Shares in Nyrada Inc (ASX: NYR) hit a new high-water mark for the year after the company said it had received ethics approval to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of its flagship drug candidate in patients who have suffered a heart attack.

The biotechnology company‘s shares have been trending sharply higher, particularly since mid-October, and are now up almost 20-fold from levels as low as 7.4 cents about this time a year ago.

The shares hit a new 12-month high of $1.43 on the clinical trial news on Thursday, meaning shareholders are sitting on an almost 20-fold return over a year.

Trial set to start soon

The company said on Thursday it had received ethics approval to go ahead with its Phase II trial of the compound Xolatryp, which will be tested for its use in treating “myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in patients suffering a heart attack”.

The company went on to say:

The trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of Xolatryp in male and female patients of non-childbearing potential presenting with a heart attack undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention or angioplasty with stenting. Approximately 200 patients will be dosed for this 1:1 drug to placebo trial.

The company said while safety was the primary endpoint for the trial, multiple efficacy signals were also being evaluated, including cardiac function, extent of cardiac injury, and the incidence of arrhythmias of interest.

The ethics approval allows the company to start establishing trial sites across Australia, with patient approval expected to start in March and up to 10 hospitals excepted to be involved.

The company said that “subject to recruitment rates, the trial is expected to conclude within nine to 18 months of first patient dosing”.

The company added:

Recruitment timelines will be closely monitored, and Nyrada’s study plan allows for flexible expansion to additional hospitals in Australia or internationally to further strengthen participation. Countries with well-aligned regulatory frameworks, such as New Zealand, Singapore, and Canada, offer potential avenues for broadening the trial’s reach.

According to the company’s website, “Xolatryp, is designed to offer cardioprotection by preventing calcium ion overload in heart cells, thereby enhancing patient outcomes. Because heart cells cannot regenerate after death, this approach is critical for recovery”.

The company said that in preclinical studies, “Xolatryp provided 86% cardioprotection when administered intravenously over 24 hours, starting 30 minutes post-MI event. Additionally, Xolatryp improved cardiac function and significantly reduced injury-related biomarkers”.

Nyrada was valued at $336.1 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post This biotech is approaching 20-bagger status within a year and the good news continues to come appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Which ASX 200 market sectors delivered the best dividend yields in 2025?
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• With mining to kick off next month, this bauxite miner’s stock is on the rise
• Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher
• Why this top-tier ASX gold stock is sliding again this week

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) has smashed the benchmark returns over the past year. Yet the gold miner has still underperformed many of its peers.

In early afternoon trade today, Bellevue Gold shares are up 1.5%, changing hands for $1.70 apiece. That sees the Bellevue Gold share price up an impressive 59.9% since this time last year, racing ahead of the 4.2% gains posted by the ASX 200 over this same time.

But with the gold price having rocketed 68% over 12 months, currently trading for US$4,454 per ounce, investors in the Aussie gold miner have watched many of Bellevue’s rivals post far juicier gains.

Indeed, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) – which also contains some smaller miners outside of ASX 200 gold stocks – is up a blistering 114.7% over the past full year.

However, 2026 could prove to be a different story for Bellevue Gold.

Why 2026 could see Bellevue Gold shares outshine

According to Acorn Capital’s Rick Squire, 2026 is shaping up to potentially be a much more profitable year for shareholders in the ASX 200 gold stock (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review).

“Bellevue Gold is an emerging gold producer but struggled in 2025 during the start-up of its high-grade underground operation,” Squire said.

“Now they have raised more money and lowered guidance, Bellevue has the potential to be hedge and debt free by late 2026,” Squire added. “If this is achieved, the company could experience a major re-rate.”

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 gold stock?

Bellevue Gold released its preliminary December quarterly update yesterday.

Shares in the ASX 200 gold stock closed down 6.4% on the day, after the miner reported delays in access to high-grade headings in production at its Deacon and Viago mine areas in the last week of December. This followed a safety incident at the site.

Underground development resumed on 4 January, and Bellevue Gold reported the high-grade tonnes will now be processed in January.

On the cash flow front, Bellevue Gold reported free quarterly cash flow (before voluntary future hedge book pre-deliveries but including the 4,700 ounces of gold of December 2025 quarter contracted hedge book deliveries) of $62 million. That’s up from $33 million in the September 2025 quarter.

As for the hedge-free potential Acorn Capital’s Squire mentioned above, the ASX 200 gold stock noted, “Bellevue continued pre-delivering gold and reducing near term hedge book commitments, which will increase future spot gold price exposure.”

The post Why this ASX 200 gold stock is tipped for a ‘major re-rate’ in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shares in Canyon Resources Ltd (ASX: CAY) were trading sharply higher on Thursday after the company said it was on track to start mining at its project in Cameroon next month.

Canyon said the surface miner had arrived at the Minim Martap mine development, which would enable mining to start in February.

Locomotives and wagons to transport the mined ore to port were scheduled for delivery in the first quarter, with ore haulage set to begin in the second quarter, “supporting first bauxite shipment targeted for late June 2026”.

Looking to value add

While the company will initially export bauxite ore, it was also working on a feasibility study for an alumina refinery, and this work was 45% complete, the company said.

That study was “advancing Canyon’s downstream value-add strategy and supporting its objective of positioning the company as an integrated participant in the global aluminium value chain. The study leverages the cost benefits of operating in Cameroon and the project’s low-silica, high-grade bauxite, with completion targeted for Q3, 2026”.

The positions of Mine Director and Port Manager had also been filled, the company said.

The company added:

Both appointees are scheduled to be in-country in this month, materially strengthening Canyon’s on-the ground leadership team as the company transitions from development into operations. These appointments significantly enhance operational readiness across mining and port logistics and support the continued progression of the Minim Martap Bauxite Project toward first production.

Canyon Chief Executive Officer Peter Secker said the company continued to achieve key operational milestones.

Project readiness continues to be strengthened, with key senior leadership appointments now completed. Downstream value creation remains a key focus, with the alumina refinery feasibility study advancing well and reinforcing Canyon’s long-term, value-add development strategy. Canyon is fully funded through stage 1 production through a balanced mix of debt and equity, underpinned by strong support from domestic and international investors and key in-country stakeholders, as the company remains firmly on track toward first production.

The Minim Martap project is located in central Cameroon, near the main rail line leading to the port of Douala.

The company has raised US$160 million in debt and equity to build the mine, which has a mineral resource of 1.1 billion tonnes of ore, and a 144 million tonne reserve at a grade of 51.2%.

The project has an initial 20-year mine plan.

Canyon was valued at $453.7 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post With mining to kick off next month, this bauxite miner’s stock is on the rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form and pushing higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.3% to 8,722.9 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are storming higher:

Canyon Resources Ltd (ASX: CAY)

The Canyon Resources share price is up 9% to 24 cents. This follows the release of an update on the Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon. According to the release, the surface miner has arrived in Cameroon, with mining operations scheduled to commence in February. Canyon’s CEO, Peter Secker, commented: “Following the arrival of the surface miner in Cameroon as well as confirmation of the delivery of the Rolling Stock scheduled in Q1, the key operational milestones continue to be achieved across mining, logistics and infrastructure workstreams. Project readiness continues to be strengthened, with key senior leadership appointments now completed. The Mine Director and Port Manager roles have been filled, with both executives scheduled to be on the ground this month to support the ramp-up to first production.”

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is up 22% to 35.5 cents. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium company. The gain was so strong that the Australian stock exchange asked for it to explain the move. Core Lithium responded, stating that it “is not aware of any other explanation that it may have for the recent trading in its securities.” Though, with lithium prices rebounding strongly recently, investors may be betting on the company restarting its lithium mining operations in the near future.

Duratec Ltd (ASX: DUR)

The Duratec share price is up 9% to $2.03. This morning, the contractor revealed that its Duratec Ertech Joint Venture has been instructed to proceed with early procurement of approximately $5 million of long lead items. This is to assist program and project timing as part of the early contractor involvement head contract for the planning phase of infrastructure upgrades to support future submarine capability at HMAS Stirling. Managing Director, Chris Oates, commented: “Duratec is proud to play a key role in supporting Australia’s future submarine capability through these critical infrastructure upgrades at HMAS Stirling.”

Unico Silver Ltd (ASX: USL)

The Unico Silver share price is up 3.5% to 98.5 cents. This silver miner’s shares have rallied higher this week following the release of drilling results from its 100%-owned Joaquin Project. Unico Silver revealed that infill and extensional drilling at La Negra SE confirms that there is a broad, shallow zone of oxide silver-gold mineralisation over 850 metres strike and 175 metres vertical extent. Importantly, it remains open to the south-east and at depth. The company’s managing director, Todd Williams, commented: “These results confirm the scale and geometry required for conventional open-pit development and support our decision to move directly to a Pre-Feasibility Study Mineral Resource Estimate.”

The post Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher 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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are under pressure today, sliding around 2.2% to about $24.80. This comes as traders digest weaker operational news and lowered expectations.

Over the past month the stock is down more than 7%, reversing some of last year’s strong gains.

So, why is this top-tier gold producer losing ground while gold prices remain strong?

Let’s take a closer look.

Softer production update weighs on sentiment

The main reason for today’s sell-off appears to be Northern Star’s recent operational update, released earlier this month.

In the December quarter, the company sold around 348,000 ounces of gold, taking first half FY26 gold sales to roughly 729,000 ounces. That result came in below what many analysts had been expecting.

More importantly, Northern Star cut its full year FY26 production guidance. The company now expects to produce 1.6 to 1.7 million ounces, down from its previous guidance range of 1.7 to 1.85 million ounces.

Management pointed to a series of operational challenges behind the downgrade.

What went wrong at key sites?

Several assets experienced issues during the quarter.

At the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, a crusher failure caused about four weeks of lost throughput. This reduced processing volumes and delayed gold production.

At the Pogo mine in Alaska, lower grades and higher dilution impacted output. There were also pockets of unplanned downtime across other operations, including Yandal.

Broker views turn more cautious

Broker sentiment has clearly cooled following Northern Star’s recent production downgrade.

Following Northern Star’s operational update, several major brokers have cut their price targets and adjusted their recommendations.

Morgan Stanley reduced its price target by 5.1% to $26.00 per share and downgraded the stock to ‘hold’, signalling concerns around near-term production reliability and cost pressures.

Macquarie also trimmed its valuation, lowering its price target by 3% to $31.00 per share. While the broker remains optimistic about the longer-term outlook, it flagged execution risks across key assets following recent operational disruptions.

Meanwhile, Citi cut its price target by 2.1% to $27.50 per share, reflecting lower gold sales volumes and the impact of reduced FY26 guidance. Citi’s commentary suggested costs may remain elevated until production stability improves.

Jefferies went against the trend slightly, lifting its price target by 6.1% to $31.00 per share. However, the broker warned investors may remain cautious until Northern Star delivers more reliable and consistent quarterly results.

Gold prices help, but nerves remain

Gold prices remain near record highs, which continues to support earnings across the sector. In theory, this should be positive for Northern Star.

However, today’s move shows that operational performance still matters more than gold prices in the short term.

Looking ahead, investors will be watching the company’s interim results to be released next month. Any improvement in production stability or cost control could help the share price find support.

The post Why this top-tier ASX gold stock is sliding again this week 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.

Most investors say they want to buy shares for the long term. Only a few actually invest as if they mean it.

Holding a company forever doesn’t require perfect timing or flawless execution. What it does require is owning businesses that stay relevant, reinvest intelligently, and grow alongside the world rather than against it.

As 2026 gets started, there are a handful of ASX growth shares that I believe meet that test. These are not short-term trades or cyclical punts. They are businesses I would be comfortable owning through market corrections, economic slowdowns, and inevitable periods of volatility.

Here are three incredible ASX growth shares I’d buy and hold forever.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is one of the most impressive growth stories on the ASX. Over the last 15 years, its shares have recorded a return of 25% per annum on average. 

The company provides enterprise software to government, education, and large organisations. These are customers that value reliability, long-term relationships, and deep integration. Once TechnologyOne’s systems are in place, switching becomes difficult, expensive, and risky. That has historically created high customer retention and long contract durations.

The shift to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model has materially improved the quality of its earnings, increasing recurring revenue, margin stability, and cash flow visibility. At the same time, its international expansion provides a longer runway for growth beyond Australia and New Zealand.

TechnologyOne shares rarely look cheap, but that’s often the case with genuinely high-quality compounders. If held long enough, I think this ASX growth share has the potential to deliver consistent returns for decades.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 is a business that benefits from both scale and habit.

With more than 90 million monthly active users worldwide, the company has built a platform that families rely on for safety, location sharing, and peace of mind. Importantly, engagement is high, and the product becomes more valuable as more family members are added.

What I think makes Life360 particularly attractive as a forever hold is its monetisation strategy. The company has demonstrated it can convert free users into paying subscribers over time without undermining the core user experience. As features expand and services deepen, average revenue per user has room to grow. And for users that don’t convert, Life360 has created an advertising business to monetise them.

Digital safety and location-based services are not fads. They are becoming more relevant as families become more connected and more mobile. If Life360 continues to execute, I believe it has the potential to compound for many years.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

DroneShield is the highest-risk stock on this list, but I believe the long-term rewards justify its inclusion.

The company operates in counter-drone technology, a market that barely existed a decade ago but is now mission-critical for defence, government, and critical infrastructure. As drones become cheaper, more capable, and more widely available, the need to detect and neutralise them only increases.

DroneShield’s technology spans software, sensors, and electronic warfare, giving it flexibility as threats evolve.

This ASX growth share will almost certainly remain volatile. But for investors willing to think in decades rather than quarters, DroneShield’s relevance could increase significantly over time. That’s exactly the kind of uncertainty I’m comfortable holding when the long-term opportunity is so large.

Foolish takeaway

Buying and holding shares forever isn’t about finding companies that never disappoint. It’s about owning businesses that stay useful, adaptable, and economically relevant as the world changes.

TechnologyOne, Life360, and DroneShield all operate in markets with long growth runways, strong demand drivers, and business models that can scale over time. They won’t all perform equally every year, but I believe they share the most important trait of all: the ability to compound.

The post 3 incredible ASX growth shares to buy and hold forever in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Life360, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) investors hoping that Wednesday’s cooling inflation data will see the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the official interest rate at its next meeting in February are likely to be disappointed.

That’s according to the economics team at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

Following the latest inflation print, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) yesterday, CBA noted, “The RBA’s new monthly CPI data shows inflation took a breather in November, but it’s unlikely to be enough for the RBA to change course.”

Here’s why.

CBA says ASX investors should still expect higher interest rates

The ASX 200 closed up 0.2% yesterday and is up 0.1% in late morning trade today, with stocks likely getting a modest boost from yesterday’s moderately easing inflation data, boosting investor hopes of a February RBA interest rate cut.

According to the ABS, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.4% over the 12 months to November.

That was down from the 3.8% annual increase reported in October. CBA noted the November print was better than expected. The consensus forecast was for Australia’s headline inflation to fall to 3.6%.

However, CBA said that following resurgent inflation in the second half of 2025, the dip reported yesterday won’t give the RBA the assurance it needs to keep from lifting the benchmark interest rate on 3 February from the current 3.60%.

CBA noted that the RBA’s preferred measure is trimmed mean inflation, which excludes certain volatile items.

While trimmed mean inflation declined from 3.3% to 3.2% (after rising 0.3% month to month), it remains above the RBA’s 2% to 3% target range, making any near-term interest rate cut unlikely.

“The undershoot on headline inflation should not be over‑interpreted,” CBA economist Harry Ottley said. “The weaker‑than‑expected outcome largely reflected volatile items and does not appear to reflect any softening of demand in the economy.”

And in unwelcome news for ASX 200 investors and mortgage holders alike, Ottley added, “We maintain our view that the RBA will increase the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85% in February.”

What’s happening with the new monthly CPI data?

CBA noted that with the ABS’ monthly inflation measure still relatively new, “and yet to iron out seasonal kinks”, the RBA is likely to wait until the December quarter inflation print, due out in late January, before forming a decision on the official interest rate.

Commenting on the ABS’ new monthly CPI data, Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said:

Having a monthly CPI means we can more clearly see temporary events such as Black Friday sales and compare them across time. In November 2024 and 2025, several goods categories had price falls including clothing, footwear and furniture.

As the price falls this year were similar to last year, the Black Friday sales were not a major contributor to the change in annual CPI inflation from October to November.

The post With inflation edging lower, here’s the latest 2026 interest rate forecast from CBA appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

January is always a great month to pause and take stock of our investing portfolios. It’s relatively quiet on the markets, most of us have some time off, and symbolically, what better time for some reflection? That’s certainly how I spent the first few days of 2026.

So now that we are pressing through January, here are some ideas for where to invest $7,000 (or whatever amount you can afford) into the stock market.

First up, I don’t think investors can go wrong investing in an index fund. Index funds are passive investments that tend to work best for investors when a dollar-cost averaging strategy is used. This involves investing a certain amount at a regular interval (say $500 a month), and sticking to that schedule, regardless of what the market is doing.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is always a popular choice. This fund represents the largest 300 shares on the Australian share market. That’s everything from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) to JB Hi-FI Ltd (ASX: JBH).

ASX shares have historically delivered meaningful returns and tend to pay out generous dividend income too.

An American index fund like the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) is another option to consider if you’d prefer to have your money in companies like Netflix, Ford, Amazon or Pepsico. Warren Buffett himself has often recommended the S&P 500 for investors who want a hands-off investment, and likens the S&P 500 to investing in America itself.

Another top stock to invest in this January

If you’re after an individual company, though, you can’t go wrong (at least in my view) with Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL). Soul Patts, as it is more easily known, is an investment company with a huge portfolio of underlying assets. These assets include property, other ASX shares, venture capital, and private credit investments, amongst others. That means that, unlike most other individual ASX stocks, you get a high degree of inherent diversification from buying Soul Patts shares.

Soul Patts has been around for more than a century. Over the past two to three decades, it has delivered market-beating returns compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). That’s in addition to the ASX’s best dividend growth streak. This company has increased its annual dividend every single year since 1998.

This inherent diversification, combined with its past performance, makes Soul Patts, in my view, another top pick for investors in January 2026.

The post Where to invest $7,000 in Janaury appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Amazon, Netflix, PepsiCo, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Netflix, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Netflix, 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.

I’m optimistic that the benchmark ASX 200 index will continue its ascent in 2026 and reach new highs.

And while a rising tide lifts all boats, I think there are a couple of ASX 200 shares that could benefit more than most from a booming share market.

I’m not alone with this view. The two ASX shares named below have been rated as buys and tipped to rise materially over the next 12 months by analysts. Here’s what they are recommending:

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

NextDC is an ASX 200 share that could rise strongly from current levels according to analysts.

It develops and operates data centres across Australia and is expanding into international markets. As cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-intensive applications continue to scale, demand for secure, high-quality data centre capacity is rising rapidly.

What makes NextDC particularly attractive is its positioning. Its facilities are typically located in premium, high-connectivity locations and are designed to support hyperscale customers as well as enterprises. Once customers commit workloads to a data centre, switching providers can be costly and complex, which supports long-term utilisation and pricing power.

Morgans is very positive on the company and its outlook. It recently put a buy rating and $18.00 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $12.81, this implies potential upside of 40% for investors over the next 12 months.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Another ASX 200 share that could be destined to outperform the benchmark this year if the market booms is Temple & Webster.

It is Australia’s leading online-only furniture and homewares retailer. While discretionary spending has been under pressure as interest rates increase, Temple & Webster has continued to grow while investing in its platform, logistics, and customer experience.

The long-term opportunity remains compelling for the company and investors. Online penetration in furniture retail is still relatively low compared to other categories and Western markets. This leaves plenty of room for growth over the next decade.

The team at Macquarie thinks that recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for Aussie investors.

It recently put an outperform rating and lofty $24.15 price target on Temple & Webster’s shares. Based on its latest share price of $12.66, this suggests that upside of approximately 90% is possible for investors between now and this time next year.

The post 2 shares to buy hand over fist before the ASX 200 soars higher in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) have delivered an eye-catching rally this week.

The ASX lithium miner’s share price is up 17.24% to 34 cents, marking its highest level in two years.

The move comes as lithium prices rebound and investor interest returns to the beaten-down battery metals sector.

Core Lithium shares hit a five-year low of just 5.7 cents in April 2025. Since then, the stock has staged a sharp recovery as sentiment toward lithium improves and investors reassess the outlook for lithium producers.

So, what is driving today’s surge, and can it continue?

Lithium prices jump sharply

A major tailwind for Core Lithium is the sudden strength in lithium prices.

Lithium carbonate prices in China surged strongly overnight, jumping more than 4% in a single session and pushing prices to their highest level in around 19 months. Prices are now back above CNY 130,000 per tonne, according to Trading Economics.

This matters because lithium prices collapsed through 2024 and early 2025, forcing many producers to pause operations or reconsider expansion plans. The recent price rebound has sparked fresh optimism that the worst of the lithium downturn may be over.

A long way back from the lows

The scale of Core Lithium’s recent rally becomes clearer when viewed in context.

After hitting 5.7 cents in April last year, the stock has now risen more than 480%. Much of that move has come over the past two months as lithium prices stabilised and risk appetite returned to the sector.

Today’s move also coincides with rising trading volumes, indicating renewed interest from both retail and speculative investors.

What the company last said

At its November 2025 AGM, Core Lithium outlined a cautious but disciplined approach to the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory.

Management highlighted its focus on capital discipline, cost control, and maintaining balance sheet strength while waiting for better lithium market conditions. Rather than rushing back into full production, the company signalled it would align any restart with sustainable pricing.

What brokers are saying

Broker views on Core Lithium are still divided.

While some analysts remain wary due to ongoing lithium price volatility, others believe the stock offers strong upside if the lithium price recovery continues. Reduced costs and an improved balance sheet are also being seen as key positives.

Can the rally continue?

Much will depend on lithium prices from here.

If prices hold above recent levels or continue climbing, stocks like Core Lithium could remain in focus. However, investors should remember that lithium markets can turn quickly, and sharp pullbacks are common.

For now, momentum is firmly on Core Lithium’s side, but the ride is unlikely to be smooth.

The post Core Lithium shares rocket 17% to a 2-year 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.