Buy Hold Sell: Battery metals stocks to buy (and those to avoid)
In the latest episode of Livewire’s Buy Hold Sell, host James Marlay is joined by two battle-hardened commodity experts to run the ruler over one of the most volatile and recently unloved sectors of the market: lithium and battery metals.
After a meteoric rise in 2021 and 2022, lithium prices have taken a sharp turn, falling significantly over the past year. This pullback has left many investors questioning whether the sector's structural tailwinds—such as electrification and the global energy transition—are still intact.
Joining the conversation are Ben Richards of Seneca Financial Solutions and Daniel Sullivan from Janus Henderson Investors, who share their insights on where value is emerging and what to steer clear of.
They delve into the recent price weakness, explore how far valuations have reset, and debate which companies and commodities are best positioned for a rebound.
Whether you're already exposed or just lithium-curious, this episode is essential viewing for anyone trying to navigate the next phase of the commodity cycle.
Please note this video was filmed on 9 April 2025.
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13:36
Buy Hold Sell: A truckload of commodity stocks for your watchlist (including 3 buys)
Recent weeks have delivered a fresh bout of volatility across global markets, driven by tariff tantrums, bending bond markets, and irritable investors. Nothing has been spared, not even commodities.
Prices for iron ore have softened, copper has been smashed, and coal has continued to come under long-term pressure. But as seasoned investors know, periods of weakness can often uncover the most compelling opportunities.
With that in mind, Livewire’s James Marlay sat down with two commodities specialists in Janus Henderson’s Daniel Sullivan and Seneca Financial’s Ben Richards to pick through the rubble.
They share their outlooks for key commodities, the forces shaping supply and demand, and where they’re finding value — both on the ASX and globally.
Please note this episode was filmed on 9 April 2025.
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14:21
Buy Hold Sell: 3 ASX small and mid-cap recovery plays (and 2 names to avoid)
When markets turn rough, it’s often small and mid-cap stocks that wear the brunt of the pain. Take 2022, for example. While the ASX 200 slipped just 1%, the Small Ordinaries Index tumbled nearly 20%.
But a falling share price doesn’t always mean a falling star - some of the greatest investment comebacks are buried beneath the rubble of a market correction. Consider Eagers Automotive, which plunged from $3.20 to below $1 during the GFC before surging above $16 with a healthy dividend yield.
Or Afterpay, which collapsed to $8.01 in March 2020 only to rocket back to $70 within months. Drawdowns like these can offer bold investors serious upside, but only if you back the right names.
The real opportunity lies in spotting companies with strong fundamentals and a compelling long-term outlook that’s masked by a weak share price.
In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, we're joined by David Allingham from Eley Griffiths and Marcus Burns from Spheria to uncover which beaten-down stocks are primed for recovery (and which ones deserve to stay on the sidelines).
You can watch or read an edited transcript of this interview here: https://www.livewiremarkets.com/wires/buy-hold-sell-3-asx-small-and-mid-cap-recovery-plays-and-2-names-to-avoid
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5:52
Why ex-20 is the prime hunting ground for ASX returns
Of the top 20 largest and most successful US companies from the past quarter century, only three remain constituents today – Walmart, Exxon Mobil and JP Morgan Chase.
Of the top 20 largest and most successful Australian companies from 2000, more than half remain as constituents, with banks and miners dominating.
While our biggest companies have served us well, the lack of innovation and new entrants into the upper echelons leaves the top part of our market looking old hat compared to global peers, lacking diversification and growth potential.
Fortunately, looking outside the top 20 yields a different result. The small and mid-cap space is rich with companies on the cutting edge, disrupting industries and carving out new markets. But there are also greater risks.
So, how are investors to sort the wheat from the chaff? To find out, Livewire’s Vishal Teckchandani is joined by Marcus Burns from Spheria Asset Management and David Allingham from Eley Griffiths Group.
They share what they look for in small and mid-caps (SMID) and, for good measure, they highlight a favourite SMID they believe has staying power.
This video was recorded on 26 March 2025.
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7:59
Buy Hold Sell: 7 ex-20 stocks with strong balance sheets
Hunting for the next breakout small or mid-cap stock isn’t about chasing headlines or hype – it’s about backing gritty, cash-generating companies with rock-solid balance sheets and management teams bold enough to make smart decisions without constantly rattling the tin.
In this episode of Buy Hold Sell, Livewire’s Vishal Teckchandani puts five high-potential ASX ex-20 stocks under the microscope with David Allingham from Eley Griffiths and Marcus Burns from Spheria – spanning homegrown global exporters to local names with serious staying power – to uncover what truly separates the standouts from the rest.
Plus, each fundie reveals their top mid-cap pick – a compelling business flying under the radar that not only ticks all the boxes, but has a clear strategy to keep delivering growth.
This episode was filmed on 26 March 2025.
Buy Hold Sell is a fast-paced business and investing podcast, bringing you stock tips and investment ideas every Friday and every second Monday. Join us as we quiz Australia’s top fund managers and investment analysts on a range of local and global stocks, as well as ETFs. Learn about the forces moving equities markets, the potholes you should avoid, and the companies going from strength to strength - all in 10 minutes or less. Whether you are new to investing or a seasoned professional, this podcast will get you thinking differently about markets.
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