Tag: Stock pick

  • How much could the Pilbara Minerals share price rise in 2026?

    Pilbara Minerals share price ASX lithium shares A stylised clean energy battery flexes its muscles, indicating a strong lift in share price for ASX energy companies

    The ASX lithium share Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) has had an incredible performance in 2025 to date, rising by around 80%, as the below chart shows. You may be wondering what’s predicted for the business in the coming year.

    PLS Group, which the company recently changed its name to, has benefited from a resurgence in investor confidence about the lithium industry after a difficult period for the supply and demand balance of the key battery commodity.

    But, some analysts may now think that the Pilbara Minerals share price may have run too far. Let’s take a look at what’s expected for the business over the next 12 months.

    Price targets for the Pilbara Minerals share price

    A price target can be informative of whether analysts think a business is overvalued or undervalued.

    The price target is where analysts think the share price will be in 12 months from the time of the investment call.

    According to CMC Markets, analysts are quite mixed on PLS Group right now, with five buy ratings, five hold ratings and three sell ratings.

    But, the average price target of $3.08 across those analysts is certainly negative. That implies a possible decline of 25% over the next year, which would be a significant decline to where it was a couple of months ago. That would still represent a sizable increase from where it was in December 2024.

    What’s going on with the lithium price?

    UBS recently released a note that talked about how there has been an increase in battery energy storage systems (BESS) demand:

    Following a ~2-year bearish stance on lithium, we shifted to Neutral in August due to: ongoing supply disruptions, further anticipated disruptions to Chinese lepidolite producers (CATL) and resilient overall demand. In this note, we have materially increased our short to mid term lithium price deck following an 11% increase in lithium demand driven by BESS. We now envisage markets moving into deficit from 2026 onwards.

    With spot now trading at US$1,170/t, we have lifted our lithium forecast to US$1,800/t/US$2,850/t/US$2,625/t SC6 CFR China in 2026/27/28 (+64%/148%/94% from prev. forecast), though we leave our long term incentive based price unchanged at US$1,200/t.

    UBS also said that after coming off a low base, it has increased earnings projections in FY27 and FY28 by more than 100% for the pure lithium plays, including PLS Group, which is exciting for owners of Pilbara Minerals shares. This is a “steep turnaround from burning cash” as recently as the last quarter for some lithium miners, according to UBS.

    The broker upgraded its global battery demand by up to 11% between 2025 to 2030. On the UBS’ global battery team numbers, BESS will account for around 31% (1.2TWh) of total battery demand by 2030, compared to around 20% today.

    UBS currently has a neutral rating on Pilbara Minerals shares, with a price target of $4, implying little change in the valuation over the next 12 months.

    The post How much could the Pilbara Minerals share price rise in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Pilbara Minerals Limited right now?

    Before you buy Pilbara Minerals Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Pilbara Minerals Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • Should you buy Tesla while it’s below $500?

    Man charging an electric vehicle.

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

    Key Points

    • Autonomous driving technology and robotics could transform Tesla into a much different company.
    • Its electric vehicle sales are slowing, and its margins are shrinking.
    • Investors have priced lofty expectations into the stock.

    Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) might be one of the more difficult stocks to own comfortably due to the amount of volatility there has been in its share price, but it has been a huge winner for some investors over the years. Its successful phases have made it into one of the world’s most valuable companies, with a market cap of close to $1.5 trillion.

    The electric vehicle (EV) maker’s stock is up by around 105% in the past five years, and it’s within reach of the all-time high it touched last December. Should investors buy Tesla while it’s below $500? 

    Imagine a completely different future

    The bullish view of Tesla is that it is transforming into a software, robotics, and artificial intelligence enterprise. This is precisely how CEO Elon Musk wants investors to think about the business. 

    Tesla has long-term optionality with its robotaxi operations, which are currently carrying paying passengers in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area in a controlled capacity, with more cities to come. The objective here is to get that business going in a lot more markets — not only in the U.S., but internationally as well. The premise assumes that as demand and usage pick up, costs as a share of revenues would come down. The best outcome would be for Tesla to generate a colossal amount of recurring, high-margin revenue from driverless cars.

    Humanoid robots might be an even bigger opportunity — Musk estimates that business could help Tesla reach a market cap of $25 trillion. It appears that there could be a market for these devices among commercial clients that would use them in factory settings. There might also be demand from consumer households.

    In short, a decade from now, Tesla might look totally different from how the company looks today. However, when looking strictly at its current situation, it’s not easy to always be optimistic. Tesla’s revenue growth has slowed dramatically due to a combination of intensifying competition, higher interest rates, and a public backlash among some consumers over Musk’s forays into politics. Profits have been under pressure, too: Its Q3 2025 operating margin of 5.8% was down sharply from the 10.8% margin it produced in the prior-year period.

    Is Tesla stock overvalued or undervalued?

    It can be difficult for investors to effectively gauge the valuations of a company like Tesla. Based on traditional metrics, like its price-to-sales ratio of 17 or the price-to-earnings ratio of 304, the stock is ridiculously overvalued. One would only expect investors to buy shares of a company trading at such lofty premiums if it were putting up remarkable financial performances, delivering monster growth and significant profits. Yet Tesla hasn’t been operating at a high level recently.

    Viewed in this light, the shares are extremely expensive. But of course, Tesla is a story stock. The market’s actions today are defined by narratives, which can clearly have huge impacts on share prices. Tesla and Musk get so much attention for their innovativeness and forward-thinking that it makes sense that many investors are believers.

    If Tesla’s self-driving vehicles and robots prove successful in a reasonable time frame, then the stock’s current valuation might very well end up looking like a bargain in retrospect. Earnings could grow substantially, lifting the stock up.

    Whether it will achieve that favorable outcome, though, is far from clear. Tesla will need to execute in a near-flawless fashion, and not just from the technological and manufacturing perspectives. It will need cooperation from regulators and legislators. And there’s no certainty that its future products will see the type of customer adoption that the bulls predict.

    Moreover, a critic could argue that Tesla’s current valuation essentially prices in a great deal of the optimistic forecast for success. Only investors who are able and willing to take on a lot of risk in their portfolios should even consider buying this EV stock now. While there is a chance that the investment could be a profitable one over the longer term, it’s impossible to accurately assess. Risk-averse investors would be better off avoiding Tesla at these levels.

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

    The post Should you buy Tesla while it’s below $500? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Tesla right now?

    Before you buy Tesla shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Tesla wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

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    Neil Patel 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 Tesla. 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.

  • Buy Australian: ASX stocks positioned to beat global markets next year

    A fresh-faced young woman holds an Australian flag aloft above her head as she smiles widely.

    The share market has a long history of bouncing back from tough periods. Over more than a century, ASX stocks have delivered returns of roughly 10% per annum on average, even while enduring recessions, inflation spikes, rate shocks, and global turmoil.

    But every now and then, certain companies emerge from a difficult year in far better shape than they entered it. And after a challenging 2025 for many high-quality businesses, a select group of ASX stocks is now being tipped to outperform not only the local market, but potentially global indices as well.

    If you’re looking for standout ASX opportunities for 2026, these two names could be the ones to watch.

    CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

    CSL has had a bruising year, with investor sentiment hurt by Seqirus restructuring noise, tariff speculation, and questions around the margin recovery of the key CSL Behring business. Yet beneath the short-term issues sits one of the most successful Australian companies of the past three decades.

    This is a business with enormous competitive advantages, entrenched global market share, and a long runway for growth across plasma therapies, vaccines, and emerging treatments. Analysts widely expect margins to normalise over the next couple of years and earnings growth to accelerate.

    Importantly, CSL is now trading at one of its cheapest valuations in years. For a company that is historically priced at a premium, today’s discount offers long-term investors a window that doesn’t appear often.

    UBS currently has a buy rating and $275.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of over 50% for investors from current levels.

    TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

    Another Australian stock that could beat global markets in 2026 is TechnologyOne. It is a software powerhouse that has grown earnings for over 15 consecutive years. And despite delivering another robust year of recurring revenue growth in FY 2025, its share price has pulled back materially, creating an unusually attractive entry point.

    With its software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform entrenched in government, education, and large enterprise customers, this ASX stock enjoys some of the stickiest revenues on the Australian share market. In addition, its margins are among the highest in the tech sector, and its shift to subscription income continues to strengthen its long-term earnings base. Throw in its UK expansion and management’s belief that it can double in size every five years, and you have a stock that could be a fantastic buy and hold pick.

    The team at UBS is also feeling very bullish on this one. It recently put a buy rating and $38.70 price target on its shares. This suggests that upside of almost 40% is possible between now and this time next year.

    The post Buy Australian: ASX stocks positioned to beat global markets next year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in CSL right now?

    Before you buy CSL shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and CSL wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    Ten happy friends leaping in the air outdoors.

    It was a bumpy, but tentatively positive Thursday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today. The ASX 200 briefly dipped into negative territory this afternoon upon the latest unemployment figures, but ended up recovering to post a 0.15% gain for the day. That leaves the index at a flat 8,592 points.

    This decent session for the Australian markets follows a far more optimistic morning over on the American market.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was on fire, shooting 1.05% higher.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn’t quite as enthusiastic, but still managed a gain of 0.33%.

    But let’s return to ASX shares and take a look at what the various ASX sectors were up to this Thursday.

    Winners and losers

    Despite the rise of the broader market, we still had quite a few red sectors.

    At the front of those red sectors were again tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) continued to fall, plunging 1.48% today.

    Healthcare shares were punished too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tanking 1.07%.

    Communications stocks didn’t have a fun time either. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) cratered by 0.7%.

    Consumer discretionary shares weren’t popular, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.55% dive.

    Industrial stocks missed out as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) took a 0.29% hit this session.

    Our last losers were consumer staples shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) retreating 0.14%.

    Turning to the green sectors now, mining stocks led the charge. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) galloped 0.89% higher by the closing bell.

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also ran hot, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.66% surge.

    Energy shares were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) ended up recording a 0.58% rise.

    Financial stocks were a little more subdued, though, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) adding 0.29% to its total.

    Gold shares were in the same ballpark. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) got a 0.26% upgrade today.

    Finally, utilities stocks scraped home with a win, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)’s 0.2% lift.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Coming out on top this Thursday was ASX building materials manufacturer James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX). James Hardie shares shot up 7.13% today to close at $30.51 each.

    This gain came despite no obvious catalysts out from the company itself.

    Here’s how the other top shares landed the plane today:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) $30.51 7.13%
    Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) $3.81 6.72%
    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) $14.72 5.37%
    Scentre Group (ASX: SCG) $4.16 4.00%
    Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) $7.63 3.11%
    Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) $8.59 2.75%
    Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) $8.96 2.75%
    Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) $0.755 2.72%
    Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) $13.73 2.39%
    Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) $3.83 2.13%

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

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in James Hardie Industries plc right now?

    Before you buy James Hardie Industries plc shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and James Hardie Industries plc wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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

  • ASX mining shares dominate stocks hitting 52-week highs

    A man in a business suit holds his coffee cup aloft as he throws his head back and laughs heartily.

    On Thursday, 33 ASX shares hit 52-week highs and 22 of them were mining shares, including the major iron ore producers.

    The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price rose 2.1% to a 52-week high of $45.49 per share.

    The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price lifted 3.2% to a 52-week peak of $23.38.

    The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price increased 2.6% to a 52-week high of $141.13.

    Several ASX gold shares also ascended to new highs.

    The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price rose 4% to an all-time high of $12.63 per share.

    Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR) shares reached a record $5.71, up 2.9%.

    Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares lifted 4.3% to a 52-week high of $1.47.

    ASX silver share Andean Silver (ASX: ASL) lifted 6.8% to an all-time peak of $2.34.

    Some ASX lithium shares also recorded new one-year highs today.

    They included Elvira Lithium (ASX: ELV) shares, up 2.9% to $6.67, and Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE), up 19% to 9.4 cents.

    ASX copper share Hot Chili Ltd (ASX: HCH) rose 7.8% to a 52-week high of $1.25.

    The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) closed 0.1% higher at 8,877.5 points on Thursday.

    What’s pushing ASX mining shares higher?

    Stronger commodity prices are contributing to a surge in mining stocks this month.

    Here is a snapshot of the strongest performers.

    Metal or mineral Commodity price rise past month Commodity price rise in 2025
    Cobalt 7.5% 115%
    Silver 17.5% 117%
    Platinum 3.5% 87%
    Palladium 0.1% 67%
    Gold 1% 62%
    Neodymium 3.5% 45%
    Tin 10.5% 37%
    Copper 5.5% 34%
    Lithium 12.5% 23.5%
    Aluminium (0.2%) 12.5%
    Iron Ore 3% 3%

    Macquarie’s take on ASX mining shares

    Earlier this week, Macquarie released a note on commodities and named its preferred ASX mining shares.

    Among the diversified major miners, the broker likes Rio Tinto over BHP, but prefers South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) overall.

    The broker has an outperform rating on South32 shares with a 12-month price target of $3.70.

    Macquarie has a neutral rating on Rio Tinto and BHP shares with price targets of $130 and $43, respectively.

    The broker has an underperform rating on Fortescue shares with a price target of $19.50.

    Among the gold miners, Macquarie prefers Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) over Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST).

    However, the broker has an outperform rating on both ASX gold shares with price targets of $175 and $34, respectively.

    Among ASX lithium shares, the broker prefers lithium and nickel producer IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO).

    The broker has an outperform rating on IGO shares with a 12-month price target of $7.50.

    It also has an outperform rating on Elvira Lithium with a price target of $7.

    The broker is neutral on the largest ASX lithium share, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), with a price target of $3.80.

    Capstone Copper Corp CDI (ASX: CSC) is the broker’s preferred ASX copper share.

    Macquarie has an outperform rating on Capstone Copper with a share price target of $17.

    The post ASX mining shares dominate stocks hitting 52-week highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in BHP Group right now?

    Before you buy BHP Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and BHP Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group and South32. 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.

  • Lynas shares crash 41% from their peak: Buy, hold or sell?

    a geologist or mine worker looks closely at a rock formation in a darkened cave with water on the ground, wearing a full protective suit and hard hat.

    The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price is trading in the red again in Thursday afternoon trade. At the time of writing, the shares have fallen 1.33% and are changing hands at $12.60 a piece. 

    Since peaking at a 14-year high of $21.64 per share in mid-October, Lynas shares have crashed 41.77%. But the share price is still 93.96% higher for the year to date.

    What has happened to Lynas shares?

    Shares in the miner have soared this year and have ridden the wave of booming demand for rare earths materials.

    The demand boom peaked in mid-October when US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese struck a deal to bolster rare earths and critical mineral supplies. The US and Australia will boost investments to expand mining operations and processing of the minerals. The plan was introduced to reduce dependence on China’s exports. 

    The deal came amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and China. China controls around 70% of the global rare earths trade. The US has been focused on reducing its reliance on China and building up its own sovereign supply chains for some time.

    Later in the same month, Lynas revealed plans to establish a new Heavy Rare Earths (HRE) separation facility at Lynas Malaysia to meet strong market demand. Investors were clearly thrilled.

    Fast forward to today, and the share price paints a different picture.

    In a recent meeting between Trump and China’s president Xi Jinping, the US and China reached a trade framework to ease tariffs and postpone export controls for a year. This has helped alleviate fears of supply chain disruptions, an issue that had previously driven the Lynas valuation sky-high. 

    Are the shares a buy, sell, or hold?

    While the drop of Lynas shares from their multi-year peak is significant, the shares are still trading much higher than they were this time last year. 

    But analysts are pretty divided about where they think the share price will travel from here. Data shows that the split between analysts with a strong buy, hold, and sell rating is nearly equal. 

    The average target price, however, is $15.59. At the time of writing, this implies a potential 23.42% upside ahead for investors.

    The team at Macquarie are optimistic about Lynas shares and expects more outperformance from the ASX 200 stock. The broker has a $17 target price on the shares, adding that it expects the rare earths market to remain tight.

    On the flip side, Ord Minnett’s Tony Paterno recommends cashing in gains on Lynas shares. He said that he sees the shares as overvalued, and suggested that investors consider cashing in some gains.

    The post Lynas shares crash 41% from their peak: Buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lynas Rare Earths Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Lynas Rare Earths Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Lynas Rare Earths Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

  • Opportunity knocks? Broker ratings on 4 ASX shares at 52-week lows

    A man looks down with fright as he falls towards the ground.

    S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shares are 0.2% higher at 8,885.6 points on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, several ASX shares have hit 52-week lows today.

    Is this an opportunity to buy, or should we be cautious on these ASX stocks?

    Let’s defer to the experts.

    Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

    The Premier Investments share price hit a 52-week low of $14.19 on Thursday.

    Premier Investments is chaired by retail legend Solomon Lew and owns the popular Peter Alexander and Smiggle brands.

    Last week, the ASX retail share was smashed after a trading update revealed weaker discretionary spending in 1H FY26.

    Macquarie responded by retaining its neutral rating on the ASX retail share.

    The broker reduced its 12-month price target on Premier Investments from $20.80 to $16.20 per share.

    This implies a potential upside of 14% in the new year.

    The broker said:

    PMV’s shrunken ‘Retail’ business is challenged – and it remains unclear whether issues are specific to Smiggle, or extend to Peter Alexander.

    PMV looks attractively valued (-16% pullback today) if consumer issues are confined to Smiggle, but level of disclosure leaves this unclear.

    Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP

    The Bapcor share price hit a 52-week low of $1.79 on Thursday.

    The auto parts company downgraded its guidance in an update on Tuesday.

    Bapcor said it now expects statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) for 1H FY26 to be a loss in the range of $5 million to $8 million.

    The company now expects full-year statutory NPAT to be in the range of $31 million to $36 million.

    CEO Angus McKay said:

    Although the turnaround of the business is more challenging and taking longer than expected we are committed to doing the difficult work that will result in a stronger, more sustainable company.

    Following the company’s update, Macquarie gave Bapcor shares a neutral rating with a price target of $2.05.

    This implies a potential upside of almost 15% in 2026.

    Macquarie said:

    Delivering revised FY26 guidance is critical to provide confidence in the underlying earnings base and alleviate any balance sheet concerns, stabilisation of revenue, earnings and market share in the trade segment.

    As reported earlier this week, Bapcor shares will be dropped from the ASX 200 in the next rebalance on 22 December.

    REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

    The REA share price hit a 52-week low of $187.84 today.

    REA owns the realestate.com.au property listings website.

    Morgans has an accumulate rating on REA shares with a price target of $247.

    This implies a potential upside of more than 30% in the new year.

    After REA’s 1Q FY26 trading update, Morgans commented:

    REA’s 1Q26 trading update benefited from a strong yield outcome (+13%), which helped to offset a softer new listings environment in the period (volumes down -8% vs the pcp).

    Group revenue was A$429m (+4% on pcp), with EBITDA (ex assoc.) up 5% on pcp to A$254m.

    Given REA is trading on ~42x FY26F PE (MorgansE), broadly in line with its 10-year historical average, and now with >10% TSR upside to our valuation we upgrade REA to ACCUMULATE.

    Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

    The Xero share price hit a 52-week low of $113.11 on Thursday.

    Xero is an accounting Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider.

    Wilsons Advisory says Xero is its preferred large-cap tech share alongside TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE).

    Wilsons Advisory equity strategist Greg Burke said Xero’s forward EV/EBITDA has “de-rated sharply” from about 38x in July to about 24x today – the lowest on record. 

    Burke commented: “Overall, with the growth story remaining firmly intact, XRO offers attractive value at current levels.”

    The post Opportunity knocks? Broker ratings on 4 ASX shares at 52-week lows appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bapcor Limited right now?

    Before you buy Bapcor Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bapcor Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, Technology One, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Premier Investments and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Bell Potter names the best ASX critical minerals stocks to buy

    Image of young successful engineer, with blueprints, notepad and digital tablet, observing the project implementation on construction site and in mine.

    Critical minerals are the talk of the town at the moment, with many nations scrambling to secure access to them.

    The good news is that there are many ways for Aussie investors to gain exposure to critical metals on the local stock exchange.

    But which ones could be buys? Let’s take a look at three of the best to buy now according to analysts at Bell Potter.

    Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR)

    This lithium-boron producer has caught the eye of Bell Potter. It has a speculative buy rating and 36 cents price target on its shares.

    The broker was pleased with the funding support it received from the US Department of Energy for the Rhyolite Ridge project and believes this is the first step in de-risking its development. It said:

    In January 2025, Rhyolite Ridge received funding support from the US Department of Energy through a US$996m, 20-year loan. The company is currently running a project selldown process, which we expect to materially de-risk the development’s remaining funding requirements. Project development should commence in 2026 to enable first production in 2029. The US Department of Interior, in consultation with the US Geological Survey, recently added boron to the final 2025 List of Critical Minerals; this list also includes lithium. Buy (Speculative), Valuation $0.36

    Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

    Bell Potter rates lithium miner Liontown highly and has a buy rating and $1.52 price target on its shares. It believes that 2026 will see the company de-risk its Kathleen Valley operation. The broker said:

    Over 2026, LTR will further de-risk the ramp-up of production at Kathleen Valley as ore stockpiles support the operation’s transition to all underground mining. LTR has a strong balance sheet and is highly leveraged to lithium markets, which we expect to further improve.

    WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

    A third ASX critical minerals stock that Bell Potter is recommending to clients is niobium developer WA1 Resources. It has a speculative buy rating and $24.80 price target on its shares.

    The broker highlights that the company owns the Luni deposit, which is the highest grade niobium deposit outside Brazil. It said:

    WA1’s Luni deposit in the West Arunta, Western Australia, is the highest grade niobium deposit outside of Brazil and bears similarities to the global significance of LYC’s Mt Weld deposit in the rare earth sector. Brazil accounts for ~90% of global supply of Niobium, a key micro alloy in steel. We anticipate a Resource update during CY26 and a potential initial study, which builds on process flowsheet work conducted over the last ~1.5 years, and recent infill drilling.

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

    Should you invest $1,000 in Ioneer Limited right now?

    Before you buy Ioneer Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Ioneer Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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.

  • 3 ASX ETFs to buy for passive income in December

    Happy couple enjoying ice cream in retirement.

    If you’re looking to boost your passive income this December, you don’t need to pick individual dividend stocks.

    A handful of ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) specialise in delivering steady distributions, broad diversification, and simple set-and-forget investing.

    Here are three ASX ETFs worth considering for passive income this month:

    Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)

    The Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF is one of the most popular income ETFs on the ASX for a reason. It invests in a basket of Australian shares with some of the highest forecast dividend yields based on broker expectations. This typically includes large, well-established businesses such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

    These blue chip names generate strong cash flows, have long histories of returning capital to shareholders, and tend to weather economic cycles better than smaller, more volatile companies. In addition, the fund’s diversified approach helps reduce the risk of relying on any single sector.

    For investors wanting a simple way to tap into the market’s strongest dividend payers, this ASX ETF could be a natural starting point.

    The fund typically trades with a dividend yield around 5%.

    Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD)

    The Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF also focuses on dividend-rich Australian shares but uses a different methodology. It targets the 50 highest-yielding companies in the S&P/ASX 300 Index after screening out potential dividend traps. That gives investors exposure to higher-than-average income while avoiding some of the risks associated with chasing yield blindly.

    Holdings often include major banks, miners, energy producers, and established retailers such as ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES). These are companies with strong underlying cash generation.

    It currently trades with a 4.6% dividend yield.

    Betashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: UMAX)

    Finally, the Betashares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Complex ETF takes a different approach to generating passive income.

    Instead of relying solely on dividends, it boosts distributions through a covered-call strategy, which effectively exchanges some potential share price upside for higher ongoing income.

    The fund is based on the S&P 500 Index, which is home to the 500 largest stocks in the United States.

    Because the ETF collects option premiums each month, this fund can offer significantly higher income than traditional dividend funds. For example, it currently trades with a trailing dividend yield of 5.3%.

    The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy for passive income in December appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield Etf right now?

    Before you buy Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield Etf shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield Etf wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares S&P 500 Yield Maximiser Fund. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • 3 Australian ETFs to buy and hold forever

    a person stands arms outstretched on the top of a mountain with a beautiful sunrise in the sky

    One of the beauties of buying and owning Australian exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is that investors can buy them with the expectation of never having to sell.

    Most ETFs follow some sort of index. This is periodically rebalanced every few months to ensure that the stocks in the index reflect the real-life changes that are constantly happening on the share market. For example, an ETF that tracks the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) will be rebalanced every three months or so to ensure that it accurately holds the largest 200 shares on the Australian stock market.

    This process is always carried out behind the scenes, requiring no involvement from the investor who owns the ETF. As such, the right Australian ETF can be owned forever.

    But not all Australian ETFs are suitable for a long-term investment, at least in my view. So today, let’s talk about three funds that I think would serve well in any portfolio indefinitely.

    3 Australian ETFs you could buy and never sell

    iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

    Consumer staples companies are some of the most resilient businesses on the planet. That’s because they tend to make things we need, rather than want. That includes food, drinks, and household essentials. If you’re looking for an investment that can last a lifetime, this space is a great one to check out.

    This Australian ETF offers a range of global leaders in this space. As a case in point, many of the names in IXI ETF have been around for decades, and in some cases, centuries. Some of this Australian ETF’s largest holdings include Coca-Cola Co, Walmart, Nestle, British American Tobacco and Procter & Gamble.

    BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

    If you had to bet on one sector of the ASX providing the most lucrative investments for the next few decades, I think tech would be the best choice. This sector houses some of the best innovative and prosperous stocks on the ASX, including Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE).

    All of these stocks can be found in the Betashares Australian Technology ETF. I think it’s reasonable to assume that these stocks will continue to contribute some of the best returns on the ASX. And if they don’t, ATEC ETF will replace them with the next generation of tech winners.

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    Last but not least, we have an Australian ETF that tracks the most popular index in the world, America’s S&P 500. The S&P 500 represents the largest 500 stocks listed on the US markets. That’s everything from Magnificent 7 giants like NVIDIA and Amazon to Netflix, Mastercard, Exxon Mobil and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

    Speaking of Buffett, the legendary investor has often advocated an S&P 500 ETF as a perfect investment for most of the population. With American companies continuing to shape the global economy, I think this Australian ETF is a prudent long-term bet for a ‘forever investment’.

    The post 3 Australian ETFs to buy and hold forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares S&P Asx Australian Technology ETF right now?

    Before you buy Betashares S&P Asx Australian Technology ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Betashares S&P Asx Australian Technology ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Mastercard, Netflix, and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, Netflix, Nvidia, Technology One, Walmart, WiseTech Global, Xero, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c., Nestlé, and Pro Medicus and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $40 calls on British American Tobacco and short January 2026 $40 puts on British American Tobacco. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global, Xero, and iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, Netflix, Nvidia, Pro Medicus, Technology One, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.