Tag: Stock pick

ASX ETFs are becoming an increasingly popular investment class, particularly for young Australians. 

A recent report from the AFR said the Australian ETF market could grow to $380 billion in FUM in 2026. 

This is up from about $320 billion last year and just $71 billion in 2020.

The ASX held only about 220 ETFs as recently as 2020, and just 19 in December 2008. However this number is now expected to surpass 500 by the end of the year. 

This week, investors will welcome three new ASX ETFs from VanEck. 

VanEck fund overviews

The three new funds set to hit the market on Thursday, April 30, will operate under the names: 

• VanEck Core+ Diversified Balanced Active ETF: (ASX VBAL). This fund aims to provide a steady core for long-term investors who value resilience as much as return.
• VanEck Core+ Diversified Growth Active ETF (ASX:VGRO). This fund has a higher allocation to growth assets with modest defensive allocation providing ballast during market stress. 
• VanEck Core+ Diversified High Growth Active ETF (ASX:VHGR). This fund aims for maximum exposure to growth assets for long-term capital accumulation, while accepting a higher degree of market variability.

As the names suggest, these will focus on three risk categories: Balanced (VBAL), Growth (VGRO) and High Growth (VHGR).

All funds come with a 0.39% p.a. management fee. 

Focus on diversification 

VanEck said its investment philosophy is underpinned by the belief that markets provide investors opportunities for superior performance, by exploiting market inefficiencies, managing risk or accessing new opportunities.

Each of our funds has been carefully constructed to achieve an investment outcome, empowering investors to take advantage of targeted market opportunities. Now, we have utilised our expertise to build ETFs of ETFs that we think investors can use to be the foundation for their investing future.

The ETF provider said the problem with most existing diversified funds is that they are not effectively diversified.

VanEck’s Core+ Diversified Series aims to change that. Built on over six decades of global investment intelligence and powered by VanEck’s Multi Asset Solutions team, these three ASX-listed strategies give Australian investors and advisers access to institutional-grade portfolio architecture that was previously out of reach.

For our clients, we think this is the upgrade they have been waiting for: a sophisticated, transparent core that complements model portfolio capability, challenges the active manager status quo and gives clients the confidence that their portfolio is genuinely working harder.

The post Meet the three new VanEck ASX ETFs set to hit the market on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Generation Development Group reports cyber incident
• Megaport secures $35.4m compute deal and lifts recurring revenue
• Why this top ASX 200 gold share could rise 50% from here
• NEXTDC opens $0.5 billion retail entitlement offer
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

Finding significantly undervalued shares at the upper end of the market can be a challenge.

That’s why it sometimes pays to check out what the experts are saying. I’ve had a look at the recent research reports out of broking house Jarden, and selected three stocks that they think could provide some serious upside.

Without further ado, here they are.

Light & Wonder Ltd (ASX: LNW)

Jarden has put together a preview ahead of Light & Wonder reporting its first quarter earnings on May 7.

The Jarden team is expecting a soft quarter from the gaming company, with their expectations for EBITDA of US$326 million sitting 5% below consensus estimates.

But they do point out that the underlying demand backdrop remains intact, with US gross gaming revenue trends “resilient”.

Jarden said they expect the company’s FY26 outlook will be maintained with earnings to grow throughout the year.

They point out that the stock is down about 8% following the FY25 result following minimal earnings changes, and therefore, “we view current entry levels as compelling”.

They added:

Light & Wonder is well placed to deliver double-digit earnings per share growth over the forecast period (18% FY25–FY28 CAGR), whilst trading at a material price to earnings discount to both market and peer Aristocrat

Jarden has a buy recommendation on the shares with a price target of $190 compared with the current price of $121.07.

HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

HUB24 recently published its third quarter results and the Jarden team said while net funds inflows came in below consensus estimates, the miss was driven by one-off institutional client outflow, while retail flows delivered strong year on year growth.

They added:

Against this backdrop, we view the ~8.3% share price decline as an overreaction, driven more by broader market multiple compression than any deterioration in HUB’s business fundamentals. With our revised FY27 funds under administration of $162.3 billion sitting at the top end of HUB’s guidance range ($148-$162 billion), underpinned by flow assumptions we consider conservative, we retain our Buy rating.

Jarden has a buy recommendation on HUB24 shares and a price target of $115.30 compared with the current price of $83.44.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Cleanaway recently held an investor day where the company talked through its BluePrint 2030 strategy to grow the business and earnings.

The Jarden team said they were encouraged by the projection that Cleanaway would hit a free cash flow inflection point in FY27, “and we see this as largely congruent with Visible Alpha expectations, which has free cash flow yield more than doubling from FY26”.

Jarden said it was now important for the company to deliver on its ambitions, saying, “we see 2H26 as a critical juncture for Cleanaway to demonstrate that future organic earnings growth can be supported by strong free cash generation, whilst delivering forecast dividends”.

Jarden has a buy recommendation on Cleanaway shares and a price target of $3.10 compared with $2.34 currently.

The post Three ASX 200 shares the Jarden team says are a buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: NextDC, Hub24, PLS Group shares
• Buy, hold, sell: Cleanaway, Hub24, and MAAS shares
• Missed out on Hub24 and Netwealth? Bell Potter thinks this ASX tech stock is next
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24 and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) share price is in focus today after the company announced its subsidiary, Generation Life Limited, responded swiftly to a cyber incident. The breach was contained rapidly with no evidence of core systems impact or unauthorised transactions, and business operations saw minimal disruption.

What did Generation Development Group report?

• Cyber incident detected in a limited part of Generation Life’s network via a third-party provider
• No evidence of unauthorised transactions or impact on core systems
• Business continuity plan executed promptly; minimal operational disruption
• Incident had no impact on the systems of Evidentia Group or Lonsec Research & Ratings

What else do investors need to know?

Generation Life says leading cyber security experts have been engaged to investigate the incident and assess any potential data impacts. If any advisers or clients are found to have been affected, they will be contacted directly at the end of that review.

The company also notified major regulators, including APRA, the OAIC, the ACSC and NOCS, and will continue to provide updates to the ASX should any material developments arise.

What’s next for Generation Development Group?

Generation Development Group will keep the market informed of any significant changes as its investigation proceeds. At this stage, the focus remains on ensuring all systems are secure and stakeholders, especially clients and advisers, are kept informed of any findings.

The company’s business continuity plan and rapid response demonstrate a proactive approach to handling cyber security matters, which are increasingly relevant for investors today.

Generation Development Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Generation Development Group shares have declined 14%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Generation Development Group reports cyber incident appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Meet the three new VanEck ASX ETFs set to hit the market on Thursday
• Megaport secures $35.4m compute deal and lifts recurring revenue
• Why this top ASX 200 gold share could rise 50% from here
• NEXTDC opens $0.5 billion retail entitlement offer
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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 recommended Generation Development Group. 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.

ASX materials stock Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK) is in focus today after it received a reiterated buy recommendation from Bell Potter. 

The broker also increased its price target on the is a gold exploration and production company.after it released a quarterly update last week. 

What did the company report?

On April 23, this ASX materials stock released a Quarterly Activity Report for the period ending 31 March 2026. 

It reported: 

• Site operating cash flow of $189 million for the quarter 
• Q3 FY26 record gold production of 45,776 AuEq oz @ AISC of $2,928/AuEq oz
• Full Year Group Guidance remains at 160-175kozs AuEq at AISC $2,600-2,900/AuEq oz reflects production from Costerfield and Björkdal from July 2025. 

Managing Director and CEO, Nic Earner, commented: 

It has been another great quarter for Alkane, producing 44,669 ounces of gold and 377 tonnes of antimony (45,776 ounces of gold equivalent) over the full quarter.1 Our site operating cashflow was $189 million for the quarter, resulting in a balance sheet with $374 million in cash, bullion and listed investments at quarter end. Our full year guidance of 160-175kozs gold equivalent remains unchanged.

Despite the positive results, this ASX materials stock fell 10% last week. This included a 5% dip after the company released its quarterly report.

It remains up 100% over the past 12 months. 

Bell Potter maintains positive view

Following the quarterly update, Bell Potter released updated guidance on this ASX materials stock. 

The broker said the March quarter production beat its forecasts and guidance.

This was another strong quarter from ALK that has extended the record-breaking start of the merged asset portfolio. While partially offset by higher input costs and reduced antimony prices in the Mach 2026 quarter, the operational and financial performance to date has been a clear validation of the merger strategy. 

The market’s ongoing rerating of the stock and the recent inclusion of ALK in the ASX200 Index reinforces this further. The successful operational delivery has ALK well-placed to meet FY26 guidance (unchanged) and sustain the strong financial performance.

Healthy upside 

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter has reiterated its buy recommendation on Alkane Resources shares. 

It also increased its price target to 2.10 (previously A$1.95). 

From last week’s closing price of $1.60, this indicates an upside potential of 31%. 

ALK offers multimine gold and antimony exposure across three attractive jurisdictions, a strong balance sheet and an operating platform focused on organic and inorganic growth options.

The post Bell Potter just upgraded its outlook on this ASX materials stock tipping 30% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• National Storage REIT to exit ASX 200 after takeover announcement
• Where is opportunity in the ASX real estate sector? Expert
• This ASX materials stock could rise 20% according to this broker

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price is in focus after the company secured a three-year, $35.4 million compute and storage contract, and saw its compute annual recurring revenue jump 31% year on year.

What did Megaport report?

• Latitude.sh secured a 36-month contract worth USD$25.1 million (AUD$35.4 million), expected to start in H1 FY27
• Contract adds approximately USD$8.4 million (AUD$11.8 million) in annual recurring revenue (ARR)
• Compute ARR for the on-demand product (excluding the new deal) rose 31% to USD$58.7 million (AUD$82.7 million)
• Megaport Network ARR (including India) climbed 23% to AUD$272.0 million as of 31 March 2026
• Investment includes roughly USD$12.2 million (AUD$17.2 million) in new server hardware

What else do investors need to know?

The new multi-year contract was signed with a US-based, high-growth technology company operating in the developer tools sector. The customer’s name remains confidential but is backed by institutional capital and serves enterprise AI demand.

Supporting this deal, Megaport will invest in new compute hardware, which will be added to its compute pool after the contract ends, offering further revenue opportunities. This strategic contract contributes to Megaport’s committed capex plan for 2026 and 2027, in line with its recent acquisition of Latitude.sh.

What did Megaport management say?

Megaport CEO Michael Reid said:

Securing a contract of this size reflects both the scale of the opportunities we see in the compute market, and our disciplined approach to deploying capital…We will continue to evaluate similar opportunities, investing alongside committed customer demand at compelling paybacks, ensuring capital is deployed after rigorous analysis while supporting the long-term growth of these markets.

The explosion in AI use cases is driving incredible demand for compute and storage, with CPUs remaining a critical component of the infrastructure that powers AI. As businesses increasingly seek flexible, high-performance automated infrastructure, Megaport is perfectly positioned to capture a growing share of this rapidly accelerating opportunity.

What’s next for Megaport?

Megaport has reaffirmed its FY26 revenue and EBITDA guidance for the combined group as detailed in their February 2026 results, with total group capex to remain between AUD$90 million and $100 million, excluding this strategic contract. Depending on hardware delivery schedules, capex could increase by up to AUD$17.2 million in FY26.

Looking ahead, Megaport says its platform is well positioned to tap into strong AI-driven demand for compute, GPU and storage, and intends to keep pursuing disciplined, customer-led growth opportunities.

Megaport share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Megaport shares have declined 17%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Megaport secures $35.4m compute deal and lifts recurring revenue appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Meet the three new VanEck ASX ETFs set to hit the market on Thursday
• Generation Development Group reports cyber incident
• Why this top ASX 200 gold share could rise 50% from here
• NEXTDC opens $0.5 billion retail entitlement offer
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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 positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) is an S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold share that is well-liked by analysts.

This business is a West Australian underground gold miner. It’s predicted to deliver large returns based on analyst price targets, which is where analysts think the share price will be trading in 12 months from now.

According to CMC Markets, of five recent analyst ratings on the business (all of them buys), the average price target on the business is $9.22, suggesting a possible rise of more than 50% from where it is at the time of writing.

A leading fund manager, L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G), has outlined a number of positives about the business that could make it significantly undervalued.

Why the ASX 200 gold share is an appealing buy

For starters, the Westgold share price is now 25% cheaper than it was on 2 March 2026, as the chart below shows. It can be good to look at resource shares when they suffer declines.

L1 noted that the gold price fell by around 12% in March, which defied typical resilience during geopolitical shocks. The fund manager noted significant selling with large-scale profit-taking. L1 highlighted that Turkey sold around 120 tonnes, or US$20 billion, of gold.

The investment team suggested that the valuation of gold miners remain “compelling” despite the recent decline in the gold price, with key positions trading at a price/earnings (P/E) ratio of less than six at the current gold price. L1 suggested that this allows for a “significant margin of safety over future gold price moves and cost inflation“.

The fund manager said that these are historically low valuations in the gold sector.

What makes Westgold shares a buy?

Specifically on Westgold, L1 likes that the business is transforming its portfolio to a “greater scale and quality”.

L1 noted that the ASX 200 gold share is expected to increase production by almost 50% by FY28 to 470,000 ounces, with scope to grow further beyond that.

The fund manager said there’s “further material upside” from the recently discovered Fletcher Zone.

Plus, the company has a significant net cash balance sheet and it’s unhedged to the gold price.

In terms of the valuation, L1 said that the ASX 200 gold share is trading on a 2027 P/E ratio of around five.

The fund manager believes the long-term drivers of the gold price will remain supportive, including central bank buying, fiscal deficits and elevated geopolitical risks.

The post Why this top ASX 200 gold share could rise 50% from here appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Meet the three new VanEck ASX ETFs set to hit the market on Thursday
• Generation Development Group reports cyber incident
• Megaport secures $35.4m compute deal and lifts recurring revenue
• NEXTDC opens $0.5 billion retail entitlement offer
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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

The Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) share price is in focus as the company opens its retail entitlement offer, aiming to raise $0.5 billion at $12.70 per new share. This follows the successful completion of the institutional component that raised approximately $1.0 billion.

What did NEXTDC report?

• Retail entitlement offer opens to raise approximately $0.5 billion
• Offer price set at $12.70 per new share, same as institutional offer
• Eligible retail shareholders can apply for up to 100% additional shares via a top-up facility
• Combined institutional and retail components target a total of $1.5 billion capital raising
• Retail entitlement offer closes 11 May 2026 (Sydney time)

What else do investors need to know?

NEXTDC’s retail entitlement offer lets eligible retail shareholders purchase new shares at the same price and ratio as institutional investors. Those taking up their full entitlement can also apply for extra new shares, subject to availability, through the top-up facility.

The funds raised will support NEXTDC’s fully funded growth plan, which aligns with record contracted demand being delivered. The company highlights ongoing focus on digital infrastructure, sustainability, and operational excellence including certified carbon-neutral operations.

What’s next for NEXTDC?

After closing the retail entitlement offer on 11 May 2026, NEXTDC will finalise allocations and proceed with its capital plan. This fresh capital supports continued investment in data centre infrastructure to meet surging demand from the digital economy.

NEXTDC intends to maintain its strong focus on sustainability, operational efficiencies, and expansion, helping to power Australia’s intelligence economy and maintain its leadership in cloud connectivity.

NEXTDC share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, NEXTDC shares have risen 33%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post NEXTDC opens $0.5 billion retail entitlement offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Market alert: 2 major ASX bank shares could fall double digits
• 3 reasons to buy BHP shares now and hold for the next decade
• Experts are bullish about the potential of this ASX 200 share!
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

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.

At the start of each week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has become the most shorted ASX share after its short interest jumped to 16.2%. It seems that short sellers are betting against this radiopharmaceuticals company gaining approval for new products from the US FDA.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest rise to 15.6%. There appear to be doubts around this pizza chain operator’s turnaround strategy.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has 14% of its shares held short, which is up since last week. This medical device company’s shares trade on high earnings multiples. It seems that short sellers think they could be overvalued.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.9%, which is up week on week. Although this quick service restaurant operator released a better than expected update this month, short sellers aren’t giving up. They seem to have concerns over its struggling US business.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has 13% of its shares held short, which is flat since last week. Short sellers will have been disappointed to see this wine giant’s shares jump last week following a surprisingly positive trading update.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 12.5%, which is down week on week. There are concerns that travel demand could be impacted by the Middle East conflict and higher airfares.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has 11.9% of its shares held short. This is down week on week. Some short sellers may have been closing positions after the buy now pay later provider impressed with its quarterly update this month.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 11.6%, which is up since last week. There are concerns about this uranium miner’s production outlook beyond 2026.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has 11.5% of its shares held short, which is down since last week. Valuation concerns may be why short sellers are targeting this counter-drone technology company.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has short interest of 11%, which is flat week on week. It is another uranium producer that short sellers are targeting.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Nervous investors turn to ASX 200 defensives as global energy shock drags on
• 1 ASX dividend stock down 50% I’d buy
• Buy, hold, sell: Cochlear, CSL, and DroneShield shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, PolyNovo, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, PolyNovo, 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 Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price has seen enormous gains over the past year, as the below chart shows. We’re going to take a look at how much shareholders have increased the value of their holding in the last 12 months.

Thankfully, there is an uneasy ceasefire between the US and Iran (at the time of writing). However, the disruption to the oil and gas markets has been significant and this has led to higher energy prices, increasing the business’ profit potential.

Time will tell how long energy prices will be affected, but it could take a long time for global supply to return to its full potential.

Let’s see what this has meant for owners of Woodside shares.

Strong performance by Woodside shares

At the time of writing, Woodside shares have risen by approximately 60% in the last 12 months.

That’s an incredible rise, particularly when you consider that the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has only risen by roughly 10% over that period.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, particularly when it comes to extraordinary circumstances, such as the Middle East disruption to energy markets.

Having said that, it’s incredible that Woodside shares have risen around six times more than what the ASX 200 has achieved, not including the dividends.

A $5,000 investment may have risen to approximately $8,000 over this period.

We’ll have to see how much earnings the company is able to generate in the coming period.

Management comments

The business very recently held its annual general meeting (AGM), where the leadership gave some interesting commentary about the current situation.

The Woodside Chair Richard Goyder said:

The Middle East conflict and its impacts on economies around the world – including here in Australia – has once again highlighted the critical importance of energy security, affordability and reliability.

Woodside has been, and is, a reliable supplier of energy which Australia and the world now needs more than ever.

In this complex and unpredictable environment, investors are looking for Woodside to build a profitable and resilient business that can deliver consistent, long-term returns.

Growth in demand for renewables is occurring alongside of – not in place of – increased consumption of oil and natural gas, which Woodside expects to remain essential energy sources for decades to come.

Woodside’s liquefied natural gas offers Asian economies a reliable and lower-carbon alternative to higher greenhouse gas emitting coal, which still accounts for 90% of the region’s power sector emissions.

In a volatile global environment, Australia has an important responsibility to remain a reliable energy supplier to regional trading partners. We also have a significant opportunity to develop new gas reserves that could underpin national energy security and sovereign capability.

Overall, Woodside shares have risen significantly in the last several months. It looks like the business is primed to make solid profits in the years ahead.

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

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 energy shares lift as pessimism over Iran war deepens
• Why the Woodside share price has climbed 40% in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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

Do you have room in your portfolio for some more ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs)?

If you do, it could be worth checking out the three in this article that are highly rated. Here’s what you need to know about them:

BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF (ASX: CRYP)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF.

This ETF captures companies linked to the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Its holdings include stocks such as Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: COIN), Marathon Digital (NASDAQ: MARA), and MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR).

Coinbase is central to this theme. As one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, its revenue is tied to trading activity and broader interest in digital assets.

While high levels of volatility are part of the story, continued development in blockchain technology could support long-term growth. The BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF could suit investors comfortable with that risk profile.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

Another ASX ETF that to look at is the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF.

Rather than focusing on emerging trends, this fund targets companies with strong and consistent free cash flow generation. That can be a useful way to balance a portfolio tilted toward higher-growth themes.

Its holdings include companies such as Costco (NASDAQ: COST), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), and Mastercard (NYSE: MA).

Mastercard highlights the type of business the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF invests in. It is a payment processing giant that generates steady cash flow across different economic conditions. That consistency can support dividends and reinvestment over time.

By focusing on cash-generating businesses, this fund could be one to hold for the long term, particularly as a counterbalance to more growth-oriented exposures. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Video Games And Esports ETF (ASX: GAME)

A final ASX ETF that could be a top pick is the Betashares Video Games And Esports ETF.

It offers investors easy exposure to the global video gaming and esports industry. This is a sector that continues to grow well beyond its early roots.

Video games are no longer a niche hobby. They are a mainstream form of entertainment with recurring revenue through subscriptions, in-game purchases, and digital content.

Among its holdings are the likes of Nintendo, Unity Software (NYSE: U), and Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO). These companies sit at the heart of entertainment, technology, and digital engagement.

This fund was also recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years or more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs to invest $3,000 into in April and May
• 3 BetaShares ASX ETFs I’d buy in April for long-term growth
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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 positions in and has recommended Costco Wholesale, Mastercard, Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive Software, and Unity Software. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Coinbase Global and Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Mastercard and Unity Software. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.