Tag: Stock pick

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares are in the spotlight on Tuesday.

In morning trade, the allogeneic cellular medicines developer’s shares are up over 1% to $2.36.

This follows the release of the company’s annual general meeting update and quarterly sales guidance.

What did the company announce?

Let’s start with its sales performance in the current quarter.

According to the release, Mesoblast’s sales are expected to be up strongly quarter on quarter thanks to increasing demand for its Ryoncil (remestemcel-L-rknd) product.

For the quarter ended 31 December, management revealed that it expects gross revenue of more than US$30 million from sales of Ryoncil (remestemcel-L-rknd). This represents an increase of 37% on the US$21.9 million in gross revenue that was record from Ryoncil in the prior quarter ended 30 September 30.

What else?

At its annual general meeting, management spoke very positively about Ryoncil and how its approval by the US FDA has transformed the company forever. The company’s chair, Jane Bell, said:

The FDA approval of Ryoncil is not simply a regulatory milestone: it is a turning point in our transition from development to commercialization, and a powerful validation of Mesoblast’s scientific platform, manufacturing rigor, and clinical strategy.

The commercial launch of Ryoncil has been executed flawlessly with strong uptake to date and growing sales, which have exceeded our expectations. We are very pleased with the commercial and government reimbursement that is now in place, as we ensure that all children with this devastating disease have access to our life-saving treatment with payor coverage now extending to over 260 million lives in the U.S. as well as successful onboarding and physician adoption.

Bell also highlights that the first approval could be just the start of many more in the future. She highlights that Mesoblast has its eyes on the cardiovascular and back pain markets, adding:

Achieving a first FDA approval and demonstrating successful product commercialization provides important validation for our whole strategy and value chain of our technology platforms. The learnings from Ryoncil are being adapted to the rest of the company’s pipeline and will hold us in good stead as we work towards further FDA approvals for our cardiovascular and back pain indications for our second-generation stromal cell technology platform.

Mesoblast shares have been strong performers over the past 12 months. During this time, they are up almost 40%. This compares to a gain of just 1.3% from the ASX 200 index over the same period.

The post Mesoblast shares push higher on strong sales update 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.

For Australians edging toward life after work, few questions loom larger than “Do I have enough super?”

With the Age Pension age now 67 and having gradually increased from 65 over the past decade, it’s an important milestone for anyone planning their retirement income.

While everyone’s path looks different, current data offers a helpful snapshot of what the average Australian has saved by pension age today.

What the average Australian has in super at 65–74

According to the Australian Retirement Trust, the average superannuation balance for Australians aged 65 to 74 is $435,900 for men and $381,700 for women. These figures reflect long-term contribution patterns, career breaks, wage differences, and the simple reality of compounding over several decades.

But averages don’t always tell the whole story. 

How much super is considered “comfortable”?

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides useful benchmarks for what a “comfortable” retirement might look like.

Based on the data in your attached screenshot, ASFA’s recommended super balance at age 65 is currently $571,000 for a comfortable standard of living. This figure is designed to support:

• private health insurance, clothing, and reliable transport
• local holidays, outings, and everyday lifestyle activities
• home maintenance, entertainment and streaming services
• general financial flexibility as costs rise over time

These targets also increase each year to stay in line with inflation, which is important to remember when comparing your personal balance with age-based estimates. Today’s 40-year-old benchmark will not be the same by the time that person reaches 65.

How the Age Pension fits in

Australia’s retirement system is built on three pillars: compulsory super, voluntary savings, and the Age Pension.

The Age Pension itself is means-tested — both income and assets — which means your super balance will influence how much pension support you may receive.

A few general principles apply:

• Lower super balances may qualify for a higher Age Pension entitlement, helping close the income gap.
• Higher super balances reduce or eliminate pension payments, but provide greater financial independence and spending flexibility.
• Many Australians end up with a mix of both — part-pension supplemented by super withdrawals.

This is why knowing the averages can be useful, but understanding your own total retirement income picture matters more.

Is the average super balance enough?

A combined figure of around $400,000 may support a modest or part-pension lifestyle for many retirees. However, whether it’s “enough” depends on:

• your spending needs
• whether you own your home
• your health requirements
• your desired lifestyle (local travel vs international travel, etc.)
• whether you expect the full, part, or no Age Pension

The key message ASFA emphasises — and which comes through clearly in your attached data — is that consistent contributions compound meaningfully over time, and the benchmarks climb gradually to reflect rising living costs.

Building super is a decades-long process, and even small, steady contributions can lift retirement outcomes significantly.

Why investing consistently still matters

The jump in “comfortable” recommended balances from age 25 ($26,000) to age 65 ($571,000) isn’t an accident. It reflects:

• inflation
• rising living standards
• longer lifespans
• the power of compounding for anyone who invests consistently

Rather than being discouraged by large end-targets, Australians are better served by focusing on the controllables: regular contributions, long investment time frames, and avoiding panic during market downturns.

As the numbers show, wealth in super builds slowly — and then suddenly — over the final decade of full-time work.

The post Here’s the average Australian superannuation balance at pension age appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Bendigo Bank shares are crashing today on ‘very disappointing’ deficiencies

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dropped 2.5% over the course of last week. At the time of writing on early Tuesday morning, however, the index is trading 0.37% higher. Over the month, the index is still down 5.51%.

Here’s what investors have been buying. 

Most-traded share on the ASX last week

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares continued their downward tumble last week, but the company continues to be in favour with investors. New data from CommSec shows that between the 17th and 21st of November, the most commonly traded Australian share by clients, based on contract note volumes either bought or sold weekly, is still the AI-drone operator. Around 60% of trading activity was buying, and the remaining 40% was selling activity.

Droneshield’s shares closed just over 2% higher at $1.74 each on Monday afternoon. But the stock has plummeted 73.6% since peaking in early October. 

The company has come under enormous pressure recently following a number of announcements and media speculation that its sales could be affected by the rise of drones using fibre optic technology. On Wednesday last week, the company said Matt McCrann, who joined the company in 2019 and who had been the US CEO since 2022, “has resigned from the business, effective immediately”. There was no explanation for his departure.

The company also responded to an ASX Aware Letter this week. Droneshield was asked to explain recent share sales and the accidental release, and retraction, of a $7.6 million contract mistakenly announced as new.  

The share price also crashed earlier this month following news that CEO Oleg Vornik had sold $49.47 million worth of shares in the company, with several other directors also offloading sizable shareholdings.

Analysts are still optimistic about an upside ahead for the ASX company and its shares. Just yesterday, investment advisory and portfolio management company, MPC Markets, named DroneShield shares as a buy, and said that the stock is now trading at a “reasonable price”.

What other Australian shares were investors interested in?

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) was the second most-traded ASX share last week, although 60% of activity was selling. The miner’s shares fell 1.52% throughout the week. Blackwattle portfolio managers, Tim Riordan and Michael Teran, said that Pilbara Minerals is the lithium star of the ASX right now. In their latest bulletin, Riordan and Teran said the market’s largest pure-play lithium share has “material upside” ahead.

Third on CommSec’s list are Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares. Around 72% of their activity throughout the week was from buyers. These investors were likely taking advantage of the banking giant’s share price plunge earlier this month. CBA’s share price plummeted over 15.3% between 6th November and Wednesday last week. Analysts and investors are unimpressed with the bank’s latest quarterly update. 

There was also a flurry of buying activity from CommSec clients in Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). 

Investors were also interested in buying CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares throughout the week.

The post Top 10 most-traded ASX shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended CSL, DroneShield, Macquarie Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) shares are taking a fall today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $11. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $10.33 apiece, down 6.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.2% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Bendigo Bank shares have underperformed over the past year, sliding 22.7%. Those losses will have been modestly eased by the 66 cents in fully-franked dividends the Aussie bank paid out over the full year. Bendigo Bank currently trades on a 6.3% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

Now, here’s what the bank just reported on its decidedly lacking historic risk management issues.

Bendigo Bank shares tank on money laundering deficiencies

Before market open this morning, the bank reported on the results of the independent Deloitte investigation into suspicious activities at one of its branches. The review focused on activity at the branch in the period between 1 August 2019 and 1 August 2025.

Bendigo Bank engaged Deloitte in August this year to conduct the investigation after it identified and reported the matter to AUSTRAC and law enforcement. The bank noted that it ensured the Deloitte review was sufficiently broad to identify both the nature and scope of the issues at the branch. That includes any related systemic Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing issues.

Today, Bendigo Bank shares are under pressure after the Deloitte review concluded that deficiencies in the bank’s approach to identifying, mitigating, and managing money laundering and terrorism financing risk existed throughout the six-year period.

And Deloitte discovered that these deficiencies weren’t limited to the single branch. Rather, the report identified weaknesses and deficiencies across many key aspects of Bendigo Bank’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing risk management approaches.

What did management say?

Commenting on risk management shortcomings that are pressuring Bendigo Bank shares today, the board said it “is very disappointed with the findings”.

The board added that it “is fully committed to ensuring that the bank undertakes the necessary enhancements to its systems, processes and frameworks to ensure it is fully compliant with its obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006”.

Additionally, the board said it is committed to fully funding the “uplift program” to address all of the deficiencies identified in the Deloitte review.

As for the potential impact on Bendigo Bank shares in the months ahead, the board concluded:

While the final outcomes (including costs) are unknown at this stage, the bank will keep the market informed in line with its continuous disclosure obligations. The Bank will continue to engage constructively with AUSTRAC, APRA and ASIC in relation to this matter.

The post Bendigo Bank shares are crashing today on ‘very disappointing’ deficiencies 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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares are rising on Tuesday morning.

At the time of writing, the rare earths producer’s shares are up 1% to $15.17.

Why are Lynas Rare Earths shares rising?

Investors have been buying the company’s shares today after a rally in rare earths stocks offset some bad news.

With respect to the latter, Lynas has revealed that significant power supply disruptions are affecting the Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility.

The company notes that its Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility is supplied with power through Western Power’s Eastern Goldfields Load Permissive Scheme (ELPS).

It points out that it signed on to ELPS in 2021 on the basis that, as stated in Western Power’s public announcement:

ELPS customers are ensured access to cleaner power in lieu of costly, emissions-intensive diesel generators.

Indicative reliability levels were consistent with the requirements to run the Kalgoorlie facility safely and efficiently. However, during 2025, the company advised that there has been a significant increase in power supply disruptions at the Kalgoorlie Rare Earths Processing Facility.

So much so, that in November its outage frequency and duration have been at a level that has led to significant lost production of Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC).

What’s the impact?

Lynas revealed that the production of finished goods at its Malaysian facility will be affected by these outages.

It advised that while the Kalgoorlie team is working hard to recover the lost production, it cannot reach the Malaysian facility in time to be processed to finished goods within the quarter.

Furthermore, the shortfall in MREC feedstock cannot be mitigated by increased production in Malaysia as the Malaysian kilns are shut down for scheduled major maintenance.

Lynas is working constructively with the Western Australian Government and Western Power to identify causes of recent outages and options to improve power availability to the Lynas plant.

However, while these are being progressed on an urgent basis, even on a best-case scenario, management concedes that there will not be enough time to improve this quarter’s forecast production.

In addition, given that its power supply remains unpredictable, Lynas stated that is not possible to quantify the exact production shortfall. Though, at present, it estimates there may be a shortfall equivalent to one month’s production during this quarter.

One positive, though, is that Lynas will still produce sufficient finished product to meet key customer needs.

Lynas is now urgently assessing off-grid power solutions in the hope that lost production can be recovered within the financial year.

The post What’s going on with Lynas Rare Earths shares today? 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 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.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) shares are jumping on Tuesday morning.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 stock is up 14% to $4.55.

This follows the release of the WebBeds owner’s half year results before the market open.

ASX 200 stock jumps on results day

For the six months ended 30 September, Web Travel reported an 18% jump in bookings to 5.1 million and a 22% lift in total transaction value (TTV) to a record of $3.17 billion. Management notes that its top three regions reported significantly above market growth, particularly the Americas.

Another positive was its improved TTV margin. The ASX 200 stock recorded a first half TTV margin above guidance at 6.5%. This means it is on track to be at least 6.5% for FY 2026.

This ultimately led to Web Travel posting a 20% increase in revenue to $204.6 million and a 17% jump in underlying EBITDA to a record of $81.7 million.

On the bottom line, the ASX 200 stock posted underlying EBIT of $66.2 million and underlying net profit after tax of $48.6 million. This was up 10% and down 7.4%, respectively, over the prior corresponding period.

Cash flow from operations was $120.5 million during the period, leaving it with a closing cash balance of $481.1 million. However, no dividend was declared for the first half of FY 2026.

Management commentary

Web Travel’s managing director, John Guscic, was pleased with the half. He said:

WebBeds continues to deliver world class TTV growth. We reported $3.2 billion TTV for the first 6 months of the financial year, 22% more than the same period last year, driven by the significant above-market growth coming through in our top 3 regions, particularly the Americas. A range of initiatives have helped optimise TTV margins which were 6.5% for the period, ahead of our guidance. TTV margins remain on track to be at least 6.5% for FY26.

Outlook

The ASX 200 stock revealed that the second half has started strongly. Guscic said:

Trading for the first 7 weeks of 2H26 has been strong with TTV up 23% compared to the same period last year. We are on track to deliver record results with FY26 underlying EBITDA expected to be between $147 and $155 million.

The managing director also spoke positively about its medium term growth targets. He added:

This impressive growth is a reflection of our efforts and not macro-economic events. We delivered an incremental $580 million TTV compared to the same period last year, with improved TTV margins. WebBeds continues to win global share, which is amplifying the network effect and making us even more relevant to our hotel supply and travel buyer partners. The team’s unwavering focus on winning new clients, enhancing supply and geographic reach, and continuing to improve conversions is bringing us closer to our $10 billion TTV FY30 target.

The post Guess which ASX 200 stock is jumping 14% on record results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Web Travel Group Limited. 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.

It seems like every week there is a new ASX ETF hitting the market. 

These often become increasingly niche as ETF providers and investors seek to capitalise on themes or sectors that haven’t been combined into a single fund. 

On Monday, the team at GlobalX announced the newest fund: The Global X Japan TOPIX 100 ETF (J100). 

Why invest in Japan?

I covered last week that data from October shows there were record-breaking inflows in Japanese stocks in October.

Investors are looking to capitalise on normalising Japanese inflation, sweeping economic reform, and meaningful alignment with booming global sectors like  AI, EVs, and energy transition.

It might surprise Aussie investors to discover that in 2025, the TOPIX Index (major index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange) is outperforming the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

According to Global X, after years of stagnation, the perception is beginning to shift on Japanese stocks. 

For the first time in decades, Japan’s equity market is not only displaying signs of growth but also of transformation, as long-standing cultural and financial barriers give way to a more dynamic and shareholder-focused era.

The Global X Japan TOPIX 100 ETF (J100)

The Global X Japan TOPIX 100 ETF (J100) tracks the TOPIX 100 Total Return Index. This is a subset of the broader TOPIX (Tokyo Stock Price Index). It represents the 100 largest and most liquid companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Essentially, it provides exposure to Japan’s largest and most established companies. This spans across sectors such as technology, industrials, consumer goods, and finance. 

At the core of this fund is the aim to harness the tailwinds associated with Japan’s structural shift away from decades of deflation toward a more normalised inflation environment.

According to Global X, a return to normalised inflation has far-reaching benefits for Japan’s economy. 

Moderate price growth encourages firms to (or unions to demand) raise wages, which in turn supports consumption and domestic demand. 

For corporates, this environment often translates into stronger revenue growth, which in turn can be monetised through healthier margins, leading to rising earnings.

This shift could be especially significant in Japan, where households remain among the most under-invested globally, holding around 51% of their assets in cash and deposits and just 18% in equities or investment trusts, compared with 12% and 55% respectively in the United States.

Diving deeper 

The J100 ASX ETF includes 100 holdings. 

Its largest weighting by sector is to: 

• Industrials (25.9%) 
• Consumer Discretionary (17.4%) 
• Financials (17.3%) 

By individual company: 

• Toyota Motor Corp (5.1%)
• Sony Group Corp (4.5%)
• Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (4.5%)

The fund will likely compete with similar funds: 

• iShares MSCI Japan ETF (ASX: IJP) – The fund is designed to measure the performance of Japanese large & mid-capitalisation companies.
• BetaShares Japan ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: HJPN) – The fund aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides diversified exposure to the largest globally competitive Japanese companies, hedged into Australian dollars.

The post Meet the newest ASX ETF from GlobalX appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

Consumer discretionary stocks are susceptible to rise and fall with economic cycles. 

Household spending can be linked to metrics like inflation, interest rates and CPI. 

When times are tough, we’re less likely to splurge on non-essential items like electronics and jewellery. 

Two ASX consumer discretionary stocks that offer these kinds of products are Lovisa Holdings Limited (ASX: LOV) and Kogan.Com Limited (ASX: KGN). 

The team at Bell Potter has just released fresh guidance on both these consumer discretionary stocks. 

Here’s the latest analysis from Bell Potter. 

Lovisa Holdings Limited (ASX: LOV)

Lovisa offers affordable, on-trend fashion jewellery and other accessories. 

Its vertically integrated business model involves developing, designing, sourcing, and merchandising 100% of its Lovisa-branded products.

Its stock price has experienced plenty of volatility this year, and at the time of writing, is trading at $30.68 per share. 

However, as the chart shows below, shares have been as high as $43.00 and as low as $21 in 2025. 

The company held its AGM last week. 

Following the AGM, Bell Potter maintained its hold recommendation on this ASX consumer discretionary stock. 

However, the broker reduced its price target to $33.50 (from $42.00 previously). 

Bell Potter reduced its price target on the company primarily because the latest trading update showed softer-than-expected comparable sales and a need to temper earlier, more optimistic assumptions, which flowed through to lower earnings forecasts and a lower valuation multiple.

Our Price Target decreases by ~20% to $33.50 (prev $42.00). Along with our earnings revisions, we also reduce our target P/E multiple to ~32x on FY27e (prev. 38x on FY27e) to reflect the de-rating in LOV/broader peer group and our relative expectations for growth within our overall coverage.

Kogan.Com Limited (ASX: KGN)

This consumer discretionary stock is an Australian pure-play online retailer. 

The company primarily caters to value-driven consumers through its private label products, spanning multiple categories including consumer electronics, appliances, homewares, hardware and toys.

Kogan’s share price has dropped 50% year to date. 

Following its AGM last week, Bell Potter maintained its hold rating but reduced its price target to $3.30 (from $4.30 previously). 

The broker said EBITDA for the period was at the lower end of the 6-9% EBITDA margin guidance for FY26.

It also noted that while the company does showcase some stability, it is focused on the Nov-Dec period for the Australian business, as challenging comps are being tested. A path to recovery is expected in the NZ business in 2H thereafter.

We continue to view EBITDA margins as highly sensitive to the investment into sustaining the GS/customer/subscriber growth. At our revised PT of $3.30 the total expected return is <15% so we maintain our HOLD rating.

Based on the broker’s revised price target of $3.30, there is an estimated upside of 9.27% from Kogan’s closing price yesterday of $3.02. 

The post Lovisa vs Kogan – Which consumer discretionary stock does Bell Potter prefer? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Kogan.com and Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com and Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Chrysos (ASX: C79) is an ASX industrials stock that has risen 67% year to date. 

However, it hit a bit of a speed bump yesterday, falling 8%. 

Last month, The Motley Fool’s Leigh Grant covered in depth how its unique and innovative product – PhotonAssay – is changing the way mining companies test ore. 

This kind of disruptive technology has seen its market capitalisation rapidly approach $1 billion and is quickly gaining investor attention. 

This could be an opportunity for investors to gain exposure to an innovative company at a slight discount.

What is Chrysos?

Chrysos combines science and software to create technology solutions for the global mining industry. 

Its flagship product is PhotonAssay. 

It can be used to detect a wide range of elements. However, it has proven particularly effective for assaying gold and is currently being rolled out across the gold mining industry.

PhotonAssay delivers faster, safer, more accurate, and environmentally friendly analysis of gold, silver, and complementary elements. 

The technology has rapidly displaced slower, more hazardous, and costly processes. It has quickly become an innovative and valuable mining industry solution.

AGM at a glance

Yesterday, the company held its 2025 AGM, and reiterated FY26 guidance of:

• FY26 Total Revenue range of $80m to $90m
• FY26 EBITDA range of $20m to $27m

Following the AGM, the team at Bell Potter upgraded this ASX industrials stock to a buy rating. This was along with an increased price target. 

It seems the broker believes Monday’s 8% decline in share price could be an opportunity for investors to get in at a discount. 

Here’s what the broker had to say. 

Industry adoption accelerating

In a report yesterday from Bell Potter, it highlighted the year-to-date (YTD) financial update (to 31 October 2025). 

According to the report, revenue for this ASX industrials stock was $28.9m, up 54% year over year (YoY). 

The broker also noted the company now has 41 deployed units, with recent deployments in Ontario and Norseman, two units currently being installed in Perth, two new lease agreements with ALS and Acrux Gold, and an MoU with Allied Gold for two additional units. 

Upcoming installations include C79’s first Newmont unit in Ghana, as well as additional units for Bureau Veritas in Chile, MSALABS in Canada, and Allied Gold in West Africa.

The company’s industry adoption has accelerated over the past year, driven by its new Master Services Agreement with Newmont and expanding relationships with major commercial labs. 

The exploration upcycle is expected to provide additional growth, supporting an EBITDA beat, and further accelerating adoption of PhotonAssay technology.

Buy recommendation for this ASX industrials stock

After previously having a hold rating on Chrysos shares, Bell Potter has upgraded the shares to a buy recommendation with an upgraded price target of $9.40. 

This ASX industrials stock closed yesterday at $8.04 each. 

With Bell Potter’s updated price target, the broker indicates an upside of 16.92%. 

Our C79 valuation is driven by a discounted cash flow model of the company’s expected PhotonAssayTM deployment and resulting sales, under a leasing model. We also recognise a corporate cost valuation allowance.

The post Should you buy the dip on this soaring ASX industrials stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Chrysos. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Chrysos. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Virgin Australia (ASX: VGN) and BHP Group (ASX: BHP) are two of the most recognisable Australian brands/shares. 

The team at Ord Minnett have provided fresh guidance on both.

Virgin Australia has been operating in Australia for many years. However, it recently returned to the ASX when it completed its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) in June. 

After experiencing some volatility, its stock price is now essentially back where it started, closing yesterday at $2.96 each. 

With such a short span on the ASX, it can be difficult for investors to pinpoint fair value, despite its household name. 

However, the team at Ord Minnett have an optimistic view that Virgin shares can take off. 

Here’s the latest guidance out of the broker. 

Near-term confidence for Virgin

Ord Minnett said a key focus for Virgin will be how it manages the significantly higher jet fuel spreads.

Recent data shows average global jet fuel prices jumped circa 8% in the last two weeks of October alone. 

The refiners’ jet fuel crack spread – the price difference between crude oil and refined products – in October was up almost 40% on the crack spread in September.

‍However, a recent trading update from Virgin Australia gave Ord Minnett confidence that the near-term outlook is sound, given Virgin’s hedging program. The program incorporates the jet fuel spread. This means recent rising fuel prices will have little effect on FY26 earnings. 

Post FY26, Ord Minnett expects higher fuel costs will be mostly offset by management of the RASK metric. This could be a mix of higher ticket prices and reduced capacity.

Post the trading update, we have nudged our FY26 EPS estimate down 0.3%, while our FY27 and FY28 forecasts are cut by 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively, to incorporate the impact of fuel costs, which leads us to trim our target price to $4.00 from $4.10.

From yesterday’s closing price of $2.96, this updated price target of $4 indicates an impressive upside of 35.14%. 

Modest upside for BHP shares

Ord Minnett also sees value in BHP shares. 

The mining giant is currently navigating an appeal due to its involvement in the 2015 Fundao dam failure in Brazil at its Samarco project, which it owns in a joint venture with Brazilian company Vale. 

However, Ord Minnett noted trials that are not expected to be finalised before 2028 or 2029. Furthermore, any damages would also be mitigated by claims already paid out. 

Vale and BHP are nearly halfway through the US$32 billion settlement, leaving BHP’s remaining share to pay at circa US$9 billion.

Ord Minnett already incorporates a provision of US$6.1 billion for Samarco in our model, so we have made no changes to our earnings estimates or valuations post the UK court decision.

Despite all this, Ord Minnett has maintained its accumulate recommendation on BHP shares with a target price of $45.

Based on yesterday’s closing price, this indicates an upside of 10.78% for BHP shares. 

‍

The post What is Ord Minnetts’ view on Virgin Australia and BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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