Tag: Stock pick

If I were lucky enough to have $5,000 to invest today, I would focus on finding a handful of businesses that are building something durable, with growth supported by long-term trends.

Here are four ASX 200 shares I think offer these qualities, and I would be looking at today.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Hub24 is a business that benefits from momentum. Not the kind you see in share price charts, but the kind that builds within an industry over time. Once a financial adviser adopts an investment and superannuation platform, integrates it into their workflow, and brings clients onto it, that decision tends to stick.

What I like is how that creates a layering effect. New clients are added, existing clients grow their portfolios, and over time, the platform becomes more deeply embedded in the advice process. Growth does not rely on a single catalyst; it builds gradually as the ecosystem expands.

For me, it is a business where scale can quietly do a lot of the work over the long term.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is one of those ASX 200 shares where the product is almost unavoidable.

Anyone who has searched for property in Australia has likely interacted with its platform, and that kind of reach creates a strong position in the market.

What I like in particular is how pricing power shows up. Agents are not just paying for a listing; they are paying for visibility in a highly competitive environment. When demand for property is strong, that visibility becomes even more valuable.

It is a business that sits at the heart of real estate activity and digital advertising, and I think that combination gives it a unique ability to grow over time without needing to constantly reinvent itself.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Sigma Healthcare is another ASX share I’d look at buying with the $5,000.

Following its merger with Chemist Warehouse, the business now sits across both distribution and retail, which creates a more integrated model than it had in the past.

What I find compelling is how that changes its position in the supply chain. Instead of being one step removed, the company is now more directly connected to the end customer. That can create efficiencies, improve margins, and open up new opportunities over time.

It is still early days for this combined structure, but I think the long-term potential lies in how those two sides of the business work together.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

ResMed has had a tough run, with the share price hitting a 52-week low on Friday.

That kind of move can draw attention, but what matters more to me is what is happening within the business.

ResMed operates in sleep and respiratory care, and demand in that area is closely linked to awareness and diagnosis. As more people recognise the importance of sleep health, more patients enter the system, which can support long-term growth.

As well as devices, the company has a growing software business. It is about managing patient outcomes over time, which can create a more connected and recurring relationship with users.

In my opinion, that combination of hardware and software is what makes the business stand out.

Foolish Takeaway

If I had $5,000 to invest today, I would focus on ASX 200 shares that are building long-term momentum in different ways.

Hub24 is benefiting from structural growth in platform-based investing, REA Group continues to strengthen its position in digital property advertising, Sigma Healthcare is evolving into a more integrated healthcare business, and ResMed is building a broader ecosystem around sleep and respiratory care.

I think they offer a mix of growth drivers that could play out over time and deliver attractive returns.

The post If I had $5,000 to invest in ASX 200 shares today, here’s what I’d buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why I’d buy these ASX 200 stocks if I were a beginner
• Buy and forget? 2 top ASX shares built for the long term
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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24 and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a subdued finish to the week. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.3% to 8,925.3 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Eden Innovations Ltd (ASX: EDE)

The Eden Innovations share price is up 22% to 22 cents. Investors have been buying the concrete admixture developer after it announced the EdenShield division. It is a new dedicated Defence, Military and Infrastructure division. Management advised that it has been created to commercialise the company’s product suite across critical infrastructure and national security applications. This includes drones, data centres, bunkers, military bases, hospitals, and defence-related buildings. Eden Innovations’ executive chair, Greg Solomon, said: “The establishment of EdenShield represents a significant strategic step for Eden as we position our technologies to address the rapidly growing global demand for defence capability and infrastructure resilience.”

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)

The Elsight share price is up almost 6% to $7.19. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. This morning, the broker retained its buy rating on the shares of the supplier of communication modules to drone manufacturers with an improved price target of $8.00 (from $5.80). It said: “We retain Buy. We believe ELS has developed a market leading product that is leveraged to the proliferation of unmanned systems in both a defence and commercial context. We believe ELS shares offer relative value versus listed peers at 43x CY26e EV/EBIT given its recurring revenue, high ROIC business model and defensible niche.”

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is up 3% to $14.57. This morning, this uranium producer released an update on its performance in FY 2026. It advised that its Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) has achieved year-to-date FY 2026 production of 3.6Mlb U3O8. As a result, management now expects U3O8 production of 4.5Mlb to 4.8Mlb for the 12 months. This is up from its previous guidance range of 4Mlb to 4.4Mlb.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is up 16% to $2.38. Investors have been fighting to get hold of the buy now pay later provider’s shares following the release of its third-quarter update. Zip reported record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million for the third quarter, which represents a 41.5% increase on the prior corresponding period. In light of its stronger than expected performance, management now expects group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million for the full year. This is up from its previous guidance of approximately $248.6 million.

The post Why Eden Innovation, Elsight, Paladin Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Paladin Energy, Alcoa and Zip shares are making headlines on Friday
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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.

There is always something exciting happening in the share market.

A new technology trend, a speculative fast-growing company, or a sector that suddenly captures everyone’s attention. It is easy to get drawn toward those stories.

But over time, I think a different group of ASX shares tends to do a lot of the heavy lifting.

The ones that quietly grow, generate steady cash flow, and keep showing up year after year.

The appeal of predictable ASX shares

One of the things I value more as an investor is predictability.

Businesses that sell essential products or services often have a clearer path forward. Their revenue is not dependent on a single breakthrough or a narrow window of opportunity.

Companies like Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) fall into that category.

Grocery retail is not the most exciting industry, but it is deeply embedded in everyday life. That creates a level of demand that can support consistent earnings over time.

For me, that consistency can make a big difference when holding a share for many years.

Compounding does not need excitement

The idea of compounding is simple, but the way it plays out is often underestimated.

A business that can grow earnings steadily, reinvest capital, and return cash to shareholders can build significant value over time, even if it does not attract much attention along the way.

That is part of what I see in ASX shares like Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

Its toll road assets generate revenue from everyday usage, and those cash flows tend to grow gradually alongside population and economic activity.

It is not a story that changes dramatically from year to year, but that can be what supports long-term returns.

Stability can support better decisions

Another benefit of owning more predictable businesses is how they influence behaviour.

When a share price moves sharply, it can lead to more reactive decisions. Investors may feel the need to act, even when nothing fundamental has changed.

With steadier businesses, I think it can be easier to stay focused on the long term.

That is one reason I like companies such as Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS).

They operate in a competitive industry, but demand for groceries and telco services remains consistent. That creates a level of stability that can make it easier to hold them through different market conditions.

The trade-off is worth understanding

Boring ASX shares are not perfect.

They may not deliver the same upside as faster-growing companies, and they can still face challenges over time. But they often offer something that I think is just as valuable.

A clearer path forward. That clarity can make it easier to stay invested, which is often one of the most important factors in long-term success.

Foolish Takeaway

The share market will always offer exciting opportunities. But for me, there is also value in owning businesses that quietly do their job and continue to grow over time.

I think Woolworths, Transurban, Coles, and Telstra highlight how the ASX shares that feel the least exciting are the ones that are easiest to hold, and that can make a meaningful difference over time.

The post Why I think ‘boring’ ASX shares could make you richer over time appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) shares are under heavy pressure on Friday, with the high-flying small cap pulling back after an extended run higher.

At the time of writing, the Dateline share price is down 13.70% to 31.5 cents. That extends a pullback of nearly 30% over the past week.

Despite the recent drop, the overall trend remains strong. The stock is up around 40% in 2026 and more than 5,000% over the past 12 months.

Today’s decline follows a fresh update released to the ASX.

Company responds to US legal coverage

According to the announcement, Dateline issued a response to recent media reporting in the United States tied to legal proceedings involving the Colosseum Gold and Rare Earths Project in California.

The proceedings have been brought by the National Parks Conservation Association and name US federal agencies as respondents. Dateline itself is not a named party in the case.

Management said the reporting does not fully reflect the historical context or the status of existing mining rights linked to the project. The company also stated it does not agree with some of the assumptions made in the coverage.

Dateline reiterated that activities at the Colosseum project are continuing in line with its approved plan of operations and existing rights.

The company added that it will keep monitoring developments and update shareholders on any material changes.

Flagship project remains central

The Colosseum Gold and Rare Earths Project remains the key asset driving investor interest.

Dateline owns 100% of the project, which sits in California’s Walker Lane Trend. The site has an existing gold resource and is also being assessed for rare earth potential.

Previous updates have pointed to economics supported by a gold price assumption above US$2,900 per ounce. The company has also been progressing work linked to rare earth exposure near the historic Mountain Pass region.

That combination has been a major factor behind the stock’s re-rating over the past year, as investors seek exposure to US-based critical minerals assets.

Volatility follows a rapid re-rating

Moves of this size are not unusual for the Dateline stock.

The share price surged through late 2025 and into 2026, driven by higher gold prices, rare earth interest, and project updates.

After such a strong run, the stock can become more sensitive to shifts in sentiment, even without any operational change.

Foolish takeaway

The company has not flagged any impact to operations, but the update adds some uncertainty around how the project may be viewed.

After such a large run, swings like this are not surprising.

From my side, I would rather watch this one from the sidelines. The volatility is high, and there are more stable opportunities elsewhere on the ASX.

The post Why this ASX mining high-flyer just dropped 14% in a day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are sliding today.

Shares in the diversified S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) conglomerate – whose retail subsidiaries include Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart Australia, Officeworks, and Priceline – closed yesterday trading for $74.06.

As we head into the Friday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $72.60 apiece, down 2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.5% at this same time.

Longer term, Wesfarmers shares are down 2.6% over 12 months, trailing the 13.9% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

Though that doesn’t include the $2.53 in fully-franked dividends the company has paid eligible stockholders over this time. Wesfarmers stock trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 2.5%.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Should you buy Wesfarmers shares today?

Shaw and Partners’ Jed Richards recently ran his slide rule over Wesfarmers stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“This company continues to deliver reliable earnings through its diversified portfolio of quality retail and industrial businesses,” he said.

Digging into Wesfarmers’ half-year results (H1 FY 2026), released on 19 February, Richards said:

Company net profit after tax rose 9.3% in the first half of 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Revenue was up 3.1%. Hardware giant Bunnings lifted total sales by 4%. Total sales at Officeworks were up 4.7%. Strong balance sheet discipline and management execution support resilience across economic cycles.

Despite that solid growth, Richards doesn’t believe now is the best time to buy Wesfarmers shares. He concluded:

Much of this is already reflected in the share price, limiting near term upside, in my view. While it remains a high-quality core holding, we believe a hold rating is appropriate until a lower share price or growth catalyst emerges.

Commanding a market cap of almost $83 billion, Wesfarmers shares trade on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 27 times.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 stock?

The last price-sensitive news out from Wesfarmers was the half-year report Richards mentioned above.

With profits up 9.3%, the company rewarded passive income investors with a fully franked interim dividend of $1.02 per share, up 7.4% from the prior year’s interim dividend payout.

Commenting on the half-year results, Wesfarmers managing director Rob Scott said, “Wesfarmers’ increase in profit was supported by strong earnings contributions from our largest divisions – Bunnings, Kmart Group and WesCEF.”

Scott added:

During the half, Wesfarmers’ divisions benefited from productivity initiatives to navigate ongoing challenging market conditions… The divisions performed well, driving productivity to mitigate cost pressures and keep prices low for customers.

Wesfarmers shares closed down 5.6% on the day of the results release.

The post Should you buy Wesfarmers shares amid rising profits and revenues? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Shares in medical technology company Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ) hit a record high of $1.25 in early trade on Friday, but according to the team at Morgans, there’s potential for them to surge even higher.

Key new technology

So what does the company do?

EchoIQ has developed a technology it calls EchoSolv HF, which is software which allows clinicians to identify patients with heart failure using data from echocardiograms.

The company last month said it had struck an agreement with the Mayo Clinic in the US, which paved the way for the technology to be rolled out once it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

As the company said at the time, the agreement with the Mayo Clinic followed a collaboration between the two organisations.

The expanded agreement follows a validation study conducted through the Mayo Clinic Platform validation program. The study met its primary endpoint, with EchoSolv HF demonstrating a sensitivity of 99.5% in identifying patients with heart failure and a specificity of 91.1% in correctly identifying patients without heart failure. These results have not been reviewed or cleared by the FDA and are subject to the FDA’s regulatory review process. Following this study, the Company lodged its market clearance application for EchoSolv HF with the FDA via the 510(k) premarket notification pathway. The Company advises that it is currently progressing through the FDA review process and will provide additional updates as developments materialise.

The company said the clearance had the potential to unlock a significant market opportunity, with heart failure a “substantial and growing burden on the US healthcare system”.

Share price upside remains

EchoIQ shares have appreciated substantially over the past year as the company has progressed its technology, improving from a low of 16.5 cents to be trading at a year-high of $1.25 today.

This is close to the Morgans target price of $1.30, but the analyst team at Morgans have flagged there’s further significant upside possible following FDA approval.

As they said:

We initiate coverage with a Speculative Buy rating and $1.30 price target with potential upside to $1.68 on approval/reimbursement, underpinned by near‑term FDA clearance, reimbursement progression, and a credible pathway to US commercial scaling. We expect a positive outcome from the EchoSolv HF FDA 510(k), due imminently, which unlocks the large, structurally undiagnosed US cardiac market. Combined with attractive unit economics and clear patient and hospital benefits, we see a high probability of rapid US adoption and monetisation.

Echo IQ was valued at $759.9 million at the close of trade on Thursday.

The post This ASX health tech stock just hit a new record high. Could it go even higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) shares are edging higher on Friday, continuing a strong run over the past year.

In morning trade, the NRW share price is up 1.68% to $6.07. That move leaves the stock ahead roughly 145% over the past 12 months, placing it among the better performers in the industrials sector.

The latest move comes after a fresh update released to the market today.

Here’s what was announced.

Fresh contract wins add to workload visibility

According to the release, NRW’s wholly owned subsidiary, Fredon, has secured a series of new electrical and mechanical contracts with a combined value of around $160 million.

The largest component is an electrical package tied to a major Commonwealth infrastructure project in Northern Australia, valued at about $110 million.

Work is expected to be completed by mid-2028.

There is also a $23 million design and construct contract linked to the Festival Towers project in Adelaide. This follows around 12 months of early contractor involvement work, with completion targeted for 2028.

Another contract includes a $24 million mechanical package for a joint venture hospital project in South Australia, with completion expected around mid-2027.

Additional wins include a $5 million electrical contract for bus charging infrastructure in South Australia, as well as work on charging systems at the Oakleigh bus depot in Victoria.

Diversification remains a key part

NRW has built its growth profile across several end markets, including mining services, civil construction, and infrastructure.

The latest contract awards show its engineering and maintenance division continuing to pick up work outside traditional resources exposure.

Management noted the mix of contracts reflects demand across infrastructure and renewables-linked activity, particularly where specialised electrical capabilities are required.

This diversification has reduced reliance on commodity cycles and supported more consistent earnings.

Strong run backed by project delivery

NRW’s share price has trended higher over the past year as the company continues to deliver regular project wins and maintain a strong order book.

The stock is now trading toward the upper end of its recent range, with investors still backing delivery across its core divisions.

With multiple projects stretching out over several years, revenue visibility has improved, which supports higher valuation multiples.

Foolish takeaway

NRW is not relying on one project or one cycle. Work is coming through across infrastructure, energy, and essential services, which gives earnings a more stable base.

After a 145% run, a lot of the easy upside has already been captured. But the steady flow of new contracts and a multi-year pipeline still point to earnings growth from here.

This usually comes down to delivery. If projects keep moving on time and margins hold, the share price can keep moving higher.

The post Why this $2.8 billion ASX stock is climbing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

Looking for some new portfolio additions? If you are, it could be worth hearing what Morgans is saying about the three popular ASX shares listed below.

Does the broker rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let’s find out:

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

This gold miner delivered a solid quarterly update this week despite battling bad weather and maintenance impacts.

In response, Morgans has upgraded Evolution Mining’s shares to an accumulate rating with a $16.10 price target. Commenting on the company, the broker said:

Gold production met expectations despite weather and maintenance impacts, with weaker copper and higher AISC driven by Ernest Henry disruptions. Strong 4Q26 expected to achieve FY26 guidance. Achieves net cash position with an updated capital management policy expected at its FY26 result in August. We upgrade to an ACCUMULATE (from HOLD) following recent weakness across the gold sector which we believe has uncovered value in a high-quality name, despite a strong share price reaction post the result.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Another ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is Netwealth. In response to the investment platform provider’s quarterly update, the broker has retained its accumulate rating with a $29.00 price target.

The broker notes that although Netwealth’s fund under administration (FUA) fell short of expectations, this was due to market weakness. And with the market rebounding this month, it believes its FUA will have improved in the fourth quarter. It explains:

NWL’s 3Q26 net-flows of $3.96bn came in modestly ahead of expectations, however market volatility during the period eroded this solid performance to see 3Q26 FUA ending the quarter flat QoQ at A$125.8bn, (vs. Consensus A$129.8bn). Despite ongoing volatility and uncertainty tied to a US/Middle East conflict and a potential resolution, market momentum has recovered from peak pessimism in the March Quarter, with the ASX All Ordinaries +5.6% month-to-date in April’26, which will have seen FUA growth momentum improve post quarter end.

Looking through this near-term volatility NWL remains on track [to] deliver solid growth FY26F and well placed to capitalise on the long runway of opportunity ahead. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating, with a Price target of $29.00/sh.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

Finally, Morgans was pleased with this agricultural chemicals company’s guidance for the first half of FY 2026. It notes that its earnings are slightly ahead of expectations and its balance sheet deleveraging is far better than expected.

As a result, it has reaffirmed its buy rating with a $4.05 price target. It said:

Pleasingly, NUF’s 1H26 EBITDA guidance was slightly higher than expected and it has had a strong 1H. Importantly, its leverage guidance is materially better than expected. Initial outlook comments for the 2H26 were positive and a new A$50m cost out program has been announced.

Given the appreciation in active ingredient and fish oil prices, NUF’s previous FY26 guidance could prove to be conservative. NUF is our key pick of the ag and chemical sector. The company is materially undervalued and we reiterate our BUY rating with a new price target of A$4.05.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Evolution Mining, Netwealth, and Nufarm shares 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 Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Eden Innovations Ltd (ASX: EDE) have jumped by a third after the company said it was launching a division focused on the defence sector.

In a statement to the ASX on Friday, the company said the new EdenShield division would aim to commercialise the company’s product suite across critical infrastructure and national security applications, including drones, data centres, bunkers, military bases, hospitals, and defence-related buildings.

High tech concrete a differentiator

This would involve using the company’s EdenCrete range of concrete additives for ultra-high performance concrete, and carbon nanotube (CNT) infused high strength lightweight plastics, as well as a dual-fuel diesel system for cheaper backup power generation.

Eden said EdenCrete could provide enhanced blast resistance, durability, and thermal performance, which was ideal for military requirements.

The company also had a range of CNT-enriched products including concrete, paint, and other coatings which offered superior electromagnetic pulse and radio frequency shielding capabilities.

These products could be used for protecting aircraft, drones, ships, equipment, and infrastructure “from electromagnetic interference (EMI), high-altitude EMP (HEMP) events, and intentional electronic warfare attacks that could disrupt or disable critical systems”.

On the fuel front, the company said:

OptiBlend, Eden’s long proven proprietary, dual-fuel technology extends backup power duration by up to 150%, by replacing up to 70% of the required diesel fuel with lower-cost natural gas, enhancing resilience of critical infrastructure such as military outposts, hospitals, and data centres. This dual-fuel technology solution used for 18 years offers significant benefits at a critical time for record-high fuel prices globally and has the potential to help mitigate spiralling fuel costs and add fuel versatility.

The company said the global aerospace and defence sectors were worth a combined US$900 billion currently, which was forecast to grow to more than US$2 trillion by 2034.

Key milestone

Eden Executive Chairman Greg Solomon said it was a pivotal turning point for the company.

The establishment of EdenShield represents a significant strategic step for Eden as we position our technologies to address the rapidly growing global demand for defence capability and infrastructure resilience. Our long-proven CNT-based solutions offer a significantly superior solution to the traditional products used in the construction and manufacturing of critical defence, military and infrastructure assets. Similarly, our dual fuel technology offers significant improvements to back-up power generation. The EdenShield launch comes at an opportune time for Eden to grow its market presence and offer increased protection and durability for these important industries critical to national security.

Eden shares were trading 6 cents higher at 24 cents, up 33.3%. The shares have been as low as 1.6 cents during the past 12 months.

The ASX small-cap company was valued at $104.1 million at the close of trade on Thursday.

The post Up more than 10-fold over the past year, this ASX small-cap stock just jumped another 33% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this $2.8 billion ASX stock is climbing today
• Buy, hold, sell: Evolution Mining, Netwealth, and Nufarm shares
• Why Paladin Energy, Alcoa and Zip shares are making headlines on Friday
• Looking for another DroneShield? Check out this buy-rated ASX defence stock
• Oil jumps again. Here’s what the market is watching closely

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

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN), Alcoa Corp (ASX: AAI), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are catching financial headlines today.

In morning trade on Friday, two of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks are racing ahead of the 0.5% losses posted by the benchmark index at the time of writing, while one is trailing those losses.

Here’s what’s catching ASX investor interest.

Zip shares rocket on record quarterly earnings

Zip shares are racing higher today, up 11.7% and trading for $2.29 apiece.

This strong performance follows the release of the ASX 200 buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock’s third-quarter (Q3 FY 2026) results.

Highlights for the three months included a 22.4% year-on-year increase in total transaction volume (TTV) to $4 billion. And total income was up 20.2% from Q3 FY 2025 to $335.2 million.

Zip shares are also getting a boost with the company reporting record quarterly earnings. Earning before tax, depreciation and amortisation surged 41.5% year on year to $65.1 million.

This led management to upgrade Zip’s full-year FY 2026 cash EBTDA guidance to no less than $260 million.

Which brings us to…

Paladin Energy shares lift on production upgrade

Paladin Energy shares are also making news and enjoying a strong run today. Though not quite as strong as Zip shares.

Shares in the ASX 200 uranium stock are changing hands for $14.54 at the time of writing, up 2.7%.

Investors are bidding up Paladin Energy shares after the company released a positive operations and guidance update for its Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM).

Following an efficient ramp-up of LHM to full mining, and with 3.6 million pounds of uranium oxide produced so far in FY 2026, management increased full-year uranium production guidance to between 4.5 million and 4.8 million pounds. That’s up from previous guidance of 4.0 million to 4.4 million pounds.

Also likely helping boost Paladin Energy shares today, the company reduced its full-year capital and exploration expenditure guidance.

And finally…

Alcoa shares slide on revenue dip

Joining Paladin and Zip shares in the headlines today, but heading in the other direction, is Alcoa, which produces and sells bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products.

Alcoa shares are down 2.9% at the time of writing, swapping hands for $97.14 apiece.

Investors have been pressuring the ASX 200 stock following the release of its quarterly update.

While adjusted EBITDA, excluding special items, increased 13% quarter on quarter to US$595 million, alumina production fell 5%, impacted in part by Cyclone Narelle.

This led to a 7% quarter-on-quarter decline in revenue to US$3.2 billion.

The post Why Paladin Energy, Alcoa and Zip shares are making headlines on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are Zip shares rocketing 24% today?
• Paladin Energy shares are jumping 7% on big news
• Paladin Energy hikes FY2026 outlook after Langer Heinrich ramp-up
• Alcoa posts Q1 2026 result
• Zip Co posts record cash EBTDA and upgrades FY26 guidance

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