Tag: Stock pick

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) dividend has just been announced with the FY26 half-year result for the six months to 30 June 2026.

Woodside is Australia’s largest ASX oil and gas share with projects across Australia, Africa and North America.

The company regularly gives investors a sizeable dividend every six months and this dividend is another pleasing payout.

Woodside dividend

The ASX oil and gas share reported a 13% rise in operating revenue to US$7.4 billion, underlying net profit rose 7% to US$1.33 billion, free cash flow increased 159% to US$352 million and statutory net profit grew 27% to US$1.67 billion.

Woodside benefited from a 20% rise in its average realised price to US$74 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). Gas production fell 21% to 46.1 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), liquids production fell 4% to 39.4 MMboe, and ammonia production was 1 MMboe.

The 36% decline of capital expenditure to US$1.6 billion helped the company’s free cash flow. However, operating cash flow declined 10% to US$3 billion.

Following all of those numbers, Woodside’s board of directors decided to increase the interim dividend per share by 8% to US 57 cents. This payout represents a dividend payout ratio of 80% of underlying net profit after tax.

At the time of writing, the interim payout translates into a dividend yield of 2.4% excluding franking credits and 3.4% including franking credits.

When will the payout hit bank accounts?

Before we talk about the payment date of the upcoming Woodside dividend, we need to look at the ex-dividend date first.

The ex-dividend date is the cut-off date for eligibility for a dividend. Investors need to own shares by the end of trading on the previous trading day.

For Woodside’s interim dividend, the ex-dividend date is 3 September 2026, so investors need to own Woodside shares by the end of trading on 2 September 2026.

After that, the dividend will be paid on 25 September 2026. So, investors don’t have long to wait between now and payment day.

The dividend reinvestment plan (DRP) remains suspended, according to Woodside.

I think the dividend is generous considering it represents a dividend payout ratio of 80% of underlying profit.

The company continues to invest in building its new projects of Scarborough, Trion and Louisiana LNG, which could all help unlock higher earnings once they’re completed. Woodside is also investing in exploration to help unlock a further stage of growth beyond the near future.

The post Everything you need to know about the Woodside dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s what brokers tip for Woodside shares over the next 12 months
• Why is everyone talking about Coles, Ramelius Resources and Woodside shares on Tuesday?
• Woodside Energy half-year results: US$1,672 million profit and 57 US cents dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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.

The K&S Corporation Ltd (ASX: KSC) share price is in focus as the company reports a 2.1% drop in operating revenue to $729.2 million for FY2026, with statutory profit after tax down 22% to $22.8 million.

What did K&S Corporation report?

• Operating revenue fell 2.1% to $729.2 million
• Underlying profit before tax was $32.1 million, down 16.0% year over year
• Statutory profit after tax dropped 22.0% to $22.8 million
• EBITDA fell 10.0% to $81.6 million
• Total fully franked dividend of 11.0 cents per share (2025: 16.0 cents)
• Operating cash flow rose 4.3% to $63.7 million

What else do investors need to know?

The company’s Australian transport segment saw lower profits, reflecting the exit from several contracts and softer customer volumes in a challenging economic environment. Cost reduction strategies and operational reviews helped cushion some of the impact.

The New Zealand arm delivered a steady performance, benefitting from a mildly improved domestic economy and strong export prices. Meanwhile, K&S’s fuel trading business posted increased revenue and profit, navigating price volatility and ensuring fuel supply during market uncertainty.

The balance sheet remains robust, with net borrowings rising to $55.8 million mainly due to ongoing property and facility upgrades. New and upgraded sites are enhancing operational capability, especially in Adelaide and Brisbane.

What did K&S Corporation management say?

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Paul Sarant said:

Our strategy remains to improve the quality and contribution of our revenue base, rather than targeting work solely to grow top line revenue.

What’s next for K&S Corporation?

Looking ahead, K&S expects economic conditions to remain tough given global disruptions, low domestic growth, and cost pressures. The company notes risks to FY2027 results from subdued construction activity and the conclusion of services for InfraBuild, partly offset by margin improvements and new business in fuel trading.

Management says they’ll stay disciplined with capital and working capital management, continuing to strengthen the revenue base by focusing on high-quality, profitable business both organically and through select acquisitions.

K&S Corporation share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, K&S shares have declined 10%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post K&S posts lower FY2026 profit as revenue and dividends decline appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Everything you need to know about the Woodside dividend
• Are Woolworths shares a buy, sell or hold ahead of its FY26 results announcement?
• 3 ASX shares Macquarie says will return 23% to 49%
• By August 2027, $5,000 invested in Coles shares could turn into…
• Why I think this Vanguard ETF could be one of the best to buy and hold forever

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.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares have slumped into the red in Tuesday afternoon trade.

At the time of writing, the supermarket giant’s shares are down around 0.5% and are changing hands at $38.42 a piece.

The shares have come off the boil recently after reaching an all-time high of $40.66 in early August.

Since then, the ASX consumer discretionary shares have slipped around 6%. 

But the latest decline has barely made a dent in the amount of gains Woolworths shares have enjoyed over the past year.

For the year to date, the shares are up around 31%, and they’re 18% higher than 12 months ago.

What’s driven the Woolworths share price rally this year?

It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the Woolworths share price over the past 12 months, and some volatility continued throughout early 2026. But the shares have climbed higher overall.

The business made headlines earlier this year after it posted its third-quarter sales update in April, revealing a 4.5% increase. 

At the time, the company also said underlying trading momentum remained solid, but management noted they had seen “some signs of increased customer caution”. Investors were spooked and quickly offloaded their shares.

Woolworths shares also gained attention in June following media reports about the company’s plans to offshore hundreds of corporate roles. The move is part of a $400 million office cost reduction push to simplify operations and reduce costs.

Since hitting a low in mid-May, Woolworths shares have now risen around 18%.

It looks like the increase was mostly driven by investor confidence that the turnaround is coming to fruition. There is renewed investor confidence that the retailer’s earnings are recovering after a difficult period in late 2025.

Woolworths posted a stronger-than-expected first-half profit in February and continues to pursue cost-cutting initiatives to support margins and earnings over time.

The company is due to announce its FY26 results tomorrow.

Are the supermarket shares a buy, sell, or hold now?

Market experts appear to be reserved about the outlook for Woolworths shares ahead of the company’s results announcement.

TradingView data shows the majority of analysts (eight out of 17) have a hold rating on Woolworths shares. Another three rate the shares as a buy/strong buy, and six rate the shares as a sell/strong sell.

Although after a strong rally, it looks like the shares are now trading above fair value.

The average $37.39 target price implies a potential 3% downside, at the time of writing.

Although some forecast that the shares could drop 10% to $34.60 over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, others think Woolworths shares have the potential to climb 6% to $40.90 per share at the time of writing.

UBS downgraded Woolworths shares to a sell rating earlier this month, but raised its 12-month price target to $39.

The post Are Woolworths shares a buy, sell or hold ahead of its FY26 results announcement? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares
• Want income for life? Here’s how I’d build an ASX dividend portfolio
• Why I’d buy Telstra, Woolworths, and Macquarie shares
• Reporting season half-time report: 5 lessons from August so far
• 7 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week

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 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.

Profit season gives the analysts plenty to work with when they’re assessing which companies represent a good buying opportunity.

I’ve had a look through the reports Macquarie has put out this week and singled out three which profile companies they think will do particularly well.

Let’s see who they like.

Arena REIT (ASX: ARF)

This listed property trust recently reported a net operating profit of $79.1 million, up 8% on FY25, and boosted its distributions per security by 5.5% to 19.25 cents.

The trust also guided to distributions for the current year of not less than 18 cents.

The company said re the result:

Key contributors to the FY2026 result were income growth from contracted annual and market rent reviews and acquisitions and development projects completed in FY2025 and FY2026. Arena finished the year with a strong balance sheet, with total assets of $2 billion and relatively low gearing of 24.5%.

Managing Director Justin Bailey said it was a strong year, and the trust “continued to improve portfolio quality through disciplined capital allocation, development activity and targeted divestments”.

The trust is dealing with a default from Edge Early Learning, which leases 31 Arena properties representing 14% of Arena’s income.

The trust says it is continuing to engage with Edge and reserves its legal rights.

Macquarie said in a note to clients that they assume Edge will not remedy the situation and will need to be replaced.

But they said the current share price implies an “overly pessimistic outcome”.

Macquarie has a price target of $2.90 on Arena shares compared to $2.45 currently.

Liberty Financial Group Ltd (ASX: LFG)

Macquarie said Liberty’s second-half result was positive, underpinned by stronger margins, while a 15 cent special dividend was also a positive.

They said:

We like LFG’s continued focus on delivering stable margins and returns, which we believe supports ongoing capital management initiatives. This supports return on equity of ~14% over the medium term, based on our forecasts. Despite changes to negative gearing and CGT in the budget, management noted only modest impacts to date on mortgage lending (with peers reporting similar), which has positively surprised us.

Macquarie has a price target of $4.70 on Liberty shares compared to $3.58 currently.

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

Macquarie said this funds manager’s net profit of US$75 million came in at about 8% better than consensus estimates, and the outlook for the current financial year was strong.

The completion of an acquisition during the year “provides for material earnings growth in FY27, with capacity on the balance sheet to fund additional M&A”, Macquarie said.

The broker has a price target of $3.24 on Navigator shares compared to $2.51 currently.

The post 3 ASX shares Macquarie says will return 23% to 49% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Liberty Financial Group grows FY26 profit, rewards shareholders with special dividend
• Arena REIT FY2026 earnings: profit up 8%, distributions higher
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• After falling 33% over two days, a huge 77% rebound for this ASX real estate stock is tipped
• Arena REIT postpones FY2026 earnings result as Edge Early Learning seeks rent relief

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

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are up around 2% in lunchtime trading on Tuesday. At the time of writing, Coles shares are changing hands at $23.19 each.

The increase means Coles shares are now up around 9% for the year to date, and have climbed 12% over the past 12 months.

Today’s increase comes off the back of the company’s FY26 results posted to the ASX ahead of the market open this morning.

Coles announced a 2.8% increase in its group sales revenue, a 9.9% increase in its EBIT excluding significant items, and a 13.7% increase in its NPAT excluding significant items.

The robust result saw management declare a fully-franked total dividend of 78 cents per share for FY26, an increase of 13%.

But, while it’s worthwhile to understand how the supermarket giant and its shares have performed over the past 12 months, investors should also keep an eye on what lies ahead.

For the business itself, Coles said it is ramping up its investment in new stores, renewals, and technology, including accelerated eCommerce and supply chain automation.

This could improve productivity and market share over the longer term, but it also raises near-term capital requirements.

But what about the Coles share price? What can we expect to happen next?

If I buy $5,000 of Coles shares today, what could they be worth in 12 months’ time?

Most experts are positive about the outlook for ASX consumer discretionary shares.

Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on Coles shares. The $24.28 average target price implies a potential upside of around 5% at the time of writing.

Sentiment is similar on TradingView. The majority of analysts (eight out of 17) have a buy/strong buy rating on Coles shares, and another seven rate Coles shares as a hold. Two experts have a sell or strong sell rating.

The average target price of $24.07 implies a potential 4% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing. But analyst forecasts range from a 9% downside to $21 to a 17% upside to $27 over the next 12 months.

Assuming the average target price comes to fruition, that means a $5,000 investment today could be worth around $5,200 to $5,250 in 12 months time.

But if the more bullish expert forecasts are correct, a $5,000 investment today could climb to $5,850 by this time next year.

The post By August 2027, $5,000 invested in Coles shares could turn into… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Post-earnings: Why I’d buy this ASX dividend share for income
• Why is everyone talking about Coles, Ramelius Resources and Woodside shares on Tuesday?
• How many Coles shares do I need to buy for $5,000 a year in passive income?
• Coles Group grows profit and dividend as Supermarkets shine in FY26
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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 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.

Some investments become more attractive to me because of how little attention they require.

The Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) is designed to give investors a diversified portfolio through a single investment.

For someone looking decades ahead, I think that simplicity can be a major advantage.

One Vanguard ETF does a lot of work

The VDHG ETF invests across Australian shares, international shares, emerging markets, smaller companies, and defensive assets such as bonds.

Its portfolio is tilted heavily towards growth assets, with roughly 90% invested in shares.

I think that makes sense for investors with a long timeframe who are prepared to accept periods of market volatility in exchange for greater growth potential.

More importantly, investors do not need to decide for themselves how much money to allocate to Australia, the US, Europe, Asia, or emerging markets.

Vanguard handles those allocations within the fund.

That removes a surprisingly difficult part of investing. It is easy to spend too much time wondering whether one market has become expensive or another is about to outperform.

With this Vanguard ETF, I can simply own a collection of markets and let the portfolio develop over time.

It automatically stays diversified

Another feature I like is rebalancing.

Markets rarely move together. Australian shares might have a strong year while international shares struggle, or technology stocks might surge while another part of the market falls behind.

Over time, those movements can push a portfolio away from its intended allocation.

The VDHG ETF takes care of bringing its investments back towards their target weightings.

For an individual investor, that means fewer decisions. There is no need to work out what to sell, what to buy, or whether a strong-performing market has become too large a part of the portfolio.

I think reducing the number of decisions investors need to make can make it easier to stay with a strategy for the long term.

It can grow with an investor for decades

This Vanguard ETF also has a quality I think is sometimes underestimated. That is that it can grow with an investor.

Someone could buy the fund with their first few thousand dollars and continue adding to the same investment as their portfolio becomes much larger.

The underlying diversification is already built in.

That makes it quite different from buying a handful of individual shares, where a growing portfolio may eventually need more holdings to avoid becoming too concentrated.

An investor could simply keep contributing when they have money available and reinvest dividends along the way.

Given enough time, the combination of regular investing, market growth, and compounding could do much of the wealth-building work.

Foolish takeaway

This Vanguard ETF is the type of investment I could imagine buying and leaving alone for a very long time.

It is diversified, growth-focused, automatically rebalanced, and requires very little ongoing decision-making.

Sometimes making investing easier is one of the best ways to give compounding the time it needs to work.

The post Why I think this Vanguard ETF could be one of the best to buy and hold forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I’d make investing easy with Vanguard ETFs
• Which is the best Vanguard ETF? VAS, VGS and VDHG compared
• The simple investing strategy anyone can use to get rich
• 5 top ASX ETFs for beginner investors in August
• How much superannuation do I need to retire comfortably at 60?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares have been flat around $82.35 on Tuesday, but the retailer has endured a rough year, falling 7% over the past month and 13% over 12 months.

Interest rates, inflation and persistent cost-of-living pressures have weighed on the company behind Bunnings, Kmart Australia, Officeworks and Priceline.

The shares have also been volatile, trading between a 2026 low of $71.26 in May and a high of $92.96 in July. Now, investors are looking towards Thursday’s FY26 results for clues about what’s next.

Plenty to like, but valuation concerns remain

There’s plenty to like about Wesfarmers shares. Kmart continues expanding its Anko brand internationally, with five stores already opened in the Philippines and another five planned by the end of FY27.

Bunnings is also pushing into new categories, including pet products and automotive accessories, while Kmart is testing larger K Home stores to capture more of the furniture market. Both remain exceptional retailers, backed by strong brands, competitive pricing and impressive returns on capital.

Wesfarmers is also developing potential growth engines through Priceline, OnePass, customer data, retail media and its Mt Holland lithium project. The company is also deploying artificial intelligence across merchandising, marketing, supply chains, and productivity.

But the valuation could be the problem. At around $82.35, Wesfarmers shares trade at almost 31 times estimated FY27 earnings. That’s a hefty multiple that leaves little room for disappointment.

Investors will therefore be watching FY26 group financial metrics and the final dividend closely. The results could set the tone for Wesfarmers shares in the months ahead.

Experts are turning bearish

According to TradingView data, nine of 15 analysts rate Wesfarmers shares a strong sell. Five have a hold rating and just one analyst recommends buying the shares.

The average price target of $77.56 implies around 6% downside from the current price, while the most bearish forecast sees the shares plunging more than 20% to $65.10 over the next 12 months.

Morgan Stanley has a sell rating and $79 price target. The broker recently warned that the rally in consumer discretionary stocks has “run ahead of fundamentals” and may not prove durable.

Alto Capital’s Tony Locantro is also bearish. He believes Wesfarmers’ quality and long-term growth prospects are already largely reflected in the valuation, leaving less room for upside if expectations aren’t met.

With FY26 results just days away, Wesfarmers investors may need to ask whether its exceptional businesses can justify an exceptional valuation.

The post Wesfarmers shares: Why experts are saying sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things Warren Buffett looks for before buying ASX shares
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $5,500 monthly passive income?
• Want income for life? Here’s how I’d build an ASX dividend portfolio
• How ASX dividend growth shares can build lasting income
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy for the next decade

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

For most Australians, building wealth starts with the income they earn from working.

But I like the idea of gradually building something alongside it.

ASX shares can give investors ownership in businesses that may grow, pay dividends, and become more valuable over time. Given enough patience, that portfolio could eventually become a substantial asset in its own right.

I would invest in ASX shares regularly

I would start by making investing a habit.

Rather than waiting for the perfect moment, I would aim to put a manageable amount into the share market regularly and gradually build my ownership of strong businesses.

The early years may not look particularly exciting. A few thousand dollars invested here and there can feel small compared with a salary or a home.

But each investment adds another asset working on my behalf.

And as the portfolio grows, dividends can be reinvested into more shares, while successful companies can increase in value. Eventually, the returns generated by the portfolio itself can become a meaningful part of the wealth-building process.

I would own businesses that can compound

For the core of the portfolio, I would look for ASX shares with potential to become more valuable over many years.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) is the type of business I have in mind.

Its enterprise software is deeply embedded within organisations such as councils, universities, and government bodies. It can grow by attracting more customers, expanding internationally, and encouraging existing customers to use more of its products.

If a company can repeatedly reinvest in opportunities like these, earnings can grow and shareholders can benefit from that progress over a long period.

I would not expect every investment to produce spectacular returns. I would be looking for a collection of strong businesses that can steadily do more over time.

Dividends can help as well

Capital growth would be a major part of my plan, but I would not ignore income.

A company such as Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) can potentially grow over time while also returning cash to shareholders through dividends.

During the wealth-building stage, I would generally reinvest that income.

This means the dividends buy more shares, which can generate further dividends in later years. The effect may look small initially, but decades of reinvestment can make a considerable difference.

Later in life, the same portfolio could potentially provide income without requiring every share to be sold.

That gives me another reason to think of share investing as building a second pool of wealth rather than simply trying to make money from share price movements.

I would spread the risk

I would also avoid relying too heavily on one company or sector.

An Australian portfolio could include businesses exposed to healthcare, technology, financial services, resources, consumer spending, infrastructure, and overseas markets.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), for example, gives investors exposure to global demand for sleep apnoea treatment, while BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) provides ownership of major mining assets supplying commodities used around the world.

I think owning a collection of strong businesses makes it easier to stay invested when one company or industry goes through a difficult period.

That patience is important because building meaningful wealth through shares is usually a long process.

Foolish takeaway

I would approach ASX investing as something I build gradually in the background for years.

Every regular investment adds another small piece of ownership, while business growth and reinvested dividends can make that portfolio increasingly valuable over time.

The goal would be to reach a point where my wealth is no longer being built solely from the money I earn from working.

I think a patient portfolio of quality ASX shares can be a powerful way to get there.

The post How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today
• Buy, hold, sell: Judo Capital, Healius, BHP shares
• BHP share price hits new record high
• $6,000 invested in BHP shares 12 months ago is now worth….
• VGS vs VHY: Which Vanguard ETF comes out on top?

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

Several ASX mining shares, including BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), reached new 52-week highs on Tuesday.

The BHP share price reached a record $68.22, up 1.6% for the day and 56% over 12 months, in earlier trading.

This pushed two ASX mining exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to record highs as well, given their 40% weighting to BHP shares.

They are SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources ETF (ASX: OZR) and Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE).

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.6% higher at 9,153.6 points.

As earnings season continues, let’s look at the other ASX mining shares reaching new peaks today.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The ASX 200’s largest pure-play copper mining share rose 2% to a record $22.89 today.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

ASX 200 gold mining share, Genesis Minerals rose 1.75% to a 52-week high of $8.72 per share.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)

Fellow gold mining share, Capricorn Metals, spiked 1.6% to a new record of $18.02 today.

Andean Silver Ltd (ASX: ASL)

ASX silver mining share, Andean Silver increased 6.2% to a record $2.90 per share.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)

Gold and copper mining share, Vault Minerals rose to a 52-week peak of $7.06, up 1.9%, on Tuesday.

Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)

Gold and antimony miner Alkane Resources hit a 52-week high of $1.91 per share.

Carnaby Resources Ltd (ASX: CNB)

Copper and gold miner Carnaby Resources rose 4% to a 52-week high of $1.05 per share.

What about the ASX mining ETFs?

QRE and OZR were among the 6 top-performing ASX ETFs of FY26 amid the new mining boom underway in Australia.

The OZR ETF rose 1.1% to an all-time high of $19.38 on Tuesday.

OZR ETF delivered an exceptional total one-year return of 51% in FY26. The trailing distribution yield was 2.4%.

This ASX ETF seeks to mirror the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index.

After BHP (40%), its other top holdings are Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) (7.7%) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) (7.4%).

The QRE ETF increased 1.9% to a record $11.16 today.

QRE ETF produced a similarly impressive total one-year return of 50% in FY26. The trailing distribution yield was 2.3%.

This ASX ETF seeks to track the Solactive Australia Resources Sector Index.

After BHP, its next top holdings are also Woodside (7.5%) and Rio Tinto shares (7.4%).

Both ETFs invest predominantly in ASX mining shares, along with oil and gas suppliers, and other resources companies like steel makers.

QRE also invests 2.5% in utilities, which is a key difference to OZR, although Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is the only stock.

The post 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth
• Buy, hold, sell: Judo Capital, Healius, BHP shares
• BHP share price hits new record high
• $6,000 invested in BHP shares 12 months ago is now worth….
• VGS vs VHY: Which Vanguard ETF comes out on top?

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

This morning, we discussed the most popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) on the ASX for investors wishing to invest in the US markets. The iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) easily takes that crown, with over $14 billion in funds currently under management. But could the Vanguard Morningstar US Total Market Shares Index ETF (ASX: VTS) be a better choice for that slice of America in an ASX portfolio?

In theory, the iShares S&P 500 ETF and the Vanguard US Total Market ETF are quite different.

For one, IVV is an index fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index. This flagship index represents the largest 500 stocks on the US markets, weighted by market capitalisation (size).

Meanwhile, the VTS ETF tracks a far less common index, the Morningstar U.S. Total Market Index. Instead of following just the largest 500 stocks on US markets, this index tracks more than 4,000. As such, it offers significantly more coverage of mid- and small-cap US stocks than IVV.

Is this enough to make VTS the better choice over IVV? Well, diversification is usually a good thing for investors seeking to increase their exposure to an entire market.

However, as we touched on above, the differences between the IVV and VTS ETFs are more theoretical than practical. That’s because, while both funds have different scopes, they both weight their portfolios by market capitalisation. That means the largest shares take up far more room than the smaller ones in both funds. Since both IVV and VTS both share the same stocks at the top of their portfolios, buying either will get you a similar investment profile.

IVV vs. VTS: Top ETF holdings compared

To illustrate, as of 31 July, IVV’s top five holdings, and their respective weightings, were as follows:

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) at 7.53%

Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) at 7.03%

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) at 5.85%

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) at 5.35%

Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) at 4.12%

Meanwhile, the VTS ETF’s largest stocks, as of 31 July, were:

NVIDIA at 6.39%

Apple at 6.28%

Alphabet at 5.2%

Microsoft at 4.78%

Amazon at 3.64%

As you can see, there’s not a lot of daylight between these two ETFs’ holdings.

But let’s look at performance.

Over the 12 months to 31 July, IVV returned 9.42%. That rose to an annualised 17.41% over three years, and 13.61% per annum over five.

Meanwhile, the VTS ETF returned 9.82% over the year to 31 July. Over three years, it managed an average of 17.19% per annum, and 12.77% per annum over five years.

So it’s clear we’re doing a bit of hair splitting here. Overall, these two ASX ETFs can be expected to deliver a similar return over time, given their overlapping, heavy exposure to the largest US stocks on the market. It’s my view that ASX investors who are looking for cheap, easy exposure to US stocks can’t go wrong with either fund.

The post Is the Vanguard US Total Market ETF (VTS) the best buy for investing in America? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why I think the IVV ETF is a strong buy for ASX investors
• 3 amazing ASX ETFs for Aussie investors in September
• Why every Aussie investor should own one of these ASX ETFs
• 15% for 10 years: Is this ASX ETF a no-brainer buy?
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $40,000 annual passive income?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, 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.