Tag: Stock pick

There are some impressive businesses on the ASX that are growing rapidly in Australia, but they’re currently limited to the local market. I think the big opportunities are with ASX shares that have their sights on the global economy, where there’s a lot more growth potential.

Some of the ASX’s best long-term performers such as Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) and Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) have become as large as they are by successfully expanding overseas.  

The two ASX share investments below are ones to watch (and buy) in my book with $2,000.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is one of the world’s largest coffee machine businesses, owning a number of brands, including Breville, Safe, Lelit, Baratza, and its coffee bean business, Beanz.

I think the FY25 result demonstrated the company’s ability to deliver solid compounding growth. Revenue, net profit and the dividend all increased by more than 10%, which was solid in my view.

The 25% decline of the Breville share price since January makes it look like a much cheaper buy. There are tariff headwinds for the business in FY26, but it’s rapidly working to shift manufacturing for the American market to Mexico, which should lessen the headwind.

I don’t believe the tariffs will be a long-term headwind for the business, making it an appealing buy at this cheaper valuation, in my opinion. Management expects that US products (representing 80% of gross profits dollars) will be manufactured outside of China by the end of the FY26 first half.

On the purely positive side, Breville’s expansion into new geographic markets, such as the recent additions of China and the Middle East, gives the company more avenues for growth.

According to the forecast on CMC Markets, the ASX share is trading at less than 27x FY27’s estimated earnings, which I’m calling good value given its long-term growth potential.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

There are plenty of great businesses listed outside of the ASX share market. The ASX only accounts for around 2% of the global stock market, so I strongly believe it’s a good idea to get exposure to those companies too.

While there are many thousands of businesses we could invest in overseas, I’d only advocate for investing in the best or most exciting names.

The QLTY ETF looks to invest in the 150 highest-quality global stocks. Those names are chosen for the portfolio based on four factors: a high return on equity (ROE), good cash flow generation, stable earnings and low debt levels.

When you put those elements together, only the very best names will make it into the portfolio, in my view.

The investment process is clearly working well so far because the QLTY ETF has returned an average of 14.6% per year since it was started in November 2018. Past performance is not necessarily a reliable indicator of future performance, but I think this fund is capable of delivering average annual returns in excess of 10% per year over the long term because of its pure focus on quality holdings.

The post 2 incredible ASX shares I’d buy with $2,000 right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX ETFs for 2026
• If a 30-year-old invests $1,500 a month in ASX stocks, here’s what they could have by retirement
• The ultimate ASX ETF portfolio for beginners in 2026
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• 3 high-quality ASX ETFs to buy in December

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

ASX 200 materials shares outperformed the other 10 market sectors last week, lifting 2.75%.

Many ASX mining shares hit new 52-week highs last week amid stronger commodity prices.

They included the ASX 200 iron ore majors, led by BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), and gold shares like Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

While the mining sector celebrated, the broader market had a sluggish week.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell each day for the first three days before rallying on Thursday and Friday.

The ASX 200 closed out the week 0.73% higher at 8,697.3 points.

However, only three sectors increased in value.

Let’s review.

Interest rate decisions impact market momentum

ASX 200 shares fell after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) confirmed what we all expected — a hold call on interest rates.

Worse, though, the RBA indicated a rate hike may be necessary next year.

RBA Governor Michele Bullock said:

I don’t think there are interest rate cuts in the horizon for the foreseeable future.

The question is, is it just an extended hold from here or is it possibility of a rate rise?

I couldn’t put a probability on those but I think they’re the two things that the Board will be looking closely at coming into the new year.

The market is now pricing in a 27% chance of a rate hike at the next RBA meeting in February.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25% last week.

That was the third cut in four months, designed to support the weakening US economy.

US interest rates are now at their lowest level since 2022.

The Australian cash rate is 3.6% while the US interest rate range is now 3.5% to 3.75%.

What happened with ASX 200 mining shares last week?

The BHP share price rose 1.67% to close at $45.59 after resetting its 52-week high at $45.98 on Friday.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares lifted 3.93% to $22.98 after cracking a new 52-week high of $23.38 during the week.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) closed 3.56% higher at $143.40 after resetting its 52-week high at $143.53 on Friday.

Pure-play ASX 200 copper share, Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) rose 1.36% to $17.11 on Friday.

The largest ASX 200 gold mining stock, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), rose 3.8% to $27.33 per share.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares ripped 8.58% to $150.06.

The Evolution Mining share price closed at $12.76, up 6.33%, after resetting its 52-week high at $12.81 on Friday.

Gold and copper producer Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) rose 12.65% to close at a 52-week high of $9.44 per share.

Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI) shares lifted 6.14% to finish at $70.53 after hitting a 52-week high of $70.86 on Friday.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 mining shares lead the market for a second week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income could I earn with 1,000 BHP shares?
• Why this fundie is backing ASX mining shares over banks in 2026
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Goodman Group declares 15c unfranked interim distribution for H1 FY26
• Why 4DMedical, Dateline, Deep Yellow, and Newmont shares are pushing higher today

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

There are not many ASX dividend stocks that I’d be willing to buy in virtually any economic environment, whether the stock market is booming or crashing.

I firmly believe that investors should only invest in a share/fund they’d be excited to buy more of if it became cheaper.

The ASX dividend stock MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF) is one name that I’ve invested in heavily this year. In terms of my regular investing, it’s the one I’ve invested in the most in 2025.

The business is best known for its listed investment company (LIC) activities, targeting high-quality share investments. It also has funds management operations after acquiring the Montaka business.

There are a few reasons why I’m excited to buy into it regularly, regardless of what happens next.

Rising dividends

For me, one of the most important elements of a pleasing ASX dividend stock is a rising dividend.

A growing dividend can indicate so many things. It can mean more cash hitting my bank account each year, stronger profit generation by the business and potentially a higher share price.

MFF’s board of directors are aiming to provide investors with a rising dividend from the large profit reserves it has built over the years.

The business has indicated it intends to grow its half-yearly dividend to 10 cents per share in FY26, implying a potential grossed-up dividend yield of 5.9%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Excellent businesses delivering results

According to CMC Markets, MFF Capital has delivered total shareholder returns of an average of 15.9% per year over the prior five years.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but I’m optimistic the ASX dividend stock can deliver strong returns in the coming years because of its focus on quality, growing businesses.

MFF has built a global portfolio of some of the leading businesses around the world such as Alphabet, Mastercard, Visa, Meta Platforms, Amazon, Microsoft, Prosus and Home Depot.

One of the reasons I like owning this business is its investment flexibility to invest in huge companies or much smaller ones, in any market. For example, it recently invested in L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G), which is a compelling ASX business in the funds management space, but a lot smaller than the US tech giants.

Compelling discount

One of the reasons why I’m always willing to buy MFF shares is that the ASX dividend stock has a history of trading at a discount to its underlying value.

The MFF portfolio represents a basket of great stocks and that basket has an underlying value. The business regularly tells investors about its net tangible assets (NTA), which the MFF share price generally moves with (positively or negatively, as the portfolio value changes).

In recent times, the MFF share price has traded at a discount of around 10% to its pre-tax NTA, which I think is an appealing discount considering its long-term performance.

The post I’d buy this ASX dividend stock in any market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Home Depot, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Visa. 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, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, Microsoft, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When it comes to passive income on the Australian share market, few shares attract as much attention as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Often referred to as the Big Australian, BHP is one of the world’s largest mining companies, with tier-one assets spanning iron ore, copper, metallurgical coal, and potash.

This includes the Western Australian Iron Ore (WAIO), Olympic Dam, Escondida, and Spence operations, as well as the Jansen potash project.

Income investors tend to like BHP for a few key reasons. Its operations sit at the low end of global cost curves, it generates enormous free cash flow during normal commodity cycles, and management has a clear commitment to returning surplus capital to shareholders.

While its dividends can fluctuate with commodity prices, BHP has built a reputation as one of the market’s most generous large-cap dividend payers over the long term. In fact, over the last few years it has returned tens of billions of dollars to its shareholders.

That makes it a popular choice for investors looking to combine blue-chip stability with meaningful passive income.

What would 1,000 BHP shares cost?

BHP shares ended last week at $45.59. At that price, buying 1,000 shares would require an upfront investment of approximately $45,590. That’s clearly a sizeable outlay.

But Morgan Stanley thinks it would be worth doing. The broker currently has an overweight rating on the mining giant and a $48.00 price target, suggesting further upside from current levels, alongside potential passive income.

So, how much passive income could they generate?

According to Morgan Stanley’s forecasts, BHP is expected to pay fully franked dividends of approximately $1.90 per share in FY 2026, followed by around $1.70 per share in FY 2027.

Based on those estimates, an investor holding 1,000 BHP shares could expect:

• FY 2026 dividend income: approximately $1,900
• FY 2027 dividend income: approximately $1,700

That equates to a forward cash yield of roughly 4.2% in FY 2026 and 3.7% in FY 2027, based on the current BHP share price. Importantly for Australian investors, these dividends are forecast to be fully franked, which can significantly boost after-tax returns for those able to use franking credits.

The bigger picture

Of course, BHP’s dividends are not fixed. As a mining company, its payouts rise and fall with commodity prices, demand from China, and broader global economic conditions. In strong markets, its dividends can be exceptionally large, while weaker cycles can see them pull back.

However, for investors seeking long-term passive income from a high-quality, globally significant business, BHP remains a compelling option.

The post How much passive income could I earn with 1,000 BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 mining shares lead the market for a second week
• Why this fundie is backing ASX mining shares over banks in 2026
• Why Rio Tinto, Evolution Mining and BHP shares just smashed new 52-week highs
• ASX mining shares dominate stocks hitting 52-week highs
• Why is everyone talking about BHP shares this week?

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

Warren Buffett didn’t build his fortune by constantly trading in and out of the market. Instead, he became one of the world’s most successful investors by buying high-quality stocks and holding them for long periods, letting time and compounding do the heavy lifting.

That approach isn’t reserved for billionaires. Everyday investors can follow the same philosophy, particularly by using exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which offer diversification, low costs, and exposure to long-term growth themes in a single investment.

With a decade-long time horizon, the focus shifts away from short-term noise and towards owning assets that can steadily compound in value.

With that in mind, here are three ASX-listed ETFs that could suit a buy-and-hold strategy over the next 10 years.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

The Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF takes a Buffett-like approach by focusing on companies that generate strong, consistent free cash flow. Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and companies that produce it reliably tend to be more resilient, more profitable, and better positioned to invest in future growth.

This ASX ETF’s portfolio includes global heavyweights such as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), ASML Holding (NASDAQL ASML), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), Visa (NYSE: V), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Costco (NASDAQ: COST). These are businesses with dominant market positions and business models that consistently convert revenue into cold hard cash.

By targeting cash flow rather than hype, this fund aims to capture long-term compounding from quality companies across multiple sectors. It is no wonder then it was recommended by analysts at Betashares.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF is inspired by Buffett’s investment philosophy. The fund invests in US stocks that have sustainable competitive advantages (aka wide moats) that protect profits from competitors over long periods.

But it doesn’t stop there. Buffett has always spoken about the importance of buying stocks at a good price. This fund offers that as well.

Current holdings include Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT), Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL), Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO), Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK), Danaher Corp (NYSE: DHR), Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), and Nike (NYSE: NKE).

Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF (ASX: BEMG)

A third ASX ETF that could be a great buy and hold options is the Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF. It adds a different dimension to a long-term portfolio by targeting growth outside developed markets. Emerging economies are being shaped by powerful structural forces, including urbanisation, rising incomes, and accelerating digital adoption.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to more than 1,000 large and mid-cap stocks across 24 emerging market countries. Its largest holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Alibaba (NYSE: BABA), and SK Hynix Inc (KRX: 000660).

While emerging markets can be volatile in the short term, their long-term growth potential remains compelling. It is for that reason that Betashares recently recommended this fund to investors.

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

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nike and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Applied Materials, Costco Wholesale, Danaher, Merck, Nike, Nvidia, Salesforce, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Nike, Nvidia, Salesforce, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you’re looking for some retail sector exposure in 2026, then it could be worth considering the ASX stocks named below.

That’s because Bell Potter has just named them as its top picks in the sector. Here’s what it is recommending to clients:

Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

The beauty retailer has caught the eye of Bell Potter due to its strong rollout and private label expansion, which is supporting margin improvements. Overall, it believes this leaves the ASX retail stock well-placed in the Australian beauty category. It said:

Key drivers for business growth are its continued store-rollout targeting a network of 25+ stores, along with its private label brands and high-margin retail media arm contributing to margin expansion and thus a strong earnings trajectory. We view ABY as well positioned to take advantage of the high performing beauty category within the Australian market.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $1.25 price target on its shares.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

This retail giant’s shares could be a buy according to Bell Potter despite rising strongly this year. It believes Harvey Norman’s shares are undervalued based on its positive growth outlook. The broker explains:

Despite the strong re-rate in the name, HVN trades at ~2.0x market capitalisation to freehold property value as Australia’s single largest owner in large format retail with a global portfolio surpassing $4.5b and collectively owning ~40% of their stores (franchised in Australia and company operated offshore). This sees our view that of the 1-year forward ~19x P/E multiple as justified considering the multiple catalysts near/mid-term.

Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $8.30 price target on its shares.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Finally, at just 18x estimated FY 2026 earnings, Bell Potter thinks that youth fashion retailer Universal Store could be an ASX retail stock to buy.

It believes the company is well-placed for growth given its store expansion plans and increasing private label penetration. The broker said:

At ~18x FY26e P/E (BPe), we see UNI trading at a discount to the ASX300 peer group and see the multiple justified by the distinctive growth traits supporting consistent outperformance in a challenging broader category, longer term opportunity with three brands, organic gross margin expansion via private label product penetration (currently ~55%) and management execution. We continue to see the youth customer prioritising on-trend streetwear and expect UNI to benefit with their leading position.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $10.50 price target on its shares.

The post Bell Potter names the best ASX retail stocks to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Investors wanting dividends are spoiled for choice with numerous Aussie passive income stocks.

But there are not many businesses that have paid dividends to investors for more than two decades.

Dividends are not guaranteed, of course, but when a business has a history of paying dividends, I think it’s likely that the company will try to continue paying cash flow to investors if it can.

I’m going to talk about three businesses that have long-term dividend records, and that I consider some of the most reliable payers on the ASX.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

Sonic Healthcare is a major pathology business with a presence in a number of countries, including Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland.

I believe the business has defensive earnings – healthcare is typically in demand throughout the year, regardless of economic conditions. On top of that, the business has expanded its geographic presence over the years, unlocking more earnings.

I’m not expecting the business to grow as fast in the future as it has in the past, but I think there is still organic growth potential with growing and ageing populations.

In terms of the dividend, it has grown its payout in most years over the last 30 years, with only a few years in the 2010s where the Aussie passive income stock maintained its dividend.

Sonic Healthcare currently has a dividend yield of approximately 4.7%, as of the time of writing, including franking credits.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is one of the largest energy infrastructure businesses in Australia. It owns a massive gas pipeline network in the country, transporting half of the nation’s usage. APA also has solar farms, wind farms, electricity transmission assets, gas storage, gas processing, and gas power plant.

It funds its distribution from the cash flow generated by its portfolio of assets. As the asset base has grown through organic developments (such as new pipelines) and acquisitions, its cash flow has grown.

Impressively, the Aussie passive income stock has grown its distribution every year for the past 20 years, which is the second-best record on the ASX.

It expects to grow its annual distribution to 58 cents per security in FY26. That translates into a forward distribution yield of 6.3%.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts is an investment conglomerate that’s diversified across a variety of sectors.

Some of the sectors in which it has invested include resources, telecommunications, agriculture, water entitlements, swimming schools, healthcare, financial services, building products, industrial properties, and more.

The impressive Aussie passive income stock has built a highly diversified portfolio that generates a steady stream of defensive cash flow each year in the form of dividends, distributions, and interest. Soul Patts then uses a majority of that money to pay a larger dividend than last year, and then it reinvests what’s left into additional opportunities.

It has increased its ordinary annual dividend every year since 1998. The FY25 payout translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.1%, including franking credits.

The post 3 Aussie passive income stocks delivering decades upon decades of dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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.

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

The Magnificent Seven technology stocks have powered the S&P 500 through this bull market so far — that’s because investors like their solid, well-established businesses and their promise in the high-potential artificial intelligence (AI) market. Some are bigger AI players than others, but they all are participating to some degree in this technology. Investors are enthusiastic about AI because it may supercharge earnings and stock performance over time.

And, as mentioned, the stock performance already has started, with the Magnificent Seven stocks each advancing in the double- or triple-digits over the past three years. This is great, but it’s resulted in one thing that may be holding investors back from buying at least certain players right now: Stocks have become more expensive.

In fact, some analysts and investors have even worried about an AI bubble. Those concerns weighed on the S&P 500 in the early weeks of November, though tech companies’ earnings reports and comments on demand haven’t supported the idea of a bubble taking shape. Earnings have climbed, and companies have spoken of high demand for AI products and services.

Still, it’s clear many AI stocks are expensive these days. But the good news is bargains also exist — even among Magnificent Seven AI stocks. And two in particular may be offering investors a once-in-a-decade buying opportunity before the new year: They are the cheapest of the Magnificent Seven, but due to their potential in AI, this may not last for long. Let’s check out these stocks to buy now. 

1. Meta Platforms

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), trading for 26x forward earnings estimates, is the cheapest Magnificent Seven stock today. This is a fantastic deal considering the company’s long history of earnings growth, which offers it the ability to invest in AI and reward shareholders with dividends.

You may know Meta mainly for its social media leadership — the company owns a number of apps, including Facebook and Instagram — and this platform has been its ticket to revenue growth. Advertisers come to Meta to reach us, and this has resulted in billion-dollar revenue and profit for the company.

Meta now aims to use AI to revolutionize advertising, automating ads across its platform and making them more successful. Meanwhile, the presence of AI on its apps may keep us on them longer. All of this may result in advertisers increasing their spending on ads here. And Meta’s investments in AI also could lead to the development of new products and services that may drive revenue down the road.

All of this makes Meta look like a steal at today’s valuation.

2. Alphabet

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is the second-cheapest of these seven tech titans, as it trades for 29x forward earnings estimates. Like Meta, Alphabet may not remain at this level for long as its AI investment powers revenue higher.

Alphabet uses AI across its Google Search business, and that should boost advertising revenue as it takes a route similar to Meta’s — improving the overall advertising experience and ad results. And Alphabet also is benefiting from AI through its Google Cloud business — here, it offers a wide range of AI products and services to customers, and these have been fueling revenue growth.

In the latest quarter, for example, Google Cloud revenue climbed 34% to more than $15 billion, and for the first time ever, Alphabet reached total quarterly revenue of more than $100 billion. As a leading cloud player, Google Cloud should be well-positioned to attract AI customers looking for capacity — demand already has been surging and hasn’t shown signs of letting up. In the quarter, Alphabet said demand for AI infrastructure and generative AI systems drove cloud revenue.

So, Alphabet, like Meta, is on track for more growth as this AI boom marches on — and that means getting in on these stocks at today’s levels may be a once-in-a-decade opportunity.

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

The post These 2 magnificent seven AI stocks might be offering investors a once-in-a-decade buying opportunity before the New Year. 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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Adria Cimino 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 Alphabet and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shares closed 1.19% higher at 8,983.3 points on Friday.

The ASX All Ords is up 6% in the year to date (YTD).

The market peaked at 9,414.6 points in October and has since fallen 4.8%.

Let’s take a look at two ASX All Ords shares that the experts tip to rip in the new year.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price closed at $1.82, up 2.54% on Friday and down 70% in the YTD.

Nuix is an investigative analytics and intelligence software provider.

This ASX All Ords tech share has a market capitalisation of $594 million.

Moelis Australia has a buy rating on Nuix shares with a 12-month price target of $3.37.

This implies a potential upside of 85% in the new year.

Last week, Nuix revealed its acquisition of Linkurious, a French-based artificial intelligence graph data platform.

In a note, Moelis said Nuix “seems oversold”, commenting:

Nuix’s share price has retraced significantly as recent operating performance fell below market expectations.

On our estimates the current price undervalues the company.

The acquisition of Linkurious highlights that Nuix has strategic options to support its Neo-led growth strategy. 

We have made revisions based on conservative estimates of success upselling/bundling Linkurious.

Symal Group Ltd (ASX: SYL)

The Symal Group share price closed at $3.11, up 2.3% yesterday and up 83% in the YTD.

Symal Group is a diversified services provider operating in critical Australian industry segments like transport, defence, and ports.

This ASX All Ords share has a market cap of $727 million.

Morgans issued a note after Symal revealed two new acquisitions.

Symal announced a $28 million deal to acquire the assets of Queensland-based civil contracting and haulage businesses Timms Group and L&D Contracting via an upfront cash purchase.

The broker said the acquisitions largely reflect Symal’s intention to continue expanding both its geographic and sector diversification through organic growth and acquisitions.

Morgans said:

The further expansion into South East Queensland is seen as a positive, as the business expands its wider East Coast presence and looks to take advantage of South East Queensland infrastructure projects.

SYL’s mix of organic and acquisition-led growth, combined with a healthy balance sheet and an undemanding earnings multiple (vs peers), sees us reiterate our Buy recommendation …

The broker raised its target price to $3.75 due to higher anticipated earnings and a progressively lower peer multiple discount.

This implies a potential upside of 20% in 2026.

The post 2 ASX All Ords shares tipped to rip 20% to 85% in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Investors who are retired or on the verge of retiring have different needs from their ASX shares. Instead of prioritising maximum capital growth, these investors usually want to set up a safe and dependable stream of income – a retirement fund –  to help pay the bills that don’t stop once one has walked off the job for the last time.

Finding ASX shares that can act as a foundation in such a retirement fund is easier said than done. Today, let’s examine two ASX shares that I believe would make excellent candidates.

2 premier ASX shares that are perfect for a retirement fund

APA Group (ASX: APA)

First up, we have the gas pipeline owner APA Group. Although APA has operations ranging from power production to energy storage, its primary asset is the nationwide network of gas pipelines that the company owns and operates. These provide extraordinarily stable cash flows, which APA uses to increase its dividends like clockwork.

APA has raised its annual dividend every single year since 2004. At recent pricing, this premier ASX share was trading with a dividend yield of 6.24%. Investors should note, however, that these dividends don’t come with too much in the way of franking credits. Even so, this stock’s income dependability, as well as its massive upfront yield, lead me to regard APA Group as a prime candidate for any retirement fund.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Next up, we have a company with far more name recognition in Coles Group. Coles is the company behind the eponymous grocery chain that makes up a huge chunk of the Australian grocery and supermarket industry. It also owns the Liquorland bottle-shop chain.

I like Coles as a retirement fund investment due to its durable nature as a consumer staples stock and its strong track record of paying out large, fully-franked dividends.

On the former, Coles sells goods such as food and household essentials that we all need, rather than want, to purchase on an ongoing basis. As long as the company is one of the cheapest places to fulfil these needs, it should do well as a business. That’s regardless of whether the economy is booming or busting, or whether inflation is high or low.

On the latter, Coles has increased its annual dividend every year since its listing in late 2018. At recent pricing, investors could buy shares of this ASX share with a fully franked yield of 3.16%.

The post 2 premier ASX shares for your retirement fund appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Are APA shares a good buy for passive income?
• APA Group declares December 2025 half-year distribution
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• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

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