Shares in Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) have climbed roughly 13% over the past month. That's helped narrow its loss for 2026 to around 3%. Zoom out, however, and the picture looks far stronger, as the ASX auto stock is still up about 36% over the past 12 months.

So what's going on? One driver could be the global fuel crunch and the knock-on effect it's having on electric vehicle demand.

Exposure to fast-growing EV brand

Eagers is the largest automotive retail group in Australia. The company owns and operates a large network of new and used motor vehicle dealerships across Australia and New Zealand.

A big driver of Eagers' success has been electric vehicles, particularly BYD. The ASX car stock has been one of the standout performers in the consumer discretionary sector and now operates roughly 80% of BYD dealerships in Australia. That gives it unmatched exposure to one of the fastest-growing EV brands in the country.

Petrol prices push Aussies into EVs

At first glance, the fuel crunch might not seem directly relevant to the rising price of the ASX car stock. After all, Eagers isn't an EV manufacturer. But dig a little deeper, and the link becomes clearer.

Rising petrol prices are pushing more Australians to consider electric vehicles. That shift is accelerating demand for brands like BYD, which has been rapidly gaining traction locally. Importantly, Eagers has exposure to EV sales through its broad dealership network, giving it a front-row seat to this transition.

More customers walking into dealerships to enquire about EVs can translate into higher sales activity. Even if buyers are simply switching from petrol cars to electric models, increased showroom traffic tends to support volumes and sometimes margins too.

And margins matter. When demand outstrips supply, as is currently the case for some EV models, dealers often have greater pricing power. That can reduce the need for discounting and support profitability across new vehicle sales.

Shift in buying behaviour

But before investors get too carried away, it's worth keeping a few caveats in mind.

First, this is largely a shift in buying behaviour rather than a guaranteed surge in total car sales. If consumers are simply swapping petrol vehicles for EVs, the overall volume uplift may be limited.

Second, supply constraints remain a real issue. Strong demand for EVs, including models from BYD, has led to longer wait times. That can delay deliveries and push revenue recognition further out, muting near-term earnings momentum.

Finally, the $7 billion ASX car stock is still a cyclical business. Interest rates, consumer confidence, and access to finance all play a major role in car-buying decisions. Those macro factors can easily outweigh any thematic boost from EV adoption.

Foolish Takeaway

The fuel crisis appears to be providing a helpful tailwind for the ASX car stock by accelerating interest in electric vehicles. But it's not a simple case of "EV demand up, share price up".

For investors, this remains a broad play on automotive demand — with EVs adding an extra layer of momentum rather than defining the entire story.

The post Why fuel prices could be quietly powering this ASX car stock higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This jubilant hump day session for ASX shares comes after an even more euphoric morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was off to the races, gaining 2.49%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) put the turbocharger on though, exploding 3.83% higher.

Let's get back to the local markets now and see how today's gains filtered down into the different ASX sectors.

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

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura Rare Earths share price is up almost 10% to 30.7 cents. This morning, this rare earths developer announced binding agreements with two cornerstone investors which secure equity subscriptions totalling approximately $230 million. Commenting on the equity subscriptions, Arafura's managing director, Darryl Cuzzubbo, said: "Today marks a transformational milestone for Arafura and the Nolans Project. The execution of binding equity subscriptions from these two government agencies is a powerful endorsement of the strategic importance of Nolans to western supply chains."

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

The Eagers Automotive share price is up 8% to $24.38. This follows the release of an update from the automotive retailer this morning. Eagers Automotive revealed that it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with the owners of Grand Motors Group to acquire 49% of their interest in a portfolio of dealerships located on the Gold Coast and in Metro Sydney. It is a multi-brand dealership group generating consolidated revenue of approximately $490 million for the 12 months ended December 2025.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is up 6% to $19.91. Investors have been buying this family safety technology company's shares on Wednesday following a strong rise by its NASDAQ-listed shares overnight. This was driven by improving investor sentiment amid optimism that the war in the Middle East could soon end. The technology sector is having a particularly strong session. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index rise 3% today.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is up 3.8% to $121.36. As well as benefiting from a rebound in the tech sector today, this health imaging technology company's shares have been boosted by an announcement. Pro Medicus revealed that it is undertaking an on-market share buy-back. The maximum number of shares that the company can buy back is 10.45 million, according to the notice. However, due to its current share price, the actual figure will almost certainly be lower than this.

The post Why Arafura Rare Earths, Eagers Automotive, Life360, and Pro Medicus shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the Eagers share price is up 5.16% to $23.66, extending what has already been a strong 12 months for the automotive retail giant.

Over the past year, the stock has climbed more than 50%, comfortably outperforming both its sector and the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The latest gain comes after management outlined another expansion move.

Let's take a closer look.

New Australian deals add scale in key metro markets

According to the announcement, Eagers has moved on two new growth initiatives in Australia.

The first is a strategic 49% investment in Grand Motors Group, a multi-brand dealership portfolio spanning the Gold Coast and metro Sydney. The assets include Grand Motors Toyota on the Gold Coast, Ryde Automotive Group in Sydney covering Mazda, Subaru, and Kia, and Northshore BMW and Mini.

The portfolio generates around $490 million in annual revenue, includes six leading brand partners across 11 locations, and sells roughly 6,100 new vehicles per year.

Eagers said the transaction is expected to complete by the end of June 2026, subject to OEM, finance, and landlord approvals.

The second deal expands its Audi footprint in Victoria through the acquisition of Audi Centre Melbourne and Audi Richmond from Zagame Automotive Group.

Those dealerships generated around $140 million in annual revenue and approximately 1,100 new vehicle sales over the past 12 months. The deal also increases Eagers' exposure to Melbourne's premium vehicle segment.

Management says the growth pipeline remains active

Chief Executive Keith Thornton said the latest acquisitions reflect the company's disciplined expansion strategy.

He said:

The acquisition of these high-quality dealerships demonstrates the opportunities for Eagers to continue to grow in the Australian market and we are delighted to strengthen our representation with these global brand partners.

Thornton also pointed to the Grand Motors partnership model as another example of how Eagers is using scale and shared operating platforms to grow through aligned retail partners.

Management also said the much larger CanadaOne Auto investment continues to progress toward completion in Q2 2026 after originally being targeted for Q1.

That transaction remains central to the group's international expansion plans and gives it a pathway into the Canadian dealership market.

With local acquisitions continuing and the CanadaOne deal moving closer, today's share price move suggests investors are backing Eagers' ability to keep growing beyond its already dominant Australian footprint.

Foolish Takeaway

The update shows Eagers is still finding ways to expand across attractive metro markets even from an already strong base.

The new Australian deals add more revenue and premium brand exposure, while CanadaOne remains a larger international opportunity still moving toward completion.

After a strong run over the past year, today's share price gain suggests investors remain supportive of the company's expansion plans.

The post Why this ASX giant's shares just hit the accelerator today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After initially plunging almost 2% this morning, the ASX 200 pared back those losses and ended up closing 0.74% lower today. That loss leaves the index at 8,365.9 points.

This coldwater start to the trading week for Australian investors comes after a tough end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was hit hard, falling by a horrid 0.96%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, dropping 2.01%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now with a look at how the various ASX sectors handled today's trading conditions.

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

The automotive retailer's share price has dropped about 18% over the past month and roughly 14% since the start of the year, pushing the stock well below its recent highs.

For a company that has been one of the standout performers in the consumer discretionary sector in recent years, the sudden weakness has caught the market's attention.

Here's a closer look at the ASX 200 stock and whether the pullback could represent an opportunity.

BYD as big driver

Part of the decline of this ASX 200 stock reflects profit-taking after a strong rally in 2025. But that's only part of the reason. The softer start to the year has also been caused by Toyota supply chain issues, which are expected to be resolved in the near term.

Eagers is the largest automotive retail group in Australia. The company owns and operates a large network of new and used motor vehicle dealerships across Australia and New Zealand.

A big driver of Eagers' success has been electric vehicles, particularly BYD. The ASX 200 stock now operates roughly 80% of BYD dealerships in Australia, giving it unmatched exposure to one of the fastest-growing EV brands in the country.

One of Eagers' biggest strengths is its scale and market leadership. The company controls about 14% of Australia's new-vehicle sales. That gives it significant bargaining power with manufacturers and strong brand recognition.

First move in North America

In October, the ASX 200 stock announced a game-changing move, revealing the acquisition of a 65% stake in CanadaOne Auto, one of Canada's largest dealership groups.

The deal values CanadaOne at around $1.05 billion and marks Eagers' first expansion into North America. Once completed and approved, Eagers will control 42 dealerships across multiple Canadian provinces.

Cyclical and supply risks

Despite its strengths, Eagers operates in a cyclical sector.

Vehicle sales are closely tied to consumer confidence and economic conditions. If interest rates remain elevated or household budgets come under pressure, new car demand could weaken.

The company is also exposed to supply and demand dynamics in the global auto industry.  

In addition, after several years of strong share price performance, the ASX 200 stock's valuation has occasionally looked stretched. That makes it vulnerable to pullbacks when market sentiment shifts.

What next for Eagers shares?

Broker sentiment on the ASX stock remains broadly constructive despite the recent share price drop.

Several analysts still view the company as a high-quality operator with a growing dealership network. Bell Potter just upgraded the ASX 200 stock to a buy rating from hold, while slightly trimming its price target to $28.50 from $28.75.

With the shares currently trading at $20.95, the broker's target suggests potential upside of about 36% over the next 12 months.

And that may not be the full return on offer. Bell Potter is also forecasting a fully franked dividend yield of roughly 3.8% this year. This would lift the potential total return to around 40%.

The post Is this red-hot ASX 200 stock a buy after tumbling 18%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here's why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have upgraded this automotive retailer's shares to a buy rating with a trimmed price target of $28.50. The broker made the move on valuation grounds following a period of share price weakness. Bell Potter continues to believe that the company can achieve its guidance in FY 2026 despite a softer start to the year. It notes that the softer start to the year has been driven by Toyota supply chain issues, which are expected to be resolved in the near term. In light of this, at 20x earnings, Bell Potter thinks that the company's shares are attractively priced at present. The Eagers Automotive share price is trading at $21.14 on Wednesday.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $12.10 price target on this airline operator's shares. The broker highlights that Qantas' shares have fallen heavily since the start of the war in the Middle East. It believes this implies that the disruption will last far longer than the broker's base case assumption. And while it concedes that there will be some impact to earnings from the conflict, Citi doesn't believe it will be as bad as the market is making it out to be. As a result, the broker thinks investors should be buying the dip. The Qantas share price is fetching $8.72 at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Analysts at Macquarie have retained their buy rating and $3.35 price target on this buy now pay later provider's shares. According to the note, the broker has been looking at Zip's business model and remains confident. It thinks investors should look past its moderating operating leverage and focus on its medium-term growth outlook. Macquarie is expecting Zip's U.S. net transaction margin to improve sequentially in both the March quarter and June quarter. And while loan losses are rising relative to total transaction value, Macquarie points out that this is because Zip is bringing on new users. The company can quickly remove defaulters, boosting its loan loss metrics. The Zip share price is trading at $1.72 this afternoon.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who have just upgraded the stock to a buy rating.

Which ASX 200 stock?

The stock that Bell Potter has become bullish on this week is Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE).

It is the leading automotive retailer in Australia with a 14% share of the new vehicle sales market. It has 224 new car dealerships across 33 brands and 68 truck and bus dealerships across 12 brands in Australia.

Bell Potter believes that the ASX 200 stock is positioned to deliver a profit result slightly ahead of consensus estimates in FY 2026. Despite a soft start to the year, the broker believes things will pick up. This is especially the case given how it believes the soft start has been triggered by supply issues. It said:

There is no change in our forecasts which we only recently updated with the release of the 2025 result last month. We continue to forecast underlying operating PBT of $657m in 2026 which is only slightly above VA consensus of $655m. We acknowledge there has been a relatively flat or soft start to the year – deliveries flat in January and down 3% in February on pcps – but this appears mostly due to Toyota supply issues which we expect to be resolved over the course of the year.

We also believe the market dynamic this year will be more push than pull with the large increase in OEMs now selling into the Australian market and this will also drive volume. So we expect volumes to rebound over the coming months and deliveries for the year to be generally consistent with last year around 1.2m.

Upgraded to buy

Due to recent share price weakness, Bell Potter has upgraded the ASX 200 stock to a buy rating (from hold) with a slightly trimmed price target of $28.50 (from $28.75).

Based on its current share price of $21.11, this implies potential upside of 36% for investors over the next 12 months.

But the returns won't stop there. Bell Potter also expects an attractive 3.8% fully franked dividend yield this year, which boosts the total potential return to approximately 40%.

Commenting on its upgrade, the broker said:

Our updated TP of $28.50 is >15% premium to the share price so we upgrade our recommendation from Hold to Buy. Yes, we acknowledge Eagers is consumer facing but we see resilience in the both the new and used vehicle market in Australia as well as Canada. In our view the biggest risk to our upgrade is a protracted war in Iran and, while we cannot rule this out, the risk appears to have already had a negative impact on the share price.

We note the forward PE ratio is now back below 20x so the stock is looking value again and supporting this the yield has increased back up to around 4%. In terms of catalysts we expect the CanadaOne Auto acquisition to be completed by the end of the month and then we see potential for resumption of M&A activity in Australia and/or Canada without the need for a fresh equity raise (unless they are particularly big). And, as mentioned, we expect new vehicle deliveries to rebound and be stronger in the coming months as the Toyota supply issues are resolved.

The post Guess which ASX 200 stock was just upgraded by a leading broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday despite a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 33 points or 0.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.05%, the S&P 500 is down 0.25%, and the Nasdaq is 0.1% lower.

Oil prices sink again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session on Wednesday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 8.6% to US$86.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 8.4% to US$90.65 a barrel. Optimism over a resumption of supply from the Strait of Hormuz put pressure on prices.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

Another group of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes supply chain solutions company Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), appliance manufacturer Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG), waste management company Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY), and mining technology company Imdex Ltd (ASX: IMD). Breville is paying eligible shareholders a 19 cents per share fully franked interim dividend later this month on 27 March.

Gold price jumps

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.9% to US$5,201.7 an ounce. Easing inflation worries and US dollar weakness were drivers of this gain.

Buy Eagers Automotive shares

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has upgraded the automotive retailer's shares to a buy rating with a $28.50 price target. It said: "Our updated TP of $28.50 is >15% premium to the share price so we upgrade our recommendation from Hold to Buy. Yes, we acknowledge Eagers is consumer facing but we see resilience in the both the new and used vehicle market in Australia as well as Canada."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Here is a sample of the large number of ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

ASX All Ords shares about to go ex-dividend

Which companies will we hear from today?

The big one today is the half-yearly report from supermarket network Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Woolworths shares ripped this week after the ASX All Ords consumer staples giant reported a 16% profit lift to $859 million for 1H FY26.

We'll also hear from TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Michael Hill International Ltd (ASX: MHJ), and Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA).

The latest report from The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) will also be interesting, as investors seek further news on the turnaround plan for the beleaguered casino operator.

Yesterday, Star Entertainment shares bounced on news of a debt refinancing deal, including extra liquidity to fund the turnaround plan.

The post 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what the broker is recommending to clients:

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Morgans notes that automotive retailer Eagers Automotive delivered a result that was in line with expectations in FY 2025.

So, with this ASX dividend share trading at 20x earnings, the broker thinks that now is a good time to buy. This is especially the case given its positive earnings growth outlook. Morgans has put a buy rating and $31.80 price target on its shares. It said:

FY25 revenue of A$13.05bn (+16.5% pcp) was in line with expectations, as record cost discipline (12.1% opex/sales) helped drive a strong ROS outcome of 3.3%. APE is poised for a fourth consecutive year of material ANZ revenue growth (MorgansF A$0.9bn) and CanadaOne is tracking positively (PBT +12.2% LTM Dec-25 vs Jun-25) with completion expected imminently. EA123 remains a key medium-term driver, with profitability improving (ROS 4.4% vs 3.6% pcp) and clear intent to scale the network and the broader ecosystem. Industry margins appear to have passed the trough, and APE continues to drive outperformance through operational excellence.

We view ~20x PE as an attractive entry point for strong near-term earnings growth (~20% EPS FY26-27F); growing earnings visibility; expected upside through M&A; and various strategic initiatives to support the medium term. Move to BUY (from ACCUMULATE). A$31.80ps PT.

Morgans expects fully franked dividends of 88 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 97 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $25.57, this would mean dividend yields of 3.4% and 3.8%, respectively.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

Another ASX dividend share that gets the thumbs up from Morgans is youth fashion retailer Universal Store.

In response to its half-year results, the broker has retained its buy rating with a slightly improved price target of $10.60. It said:

UNI reported a strong 1H26 result which was ahead of expectations. Sales were up 14.2% to $209.6m and EBIT grew by 23.2% to $43.6m, EBIT margin up 150bps. The strong sales momentum has continued into the first 7 weeks of the 2H, despite the challenging comps (+20%). UNI has consistently delivered through a challenging retail environment, +7.9% LFL sales CAGR over the last 6 years. We have a $10.60 target price (was $10.50). BUY maintained.

Morgans expects fully franked dividends of 41 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 46 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $8.92, this equates to dividend yields of 4.6% and 5.15%, respectively.

The post Broker says these ASX dividend shares are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Eagers Automotive report?

• Revenue jumped 16.5% to a record $13,045.2 million (FY24: $11,193.7 million)
• Statutory net profit after tax rose to $261.2 million (FY24: $222.9 million)
• Underlying EBITDAI increased 13% to $620.9 million (FY24: $550.4 million)
• Final fully franked dividend of 50 cents per share, total FY25 dividend unchanged at 74 cents
• Strong liquidity at year end: $1.79 billion, with net debt reduced to $100 million (FY24: $813 million)
• Record results from both franchised dealers and the easyauto123 pre-owned business

What else do investors need to know?

Eagers Automotive maintained its record full-year dividend, reflecting management's confidence in ongoing strategy execution and business strength. The company further reduced net debt to just $100 million and expanded liquidity, positioning itself securely for future opportunities.

During FY25, the group announced a strategic investment to acquire a 65% stake in CanadaOne Auto with completion expected in Q1 2026, marking the company's entry into the Canadian market. A new alliance was also formed with Mitsubishi Corporation, including a direct investment in the easyauto123 business.

Eagers grew new vehicle market share to 13.9%, up from 11.5% in FY24, and claimed a 34% share of the New Energy Vehicle market. Inventory was well managed, holding 56 days' supply at year-end, while cost control drove productivity improvements.

What's next for Eagers Automotive?

Eagers Automotive is guiding for continued profitable growth and plans to further increase market share in Australia and New Zealand. Management expects another year of revenue growth supported by a robust new car market, strong pre-owned vehicle demand, and ongoing scale benefits from its diversified operations.

The company will focus on executing its Next100 Strategy by leveraging cost discipline, productivity improvements, and disciplined expansion—particularly through strategic alliances and the new Canadian acquisition. While inflation remains a consideration, Eagers says customer demand is resilient, and the business remains poised to capitalise on organic and acquisition-led growth opportunities.

Eagers Automotive share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Eagers Automotive shares have risen 94%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Eagers Automotive posts record FY25 earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

AGL shares have rocketed higher today, up 9.32% to $9.68 at the time of writing. The gas and electricity provider's shares have been pushed higher by the company's solid first-half result, posted this morning.

AGL reported flat underlying EBITDA and a 6% decline in underlying net profit after tax. Investors were most excited by the company's revised FY26 guidance figures. AGL now expects full-year underlying EBITDA of $2.02 billion to $2.18 billion. Previously, the range was $1.92 billion to $2.22 billion.

Its underlying net profit guidance was also tightened to $580 million to $680 million, from a much wider range of $500 million to $700 million.

Analysts expect a lot more from the ASX 200 energy shares this year. Data shows 7 out of 9 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating and a maximum target price of $12.72. After today's price surge, it now implies a 31.92% upside at the time of writing.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

The ASX 200 gold company's shares are 5.56% higher today, at $1.84 a piece. There has been no price-sensitive news out of the company today, so the latest uptick is likely off the back of renewed interest in gold stocks as the sector gains momentum. 

The gold producer released its quarterly results last month, announcing a 10% quarter-on-quarter increase in gold production and confirming FY26 production guidance of 130,000 to 150,000 ounces of gold.

The majority of analysts have a strong buy rating on the stock with a target price of $2.60. That implies a 40.54% upside at the time of writing.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Eagers shares are 0.96% higher at the time of writing today, at $26.18 a piece. For the year to date, the ASX 200 auto retailers' shares are 6.21% higher, and they're up a whopping 106.96% for the year.

The company has a diversified earnings base and operates the majority of BYD dealerships in Australia. This gives it exposure to the rapidly expanding EV sector. It also announced acquisition of a 65% stake in Canada's largest auto dealerships late last year.

Analysts think there is more upside to come, too. Half of analysts have a buy or strong buy rating, and the maximum target price is $35.90 a piece. That implies a 36.97% upside at the time of writing.

The post These 3 ASX 200 shares could climb 30% (or higher) in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 share is trading at $25.93 apiece, a gain of 102% over 12 months.

The slowing pace has investors asking whether Eagers is gearing up for its next leg higher. Here's why this rocketing ASX 200 share still looks compelling.

BYD as growth engine

A big driver of Eagers' success has been electric vehicles, particularly BYD. The ASX 200 share now operates roughly 80% of BYD dealerships in Australia, giving it unmatched exposure to one of the fastest-growing EV brands in the country.

Analysts point to Eagers' diversified earnings base as a key advantage. As the market normalises and interest-rate pressure eases, Eagers' scale and brand partnerships could see it outperform peers.

Eagers delivered a record half-year result in mid-2025 — and the numbers were hard to ignore. Revenue surged to $6.5 billion, up 18.9% year-on-year. Underlying operating profit before tax hit $197.7 million, while underlying EBITDA climbed to $297 million, up 11.6%.

On 19 February the $7 billion ASX 200 share will release its second half year results for 2025.

A bold step into North America

In October, the ASX 200 share announced a game-changing move, revealing the acquisition of a 65% stake in CanadaOne Auto, one of Canada's largest dealership groups.

The deal values CanadaOne at around $1.05 billion and marks Eagers' first expansion into North America. Once completed in Q1 2026 (pending approvals), Eagers will control 42 dealerships across multiple Canadian provinces.

Why does this matter? Canada's auto market is significantly larger than Australia's and typically delivers stronger margins. Analysts see the deal as strategically important. It gives Eagers geographic diversification and reduces reliance on domestic car sales cycles.

The acquisition is backed by a $452 million capital raise and a strategic placement with Mitsubishi Corporation, which already partners with Eagers through its Easyauto123 used-car business.

Built to weather the cycle

Eagers isn't just a new-car dealer — and that's a big plus.

The used-car operations, service and parts divisions, and independent retailer Easyauto123 provide recurring, higher-margin revenue streams that are far less cyclical. With new vehicle sales often the most volatile part of the industry, this diversification gives Eagers a natural buffer during downturns.

The result is a more resilient, cash-generative business than many investors realise.

What next for Eagers shares?

Despite the monster rally in the past year, analysts still see room to move.

TradingView data shows most brokers rate the ASX 200 share a hold or buy, with bullish forecasts stretching as high as $35.90. This points to 38% upside from current levels.

The average 12-month price target sits at $30.96, which still points to a potential 19% gain from here.

The post Here's why this standout ASX 200 share can keep racing up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As always, some ASX 200 shares shot the lights out, delivering far more capital growth than the market average.

In fact, some even doubled their market capitalisation.

Here are three examples.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM)

ASX 200 large-cap gold mining share Newmont Corporation soared 152% to finish 2025 at $150.20 apiece.

The Newmont share price ripped on the back of a 65% rally in the gold price, the strongest year of gains since 1979.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on Newmont shares this week.

The broker raised its share price target from $160 to $177.

Goldman Sachs also reiterated its buy rating and lifted its price target from $154.50 to $185.10.

Ord Minnett also has a buy rating with a price target of $160.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Eagers Automotive shares were among the fastest risers of the ASX 200 retail sector in 2025, up 113% to $24.64 apiece.

Jefferies upgraded its rating on Eagers Automotive shares to a buy this month.

The broker has a 12-month share price target of $29.50 on the car retailer.

Canaccord Genuity also has a buy rating on Eagers with a share price target of $33.60.

MA Financial rates the ASX 200 retail share a hold with a price target of $35.90.

Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

ASX 200 defence share, Austal, increased 116% to close at $6.69 per share on 31 December.

Austal shares actually went much higher than this, hitting a 52-week peak of $8.60 in October.

The shipbuilder is Australia's largest defence industry exporter.

Austal's customers include the Australian Navy and the US Navy, and it owns shipyards in the US, Australia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Last year, Austal won several new contracts, including a $1.029 billion design and construct contract for the Australian Army.

Last month, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approved an application lodged by South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Corp to buy up to a 19.9% stake in Austal.

Hanwha is a Fortune 500 company that offered to buy Austal for $2.825 per share in cash in 2024.

Since the approval, Hanwha has not purchased any further shares.

Bell Potter has a hold rating on this ASX 200 share with a 12-month target price of $8.

Citi also has a hold rating on Austal with a price target of $7.86.

Petra Capital also has a hold rating with a price target of $7.07.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) rose by just 1.77% and produced a total return, including dividends, of 4.09% last year.

That was a decidedly different performance than 2024, when ASX 200 retail shares delivered extraordinary capital growth of 20.71%.

At the start of last year, annual inflation was within the Reserve Bank's target of 2% to 3% and interest rates were cut three times.

The consumer discretionary index reached its 52-week peak in August amid the third rate cut, and the economic picture looked healthy.

However, all bets were off when the annual inflation rate jumped from 2.1% in the June 2025 quarter to 3.2% in the September quarter.

The consumer discretionary index began a sharp ongoing decline immediately after the data was released in late October.

Hopes of further rate cuts were dashed, and more data to follow led to the RBA openly flagging the possibility of a rate hike in 2026.

By 31 December, the index was barely in the green, up just 1.77%.

This meant ASX 200 retail shares underperformed the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) last year.

The ASX 200 lifted 6.8% and provided total gross returns of 10.32%.

Of course, some retail stocks survived the volatility better than others.

Here are the five best ASX retail shares for price growth in 2025.

5 best ASX 200 retail shares of 2025

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

The Eagers Automotive share price ripped 113% in 2025.

Stock in the Australian and New Zealand car retailer closed at $24.64 on 31 December.

The stock's 52-week high was $35.64.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH)

The Tabcorp share price rocketed 75% to close the year at 99 cents per share.

The ASX 200 retail gaming share's 52-week high was $1.10.

Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK)

The Nick Scali share price soared by 57% in 2025.

The ASX furniture retailer finished the year at $23.57 per share.

Nick Scali's 52-week high was $25.98 — a record for the company.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

The Harvey Norman share price lifted 49% to close out the year at $6.94.

The fellow furniture retailer also reached an all-time high last year at $7.70.

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

The Light & Wonder share price rose 15% to close at $157.57 on 31 December.

The ASX 200 retail gaming share also hit an all-time high of $181.25 last year.

The post Top 5 ASX 200 retail shares of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

These three ASX 200 shares delivered the best capital growth among their sector peers last year.

Do the experts see them as good buys for 2026, or is their phenomenal run done?

Let's take a look.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Eagers Automotive had the best price growth among ASX 200 consumer discretionary shares in 2025.

The Eagers Automotive share price ripped 113% in 2025.

Stock in the Australian and New Zealand car retailer closed at $24.64 on 31 December.

On Friday, this ASX 200 retail share closed at $26.64, up 4.8%.

Jefferies upgraded Eagers Automotive shares to a buy rating last week with a 12-month price target of $29.50.

Canaccord Genuity also has a buy rating with a target of $33.60.

These targets imply potential upside of between 11% to 26% over the coming 12 months.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

ASX 200 gold miner Evolution Mining had the best capital growth of the ASX 200 large-cap shares last year.

Large caps have a market capitalisation of $10 billion or more.

The Evolution Mining share price rose by 164% to $12.68 apiece on 31 December.

The strong running gold price pushed the stock higher in 2025. Gold rallied an incredible 65%, building on a 27% gain in 2024.

On Friday, Evolution Mining shares closed at $12.82, up 0.6%.

Morgans has a sell rating on Evolution Mining shares with a price target of $11.10.

This implies a potential downside of almost 15% in 2026.

Citi sees Evolution Mining shares as fully valued given its hold rating and 12-month target of $12.70.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

ASX 200 defence share Droneshield was the No. 1 stock in the industrials sector for 2025.

The Droneshield share price skyrocketed 300% to close at $3.08 on 31 December.

Droneshield is benefitting from a worldwide lift in global defence spending.

However, investors were alarmed in November when CEO Oleg Vornik sold more than $49 million worth of shares.

In response, DroneShield announced a mandatory minimum shareholding policy for all directors and senior managers. 

On Friday, Droneshield shares closed at $4.02, up 4.4%.

Bell Potter reiterated its buy rating on Droneshield shares last month.

However, the broker reduced its 12-month price target from $5.30 to $4.40.

This still implies a potential upside of almost 10% in the new year ahead.

The post Experts rate 3 ASX 200 stars of 2025: Is there more growth ahead? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With that in mind, here are 3 ASX shares that could be worth holding for the next 3 years. They come from different sectors, which helps spread risk without sacrificing upside potential.

Let's unpack.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

PLS Group, previously known as Pilbara Minerals, is one of Australia's leading lithium producers and a key supplier to the global electric vehicle supply chain.

At the time of writing, PLS shares are trading at around $4.69, giving the company a market capitalisation of roughly $15 billion. Over the past 12 months, the share price has surged by more than 100%, reflecting a sharp recovery in lithium sentiment.

After a difficult period during the lithium downturn, sentiment has improved sharply. Lithium prices have rebounded from their lows, and investors are once again focusing on long-term EV demand rather than short-term price swings.

The company's Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia is a globally significant asset, and production volumes continue to underpin PLS' position as a major player in battery materials.

Some brokers remain cautious on valuation after the strong rally, but most agree that lithium demand growth over the next decade remains compelling. For investors with a long-time horizon, PLS offers direct exposure to one of the most important commodities of the energy transition.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Eagers Automotive is Australia and New Zealand's largest automotive retail group, operating hundreds of dealerships across multiple brands.

Eagers shares are currently trading at around $26.85, valuing the business at approximately $7.6 billion. The stock has delivered a one-year return of more than 120%, driven by strong earnings and improved investor confidence.

While car sales can be cyclical, Eagers has built a diversified earnings base that includes used vehicles, servicing, parts, and finance. This provides some resilience during softer economic conditions.

The company has also benefited from disciplined capital management and strong cash generation. Brokers are mixed on near-term upside following the share price recovery, but many see Eagers as a high-quality operator with scale advantages that smaller competitors struggle to match.

For long-term investors, Eagers offers exposure to consumer spending with a proven management team and a strong market position.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

Evolution Mining is one of Australia's largest gold producers, with operations across Australia and Canada.

At present, Evolution shares are trading near $12.85, giving the company a market capitalisation of about $26 billion. Over the past year, the share price has climbed by more than 150%, supported by higher gold prices and improved operational performance.

Gold plays a unique role in portfolios, often performing well during periods of economic uncertainty or market volatility. Evolution's diversified asset base helps smooth production risks, while its balance sheet remains relatively robust compared to smaller peers.

Broker sentiment toward Evolution is generally neutral, reflecting higher operating costs and fluctuating gold prices. However, many analysts still view the stock as a reliable way to gain gold exposure within a diversified portfolio.

For investors seeking defensive characteristics alongside growth potential, Evolution stands out.

The post 3 monster stocks to hold for the next 3 years 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.

That was comprised of 6.8% capital growth and 3.52% dividends.

That dividend yield is below the benchmark index's historical average of 4.5% per annum since 2000.

The reduction in yield was largely due to mining shares paying smaller dividend amounts after lower iron ore prices impacted earnings.

Additionally, we saw lower dividend yields from the ASX 200 bank stocks last year due to elevated share prices.

Ryan Felsman, Chief Economist at CommSec said:

S&P/ASX 200 index dividend payout ratios have been under pressure in recent years amid weaker earnings growth, with ASX-listed companies paying out less of those earnings as dividends to shareholders.

That has resulted in a declining dividend yield for Aussie shares. 

Let's take a look at the dividend yields of each of the 11 market sectors in 2025.

Which ASX sectors delivered the best dividend yields?

The sectors are listed in order of highest dividend yield for 2025.

As you can see, ASX 200 utilities shares and energy stocks delivered the best dividend yields.

The worst payers were the technology and healthcare sectors.

Utilities

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 13.22%.

Dividends made up 6.3% of the ASX 200 utilities sector's total return.

APA Group (ASX: APA) shares were the sector's No. 1 performer, rising 29% in value.

Energy

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was 3.21%.

The index lost 2.25% of its market cap last year, but dividends of 5.46% brought the sector into the green.

ASX 200 uranium explorer Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) delivered the strongest share price growth, up 63%.

Materials

The No. 1 sector for total returns in 2025 was materials, largely due to strongly rising ASX 200 mining shares.

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was a whopping 36.21%.

Dividends made up 4.5% of the sector's total return.

ASX gold miner Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) was the materials sector's strongest riser, up 220%.

Financials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was 12.05%.

Dividends made up 4.08% of the ASX 200 financials sector's total return.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) shares performed best, rising 66%.

Industrials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was 13.98%.

Dividends made up 3.78% of the ASX 200 industrials sector's total return.

Defence stock DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) was the No.1 riser, up almost 300%.

Communications

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was 10.56%.

Dividends made up 3.56% of the ASX 200 communications sector's total return.

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) shares outperformed, rising 41% in value last year.

Real estate & REITs

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was 8.38%.

Dividends made up 3.35% of the ASX 200 real estate sector's total return.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) was the strongest share, up 70%.

Consumer discretionary

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) last year was 4.09%.

Dividends made up 2.32% of the consumer discretionary sector's total return.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) was the sector's highest riser, up 113%.

Consumer Staples

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 2.01%.

The index fell by 1.43% last year, but a dividend yield of 3.44% put the sector into the green for the year.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) was the consumer staples sector's strongest riser, up 59%.

Healthcare

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was the worst performer of the 11 market sectors last year.

The index fell 24.91%, with a small dividend yield of 1.25% only slightly offsetting the decline.

The total return for the ASX 200 healthcare sector in 2025 was (23.66%).

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) shares had the best price growth, up 49%.

Technology

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) tanked in 2025. The total return was (20.8%).

ASX tech stocks typically pay low or no dividends because they are much younger companies than their global counterparts.

The tech index fell 21.04% and an 0.24% dividend yield only slightly mitigated the decline.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares were the standout performers of the sector, rising 77%.

The post Which ASX 200 market sectors delivered the best dividend yields in 2025? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.