The Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) share price has sunk around 40% from September 2025, as the chart below shows. This could be a great time to consider the ASX dividend stock as an opportunity for both steady dividends and potential capital growth.

Premier Investments derives its value from three businesses – Peter Alexander, Smiggle and a substantial stake of Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG).

In my view, Premier Investments could be a compelling opportunity whilst investors are cautious about the prospects of Smiggle and the US tariffs impacting Breville.

Let’s look at the dividend potential of the business.

ASX dividend stock passive income payout potential

Following the sale of its apparel brands (Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Dotti and so on) to Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR), the company’s net profit generation and dividend potential has been reset.

The broker UBS predicts that Premier Investments could generate net profit after tax of $143 million in the (current) 2026 financial year. That equates to potential earnings per share (EPS) of 90 cents, allowing the business to deliver projected passive income of 58 cents per share by the ASX dividend stock.

If the company does deliver that level of income to investors, it’d equate to a grossed-up dividend yield of close to 6%, including franking credits.

But, the payout is projected to steadily increase in the coming years.

UBS suggests the dividend per share could climb to 64 cents in FY27, 73 cents in FY28, 78 cents in FY29 and 84 cents in FY30.

Therefore, by FY30, investing at the current valuation could lead to a grossed-up dividend yield of almost 9%, including franking credits.

Can earnings grow as predicted?

UBS currently expects that the ASX dividend stock’s net profit could climb every year between FY26 to FY30, going from $143 million to $208 million over that period, representing an increase of 45%.

The broker is estimating that Peter Alexander could grow its sales revenue by around 7% in the financial years FY26 to FY28, and then at around 4% for FY29 onwards.

UBS said consumers had upgraded their perception of Peter Alexander, from a functional product to also a gifting brand, increasing the revenue pool and the ability to sustain premium prices.

The broker believes:

Efforts to expand the addressable market into men’s, kids, accessories and plus have increased category & customer participation. This expansion requires a larger store size (from ~150sqm to now ~300sqm), with refurbishments a growth driver, while store growth in ANZ continues as well as further online penetration (in ANZ & beyond).

PA’s entry into the UK has commenced (3 stores) but despite very good in-store execution, performance to date is arguably below expectations noting a weak UK consumer environment and the challenge of replicating the PA ANZ brand perception in a new market.

However, Smiggle is expected to see sales fall 10% in FY26, be flat in FY27 and then deliver growth of 2% in FY28 onwards. UBS said that young families are exposed to the cost of living across all markets and it hasn’t been able to expand its product categories because its customer base is set at ages 4 to 11.

But, the weakness is already recognised by the market, hence the drop of the Premier Investments share price.

UBS has a buy rating on the ASX dividend stock, with a price target of $19, suggesting a potentially significant rise during 2026.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 41% I’d buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why this beaten down ASX 200 stock could rise 50%

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Breville 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 Myer and Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Silver, lithium, and critical minerals prices surged last week amid a broader ongoing commodities rally that is lifting ASX mining shares.

The prices of silver, lithium, palladium, molybdenum, and indium rose by more than 10%, with indium the stand-out with a 24% lift.

The energy transition is boosting demand for lithium to power batteries and silver to build solar panels and modern tech devices.

Silver has other tailwinds, including global economic uncertainty which is leading to investors seeking safe havens in silver and gold.

The restructure of global trade amid US tariffs and geopolitical tensions is also leading to many nations, including the US and China, limiting exports to protect home-based manufacturing and limit technological advancement and defence capabilities elsewhere.

This had led to new categorisations of certain commodities, such as silver, which the US added to its Critical Minerals List in November.

Let’s look at what happened last week with these commodities.

Silver

Last week, the silver price leapt 10.1% to close the global trading week at US$79.95 per ounce.

Silver was the best performing metal or mineral of 2025.

The silver price rose 147% — more than twice the pace of gold — and set a new record at US $83.90 per ounce in the last week of December.

Silver is the ‘poor cousin’ of gold but benefits from the same tailwind of investors seeking safe havens during economic uncertainty.

Tumultuous geopolitics, less faith in the US dollar as the reserve currency, and falling interest rates have fuelled investors’ interest in both.

Silver also has significant industrial uses that have gained relevance in the age of green energy, high technology, and advanced healthcare.

Silver is used in solar panels and tech devices, with Citi estimating that the solar industry is gobbling up 30% of annual production.

Technology device manufacturers use silver to build circuits, connectors, and to solder metals in smartphones, laptops, and other things.

Silver is also essential for electric vehicles (EVs) and data centres. It’s in the wiring due to its superior electrical conductivity to copper.

Last week, ASX 200 diversified miner South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) rose 8.45% to close the week at $3.85 per share.

The South32 share price also hit a 52-week high at $3.87 per share last week.

South32 owns the Cannington mine in north-west Queensland, which is one of the world’s largest producers of silver and lead.

Lithium

Lithium prices also surged last week, with the carbonate price ripping to a two-year high.

The lithium carbonate price leapt 17.2% to close the week at US$20,064.93 per tonne.

Higher demand and lower supply worldwide has seen lithium prices commence a remarkably rapid rebound over the past six months.

There is greater demand for lithium for batteries and power infrastructure, as well as EV manufacturing — especially in China where EVs outsold traditional cars for the first time last October.

China is also seeking to stabilise lithium prices by avoiding over-capacity.

Trading Economics analysts said:

The Bureau of Natural Resources of Yichun, which includes the lithium mining hub in the Chinese Jiangxi province, stated it would cancel 27 mining permits early next year.

The move was consistent with the earlier suspension of activity in CATL‘s Jianxiawo lithium mine as the Chinese government aims to reduce capacity in many goods industries to prevent the ongoing race-to-the-bottom that has stirred deflationary pressures.

Lithium’s surged last week pushed many ASX lithium mining shares to new 52-week highs.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares rose 7.89% to finish the week at $4.65. PLS shares hit a 52-week high of $4.89 over the week.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price streaked 26.5% higher to $2.05, and also struck a new 52-week high at $2.10.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares increased 17.86% to 33 cents on Friday, after hitting a two-year high at 36 cents during the week.

Critical minerals

The commodities palladium and indium, which are on the US Critical Minerals List, and molybdenum all rose by 10% or more last week.

Palladium is one of the six platinum-group metals (PGMs).

It is used in catalytic converters in low-emission vehicles. Converters process carbon monoxide and other toxic gases into less harmful gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen, which reduces car emissions.

Palladium futures rose 10.6% last week to finish trading at US$1,870.50 per ounce.

Molybdenum strengthens steel and alloys so they can withstand high temperatures and pressures.

The commodity price price rose 10.3% to US$73.10 per kilogram last week.

Indium, which is largely generated as a by-product of zinc ore processing, is used in touchscreens, LEDs, and solar panels.

The indium price surged 24% to US$73.10 per kilogram.

Iltani Resources Ltd (ASX: ILT) is building an Australian-based portfolio of advanced critical minerals exploration projects.

Iltani’s main focus is its Herberton Project in northern Queensland.

Herberton has a long history of mining for tin, tungsten, copper, silver-lead-zinc, antimony, molybdenum, and gold.

Iltani’s project includes multiple tenements across a 367 square kilometre zone.

Iltani is exploring a large scale silver-indium rich epithermal system at the Orient deposit within the Herberton Project.

The company says:

With additional drilling planned at Orient, Iltani believes there is material potential to increase the grade and size of the Orient System as the project advances towards development.

The Iltani Resources share price has ripped by more than 220% over the past 12 months.

Last week, the ASX mining share slipped 3.9% to finish trading at 62 cents.

The post Silver, lithium, and critical minerals commodities book double digit gains in just one week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brokers rate 3 ASX All Ords shares that more than tripled in value in 2025
• Up 260% in a year, can this ASX 200 lithium stock keep climbing in 2026?
• ASX 200 materials sector dominates as scores of mining shares hit new highs
• PLS Group shares: After a year of outperformance, is it still a buy?
• 3 monster stocks to hold for the next 3 years

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Core Lithium and South32. 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.

S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares rose by 7.11% and delivered total returns, including dividends, of 10.56% last year.

The ASX All Ords, which is comprised of 500 companies, slightly outperformed the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The ASX 200 increased by 6.8% and provided total returns of 10.32%.

The main reason for the All Ords’ outperformance was the impact of a greater number of small-cap shares than the ASX 200.

ASX small-cap shares have market capitalisations between a few hundred million dollars and $2 billion.

Small-caps ripped in 2025 for several reasons, including falling interest rates, which reduced the cost base of young companies with debt.

The rising value of gold explorers was also a factor, according to Blackwattle portfolio managers, Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren.

Demonstrating this, every single one of the five best-performing ASX All Ords shares for capital growth last year were small-caps.

And three junior gold miners were among them.

The question is, are they still good buys for the new year after such strong price growth in 2025?

Are these ASX All Ords stars still good buys?

The experts weigh in.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Defence company Droneshield achieved the highest share price growth of its ASX All Ords peers in 2025.

The Droneshield share price leapt 300% to close at $3.08 on 31 December.

Droneshield is benefitting from a massive increase in global defence spending amid greater geopolitical turmoil.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX All Ords share with a 12-month price target of $4.50.

In a note, the broker said:

We expect 2026 will be an inflection point for the global counter-drone industry with countries poised to unleash a wave of spending on RF detect and defeat solutions.

Consequently, we believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2.5b potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26e.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

ASX All Ords gold share Resolute Mining skyrocketed 206% to finish the year at $1.23.

Resolute Mining is an African-focused gold miner currently developing a third gold project, Doropo, in Cote d’Ivoire.

The new mine will supplement existing production from the Syama mine in Mali and the Mako mine in Senegal.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating on Resolute Mining shares with a price target of $2.30.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

This ASX All Ords lithium share leapt 206% higher to close out 2025 at 28 cents per share.

Core Lithium shares have benefitted from rising lithium prices over the past six months.

Investors are now anticipating the re-opening of Core’s flagship Finniss Project, which was put into care and maintenance in early 2024 due to weak commodity prices.

Core Lithium released a restart plan last year and reckons it can get Finniss up and running within a month.

But the company needs to find new financial partners first.

Last week, Goldman Sachs retained its hold rating on this ASX All Ords lithium share.

While the broker raised its share price target from 14 cents to 18 cents, this is well below where Core Lithium is trading today.

The post Brokers rate 3 ASX All Ords shares that more than tripled in value in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Silver, lithium, and critical minerals commodities book double digit gains in just one week
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Experts rate 3 ASX 200 stars of 2025: Is there more growth ahead?
• Here are my top 10 ASX stocks for 2026
• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, CSL, and DroneShield shares

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Core Lithium. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

Trying to predict which individual shares will lead the market over the next decade is difficult, even for experienced investors.

That is why many long-term investors prefer to back broad themes rather than specific outcomes.

One of the most persistent themes of the past 20 years has been the rise of large, innovative technology-led businesses, and there is a simple ASX-listed way to gain exposure to that trend.

Here are three reasons why the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) could make sense as a buy and hold investment for the next 10 years.

Exposure to the world’s most influential companies

The NDQ ETF tracks the performance of the Nasdaq 100 Index, which is made up of 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange.

This gives investors exposure to some of the most influential businesses in the global economy today. Major holdings include stocks such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA). They all play central roles in areas like mobile devices, software, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

Rather than relying on a single winner, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF allows investors to own a diversified basket of global leaders that continue to invest heavily in innovation and growth.

Built-in exposure to long-term growth trends

Another reason the NDQ ETF could suit a 10-year holding period is its natural alignment with structural growth trends.

Many stocks in the index benefit from scalable business models, global reach, and recurring revenue. Examples include Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), which sits at the heart of online retail and cloud infrastructure, and Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), whose services are deeply embedded in digital advertising, search, and online ecosystems.

As technology adoption continues to expand across industries, these types of businesses are well placed to grow earnings faster than the broader economy over time.

Importantly, the Nasdaq 100 index evolves as markets change. Stocks that lose relevance are removed, while emerging leaders are added. This helps to ensure that the NDQ ETF remains relevant and focused on where growth is actually occurring.

Simplicity

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF also offers simplicity. Rather than having to build a balanced portfolio from scratch, with a single ASX trade, investors gain exposure to a large group of world class companies.

This avoids excessive brokerage fees and time spent researching investments.

And while technology-led markets can be uncomfortable at times, with sharp pullbacks almost guaranteed along the way, a long time horizon allows those cycles to play out and gives compounding the opportunity to work through both rallies and corrections.

Foolish takeaway

For investors looking to gain exposure to innovation, global growth, and some of the world’s most influential companies, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF offers a straightforward solution.

Held for a decade, the NDQ ETF could prove to be a powerful way to participate in long-term technological and economic change, without needing to pick individual stocks along the way.

The post 3 reasons to buy and hold the NDQ ETF for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why I own these amazing ASX ETFs
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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, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price has dipped heavily, dropping 15% since November 2025. Investors may view this as a buying opportunity, but where are earnings expected to go in the coming years?

It’s important to recognise that a share price decline does not automatically translate into better value. Something can go up and seem great value (if it has released a great update) or something can decline and seem expensive.

Let’s take a look at what investors can expect from Bendigo Bank’s earnings between now and FY30.

FY26

We’re currently halfway through the 2026 financial year, though we haven’t seen the numbers – they will be released in February during reporting season.

In December, it was announced that APRA and AUSTRAC have decided on three initial actions against Bendigo Bank that the business will need to address after the self-reported money laundering discovery at one of the branches.

Broker UBS thinks this is expected to have an impact on Bendigo Bank in a few different ways, which is why the Bendigo Bank share price has declined as much as it has in the last couple of months.

First, Bendigo Bank has been instructed to undertake a root cause analysis into non-financial risk beyond anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF).

Second, AUSTRAC has commenced an enforcement investigation which will focus on whether the bank has complied with its obligations under the AML/CTF Act.

Third, APRA will require Bendigo Bank to hold an operational risk capital add-on of $50 million.

However, the unknown is what AUSTRAC will do – it has various enforcement options and there are various appropriate regulatory responses. UBS acknowledged a favourable outcome is possible, though it’s considered unlikely.

But, UBS does foresee that overall costs are likely to move up, even if it doesn’t experience a civil penalty like Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) did several years ago. But, due to the fact Bendigo Bank self-reported, UBS thinks it’s more probable that it will be an enforceable undertaking.

Corrective actions will increase operating costs, which are “already elevated”. This may also take significant time and attention from management and the board.

Taking all of that into account, UBS is predicting that Bendigo Bank could deliver statutory earnings of $440 million in FY26, with underlying net profit of $489 million. The broker suggests the AUSTRAC investigation and likely ramifications are likely to remain an overhang on the Bendigo Bank share price.

FY27

Net profit at the regional ASX bank share is expected to essentially remain flat in the 2027 financial year.

Bendigo Bank is predicted to generate $445 million of statutory net profit in FY27 and $494 million of underlying net profit.

FY28

Net profit is expected to start climbing in the 2028 financial year and beyond, which will be music to the ears of investors after a seemingly difficult period.

UBS projects that in FY28, Bendigo Bank could make $463 million of reported net profit and $514 million of underlying net profit.

FY29

Owners of Bendigo Bank shares could see further progress in the 2029 financial year.

The ASX bank share is projected to generate $498 million of statutory net profit in FY29 and also $554 million of underlying net profit.

FY30

In the 2030 financial year, Bendigo Bank is expected to make the most net profit of this series of projections.

UBS has estimated that the ASX bank share could make $557 million of statutory net profit and $619 million of underlying net profit.

Therefore, the broker is forecasting that the bank could grow its reported net profit by 26% between FY26 and FY30.

UBS currently has a neutral rating on Bendigo Bank shares due to the AUSTRAC issues, but also acknowledges it has already fallen by double digits. The price target is $10.95, implying a possible rise in the single digits within the next year.

The post Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2030 for Bendigo Bank shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank hit with APRA capital charge, faces AUSTRAC probe
• Is there opportunity in 2026 outside the big four bank shares?

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

At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) continues its long run as the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 19.7%, which is down week on week. Short sellers continue to target this uranium producer after it released a disappointing update on the Honeymoon Project.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease slightly to 17.7%. This pizza chain operator is undertaking a major turnaround strategy but short sellers don’t appear to believe it will be a success.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.7%, which is down slightly week on week. This is likely to be due to valuation concerns, with the burrito seller’s shares trading on premium multiples. Its US expansion has been disappointing also.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 12.9%, which is down week on week again. This may be due to potential operational challenges and uranium pricing doubts.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 12.4% of its shares held short, which is down week on week. This language testing and student placement company’s shares have been crushed over the past 12 months due to concerns over student visa changes.
• PWR Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWH) has short interest of 11.9%, which is up since last week. This motorsport products company’s shares have been under pressure as it goes through a transitional period.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 11.6%, which is up since last week. This may be due to concerns over the valuation of this medical device company’s shares.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 11.3%, which is up week on week. This radiopharmaceuticals company has been battling delays to FDA approvals and increased regulatory scrutiny.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has short interest of 11.1%. Short sellers appear to believe that this counter drone technology company’s shares are overvalued following impressive gains in 2025.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 10.2%, which is down week on week again. Short sellers appear to be slowly closing positions after the travel agent reported a positive start to FY 2026 and a new cruise acquisition.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brokers rate 3 ASX All Ords shares that more than tripled in value in 2025
• Experts rate 3 ASX 200 stars of 2025: Is there more growth ahead?
• Here are my top 10 ASX stocks for 2026
• Are Guzman Y Gomez or Dominos shares a better buy in 2026?
• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, CSL, and DroneShield shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, PWR Holdings, PolyNovo, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended PWR Holdings. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, PolyNovo, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price has struggled to regain momentum after a difficult year.

The ASX healthcare stock finished Friday down 0.3% at $263.24. That is above its late-December low, but the shares are still about 13% lower than a year ago. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has climbed almost 5% over the same period.

That gap highlights how much Cochlear has underperformed the market, despite remaining one of Australia’s most respected healthcare businesses.

A high-quality business, but returns have disappointed

Cochlear remains one of the world’s leading hearing implant companies. It has a strong brand, proven technology, and a large base of existing patients who return for follow-up services over time.

That has delivered steady revenue and solid margins for many years. The long-term outlook also remains solid, supported by ongoing demand for hearing implants and regular product development.

Over the past year, however, investors have become less willing to pay a premium for slower-moving growth companies. With earnings momentum moderating, Cochlear shares have struggled to keep pace with faster-growing or more cyclical stocks.

Valuation is holding the shares back

One key reason Cochlear shares have lagged is because of its valuation.

The stock trades on a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of about 44. That means investors are paying $44 for every $1 the company earns, which is much higher than most other ASX healthcare stocks.

That premium was easier to justify when growth was stronger. With profit growth slowing and investors becoming more selective, interest has shifted toward cheaper stocks or companies delivering faster earnings growth.

What management is saying

At its recent AGM, management said the business continues to grow and invest for the future.

In FY25, Cochlear reported revenue of $2.36 billion and underlying net profit of $392 million. The total dividend for the year rose by 5% to $4.30 per share.

Looking ahead, management expects underlying net profit in FY26 to come in between $435 million and $460 million, implying growth of roughly 11% to 17%. That outlook is being driven by demand for new implants, new product launches, and continued investment in research and development.

Foolish bottom line

Cochlear shares have lifted from their December low, but remain well below last year’s levels.

That reflects more cautious investor sentiment rather than any major issue with the business. Growth has slowed, the valuation remains high, and the market is waiting for stronger earnings momentum before becoming more positive again.

I’d prefer to wait until the company releases its interim results next month before jumping in.

The post Cochlear shares lag the ASX 200 after a tough year. Is it time to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• How to build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio starting at zero
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Codan posts strong first-half FY26 revenue and profit growth
• Aristocrat Leisure extends buy-back program

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

This ASX mining stock has experienced a punishing 12 months. The share price of New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) is down almost 16% over 12 months, tracking a sharp slide in global coal prices.

Even so, New Hope is still offering an eye-catching dividend yield of roughly 8.5% fully franked at current levels of $4.07. That’s likely to grab the attention of income investors.

The key question is whether it’s a genuine opportunity or simply compensation for elevated commodity risk.

Diversifying coal exposure

New Hope is a well-established Australian coal producer, anchored by Bengalla in NSW and New Acland in Queensland. In FY25, stronger output particularly from New Acland lifted saleable coal production to 10.7Mt.

The ASX mining stock has also lifted its equity stake in Malabar Resources to about 23%, increasing its exposure to metallurgical coal and reducing reliance on thermal coal pricing alone.

Management continues to point to low-cost operations, diversified coal types and disciplined execution as strengths, even in a weaker pricing environment.

Dividends doing the heavy lifting

The ASX mining stock closed last week at $4.07, up 1.5% on the week. However, the share remains down 16% over the 12 months. Over five years, it’s still up 197%.

Dividend-wise, shareholders received a fully franked $0.19 interim dividend in April and a fully franked $0.15 final dividend, paid in October. That totals $0.34 for the year, equivalent to an 8.5% fully franked trailing yield, which helps cushion recent capital declines.

The ASX mining stock has also introduced a dividend reinvestment plan active, allowing eligible holders to reinvest dividends into additional shares. Management says dividends will remain the primary shareholder return lever, supported by a healthy franking credit balance.

What brokers are saying

The setup – weak share price plus high yield – may suit income investors comfortable with commodity exposure. But total returns still hinge heavily on coal prices, which remain unpredictable. A rebound could quickly improve sentiment and returns.

Broker views are mixed on the ASX mining stock. Only a small number rate New Hope a buy with targets above $4.50, which points to a potential 12% upside.

However, most analysts recommend a hold, with an average 12‑month target at $3.96, a loss of 2.8% at the time of writing.  

Analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) have turned more cautious. The broker is citing a weaker coal price outlook and softer production expectations.

Macquarie has downgraded the stock to underperform and cut the 12‑month target to $3.80, a possible fall of almost 7%.

The post Down 16%: Is this 8% yield ASX mining stock a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 ASX 200 blue-chip shares I would buy with $100,000
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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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) surged to a fresh all-time high on Friday. This came after the company delivered a standout first-half FY26 trading update.

At one point, Codan shares touched a record $39.20 before easing slightly into the close. Even so, the stock still finished the session up a hefty 16.89% at $36.89.

That move caps off a remarkable run. Codan shares are now up 133% over the past 12 months, making it one of the ASX’s strongest technology performers.

So, what is driving the rally, and is there more upside from here?

Strong first-half numbers impress investors

The catalyst for Friday’s surge was Codan’s FY26 first-half trading update, released before market open.

The company expects group revenue of approximately $394 million for the half, representing growth of around 29% compared to the prior corresponding period. Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) is expected to be at least $70 million, up roughly 52% year-on-year.

Both operating divisions contributed to the strong result.

The metal detection business delivered revenue of about $168 million, up 46% on the prior period, supported by strong gold detector sales in Africa and solid demand across recreational markets globally.

Meanwhile, the communications segment generated revenue of approximately $222 million, growing 19% year-on-year. Management noted this was at the upper end of its previously stated growth target range.

Overall, the update reinforced investor confidence that Codan is executing well across both divisions.

What the Codan chart is telling us

From a technical standpoint, Codan’s move into uncharted price territory is significant.

The stock has broken above prior resistance around the $33 to $34 level, supported by strong trading volume. That zone now looks like an important area of support if the shares pull back.

Momentum indicators also show how stretched the move has become. Codan’s relative strength index (RSI)is now sitting at 78, which typically signals overbought conditions in the short term. While this does not mean the rally is over, it does increase the risk of near-term consolidation after such a sharp move.

Codan’s beta is sitting around 1.2, indicating the stock tends to be more volatile than the broader market. That higher beta helps explain both the speed of the recent rally and the likelihood of sharper swings along the way.

Can the rally continue?

Any further gains will likely depend on Codan delivering solid margins and cash flow when it reports first-half results on 19 February. That will be the next key test for the stock.

After such a sharp move higher, a period of consolidation or a modest pullback would not be surprising.

The post Codan shares hit another all-time high. Can the rally keep going? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

Vanguard has announced the final distribution (dividend) amounts for scores of its ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The ETF provider will pay investors next Monday, 19 January.

Let’s take a look.

Next round of dividends for Vanguard ASX ETF investors

Here is a summary of the dividends that Vanguard will pay to investors holding some of its most popular products on 19 January.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which seeks to track the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) before fees, will pay a dividend of 82.08 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) tracks the FTSE Australia High Dividend Yield Index. The ASX VHY will pay 65.83 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) provides exposure to about 1,500 businesses in developed nations outside Australia. This ETF will pay a dividend of 47.36 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VSO) will pay 129.60 AU cents per unit. The VSO tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Small Cap Index.

The Vanguard FTSE Europe Shares ETF (ASX: VEQ) provides exposure to about 1,300 companies listed in major European markets. It tracks the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars before fees. It will pay 61.60 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Fixed Interest Index ETF (ASX: VAF) tracks the Bloomberg AusBond Composite 0+ Yr Index before fees. It will pay a dividend of 42.44 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard Australian Property Securities Index ETF (ASX: VAP) tracks the performance of the S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index before fees. It will pay 45.61 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets Shares ETF (ASX: VGE), which tracks the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars before fees, will pay 132.88 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard Ethically Conscious Australian Shares ETF (ASX: VETH) tracks the FTSE Australia 300 Choice Index before fees. It will pay 55.39 AU cents per unit.

The Vanguard MSCI International Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VISM) will pay a dividend of 85.44 AU cents per unit. The VISM ETF tracks the MSCI World ex-Australia Small Cap Index (with net dividends reinvested) in Australian dollars before fees.

Vanguard MSCI Australian Large Companies Index ETF (ASX: VLC), which tracks the MSCI Australian Shares Large Cap Index, will pay a dividend of 63.34 AU cents per unit.

The post Vanguard reveals next lot of dividends for VAS and other ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. 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 Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.