Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) shares are racing higher on Friday morning.

At the time of writing, the retail conglomerate’s shares are up 8% to $13.55.

This follows the release of its half-year results before the market open.

Premier Investments shares jump on results day

For the six months ended 24 January, the company reported a 0.5% decline in Premier Retail sales to $452.8 million. This reflects a 4.9% increase in Peter Alexander sales to $312.3 million, which was offset by a 10.7% decline in Smiggle sales to $140.5 million.

During the half, four new Peter Alexander stores were opened and four were either expanded or relocated with further investment in fit out and customer experience. Management notes that over 15 further opportunities have been identified for both new and larger format stores in existing markets to better showcase a wider product offering.

Smiggle sales were down partly due to an 8.7% reduction in store numbers to 282 stores as the brand continues its focus on operational efficiencies. Smiggle’s wholesale channel delivered growth in first half driven by long term agreements in the Middle East and Indonesia.

To address this decline, following a major review, the company has “set a clear strategic objective to reclaim the 6-12 year core customer market through innovative product, marketing and visual merchandising, utilising Smiggle’s existing multichannel formats to drive sustainable sales and profit growth.”

First-half underlying Premier Retail EBIT came in at $119.3 million, which is largely in line with its guidance for “circa $120 million.”

On the bottom line, net profit after tax was $101.7 million. This was slightly stronger than the $99.3 million that UBS was forecasting for the half.

This has allowed the company to declare a fully franked interim dividend after skipping one last year due to its demerger and capital return. It revealed a payout of 45 cents per share. Based on its last close price, this equates to a generous 3.6% dividend yield.

Management commentary

Commenting on the half, the company’s chair, Solomon Lew, said:

Peter Alexander performed strongly again in 1H26 and continues to consolidate its position as the country’s leading sleepwear and gifting brand. The Brand’s priorities in the second half are driving further engagement from a loyal customer base and continuing local and global expansion of the brand footprint.

Smiggle maintains strong brand fundamentals and a well-established multi-channel footprint. The strategic review has quickly identified growth opportunities available to Smiggle and we will be working on product repositioning, simplification and brand elevation over the second half and beyond with a clear plan to bring this brand back to growth in FY27. We look forward to keeping our stakeholders updated on this.

Outlook

A strong second half is expected for the Peter Alexander brand, with its performance ahead of expectations after the first seven weeks.

And while Smiggle’s struggles are expected to continue in the near term, a return to growth is expected in FY 2027.

In light of this, subject to current trading conditions continuing, the company expects Premier Retail FY 2026 Underlying EBIT to be around $183 million. This will be down from $195.4 million in FY 2025.

The post Premier Investments shares jump 8% on results and big interim dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts

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

Furniture company Koala is aiming to raise $20 million in new capital and list on the ASX, with the profitable company on track to substantially grow revenue this year.

The company will issue $20 million worth of new shares as part of the initial public offer while existing shareholders will sell $48.1 million worth of shares, for a total of $68.1 million available to new investors.

The company will be valued at $305.3 million on listing following the capital raise.

Company growing strongly

The prospectus says the company was founded in 2015 and experienced early success selling its Koala mattress, “quickly becoming a leading Australian mattress brand”.

The company launched in Japan in 2017, and in 2018 launched its first sofa product in Australia, with that range also subsequently expanding to Japan.

 The prospectus says further:

In November 2023, Koala launched in the US market with a targeted expansion and disciplined investment, delivering significant early growth. In 2025, Koala expanded its international footprint further with the launch into the UK market.

Chair Michael Gordon said the company was well-placed for growth.

As a furniture company, Koala is exposed to the global furniture market, which benefits from tailwinds including the growth of e‑commerce, increased time spent at home due to the shift to remote work, a desire to maximise the utilisation of living spaces, a growing emphasis on convenience, premiumisation, and the demand for more sustainable products. The business has a significant opportunity before it to grow in Koala’s established markets, scale its presence in newer markets and enter into additional markets over time to grow the business. The global furniture market has shown relatively steady and consistent rates of moderate growth in Koala’s key categories. Koala’s ability to enter new markets and scale is driven by its capital‑light business model and in‑house innovation capabilities, which enables the team to promptly adapt to changing consumer needs and market trends.

Chief executive officer and cofounder Dany Milham said in the prospectus the company was dedicated to providing quality, durable furniture.

He said the company’s success internationally, “reflects a broad appeal for Koala’s Australian design, innovation, and brand”.

Koala trading profitably

The prospectus shows that the company generated revenue of $276.7 million in FY25, and made a net profit of $6.6 million.

The company is forecasting FY26 revenue of $332 million and net profit of $12.3 million.

The company will be named The Koala Company Ltd and trade under the ticker KOA.

The offer period for new shares closes on March 24, with the shares expected to start trading on the ASX on 31 March.

The post Which fast-growing Aussie furniture brand is about to list on the ASX? 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 cybersecurity industry is being tipped by analysts to grow very strongly over the next decade as cyber threats increase and more infrastructure shifts to the cloud.

One way that investors could gain exposure to this trend is with the ASX cybersecurity stock in this article.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who have just named it as a buy.

Which ASX cybersecurity stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is recommending to clients is Infotrust Ltd (ASX: ITS).

Infotrust, which was previously named Spirit Technology Solutions, is a leading provider of cyber security solutions and secure managed technology services to both small and medium businesses and enterprise customers in Australia.

Bell Potter highlights that the ASX cybersecurity stock provides its products and services across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, utilities, education and government, and has over 1,000 customers nationally.

New acquisition

The broker appears pleased with news that Infotrust is acquiring Catalyst Cyber for $5 million. It notes that it is consistent with management’s target of being Australia’s leading cyber first technology services provider. It said:

Infotrust announced the acquisition of Catalyst Cyber for initial consideration of c.$5.0m, comprising approximately $3.5m in cash and $1.5m in Infotrust shares. The consideration equates to around 5x EBIT. The acquisition is expected to contribute approximately $1.3m revenue and $0.3m underlying EBITDA in 2HFY26. (For reference, Infotrust recently provided guidance for underlying EBITDA of >$3m in 2HFY26 so this is around a 10% uplift in H2.)

Catalyst Cyber is a Canberra-based cyber security consultancy focused on Federal Government customers and has deep capability across security advisory, security engineering, incident response and assurance services. The acquisition is consistent with Infotrust’s strategic vision to be Australia’s leading cyber first technology services provider.

In response to the news, Bell Potter has boosted its earnings estimates. It now expects underlying EBITDA of $3.8 million in FY 2026, $6.9 million in FY 2027, and then $8 million in FY 2028.

Major upside

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of 62 cents (from 60 cents).

Based on its current share price of 43 cents, this implies potential upside of 44% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its recommendation, Bell Potter concludes:

We have reduced the multiple we apply in our EV/EBITDA valuation from 15x to 12.5x and increased the WACC we apply in the DCF from 9.4% to 9.7% given the continued sell-off in technology stocks since we last updated our target price. The net result is still a modest 3% increase in our TP to $0.62 which has all been driven by an increase in the DCF. This TP is >15% premium to the share price so we maintain our BUY recommendation.

Note we expect Infotrust to make further acquisitions in the cyber security sector given the much strengthened Balance Sheet following the sale of the Cloud & Communications business and these are likely in the near term. Like this acquisition, we expect future acquisitions to be earnings accretive and so provide an uplift to our forecasts as well as strengthen the company’s position as a sovereign cyber security provider.

The post Why Bell Potter is bullish on this ASX cybersecurity stock with 44% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) share price is in focus after the company announced a new distribution of 20 cents per security (unfranked), for the six months to 31 December 2025.

What did Atlas Arteria report?

• Distribution declared: 20 cents per security, unfranked
• Ex-dividend date: 25 March 2026
• Record date: 26 March 2026
• Payment date: 9 April 2026
• Distribution includes $0.19 foreign dividend and $0.01 conduit foreign income

What else do investors need to know?

The distribution relates to the second half of the 2025 financial year and is made up of two components: a $0.19 per security distribution from Atlas Arteria International Limited (ATLIX) and a $0.01 per security distribution from Atlas Arteria Limited (ATLAX), classified as conduit foreign income. This entire payout is unfranked, meaning investors will not receive franking credits on this distribution.

Further tax component details will be available on the Atlas Arteria investor centre website. Investors should also note that dividend plans are not offered for this payment.

What’s next for Atlas Arteria?

Atlas Arteria remains focused on delivering stable distributions to its securityholders. The company will provide further commentary and detailed financial results with the full-year 2025 report. Investors are encouraged to refer to upcoming disclosures for updates on the group’s outlook and strategy.

Atlas Arteria share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Atlas Arteria shares have declined 9%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Atlas Arteria announces 20 cent unfranked dividend for H2 FY25 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The energy sector has been performing strongly this year as oil prices surge.

But if you thought it was too late to invest in this side of the market, think again.

That’s because Bell Potter believes one ASX energy stock could rise 50%.

Which ASX energy stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is recommending to clients with a high tolerance for risk is Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX).

It is an onshore Perth Basin gas exploration and development company with material discoveries across three advanced projects. These are the 100% owned Walyering and South Erregulla projects and the West Erregulla project, which is co-owned with Hancock Prospecting.

Bell Potter notes that the company has made an increase to its reserves and contingent resources. It said:

STX has announced updated Reserves, Contingent Resources and Prospective Resources across its West Erregulla and Erregulla Deep projects. At West Erregulla, 2P Reserves have increased 20% to 251PJ (net to STX). At Erregulla Deep, an initial 2C Contingent Resource of 38PJ and 2U Prospective Resource of 117PJ has been booked.

The estimates are independently certified by Houston-based Miller & Lents, Global Oil and Gas Consultants. The update incorporates results from the Erregulla Deep-1 well (September 2024) and a Natta 3D seismic survey acquired in May 2025. This announcement was a potential value catalyst; the modest upgrade is a positive.

Big potential returns

According to the note, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating and 15 cents price target on the ASX energy stock.

Based on its current share price of 9.9 cents, this implies potential upside of just over 50% for investors over the next 12 months.

To put that into context, a $2,000 investment would turn into approximately $3,000 by this time next year if Bell Potter is on the money with its recommendation.

Commenting on its positive view of the stock, the broker said:

STX is leveraged to the Western Australia energy market where electricity and gas prices are expected to remain supportive. Walyering provides supplementary cash flow while the South Erregulla Peaking Gas Power Project is being developed (online 4Q 2026). Potential exploration success (Walyering West, Ocean Hill) remains a value catalyst. While the West Erregulla timing and development scenario remain uncertain, this asset will potentially be a large source of energy supply.

The post This ASX energy stock could rise 50%, says Bell Potter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE) was placed in a trading halt today, as the company moves ahead with a major capital raising program, including a NZ$400 million entitlement offer and placement.

What did Genesis Energy report?

• Announced a NZ$400 million capital raising via a placement and pro rata rights offer
• The placement aims to raise approximately NZ$100 million
• Pro rata, renounceable rights offer to raise around NZ$300 million
• New Zealand government to maintain a 51% stake post-raising
• Placement and rights offer (excluding the Crown) fully underwritten by Jarden Partners and Jarden Securities

What else do investors need to know?

Genesis Energy requested the trading halt to allow for the completion of the shortfall bookbuild process, where eligible shareholders and institutional investors can apply for additional shares not taken up in the rights offer. This aims to ensure a fair and transparent market for all participants, as some information may otherwise reach select investors ahead of the market.

The halt is expected to remain in place until the results of the shortfall bookbuild are announced, or normal trading resumes on 24 March 2026. Genesis plans to inform the market of the outcome as soon as it is finalised, highlighting the company’s focus on transparency.

What’s next for Genesis Energy?

Genesis Energy is expected to announce the final results of its entitlement offer, including details of the shortfall allocation, within the trading halt window. The capital raised will likely strengthen Genesis’s balance sheet and support future growth initiatives, while the continued Crown stake keeps a stable ownership structure.

Investors should keep an eye out for further updates regarding the allocation and any potential impact on the Genesis Energy share price as trading resumes.

Genesis Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Genesis Energy shares have declined 9%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Genesis Energy launches $400 million equity raising, announces trading halt 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Solaris Investment Management is launching a new listed investment company (LIC) worth up to $330 million, with a view of delivering investors a strong flow of fully franked dividends, paid out monthly.

The new vehicle will be known as Solaris Australian Equity Income Plus Ltd (ASX: SET) and will raise a minimum of $175 million and up to a maximum of $330 million in new shares priced at $2 each.

Strong income stream targeted

Chair Neil Cochrane said in the prospectus for the offer that the company aimed to, “generate income, inclusive of franking credits, that exceeds the income of the S&P/ASX 200 Franking Credit Adjusted Daily Total Return Index annually”.

The company also aimed to generate total returns that were broadly in line with or exceeded the benchmark over the medium to long term, and to pay regular monthly fully franked dividends.

Mr Cochrane went on to say:

The portfolio will be managed by Solaris Investment Management Limited, utilising the same investment philosophy and income-focused approach that underpins the Solaris Australian Equity Income Fund, an unlisted fund that is in its tenth year of operation. The strategy is founded on proprietary fundamental research, disciplined and responsible portfolio construction and an emphasis on identifying sustainable income opportunities within the Australian equity market. The fundamental research includes a rigorous assessment of management; business model, balance sheet, environmental, social and governance, cash flow profile and trend in return on equity.

Mr Cochrane said that while past performance was no guarantee of future performance, “the unlisted Solaris Australian Equity Income Fund has delivered consistent returns ahead of the benchmark including +8.36% per annum income (+2.81% per annum ahead of benchmark) and, +10.89% per annum net total return (+0.10% ahead of benchmark) since inception”.

The aim is to pay regular dividends, however this would be reliant on the availability of profits, franking credits, and would depend on market conditions, he said.

Mr Cochrane said all of the company’s directors and members of the investment team would take part in the offer.

Suited to income investors

The offer document says the investment strategy, “prioritises income generation, including franked dividends, which for investors on a marginal tax rate of 0-15% (and are entitled to tax refunds for excess franking credits) delivers a higher after-tax return per dollar compared to capital appreciation”.

This would put the investment squarely in the sights of retirees or those investing via their superannuation funds.

The broker firm offer of shares is expected to close on 1 April, with the shares to begin trading on 17 April.

The post Retirees, check out this new $330m listed investment company which aims to pay monthly fully franked dividends 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.

Large-cap oil and gas stocks, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX:WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) are often spoken about in the same conversation. Both have a reasonably solid dividend track record, and are more heavily exposed to global energy prices rather than the local economy.

But there are differences in investor value, today and over the longer term. So, which one stacks up best for you?

Woodside Energy

A steady operator with a solid track record, but upside at current prices is in question for me.

Woodside is Australia’s largest independent energy company, and it would be the clear winner if you were deciding based on business size and asset base alone. With over 30 locations across five continents, its scale and diversification are impressive. 

It’s full year 2025 reporting showcased an uplift in production of 3% to 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE) but a 24% decline in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $2.7 billion, driven by declining oil prices last year. The uplift in production should yield better results in the short term with the current inflated oil prices.

Given its wide exposure and today’s rising gas and oil prices, Woodside should deliver a strong return in the first half of 2026, and continue its track record of reliable (if cyclical), fully franked dividends.

Of course, current oil prices are being driven by conflict in Middle Eastern oil producing regions, the duration of which is highly unpredictable. And the energy sector is always open to volatility, particularly as governments push toward renewable energy alternatives. In response, Woodside has positioned itself as a long-term supplier of LPG, leaning into gas as a transition fuel.

As it stands, when oil prices stabilise, Woodside’s strong balance sheet and diversified cash flows should keep the ship steady. Amongst energy stocks, its risk profile sits at the lower end.

Where things get less exciting for me is share price growth. It’s up 24% over the last month to the $33 mark on Thursday, largely driven by investor optimism with rising commodity prices. But I’m not sure this leaves a lot of room for growth in a sector that can be volatile. 

For me, right now, it’s one for the watchlist. If prices fall back to the mid $20s, then it could become a worthwhile buy based on its robust operating model, solid dividends and relatively reliable cash flows.

Santos

A higher risk play with a more attractive share price  

Santos is a smaller, more concentrated oil and gas supplier. Its asset base is far more concentrated than Woodside’s, with producing assets in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

This gives it less diversification, but also means fewer moving parts, so it can be the more agile of the two when it comes to growth opportunities. While this comes with some additional execution risk, it can also create pathway to share price growth for investors.

It has invested heavily in some new projects of late, included its joint venture Barossa LNG project, that saw its first shipment of gas in late January. In addition, it is expecting production to begin at its first US site, the Alaska-based Pikka Project, in the coming months.

All of that said, its dividends tend to be lower and not or only partially franked, so this may be a downside for some investors.

Santos’ full year 2025 results reported production of 87.7 MMBOE (0.7% increase year-on-year) but a 25.2% year-on-year decline in underlying NPAT to $898 million due to declining commodity prices.

Its response to the push for renewables has been to invest in carbon capture and storage, a move to ensure its continued relevance in a decarbonising world. Its Moomba Carbon Capture and Storage project is Australia’s first large-scale onshore facility and one of the lowest cost projects of its type globally.

For me, Santos is the stronger buy right now. Its share price has also jumped in the last month (15%) reaching $8 on Thursday with rising commodity prices. But I think there is still upside for investors in this energy stock, particularly given the growth potential of some of its newer projects.

The bottom line

In my opinion, Woodside remains a relatively reliable dividend vehicle in the energy sector, albeit with limited potential upside right now. It may still be a buy if you want a relatively predictable income stream to add to your portfolio.

Santos, on the other hand, is an energy stock that could see significant growth in coming years. It might be a slightly higher risk play, but in my opinion, patient investors are likely to be rewarded.

The post Woodside vs Santos: Which ASX energy stock is the best fit for your portfolio? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Melissa Maddison 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’s no shortage of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the ASX.

But if the goal is to buy and hold for the long term, I think it makes sense to keep things simple and focus on funds that offer strong diversification, clear strategies, and exposure to durable growth trends.

Here are three Betashares ETFs I’d consider holding for the next decade.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

If I want exposure to global growth, this is one of the first places I look.

The NDQ ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100, which is home to many of the world’s most influential technology companies. We’re talking about businesses at the centre of trends like artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital platforms.

What I like about this ETF is that it provides broad exposure to these themes without requiring me to pick individual winners.

It won’t always outperform. In fact, it can be volatile, especially when tech stocks fall out of favour.

But over long periods, companies driving global innovation have tended to deliver strong returns. That’s why I think NDQ can earn a place in a long-term portfolio.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

Cybersecurity is an industry growing rapidly. As more of the world moves online, the need to protect data, systems, and infrastructure is only increasing.

The HACK ETF provides exposure to a portfolio of global companies involved in cybersecurity, spanning network protection, identity security, and threat detection.

What stands out to me is the durability of demand. Regardless of economic conditions, organisations still need to invest in security. In many cases, spending in this area is considered non-discretionary.

That gives this Betashares ETF a structural growth tailwind that I think could play out over many years.

Betashares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

While global exposure is important, I also like having something closer to home.

The AQLT ETF focuses on high-quality Australian shares, selecting companies based on metrics such as profitability, earnings stability, and balance sheet strength.

In other words, it tilts toward companies that have historically been more resilient and consistent. This can be useful for balancing higher-growth, higher-volatility exposures, such as the NDQ ETF.

It also means you’re not just getting broad market exposure, but a filtered version that leans toward stronger businesses.

Over time, that quality tilt has the potential to support more stable returns.

Why I like this mix

These three ETFs each play a different role.

The NDQ ETF offers exposure to global innovation and growth. The HACK ETF offers a thematic angle on a critical and expanding industry. The AQLT ETF adds a layer of quality and domestic exposure.

Together, they cover a lot of ground without becoming overly complicated.

Of course, they’re not the only ETFs worth considering. But I think they show how you can build a long-term portfolio around a few clear ideas.

Foolish Takeaway

For long-term investing, simplicity and consistency matter more than trying to be clever. These Betashares ETFs offer exposure to growth, resilience, and structural trends that could play out over the next decade.

They won’t move in a straight line, and there will be periods of volatility. But for investors willing to stay the course, I think they’re the kind of ETFs that can be bought, held, and largely left alone to do their job over time.

The post 3 Betashares ETFs I’d buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and is short shares of BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It has been a brutal month for shareholders of this $27 billion ASX gold stock.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has tumbled 32% over the past month to $18.96 at the time of writing, including a sharp 9.5% drop on Thursday alone.

That’s a dramatic reversal from 2025, when the stock surged an impressive 73%.

So, what’s going on?

Gold falls, oil rises

A big part of the answer lies in the gold price itself. On 2 March, gold was trading at around US$5,322 per ounce. Today, it’s closer to US$4,674, marking a decline of more than 9% in just a few weeks.

At the same time, oil has surged. Brent crude is now up roughly 38% over the same period. That divergence matters.

When gold falls and oil rises, investors often rotate capital away from gold miners and into energy stocks. That appears to be playing out now, with money flowing out of ASX gold stocks and into the oil and gas sector.

Even so, it’s worth keeping things in perspective. Despite the recent sell-off, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) remains up more than 48% over the past 12 months. This highlights just how strong the sector’s run has been.

In that context, Northern Star’s pullback could partly reflect profit-taking after a stellar year.

So where to next?

Northern Star remains one of the ASX’s premier gold producers, with large-scale, long-life assets and a strong production profile. The operations of the ASX gold stock in Western Australia give it exposure to a stable mining jurisdiction, while its scale provides cost advantages relative to smaller peers.

That said, risks remain. Like all ASX gold stocks, Northern Star is highly sensitive to commodity prices. If gold continues to weaken, earnings could come under pressure. At the same time, rising energy costs — driven by higher oil prices — can squeeze margins, given the energy-intensive nature of mining operations.

Operational performance is another key factor. Any production disruptions or cost blowouts could further weigh on investor sentiment, particularly after such a sharp share price decline.

Despite these risks, analysts appear largely unfazed by the recent volatility.

Buy, hold or sell?

Most brokers continue to rate the leading ASX gold stock as a buy or strong buy, reflecting confidence in the company’s long-term fundamentals. The average 12-month price target currently sits at $28.96, implying potential upside of around 53% from current levels.

Some brokers have also pointed to the recent pullback as a potential opportunity. They argue that the company’s quality assets and strong track record position it well to benefit when gold prices stabilise.

The bottom line?

Northern Star’s sharp decline highlights just how quickly sentiment can shift in commodity markets.

But with a strong asset base, solid production outlook, and continued broker support, this ASX gold stock may still have plenty of shine left for patient investors.

The post Down 32% in a month: Where to from here for this ASX gold stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont down so much today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Which ASX gold shares have risen the most in 2026?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Should you buy the dip on ASX mining shares?

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