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Pouring orders stimulate ASX defence sector, Electro Optic Systems Holdings, Austal on the go

December has been an active month for the following defence stocks as a wave of contract wins has improved sentiment and created compelling opportunities for investors who seek exposure to this sector. Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (ASX: EOS) Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited on 19 December announced that it secured a new order for its R400 Remote Weapon System RWS valued at US$21 million.

The RWS units are being supplied in a ground-to-ground configuration and will be manufactured at the company’s Canberra facility across 2026 and 2027 with the order covering the systems, vehicle integration kits, storage services and related items. On 15 December, the company announced that it entered into a binding conditional agreement with a customer in the Republic of Korea at a total contract value of US$80 million.

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Long Term Investors Seek Opportunities in ASX Dairy Sector, Now on a Rebound

With conditions improving across the dairy and nutrition sector,  the following ASX companies with stronger balance sheets and improved operations are creating new opportunities for investors.

The a2 Milk Company Limited (ASX: A2M)

delivered a positive operational update in November as management upgraded FY26 revenue guidance which reflects better than expected results across infant milk formula and other categories.

A2M exited FY25 with solid earnings growth and a strong balance sheet as the company delivered revenue of around NZ$1.9 billion, EBITDA of NZ$274 million and NPAT of approximately NZ$203 million while maintaining a net cash position which provides flexibility for growth.

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Emerging Tailwinds Boost Boom Logistics, CTI Logistics, Others

Logistics is a critical backbone of the economy and the following ASX companies are benefiting from improved demand compelling investors to consider adding these companies in their portfolios.

Boom Logistics Limited (ASX: BOL)

is one of Australia’s leading providers of complex lifting and project logistics solutions as the company delivers specialised equipment, engineering services and workforce capabilities across a diversified range of industries.

Financial performance in FY25 was solid as revenue rose to approximately $265 million, EBITDA increased to $50 million and operating net profit grew 41% to $9.3 million.

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ASX Cybersecurity Shares with Strong Growth and Expansion Potential

Cybersecurity continues to be one of the fastest-growing technology segments as rising cyber threats and tighter regulations make security spending essential for governments and enterprises. The following ASX cybersecurity stocks are well placed to capitalise on these industry tailwinds and translate growing demand into long-term shareholder value.

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DroneShield bags $50 M contract, soars defying tech sell off

DroneShield is back in action after navigating through several hiccups last month and a sharp rally on Tuesday has renewed investor confidence driven by a major contract win. DroneShield Limited (ASX: DRO) DroneShield Limited on 16 December announced that it secured a $49.6 million contract to supply handheld counter-drone systems, accessories and software to a European military end customer which led to a sharp rise in the share price. DroneShield holds a large portion of this inventory on the shelf and expects to complete all deliveries in Q1 2026 while cash payments are also expected to be fully received in Q1 2026 and over the past three years, the company has received 15 contracts from this reseller which amounts to more than $86.5 million.

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ASX Banks Outlook: How Higher Rates Could Impact CBA, NAB, WBC?

Commonwealth Bank of Australia economists are now expecting the Reserve Bank of Australia to hike interest rates as early as February. Australia’s economy is ending the year with more resilience than expected as household spending increased, wages continued to rise and business investment picked up across areas such as data centres and renewable energy hence inflation has been slower to fall than expected due to healthy demand. The question for investors now is how will Australia’s major banks perform in the potential rising interest rate environment?

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Capital Infusion Boosts 4DMedical Limited

4DMedical (ASX:4DX)

had seen its share price fall in October amid profit booking after prior gains and uncertainty over expiring options. The stock then rebounded on funding strength and CTVQ commercialization. The decline reflected typical biotech volatility for small cap medtechs with no negative disclosures evident, though the near complete exercise of deep in the money 4DXOA options raised $22.6M, alongside a $10M Pro Medicus investment and $6M R&D rebate which boosted pro forma cash to $45.5M and extended the runway for U.S. market penetration via Philips. This option event highlighted dilution from prior issuances and noted further 4DXO overhang which likely weighed on sentiment during the dip.

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ASX stocks best suited for passive income seekers

As ASX enters one of its busiest dividend periods of the year, it presents a great chance for passive income focused investors to take a position in companies backed by steady cashflows and consistent payouts.

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ASX lithium and battery metals for 2026–2030 PLS, IGO, LTR and MIN

The next five years are highly significant for Australia’s lithium and battery metals sector as long-term demand for electric vehicles, grid storage and clean energy technologies continues to rise. ASX listed producers and developers are entering a phase where scale, cost efficiency, partnerships and resource quality will matter more as the industry becomes more competitive. The global lithium-ion battery market is expected to grow at a massive rate in the latter half of this decade. One forecast projects growth at a CAGR of about 20% in the next five years. The following ASX companies stand out because of high-quality assets and clear growth pathways which align with the needs of the battery industry.

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ASX Growth Shares Building Base to Surge Higher

The presence of industry tailwinds and a wave of new catalysts suggest that the following ASX growth stocks could be building a base for a major jump soon.

Weebit Nano Limited (ASX: WBT) 

had an excellent start to FY26 as the company completed the tape-out of its first embedded ReRAM module at onsemi’s 300mm production fab which marks a major step toward integrating Weebit ReRAM into future high-temperature automotive and industrial chips. It reached its goal of three product-company agreements for 2025 as US customers began integrating its non-volatile memory IP into security and smart battery management solutions.

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Synergising Fervour in ASX Gold Mining Companies

Mergers and acquisitions activity in the gold sector is increasing as rising bullion prices improve balance sheets and growth plans for larger producers. Smaller exploration companies continue to hold attractive deposits but are facing higher operating expenses as they progress. This situation is creating consolidation in the sector as larger companies acquire emerging players with strong resource potential which helps build scale and reduce future production costs.

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Surging ASX Mining Stocks Defy The Markets

A fresh wave of momentum is lifting these mining stocks as growing production, rising commodity prices are building investor confidence again.

Top 5 ASX Mining Stocks 

Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR)

is going through a key phase right now as it shifts fully to underground mining at its Kathleen Valley Lithium Project.  In the September 2025 quarter, revenue was $68 million and 87,172 dry metric tonnes of spodumene concentrate was produced. 

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ASX Penny Stocks Demonstrating Growth Potential

For investors who are chasing emerging growth stories rather than established giants, these ASX penny stocks are beginning to stand out as potential multi-baggers. Tungsten Mining NL (ASX: TGN) is a resource company that focuses on exploration and development of tungsten deposits in Australia. It owns projects in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

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Will Rate Cuts and Economic Policies Fuel a Rebound in ASX Real-Estate Stocks & A-REITs

With rate cuts now on the horizon, the sentiment toward REITs and ASX 200 mining stocks real estate companies is starting to improve as lower borrowing costs makes refinancing cheaper, supports new development activity and reduces pressure on balance sheets. A decline in interest rates also improves housing affordability along with occupancy which leads to more stable rental income. As conditions turn more favourable, both residential and commercial property markets may experience a pickup in demand which puts these firms in an excellent position to expand their operations.

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Stocks Bucking the Trend

These two equities not only stayed up throughout this session but also had significant gains throughout the week, even if the benchmark index is closing slightly lower on the penultimate day of the week.

Strong Financial Year 2025 results have been released by Lovisa Holdings Limited (ASX: LOV). At $798.1M, revenue climbed 14.2%, while comparable store sales increased 1.7%. By opening 162 new stores, the company increased its physical presence to 1,031 sites in more than 50 regions worldwide. With its gross margin increasing by 100 basis points to 82.0%, the company's profitability also saw a significant uptick. 

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Healthcare ETFs ASX

With the rise in global expenditure on research and development as well as product innovation within the healthcare sector, numerous opportunities are emerging for investors. In this context, healthcare ETFs present significant <a href="https://veye.com.au/editorial/best-healthcare-etfs-asx"> long-term growth</a> potential, provide exposure to a variety of companies in the healthcare industry, and offer cost advantages when compared to actively managed mutual funds.

The iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ)

grants investors access to leading global healthcare firms by tracking the S&P Global 1200 Healthcare Sector Index. IXJ invests broadly across sectors such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and healthcare service providers. Notable companies in this ETF include Eli Lilly, United Health Group, Novo Nordisk, and Johnson & Johnson. IXJ has a fund size of approximately $1.3 billion and imposes a management fee that ranges from 0.39% to 0.46%.

IXJ has achieved a year-to-date return of about 0.4% and a one-year return of roughly -5.5%. The ETF’s performance over the past three and five years is recorded at 4.97% and 6.96% per annum, respectively. This highlights its appeal for medium to long-term investors.

The VanEck Global Healthcare Leaders ETF (ASX: HLTH)

offers exposure to a selection of 50 fundamentally robust healthcare companies, focusing on developed markets while excluding Australia. The fund targets companies that demonstrate growth at a reasonable price (GARP) across various factors, including growth, value, profitability, and cash flow. It charges an annual management fee of 0.45% and had total net assets of approximately $48.5 million as of August 2025.

HLTH has produced a one-year return of around 1.4% and a three-year annualized return of nearly 4.2%. It also boasts a dividend yield of 0.78%, with payouts occurring once a year.

The BetaShares Global Healthcare Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: DRUG)

tracks the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Healthcare Hedged AUD Index. It offers Australian Dollar hedged exposure to large global healthcare companies, excluding those based in Australia. The fund employs a passive index-tracking strategy and charges a management fee.

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Big Four Smaller Banks

In an effort to stay competitive, the Australian Big Four have lowered home loan rates after several lenders swiftly followed the RBA's decision to do so.

 Common variable home loan rates were quickly lowered by 25 basis points by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country's largest lender, and National Australia Bank, the second-largest. Similar 25-bp reduction were also made by the third-largest lender, Westpac Banking Corp., and the fourth-largest, ANZ Group.

 While the rate cuts from NAB and Westpac went into effect on August 25 and 26 respectively, the rate decreases from CBA and ANZ went into effect on August 22. As a result, house loan clients now receive the entire rate reduction from all four main banks.

 The RBA has shown caution in the face of unclear growth expectations, but one more decrease is anticipated at its November meeting.

 Strong results for the 25th fiscal year have been released by Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). At $9.65 billion, revenue climbed 7.6%, while net profit improved 0.5% to $10.13 billion. Increased staffing and technological investments were the main causes of the 6% increase in operating expenses. In addition to contributing to stable underlying net interest margins that improved by 9 basis points, lending volumes shown growth. During prosperous economic times, loan impairment costs declined, indicating better credit quality. With a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 12.3%, the bank has continued to maintain a robust capital position. This is significantly more than what is required by law. The total dividend for the year was $4.85, including a fully franked final dividend of $2.60 per share.