Tag: Stock pick

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose by 6.8% and delivered total returns, including dividends, of 10.32% in 2025.

Here, we look at the 10 best ASX 200 large-cap shares of 2025 for capital growth.

Large caps have a market capitalisation of $10 billion or more. All the stocks below fit this category.

Investors like large caps because they are typically older, well-established companies that pay reliable dividends every year.

Let’s check out last year’s best performers.

10 best ASX 200 large caps for share price growth

1. Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price rose by 164% to close the year at $12.68 apiece.

ASX gold shares had a fantastic year due to a 65% rally in the gold price on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The gold price rose to a new record of US$4,533 per ounce in December.

Evolution Mining shares are $12.92 apiece on Thursday, down 0.6%.

2. Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM)

Newmont Corporation shares increased 152% to finish 2025 at $150.20 apiece.

The ASX gold share continues to streak higher, hitting a new 52-week peak of $162.45 yesterday.

The Newmont share price is $158.66 today, up 0.1%.

3. Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price rose by 93.5% to $12.44 on 31 December.

Today, the ASX 200 large-cap rare earths share is trading at $14.74, down 2.2%.

Lynas shares were the market’s best performer yesterday amid improving sentiment about rare earths prices.

4. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Formerly known as Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group shares lifted 93% to close the year at $4.22.

The ASX 200 large-cap lithium share set a new 52-week high of $4.89 today.

5. Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The share price of the ASX 200’s largest gold miner rose 73% to close the year at $26.73.

The ASX gold share has fallen in the first week of 2026 to $24.88 today.

An operational update released on 2 January prompted some investors to sell.

6. Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

Shares in this property fund manager ripped 71% higher to close out the year at $24.45.

The ASX 200 large-cap real estate investment trust (REIT) is steady at $24.07 today.

7. Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

This ASX 200 large-cap mining share had a turbulent year due to governance issues and other factors.

The Mineral Resources share price plunged to a 52-week low of $14.05 before commencing a recovery.

Mineral Resource shares managed a 59% gain over the year to close at $54.38 apiece on 31 December.

The Mineral Resources share price is $57.91 on Thursday, up 1.1%.

8. Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

Shares in the explosives manufacturer rose 46% to $24.28 in 2025.

Today, Orica shares are trading at $25.85 apiece, down 0.1%.

9. ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) 

The ALS share price rose 46% to $22.04 last year.

ALS provides testing solutions to clients in a wide range of industries around the world.

Today, the ALS share price is $22.79, up 2%.

10. Bluescope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) 

The Bluescope share price lifted 29% to finish the year at $24.07.

The steel maker is in the news this week after rejecting a takeover offer at $30 per share.

A consortium comprising SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and Steel Dynamics, Inc (NASDAQ: STLD) made the offer.

Today, Bluescope shares are $29.31, down 1.9%.

The post 10 best ASX 200 large-cap shares of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: AGL, Coles, and PLS shares
• Why Ansell, Elsight, Ramelius, and SGH shares are falling today
• Which ASX 200 market sectors delivered the best dividend yields in 2025?
• Why this top-tier ASX gold stock is sliding again this week
• BlueScope shares fall after rejecting ‘significantly undervalued’ takeover offer

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 Lynas Rare Earths Ltd and Steel Dynamics. 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) uranium share NexGen Energy Ltd (ASX: NXG) is marching higher today.

NexGen shares closed yesterday trading for $15.90. In afternoon trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $16.08 apiece, up 1.1%.

This sees the NexGen share price up a whopping 147.0% since hitting one-year lows on 9 April.

For some context, the ASX 200, which plumbed its one-year lows on 7 April, has gained 18.9% since its own low water mark.

Amid the sharp increase in the company’s market cap, NexGen officially joined the ASX 200 on 22 December as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices quarterly rebalance.

What’s been lifting the ASX 200 uranium share?

NexGen shares have in part been racing higher amid the miner’s own operational successes at its flagship Rook I uranium project, located in Canada.

The ASX 200 uranium share, and its stockholders, have also benefited from resurgent uranium prices. The nuclear fuel is currently trading for US$82 per pound, up from US$64 per pound in early April.

Investors have been pushing up uranium prices as an increasing number of countries, including the United States, are ramping up their nuclear power ambitions. With a growing global population and surging energy demand from power hungry AI data centres, more countries are seeking reliable baseload power amid the clean energy transition.

And looking at the year ahead, Argonaut’s David Franklyn forecasts more outperformance from NexGen shares (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review)

“We are most bullish on NexGen Energy, the emerging major in the uranium space,” Franklin said.

He added, “Its Arrow project in the Athabasca Basin, Canada, is an emerging global leader with final environmental approvals likely to come through in the first half of 2026.”

The Arrow project sits within NexGen’s broader Rook I project.

What’s the latest from NexGen?

On 2 December, NexGen announced its highest-grade assay results to date from a drill hole at the miner’s 100%-owned Patterson Corridor East (PCE), located nearby the Arrow project Franklin mentioned above.

Commenting on the strong results that helped lift the ASX 200 uranium share on the day, NexGen founder and CEO Leigh Curyer said the “high-grade assay results, consisting of ultra-high grade 0.5 metres 74.8% U3O8, takes PCE into a rare mineralised category on a world scale for uranium deposits”.

Curyer added:

This type of basement-hosted mineralisation is synonymous with Arrow, only 3.5 kilometres to the west. It is clear, the frequency of this ultra-high-grade category of intercepts at Arrow and now PCE, is evidence of a very significant mineralising event occurring at Rook I and in the surrounding region of the southwest Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan.

The post Up 147% since April, why this ASX 200 uranium share is tipped to keep outperforming in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 119% since April, 3 reasons to buy this newly-minted ASX 200 uranium share today
• Broker ratings on 6 ASX shares about to join the ASX 200

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.

Investing in emerging biotechnology stocks can be a high-risk, high-reward scenario, with the three stocks we’re examining today being a prime example.

Generally speaking, companies move through phases from drug discovery to phase I, II, and III clinical trials, and then on to commercialisation.  

Investors who get on board early can make gains of 10 and even 20-fold, although there’s always the risk that trials will fail, and send a company’s shares south in a rapid fashion.

On the other hand, if companies continue to perform and successfully commercialise their products, the upside can be huge.

This one’s a market darling

One of the best performers among Australian biotech shares over the past year has been 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX), whose share price has increased from lows of 22.5 cents to $4.58 currently.

4DMedical is currently right in that sweet spot of moving from cash burn to revenue generation, with several key contract wins in recent months after it secured a key US Food and Drug Administration approval in August.

Since that time, the company has secured contracts with four of the most respected academic medical centres in the US to use its CT:VQ technology for lung scans.

It will be interesting to see how quickly these contract wins translate into material revenue for the company, which reported a net loss of $30 million in its last financial year.

4DMedical founder and Managing Director Andreas Fouras said just this week that the company had “unstoppable momentum”, which appears to flag further good news in the near term.

Despite its major gains over the past year, I think this is a company to watch closely.

Up and coming

A company at an earlier stage of development is heart drug company Nyrada Inc (ASX: NYR), which has also had huge share price gains over the past year.

The company just today announced it had been granted ethics approval to start a Phase II clinical trial of its heart attack drug Xolatryp.

Nyrada shares are up almost 20-fold over the past year, but the company is still valued at a modest $336.2 million.

Ethics approval for the trial is a positive for the company and pushed the shares briefly to a new 12-month high of $1.43.

It will take another nine to 18 months for this particular trial to be concluded. For investors with the right risk appetite, getting in at this stage before positive results potentially emerge could be a winning move.

And finally, there’s PYC Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: PYC), which has more than doubled in value over the past year to $982.8 million.

PYC is progressing a drug candidate called PYC-003, which seeks to address the underlying cause of polycystic kidney disease, with that program currently at the Phase I stage.

The company said it expects to update shareholders on the Phase I trial this year.

PYC is also aiming to develop drug candidates for use in treating retinitis pigmentosa, other forms of vision loss, and the neurodevelopmental disease PMS.

Once again, for investors with the right risk profile, this might be one to keep an eye on.

The post These three biotechs show how the sector can produce huge outsized gains, but are they still good value? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This biotech is approaching 20-bagger status within a year and the good news continues to come
• Why 4DMedical, Regis Resources, Unico Silver, and WiseTech Global shares are pushing higher
• This biotech company’s shares are on a tear – again – after another contract win
• 3 of the fastest-growing stocks on the planet in 2025
• Why 4DMedical, Coronado Global, Metallium, and WiseTech Global shares are falling today

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) produced a total return of 10.32% last year.

That was comprised of 6.8% capital growth and 3.52% dividends.

That dividend yield is below the benchmark index’s historical average of 4.5% per annum since 2000.

The reduction in yield was largely due to mining shares paying smaller dividend amounts after lower iron ore prices impacted earnings.

Additionally, we saw lower dividend yields from the ASX 200 bank stocks last year due to elevated share prices.

Ryan Felsman, Chief Economist at CommSec said:

S&P/ASX 200 index dividend payout ratios have been under pressure in recent years amid weaker earnings growth, with ASX-listed companies paying out less of those earnings as dividends to shareholders.

That has resulted in a declining dividend yield for Aussie shares. 

Let’s take a look at the dividend yields of each of the 11 market sectors in 2025.

Which ASX sectors delivered the best dividend yields?

The sectors are listed in order of highest dividend yield for 2025.

As you can see, ASX 200 utilities shares and energy stocks delivered the best dividend yields.

The worst payers were the technology and healthcare sectors.

Utilities

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 13.22%.

Dividends made up 6.3% of the ASX 200 utilities sector’s total return.

APA Group (ASX: APA) shares were the sector’s No. 1 performer, rising 29% in value.

Energy

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was 3.21%.

The index lost 2.25% of its market cap last year, but dividends of 5.46% brought the sector into the green.

ASX 200 uranium explorer Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) delivered the strongest share price growth, up 63%.

Materials

The No. 1 sector for total returns in 2025 was materials, largely due to strongly rising ASX 200 mining shares.

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was a whopping 36.21%.

Dividends made up 4.5% of the sector’s total return.

ASX gold miner Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) was the materials sector’s strongest riser, up 220%.

Financials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was 12.05%.

Dividends made up 4.08% of the ASX 200 financials sector’s total return.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) shares performed best, rising 66%.

Industrials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was 13.98%.

Dividends made up 3.78% of the ASX 200 industrials sector’s total return.

Defence stock DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) was the No.1 riser, up almost 300%.

Communications

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was 10.56%.

Dividends made up 3.56% of the ASX 200 communications sector’s total return.

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) shares outperformed, rising 41% in value last year.

Real estate & REITs

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was 8.38%.

Dividends made up 3.35% of the ASX 200 real estate sector’s total return.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) was the strongest share, up 70%.

Consumer discretionary

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) last year was 4.09%.

Dividends made up 2.32% of the consumer discretionary sector’s total return.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) was the sector’s highest riser, up 113%.

Consumer Staples

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 2.01%.

The index fell by 1.43% last year, but a dividend yield of 3.44% put the sector into the green for the year.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) was the consumer staples sector’s strongest riser, up 59%.

Healthcare

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was the worst performer of the 11 market sectors last year.

The index fell 24.91%, with a small dividend yield of 1.25% only slightly offsetting the decline.

The total return for the ASX 200 healthcare sector in 2025 was (23.66%).

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) shares had the best price growth, up 49%.

Technology

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) tanked in 2025. The total return was (20.8%).

ASX tech stocks typically pay low or no dividends because they are much younger companies than their global counterparts.

The tech index fell 21.04% and an 0.24% dividend yield only slightly mitigated the decline.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares were the standout performers of the sector, rising 77%.

The post Which ASX 200 market sectors delivered the best dividend yields in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 incredible ASX growth shares to buy and hold forever in 2026
• How I’d build a $1,000-a-month passive income from ASX shares
• 5 unbeatable ASX stocks I’m eager to buy in 2026
• 3 of the fastest-growing stocks on the planet in 2025
• 5 best ASX 200 industrial shares of 2025

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 Aussie Broadband and DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband, Eagers Automotive Ltd, and Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Nyrada Inc (ASX: NYR) hit a new high-water mark for the year after the company said it had received ethics approval to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of its flagship drug candidate in patients who have suffered a heart attack.

The biotechnology company‘s shares have been trending sharply higher, particularly since mid-October, and are now up almost 20-fold from levels as low as 7.4 cents about this time a year ago.

The shares hit a new 12-month high of $1.43 on the clinical trial news on Thursday, meaning shareholders are sitting on an almost 20-fold return over a year.

Trial set to start soon

The company said on Thursday it had received ethics approval to go ahead with its Phase II trial of the compound Xolatryp, which will be tested for its use in treating “myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in patients suffering a heart attack”.

The company went on to say:

The trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of Xolatryp in male and female patients of non-childbearing potential presenting with a heart attack undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention or angioplasty with stenting. Approximately 200 patients will be dosed for this 1:1 drug to placebo trial.

The company said while safety was the primary endpoint for the trial, multiple efficacy signals were also being evaluated, including cardiac function, extent of cardiac injury, and the incidence of arrhythmias of interest.

The ethics approval allows the company to start establishing trial sites across Australia, with patient approval expected to start in March and up to 10 hospitals excepted to be involved.

The company said that “subject to recruitment rates, the trial is expected to conclude within nine to 18 months of first patient dosing”.

The company added:

Recruitment timelines will be closely monitored, and Nyrada’s study plan allows for flexible expansion to additional hospitals in Australia or internationally to further strengthen participation. Countries with well-aligned regulatory frameworks, such as New Zealand, Singapore, and Canada, offer potential avenues for broadening the trial’s reach.

According to the company’s website, “Xolatryp, is designed to offer cardioprotection by preventing calcium ion overload in heart cells, thereby enhancing patient outcomes. Because heart cells cannot regenerate after death, this approach is critical for recovery”.

The company said that in preclinical studies, “Xolatryp provided 86% cardioprotection when administered intravenously over 24 hours, starting 30 minutes post-MI event. Additionally, Xolatryp improved cardiac function and significantly reduced injury-related biomarkers”.

Nyrada was valued at $336.1 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post This biotech is approaching 20-bagger status within a year and the good news continues to come appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX 200 market sectors delivered the best dividend yields in 2025?
• Why this ASX 200 gold stock is tipped for a ‘major re-rate’ in 2026
• With mining to kick off next month, this bauxite miner’s stock is on the rise
• Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher
• Why this top-tier ASX gold stock is sliding again this week

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) has smashed the benchmark returns over the past year. Yet the gold miner has still underperformed many of its peers.

In early afternoon trade today, Bellevue Gold shares are up 1.5%, changing hands for $1.70 apiece. That sees the Bellevue Gold share price up an impressive 59.9% since this time last year, racing ahead of the 4.2% gains posted by the ASX 200 over this same time.

But with the gold price having rocketed 68% over 12 months, currently trading for US$4,454 per ounce, investors in the Aussie gold miner have watched many of Bellevue’s rivals post far juicier gains.

Indeed, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) – which also contains some smaller miners outside of ASX 200 gold stocks – is up a blistering 114.7% over the past full year.

However, 2026 could prove to be a different story for Bellevue Gold.

Why 2026 could see Bellevue Gold shares outshine

According to Acorn Capital’s Rick Squire, 2026 is shaping up to potentially be a much more profitable year for shareholders in the ASX 200 gold stock (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review).

“Bellevue Gold is an emerging gold producer but struggled in 2025 during the start-up of its high-grade underground operation,” Squire said.

“Now they have raised more money and lowered guidance, Bellevue has the potential to be hedge and debt free by late 2026,” Squire added. “If this is achieved, the company could experience a major re-rate.”

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

Bellevue Gold released its preliminary December quarterly update yesterday.

Shares in the ASX 200 gold stock closed down 6.4% on the day, after the miner reported delays in access to high-grade headings in production at its Deacon and Viago mine areas in the last week of December. This followed a safety incident at the site.

Underground development resumed on 4 January, and Bellevue Gold reported the high-grade tonnes will now be processed in January.

On the cash flow front, Bellevue Gold reported free quarterly cash flow (before voluntary future hedge book pre-deliveries but including the 4,700 ounces of gold of December 2025 quarter contracted hedge book deliveries) of $62 million. That’s up from $33 million in the September 2025 quarter.

As for the hedge-free potential Acorn Capital’s Squire mentioned above, the ASX 200 gold stock noted, “Bellevue continued pre-delivering gold and reducing near term hedge book commitments, which will increase future spot gold price exposure.”

The post Why this ASX 200 gold stock is tipped for a ‘major re-rate’ in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Bellevue Gold, Harvey Norman, Karoon Energy, and Westpac shares are falling today
• This gold stock just hit a fresh high, but at least one broker thinks it can go higher
• Scores of ASX mining shares hit 52-week highs
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in December
• What on earth is going on with ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Canyon Resources Ltd (ASX: CAY) were trading sharply higher on Thursday after the company said it was on track to start mining at its project in Cameroon next month.

Canyon said the surface miner had arrived at the Minim Martap mine development, which would enable mining to start in February.

Locomotives and wagons to transport the mined ore to port were scheduled for delivery in the first quarter, with ore haulage set to begin in the second quarter, “supporting first bauxite shipment targeted for late June 2026”.

Looking to value add

While the company will initially export bauxite ore, it was also working on a feasibility study for an alumina refinery, and this work was 45% complete, the company said.

That study was “advancing Canyon’s downstream value-add strategy and supporting its objective of positioning the company as an integrated participant in the global aluminium value chain. The study leverages the cost benefits of operating in Cameroon and the project’s low-silica, high-grade bauxite, with completion targeted for Q3, 2026”.

The positions of Mine Director and Port Manager had also been filled, the company said.

The company added:

Both appointees are scheduled to be in-country in this month, materially strengthening Canyon’s on-the ground leadership team as the company transitions from development into operations. These appointments significantly enhance operational readiness across mining and port logistics and support the continued progression of the Minim Martap Bauxite Project toward first production.

Canyon Chief Executive Officer Peter Secker said the company continued to achieve key operational milestones.

Project readiness continues to be strengthened, with key senior leadership appointments now completed. Downstream value creation remains a key focus, with the alumina refinery feasibility study advancing well and reinforcing Canyon’s long-term, value-add development strategy. Canyon is fully funded through stage 1 production through a balanced mix of debt and equity, underpinned by strong support from domestic and international investors and key in-country stakeholders, as the company remains firmly on track toward first production.

The Minim Martap project is located in central Cameroon, near the main rail line leading to the port of Douala.

The company has raised US$160 million in debt and equity to build the mine, which has a mineral resource of 1.1 billion tonnes of ore, and a 144 million tonne reserve at a grade of 51.2%.

The project has an initial 20-year mine plan.

Canyon was valued at $453.7 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post With mining to kick off next month, this bauxite miner’s stock is on the rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back on form and pushing higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.3% to 8,722.9 points.

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

Canyon Resources Ltd (ASX: CAY)

The Canyon Resources share price is up 9% to 24 cents. This follows the release of an update on the Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon. According to the release, the surface miner has arrived in Cameroon, with mining operations scheduled to commence in February. Canyon’s CEO, Peter Secker, commented: “Following the arrival of the surface miner in Cameroon as well as confirmation of the delivery of the Rolling Stock scheduled in Q1, the key operational milestones continue to be achieved across mining, logistics and infrastructure workstreams. Project readiness continues to be strengthened, with key senior leadership appointments now completed. The Mine Director and Port Manager roles have been filled, with both executives scheduled to be on the ground this month to support the ramp-up to first production.”

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price is up 22% to 35.5 cents. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium company. The gain was so strong that the Australian stock exchange asked for it to explain the move. Core Lithium responded, stating that it “is not aware of any other explanation that it may have for the recent trading in its securities.” Though, with lithium prices rebounding strongly recently, investors may be betting on the company restarting its lithium mining operations in the near future.

Duratec Ltd (ASX: DUR)

The Duratec share price is up 9% to $2.03. This morning, the contractor revealed that its Duratec Ertech Joint Venture has been instructed to proceed with early procurement of approximately $5 million of long lead items. This is to assist program and project timing as part of the early contractor involvement head contract for the planning phase of infrastructure upgrades to support future submarine capability at HMAS Stirling. Managing Director, Chris Oates, commented: “Duratec is proud to play a key role in supporting Australia’s future submarine capability through these critical infrastructure upgrades at HMAS Stirling.”

Unico Silver Ltd (ASX: USL)

The Unico Silver share price is up 3.5% to 98.5 cents. This silver miner’s shares have rallied higher this week following the release of drilling results from its 100%-owned Joaquin Project. Unico Silver revealed that infill and extensional drilling at La Negra SE confirms that there is a broad, shallow zone of oxide silver-gold mineralisation over 850 metres strike and 175 metres vertical extent. Importantly, it remains open to the south-east and at depth. The company’s managing director, Todd Williams, commented: “These results confirm the scale and geometry required for conventional open-pit development and support our decision to move directly to a Pre-Feasibility Study Mineral Resource Estimate.”

The post Why Canyon Resources, Core Lithium, Duratec, and Unico Silver shares are storming higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• With mining to kick off next month, this bauxite miner’s stock is on the rise
• Core Lithium shares rocket 17% to a 2-year high. Can the rally keep going?
• Guess which ASX All Ords stock is rocketing today on AUKUS partnership development news
• Why 4DMedical, Regis Resources, Unico Silver, and WiseTech Global shares are pushing higher
• Up 400% in a year: Why is this ASX silver stock breaking records today?

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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are under pressure today, sliding around 2.2% to about $24.80. This comes as traders digest weaker operational news and lowered expectations.

Over the past month the stock is down more than 7%, reversing some of last year’s strong gains.

So, why is this top-tier gold producer losing ground while gold prices remain strong?

Let’s take a closer look.

Softer production update weighs on sentiment

The main reason for today’s sell-off appears to be Northern Star’s recent operational update, released earlier this month.

In the December quarter, the company sold around 348,000 ounces of gold, taking first half FY26 gold sales to roughly 729,000 ounces. That result came in below what many analysts had been expecting.

More importantly, Northern Star cut its full year FY26 production guidance. The company now expects to produce 1.6 to 1.7 million ounces, down from its previous guidance range of 1.7 to 1.85 million ounces.

Management pointed to a series of operational challenges behind the downgrade.

What went wrong at key sites?

Several assets experienced issues during the quarter.

At the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, a crusher failure caused about four weeks of lost throughput. This reduced processing volumes and delayed gold production.

At the Pogo mine in Alaska, lower grades and higher dilution impacted output. There were also pockets of unplanned downtime across other operations, including Yandal.

Broker views turn more cautious

Broker sentiment has clearly cooled following Northern Star’s recent production downgrade.

Following Northern Star’s operational update, several major brokers have cut their price targets and adjusted their recommendations.

Morgan Stanley reduced its price target by 5.1% to $26.00 per share and downgraded the stock to ‘hold’, signalling concerns around near-term production reliability and cost pressures.

Macquarie also trimmed its valuation, lowering its price target by 3% to $31.00 per share. While the broker remains optimistic about the longer-term outlook, it flagged execution risks across key assets following recent operational disruptions.

Meanwhile, Citi cut its price target by 2.1% to $27.50 per share, reflecting lower gold sales volumes and the impact of reduced FY26 guidance. Citi’s commentary suggested costs may remain elevated until production stability improves.

Jefferies went against the trend slightly, lifting its price target by 6.1% to $31.00 per share. However, the broker warned investors may remain cautious until Northern Star delivers more reliable and consistent quarterly results.

Gold prices help, but nerves remain

Gold prices remain near record highs, which continues to support earnings across the sector. In theory, this should be positive for Northern Star.

However, today’s move shows that operational performance still matters more than gold prices in the short term.

Looking ahead, investors will be watching the company’s interim results to be released next month. Any improvement in production stability or cost control could help the share price find support.

The post Why this top-tier ASX gold stock is sliding again this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Most investors say they want to buy shares for the long term. Only a few actually invest as if they mean it.

Holding a company forever doesn’t require perfect timing or flawless execution. What it does require is owning businesses that stay relevant, reinvest intelligently, and grow alongside the world rather than against it.

As 2026 gets started, there are a handful of ASX growth shares that I believe meet that test. These are not short-term trades or cyclical punts. They are businesses I would be comfortable owning through market corrections, economic slowdowns, and inevitable periods of volatility.

Here are three incredible ASX growth shares I’d buy and hold forever.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is one of the most impressive growth stories on the ASX. Over the last 15 years, its shares have recorded a return of 25% per annum on average. 

The company provides enterprise software to government, education, and large organisations. These are customers that value reliability, long-term relationships, and deep integration. Once TechnologyOne’s systems are in place, switching becomes difficult, expensive, and risky. That has historically created high customer retention and long contract durations.

The shift to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model has materially improved the quality of its earnings, increasing recurring revenue, margin stability, and cash flow visibility. At the same time, its international expansion provides a longer runway for growth beyond Australia and New Zealand.

TechnologyOne shares rarely look cheap, but that’s often the case with genuinely high-quality compounders. If held long enough, I think this ASX growth share has the potential to deliver consistent returns for decades.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 is a business that benefits from both scale and habit.

With more than 90 million monthly active users worldwide, the company has built a platform that families rely on for safety, location sharing, and peace of mind. Importantly, engagement is high, and the product becomes more valuable as more family members are added.

What I think makes Life360 particularly attractive as a forever hold is its monetisation strategy. The company has demonstrated it can convert free users into paying subscribers over time without undermining the core user experience. As features expand and services deepen, average revenue per user has room to grow. And for users that don’t convert, Life360 has created an advertising business to monetise them.

Digital safety and location-based services are not fads. They are becoming more relevant as families become more connected and more mobile. If Life360 continues to execute, I believe it has the potential to compound for many years.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

DroneShield is the highest-risk stock on this list, but I believe the long-term rewards justify its inclusion.

The company operates in counter-drone technology, a market that barely existed a decade ago but is now mission-critical for defence, government, and critical infrastructure. As drones become cheaper, more capable, and more widely available, the need to detect and neutralise them only increases.

DroneShield’s technology spans software, sensors, and electronic warfare, giving it flexibility as threats evolve.

This ASX growth share will almost certainly remain volatile. But for investors willing to think in decades rather than quarters, DroneShield’s relevance could increase significantly over time. That’s exactly the kind of uncertainty I’m comfortable holding when the long-term opportunity is so large.

Foolish takeaway

Buying and holding shares forever isn’t about finding companies that never disappoint. It’s about owning businesses that stay useful, adaptable, and economically relevant as the world changes.

TechnologyOne, Life360, and DroneShield all operate in markets with long growth runways, strong demand drivers, and business models that can scale over time. They won’t all perform equally every year, but I believe they share the most important trait of all: the ability to compound.

The post 3 incredible ASX growth shares to buy and hold forever in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Life360, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.