Tag: Stock pick

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are having another tough session on Tuesday as selling pressure continues to build on the ASX 200 tech stock.

At the time of writing, the Xero share price is down 3.19% to $66.43. By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is 1.14% lower to 2,891 points.

Earlier in the session, Xero shares fell as low as $66.30. That puts the stock around levels last seen during the early stages of the COVID market sell-off in March 2020.

It has been a brutal run for shareholders. Xero shares are now down more than 40% since the start of 2026 and around 65% lower than this time last year.

Why Xero shares are being sold off

There hasn’t been any new price-sensitive announcement from Xero today.

Instead, the latest fall looks to be part of the wider sell-off in tech shares, with growth stocks still out of favour.

Xero is still one of the biggest software names on the ASX, but the market is clearly not willing to pay the same price it once did.

That comes as investors focus more closely on earnings, margins, and how much companies are spending to grow.

Xero’s latest result showed another year of strong revenue growth. However, lower statutory profit, acquisition costs, and the Melio deal have given the market more to think about.

The business is still growing

Keep in mind, the sell-off doesn’t mean Xero has stopped growing.

In its FY26 result, Xero reported operating revenue of NZ$2.8 billion, up 31% on the prior year. Excluding Melio, organic revenue growth was 21%.

Its customer base also increased 11% to 4.92 million, with the company adding 506,000 net customers during the year.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to NZ$757.4 million, while free cash flow came in at NZ$554 million.

Xero is also putting more focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. This includes adding AI features to its platform and partnering with Anthropic to bring Claude into Xero.

Can the Xero share price recover from here?

The biggest question now is whether the share price fall has gone too far.

Xero is still growing revenue, adding customers, and producing free cash flow. The company has also guided to adjusted EBITDA of NZ$860 million to NZ$920 million in FY27.

However, the market still has a few reasons to be cautious.

The Melio deal still needs time, and the market may not be ready to pay up for software stocks just yet.

The post Xero shares just crashed to COVID-era lows. Is this ASX 200 tech stock broken? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The ASX investing strategy that could quietly make you rich
• Down but not out: 3 ASX tech shares ripe for a rebound
• How to build an ASX share portfolio that can survive a market selloff
• Forget CBA: 3 ASX shares with better growth prospects
• If the ASX 200 rallies in the back half of the year these sectors could be portfolio winners

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

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares are tumbling today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) location sharing software developer closed yesterday trading for $23.19. During the Tuesday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $22.49 apiece, down 3.0%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Life360 shares have slumped 29.7% over the past 12 months.

The company has faced a few headwinds, including the broader selling pressure that hit many Aussie and global Software as a Service (SaaS) stocks. That pressure followed growing investor concerns that artificial intelligence could replace a lot of the services these companies offer.

More recently, the ASX 200 tech stock has been enjoying a strong rebound. Indeed, shares are up 18.6% over the past month, smashing the 1.4% gains delivered by the benchmark index over this same period.

And looking ahead, Bell Potter Securities’ Christopher Watt believes Life360 is well-placed to keep outperforming in the months ahead (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Why Life360 shares could keep marching higher

“This information technology company provides a mobile networking safety app for families,” Watt said.

Citing the first reason he’s bullish on the ASX 200 stock he noted, “Active user growth is rebounding following a technical issue, while paying circle growth, which drives revenue, recently exceeded expectations.”

As for the second reason you might want to buy Life360 shares today, Watt added, “Guidance has been upgraded. Once focus returns to paying circles, I expect a re-rating to follow.”

Then there’s the recent share price rebound and the company’s pending half year (H1 2026) results.

According to Watt:

The upcoming August result is a catalyst. The company has been enjoying strong price momentum, with the shares rising from $17.91 on May 20 to trade at $22.54 on June 18.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 tech stock?

The last release deemed price sensitive to Life360 shares was the company’s Q1 2026 update on 12 May.

Among the highlights, the company reported quarterly revenue of US$143.1 million, up 38% from Q1 2025. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$17.1 million were up 7%.

As for the guidance upgrade Watt mentioned above, Life360 raised its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to between US$650 and US$685 million. That was up from prior revenue guidance of US$640 million to US$680 million.

Management also expects to deliver improved earnings, boosting Life360’s full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to US$130 to US$140 million, up from the prior guidance of US$128 million to US$138 million.

The post 3 reasons to buy the dip on Life360 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Life360, Woodside, CSL shares
• Experts name 3 ASX 200 shares to buy
• Down but not out: 3 ASX tech shares ripe for a rebound
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a mildly positive session on Tuesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up slightly to 8,822.7 points.

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

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price is up 3% to $6.97. Investors have been buying this infant formula company’s shares this week after it received approval from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) to transition two China label infant milk formula (IMF) product registrations. A2 Milk’s CEO, David Bortolussi, said: “SAMR approval marks a significant milestone in our China growth strategy and Supply Chain transformation. It supports long-term growth in our core IMF business through market access and innovation, accelerates the development of advanced nutritional manufacturing capability, and captures attractive financial returns through incremental brand contribution and vertical margin capture.”

Calix Ltd (ASX: CXL)

The Calix share price is up 9.5% to 40 cents. This morning, this industrial technology company announced a joint development agreement (JDA) with Ambuja Cements Limited (Ambuja Cements). It is a subsidiary of the Adani Group. The two parties will work together on a commercial scale project at the Sanghi cement plant in Gujarat, India. Ambuja Cements’ director, Karan Adani, said: “The cement industry’s transition to a lower-carbon future will require bold thinking, technological innovation and collaboration across the value chain. Our partnership with [Calix subsidiary] Leilac reflects our commitment to evaluating next-generation technologies that can reduce process emissions while improving energy efficiency and supporting long-term sustainable growth. This initiative aligns with our vision of building world-class manufacturing operations for the future.”

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is up 2.5% to $115.66. This is despite there being no news out of the biotechnology giant on Tuesday. However, it is worth noting that CSL’s shares have been rebounding from their multi-year low this month. So much so, CSL shares have risen by 22% since the start of the month.

Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR)

The Ioneer share price is up 18% to 16.5 cents. This morning, the lithium developer announced strategic non-binding letters of intent (LOIs) with the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation and Hyundai Engineering Co. These will see the parties work together to advance the development of the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project. Ioneer’s managing director, Bernard Rowe, said: “Rhyolite Ridge has been a decade in the making — through ongoing partnerships, permitting, and financing. Working with trusted Korean partners with a track record of on-time and on-budget delivery brings us closer to breaking ground and delivering urgently needed lithium and boron. We’re delighted to work with KIND and Hyundai Engineering and look forward to what we’ll accomplish together.”

The post Why A2 Milk, Calix, CSL, and Ioneer shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Should I buy CSL and ResMed shares right now?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 3 reasons why experts think CSL shares are a sell

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL. 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is fighting hard to stay in positive territory. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up a fraction to 8,821 points.

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

Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)

The Centuria Capital share price is down over 6% to $2.04. This follows the successful completion of an institutional placement and entitlement offer. Centuria Capital has raised $265 million at $2.00 per new share. This represents a discount of 8.25% to its last close price. Centuria’s joint CEOs, John McBain and Jason Huljich, commented: “The Centuria and ResetData combination has created a differentiated NVIDIA neocloud partner with scalable sovereign AI Factories and access to Centuria’s real estate, land and potential 200MW+ power pipeline. ResetData is one of three Australian NVIDIA Cloud Partners and is uniquely placed to take advantage of an upswing in international demand for the establishment of Australian-based AI Factory capacity uptake. It is worth noting that comparable neocloud platforms in Australia have experienced rapid re-ratings as contracts and scale have emerged and we have this firmly in mind as we respond to increased AI demand and build out our capability in this area.”

Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU)

The Iluka Resources share price is down 11% to $7.24. This is despite the mineral sands and rare earths company announcing a major offtake agreement this morning. Iluka revealed that it has signed a binding, multi-year agreement for the supply of magnet rare earth oxides to a global automotive company. The agreement sets pricing at the higher of minimum and market-linked prices for each product to balance the dual risks of downside price volatility and security of supply. Iluka advised that its minimum revenue over the contract period is US$155 million. But assuming industry forecast pricing, Iluka’s revenue over the contract period would be US$172 million.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

The Metcash share price is down 3% to $3.02. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Ord Minnett this morning. The broker has downgraded the wholesale distributor’s shares to a hold rating (from buy) with a reduced price target of $3.50 (from $3.70). While Metcash’s FY 2026 result was in line with expectations, Ord Minnett was disappointed with its trading update for the first seven weeks of FY 2027.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The Reliance Worldwide share price is down 2.5% to $3.58. Investors have been selling the plumbing parts company’s shares after it revealed that it is closing its brass casting, forging, and machining operations in Melbourne, along with additional smaller sites. This is part of its ongoing optimisation of its global manufacturing operations. Management revealed that it expects to recognise a one-off net charge of US$100 million to US$110 million in FY 2026.

The post Why Centuria Capital, Iluka, Metcash, and Reliance Worldwide shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 companies to own for a dividend yield above 5%
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• Centuria Capital Group wraps up $300m equity raise and shares resume trading
• Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites

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.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are pushing higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed yesterday trading for $7.30. As we eye the Tuesday lunch hour, shares are swapping hands for $7.33 apiece, up 0.4%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, Santos shares have gained 19.4% in 2026, smashing the 1.1% year-to-date gains posted by the benchmark index.

And that’s not including the 14.5 cents per share in unfranked dividends Santos paid out to eligible stockholders on 25 March. If we add that back into the current share price, the stock’s cumulative value has risen 21.6% this year.

Santos trades on a 4.8% partly-franked trailing dividend yield.

One of the bigger tailwinds for the Aussie energy giant has been the surging oil price. Currently trading for US$78 per barrel, the Brent crude oil price is up 28% since 1 January

As you’re likely aware, global oil and gas prices have been spurred by the conflict in the Middle East and resultant closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.

But with global oil prices coming off the boil – the Brent crude oil price is down more than 34% since 29 April – is Santos still a good buy today?

Santos shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Peak Asset Management’s Niv Dagan recently analysed the outlook for Santos’ outperforming stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Santos is a global energy company,” he said. “Much of the near-term upside depends on successful execution of major projects.”

Commenting on those projects, Dagan noted, “Barossa is online and ramping up, while the Pikka phase 1 in Alaska has started production, with both expected to materially increase free cash flow at plateau rates.”

Dagan added that the ASX 200 energy stock is also aiming to materially deleverage over the next three to four years.

“Management is also targeting at least 60% of free cash flow for shareholder returns and a $2.5 billion reduction in net debt by 2030,” he said.

Summarising his hold recommendation on Santos shares, Dagan concluded:

However, the investment case still relies on commodity prices, capital discipline and the delivery of a large multi-year development pipeline across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Alaska.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 oil and gas stock?

Santos shares may be getting a lift today, with the company announcing this morning that it has commenced continuous production operations at the Pikka Phase 1 oil project in Alaska.

Commenting on the milestone, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said:

The first production wells are now online and delivering continuous production. We will commence pressure support through seawater injection and bring more wells online progressively, building production toward our plateau target of approximately 80,000 barrels per day in the third quarter of this year.

The post With oil prices falling, should I still buy Santos shares now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The US-Iran peace deal just wavered. Here is what this means for these ASX shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Buy, hold, sell: JB Hi-Fi, Westpac, Santos shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now

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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are barely in the green on Tuesday as investors wait for more news about US-Iran negotiations.

Trading Economics analysts say there are signs of progress from talks between American and Iranian officials in Switzerland.

The analysts said:

In a key development, Washington granted Iran a 60-day license to sell oil on international markets, raising expectations of a quicker recovery in global supply.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also picked up, with producers including Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates finding alternative routes to export energy, while Iran shipped more than 30 million barrels over the past week. 

Meanwhile, two experts give us their views on three ASX shares.

Let’s check them out. 

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $11.85, down 0.75% today and down 21% in the calendar year to date (YTD). 

Belinda Moore from Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share. 

Moore was not surprised after the company downgraded its guidance because of the Iran war.

Due to strong cash reserves and a depressed share price, Flight Centre also announced a new buyback of up to $200 million.

Moore said: 

Given recent downgrades from other travel industry peers due to the conflict in the Middle East, FLT’s downgrade wasn’t a surprise.

While a peace agreement and eased travel restrictions are positive, we think 1H27 will still be challenging.

We forecast a strong recovery in 2H27. If it wasn’t for this conflict, FLT would have had a great year given its results for the first nine months were strong.

We are buyers of FLT because when operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price will be materially higher.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

The Lottery Corporation share price is $5.55, down 0.2% today and up 7% YTD. 

Toby Grimm from Baker Young has a hold rating on Lottery Corporation shares.

On The Bull this week, Grimm explained:

Securing a 40-year extension as Victoria’s exclusive lottery operator adds certainty given the importance of the contract and its longer than expected duration.

However, operating performance has been subdued amid challenging consumer conditions and unfavourable jackpot outcomes.

The company continues to identify cost savings, which will help fund digital investment.

The stock is trading at fair value, but we believe the stock appeals in the longer term, supported by a fully franked dividend yield.

Supply Network Ltd (ASX: SNL)

The Supply Network share price is $32.74, down 0.6% today and up 2% YTD. 

Grimm has a sell rating on this ASX 300 consumer discretionary share. 

He said: 

The truck and bus parts supplier has built a leading position in an industry benefiting from an ageing fleet on our roads. Group sales revenue of $200.1 million in the first half of 2026 was up 16.9 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

However, in our view, the stock screens as expensive given it was recently trading on about 33 times estimated earnings in 2026.

Current fuel price uncertainties present another challenge and may impact freight demand in the near term.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Flight Centre, Supply Network, Lottery Corporation shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Supply Network Ltd and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group, Supply Network Ltd, and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Buying stocks with a strong dividend yield is a good strategy for some investors, but you want to be confident that they’re going to be around for the long haul.

I’ve had a look through recent broker reports and selected three major Australian companies that are paying a dividend yield of at least 5% and are forecast to do so in the coming years.

Let’s have a look at the companies that made the grade.

Amcor Plc (ASX: AMC)

Broker Morgans has this week issued a new research report on Amcor, tipping the company’s shares will increase to $65.40 over the next 12 months, up from $57.99 currently.

The Morgans team said since Amcor’s merger with Berry in April 2025, it had identified a range of non-core businesses, which are expected to be sold off over time.

Morgans has estimated, conservatively, that these businesses are worth about US$1.8 billion, and to date, Amcor has sold off six businesses for about US$500 million.

On the business more broadly, Morgans said Amcor is a “highly defensive” business with a leading market position and an experienced management team.

They added:

We expect the combination with Berry, along with potential divestments of non-core, lower-quality assets, to enhance AMC’s growth outlook and strengthen its balance sheet over the medium term. While execution of synergy targets will be key, AMC has a strong track record of integrating large scale transactions.

Morgans has forecast Amcor will pay a dividend yield of 6.3% this year, rising to 6.6% by FY28.

Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL)

As well as forecasting a strong dividend yield, Bell Potter has a bullish share price target of $4.70 for Regal Partners, compared to its current price of $2.92.

Regal Partners is an alternative investment manager with eight primary brands, the broker said.

Bell Potter said:

The Group controls $21bn in funds under management. We see further growth, driven by positive net inflows, investment performance, acquisitions and exposure to secular asset classes. This is supported by an aspirational blueprint to double offshore client capital. Successful execution, in our view, provides a pathway to teens growth over the medium term, enhanced through operating leverage.

As well as having the potential for strong capital returns, Bell Potter said Regal Partners was expected to pay a dividend yield of 6.2% this year, with that increasing to 7.6% by 2028.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

This grocery company reported its FY26 results this week, which came in line with guidance.

The team at Macquarie said the update on the first seven weeks of the company’s current trading year was mixed, with food below consensus but hardware ahead.

Macquarie maintained its neutral rating on the stock, with a price target of $3.20 compared to $3.01 currently.

The Macquarie team said:

Management is executing well against its strategic priorities. However, broader conditions suggest a mixed outlook. In particular, supplier inflation implies difficulty in maintaining the “IGA Price Gap” and conditions likely to weaken in Hardware due to lower housing turnover.

The company’s dividend yield for 2026 was 5.8%, and this was expected to dip to 5.4% next year, then rise to 5.9% by FY 2029.  

The post 3 companies to own for a dividend yield above 5% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buying Metcash shares? Here’s the yield you’ll get today
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• ASX 200 stock drops on FY 2026 results
• Metcash shares: FY26 profit edges lower, dividend maintained

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

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) shares are slipping on Tuesday despite the company announcing progress at its Geelong Refinery.

At the time of writing, the Viva Energy share price is down 2.82% to $2.07. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.1% to 8,811 points.

When zooming out, the ASX energy stock has fallen 10% over the past month but remains up about 1% since the start of 2026.

Here’s what the company told the market today.

What did Viva Energy announce?

In a statement to the ASX, Viva Energy said work to restart the Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit at its Geelong Refinery has been completed.

The unit, known as the RCCU, was damaged by a fire at the refinery on 15 April.

Viva Energy said the RCCU and related units are returning to operation this week. This is expected to lift the refinery back to more than 90% of normal capacity.

However, the update wasn’t all good news.

The company said another part of the refinery, the Alkylation unit, will stay offline while it decides whether to repair or replace it.

This means the refinery will have less ability to turn LPG into petrol. Even so, Viva Energy still expects the Geelong Refinery to operate at more than 90% of normal capacity through 2027.

Why is the Viva Energy share price down?

While the refinery restart is positive, the market may still have some concerns about the update.

The Alkylation unit helps convert LPG produced during refining into gasoline, so having it offline will limit some flexibility at the refinery.

While production is expected to return to more than 90% of normal capacity, one part of the refinery could still be out of action for a long time.

Viva Energy also said it is still investigating the cause of the incident and working with insurers on property damage and business interruption claims.

Early findings suggest the fire was caused by the failure of a section of piping within the Alkylation unit, which released fuel that later ignited.

Refining margins remain strong

One part of the update that may interest shareholders is the refining margin.

Viva Energy said its Geelong Refining Margin was US$23.90 a barrel for April and May. This was based on refining intake of 6.5 million barrels.

The company said the result was helped by strong market conditions and lower fuel oil production after the incident.

Nonetheless, the extended Alkylation outage means there is still some uncertainty around how the plant performs from here.

The post This ASX energy stock is sliding despite a major refinery restart appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Viva Energy Group: Geelong Refinery nears full capacity after fire
• Oil prices slump to pre-war levels as supply-risk premium evaporates
• 4 ASX shares Macquarie says could return more than 40%
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

BHP Group (ASX: BHP) shares have had an incredible run throughout the first six months of 2026.

At the time of writing, the ASX mining giant’s shares have climbed further into the green, up around 1% to $60.73 a piece.

It’s good news for investors after a bumpy ride throughout June where the share price has fluctuated between $60.08 and an all-time high of $65.59 a week ago. Since hitting that peak, BHP shares have since lost over 7% of their value.

Despite the past week’s decrease, BHP shares are still up around 33% for the year to date and nearly 71% higher than 12 months ago.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up around 0.1% at the time of writing, and around 1% higher for the year-to-date.

So, if I bought $5,000 of BHP shares 12 months ago, what would it be worth today?

BHP shares were trading at just $35.64 a piece this time last year, and have since climbed 71% higher.

That means that your $5,000 investment in the mining giant 12 months ago would be worth $8,550 today.

Can the share price keep climbing?

After a strong rally over the past year, it looks like BHP shares are now considered to be trading at fair value.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a hold rating on the shares. The $61.66 average target price implies a potential 1% upside, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something very similar. Out of 18 analysts, 13 have a hold rating on the mining giant’s shares. Another four rate the stock as a strong buy.

The average $63.75 target price implies a 5% potential upside at the time of writing. However, the range of forecasts is huge. Some expect the shares to fall 34% to a minimum target price of $40.31. Others think BHP shares have the potential to climb 53% higher to $92.99. 

The good news about BHP is even if investors are on the fence about the outlook for its share price, the stock is still a strong passive income play.

Are BHP shares a good buy for passive income?

BHP is a premier blue-chip ASX 200 stock with a market capitalisation of around $309 billion and a strong operational history. At the time of writing, BHP is the largest company trading on the Australia share market.

BHP is a cyclical stock, primarily exposed to iron ore, copper, and other key commodities. The downside is its cyclical nature means BHP is at risk from value fluctuations. But the benefit is that it usually outperforms during periods of economic recovery.

The large-scale but low-cost miner has a long history of regular dividend payments, dating back to around 2006. And its commodity exposure is diversified, too. This means it is able to maintain its dividend payouts even when commodity prices fluctuate.

The miner most recently paid a fully-fanked interim dividend of $1.0385 to shareholders in March. Analysts forecast BHP to pay an annual dividend of $1.91 per share in FY26, and a slightly lower $1.80 per share in FY27. That translates to a forward dividend yield of around 3.1% and 3% respectively, at the time of writing. That’s some decent passive income.

The post $5,000 invested in BHP shares 12 months ago is now worth…. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.14% higher at 8,828.7 points on Tuesday. 

The fastest rising ASX 200 share today is WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), which has recovered 4% after yesterday’s smashing.

ASX 200 healthcare shares Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) and Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) are also among the top risers today.

Both stocks are up by more than 3.5%.

Meanwhile, let’s check out 3 ASX 200 shares with new ratings from the experts (courtesy The Bull).

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

The Charter Hall share price is $22.73, down 0.5% today and down 7% in the calendar year to date (YTD). 

Toby Grimm from Baker Young has a buy rating on this real estate investment trust (REIT).

The analyst said: 

Australia’s leading diversified property group has benefited from a strong funds management performance driving multiple earnings upgrades in the past financial year.

With the strong operational trend continuing amid a potential respite in interest rates, the stock offers compelling exposure in a lagging sector that may be a beneficiary of a swing against banks.

The shares have been enjoying favourable momentum since May 20, increasing from $18.80 to trade at $23.15 on June 18.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price is $112.38, down 0.5% today and down 57% YTD.

Christopher Watt from Bell Potter has a hold rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Watt explained: 

The long term opportunity for this hearing implants maker remains compelling, supported by a large addressable market, strong brand position and an attractive product pipeline.

However, near term trading conditions have softened in response to weaker referral activity in the US, hospital capacity constraints in Europe and reimbursement changes in China.

Until there’s clearer evidence that volumes are stabilising, a more balanced stance is appropriate.

The long term growth story and product pipeline remain intact.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) fell to a 9-year low on 3 June due to many industry headwinds over the past year.

Since then, ASX 200 healthcare shares have been on a comeback, rising 11.5% compared to a 0.4% bump for the broader ASX 200.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Resources share price is $20.93, down 1.3% on Tuesday and down 14% YTD. 

Grimm has a sell rating on this ASX 200 gold mining share.

He explained:

The emergence of prominent US based activist investor Elliott Investment Management has prompted optimism surrounding the gold miner.

However, in our view, it doesn’t alter the underperformance of NST’s asset base involving production volumes, costs and capital expenditure requirements.

A new management team will likely rebase expectations. But we would seek alternative gold exposure for those still playing the theme.

The shares have fallen from $31.73 on March 2 to trade at $21.44 on June 18.

Elliot Investment recently disclosed it has a 3% to 4% stake in Northern Star shares.

It also suggested ways that Northern Star management could improve returns for shareholders.

You can read Northern Star’s response here.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Charter Hall, Northern Star, Cochlear shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• With the gold price up on Monday, are Northern Star shares a good buy now?
• 3 ASX healthcare shares to sell despite signs of sector rebound
• Why CSL, Westpac, and this big-name ASX 200 share could be sells
• Experts name 3 ASX 200 shares to buy

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