This middling end to the Australian trading week followed a far more optimistic night up on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) staged a decisive bounce-back, rising 0.61%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining a healthy 1.69%.

But let's get back to the local markets now and examine how the different ASX sectors fared amid today's indecisive trading conditions.

Winners and losers

There were a few winners to balance out the red sectors this Friday.

But first, to the losers.

Leading the pessimistic sectors this session were real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) copped some displeasure, tanking 1.31%.

Energy shares were also on the nose, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) plunging 1.1%.

Consumer staples stocks were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) cratered by 1.04% this session.

We could say the same for communications shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.77% retreat.

Financial stocks weren't finding many buyers. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) gave back 0.59%.

Consumer discretionary shares were just ahead of that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) diving 0.54%.

Healthcare stocks weren't feeling the love. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up sliding 0.36% lower.

Our last losers this Friday were industrial shares, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.16% slip.

Turning to the winners now, it was gold stocks that shone the brightest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared 3.9% higher this session.

Broader mining shares ran hot too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) roaring 1.6% higher.

Tech stocks got some love as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) added 0.73% to its total today.

Finally, utilities shares got over the line, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.14% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Healthcare stock 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) was our best performer this Friday. 4DMedical shares rocketed 13.42% this session to close the week at $4.31 each.

We dove into what might have caused this rally this afternoon.

Here's the rest of today's best:

Enjoy the weekend!

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

UBS has released its latest "Top Picks" list, naming 10 ASX shares its analysts see as the most compelling opportunities over the next 3 to 6 months.

The list is selected from a wider pool of 30 stocks and is updated each month.

So, which ASX shares made the cut this time?

Resources and industrials are in hot demand

UBS says the August reporting season reinforced what it describes as a "capex over consumer" cycle.

The broker sees stronger conditions in areas benefiting from spending on data centres, mining, energy and defence, while consumer-facing parts of the market look less attractive.

Several of the stocks on the list fit that view.

They include Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD), which finished Monday at $8.17, Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) at $63.06, Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) at $22.95 and Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) at $5.73.

UBS is currently overweight both the mining and industrial sectors.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) also makes the cut. The data centre connectivity company closed Monday at $17.13 after a strong run this year, up 45%.

The full UBS top 10

The rest of the list is a pretty much a mixed bunch.

Auckland International Airport Ltd (ASX: AIA) finished Monday at $6.99, while AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) closed at $2.48.

Healthcare heavyweight CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) ended the session at $173.18, while gaming company Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) finished at $125.30.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) rounds out the list after closing Monday at $2.69.

That gives UBS a mix of mining, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, financial and consumer-related exposure.

It's also worth remembering these are short-term picks, not necessarily the stocks UBS likes best over the next 5 or 10 years.

The list can change quickly as share prices and earnings expectations move on the daily.

What is UBS avoiding?

Just as interesting is where UBS is more cautious.

The broker isn't keen on banks, consumer discretionary shares and real estate, with higher RBA interest rates and weaker sentiment making life tougher across those parts of the market.

UBS thinks that could lead to more earnings-per-share (EPS) downgrades in the months ahead.

That leaves the broker leaning more heavily towards companies exposed to business investment and infrastructure spending.

Of course, these are only 3-to-6-month picks, and UBS refreshes the list every month.

I'd be interested to see which of these 10 are still there next time around.

The post UBS names its 10 top ASX picks for the next 3-6 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Tuesday following a soft night in Europe. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 4 points lower. Wall Street was closed for Labor Day, but in Europe the FTSE fell 0.1% and the DAX dropped 0.15%.

Shares going ex-dividend

Another group of ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend on Tuesday and could trade lower. This includes AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB), BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL), Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), News Corporation (ASX: NWS), and Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ). Mineral Resources will be rewarding its shareholders with a fully franked 83 cents per share dividend on 30 September.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Tuesday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.3% to US$92.70 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.1% to US$97.314 a barrel. This was driven by a further escalation in US-Iran hostilities.

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) could have a soft session after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.55% to US$4,452 an ounce. The precious metal has come under pressure due to increasing US rate hike bets.

Buy Select Harvests shares

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV) shares could be undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $6.05 (from $5.30). It said: "Almond prices are strengthening and the SHV share price has lagged this move, continuing to trade below its market backed asset value of ~$5.30ps. At spot almond price levels, we would estimate FY27e EPS in a range of 53-72¢ps based on production guidance comparable to FY26e (i.e. 28,000-31,000kt), a level materially higher than the current consensus EPS level of ~37¢ps."

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

The dividend payout ratio is the percentage of a miner's earnings paid out to shareholders as dividends. 

Most miners target a percentage range, or a minimum or maximum payout ratio, as part of their standing dividend policy.

For example, the market's largest miner, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), pays a minimum 50% of underlying attributable profit as dividends at each reporting period.

This earnings season, BHP declared a final dividend of 99 US cents for FY26, which equated to a 72% payout ratio.

Many ASX mining shares are paying boosted dividends this season because of higher earnings due to stronger commodity prices.

The final BHP dividend for FY26 was 65% higher than the final dividend for FY25, and the largest final dividend in four years.

BHP shares went ex-dividend last week, along with Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares.

This week, nine ASX mining shares go ex-dividend. Among them is Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), which benefited from an 18% increase in the copper price in FY26.

The higher copper price helped enable the miner to declare its first dividend since 2022.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) benefitted from a 278% surge in the lithium spodumene price and a 7% lift in the iron ore price.

The miner resumed dividends this season after a two-year break.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and other ASX gold miners benefitted from an 18% rise in the gold price.

Genesis Minerals is paying its maiden dividend this season.

ASX mining shares going ex-dividend this week

Remember, in order to receive a dividend, you must buy (or already own) the ASX mining share before its ex-dividend date.

These ASX mining shares are among 40 stocks going ex-dividend this week.

The post 9 ASX mining shares going ex-dividend this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Hundreds of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) companies announced their next dividends during the EOFY reporting season.

We're helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here is a sample of the ASX shares due to trade ex-dividend next week.

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

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

Check out which ASX shares begin trading ex-dividend today.

The post 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Below we look at five of the best large-cap ASX shares to have bought at market close on 31 July and held through to 31 August.

And all but one of our top performers have something in common.

Can you guess what it is?

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

Westgold Resources shares surged 34.7% in August, closing the month at $6.37.

The ASX 200 gold stock was supported in part by a resurgent gold price. The yellow metal ended August trading for US$4,450 per ounce. That saw the gold price up 10% over the month, according to data from Bloomberg.

Westgold also released a number of positive exploration and resource updates over the month. And the miner reported its full-year FY 2026 results on 28 August.

Highlights included record revenue of $2.33 billion, up 79% year-on-year. And underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $480 million was up 452%.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

Regis Resources shares leapt 36.3% in August to end the month trading for $8.30 each.

Regis also will have benefitted from the rising gold price.

And the ASX 200 stock released some strong FY 2026 results on 21 August.

Regis Resources reported a 43% year on year increase in gold sales revenue to $2.35 billion. And on the bottom line the miner achieved a record NPAT of $715 million, up 181% from FY 2025.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Moving away from ASX gold shares, for a moment, CSL shares also shot the lights out in August.

Shares in the ASX biotech giant closed August trading for $171.57 each, up 39.4% for the month.

CSL shares got a big lift on 18 August after the company released its FY 2026 results.

The company reported a 1% year-on-year decline in revenue to US$15.8 billion. And underlying NPATA of US$3.1 billion was down 2%.

But investors were favouring their buy buttons amid a rosier outlook for FY 2027.

Following what they labelled a 'reset year', management said they steady revenue in FY 2027, with underlying NPAT forecast to grow by around 5%.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)

Moving back into the gold space, Vault Minerals shares soared 39.8% in August, ending the month at $6.67 a share.

On 20 August, Vault Minerals also spurred investor interest after it released some strong FY 2026 results.

Highlights included a 31% year on year increase in revenue from metal sales to $1.88 billion. And Vault achieved a statutory NPAT of $278.4 million.

Which brings us to…

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The fifth ASX 200 stock you would have done well to buy and hold throughout August is Genesis Minerals.

Shares in the Aussie gold miner closed out the month trading for $8.22, up a whopping 44.0% in August.

Genesis Mineral released its FY 2026 results late in the day on 20 August.

The company reported an 89% year on year increase in sales revenue to $1.74 billion. And the miner's underlying NPAT was up 147% to $547 million.

The post The 5 best ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in August revealed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to fall again

The Australian share market looks set for a weak session on Tuesday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 23 points or 0.25% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones dropped 0.7%, the S&P 500 fell 0.35%, and the Nasdaq edged 0.1% lower.

Shares going ex-dividend

A number of popular ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend on Tuesday and could trade lower. This includes Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN), Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). The latter will be rewarding shareholders with a fully franked 52 cents per share dividend later this month on 25 September.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Tuesday after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.5% to US$86.33 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3% to US$90.74 a barrel. This was driven by a flare-up in US-Iran hostilities.

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) could have a soft session after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.75% to US$4,496.5 an ounce. The precious metal pulled back to a two-week low on increasing US rate hike bets.

Buy Liontown shares

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker retained its buy rating and $1.90 price target on the lithium miner's shares. It said: "We still believe that LTR's EV is lagging the recent recovery in lithium markets and expected tight fundamentals. The last time LTR was trading at its current EV (early December 2025), SC6 prices were US$1,150/t and net debt was $274m. Since then, the Kathleen Valley underground ramp-up has been further derisked and spot SC6 prices are above US$2,300/t. While we expect lithium markets will be volatile, market fundamentals remain strong."

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

The BHP share price reached a record $68.22, up 1.6% for the day and 56% over 12 months, in earlier trading.

This pushed two ASX mining exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to record highs as well, given their 40% weighting to BHP shares.

They are SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources ETF (ASX: OZR) and Betashares Australian Resources Sector ETF (ASX: QRE).

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.6% higher at 9,153.6 points.

As earnings season continues, let's look at the other ASX mining shares reaching new peaks today.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The ASX 200's largest pure-play copper mining share rose 2% to a record $22.89 today.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

ASX 200 gold mining share, Genesis Minerals rose 1.75% to a 52-week high of $8.72 per share.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM)

Fellow gold mining share, Capricorn Metals, spiked 1.6% to a new record of $18.02 today.

Andean Silver Ltd (ASX: ASL)

ASX silver mining share, Andean Silver increased 6.2% to a record $2.90 per share.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)

Gold and copper mining share, Vault Minerals rose to a 52-week peak of $7.06, up 1.9%, on Tuesday.

Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)

Gold and antimony miner Alkane Resources hit a 52-week high of $1.91 per share.

Carnaby Resources Ltd (ASX: CNB)

Copper and gold miner Carnaby Resources rose 4% to a 52-week high of $1.05 per share.

What about the ASX mining ETFs?

QRE and OZR were among the 6 top-performing ASX ETFs of FY26 amid the new mining boom underway in Australia.

The OZR ETF rose 1.1% to an all-time high of $19.38 on Tuesday.

OZR ETF delivered an exceptional total one-year return of 51% in FY26. The trailing distribution yield was 2.4%.

This ASX ETF seeks to mirror the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index.

After BHP (40%), its other top holdings are Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) (7.7%) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) (7.4%).

The QRE ETF increased 1.9% to a record $11.16 today.

QRE ETF produced a similarly impressive total one-year return of 50% in FY26. The trailing distribution yield was 2.3%.

This ASX ETF seeks to track the Solactive Australia Resources Sector Index.

After BHP, its next top holdings are also Woodside (7.5%) and Rio Tinto shares (7.4%).

Both ETFs invest predominantly in ASX mining shares, along with oil and gas suppliers, and other resources companies like steel makers.

QRE also invests 2.5% in utilities, which is a key difference to OZR, although Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) is the only stock.

The post 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a decent session on Tuesday despite a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 13 points or 0.15% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.25%, but the S&P 500 dropped 0.3% and the Nasdaq fell 0.75%.

ASX 200 results

A number of popular ASX 200 shares will be releasing their respective results. Among the big names releasing results are supermarket giant Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), engineering company Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND), and energy giant Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS). 

Oil prices decline

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session on Tuesday after oil prices tumbled overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 2.4% to US$84.95 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.55% to US$91.98 a barrel. Oil prices declined even after the U.S. rolled out its toughest-ever sanctions campaign against Iran.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares including Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) could have a good session after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.6% to US$4,709.2 an ounce. The precious metal's rally continues ahead of the release of US inflation data.

Hold PLS shares

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares jumped on Monday following the release of the lithium miner's FY 2026 results. The team at Bell Potter thinks that its shares may have now peaked. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating with an improved price target of $5.20 (from $4.70). It said: "We maintain our Hold recommendation. At current lithium market prices, PLS will generate substantial earnings and cash flow with the restart of the 200ktpa Ngungaju processing plant. P2000 and Colina development studies are being progressed, providing substantial organic growth optionality in markets with strong underlying EV and BESS-led long term demand fundamentals."

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

Two that have just received renewed buy ratings are Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT). 

Genesis Minerals is an Australian gold mining, project development, and exploration company.

Meanwhile, DigiCo is a data center REIT and developer operating across Australia and North America.

These ASX shares have performed very differently over the past 12 months. Genesis has risen over 100%, while DigiCo has fallen by 21% over the same span. 

Despite this varying performance, brokers see upside for both ASX shares. 

DigiCo a bounceback candidate

The team at Morgans provided updated guidance on this REIT following the release of its full-year results late last week. 

The company reported FY26 underlying EBITDA of $127 million, surpassing its $125 million guidance, and declared a 12.0 cent per security distribution, in line with its forecast.

The broker said the reported signed Letters of Intent (LOIs) would take the Australian portfolio to full capacity – a strong demand signal that de-risks management's pathway to $250m of EBITDA. 

However the ramp-up in earnings is back-ended, hence FY27 guidance was ~8% below MorgansF and ~13% below Consensus. Liquidity of ~$1.2bn funds the ~$1.2bn capex bill, with management calling out no need for additional equity. We still see clear value, but the cashflows are pushed out – this is now an FY28-into-FY29 story. Target price unchanged at A$3.60; reaffirm BUY.

From yesterday's closing price of $2.48, this price target indicates more than 45% upside. 

Genesis Minerals had a "transformative" year

Following the release of FY26 results last week, the team at Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation on these ASX shares. 

Genesis doubled EBITDA and paid its maiden dividend in FY26, as profit and cash soared on the back of stronger gold production.

According to Bell Potter, the company delivered FY26 revenue of A$1.74bn and NPAT of A$602m, broadly ahead of expectations, although EBITDA of A$803m was 20% below estimates due to higher costs and lower realised gold prices. 

Production was solid, while the company maintained a strong net cash position of A$217m and declared its maiden fully franked dividend of 5.0cps. 

FY26 was a transformative year for GMD, acquiring Magnetic and Vault (pending) that will transition GMD to a top 3 gold producer capable of producing 600-700kozpa. We view FY27 as the build year with standalone guidance as a placeholder for the Strategic Plan in 1H2027, where the long-term production and costs figures will be released.

Bell Potter has an updated price target of $9.00 on these ASX shares, which is 5% higher than current levels. 

The post 2 ASX shares that could rise up to 45% following earnings results  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And investors have responded by bidding all three stocks higher as we head into the Friday lunch hour, despite the 0.2% fall in the ASX 200 at this same time.

Here's what's happening.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

Ramelius Resources shares are up 0.8% at time of writing, swapping hands for $3.95 apiece.

That sees this ASX 200 gold stock up 37% since this time last year.

For FY 2026, Ramelius reported a 1% year-on-year increase in revenue to $1.03 billion.

Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $765 million were down 7%.

On the bottom line, the gold miner reported a 33% year-on-year decline in underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) to $320 million.

Profits and earnings were impacted in part by the lower production volumes associated with the completion of operations at the company's Edna May project.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

Regis Resources shares are also attracting attention today after the miner released its FY 2026 results.

Shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are up 3.2%, trading for $8.49 each. That sees the Regis Resources share price up 90% in 12 months.

Over the 12 months, Regis Resource produced 379,050 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,945 per ounce.

The miner sold 373,879 ounces over the year, receiving an average price of $6,283 per ounce.

This saw revenue increase by 43% from FY 2025 to $2.35 billion. And it helped the miner set a new record NPAT of $715 million, up a whopping 181% year on year.

With profits soaring, management declared a fully-franked final dividend of 20 cents per share.

Regis ended the year with cash and bullion holdings of $1.18 billion, up $667 million from the close of FY 2025.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The third ASX 200 gold stock making moves following the release of its full-year results is Genesis Minerals.

Genesis Minerals shares are up 2%, trading for $8.17 apiece. That puts the share price up 93% since this time last year.

FY 2026 was an eventful period for the miner, with gold production up 33% from FY 2025 to 285,402 ounces. Genesis produced the gold at an AISC of $2,670 per ounce.

And earnings hit a new record high, with the company reporting a 110% lift in EBITDA to $952 million.

Profits surged as well, with underlying NPAT up 147% to $547 million.

And with profits rocketing, the ASX 200 gold stock delivered its first ever dividend, fully franked at 5 cents per share.

Genesis Minerals ended the financial year with cash and equivalents of $520 million, up 81% from last year.

The post 3 ASX 200 gold stocks jumping higher on big news today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Genesis Minerals report?

• EBITDA up 110% to A$952.4 million (FY25: A$454.1m)
• Underlying NPAT up 147% to A$546.9 million; Statutory NPAT A$601.8 million, including a one-off tax benefit
• Sales revenue rose 89% to A$1,742.4 million
• Gold production up 33% to 285,402 ounces; AISC A$2,670/oz, within guidance
• Cash and equivalents at A$520.1 million, up from A$286.9 million
• Maiden fully franked dividend of A5.0 cents per share
• Acquisition of Magnetic Resources completed, adding the high-grade Lady Julie deposit

What else do investors need to know?

Genesis wrapped up FY26 in a strong financial position, having completed the acquisition of Magnetic Resources for A$447 million in cash and 28 million shares. This move expanded the company's gold resources and strengthened its foothold in WA's Laverton region.

Growth-related project and exploration spending (excluding acquisitions) totalled A$275 million, including key developments at Tower Hill and Ulysses. Genesis also upsized its corporate finance facility to A$300 million during the year and repaid earlier drawn debt.

Maiden dividends mark a milestone, rewarding share owners for the company's transformation since starting gold production in 2023. The planned merger with Vault, on track for completion in November 2026, is expected to double Genesis's annual production to over 600,000 ounces and create a top-tier gold company globally.

What did Genesis Minerals management say?

Executive Chairman Raleigh Finlayson said:

These outstanding financial results reflect the strength of our exceptional asset base and our overarching commitments to safety, growth and meeting targets… In light of this result and the outlook for strong ongoing cash generation, we have declared a maiden fully franked dividend of 5.0c per share. We believe this strikes the right balance between ensuring we are well capitalised to take advantage of growth opportunities while also returning cash to shareholders.

What's next for Genesis Minerals?

Looking ahead, Genesis plans to finalise its merger with Vault, targeting completion by November 2026. The combined group expects to unlock around A$2 billion in post-tax synergies over the next decade, creating a major player in the global gold sector.

A formal strategic plan for the merged entity is set for release in the first half of 2027. This will provide fresh production and cost guidance, alongside a new capital management framework—including future dividend policy. For FY27, Genesis is guiding standalone gold production of 270,000–300,000 ounces at slightly increased all-in sustaining costs, with additional spending on growth and exploration.

Genesis Minerals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Genesis Minerals shares have risen 88%, significantly outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

View Original Announcement

The post Genesis Minerals FY26 earnings: profit, growth, maiden dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After opening in the green this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire day in positive territory. Despite some bumpiness, the index ended up closing 0.33% higher at 9,083.8 points.

This happy session for ASX shares followed a similarly optimistic night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a good mood, managing to rise 0.22%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared similarly, gaining 0.16%.

But let's get back to today and our local markets for a closer look at what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

Despite today's good mood across the broader market, there were still a few sectors that went backwards.

Leading those losers were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was hit hard today, tanking by 1.93%.

Consumer staples shares were left out in the cold as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) sinking 1.17%.

Industrial stocks were also unlucky. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slumped 1.05% this session.

Communications shares didn't find many buyers either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.71% dive.

Next came consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) copped a 0.27% slide this Thursday.

Our last losers this session were utilities shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) getting a 0.05% reduction.

Let's get to the winners now, though. Leading the green sectors today were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had an absolute blowout, rocketing up a huge 8.39%.

Broader mining shares were also on fire, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 3.52% surge.

Tech stocks had a day to remember, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had roared 2.54% higher by the closing bell.

Healthcare shares lived up to their name as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifting 1.39%.

Energy stocks enjoyed another positive session. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) put on another 0.45%.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) got over the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.13% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

It's very rare that we see ten ASX 200 shares all gain more than 10% in one day, but here we are. Today's winner did much better than 10%, though. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares exploded 18.22% higher this session to finish at $3.05 each.

This followed the financial stock's latest earnings, which clearly made an impression.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a poor session on Tuesday following a subdued start to the week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 45 points or 0.5% lower. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.45%, the S&P 500 is down 0.4%, and the Nasdaq is 0.25% lower.

Big ASX 200 results day

It will be a big day for a number of popular ASX 200 shares on Tuesday when they release their respective results. Among the big names releasing results are mining giant BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), annuities company Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF), hearing solutions company Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), healthcare struggler CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), and healthcare technology company Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME). The market expects BHP to report underlying EBITDA of US$32,393 million and a dividend of A$1.56 per share.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Tuesday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.1% to US$84.15 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.3% to US$90.52 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher after the Iranian government ruled out an interim deal extension.

Gold price higher

ASX 200 gold shares Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) could have a positive session after the gold price rose again overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.45% to US$4,457.4 an ounce. The precious metal rose in response to a weaker US dollar and fading expectations of a US Federal Reserve rate hike.

Buy JB Hi-Fi shares

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) shares crashed 12% on Monday following the release of its results. The team at Bell Potter believes this is a buying opportunity for investors. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $81.00 (from $87.00). This implies potential upside of approximately 13%. It also expects a 4.4% dividend yield in FY 2027. Bell Potter commented: "While we anticipate challenging trading conditions over the next ~9 months for the overall Consumer Discretionary sector with our views of FY27 as the cyclical low point for most retailers, we see the ability of JBH to relatively outperform the peer group from 2H27e onwards."

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

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Tuesday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 4 points lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.1%, the S&P 500 edged 0.05% lower, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.3%.

Buy CAR Group shares

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) shares are good value according to Bell Potter. This morning, in response to the auto listings company's results, the broker has retained its buy rating and $34.60 price target on its shares. It said: "CAR's result and outlook reinforces our thesis of a preferred risk-adjusted earnings profile due to a geographically diversified network of auto and non-auto classifieds platforms, which generate cash flows to support growth investment and shareholder returns simultaneously."

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a strong session on Tuesday after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.1% to US$82.17 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 5% to US$87.73 a barrel. This was driven by doubts over the prospects of a US-Iran deal for the Strait of Hormuz.

Gold price rises again

ASX 200 gold shares Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) could have a positive session after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.1% to US$4,449.6 an ounce. Traders continue to bid gold prices higher on reducing interest rate bets.

ASX 200 results

A number of ASX 200 shares will be releasing results today and will be worth watching closely. This includes diversified investment company SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH), lenders mortgage insurance provider Helia Group Ltd (ASX: HLI), automotive retailer Amotiv Ltd (ASX: AOV), and location technology company Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360). Bell Potter expects the latter to outperform paying circle expectations with the addition of 155,000 new paid users (vs consensus estimate of 135,000).

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

The index opened sharply lower this morning, but recovered throughout the day to post a loss of just 0.086% for the session. That leaves the ASX 200 at 9,263.6 points as we head into the weekend.

This cooler end to the Australian trading week today comes after a red session up on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a rough time of it, losing a hefty 0.85%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared much better, though, dropping by just 0.057%.

But let's return to the local market now and check out how the different ASX sectors traversed today's tepid trading conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's retreat, we still saw plenty of sectors record a rise today.

But first, it was financial shares that led the selling. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was hit hard this Friday, slumping 0.95%.

Healthcare stocks weren't popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tanking 0.92%.

Industrial shares were on the nose too. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) took a 0.62% dive this session.

We could say the same for consumer discretionary stocks, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.62% dip.

Utilities shares weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) sank 0.43% by the end of the day.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) didn't hold water, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) drifting down 0.09%.

Our last losers this Friday were communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) slipped 0.04% lower.

Let's get to the green sectors now. Leading the pack were again gold shares, as you can see from the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 3.45% jump.

Broader mining stocks didn't miss out either. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 1.32% by the closing bell.

Tech shares also ran hot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) shooting up 0.77%.

Energy stocks were on the winning team today, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) advanced 0.58%.

Finally, consumer staples shares proved to be a safe haven, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.11% rise.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Lithium stock Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) took out our top index spot this Friday. Liontown shares enjoyed a significant 9.26% surge to $1.18 today.

That came despite no news or announcements from the company.

Here's the rest of today's best: 

Enjoy the weekend!

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

After starting sharply higher this morning, investors pushed the markets up to a new high watermark of 9,296.7 points by mid-morning. Sentiment cooled off a little over the afternoon, but the ASX 200 still closed at a new record of 9,271.6 points, up a confident 0.47% for the day.

This exceptional session for the local markets followed a more nuanced night on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) pushed higher again, rising 0.49%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't as lucky, paring some of its recent gains with a 0.83% drop.

But let's get back to the Australian markets now and dive a little deeper into how today's fresh records spilled over into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

Although the market pushed higher this Thursday, a few sectors still sat this one out.

The most prominent of those were real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was left out in the cold, suffering a 0.93% dive.

Utilities shares were also forsaken, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) dipping 0.39%.

Industrial stocks missed out as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slipped 0.03% lower by market close.

But it was all smiles everywhere else. Leading the gains today were gold shares, as you can see from the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 3.69% surge.

Broader mining stocks ran hot as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) shot up 1.11%.

Healthcare shares were also in high demand, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) soaring 0.81%.

Financial stocks weren't left out. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) jumped 0.45% this Thursday.

Consumer staples shares were in a similar boat, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.42% leap.

Communications stocks were close behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) gained 0.37% today.

Consumer discretionary shares saw some interest, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) advancing 0.21%.

As did tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had lifted 0.16% by the close of trade.

Finally, even energy shares found buyers, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.15% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

It was gold stock Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) that took out today's crown. Minerals 260 shares rocketed up 10.61% this Thursday to close at 73 cents each. There wasn't any news out from the company today, but most gold stocks had a day to remember.

Here's how the other winners landed their planes: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

After some mid-morning jitters, investors regained their confidence in afternoon trading and pushed the index up decisively to a new record high. Yep, the ASX 200 clocked a new record of 9,230 points this afternoon before closing at 9,227.8 points, up 0.9% for the day, by market close.

This exuberant hump day on our local markets comes after an equally excited night on the American bourse.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had another breakout session, gaining 1.71%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even giddier, rising a massive 2.59%.

But let's return to ASX shares now and examine how today's jubilation on the markets cascaded down into the different ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

Despite today's new records, there were still some sectors that weren't invited to the party.

The most conspicuous of those were energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was left out in the cold today, crashing 2.22% lower.

Utilities stocks weren't popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) plunging 1.62%.

Communications shares missed out as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) took a 0.59% dive this session.

Financial stocks missed out too, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.44% slide.

Our last losers this Wednesday were consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) ended up slipping 0.31%.

Let's turn to the winners now. Gold stocks shone the brightest, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) exploding 6.42% higher.

Broader mining shares weren't forgotten. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared up 3.56% today.

Tech stocks had a day to remember as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 2.51% spike.

Healthcare shares showed off their vitality, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) surged up 1.7%.

Industrial stocks didn't miss out either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) leaping 1.01%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) got an invite to the ASX party. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) galloped 0.79% higher this hump day.

Finally, consumer discretionary shares found plenty of buyers, as you can tell from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.74% lift.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Healthcare stock Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) was our best performer out of a long line of hefty winners this Wednesday. Neuren shares rocketed a whopping 16.28% higher today to finish at $21.64 each.

This came after the company released some pleasing quarterly numbers.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

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

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive session on Tuesday following a strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 3 points higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 1.3%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.5%, and the Nasdaq jumped 2.1%.

Buy Cedar Woods shares

Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $9.30 price target on the property developer's shares. It said: "CWP's outlook is positive with sustainable, above sector average earnings growth, with FY27 revenue largely de-risked and a growing number of projects contributing to settlements in FY28. Demand is underpinned by resilient 1st homebuyer exposure and structural undersupply amid population growth, despite tax changes and higher rates." 

Oil prices tumble

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could be under pressure today after oil prices tumbled overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 5.3% to US$80.17 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 4.8% to US$83.73 a barrel. Traders were selling oil after the US and Iran paused fighting.

Gold price edges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) will be in focus after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up slightly to US$4,107.3 an ounce. A weaker US dollar and falling oil prices boosted the precious metal.

Credit Corp results

Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX: CCP) shares will be on watch today when the debt collector releases its FY 2026 results. Credit Corp is guiding to gross lending of $420 million to $430 million in FY 2026, which represents 15% growth at the midpoint of the range. This is expected to underpin a net profit after tax in the range of $100 million to $110 million. This will be up from $94 million in FY 2025.

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

Brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares this week.

Let's take a look.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is $41.47, up 0.7% today and up 8% over 12 months. 

UBS renewed its buy rating on the ASX 200 bank share with a 12-month price target of $50 today.

This suggests a potential 20% upside ahead.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is $1.01, down 8.9% today and up 23% over 12 months. 

Morgans reiterated its buy rating on the ASX 200 mining share today.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $1.70 to $1.40.

This implies potential capital gains of almost 40% ahead.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is $57.73, up 3.8% today and up 88% over 12 months. 

Mineral Resources was among the 5 best ASX 200 mining shares of FY26 for share price growth.

Bell Potter reaffirmed its buy rating on Mineral Resources shares today.

The broker cut its price target from $83 to $75, suggesting almost 30% upside ahead.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The Genesis Minerals share price is $5.65, down 5.7% today and up 48% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter renewed its buy rating on the ASX 200 gold share on Thursday.

The broker reduced its 12-month target from $9.75 to $9.20.

This implies a potential 65% lift over the next year.

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The Droneshield share price is $1.81, up 0.8% today and down 43% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter renewed its buy rating on Droneshield shares with a $2.50 target this week.

This suggests a potential near-40% upside ahead.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price is $6.26, down 6% today and up 105% over 12 months. 

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating on the ASX 200 industrial share on Wednesday.

The broker adjusted its price target from $14 to $14.20.

This implies a potential 125% upside ahead.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price is $13.83, down 1.9% today and up 29% over 12 months. 

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating yesterday with a price target of $21.

This implies potential capital gains of more than 50% ahead.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino's Pizza share price is $19.84, up 10% today and up 7% over 12 months. 

Dominos released an FY26 earnings update and balance sheet review yesterday.

The company said preliminary unaudited underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) was expected to be between $118 million and $122 million, consistent with previous guidance.

UBS renewed its buy rating on the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $22 to $21.

This implies potential capital growth of 5% over the next year.

The post 8 ASX 200 shares with strengthened buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.