I’d definitely describe Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) as one of the leading ASX dividend stalwarts that Australians can buy.

When I think about which businesses would make excellent ideas for long-term income, there are three elements that are important, in my view.

Firstly, I’d want to see rising earnings. Second, rising dividends. Third, a good starting dividend yield. Let’s run through each of those for Coles.

Rising earnings

If a company’s (underlying) net profit isn’t going up, then there’s a much higher chance that the payout may be reduced.

I wouldn’t expect too many ASX businesses to be capable of delivering growing profits most years over the ultra-long-term, but Coles could be one of them.

As a retailer of food, the company has a very important role in Australian society. A growing population means more mouths to feed and more potential customers for the supermarket business.

Coles is currently delivering more sales growth than Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), showing that its offering is resonating with customers.

Sales growth is a key input for delivering earnings growth, with the company’s expanding scale helping with operating leverage.

It’s particularly exciting to see that the company’s new, huge, automated distribution warehouses are complete. This will help with efficiencies, stock flow, food freshness and margins, in my view. This could be a helpful boost to the company’s bottom line over the next two financial years.

The projection on Commsec suggests the business could deliver earnings per share (EPS) of 92.6 cents in FY26, 99.4 cents in FY27 and $1.148 in FY28. For the foreseeable future, the outlook seems right for Coles.

Growing payouts from the ASX dividend stalwart

Rising earnings can likely translate into dividend hikes for shareholders. Coles has increased its annual payout each year since it listed seven years ago.

For investors relying on these dividend payments, it’s pleasing to see the payout rising over time because it can protect against headwinds in a household’s budget.

The bigger payouts help us feel wealthier and give us more cash to spend (or invest in more shares).

Most importantly, I want to have a high level of confidence that the business is capable of delivering bigger payouts even during nationally difficult economic times.

So far, Coles has delivered dividend growth through COVID-19 and the high inflation period.

The forecast on Commsec suggests the business could grow its payout in FY26, FY27 and FY28.

Good starting dividend yield

While the dividend yield isn’t everything, I would say that it’s important because income investors are choosing this ASX dividend stalwart over having a term deposit. Australians probably want a good level of passive income straight away.

In the 2025 financial year, the business decided to declare an annual dividend per share of 69 cents. That’s a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.8%, including franking credits. The projected payout for FY26, according to Commsec, would translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.5% (including franking credits) at the time of writing.

The post An ASX dividend stalwart every Australian should consider buying appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• My 10 top stocks to buy to start the New Year off right
• Is Wesfarmers stock a buy for its 3.6% dividend yield?
• Are Coles or Woolworths shares a better buy in 2026?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Brokers name 3 ASX dividend stocks to buy in 2026

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

You’ve heard from me a little more regularly in this space over the past couple of weeks than in the couple of months before that.

In part, that’s a quasi-New Year’s Resolution to write more.

In part, that’s because the events and occasions (New Year, Buffett’s retirement and more) have provided some welcome stimulus.

But mostly, I think it’s not because I’ve had more ‘time’ per se, but rather more ‘space’.

Indeed, the first couple of columns of the year were written in the early mornings on holidays, when my young bloke was asleep: I had some thoughts and some opportunity, so I grabbed both.

This week I’m back on deck, but the momentum and opportunity has continued.

The opportunity has come in two ways, related to the ‘space’ I mentioned earlier.

Yes, there’s meaningfully less company news to deal with. Fewer ASX announcements. No data from the ABS.

The newspapers are thinner (or, if you prefer, there are fewer new stories on their websites).

But also, and related, that’s meant more mental space, too.

More time for independent and undirected thought.

More time thinking about the ‘important’ rather than the ‘urgent’.

Now look, at The Motley Fool, we’ve always been long-term investors. We do our best to eschew short-term thinking and tune out the noise.

So the idea itself isn’t new.

But even then, I’ve found myself with more ‘clear air’ than normal, and it was noticeable in the sorts of things I found myself focussing on.

I will say – perhaps disappointingly, sorry – that there were no blinding flashes of new insight.

I haven’t discovered the secret of nuclear fusion, nor have I invented a brand new way to get rich overnight.

But what I did find myself dwelling on were the more important fundamental aspects of investing and economics.

I’ve already written this week about the folly of predictions, and the interaction of supply and demand when it comes to housing.

On Twitter, I’ve engaged in a fascinating conversation about the impact of investors, and the extent to which their marginal additional demand impacts house prices, including with smart people who disagree with me.

I’ve thought a lot about pricing power – but in a slightly different way: the pricing power that isn’t used.

Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ: COST), in the US, is derided by some as ‘the world’s largest co-op’: a criticism that points to the critics’ belief that the company charges too little for its products and should increase prices to boost margins.

And yet, the company, by sticking to its guns – and its business model – has grown its profit from US$5 billion in 2021 to over US$8 billion last year. Not bad for a ‘co-op’!

Contrast that with Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) here in Australia, which is adding friction and annoyance to members of its ‘Delivery Unlimited’ program by adding a $2 surcharge to deliveries made on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Justified? Sure, financially, based on the company’s higher costs. But it doesn’t charge more for groceries on Sundays, so this feels jarring.

In either event, I’m sure the reported financials will look a little better after the surcharge is added. And that’ll look like a win.

But in the long term? Let’s just say that if I was looking to maximise long term shareholder value (the job of every CEO and Director), I wouldn’t be poking customers who are paying to increase their own loyalty (if you’re paying a subscription for free delivery, you’re not likely to buy your groceries somewhere else).

And that might be the best example of what’s been on my mind most over the past few weeks: the trade-offs between the short- and long-term.

Whether it’s housing policy (or politics in general)…

Whether it’s profit maximisation…

Whether it’s the lure of predictions…

Whether it’s trying to grow our portfolios…

… the short term is just so incredibly seductive.

We get to see results more quickly.

There’s less uncertainty.

It feels like we have more control.

And yet, the real rewards come over time.

I mentioned Costco’s impressive recent results.

What’s more impressive is that the US$8b the company earned last year is eight times the earnings of 20 years earlier.

And the share price? It closed 2005 at around US$50 a piece. At the end of last year, it was US$862.

Again, these aren’t new insights for me. And I hope not for you, either.

But as the news cycle picks up, and then we hit ‘earnings season’ in February, I want you to keep the lessons of the last couple of weeks in mind.

When the temptation is to react to the latest news and announcements, I want you to imagine how many pieces of news were written about, and how many announcements were released by, Costco over the last 20 years.

Think about the times when the company’s profits weren’t quite what the market expected.

When the share price fell.

When analysts changed their ’12 month price targets’.

The breathless reporting and the hand-wringing.

The obsession over the latest quarter’s sales growth or this year’s profit margins.

As I think of all that, I can’t help but shake my head and smile, wryly, at the futility of so much of it.

All of that – as Shakespeare famously wrote – sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Don’t get me wrong: sales and profits matter. Of course they do.

So does the growth in those metrics.

The price you pay absolutely matters, too.

But the question for investors – proper investors, who know that compounding‘s magic not-so-secret is time – is what those things look like in 5, 10 and 20 years.

Feels hard, right? 20 years… who can wait that long?

Me. And you, I hope.

Because there’s no short cut. There’s no get-rich-quick alternative.

There is only quality. And time.

Can I put it bluntly? I think (almost) everything else is wishful thinking and/or wilful ignorance.

Almost? Sure, someone, somewhere, might be able to make a buck guessing short term share price movements. I can’t exclude that possibility, so I can’t make absolute statements.

But is it likely for them?

Is it likely for you and me?

Not even a little bit.

Luck might take you some of the way. For a time.

For the rest of us, buying quality companies at good prices is the best approach, I reckon.

That, and tuning out the noise.

It worked for Buffett. It worked for Costco (not coincidentally, Buffett’s late business partner Charlie Munger was a long-time director of that company!).

I think it is likely to work for us, too.

Fool on!

The post Space, time and… clarity appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• The best ASX ETFs to buy in 2026 and hold until at least 2036
• I want to buy Amazon and these 4 US stocks in 2026
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Motley Fool contributor Scott Phillips has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One ASX healthcare share has emerged among the most dramatic movers in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

Over the past 6 months alone, Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares have surged 73% to $2.74 at the time of writing, putting the biotech stock firmly back on investors’ radars.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tumbled 22% over the same period.

So, has Mesoblast already peaked or is there more upside ahead?

Long-awaited inflammatory breakthrough

After years stuck in the wilderness, the ASX healthcare share price has roared back to life. Investors have driven the rally on renewed optimism surrounding the company’s lead therapy, remestemcel-L, which targets inflammatory and immune-based diseases.

Mesoblast has spent more than a decade developing a regenerative medicine platform designed to treat severe conditions with limited treatment options. Now, the market believes the company is edging closer to its first major commercial milestone.

Momentum has accelerated as the healthcare stock advances toward a potential US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. A breakthrough could unlock its first meaningful revenue stream. For a company long defined by research spending rather than sales, this would mark a fundamental shift.

FDA decision remains key catalyst

FDA approval represents the single most important hurdle in Mesoblast’s investment case. The company has resubmitted clinical data to US regulators, aiming to overcome the regulatory roadblocks that have derailed it in the past.

Each positive signal from the approval process has pushed the ASX 200 healthcare share higher. Momentum traders have piled in, betting that Mesoblast may finally secure the green light it has chased for years.

Risks remain substantial

Despite the renewed enthusiasm, risk still looms large. Mesoblast has burned significant capital over its long development journey, repeatedly tapping markets to fund extended trials and regulatory work.

The company’s history of FDA setbacks has also tested investor patience. Even if approval arrives, The ASX healthcare share must still commercialise its therapy, scale sales, and compete in an increasingly crowded cell-therapy landscape.

Broker sentiment turns bullish

Still, brokers appear increasingly confident. The average 12-month price target sits at $4.19, implying potential upside of 53% from current levels.

TradingView data show that all analysts who follow the $3.5 billion healthcare share have a strong buy recommendation.

The brokers are forecasting target prices as high as $5.30 per share. This implies a huge 93% potential upside at the time of writing. The most pessimistic market watcher sees a price target of $3.13, which still points to a possible plus of 14%.

The post After a 73% surge this ASX healthcare share looks far from done appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why DroneShield, IPD, Mesoblast, and Woodside shares are charging higher today
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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 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 Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price is in focus today after the company reported its assets under management (AUM) fell to $39.9 billion as at 31 December 2025, down from $40.2 billion three months earlier. Net outflows amounted to $0.3 billion for the quarter.

What did Magellan Financial Group report?

• Total AUM decreased to $39.9 billion from $40.2 billion at 30 September 2025
• Retail AUM fell to $15.8 billion, down from $16.2 billion
• Institutional AUM edged higher to $24.1 billion from $24.0 billion
• Net outflows for the quarter were $0.3 billion
• Magellan Global Equities retail AUM decreased by $0.5 billion (including flows and other changes)

What else do investors need to know?

Magellan continues to operate through two main pillars: investment management and specialist financial services. The group’s partnerships with Barrenjoey Capital Partners, Vinva Investment Management, and FinClear form part of its specialised focus on selective high-quality businesses.

The quarterly AUM update reflects some ongoing outflows in retail products, though institutional AUM was slightly higher due to positive flows and other factors such as market movements and distributions.

What’s next for Magellan Financial Group?

Investors will be looking for signs that outflows can stabilise and that Magellan’s partnership-led growth strategy continues to add long-term value. The company remains committed to disciplined capital management and evolving its specialist service offerings.

Future updates on new mandate wins, strategic partnerships, or improvements to net flows could impact sentiment towards the Magellan Financial Group share price.

Magellan Financial Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Magellan Financial group shares have declined 16%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Magellan Financial Group dips as AUM slips in December quarter 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.

With most brokers taking a break over the holiday period, there haven’t been many notes hitting the wires.

But never fear! Summarised below are three recent recommendations that remain very relevant today. Here’s what brokers are saying about these ASX shares:

Chrysos Corporation Ltd (ASX: C79)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts upgraded this mining technology company’s shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $9.40. This followed the release of a trading update from Chrysos’ annual general meeting. Bell Potter noted that Chrysos started FY 2026 strongly and reported a 54% increase in revenue year to date. This was ahead of the broker’s estimates. Looking ahead, Bell Potter believes that this trend can continue. It points out that Chrysos’ industry adoption has accelerated over the past 12 months with the signing of the master services agreement with Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and the broadening of relationships with commercial lab operators. In addition, Bell Potter believes the exploration upcycle should deliver further upside, which could lead to Chrysos comfortably outperforming its EBITDA guidance this year. The Chrysos share price is trading at $7.31 this afternoon.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

A note out of Macquarie revealed that its analysts retained their outperform rating on this network solutions company’s shares with an increased price target of $21.70. Macquarie noted that the recent acquisition of India-based Latitude expands its immediate addressable share of customer wallet. The broker points out that customers already consume compute products, but Megaport has not historically sold compute. As a result, Latitude’s product offering is highly complementary to the existing product set and offers a direct position in a large and fast-growing end market. It estimates that Bare Metal as a Service (BMaaS) is a large, end market currently worth US$15 billion, and growing rapidly. Combined with the stabilisation of its core revenue, Macquarie believes this leaves Megaport well-placed for long term growth. The Megaport share price is fetching $12.21 at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Another note out of Macquarie revealed that its analysts retained their outperform rating and $4.85 price target on this buy now pay later provider’s shares. The broker thinks that Zip will deliver on its net transaction margin guidance in FY 2026 despite elevated loss rates that are being caused by its accelerating total transaction value (TTV) growth. Outside this, Macquarie is forecasting Zip to continue to deliver rapid growth supported by increased product adoption, expansion of its merchant network, increased customer engagement, and digital product innovation. The Zip share price is trading at $3.22 on Wednesday afternoon.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Sometimes, I have a single, big idea to write about in this space.

Other times, it’s a couple of smaller ones – or big ideas that I write about briefly.

Today, I want to do the latter: share with you my thoughts about a couple of slightly related topics, which I hope will be interesting and useful.

—

The first is ‘predictions’. Hopefully topical, given the time of year, when newspapers, starved of news, turn to ‘experts’ to tell the rest of us what the next 12 months will bring.

They are, as I hope you’ve read from me before, useless.

Because here’s the thing: there are two possible outcomes:

Either the things everyone expects actually come to pass, in which case the ‘predictions’ are useless because everyone expected them anyway.

Or things happen that no-one expected, and the expert crystal-ball gazers say ‘Well, no-one could have seen that coming’!

I hope the irony is clear.

Even those who are right, once or twice, tend to be wrong more often.

So why do we listen?

Because we’re human.

Because we crave certainty and, if we can’t get it, we’ll happily (if usually subconsciously) accept a prediction instead. Anything to fill the void of uncertainty.

Worried the market might fall in 2026? Understandable.

Think it might rise in 2026? Understandable.

Know which one it’ll be? Me neither.

Instead?

Instead, I try to think in probabilities. And in timeframes that matter.

I think it’s probable that the market is higher in a decade. (I have no idea what it’ll do this year.)

I think it’s probable that high-quality, successful businesses will thrive over that time (though some won’t).

I think it’s probable that paying good (but not necessarily great) prices will mean the success of those businesses will make it more likely that shareholders will benefit from that success.

That’s how I invest. With not a prediction in sight.

—

Second, I want to just share some short thoughts on house prices. Or, more accurately, the influences on prices.

There are two, related, forces predominantly driving them.

The first is, unsurprisingly, interest rates.

The second, is the balance of supply and demand.

On the former, the simplest explanation is the question ‘How much can I borrow?’

At a given level of income, the bank will decide you can afford to repay ‘X’.

At a lower interest rate, a monthly payment of ‘X’ will mean you can borrow more, and therefore pay more for housing.

At a higher rate, you can borrow – and pay – less.

On the latter, it’s pretty simple:

If there are 10 houses and 11 buyers, prices will tend to rise.

If there are 10 houses and 9 buyers, prices will tend to fall.

Now those are tendencies, not guarantees, but that’s the broad market reality.

Cutting rates likely pushes prices up.

Adding to population likely does, too.

So do things like first homebuyer grants and deposit guarantees, and the like.

On the flip side, reducing population growth / adding to supply puts downward pressure on prices.

As does rising interest rates.

There are other long-term considerations like actual or potential tax changes, but assuming those remain stable, the two influences, above, drive prices.

Investor activity is also a component, but that’s largely a subset of those two forces, too.

So what?

Well, that’s probably for another article. And there are some policy changes that are definitely overdue, in my opinion.

But for now, it’s enough just to highlight how and why prices might change in 2026 and beyond, and some of the levers policy-makers might seek to use if they ever got serious about improving housing affordability, rather than just talking about it and doing things that make it worse!

Fool on!

The post Property and predictions: Our two national sports appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shares in Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) are surging higher on Wednesday following the release of a standout quarterly update.

At the time of writing, the gold and copper producer’s shares are up 7.14% to $11.55. The stock is comfortably outperforming the broader ASX as investors digest a robust operational and financial result.

So, let’s take a closer look at the numbers behind the update.

Solid quarterly output continues

According to the release, Greatland delivered its December 2025 quarterly production update.

The company reported gold production of 86,273 ounces for the quarter, alongside copper output of 3,528 tonnes. This marks a clear improvement on the September quarter, when Greatland produced 80,890 ounces of gold and 3,366 tonnes of copper.

For the first half of FY26, total production now stands at 167,163 ounces of gold and 6,894 tonnes of copper. This keeps the company on track operationally as it continues integrating the Telfer and Havieron assets in Western Australia’s Paterson Province.

Sales for the quarter totalled 72,212 ounces of gold and 3,301 tonnes of copper. While all-in sustaining costs (AISC) are still being finalised, management confirmed they will be released with the full December quarterly activities report later this month.

Cash balance surges to $948 million

One of the standout takeaways from today’s update was Greatland’s balance sheet strength.

The company closed the December quarter with $948 million in cash and no debt. That compares to $750 million at the end of September, representing a cash build of $198 million over the three-month period.

Management noted this figure includes a one-off stamp duty payment of $46 million related to the Telfer-Havieron acquisition. Excluding that payment, the underlying cash build would have been $244 million for the quarter.

Importantly, Greatland remains unhedged, giving shareholders full exposure to higher gold prices. However, some downside protection is in place through gold put options.

What investors should watch next

While today’s production and cash figures were well received, investor focus now shifts to the full December quarterly activities report.

That report is due for release on 28 January 2026.

It should provide greater detail on costs, guidance, and progress at Havieron, which is viewed as a key long-term growth asset.

Greatland is also scheduled to host a webcast for shareholders and analysts on the same day. This should offer further insight into strategy, operations, and near-term priorities.

Taken together, today’s report helps explain why I believe Greatland should be on investors’ radars in 2026.

The post This ASX resources stock is soaring 7% on a big quarterly result 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.

Shares in Island Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: ILA) are marching higher after the company said it had secured patent protection in the US for the use of one of its compounds in tackling viruses.

Island shares traded as high as 49.5 cents in the morning session on the ASX before settling back to be 12.2% higher at 46 cents.

The biotechnology company said it had been granted a patent for the use of its compound Galidesivir in the treatment of filoviridae viruses.

The company went on to say:

The patent comprises a broad range of claims in connection with the treatment of a viral infections from the filoviridae family, via the administering of a therapeutically effective amount of Galidesivir. Patent protection for the use of Galidesivir to treat filoviridae viruses marks the latest successful conversion from application to approval for the diversified patent portfolio that Island gained full rights to as part of its acquisition of the Galidesivir program. The patent portfolio comprised both issued patents and pending patent applications, with each new approval strengthening the framework for Island to continue broadening its IP footprint alongside the clinical development pathway for Galidesivir.

Broad patent protection

The patent protection extends out to late 2031. The viruses the compound targets are single-stranded ribonucleic acid viruses, the best-known of which are the Ebola virus and the Marburg virus.

The company explained further:

Filoviridae viruses are generally recognised by the US government as biological select agents or toxins (BSAT), which have been classified by the US Department of Health and Human Services as having the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety.

The new patent win adds to the granting of a patent last month covering the use of Galidesivir in treatment options for COVID-19.

Island Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Dr David Foster said it was another important milestone for the company.

He added:

This latest patent grant highlights that our IP footprint continues to go from strength to strength, and further validates the vigour of the patent portfolio that we gained full ownership rights of as part of the Galidesivir acquisition.” “What is particularly pleasing about this patent is that it provides IP protection over a broad range of claims in the application of Galidesivir to treat filoviruses, in direct alignment with detailed clinical development pathway for the treatment of Marburg – a member of the filoviridae virus family.” “As we continue to advance the study design in close consultation with the FDA, this patent approval provides a strong framework to further expand our IP footprint alongside our clinical progress.

Island Pharmaceuticals was valued at $110.1 million at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post Which biotech’s shares are surging higher on US patent news? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Property and predictions: Our two national sports
• This ASX resources stock is soaring 7% on a big quarterly result
• Up 400% in a year: Why is this ASX silver stock breaking records today?
• This biotech company’s shares are on a tear – again – after another contract win

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.

Unico Silver Ltd (ASX: USL) shares are breaking records again on Wednesday.

In morning trade, the ASX silver stock is up 9% to a record high of 99 cents.

This means its shares are now up almost 400% over the past 12 months.

Why is this ASX silver stock hitting a new record high?

Investors have been fighting to get hold of the silver miner’s shares following the release of a drilling update from the 100%-owned Joaquin Project in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

According to the release, Unico Silver has released assay results for a further 31 drill holes totalling 4,478 metres of drilling. This brings total reported assays since drilling commenced in September to 91 holes covering 14,594 metres.

The ASX silver stock highlights that this forms part of a 30,000 metre drill program. It is focused on regional exploration and new discoveries, and the delineation of high-confidence, pit-constrained, free-milling silver ounces at Joaquin.

Drilling results

As you might have guessed from the investor reaction, the results from this latest drilling were positive.

The company notes 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. It remains open to the south-east and at depth.

Positively, the true thickness ranges from 15 metres to 75 metres, which is supportive of bulk open pit mining potential.

What’s next?

It shouldn’t be long until there are more results to run the rule over. Drilling resumed on 5 January and includes three diamond rigs and one reverse circulation (RC) rig. At La Negra SE, infill drilling on a 50 metres by 25 metres grid is nearing completion with eight holes remaining to support a high confidence indicated resource.

Based on timing and new results, the ASX silver stock advised that it will proceed directly to a pre-feasibility study (PFS)-level mineral resource estimate (MRE), covering La Negra, La Negra SE, and La Morocha.

The company’s managing director, Todd Williams, was pleased with the news. He said:

Infill drilling at La Negra SE continues to deliver wide, shallow zones of oxide silver-gold mineralisation with excellent continuity across the full 850-metre strike length. 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.

With infill drilling nearing completion, geotechnical and comminution programs already underway, and three key prospects – La Negra, La Negra SE and La Morocha – advancing to Indicated Resource status, Joaquin is rapidly transitioning from exploration to development while remaining open to further growth.

The post Up 400% in a year: Why is this ASX silver stock breaking records today? 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.

4D Medical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has secured a contract with UC San Diego Health – one of the US’s pre-eminent academic health systems – to use its CT:VQ technology for clinical use in lung imaging.

Shares in the biotechnology company jumped on the news, trading 9.3% higher at $4.58 – not far off their record high of $4.65 – in early trade on Wednesday.

Prestigious institution

4D Medical said in a statement to the ASX that UC San Diego Health (UCSD) was “one of the nation’s leading academic health systems and has consistently ranked in the top 10 in the US for pulmonary and lung surgery”.

The company added:

UCSD has commenced clinical use of CT:VQ under a structured launch framework whereby introductory pricing will apply through March 31, supporting early clinical adoption and workflow establishment, before transitioning to full commercial terms. UCSD joins Stanford University, University of Miami, and Cleveland Clinic as the fourth U.S. academic medical centre (AMC) to deploy CT:VQ for clinical use. This expanding network of leading AMCs powers 4DMedical’s strategic approach of establishing reference sites at the nation’s most prestigious institutions, creating a powerful foundation for broader market adoption.

4D Medical said it had been slightly more than four months since it received US Food and Drug Administration clearance to market its technology, and in that time, it had secured contracts with four of the most respected academic medical centres in the US.

The company added:

These deployments demonstrate the compelling clinical value proposition of CT:VQ: eliminating the need for radioisotope and contrast administration, providing superior image resolution compared to nuclear medicine, seamlessly integrating into existing CT imaging workflows, and enabling access to reimbursement pathways that support sustainable clinical adoption.

Strong momentum

4D Medical founder and Managing Director Andreas Fouras said the new contract win was a “powerful validation” of the company’s technology.

He added:

In just over four months since FDA clearance, we’ve established CT:VQ at four of America’s leading academic medical centres: Stanford, University of Miami, Cleveland Clinic, and now UCSD. This rapid adoption by elite institutions demonstrates both the transformative potential of CT:VQ and the strength of our go-to-market execution. These prestigious AMCs serve as powerful anchors for our commercialisation strategy. Combined with our Philips partnership and growing commercial pipeline, we are building unstoppable momentum as we establish CT:VQ as the new standard of care in pulmonary imaging.  

4D Medical was valued at $2.2 billion at the close of trade on Tuesday. The company has increased in value almost 20-fold over the past 12 months, from lows of just 22.5 cents.

The post This biotech company’s shares are on a tear – again – after another contract win appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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