Shares in BMC Minerals Ltd (ASX: BMC) got off to a strong start on their first day on the ASX on Friday, changing hands at more than a 20% premium to their offer price.

The shares in the silver and zinc mining aspirant traded as high as $2.44 before settling back slightly to be changing hands for $2.40, 20% up on the company’s initial public offer (IPO) price.

BMC raised $100 million before listing on the ASX in what it described as a “heavily oversubscribed” initial public offer.

Pushing forward with development

BMC chair Steven Michael said it was an important milestone for the company which would now press on with developing its Kudz Ze Kayah (KZK) mine project in the Yukon region of Canada, which the company said would be the nation’s largest silver and zinc operation once brought into production.

Mr Michael went on to say:

BMC is focused on accelerating the existing workstreams at our 100%-owned KZK polymetallic project by planning a major drilling program to commence early in the new year and anticipate receiving several licences and permits from Yukon and Federal regulatory bodies. We look forward to executing on our growth strategy, at a time when silver, gold and copper prices are extremely strong and establishing the ABM Mine as Canada’s largest silver and zinc producer and a top 15 copper producer.

The company said it had owned the KZK project since 2015, and since then had delineated 27.9 million tonnes of ore across two deposits, ABM and Kona.

The company said it had completed a feasibility study which showed the ABM deposit could be mined for nine years, with a payback period of about two years.

The company added on Friday:

BMC has completed a range of technical studies at ABM based on the development of a 2 million tonne per annum mine, which contemplates that about 89% of ore reserves will be mined via open pits and 11% from an underground mine, which will be developed to access the deeper portions of the Krakatoa zone. The company’s feasibility study has outlined a pre-tax net present value of US$835 million for the ABM Mine at conservative commodity prices compared to the current long-term consensus, with a capital payback period of about 2 years.

The mine would produce three concentrates conating silver and gold, copper, and zinc, with binding offtake agreements already signed across all commodities for the first five years of production.

The $100 million raised in the IPO will now be used for more exploration to extend the potential mine life and to complete optimisation studies.

The post New silver and zinc mining aspirant debuts at a 20% premium in a quick win for shareholders appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $41.38. During the Friday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $41.85 apiece, up 1.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is also up 1.1% at this same time.

Over the past year, however, NAB shares have significantly outperformed the benchmark index, gaining 11.4% compared to the 4.3% 12-month gains posted by the ASX 200.

Atop those capital gains, NAB stock also trades on a fully franked 4.1% trailing dividend yield. And if you owned shares at market close on 10 November, you’ll be seeing the final NAB dividend payout of 85 cents a share hitting your bank account today.

But that’s not why the ASX 200 bank is in focus today.

Instead, the bank is grabbing headlines following its annual general meeting (AGM).

Here’s what’s happening.

NAB shares in focus amid AGM

Opening the meeting, NAB chair Philip Chronican said, “Building a simpler, more modern bank is a key focus. We want our bank to be fit for the long-term and capable of delivering for customers in a rapidly changing world.”

Addressing the resurgence of historic employee underpayment issues, which date back to 2012 and have thrown up past headwinds for NAB shares, Chronican said:

Unfortunately, more payroll issues were uncovered this year. In response, NAB launched a broader review into payroll-related benefits under current and historical agreements. Management is working hard to resolve and remediate these payroll issues as quickly as possible for our colleagues.

Turning to the returns delivered by NAB shares, Chronican added:

The board declared dividends for the year of 170 cents per share, in line with our target payout ratio, and returned $5.2 billion to shareholders. We retain a bias towards reducing the share count over time, which helps drive sustainable returns for shareholders.

Since August 2021, we have completed $8 billion in on-market buybacks and continue to neutralise NAB’s dividend reinvestment plan.

Over the past five years to 30 September 2025, our total shareholder return reached 190%, higher than the average of 168% for NAB’s major bank peers.

A word from the CEO

NAB CEO Andrew Irvine took the podium next.

He noted that across the year, “Australian business lending balances rose by 9%, and total customer deposits grew by 7%.”

Commenting on NAB’s market-leading business banking segment, Irvine said:

NAB improved market share in both total business lending and business deposits. Competition in business banking continues to increase and NAB competes from a position of strength. We know this market well, have a leading position and we intend to extend our position, not just defend it.

NAB shares could also enjoy longer-term support from the bank’s ongoing investments into artificial intelligence.

According to Irvine:

AI is supporting fraud detection, improving cybersecurity, streamlining home loan application processes and reducing low-value work for our NAB colleagues.

We are pursuing a range of use cases for generative and agentic AI, as well as assisting our colleagues to develop the AI skills of the future.

The post Why is everyone talking about NAB shares on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is the NAB share price a buy for passive income?
• ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold?

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.

Investors in Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA) have been on a whirlwind ride in recent months.

Barely one year ago, shares in this ASX AI stock were changing hands at $0.46 apiece.

Today, Artrya shares reached a new all-time high of $4.29 in morning trade before easing back to $3.92 apiece at the time of writing.

This powerful rally represents a staggering 752% return in just twelve months, blowing the broader market out of the water.

For context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has risen by 4.53% over the same timeframe.

So, what’s behind this remarkable performance?

Let’s take a closer look at what’s driving the heat for this ASX AI stock.

Improving heart disease diagnostics

Founded in 2019, Artrya is a medical technology company commercialising cloud-based AI solutions for heart disease diagnostics.

Its flagship platform, Salix, provides rapid assessment of chest pain across emergency and primary care settings.

Management believes Salix can improve patient outcomes, lower treatment costs, and streamline clinical workflows.

A major catalyst arrived in August when Artrya secured regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Salix Coronary Plaque module.

This milestone followed earlier FDA consent for its Salix Coronary Anatomy product.

These formal ticks of approval paved the way for Artrya to pursue entry into the lucrative American market.

Here, the ASX AI stock is targeting a US market opportunity estimated at US$4.4 billion.

And its commercialisation push appears to be gaining traction.

What happened?

Today, Artrya announced it has now achieved its first revenue from the Salix Coronary Plaque module.

More specifically, US-based Tanner Health has commenced commercial use of the module, generating maiden fee-per-scan revenues for Artrya.

Tanner Health is a community-focused healthcare network serving west Georgia and east Alabama with five hospitals and several practices.

The organisation has now activated the module at its primary hospital in Georgia, with a wider roll-out to further hospitals expected soon.

Artrya Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, John Konstantopoulos, stated:

We are thrilled to commence the first clinical use of the Salix® Coronary Plaque module at Tanner Health, which has been well supported by our new U.S. Customer Support team. The ease of activation within the Salix® Coronary Anatomy platform has been well received by the clinicians and the back end processes through to billing are also now established. We look forward to growing adoption across the entire Tanner Health network in the near term, which will generate an attractive ongoing fee to Artrya, from each scan they assess.

What else?

Today’s news follows another significant step in Artrya’s US expansion.

Last week, shares in the ASX AI stock jumped sharply after unveiling a three-year commercial agreement with Northeast Georgia Health System.

This deal carries a minimum value of US$0.3 million, with further fee-per-scan revenue expected from the Coronary Plaque module and, pending FDA clearance, the Salix Coronary Flow module.

The post Up 752% in one year! This roaring ASX AI stock just hit all-time highs on major revenue milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Shares in Hazer Group Ltd (ASX: HZR) piled on more than 25% in early trade on Friday after the company’s technology was attached to a bid to take over the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia.

Control of the steelworks was wrested from the control of controversial British steel magnate Sanjeev Gupta in February this year, with the South Australian Government forcing the steelworks into administration.

The steelworks is now being propped up by the state and federal governments while administrator KordaMentha seeks bids from potential new owners, with names such as BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) in the mix.

Another company that has put its name in the ring is global steelmaking raw materials and mining services company M Resources, which, according to its website, turns over about US$1 billion a year, trading more than 20 million tonnes of commodities.

Hydrogen solution the key

Hazer said on Friday that its technology had been selected by M Resources to be part of its bid, as a “low-cost, decarbonisation solution”.

The company said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to be part of the M Resources bid to operate Whyalla.

The company added:

Under the partnership, Hazer’s proprietary methane pyrolysis technology, in conjunction with KBR, has been incorporated on an exclusive basis into M Resources’ proposal for Whyalla, significantly strengthening the envisioned development of a revitalised, low carbon emissions steelmaking hub in South Australia.

Hazer said the M Resources bid to operate the steelworks “prioritises an economically viable long-term industrial renewal with a strong emphasis on carbon abatement”.

Hazer’s technology, producing clean hydrogen and high-value graphite from methane, is well positioned to play an enabling role in the establishment of a low-carbon emissions steel manufacturing precinct at Whyalla.

Hazer technology adaptable

Under the memorandum of understanding, the companies have agreed to collaborate on how to integrate Hazer’s technology into the direct reduction process – a key part of the proposed revitalisation of the steelworks in which hydrogen will replace natural gas in the process used to make iron ore pellets.

In addition, Hazer Graphite will be used in the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) to produce steel. The planned Hazer facility is expected to target large-scale commercial hydrogen production capacity with additional synergies coming from the use of an iron-ore catalyst in the Hazer process.

Hazer Managing Director Glenn Corrie said the partnership with M Resources was “a clear demonstration of the Hazer Process’s ability to integrate into steelmaking, particularly through the use of low-cost clean hydrogen for direct iron reduction and the application of Hazer graphite in electric arc furnaces”.

Hazer shares traded as high as 52.5 cents on the news, up 28%, before settling back to be 20.7% higher at 49.5 cents.

The company was valued at $108.8 million at the close of trade on Thursday.

The post Whyalla steelworks connection puts a rocket under this resources tech stock’s shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) share price is in focus after the REIT announced a quarterly distribution of 2.15 cents per unit for the period ending 31 December 2025. The distribution will be paid on 26 February 2026 and is unfranked.

What did HomeCo Daily Needs REIT report?

• Quarterly distribution: 2.15 cents per unit, unfranked
• Record date: 31 December 2025
• Ex-date: 30 December 2025
• Payment date: 26 February 2026
• Distribution Reinvestment Plan (DRP) offered with no discount
• DRP election deadline: 2 January 2026, 5:00pm

What else do investors need to know?

The entire quarterly distribution will be paid as unfranked, so no franking credits will be attached. Investors who want to reinvest their distributions can opt into the DRP, which will see units issued at the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) over five trading days in early January 2026. The DRP price will be confirmed on 12 January 2026.

Holders who do not elect for DRP participation will receive the cash payment by default. All new DRP units will be fully paid and rank equally with existing units from their issue date.

What’s next for HomeCo Daily Needs REIT?

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT will finalise the DRP price and issue new units on the payment date in February. Investors can expect regular quarterly distributions to continue, in line with the REIT’s stated focus on providing reliable income.

As market conditions evolve, investors will be watching for any further updates ahead of the next quarterly distribution payment and management’s ongoing strategy to maximise unitholder value.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT shares have risen 19%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post HomeCo Daily Needs REIT announces dividend and DRP for December quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. 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.

It’s a banner day for Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares today.

That’s because all three of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giants just charged to new 52-week plus highs.

Here’s what’s happening.

Rio Tinto and BHP shares riding the copper wave

Rio Tinto shares are up 1.8% in late morning trade on Friday, changing hands for $142.53 apiece.

That’s not just a new 52-week high for the ASX 200 mining stock, but it represents a new all-time high as well (if held to close).

Rio Tinto shares have gained 14.8% over the past year. Atop those capital gains, Rio Tinto stock also trades on a fully franked 4.2% trailing dividend yield.

BHP shares are also enjoying a strong run, up 1.8% today and trading for $45.94 each. That’s its highest level since February 2024.

Shares in Australia’s biggest miner are now up 9.7% since this time last year. BHP stock also trades on a fully franked 3.7% trailing dividend yield.

Atop their own operational successes, Rio Tinto and BHP shares have both been benefiting from rocketing copper prices and a resilient iron ore price.

On the iron ore front, last year this time, the majority of analysts had been forecasting that the industrial metal would be trading well below US$100 per tonne, with some expecting it to slump to US$80 per tonne.

Instead, iron ore, the top revenue earner for both BHP and Rio Tinto, has rebounded from US$93 per tonne in early July to a peak of over US$107 per tonne in early December. Iron ore is currently fetching US$102 per tonne.

It’s an even better story on the copper front.

The red metal represents the second biggest (and growing) revenue earner for both BHP and Rio Tinto. And copper prices have been going ballistic.

Up 2.7% over the past 24 hours at US$11,872 per tonne, the copper price is now up more than 35% in 2025.

Which brings us to…

ASX 200 gold stocks shining bright

Evolution Mining shares join Rio Tinto and BHP shares in smashing new 52-week-plus highs today.

Shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are up 4% at the time of writing, trading for $12.74 each.

As with Rio Tinto, this also marks a new record high for Evolution Mining shares. Amid a historic run higher in the gold price (at US$4,275 per ounce, the gold price is up 63% in 2025), and its own mining successes, the Evolution Mining share price is now up an eye-popping 143.5% since this time last year.

Atop those very sizeable gains, the gold miner also trades on a 1.6% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

The post Why Rio Tinto, Evolution Mining and BHP shares just smashed new 52-week highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares are ending the week with a bang.

At the time of writing, the ASX tech stock is up 13% to $2.30.

This means that the medical technology company’s shares are now up an impressive 380% since the start of the year.

What is 4DMedical?

4DMedical describes itself as a global medical technology company revolutionising respiratory care with advanced imaging and artificial intelligence.

It notes that its patented XV Technology transforms standard scans into rich, functional insights that allow physicians to detect, diagnose, and monitor lung disease earlier and with greater precision.

The ASX tech stock’s expanding software portfolio includes the FDA-cleared XV Lung Ventilation Analysis Software (XV LVAS), CT LVAS, and the ground-breaking CT:VQ solution. The latter is designed to set new benchmarks in cardiothoracic imaging by combining ventilation and perfusion analysis.

Importantly, these solutions have been designed to be delivered seamlessly through a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, integrating into existing hospital infrastructure, enhancing physician productivity, and enabling more personalised patient care.

Why is this ASX tech stock jumping today?

Investors have been buying the company’s shares today after it announced another cash injection.

According to the release, the ASX tech stock has entered into an option underwriting agreement with Bell Potter. This will see the broker fully underwrite the exercise of the 4DXO listed options on issue, which are exercisable at $1.365 per option and due to expire on 31 December 2025.

Approximately 22.2 million 4DXO options were originally issued, representing approximately $30.2 million in funds if all were exercised.

Under the underwriting agreement, the underwriter will subscribe for shares attributable to any remaining unexercised 4DXO options at expiry. This ensures the full amount of $30.2 million will be received by the company

Taking these funds into account, 4DMedical will have a pro forma cash balance of $63.7 million. Management believes this gives it sufficient capital to execute its CT:VQ commercialisation plans.

4DMedical’s founder-CEO, Andreas Fouras, said:

2025 has been an outstanding year for 4DMedical and our shareholders. We are moving at remarkable speed, and our momentum continues to build. This agreement ensures that we have more than sufficient capital to execute our plans to commercialise CT:VQ and to lead the Company through to profitability. I am excited by our growing traction and look forward to keeping you updated as we advance our strategy of winning key U.S. AMCs as reference sites for CT:VQ.

The post Why is this surging ASX tech stock jumping another 12% on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Shares in EBR Systems Ltd (ASX: EBR) were trading higher on Friday after the company said it had implanted the first patient in a key clinical trial.

The company told the ASX in a statement that the first patient had been enrolled and implanted in the “totally leadless CRT” study being carried out at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Groundbreaking technology

EBR’s key technology is the Wireless Stimulation Endocardially (WiSE) technology, which was developed to eliminate the need for cardiac pacing leads.

The company said in its statement that such leads were “historically the major source of complications, effectiveness and reliability issues in cardiac rhythm disease management”.

It went on to say:

The initial product is designed to eliminate the need for coronary sinus leads to stimulate the left ventricle in heart failure patients requiring Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT). Future products potentially address wireless endocardial stimulation for bradycardia and other non-cardiac indications.

The first implant procedure announced to the ASX on Friday was carried out the day before by electrophysiologist Dr Paul Gould.

The company said the new study would build on previous work and potentially open up a much larger addressable market.

Totally Leadless CRT, pairing EBR’s WiSE System with a leadless right ventricle pacemaker, has been previously published, and is already included in the FDA-approved labelling for patients with an existing leadless pacemaker who subsequently develop pacing-induced heart failure and require an upgrade to CRT. The TLC-AU study will build on this previous published experience by treating newly diagnosed heart failure patients requiring CRT. These de novo patients will receive a leadless pacemaker and the WiSE System. De novo patients account for around 75% of the CRT market, meaning this indication has the potential to significantly expand EBR’s total addressable market and establishing WiSE as a potential first-line option for patients requiring CRT.   

EBR president John McCutcheon said it was a significant achievement for the company.

He went on to say:

The first implant in the TLC-AU Study is a significant milestone for EBR, marking our entry into the much larger frontline CRT market. TLC-AU allows us to build on the FDA labelled upgrade indication and generate the evidence needed to position WiSE CRT as a fully leadless alternative for patients requiring resynchronisation therapy. As leadless pacing rapidly becomes standard of care, advancing a totally leadless CRT solution strengthens EBR’s leadership in the next major evolution of heart-failure treatment.

EBR shares were 3.3% higher in early trade at 93.5 cents. The shares have traded as high as $2.08 over the past year and currently are not far off their 12-month lows of 86 cents.

The company was valued at $407.3 million at the close of trade on Thursday.

The post Biotech company implants heart device in world first appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

For long-term investors, the best opportunities often come from stocks you can buy, hold, and comfortably ignore for years at a time.

These are businesses with sustainable competitive advantages, strong balance sheets, and exposure to structural trends that should continue playing out well into the 2030s.

With that in mind, if you are building a portfolio today with the intention of not touching it again until 2035, the two buy-rated Australian stocks named below could be worth considering. Here’s what analysts are recommending to clients:

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Data is becoming the world’s most valuable resource, and NextDC sits right in the middle of that shift. As Australia’s leading data centre operator, the company provides the mission-critical digital infrastructure that powers cloud computing, artificial intelligence, video streaming, government services, and enterprise applications.

Demand for high-density, high-security data centres is rising rapidly, and NextDC has been investing heavily to expand its footprint across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and internationally. This includes the recently announced S7 data centre, which will be tenanted by ChatGPT’s owner OpenAI.

If you want exposure to digital infrastructure that is only becoming more essential, NextDC is a strong contender for a true long-term hold. Morgans is bullish and rates it as a buy with a $19.00 price target. This implies potential upside of 40% for investors over the next 12 months.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

Another Australian stock that could be a top buy and hold pick is TechnologyOne. Over the past decade, it has quietly become one of the ASX’s most consistent performers, driven by its transition to a sticky, high-margin software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model.

The company builds enterprise software for government, education, local councils, and large organisations. These are sectors that value stability, reliability, and long-term partnerships. Once a customer adopts TechnologyOne’s platform, they tend to stay for the long haul.

Recurring revenue continues to grow strongly, margins remain robust, and the company has barely scratched the surface of its international opportunity. With an exceptionally strong balance sheet and a talented management team, TechnologyOne is the kind of business you can put in a drawer and forget about for years.

By 2035, it is entirely possible the company will be far larger, more global, and still delivering the kind of steady, predictable growth investors love.

Morgan Stanley is positive on the company’s outlook. It has an overweight rating and $36.50 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of over 30% is possible from current levels.

The post The best Australian stocks to buy today and not check again until 2035 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. 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.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are edging higher today.

Shares in the $19 billion S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) business and accounting software provider closed yesterday trading for $113.36. In morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for $113.57, up 0.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.8% at this same time.

As you may know, Xero shares have come under heavy selling pressure since the ASX 200 tech stock notched a new all-time closing high of $194.21 on 24 June.

But according to Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan, that sell-off looks to be short-sighted, with the outlook for growth in 2026 looking promising (courtesy of The Bull).

Should you buy Xero shares today?

“XRO is a global accounting software provider,” said Halligan, who has a buy rating on Xero shares.

“Average revenue per user was up 15% in the first half of (FY) 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. EBITDA was up 21%,” he said, citing the first reason the ASX 200 tech stock could be set for a strong rebound.

“Rolling out bank feed connections in the United States will be a tail wind moving forward,” he added.

And the third reason you might want to buy some Xero stock for Christmas is that following the past six months of selling, shares could be trading at a long-term bargain.

“In our view, the recent fall in the share price reflects a short-sighted assessment of revenue and subscriber growth rates,” Halligan said.

“The US payments opportunity is significant, and any signs of successful execution and acceleration in growth will drive a meaningful re-rate,” he concluded.

What’s happening with the company’s US expansion?

As Halligan mentions, Xero shares could garner significant longer-term support from the company’s growth ambitions in the world’s largest economy.

At Xero’s half-year results release on 13 November, the company stated:

In June, Xero announced it had agreed to acquire Melio, a leading US SMB bill pay platform that seamlessly enables customers to manage their cash flow by offering SMBs and their advisors easy-to-use accounts payable (A/P) workflows and a wide choice of payment methods.

That acquisition was completed in mid-October, which the company said now gives it an opportunity to accelerate integration and deliver value for its US customers sooner.

Management noted that Melio traded in line with expectations through the first half of FY 2026, achieving underlying revenue growth of 68% to NZ$183 million.

The post 3 reasons to buy Xero shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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