The Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) share price is in focus today as the ASX-listed investment manager showcased its rapidly growing $21.8 billion assets under management and leading-edge AI data centre capabilities at its Investor Day.

What did Centuria Capital Group report?

• Assets under management (AUM) reached $21.8 billion as at 31 December 2025
• Over 150 unlisted funds and loan SPVs under management, with 15,500 unlisted investors
• Expanded vertically integrated operations with more than 500 staff
• Launched Australia’s first sovereign AI Factory (AI-F1) in partnership with ResetData
• Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) data centre pipeline targeting over 200MW of capacity by 2030
• Market cap stands at $1.8 billion, with recent NPAT of $113 million and a 4.9% dividend yield

What else do investors need to know?

Centuria is deepening its footprint in the digital infrastructure space, establishing a fully integrated platform that spans real estate, development, and operations. Its partnership with ResetData makes it one of only three NVIDIA Cloud Partners in Australia, strengthening its competitive edge in the rapidly growing AI compute sector.

The company highlighted its strategy to deliver scalable AI factories and data centre capacity through both existing assets and new developments. Centuria’s vertically integrated approach allows the group to pivot quickly and meet demand from enterprise and government clients, while drawing on a strong network of institutional and banking partners.

What’s next for Centuria Capital Group?

Centuria aims to ramp up deployment of AI-enabled data centre capacity nationwide, targeting more than 200MW across its property pipeline by 2030. The group is pursuing further customer partnerships and exploring options like equity partnerships, partial sell-downs, and potential IPOs for its digital platforms.

Management is confident that strong customer interest, combined with power and infrastructure availability, positions Centuria well to capture ongoing growth in sovereign and enterprise AI demand.

Centuria Capital Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Centuria Capital Group shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Centuria Capital Group unveils AI-powered growth at Investor Day 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 positions in and has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. 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 Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN) share price is in focus after the company’s May 2026 operating report revealed higher mass market electricity and gas sales volumes, alongside lower generation costs compared to the same time last year.

What did Contact Energy report?

• Mass market electricity and gas sales rose to 461GWh (up from 365GWh in May 2025)
• Customer netback increased to $148.13/MWh (May 2025: $145.13/MWh)
• Contracted wholesale electricity sales reached 1,027GWh (May 2025: 768GWh)
• Electricity generated or acquired for the month totalled 1,034GWh (May 2025: 842GWh)
• Unit generation cost dropped to $37.11/MWh (May 2025: $49.26/MWh)
• Otahuhu ASX futures settlement price as of 11 June 2026 was $111.85/MWh (down from $144/MWh at 30 April 2026)

What else do investors need to know?

Contact Energy highlighted favourable storage conditions, with South Island controlled hydro storage at 120% of mean and North Island at 149% of mean as of 11 June 2026. Clutha scheme storage was also above average, aiding operational flexibility.

The company’s renewable development pipeline continues to progress, with major projects such as the Kōwhai Park Solar and Te Mihi Stage 2 geothermal under construction with expected online dates between late 2026 and 2028. Contracted gas volume for the next 12 months stands at 8.2PJ.

New Zealand electricity demand in May 2026 was 1.5% higher than in May 2025, indicating steady market conditions despite a warmer average temperature for the month.

What’s next for Contact Energy?

Contact Energy will focus on advancing its renewable projects to support future growth and align with decarbonisation goals. The Kōwhai Park Solar remains on track for completion by Q3 2026, followed by further expansion in geothermal, battery, and solar assets through 2028.

With controlled hydro storage levels remaining strong and wholesale electricity prices easing off recent highs, Contact Energy appears well-positioned to manage both rising demand and cost pressures in the near term.

Contact Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Contact Energy shares have declined 8%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Contact Energy’s May 2026 report shows higher sales and lower costs 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 mining sector has been a great place to invest over the past 12 months.

The good news is that Bell Potter doesn’t believe it is too late to add exposure to the sector.

This is especially the case given its belief that we are still in the early innings of a sustained supercycle.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that several megatrends are colliding and supporting structurally higher prices. It said:

Several megatrends are now colliding with a resource base that has been starved of investment for a decade. We believe new and higher price floors are being established across a basket of commodities. We see this as the early innings of a sustained supercycle. A supercycle is a structural rather than cyclical shift in demand that plays out over many years, globally and broadly at once. The 2000s cycle was built on China’s industrialisation and urbanisation, and was intensive in bulk, fuel-type commodities: iron ore, coal and oil.

The cycle now forming is intensive in the materials behind electrification and compute power: copper, aluminium, uranium, lithium, nickel, and rare earths. Three structural forces are driving it together: the AI capital expenditure boom, global electrification, and deglobalisation. At the same time, supply across several of these commodities is structurally constrained, copper most of all. That constraint is the mechanism that turns strong demand into durable price floors rather than a short-lived cyclical spike.

How can you play the supercycle?

According to the note, Bell Potter has named four ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) that it believes would be great options for investors looking for exposure to the mining supercycle.

The first two are the Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM) and the Global X Uranium AUD ETF (ASX: ATOM) for uranium exposure. Bell Potter highlights that uranium gives investors “direct exposure to the power constraint on AI and clean energy, with its own tight supply story.”

If you are looking for copper exposure, it has named Global X Copper Miners AUD ETF (ASX: WIRE) as one to buy. The broker notes that copper is “the cleanest beneficiary of both the AI / grid build-out and electrification, against a constrained supply outlook.” For this reason, copper is its top commodity pick right now.

And with Bell Potter expecting the gold price to remain strong, it is tipping the VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) as a buy. It believes the “de-dollarisation and central bank buying are long term structural thematics that will support the gold price.”

The broker concludes:

Spot prices have already moved, with copper setting fresh records in early 2026. The miners, however, should be supported by a higher-for-longer price environment that consensus is not yet pricing. Sell-side estimates still assume reversion towards lower long-run price decks, so sustained elevated prices are reflected neither in forward earnings nor in current share prices. There will no doubt be volatility in commodity and share prices over the medium term, but we would take any weakness as a buying opportunity into this long term thematic.

The post 4 ASX ETFs to buy for the mining supercycle 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.

The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price has been steadily falling over the last several weeks, as the below chart shows. Sometimes, large declines can be buying opportunities, while other times it’s a reflection of a fair price.  

A lot has happened in the last few months. The Middle East conflict, inflation, higher interest rates and an Australian federal budget.

For me, it’s no wonder there has been volatility this year for the Westpac share price. At this stage, the ASX bank share has dropped 17% since April 2026.

Let’s take a look at whether experts think whether the ASX bank share is attractive or not after falling quite a lot in the past couple of months.

Expert views on the Westpac share price

According to CMC Invest, there have been nine ratings on the ASX bank share within the last three months. Of those nine ratings, three were holds, and six were sells.

So, while the investment professionals weren’t all negative, the average view definitely leans negatively.

Of those nine ratings, the price target from those ratings is $34.22. A price target is where the analyst thinks the share price will be in 12 months from the time of the investment call.  

Therefore, investors are suggesting the Westpac share price could fall slightly in the year ahead.

The most optimistic price target is $40.39, implying a possible rise of 14%, while the most negative price target is $30.29. That suggests a potential further decline of 14% from where it is at the time of writing.

So, despite the fall, analysts aren’t expecting much from the ASX bank share.

Why the negative outlook on the ASX bank share?

There are a few elements that investors should keep in mind.

For starters, Westpac is one of the most heavily-exposed ASX banks to home loans, whereas National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) have higher exposure to business banking.

The change to capital gains tax (CGT) and negative gearing may have a negative impact on residential property loan demand. According to reporting by the Australian Financial Review, Westpac housing investor loan applications have declined 20% over the last three weeks.

Additionally, the fallout of the Middle East conflict has led to banks increasing their loan provisions, hurting short-term profitability.

In the FY26 half-year result, the bank reported a statutory net profit of $3.4 billion, which was down 3% year-over-year and down 5% compared to the second half of FY25.

Its cash net profit was $3.5 billion, representing a 1% decline year-over-year and half over half.

How much is a business worth if its net profit is going backwards? A lower price/earnings (P/E) ratio is justified, in my view.

The main positive for me was the fact that Westpac grew its loan book and deposits by 7%. If its loan book can continue growing by solid single-digits, this should be a good tailwind for earnings and the Westpac share price in the long-term.

For me, it seems like there are other ASX shares that have more potential.

The post Is the Westpac share price a buy in June? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The ASX share market does not have many ASX dividend shares that have increased their payout every year for more than a decade.

It’s extremely rare to find stocks that have increased their payout every year for more than two decades.

Let’s look at the two ASX dividend shares with the longest dividend growth streaks.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is one of the largest energy infrastructure businesses in Australia. Energy is one of the most important aspects of the Australian economy, so APA plays a significant role in society.

Its key asset is a huge gas pipeline network around Australia, transporting gas from supply to demand. Impressively, it transports half of Australia’s gas usage.

APA also has a number of other energy assets including gas-powered energy generation, wind farms, solar farms, gas storage, gas processing and electricity transmission.

The business has grown its annual distribution every year since 2004, meaning it has delivered more than two decades of continuous distribution growth.

Its FY26 annual distribution has been hiked to 58 cents per security, which translates into a distribution yield of 5.8%, at the time of writing.

I think the company’s passive income payments can continue to grow thanks to regular additions to its energy portfolio and the fact that most of its revenue is linked to inflation.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

The other ASX dividend share I want to highlight is investment house Soul Patts, which I’d call the leader of dividend growth in Australia.

This 120-year-old business has increased its annual payout every year since 1998, meaning it’s getting close to 30 years of continuous growth.

Soul Patts has built up a very diversified portfolio of businesses and sectors in its portfolio, which I think makes it an excellent investment to consider as a cornerstone dividend investment for Aussies.

It’s invested in areas like energy, resources, building products, telecommunications, industrial property, swimming schools, agriculture, electrification, financial services, credit and plenty more.

Its portfolio is designed to be able to perform in all economic conditions, including downturns, with a strong focus on cash flow. This can help fund the dividend in all conditions, which is why it has been able to grow its dividend so consistently.

Growth comes from a couple of key aspects. Firstly, most of the ASX dividend share’s investments are in businesses, which can grow themselves. Additionally, Soul Patts does not pay out all of its portfolio’s net cash flow each year to shareholders – it retains some of that money and puts it into additional opportunities.

Its latest two dividends come to a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.4%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

The post These ASX dividend shares keep giving investors a pay rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Apa Group and 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.

If you are looking for some ASX growth share to buy with major upside potential, then read on.

Listed below are three that brokers currently rate as buys and have price target meaningfully higher than where they currently trade.

Here’s what they are bullish on:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

The first ASX growth share to look at is Breville.

It has built a global appliances business around premium design, strong branding, and products that sit in everyday kitchen categories. Its range includes coffee machines, food preparation products, cooking appliances, and other home-focused products.

The company’s opportunity is not limited to Australia. Breville has been expanding internationally for years, giving it exposure to large overseas markets where its brand can keep building recognition.

This gives the business a long growth runway if it can continue launching popular products, expanding distribution, and protecting margins.

Morgans is positive on the company and has a buy rating and $36.75 price target on its shares. Based on the current Breville share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 20%.

Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Another ASX growth share that brokers rate as a buy is Catapult.

It provides performance technology for sporting teams and athletes. Its products help clubs measure movement, workload, training intensity, match output, and other performance data.

This places Catapult in a niche but global market. Professional sport is increasingly data-driven, with teams looking for small advantages in preparation, recovery, injury prevention, and tactical analysis.

The company has a very large growth runway if it can become more deeply embedded in the daily operations of teams, leagues, and performance departments. That can make its software and data increasingly valuable over time. It also gives Catapult room to improve the quality of its revenue as more customers use its platform across multiple products.

Morgans has a buy rating and $5.40 price target on Catapult shares. Compared with the current share price of $3.15, this suggests potential upside of approximately 71%.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

A third ASX growth share to consider is Pro Medicus.

The medical imaging software provider has become one of the ASX’s standout technology success stories. Its Visage platform is used by hospitals and radiology networks to view, manage, and interpret large medical imaging files.

This is a demanding area of healthcare technology. Speed, reliability, image quality, and integration all matter because clinicians need systems they can trust.

Its shares are often priced for high expectations, so volatility should be expected. But the company’s margins, execution record, and global opportunity make it worthy of holding tightly to for the long term.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $226.00 price target on Pro Medicus shares. Based on its current share price of $164.55, this implies potential upside of approximately 37%.

The post 3 incredible ASX growth shares tipped to rise 20% to 70% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Buying an ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) at a 52-week high can feel unnerving.

It is natural to wonder whether the easy gains have already been made, especially when markets have been strong.

But I do not think a 52-week high is automatically a reason to stay away. Some ETFs reach new highs because the businesses inside them are continuing to grow, innovate, and generate value.

With that in mind, here are three high-quality ASX ETFs I would still buy after they hit 52-week highs on Monday.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF is the kind of fund I think many investors could hold for decades.

It gives exposure to a broad range of developed-market shares outside Australia. That includes many of the world’s largest companies across technology, healthcare, financials, industrials, consumer goods, and communication services.

What I like about this ETF is that it does not require investors to predict which single country, sector, or company will lead the next stage of global growth. It spreads the money across a large group of businesses that operate in many different parts of the world.

That can be valuable for Australian investors. The local market has some excellent companies, but it cannot offer the same depth in global software, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, payments, consumer platforms, and industrial leaders. This ETF helps fill that gap in one trade.

iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF is another fund I would still buy.

It tracks the popular S&P 500 Index, which gives investors access to many of America’s biggest and best companies.

This ETF owns companies involved in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), smartphones, digital advertising, healthcare, payments, retail, food, logistics, and financial services.

That mix is what makes it so attractive in my view. The fund is not just a bet on the US consumer. Many of the companies inside the S&P 500 earn revenue around the world. They are global businesses listed in the United States.

The index has also been a strong long-term wealth creator. Past returns are not a guarantee of future performance, but I think the quality and scale of the companies inside the S&P 500 give it a good chance of continuing to reward patient investors over long periods.

There will be downturns. Valuations can become stretched, and the largest technology companies now have a major influence on index returns. Even so, I think this remains one of the best funds available to investors.

Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

The Global X Semiconductor ETF is a more focused option. That means it comes with more risk, but I think the long-term theme is compelling.

Semiconductors sit behind many of the most important parts of the modern economy. They are used in data centres, AI, cars, smartphones, industrial equipment, defence systems, medical devices, cloud computing, and consumer electronics.

I like the SEMI ETF because it gives exposure to the companies enabling that demand, rather than trying to pick a single winner.

The semiconductor industry can be cyclical. Demand can move sharply, inventories can shift, and capital spending can rise and fall. Investors should expect more volatility than they would from a broad global ETF.

But I think chips are becoming more important. If artificial intelligence, automation, electrification, and connected devices keep growing, demand for advanced semiconductors should remain a major investment theme.

Foolish takeaway

I do not think investors need to avoid an ETF just because it has reached a 52-week high.

The better question is whether the fund still gives exposure to assets that can become more valuable over time.

For me, these three ETFs do that in different ways. One offers broad developed-market exposure, another owns many of America’s largest companies, and the third focuses on one of the most important industries in the digital economy.

If I were investing with a long-term mindset, I would still be happy buying all three.

The post 3 high-quality ASX ETFs at 52-week highs I’d still buy 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 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.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are outperforming the benchmark so far in 2026

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) conglomerate – whose retail subsidiaries include Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart Australia, Officeworks and Priceline – closed on Monday trading for $86.83.

That sees the Wesfarmers share price up 6.2% this calendar year, outpacing the 2.2% year-to-date gains posted by the ASX 200.

Atop that outperformance, Wesfarmers also paid out a $1.02 a share fully franked dividend to eligible stockholders on 31 March. The ASX 200 stock trades on a 2.9% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

On 19 February, the company reported increased revenue and profits in the first half of the 2026 financial year (H1 FY 2026).

First half revenue of $24.21 billion was up 3.1% from H1 FY 2025. Net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.6 billion was up 9.3% year-on-year.

“Wesfarmers’ increase in profit was supported by strong earnings contributions from our largest divisions – Bunnings, Kmart Group and WesCEF,” Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said on the day.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Are Wesfarmers shares a good buy right now?

DP Wealth Advisory’s Andrew Wielandt recently analysed the outlook for ASX 200 conglomerate (courtesy of The Bull).

“The company’s operations span across a diversified industrial portfolio, including retail, fertilisers, chemicals and more recently healthcare,” he noted.

Explaining his hold recommendation on Wesfarmers shares, Wielandt said:

However, the market is cautious about a slowing domestic economy under pressure from rising interest rates. A proposed change in taxation treatment for capital gains may slow the property market.

And Wesfarmers is also looking at shelling out significantly higher salaries.

“Wesfarmers is one of the biggest employers in Australia, so a minimum 4.75% wage increase for employees from July 1, 2026 may also weigh on the minds of investors,” Wielandt concluded.

Consider this ASX ETF instead

Wielandt isn’t ready to pull the buy trigger on Wesfarmers shares at current levels.

But he sounded a bullish note on an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds ASX giants like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares.

Namely, the Milford Australian Absolute Growth Complex ETF (ASX: MFOA).

According to Wielandt:

This exchange traded fund invests in a diversified portfolio of predominately Australian equities, complemented by selective exposure to international equities, fixed interest securities and cash. The fund aims to generate returns of 5% above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate. The fund also aims to preserve capital in times of uncertainty.

Summarising his buy recommendation on the ASX ETF, Wielandt said:

This ETF proved its resilience during market volatility in March 2026. The ETF has risen from $10.87 on June 12, 2025 to trade at $11.31 on June 11, 2026. We like MFOA’s outlook in volatile and stable times.

The post Wesfarmers shares: Buy, hold or sell? 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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Rio Tinto Group (ASX: RIO) and BHP Group (ASX: BHP) have been two of the best performing blue-chip companies shares in 2026.

While much of the ASX 200 has been flat this year, these two mining giants have soared 28% and 42% respectively. 

This trend continued yesterday when both Rio Tinto and BHP shares climbed significantly. 

Why are Rio Tinto and BHP shares rising?

Rio Tinto and BHP have long been held by investors due to their market dominance in production of iron ore and coal. 

However the main reason both BHP and Rio Tinto have been strong performers in 2026 is that investors are increasingly valuing them as copper growth companies, not just iron ore miners.

Copper has been one of the best-performing major commodities in 2026, supported by demand from AI infrastructure, data centres, electric vehicles, power grids and the energy transition. 

Copper prices are near record levels and have risen roughly 40% over the past year.

This has pushed BHP and Rio Tinto shares to new record highs. 

Holders will be pleased with positive returns, however those watching the stocks closely may be concerned about how much further they can grow. 

Here is the latest analysis from experts on Rio Tinto and BHP shares. 

Rio Tinto outlook 

Rio Tinto shares closed yesterday trading just under $190 each. 

The miner recently posted solid results for the three months to March 2026.

Experts’ opinions on the blue-chip stock appear to be mixed. 

The team at WAM Leaders Ltd (ASX: WLE) are optimistic about Rio Tinto shares.

Meanwhile, JP Morgan renewed its buy rating on Rio Tinto shares earlier this month. 

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $203 to $207.

This indicates roughly 9% upside. 

However, the team at Morgans see the stock as a hold. 

The broker said the near term earnings outlook appears “balanced” rather than clearly positive. 

BHP shares outlook 

Meanwhile, BHP shares closed trading yesterday at just over $65 per share, close to an all-time high. 

Some experts are leaning towards taking profits after this year’s gains. 

Alto Capital’s Tony Locantro (via The Bull) believes investors would do well to take profits

Elsewhere, EnviroInvest’s Elio D’Amato has a hold rating on the BHP shares. 

Meanwhile, Morgan’s most recent analysis also included a hold rating, seeing the mining giant’s shares as close to fully valued. 

The broker said:

The global miner offers broad diversification across iron ore, copper and potash, underpinned by a fortress balance sheet and a disciplined approach to capital returns. Copper provides meaningful long term exposure to the global electrification and energy transition theme, while iron ore remains the dominant near term earnings driver.

However, the macro backdrop remains uncertain, with Chinese steel demand facing structural headwinds and global growth indicators sending mixed signals. The valuation at current levels appears broadly fair, with commodity price assumptions already reflecting a reasonable medium term outlook. BHP remains a core holding for resource oriented portfolios, but with limited near term re-rating catalysts, we retain a hold recommendation.

The post Are Rio Tinto or BHP shares a better buy right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The oil market has rarely moved this fast in either direction.

Crude oil fell to US$79 per barrel on Tuesday. This comes as officials from the US and Iran said they have reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, potentially in time for the upcoming G7 meeting.

That is a fall of approximately 37% from Brent’s intraday peak of above US$126 earlier in the conflict.

For Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), and Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT), that move has immediate and significant implications.

What the oil price retreat means for ASX energy shares

The link between oil prices and ASX energy shares is quite clear and direct.

When oil fell 20% in May on the first ceasefire talks, energy shares led the ASX 200 sectors down.

Woodside, Santos, and Beach all gave back significant portions of their earlier gains.

The EIA’s June 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts Brent prices averaging $105 per barrel in June and July, based on the assumption that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Should the Strait reopen, that forecast would be revised sharply downward.

However, traders remain cautious. Prices briefly recovered after President Trump cast doubt on the reported draft agreement, saying the published terms did not reflect the agreement discussed.

Woodside Energy

Woodside has been the biggest beneficiary of elevated oil prices in 2026, rising 25% year to date.

A sustained fall to US$80 per barrel would reverse a significant portion of that gain.

However, Woodside’s longer-term investment case is not solely dependent on the oil price.

The company’s breakthrough Scarborough LNG project is now 94% complete with first cargo targeted for Q4 2026. Furthermore, Woodside’s decade-long LNG contracts provide a significant floor for cash generation even in a softer oil price environment.

Santos Ltd

Santos is up approximately 20% year to date, making it one of the best-performing energy stocks on the ASX in 2026.

A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would partially reverse those gains, with an 8% decline on Monday.

However, like Woodside, the investment case for Santos is also not just about the oil price.

The company’s Barossa LNG project is already producing at 75% of its planned 2026 production rates, with plateau production targeted before year end. First oil from Pikka Phase 1 in Alaska provides an additional production stream.

These operational milestones should provide the company with greater protection and diversification against external oil price movements.

Beach Energy

Beach Energy is the most leveraged of the three to oil price movements, given its smaller size and higher sensitivity to oil and gas price changes.

Shares have fallen in recent weeks even as the broader energy sector surged, reflecting ongoing concerns about its production guidance downgrade in Q3 FY2026.

A sustained fall in oil prices to US$80 per barrel would add further near-term pressure to Beach’s earnings outlook.

However, Beach has strengthened its balance sheet significantly, with available liquidity rising to $974 million and net gearing falling to just 11%.

This financial resilience means it can navigate the oil price volatility without the balance sheet stress that may concern investors in a more leveraged company.

Foolish takeaway

Oil at US$80 per barrel is materially lower than the levels that drove ASX energy shares to their recent highs.

If a sustained peace deal materialises and the Strait reopens, Woodside, Santos, and Beach may face further near-term price pressure.

But all three are operating businesses with diversified cash flows and long-term contracts that do not disappear when the oil price falls.

For long-term investors, the near-term volatility may be creating a more attractive entry point than was available a fortnight ago.

The post Oil retreats as Iran tensions ease. Here’s what that means for ASX energy shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.