In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a decent gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.3% to 8,709.9 points.

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

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up 13% to $4.75. This morning, this respiratory imaging technology provider announced that UC San Diego Health has entered into a commercial arrangement for the clinical use of CT:VQ. It notes that UC San Diego Health is one of the United States’ leading academic health systems and has consistently ranked in the top 10 for Pulmonology & Lung Surgery. It has commenced clinical use of CT:VQ under a structured launch framework, whereby introductory pricing will apply through March 31. 4DMedical’s CEO and founder, Andreas Fouras, said: “UCSD is consistently ranked in the top 10 for pulmonology & lung surgery and is home to a world-class cardiothoracic imaging program. Their adoption of CT:VQ represents another powerful validation of our technology and our strategic approach to commercialisation.”

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price is up 1.5% to $7.61. Investors have been buying this gold miner’s shares following the release of a production update. Regis Resources reported total group gold production of 96,600 ounces. This brought its total group gold production for the first half to 186,900 ounces. And thanks to the sky-high gold price, Regis Resources achieved a record cash and bullion build of $255 million. This resulted in a record cash and bullion balance of $930 million.

Unico Silver Ltd (ASX: USL)

The Unico Silver share price is up 4% to 94 cents. This has been driven by the release of drilling results from the silver miner’s 100%-owned Joaquin Project this morning. The company 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. It remains open to the south-east and at depth. The company’s managing director, Todd Williams, said: “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.”

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is up almost 3% to $67.34. This may have been caused by a broker note out of Jefferies. The broker is feeling positive about the logistics solutions technology company’s outlook due to its belief that it won’t be disrupted by AI competition. This is due to the complexity of the logistics industry.

The post Why 4DMedical, Regis Resources, Unico Silver, and WiseTech Global shares are pushing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

In afternoon trade, 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 0.2% to 8,697.8 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

The Bellevue Gold share price is down 7% to $1.67. This follows the release of a production update from the gold miner this morning. Bellevue Gold revealed that underground development was suspended in the last week of December due to a safety incident involving the management of misfires in an active development face. It advised that the development activity did not resume until a detailed assessment was completed, delaying access to high-grade headings which were in production in the Deacon and Viago mine areas. The good news is that underground development resumed on 4 January, at which time access to the high-grade headings was regained.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

The Harvey Norman share price is down 4.5% to $6.59. This has been driven by a broker note out of Jefferies. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the retail giant’s shares to a hold rating with a reduced price target of $7.60. This still implies potential upside of 15% for investors over the next 12 months.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is down 3.5% to $1.45. This may have been caused by a pullback in oil prices overnight. Traders were selling oil in response to lower demand forecasts and Venezuelan output uncertainty. It isn’t just Karoon Energy that is falling today. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 2.1% at the time of writing.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is down 1% to $37.77. Investors have been selling the banks this week, possibly on valuation concerns. Morgan Stanley has warned that the big four banks could derate over 2026 against a backdrop of persistent inflation and potential interest rate hikes. The broker highlights that bank shares are trading on elevated price to earnings multiples. It points out that Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares trade at 25x earnings at present. However, it thinks trading conditions in 2026 could see bank share premiums unwind.

The post Why Bellevue Gold, Harvey Norman, Karoon Energy, and Westpac shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 2 quality ASX 200 shares to buy now amid a rising Aussie dollar
• Australian Bank Stocks: Which ones look like a buy (and which don’t)
• Scores of ASX mining shares hit 52-week highs
• Why CBA is forecasting a stronger Aussie dollar in 2026, and what that means if you’re buying ASX shares

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

ASX investors who are looking to add shares to a retirement portfolio probably have some very specific criteria to fulfil. Retirement shares need to pay out an income stream, for one. But that income stream also needs to be dependable and reliable, and preferably include full franking credits.

Ideally, a retirement will last two to three decades, or perhaps even longer if one is lucky. As such, retirement shares also need to offer longevity, with a business model that has proven to be able to stand the test of time. As well as other, shorter-term maladies such as inflation and economic recessions.

With all of that in mind, here are two ASX stocks that I think fulfil all of these criteria and would make for top retirement shares.

Two top ASX retirement shares to buy in 2026

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is an ASX stock we’d all be reasonably familiar with. This company runs the second-largest supermarket network in the country, as well as the Liquorland bottle chop chains. When considering the criteria we discussed above, Coles ticks all of the boxes.

Its consumer staples business model is mature and established, even growing market share at the expense of its arch-rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) in recent years. Customers need to buy food and household essentials, regardless of the economic weather. This means that Coles has a highly defensive earnings base from which to pay its fully franked dividends. Speaking of dividends, Coles has managed to deliver an annual dividend hike every year since its 2018 ASX listing.

I see no reason why this company won’t be a reliable dividend payer in 10, 20 or even 30 years’ time. As such, I would happily buy it as a top retirement share today.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Our next retirement share is the ASX 200 telco Telstra. I think Telstra’s appeal as a retirement share is similar to that of Coles, despite the two companies selling starkly different products.

As the largest and most dominant provider of telecommunication services in Australia, Telstra possesses a wide economic moat. Its mobile network is universally acknowledged as the best in the country, with many Australians in rural and regional areas having no alternative to Telstra. This has allowed the telco to remain the preferred choice for both mobile and fixed-line services for decades.

Given the importance of connectivity to our economy is only growing, Telstra should remain in a position to be able to translate its defensive, inelastic cash flows to strong and stable dividends (which always come fully franked) for years to come.

The post Top retirement shares for Australian investors to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Forecast: Here’s what $10,000 invested in Telstra shares could be worth next year

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

Shares in Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) briefly hit a 12-month high in early trade on Wednesday after the company released a quarterly production report indicating it was on track to meet its full-year guidance.

Shares in the gold miner traded as high as $1.82 in early trade before settling back to be 1.5% lower at $1.76 by mid-morning.

The value of the company has more than doubled over the past year, with the shares up from lows of 77.5 cents as recently as August.

Production steady despite disruptions

Bellevue stated in its update on Wednesday that it produced 32,000 ounces of gold, achieving gold recoveries of 96.1%, which outperformed the estimates used in setting its FY26 guidance.

The company said production was restricted at the end of the quarter by one-off factors, including the suspension of underground development in the last week of December due to a safety incident.

Underground development resumed on January 4, the company said.

The company said despite the delays, “the advance rate for the quarter was still above the 270m per jumbo per month rate used in the mine plan”.

A jumbo is a machine used in underground mine development

Bellevue said it remained on track to meet FY26 production guidance of 130,000 to 150,000 ounces of gold.

Hedging being unwound

The company said it was also continuing to work through its hedge book, which would give it increasing exposure to the spot gold price.

As the company said:

Bellevue continued pre-delivering gold and reducing near term hedge book commitments, which will increase future spot gold price exposure. Forward gold sales commitments have been reduced in total by a further 18,345 ounces, through a combination of 4,725 ounces of contractual December 2025 hedge deliveries and 13,620 ounces of additional voluntary pre-delivery against hedge commitments in the March 2026 and June 2026 quarters.

Analysts at RBC Capital Markets said the quarterly production results were broadly in line with their estimates, albeit “a slight miss to consensus”, and positioned the company well to meet its full-year guidance.

They went on to say:

Underlying free cash flow beat consensus and slightly missed us; however, hedge book pre-deliveries limited cash generation. However, we think this is a positive as it allows Bellevue more spot sales in a rising gold price environment. Overall, a neutral update given the small production miss.

RBC has a price target of $2 on Bellevue shares. Bellevue Gold was valued at $2.65 billion at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post This gold stock just hit a fresh high, but at least one broker thinks it can go higher 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.

BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) shares are trading in the red on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing the shares are 0.14% lower at $29.50 a piece.

But today’s slight dip has barely dented the huge gains the Australian-based steel manufacturer has made for the week so far. Over the past five days, BlueScope’s share price has jumped 22.87% and it is now trading 54.21% higher than this time last year.

What pushed BlueScope Steel’s shares higher this week?

On Monday afternoon, after the ASX closed, the company posted an ASX announcement confirming takeover speculation in the media.

BlueScope said it has received an unsolicited, non-binding, and indicative proposal from an Australian and US consortium to acquire all BlueScope shares under a scheme of arrangement. The consortium comprises SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and US-based Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD).

According to the announcement, the consortium has offered $30.00 cash per BlueScope share. 

The deal is subject to exclusivity, due diligence and a material adverse change in BlueScope’s business. It is also subject to a unanimous recommendation from the BlueScope board, approval of BlueScope shareholders, no further share buy-backs, final approvals from SGH and Steel Dynamics’ boards, and necessary regulatory approvals. BlueScope has not yet decided if it will accept the proposal.

Investors were clearly impressed with the news which caused a flurry of buying activity yesterday morning.

Are the shares a buy, hold or sell for 2026?

BlueScope has previously rejected takeover offers of up to $29.00 per share saying that they undervalue the company’s future prospects. At $30.00 per share, I’m uncertain whether the consortium’s latest offer will be enough to get the latest deal over the line. 

BlueScope’s growth plan for 2026 includes focusing on its operation efficiency, advancing majority projects and plans to target $500 million in annual earnings growth by 2030.

To me, the company and its growth plans represent significant value.

What do analysts think of the stock?

TradingView data shows that analysts are mostly positive on the outlook for BlueScope Steel shares. Out of 9 analysts, 6 have a buy or strong buy rating. 

The maximum predicted target price is $37.00 per share. At the time of writing that implies the stock could jump another 25.47% over the next 12 months. 

While there is no crystal ball to tell exactly where the share price will be this time next year, it’s clear that some analysts think the stock has a lot more room to run, even after this week’s uptick.

The post BlueScope Steel shares soar 23%: Buy, hold or sell for 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why BlueScope, DroneShield, Monadelphous, and SGH shares are racing higher today
• BlueScope shares jump 20% on takeover news
• SGH confirms $13.2 billion acquisition offer for BlueScope Steel
• BlueScope fields $30-per-share takeover bid from SGH, Steel Dynamics

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Steel Dynamics. 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.

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.

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

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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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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.