Tag: Stock pick

ASX energy stock Meridian Energy Ltd (ASX: MEZ) is pushing higher today.

Shares in the dual-listed, New Zealand-based sustainable energy provider closed yesterday trading for $4.81. In morning trade on Thursday, shares are swapping hands for $4.82, up 0.2%.

For some context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.6% at this same time.

Longer term, Meridian Energy shares are down 7.2% over a year. That sees the ASX energy stock commanding a market cap of around $12.8 billion.

Meridian Energy shares also trade on a 3.7% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

Here’s what investors are mulling over today.

ASX energy stock lifts on operating update

Meridian Energy shares are in the green following the release of the company’s April operating report.

The ASX energy stock, which sources the majority of its power from hydro, noted rising hydro storage levels following another month of “sizeable inflows”. This followed on a period of unseasonably heavy rainfalls.

Indeed, in the month to 11 May, the company reported that national hydro storage increased from 106% to 119% of the historical average. Breaking that down by region, South Island storage increased to 109% of average levels while North Island storage increased to 201% of average levels.

April also saw a 3.7% year-on-year increase in New Zealand’s national electricity demand. This helped drive an 8.2% increase in Meridian’s retail sales volumes.

Breaking that down by segments, year on year, Meridian’s sales volumes in residential were 25.0% higher, small medium business were 9.2% higher, large business were 11.4% higher, agriculture were 6.1% higher, and corporate were 0.8% higher.

What did Meridian management say?

Commenting on the results that look to be supporting the ASX energy stock today, Meridian CEO Mike Roan said:

We’re maintaining good momentum as we move through the second half of the financial year.

Significant rainfall events in the North Island and solid South Island inflows have boosted national hydro storage to close to 120% of average for this time of the year, meaning the country’s electricity system is exceptionally well fuelled as we enter the cooler months.

What else is happening with the ASX energy stock?

Separately, Meridian reported that it had received consent to build a 120MW solar farm. This will be built alongside an already consented battery energy storage system (BESS) at Bunnythorpe, north of Palmerston North.

Bunnythorpe Energy Park will form part of a NZ$3 billion investment Meridian is making through to 2030 to build new renewable energy capacity.

Guy Waipara, Meridian general manager development, said:

We’re thrilled to receive this approval… Solar energy is playing an increasingly important role in New Zealand’s electricity generation, and we’re excited to bring this to Manawatu.

The post How heavy rainfall is helping this $13 billion ASX energy stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Meridian Energy’s April retail sales and hydro storage climb in 2026
• Meridian Energy shares: Strong customer growth in March

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

Shares in ASX microcap Nanoveu Ltd (ASX: NVU) have jumped more than 30% after the company said it would acquire a Singapore-based drone company.

Nanoveu said in a statement to the ASX that it would acquire Spinoff Robotics, a company which, “develops and operates proprietary drone platforms, bringing aerial robotics, mechanical design, fluid dynamics and engineering capabilities in-house”.

The consideration for the purchase is three million Nanoveu shares plus four million performance rights subject to milestones being achieved.  

Spinoff Robotics founder Dr Chee How Tan would also be issued two million performance rights, also subject to milestones being achieved.

Purchase leads to total drone solution

Nanoveu said the acquisition meant that it would now be able to offer a full stack drone solution across software, hardware and airframes.

Nanoveu’s technology includes tethered drone solutions, and drones which can operate without GPS, which are highly resistance to jamming.

The company said further re the acquisition:

Spinoff develops clean-sheet aerial platforms engineered from first principles, with full in-house control over airframe, aerodynamics, flight control and on-board sensing, to meet mission-specific requirements. The acquisition will add two technologies validated by tier 1 customers, along with in house-developed proprietary drone products (the ALICE tethered drone and the METRON sub millimetre photogrammetry system). Furthermore, the acquisition will bring underlying engineering capability to design and build next generation purpose-built drones for identified target verticals.

Nanoveu said it would now, “hold every foundational layer required to design and field its own proprietary drone platforms from the ground up across mission profiles ranging from persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance overwatch to battlefield-grade tactical platforms”.

The company added:

The acquisition arrives at a moment when defence procurement globally is accelerating, allied governments are mandating sovereign and trusted-supply-chain drone capability, and recent geopolitical events have exposed the operational vulnerability of GPS-dependent and RF-reliant aerial platforms.

As well as defence applications, Nanoveu said there was a large market for drone security systems to be used by airports and data centres.

Nanoveu Executive Chairman Dr David Pevcic said regarding the deal:

The proposed acquisition of Spinoff Robotics is a defining step in the build-out of Nanoveu’s autonomous drone platform, providing the in house deployment surface to scale ECS-DoT silicon and validate next-generation edge-AI functions — including multi-chip configurations, GPS-free navigation and mission-specific perception workloads — in one of the highest-volume edge-AI markets. With proprietary airframes and sensing sitting alongside the Company’s silicon, edge-AI IP and autonomy algorithms, Nanoveu is placed to own every layer of the stack required to ship validated reference designs into defence, critical-infrastructure security and industrial inspection.

Shares surge

Nanoveu shares traded as high as 8.4 cents, up 33.3% before settling back to be 12.7% higher at 7.1 cents.

Nanoveu is valued at $68 million.

The post A new drone deal has this ASX microcap share rocketing up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• EOS shares rocket as $726 million order book turns heads
• CSL shares vs CBA shares: Which is the better buy?

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.

It has already been one of the wildest ASX defence stock moves of the past year, and Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) is climbing again today.

At the time of writing, the EOS share price is up 8.15% to $9.16.

That means the stock is still down around 3% in 2026, but remains up more than 620% over the past 12 months.

Today’s buying comes after the company gave investors a fresh update on its MARSS acquisition, new Middle East orders, and a much larger combined order book.

MARSS deal moves closer

In its ASX release, EOS said it has agreed revised terms for its acquisition of the assets of the MARSS group business.

MARSS is a counter-drone systems business. Its NiDAR command and control systems are used to detect, track and defeat drone attacks.

The company said the upfront payment of US$36 million is being made today. It also expects the acquisition to complete in coming days.

There is still no guarantee on timing, but the update suggests the deal is moving closer after earlier transaction uncertainty.

EOS also said it will draw down $70 million from a secured term loan facility to help fund the deal. Of that amount, $50 million will go towards the upfront payment, with the balance expected to support transaction costs and general funding needs.

New orders land in the Middle East

The likely part that is getting investors most interested today is the jump in MARSS’ contract pipeline.

EOS said MARSS has secured new May 2026 orders totalling 102 million euros, or about $165 million. Those orders came from an existing customer in the Middle East.

MARSS has also entered an 85 million euro contract with another Middle Eastern military customer.

The contract involves installations for a country-wide drone detection and mitigation system, with NiDAR C2 software at its core.

Most revenue is expected to be earned during 2026 and 2027, with about 70% of cash expected across that period.

Order book gets bigger

The update also gives investors a clearer view of the combined order book.

EOS said MARSS’ order book now stands at 135 million euros, or about $217 million. If the deal completes, this would lift the company’s total order book to a massive $726 million.

The existing order book has also grown from $459 million at the end of December to $509 million on 15 May.

Foolish takeaway

While the MARSS deal is not finished yet, it appears to be moving in the right direction.

If EOS signs off on the deal, the share price could push into new all-time highs. The market would be looking at a bigger business, more defence orders, and stronger exposure to drone defence spending.

The post EOS shares rocket as $726 million order book turns heads appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 superannuation decisions you’ll regret in retirement
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• Up 670%: Is it too late to buy this ASX defence stock?

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 positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) are two of the highest-quality businesses on the ASX.

They are also both trading well below their recent highs.

CBA shares are down around 18% from their 52-week high, while CSL shares have fallen to multi-year lows after a very difficult period for the biotechnology giant.

I rate both as buys. But if I could only choose one today, I would lean toward CSL.

The case for CBA shares

CBA is still the highest-quality major bank in Australia, in my view.

It has a powerful deposit franchise, a huge customer base, strong digital capability, and a brand that gives it an advantage across home loans, transaction banking, business banking, and wealth-adjacent services.

The bank has consistently shown over many years that it can generate strong profits, support large dividends, and trade at a premium valuation relative to its peers. Investors trust the business for good reason.

In my opinion, the recent share price fall has simply made the buying case more appealing.

CBA had been priced very strongly, and the market may have been looking for an excuse to take some heat out of the valuation. After an 18% fall from its high, the risk-reward looks better than it did a few months ago.

For investors wanting quality, income, and exposure to Australia’s largest bank, CBA remains a share I would be happy to own.

Why CSL shares get my vote

CSL is a very different situation.

Sentiment toward the biotechnology giant is incredibly weak. The shares are at multi-year lows, the outlook has become more uncertain, and investors are questioning the quality of a business that was once viewed as one of the safest growth names on the ASX.

That is not comfortable. But I think the market may now be treating CSL as if its problems are structural and permanent. I do not see it that way.

CSL still owns world-class healthcare assets across plasma therapies, vaccines, and specialty medicines. It has a global scale, deep scientific capability, long-standing customer relationships, and exposure to markets where demand should keep growing over time.

The company clearly needs to rebuild trust. Guidance downgrades and execution issues are not easy to ignore. Management must prove that the business can return to more reliable growth, improve productivity, and restore confidence.

But if the current issues are largely short term, today’s share price could end up looking too pessimistic.

That is why I would choose CSL shares over CBA for the next five years.

Foolish Takeaway

CBA may be a better business right now in terms of confidence and execution. But I think CSL may offer a better opportunity.

CBA still trades with a quality premium, even after its sell-off. That premium is understandable, but it may limit upside if earnings growth is steady rather than spectacular.

CSL is in a much more difficult place, but the share price already reflects a lot of disappointment.

If CSL stabilises, restores earnings momentum, and shows that its core healthcare franchises remain strong, I think the upside could be meaningful.

In other words, CBA looks like the safer buy. CSL looks like the more compelling recovery buy.

The post CSL shares vs CBA shares: Which is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

If you are hunting for some new portfolio additions, then it could pay to hear what Morgans is saying about the three ASX shares in this article.

Does the broker rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let’s dig deeper into things:

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

Morgans was impressed with this gaming technology company’s performance in the first half of FY 2026. It notes that Aristocrat outperformed expectations thanks largely to its gaming business.

In response, the broker has retained its buy rating on Aristocrat shares with an improved price target of $67.00. It said:

Aristocrat Leisure (ALL) 1H26 result beat our forecasts and came broadly in line with consensus, despite management’s prior flagging of a softer than usual 1H skew. Gaming was the clear standout – strong outright sales on continued Baron cabinet demand and solid leased adds in a thin content period. Product Madness and Interactive came in below our forecasts, though the latter is complicated by a D&D reclassification and acquisition drag that flatters the headline miss.

Greater clarity on the FY26-29F earnings shape is expected at the July investor day. Capital management remains a key pillar – a $1bn buyback extension marks $5.1bn returned over five years, underpinned by a fortress balance sheet at 0.3x net debt/EBITDA. We now assume a normalised 1H/2H skew and incorporate ~$100m in annualised savings in FY27, lifting EPSA 3% and 4% for FY26-27F respectively.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Another ASX share that Morgans is positive on is appliance manufacturer Breville.

Following the release of positive updates from peers, the broker has retained its buy rating on Breville’s shares with a $36.75 price target. It commented:

1Q26 updates from key offshore peers have shown broadly positive read-throughs for BRG, despite an ongoing challenging consumer and macro backdrop. We consider small domestic appliance peers with a premiumisation focus (DLG / KitchenAid), innovation-led NPD (SN), high Coffee exposure (DLG) and ongoing geographic expansion (all) as holding strong relevance for BRG.

Sales momentum across these select peers in 1Q26 (DLG +6.6%; Ninja brand +9.1%; KitchenAid +10%) appears broadly positive and supportive of our view for ongoing outperformance from BRG. BUY maintained.

Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS)

Finally, Morgans was disappointed with this healthcare company’s update and sizeable downgrade to earnings.

And given the increased uncertainty over the outlook of its pathology business, the broker has retained its hold rating with a reduced price target of 41 cents. It said:

HLS has materially downgraded FY26 earnings, which we find disappointing given reiterated consensus-aligned guidance at the 1H26 result only three months ago. While Pathology cost control continues to improve and labour optimisation initiatives are gaining traction, weaker volumes, ongoing GP softness and mounting regulatory/funding pressures are offsetting operational progress. Agilex continues to perform relatively well, and HLS has commenced a strategic review following unsolicited interest in the asset.

However, the extent to which value can be crystallised above the original high acquisition multiple remains uncertain given the business’ modest scale and inconsistent earnings trajectory. While a potential Agilex sale could provide balance sheet upside, the downgrade reinforces that sustainable margin recovery within core Pathology remains elusive. We adjust FY26-28 estimates, with our target price decreasing to A$0.41. HOLD.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Aristocrat, Breville, and Healius shares 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.

A falling share price does not automatically create a bargain. Sometimes it is the market correctly reassessing a business. But other times, a heavy sell-off can leave a good company priced for a far worse future than it is likely to deliver.

That is what I think may be happening with the three ASX shares in this article.

All have fallen more than 60% from their highs. For investors with patience, I think they could be bargain buys.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Temple & Webster has been one of the hardest-hit ASX growth shares.

That is not too surprising. Online retail stocks can be punished heavily when consumer spending weakens, interest rates rise, and investors become less willing to pay up for growth.

But I think the long-term story still has a lot of appeal.

Temple & Webster is trying to win in a large category that is still moving online. Furniture and homewares have historically been showroom-heavy, but I think more customers are becoming comfortable researching, comparing, and buying these products digitally.

That gives Temple & Webster a structural tailwind if it keeps improving its range, delivery experience, pricing, and brand awareness.

The business also has a useful advantage in not needing the same store network as traditional retailers. That can give it more flexibility as it scales.

There are risks. Furniture demand is tied to housing turnover, renovations, and household confidence. The Federal Budget has also added more uncertainty around the housing outlook.

But after such a large share price fall, I think Temple & Webster could be worth another look. If the online shift continues and consumer conditions eventually improve, the rebound potential could be meaningful.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech Global has also fallen heavily from its highs.

The logistics software company has faced investor concerns around valuation, management issues, acquisitions, AI disruption, and growth in its core business.

I think those concerns explain the sell-off. But I do not think they erase the long-term opportunity.

WiseTech is tied to one of the most complex parts of the global economy: moving goods across borders. Freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics providers handle paperwork, compliance, tariffs, routing, warehousing, and transport networks.

That complexity creates demand for specialist software.

CargoWise is already used by many logistics companies to help manage these workflows. If WiseTech can keep expanding the role its software plays across global trade, the company could become much larger over time.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear is a very different type of fallen share.

This is not a speculative growth company. It is a global leader in hearing implants, with a long history of innovation and a strong position in a specialised healthcare market.

What I like is that hearing loss is not a short-term theme. It is a long-term healthcare need linked to ageing populations, diagnosis rates, technology adoption, and access to treatment.

Cochlear has spent decades building trust with surgeons, audiologists, patients, and healthcare systems. That is difficult to replicate.

The company’s growth may not always be smooth. Healthcare funding, competition, product cycles, and currency movements can all affect performance.

But I think the market may be too focused on near-term disappointment and not enough on the durability of the franchise.

If Cochlear can continue improving its products, expanding access, and supporting lifelong patient care, I think the business can keep compounding over time.

Foolish Takeaway

Share price falls of more than 60% are not small setbacks. They usually mean confidence has been badly damaged.

But that is exactly why I think these opportunities are worth studying. Temple & Webster, WiseTech, and Cochlear do not need every investor to agree today. They just need their businesses to keep improving over the next few years while expectations remain low.

That is where patient investors can sometimes find the best bargains.

The post 3 ASX shares down over 60% that could be bargain buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• These ASX retail stocks are near 52-week lows, are they bargain buys?

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 Cochlear, Temple & Webster Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) shares are falling on Friday morning.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 stock is down 1% to $1.54.

Why is this ASX 200 stock falling?

Investors have been selling the gold miner’s shares after a pullback in the gold price overshadowed the release of third quarter results revealing the strongest quarterly performance in its history.

According to the release, Alkane delivered record revenue of $274.4 million for the three months ended 31 March 2026. This compares to revenue of $63.2 million in the prior corresponding period.

The increase was driven by higher gold equivalent sales, the addition of the Costerfield and Björkdal operations following its merger with Mandalay Resources, and stronger realised gold prices.

Alkane sold 43,373 gold equivalent ounces during the quarter at an average realised gold price of $6,315 per ounce and an average realised antimony price of $34,394 per tonne.

Record production

Production was also strong. Alkane produced 44,669 ounces of gold and 377 tonnes of antimony during the quarter. On a gold equivalent basis, production reached 45,776 ounces, supported by contributions from Tomingley, Costerfield, and Björkdal.

The ASX 200 stock’s EBITDA came in at a record $161.2 million, compared to $20.8 million a year earlier.

Most notably, net profit increased to a record $93 million. This compares with a profit of $8.1 million in the prior corresponding period.

Free cash flow was also very strong at $127.6 million, up from $7.7 million in the third quarter of FY 2025.

Management commentary

The ASX 200 stock’s managing director, Nic Earner, was pleased with the quarter. He said:

Alkane has just delivered the strongest quarter in its history. During a period of high gold and antimony prices, the power of our three mine portfolio delivered exceptional operating results as they produced a record 44,669 ounces of gold and 377 tonnes of antimony, which generated record profit after taxes of $93 million.

The Company ended the quarter in with cash and bullion of $362 million which will provide the support for Alkane’s growth plans. Given the strong performance to date, we move into the second half of the year with momentum and are on track to meet our production and cost guidance for 2026.

Outlook

Alkane confirmed that it remains on track to meet its FY 2026 guidance.

This is gold equivalent production of 155,000 to 168,000 ounces with all-in sustaining costs of $2,600 to $2,900 per ounce.

The post Guess which ASX 200 stock is dropping despite record quarterly profit 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.

The Vicinity Centres (ASX: VCX) share price is in focus after the retail property giant announced a $400 million acquisition of Eastern Creek Quarter, set to boost its exposure to metropolitan Sydney and expand its Outlet centre network.

What did Vicinity Centres report?

• Signed contract to acquire Eastern Creek Quarter (ECQ) in Western Sydney for $400 million
• Settlement expected by 30 June 2026, pending landlord consent
• Acquisition funded by existing debt facilities; gearing to rise by around 200 basis points
• ECQ includes a new 20,000 sqm Outlet centre, 10,000 sqm retail centre, and 11,000 sqm large-format retail offering

What else do investors need to know?

ECQ is strategically located in a major growth corridor in Western Sydney, providing Vicinity with more frequent everyday shoppers as well as destination shopping flows. The asset’s mix of retail space covers both convenience and outlet segments.

This acquisition builds on Vicinity’s ongoing strategy to focus on “fortress-style” assets, aiming for strong, sustainable income and lifting its presence in Australia’s biggest city. With a solid track record of driving growth through well-managed centres, Vicinity plans to use its property management expertise to enhance ECQ’s long-term value.

What did Vicinity Centres management say?

Vicinity’s CEO and Managing Director Peter Huddle said:

For some time now, Vicinity has been a selective, timely and disciplined acquirer of strategically aligned retail assets. As a hybrid retail asset that is strategically located and boasts a new Outlet centre with future development opportunity, acquiring ECQ makes sense for Vicinity.

Furthermore, by intentionally maintaining a conservative but flexible capital structure, we have been able to once again, capitalise on an attractive acquisition opportunity, that will enhance earnings resilience and strengthen our future income and value growth profile.

What’s next for Vicinity Centres?

Looking ahead, Vicinity intends to leverage its proven leasing, management and development capabilities to unlock further value at ECQ. Strengthening its Sydney footprint and Outlet offering supports Vicinity’s aspiration to deliver reliable and growing returns for shareholders.

The company remains committed to fortress-style assets in high-performing trade areas and will continue to pursue opportunities that align with its investment strategy.

Vicinity Centres share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Vicinity Centres shares have risen 9%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Vicinity Centres: $400m Sydney acquisition expands Outlet network 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.

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) gold stock Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) is rocketing today.

Dateline Resources shares closed yesterday trading for 20 cents. In early morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for 21.5 cents apiece, up 7.5%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Dateline Resources shares have rocketed a jaw-dropping 571.8% over 12 months, smashing the 4.5% one-year gains delivered by the benchmark index.

Here’s what’s catching investor interest today.

ASX 300 gold stock leaps on high-grade intercepts

Dateline Resources shares are jumping higher following the release of a promising exploratory drilling update at the miner’s Colosseum Gold and Rare Earth Element (REE) Project, located in the US state of California.

The ASX 300 gold stock said that it had struck two new broad gold intersections from drill testing, extending the known mineralised zone.

Dateline reported top results from one hole of 287.3 metres at 1.05 grams of gold per tonne from 0 metres, including 17.7 metres at 6.13g/t Au from 19.2 metres.

The second hole returned 1.06g/t Au from 0 metres, including 87.9 metres at 1.59g/t Au from 12.2 metres.

Management said that mineralisation remains open and the targets will be tested further over the coming months.

On the rare earths front, the ASX 300 gold stock currently has two drill rigs that are targeting rare earth mineralisation at Colosseum with an 18-hole drill campaign. Dateline is currently commissioning a third company-owned rig so it can test the gold extensions in parallel.

The miner has completed almost 3,000 metres of rare earths focused diamond drilling to date. Some of the exploratory holes have drilled up to 745 metres below the surface.

The rare earths samples from that drilling campaign are currently at an assay lab for analysis.

What did Dateline Resource management say?

Commenting on the results helping boost the ASX 300 gold stock today, Dateline Resource’s managing director Stephen Baghdadi said, “Gold mineralisation at the Colosseum North Pit continues to extend to the northeast and these latest drill intersections again highlight the robust nature of the deposit.”

Baghdadi added:

These broad gold intersections highlight the potential for the definition of an underground deposit at Colosseum that could be exploited following the completion of open pit mining.

Based on the positive indications so far, the rare earth drilling program has now been expanded to 18 holes. The high-density rocks are an encouraging indicator that we are on the right track.

The post Up 572% in a year, why is this ASX 300 gold stock rocketing again on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why this ASX mining high-flyer just dropped 14% in a day

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

A $2,000 investment may not sound like a life-changing amount of money.

But I think it can still be a very useful starting point if it is put into high-quality ASX shares and left to compound.

For me, the best approach would be to focus on businesses with strong positions in attractive markets. I would want companies that can keep getting larger over time.

Three blue-chip ASX shares I would happily buy with $2,000 are named in this article.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Sigma Healthcare has become a much more interesting company since merging with Chemist Warehouse.

The business now gives investors exposure to a powerful pharmacy retail network, healthcare distribution, and the long-term demand for medicines, wellness products, and everyday health-related spending.

That combination appeals to me. Healthcare retail has some defensive qualities because people still need prescriptions, over-the-counter products, and pharmacy services in most economic environments. But Sigma also has a growth side because Chemist Warehouse is a highly recognisable brand with a large customer base and potential to keep expanding.

I think the scale of the combined business is important. A larger network can help with supplier relationships, distribution efficiency, data, marketing, and customer reach.

The valuation may not always look cheap, and integration still needs to be handled well. But if the merged group can keep executing, I think Sigma could be a great long-term investment.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is another blue-chip ASX share I would consider buying with $2,000.

The company owns realestate.com.au, which sits at the centre of Australia’s property search market.

I like REA because it has a rare position in an area that attracts huge consumer attention. Australians care deeply about property. Buyers browse listings, sellers want maximum exposure, agents need leads, and advertisers want access to that audience.

REA connects all of those groups. This creates a powerful network effect. Buyers and renters go where the listings are. Agents want to list where the buyers and renters are. That loop helps protect REA’s position.

The stock often trades on a premium valuation, which means investors should be comfortable paying for quality. But I think dominant digital platforms with strong brands and high margins deserve close attention when building a long-term portfolio.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Wesfarmers is a third ASX blue-chip share I would be happy to own for the long term.

The group has built a collection of businesses that reach into many parts of Australian consumer life. Bunnings remains a standout in home improvement, Kmart has become a powerful value-focused retailer, Officeworks serves households and businesses, and Priceline gives the group exposure to health and beauty.

I think that mix is useful in the current environment. Households may be under pressure, but they still need everyday products, affordable clothing, home essentials, school supplies, medicines, and health-related items. Wesfarmers has brands that can stay relevant across those needs.

The share price can still be affected by consumer confidence, costs, and valuation. But I think Wesfarmers has enough quality across the group to keep compounding over time.

Foolish takeaway

A $2,000 investment will not transform a portfolio overnight.

But I think it can still be put to work in a way that makes sense for the long term.

Sigma, REA Group, and Wesfarmers all have strong positions in areas where demand is likely to remain important: healthcare retail, property search, and everyday household spending.

That is the kind of foundation I would want from blue-chip ASX shares. The returns may take time to show up, and the entry price still matters, but I would be very comfortable letting these three businesses work away in the background for years.

The post I’d buy these blue-chip ASX shares with $2,000 in a heartbeat appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Wesfarmers. 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.