

    Described as "meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical," Dictionary.com said it thinks this word means "so-so" or "maybe this, maybe that," which makes some sense if you're rating something a six or seven out of 10.

    "If you're a member of Gen Alpha," Dictionary.com added, "maybe you're smirking at the thought of adults once again struggling to make sense of your notoriously slippery slang."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Which ethical ASX ETF is on track to deliver the best returns in 2025?

    A father and son look at a field of windmills at sunset as the world heads towards a greener future.

    It is becoming more and more common for investors to prioritise ethical, social, and governance (ESG) impact when investing. One way to do this is by investing in an ethically focused ASX ETF. 

    There are now plenty of options on the ASX to choose from that utilise some form of screening to align with specific investor goals. 

    These can be related to actively choosing companies engaged in a specific cause, or by something called negative screening.

    This is when ASX ETF providers build a fund by excluding companies that don’t align with specific values or are engaged in harmful activities. 

    These could be companies that operate in sectors like tobacco, weapons manufacturing, gambling, etc. 

    This is often called ethical investing, impact investing, or ESG investing. 

    It is helpful for investors to be able to actively avoid companies that don’t align with their values. 

    However, one might also argue that excluding companies isn’t the same as ‘putting your money where your mouth is,’ and actively investing in companies making positive change.

    At the end of the day, alongside these causes, investors ultimately still want to build wealth. 

    There is a fund that has been able to combine actively investing in climate-positive companies, while also bringing strong returns in 2025. 

    Betashares Capital Ltd – Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF (ASX: ERTH)

    According to Betashares, this fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that comprises a portfolio of up to 100 leading global companies that derive at least 50% of their revenues from products and services that help to address climate change and other environmental problems through the reduction or avoidance of CO2 emissions. 

    This covers clean energy providers, along with leading companies tackling green transport, waste management, sustainable product development, and improved energy efficiency and storage.

    By supporting companies that are leading the fight to create a more sustainable planet, investors in ERTH can be confident that their investment dollars are having a positive impact.

    This is one of the few ASX ETFs I could find that is actively investing in climate-positive companies rather than just using negative screening. 

    It does also use negative screening, to exclude companies with direct involvement in the fossil fuels industry (coal, oil, and natural gas). 

    Alongside its innovative structure, the fund has also brought strong returns in 2025. 

    Since January, it is up 12.68%. 

    For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), Australia’s benchmark index, is up approximately 5.29% year to date.

    The post Which ethical ASX ETF is on track to deliver the best returns in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Capital Ltd – Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF right now?

    Before you buy Betashares Capital Ltd – Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Betashares Capital Ltd – Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • The ASX dividend stocks I’d trust to pay me through retirement

    Couple holding a piggy bank, symbolising superannuation.

    When it comes to retirement investing, reliability matters more than excitement.

    Chasing the highest dividend yield can backfire, but owning businesses with durable cash flows, strong market positions, and a track record of paying dividends can make all the difference.

    If I were building a portfolio designed to support me through retirement, these are three ASX dividend stocks I’d feel comfortable owning for the long haul.

    APA Group (ASX: APA)

    APA Group is arguably one of the most dependable income stocks on the Australian share market.

    As a leading energy infrastructure business, it owns and operates gas pipelines, electricity transmission assets, and power generation infrastructure that underpin Australia’s energy system.

    Much of its revenue is regulated or contracted over long periods, which provides excellent visibility over future cash flows. This stability has allowed APA to steadily increase its distributions over time, even through periods of economic uncertainty. In fact, it has successfully lifted its dividend every year for over a decade.

    Energy demand isn’t going away, and as Australia transitions its energy mix, APA’s infrastructure remains critical. That combination of necessity, scale, and long-term contracts is exactly what income investors want heading into retirement. It currently trades with a trailing dividend yield of 6.3%.

    Telstra Group (ASX: TLS)

    Telstra is another stock that I think fits naturally into a retirement-focused portfolio. As Australia’s largest telecommunications provider, it plays an essential role in keeping households and businesses connected.

    Mobile data usage continues to grow and Telstra’s dominant infrastructure gives it an advantage that few competitors can match. These qualities support steady earnings and underpin the company’s ability to pay consistent dividends.

    Telstra’s recent strategic focus on simplification, cost control, and disciplined capital allocation has further strengthened its investment case. The telco giant’s shares currently trade with a trailing 3.9% dividend yield.

    Woolworths Group (ASX: WOW)

    Woolworths rounds out this trio as a classic defensive income stock. Supermarkets tend to perform well across economic cycles because people continue to buy food and essentials regardless of broader conditions.

    Woolworths’ scale, supply chain efficiency, and strong private label offering give it pricing power and resilient margins. This underpins reliable cash generation, which in turn supports its dividend payouts.

    And while Woolworths may not offer the highest dividend yield on the market, its dividends are backed by a business model that prioritises consistency over volatility. For retirement investors, that reliability can be far more valuable than chasing higher but less dependable income streams.

    Woolworths shares currently trade with a trailing dividend yield of 3.1%.

    The post The ASX dividend stocks I’d trust to pay me through retirement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in APA Group right now?

    Before you buy APA Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and APA Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths 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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Telstra Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Up 10x since July, could this hot ASX stock be the next Droneshield?

    A male ASX investor sits cross-legged with a laptop computer in his lap with a slightly crazed, happy, excited look on his face while next to him a graphic of a rocket shoots upwards with graphics of stars scattered around it

    If you ever needed a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change on the ASX, look no further than 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX).

    At the start of 2025, this little-known medical imaging company was trading for 48 cents per share. By the end of July, the share price was down 50% and had sunk to just 24 cents, the kind of low that makes even loyal shareholders question their sanity.

    Fast-forward to today, and 4DMedical is changing lives, especially for its shareholders.

    Its share price has skyrocketed to $2.44, which is a whopping 10x return since the end of July, and a five-bagger for anyone who invested at the start of the year.

    To put that into dollar terms, a $10,000 investment in 4DMedical made in January would now be worth $50,000, whilst an investor who invested $10,000 during the July dip could be looking at up to $100,000 today.

    For many households, that’s the difference between “maybe one day” and “we could actually buy that car and book that Europe trip right now”.

    But how has 4DMedical become one of the hottest ASX stocks of 2025?

    A 5-year struggle snaps into a 10x move

    For most of its life on the ASX, 4DMedical has struggled to meet the expectations of the initial IPO excitement. After IPO’ing in 2020 at $1.25 and peaking at $2.60, the company spent years grinding lower and was at one stage down 90% from its highs.

    But 2025 finally brought something different: commercial traction.

    Investors stopped hearing promises and started seeing proof.

    4DMedical delivered a wave of commercially meaningful wins and renewals with world-class institutions like the University of Michigan and Stanford; the addition of CT:VQ to Philips‘ North American catalogue backed by a $15 million commitment; FDA clearance in September unlocking a US$1.1 billion market; a strategic $10 million investment from ASX giant Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME); a fully underwritten $30.2 million option exercise securing its funding runway; and most recently, Canadian regulatory approval enabling immediate commercial deployment across Canada.

    Each milestone reinforced the same message: 4DMedical’s technology is not just innovative, it is being adopted, validated, and scaled.

    Could 4DMedical be the next Droneshield?

    Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) became the most exciting stock on the ASX by dominating a niche with powerful global demand. As positive announcement after positive announcement came in, there seemed to be no limit to investor demand for Droneshield shares.

    In its own way, 4DMedical is beginning to exhibit similar characteristics, including a large market opportunity, commercial adoption by US hospitals, and a leading technology platform, all built on the highly scalable software-as-a-service business model.

    Is 4DMedical’s success guaranteed? Of course not. Commercialisation in healthcare is notoriously difficult.

    But investors don’t chase certainties; they chase asymmetric upside, and 4DMedical is one of the ASX stocks right now with a genuine shot at turning into something much larger.

    Foolish bottom line

    4DMedical is no longer just a speculative moonshot; it is becoming a growth company with a credible story, and for early believers, a wealth-changing story.

    It has captured investors’ imaginations for good reason, but whether it becomes the next Droneshield or not will come down to execution. For the first time since its IPO, it feels like the company’s future and its share price are finally moving in the same direction.

    The post Up 10x since July, could this hot ASX stock be the next Droneshield? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in 4DMedical Limited right now?

    Before you buy 4DMedical Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and 4DMedical Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.