The latest uptick means the shares are now up 32% for the year-to-date and have soared an impressive 67% higher over the past 12 months.

ASX 200 mining shares went on a rollercoaster ride over the March quarter. Commodity prices rocketed in January, sending South32 higher. In fact, South32 was one of the best performers on the ASX 200 index in January. 

The miner benefited from a perfect storm of strong central bank buying, falling US interest rates, and dwindling expectations for the US dollar. These all drove investors to safe-haven commodities like gold, silver, and copper. 

But it all changed when the war between the US and Iran escalated in late-February. An injection of fear about rising oil prices, energy costs, and supply quickly cooled the mining sector in March. 

While most ASX mining shares have since recovered some of their losses, South32 is streaking ahead. Compared to its mining peers BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), South32 shares have outperformed over the past month, year-to-date and past 12 months.

Why is the South32 share price racing ahead?

South32 mines and produces commodities, including bauxite, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, manganese, and metallurgical coal, so it has been well-positioned to absorb the uptick in demand across several minerals and metals.

Unlike BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue, it is not heavily tied to iron or and benefits from diversity across other metals and minerals. 

Because of this diversity, the miner has been able to post some strong financial results, solid production figures and shown it has great momentum.

In January, the miner announced that it had exceeded expectations for first-half production. Alumina production was up 3% in the first half. Meanwhile, aluminium production was up 2%, zinc up 13%, and manganese up 58%. Overall, the company's results were ahead of consensus. 

Later in February the diversified miner reported a 29% jump in profit and 16% increase in underlying earnings.

Can the shares keep climbing?

If this momentum continues, alongside a continued uptick of commodity demand and prices, I think the South32 share price could continue to outpace BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue in 2026.

TradingView data shows that the majority of brokers (12 out of 16) have a buy or strong buy rating on South32 shares. Another three have a hold rating and one rates the shares as a sell.

The average target price of $4.93 implies a potential 6% upside at the time of writing. But some brokers are more bullish and are tipping the share price to jump another 18% to $5.51.

The post Up 67% in a year! The red-hot South32 share price is smashing BHP, Rio and Fortescue 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 dropping:

Beetaloo Energy Australia Ltd (ASX: BTL)

The Beetaloo Energy share price is down 13% to 30 cents. This has been driven by the energy company completing a $66.3 million placement this morning. These funds were raised at 28 cents per new share, which represents an 18.8% discount to its last close price. The company's managing director, Alex Underwood, commented: "This Placement marks a pivotal moment for Beetaloo Energy. The participation by existing and new investors reflects genuine conviction in the potential scale of our Beetaloo Basin acreage and projects in the Northern Territory. […] we are now fully funded through to first pilot gas sales expected in Q4 2026, a milestone that we believe will be transformational for Beetaloo Energy and for Australia's domestic gas supply."

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

The Fortescue share price is down 2% to $20.09. This is despite the mining giant announcing that it is accelerating the delivery of the world's first industrial and fully integrated green energy grid. This grid is dedicated to eliminating fossil fuels from large-scale industry, at a scale comparable to a city. It expects implementation to ramp up within two years. It also confirmed that it expects to save US$100 million in fossil fuel costs by next year, and at the completion of its decarbonisation program, expects to see a further reduction in C1 unit costs of at least US$2 to US$4 per wet metric tonne. It believes this demonstrates that eliminating fossil fuels is not only achievable, but economically superior.

Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA)

The Orora share price is down a further 7% to $1.50. This packaging company's shares have been sold off this week following the release of a trading update. Partly due to the war in the Middle East, Orora's Saverglass has been underperforming expectations. Management now expects FY 2026 underlying EBIT for Saverglass to be in the range of 63 million euros to 68 million euros. This is down from its previous guidance of broadly in line with FY 2025 EBIT of 79.2 million euros. The company notes that shipping routes and overland access have been disrupted in the Middle East, forcing Orora to transition its facility into a closed-loop hot operation.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is down 5.5% to $7.93. This morning, this coal miner announced a new US$600 million senior secured syndicated facility. It comes with a tenor of 4.5 years consisting of a US$475 million term loan and a US$125 million revolving credit facility. Whitehaven's CEO, Paul Flynn, said: "With Whitehaven's strengthened credit profile and successful integration – and initial improvements – of the Daunia and Blackwater metallurgical coal operations, we are focused on refinancing our acquisition credit facility and establishing a capital structure with more diverse, longer tenor and lower cost debt facilities."

The post Why Beetaloo, Fortescue, Orora, and Whitehaven Coal shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Heading into the Friday lunch hour, two of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks are outperforming the 0.4% losses posted by the benchmark index at this time, while one is trailing those losses.

So, which blue-chip stocks are catching ASX investor interest today?

Read on!

Fortescue shares dip on green energy news

Turning to Fortescue shares first, shares in the ASX 200 iron ore giant are down 2.1% at the time of writing, trading for $20.11 each.

This morning, the miner reported on a major milestone in its journey to eliminate diesel from large-scale industry.

The company said it is accelerating the delivery of the world's first industrial, fully integrated green energy grid at a scale "comparable to a city".

Fortescue noted that diesel fuel is 100% imported and "subject to extreme price volatility, unreliability and hardship". The company said the industry's diesel use results in billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies.

The ASX 200 miner expects to save US$100 million in fossil fuel costs by next year. Once its decarbonisation program is fully complete, the company expects C1 unit costs to come down by at least another US$2 to US$4 per wet metric tonne.

Fortescue shares are up 33.4% in 12 months, not including dividends.

Which brings us to…

Telix shares leap on US FDA acceptance

Telix shares are once more leaping onto investors' radars today.

Shares in the ASX 200 diagnostic and therapeutic product developer are up 7.3% at the time of writing, swapping hands for $14.63 apiece.

Investors have been bidding up Telix shares after the company announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration has accepted its resubmitted New Drug Application (NDA) for TLX101-Px1, the company's glioma (brain cancer) imaging agent.

"The FDA's acceptance of our NDA resubmission is an important milestone for Telix," Kevin Richardson, CEO Telix Precision Medicine, said.

"We appreciate the FDA's constructive engagement and look forward to working closely with the Agency to urgently obtain approval and then bring this product to market for the benefit of patients," Richardson added.

Telix shares are down 44.9% over 12 months.

Magellan shares gain on $1.6 billion merger update

Like Telix and Fortescue shares, Magellan is making headline news today following a major announcement.

Magellan shares are up 1.3% at $9.46 apiece after the ASX 200 funds manager updated the market on its proposed full merger with Barrenjoey Capital Partners.

Magellan said it will acquire all of the remaining shares in Barrenjoey in a merger that values Barrenjoey at $1.62 billion.

Magellan shares are up 30.4% in 12 months, not including dividends.

The post Why Magellan, Telix and Fortescue shares are grabbing headlines on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the Fortescue share price is down a modest 1.56% to $20.21.

Despite the dip, its 12-month gain sits at 35%, with the stock still well above where it traded this time last year.

Even with the shares easing today, the latest ASX announcement outlines plans to accelerate what it says is the world's first replicable large-scale heavy industry green grid.

Let's take a closer look at the release.

Fortescue brings forward giant Pilbara green grid rollout

The latest update is centred on Fortescue's Pilbara operations, where it is moving faster on the rollout of an integrated renewable energy network. The goal is to replace diesel across some of its biggest mining assets.

Management said the system is expected to reach 290MW of installed renewable capacity by the end of this year, enough to power daytime "green processing" at its Pilbara iron ore facilities.

Later this year, the company expects the grid to run parts of its operations for 24-hour periods without fossil fuels, a milestone that moves its 'Real Zero' strategy ahead of the previously targeted December 2030 timeline.

By the end of 2028, Fortescue said the Pilbara network is expected to scale to 1.2GW of solar, more than 600MW of wind generation, and 4 to 5GWh of battery storage.

The company also said the wider profitable decarbonisation program is now targeting around 2GW of generation capacity, with future expansion phases potentially delivered over an 18-month period.

This includes electrification across fixed plant operations, AI-driven iron ore processing infrastructure, rail and port logistics, and on-site accommodation supporting around 10,000 workers.

Why investors may be looking beyond iron ore

Investors seem to be looking at what this project could mean beyond lower emissions.

Fortescue expects the first deployment phase to remove around US$100 million in fossil fuel costs next year. It is also anticipating site unit costs falling by at least US$2 to US$4 per metric tonne.

Management said the technology stack, battery systems, AI optimisation tools, and rollout model are all being designed to be replicable and licensable globally.

That gives investors a better sense of how this could become a second business alongside iron ore, which remains its biggest money maker.

Foolish bottom line

I think this is another positive step for Fortescue. The company is still using its iron ore business to fund growth, while also building out a second area through large-scale energy projects.

To me, that looks like the right direction for the long term. It adds diversification beyond iron ore. I think holding a sensible portion of shares in Fortescue could be a solid investment for investors comfortable with the ups and downs of commodity prices.

The post Fortescue shares ease, but this major update could keep momentum building appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Fortescue report?

• Accelerating its green industrial energy grid, targeting completion by end of 2028
• 290MW of renewable capacity to be installed by early next year, powering "green processing" at Pilbara sites
• Full grid to include 1.2GW of solar, over 600MW wind, and 4–5GWh battery storage
• Targeting approximately 2GW total generation capacity upon program completion
• Forecasting US$100 million in fossil fuel cost savings by next year
• Anticipated C1 unit cost reduction of at least US$2–$4/wet metric tonne

What else do investors need to know?

Fortescue's grid operates off-grid, using its own renewable generation rather than relying on national networks, supporting industrial operations around the clock. The project leverages proprietary AI-driven optimisation, in-house developed technology, and aims to demonstrate the commercial and operational advantages of full decarbonisation in mining.

The company plans to expand capacity by an extra 2GW, with advanced batteries, at a capital cost below US$2.5 billion if future investment decisions proceed. Fortescue will offer its systems as licences or services globally and has received early interest from other large shippers and countries.

What's next for Fortescue?

With construction underway, Fortescue expects its Pilbara green grid to power all operations for 24-hour periods fossil fuel–free by late next year. Longer-term, the company is targeting full completion by the end of 2028, reducing cost volatility and improving energy certainty.

Fortescue intends to replicate this green grid technology globally, anticipating accelerated timelines and reduced costs with further deployments. The company is positioning to license or provide its end-to-end green energy system to major industrial energy users worldwide.

Fortescue share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Fortescue shares have risen 36%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 16% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Fortescue accelerates world's first large-scale industrial green energy grid appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The latest uptick means the shares have now climbed 8.3% over the past month, although they're still down 7% for the year to date.

For the year, the shares are 43.7% higher. 

It's been a volatile start to the year for Fortescue shares, so if you're thinking of adding the stock to your portfolio, here are some things to consider. 

3 reasons to buy Fortescue shares

1. Attractive dividend yield

Because the miner is a low-cost producer, meaning it can remain profitable even when iron ore falls, it is able to pay a reliable dividend to investors. Fortescue is a popular high-yielding dividend-paying stock. Broker UBS predicts that Fortescue could pay an annual dividend per share of $1.22. At the time of writing, that translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of just over 5.92%, including franking credits.

2. Copper exposure

Fortescue is primarily an iron ore miner but it is actively expanding in the copper space. Not only will that give the miner more diversity and less reliance on the iron ore market, it could also give long-term operational upside. If its copper exposure keeps growing it would help support overall earnings.

3. Expansion and growth

Fortescue is continually investing in business expansion. Not only is the miner planning to grow its copper exposure, it is also focused on building significant renewable energy infrastructure, decarbonisation and expansion of its green energy projects, and developing and expanding its existing iron ore sites to improve production efficiency. These projects are positive for long-term profitability.

3 reasons to sell Fortescue shares

1. Heavily tied to iron ore prices

While Fortescue has a copper footprint, the miner primarily mines and exports iron ore. This means it is heavily reliant on the price of iron ore and is subject to any price fluctuations that the material might have. The price of iron ore is expected to soften through 2026 and then gradually decline through to 2030 as supply increases and Chinese steel demand tapers off.

2. The shares are overpriced

Fortescue's share price is looking overvalued right now. While its current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.54 looks attractive on the surface (the average P/E ratio within ASX metals and mining companies is anywhere between 12.5 and 25), it doesn't take into account projected declines in earnings. UBS forecasts that the business will earn US$3.8 billion in net profit in FY26, but this is expected to drop to US$2.94 billion in FY27 off the back of lower iron ore prices.

3. Brokers rate the stock as a sell

Analysts are mostly bearish on Fortescue shares. TradingView data shows that nine out of 17 analysts have a hold rating on the stock, and another seven have a sell or strong sell rating. The average 12-month target price of $20.02 implies a potential 1.1% downside at the time of writing.

The post Fortescue shares: 3 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

All three of the Aussie miners lost ground in the month just past. That came despite a 6% increase in the iron ore price, with the industrial metal ending the month at US$106 per tonne. Copper prices went the other way, however, falling 8% to end March trading for US$12,225 per tonne, according to data from Bloomberg.

Investors will also have been eyeing the impacts from the Iran war. Atop guaranteed higher upcoming fuel costs for the ASX 200 mining shares, they could also potentially be facing diesel supply shortages, which could impact their operations in the months ahead.

Now, as we'll look at below, the three Aussie miners all traded ex-dividend over the month. We'll need to take those passive income payments into account as they'll mitigate the share price declines.

So, how did the ASX 200 mining shares stack up?

I'm glad you asked!

How did the big three ASX 200 mining shares perform in March?

On 27 February, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares closed at $167.33. When the closing bell sounded on 31 March, shares were swapping hands for $161.43 apiece. This saw the Rio Tinto share price down 3.5% over the month.

Rio Tinto traded ex-dividend on 5 March. The miner will pay the (rounded) $3.60 a share fully-franked dividend on 16 April. If we add that back into the March closing price, then investors holding Rio Tinto shares over the month will have only lost 1.4%.

Turning to Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), the miner closed out February trading for $21.14 a share and ended March trading for $20.31. This saw the Fortescue share price down 3.9% over the month just past.

Fortescue traded ex-dividend on 2 March. The ASX 200 mining share paid out its fully-franked 62 cents a share dividend on 30 March. Adding that back into the March closing price, and investors holding the stock over the month will have lost a lesser 1.0%.

Trailing the pack in March, we have Australia's biggest mining stock, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

BHP shares ended February trading for $58.41 and closed out March trading for $50.39 each. This put the ASX 200 mining share down 13.7%.

BHP traded ex-dividend on 5 March. BHP paid its (rounded) $1.04 a share fully-franked dividend on 26 March. But even after we add that back in, investors holding BHP shares over March will have lost 12.0%.

In March, investors also learned that Brandon Craig will take the reins as BHP's new CEO on 1 July.

The post Buying ASX 200 mining shares? Here's how Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP stacked up in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After a 32% surge in CY25, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) managed just a 1.1% gain over the first quarter of CY26.

Let's recap.

What happened in the first quarter?

The miners had momentum in January as commodity prices skyrocketed on new year optimism following an extraordinary run in CY25.

The gold price ripped from just over US$4,300 per ounce on 31 December to a new record of US$5,608 on 29 January.

Then came the sell-off, with commodities plummeting over just a few days. The gold price fell 21% to US$4,400 per ounce by 2 February.

The sell-off was triggered by US President Donald Trump nominating the more hawkish contender, Kevin Warsh, to be the next Fed chair.

Investors feared tighter US monetary policy, which would be a headwind for metals prices, so they sold their mining shares to preserve profits.

For the month of January, the ASX 200 materials sector rose 9.5%.

In February, metals prices rebounded as the 5 key drivers of a new commodities supercycle continued to drive demand.

The materials sector lifted a further 9% over the month.

Then came the war.

On 28 February (US time), Israel and the US launched missile strikes on Iran on the basis of eliminating its ability to build nuclear weapons.

This injected fear into markets, with the ensuing oil shock driving oil and gas prices substantially higher.

That's no good for the mining sector, which now faces higher energy costs and potentially constrained supply, which may limit production.

This led to a dramatic dive for ASX 200 mining shares this month.

At the time of writing, the materials sector is down 15.3% over March, with almost all of the gains over January and February wiped out.

What's next for ASX 200 mining shares?

We saw signs of a fightback last week, with ASX 200 materials the fastest rising market sector with a 4.6% gain.

Investors may be buying the dip on ASX 200 mining shares on hopes that negotiations between the US and Iran will end this war soon.

The long-term outlook for mining shares is bright, with Australia in the early stages of a new mining boom driven primarily by the green energy transition, and increasingly, a desire among western nations for greater sovereign manufacturing capability and energy security.

Experts say a new metals supercycle is underway, with the primary beneficiaries being copper, uranium, lithium, rare earths, and silver.

How BHP shares fared in 1Q FY26

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price has lifted 9.8% in the first quarter to $49.93 at the time of writing.

The following chart demonstrates the rollercoaster ride over 1Q CY26 for the market's largest ASX 200 mining share.

BHP shares reached a record $59.39 on 3 March before plummeting as the war in Iran prompted investors to take profits.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares lifted 8.8% over 1Q FY26 to $159.69 today, while Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) fell 8.2% to $20.21 today.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price rose fell 1.6% to $53.55 today.

The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price rocketed 19.2% over 1Q CY26 to $4.25 today.

The post ASX 200 mining shares ride a rollercoaster in March quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Could the iron ore price rise?

Commodity prices are seeing significant change because of the Middle East events.

Iron ore isn't produced in the Middle East – Australia and Brazil are two of the biggest producers of the commodity. But, the impacts of the Middle East could lead to a higher iron ore price the longer this goes on.

The iron ore miners are huge users of diesel, which has jumped in price and reduced in availability. Unless the conflict is resolved quickly, this could possibly result in diesel shortages.

If the diesel leads to reduced iron ore production globally for one reason or another, it could mean a higher iron ore price and therefore stronger profit generation for Fortescue, which would be a strong support for the Fortescue share price.

There are a lot of ifs there, but it's something to keep in mind.

More appealing dividend yield

Fortescue has been one of the largest dividend payers over the last several years and I think that's likely to continue, particularly if the iron ore price were to increase from here.

When the Fortescue share price falls, it can lead to a pleasing boost of the dividend yield. Considering the business has fallen by more than 11% since the 2026 peak, at the time of writing, this could be a good time to look at the business.

Excitingly, a 10% fall in the share price means the same sort of boost to the size of the dividend yield. For example, if the business had a 6% dividend yield and then the share price drops 10%, the dividend yield would become 6.6%.

According to CommSec, the Fortescue annual dividend per share for FY26 is projected to be $1.02. At the time of writing, that would mean a grossed-up dividend yield of more than 7%, including franking credits, which is a strong level of passive income even with interest rates moving higher.

Increasing copper exposure

I believe one of the most appealing aspects about the long-term for Fortescue shares is that the ASX mining share is looking to build up its exposure to copper.

Iron ore is exposed to uncertain Chinese demand, as well as an expected increase of supply from Africa which could be a headwind for the commodity price in the coming years. Therefore, the move to gain exposure to copper looks like a good strategic choice in the long-term because of global electrification and decarbonisation efforts.

The miner recently announced that it had progressed a binding agreement with Alta Copper Corp where Fortescue will buy the rest of the copper miner that it doesn't already own through a Canadian plan of arrangement.

Fortescue will need to continue expanding its copper plans if it wants that commodity to play an important part of its earnings, but I think it's a good start.

The post 3 reasons why this could be a great time to buy Fortescue shares! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX mining shares have been the worst hit by the war in Iran, with the materials sector losing 15.3% of its value since the conflict began.

Some investors took profits this month after a strong run for ASX 200 mining shares, amid fears that higher diesel prices and potential shortages could hurt earnings and production for 2H FY26.

ASX 200 mining shares have also declined alongside metals prices, with gold down 17%, silver down 22%, lithium carbonate down 8%, and copper down 7% over the month. Iron ore has demonstrated resilience, rising 7% over the period to US$106 per tonne on Friday.

With the US and Iran still negotiating a 15-point plan for peace, it is hoped this war and the ensuing global oil shock will be over soon.

This may have motivated some investors to take up new or enhanced positions in ASX 200 mining shares last week, given the bright long-term outlook for the sector and the opportunity to buy the dip.

Reflecting the miners' fightback last week, the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) rose 4.4% while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gained 1% to finish at 8,516.3 points.

Seven of the 11 market sectors finished in the green last week.

Let's recap.

ASX 200 mining shares fight back

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price increased 6.1% to close at $50.37 on Friday.

BHP shares reached a record $59.39 on 3 March before the war prompted investors to take profits.

Despite last week's rebound, the ASX 200's largest mining stock remains 13.8% lower over 30 days.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares lifted 4.3% to $153.23 last week, while Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) gained 6.5% to $20.19.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price soared 9.7% to $56.69.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) shares increased 1.3% to $4.03 per share.

ASX 200 copper share Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) lifted 1.8% to $15.88, while Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) edged 0.6% lower to $10.14.

ASX 200 lithium shares had a ripsnorter of a week, with PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) rocketing 21.8% to close at $5.15 on Friday.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price soared 20.9% to $1.77, and Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) gained 11.9% to 24 cents.

Nickel and lithium producer IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) lifted 16.5% to $7.93 per share.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares closed the week 2.7% higher at $10.08 apiece.

Bauxite and alumina producer Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI) lifted 3.5% to $85.95 per share.

What about ASX gold shares?

The market's largest ASX 200 gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose 0.3% to close at $18.55 on Friday.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price lifted 0.4% to $12.46, and Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) rose 3.1% to $146.85.

Among the mid-caps, Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares lifted 2.1% to $3.96, and Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) rose 1.1% to $6.26.

Gold and copper miner, Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) fell 3.5% to $9.76.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 mining shares rebound after March sell-off creates opportunities appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But that doesn't necessarily mean it is the best way to gain exposure to the base metal.

In fact, there is one ASX iron ore stock that Bell Potter believes could be a top buy with major upside potential.

Which ASX iron ore stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is bullish on is Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX: FEX).

It is focused on unlocking stranded mining assets across the Mid-West region of Western Australia, through three wholly owned business pillars. This includes the Iron Ridge, Beebyn, Shine, and Weld Range projects.

Bell Potter notes that a December 2025 scoping study outlined production growth to 10Mtpa at significantly lower C1 costs of A$55 per wet metric tonne by FY 2031.

What's the latest?

Bell Potter highlights that the ASX iron ore stock released an update on current operating conditions. It said:

FEX has provided an operational update. The Mid-West Port Authority will temporarily pause shipping operations at the Geraldton Port, with latest Bureau of Meteorology forecasts indicating that Tropical Cyclone Narelle is intensifying off Western Australia's coast and could track towards the Mid-West region.

Additionally, FEX is preparing to reduce non-essential mining and haulage activities (i.e. some waste movement) with potential diesel supply disruptions from contracted providers due to the Middle East conflict. Subject to cyclone impacts and given healthy iron ore stockpiles at its mines, FEX expects to maintain sufficient fuel to continue processing and hauling volumes to its port facilities in Geraldton.

The good news is that the ASX iron ore stock has maintained its guidance for FY 2026 and Bell Potter believes its "growth pathway" is intact. It adds:

While the Geraldton Port closure will defer some March 2026 sales, FEX have maintained FY26 guidance (4.2-4.8Mt sales at A$70-80/t C1 cost; 1H 2.1Mt at A$75/t) with the expectation that ship loading resumes in early April 2026 and diesel supply maintained at normal levels. FEX's three-year production outlook and growth pathway to 10Mtpa iron ore production remains intact.

Should you invest?

According to the note, the broker thinks investors should be buying the dip following recent share price weakness.

It has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of 63 cents (from 67 cents). Based on its current share price of 33 cents, this implies potential upside of 90% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter concludes:

FEX has outlined a clear pathway to incrementally grow iron ore production to 10Mtpa at significantly lower unit costs, leveraging its integrated logistics network to underpin cash flows and fund its substantial organic growth outlook. FEX holds the largest storage position at the strategic and fast-growing Geraldton Port.

The post Is this ASX iron ore stock a better buy than Fortescue? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company said in a statement to the ASX on Monday that Mr Power and two other successful resources executives, Steve Parsons and Michael Naylor, would join the company and would also take up shares in a new $1.4 million placement.

Following that, each of the three men would be "substantial" shareholders in the company, Killi said.

Exemplary track record

The company said regarding Mr Power:

Nev Power is an Australian engineer and corporate executive whose career spans more than four decades across mining, minerals processing, construction and steel making. Mr Power led the transformation of Fortescue Metals Group into one of the world's major iron-ore producers. Under his leadership, Fortescue tripled its iron ore productions and dramatically reduced its production costs. Prior to joining Fortescue, Mr Power held Chief Executive positions at Thiess and the Smorgon Steel Group.

The share placement would be made at 3.8 cents per share, and part of the placement will be subject to approval by shareholders.

Killi has also agreed to issue Mr Power with 7 million performance rights in the company, which will vest if the company's volume weighted average price is above 10 cents per share over 20 consecutive trading days following the issue of the rights.

The company also said geologist Hamish Halliday would join the company.

It said further re Mr Halliday:

Mr Halliday is a geologist with 30 years of corporate and technical experience, Mr Halliday has been involved in the discovery and funding of multiple, large scale, mineral projects across five continents. Mr Halliday has held numerous executive and non-executive roles in the mining industry since 2001. Mr Halliday founded Adamus Resources Limited, which he grew from a A$3M IPO to a multi-million ounce emerging gold producer. He also co-founded a number of other successful junior mining companies including: Gryphon Minerals, Venture Minerals, Renaissance Minerals, Alicanto Minerals and most recently Blackstone Minerals.

Shares on a tear

Killi Resources shares jumped 121.2% in early trade on Monday to be changing hands for 11.5 cents.

Killi Resources' main focus is the Mt Rawdon project in Queensland, where it has been exploring for gold, copper, and molybdenum.

The company's most recent exploration update indicates it has been conducting surface sampling at Mt Rawdon with a view to firming up drill targets for further exploration.

Killi also said Director Phil Warren would resign as a Director, effective April 1.

Kill was valued at $7.3 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post Which mining minnow is up more than 100% after a former Fortescue exec joined the board? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Oil and LNG prices are getting all of the attention right now, but the iron ore price is also making interesting moves. According to Trading Economics, the iron ore price reached US$106 per tonne at the end last week, which certainly gives the company room to make good profits.

Fortescue is one of the lowest-cost iron ore miners in the world, so any increase of the iron ore price largely adds to net profit (after paying more to the government).

In my view, the rising iron ore price is a key reason why the Fortescue share price has gone up around 20% in the last year, as the chart below shows.

Let's see where experts think the Fortescue share price will go in the next 12 months.

Price target

A price target tells us where analysts believe the valuation will be in a year from the time of the investment call.

According to CMC Invest, there are a mixture of ratings on the business right now – there's one buy rating, six hold ratings and three sell ratings. Despite that, the price target still implies positive returns for investors.

The average price target from those ten ratings is $20.40, which currently suggests potential capital growth of at least 7%, plus the possible dividends that the business could pay.

Here's why the Fortescue share price could rise

The latest note from broker UBS has a neutral rating on the ASX mining share, with a price target of $20.

Considering the current issues that are facing the world with diesel, Fortescue's efforts to roll out batteries, solar, wind and electric-powered vehicles is well-time because of reduction of reliance on external fuel (and decarbonisation).

UBS said that it "remains confident in FMG's approach to decarb spend". The broker noted that Fortescue is estimating that taking the diesel and gas costs out of C1 (production costs) to the tune of between US$2 per tonne to US$4 per tonne by 2030.

The broker's latest estimate for the iron ore price was US$96 per tonne in 2026 and US$90 per tonne in 2027 because of the ramp-up of Simandou.

It will be interesting to see if the big increase of the diesel price and reduced availability of the fuel leads to less iron ore supply globally, which could naturally lead to a higher iron ore price.

UBS currently estimates that Fortescue could make net profit of $3.8 billion in FY26, funding a possible dividend per share of A$1.22.

The post How much could the Fortescue share price rise in the next year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's a strong return for a mining stock. But it also raises an important question.

At these levels, is Fortescue still a top buy in March, or are there better options in the sector?

There's a lot to like about Fortescue

To be clear, I'm not negative on Fortescue.

In fact, if I already owned the shares, I wouldn't be in a hurry to sell them.

The company continues to generate strong cash flow, which supports its dividend. Its latest result highlighted a fully-franked interim dividend of 62 cents per share, reflecting a 65% payout of profits.

It is also one of the lowest-cost iron ore producers globally, which gives it resilience when commodity prices weaken.

On top of that, Fortescue is investing heavily in decarbonisation and future-facing projects, while also building exposure to copper through its acquisition of Alta Copper.

So there's clearly a lot going right.

But I'd still choose BHP first

That said, if I were adding mining exposure to my portfolio today, I would lean toward BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares instead.

The main reason comes down to diversification and future earnings drivers.

Fortescue is still heavily reliant on iron ore. While that has been a very profitable commodity, it also makes earnings more cyclical and tied to a single market.

BHP, on the other hand, offers exposure to a broader mix of commodities.

Most importantly, it has made copper a major part of its portfolio.

Copper could be the key difference

This is where I think the gap between the two companies becomes most important.

Copper demand is expected to grow strongly over time, driven by electrification, renewable energy, and data infrastructure.

BHP is already one of the world's largest copper producers, with operations like Escondida and Olympic Dam underpinning its position.

Fortescue is clearly moving in that direction as well, but it is starting from a much smaller base. Even with acquisitions, it is unlikely to match BHP's scale in copper any time soon.

For me, that matters.

If I'm investing for the next decade, I want meaningful exposure to commodities with structural growth tailwinds, and BHP offers that today.

Income vs diversification

One area where Fortescue arguably has the edge is income. It has a strong track record of paying generous dividends, supported by its low-cost operations and high margins.

That makes it an appealing option for income-focused investors.

But I think there's a trade-off.

BHP may not always offer the highest dividend yield, but its more diversified earnings base could make its long-term returns more balanced.

Foolish Takeaway

Fortescue is a high-quality miner with strong cash flow, attractive dividends, and a clear strategy to evolve over time.

If I owned the shares, I'd be happy to hold onto them. But if I were putting fresh money to work in the mining sector this month, I'd be leaning toward BHP shares instead.

For me, its diversification and leadership in copper give it the edge right now.

The post Are Fortescue shares a top buy in March? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A stronger indicator of the decline is the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM), which has dropped 14.6% this month.

The US and Israel began hitting Iran on 28 February (US time), sending oil prices skyrocketing and ASX shares lower.

As we reported earlier, ASX shares have experienced their steepest fortnightly fall since June 2022, when inflation surged to 6.2%.

Energy is the only riser among the 11 market sectors since the war broke out, while materials is the biggest faller.

The Iran war has caused a global fuel crunch, which has direct implications for mining operations.

Mining companies need fuel to run large machinery and processing plants.

They now face higher fuel costs, and there may be shortages if the conflict continues much longer, potentially impacting production.

There are market impacts, too.

ASX mining shares have been on a tear as Australian investors embrace what appears to be the dawn of a new long-term mining boom.

However, the war in Iran has dampened investor sentiment.

This is potentially prompting some investors holding ASX mining shares to take their impressive short-term profits now.

Lower sentiment is driving a 'risk-off' appetite, leading some investors to prefer to 'wait and see' before investing further.

Warwick Grigor from mining specialist Far East Capital notes the trend, particularly in relation to ASX gold mining shares, commenting:

After being surprisingly resilient to the fluctuations in the gold price whilst toying with a market correction, the downward movement in many stocks accelerated last week, reflecting a heavy downward shift in sentiment.

Interestingly, the hardest hit stocks were in the gold sector. The doesn't quite make much sense. Maybe it was profit taking.

Since the war began, the gold price has fallen by 5%, while the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has declined by 20.8%.

Should you buy the dip?

Buying the dip means buying ASX shares that have experienced a share price decline.

Arguably, the best time to buy the dip is when ASX shares have fallen due to poor short-term sentiment, not company-specific issues.

As we've reported, Australia appears to be at the dawn of a new mining boom, with 5 key factors driving a new commodities supercycle.

Those five factors are unchanged by the war in Iran. In fact, the war has highlighted the growing importance of several of them.

What's happening with the major ASX mining shares?

The market's largest ASX mining share has fallen significantly since the Iran war began.

This month, the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price has decreased by 15.4%.

Today, the BHP share price is $49.42, up 0.47%, but well down on its historical record of $59.39 reached on 3 March.

Bank of America retains a buy rating on BHP shares with a 12-month price target of $68.

Several other brokers rate the mining stock a hold.

Last week, RBC Capital reiterated its hold recommendation on BHP shares and raised its target from $55 to $57.

The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price has fallen 6.3% since the war broke out.

Today, Rio Tinto shares are $156.74, up 1.3%.

Morgan Stanley kept its hold rating on Rio Tinto shares last week and lifted its target from $140 to $146.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price has dropped 7.4% in March so far.

Today, Fortescue shares are $19.59, down 0.5%.

Last week, RBC Capital reiterated its hold recommendation on Fortescue shares and reduced its price target from $23 to $21.

The market's largest ASX gold mining share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has fallen 33.2% in March, however, company-specific issues have contributed to the dramatic drop.

Today, the Northern Star Resources share price is $20.19, down 2.1%.

Yesterday, Morgans kept its buy rating but reduced its 12-month target from $35 to $30 after the miner's second guidance downgrade.

The market's largest ASX lithium mining share, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), has fallen 10.7% since the war began.

The PLS Group share price is $4.64 today, down 2.6%.

Last week, UBS reiterated its hold rating with a $4.95 target, while RBC Capital kept its buy rating and raised its target from $5.20 to $5.40.

The post Should you buy the dip on ASX mining shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) iron ore giant even declared two dividends in the pandemic addled year of 2020.

With that in mind, Fortescue is a solid option for investors looking for some welcome extra passive income.

We'll dig into just how many Fortescue shares you'd need to buy for a $10,000 annual income boost below.

But first, two important reminders.

Planning your future passive income

When you're trying to calculate your future passive income levels from ASX dividend stocks, you can use either forecast yields or trailing yields.

Forecast yields rely on analysts' best guesses as to how a company and the global economy will evolve over the year ahead. These guesses may, or may not, be correct.

Trailing yields, which we'll employ below, are backwards looking, based on the past 12 months of dividend payments. Future payouts may be higher or lower depending on a range of company specific and macroeconomic factors.

In Fortescue's case, these include weather conditions suitable to mining operations and, crucially, the price of iron ore. The industrial metal continues to defy expectations of a sustained pullback, with iron ore trading around US$109 per tonne at the end of the week.

The second thing to bear in mind is that a properly diversified passive income portfolio isn't based on a single stock. There's no right number for everyone. But to reduce overall risk to your passive income stream, 10 to 20 ASX dividend stocks, ideally operating in various sectors and geographic locations, is a good ballpark figure.

With that said…

Digging into Fortescue shares for a $10,000 annual passive income

Fortescue paid a fully-franked final dividend of 60 cents per share on 26 September.

The ASX 200 miner will pay its 62 cent per share interim dividend on 30 March. It's a little too late to grab this latest passive income payout, though. Fortescue shares traded ex-dividend on 2 March.

All up then, Fortescue paid out (or shortly will pay out) a total of $1.22 a share in fully-franked dividends over the past year.

Meaning that to secure $10,000 a year in passive income (based on the trailing yield), you'd need to buy 8,197 shares today, with potential tax benefits from those franking credits.

How much would that cost?

Fortescue shares closed on Friday trading for $20.48, up 29% in 12 months.

So, to achieve your $10,000 annual passive income goal, you'd need to invest $167,875 now.

Fortescue trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 6.0%.

The post How many Fortescue shares do I need to buy for $10,000 a year in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After suffering some nasty drops this week, investors couldn't quite summon up the fortitude to end the week higher today. Although the ASX 200 did spend some time in green territory this session, it ended up closing 0.14% lower.

That leaves the index at 8,617.1 points as we head into the weekend.

This uninspiring end to the Australian trading week follows a far nastier morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was a car crash-like scene, enduring a 1.56% drop.

Things were even worse for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which lost 1.78% of its value.

But let's get back to the local markets now and see how the various ASX sectors ended their trading weeks.

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

By the time the markets closed this Wednesday, the ASX 200 had risen by another 0.59% after staying in green territory all session, leaving the index at 8,743.5 points. 

This happy hump day for the local markets comes after a nervous morning over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was volatile, but ended up closing 0.072% lower.

Things were a bit better for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), though, which overcame its own shakiness to finish 0.0051% higher.

But let's get back to the Australian share market now and see what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

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

Today's uptick means the shares have recovered some of the losses seen so far in 2026. For the year to date, the Fortescue share price is now 10.32% lower, but it's 26.46% higher than this time 12 months ago.

While today's share price gain is great news for Fortescue, its investors should prepare for the miner to have a few turbulent months ahead.

Here are four reasons why.

1. Fortescue is heavily reliant on iron ore prices

Although Fortescue has a copper footprint, the miner primarily mines and exports iron ore. This means the stock is heavily reliant on the price of iron ore and is subject to any price fluctuations that the material might have.

The price of iron ore is expected to soften through 2026 and then gradually decline through to 2030 as supply increases and Chinese steel demand tapers off.

A sharp fall in iron ore prices could prompt investors to exit the stock quickly, sending the Fortescue share price tumbling. Equally, a spike in iron ore could see investors snap up the stock and send it flying.

2. Its dividends may fluctuate

Fortescue is a popular stock for its high-yielding dividends. The miner pays investors a fully-franked dividend yield of 6.23%.

Although the miner is a low-cost producer, meaning it can remain profitable even when iron ore falls, its dividends may fluctuate wildly. 

If the price of iron ore softens in the next few months, markets might begin pricing in lower dividends, which can lead to short-term selling.

3. The company is investing heavily in expansion and growth

Fortescue is continually investing in business expansion. For example, just yesterday it announced that it has now completed the acquisition of all the shares it did not yet already own in Canadian-listed Alta Copper. The move is part of its plan to tap into growing global demand for the red metal and expand its footprint in Latin America.

The company is focused on building significant renewable energy infrastructure, is focused on decarbonisation and expanding its green energy projects, and plans to develop and expand its existing iron ore sites to improve production efficiency.

These projects are positive for long-term profitability, but they require significant capital, which could raise concerns about the company's near-term financials.

4. Analysts aren't sure about the outlook of the Fortescue share price

TradingView data shows that 10 out of 17 analysts have a hold rating on Fortescue shares. The remaining seven have a sell or strong sell rating on the stock.

The average target price is $19.86 a piece, which implies a 0.1% downside at the time of writing. However, analysts expect the Fortescue share price to range from $23.11 to $14.96 over the next 12 months. That's a swing between a 16.29% upside and a 24.72% downside at the time of writing.

Even the experts can't agree on where the stock will go next!

The post Here's why the Fortescue share price may have a turbulent few months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here are five ASX stable dividend shares I think are a great opportunity for passive-income-seeking investors, all paying yields between 6% and 10%.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is one of the most stable income stocks listed on the ASX. The energy infrastructure business is well-known for paying strong, consistent dividends, with revenue derived from long-term contracted infrastructure assets. The company paid an interim dividend of 27.5 cents in the first half of FY26 and is guiding a full-year dividend of 58 cents per share. Its current dividend yield is 6.23%, partially franked.

Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

Food producer Inghams is a reasonably stable income stock. As a customer staple company with steady demand, its dividends are linked directly to food prices. And as everyone needs to eat, it's a business that is relatively defensive. In the first half of FY26, Inghams paid a fully-franked interim dividend of 4 cents per share, down from 11 cents previously. Its yield is pretty high, though, at 9.36%.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

The miner's stock is historically volatile because it closely tracks changes in iron ore prices. The material's price is expected to remain relatively stable through 2026, but gradually decline through to 2030 as supply increases. But Fortescue is a low-cost producer, which means it can remain profitable even when prices fall, though its dividends may fluctuate. The ASX dividend stock paid investors 62 cents per share for the first half of FY26. Broker UBS predicts that Fortescue could pay an annual dividend per share of $1.22.  Fortescue's current dividend yield is 6.23%, fully franked.

New Hope Corporation (ASX: NHC)

The thermal coal miner's shares have climbed over 21% in the past 12 months as improving coal prices and strong production figures boosted investor confidence. New Hope paid 15 cents per share in October. At current levels, the miner is offering a dividend yield of roughly 6.75%, fully franked. 

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

The media giant underwent a strategic reshape of its business during the first half of FY26. It acquired QMS Media, sold Nine Radio, restructured its NBN and Darwin TV operations, and sold its controlling stake in property platform Domain. The deal allowed Nine to reduce debt, boost its balance sheet, and return roughly $777 million to investors. Nine is due to pay investors an interim dividend of 4.5 cents per share, unfranked, next month. The company is expected to pay 9 cents per share for the full year. Its current dividend yield is 7.54%.

The post 5 high-yield ASX dividend shares paying 6% to 10% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.