Tag: Stock pick

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have surged 32% over the past month after stronger-than-expected plasma product sales. But with the rally potentially priced in, analysts see better value elsewhere in healthcare.

CSL shares are now trading around $174.80, above the average broker price target. Macquarie has a neutral rating and a target of just over $133, while UBS is more bullish at $181 and Morgan Stanley has a $172 target.

So, where could investors look instead?

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus shares have endured a brutal 12 months, falling around 43%. But unlike CSL shares, the sell-off hasn’t been accompanied by a deterioration in the company’s underlying growth.

FY26 revenue increased 22.9% to $261.7 million, while underlying EBIT and NPAT climbed 24.4% and 24.1%, respectively.

Its Visage imaging software is already used by major healthcare systems across North America, yet management estimates it has captured only around 11% of the US market. That leaves plenty of room to grow.

Citi has a buy rating and $225 target, implying around 33% upside. Bell Potter is also bullish, with a $226 target, while Barrenjoey has a $210 target. JPMorgan is more cautious with a hold rating and $211 target.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

ResMed shares have bounced around 25% from their multi-year low in June, but remain down roughly 25% over 12 months. That’s a steeper decline than CSL shares, which still fell 18% over the same period despite their recent rebound.

The sell-off reflected broader pressure on healthcare shares, alongside macroeconomic uncertainty, inflation and cost-of-living concerns. A soft third-quarter update in May added to the pressure.

However, ResMed subsequently delivered a stronger fourth-quarter result, helping restore investor confidence.

The sleep-disorder specialist continues to deliver healthy revenue growth, expanding margins and strong free cash flow. Its third-quarter revenue rose 11% to US$1.4 billion, driven by demand for sleep devices, masks and accessories.

Most brokers rate ResMed shares buy or strong buy. The highest price target of $45.90 implies potential upside of around 46%.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Telix Pharmaceuticals operates in a highly specialised healthcare niche: radiopharmaceuticals. Its products combine radioactive isotopes with targeted diagnostics and therapies, helping doctors detect and treat diseases such as cancer with greater precision.

That creates significant barriers to entry and gives Telix shares an interesting growth profile that differs from CSL shares.

In August, Telix reported a 22% year-on-year increase in revenue to US$477 million, putting it towards the upper end of its FY26 guidance.

Brokers are increasingly bullish, with 13 of 16 analysts rating Telix shares buy or strong buy. The average $25.29 target implies roughly 53% upside from $16.50, while the most bullish forecast points to more than 85% potential upside.

For investors looking beyond CSL shares, these three healthcare names could offer considerably more upside.

The post Forget CSL shares. 3 ASX healthcare stocks with bigger upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• If I invest $10,000 in CSL shares, what passive income will I earn in FY27?
• UBS names its 10 top ASX picks for the next 3-6 months
• Are CSL shares still cheap after almost doubling since June?

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 CSL, ResMed, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Pro Medicus, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has slid lower over the past month as ASX shares are hit by falling investor confidence, concerns about inflation, and interest rate hike fears.

At the time of writing, the All Ords Index is down around 3%.

But at times when confidence is sliding, it’s important to pinpoint shares which could outperform going forward. 

Here are two ASX shares that brokers are tipping to outperform the index over the next 12 months. And they’re forecast to grow by up to 42%.

Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC)

Superloop is an Australian-based fixed-line internet service provider. It provides broadband services to consumers and businesses across the Asia Pacific region, and wholesale solutions to other downstream internet services entities. 

Its services include Wi-Fi management, mobile services, and National Broadband Network products. The company owns an extensive fiber network and is also a part-owner of the Indigo subsea cable. 

The telco has rapidly expanded in recent years with several large acquisitions. These include Lightning Broadband (an internet service provider) in May 2026, Uecomm (a fiber infrastructure) in 2024, and Exetel (an internet retailer) in 2021.

The company also posted an impressive FY26 earnings result last month. It reported a 21.6% increase in reported revenue, a 33.1% increase in underlying EBITDA, and NPAT of $17.5 million.

At the time of writing, Superloop shares are up around 0.5% for the day to $2.75. For the year-to-date the shares have increased around 8%, but the stock is about 12% lower than 12 months ago. 

Going forward, analysts are very bullish about Superloop’s potential for growth in FY27. Market Index data shows all brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX telco shares. And the $3.90 average target price implies an upside of around 42%, at the time of writing.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Universal Store is an Australian retailer specialising in trend-led and casual men’s and women’s fashion, shoes, accessories, lifestyle, and gifting. 

The company owns a portfolio of popular premium fashion brands like Champion, Perfect Stranger, Tommy Jeans, Kiss Chacey, Thrills, Barney Cools, and others.

The ASX consumer discretionary shares crashed to a two year low in May after a deterioration in trading conditions saw investors quickly sell up their shares. 

The update followed a broad decline in discretionary shares, as geopolitical uncertainty and inflation concerns prompted an investor rotation towards more defensive sectors.

At the time of writing, Universal Store shares are down around 2% and changing hands at $7.62 each. For the year-to-date, the shares are down around 6% and 13% lower than 12 months ago.

But the experts appear to be confident that we’ll see a turnaround in the coming months. Market Index data shows all brokers have a strong buy rating on the shares, and the $9.67 average target price implies a potential 25% upside at the time of writing.

The post 2 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 25% and 42% 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 Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Many Australians may love the idea of receiving $80,000 a year of passive income and choosing to retire at the age of 50. Investing in ASX shares could be the best way to achieve that.

For some Aussies, retiring early could be appealing because it could mean enjoying more of life, calling it quits before the body can’t do the physical work any more, or just getting away from the desk and out into ‘life’.

Whatever the motivation for wanting to unlock $80,000 of annual passive income, reaching that goal could be very compelling.

Use compounding to build wealth

I think that every investor should keep the power of compounding in mind for long-term wealth creation.

One of the smartest people ever to live, Albert Einstein, once reportedly said:

Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.

By using compounding, we can invest in ASX shares that grow in value on their own. We don’t need to contribute any further money ourselves to see that growth in value.

Let’s look at two scenarios of how that could play out for someone.

Imagine someone is 20 right now and they manage to save $750 per month to invest in ASX shares. That translates into an annual investment total of $9,000. If we assume the portfolio returns an average of 10%, the portfolio would be worth $1.48 million after 30 years.

In another example, let’s consider someone who starts five years later at 25, so they can earn more and they can save $1,500 per month. If the portfolio returned the same 10% per year, it would grow to be worth an incredible $1.77 million.

Which ASX shares investors could buy for passive income to retire

If we go with the two example portfolios above, a $1.48 million portfolio would require a dividend yield of 5.4% to make $80,000 of annual passive income. Meanwhile, the $1.77 million portfolio would require a dividend yield of 4.5%.

There are a wide variety of investments that we can make to generate high passive income.

I’ll run through some businesses and other types of businesses that could be great options for a portfolio dividend yield of around 5%.

Firstly, I’ll highlight investment businesses such as Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI), Australian United Investment Company Ltd (ASX: AUI), Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: PGF) and L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF).

There are operating businesses like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) that could all be compelling options.

Other top options for passive income include Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ).

I think investors wanting to retire with $80,000 of annual passive income would be well-served by the above names, as well as other ASX shares that could deliver strong growth.

The post How much do I need to retire on $80,000 a year at 50? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is the Telstra share price a buy for its 6.25% dividend yield?
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• How much passive income could a $500,000 superannuation balance generate?
• Top 3 ASX shares to buy with $3,000 in September
• Which ASX shares win when the Aussie dollar is strong?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Future Generation Australia, L1 Long Short Fund, Rural Funds Group, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wcm Quality Global Growth Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group, Telstra Group, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa and Wesfarmers. 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) endured a tough session this Tuesday, sending the value of many ASX shares sharply lower. After yesterday’s lukewarm start to the trading week, investors turned decisively negative today, with the ASX 200 starting in red territory and getting progressively worse over the session.

By the time the closing bell rang, the index had lost a flat 1%, leaving it at 8,920.8 points.

The American markets were closed last night for the Labor Day holiday, so Friday’s losses are our last point of reference. Let’s see what they do later tonight.

So let’s get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors traversed the tough trading conditions that we saw this Tuesday.

Winners and losers

Despite the broader market’s sharp drop, there were a few sectors that escaped with a rise.

But first, it was consumer discretionary stocks that copped the worst of it this Tuesday. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) had an awful time, plunging 1.88%.

Tech shares weren’t much better, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) cratering 1.76%.

Financial stocks were also in that ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ended up diving 1.63%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren’t popular either, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 1.46% slump.

Consumer staples shares were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) retreated 1.31% this session.

Nor were industrial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sinking 0.74%.

Communications shares were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) dipped 0.73% this Tuesday.

Mining stocks couldn’t escape the selling, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)’s 0.57% slide.

The same can be said for our last losers, gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up slipping 0.22%.

Let’s get to the green sectors now. At the front of that line were utilities stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumping 0.59% today.

Healthcare stocks displayed some strong vitals too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up galloping 0.45% higher.

Finally, energy stocks got over the line, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.22% improvement.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold stock Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI) was our best index performer this Tuesday. Predictive shares beat out some uninspired competition to close 3.76% higher at $4.69.

Despite this market-bucking gain, there wasn’t any fresh news out from the company to explain it.

Here’s how the other winners pulled up at the kerb this session:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)	$4.69	3.76%
Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW)	$6.66	3.10%
Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV)	$7.75	2.92%
Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)	$2.29	2.69%
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)	$5.22	2.05%
FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM)	$1.82	1.96%
NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH)	$7.86	1.95%
Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)	$1.31	1.95%
Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)	$2.98	1.56%
Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)	$1.81	1.69%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX shares tipped by brokers to rise 34% to 87%
• 3 ASX healthcare shares to buy with 25% to 100% upside as sector rebound races higher
• The ASX 200 has dropped to a 3-day low. Here’s what’s happening
• Are NAB, ANZ, Westpac and CBA shares attractive buys right now?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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 All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are 0.9% lower at 9,115.5 points on Tuesday.

With earnings season over, brokers have updated their ratings and 12-month price targets on hundreds of ASX shares.

Here are six stocks with strong upside potential.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The NextDC share price is $12.46, down 2.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX tech share has fallen 14%.

UBS has a buy rating on NextDC shares with a $23.45 target.

This suggests a potential 88% upside ahead.

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

The Nine Entertainment share price is 86 cents, down 3.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX communications share has dropped 15%.

Morgan Stanley has a buy rating on Nine shares with a 12-month target of $1.40.

This suggests a potential 63% upside ahead.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price is $9.30, down 0.3% today.

This ASX travel share has fallen 11% over the past month.

Morgan Stanley has a buy rating on Qantas shares with a $12.80 target.

This implies potential capital growth of 38% over the next year.

Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)

The Centuria Capital Group share price is $1.33, up 3.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) has fallen 11%.

MA Financial Group has a buy recommendation on Centuria Capital Group shares with a $1.83 target.

This indicates potential capital gains of 38% over the next year. 

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is $11.61, down 0.9% today.

Over the past month, this ASX uranium share has spiked 12%.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy call on Paladin Energy shares with a $15.80 target.

This suggests a potential 36% upside ahead.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is $168.81, up 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX healthcare share has fallen 4%.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Pro Medicus shares with a $226 target.

This indicates capital gains of 34% over the next year. 

In a note, the broker commented:

PME reported FY26 revenue and EBIT growth of 23% and 26% respectively with the result at EBIT modestly (1.5%) ahead of consensus earnings.

As the revenue base of the group expands the top line growth is decelerating, however, margin expansion continues and this drove the small earnings beat.

FY26 EBIT margin expanded by a further 190bps to 75% and is likely to continue at this rate for the foreseeable future.

The post 6 ASX shares tipped by brokers to rise 34% to 87% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Qantas shares
• Down 43%! 4 reasons to buy the BIG dip in Pro Medicus shares today
• Experts name 3 top ASX shares to buy this week
• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, BHP, CBA shares

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 recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ma Financial Group, Nine Entertainment, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Oil prices are back in the spotlight, and Goldman Sachs thinks they could stay higher for longer than previously expected.

Brent crude is trading around US$97 a barrel today, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is near US$93.

That puts oil close to its highest level in around 3 months amid renewed fighting in the Middle East.

And despite some signs that supply conditions are improving, Goldman Sachs has now lifted its oil price forecasts for 2027.

So, how high does the investment bank think oil could go?

Goldman lifts its forecast

According to The Australian, Goldman Sachs co-head of global commodities Daan Struyven now expects Brent crude to average around US$80 a barrel next year.

That is US$5 higher than the bank’s previous forecast, although it’s still well below the US$97 level Brent is trading at today.

The reason Goldman isn’t expecting oil to stay this high is that the hit to global supply has not been quite as bad as first feared.

Commercial oil inventories in developed economies have “barely drawn” since the fighting began. Instead, much of the shortfall has been covered by strategic reserves, oil already at sea and stockpiles in China.

There have also been signs that production is recovering.

In April, output from Gulf producers was around 14.3 million barrels per day below pre-war levels. By July, Goldman estimates that gap had narrowed to around 8 million barrels per day.

Oil could still go much higher

Keep in mind, there’s still plenty that could send oil prices above Goldman’s base case.

Around 7 million barrels per day of crude oil and refined products reportedly continue to move through the Strait of Hormuz.

That makes any further disruption to the important shipping route something investors will be watching closely.

Goldman’s own scenarios show just how wide the range of possible outcomes still is.

If Gulf production continues to be heavily disrupted, the bank believes Brent could climb above US$120 a barrel.

On the other hand, if supply conditions improve faster than expected, prices could fall back into the low US$60’s.

Not only that, but there could also be some relief later on. New pipelines are expected to come online in late 2027, which should make it easier to move oil around the region.

What does it mean for investors?

Oil has already had a massive run.

Trading Economics shows WTI crude has climbed roughly 49% over the past 12 months, while Brent is up around 47%.

That has been a big tailwind for oil producers, including a number of ASX-listed energy stocks such as Woodside Ltd(ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO).

But with Brent now trading around US$97 a barrel, Goldman’s US$80 forecast suggests a decent pullback could be coming next year.

Obviously, that could weigh on oil stocks, so I’d be cautious about chasing ASX energy shares after the recent rally.

The post Could oil stay near US$100? Goldman Sachs just changed its forecast appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• These ASX shares benefit from a high Aussie dollar

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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are drifting lower on Tuesday, down 0.89% to $175.79 at the time of writing.

The move is fairly modest compared with the stock’s performance over the past year.

Rio Tinto shares are up almost 20% in 2026 and around 49% over the past 12 months. The stock also traded as high as $182.70 late last month, putting it close to its 52-week high.

So, investors have had plenty to cheer about.

But there’s a new development out of China that could be worth keeping an eye on.

China is pushing harder on iron ore

According to The Australian, China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG) has told some steel mills to stop buying Rio Tinto’s flagship Pilbara Blend while contract negotiations continue.

CMRG has been negotiating iron ore purchases on behalf of China since 2022, with the aim of using the country’s huge buying power to push for better prices and terms.

And Rio Tinto isn’t the first miner to feel the pressure. BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) only reached a deal with CMRG in April after around 7 months of negotiations, while Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) has also faced tougher talks with the state-backed buyer.

Iron ore is still Rio Tinto’s biggest earnings contributor, and China buys a huge amount of what it produces. If the dispute drags on and Chinese mills continue holding back purchases, it could eventually start weighing on sales volumes or the prices Rio Tinto receives.

At this stage, there is no suggestion it will get that far, but it’s still something investors will want to follow closely.

Copper is closing the gap

The good news is the business is becoming much more balanced.

In the first-half of 2026, iron ore generated US$6.8 billion of EBITDA. Copper was close behind at US$5.7 billion, while aluminium and lithium contributed another US$3.3 billion.

Copper EBITDA jumped 84% from the first-half of 2025, helped by stronger prices and higher production from the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia.

The overall result was strong too. Underlying EBITDA rose 28% to US$14.8 billion, underlying earnings climbed 43% to US$6.85 billion and free cash flow increased 75% to US$3.8 billion.

Rio Tinto also lifted its interim dividend by 43% to US$3.4 billion.

And then there’s the AI boom

There could also be another source of demand coming from the huge amount of money being spent on AI and data centres.

CEO Simon Trott recently pointed out that the raw materials Rio Tinto produces can make up “up to 70 per cent of the value” of the materials used in a data centre.

That could become a much bigger opportunity, with spending by hyperscalers forecast to approach US$1 trillion next year.

Copper is an obvious beneficiary, but aluminium and lithium could also benefit as more data centres are built and electricity demand continues to grow.

The post Is China about to become a problem for Rio Tinto shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $10,000 passive income every month?
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• Up 57%! Should I still buy Rio Tinto shares today?
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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.

Uranium ASX shares spent two years being talked about, but have only recently started delivering.

The spot price of uranium sits near US$89.50 a pound after touching US$100 in January.

More importantly, the long-term contract price is US$97 a pound, its highest level in more than eighteen years.

Why uranium ASX shares are moving again

Two forces are doing the work.

The first is supply.

Kazatomprom, the world’s largest producer, has delayed its sulphuric acid plant, with commissioning now expected to be somewhere between late 2027 and early 2028.

Utilities have responded by contracting supply as far out as 2034.

The second is demand.

The World Nuclear Association’s fuel report projects that reactor requirements will rise from about 68,920 tonnes of uranium in 2025 to more than 150,000 tonnes by 2040.

The Association was direct about what that implies:

As existing mines face a depletion of resources in the middle of the next decade, the need for new primary uranium supply becomes even more pressing.

With that in mind, here are three ASSX shares that are well-positioned to benefit from this trend.

1. Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

Paladin Energy is the only clean producer of the three.

FY26 revenue rose 71% to US$304.3 million and gross profit reached US$52.2 million, against a gross loss a year earlier.

The company’s Langer Heinrich mine produced 4.82 million pounds, at the top of guidance.

The cost was US$43.3 a pound against a realised price of US$70.0.

The company still recorded a net loss of US$9.1 million, against a US$76.5 million loss in FY25.

FY27 guidance points to 5.1 million to 5.6 million pounds at a cost of US$44 to US$48 a pound.

Chief executive Paul Hemburrow said of the results:

We successfully completed the ramp-up of Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia, delivering annual production of 4.82 million pounds of U3O8 and sales of 4.35 million pounds.

What are the brokers saying? Bell Potter rates Paladin Energy shares a buy with a $14.80 target, while JP Morgan has a sell and a $9.10 target.

2. Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

Boss Energy turned its first profit in FY26 and then told the market FY27 would be harder.

Revenue doubled to $151.1 million, and net profit after tax came in at $2.5 million.

Honeymoon produced 1.41 million pounds at an all-in sustaining cost of $61 a pound.

Then came the new feasibility study.

The mineral resource was cut 26% to 20.8 million pounds, and FY27 guidance calls for production of 1.25 to 1.3 million pounds at an all-in sustaining cost of $83 to $92 a pound.

Production down, costs up, and the shares fell 14% on the day.

Chief executive Matt Dusci said:

FY 2027 is a transitional year. It builds the foundations for Honeymoon’s production ramp up and long-term value.

3. Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT)

Lotus Resources is the highest-risk name here by a wide margin.

The company’s Kayelekera mine in Malawi produced its first yellowcake in August 2025.

It then lost time to a fire in April and an acid supply disruption in June.

In July, the company raised a $138.1 million financing package. That included $60.1 million of equity at 22 cents, a 67% discount to the last traded price.

The shares fell 62% on resumption, and Macquarie cut its price target from $3 to $0.25.

Managing director Greg Bittar is more positive about the company’s prospects:

The Kayelekera operation is now positioned to deliver the final stages of the ramp up through to steady state production and this funding package completes the balance sheet reset.

At 25 cents, the market capitalisation is just $135 million.

Foolish takeaway

The uranium price is doing what the bulls said it would.

That does not mean every miner benefits equally.

Two of these three uranium ASX shares have just downgraded or diluted, which is a timely reminder that a commodity thesis and a company thesis are different things.

The post Uranium is back. Three ASX shares that give you exposure appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 JPMorgan Chase and 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.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares have endured a bruising year, but brokers remain confident the sell-off may have gone too far.

After trading between $1.38 and $4.93 over the past 12 months, the ASX buy now, pay later stock faces several potential catalysts, including continued growth in its lucrative US market.

A broader technology sell-off, concerns about competition and slowing growth, geopolitical uncertainty and higher-for-longer interest rates have all weighed on investor sentiment.

But with Zip’s underlying financial performance strengthening, brokers remain remarkably bullish.

Brokers see big upside for Zip shares

TradingView data shows all 12 analysts covering Zip shares currently have either a buy or strong buy rating. The average broker price target of $4.56 implies potential upside of around 95% from the current share price of $2.35 at the time of writing.

The most bullish forecast is even more eye-catching, with one broker tipping Zip shares to reach $6.03. This points to a potential 157% return over the next 12 months.

UBS recently reiterated its buy rating and $4.70 price target, implying roughly 100% upside from the current share price. The broker said Zip’s current-year outlook was better than expected, providing greater confidence in the defensive qualities of its BNPL model during weaker economic conditions.

Why could Zip shares rebound?

Zip’s recent financial performance provides some substance behind the bullish broker forecasts for Zip shares. Its latest FY26 results showed cash EBTDA jumping 57.9%, while revenue rose 24.7% and NPAT increased 45.7%.

Management expects that momentum to continue, forecasting cash EBTDA growth of around 26% in FY27 as the business benefits from further growth and scale.

Perhaps the most important part of the story is where that growth is coming from. Zip has spent the past few years reshaping the business around product development, profitability and international expansion, with the US now firmly at the centre of its strategy.

The US accounted for roughly two-thirds of Zip’s revenue in FY26. Revenue from the market climbed 37.3% in Australian dollar terms and 44.3% in US dollar terms, comfortably ahead of the 4.6% growth recorded across ANZ.

Customer numbers tell a similar story. Active US customers increased 9.3% to 4.65 million, while ANZ customers declined 8% to 1.88 million. Zip expects US total transaction value to grow by more than 30% in FY27.

That makes the US expansion arguably the biggest potential driver of Zip’s earnings and valuation from here.

Could a Nasdaq listing provide another catalyst?

Zip is also pursuing a dual listing on the Nasdaq. A US listing could increase the company’s visibility among American investors and potentially support its ambitions in the world’s largest BNPL market.

For investors in Zip shares, that creates an intriguing setup: a share price that has fallen sharply, accelerating earnings growth, strong broker support and a potentially significant US opportunity.

Of course, the risks haven’t disappeared. Zip remains exposed to consumer spending, competition, regulation and interest rates, while its aggressive US expansion will need to keep delivering.

The post Experts tip battered Zip shares to deliver over 90% returns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Superannuation has now delivered four consecutive years of strong returns.

To what extent, you ask? Well, the median growth fund returned 9.5% in FY26.

Add the three years before it, and the total comes to roughly 44%.

That is a very good run by any standard.

So can these returns last for much longer?

What four years of superannuation gains added up to

The numbers are consistent across the board.

Chant West puts the median growth fund, holding 61% to 80% in growth assets, at 9.5% for FY26.

SuperRatings measures a slightly different option and arrives at 9.4%.

The three financial years before that came in at 9.2%, 9.1%, and 10.4%.

Four consecutive years above 9% is unusual.

Australians now hold $4.8 trillion in superannuation, according to APRA’s June statistics, up 9.5% over the year.

Contributions reached $236.3 billion across the same period, up 12.8%.

The system is both larger and better funded than it has ever been.

Where the returns came from

Keen investors might want to keep an eye out for this metric.

International shares returned 25.5% in hedged terms during FY26, and they carry roughly a 31% weighting in a typical growth fund.

Australian shares returned just 6.2%.

Australian-listed property was the only negative asset class at -1.8%, while Australian bonds managed 1.5%.

So the run was not broad at all. Instead, it was built on offshore equities, and within those, on a fairly narrow group of companies.

Chant West’s Mano Mohankumar was explicit about this trend:

Generally speaking, the better performing funds were those that had higher allocations to international shares, particularly where a larger proportion of that exposure was currency hedged.

What to expect from your superannuation instead

The real benchmark is the funds’ own objective.

Most growth options target inflation plus 3.5% a year, which currently works out at roughly 6%.

Chant West notes that funds have met that objective in 73% of rolling ten-year periods since 1992, and its assessment of FY26 was blunt, warning that this level of return “should not be treated as the new normal”.

The Australian portion of your balance is the part investors can most easily see for themselves.

By holding funds like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), charges 0.07% a year, holds $26.2 billion, and has a distribution yield near 3.1%, investors can potentially replicate these returns themselves.

Foolish takeaway

Four straight years above 9% is an impressive run.

FY27 has started steadily, with growth funds up about 1.3% through the first seven weeks.

I would plan around 6% a year rather than 9%, and treat anything above that as a bonus.

The post Superannuation just had a fourth straight year of gains. Can it continue? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.