It’s a question I get asked regularly – most recently just the other day, prompting this article:

‘Do I have the best Super fund?’.

My first answer is always ‘I can’t give personal advice’… because, well, I can’t.

The regulator, ASIC, has very specific rules about the difference between ‘general’ and ‘personal’ advice. I can tell you what I think about an issue or investment, but I can’t tell you if it’s right for you, personally.

The difference? Personal advice would take things like your goals, objectives and risk tolerance into account. And lots of other things.

And it needs to be created using specific processes and delivered with some very specific paperwork!

So I can tell you what I think of different Super funds, but not whether you should (or shouldn’t) become a member of a specific fund – you have to take my ‘general’ advice, then consider if it meets your needs (or speak to a financial advisor directly, if you need extra support).

(And none of this is tax advice, either!)

I’ve said before that Super is stupidly complex. Way, way too complex.

There are rules for different types of contributions for different members based on different life circumstances.

There are rules about how much can be contributed, in what categories, and what tax does and doesn’t apply.

There are rules about how much money can be held in what specific accounts, and how each of those accounts are taxed.

There are rules about when the money can be accessed, and how much can be accessed (and in some cases, must be withdrawn).

And, believe it or not, even those are generalisations, and only just touch the surface.

I’d radically change (and simplify) the rules. But that’s a whole other argument… and article.

I’m going to focus, here, on how to think about approaching fund selection in general – I just won’t be able to address every possible permutation!

First, there are two broad fund types: so-called APRA-regulated funds (big, pooled funds, run by fund managers) and Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs).

And the first group can be split into two broad categories: Retail Funds and Industry / Not-For-Profit Funds.

Let’s talk, first, about why and when an SMSF can be attractive for most people.

SMSFs are wonderful for people who want to take control of their investments, who want to invest in things not easily accessed using traditional Super funds, and/or who have a fund balance (which can be pooled with other family members or close associates) which is large enough to keep costs (as a % of the fund balance) low.

And while it might be implied, the other consideration is whether you are likely to actually be good at picking investments! I think it’s something that most people can develop, in time, but just keep that in mind.

Generally, Retail and Industry funds have low fixed fees, and low fees as a percentage of the fund balance, but the latter can get pretty large if your fund balance does. In contrast, SMSFs usually have high fixed fees, but those fees tend not to change as your balance grows.

So you’ll find that variable fees suit smaller balances but fixed fees favour larger balances.

Where’s the cutoff? In short, it depends.

I have an SMSF. It charges close to $2,000 per year, plus I have to pay some regulatory fees.

In contrast, AustralianSuper (an industry fund) charges $1 per week, plus 0.1% of your balance, capped at $350 per year, plus investment fees between 0.05% and 0.52% of your balance (The ‘Member Direct’ option has a different fee scale, up to $180 per annum.)

Now, if I had $50,000 in my Super account, the $2,000 SMSF fee would be 4% of the balance.

By contrast, using AustralianSuper’s own example of their ‘Balanced’ option, the fees would total $387, or 0.77%.

If I had $5 million (trust me, I wish I did, but I don’t!) in my Super, the $2,000 fee would be 0.04% of the balance, and AustralianSuper would be an admin fee of $402 and investment fee of 0.57%: that adds up to a blended fee of 0.58%, which would amount to $29,000 per year.

Now, these are rough calculations, using extreme scenarios, it shows you the different impacts of flat fees and percentage fees.

It matters a lot, too, which investment option you choose within AustralianSuper… did I mention it’s complex?

The last wrinkle? The person running the SMSF has a lot of legal responsibility and paperwork to account for. It’s not hugely painful, but it is a bit of a hassle. You need to be up for the responsibility and the effort.

For some people it’s no big deal. For others it’ll be a deal-breaker.

Know thyself, dear reader: If the cost, time, interest and flexibility appeal to you, you might want to look into an SMSF. If not, read on for my thoughts about the traditional Super Funds.

Let’s return, now, to the two types of these Super funds: Retail vs. Industry/Not-For-Profit funds.

The difference, at least structurally, comes down to ownership and profit motive.

A Retail fund is owned by a for-profit business that wants to earn a buck by providing you a service for a given fee and keeping a small amount of that for itself, after costs.

An Industry Fund (so-called, because they were created by employer and/or union groups in each industry, like the Health, Building or Hospitality industries) is owned by members. Other non-Industry NFP funds that have different origins include Australian Retirement Trust and Vanguard.

(While I called them ‘Not-For-Profit’ funds, the industry calls them ‘profit-for-members’, but in practice it’s the same thing.)

So which should a member choose? Well, the numbers are pretty clear. Industry Funds, individually and as a group, almost always beat Retail Funds.

Why?

Well, investors as a group earn the market average return, by definition. And Super Fund members as a group will likely do more or less the same. So then, in aggregate, what’s likely to differentiate Retail and Industry Funds?

Costs.

And costs tend to be lower at NFP funds, accounting for a very large chunk of the difference in performance.

In short? If you can’t control returns (and as passive members of Super Funds, we can’t), then at least control the fees to maximise your chance of the best possible long-term return.

Sometimes, an individual Retail Fund will beat an individual Industry Fund, after fees.

Sometimes, it’s possible that Retail Funds as a group will beat Industry/NFP Funds as a group, after fees, in a given year.

But over the whole industry and over time? My money is squarely on Industry/NFP Funds. It’s just the law of averages.

So, if I didn’t have an SMSF? My money would absolutely be in an Industry or NFP fund, because I expect that probabilities will favour me doing better, after fees.

(Indeed, a few years back, I was part of the team that chose AustralianSuper as The Motley Fool’s default fund. We considered other for-profit and NFP funds, and went with AustralianSuper. And no, neither I nor The Motley Fool get any benefit of any sort from doing so, or by talking about it. We just reckoned it was the best choice of default fund for our team.)

Now, a couple of things:

If Retail Fund fees suddenly plummeted and were lower than Industry Fund fees, I’d change my mind. I don’t have an ideological preference, here, just a pragmatic one, based on the numbers.

And speaking of ideology: some readers will have an ideological opposition to their Super being in a fund with union involvement. Personally – and frankly – I think that objection is a little silly: we should invest our Super where it’s likely to get the best return, not with ideological fellow-travellers or away from ideological opponents. But… if I can’t make you think more pragmatically, that’s your call… and non-Industry NFP funds like Australian Retirement Trust or Vanguard might be worth checking out as very good alternatives.

Okay, but which Industry Fund? As I mentioned earlier, we went with AustralianSuper a few years back. It was (and remains) the largest fund, and had very low, if not the lowest, fees. And being the largest, it was likely to have the best chance of keeping those fees low, or lowering them further, so probabilistically it was our best choice at the time.

I am very happy with it currently being our default fund, though it’s probably time for us to do a review. But one of the best things is that other Industry/NFP Funds have relatively similar fee structures – so if there’s a lower fee option out there, it’s very, very unlikely to be meaningfully cheaper.

Which is also good news for members of other Industry Funds. The question I received this week was from someone in an Industry Fund, asking which one I’d recommend, compared to the fund they were already in.

As I said at the top, I can’t give personal advice, and the maths (see the fee example higher up) means that it’s possible that different funds are slightly better or slightly worse for different account balances, based on their mix of those fixed administration fees, administration fees as as percentage of funds, and investment management fees.

So fee-wise, any of the largest Industry/NFP funds are probably reasonably similar on fees, and any benefit from changing is likely small.

But… please check. There may well be some out there charging unnecessarily high fees – and the money is better in your pocket than theirs!

Phew… this is getting long. Did I mention Super was complex? If you’re still with me, thank you!

Let’s wrap this up.

Here’s how I think you should (generally) think about your Super Fund choice:

If you have a large enough balance (or the balance will be large enough in a few years’ time), and have the time, inclination and expectation that you can invest well – and want the flexibility that comes with the extra paperwork burden – an SMSF can be a great choice.

If you don’t want the time, hassle, stress and bother, and/or you don’t have an account balance that justifies the decent fee you’ll pay for an SMSF, an Industry / NFP Fund is be a great choice. And as long as you pick a decent-sized Fund, you’re unlikely to be paying materially more than another similar-sized Industry Fund when it comes to fees.

And Retail Funds? If you really like donating extra to the Australian financial services industry, then go for it! Okay, I’m kidding… a little.

These guys and girls are doing their best to grow your Super by investing well, but at the end of the day, history says you’re likely to do worse, after fees. Betting against both history and probability is usually a bad idea.

Me? I like the freedom and choice of my SMSF. But it only contains shares and a little bit of cash, so it’s not that complex. If there was a price-competitive Industry/NFP solution that allowed me to buy and sell just as I do in my SMSF, I’d probably jump at it to save me the paperwork.

Well done! You made it though the cook’s tour of the Australian Super system.

Sort of.

Don’t worry, I’m not writing anything more, today – but I will follow up soon with the question of ‘Which investment option(s) should I choose inside Super’.

Because, believe it or not, the way you invest your Super might (probably does, in many or most cases) have more of an impact on your final balance than the Fund you choose!

But that’s a whole other story. Until then!

Fool on!

The post Do you have the best super fund? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Life360 posts record Q4 as revenue and EBITDA top guidance
• Strike action sends major copper producer’s shares lower
• Guzman Y Gomez shares push higher on Uber deal
• Broker says this ASX All Ords stock could rise 15%
• Objective Corporation launches on-market share buy-back

Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips 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.

GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP) shares could be in the buy zone right now.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, which rate this ASX All Ords stock very highly.

What is the broker saying?

Firstly, in case you are not familiar with this ASX All Ords stock, it is a service provider to mining, utilities, and other private customers across electrical plant and equipment, power, and telecommunications infrastructure.

Bell Potter highlights that GenusPlus has upgraded its earnings guidance for FY 2026 thanks to a stronger than expected first half from the Energy & Engineering and Services segments. It said:

GNP has upgraded its FY26 EBITDA growth guidance to ~35% (up from the prior guidance range of 20-25%; vs BPe of 23%). The guidance upgrade is attributed to better-than-expected 1H FY26 unaudited financial results from the Energy & Engineering and Services segments, with Infrastructure performing as per company expectations. GNP remains confident in continued earnings growth beyond FY26 given its contracted position, integration of recent acquisitions and increased momentum in secular tailwinds.

Time to buy this ASX All Ords stock

In response to the above, Bell Potter has reaffirmed its buy rating on this ASX All Ords stock with an improved price target of $8.70 (from $7.50).

Based on its current share price of $7.57, this implies potential upside of 15% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter is positive on GenusPlus due to its exposure to increased spending on renewable energy generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure. It believes this leaves it well-placed for strong growth in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Earnings per share growth of 33.9% and 16.9%, respectively, is forecast by the broker.

Commenting on the ASX All Ords stock, its analysts said:

GNP offers investors concentrated exposure to a long-duration tailwind in rising investment levels for renewable energy generation, storage and transmission infrastructure. GNP’s current record $2.6bn+ orderbook of transmission and BESS work packages confirms this secular trend. Together, with a growing recurring revenue profile, we have good visibility on near-term earnings growth.

We highlight management’s track-record of exceeding guidance over the past 2 years; the FY26 guidance upgrade this early in the financial year is highly encouraging of further positive surprises to come. Our upgraded Target Price of $8.70/sh implies a NTM PEG of 1.2x, which we view as justified given our confidence in the company’s outlook.

The post Broker says this ASX All Ords stock could rise 15% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Objective Corporation launches on-market share buy-back
• IVV, VGS, VAS: Which ASX ETF produced the better returns in 2025?
• Why I think these ASX ETFs are best buys for 2026
• 3 super ASX ETFs for easy investing in AI
• Guzman y Gomez teams up exclusively with Uber Eats for Australian delivery

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

The Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL) share price is in focus today after the company announced an on-market share buy-back, with plans to repurchase up to 10% of its ordinary shares.

What did Objective Corporation report?

• Objective will commence an on-market buy-back of up to 9,590,176 ordinary shares (around 10% of shares on issue).
• The buy-back window runs from 6 February 2026 to 5 February 2027.
• Barrenjoey Markets Pty Ltd appointed as broker to conduct buy-backs on behalf of Objective.
• Buy-backs to be settled in Australian dollars through cash consideration.
• No shareholder approval is required for this on-market buy-back.

What else do investors need to know?

The purpose of the buy-back is to return surplus capital to shareholders and improve capital efficiency. The company has not specified any minimum shares it intends to buy back but capped the maximum at 9,590,176 shares.

Shareholders should note that the buy-back will be conducted gradually on-market and the actual number of shares to be bought back depends on market conditions and the Objective share price over the period.

What’s next for Objective Corporation?

Objective Corporation will begin its buy-back program in early February 2026, running for up to a year. The move may lead to improved earnings per share over time if shares are repurchased below intrinsic value.

Looking ahead, investors will be watching management’s ongoing capital allocation and any future updates on the progress of the buy-back.

Objective Corporation share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Objective Corporation shares have declined 2%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Objective Corporation launches on-market share buy-back appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Guzman y Gomez teams up exclusively with Uber Eats for Australian delivery
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 drops as lower unemployment raises the risk of an interest rate hike
• 3 ASX 200 shares this fund manager says are buys for 2026

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 positions in and has recommended Objective. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Objective. 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.

These three ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are among the biggest by market cap on the Australian share market today.

How do they compare in terms of their 2025 performance?

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) rose by 7.05% and gave a total return, including dividends, of 10.07% in 2025.

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) lifted 9.81% and gave a total return of 13.34% in 2025.

The iShares Core S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV) rose 8.24% and delivered a total return of 10.13%.

So, on the face of it, VGS produced the best returns of the ASX three exchange-traded funds.

But there’s a hidden element in these results: the impact of the currency exchange.

How the weakening US dollar impacted ASX ETF returns

The higher Australian dollar (AUD) against a weaker US dollar (USD) dampened down returns from ASX ETFs holding US stocks last year.

Case in point: IVV ETF returned 10.13% to investors, yet the index it tracks, the S&P 500 Index (SP: INX), returned 17.88% in USD terms.

For the past few years, the AUD/USD currency exchange worked in our favour and magnified the returns for ETFs holding US stocks.

Today, things are different.

The US dollar has weakened against the Australian dollar for several reasons.

They include expectations of continuing interest rate cuts in the US, while Australia’s rates are expected to remain on hold or even rise.

Strongly rising commodity prices are also supporting the AUD by boosting our export earnings.

Central banks worldwide are also concerned over rising US debt and the USD’s long-term role as a store of value.

That’s a prime reason why gold has gone crazy over the past two years — rising 65% in 2025 and 27% in 2024 — because central banks are diversifying away from the USD and into precious metals, and investors have followed them after seeing the gold price rapidly rise.

The result: At the start of 2025, the Aussie dollar was about 62 US cents, and rose to about 67 US cents by the end of the year.

Why does 5 cents make such a big difference?

You may wonder how a 5-cent rise could reduce returns from 17.88% (S&P 500 index returns in USD) to 10.13% (IVV ETF returns in AUD).

The answer is that a 5-cent move represents about an 8% gain in the AUD. That gain eats into the USD returns.

So, the 17.88% growth in the S&P 500 is effectively worth only about 9.88% in AUD.

Then we add dividends, which brings the total return for ASX investors holding IVV ETF units to 10.13%.

Investors may wish to consider hedged ETF options if they believe the AUD is likely to remain stronger than the USD for a while.

ETF provider iShares offers a hedged version of IVV. It’s called iShares S&P 500 (AUD Hedged) ETF (ASX: IHVV).

As you can see below, IHVV (the purple line) began outperforming IVV last year.

The post IVV, VGS, VAS: Which ASX ETF produced the better returns in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I would invest $3,000 in ASX shares if I were starting today
• These are the ETFs I would buy with $20,000
• 3 ETFs I think could outperform NAB shares in 2026
• The best ASX ETFs for long-term investors
• Should I buy ANZ, VAS, and Zip shares this week?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF and iShares S&P 500 Aud Hedged ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Trying to predict which individual shares will perform best over the next year can be difficult, especially when markets are being pulled in different directions by technology, geopolitics, and economic uncertainty.

That is where exchange traded funds (ETFs) can shine. By focusing on long-term themes rather than short-term noise, they allow investors to stay exposed to powerful trends without relying on a single outcome.

But which funds could be buys for investors? Here are three ASX ETFs that I think could be best buys for the year ahead.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF provides investors with exposure to the technology leaders shaping Asia’s digital economy.

This ASX ETF invests in major regional players across ecommerce, payments, gaming, and hardware manufacturing. Key holdings include Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), and Samsung Electronics (KRX: 005930).

Digital adoption across Asia continues to grow, supported by large populations and expanding middle classes. This bodes well for the fund’s holdings, which stand to benefit greatly from these tailwinds over the next decade.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF targets a theme that is becoming more critical each year.

As businesses, governments, and individuals rely more heavily on digital systems, the need to protect data and networks continues to grow. This means that cybersecurity has become essential infrastructure rather than discretionary spending.

This ASX ETF holds global leaders in the industry such as CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), and Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT). These companies benefit from recurring revenue models as organisations prioritise security regardless of economic conditions.

Looking ahead, cybersecurity demand appears structural rather than cyclical, which could make the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF a compelling long-term thematic exposure.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

A final ETF that could be among the best to buy this year is the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF.

It provides investors with access to companies that provide products people buy regardless of what is going on in the economy.

Its portfolio includes household names like Nestle (SWX: NESN), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), and Walmart (NYSE: WMT). These are global giants with strong brands, pricing power, and steady cash flows.

This gives the fund defensive qualities, which could be good if you think rising geopolitical tensions may cause market volatility in 2026.

The post Why I think these ASX ETFs are best buys for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy now
• These are the ETFs I would buy with $20,000
• 3 ETFs I think could outperform NAB shares in 2026
• 5 strong ASX ETFs to buy in your 30s
• Where to invest as global tensions rise? These ETFs might be worth a look

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, CrowdStrike, Fortinet, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group, Nestlé, and Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept. It is already reshaping how businesses operate, how data is processed, and how entire industries compete.

For investors, the challenge is not believing in AI’s potential. It is figuring out how to invest without needing to pick the single company that gets everything right. That is where ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can help, offering diversified exposure to AI-related growth in a simple and accessible way.

Here are three ASX ETFs that provide different angles on the AI theme.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF is probably the most direct way to invest in AI through the ASX.

This ASX ETF focuses on stocks that are involved in robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence, covering both hardware and software. This includes businesses building the tools that allow AI systems to function in the real world, not just consumer-facing applications.

Top holdings include NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), and Keyence (TYO: 6861). These are companies that benefit from increased demand for computing power, automation, and precision technology as AI adoption accelerates.

For investors who want targeted exposure to AI as a long-term structural trend, the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF offers a clear and focused option. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF is another ASX ETF to consider for AI exposure. It provides a broader, but still powerful, way to invest in this megatrend.

Rather than focusing solely on artificial intelligence, the fund tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which includes many of the companies leading AI development and commercialisation. These businesses tend to have the scale, capital, and data needed to deploy AI at speed.

Key holdings include Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). AI is not their only growth driver, but it is increasingly embedded across their products and services.

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could suit investors who want AI exposure without relying on a single theme, blending innovation with established global leaders.

Betashares Cloud Computing ETF (ASX: CLDD)

The Betashares Cloud Computing ETF is a third ASX ETF to look at for AI exposure. It focuses on the infrastructure that makes AI possible.

AI relies heavily on cloud computing for data storage, processing, and scalability. This ETF invests in companies that provide the platforms and services enabling AI workloads to run efficiently.

Holdings include Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), and Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW). As AI models become more data-intensive, demand for cloud-based solutions is expected to rise alongside them.

This fund was also recently recommended by Betashares.

The post 3 super ASX ETFs for easy investing in AI appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy now
• 3 global ETFs I’d hold for the next decade
• 3 ASX ETFs for exposure to exciting megatrends
• 5 strong ASX ETFs to buy in your 30s
• 5 ETFs for an effective global portfolio

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Intuitive Surgical, Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Snowflake. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Guzman y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) share price is in focus after the company announced a new multi-year exclusive delivery partnership with Uber Eats in Australia. Delivery now accounts for around 27% of the company’s total sales, highlighting its growing importance to the business.

What did Guzman y Gomez report?

• Entered a multi-year exclusive delivery partnership with Uber Eats covering Australia, effective 22 February 2026
• Delivery sales made up approximately 27% of total Australian sales in 1H26
• GYG and Uber will jointly invest to enhance value, choice and convenience for customers
• Franchisees expected to benefit from improved commercial terms and sales support
• Exclusivity applies only to Australia, with international arrangements unchanged

What else do investors need to know?

The exclusive partnership is designed to strengthen the economics of GYG’s delivery channel by driving growth for both corporate-owned and franchised restaurants. GYG’s franchisees across Australia are expected to benefit through new initiatives supporting a smooth transition to Uber Eats exclusivity, aimed at protecting restaurant sales performance.

The company emphasised that while Uber Eats will become its sole delivery partner in Australia, existing partnerships in the United States, Singapore and Japan will not be impacted by this move.

What did Guzman y Gomez management say?

Steven Marks, Founder and Co-CEO of GYG, said:

Our guests love the convenience of delivery, and this exclusive partnership with Uber Eats means we can serve them even better.

“This isn’t just about delivery, it’s about creating an experience that reflects the quality and speed our guests expect, while driving innovation in how we connect with them. We’re excited about what this partnership means for our guests today and for the future of GYG.

What’s next for Guzman y Gomez?

GYG plans to launch the new exclusive partnership with Uber Eats from 22 February 2026, aiming to accelerate delivery sales and improve customer experience. The company said it will continue investing in growth and innovation within both its delivery and restaurant operations.

Investors should also note GYG’s upcoming 1H26 results announcement, scheduled for 20 February 2026, when further financial details and outlook are expected.

Guzman y Gomez share price snapshot

Over the past 12 moths, Guzman Y Gomez shares have declined 43%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Guzman y Gomez teams up exclusively with Uber Eats for Australian delivery appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Objective Corporation launches on-market share buy-back
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 drops as lower unemployment raises the risk of an interest rate hike
• 3 ASX 200 shares this fund manager says are buys for 2026

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.

Whenever I buy an ASX share, I do so with the hope, and expectation, that I won’t have to sell it. Things change and don’t turn out how we might expect, of course. I have sold many ASX shares that didn’t execute on their potential over the years. But at the end of the day, I try to live up to Warren Buffett’s advice that “If you aren’t thinking about owning a stock for ten years, don’t even think about owning it for ten minutes”.

So with that in mind, let’s talk about five ASX shares that I think any investor should buy in 2026 if they intend to hold them for at least a decade.

Five ASX stocks to buy and hold until 2036 and beyond

First up is Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS). Telstra is the leading telecommunications provider in Australia. Its superior network coverage and powerful brand give this stock an impressive moat, which has historically enabled Telstra to steadily grow its earnings and dividends. As a reliable income stock and a steady blue-chip share, I don’t think you can go wrong with Telstra as a long-term investment.

It’s a similar story with Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL). Coles has done an exceptional job since beginning ASX life in its own terms in 2018. It has gained market share from rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) in recent years. Additionally, its nature as a provider of food and household essentials makes it a defensive stock resistant to economic problems like inflation and recessions.

Again, this helps protect the company’s earnings and ability to pay a consistent and reliable dividend. Unless we find a way to live happily without eating and running our houses, Coles should be bigger and better in 2036.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) is another ASX stock perfect for a long-term investor, in my view. Wesfarmers is the company behind some of Australia’s most popular retailers. These include Kmart, OfficeWorks, Target, and Bunnings. This stock also owns a collection of other diversified businesses, which range from lithium extraction to pharmacies.

Wesfarmers has proven over many decades that it knows how to manage different businesses successfully and to grow investors’ capital. It has a strong history of dividend payments and share buybacks. I would be happy to own Wesfarmers shares for many decades to come.

Our final two shares

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) is our fourth long-term investment. Soul Patts is an investment house that manages an underlying portfolio on behalf of its shareholders. This portfolio contains stakes in other ASX shares, as well as private credit investments and other unlisted assets.

Like Wesfarmers, Soul Patts has decades of history that it can point to with pride. It has delivered market-beating returns for the past 25 years, and boasts the best dividend streak on the ASX. Its investors have enjoyed an annual dividend pay rise every single year since 1998.

Our final stock today is another retailer in Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL). Like Wesfarmers, many Australians might not have heard of Super Retail Group. But they have probably heard of its brands, which include Super Cheap Auto, Rebel, Macpac, and BCF. Super Retail Group is one of the most resilient retailers in the country, surviving and thriving during both the 2008 global financial crisis and the pandemic. Given the enduring popularity of its stores, I think buying and holding this company for at least the next ten years would be a prudent investment.

The post 5 ASX stocks to hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 1 Australian stock down 14% that’s pure long-term perfection
• 5 ASX dividend shares to buy for an income boost
• 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields
• How I would invest $3,000 in ASX shares if I were starting today
• 3 ASX 200 shares this fund manager says are buys for 2026

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group, Telstra Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Every now and again, top-quality Australian stocks experience a significant share price dip. These occasions can be rare. But when they do happen, it can be a fleeting opportunity to pick up shares of a lucrative investment. We could be seeing this in action as we speak with Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL).

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co, or Soul Patts for short, is an investing house. Unlike most Australian stocks, which produce goods or services for consumers, Soul Patts instead manages an underlying portfolio of investments on behalf of its shareholders.

These investments are highly diversified. There are a few ASX shares that the company owns major stakes in, including TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC). There’s also a broader portfolio of blue-chip stocks that Soul Patts inherited from the acquisition of the old Milton Corporation a few years ago.

In addition to this impressive share portfolio, Soul Patts also invests in a range of other assets. These include private credit, venture capital, and other unlisted assets. That’s in addition to the property portfolio and construction materials manufacturing business that Soul Patts acquired with its acquisition of Brickworks last year.

Soul Patts is pure long-term perfection in an Australian stock

So we can be sure that a Soul Patts investment is an inherently diversified one. But it has historically also been an incredibly lucrative one. Last year, the company confirmed that its investors had enjoyed an average total return (share price growth plus dividends) of 13.7% per annum over the 25 years to 23 September 2025. That beat out the broader market by over 5% per annum.

The company also outperformed over 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15-year periods, too. Additionally, Soul Patts shareholders have enjoyed the longest streak of annual dividend increases on the ASX from this company. Soul Patts has raised its annual dividend like clockwork every year since 1998. That included 2025.

Putting all of this together, I think we can conclude that this company is pure perfection for long-term investors.

Yet this company has just come off a fairly dramatic share price plunge. Back in September of last year, Soul Patts shares were riding high on the back of the Brickworks acquisition. The company hit a new all-time record of $45.14 that month. But ever since, this exuberance has been fading. At the current (at the time of writing anyway) price of $38.22, the company is a significant 14.5% or so down from that record high. Back in December, Soul Patts went under $35 a share, which was more than 21% below that height.

Despite the recent recovery from that low, today’s pricing could be a good entry point for investors looking for a company they can buy and hold forever.

The post 1 Australian stock down 14% that’s pure long-term perfection appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX stocks to hold for the next decade
• How I’d invest monthly savings to generate over $50,000 passive income
• 3 great ASX dividend shares to buy in 2026
• 2 ASX shares I’m planning to own until I’m 100
• Want to build up passive income? These 2 ASX dividend shares are a buy!

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares have been among the best performers on the Australian share market over the past 12 months.

During this time, the gold miner’s shares have risen 145%.

The good news is that analysts at Bell Potter don’t believe it is too late to invest and see potential for market-beating gains in 2026.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was pleased with Regis Resources’ performance during the second quarter. It highlights that the gold miner delivered production ahead of expectations and costs that were largely in line.

In light of this, the broker believes the company is well-positioned to achieve its guidance in FY 2026. It said:

RRL has released its December 2025 quarterly report, for which group production lifted ahead of our expectations and costs were broadly in-line. Overall, it was a solid quarter with RRL well placed to meet FY26 guidance and continue to build on its track record of consistent delivery. For the quarter, RRL achieved group production of 96,556oz at AISC of A$2,839/oz (vs BPe 92,158oz at AISC of A$2,718/oz).

Operating cash flow for the quarter of $419m was up 44% from $290m QoQ, demonstrating RRL’s exceptional leverage to the gold price. RRL achieved an average realised price of A$6,436/oz, up 19% QoQ from A$5,405/oz. This drove a further lift in cash generation, with $255m added to the balance sheet (equivalent to $2,640/oz produced, vs $1,750/oz QoQ). RRL holds cash of $930m (from $675m QoQ) after the payment of $38m in dividends and remains debt free.

Dividends incoming?

In light of its strong performance and significant cash generation, Bell Potter thinks that Regis Resources could increase its dividends. It adds:

RRL’s accelerating cash generation, $930m cash balance, no debt and no major budgeted capital projects shifts the focus to shareholder returns. RRL recommenced dividend distributions at end FY25. It will publish a formal capital management policy with the 1HFY26 results to be released in February 2026. We consider the likelihood of increased dividends to be high.

Major upside

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on Regis Resources shares with an improved price target of $8.85 (from $7.05).

Based on its current share price of $7.58, this implies potential upside of 17% for investors over the next 12 months.

The broker also expects a 2% dividend yield, which boosts the total potential return to 19%.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter concludes:

We remain attracted to RRL’s all-Australian, multi-mine asset portfolio, its demonstrated leverage to the gold price, highly competitive cash generation and its fully unhedged, debt free position. Our NPV-based valuation lifts 26%, to $8.85/sh. We retain our Buy recommendation.

The post Up 145% in 12 months: Why it isn’t too late to buy Regis Resources shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Regis Resources posts record cash, resumes dividend, extends production outlook
• Broker picks ‘winners amongst winners’ in the gold sector
• ASX 200 materials sector dominates as scores of mining shares hit new highs
• Why 4DMedical, Regis Resources, Unico Silver, and WiseTech Global shares are pushing higher

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.