Tag: Stock pick

Gold has delivered a stunning performance in 2025.

The precious metal started the year trading at about US$2,600 per ounce.

Since then, the gold price has reached new records on more than 50 occasions, including a fresh all-time high on Monday.

Overall, bullion prices have now shot up by close to 70% since early January, climbing to more than US$4,440 per ounce at the time of writing.

This compares with a 6.77% gain for the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) across the same period.

Not only that, but several major investment banks believe the rally may still have further to run in 2026.

For example, Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) has set a year-end 2026 gold price target of US$4,900 per ounce.

In addition, analysts at the American bank believe that further “significant upside” to this forecast is possible.

Similarly, analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) and Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) believe bullion could hit US$5,000 per ounce in 2026.

This bullish outlook has already proven a windfall for several ASX 200 mining stocks with gold production central to their operations.

Below, we present three such ASX 200 mining stocks that have been riding the gravy train in 2025 as the gold price exploded.

More specifically, the companies below have already seen their respective share prices more than double since the start of January.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM)

As the world’s biggest gold producer, Newmont needs little introduction.

The company operates a vast portfolio of gold mines scattered across Africa, Australia, Latin America, North America, and Papua New Guinea. 

This ASX 200 mining stock produced more than 3.3 million ounces of the precious yellow metal just in the first half of 2025.

So far this year, Newmont shares have rocketed by 161%.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

Evolution Mining has delivered an even stronger performance.

The company is an established gold and copper producer with six mines across Australia and Canada.

Overall, it churned out 751,000 ounces of gold in FY25.

Shares in this ASX 200 mining stock have ballooned by 167% since early January.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The standout performer in 2025, however, has been Genesis Minerals.

The company operates several gold mines in Western Australia’s Leonora District, which collectively produced more than 210,000 ounces of gold in FY25.

However, the group expects output of between 260,000 and 290,000 ounces in FY26.

Genesis shares have soared by 192% since the start of the year.

The post Gold has just smashed record highs and these 3 ASX 200 mining stocks are riding the wave appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Bell Potter names the best ASX gold stocks to buy in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bart Bogacz 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 and JPMorgan Chase. 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.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) shares are on the move on Tuesday morning.

At the time of writing, the industrial property company’s shares are up 8% to $31.48.

Why are Goodman shares rocketing?

This morning, Goodman announced that it has signed an agreement with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) to establish a A$14 billion (8 billion euros) European data centre partnership.

According to the release, the 50/50 Partnership involves an initial total capital commitment of A$3.9 billion (2.2 billion euros) to develop a portfolio of data centre projects in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris.

The partnership will be known as the Goodman European Data Centre Development Partnership (GEDCDP) and is CPP Investments’ first data centre partnership in Europe, and will significantly add to its data centre portfolio.

Goodman revealed that the partnership’s portfolio will comprise four projects totalling 435 MW of primary power and 282 MW of IT load. There will be two centres in Paris (PAR01 and PAR02), one in Frankfurt (FRA02), and one in Amsterdam (AMS01).

All projects provide speed to market with secured power connections, planning permits, and substantially progressed site infrastructure works. This means that construction can commence by 30 June 2026.

This isn’t the first time the two parties have worked together. CPP Investments has partnered with Goodman Group since 2009 across Australia, Asia, The Americas, and Europe. It notes that the GEDCDP follows the establishment of the Goodman Hong Kong Data Centre Partnership and other data centre partnerships in Europe and Japan.

AI demand

Commenting on the news, Goodman’s CEO, Greg Goodman, said:

A portfolio of this size and quality – located in Europe’s FLAP markets – is rare. These powered locations are highly sought after to meet the rapidly growing requirement for cloud computing and AI adoption, particularly when they offer speed to market and delivery certainty. The quality and scale of this Partnership make it ideal for our long-term relationship with CPP Investments. We’re pleased to be investing alongside them for their entry into the European data centre market.

This sentiment was echoed by Max Biagosch, who is senior managing director and global head of real assets for CPP Investments. He said:

We are pleased to expand our longstanding partnership with Goodman Group and establish a strong European foothold in the data centre sector across key Tier 1 markets, aligned with our global data centre strategy. By combining Goodman’s extensive development capabilities and powered landbank, with our global expertise in digital infrastructure investments, this partnership allows us to capitalise on a compelling growth opportunity for the long-term benefit of CPP contributors and beneficiaries.

The post Goodman shares rocket 8% on $14b European data centre news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Artrya Limited (ASX: AYA) shares are having a good start to the day.

In morning trade, the ASX tech stock is up 6% to $4.10.

Why is this ASX tech stock X?

Investors have been bidding Artrya’s shares higher after it announced another customer win in the United States.

Artrya is a medical technology company developing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions to improve the detection and management of coronary artery disease.

It notes that its proprietary software analyses coronary CT scans to identify key biomarkers of heart disease. This supports clinicians in diagnosing patients more accurately and efficiently.

The company states that its mission is to advance cardiac care through Innovative technology, with regulatory, and commercial activities underway across key international markets.

What did it announce?

This morning, the ASX tech stock announced its third U.S. commercial customer, with the signing of a commercial agreement with Cone Health for the use of its Salix platform.

The five-year agreement has a minimum value of US$0.45 million for the use of the Salix Coronary Anatomy platform, with additional per-scan revenue from Salix Coronary Plaque module.

Salix will be fully integrated across Cone Health’s network of hospitals and cardiology practices.

This means that it has successfully completed the conversion of all three U.S. foundation partners to commercial customers in 2025.

Commenting on the contract win, the ASX tech stock’s co-founder and CEO, John Konstantopoulos, said:

We are very pleased to secure Cone Health, one of North Carolina’s leading healthcare networks, as our third U.S. commercial customer. We have now successfully converted all three of our foundation partners to commercial customers, which highlights the benefits of our partner collaborations to validate the clinical and commercial use of Salix. This also shows our growing commercial momentum as move into 2026, where we will focus on growing the use of the Salix® platform and plaque module throughout our customer base.

Cone Health’s Medical Director of Cardiac CT and Nuclear Cardiology, Dr. Wesley O’Neal, MD, adds:

We are delighted to build on our successful collaboration with Artrya and bring this transformative Salix technology into the clinical workflow across our network. Through this process we can see major benefits in the way that Salix can provide accurate, point-of-care interpretation of CCTA scans within minutes, enabling our team to deliver faster, more precise diagnoses for our patients. Moving forward we believe this will advance patient care across our network.

Artrya shares are now up approximately 80% over the past three months.

The post This ASX tech stock is jumping 6% on big US AI news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Two of the big three cloud computing companies are Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN). While both Google Cloud and AWS (Amazon Web Services) have seen solid growth, Alphabet’s stock far outpaced Amazon’s in 2025, climbing nearly 60% as of this writing, versus a modest gain for Amazon.

Let’s look at which stock is set to outperform in 2026. 

The case for Alphabet

Alphabet has been one of the best-performing mega-cap tech stocks in 2025, largely because it was able to flip the script from being viewed as an AI loser to perhaps having the potential to be one of the biggest AI winners. While the company turned in some strong numbers, its performance was much more about changing perceptions.

It did this largely through the advancements with its Gemini foundational large language model (LLM) and custom artificial intelligence (AI) chips. Gemini has become one of the best LLMs in the market today, and Alphabet has infused it throughout its products, including its core search business. AI-powered features, like AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Lens, have helped the company accelerate its search revenue, while its Gemini stand-alone app has also gained traction.

At the same time, its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) have become increasingly viewed as one of the top alternative AI chips to Nvidia‘s graphics processing units (GPUs). These chips are in their seventh generation, and Alphabet uses them to power much of its internal workloads, giving it a huge structural cost advantage. Meanwhile, the chips are so highly regarded that Anthropic has committed to buying $21 billion worth of them next year.

As time progresses, the advantage Alphabet has of owning both top-notch AI chips and a top-tier LLM should only widen, as it creates a powerful flywheel that will make both better over time.

The case for Amazon

While Alphabet was able to change investor perceptions this year, Amazon was not. However, the company could now be in a similar spot to where Alphabet was heading into 2025.

Much of Amazon’s lackluster recent performance can be tied to the growth of AWS, which trails that of Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. However, Amazon saw AWS revenue growth accelerate to 20% last quarter, and the company said it was capacity-constrained. As such, it’s boosting its capital expenditure (capex) budget to try to meet growing demand.

At the same time, the data center that it built for Anthropic, featuring its custom Trainium chips, is still ramping up. It is also in talks with OpenAI about making an investment in the company, where OpenAI would start to use some of its AI chips. The two companies already signed a $38 billion cloud computing deal, although that was to use Nvidia GPUs.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s e-commerce business is really clicking. The company is seeing huge operating leverage come from its robotics and AI investments, while its high-margin sponsored ad business is growing quickly from a large base. This could be seen in its third-quarter results, as its North America revenue rose 11%, while its segment adjusted operating income soared 28%.

The verdict

Alphabet and Amazon are two of my favorite stocks heading into 2026. Both stocks are trading at attractive valuations with forward price-to-earnings ratios (P/Es) of below 30 times and solid growth prospects ahead.

Data by YCharts.

I think Alphabet is going to become one of the biggest winners in AI over the long term, but for 2026, I think Amazon’s stock can outperform. As AWS revenue continues to accelerate and Trainium gains some traction, Amazon can begin to shift perceptions, much like Alphabet did last year. I think that will really help power a stock that is trading well below other leading retailers like Walmart and Costco, which have forward P/Es nearing 40 times.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Alphabet vs. Amazon: Which stock will outperform in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet and Amazon. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Costco Wholesale, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If Aussie bank stocks were hosting a party in 2025, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has been one of the last ones still dancing.

After surging roughly 28% in the past 12 months, ANZ shares have left many investors asking: Is this a breakout, or did we just celebrate too early?

Strong loans, new CEO’s playbook

ANZ’s stellar performance this year has a few clear beats behind it. Strong loan and deposit growth surprised markets mid-year. Retail and commercial segments outperformed modest expectations, enough to give the ANZ share price a lift.

A fresh strategic playbook from new CEO Nuno Matos, with a focus on digital push, cost savings and sustainability goals, has also sparked optimism that ANZ isn’t just another old-school bank. Investors love growth plans with tech and cost cuts, even if the real work is yet to show up in profit tables.

Another tailwind? A resilient economic backdrop in ANZ’s key markets: growing business confidence in New Zealand supports its cross-Tasman earnings engine.

What’s not to love?

Before you crown ANZ king of the big four ASX banks, there are some less-sparkly details bubbling under the surface.

Despite the headline rally, ANZ’s latest full-year results showed cash profit falling and net interest margins under squeeze. Some evidence that strength isn’t uniform across the business.

Mortgage and deposit growth also have lagged peers. Massive restructuring and ambitious digital overhaul plans might be exciting on slides, but execution is a notoriously shaky part of big bank turnarounds.

Only last week, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced that the Federal Court had ordered ANZ to pay a record $250 million penalty. This is for compliance breaches and systemic risk management failures, and an expensive reminder that reputational risks can weigh on valuations too.

What next for ANZ shares?

Analysts today are decidedly measured on ANZ shares’ prospects. Macquarie maintains a neutral stance with a target of $35, almost 3.5% below the current price of $36.27.

Other notes from brokers suggest that ANZ may be relatively cheap compared to its big four peers on certain metrics. However, that cheapness reflects real structural challenges, like cost inefficiencies and competitive headwinds.

TradingView data shows that most market watchers recommend the banking giant as a hold. The average 12-month price target is 4.5% below the current share price.

The forecasts seem to imply that the $108 billion banking stock is running out of steam. The most positive analyst rating is $40.40, representing a potential gain of 11%, while the most pessimistic broker predicts a 25% decline in ANZ shares over the next 12 months.

The post Can ANZ shares go any higher after a 28% sizzle in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• $5,000 invested in ANZ shares at the start of 2025 is now worth…

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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and 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.

As 2025 draws to a close, global share markets are once again hovering near record highs. 

As usual, bulls and bears are already dusting off their crystal balls and making bold predictions for 2026 — even though predicting short-term market moves has a success rate not far removed from astrology.

Beyond the noise, optimism around innovation and productivity — particularly driven by AI — remains strong. Corporate earnings across broad parts of the market have been resilient, and risk appetite has largely held up despite persistent geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

At the same time, one of the most influential figures in investing is quietly preparing to step aside.

After more than six decades at the helm, Warren Buffett is nearing the end of his tenure as CEO and chief capital allocator of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B). And the actions he and Berkshire have taken in recent years may offer investors one final, valuable lesson.

The rising cash pile tells a story

Berkshire Hathaway’s cash balance has been climbing steadily for years. Rather than aggressively deploying capital as markets have rallied, Buffett has been a net seller of equities, a notable departure from much of his historical behaviour.

For decades, Buffett was known for leaning into opportunities, even when sentiment was uncertain. Today, he is doing the opposite: exercising restraint.

That doesn’t mean he believes markets are about to collapse. Nor does it suggest equities are inherently unattractive. Instead, it reflects a simple reality: truly compelling opportunities that meet Berkshire’s strict criteria are harder to find at current prices.

Size changes the game

One nuance often missed in commentary around Buffett’s caution is scale.

Berkshire Hathaway is now one of the largest capital allocators in history. It can no longer meaningfully invest in smaller, fast-growing companies, even if they appear attractively priced. Those opportunities simply do not move the needle.

Buffett needs whales: enormous, high-quality businesses capable of absorbing tens of billions of dollars at a time. That naturally narrows the opportunity set and raises the bar for what qualifies as “investable”.

So while parts of the market may look stretched, Buffett’s actions also reflect the constraints of size, not just valuation concerns.

Still the greatest investor of our time

Regardless of market conditions, Buffett’s track record speaks for itself. Few investors have compounded capital as consistently, across as many cycles, for as long.

That alone makes his behaviour worth studying, especially as he approaches the final chapter of an extraordinary career.

And while markets, industries, and technologies have changed dramatically since the 1960s, Buffett’s core principles have remained remarkably stable.

Three takeaways for everyday investors

1. Stick to your process

Buffett has evolved over the years — moving from “cigar butt” bargains to wonderful businesses — but the foundation has not changed. He still focuses on quality companies with durable competitive advantages, purchased at fair or discounted prices.

The lesson is not to copy Buffett’s portfolio, but to commit to a repeatable process you understand and trust.

2. Don’t confuse patience with fear

Berkshire has not stopped investing. It has simply become more selective.

When Buffett can’t find opportunities that meet his standards, he is comfortable holding cash and waiting. History shows that when markets eventually stumble and fear rises, Berkshire is often ready to act decisively.

For individual investors, the message is clear: investing should be rational, not emotional. There is no obligation to deploy capital simply because markets are rising.

3. Never lose sight of the long term

Despite his caution today, Buffett has never wavered in his belief that equities are the greatest wealth-creation vehicle in history.

Human progress continues. Productivity improves. Businesses adapt. Over long periods, the stock market has rewarded patience and discipline.

That conviction has underpinned Buffett’s success — and it remains as relevant now as ever.

The enduring lesson

As Buffett prepares to step back, his final message is not a warning of doom. It is a reminder.

Stay disciplined. Respect valuations. Be patient when opportunities are scarce. And above all, keep investing with a long-term mindset.

Markets will rise and fall. Styles will come and go. But the principles that built one of history’s greatest investment records remain timeless.

The post With 2026 approaching, Warren Buffett is sending investors 3 clear signals appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• A new leadership group is emerging at Berkshire Hathaway. Here are some changes that could be in store for Warren Buffett’s massive holding company.
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Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant owns shares in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are a lot of options out there for Aussie investors to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at three Australian shares that analysts are recommending as buys this week, courtesy of The Bull. Here’s what they are bullish on:

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The team at Bell Potter is positive on investment bank Macquarie Group and has named it as a buy. It highlights its resilient earnings and strategic plays as reasons to be positive. The broker explains:

This diversified financial services group is actively advancing strategic plays. The company’s asset management division has lodged a $11.6 billion takeover bid for Qube Holdings, a provider of integrated import and export logistics, at $5.20 a share. MQG recently sold its United States and European public asset management business to Nomura, a financial services group. MQG has increased its interim dividend and extended its buy-back program. Despite a softer profit phase, core earnings remain resilient, reinforcing our buy recommendation.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

Bell Potter’s analysts also think that almond producer Select Harvests could be an Australian share to buy now.

It notes that almond prices have rebounded, which has supported improvements in its balance sheet. In addition, cyclical tailwinds and margin improvement initiatives, together with rising global demand, look set to support its future growth. The broker said:

Select Harvests has delivered a solid recovery, supported by a rebound in almond prices and healthy crop volumes. The business has significantly strengthened its balance sheet, halving net debt and returning to strong cash flow generation. Management commentary points to further upside through operational efficiencies and potential processing volume growth. Given rising global demand for almonds and favourable export trends, SHV is poised to benefit from cyclical tailwinds and internal margin improvement initiatives. This remains a compelling agribusiness story in recovery mode.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

The team at Shaw & Partners is a fan of this pathology provider and has named it as a buy.

The broker highlights the company’s strong growth outlook for FY 2026, its global scale, and dividend yield as reasons to be positive. It said:

Company operations include pathology, radiology, laboratory medicine, general practice medicine and corporate medical services. The company has operations in Australasia, Europe and North America. Revenue of $9.645 billion in fiscal year 2025 was up 8 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Net profit of $514 million was up 7 per cent. The company is expecting strong earnings per share growth in fiscal year 2026. Global scale and dividend yield supports our buy recommendation. The shares have risen from $20.89 on November 18 to trade at $22.55 on December 18.

The post Analysts say these 3 Australian shares are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Metrics Master Income Trust (ASX: MXT) share price is in focus as the trust declared a monthly unfranked distribution of 1.34 cents per unit, scheduled for payment on 9 January 2026.

What did Metrics Master Income Trust report?

• Monthly distribution of 1.34 cents per ordinary fully paid unit
• Unfranked distribution, with 100% unfranked component
• Ex-distribution date: 31 December 2025
• Record date: 2 January 2026
• Payment scheduled for: 9 January 2026
• Distribution Reinvestment Plan (DRP) available; election cut-off is 5 January 2026

What else do investors need to know?

This monthly payout fits with Metrics Master Income Trust’s practice of providing regular income to unit holders from its portfolio of private credit assets. Investors can choose to have their distribution paid as cash or participate in the trust’s DRP to reinvest the payout in additional MXT units, with no discount applied under the DRP this time.

The announced distribution is not franked, which means it does not carry any franking credits and will be taxed at the investor’s marginal rate. The trust confirms the amount is estimated and will be finalised by 7 January 2026.

What’s next for Metrics Master Income Trust?

Metrics Master Income Trust continues to target reliable monthly income through its diversified loan portfolio. The DRP provides an option for investors to increase their holdings automatically without brokerage fees, supporting compounding returns over time.

Looking ahead, unitholders can expect ongoing monthly distribution updates as the trust maintains its income-oriented mandate. Investors should keep an eye on future announcements for confirmed distribution amounts and any potential changes to the DRP or payout timing.

Metrics Master Income Trust share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Metrics Master Income Trust shares have declined 8%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Metrics Master Income Trust pays January 2026 monthly distribution appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Few assets spark as much debate as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC). Every sharp pullback revives the same question: Is this the start of a crash, or just another bout of volatility in a long-term uptrend?

The honest answer is that no one knows what the price of any asset will do over the short term. That uncertainty is magnified with Bitcoin, which remains far more volatile than shares, bonds, or property. Large price moves in either direction can happen quickly and often shock markets.

For investors, the more useful question is not whether Bitcoin will crash in 2026, but how to think about the probabilities that shape its price.

Why Bitcoin looks different today

One important context point is that many of the long-term headwinds that once clouded Bitcoin’s future have eased.

The launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in 2024 was a structural shift. These products gave the cryptocurrency a new level of legitimacy and accessibility, allowing large investment firms to offer Bitcoin exposure within familiar, regulated vehicles. That opened the door to broader institutional participation, rather than Bitcoin remaining the domain of early adopters and retail traders.

At the same time, governments and institutions are increasingly recognising Bitcoin’s role as a potential store of value and hedge against purchasing power erosion. While that debate is far from settled, Bitcoin is no longer dismissed outright as a fringe experiment.

The result is that Bitcoin has firmly anchored itself in global capital markets. After surpassing a trillion-dollar market capitalisation and gaining direct institutional allocation via ETFs, Bitcoin now trades alongside other risk assets, responding to shifts in global liquidity and monetary policy.

Macro forces still matter

That integration cuts both ways.

Bitcoin’s price action over recent months illustrates this clearly. Pullbacks have coincided with a hawkish stance from the US Federal Reserve, rising real yields, and, more recently, Japan’s surprise monetary tightening, which disrupted the yen carry trade.

When global liquidity tightens, risk assets tend to struggle. When liquidity eases, they often rally together. Bitcoin is no longer exempt from these forces. In that sense, sharp declines are not signs of failure, but a reflection of Bitcoin’s place within the broader financial system.

That also means any discussion of a 2026 “crash” cannot ignore macro conditions. Monetary policy decisions in the US and Japan, inflation trends, and global growth expectations will likely matter as much as crypto-specific developments.

Price targets are not prophecies

Bitcoin attracts bold forecasts like few other assets. Bullish commentators regularly float eye-catching price targets, including claims that Bitcoin could rise tenfold to reach US$1 million per coin.

Mathematically, that would imply a market capitalisation of around US$21 trillion, assuming Bitcoin’s maximum supply of 21 million coins. It would also make early adopters and large corporate holders exceptionally wealthy.

The problem is that price targets are not predictions of the future. They often reflect the incentives and positioning of the person making them. Bitcoin holders tend to publish optimistic forecasts. Critics often argue that the asset is ultimately worthless.

History shows that such proclamations rarely come true with any precision. Markets do not move in straight lines, and narratives often change faster than prices.

A long-term lens still matters

Despite its harsh volatility, Bitcoin is proving itself as a large, enduring asset class. Zooming out, its long-term price chart remains one that many investors would dream of owning — provided they can tolerate the rollercoaster along the way.

Whether Bitcoin crashes in 2026 is unknowable. What is more predictable is that volatility will remain a defining feature. For investors, preparing for wide swings, rather than betting on precise outcomes, remains the more sensible approach.

As with any speculative asset, the long run is what ultimately matters.

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The Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) share price is in focus after announcing a new A$14 billion European data centre partnership with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. The joint venture aims to develop a major data centre portfolio across key European cities.

What did Goodman Group report?

• Launched a 50/50 A$14 billion (€8 billion) partnership with CPP Investments targeting European data centres
• Initial capital commitment of A$3.9 billion (€2.2 billion) for portfolio development
• Projects span four developments in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris with 435 MW of primary power and 282 MW IT load
• All projects have secured power, planning permits, and advanced site works
• Transaction due to complete in phases by March 2026, subject to closing conditions

What else do investors need to know?

This partnership broadens Goodman Group’s portfolio, bolstering its presence in the rapidly growing data centre sector. The so-called FLAP markets – Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, and Paris – are sought after due to their strong demand for cloud and AI infrastructure.

Importantly, the partnership leverages Goodman’s powered landbank and local development expertise alongside CPP Investments’ track record in digital infrastructure. Construction is slated to begin by 30 June 2026, potentially supporting Goodman’s long-term earnings growth.

What did Goodman Group management say?

Group CEO Greg Goodman said:

A portfolio of this size and quality – located in Europe’s FLAP markets – is rare. These powered locations are highly sought after to meet the rapidly growing requirement for cloud computing and AI adoption, particularly when they offer speed to market and delivery certainty. The quality and scale of this Partnership make it ideal for our long-term relationship with CPP Investments. We’re pleased to be investing alongside them for their entry into the European data centre market.

What’s next for Goodman Group?

Goodman Group expects the new partnership to strengthen its foothold in digital infrastructure, meeting soaring demand for cloud and AI solutions in Europe. By focusing on fully permitted and powered sites ready for rapid construction, Goodman is aiming to capture growth in key gateway markets.

Completion of the transaction is expected in phases through to March 2026. Management continues to seek opportunities with capital partners for further expansion, with data centres forming a core pillar of Goodman’s global growth strategy.

Goodman Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Goodman Group shares have declined 20%, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Goodman Group announces $14bn European data centre partnership with CPP Investments appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman 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.