Tag: Stock pick

It was a lukewarm, tentative, yet positive start to the trading week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Monday. After a wild week last week, investors didn’t seem to know what to do today. After opening sharply lower this morning, the ASX 200 ended up recovering by market close, posting a small rise of 0.008%. That leaves the index at 8,731.9 points.

This nervous start to the Australian week comes after a mixed end to the American trading week last Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn’t quite stick the landing, losing 0.18%.

However, things were brighter for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which gained 0.39%.

But let’s return to this week and the local markets now for a look at how the various ASX sectors handled today’s trading conditions.

Winners and losers

As you might expect, there were generous helpings of both red and green sectors this Monday.

Leading the former were tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a shocker today, crashing 1.6%.

Gold stocks had a tough one too, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanking 0.73%.

Broader mining shares weren’t much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had sunk 0.66% by the closing bell.

Communications stocks came next, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 0.43% dive.

Consumer discretionary shares also had a lacklustre day. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) saw its value cut by 0.41%.

Its consumer staples counterpart was ahead of that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) sinking 0.23%.

Our last losers today were utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) was sent home 0.11% lighter this Monday.

Let’s turn to the green sectors now. Leading the charge were financial stocks, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.63% surge.

Healthcare shares were in decent demand, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) jumped 0.51% today.

We could say the same for energy stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) advancing 0.45%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) saw some mild buying pressure as well. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) added 0.09% this session.

Finally, industrial shares scraped over the line, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.05% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold miner Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) was our best share on the index this Monday. Ramelius shares leapt 6.15% higher this session to close at $3.80 each.

This big surge seemed to be prompted by a favourable production update released this morning.

Here’s the rest of today’s best:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)	$3.80	6.15%
Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)	$140.95	5.27%
Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)	$1.00	4.17%
Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)	$5.36	4.08%
Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)	$ 2.87	3.61%
Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)	$10.16	3.36%
Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)	$23.32	3.09%
Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)	$0.795	2.58%
Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)	$6.72	2.44%
Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)	$2.31	2.21%

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

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

More reading

• ASX 200 claws back its early losses. What’s moving the market?
• Why is this ASX gold share rocketing 7% on Monday?
• 3 ASX 200 gold stocks turning heads on big news today
• Ramelius Resources boosts production outlook and sets new FY27 guidance
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Cochlear, Lovisa, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear and Lovisa. 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) has spent Monday struggling to pick a direction.

After falling as low as 8,681 points shortly after the open, the benchmark has clawed its way back to 8,731 points in early afternoon trade.

That leaves the ASX 200 basically flat for the day and around 50 points above its morning low.

It’s a pretty mixed session underneath as well, with 99 shares higher, 94 lower, and 7 unchanged.

The index is still down around 3.8% over the past month, despite recovering slightly over the past 3 sessions.

So, what’s moving the market today?

Wall Street offers little help

There wasn’t much of a lead from Wall Street heading into today’s session.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) slipped 0.18% on Friday, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) gained 0.17% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) rose 0.40%.

Bond yields remain elevated as well, with the US 10-year Treasury yield pushing back above 5% on Friday.

According to Reuters, investors are still weighing the prospect of further US interest rate hikes, while oil prices remain above US$100 per barrel.

Banks help turn things around

One of the bigger changes since the open has been the performance of the major banks.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are up 1.29% to $38.17, while National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) has gained 1.17% to $38.92.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is also 0.56% higher at $153.28, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has added 0.52% to $34.93.

That has helped offset some weakness among the miners.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.72% to $60.61, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has fallen 1% to $165.82.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is also trading lower, down 0.54% to $16.64.

Some big individual moves

There are also some much bigger moves elsewhere on the market today.

Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT) shares have dropped around 13.5% to $16.95 after the company rejected EQT‘s revised $22.50-per-share takeover proposal.

The board said the offer undervalued the business and carried unacceptable execution risks.

Meanwhile, Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares are down around 6% to $16.77.

The healthcare company announced a deal to combine with Germany’s ITM, with upfront consideration of US$1.65 billion and another US$700 million potentially payable through milestones.

RBA back in focus

Interest rates are likely to remain a major focus over the next week.

RBA Governor Michele Bullock and Assistant Governor Sarah Hunter are both scheduled to speak tomorrow. Bullock will appear at a CEDA event, while Hunter will take part in a separate interview earlier in the day.

This comes ahead of the central bank’s next monetary policy decision on 29 September.

The post ASX 200 claws back its early losses. What’s moving the market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 slips into the red after a positive start. Here’s why
• Downgrade alert! 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by experts this week

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

Sigma Healthcare vs Sonic Healthcare shares: Which healthcare giant is the better buy?

Healthcare is a core slice of almost every Aussie portfolio, but the sector comes in many flavours. If you’re weighing up Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) and Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares, the decision boils down to more than just “pharma vs pathology.” Both are big names, both have national and global footprints, and each offers a very different blend of income, growth potential, and business risk. Here’s how they stack up.

The case for Sigma Healthcare

Sigma Healthcare is a stalwart of Australian pharmacy. Following its 2025 merger with Chemist Warehouse, Sigma now blends a massive wholesale pharmaceutical distribution network with the country’s biggest pharmacy retail footprint, operating well-known brands such as Chemist Warehouse, Amcal, and Discount Drug Stores. The company also backs up its retail network with services like dose administration aids and technology for pharmacy customers. According to its most recent company profile, Sigma was founded in 1912 and is based in Clayton, Victoria.

The numbers show Sigma as a sizable operation — its market cap clocks in at $28.86 billion, with 11.5 billion shares on issue. Current valuation looks lofty, trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 41.77. Dividends are there, but on the smaller end, with a yield of 1.54% and full 100% franking. Year to date, Sigma’s share price has slipped by 10.5%.

The case for Sonic Healthcare

Sonic Healthcare is a very different beast. Rather than retailing or wholesaling medication, Sonic is a diagnostics empire: the largest private pathology services operator in Australia, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, plus big positions in the US, New Zealand, and Belgium. Pathology accounts for most of its revenue, but Sonic also boasts a leading role in diagnostic imaging and medical centre ownership in Australia.

Sonic has a market cap of $9.70 billion (much smaller than Sigma) and a P/E ratio of 15.89 — far lower than Sigma’s. For income-seekers, the dividend yield is a noticeable 5.53%, although franking is partial at 60%. It’s also seen a negative year-to-date return of 8.8%.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the two stack up on key valuation and income metrics:

Metric	Sigma Healthcare	Sonic Healthcare
Market Cap	$28.86 billion	$9.70 billion
P/E Ratio	41.77	15.89
Dividend Yield	1.54% (100% franked)	5.53% (60% franked)
Earnings per Share (EPS)	0.062	1.106
Dividend per Share	0.04	1.08
Year to Date Return	-10.5%	-8.8%

Sigma’s larger market cap reflects its scale and sprawling retail network after merging with Chemist Warehouse. But it is Sonic that stands out on income, with a much higher dividend yield (and larger dividends per share), albeit with less franking. Sonic’s far lower P/E ratio suggests the market expects slower growth or sees less risk in Sigma, but sector differences make a like-for-like comparison tricky.

Recent share price performance

Both companies have faced a challenging run lately. Comparing 18 August – 17 September 2026:

• Sigma Healthcare shares fell from $2.93 to $2.50, including a steep single-day drop of 7.75% on 27 August 2026.
• Sonic Healthcare shares dropped from $23.02 to $19.62, also seeing some sharp daily declines — most notably a 9.25% fall on 20 August 2026.
• Year to date, Sigma is down 10.5%, while Sonic has slipped 8.8%.

So, both stocks have moved lower through 2026, with both hit by periods of strong selling.

Which is the better buy?

This is not a simple snap pick, but if I had to choose, I’d lean toward Sonic Healthcare as the more appealing buy right now.

Here’s why: Sonic’s dividend yield is meaningfully higher at 5.53%, and its payout is larger in absolute dollar terms. While the 60% franking won’t suit everyone seeking maximised after-tax income, it’s still a decent level. Sonic’s P/E ratio of 15.89 is far more attractive than Sigma’s 41.77, suggesting you’re paying much less per dollar of reported profit.

Sigma’s premium valuation might be justified given its dominant retail position after merging with Chemist Warehouse, opening up new earnings streams and scale — but that makes the stock look priced for strong ongoing growth, which isn’t fully backed up by its negative year-to-date returns.

Sonic’s business model is more defensive, with global operations and a central role in diagnostic healthcare. Its lower valuation, higher income, and solid EPS give me more confidence in its risk/reward, even after recent price weakness. Without meaningful trend data beyond this year’s snapshot, I can’t judge longer-term earnings or dividend growth for either company.

So, while Sigma is a genuine heavyweight with exciting exposure to Australian pharmacy retail, my pick for a buy today would be Sonic Healthcare for its income, global footprint, and lower relative valuation.

The post Sigma Healthcare vs Sonic Healthcare: Which ASX healthcare share wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down more than 18% in a month with a 7% yield, are Sonic Healthcare shares too cheap to ignore?
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy for income and growth in retirement
• How to build a superannuation portfolio generating $50,000 a year
• 9 ASX 200 shares earning strengthened buy ratings this week

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 recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. 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.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are climbing again on Monday, with the healthcare giant continuing its strong rebound.

The CSL share price is up 1.29% to $177.85 in early afternoon trade after reaching an intraday high of $178.42.

That puts the stock right back near an area I’ve been watching closely on the chart.

CSL shares have now almost doubled from their 2026 low of $90, so a lot of the recovery has already happened.

And from a technical point of view, I think the next few dollars could be harder to come by.

Why $180 is a big level

The first thing that jumps out to me on the chart is the resistance sitting just below $180.

CSL shares have pushed into this area a few times recently, but so far haven’t been able to break through it.

And momentum is starting to look pretty stretched as well.

The relative strength index (RSI) is currently at 68, which is getting close to the 70 level generally considered overbought.

It doesn’t mean the share price has to fall from here, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some selling around $180.

I think CSL may need another positive announcement or a decent market rally to properly break through this level.

If it can, the next major resistance level I’m watching on the chart is around $230.

Another risk is coming next week

There’s also another reason I wouldn’t be surprised to see CSL shares struggle around these levels.

The RBA meets again on 29 September, and another interest rate increase is looking increasingly likely.

According to Reuters, markets are now implying a 93% chance that the cash rate will rise from 4.35% to 4.60% at next week’s meeting.

That follows 3 rate hikes already this year, while RBA Governor Michele Bullock said last week that some of the upside risks to inflation were starting to materialise.

If the RBA does lift rates again, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some pressure come back into the ASX.

And with CSL already trading right around resistance, that could make breaking through $180 even harder.

Foolish takeaway

If I were looking at CSL today, I wouldn’t be rushing to chase the shares at $178.

The stock has already done a lot of the heavy lifting, and I’d rather see what happens around $180 before getting too excited.

A clean break above that level would be a much better signal to me than buying right underneath it.

For now, I’ll happily wait and see whether a pullback gives me a better entry point.

The post CSL shares are back near $180. Here’s the level I’m watching appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why brokers think CSL shares could be on track for $200
• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, NAB, CSL shares
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• How much passive income could I make by investing $500 a month in ASX shares?
• Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys?

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 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.

At age 59, you’re just one year from reaching preservation age, which means you can start drawing down on your superannuation if you’ve stopped working.

It’s one of the most important crossroads in life, and one where the decisions you’ll make over the next few years will determine the quality of life you have in retirement. 

But do you know what it costs to retire comfortably versus on a budget? And how much should you have in your super at age 59 to support yourself when the time comes?

Let’s take a look.

What does it cost to retire?

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) figures, there are two main options for your retirement. A comfortable retirement lifestyle, and a modest one.

A modest retirement means you’d need to live on a tight budget after you quit working. It assumes you can cover very basic needs and requirements, including basic food costs, enough to cover essential bills, low-tier health insurance, and minimal leisure activities or meals out. It assumes you own your home outright and that you’ll receive at least a partial Age Pension payment.

ASFA estimates this will cost single retirees around $36,434 per year, and closer to $52,473 for a couple combined. 

Then there is the comfortable retirement option. This is one that allows retirees to have a good standard of living well above the bare minimum. It allows Australians enough money to finance top-tier private health insurance, a reasonable grocery budget, home repairs, and regular leisure activities or meals out. It also includes a budget for an occasional holiday.

A comfortable retirement is estimated to cost single retirees around $55,923 per year or $78,566 for couples. Again, it assumes you’ll receive a part Age Pension and that you own your home in full. 

How much do I need in my superannuation to finance a comfortable retirement?

ASFA has calculated that single Australians will need around $630,000 in their superannuation, and couples will need around $730,000.

The catch is these figures assume that you’ll be retiring from age 67 and that you’ll need to fund around 10 to 15 years of retirement living. 

OK, so how much should I have in my superannuation at age 59 to reach this goal?

I’ve crunched the numbers using ASFA’s online super detective tool and, assuming you have an income of around $100,000 per year, Australians should aim to have a superannuation balance of around $434,500 by age 59. 

How does this compare to your own superannuation balance?

What if I want to retire a couple of years earlier at age 65? How much would I need to have today to be considered on track?

That’s very achievable, but you’d need to have enough in your superannuation at age 65 to fund those two extra years.

Your annual costs will be around the same: $55,923 per year for single Australians and $78,566 per year combined for a couple living together.

But, as I mentioned above, you’ll need to fund an additional two years above what ASFA accounts for.

That means, at age 65, singles will need to have around $742,000 in their superannuation, and couples will need a combined balance closer to $888,000 at the same age. 

To be considered on track for this amount at age 59, you’d need to have around $481,000 in your superannuation.

Is it possible to retire at age 60 and still live comfortably in retirement?

Yes. Again, this is very achievable if you have the funds to be able to support yourself for those additional seven years until age 67. 

At age 60, singles will need to have closer to $1 million in their superannuation. Meanwhile, couples will need a combined balance of around $1.3 million at the same age.

That means that at age 59, your superannuation balance should be very close to these levels. If not, you’d have just one year to make up the difference.

The post How much should I have in my superannuation at age 59? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BHP shares are up 53%. Here are 5 reasons why they may not be done yet
• Why is this ASX gold share rocketing 7% on Monday?
• Is Life360 one of the best ASX growth shares to buy?
• Codan shares hit a new record high after the company predicts another strong year
• Why I’d invest $10,000 in these strong Vanguard ETFs

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 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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares slipped fractionally to $60.78 during Monday afternoon trading. That follows a softer month, with the mining giant down around 7%.

But zoom out, and the picture flips completely: BHP shares have surged roughly 34% year to date and a stunning 53% over the past 12 months.

After a run like that, the obvious question is whether there’s anything left in the tank. Here are five reasons the answer might be yes.

1. BHP is quietly becoming a copper giant

Forget the old image of BHP shares as an iron ore miner with side hustles. Copper is now doing the heavy lifting. In FY 2026, copper contributed more than half of BHP’s underlying EBITDA for the first time ever, with production hitting roughly 2 million tonnes.

It gets bigger from here. BHP’s copper growth pipeline could lift attributable production by around 40% by FY 2035. That’s a full-throttle bet on a metal the company believes is set to ride the electrification, digitalisation, and power-demand supercycle.

2. Iron ore hasn’t gone anywhere

None of this means BHP is walking away from iron ore. WA Iron Ore delivered record production in FY 2026 and, according to BHP, remains the world’s lowest-cost major iron ore operation. The target now is production above 305 million tonnes a year.

That’s not a dying business propping up a new one. It’s a cash-printing machine that can bankroll the next growth chapter of BHP shares without forcing shareholders to gamble on unproven ventures.

3. A massive potash bet flying under the radar

BHP is about to add an entirely new commodity to its arsenal. The Jansen potash project in Canada was 84% complete at the end of FY 2026 and remains on track for first production in mid-2027 — with an expected operating life beyond 60 years.

That’s exposure to global food security and agricultural demand, sitting alongside BHP’s traditional commodity mix. It’s a diversification play most miners simply can’t match.

4. The cash machine just got louder

BHP generated US$9.8 billion of free cash flow in FY 2026 — an 83% jump. Net debt fell below US$9 billion, and the company handed shareholders US$8.7 billion in dividends, its biggest annual payout in four years.

For income investors in BHP shares, that’s not a footnote. That’s the headline.

5. Growth without losing the plot

Here’s the part that should reassure the sceptics: BHP isn’t just throwing cash at new mines and hoping for the best.

Management is squeezing productivity and technology out of existing operations, with unit costs running 6% lower on average across major assets in FY 2026 — despite inflation and rising diesel costs working against them.

Should investors keep watching BHP shares?

A 53% gain over 12 months means valuation and commodity price risk can’t be brushed aside. But the real story here isn’t the share price, it’s that BHP itself is changing shape.

This isn’t the old BHP shares wearing a higher price tag. It’s a copper-led growth business, propped up by a world-class iron ore operation, a brand-new potash division, and a cash engine running hotter than ever.

The real question for investors isn’t whether BHP has already run too far. It’s whether this reinvention can deliver another leg of growth, without BHP losing the shareholder return discipline that made it a market darling in the first place.

The post BHP shares are up 53%. Here are 5 reasons why they may not be done yet appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Orica, GQG Partners, BHP shares
• If I invest $15,000 in BHP shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• Copper has overtaken iron ore – Here are the top copper shares to target
• Bought $10,000 worth of BHP shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve already earned
• Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys?

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

It has been a strong start to the week for Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares.

The gold miner is up 6.98% to $3.83 in midday trade on Monday after releasing its latest update to the market.

However, the stock is still down around 8% since the start of 2026.

So, what’s behind the sudden buying?

Gold output could triple by FY30

According to the release, Ramelius expects to produce between 205,000 and 225,000 ounces of gold in FY27.

All-in sustaining costs (AISC) are forecast at between $2,150 and $2,350 per ounce.

From there, though, production is expected to really start stepping up.

Ramelius is guiding for 250,000 to 300,000 ounces in FY28, before climbing again to 410,000 to 460,000 ounces in FY29.

By FY30, the company is targeting annual production of 560,000 to 610,000 ounces, with AISC of $2,100 to $2,400 per ounce.

That would be 11% above its previous FY30 production plan and around 205% higher than FY26 output.

A lot of that growth should come from Mt Magnet, which could produce 420,000 to 460,000 ounces in FY30.

Rebecca-Roe is expected to contribute another 140,000 to 150,000 ounces that year.

Ramelius is spending heavily to get there

Of course, getting production up to those levels won’t be cheap.

Ramelius expects growth capital expenditure of between $480 million and $570 million in FY27.

A large chunk of that is set to go towards Mt Magnet.

The cost of expanding the processing plant has now increased to around $280 million, up from the previous estimate of $223 million.

The company said the increase reflects higher costs, greater fixed-price coverage, and extra infrastructure work.

The expanded plant is targeted for completion in the December 2027 quarter and should lift total throughput to 4.3Mtpa.

Commercial production is expected to start in the March 2028 quarter.

Ramelius has plenty of firepower

The good news is Ramelius isn’t heading into this spending phase short on funding.

The company said its cash, gold, and investment holdings currently sit above $1 billion.

That includes proceeds from the recent Edna May hub sale, which brought in $210 million in cash and another $90 million worth of Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS) shares.

Ramelius said the growth plan remains fully funded, which gives it a bit more breathing room while spending ramps up.

Management also expects the stronger production profile to start showing up in cash flow later in the decade.

By FY30, Ramelius is forecasting free cash flow of as much as $1.5 billion, based on a gold price of $5,500 per ounce.

The post Why is this ASX gold share rocketing 7% on Monday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 gold stocks turning heads on big news today
• Ramelius Resources boosts production outlook and sets new FY27 guidance
• 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week
• Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, REA Group, and Ramelius shares
• 3 ASX 200 shares tipped by experts to jump 30% to 62%

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.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) has been one of the standout ASX growth shares in recent years.

The company is still growing its user base, subscriptions, and advertising revenue at a strong rate.

With the shares trading around $18.72 on Monday, is Life360 still one of the best ASX growth shares to buy?

The growth story still has plenty of room

What I like about Life360 is that it has already built a huge global audience, but I do not think the business is close to reaching its full potential.

The company finished the second quarter with around 102.4 million monthly active users (MAUs), showing just how large the platform has already become.

I still think there is plenty of room to add to that number globally. Just over half of its MAUs are from the US market, which demonstrates its significant global opportunity. 

There is also an opportunity to make more from the users already on the platform. Despite increasing by 27% year on year to 3.2 million in the second quarter, Paying Circles still only represent 3.1% of its overall MAUs.

Advertising gives it another way to generate revenue from the much larger group of users who do not take out a subscription.

That is what I find interesting about the growth story. Life360 can keep adding users, convert more of them to paid memberships, and build advertising alongside that.

If it can keep making progress across those areas, I think the business could be considerably larger in a few years.

Life360 shares could become very cheap

This is probably the part of the investment case I find most interesting at the current Life360 share price.

Consensus forecasts point to earnings per share of 54.4 cents in FY26, rising to $1.16 in FY27 and $2.14 in FY28.

At $18.72, that puts the shares on a P/E ratio of roughly 34 times forecast FY26 earnings.

But the valuation falls quickly if Life360 delivers the earnings growth analysts are expecting.

The shares would be trading at around 16 times FY27 earnings and less than nine times FY28 earnings.

For a company that is still growing its user base, subscriptions, and advertising revenue at a strong rate, I think that would be dirt cheap.

Of course, those forecasts are far from guaranteed.

Life360 will need to keep growing revenue and translate more of that growth into profit. But if it gets anywhere close to the current expectations, I think today’s share price could eventually look very inexpensive.

What could go wrong?

The biggest risk for me is that the earnings forecasts prove too optimistic.

A lot needs to go right for earnings per share to increase from 54.4 cents in FY26 to $2.14 in FY28.

Growth could slow, advertising may take longer to develop, or the company could decide to invest more heavily than expected.

That could leave the shares looking much less cheap than the current forecasts suggest.

Foolish takeaway

I think Life360 is one of the ASX growth shares I would want to own.

The business continues to grow strongly, and there are several ways for it to make more from its huge global audience.

If Life360 comes close to delivering the profits currently expected over the next few years, I think today’s share price could prove to be a very good entry point.

The post Is Life360 one of the best ASX growth shares to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In what appears to be a delayed reaction to a bullish outlook in the company’s annual report released last week, Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares have surged to another record high.

The stock hit an early high of $51.64 on Monday before settling slightly to be 2.7% higher at $51.43.

The company’s value has increased 71.6% over the past 12 months, and it is now worth $9.13 billion.

Both Codan divisions performing well

Codan’s major revenue-earning divisions are its Minelab metal detection business and its communications division, which includes technology used in unmanned systems.

The communications divisions last year achieved revenue of $506.2 million, up 22% on the previous year, beating the company’s guidance and “driven primarily by strong demand for unmanned radio systems”, the company said in its annual report released last week.

The company said:

Communications’ segment profit increased by 45% to $156.0 million with segment profit margins expanding to 31%, up from 26% in the pcp, reflecting favourable product sales mix and operating leverage. Pleasingly, the segment exceeded the achievement of 30% end of FY27 profit margin target by 18 months. Revenue from defence customers represented 58% of total Communications revenue (up from 38% in FY25), underscoring the increasing importance of this vertical to Codan and reflecting the global tailwinds of sovereignty and increased defence spending commitments.

Codan said revenue from the unmanned sector more than doubled to $215 million over FY26.

In the metal detection division, Codan said the result was “exceptional”, with revenue up 42% to $362 million and segment profit up 65% on FY25.

The company added:

Minelab successfully launched four new products in FY26 in the gold, recreational and countermine markets, including the new flagship GPZ8000 gold detector, the Gold Monster 2000, the Vanquish 60 and Countermine’s MDS-20 detector. These launches reflect Minelab’s global technology leadership across its detection portfolio.

On the outlook, Codan said it was entering FY27 with positive momentum.

The communications division is targeting full year revenue growth in the order of 20%, with the first half of the year to be “significantly” strong than the same period in FY26. Minelab is well positioned for FY27, with a full 12-month contribution from recently launched products. Early H1 FY27 market conditions have been positive, with strong demand in particular for the new GPZ8000 and Gold Monster 2000 detectors.

The company will provide a further update at its annual general meeting on 20 October.

The post Codan shares hit a new record high after the company predicts another strong year 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.

If I had $10,000 to invest in Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) today, these three would be on my shortlist.

Each offers a different way to invest for long-term growth. Here is why I like them.

Vanguard Global Technology Index ETF (ASX: VTEK)

The Vanguard Global Technology Index ETF would be my choice for investors wanting more exposure to global technology.

The fund invests in hundreds of technology stocks across developed and emerging markets.

That includes businesses involved in areas such as semiconductors, software, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital infrastructure.

I like this approach because technology is becoming increasingly important across almost every industry. Businesses are spending heavily on computing power, automation, cybersecurity, and digital services, and I expect that trend to continue for many years.

Of course, a technology-focused ETF can be volatile, particularly when valuations are high or growth expectations change.

But for money I could leave invested for the long term, I think the VTEK ETF offers an interesting way to back one of the strongest structural growth areas in the global economy.

Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAE)

I would also consider the VAE ETF. This fund gives investors access to Asian markets outside Japan, including major economies such as China, India, Taiwan, and South Korea.

For me, that opens the door to a different set of long-term opportunities.

Asia is home to some of the world’s largest populations, rapidly developing consumer markets, and important businesses across technology, manufacturing, financial services, and other industries.

It can also complement a portfolio already heavily exposed to Australia or the United States.

There will be periods when Asian markets struggle, and political, regulatory, and economic risks can be higher in some countries.

Even so, I think the region has plenty of potential over the next decade, and the VAE ETF provides a simple way to gain diversified exposure.

Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG)

The Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF takes a different approach.

Rather than focusing on one region or sector, the fund combines a range of Australian and international investments in a single ETF.

Around 90% of the portfolio is generally allocated to growth assets such as shares, with the remainder in more defensive investments.

I think that makes the VDHG ETF particularly interesting for investors who want a broadly diversified portfolio without having to build and rebalance it themselves.

It could work as a major holding in a portfolio, or simply as another diversified investment alongside existing shares and ETFs.

The high allocation to shares means it can still fall sharply when markets struggle. But over a long timeframe, I like the balance between diversification and growth potential.

Foolish takeaway

I like all three of these Vanguard ETFs for the long term.

The VTEK ETF gives me exposure to global technology, the VAE ETF adds some of Asia’s biggest growth markets, while the VDHG ETF offers a much broader approach.

They are quite different investments, but I think each could have a place in a long-term portfolio.

The post Why I’d invest $10,000 in these strong Vanguard ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 amazing ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years
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• Why these ASX ETFs could be strong long-term picks
• 2 Vanguard ETFs I’d buy and hold for a decade
• Is this the best diversified ASX ETF on the market right now?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.