Aussie beef shares are climbing higher amid news that the country's beef industry is on track for record production.

It's been a turbulent year for Australia's cattle industry, hit by rising feed costs, challenging weather conditions, and Trump's tariffs.    

The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price sank to $5.80 following Trump's tariffs announcement in April.

Less than six months earlier, Elders shares were changing hands for around $9.42 each.

And the Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) share price sank from $1.57 in mid-March to $1.36 following the tariffs announcement.

The prospect of higher duties for North America, Australia's biggest beef export market, hurt ASX livestock shares.   

Bouncing back

Aussie beef shares soon recovered as other markets, particularly China, looked set to absorb any shortfall.

The Aussie beef shares have been steadily rising from their April lows.

Elders shares are up almost 30% over the past few months, while Australian Agricultural shares have gained 6%.

Where to from here?

The latest figures from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) show Australia will achieve record beef production this year.

Australia is forecast to produce a record 2.79 million tonnes of beef in 2025.

The record haul is expected to be driven by stable carcase weights, improved weather conditions, and increased slaughter.

The beefy production forecast comes while exports are tipped to remain strong as Australia continues to fill the global supply shortage.

Beef exports are forecast to reach 1.5 million tonnes shipped weight in 2025, according to the MLA.

And declining production in key competitor markets such as the United States and Brazil has exacerbated global supply constraints.
 
As such, the MLA believes Aussie beef producers are well placed to capitalise.

With the US progressing into a herd rebuild phase and Brazil facing herd contraction following heavy slaughter and drought recovery, Australia is uniquely positioned to meet rising international demand.

This export strength is further supported by Australia's robust processing capacity, consistent product quality, and long-standing trade relationships across North Asia, North America, and Southeast Asia.

Looking ahead

The MLA says the herd is expected to remain stable through 2026 before easing slightly in 2027 due to drier seasonal conditions.

Still, ongoing improvements in carcase weights and processing could support high production levels.

According to the MLA, consistent seasonal conditions in northern Australia and cautious stocking practices in the south will also support stable production numbers.

The post Beefing up: These shares are climbing higher amid record production forecast appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

IT services and solutions provider Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) has posted record sales of $3 billion for FY25, up 9% on the previous year.

The Brisbane-based company's software solutions division provided the lion's share of the record sales figure, contributing $2 billion.

The division enjoyed increased demand for security, cloud, and Adobe products, which helped drive its yearly sales 10.9% higher.

Data#3's managed services division also saw solid growth with sales of $54.8 million, up 25% on the previous year.

The company stated that a series of "large" contracts, particularly in the resources sector, came into fruition during FY25, boosting sales.

Data#3 Chief Executive Officer Brad Colledge said the company outperformed the forecast growth rate for the Australian technology market amid significant challenges.

Our Net Profit Before Tax (NPBT) of $69.1 million is up 11.4% this financial year, driven by growth in gross profit of over 7% and improved operational efficiency achieved through automation and a restructure of our Infrastructure Solutions business during the first half.

The company also declared a final fully franked dividend of 15 cents per share, representing a 10.2% increase on the previous corresponding period.

A good year

The ASX tech company's share price has been mounting a solid recovery throughout 2025 but remains a long way from its all-time high.

At the start of 2024, Data#3 shares were trading at around $9.78 each before they came crashing back to earth.

A year later, at the start of 2025, Data#3 shares had lost 37% of their value as they dropped to $6.15.

But 2025 has been a different story for Data#3 and its shareholders.

The company's share price is up more than 30% so far this year.

And Data#3 shares are showing little sign of slowing down.

Looking ahead

Colledge said Data#3's outlook remains positive as the company's strategic priorities for FY26 include further investments in lifecycle services.

While we expect Software Solutions growth to be under pressure in the short term as we manage through the Microsoft channel incentive transitions, we should see continued growth in our Infrastructure Solutions and Services businesses.
 
There is opportunity across end user compute, the network and server and storage. Our managed service offerings continue to mature, providing the opportunity for more recurring revenue and all our offerings, across all lines of business, will benefit from the evolution and growth of AI.

However, consistent with the company's previous practice, Data#3 is not providing specific FY26 guidance at this stage.

The post Record result: Is this high-performing ASX tech share on your watchlist? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 a while it looked like nothing could stop Hipages Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HPG).

After listing on the ASX in late 2020, the online 'tradie marketplace' didn't take long to reward its investors. 

Less than a year after making its ASX debut, the Hipages share price was up more than 60%.

The ASX tech company rode a wave of enthusiasm as investors scrambled to throw money at tech companies in the early stages of the COVID pandemic.

Then things changed and the Hipages share price started to plunge.

In September 2021, Hipages shares were changing hands for $4.10 each.

Nine months later, the Hipages share price had sunk to $0.88, shedding more than 75% of its value over that timeframe.

What happened?

Hipages CEO Roby Sharon-Zipser attributes the rapid decline in his company's fortunes to COVID-era macroeconomic factors such as greater movement restrictions placed on tradies as the pandemic played out.

But he said Hipages' misfortune motivated him to restructure the company in such a way that it would no longer be so affected by macroeconomic conditions.

And the strategic shifts appears to be paying off.

In 2023 Hipages became a profitable company for the first time in 20 years.

More recently, Hipages has been enjoying a resurgence of investor enthusiasm.

In June this year, the company's share price sunk below $0.80.

Today, Hipages shares are trading at around $1.35 each, up 40% in the past month, and almost 70% in the past few months.

Sharon-Zipser said FY25 was a pivotal year of strategic delivery for Hipages.

The company stated it successfully migrated its customer base onto a new single tradie platform, Tradiecore.

Sharon-Zipser said Hipages also introduced new pricing plans in Australia and subscription model implementation in New Zealand.

I'm incredibly proud of the efforts of the team to deliver these key strategic milestones while continuing our strong growth trajectory.
 
To have achieved our guidance for revenue growth, EBITDA margin and free cash flow, while undertaking the most complex technology implementation in our history, is a huge
achievement.

Hipages stated it achieved its FY25 guidance of 10% revenue growth, with total revenue coming in at $83.1 million for FY25.

The company also reported a net profit after tax of $2.4 million and increased its free cash flow to $5.6 million, up 164% on the previous year.

Investors responded positively to Hipages' results announcement on Friday.

The company's share price continues to lift following the upbeat presentation, with Hipages shares up around 5% on Monday.

Where to from here?

Sharon-Zipser said Hipages will continue to capitalise on its recent success.

Looking ahead, our focus is on building new Tradiecore functionality and adding new services that we expect will drive further engagement and profitable growth.

FY26 is set to be a year of momentum and innovation as we aim to activate engagement of
tradies on the platform and unlock the next phase of growth across our marketplaces in
Australia and New Zealand.

The post Solid result: ASX tech share up 40% in a month and still charging appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) may not be the most well-known ASX tech share.

But the established IT services and solutions provider has been delivering returns for investors for years.

And Macquarie, which sees a 24% upside for the ASX technology stock, expects that trend to continue.

What is Data#3?

Data#3, founded in 1977 as Powell Clark and Associates, started as an IT software consultancy business for small to medium-sized organisations.

Following a merger with Allbrand Typewriters and Office Machines in 1984, the new entity came to be known as Data#3.

The company listed on the ASX in 1997, and has proved to be a solid wealth builder for early investors.

Back in July 2015, Data#3 shares were changing hands for less than $1 each.

Now, Data#3 shares are trading at around $7.50 apiece.

From its early days as one of Queensland's first personal computer dealers, Brisbane-based Data3#, with operations across Australia and Fiji, continues to expand its footprint.

The IT company now has over 1,400 staff and opened a new office in Perth last week.

Strong results

Data3# posted gross sales of $2.8 billion for FY24, up 7.6% on the previous year.

That saw the company report a gross profit of $270.1 million for the financial year, an increase of 7.8% on FY23's result.

Where to next?

Macquarie has a price target of $9 on Data#3 shares.

That represents a potential total shareholder return of 24% over the next 12 months.

The broker is expecting Data#3 to steadily increase profits over the coming years.

The IT company's gross profit is forecast to grow to over $350 million for FY27.

In the near term, Macquarie expects Data#3's business to benefit as cloud migration and AI adoption continues.  

Demand for Data#3's services will further increase as customers require support when Windows 10 reaches its end-of-life date in October, according to the broker.

DTL offers investors a high-quality exposure to thematics around AI growth and increased software adoption.

We expect the company to benefit from near-term tailwinds such as a 'Software Refresh' from Windows 10 to 11, as well as potentially benefiting from greater purchasing of AI PCs in the future, while still also generating a consistent (fully-franked) dividend yield (4%) and maintaining a return on equity >50%, considerably above WACC (MQe: 11%).

Foolish Takeaway

With a market cap of around $1.16 billion, Data#3 does not garner the level of attention of better-known ASX tech shares.

But with a track record of delivering strong results combined with a promising outlook, Data#3 certainly deserves a place on every ASX tech investor's watch list.

The post Macquarie predicts 24% upside for this ASX tech share appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The good times roll on at the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, or NRFC.

Less than a week ago, the government fund's seemingly audacious investment in Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) was facing scrutiny.

Commentators and analysts were throwing mud at the move, which saw the fund hand $50 million of taxpayers' money to the lithium miner.

The cash was earmarked to "support the ramp-up and underground transition" of Liontown's Kathleen Valley Lithium Operation. 

The fund's investment was part of a $266 million institutional placement, which saw Liontown enter a trading halt on Friday.

Investors were invited to take part in the placement at $0.73 per new share, a 13.6% discount on Liontown shares prior to the halt.

A matter of national concern

The NRFC and its CEO, David Gall, accepted the invitation.

Lithium is a critical mineral that is central to both decarbonisation efforts and the government's Future Made in Australia strategy.

Australia is well-positioned to be a competitive, long-term supplier of lithium to the rest of the world and local lithium production is important to the nation's economic security and resilience. 

Our investment in Liontown will help to attract private capital and develop Australia's resources sector. It is aligned with the government's strategy of transforming Australia into a global leader in the critical minerals supply chain.

The move came as a welcome reprieve for Australia's lithium players.

The government was throwing support behind long-suffering lithium companies struggling as lithium prices linger around a four-year low.

Although the funds were only allocated to one lithium miner, the action was a clear endorsement for lithium and critical minerals.

Though not everyone was behind the move, with some questioning the fund's investment in Liontown.  

Concerns were heightened when it was revealed Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, was steering clear of the capital raising initiative.

The absence of Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting from the placement was particularly troubling for some.

Hancock Prospecting, with an 18.1% stake in Liontown, is the lithium miner's biggest shareholder.  

So what did Hancock know that the NRFC didn't?

Clearly, the smart money was sitting on the sidelines.

Or was it?  

Big bet pays off

ASX lithium shares started the week by notching up startling double-digit gains.

The price of lithium is showing convincing signs of recovery as a Chinese mine suspends operations.

As such, investor enthusiasm for ASX lithium shares is undergoing a resurgence.

And Liontown emerged from its trading halt as a standout performer.

With Liontown shares currently trading at around $0.95 each, it appears the NRFC's investment was far more prudent than many first thought.

Assuming the NRFC snapped up Liontown shares at the offer price of $0.73 per share, the fund's investment is already up around 30%.

In other words, the fund can claim a profit of $15 million in less than a week.

With all that in mind, the NRFC's next move is keenly awaited.  

The post Smart money or dumb luck? Government fund's $50-million lithium bet pays off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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.

ASX lithium shares are posting solid gains on Monday.

The Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is up almost 15%, while Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) and IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) have both gained about 10%.

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) is also up, gaining 16% as the miner ends its trading halt prompted by its capital raising efforts.

End of the glut?

ASX-listed lithium miners have seen their share prices plummet and investors take flight amid ongoing oversupply concerns.

The price of lithium sank to a 4-year low in June when lithium carbonate briefly dipped below CNY 60,000 per tonne.

But there are signs the lithium glut could be nearing the end.

The price of lithium carbonate has been surging since early July, gaining about 20% in just over a month.

Australia's lithium players have also seen solid gains over that period.

The Pilbara Minerals share price has gained 65% since July 1, with the lithium miner's shares currently trading at around $2.23.

Mineral Resources, plagued by ongoing leadership and ethics issues, has also seen its share price skyrocket since July 1.

Mineral Resources shares were changing hands for around $21.75 at the start of July and are now going for $38.20 each.

That represents an increase of more than 75% in just over a month.

And IGO shares are up about 35% since the start of the month.

Where to next?

It's been a tough few years for ASX-listed lithium players and their shareholders.

As a key battery-producing mineral, few doubted lithium's significance in the clean energy transition.

But as miners raced to meet soaring demand, supply mounted.

Oversupply concerns heightened as more lithium mines came online amid improved recovery techniques, particularly in China.

Investors saw an imbalance and pivoted from lithium.

Now, the pendulum has swung once again.

Recent forecasts stated "rapid global lithium demand growth" is projected through to 2027.

Reports projected the "strong demand" would be fuelled by continued growth in electric vehicle and battery energy storage system uptake.

Global EV sales grew 28% in 2024 as more consumers in China opted for EVs.

And there is little sign of momentum easing for EV uptake.

Additionally, beyond EVs, emerging tech such as AI and robotics is tipped to further absorb lithium supply.

Morgan Stanley is projecting the global humanoid market to be worth $5 trillion in the coming years.

And the global eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) sector, currently valued at around US$1.9 billion, is expected to grow by about 85% over the next five years.

All this as reports emerge of lithium production in China slowing with the recent closure of a major mine.

Clearly, enthusiasm is returning for ASX lithium shares.

The post Lithium shares charge: Is the glut finally over? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 you don't know much about cricket or Western Australia, you probably don't know who Justin Langer is.

And that's fine.

But if you're a cricket fan or a West Australian and you don't know who Justin Langer is, that's a different story.

In fact, that could be seen as a cause for concern.

For Western Australia, Langer is more than a legendary Test cricketer.

He is an institution.

Langer symbolises success, stability, credibility, reliability, and certainty.

And many other good things investors like.

So, when it was announced this week Langer was quitting his lucrative gig as a Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) director, suddenly the extent of the miner's leadership issues became increasingly apparent.

Ball tampering

Langer has long been seen as a safe pair of hands, particularly for Australia's national cricket team.

In 2018, Australian cricket came under international scrutiny when the national men's team was involved in a ball tampering scandal.

With the team's reputation damaged and leadership in disarray, the country turned to Langer.

The former opening batsman helped restore the team's honour as head coach from 2018 to 2022.

Back then, few questioned the former cricketer's appointment as head coach of the national team.

But eyebrows certainly raised when it was announced that Langer, who at the time lacked experience as a public company director, would join Mineral Resources as a non-executive director in late 2022.

It's unclear what exactly Langer did as a non-executive director at Mineral Resources.

But whatever it was, he must have done it well.

Rats and ships

A series of scandals involving Mineral Resources founder and CEO Chris Ellison, including allegations of tax evasion, rocked the miner in late 2024.

In a bid to restore confidence in the company and its leadership, Mineral Resources announced in November 2024 it would establish an ethics and governance committee.

But that plan backfired when board members Susie Corlett, Jacqueline McGill, and Denise McComish all left the company and the ethics committee within a few weeks.

So, where did Mineral Resources turn to right the ship?

Yes, you guessed it.

Last month Mineral Resources announced Langer would take one of the recently vacated seats on the miner's ethics and governance committee.

But a few weeks later, newspaper reporters were seemingly forced to once again declare "shock" when Langer announced he would be leaving the miner to do more cricket.

I could go on about the game of musical chairs playing out at Mineral Resources' ethics and governance committee.

But I won't. The point has been made.

Foolish Takeaway

For investors, it's difficult to understate the importance of a stable and reliable leadership team.

As investors, we hand over our cash and place a great deal of trust in a company's leaders.

When actions or finances appear opaque, as investors, we must be particularly vigilant.

Yes, people and companies do make mistakes.

But when isolated incidents become tendencies or patterns, it could be time to act.

Langer said he's leaving Mineral Resources because he needs more time for cricket.

I reckon there's more to the story than that.

What Langer saw during his short stint as a member of the Mineral Resources' ethics and governance committee, I cannot say.

However, sitting on the sidelines, it's clear Mineral Resources is still a long way from resolving its leadership issues.

The ethics committee the company set up to restore its reputation has blown up into a public relations disaster.    

And all those virtues Langer brought to Mineral Resources, they're heading out the door with him.

The post Not cricket: What Langer's board exit really means for Mineral Resources appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares have long been a staple for mum and dad investors as well as professional money managers.

And for good reason.

Over the past century, the conglomerate has established itself as a key player in Australia's business landscape.

Now, with the company's share price gaining about 25% so far this year, Westfarmers' valuation exceeds $100 billion.

As such, the ASX giant has joined an elite club of Australian 'hectocorns', or companies worth more than $100 billion.

Only five other ASX-listed companies enjoy hectocorn status: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). 

Long way to the top

Wesfarmers, originally known as The Western Farmers Limited, was formed in 1914 to assist farmers and grow markets.

It was conceived as a way to address economic imbalances and help rural workers achieve better pay and conditions.

The company's direction soon shifted, and a decade later, Wesfarmers was branching into media as the owner of WA's first commercial radio station, 6WF.

Wesfarmers has since expanded into energy, retail, chemicals, and lithium.

Today, Wesfarmers also owns numerous household brands, including Bunnings, K-Mart, Target, Officeworks, and Priceline.

The company listed on the ASX in 1984 with a valuation of $30 million.

Wesfarmers is Australia's sixth most valuable publicly traded company, four decades later.

The conglomerate achieved the $100-billion valuation milestone when its shares traded above $88.15 on Wednesday.

Wesfarmers shares are changing hands for about $89.21 at the time of writing, with the company's market cap exceeding $101 billion.

Foolish Takeaway

Wesfarmers has defied analyst expectations and outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) with the conglomerate's shareholders enjoying solid gains so far this year.

It's not the first time Wesfarmers has beaten the market and bucked forecasts.

The company's leaders have long touted the potential gains on offer by investing in Wesfarmers.

In fact, just over 20 years ago, I recall Wesfarmers Chairman Michael Chaney urging a packed audience to scoop up as many Wesfarmers shares as they could and hold them for as long as possible.

Chaney, who was CEO at the time, explained the powers of compounding and the benefits of reinvesting dividends.

He demonstrated how $10,000 invested in Wesfarmers could grow into $1 million over time.

Those who followed Mr Chaney's advice have done well.

For a junior reporter with a bank balance barely able to absorb the cost of a Bunnings hot dog, owning a piece of Wesfarmers was certainly out of reach.

Still, the lesson was valuable.   

The post This ASX giant has now joined the $100-billion club appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price is taking a hit, shedding almost 9% of its value in morning trade.

The company's share price was up on Wednesday as the diversified miner released its quarterly activity report.

Investors welcomed news that Mineral Resources hit its revised iron ore and lithium targets.   

Reality bites

But those gains have since evaporated with Mineral Resources shares currently trading for about $28.17 each.

As such, it appears yesterday's good news for the miner has succumbed to reality.

Mineral Resources was able to offer signs of hope to investors with quarterly targets achieved, positive outlooks for key commodity prices, and progress on infrastructure developments.

Still, fundamental issues remain unresolved.

Debt, debt, and more debt

Mineral Resources continues to be weighed down by a mountain of debt.

The company was able to state that it had managed to reduce its debt pile from $5.4 billion to $5.35 billion.

Regardless, $5.35 billion of debt for a miner with a $5.5 billion market cap is an eye-watering figure.

And the fact that the company has offered little to demonstrate a clear path to addressing its debt issue is particularly troubling.

In fact, the company arguably faces more pressing issues.

Key-man problem?

Mineral Resources founder and CEO Chris Ellison has grown his company to become one of Australia's biggest miners.

Clearly, he has been a key component behind Mineral Resources' past success, and for some, the company's future success is contingent on his continued leadership of the miner.

For others, Ellison, whose tenure has been marred by a series of recent scandals, is part of the problem and needs to go.

As such, Mineral Resources is in an unusual position of simultaneously suffering from both a key-man risk and a key-man problem.

For a while, it looked like the issue was on track for resolution with the announcement of succession plans.

Indeed, there was hope that a new leadership team could turn Mineral Resources around, with the company's share price down almost 70% from its 2022 high.

But recent reports suggesting Ellison intends to stick around have poured cold water on hopes of the company's leadership issues being swiftly resolved.

Where to from here?

Despite today's pullback, Mineral Resources' long-suffering shareholders have seen significant gains over the past few months.

The Mineral Resources share price sank below $17 in early April and is up almost 70% since then.

While some likely enjoyed quick profits, the company's long-term success hinges on addressing lingering fundamental issues.

For that, a strong and stable leadership team is required.

The post Mineral Resources share price plunges as debt weighs on miner appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) has delivered solid returns for shareholders over the past year.

Eagers Automotive shares are up 75% over the past 12 months and have gained more than 55% since the start of the year.

And Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) is forecasting further gains for Eagers shareholders.

Established more than 100 years ago, Eagers Automotive owns and operates motor vehicle dealerships in Australia and New Zealand.

The company sells and services a range of leading vehicles, including BYD, Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, and Nissan.

Macquarie notes that Eagers' market performance over the past six months was "better than expected" after a strong May and June.

And BYD, which has overtaken Tesla to become the world's biggest electric vehicle manufacturer, is leading the charge for Eagers.

Sales for Australia's new vehicle market were down by 1.4% over the last six months.

But Eagers' high exposure to BYD saw the reseller buck that downward trend.

Macquarie noted that BYD sold around 34,000 vehicles in Australia over the past 12 months while BYD sales had risen by 144% during the first half of 2025.

And Eagers benefitted from the lion's share of BYD's Australian sales with a BYD market share of around 66%.

As such, Eagers delivered 23,400 BYD vehicles during the first half of 2025, already meeting 78% of its BYD volume guidance for the year.

And Macquarie is forecasting BYD's growth to continue along with Eagers' sales.

BYD has aggressive global growth plans, and we expect it will continue to grow its market share in Australia.

This should be supported by the further expansion of its retail footprint and model range, over the next 6–18 months.

Chinese cars to dominate

The Centre for International Economics is also forecasting a change in Australia's automotive landscape.

A recent report by the research firm noted that Chinese-manufactured cars currently account for around 17% of new car sales in Australia.

But by 2035, that figure is expected to reach 43%, establishing China as Australia's leading vehicle supplier.

What next?

With 50 BYD dealerships across Australia, Eagers has retained a solid position as a BYD reseller despite encroaching competition and an end to its exclusivity agreement with BYD.

BYD's push to operate its own dealerships in the region and take control of importing and distributing those vehicles may constrict Eagers' dominant position as a BYD reseller.

Still, Macquarie is backing Eagers.

"By the end of CY25 we expect there to be ~100 BYD dealerships in Australia, of which APE should own 65-70.

This would see its BYD dealer market share hold relatively constant."

Macquarie sees significant upside for Eagers Automotive shares and increased its price target to $20.60.

Eagers shares are currently trading for around $18.58 each, which implies a potential upside of about 11% over the next 12 months.

The post Up 55% this year, why Macquarie believes Eagers Automotive shares can charge higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended BYD Company. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Iron ore prices hit their highest level since February as China announced a new mega-dam project.

The price of iron ore on the Singapore Exchange's August contract has climbed to US$1041 per tonne.

As such, the iron ore price is up about 10% since the start of July.

And ASX-listed iron ore miners have also seen their share prices lift over the past month.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Australia's biggest iron ore miner, has seen its share price gain about 11% since July 1.

Similarly, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has seen its share price gain 13% since the start of the month, and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are up 15%.

The recent lift in iron ore prices will come as welcome reprieve for the major miners' shareholders.

Iron ore has lost about 40% of its value since early 2022, when it was trading for around US$160 per tonne.

And a series of issues centring around oversupply concerns has seen ASX iron ore shares suffer significant declines since early 2024.

But the future of ASX's iron ore miners is looking brighter.

What happened?

China, the world's biggest iron ore importer, announced it has started work on the world's largest hydropower dam project.

The mega-dam being built in Tibet is expected to require up to four times more steel than the massive Three Gorges Dam.

China's Three Gorges Dam, with a 22,000-megawatt capacity, is currently the world's largest hydroelectric power station.

As such, iron ore futures markets are reacting to the announcement that signals a surge in demand to offset oversupply.

Increased blast furnace activity in China's steel mills comes as another positive sign for iron ore miners, indicating oversupply is beginning to ease.

Foolish takeaway

The commencement of the mega-dam project and reports of steel production ramping up in China have flipped the narrative on the iron ore story.

Earlier this year, reports of China cutting steel production signalled challenging times ahead for the ASX's iron ore miners.

As news of decreasing demand emerged, projected supply increases further impacted ore prices with new mines in Africa and South America set to come online in the coming years.

Guinea's Simandou project, one of the world's largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposits, is expected to begin shipments this year.

While recent headlines and a lift in iron ore futures have helped push major miners' share prices higher, challenges remain.

Lingering uncertainty amid global trade tensions will continue to impact the price of iron ore significantly.

And Australia's Department of Industry, Science and Resources' latest forecast indicates further reductions in the country's iron ore exports amid low prices.

The post Major miners up as China announces new mega project appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX rare earths shares were up again on Wednesday amid news that tech giant Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) was ramping up its investment in MP Materials.

The Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU) share price gained almost 5% yesterday.

And Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) was up around 4%.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) gained more than 1% during Wednesday's trade but pulled back to end the day up by 0.1%.

Supply and demand

As rare earths supply concerns mount amid trade disputes between China and the USA, consumers are scrambling to secure stock.

Apple announced yesterday it had committed US$500 million to invest with MP Materials, the USA's only fully integrated rare earth producer.

The funds will be used to build a factory in Texas to manufacture rare earths products designed for Apple devices.

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, said Apple also plans to build a rare earths recycling factory in California.

Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States.

China, the world's biggest producer of rare earths, has dominated the rare earths market for decades.

It has long identified the strategic significance of rare earths and has used its dominant position as political leverage.

Trading tariffs

Souring relations between the United States and China resulted in the Middle Kingdom blocking rare earths exports to the US.

Companies and governments have since been pushing to ensure minimal disruptions of the critical minerals supply chain.

Last week it was announced that MP Materials had secured backing from the Pentagon.

ASX-listed rare earths shares surged following that news, adding to solid gains already notched up this year.

The Lynas share price is up more than 50% since the start of 2025.

And Arafura shareholders have seen gains exceeding 80% over the same time frame.

While Iluka shares haver mounted a solid recovery over the last few months, its share price is still a long way from the highs it was hitting a few years ago.

Back in 2022, Iluka shares were changing hands for up to $12.16.

Today, Iluka shares are trading at around $5.03 each.

Similarly, with Lynas shares trading at around $9.88, they are a long way from the highs they reached in 2011, when they were going for $23 apiece.

And the Arafura share price also remains far below its high of $1.79 achieved in 2007.

Arafura shares are currently changing hands for $0.21 each.

Foolish Takeaway

ASX rare earths shares have notched up solid gains over the past couple of months.

But while some investors have enjoyed quick profits, longer-term shareholders are barely beginning to recoup hefty losses.

Clearly, the share prices of rare earths companies have benefitted from the news cycle and resulting hype.

As such, rare earths shares remain vulnerable to rapid swings amid political uncertainty.

The post Rare earths shares charge as Apple weighs in appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A "significant" increase in Australia's red wine supply could impact demand and pricing, a key industry report warns.

Australia's 2025 winegrape crush is estimated to be 1.57 million tonnes, according to Wine Australia.

That represents an 11% increase on the previous year's crush.

The year-on-year increase in the crush was driven by red varieties, up 20% over the period.

And the crush of white varieties was 2% higher than in 2024, according to the National Vintage Report 2025.

Crushing

Peter Bailey, manager, Market Insights at Wine Australia, said the mix of red versus white was problematic:

The significant increase in red varieties this year could exacerbate the challenges facing the sector in terms of excess stocks of red wine, and might further reduce demand for these varieties next vintage.

While the 2025 crush is up on the 2024 crush, it is still below the 10-year average of 1.71 million tonnes.

The smaller crush for 2025 relative to the long-term average is likely to have been a result of both seasonal and strategic factors.

Mr Bailey stated that a decline in demand for wine globally was likely driving adjustment in the Australian wine sector:

The 2025 crush equates to around 1.1 billion litres of wine, which is in line with current sales of Australian wine on domestic and export markets.

The total value of the Australian winegrape crush in 2025 is estimated to be $1.13 billion, a 14% increase on 2024's figure. 

The report noted that the average purchase value for red and white grapes from cool or temperate regions both decreased.

However, there were increases in the average purchase value for both red and white grapes from warm inland regions.

Mr Bailey said that despite the increases, the average purchase values for warm inland reds in the past two years were the lowest in over a decade.

He said for many growers, this means production would not be economically viable:

Conditions are not likely to improve for red grapes until there is a significant reduction in the supply base. 

The wine sector needs to continue to work together to bring supply and demand back into balance at a profitable price point for growers and winemakers.

Turned

Australia's wine producers have faced multiple challenges over the past few years.

Consumers have been turning away from wine and alcohol due to health and wellness concerns.

Cost-of-living pressures have impacted spending habits, supply chain issues have exacerbated costs, and market turmoil resulting from Trump's tariffs has added to the industry's plight.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE), one of the world's top five wine producers, has not escaped the fallout.

At one point back in 2018, Treasury Wine shares were changing hands for about $19.27 each.

Today, Treasury Wine shares can be snapped up for $7.95 apiece.

For some, Treasury Wine's beaten-down share price represents an opportunity.

Broker Bell Potter has a price target of $10.23 on Treasury Wine shares.

Based on Treasury Wine's current valuation, that represents a potential upside of 29% over the next 12 months.

The post Oversupply concerns to hit wine shares, report warns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX‑listed software provider Hansen Technologies Ltd (ASX: HSN) gained 10% on Monday on the back of positive news from the company.

And the ASX tech share is continuing to add to the gains, notching up another 5% during morning trade on Tuesday.

What happened?

Hansen's share price surged on Monday following an upbeat update regarding the company's FY25 earnings expectations.

Hansen is now forecasting underlying EBITDA of between $110 million and $112 million for FY25.

That's up around 10% on its previous guidance range of $92 million to $101 million.

Founded in 1971, Hansen provides software solutions for energy and communications companies with customers in 80 countries.

It includes Powercloud among its products, a billing platform used by energy providers.

And Hansen's CIS platform enables utility providers to manage the entire customer service and revenue life cycle.

The company also offers artificial intelligence solutions, such as Hansen's AI Virtual Agent, as part of its product suite.

And a series of new customer wins has helped to push forecasted earnings higher.

New deals

Hansen stated it had signed a four-year contract with Finland's Vattenfall to implement the Hansen CIS system in a deal worth $5.5 million.

The ASX tech company also announced an agreement with a Nordic B2B energy retailer, Å Entelios, to deploy Hansen CIS in support of its expansion into the Danish market.

The recent wins follow a major contract announced by Hansen earlier this year.

Hansen stated in February it had signed a $50 million five-year agreement with VMO2, a JV between Telefónica and Liberty Global.

Additionally, Hansen announced a five-year agreement with one of the largest renewable energy portfolios in the US, estimated at $16 million.

Momentum appears to be building for Hansen, with more new customers and contracts worth millions of dollars announced.

Hansen stated that new customers include Aneo, Modity, World Kinect, Ingrid Capacity, and Å Entelios.

And the company's global footprint continues to expand in Finland and Sweden, while the company marks its first-ever deployments of Hansen Trade into Norway, Denmark, and The Netherlands.  

Where to from here?

Things appear to be turning around for the ASX tech share.

Back in 2021, Hansen shares were trading at around $6.32 before sinking to $4.30 in August 2024.

A series of strategic initiatives, such as the acquisition of assets from Germany's CONUTI GmbH, have helped the company accelerate its European expansion plans.

And, despite the recent gains, with Hansen shares changing hands for about $5.60, at least one broker sees more upside in the ASX tech share.

Broker Bell Potter has a price target of $6.28 on Hansen shares. 

Based on its current valuation, that implies an upside of about 12% over the next 12 months.

The post Up 10% in a day, why this ASX tech share is exciting investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price is a long way off its all-time high of $88.94 recorded in early 2023.

In fact, Mineral Resources shares are currently changing hands for $25.52, down 71% from their 2023 high.

Mineral Resources is a diversified resources company with operations in lithium, iron ore, energy, and mining services.

The company has suffered amid falling iron ore and lithium prices over the past year.

And a series of leadership issues centring around Mineral Resources founder and CEO Chris Ellison has added to the company's woes.

But there are promising signs that better times may lie ahead for Mineral Resources and its shareholders.

Let's look at three key reasons why Mineral Resources may be well-positioned for a turnaround.

Onslow Iron back on track

Mineral Resources' Onslow Iron project was set to become one of the biggest iron ore producers in the country.

Mineral Resources stated the project would ramp up to 35 million tonnes (mt) per year, with a projected mine life of more than 30 years.

In May 2024, Mineral Resources' Onslow project looked on track, as the company announced that the first ore on ship was achieved ahead of schedule.

Then the company's ambitious plans appeared to unravel.

The dedicated 150-kilometre road connecting Mineral Resources' mine to the Port of Ashburton was plagued by a series of issues.

Multiple truck rollovers on the road led to its closure by government authorities, casting doubt on plans to ship the 35 million tonnes of ore per year.

The company's share price suffered, and so did its bank balance, with the road's repair bill coming in at around $230 million.

Now, things are looking like they are back on track with the Onslow Project.

Mineral Resources looks set to achieve its revised guidance of between 13.8mt and 14.1mt for FY25.

The company loaded 14mt onto ships by July 1, according to The West Australian newspaper. Mineral Resources is due to release its figures later this month.

With the haul road now operational and guidance set to be met, Mineral Resources has addressed some key issues.

And, with sealing works on the road expected to be soon completed, Mineral Resources' long-term goals appear more achievable.

Lithium rebound     

Mineral Resources has suffered alongside Australia's lithium producers as oversupply issues have pushed the price of lithium lower.

Now, following the Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference 2025, there is renewed talk of a lithium price rebound.

And, according to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, "rapid global lithium demand growth" is projected through to 2027.

The Department's latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report states that the "strong demand" will be fuelled by continued growth in electric vehicle and battery energy storage system uptake.

While that may be good news for Mineral Resources' lithium arm, unknowns concerning oversupply issues temper enthusiasm.

Leadership issues

While Mineral Resources' ongoing leadership issues continue to hinder the company's prospects, it appears that steps are being taken to resolve this problem.

A lot rests on a sound resolution to the leadership challenges that the company faces.

Without a capable and stable leadership team, it is difficult for any company to succeed or regain investor confidence.

Mineral Resources is at a crossroads.

A series of key appointments has helped to restore some credibility.

If the company can address its issues head-on, particularly its leadership challenges, investors could enjoy the fruits of a turnaround.

The post 3 reasons why the Mineral Resources share price is primed to rebound appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

There's no escaping AI.

The revolutionary technology is rapidly reshaping companies and markets.

And business leaders are increasingly warning of the impact AI will have on jobs.

Jim Farley of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) was the latest high-profile CEO to offer his thoughts on the subject.

He stated AI could replace 50% of all white-collar jobs.

While such news may come as a dire warning for some, others will be looking for ways to capitalise on this technological transition.

So, here are 3 top ASX AI shares for your watchlist.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Life360, a location-sharing app designed to help families and close groups stay connected, now claims to have 80 million users.

The company continues to expand its offerings and drive efficiencies by utilising AI.

And investors have cashed in on the company's success, with its share price doubling over the past year.  

Life360 shares, currently changing hands for about $32.95 each, still have significant growth ahead, according to analysts.

Bell Potter has a price target of $37.50 on Life360 shares, implying a potential upside of around 14% over the next year.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Data centre operator NextDC has positioned itself to ride the AI wave.

As demand for AI processing increases, so too does the need for high-performance data centres.

NextDC owns and operates data centre facilities across Australia and is pressing ahead with its expansion plans abroad, particularly in South East Asia.

A series of recent contract wins has coincided with a recovery of the company's share price.

The NextDC share price sunk to $10.04 in April in the wake of Trump's tariffs turmoil.

But the data centre operator's share price has since recovered.

NextDC shares are currently changing hands for about $13.78 each, having gained more than 37% in the past few months.

Brokers still see an upside in NextDC at its current valuation.

Morgans has a buy rating and a $18.80 price target on NextDC shares.

Ord Minnett also has a buy rating on NextDC shares with an $18.00 price target.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

Appen was once among the most celebrated AI shares on the ASX.

The company provides datasets used by major tech companies to develop AI and machine learning capabilities.

After listing in 2015, Appen shares hit an all-time high of $31.52 in 2020.

But the Appen share price has since come crashing back to earth, with Appen shares currently trading at around $1.12 each.

Still, a fresh wave of investor confidence has pushed the Appen share price up over the past year.

Appen shares have gained almost 150% over the past 12 months after the company's share price dropped below $0.50 at one point last year.

Last month, Appen stated it's forecasting revenue between $235 million and $260 million for FY25.

If the result comes in at the higher end of the projection, the company will realise growth of 10.9% for the year.

Although things may be looking up for Appen, it has proved to be a highly volatile company for investors over the years.

The post 3 top performing ASX AI shares for your watchlist appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland has positions in Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Appen and Life360. 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's been a tough year for Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shareholders.

Mineral Resources shares have lost more than 50% of their value over the past 12 months.

The resources company, with operations in lithium, iron ore, energy, and mining services, has taken hits on multiple fronts.

With the prices of iron ore and lithium plummeting over the past year, Mineral Resources has seen profits shrink and debt balloon.

The company reported net debt of $5.08 billion for 1H FY25, up from $4.4 billion for the prior corresponding period.

And a series of scandals involving Mineral Resources founder and CEO Chris Ellison has not helped the company's cause.

In October last year, Ellison admitted to his involvement in a tax evasion ploy that saw him personally profit at the expense of the company.   

In a bid to restore confidence in the company and its leadership, Mineral Resources announced in November it would establish an ethics and governance committee.

Not cricket

But the company's credibility came under further scrutiny in April when three board members resigned.

Susie Corlett, Jacqueline McGill, and Denise McComish all left the company and the ethics committee within a few weeks.

Now, Mineral Resources has announced a series of key appointments in a bid to restore confidence in the company.

Former Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) CFO, Lawrie Tremaine, has joined the Mineral Resources Board. Ross Carroll, another former Woodside CFO, will also join the Board as a non-executive director.

Mineral Resources Chair Malcolm Bundey, who also took up his post this month, said the appointments reflect his priorities as Chair.

To strengthen our Board composition, our corporate governance and place a comprehensive focus on the balance sheet. This is a major first step in our Board renewal process.

I acknowledge that regaining trust takes time, sustained effort and delivery of performance outcomes, but I am confident our new directors will greatly assist the MinRes Board and executive in ensuring we deliver on our commitments.

Lawrie Tremaine and Ross Carroll will both also join the ethics and governance committee alongside former test cricketer Justin Langer.

Trouble at the top

As the Mineral Resources Board undergoes a reshuffle, uncertainty remains over the company's managing director position.

Ellison previously announced he would step down from the managing director role.

But now it's understood Ellison is reconsidering his plans to exit the company.

What next?

Investors will be looking forward to seeing Mineral Resources resolve its ongoing leadership issues.

The Board faces a challenging period ahead, but establishing a clear direction and having a solid leadership team in place will certainly improve the company's outlook.

The post Can a new leadership team turn Mineral Resources around? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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 Cobram Estate Olives Ltd (ASX: CBO) share price is pushing higher on the back of its earnings guidance released today.

The olive oil producer saw its share price up about 10% at one point during morning trade.

Australia's largest vertically integrated olive farmer is forecasting underlying EBITDA of approximately $115 million for FY25.

That would see company realise an earnings increase of around 72% on its FY24 figure.

Cobram posted EBITDA of $66.7 million for FY24, which represents an increase of about 63% on the company's result for FY23.   

Bumper crop

Cobram stated its 2025 Australian olive harvest produced 14.2 million litres of oil  from 80,000 tons of olives.

The company, with farms in Australia and the United States, also stated it secured an additional 1.1 million litres of olive oil from other Australian millers.

A Cobram spokesperson said that brings the company's total olive oil production from its 2025 Australian harvest to 15.3 million litres.

Due to the natural biennial cycle of olive yields, 2025 was, as expected, a higher-yielding crop year ('on-year') in most of CBO's Australian olive groves.

Our total production (CBO's and long term third party processed) was 10.2% higher than our last 'on-year' harvest in 2023 of 12.9 million litres.

A strong past 12 months

It's been a good year for Cobram shareholders, with the company's share price gaining about 40% over the past 12 months.

Cobram shares are now changing hands for around $2.34 each, an all-time high.

Cobram owns a portfolio of premium olive oil brands including Cobram Estate and Red Island.

The company's olive farming assets include over 2.6 million olive trees planted on 7,000 hectares of farmland in central and north-west Victoria.

Cobram also has 790,000 trees planted on 1,025 hectares of long-term leased and freehold properties in California.

The company also owns mills and bottling facilities, in addition to other farming assets, firmly positioning Cobram as a leader in the Australian olive industry.

And the company is pushing ahead with its expansion plans.

Cobram recently acquired farming machinery business Leda Ag in a deal worth around $5 million.

The olive oil producer stated the acquisition of its former partner will allow Cobram to realise significant "cost savings and operational efficiencies" in Australia and the US.

The post Why this consumer share is up 10% on earnings guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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.

GemLife Communities Group (ASX: GLF) has listed on the ASX today, marking one of the biggest IPOs of the year.

The GemLife share price has gained more than 5% after debuting on the ASX at 12pm EST today.

The company, which operates resort-style communities for people over 50, was aiming to raise $750 million, with shares priced at $4.16 apiece.

At the time of writing, GemLife shares are changing hands for around $4.40 each.

Gemlife has stated it will use part of the funds to acquire its competitor in the over 50s accommodation space, Aliria.

Aliria is currently owned by Queensland developer, Adrian Puljich, who is also GemLife's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

The GemLife listing is the third major IPO of the year and represents a shift in sentiment as companies appear to be increasingly opting for the IPO route.

The ASX has seen a significant reduction in new listings over the past few years as delistings increase, prompting warnings of a shrinking ASX amid an IPO drought.

In 2023, the ASX saw 45 listings, but that figure dropped to 28 new listings for 2024.

But things are changing.

IPO drought ends

Last month, two major listings demonstrated a renewed enthusiasm for ASX IPOs.

Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (ASX: VGN) and Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) both debuted on the ASX in June.

Virgin Australia's IPO raised $685 million through the sale of 236.2 million shares at $2.90 each.

And Greatland Resources raised $490 million at $6.60 per share through its IPO.

GemLife's listing will give the company a market cap of $1.58 billion.

What is GemLife?

GemLife was founded in 2016 as a joint venture between members of the Puljich family and Singaporean firm Thakral Capital.

The company is one of Australia's leading over-50s lifestyle resort operators with operations across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

GemLife's portfolio currently includes 20 communities and projects and would expand to 32 following completion of the Aliria deal.

The company reported a net profit after tax of $85.8 million for FY24 on revenues of $266.3 million.

In FY22, GemLife reported a net profit after tax of $72.8 million.

The company is forecasting a dip in profits to $84.2 million for FY25 before climbing to $104.7 million for FY26.

The post End of the IPO drought: GemLife listing one of the biggest of the year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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.

ASX-listed healthcare companies have long had an outsized impact on global markets.

Think CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), and Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH).

For shareholders who got in it early with those companies, the rewards have been significant.

So, when an ASX healthcare share gains 250% in a year, it could be worth examining closely.

Orthocell Ltd (ASX: OCC), a Perth-based biotech company, develops regenerative medicine to treat musculoskeletal disorders.

And its flagship nerve repair product, Remplir, is gaining traction in Australia and overseas.

The company this week announced it had achieved record revenue of $2.73 million for the June quarter.

That represents an increase of 22.8% on the previous quarter and the fifth consecutive quarter of record revenue for the company.

Orthocell CEO Paul Anderson said his company is in the early stages of tapping a global addressable nerve repair market worth US$3.5 billion.

This outstanding result is driven by growing demand from surgeons in our existing markets and lays a solid foundation for our US expansion which we expect to ramp up in the first half of FY26.  

We're seeing our commercialisation strategy in Australia starting to bear fruit and we are confident this will be replicated on a much larger scale in the US.

Orthocell's Remplir product is a collagen wrap used in nerve repair surgery to repair and regenerate damaged nerves. 

Recent studies confirm its superiority over the traditional needle and thread method for nerve repair, according to Orthocell.

On track for success

And the company has stated that its US Remplir commercialisation program remains "on track" following the first surgical use of Remplir in the US.

Remplir was granted FDA approval earlier this year.

Anderson said Orthocell is expanding customer networks across 25 US states to accelerate revenue growth in the US.

With our highly experienced US distributors appointed and our first surgical use completed after achieving FDA clearance, we are well-positioned to accelerate growth in the US$1.6 billion nerve repair market over the coming months.

Orthocell ended the quarter with $28.5 million in cash in the bank and no debt.

As such, the company looks to be well funded to continue to grow in new and existing markets.

The Orthocell share price has continued to climb this week, gaining about 10%. The company's shares are currently trading at around $1.29 each.

The post Up 250% in a year, how much higher can this ASX healthcare share climb?   appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Steve Holland 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, Cochlear, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Orthocell. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.