Tag: Stock pick

Many Aussie investors would benefit by having some ASX-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a portfolio, in my view. The most popular ones can provide investors with excellent diversification.

But, it’s possible for some portfolios to provide almost too much diversification, meaning the returns may not be as good as they could be if investors just owned the better businesses.

I like the idea of investing in some of the best portfolios because of the potential for stronger returns, which is why I like the following ideas for five-year (or longer) investments.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The global share market is home to a large array of wonderful businesses. The QLTY ETF aims to just pick out the best of them by owning 150 high-quality international stocks.

It identifies which businesses to own with a number of screens. That includes return on equity (ROE), debt to capital, cash flow generation ability, and earnings stability.

The ROE criteria mean the businesses earn a higher level of profit compared to the amount of shareholder money retained. Generating strong cash flow is very attractive because we want to see earnings flow through the bank account. Earnings stability suggests profit doesn’t usually go backwards, and the profit regularly rises. Low debt to capital ensures the businesses are healthy and not funding growth with a lot of debt.

This selection process has led to the businesses coming from a variety of countries and sectors. There are five industries with a double-digit weighting: IT (31% of the portfolio), industrials (16.6%), healthcare (16.3%), financials (10.6%), and consumer discretionary (10.4%).

Impressively, in the last three years, it has returned an average of 20.7%. But, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Global X S&P World ex Australia GARP ETF (ASX: GARP)

The GARP investment strategy means ‘growth at a reasonable price’, which I think is one of the best ways to invest. Earnings growth is key for sending share prices higher. Buying at a good valuation is useful for identifying businesses that could outperform the market.

There are multiple elements that go into choosing the stocks for this portfolio.

It looks for growth, with 3-year sales per share and earnings per share (EPS) growth figures. The fund identifies 500 stocks eligible for inclusion.

Next, it looks at the value and quality of the best 250 stocks. Value is decided by looking at their earnings compared to the share price, which is essentially the price-earnings (P/E) ratio.

Quality is assessed by looking at the financial leverage (meaning debt levels) and the ROE ratios of the businesses.

By combining those aspects, you’re left with a high-quality, high-growth portfolio.

Excitingly, the index this fund tracks has delivered an average annual return of 19.7% over the past five years. That shows how well it can perform, in my view, though it’s not guaranteed to repeat itself.

The post 2 ASX ETFs I’d buy aiming for big returns for the next 5 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares have been in focus this week.

The uranium producer’s shares hit a 52-week high on Wednesday after it released a strong quarterly update.

Is it too late to invest? Let’s see what analysts at Bell Potter are saying about the stock.

Should you buy Paladin Energy shares?

Bell Potter is feeling very bullish about the uranium producer following its quarterly update, which was comfortably above expectations. Commenting on the quarter, the broker said:

Uranium production was 1.23Mlbs (BPe 1.1Mlbs, consensus 1.1Mlbs), a 16% increase on 1QFY26. Mill throughput improved over the quarter to 1.2Mt from 1.15Mt, with an uplift in grade processed of 524ppm as higher-grade ore was sourced from G & F pits (1QFY26 477ppm). Recoveries also improved to 91% from 86%. Sales were 1.4Mlbs (+169% QoQ), with closing uranium inventory at 1.6Mlbs (down from 1.8Mlbs).

Average realised price was US$71.8/lb, up from US$67.4/lb in 1QFY26 (estimated revenue US$100.5m). C1 costs were US$39.7/lb produced (1QFY26 $41.6, FY26 guidance US$44-$48/lb), cash costs (inclusive of stripping and stockpile costs) were ~US$48/lb produced. PDN finished 2QFY26 with cash and investments of US$278m and a US$70m revolving credit facility (1Q $269m + US$50m credit facility).

Overall, Bell Potter believes that this “result demonstrated the underlying performance capabilities of the business.”

And while management has yet to upgrade its production guidance for FY 2026, the broker suspects that it will happen, assuming no weather interruptions.

Valuation boost

In light of the above, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on Paladin Energy shares with an improved price target of $15.30 (from $12.50).

Based on its current share price of $12.82, this implies potential upside of 19% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

Our target price is increased to $15.30/sh (previously $12.50/sh) on adjustments to our production, sales and costs. PDN is demonstrating stabilised production ahead of consensus estimates. The market continues to ascribe little value to Patterson Lakes South (PLS) in our opinion, which provides upside as the project is de-risked through environmental permitting. EPS changes in this report are: FY26 +157%, FY27 +1% and FY28 -2%.

Our NPAT estimates are increased by US$29m (+205%), US$10m (+7%) and US$3m (+2%) in FY26, FY27 and FY28 respectively.

Overall, this could make Paladin Energy shares worth considering if you are looking for exposure to the booming uranium market.

The post Should you buy Paladin Energy shares after its strong update? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Evolution Mining, Lynas Rare Earths, Paladin Energy, and Sovereign Metals shares are racing higher today
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• Paladin Energy lifts uranium output and sales in December quarter
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

Shares in IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) are back in the spotlight after the company landed a major US defence-linked order that appears to validate its long-term strategy.

The IperionX share price is up 3.92% to $7.68 in early morning trade, and has now surged around 50% over the past month.

That rally reflects growing investor confidence following today’s announcement, which ties the company directly into US Army supply chains.

Let’s unpack what was announced.

A defence order that could open doors

IperionX revealed it has received a prototype purchase order valued at US$300,000 from American Rheinmetall. The order is for the production of 700 lightweight titanium components destined for US Army heavy ground combat systems.

The company said the initial order has the potential to lead to a significantly larger agreement if the prototype work is delivered successfully.

The components will be manufactured in the United States using 100% recycled titanium feedstock. Production will rely on IperionX’s patented hydrogen-assisted metal technologies, which are designed to deliver high-performance titanium at lower cost and with lower emissions than conventional methods.

Why titanium for defence is important

Replacing steel with titanium offers compelling advantages for modern military vehicles. According to IperionX, titanium components can deliver weight reductions of around 40% to 45% per component. That can reduce overall vehicle weight by hundreds of kilograms, depending on the design.

Lower vehicle weight improves acceleration, agility, operational range, and survivability. It also reduces ground pressure, improving mobility over soft or uneven terrain. As armoured vehicles add more protection and counter-drone systems, managing overall weight is becoming more important.

A defence tailwind worth watching

IperionX says it is currently the only domestic US producer of commercial-scale primary titanium metal. Titanium is designated as a strategic and critical material by the US government, reflecting long-standing reliance on overseas supply chains that the US is now working to reduce.

This order directly supports US priorities to reshore critical materials, cut dependence on offshore suppliers, and expand domestic manufacturing using recycled inputs.

Chief Executive Anastasios Arima said the purchase order demonstrates the application of IperionX’s recycled titanium technologies on key US ground combat platforms. He also highlighted the company’s positioning as a secure, low-carbon, US-based supplier.

Foolish Takeaway

The share price has already moved quickly, so some short-term volatility would not be surprising. But this announcement shows IperionX is starting to secure defence customers, which helps explain why the stock is now on more investors’ radars.

The post Up 50% in a month. Why this ASX stock’s latest US defence deal has investors paying attention 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are trading around $177, a long way below their 52-week peak of $282.20. For a biotech that has been one of the ASX’s great long-term compounders, that kind of fall naturally raises a big question. Is this a genuine buying opportunity, or is the market telling us something has changed?

To answer that properly, you need to understand why the shares fell in the first place.

Why CSL shares declined so sharply

The sell-off has not been driven by a single issue, but by a cluster of disappointments that arrived at the same time.

The most important has been pressure on plasma margins. Plasma collection costs rose significantly after COVID as CSL worked to rebuild supply, while broader inflation lifted operating costs. Volumes recovered, but profitability lagged expectations, which mattered because CSL had historically delivered very reliable margin expansion.

Within that, the market was particularly disappointed with CSL Behring. This division had been positioned as the engine room of long-term growth, especially through immunoglobulins. Instead, growth slowed materially. That was a shock relative to expectations for steady, high-quality growth.

The Seqirus business also weighed on sentiment. Influenza vaccine demand, particularly in the US, proved weaker and more volatile than expected. That hurt earnings and challenged the view that vaccines would provide smoother diversification alongside plasma.

Guidance cuts compounded the problem. Investors had already lowered expectations once, only to see them revised down again. That sequence matters because it impacts confidence in near-term execution even if the long-term strategy remains intact.

There were also regional and narrative overhangs. Albumin demand in China became less predictable, adding uncertainty at an awkward time. Meanwhile, the longer-term gene therapy discussion resurfaced, not because it is an immediate threat, but because it gave investors another reason to question long-run assumptions.

What looks different at $177

At $177, expectations are far lower than they were when CSL traded above $250. The share price now reflects slower near-term growth, a gradual margin recovery rather than a rapid one, and more conservative assumptions around vaccines and China.

Importantly, the core business has not broken. CSL remains one of just a handful of global plasma leaders, operating in a highly consolidated market with significant barriers to entry. Plasma demand trends have not disappeared, and management continues to point to efficiency initiatives that should support margin recovery over time.

This means CSL does not need everything to go right to justify a higher share price. It simply needs fewer things to go wrong.

So, are CSL shares still a bargain?

I would not describe CSL shares at $177 as risk-free. Execution still matters, and patience is required. But relative to where expectations were at the peak, the risk-reward now looks far more balanced.

The share price decline has been driven more by disappointment and valuation reset than by a permanent deterioration in the business. If margins stabilise, earnings growth improves modestly, and confidence slowly rebuilds. CSL does not need to return to peak optimism to deliver respectable returns from here.

At $177, I think there is a credible case that CSL shares are a bargain for long-term investors willing to tolerate near-term uncertainty while waiting for the fundamentals to catch up.

The post Are CSL shares still a bargain at $177? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are falling on Thursday morning.

In morning trade, the iron ore giant’s shares are down 2.5% to $22.10.

Why are Fortescue shares falling?

Investors have been selling the company’s shares today following the release of its December quarterly production update.

According to the release, Fortescue reported total iron ore shipments of 50.5 million tonnes for the December quarter. This was down slightly on its first quarter shipments.

Nevertheless, the company achieved first half FY 2026 shipments of 100.2 million tonnes, which is a record and represents a 3% increase on the prior corresponding period.

Management believes this leaves the company well positioned to meet its full year shipments guidance of 195 million tonnes to 205 million tonnes.

Iron Bridge has strong half

Fortescue’s production from the Iron Bridge magnetite project continued to build during the quarter.

It achieved shipments of 2.2 million tonnes, which took first half Iron Bridge shipments to 4.3 million tonnes. This is up 37% year on year.

Iron Bridge concentrate achieved an average revenue of US$122 per dry metric tonne, outperforming benchmark indices due to its higher iron content.

On the cost front, Fortescue’s hematite C1 unit cost rose to US$19.10 per wet metric tonne during the quarter. This is up 5% from the September quarter and reflects higher diesel prices, exchange rate movements, and the normalisation of inventory impacts that had benefited the prior quarter.

For the half year, C1 costs averaged US$18.64 per tonne, which is slightly above the top end of its full year guidance range of US$17.50 per tonne to US$18.50 per tonne.

While its FY 2026 guidance remains unchanged, this modest cost pressure may help explain why Fortescue shares are weaker today, particularly given ongoing volatility in iron ore prices.

Commenting on the company’s performance, its growth and energy chief executive officer, Gus Pichot, said:

We continue to make disciplined progress across our global growth portfolio of metals, critical minerals, energy and technology opportunities. In line with our critical minerals strategy, this quarter we entered into a binding agreement to acquire the remaining 64 per cent of Alta Copper’s shares. Fortescue will apply its strong track record of project delivery and well-established technical, permitting and community engagement expertise to diversify and expand our copper portfolio and exploration footprint in Latin America.

We’ve also continued to progress studies into the Belinga Iron Ore Project in Gabon, establishing a Presidential Taskforce to streamline the planning and delivery of an integrated mine, rail and port solution.

The post Fortescue shares tumble as cost increase disappoints appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) shares are in the spotlight on Thursday.

In morning trade, the ASX 200 stock is down 2% to $25.34.

Why is this ASX 200 stock falling?

Investors have been selling the investment platform provider’s shares despite it delivering another solid quarterly update, highlighted by record inflows and continued momentum across its platform.

According to the release, Netwealth reported total custodial inflows of $8.4 billion for the December 2025 quarter, marking its second consecutive quarterly record. This performance underpinned solid growth in funds under administration and reinforced Netwealth’s position as one of Australia’s fastest-growing wealth platforms.

Netwealth finished the quarter with total funds under administration (FUA) of $125.6 billion, up 23.6% year on year. During the quarter alone, total FUA increased by $4.8 billion, driven by a combination of net flows of $4.2 billion and positive market movements of $0.6 billion.

While reported net flows were slightly impacted by the exit of two low-revenue institutional clients, management highlighted that net flows excluding these accounts reached a record $4.6 billion, or $5.0 billion excluding pension payments. This suggests underlying demand from advisers and clients remains very strong. Over the past 12 months, custodial inflows have totalled an impressive $30.3 billion.

Managed accounts

A key driver of growth during the quarter was the ASX 200 stock’s managed accounts business. The company reported a record $1.8 billion in managed account net flows, up a sizeable 61.4% on the prior corresponding period.

As a result, managed account funds under management (FUM) rose to $27.5 billion, representing growth of 32.3% year on year. Overall FUM increased to $31.4 billion, up 30.6% over the same period last year.

Netwealth also added 39 new managed account models during the quarter, supporting further adoption by advisers. Managed accounts now make up 21.9% of total FUA, highlighting their growing importance to the platform.

The ASX 200 stock’s CEO and managing director, Matt Heine, was pleased with the quarter. He said:

Our customers are central to our strategy and our focus remains on both understanding and delivering solutions that meet our client needs. We’re pleased to be adding individual HIN administration and reporting for our users, providing this important and new market with access to the Netwealth platform functionality including enhanced user experiences and customer options while delivering adviser capacity.

Equally as pleasing is the Netwealth Private offering that can operate as a standalone solution or in conjunction with our individual HIN offering. These solutions continue to underpin our Ultra and High Net Wealth offering and demonstrates our significant experience and capability in this segment.

Why are its shares falling?

While Netwealth has delivered strong growth in the second quarter, it is slower than what Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) reported this week. This could mean that some investors are switching their allegiance to its rival on the belief that its outlook is stronger.

The post Guess which ASX 200 stock is dropping despite delivering strong Q2 growth 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) is in the red today.

Resolute Mining shares closed yesterday trading for $1.335. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $1.315 apiece, down 1.5%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.7%, following US stock markets higher after Donald Trump pulled back on his military and tariff threats over Greenland.

With today’s dip factored in, Resolute Mining shares remain up a blistering 222% since this time last year. This gives the West African-focused gold miner a market cap of $2.8 billion.

Now, here’s what investors are mulling over today.

(*Note, all dollar figures below are in US dollars.)

ASX 200 gold stock dips on update

Resolute Mining shares are slipping following the release of the company’s fourth-quarter (Q4 2025) update.

Highlights from the three months to 31 December include a 10% quarter-on-quarter increase in gold production to 65,918 ounces.

The ASX 200 gold stock produced the yellow metal at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,877 per ounce, down from $2,205 per ounce in Q3 2025.

And quarterly capital expenditure (excluding exploration) declined by 31% from the prior quarter to $18.4 million.

In other core financial metrics, the ASX 200 gold stock reported operating cash flow generation of $85.7 million, up 26% from Q3.

And on the balance sheet, the miner held cash, cash equivalents, and bullion of $266 million at the end of 2025.

Looking to the year ahead, Resolute Mining provides 2026 production guidance of 250,000 to 275,000 ounces of gold at an AISC of $2,000 to $2,200 per ounce.

That compares to full-year 2025 gold production of 277,236 ounces at an AISC of $1,843 per ounce.

Resolute Mining shares could be under some pressure today, however, with 2024 gold production coming in at 339,869 ounces.

What did management say?

Commenting on the quarterly results for the ASX 200 gold stock today, Resolute Mining CEO Chris Eger said, “Despite supply chain challenges in Mali and the transition to stockpile processing at Mako, we have achieved strong financial and operating performance.”

Eger added:

Gold production was in-line with initial guidance and net cash generation over the year was $140 million driven by a very strong Q4. We advanced key projects such as the SSCP and Mako Life Extension Project, managed operating costs across all sites, restructured the executive teams, delivered exploration success and stabilised government relations.

2025 also saw Resolute Mining acquire the Doropo and ABC Projects in Cote d’Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast).

Eger noted that Doropo is on track for maiden gold production in the first half of 2028.

Looking to future potential growth prospects for the ASX 200 gold stock, Eger said, “Exploration remains at the heart of Resolute’s strategy, underpinning our ambition to deliver sustained growth and maximise long-term shareholder value.”

The post Up 222% in a year, $2.8 billion ASX 200 gold stock delivers ‘very strong’ fourth quarter 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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The large listed investment company (LIC) Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI) released its FY26 half-year result yesterday, revealing a number of interesting S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) share investment choices it thinks could help it lift performance.

For example, AFIC decided to trim its Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) share positions on valuation grounds. It hopes to invest in those names if they come down to a more appealing price, according to AFIC.

There were a few ASX 200 shares that AFIC invested. It said its buying was concentrated in two blue-chip companies where it sees an attractive dividend yield combined with high-quality and attractive valuation. Let’s take a look at what AFIC liked about them.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

AFIC said that Telstra shares remains the dominant leader in an attractive industry that continues to be driven by a growing population’s increasing usage of data.

The investment team believe ASX 200 telco share returns are improving and the balance sheet is in good shape, which should result in a high fully franked dividend yield that AFIC believes can grow over time.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The ASX supermarket share has gone through a rough time as it underperformed Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares.

AFIC noted that Woolworths has recently delivered some “disappointing” financial results because of poor execution in its core supermarkets business.

The LIC believes the ASX 200 share’s issues are temporary and this has given AFIC the opportunity to invest in a high returning, defensive business that provides its portfolio with a “good mix of fully franked dividend income plus growth”.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

AFIC also revealed that it continues to build its investment in Sigma Healthcare shares in a patient and disciplined manner by taking advantage of some recent short-term underperformance in the share price. The below chart shows how the ASX healthcare share has been volatile recently.

Following the merger with Chemist Warehouse, Sigma Healthcare is now Australia’s leading retail pharmacy franchisor, distributor and wholesaler.

AFIC thinks the ASX 200 share has a strong track record of execution with double-digit revenue growth over the past two decades.

The ASX healthcare share continues to have a long growth runway, according to the LIC, as it operates in an attractive, strongly growing healthcare and beauty retail category in which it is winning market share. AFIC said Sigma Healthcare primarily offers its portfolio an attractive level of capital growth alongside modest, albeit strongly growing, dividends.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares this fund manager says are buys for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group and Woolworths Group. 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 Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) are trading higher after the company announced a major boost to cash flows over the December quarter.

The Adelaide-based oil and gas company said in a statement on Thursday that cash flow for the quarter was about $380 million, which was up 30% on the prior quarter.

This also brought cash flow for the full year to about $1.8 billion.

Production for the fourth quarter was 22.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), up 15% on the prior quarter, bringing the full-year result to 87.7 mmboe, near the upper end of guidance of 87-88 mmboe.

Sales revenue for the fourth quarter was $1.2 billion, up 9% on the prior quarter, bringing the full-year result to more than $4.9 billion.

Solid result across the board

Santos Managing Director Kevin Gallagher said it was an operationally excellent result as well as being strong on the financial front.

The fourth quarter lifted free cash flow for the full year to approximately $1.8 billion, a strong result in a year of relatively soft commodity prices for the industry, which demonstrates the value of our focus on margin in our marketing and trading activities. The performance of the base business has been a real highlight in 2025 with strong production despite the impact of the biggest floods in the Cooper Basin since the 1970s. Santos now has a strong platform for production growth with Barossa’s first LNG cargo currently loading at Darwin. We have taken a very considered approach to the final stages of commissioning to ensure offshore operations achieve a steady state, high level of reliability as quickly as possible once full production is achieved.

Mr Gallagher said Santos was also moving close to first production from the Pikka oil project in Alaska, “positioning the company to deliver sustainable returns to our shareholders and continue to reinvest in the business to grow production”.

Drilling at Pikka continues to perform strongly, with the 23rd well achieving the highest productivity so far, with an initial rate of approximately 8,000 barrels of oil per day. The 24th well was the second combination well, developing two downhole reservoir sections with one well. The drilling capability and innovation developed at Pikka will underpin our strategy for future developments. Once at full rates, Barossa LNG and Pikka phase 1 together are expected to lift Santos’ production by around 25 to 30 per cent by 2027 compared to 2024 levels.

Mr Gallagher said the company had a cash flow breakeven target of $45-$50 per barrel of oil for the current year, which “will position Santos over the next few years to deliver sustainable results and provide strong returns for our shareholders”.

Santos’ production guidance for 2026 is for 101-111 mmboe, a significant uplift from 2025.

Santos shares were 2.9% higher in early trade at $6.23.

The company was valued at $19.68 billion at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post Santos shares increase on strong quarterly cash flows appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Santos delivers strong Q4 cash flow and production
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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.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is in focus after the energy producer reported fourth quarter free cash flow from operations of approximately $380 million, up 30% on the previous quarter, and full year sales revenue topping $4.9 billion.

What did Santos report?

• Fourth quarter free cash flow from operations: ~$380 million (up 30% quarter on quarter); full year: ~$1.8 billion
• Fourth quarter production: 22.3 mmboe (up 5% on previous quarter); full year: 87.7 mmboe
• Fourth quarter sales volumes: 24.8 mmboe (up 15% quarter on quarter); full year sales volumes: 93.5 mmboe
• Fourth quarter sales revenue: $1.23 billion (up 9% on previous quarter); full year: $4.94 billion
• Full year unit production cost: below $7 per boe (excluding Bayu Undan), within guidance
• Gearing: 26.8% (down 1.4% from end of prior quarter)

What else do investors need to know?

Santos reported strong operational momentum, with improved Cooper Basin production following post-flood recovery and the ramp-up of domestic gas in Western Australia after third quarter shutdowns. The company also received over 900,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units for its Moomba Carbon Capture and Storage project, reflecting strong compliance with emissions standards.

The Barossa LNG project reached a milestone, commencing LNG production, and its first cargo is now being loaded for delivery to Japan. Drilling in Alaska’s Pikka phase 1 project nears completion, positioning Santos for new oil volumes in early 2026.

Santos strengthened its balance sheet by raising $1 billion in new fixed-rate bonds, fully repaying legacy PNG LNG project finance, and divesting non-core assets. A favourable legal settlement also bolstered liquidity.

What did Santos management say?

Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Gallagher said:

The fourth quarter lifted free cash flow for the full year to approximately $1.8 billion, a strong result in a year of relatively soft commodity prices for the industry, which demonstrates the value of our focus on margin in our marketing and trading activities.
… Santos now has a strong platform for production growth with Barossa’s first LNG cargo currently loading at Darwin. … Once at full rates, Barossa LNG and Pikka phase 1 together are expected to lift Santos’ production by around 25 to 30 per cent by 2027 compared to 2024 levels.

What’s next for Santos?

Looking to 2026, Santos has issued production guidance of 101 to 111 mmboe, up from 2025’s level, and expects capital expenditure in the range of $1.95 to $2.15 billion. Increased LNG and oil volumes from Barossa and Pikka are expected to boost growth, alongside ongoing emissions reduction initiatives.

The company plans to continue disciplined capital allocation, maintaining a focus on cost and operational excellence. Several asset sales, a disciplined capital structure, and large-scale projects are expected to support shareholder returns.

Santos share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Santos shares have declined 15%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

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