When numerous investment professionals think a stock is a buy, it could suggest there's a clear opportunity.

Let's look at two of the ASX shares with the biggest number of buy ratings right now.

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

ALS describes itself as a global leader in testing. It says it provides comprehensive testing solutions to clients in a wide range of industries around the world. Its two main segments are commodities and life sciences.

FY26 was a strong year for the ASX share, with 10.7% growth of revenue, 19.3% growth of underlying operating profit (EBIT) and 25.8% growth of underlying net profit after tax (NPAT).

The company has started FY27 well, stating that it's on track to deliver high-single-digit organic revenue growth and margin improvement consistent with FY26.

The commodities business' organic revenue growth is trending above the 15% to 17% guided range for the first half, with continuation of the positive exploration conditions and activity levels from the junior miners continuing to grow and outpace major and mid-tier miners.

ALS' life sciences division's organic revenue growth has improved from the second half of FY26, but it's still below mid-single-digit expectations.

According to CMC Invest, analysts have made six rating calls on the business in the last three months. Five of them were buy ratings, and one was a hold.

Cuscal Ltd (ASX: CCL)

Cuscal is the other ASX share I want to highlight. It's an authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) with the licences, connectivity and processing capability to support all payment types and regulated data services. It was only listed on the ASX in November 2024.

The company says that the combination of these capabilities and credentials within a single organisation in Australia is limited to the four major ASX bank shares and Cuscal.

Cuscal had a solid FY26 – statutory NPAT rose by 49% to $42.7 million. Underlying net profit rose 20% to $46.2 million, and underlying net operating income grew 20% to $347.7 million.

It acquired Indue on 1 December 2025 and Paymark on 29 May 2026, adding around $40 million to its net operating income. Those acquisitions increased its scale, strengthened its position across Australia and New Zealand, and expanded its range of payment capabilities it provides to clients.

The ASX share expects to deliver "strong profit growth" in FY27, supported by resilient transaction volumes, the acquisitions and cost management. It expects FY27 to show growth in the mid-20 % range for both transaction volumes and underlying net profit.

According to CMC Invest, there have been five analyst ratings on the business in the last three months, with four of those being a buy and one being a hold.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did ALS report?

• Minerals delivered 20.2% organic growth and record sample volumes
• Group revenue growth driven by double-digit gains across several divisions
• Food business posted 7.2% organic growth, third consecutive year of strong results
• Nuvisan (Pharma) EBIT up 123% following successful transformation program
• Group achieved new record lows for Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) and Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR)

What else do investors need to know?

ALS continued its digital transformation, with 80% of group revenue now managed on a single Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), providing a strong base for future automation and AI integration. The company launched its internal AI Marketplace, already enabling more than 5,000 staff to boost productivity with secure generative AI tools.

Key leadership changes included the appointment of Andrea Vallejo as Executive General Manager, Environmental, and Rajkumar Mathiravedu as Global Executive General Manager, Minerals. ALS also agreed to increase its stake in its Saudi joint venture to 60%, pending regulatory approval.

What did ALS management say?

CEO & Managing Director Malcolm Deane said:

I'm pleased to have this opportunity to reflect on the past year, share our progress, and talk about where we're heading. Our refreshed strategy, investment in technology, and focus on people are building lasting advantages for ALS shareholders, employees, and clients.

What's next for ALS?

ALS reaffirmed its FY27 group outlook, targeting high single-digit organic revenue growth and sustained margin expansion, with a particularly strong pipeline in its Minerals and Environmental divisions. The company expects its Life Sciences businesses, especially Environmental, to contribute more growth in the second half, supported by increased regulation and ongoing digitisation.

Ongoing investment in smart labs, robotics, and AI aims to further lift productivity and client value. Scheduled hub laboratory upgrades, including Sydney and Lima, are progressing, and the strong balance sheet puts ALS in a solid position to capture organic and inorganic opportunities.

ALS share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, ALS shares have risen 18%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post ALS FY26 results: Record growth, leadership moves, digital push appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Index changes loom

That's because S&P Dow Jones has just issued its quarterly rebalancing of the various indices, and Pro Medicus is set to be dropped from the S&P/ASX 50 Index (ASX: XFL), with minerals analysis company ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) to join.

The removal of Pro Medicus comes despite the company recently announcing several contract wins, including a five-year, $28 million contract renewal with Allegheny Health Network in the US.

Removal from an index can trigger the selling of a stock, as funds that track indices sell out of dropped stocks and buy into added ones.

With regard to the S&P/ASX 100 Index (ASX: XTO), uranium company Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) will join the index, while grocery company Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) will be dropped.

Paladin shares are currently up 43.9% over a 12-month period, with Macquarie recently issuing a price target of $13.25 for Paladin shares compared to $9.52 currently.

Macquarie said Paladin had successfully ramped up production at its Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia and was also making "real progress" on its Patterson Lake South approvals in Canada.

Paladin recently reported that for the March quarter it had produced 1.29 million pounds of uranium at Langer Heinrich, up 5% from the previous quarter, "driven by strong processing plant performance".

The Patterson Lake South Project had also had its environmental impact statement approved.

In the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), there will be nine changes in all, with Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV), Electro Optic Systems Ltd (ASX: EOS), Firefly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM), and Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) being added.

The companies being removed are Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6), Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG), IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL), SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR), Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW), and Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB).

Elevra shares are up an impressive 310.4% over the past year; however, the stock has come off a bit recently.

The company raised $275 million in an institutional placement in mid-May at $12.20 per share; however, the shares are now changing hands for $10.46.

Another large capital raise

Electro Optic Systems, meanwhile, is in the midst of a capital raise, having raised $150 million at $8 a share.

Shareholders in the company were also able to subscribe for up to $30,000 worth of shares at the same price, with that process ongoing this week.

EOS shares are currently changing hands for $9.98, meaning the raise is well in the money at the moment. Shareholders will find out on Friday how many shares they have been allocated.

The index rebalances will take effect from 22 June.

The post Why might Pro Medicus shares soon be under pressure? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A small group of ASX shares have ex-dividend dates this month.

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

So, if you're looking for some extra income before the end of the financial year (EOFY), these ASX shares provide options.

Ex-dividend dates also provide another opportunity.

Share prices usually fall on ex-dividend dates, so you may be able to pick up a stock you've been watching for a lower price.

Among the shares going ex-dividend this month are ASX agriculture stock Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV).

The almond producer will trade ex-dividend on 17 June and pay investors 3.5 cents per share on 15 July.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Select Harvests shares with a 12-month price target of $5.30, compared with $3.86 currently.

ASX 200 iron ore share Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) has an ex-dividend date of 11 June and will pay 2 cents per share on 8 July.

RBC Capital has a buy rating on Champion Iron with an $8.11 target, compared to $4.30 per share today.

Several of Wilson Asset Management's listed investment companies (LICs) will also go ex-dividend this month.

These include WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), which will trade ex-dividend on 10 June.

WCM Global Growth investors will receive a dividend of 2.2 cents per share on 30 June.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates in June

The post 15 ASX shares going ex-dividend before EOFY appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Which stocks smashed the benchmark returns this week?

I'm glad you asked!

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

First up, we have Domino's Pizza.

Shares in the fast-food pizza retailer closed last Friday trading for $15.72. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $17.36 each, putting this ASX 200 stock up 10.4% for the week.

There's been no fresh price-sensitive news out from the company in some time. But with Domino's shares kicking off this week down 28% year to date, investors may believe that the turnaround story is finally in play.

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

ALS shares are also enjoying a strong week of outperformance.

Shares in the testing services company closed last Friday trading for $22.20, and are currently trading for $24.29. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 9.4% for the week.

ALS shares look to have enjoyed a belated bump, following Monday's release of the company's full-year FY 2026 results.

Highlights for the 12 months included a 10.7% year-on-year increase in revenue to $3.32 billion. And on the bottom line, ALS reported underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $381 million, up 25.8% from FY 2025.

James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX)

The third ASX 200 stock smashing the benchmark returns this week is James Hardie.

James Hardie shares closed last week at $26.94 and are currently trading at $28.94 apiece, up 7.4%.

On Wednesday, James Hardie released its own full-year FY 2026 results.

The building materials company reported a 25% year-on-year increase in net sales, reaching US$4.84 billion over the 12 months. That growth was spurred by additional sales from the company's acquisition of AZEK, a United States-based outdoor building products company.

Excluding that acquisition, James Hardie's organic net sales were down by 2% from FY 2025.

Which brings us to…

Guzman Y Gomez (ASX: GYG)

Guzman Y Gomez shares are enjoying a welcome week of outperformance.

Shares in the Mexican fast-food restaurant chain closed last Friday trading for $17. At the time of writing today, shares are trading for $20.79, which sees this ASX 200 stock up an impressive 22.3% for the week.

Most of those gains are being delivered today.

Guzman Y Gomez shares are up 15% in early afternoon trade after the company announced that it was exiting its US market, where it's struggled to achieve sales growth.

However, management offered a bullish assessment of Guzman Y Gomez's Australia business, lifting full-year FY 2026 Australia Segment earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) guidance to around $85 million.

That's 29% higher than the company's FY 2025 EBITDA in Australia.

The post 4 ASX 200 stocks rocketing higher this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because its analysts have just named three ASX shares as buys. Here's what you need to know about them:

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

Morgans is feeling bullish on this testing services company following its FY 2026 results release.

In response to the result, the broker has reiterated its buy rating with a $27.20 price target. It commented:

Our forecast changes are negligible, and we still view risk to our forecasts as skewed firmly to the upside, absent a material supply disruption scenario. We forecast Commodities revenue growth of +25%, while our raisings data points to geochemistry volumes up +35-45% during 1H, corroborated by the sample flows chart which already shows volumes tracking +25-30% in April. The stock is now trading on just 23x FY27 PE as it enters a bullish commodities cycle with a gold-plated balance sheet (leverage 1.5x). Reiterate BUY.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

This agribusiness company's results were short of expectations due to its systems modernisation.

Nevertheless, given significant share price weakness, the broker has retained its buy rating with a reduced price target of $7.90. It said:

While ELD's 1H26 result was up strongly on the pcp, it missed consensus estimates due to materially higher Corporate Services costs associated with Systems Modernisation. Outlook comments were relatively optimistic despite the BOM's dry outlook. We have revised our forecasts for higher costs and the divestment of Killara. After material weakness, we maintain a BUY recommendation. A significant rerating requires delivering consensus estimates and deleveraging.

Qualitas Ltd (ASX: QAL)

Morgans has responded positively to a recent update from this alternative real estate investment manager.

This has seen the broker upgrade the ASX share to a buy rating with an improved price target of $3.50.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Morgans said:

Following QAL's recent 3QFY26 update, the announced changes to residential real estate investment in the Federal Budget and the sale of a further interest in the comparable Metrics Credit, we have upgraded QAL to a BUY with a $3.50/sh price target. Our valuation and recommendation change was driven almost entirely by a reduction to our discretionary valuation discount (+75 cps), reflecting our lower perceived risk as a) the company reiterates that FUM commitments continue to increase and b) FUM deployments set new records.

The post 3 ASX shares Morgans rates as buys this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After yesterday's nasty loss to start the week, investors were clearly more optimistic today, with the ASX 200 starting in the green and remaining consistent until market close. By that time, the index had finished with a 1.17% rise to 8,604.7 points.

This happy trading day for the local markets comes after a mixed start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a good mood, rising 0.32%.

However, things were different on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which fell 0.51%.

But let's get back to the ASX now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors navigated today's fair trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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

If you are, it could be worth seeing what analysts are saying about the three ASX shares in this article, courtesy of The Bull.

Are they bullish, bearish, or something in between? Let's find out:

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

Morgans has named this testing services company's shares as a buy this week.

The broker likes the ASX share due to its exposure to strong industry tailwinds and the prospect of a sizeable jump in earnings per share in FY 2027. It said:

ALS Limited provides laboratory testing services across key industrial and consumer facing industries, primarily in the commodities and life sciences segments. It operates across 50 countries and 300 locations. ALS is now the dominant global leader in geochemistry testing, which generates high levels of cash amid minimal competition.

Excess capital from commodities is used to drive earnings growth in life sciences. Strong industry tailwinds coupled with significant forecast earnings per share growth in full year 2027 suggests ALS is on a continuing growth trajectory.

Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP)

The team at Dolphin Partners Financial Services has named this mining and mining services company's shares as a hold this week.

While the financial services firm was pleased with the achievement of Woodlawn steady state production, it doesn't appear to see enough value in Develop Global's shares at current levels for a more positive recommendation. It said:

This company explores and develops mineral resources in Australia, including the Woodlawn zinc-copper project in New South Wales. Other projects include the Sulphur Springs deposit and the Pioneer Dome lithium project in Western Australia. DVP recently announced its flagship Woodlawn zinc-copper project had achieved and exceeded nameplate processing capacity rates of 850,000 tonnes per annum.

The achievement of Woodlawn steady state production is a major operational milestone, de-risking the project's expected cash flows. Also, on May 13, DVP announced it had been awarded a $274 million contract with Core Lithium.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Dolphin Partners Financial Services has named this drinks giant's shares as a sell this week.

It believes the Dan Murphy's and BWS owner could struggle given fierce competition and a challenging economic environment. In addition, it suspects that costs could rise because of higher fuel prices. It commented:

Endeavour operates liquor outlets, hotels and gaming facilities. While Endeavour is a leader in the liquor retailing space, the business is operating in a challenging economic environment involving fierce competition, continuing margin pressure and macroeconomic shocks. Many analysts have cut forecasts to reflect softer trends.

Increasing fuel costs in response to the Middle East conflict is imposing pricing pressure throughout its supply chain. Increasing cost of living pressures is another challenge. The shares have fallen from $4.04 on March 2 to trade at $3.23 on May 13. Other stocks appeal more in this economic climate of higher interest rates and cash strapped consumers.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour and these popular ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While that is a great return, the team at Bell Potter thinks you could potentially double this return with the ASX 200 stock in this article.

Which ASX 200 stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is recommending to clients is ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ).

It is a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company, servicing clients across several industries.

Bell Potter notes that ALS commands a market-leading position in geochemical testing, leveraging its hub-and-spoke model, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and innovative value-added capabilities.

In Life Sciences, it operates one of the largest global environmental testing businesses, with a footprint spanning 35+ countries.

It released its full-year results on Monday and delivered numbers that were largely in line with Bell Potter's expectations. It said:

ALQ's FY26 result was headlined by uEBIT of $599m, up 19.3% YoY and in line with BPe. Group uEBIT margin expanded 130bps to 18.0% (BPe 17.5%).

Key points: Operating result: Group organic revenue growth of +8.4% (BPe +9.1%), was led by Commodities (+18.1%; BPe +16.6%), with mixed performance reported at Life Sciences (+2.8%; BPe +4.8%). Expanding exploration activity in 2H across Junior, Intermediate and Major customers delivered an acceleration in sample volume growth and improved pricing dynamics, with lower-priced legacy contacts rolling off as guided.

It also notes that its guidance for FY 2027 was also in line with expectations. The broker adds:

Outlook commentary include: 1) FY27 Minerals organic revenue expected to rise 13.0-15.0% YoY (BPe old 14.5%), with 1H FY27 uEBIT margin to be consistent with 2H FY26 levels, then rising a further 30-50bps in 2H FY27; and 2) Life Sciences targeting mid-single digit organic revenue growth in FY27 (BPe old 4.6%), with incremental EBIT margin improvement of 30-50bps (BPe old 44bps).

Big potential returns

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 stock with a trimmed price target of $26.00 (from $28.00).

Based on its current share price of $21.83, this implies potential upside of 19% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, a partially franked 2.3% dividend yield is expected in FY 2027, boosting the total potential return to approximately 21%.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

Our downgraded Target Price reflects a higher WACC of 8.3% (previously 7.8%). We view the FY27 Minerals revenue and EBIT margin outlook as conservative, with FY26 exit-rates and exploration market indicators suggesting Minerals could deliver organic revenue growth of >20.0% in FY27 (BPe new 14.9% – within guidance).

The post Buy this ASX 200 stock for a 21% return: Broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During afternoon trade, shares in ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) climbed 3% to $22.85.

The latest gain adds to what has already been a strong run for shareholders. ALS shares are now up roughly 28% over the past 12 months, comfortably outperforming the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen only around 4% over the same period.

So, what impressed investors?

A big jump in profits

The ASX industrials stock delivered strong growth across several key financial metrics.

Revenue climbed 10.7% year on year to a record $3.32 billion. Even more impressive was profitability.

Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 25.8% to $381.2 million. Underlying EBIT jumped 19.3% to $599 million, while margins improved sharply by 129 basis points to 18%. Statutory NPAT also rose strongly, lifting 24.4% to $318.7 million.

Cash generation remained a major highlight too. ALS produced free cash flow of $674.1 million and achieved EBITDA cash conversion of 92%, reinforcing the quality of earnings behind the result.

Shareholders were also rewarded with a final dividend of 23.1 cents per share, partially franked. That brought full-year dividends to 42.5 cents per share.

Commodities keeps firing

One of the standout divisions of the ASX industrials stock was Commodities. Revenue in the segment surged 18.8%, helped by stronger mineral exploration activity globally. That is not surprising given the ongoing demand for critical minerals, copper, gold, and broader resources exploration activity.

Life Sciences also performed well, with revenue rising 6%, driven by strength in the food business.

Environmental was softer, particularly across the Americas, where internal operational issues and weaker market conditions weighed on growth. Management said those issues are now being addressed.

What did management say?

CEO and Managing Director Malcolm Deane said:

ALS has delivered robust financial performance in FY26, reflecting the resilience of our diversified portfolio, disciplined operational execution and the commitment of our people in continuing to deliver high quality service and outcomes for our customers. Throughout the year, we remained focused on executing our refreshed strategy and advancing the priorities outlined in our value creation framework. This included disciplined capital allocation, targeted investment in growth opportunities and ongoing portfolio optimisation to strengthen returns and position the business for long-term sustainable growth, maximising shareholder returns.

What next for ALS?

Management of the ASX industrials stock remains optimistic heading into FY27. ALS expects mid to high-single-digit organic revenue growth alongside further margin expansion.

New laboratories in Sydney and Lima are scheduled to come online during the second half of FY27, expanding capacity in key growth areas. The company is also leaning heavily into automation, digital infrastructure, and artificial intelligence through its "Lab of the Future" initiative.

While management acknowledged ongoing macroeconomic and supply chain risks, ALS appears well-positioned, with a strong balance sheet and growing exposure to long-term demand for mining, environmental, and industrial testing.

The post Why is this ASX industrials stock edging higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did ALS report?

• Revenue rose 10.7% year on year to $3.32 billion
• Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) jumped 25.8% to $381.2 million
• Underlying EBIT increased 19.3% to $599.0 million; margin improved 129 bps to 18.0%
• Statutory NPAT was $318.7 million — up 24.4% on last year
• Free cash flow of $674.1 million, with EBITDA cash conversion at 92%
• Final dividend of 23.1 cents per share (partially franked), taking full year DPS to 42.5 cents

What else do investors need to know?

ALS delivered strong organic growth in its Commodities division, with revenue up 18.8%, mainly from increased mineral exploration activity. The Life Sciences division grew revenue by 6%, led by strong performance in its Food business, while Environmental saw softer conditions in the Americas due to both internal and market challenges, which are now being addressed.

The company's balance sheet strengthened with financial leverage reduced to 1.5x, below its desired range, thanks to solid cash generation and a successful equity raising. ALS also invested heavily in four new hub laboratories across Minerals and Environmental, underpinning future growth. The company continues to deliver industry-leading safety outcomes.

What did ALS management say?

CEO and Managing Director Malcolm Deane, said:

ALS has delivered robust financial performance in FY26, reflecting the resilience of our diversified portfolio, disciplined operational execution and the commitment of our people in continuing to deliver high quality service and outcomes for our customers. Throughout the year, we remained focused on executing our refreshed strategy and advancing the priorities outlined in our value creation framework. This included disciplined capital allocation, targeted investment in growth opportunities and ongoing portfolio optimisation to strengthen returns and position the business for long-term sustainable growth, maximising shareholder returns.

What's next for ALS?

ALS expects to continue mid to high single-digit organic revenue growth in FY27, with further margin expansion planned. Its new Sydney and Lima laboratories are set to be commissioned in H2 FY27, boosting capacity in key areas. The group also plans to deliver tangible benefits from its Lab of the Future initiative, investing in automation, digital infrastructure and AI.

Management is staying alert to global macro and supply chain risks, but a strong balance sheet positions ALS to pursue organic and inorganic growth. Minerals and Industrial Materials divisions are tipped for double-digit and high single-digit growth, respectively, while Life Sciences aims for improved mid-single-digit organic growth.

ALS share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, ALS shares have risen 25%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post ALS reports record FY26 earnings and dividend uplift appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However since then, it has fallen over 14%. 

A new note out of the team at Morgans suggests this could be an opportunity for investors to buy the dip. 

Company overview

ALS is one of the world's largest laboratory testing, inspection, certification, and verification businesses. It operates from around 350 sites across 65 countries.

The company also provides environmental, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage testing and certification. ALS has a multi-billion dollar market capitalisation and is part of the ASX 100.

Its share price rose 60% in the 12 months to March 2026, however since then has been on a downward trend. 

However the team at Morgans expects this to be corrected over the next 12 months. 

Here's what the broker had to say. 

Perfect storm presents an opportunity

The team at Morgans said this ASX industrials stock's recent share price weakness reflects a perfect storm of headwinds – slowing organic growth from offshore peers, FX pressure, Middle East exposure, and concerns around fuel availability. 

We have sought to capture the first three in our forecasts and see limited net impact at the group level, as softer Life Sciences growth is offset by a stronger Commodities outlook. Fuel availability is an unknown, though we view any disruption as a blip given juniors' balance sheets and supportive commodity prices. Copper is trading at all-time highs (US$6.65/lb) and the GDXJ is back around the 2011-12 cycle peak, when exploration spend topped US$20.0bn. This is +65% above CY25 spend (US$12.4bn) and over +125% higher in real terms.

Target price rises

Based on this guidance, Morgans has increased its price target to $27.20 (from $25.30).

From yesterday's closing price of $22.27, this indicates a 22% upside. 

Morgans isn't the only broker with an optimistic view for this ASX industrials stock. 

According to TradingView, 8 analysts offering a one year price target have an average price target of $24.34, and maximum of $28.

This indicates an upside potential between 9% and 25%. 

Similarly, UBS recently put a buy rating on the business, with a price target of $26. 

The broker said there are early signs of a recovery in the resources exploration cycle. 

Geochemistry demand continues to be driven primarily by major miners, despite increased capital raising activity among junior and mid-tier miners, indicating the sector remains in the early stages of the exploration cycle.

UBS also noted that ALS appears to be recapturing previous geochemistry pricing discounts as demand strengthens.

The post Why investors should buy the dip on this ASX industrials stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did ALS report?

• Identified malicious cyber activity with unauthorised third-party access to certain IT systems
• Temporary disruption occurred in parts of operations, but vast majority now operational
• Containment and remediation underway with the support of external cyber response experts
• Australian Cyber Security Centre and other relevant bodies notified
• Investigation ongoing to determine extent and impact on data

What else do investors need to know?

ALS moved quickly after detecting the breach, working alongside external cyber security specialists to minimise risk and restore services. The company says most operations are now back online, with targeted efforts continuing where needed.

Continuous updates will be provided for clients, government agencies, and stakeholders as the investigation unfolds. ALS is cooperating fully with authorities and remains committed to transparency throughout the process.

What's next for ALS?

ALS says it is focused on fully understanding the incident's impact and strengthening its cyber defences. The company is working towards comprehensive remediation in affected areas and will keep stakeholders informed as efforts progress.

Ongoing investment in IT security and incident response protocols remains a priority to protect client and company data. Investors can expect further updates as more details emerge from the investigation.

ALS share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, ALS shares have risen 25%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post ALS reports cyber security incident impacting operations appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While the ASX tech share suffering has gotten the most investor attention over the last several months because of AI worries, there are also non-tech opportunities that analysts have picked out as ideas.

Let's get into why these stocks could be compelling buys.

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

Broker UBS describes ALS as a leading analytical and testing services business with operations across mining, natural resources, environmental, food, pharmaceutical, industrial and inspection sectors. Other services include sampling and remote monitoring.

UBS has a buy rating on the business, with a price target of $26. That implies a possible rise of around 30% over the next year from where it is at the time of writing.

The broker noted that there are signs of an early-stage recovery in the (resources) exploration cycle. Geochemistry demand "continues to skew" to major miners, despite the increase in junior and intermediate miner capital raising activity, suggesting that it's still "early stages in the exploration cycle".

UBS also said that ALS appears to be recovering previous geochemistry price discounts as demand increases.

The broker noted that initial FY26 underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) guidance implies 20% year-over-year growth. UBS thinks the ASX growth share's guidance implies a relatively conservative view on the margins, with the group operating margin (EBIT) set to increase by 80 basis points (0.80%) in FY26.

UBS concluded:

We maintain our buy rating on ALS with the stock trading at a 1yr fwd EV/EBITDA of 14x, in line with where the stock has traded at during previous exploration upcycles, albeit the current gold price is c.2.5x higher. Our Buy thesis is underpinned by the view that the record gold price should drive a recovery in exploration activity, supporting c.10% pa EPS CAGR for ALS over the next three years.

The ASX growth share is valued at 28x FY26's estimated earnings, according to UBS' estimates.

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

UBS is also optimistic about is ARB, which the broker describes as an Australian manufacturer and retailer of 4×4 and automotive aftermarket accessories globally, servicing the retail aftermarket, wholesale distribution in offshore markets and direct to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

UBS currently has a buy rating on ARB with a price target of $25.50. This implies a possible rise of close to 20% over the next year.

The broker noted that the ASX growth share has faced some headwinds in the operating environment, but called it a high-quality business and believes that the brand is not broken.  

UBS said that it's excited about the expansion opportunity in the US and noted that the ASX growth share has become significantly cheaper – it's down more than 40% in the last six months.

The broker pointed out that it's trading at a much cheaper price/earnings (P/E) ratio than it has done historically. Its three-year average of its forward earnings multiple has been 26.3x, according to UBS. It's currently trading at 20x FY26's estimated earnings and 18x FY27's estimated earnings.

UBS suggests that the company's EPS could grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% over the next three years, including a steady increase of the profit before tax (PBT) margin to FY29 following the US tariff hit.

The post Experts rate these 2 ASX growth shares as buys this month! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who believe this ASX 200 stock could offer good returns.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter has been looking at the testing services company's markets and was pleased with what it saw. It explains:

Major & Intermediate (M&I) CY26 exploration budgets: Our proxy for M&I exploration spend is indicating expansion of 24% in CY26. For context, we have not seen this level of growth since CY21-22. Majors have historically comprised 60-80% of total geochemistry samples processed through the cycle.

The broker also highlights that junior equity raisings are growing strongly, which bodes well for demand from that side of the market. It adds:

R6M Junior equity raising grew 131% YoY in Feb'26, the 17th consecutive month of positive YoY growth. We expect Juniors to increasingly deploy raised capital over CY26 into exploration activities. Juniors typically comprise 20-40% of total geochemistry samples processed through the cycle.

But it isn't just mining. Food testing services demand has been strong. It adds:

1) Food testing services performed strongly, with peers reporting mid-single to double-digit organic revenue growth driven by strong demand for contaminants and safety testing (particularly in Europe); and 2) Environment testing organic revenue growth was mixed (low to mid-single digit), with postponement of environmental testing programs reported in North America.

Should you buy this ASX 200 stock?

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 stock with an improved price target of $28.00.

Based on its current share price of $25.59, this implies potential upside of 9.5% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, a 1.6% dividend yield is expected over the period, lifting the total potential return to approximately 11%.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

We maintain our Buy recommendation and upgrade our Target Price to $28.00/sh (previously $25.00/sh), reflecting the model changes mentioned above. ALQ enters CY26 with strengthening industry tailwinds. Major and Intermediate clients have guided to higher exploration spend in CY26, supported by significant FCF growth in an elevated precious and base metal price environment.

In addition, we are yet to see meaningful deployment of the record-breaking Junior equity raising trend observed over the past 12 months. These conditions are reminiscent of the prior up-cycle years of CY21-22 when Commodities delivered revenue growth of >30% p.a. As such, we view consensus expectations as conservative, implying Commodities delivering revenue growth of 14% in CY26.

The post Broker say this ASX 200 stock could be a top buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Over February, ASX All Ords shares lifted almost 2.9% amid impressive results from the banks and miners, in particular.

Today, scores of ASX All Ords shares are ending the reporting season at a 52-week high.

Let's check out a few of them.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Healthcare share price lifted 3.6% to a 52-week high of $43.65 on Friday.

Yesterday, Ramsay Healthcare reported a 1H FY26 net profit after tax attributable to owners of $160.7 million.

That was a significant improvement on the $104.9 million loss recorded in 1H FY25.

The ASX All Ords healthcare share will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 42.5 cents per share.

That's up 6.3% on 1H FY25.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The largest ASX All Ords oil share rose 1.5% to $28.36 on Friday.

That's the highest Woodside share price since July 2024.

This week, Woodside reported record production of 198.8 MMboe in FY25, up 3% from FY24.

The net profit after tax (NPAT) was US$2,718 million, down 24%.

Woodside shares will pay a fully-franked final dividend of 59 US cents per share.

That's up 11% in US dollar terms on the final FY24 dividend.

Woodside shares have also risen on the back of fears of US military action in Iran, which has pushed up oil prices.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price lifted 0.8% to a record high of $49.45 on Friday.

During the month, NAB reported cash earnings of $2.02 billion for 1Q FY26, up 15% on the average quarterly result in 2H FY25.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price lifted 3.6% to a record high of $16.99 on Friday.

This earnings season, Evolution Mining reported a 110% surge in NPAT to $766.6 million for 1H FY26.

Evolution shares will pay a fully-franked dividend of 20 cents per share.

That's the highest dividend the ASX 200 gold miner has ever paid, and it's 186% higher than the 1H FY25 dividend.

The second-largest ASX All Ords gold share continues to benefit from safe-haven trading, which is driving up the gold price.

Check out some recent forecasts for the gold price in 2026.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price lifted 5.2% to a multi-year high of $9.74 on Friday.

ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)

The share price of this testing and inspection services provider rose 1.4% to a record $25.83.

Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP)

This ASX All Ords copper share lifted 3.2% to a multi-decade high of $5.85 today.

The post 7 ASX All Ords shares finish earnings season on a 52-week high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX mining shares dominate the list of companies hitting these new price milestones today.

Arguably, the most significant price peak today is for BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares.

BHP reclaimed its place as the All Ords' largest share by market capitalisation from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) today.

CBA took the title from BHP in July 2024 during an unprecedented run that took it to a record $192 per share in June 2025.

The CBA share price is $150.35 on Tuesday, up 0.85%, while BHP shares are $49.66, up 2.54%, at the time of writing.

The BHP share price hit a two-year high of $50.08 this morning.

But today isn't all about BHP shares.

Plenty of other ASX All Ords shares have smashed new multi-year highs as well.

Here's a sample.

ASX All Ords shares reaching new price highs

As stated earlier, mining shares dominate the list of company highs today, so let's focus on them first.

Besides BHP, two other large-cap ASX diversified miners hit new 52-week share price highs.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price rose 2.8% to a 52-week high of $64.05.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares hit a 52-week high of $4.54 per share, up 3.4%.

Among the ASX All Ords gold shares, Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) lifted 1.9% to a record high of $181.91.

The Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) share price soared 10.3% to a 52-week peak of $1.50.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares surged 3.5% to a record $5.09.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares increased 2.8% to a multi-year high of $8.58.

Copper and gold miner Firefly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM) lifted 5.8% to a 52-week high of $2.20 per share.

Among ASX silver shares, Silver Mines Ltd (ASX: SVL) rose 12.5% to a 52-week high of 27 cents.

Canaccord Genuity sees more growth ahead for Sun Silver Ltd (ASX: SS1) shares, which rose 6.5% to a record $2.47 apiece today.

ASX All Ords lithium shares also hit new price peaks.

Shares in lithium and nickel producer IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) increased 2% to a two-year high of $9.50.

The Winsome Resources Ltd (ASX: WR1) share price lifted 11.7% to an 18-month high of 67 cents.

Hot Chili Ltd (ASX: HCH) shares soared 9.2% to a 52-week high of $1.89.

Among ASX All Ords copper shares, Capstone Copper Corp CDI (ASX: CSC) soared 8.8% to a record $16.27 per share.

The Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP) share price rose 5.8% to a four-year high of $5.67.

What about ASX All Ords shares from other sectors?

ASX All Ords retail stock Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK) ascended 1.9% to a record $26.08 per share.

Engineering services company Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND) lifted 3.6% to a record $30.98.

Testing and inspection services provider ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) rose 1.4% to a record $24.41.

The post ASX All Ords shares smashing 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Earlier in Friday's session, the ALS share price also hit a fresh all-time high of $23.91, marking another milestone in what has been an impressive run.

Over the past 12 months, ALS shares are now up around 53%, comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). With momentum clearly building, investors may be wondering whether the rally still has room to run.

Let's take a closer look.

Why ALS shares are back in the spotlight

ALS is a global testing, inspection, and certification business, operating across commodities, life sciences, energy, and industrial markets.

The company runs more than 370 sites across around 65 countries, giving it a diversified earnings base. That global footprint has helped smooth earnings across cycles and reduce reliance on any single market.

In its H1 FY26 results, ALS reported underlying EBIT growth of around 14.7%, driven by solid demand across its core divisions. Management also pointed to improving operating margins and continued cost discipline.

That result reinforced the market's view that ALS remains well positioned despite broader economic uncertainty.

A reliable dividend with growth on top

ALS also continues to reward shareholders with dividends.

The company paid an interim dividend of around 19.4 cents per share, carrying a franking credit of close to 30%. While ALS is not a high-yield stock, the dividend provides a steady income stream alongside capital growth.

What the ALS chart is saying

The relative strength index (RSI) is hovering around 65, which suggests bullish conditions, though the stock is not yet at extreme overbought levels.

The share price is also trading above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, confirming a strong medium and long-term uptrend.

In terms of volatility, ALS has a beta of around 1.09, meaning it tends to move broadly in line with the market.

Support and resistance levels to watch

Now that ALS has moved above its previous highs, the $23.90 level could act as short-term support.

Below that, the $22 to $22.50 zone is an important support area based on recent trading activity. Further down, longer-term support sits closer to $21.50 to $21.80.

On the upside, the next psychological resistance level sits around $25.00, which some analysts see as a potential medium-term target if momentum continues.

Foolish takeaway

ALS has delivered strong gains, but the recent rally is backed by solid earnings growth, global diversification, and improving margins.

While short-term pullbacks are always possible after hitting an all-time high, the broader trend remains positive.

For investors looking for a quality industrial stock with momentum and defensiveness, ALS is one worth keeping on your watchlist.

The post This ASX stock just hit an all-time high. Is there more upside ahead? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here, we look at the 10 best ASX 200 large-cap shares of 2025 for capital growth.

Large caps have a market capitalisation of $10 billion or more. All the stocks below fit this category.

Investors like large caps because they are typically older, well-established companies that pay reliable dividends every year.

Let's check out last year's best performers.

10 best ASX 200 large caps for share price growth

1. Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price rose by 164% to close the year at $12.68 apiece.

ASX gold shares had a fantastic year due to a 65% rally in the gold price on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The gold price rose to a new record of US$4,533 per ounce in December.

Evolution Mining shares are $12.92 apiece on Thursday, down 0.6%.

2. Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM)

Newmont Corporation shares increased 152% to finish 2025 at $150.20 apiece.

The ASX gold share continues to streak higher, hitting a new 52-week peak of $162.45 yesterday.

The Newmont share price is $158.66 today, up 0.1%.

3. Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price rose by 93.5% to $12.44 on 31 December.

Today, the ASX 200 large-cap rare earths share is trading at $14.74, down 2.2%.

Lynas shares were the market's best performer yesterday amid improving sentiment about rare earths prices.

4. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Formerly known as Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group shares lifted 93% to close the year at $4.22.

The ASX 200 large-cap lithium share set a new 52-week high of $4.89 today.

5. Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The share price of the ASX 200's largest gold miner rose 73% to close the year at $26.73.

The ASX gold share has fallen in the first week of 2026 to $24.88 today.

An operational update released on 2 January prompted some investors to sell.

6. Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

Shares in this property fund manager ripped 71% higher to close out the year at $24.45.

The ASX 200 large-cap real estate investment trust (REIT) is steady at $24.07 today.

7. Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

This ASX 200 large-cap mining share had a turbulent year due to governance issues and other factors.

The Mineral Resources share price plunged to a 52-week low of $14.05 before commencing a recovery.

Mineral Resource shares managed a 59% gain over the year to close at $54.38 apiece on 31 December.

The Mineral Resources share price is $57.91 on Thursday, up 1.1%.

8. Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

Shares in the explosives manufacturer rose 46% to $24.28 in 2025.

Today, Orica shares are trading at $25.85 apiece, down 0.1%.

9. ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) 

The ALS share price rose 46% to $22.04 last year.

ALS provides testing solutions to clients in a wide range of industries around the world.

Today, the ALS share price is $22.79, up 2%.

10. Bluescope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) 

The Bluescope share price lifted 29% to finish the year at $24.07.

The steel maker is in the news this week after rejecting a takeover offer at $30 per share.

A consortium comprising SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and Steel Dynamics, Inc (NASDAQ: STLD) made the offer.

Today, Bluescope shares are $29.31, down 1.9%.

The post 10 best ASX 200 large-cap shares of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.