Fundamentally Sound
Martin Roth’s book “Top Stocks” has been published annually since 1995 (32 editions) and highlights ~100 Australian listed companies considered financially sound.
During Martin's analysis, a company’s share price is ignored. The goal is to select companies with a strong balance sheet and a focus on profitability, debt levels and dividends.
The companies mentioned in the book provide investors with a great fundamental filter over Australia's ~2,300 listed companies. The final shortlist can be used as a watchlist, or to simply uncover companies that might warrant further investigation.
The 2026 criteria for a “Top Stock”:
- Publicly listed since 2021
- A constituent of the All Ordinaries Index (i.e. Top 500 company by market capitalisation)
- Return on Equity (ROE) ratio of at least 10% in the most recent financial year
- Debt-to-Equity (D/E) ratio less than 70%
- Foreign registered stocks and listed managed investments are excluded
The list below includes all companies mentioned in the 2026 book plus those currently meeting the criteria.
Interesting fact...
In the 32 editions of Top Stocks, only Commonwealth Bank has appeared every single year.
List of Companies
| Code | Company | Price | 1 Day | 1 Month | 1 Year | Sector | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AX1 | Accent Group Ltd | $0.71 | 0.00% | +22.41% | -49.10% | Consumer Cyclical | $426.84M |
| ADH | Adairs Ltd | $1.46 | +1.74% | +6.57% | -30.14% | Consumer Cyclical | $260.78M |
| AGL | AGL Energy Ltd | $8.35 | +0.24% | -2.45% | -14.18% | Utilities | $5.62B |
| AOV | Amotiv Ltd | $6.30 | -0.63% | -0.94% | -21.35% | Consumer Cyclical | $843.25M |
| ARB | ARB Corporation Ltd | $18.92 | 0.00% | -1.77% | -42.14% | Consumer Cyclical | $1.58B |
| ALL | Aristocrat Leisure Ltd | $61.27 | +1.26% | +22.30% | -5.98% | Consumer Cyclical | $36.87B |
| ASX | ASX Ltd | $53.32 | +0.57% | +15.34% | -23.57% | Financial Services | $10.42B |
| AUB | AUB Group Ltd | $28.64 | +0.92% | +9.61% | -19.28% | Financial Services | $3.74B |
| AEF | Australian Ethical Investment Ltd | $4.19 | -0.48% | +4.49% | -34.43% | Financial Services | $476.95M |
| BPT | Beach Energy Ltd | $0.855 | 0.00% | -20.83% | -35.23% | Energy | $1.95B |
| BLX | Beacon Lighting Group Ltd | $1.74 | +1.16% | +11.54% | -51.80% | Consumer Cyclical | $399.06M |
| BHP | BHP Group Ltd | $59.40 | -0.70% | -4.67% | +61.63% | Basic Materials | $301.83B |
| BIS | Bisalloy Steel Group Ltd | $4.45 | -4.30% | +0.23% | +20.60% | Basic Materials | $213.78M |
| BXB | Brambles Ltd | $19.48 | -1.57% | +17.56% | -16.82% | Industrials | $26.02B |
| BRG | Breville Group Ltd | $32.26 | +2.15% | +11.47% | +9.39% | Consumer Cyclical | $4.67B |
| CAA | Capral Ltd | $10.80 | -0.92% | -5.92% | +1.89% | Basic Materials | $171.64M |
| CAR | CAR Group Ltd | $25.76 | +0.86% | +3.70% | -31.16% | Communication Services | $9.76B |
| CWP | Cedar Woods Properties Ltd | $6.94 | -0.57% | +3.58% | -2.12% | Real Estate | $590.43M |
| CUV | Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Ltd | $10.28 | -0.68% | +12.60% | -0.96% | Healthcare | $518.4M |
| COH | Cochlear Ltd | $121.75 | +0.55% | +21.14% | -59.47% | Healthcare | $7.96B |
| CDA | Codan Ltd | $44.14 | +1.59% | +3.49% | +119.49% | Technology | $8.03B |
| COL | Coles Group Ltd | $24.37 | +0.04% | +12.20% | +16.94% | Consumer Defensive | $32.73B |
| CKF | Collins Foods Ltd | $8.15 | -2.51% | -7.60% | -12.37% | Consumer Cyclical | $962.81M |
| CBA | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | $164.62 | +0.62% | -0.24% | -10.90% | Financial Services | $275.49B |
| CPU | Computershare Ltd | $38.28 | +3.97% | +10.67% | -4.04% | Industrials | $22.14B |
| COS | Cosol Ltd | $0.185 | -2.63% | -9.76% | -72.39% | Technology | $33.67M |
| CCP | Credit Corp Group Ltd | $12.90 | +1.98% | +14.36% | -4.66% | Financial Services | $878.06M |
| CSL | CSL Ltd | $114.74 | -0.56% | +18.77% | -52.09% | Healthcare | $54.95B |
| DTL | Data#3 Ltd | $9.85 | +0.10% | +9.20% | +29.44% | Technology | $1.53B |
| DOW | Downer Edi Ltd | $8.05 | -1.59% | -0.98% | +27.58% | Industrials | $5.31B |
| DUR | Duratec Ltd | $2.56 | -1.54% | +0.39% | +77.78% | Industrials | $660.89M |
| EVN | Evolution Mining Ltd | $11.75 | -5.17% | -3.21% | +50.83% | Basic Materials | $23.87B |
| FID | Fiducian Group Ltd | $8.50 | +3.03% | -1.96% | -12.82% | Financial Services | $268.32M |
| FMG | Fortescue Ltd | $19.15 | -1.90% | -14.16% | +25.33% | Basic Materials | $58.96B |
| GNP | Genusplus Group Ltd | $10.97 | 0.00% | +15.47% | +173.57% | Industrials | $2.23B |
| GNG | GR Engineering Services Ltd | $5.31 | +2.12% | -8.92% | +63.39% | Basic Materials | $904.23M |
| GWA | GWA Group Ltd | $2.30 | +2.68% | +7.48% | -4.17% | Industrials | $609.97M |
| HSN | Hansen Technologies Ltd | $4.44 | 0.00% | -4.31% | -10.84% | Technology | $907.24M |
| HVN | Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd | $4.82 | -1.03% | +4.56% | -8.54% | Consumer Cyclical | $6.01B |
| HLI | Helia Group Ltd | $5.54 | -1.07% | +14.70% | -1.60% | Financial Services | $1.52B |
| HZN | Horizon Oil Ltd | $0.20 | +2.56% | -11.11% | +2.56% | Energy | $325.52M |
| HUB | HUB24 Ltd | $72.72 | +0.32% | -12.49% | -18.45% | Financial Services | $5.95B |
| IEL | Idp Education Ltd | $2.28 | -1.30% | +2.24% | -37.88% | Consumer Cyclical | $634.61M |
| ILU | Iluka Resources Ltd | $7.07 | +1.00% | -10.51% | +86.05% | Basic Materials | $3.05B |
| IAG | Insurance Australia Group Ltd | $8.09 | +0.62% | +5.61% | -10.41% | Financial Services | $18.91B |
| IPH | IPH Ltd | $3.86 | +2.93% | +2.12% | -15.72% | Industrials | $989.29M |
| IGL | Ive Group Ltd | $2.84 | -2.07% | +10.51% | -1.39% | Communication Services | $432.92M |
| JBH | JB Hi-Fi Ltd | $80.48 | -3.73% | +8.04% | -27.07% | Consumer Cyclical | $8.8B |
| JIN | Jumbo Interactive Ltd | $6.50 | +9.06% | -15.37% | -33.67% | Consumer Cyclical | $411.64M |
| LAU | Lindsay Australia Ltd | $0.565 | -2.59% | +0.89% | -21.53% | Industrials | $206.93M |
| LOV | Lovisa Holdings Ltd | $23.63 | -1.05% | +1.77% | -25.41% | Consumer Cyclical | $2.62B |
| LYL | Lycopodium Ltd | $18.01 | +1.87% | +21.53% | +73.84% | Industrials | $715.72M |
| MAH | Macmahon Holdings Ltd | $0.955 | -2.05% | -4.98% | +213.12% | Basic Materials | $2.06B |
| MQG | Macquarie Group Ltd | $250.29 | +0.11% | +4.92% | +9.43% | Financial Services | $95.4B |
| MAD | Mader Group Ltd | $7.92 | +1.15% | -5.38% | +17.68% | Industrials | $1.61B |
| MFG | Magellan Financial Group Ltd | $9.69 | -0.10% | +14.68% | +13.20% | Financial Services | $1.8B |
| MPL | Medibank Private Ltd | $4.97 | 0.00% | +3.54% | -1.58% | Financial Services | $13.69B |
| MTS | Metcash Ltd | $2.95 | -1.34% | -3.91% | -24.55% | Consumer Defensive | $3.24B |
| MND | Monadelphous Group Ltd | $30.99 | +1.28% | -0.23% | +76.48% | Industrials | $3.1B |
| MVF | Monash Ivf Group Ltd | $0.725 | +0.69% | +2.11% | +2.84% | Healthcare | $282.49M |
| NAB | National Australia Bank Ltd | $37.86 | -0.08% | +1.42% | -3.81% | Financial Services | $116.14B |
| NWL | Netwealth Group Ltd | $20.56 | +0.29% | -3.79% | -38.79% | Financial Services | $5.05B |
| NHC | New Hope Corporation Ltd | $5.34 | +0.19% | -8.56% | +44.32% | Energy | $4.51B |
| NHF | Nib Holdings Ltd | $7.06 | +0.71% | +5.69% | -0.28% | Financial Services | $3.45B |
| NCK | Nick Scali Ltd | $16.32 | -0.55% | +13.10% | -10.38% | Consumer Cyclical | $1.4B |
| NEC | Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd | $0.885 | +0.57% | -7.33% | -45.54% | Communication Services | $1.4B |
| NST | Northern Star Resources Ltd | $18.95 | -5.82% | +0.74% | +2.16% | Basic Materials | $27.05B |
| NWH | NRW Holdings Ltd | $7.44 | +3.05% | -2.49% | +148.83% | Industrials | $3.42B |
| OCL | Objective Corporation Ltd | $10.30 | -1.62% | -1.62% | -46.24% | Technology | $988.73M |
| ORG | Origin Energy Ltd | $10.98 | +1.20% | +1.01% | +1.76% | Utilities | $18.92B |
| PPT | Perpetual Ltd | $15.50 | +1.91% | -2.52% | -14.18% | Financial Services | $1.79B |
| PNI | Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd | $17.11 | -0.47% | +11.10% | -16.70% | Financial Services | $4.12B |
| PMV | Premier Investments Ltd | $14.94 | -0.13% | +19.23% | -26.15% | Consumer Cyclical | $2.38B |
| PME | Pro Medicus Ltd | $203.43 | +3.03% | +53.81% | -28.64% | Healthcare | $21.25B |
| PWH | PWR Holdings Ltd | $7.97 | -2.33% | -15.57% | +15.01% | Consumer Cyclical | $801.58M |
| QBE | QBE Insurance Group Ltd | $25.19 | +0.92% | +11.26% | +7.70% | Financial Services | $37.63B |
| RMS | Ramelius Resources Ltd | $2.92 | -4.89% | -9.32% | +15.87% | Basic Materials | $5.54B |
| REA | REA Group Ltd | $139.19 | +0.40% | -6.58% | -42.12% | Communication Services | $18.21B |
| RWC | Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd | $3.91 | +0.51% | +23.73% | -4.63% | Industrials | $2.92B |
| SGLLV | Ricegrowers Ltd | $13.96 | -8.16% | +14.90% | +25.20% | Consumer Defensive | $954.12M |
| RIC | Ridley Corporation Ltd | $2.65 | -1.12% | -6.03% | -9.86% | Consumer Defensive | $993.36M |
| RIO | RIO Tinto Ltd | $172.51 | -0.91% | -7.07% | +61.03% | Basic Materials | $64.14B |
| SFC | Schaffer Corporation Ltd | $19.15 | 0.00% | +0.74% | -9.24% | Consumer Cyclical | $259.79M |
| SRV | Servcorp Ltd | $6.56 | 0.00% | -5.61% | +14.49% | Real Estate | $654.85M |
| SSG | Shaver Shop Group Ltd | $1.36 | 0.00% | +3.82% | +1.87% | Consumer Cyclical | $178.18M |
| SIQ | Smartgroup Corporation Ltd | $12.79 | +0.95% | +12.29% | +73.54% | Industrials | $1.77B |
| SXE | Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Ltd | $4.86 | +1.89% | +19.41% | +166.30% | Industrials | $1.48B |
| SDF | Steadfast Group Ltd | $5.10 | -0.20% | +25.00% | -15.14% | Financial Services | $5.67B |
| SUN | Suncorp Group Ltd | $19.29 | +1.21% | +10.99% | -10.74% | Financial Services | $20.45B |
| SUL | Super Retail Group Ltd | $13.18 | -0.23% | +12.36% | -7.44% | Consumer Cyclical | $2.98B |
| SNL | Supply Network Ltd | $31.93 | -0.22% | +3.00% | -14.60% | Consumer Cyclical | $1.4B |
| TNE | Technology One Ltd | $29.47 | -0.91% | -1.24% | -28.14% | Technology | $9.65B |
| UNI | Universal Store Holdings Ltd | $7.78 | +0.52% | +14.75% | 0.00% | Consumer Cyclical | $596.89M |
| WES | Wesfarmers Ltd | $90.40 | -0.43% | +13.30% | +6.67% | Consumer Cyclical | $102.57B |
| WBC | Westpac Banking Corporation | $35.21 | -0.09% | -2.19% | +3.99% | Financial Services | $120.43B |
| WTC | Wisetech Global Ltd | $33.00 | -2.43% | -8.36% | -69.73% | Technology | $11.09B |
| XRF | XRF Scientific Ltd | $1.73 | -1.43% | -6.76% | -6.25% | Industrials | $246.74M |