The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price has seen plenty of volatility over the past year, as the chart below shows. I think it’s a good time to consider what could happen next.

As one of the largest ASX-listed iron ore companies, the company is highly dependent on iron ore prices for its profits.

While Fortescue reported several growth figures in its FY26 results, the ASX mining share relied heavily on higher iron ore prices to drive earnings growth.

During the 2026 financial year, its hematite realised price (the iron ore sold price) rose by 7% to US$90 per dry metric tonne (dmt). This drove a 9% rise in revenue to US$17 billion. Underlying operating profit (EBITDA) also increased 9% to US$8.6 billion, while underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) rose 3% to US$3.46 billion.

One earnings headwind was a 4% increase in the C1 unit cost per wet metric tonne (wmt), driven by elevated energy prices and inflationary pressures.

On the cash flow side, operating cash flow grew 6% to US$6.8 billion, and free cash flow soared 25% amid a reduction in capital expenditure. This helped net debt improve by 23% to US$857 million.

What could happen with the Fortescue share price?

Without a crystal ball, it’s hard to know exactly what will happen with the Fortescue share price in the next 12 months. The performance of the iron ore price could be essential for how it plays out.

Analysts have given their view on whether they think the Fortescue share price is undervalued or not.

According to CMC Invest, there have been 11 analyst ratings on the ASX mining share within the last three months. It was a mixed bag. Two ratings were a buy, six were a hold, and three were a sell.

A price target tells investors where they think the (Fortescue) share price will go over the next 12 months, from the time of the investment call.

According to CMC Invest, the average price target of those 11 analyst ratings on the ASX mining share is $18. That implies the analysts collectively think the Fortescue share price could rise by 2% over the next year.

The most optimistic price target of $20.06 suggests a possible rise of 14% over the next year, while the most negative price target is $15.45, suggesting a decline of 12% from where it is.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens next, but analysts don’t seem to think Fortescue is a great opportunity. There could be a lot better ASX share investments out there.

The post How much could the Fortescue share price rise in the next year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

When compelling ASX shares trade at low prices, they could be unmissable buys. Falling to near 52-week lows may be the best price we can buy at.

Of course, just because something has fallen doesn’t mean it’s going to rise again quickly. But I think investing at the lower price gives brave investors a much better margin of safety and will hopefully lead to stronger returns.

With the above in mind, let’s look at two compelling ASX shares.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Temple & Webster is one of the leading online retailers in Australia, selling hundreds of thousands of products across homewares, furniture and home improvement.

A significant majority of the products sold are shipped directly by suppliers to customers. This means the company operates with a capital-light model and can offer a vast range compared to competitors with physical stores.

The digital nature of its operations also means it can provide digital tools to customers such as AI chat, augmented reality (see a product in your room) and so on.

While the current retail conditions are challenging – with a higher cost of living and lower house prices – I think things will improve at some point, we just don’t know when. I believe this is why the Temple & Webster share price has fallen so far and why it makes sense to invest now.

Overall FY26 revenue may have only increased by 11% to $665 million, but home improvement revenue increased by 39% to $59 million. I think the home improvement segment could become increasingly important to the overall business as the years go by.

I believe online shopping adoption will help the company grow earnings in the coming years. The ASX share looks like great value to me, trading at 23x FY29’s estimated earnings after falling around 80% in the past year (and close to its 52-week low).

Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)

The Propel share price is also near its 52-week low after dropping more than 40% over the past year. I think the market is punishing Propel partly because of higher interest rates (hurting the valuations of stocks like Propel), as well as higher inflation.

Propel is one of the largest funeral providers in Australia and New Zealand. It operates from more than 210 locations, including 42 cremation facilities and nine cemeteries.  

It’s a morbid idea, but the company has compelling long-term growth tailwinds because of Australia’s ageing and growing population.

Propel says that Australian projected deaths are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% between 2026 to 2035 and then a further 2.3% between 2036 to 2045. In other words, there’s clear revenue tailwinds for two decades.

With rising average revenue per funeral and an ageing demographic, I think the ASX share is a good long-term hold while it trades near a 52-week low.

The post 2 cheap ASX shares near 52-week lows I’d buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Propel Funeral Partners and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster 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.

Starting an investment portfolio can feel difficult. There are thousands of shares to choose from and plenty of market noise.

For beginners, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can make things much easier.

They allow investors to own a collection of stocks through one investment, which means you do not have to identify the next great pick yourself.

So, which ASX ETFs could be top picks for someone starting out?

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF could be a great place to start for beginners.

It tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors a slice of the 500 largest companies listed in the United States.

Many of these companies have become global businesses. They sell phones, software, medicines, financial services, advertising, consumer products, and industrial equipment around the world.

This means an Australian investor can buy this fund and immediately own a slice of many businesses they probably interact with every day.

The S&P 500 also changes over time. Companies that grow can enter the index, while those that lose relevance can eventually leave.

That makes the iShares S&P 500 ETF a simple way to back corporate America over the long term without having to predict which individual companies will still be leading the market in 10 or 20 years.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

For investors wanting to keep some money closer to home, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF could be worth considering.

This fund tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) and therefore owns a large collection of Australian companies.

That includes banks like Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), miners like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), healthcare companies like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), retailers like Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).

One benefit for beginners is familiarity. Many of the businesses inside the fund are companies Australians see, use, or hear about regularly.

The local market is also known for paying dividends, with many companies distributing a meaningful portion of their profits to shareholders.

As a result, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF offers a straightforward way to participate in the performance and income generated by the Australian share market.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

A final ASX ETF for beginners to look at is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

This fund spreads investments across developed markets around the world.

I think this is valuable for Australians. Our share market represents only a small portion of the global investment universe. The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF opens the door to businesses and industries that are either underrepresented or largely absent from the ASX.

With more than 1,000 stocks inside the fund, beginners do not need to decide whether the next great opportunity will come from America, Europe, or somewhere else. They can own a piece of all of them.

The post Which ASX ETFs could be top picks for beginner investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.