In morning trade, the lithium developer's shares are down 0.54% to $3.70. The stock briefly traded higher earlier in the session, but weakness across the broader ASX has since pushed it into the red.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is 0.40% lower to 8,851 points.

Even with today's modest decline, Vulcan shares remain down around 16% in 2026 and well below their 52-week high of $6.29.

Let's take a closer look.

German royalty exemption boosts Lionheart economics

According to the release, Germany's state of Rhineland-Palatinate has granted Vulcan a royalty exemption for lithium production tied to its Phase One Lionheart Project.

The exemption applies to Lionheart's upstream lithium production facilities, which are currently under construction. It runs through to 31 December 2030, subject to a review one year earlier.

This removes a potential state royalty cost from one of Europe's most strategic lithium supply projects.

The company noted that geothermal energy in the region has operated under a similar state exemption since 2009, which fits with Vulcan's integrated renewable geothermal and lithium extraction model.

Lionheart is targeting annual production of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, enough for roughly 500,000 EV batteries each year. The project is also expected to produce renewable electricity and geothermal heat for local users.

Why the deal is supporting the shares

While the stock is now lower on the day, the modest pullback still suggests the update is helping limit the downside against a weaker market backdrop.

Removing a royalty burden improves the long-term economics of the Lionheart Project and may be giving investors more confidence in future returns once production begins.

It also reinforces the level of political and regulatory backing Vulcan continues to receive in Germany.

The update also comes shortly after the company secured its lithium production licence, while Phase One construction continues to move ahead.

At current levels, the company's market capitalisation sits around $1.78 billion.

Foolish takeaway

Vulcan's latest German royalty exemption looks like another incremental but valuable win for the Lionheart Project.

On a day when geopolitical worries are weighing on the broader ASX, the stock's limited decline suggests the positive project update is helping offset some of the market weakness.

With construction now underway, the next focus is likely to be how smoothly Lionheart moves toward first production.

The post Why this ASX stock is slipping today even as it lands a German project win appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

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

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

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

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

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

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

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

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

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

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

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

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

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

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

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

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

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

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

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

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

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

As such, we head into the weekend with the ASX 200 at 8,516.3 points.

This disappointing conclusion to the week's trading for Australian investors was preceded by an even more downbeat morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early lead to finish at a significant 1.01% loss.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling by 2.38%.

But let's return to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into how the various ASX sectors fared amid today's tough trading conditions.

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

By the time trading wrapped up, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had gained a pleasing 1.85%. That lifts the index up to 8,534.3 points.

This happy Wednesday for the local markets comes despite a far more bearish morning over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't quite stick the landing, dropping 0.18%

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling by 0.84%.

But let's get back to the ASX now and dig into what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors today.

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

That's because fuel is both a major cost and key input for mining operations across the country.

Bell Potter has been looking at this and has earmarked a number of ASX mining stocks that are better placed than others in the current environment.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that diesel prices have been rising in response to the conflict in the Middle East. It said:

The Middle East conflict and associated rally in oil prices, flows almost directly through to higher costs for much of the mining sector. The sector may also have to manage scarcity of diesel supply, which could impact production volumes. These risks are particularly apparent for large-scale open pit operations relying heavily on diesel powered trucking fleets. Many mining and exploration projects are also reliant on diesel gensets to power plant and associated infrastructure.

Which ASX mining stocks should you buy?

There are a number of stocks under the broker's research coverage which are less exposed to these diesel price and supply risks.

The first is uranium producer Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE), which has been named as a buy with a $1.95 price target. It said:

The Honeymoon project draws power directly from the grid (connected to Broken Hill). In-situ-recovery operations by nature do not require high-diesel consuming truck and shovel fleet typically seen in open-pit operations. The only exposure is via 3rd party site deliveries for reagents.

Another ASX mining stock to get the thumbs up is Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR). Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.42 price target on the lithium miner's shares. It commented:

The Kathleen Valley underground lithium operation achieved 82% renewable energy penetration in 1H FY26. Lithium is likely to benefit from the increased incentive to Electric Vehicle take-up and Battery Energy Storage Systems emerging role in providing grid stability.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) could be another stock to consider. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $1.45 price target on its shares. It said:

Insulated from oil price shock and security of supply issues due to Indonesia's near-self-sufficient diesel supply and a subsidised domestic fuel market. Process plant power supply secure, via on-site coal-fired power utilising abundant domestic coal. NIC is exposed to cost and supply risks of elemental sulphur, which is used to produce acid for High-Pressure-Acid-Leaching (HPAL) of nickel – a key growth area for NIC in CY26. NIC is highly leveraged to the nickel price, a first derivative beneficiary of higher EV demand.

Lastly, it notes that Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) is well-positioned due to its geothermal electricity generation. It has a speculative buy rating and $6.10 price target on its shares. It said:

Phase One Lionheart lithium brine project (first production 2028) is vertically integrated from geothermal electricity generation and heat supply through to electrolysis production of lithium hydroxide. Like LTR, we expect VUL will benefit from stronger lithium markets.

The post 4 of the best ASX mining stocks to buy in the current environment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The timing is awkward — it comes just as the ASX lithium stock nears entry into the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

So why the pullback? A combination of broader market volatility, investor caution in the lithium sector, and timing of project developments appears to have pressured the stock.

Yet analysts remain overwhelmingly positive on the long-term potential for the ASX lithium stock.

First lithium permit in Germany

Vulcan is a lithium and renewable energy developer focused on Europe's growing electric vehicle market. On Tuesday the ASX lithium stock issued a release, that it received its first lithium production permit for its flagship Lionheart Project in Germany.

Lionheart produces lithium hydroxide from geothermal brine. This is a process the company says is carbon neutral — a rare feature in lithium production.

Lionheart targets annual production of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide. That's enough to supply around 500,000 EV batteries each year, according to Vulcan.

Strategic location

The permit relates to Vulcan's LiThermEx lithium extraction facility in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field in Germany's Rhineland Palatinate.

The project is strategically located in Europe, close to major battery manufacturers, reducing shipping costs and geopolitical risk associated with overseas supply.

Another plus is the potential for strong long-term growth. Lithium demand is expected to rise sharply as EV adoption accelerates, and the ASX lithium stock is positioned to benefit directly.

Delays and cost overruns

That said, Vulcan is not without risks. The company is still in the development phase and has yet to achieve full commercial production. Delays or cost overruns could weigh on sentiment.

Commodity prices also matter. While lithium demand is strong, price volatility can affect revenue forecasts. And, as with any growth stock, share prices can swing sharply on news flow or broader market trends.

What next for the ASX lithium stock?

Despite recent weakness, brokers are extremely bullish on Vulcan. All currently covering the stock rate it a strong buy.

The average price target sits at $7.23, implying roughly 135% upside from current levels. The most bullish analyst sees the ASX lithium stock reaching $10.40, a 239% gain. The most conservative forecast is $5.77, still an 86% upside.

Analysts cite the combination of first-mover advantage, sustainable lithium credentials, and proximity to Europe's battery market as reasons to stay confident in the stock.

The post This ASX lithium stock is slipping, but brokers see 135%+ gains appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is up 2.5% to $7.87. This follows news that the annuities company has amended its takeover offer for Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM). Challenger has reduced the offer price from $2.60 per share to $2.25 per share, less the final fully franked Pepper Money 2025 dividend of 7.8 cents per share and any special dividend. It notes that the revised proposal represents Challenger's best and final offer, in the absence of a superior proposal. The company also reminded investors that discussions remain incomplete and there is no certainty that the revised proposal will lead to a transaction. Pepper Money's independent board committee advised that it will consider the revised proposal.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)

The Meeka Metals share price is up 4% to 17.2 cents. This morning, the gold miner revealed that it is upgrading its processing facilities to unlock ~200ktpa of additional mill capacity. This increases throughput to ~800ktpa. Meeka's managing director, Tim Davidson, said: "Ore sorting unlocks an additional 200,000 tonnes per annum of milling capacity and effectively doubles the head grade of Andy Well ore entering the plant, delivering a meaningful increase in annual gold production."

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

The Vulcan Energy share price is up 1% to $3.01. This has been driven by an announcement from the lithium developer which revealed that it has been issued its first lithium production permit for the flagship Lionheart Project. This is the first such licence to be granted in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field, and in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Vulcan's managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: "Securing the first lithium production licence within the Lionheart Project marks another important milestone, and we thank the Mining Authority in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate for their excellent and timely collaboration during this process."

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)

The West African Resources share price is up 6% to $2.95. This follows the release of the gold miner's full-year results. West African Resources reported revenue of $1.54 billion and a net profit after tax of $567 million. This was underpinned by gold sales of 280,065 ounces with an average realised price of US$3,525 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of US$1,488 per ounce.

The post Why Challenger, Meeka Metals, Vulcan Energy, and West African Resources shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Vulcan Energy share price is up 3.33% to $3.10 following the announcement.

However, despite today's gain, the stock has had a difficult year and is still down roughly 30% in 2026.

Vulcan secures key lithium production licence

According to the release, Vulcan has been issued its first lithium production permit for its flagship Lionheart Project in Germany.

The permit relates to Vulcan's LiThermEx lithium extraction facility in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field in Germany's Rhineland Palatinate.

This marks the first lithium production licence granted in the region.

Lionheart is designed as an integrated lithium and renewable energy project targeting annual production of 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM).

To put that into perspective, Vulcan says this volume could supply enough material for roughly 500,000 electric vehicle batteries each year.

The project is also expected to generate renewable energy alongside lithium production. This includes about 275 GWh of renewable electricity and 560 GWh of renewable heat each year for local consumers over an estimated 30-year project life.

Construction already underway

The company noted that the permit comes shortly after Vulcan secured a 2.2 billion euro (A$3.9 billion) financing package in December 2025, which fully funded the first phase of development.

Construction of the project is now underway.

The licence applies to Vulcan's Insheim geothermal production area, which already produces renewable heat and electricity. This means the lithium facility will sit within an existing energy-producing site.

Further production licences are expected to follow as Vulcan progresses development across the wider Lionheart licence area.

Management believes the approval represents an important step toward establishing a domestic lithium supply chain in Europe.

Vulcan managing director and CEO Cris Moreno said:

Securing the first lithium production licence within the Lionheart Project marks another important milestone.

Moreno added that the licence was granted alongside the project's financing package, which supports construction activities now underway.

Foolish takeaway

Vulcan is attempting something few companies have done at scale.

Rather than mining hard rock lithium, the company plans to extract lithium from geothermal brines while producing renewable energy at the same time.

The goal is to create what Vulcan calls the world's first carbon neutral lithium project.

If successful, the Lionheart development could become one of Europe's largest domestic sources of battery grade lithium. This could help reduce reliance on imports as electric vehicle demand grows.

The post Why the Vulcan Energy share price is rising today 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:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is down 11% to $3.53. Investors have been selling this sports technology company's shares after it was kicked out of the ASX 200 index at the quarterly rebalance. Also leaving the benchmark index are DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT) and EBOS Group Ltd (ASX: EBO). They will be replaced by gold miner Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI), engineering services company SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG), and lithium developer Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL).

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is down 4% to $165.50. This banking giant and the rest of the big four banks have been caught up in the market selloff on Monday. It is possible that investors are concerned that the spike in oil prices could cause inflation to jump. This could force the Reserve Bank of Australia to increase interest rates higher than expected, which would put pressure on mortgage holders.

Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL)

The Dyno Nobel share price is down over 11% to $3.00. This morning, this explosives company announced a binding agreement for the sale of Phosphate Hill to a subsidiary of Mayfair Australia Corporation for just a single dollar. However, up to $100 million will be payable to Dyno Nobel subject to certain conditions and meeting certain performance hurdles. Dyno Nobel's CEO, Mauro Neves, said: "The sale of Phosphate Hill to Mayfair is an important milestone that concludes our separation from the Fertilisers business. This transaction delivers the certainty that we have been working towards and allows us to fully focus on our future as a global explosives leader."

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas Airways share price is down 5.8% to $8.40. Investors have been selling the airline operator's shares on Monday in response to surging oil prices. Given that fuel is the company's largest operating expense, a significant rise could have a major impact on its profits in the near term. So much so, if things remain the same way, it is quite likely that analysts will start downgrading their earnings estimates for Qantas.

The post Why Catapult Sports, CBA, Dyno Nobel, and Qantas shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As we approach the end of the first quarter, the index provider has just revealed the changes that it will be making to the ASX 200 index effective prior to the open of trading on Monday 23 March.

This has seen three ASX 200 shares dumped from the benchmark index.

Which ASX 200 shares are being dumped?

According to the release, sports technology company Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT), data centre operator DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT), and pharmacy wholesaler EBOS Group Ltd (ASX: EBO) are leaving the ASX 200 index later this month.

They are being kicked out after their share prices dropped to a level that took them below the threshold required to remain in the index.

Catapult shares are down almost 40% over the past six months, giving the company a market capitalisation of $1.23 billion.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT shares are down 50% since this time last year, dragging its market capitalisation to $1.12 billion.

Finally, New Zealand-based EBOS' shares are down almost 44% over the past 12 months. However, its exit could be more due to relative liquidity (tradability), rather than market capitalisation.

Which shares are joining the index?

S&P Dow Jones Indices has named gold miner Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI), engineering and construction services provider SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG), and lithium developer Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) as their replacements.

Predictive Discovery shares are up 185% over the past 12 months, lifting its market capitalisation to $2.41 billion.

SRG Global's shares have risen by 120%, giving it a market capitalisation of $1.7 billion.

Finally, Vulcan Energy Resources shares are only up 11% since this time last year but have a market capitalisation of $1.73 billion and a much stronger balance sheet than a year ago.

What other changes are being made?

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are joining the exclusive ASX 20 index in place of Santos Ltd (ASX: STO).

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) and PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) are joining the ASX 50 index, with TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) and Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) heading out.

Lastly, gold miners Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP), Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL), and Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) are being added to the ASX 100 index. They are replacing Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC), Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL), and Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI).

The post 3 shares dumped from the ASX 200 index (and 3 new additions) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to sink

The Australian share market looks set for a disappointing start to the week following declines on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 156 points or 1.75% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.95%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.3%, and the Nasdaq tumbled 1.6%.

Oil prices surge

It could be a very positive start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices surged on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 12.2% to US$90.90 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 8.5% to US$92.69 a barrel. This meant that oil futures rallied 35% for the week, which is the biggest gain in futures trading history.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A couple of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. These are entertainment giant Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) and private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC). The latter will be paying its shareholders a fully franked 42.5 cents per share interim dividend later this month on 26 March.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good start to the week after the gold price pushed higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 1.6% to US$5,158.7 an ounce. The precious metal rose after US economic data wasn't supportive of rate hikes.

ASX 200 rebalance

S&P Dow Jones Indices has announced changes in the S&P/ASX Indices, effective prior to the open of trade on March 23 following its quarterly review. Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT), DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT), and EBOS Group Ltd (ASX: EBO) shares are being dumped from the index. Replacing them will be Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI), SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG), and Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL).

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

At the time of writing, the lithium developer's shares are down 3.36% to $4.03. This is despite the company outlining what it described as one of the most important periods in its history.

So, what did investors make of it? Let's unpack.

A transformational quarter for Vulcan

According to the release, Vulcan secured a comprehensive 2.2 billion euro (roughly $3.9 billion) financing package. The funds will be used to support construction of the company's phase one of its Lionheart Project in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley.

That package allowed Vulcan's board to approve a positive final investment decision (FID) in December, marking a major turning point. With that decision in place, Lionheart has moved out of development and into full execution mode.

Phase one Lionheart targets annual production of 24,000 tonnes of battery grade lithium hydroxide, alongside renewable geothermal power and heat. Vulcan is positioning the project as Europe's first fully integrated, carbon-neutral lithium supply chain.

Construction activity ramps up

During the quarter, Vulcan commenced construction of its integrated geothermal lithium extraction plant in Landau. Development also progressed at its central lithium processing plant in Frankfurt Hochst.

Vulcan finished drilling at the LSC-1 site, and the results showed the wells are producing as expected. A follow-up well drilled in January confirmed those results, with testing equipment running at maximum capacity.

On the commercial front, Vulcan signed an offtake agreement with Glencore covering between 36,000 and 44,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide over an initial 8-year period.

A look at the balance sheet

Vulcan's quarterly cash flow report highlights just how significant the funding milestone was.

The company ended the December quarter with cash and cash equivalents of 523 million euros. During the period, Vulcan recorded net financing inflows of more than 508 million euros, reflecting proceeds from equity issues tied to the phase one financing package.

The company is well funded to progress construction, even as operating and investing cash outflows remain elevated during the build-out.

So why are shares falling?

Today's share price reaction appears more about short-term expectations rather than fundamentals.

Vulcan shares rallied strongly in anticipation of the FID and financing outcome. With those key approvals now behind it, some investors appear to be taking profits while others reassess the next phase.

It also reflects a shift in focus from milestones to execution, with investors now watching closely for delivery risk, cost control, and timeline certainty as construction activity accelerates.

The post Why is the Vulcan share price down today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Vulcan share price is up 5.29% today to $4.38, adding to gains of around 10% over the past month. The move follows successful production test results from the company's first new Lionheart well in Germany.

A key production milestone achieved

According to the release, Vulcan reported successful production flow test results from its LSC-1b sidetrack well. The well forms part of Phase One of the Lionheart Project in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley.

The production test equipment was run at full capacity, confirming the well can deliver strong flow rates. Vulcan said the results support a potential production rate of 105 to 125 litres per second, in line with assumptions in its field development plan.

Earlier drilling results were encouraging, but a previous completion issue meant production performance could not be confirmed at the time. That issue has now been resolved, allowing Vulcan to successfully test the well's production and flow rates.

Why Lionheart is so important

Phase One of the Lionheart Project is central to Vulcan's strategy of producing carbon-neutral lithium for European electric vehicle batteries.

Once operational, the project is expected to produce around 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year, enough for roughly 500,000 electric vehicle batteries annually. It also includes the co-production of renewable energy, with around 275 GWh of power and 550 GWh of heat per year.

The company has already secured project financing, and construction for Phase One is now underway. First commercial lithium production is targeted for 2028, with Vulcan aiming to position itself as a strategic supplier to Europe's battery and EV supply chain.

Execution on the ground

The update also pointed to strong drilling performance. The well was completed safely, ahead of schedule, and without any lost-time incidents.

Management said key measures such as reservoir quality, lithium grade, temperature, and pressure are meeting or beating expectations. That should make the next stages of the project easier to execute as Vulcan moves from drilling into the build phase.

What investors are weighing up next

Even after the recent rise, Vulcan shares are still well below their 2024 highs. That shows many investors remain cautious about execution, timelines, and funding.

This latest update helps ease one of the biggest concerns. It shows the Lionheart wells can deliver flow rates that look commercially viable.

If Vulcan keeps meeting key milestones through 2026 and 2027, today's share price could look much more attractive in hindsight.

The post Up 10% in a month. Is this ASX lithium stock finally back on track? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here are a few that it currently rates as buys:

Delta Lithium Ltd (ASX: DLI)

Bell Potter is bullish on this small-cap ASX lithium stock and has a speculative buy rating and 41 cents price target on its shares.

Commenting on the lithium developer, the broker said:

DLI's core assets provide exposure to essential minerals including lithium, tantalum and rubidium; its 41% shareholding in advanced gold explorer Ballard Mining (BM1, Speculative Buy, Valuation $1.05/sh) adds material gold price leverage.

Our DLI valuation is based on conservative EV/Resource multiples at Mt Ida and Yinnetharra and a market value of DLI's BM1 shareholding. If we incorporate our BM1 valuation, our DLI valuation would lift to $0.47/sh. DLI is an asset development company with prospective operations and cash flows. Our Speculative risk rating recognises this higher level of risk and volatility of returns.

Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR)

Another ASX lithium stock that gets the speculative thumbs up is Ioneer. The broker is feeling very upbeat on the US-based Rhyolite Ridge project, especially given the government support it has received.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating and 46 cents price target on its shares. It said:

INR's Rhyolite Ridge sell-down process should de-risk the project's equity funding requirements. We expect the USA DoE to remain supportive; Lithium America's (NYSE:LAC, not rated) recent US$2.3b DoE Thacker Pass (also in Nevada) debt support is a positive analogue. INR's Rhyolite Ridge project is strategic because of its US location, large scale, low cost, boric acid co-product and expansion potential. INR is an asset development company with forecast cash flows only; our Speculative risk rating recognises this higher level of investment risk and share price volatility.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

Lithium miner Liontown has been given a buy rating and $2.48 price target. The broker likes the company due to its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project, which it notes is highly strategic. Commenting on the ASX lithium stock, it said:

LTR's 100% owned Kathleen Valley lithium project is highly strategic in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction. LTR has offtake contracts with top-tier EV and battery OEMs. Over FY26, LTR will de-risk the ramp up of Kathleen Valley. LTR has a strong balance sheet with long tenor debt finance.

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

A final ASX lithium stock that is rated highly by Bell Potter is Vulcan Energy. It has a speculative buy rating and $6.10 price target on the lithium developer's shares.

Bell Potter believes Vulcan Energy could be highly profitable when its Lionheart Lithium Project is operating at full capacity. It said:

VUL's Lionheart Lithium Project location (Germany), near-term production and novel technology, position VUL to benefit as lithium markets rebalance over the medium term. On our lithium price outlook (long term LH US$20,000/t), average annual EBITDA is €290m (real).

The post Bell Potter names the ASX lithium stocks to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here's why they are bullish on them:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this uranium producer's shares with a reduced price target of $2.00. This follows the release of an update on future production at the Honeymoon project. While the update was very disappointing and makes the project's future uncertain, Bell Potter sees potential for it to work. And given its bullish view on uranium prices, it doesn't think higher costs are the end of the story. It continues to assume production of 1.6M pounds per annum over a 10-year mine life. Outside this, the broker feels that Boss Energy's cheap valuation could make it a takeover target. The Boss Energy share price is trading at $1.30 on Monday afternoon.

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR)

A note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $4.50 price target on this property company's shares. The broker has been busy adjusting its estimates for the REIT industry to reflect its forecast for two rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia in 2026. This is expected to lead to a modest increase in financing costs for REITs. Nevertheless, given resilient consumer demand and constrained new supply, the broker remains positive and continues to rate the Charter Hall Retail REIT highly. So much so, it is one of its top picks in the industry. The Charter Hall Retail REIT share price is fetching $4.12 at the time of writing.

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their speculative buy rating on this lithium developer's shares with a reduced price target of $5.05. This follows news that the company has raised funds for phase one of the Lionheart project. Bell Potter was impressed with the strong level of strategic support for the company and Lionheart project. Outside this, when the project is operational, the broker believes it will be well-placed to benefit as lithium markets rebalance over the medium term. In fact, the broker expects average annual EBITDA of 290 million euros (A$513 million). Though, it concedes that as an asset development company with only forecast cash flow, it is a speculative pick. The Vulcan Energy share price is trading at $3.93 on Monday.

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

But Bell Potter thinks that another ASX lithium stock could deliver better returns for investors in 2026.

Which ASX lithium stock?

The stock that Bell Potter is tipping to rise strongly is Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL).

It is the name behind the Lionheart project in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley region. This project is aiming to commercialise lithium, electricity, and heat production from geothermal brines.

Bell Potter notes that phase one of the Lionheart project is expected to produce 24,000 tpa of lithium hydroxide monohydrate using adsorption-type direct lithium extraction and electrolysis.

The broker highlights that the ASX lithium stock has secured funding and made a final investment decision on the phase one of the Lionheart project. It was impressed with the strategic support it received. Bell Potter explains:

What distinguishes VUL is the strong level of strategic support for the company and Lionheart project. A HOCHTIEF, Siemens and private equity group Demeter €133m investment for 15% of Phase One values the project at €893m (A$1,595m). A KfW Raw Materials Fund investment of €150m provides another impressive valuation point. HOCHTIEF will also increase its VUL shareholding to 15.7% as part of the equity placement (previously 6.7%). VUL's senior debt is from a syndicate of 13 financial institutions including the European Investment Bank and top tier commercial banks.

Time to buy

Bell Potter thinks that if you have a high tolerance for risk, then you could do well with this one.

According to the note, the broker has reaffirmed its speculative buy rating with a trimmed price target of $5.05.

Based on its current share price of $3.97, this implies potential upside of 27% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the ASX lithium stock, the broker said:

Lionheart's location, near-term production and novel technology position VUL to benefit as lithium markets rebalance over the medium term. On our lithium price outlook (long term LHM US$20,000/t), average annual EBITDA is €290m (real). Our Lionheart NPV and the project's potential for subsequent staged expansions support our Valuation of $5.05/sh.

This valuation now incorporates the recent underwritten equity placement and project sell-down. VUL is an asset development company with only forecast cash flow; our Speculative risk rating recognises this high level of risk and potential share price volatility.

The post Forget Pilbara Minerals shares, this ASX lithium stock could be better appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Amid a broader rally among global lithium miners, Vulcan Energy shares closed up 7.05% yesterday, trading for $3.95 apiece. The ASX 300, meanwhile, ended the day down 0.12%.

Longer term, Vulcan Energy shares remain down 18% since this time last year, underperforming the 3.67% 12-month gains posted by the benchmark index.

Looking to the year ahead, however, EnviroInvest's Elio D'Amato believes Vulcan Energy will be much more rewarding for its shareholders (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

ASX 300 lithium share well-funded

"Vulcan recently secured a €2.2 billion ($A3.929 billion) financing package to fully fund phase one of its Lionheart project," said D'Amato, who has a buy recommendation on the ASX 300 lithium share.

Lionheart, he explained, is "Europe's first fully integrated, zero carbon lithium and renewable energy project". Which is the second reason you may want to add Vulcan Energy shares to your buy list.

According to D'Amato:

Funding enables immediate construction. The package includes €1.185 billion in senior debt, €204 million in German government grants, €150 million from KfW, plus strategic equity from HOCHTIEF, Siemens and Demeter.

As for the third reason Vulcan Energy shares could outperform in the months ahead, D'Amato said, "Phase one targets 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year. With funding risk removed and execution underway, VUL's strategic positioning is materially stronger."

A word from Vulcan Energy's CEO

Vulcan Energy shares crashed 33.1% on 4 December, the day the ASX 300 lithium share emerged from the trading halt following its funding announcement.

However, investors weren't selling the company because of the new funding secured via European government grants and senior debt.

Rather, Vulcan Energy separately announced that it had raised around $710 million via an institutional placement. Investors were favouring their sell buttons on the day, as the new shares were issued for $4 apiece, 34.7% below the last closing price.

But Vulcan Energy CEO Cris Moreno was unapologetic about the discounted capital raise.

"The placement will enable Vulcan to transition from development phase into execution phase with project execution of Project Lionheart due to commence in the coming days," he said.

Moreno added that the ASX 300 lithium share is producing "a lighthouse project for Europe".

According to Moreno:

Lionheart is set to redefine lithium production, delivering Europe's first fully domestic and sustainable lithium value chain. It will also provide a clean and reliable source of renewable energy for local communities and industries in Germany's Upper Rhine Valley.

The post 3 reasons to buy this ASX 300 lithium share today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what they are recommending to their clients:

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

This biotechnology giant's shares have fallen hard this year for a number of reasons. But EnviroInvest isn't recommending that investors buy them just yet and has labelled them as a sell.

It highlights that declining vaccination rates are weighing on its performance and feels that capital could be better deployed in other opportunities. EnviroInvest said:

CSL recently cut revenue and profit growth forecasts for fiscal year 2026. The company's vaccine division Seqirus is under pressure from declining vaccination rates in the United States. Plasma collection remains healthy, but integration costs involving CSL Vifor, a leader in iron deficiency and nephrology, amid restructuring expenses continue to weigh on margins and cash flow, in my view. In the absence of near-term catalysts and years of share price stagnation, capital could be better deployed elsewhere until the outlook improves.

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

One ASX share that EnviroInvest is positive on is Vulcan Energy. It has put a buy recommendation on the Germany-based lithium developer.

EnviroInvest was pleased with the announcement of its financing package and gives it a materially stronger strategic positioning. It said:

Vulcan recently secured a €2.2 billion ($A3.929 billion) financing package to fully fund phase one of its Lionheart project, It's Europe's first fully integrated, zero carbon lithium and renewable energy project. Funding enables immediate construction. The package includes €1.185 billion in senior debt, €204 million in German government grants, €150 million from KfW, plus strategic equity from HOCHTIEF, Siemens and Demeter. Phase one targets 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year. With funding risk removed and execution underway, VUL's strategic positioning is materially stronger.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

This supermarket giant has been named as a sell by Alto Capital. It fears that higher costs and subdued discretionary spending could weigh on its growth and profitability. It explains:

The supermarket giant's full year 2025 results fell short of market expectations, highlighting margin pressure and subdued sales growth. WOW was recently trading on a lofty price/earnings ratio of about 37 times, which leaves limited upside, in our view. Rising costs combined with subdued discretionary spending suggest growth and profitability may remain constrained. We believe much of the upside is already priced in, so investors may want to consider taking some gains in a high cost, low growth environment.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Vulcan, Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what Australian shares investors were snapping up during the first week of December, according to new CommSec data.

Droneshield takes the top spot for another week

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares were the most-traded Australian shares among CommSec clients between the 1st and 5th of November, based on contract note volumes either bought or sold weekly. The data shows that 58% of activity volume for the week was from buyers.

The AI drone operator's shares dropped another 3% during the course of the week. Droneshield shares have been under significant pressure recently following the US CEO resignation, employee share sell-offs, and accidental ASX release. Analysts have said the selling is way overdone and that the stock is now priced very attractively.

Investors were selling up their BHP shares

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares came under heavy selling pressure last week, too. With a huge 80% of activity from CommeSec clients being sales of the mining giant's stock. Over the course of the week, the ASX miner's shares climbed just over 6%. This was mostly driven by an uptick in commodity prices.

The copper price hit a new all-time high of US$11,400 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange overnight on Wednesday. This means the base metal has now risen by more than 30% since the start of the year. Its increased use in the energy transition has been behind its strong rise.

Zip shares caught investor attention

Investor interest in Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares stormed higher last week. The company's stock has delivered explosive growth over the past six months; however, over the course of last week, the shares dropped nearly 10%. There has been no price-sensitive news out of the company recently, so the dip is likely investors taking their profits after a strong price rally in the months before. Over the past 6 months, Zip shares have climbed 35.9%.

What else were investors buying and selling last week?

CommSec clients were also interested in Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL) shares last week.

There was also a lot of activity around Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares throughout the week, but this was mostly investor selling.

The post 10 most-traded ASX shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)

The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price is up 2% to $10.35. Investors have been buying the regional bank's shares after analysts responded positively to its plan to acquire RACQ Bank's retail lending assets and deposits. The purchase price will be based on the book value of the transferring book at completion, which comprised $2.7 billion of retail loans and $2.5 billion of retail deposits at the end of June. In response, Ord Minnett upgraded its shares to an accumulate rating with an $11.00 price target.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The Nextdc share price is up 4% to $13.98. This follows news that the data centre operator has agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ChatGPT's owner OpenAI. The MOU will focus on developing a sovereign AI infrastructure partnership under the OpenAI for Australia program. This will see OpenAI and NextDC collaborate on the planning, development, and operation of a next generation hyperscale AI campus and large-scale GPU supercluster at NextDC's S7 site in Eastern Creek, Sydney. This will reportedly be the largest data centre in the southern hemisphere.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is up 3% to $1.87. This investigative analysis software provider's shares have been pushing higher this week after it announced an acquisition. Nuix advised that it has agreed to acquire graph-powered AI decision platform Linkurious for up to 20 million euros (~A$35.4 million). Nuix's interim CEO, John Ruthven, said: "The acquisition of Linkurious is an exciting accelerator for our strategic vision to enable our customers with insights from complex data at unparalleled speed and scale. This injection of graph-native expertise, proven link analysis technology and quality customers will allow us to bring immediate value to our customers."

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

The Vulcan Energy share price is up 10% to $4.50. This lithium developer's shares are rebounding after a significant decline on Thursday. That decline was driven by the company's capital raising. Vulcan Energy's institutional offer raised 398 million euros (A$710 million) at $4.00 per new share. This represented a 34.7% discount to its share price at the time. Vulcan's managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, said: "We would like to thank our existing shareholders for their continued support and welcome our new shareholders onto the register, including strategic investors. The Placement will enable Vulcan to transition from development phase into execution phase with project execution of Project Lionheart due to commence in the coming days."

The post Why Bendigo Bank, NextDC, Nuix, and Vulcan Energy shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.