Catalyst Metals shares closed yesterday trading for $5.46. In early morning trade on Tuesday, shares just jumped to $5.91 each, up 8.2%. At time of writing, shares are changing hands for $5.75 apiece, up 5.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.1% at this same time.

Here's what catching investor interest.

ASX 200 gold stock jumps on growth plans

Catalyst Metals shares are leaping higher after the miner announced the results of a review seeking to increase the throughput capacity of its Plutonic processing plant, located in Western Australia.

The ASX 200 gold stock said it initiated the review after reserves at its Plutonic Gold Belt project increased from 500,000 ounces to 1.5 million ounces amid ongoing exploration successes.

In September, Catalyst released a 10-year production plan showing growth in gold production at Plutonic from 100,000 ounces to 200,000 ounces per year.

The company is looking to increases the plant's processing capacity from the current 2.0 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to between 2.5Mtpa and 3.0Mtpa.

The miner expects that capacity boost will cost between $50 million and $75 million.

Catalyst noted that this potential low capital means to mill throughput expansion is based on refurbishing a second processing circuit that's been on care and maintenance.

This second circuit, situated next to the operating plant, can be restarted without needing any significant approvals. And it's able to leverage Plutonic's existing infrastructure and workforce.

As yet, the ASX 200 gold stock has not made a firm decision on whether to expand the plant's throughput. This will hinge on further exploration success across its Plutonic Belt project.

What did Catalyst Metals management say?

Commenting the expansion plans helping to lift the ASX 200 gold stock today, Catalyst Metals CEO James Champion de Crespigny said, "This optionality to expand Plutonic's milling capacity, along with ongoing exploration success, will further de-risk Catalyst's long-term 200,000 ounce per annum production plan."

Champion de Crespigny added, "It is an option that will allow additional ore sources, including lower grade, bulk, open pit material to be included in the plan."

He concluded:

Between 1990 and 2008, Plutonic sustained average gold production rates much higher than today. This was a product of a 3Mtpa processing plant and large mineral endowment. Both attributes remain at Plutonic today, albeit they have suffered from underinvestment.

Catalyst has invested heavily in infrastructure and exploration. The goal has been to return Plutonic to a long life, self-sustaining, gold production centre commensurate with the scale of the mineral endowment. We believe that to be around 200,000 ounces per annum.

The post Guess which ASX 200 gold stock is leaping higher today on big expansion plans appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX gold stock is trading 2.99% lower at $5.685 at the time of writing, despite the company releasing new drilling results from its Plutonic Gold Belt.

The latest fall means Catalyst shares are now down around 15% over the past month and 22% in 2026.

That pullback has taken some heat out of a stock that had previously attracted plenty of interest from gold investors.

Here are the details of the announcement.

More drilling at Old Highway

In its ASX release, Catalyst reported new drilling results from Old Highway, an undeveloped gold project near its Plutonic processing plant in Western Australia.

Old Highway sits about 40 kilometres south-west of the plant and already has a resource of 206,000 ounces at 3 grams per tonne gold.

It also has a reserve of 140,000 ounces at 3.2 grams per tonne gold. This supports an initial 4-year mine life at 35,000 ounces a year from the Zone 400 deposit.

The latest drilling was aimed at testing extensions outside the current resource envelope.

Results included 6 metres at 4.1 grams per tonne gold, 5 metres at 4.7 grams per tonne gold, and 2 metres at 17.4 grams per tonne gold.

Catalyst also reported other hits, including 12 metres at 3.7 grams per tonne gold, 5 metres at 3.7 grams per tonne gold, and 2 metres at 9.1 grams per tonne gold.

The company said some of these results fill the gap between deeper drilling and the shallower hits reported in February.

What Catalyst is trying to build

Old Highway is part of the company's broader plan to grow production from the Plutonic Gold Belt.

Catalyst currently produces about 100,000 ounces of gold a year from the belt. Its longer-term plan is to lift that to around 200,000 ounces a year by adding new sources of ore.

Management said the Old Highway development plan will mirror Trident, starting with a small, self-funded open pit before moving into a longer-life underground mine.

These deposits also sit close to an existing processing plant, which could help lower development costs compared with building a new operation from scratch.

Foolish Takeaway

The drilling update looks solid, but it hasn't been enough to change the direction of the share price today.

Nonetheless, the business still has plenty working in its favour. It is producing gold, generating cash, and trying to build a larger mine plan around the Plutonic Gold Belt.

After a 15% fall in a month, I think the selling looks a bit harsh. Catalyst is still drilling around deposits that could feed an existing processing plant.

The post This ASX gold stock is down 15% in a month. Here's what just happened appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That leaves the ASX 200 at 8,640.7 points.

This rather wild day on the ASX follows a mixed night up on the American markets overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't quite hold its own and ended up dropping 0.14%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was in a better mood and gained a healthy 1.2%.

Let's return to the local markets now, though, and see what kind of movements were happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

The share market has been volatile this year amid a metals rout in late January and the ongoing global oil shock.

ASX 200 shares are now in the red for 2026, down 1% in the year to date (YTD) at the time of writing.

However, brokers say the following three ASX 200 shares are on a completely different trajectory.

In fact, they reckon these stocks could more than double in value over the next year.

Let's find out why.

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

The Catalyst Metals share price is $5.64, up 1.5% today, and down 24% in the YTD.

Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX gold mining share with a 12-month target of $15.13.

This implies a potential 163% capital gain over the next 12 months.

After reviewing the miner's 3Q FY26 report, Bell Potter said:

We maintain our BUY rating, with valuation supported by strong cash generation and a clear production growth pipeline, albeit with near-term cost pressures emerging.

Catalyst reported gold production of 26.1koz at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,901 per ounce for 3Q FY26.

Morgans said the miner generated solid operating cash flow of A$103 million at an average realised price of A$7,014 per ounce.

CYL continues to strengthen their balance sheet, adding A$39m during the quarter to close with A$277m in cash and bullion while reinvesting heavily across growth and exploration initiatives.

Growth momentum continues across the Plutonic Belt, with multiple new ore sources advancing (Trident, K2, Old Highway) alongside a high-grade discovery at Cinnamon, supports the pathway to c.200kozpa production.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

The Mesoblast share price is $2.03, up 2% today and down 27% YTD.

Mesoblast specialises in allogeneic cellular medicines for severe inflammatory diseases.

Bell Potter has reaffirmed its speculative buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share.

The broker has a $4.45 price target on Mesoblast shares, suggesting a more than doubling in value over the next year.

Bell Potter said:

The company's future is looking brighter than ever with revenues expanding and new product approvals now well advanced for heart failure and chronic lower back pain. 

At the very least, today's cash flow result should provide shareholders with confidence that MSB can generate earnings and cash flow positive operations from sales of Ryoncil alone.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

The Objective Corporation share price $10.69, down 0.09% today and down 35% YTD.

The ASX tech share hit a fresh 52-week low of $10.33 today.

Shaw and Partners reiterated its buy rating on Objective Corporation shares last week.

The broker has a price target of $22.10, implying a 106% upside ahead.

Last week, Objective Corporation founder and CEO Tony Walls spoke at Shaw & Partners' TechRise conference.

The broker said:

Management framed OCL as being in its strongest position in years despite broader SaaS disruption narratives, with FY26 ARR guidance unchanged at 10–14% and 15% reiterated as the core long-term target.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares predicted to double over 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Catalyst Metals share price is up 3.24% to $5.73.

That gives shareholders another positive session after a stronger week. Catalyst shares are now up almost 14% over the past 5 trading days.

But despite the recent bounce, Catalyst shares are still down about 22% since the start of 2026.

Let's take a closer look at the release.

Cinnamon drilling delivers again

In its ASX announcement, Catalyst said drilling at the Cinnamon underground deposit had returned more high-grade gold results.

The key result is that the underground strike length at Cinnamon has grown to 700 metres.

That is up 75% from the 400-metre strike length previously reported.

Catalyst said drilling has continued to confirm consistent, wide, high-grade underground zones. It also said those zones show strong potential to form a sixth underground ore source.

The location is also worth pointing out. Cinnamon sits around 25 kilometres from the underused Plutonic processing plant.

And because it sits close to the Plutonic plant, the latest drilling results could have a clearer path into future production growth.

What did the drilling show?

The latest drilling returned several strong intersections beneath the existing open pit.

Results included 38 metres at 10.5 grams per tonne gold from 45 metres, including 17 metres at 21.5 grams per tonne.

Other results included 37 metres at 3.7 grams per tonne, 7 metres at 14.6 grams per tonne, and 4 metres at 22 grams per tonne.

Catalyst said these results add to earlier high-grade intersections reported at Cinnamon.

Managing Director and CEO James Champion de Crespigny said the drilling had built the company's confidence in the deposit.

He said Cinnamon has the potential to become a fifth underground ore source feeding the centralised Plutonic processing plant.

Foolish bottom line

The bigger focus is Catalyst's growth plan for the wider Plutonic Gold Belt.

Catalyst said it is aiming to lift production from 410,000 ounces over 3 years to 200,000 ounces a year for more than 10 years.

But Cinnamon could become one of the extra ore sources needed to support that target.

The company said Plutonic currently has 1.5 million ounces of reserves across 5 mines. These include Plutonic Main and East, K2, Trident, and Old Highway.

About two-thirds of the 10-year production target is already underwritten by reserves, with another 15% sitting in inferred resources and 21% in exploration targets.

The post This ASX gold stock is climbing today after a big drilling update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 gold miner is up 3% to $5.54.

Why is this ASX 200 gold miner rising today?

Investors have been buying the company's shares today after responding positively to the release of another strong drilling update from the Trident deposit at the Plutonic Gold Belt in Western Australia.

According to the release, drilling at Trident continues to extend mineralisation and points to further growth potential for the deposit.

This is important because Trident is expected to be one of the key mines supporting Catalyst's plan to lift annual gold production at Plutonic from around 100,000 ounces to around 200,000 ounces.

Strong drilling results

The latest drilling results were focused on converting inferred resources and testing extensions to known mineralisation.

Catalyst reported a number of high-grade intercepts, including 7 metres at 40.5 grams per tonne gold, 17 metres at 15.4 grams per tonne gold, and 14 metres at 9.2 grams per tonne gold.

Many of these intercepts sit outside the current Trident resource envelope, which suggests the resource could continue to grow over time.

Management noted that the results increase visibility on a potential mine life of more than 10 years at approximately 60,000 ounces per annum.

Commenting on the drilling, the ASX 200 gold miner's managing director and CEO, James Champion de Crespigny, said:

The drilling programs at Trident have delivered a Resource base which will underwrite a 10 year mine plan at ±60koz per annum. In time, we expect continued drilling will convert this Resource base into Reserves. Catalyst's business plan is to have multiple ore sources to feed the Plutonic processing plant for the reason that by doing so, Plutonic becomes a more stable, long term, lower cost operating centre able to provide sustained exposure to gold.

To achieve this, and to build out inventory from multiple different sources, drilling at other prospects like Cinnamon, Old Highway and K2 become very important. Accordingly, these projects are consuming exploration resources now that Trident has such an established mine life. Once Trident is up and running, we will return and fill in the drilling at depth to further extend its life.

Despite today's rise, Catalyst Metals' shares are underperforming in 2026. Since the start of the year, the ASX 200 gold miner's shares are down over 25%.

The post This ASX 200 gold miner is rising on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This year, ASX mining shares have fluctuated due to a metals sell-off in late January and the global oil shock now underway.

But overall, the miners are still on an upward trajectory, with the materials sector up 14.15% so far this year.

This compares to a 1.7% lift for the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

While the oil shock created by the war in Iran is impacting miners, the bigger picture is that Australia is at the start of a new long-term mining boom.

A multi-decade green energy transition is underway, and this was the primary driver behind last year's surge for ASX mining shares.

If you're looking for investment opportunities, here are two ASX mining shares with buy ratings from the experts today.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

The Nickel Industries share price is $1.10, up 4.8% on Thursday, and up 75% over the past 12 months.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX nickel mining share with a 12-month price target of $1.45.

The broker was impressed with the miner's 3Q FY26 report, commenting:

Combined with the re-start at Hengjaya, NIC delivered its best quarter of earnings since December 2023.

The broker elaborated:

Our key takeaway is the nickel price leverage demonstrated with this result. RKEF operations stood out, where EBITDA was up 145% from US$35m to US$86m, driven almost entirely by NPI pricing (up 19%) rather than volume (down 4%).

HNI and RNI, which were loss-making in December, both turned profitable in March.

HPAL margins lifted, with EBITDA per tonne up 20% on a 15% increase in price and after a 22% QoQ cost increase.

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

The Catalyst Metals share price is $5.36, up 4.1% today, and down 15% over the past 12 months.

Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX gold mining share with a 12-month target of $15.13.

After reviewing the miner's 3Q FY26 report, Bell Potter said:

We maintain our BUY rating, with valuation supported by strong cash generation and a clear production growth pipeline, albeit with near-term cost pressures emerging.

Catalyst reported gold production of 26.1koz at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,901 per ounce.

Morgans said the miner generated solid operating cash flow of A$103 million at an average realised price of A$7,014 per ounce.

CYL continues to strengthen their balance sheet, adding A$39m during the quarter to close with A$277m in cash and bullion while reinvesting heavily across growth and exploration initiatives.

Growth momentum continues across the Plutonic Belt, with multiple new ore sources advancing (Trident, K2, Old Highway) alongside a high-grade discovery at Cinnamon, supports the pathway to c.200kozpa production.

The post 2 ASX mining shares to buy: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite a brief foray into positive territory this morning, the ASX 200 couldn't quite hold it together and closed with a 0.37% loss. That leaves the index at 8,697.1 points.

This Garfield-esque start to the Australian trading week follows a mixed end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early lead to close 0.31% lower.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more upbeat, though, rising a confident 0.89%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets now by taking a deeper dive into how today's trading affected the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

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

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this gold miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $15.13. Although the company's quarterly update was a touch softer than expected, Morgans remains positive. It highlights that Catalyst Metals' strong cash flow generation is continuing to strengthen its balance sheet. In addition, the broker has been pleased with the company's exploration success. It notes that momentum is building across the Plutonic Belt, which bodes well for the future. All in all, with its valuation supported by strong cash generation and a clear production growth pipeline, Morgans thinks now could be an opportune time to invest. The Catalyst Metals share price ended the week at $5.21.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

A note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this iron ore miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $22.00. This follows the release of a third-quarter update, which went down well with Macquarie. The broker highlights that Fortescue revealed lower-than-expected costs and a stronger than anticipated balance sheet. And while the Iron Bridge operation continues to weigh on its production, the broker remains positive. This is particularly the case given the potential for its green energy initiatives to support its growth. The Fortescue share price was fetching $20.01 at Friday's close.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating on this network as a service company's shares with an improved price target of $15.00. According to the note, this follows the release of an update last month which revealed that Megaport's recently acquired Latitude business has won a significant contract. Megaport announced that Latitude has secured a three-year compute and storage contract with a total value of approximately US$25.1 million (A$35.4 million). In response, Citi has upgraded its annual recurring revenue and EBITDA forecasts. And while the broker suspects that capital expenditure investment may have to increase in response to the contract, Citi isn't concerned. This is due to the attractive returns and payback profiles. The Megaport share price ended the week at $8.94.

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

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this gold miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $15.13. Although the company's quarterly update was a touch softer than expected, Morgans highlights that its strong cash flow generation continues to strengthen its balance sheet. In addition, the broker has been pleased with its exploration success, with momentum building across the Plutonic Belt. So, with valuation supported by strong cash generation and a clear production growth pipeline, the broker thinks now could be an opportune time to invest. The Catalyst Metals share price is trading at $5.21 on Friday.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this defence stock's shares with an improved price target of $10.40. This follows the release of another strong quarterly update. Bell Potter was pleased to see its unconditional contract backlog continue to increase. It now stands at $518 million. And given how EOS is positioned as a market leader in C-UAS solutions, particularly in directed energy, and is leveraged to increasing budget allocations to C-UAS technologies, Bell Potter believes it has a long runway for growth. The EOS share price is fetching $9.31 at the time of writing.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating on this data centre operator's shares with an improved price target of $19.10. According to the note, the broker believes that industry conditions are very favourable for NextDC, with strong hyperscaler demand and improving cloud growth trends. This is being underpinned by rising AI adoption. And with NextDC recently raising significant funds, Citi believes the company is well-placed to accelerate development of new data centres if and when required. The NextDC share price is trading at $14.18 on Friday afternoon.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It has crashed more than 16% since Monday. 

The company is a mid-tier Australian gold producer and developer with 100% ownership of two key projects:

• Plutonic Gold Operation (PGO) – an operating asset in Western Australia
• Bendigo Gold Project (BGP) – an advanced exploration project in Victoria

This recent fall has been influenced by a combination of a disappointing quarterly update and a softer gold price backdrop.

As James Mickleboro reported earlier this week, although the company posted a 9% increase in revenue to $54.8 million, it is still barely profitable at an EBITDA level. 

In addition, the performance of its Appen Global business may have spooked investors. It reported a 37% decline in revenue to $19.9 million.

Brokers see opportunity 

This ASX materials stock is now down almost 30% year to date, and almost 50% since hitting 52-week highs back in January. 

However, since this drop, brokers have been eyeing this ASX materials stock as a buy-low candidate. 

Earlier this week, I reported that Bell Potter has recently retained its buy recommendation along with a $14.60 price target on Catalyst Metals shares.

According to the broker, earnings per share are now expected to fall in FY26 by 19% and then recover and increase by 11% in FY27 and a further 14% in FY28.

This price target indicates more than 180% upside from today's stock price of $5.17. 

Now, another broker is reinforcing this stock could be a buy-low candidate. 

Morgans rates Catalyst Metals as a buy

In a recent note out of Morgans, the broker said the reported gold production of 26.1koz at an AISC of A$2,901/oz fell below expectations. 

It noted that although the company generated a solid operating cash flow of A$103m at an average realised price of A$7,014/oz, it continues to strengthen its balance sheet, adding A$39m during the quarter to close with A$277m in cash and bullion while reinvesting heavily across growth and exploration initiatives. 

Growth momentum continues across the Plutonic Belt, with multiple new ore sources advancing (Trident, K2, Old Highway) alongside a high-grade discovery at Cinnamon, supports the pathway to c.200kozpa production. We maintain our BUY rating, with valuation supported by strong cash generation and a clear production growth pipeline, albeit with near-term cost pressures emerging.

At the time of writing, 5 analysts' forecasts via TradingView have an average 12-month price target of $13.87.

This indicates roughly 170% upside from current levels.

The post Another broker just recommended this ASX materials stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is down 27% to $1.13. Investors have been selling this artificial intelligence (AI) data services company's shares following the release of its quarterly update. Although the company posted a 9% increase in revenue to $54.8 million, it is still barely profitable at an EBITDA level. In addition, the performance of its Appen Global business may have spooked investors. It reported a 37% decline in revenue to $19.9 million.

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

The Catalyst Metals share price is down a further 7% to $5.26. Investors have been selling this gold miner's shares this week following the release of its quarterly update. Catalyst reported gold production of 26,127 ounces with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,901 per ounce. And while the company has reaffirmed its production guidance of 100,000 ounces to 110,000 ounces, it has lifted its cost guidance. It now expects its FY 2026 AISC to come in at A$2,750 per ounce to A$2,950 per ounce. This compares to its previous guidance range of A$2,200 per ounce to A$2,650 per ounce.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is down 7% to $3.96. This follows the release of an update on the first development of its Hermosa project in Arizona, United States. Management revealed that it has increased development costs by 50%. It said: "Our expected growth capital expenditure for Taylor has been updated to ~US$3,300M. This includes scope changes with the addition of decline access, revised shaft construction costs, materially higher inflation, industry-wide increases in key input costs such as steel, piping, concrete and electrical, and United States tariffs."

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The Woolworths share price is down almost 7% to $34.75. Investors have been selling the supermarket giant's shares following the release of its third-quarter sales update. Woolworths reported a 4.5% lift in group sales to $18.1 billion, led by a 5.9% increase in Australian Food sales and a 20.2% jump in ecommerce sales. However, CEO Amanda Bardwell revealed that Australian Food earnings are no longer expected to be as strong as previously thought. She said: "Reported F26 Australian Food EBIT growth is still expected to be in the mid to high single digit range but no longer at the upper end of the range."

The post Why Appen, Catalyst Metals, South32, and Woolworths shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is up almost 10% this year compared to a flat return for the ASX 200.

This hasn't translated to success for ASX materials stock Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL). 

The company is a mid-tier Australian gold producer and developer with 100% ownership of two key projects:

• Plutonic Gold Operation (PGO) – an operating asset in Western Australia
• Bendigo Gold Project (BGP) – an advanced exploration project in Victoria

This ASX materials stock has tumbled 23% year to date. 

This included a 6% crash yesterday. 

However, the team at Bell Potter is optimistic of a turnaround following the company's Quarterly Activities Report.

What did Catalyst Metals report?

Yesterday, Catalyst Metals reported for the March quarter: 

• Plutonic gold production of 26,127oz for the quarter
• Discovery of a high-grade zone beneath existing Cinnamon Resource presents the opportunity for a sixth ore source at the Plutonic Gold Belt
• Acquisition of significant land package in the Bryah Basin – a neighbouring gold & base metal belt to Plutonic – creating an almost contiguous 190km tenement package surrounding the central processing facility at Plutonic
• Operating cash flow (after sustaining capital and corporate costs) was A$103m
• Cash and bullion at quarter end was A$277m, an increase of A$39m on the prior quarter, while reinvesting heavily in the Plutonic Gold Belt

Investors seemed displeased with the results, as the ASX mining stock slumped significantly during Wednesday's trade.

What did Bell Potter have to say?

Following the results, the team at Bell Potter released updated guidance on this ASX materials stock. 

The broker said revenue was A$167.7m, which was a miss on its estimate of A$188m and consensus of $201.3m. 

According to Bell Potter, costs were the main issue, with higher-than-expected cash costs (A$2,485/oz) and AISC (A$2,853/oz). These were driven by downtime, lower volumes, and inflationary pressures, though the company still generated A$103m in operating cash flow and ended with A$277m cash and no debt. 

Operations are transitioning with heavy growth investment and upcoming improvements (including crusher upgrades and new mines).

While production guidance remains unchanged, full-year cost guidance has been significantly increased.

Upside intact 

Despite this guidance, the team at Bell Potter has maintained its buy recommendation and $14.60 price target on Catalyst Metals shares. 

From yesterday's closing price of $5.65, that indicates an upside potential of 139%. 

This growth could seemingly be set to come in the long term.

Bell Potter has adjusted its earnings per share outlook.

Earnings per share are now expected to fall in FY26 by 19% and then recover and increase by 11% in FY27 and a further 14% in FY28.

The post Broker tips this ASX materials stock to rise 139% after yesterday's crash appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

The Catalyst Metals share price is down 5.5% to $5.71. This follows the release of the gold miner's quarterly update. Catalyst reported gold production of 26,127 ounces with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,901 per ounce. Looking ahead, while the gold miner has reaffirmed its production guidance of 100,000 ounces to 110,000 ounces, it has lifted its cost guidance. It now expects its FY 2026 AISC to come in at A$2,750 per ounce to A$2,950 per ounce. This compares to its previous guidance range of A$2,200 per ounce to A$2,650 per ounce. This reflects processing plant downtime, lower material movements, and broader inflationary pressures such as rising diesel costs.

G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM)

The G8 Education share price is down 30% to 16.7 cents. Investors have been selling this childcare operator's shares following the release of a trading update. Management advised that occupancy across the sector is lower compared to 2024 and 2025. This is due to families experiencing sustained affordability pressures, falling birth rates, increased long-day care supply, and confidence being impacted by serious child safety incidents. At the same time, operators are dealing with increased costs due to inflationary pressures, persistent workforce challenges, changing regulation and compliance requirements, and a more complex operating environment. Current occupancy stands at 56.4%, which is down 7% versus the prior corresponding period.

Meteoric Resources NL (ASX: MEI)

The Meteoric Resources share price is down 6.5% to 18.7 cents. This morning, the rare earths developer announced the completion of a $40 million placement to institutional and sophisticated investors. Meteoric Resources raised the funds through the issue of 235 million shares at 17 cents per new share. The placement will fund the advancement and pre-development activities for the 100%-owned Caldeira Rare Earth Iconic Absorption Clay Project towards a final investment decision.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

The Westgold Resources share price is down 3% to $5.92. This follows the release of the gold miner's quarterly update. Westgold reported production of 93,145 ounces of gold, which was down 16.4% quarter-on-quarter from 111,418 ounces. And while it has reaffirmed its production guidance, it expects costs to be at the high-end of its guidance range.

The post Why Catalyst Metals, G8 Education, Meteoric Resources, and Westgold shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 gold stock is down 5.5% to $5.71.

Why is this ASX 200 gold stock falling today?

The weakness in the Catalyst Metals share price has been driven by a combination of a disappointing quarterly update and a softer gold price backdrop.

For the March quarter, Catalyst reported gold production of 26,127 ounces from its Plutonic operations.

This was delivered at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,901 per ounce, which is relatively high and above prior periods.

Although production itself remains steady and guidance for FY 2026 is unchanged at 100,000 to 110,000 ounces for FY 2026, the cost side of the equation has shifted meaningfully.

Management now expects its FY 2026 AISC to come in above its original guidance range, with revised expectations of A$2,750 per ounce to A$2,950 per ounce.

This compares to its previous AISC guidance range of A$2,200 per ounce to A$2,650 per ounce.

What is driving higher costs?

The ASX 200 gold stock pointed to several factors behind the increase in its cost guidance.

These include processing plant downtime during the quarter, lower material movements, and broader inflationary pressures such as rising diesel costs.

There were also costs associated with preparing for plant upgrades, including a crusher replacement, which impacted the quarter.

While some of these factors may be temporary, the upward revision to full year cost guidance suggests pressures could persist in the near term.

Nevertheless, the company recorded operating cashflow (after sustaining capital and corporate costs) of A$103 million. This boosted its cash balance by A$39 million to A$277 million.

Growth story intact

Importantly, Catalyst continues to make progress on its growth strategy.

The ASX 200 gold stock is advancing multiple mines across the Plutonic Gold Belt, with K2 expected to ramp up shortly and Trident transitioning to underground operations.

Exploration is also delivering encouraging results, including a high-grade discovery beneath the Cinnamon resource that could add another ore source.

Commenting on the quarter, management said:

The Catalyst business has now proven itself to be a stable, viable long-term going concern in the mid-cap ASX listed gold sector. This was not the case when we took over three years ago. Longer term production and cost guidance have been set and so it is a matter for our team to get on with the job of delivery. We expect to have some good and bad months, some good and bad quarters but generally we expect the forecast growth trajectory over time to remain as guided.

The post Why are Catalyst Metals shares sinking today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Since last Thursday, Australia's benchmark index has recovered roughly 4%. 

If this momentum continues, there are several notable ASX stocks that could be poised for strong growth. 

Here are five ASX stocks with lofty price targets from brokers. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech is a provider of logistics software that aims to improve the world's supply chains. 

It has suffered along with many tech shares at the hands of artificial intelligence integration/takeover fears. 

This has resulted in a 45% fall year to date. 

However, brokers are anticipating a rebound in the mid-term. 

The team at Blackwattle are confident it will be one of the tech shares to emerge from this bear market. 

Additionally, Morgan Stanley has a buy rating on Wisetech along with a $70 price target. 

From today's stock price of $37.43, that indicates approximately 87% upside. 

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Similar AI takeover fears have weighed heavily on Seek shares this year. 

The company behind the well-known online employment marketplace has seen its share price fall nearly 37% in 2026. 

Last month, the team at Citi acknowledged there are some headwinds coming for the company, but they still think it is undervalued.

The broker has a $26 price target on this ASX stock, which indicates an upside of roughly 76% from current levels. 

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is an online real estate advertising company that provides property and property-related services on websites and mobile apps across Australia, Asia, and North America.

So far in 2026, its share price has fallen by almost 15% and remains down 35% in the last year. 

Some estimates from brokers place a fair price target of $199 on this ASX stock, indicating an upside of 26%. 

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

Catalyst Metals is engaged in the mineral exploration, evaluation, and production of gold.

Like many gold shares, it enjoyed a strong run-up until January this year. 

Since then, it has dropped by more than 30%. 

However, 6 analysts' forecasts on TradingView have an average one-year price target of $14.10, which is 110% above today's opening stock price of $6.69. 

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

Vulcan Energy is focused on providing lithium with a zero-carbon footprint to European electric vehicle manufacturers.

This ASX stock has fallen by approximately 15% year to date. 

Today, it is changing hands for roughly $3.72 per share. 

However, the average analyst stock price target on TradingView is $7.24, which is 94% above current levels. 

The post Could these ASX stocks double by the end of 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This optimistic session for the local markets followed a mixed start to the American trading week over on Wall Street in the early hours of this morning.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat, rising by 0.11%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky, though, falling 0.73%.

But let's return to Australian shares now and take stock of how today's indecisiveness affected the various ASX sectors this session.

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

Two ASX gold shares that were hit particularly hard were Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) and Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK). 

These gold shares both fell roughly 14%. 

This was despite no price-sensitive news from the companies. 

Why are gold shares falling?

When conflict began in Iran, many experts tipped safe-haven assets like gold to continue to rise. 

However, many gold shares have now heavily fallen in recent weeks, as the bull run of 2025 appears to be officially over. 

This fall has been influenced by a combination of factors. 

Firstly, the global gold price has fallen from record highs. 

At the same time, investors are moving to other opportunities, with many gold valuations now appearing inflated. 

Some of this movement has likely been towards energy stocks. 

RBA cash rate hikes have also created headwinds for gold stocks, which usually perform better in a low-rate environment. 

Have Catalyst Metals or Alkane Resources fallen too far?

After such a massive crash yesterday, investors may be wondering if there is any upside for these gold shares. 

Of these two, it seems Catalyst Metals falls into that category. 

Recent targets from brokers indicate it has plenty of upside, particularly after yesterday's 14% dip. 

Recently, the company has been growing its resource base and production capacity, establishing itself as a rising mid-tier gold producer.

The company is engaged in the mineral exploration, evaluation, and production of gold across several states. 

Recently, the team at Morgans placed a buy rating on Catalyst and a price target of $15.24. 

From yesterday's closing price of $5.63, that indicates an estimated upside of roughly 170%. 

Similarly, 6 analysts forecasts via TradingView have an average one-year price target of $14.34. 

This indicates an approximate upside of 154% across the next 12 months. 

Less upside for Alkane Resources

Meanwhile, forecasts are much more varied for Alkane Resources. 

The company owns and operates Tomingley Gold Operations, an open-pit and underground gold mining development near Dubbo in central west New South Wales.

Based on 7 analyst ratings via TradingView, there is an average one-year price target ranging from $0.85 to $2.50. 

The lower end of this range would indicate a further fall to come of more than 35%. 

Meanwhile, the high end of these projections would be a healthy upside of 80%. 

The post These two ASX gold shares just crashed – should investors swoop in? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After yesterday's horrid 1.7% drop, investors weren't in the mood to turn the ship around today. The ASX 200 spent the entire session in the red and ended up closing down 0.82%. That leaves the index at 8,428.4 points as we head into the weekend.

This not-so-nice end to the trading week for Australian investors follows a similarly downbeat morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't hold water, falling 0.44%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) only managed a slightly better performance, dropping 0.28%.

Time now to get back to the local markets and take a closer look at what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors this Friday.

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

Yet the bigger picture tells a different story. Over the past 12 months, Pantoro is up around 39%, while Catalyst has climbed roughly 43% at the time of writing.

That mix of recent weakness and longer-term strength is catching the attention of brokers, with some leading experts tipping significant upside ahead for ASX gold stocks.

Pantoro: still in ramp-up phase

Pantoro's recent decline has been driven by a combination of production guidance downgrades and profit-taking. The gold producer has operations centred on the Norseman project in Western Australia.

Pantoro has been steadily ramping up production at its Norseman operations, one of Australia's historic gold regions. As output increases and operations stabilise, the company expects to deliver improving cash flow.

Pantoro produced 41,623 ounces of gold for the half year but is continuing to explore for gold around Norseman. The target is to increase production to 200,000 ounces per year in the medium term.

Gold itself remains a key tailwind. In uncertain economic environments, the precious metal often attracts safe-haven demand. This can support prices and, in turn, producer margins.

However, execution is critical. Pantoro is still in a ramp-up phase, and any delays or cost overruns could impact earnings.

Like all ASX gold stocks, it is also exposed to fluctuations in the gold price. A sustained pullback in bullion could weigh on profitability.

Despite recent share price weakness, brokers remain positive. They view Pantoro as a growth-oriented gold producer, with analysts pointing to strong upside potential as production ramps up and costs stabilise. The most bullish price target sees the ASX gold stock gain 110% over 12 months.

The team at UBS Group (NYSE: UBS) just named Pantoro as its top pick among the emerging gold miners. The broker has an average 12-month target of $7.50, which points to a 93% upside at the current share price of $3.89.

Catalyst Metals: emerging mid-tier gold player

Catalyst's pullback appears more cyclical in nature, alongside broader profit-taking across the sector. The company is another ASX gold stock building scale through its portfolio of Australian assets.

The company has been expanding its resource base and production profile, positioning itself as an emerging mid-tier gold player.

Catalyst also benefits from exposure to a strong gold price environment, which can amplify earnings as production grows.

As with Pantoro, execution risk remains. Delivering on growth projects on time and on budget will be key. The company is also exposed to commodity price swings and broader market sentiment toward mining stocks.

TradingView data show that the 6 analysts covering the ASX gold stock rate it a strong buy. They have set an average price target of $14.34, suggesting a 115% upside.

Morgans is particularly bullish on the $1.7 billion ASX gold stock. The broker expects major growth to commence from FY2027, supported by project development and operational improvements.

Morgans has a buy rating on Catalyst and a price target of $15.24, suggesting a whopping 128% upside from current levels.

The post 2 ASX gold stocks tipped to double in value appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.