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Sharesight users' top 20 trades in ASX stocks for 2023

by Stephanie Stefanovic, Content Manager, Sharesight | Dec 20th 2023

Each year, Sharesight looks back at the top 20 buy and sell trades made by Sharesight users throughout the year. Welcome to the 2023 edition of our ASX snapshot, where we explore the top trades users have made in stocks on the ASX this year, plus the market-moving news behind some of these stocks.

Sharesight users’ top 20 ASX stocks traded in 2023

Top20 ASX trades 2023

This year’s top trades were largely dominated by blue chip stocks and Vanguard ETFs.

Buy trades were strongly led by Vanguard’s Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), followed by the ETF provider’s MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS). In terms of individual stocks, buy trades were led by Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS), which saw its share price swing wildly throughout the year, ultimately ending the year up almost 5% (as at the time of publishing). Sell trades were led by Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS), which saw its share price peak in Q3, followed by a steep decline in Q4, ending the year down almost 12%.

It was a themed year overall, with Sharesight users likely flocking to bank stocks due to their increased profitability amid 2023’s rising rate environment. At the same time, many users were opportunistic, taking advantage of price dips in mining stocks throughout the year.

Let’s look at the news behind some of the key stocks in this year’s snapshot:

Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS)

February: Pilbara Minerals announces 989% profit surge
March: Share price surges as lithium investor sentiment soars
April: Share price rises following board’s approval of Pilgan Plant investment
May: Pilbara shares rise on news of Allkem mega-merger with Livent
June: Pilbara searches for partner to build AU$1 billion processing plant
July: Share prices rises following update on mid-stream demonstration plant
August: Reports 326% profit growth in FY23 results
September: Pilbara Minerals now the most shorted stock on the ASX
October: Falls short of market expectations in Q1 earnings results
Decemnber: Pilbara short-selling hits a new high as analysts divided over stock’s future

BHP (ASX: BHP)

January: BHP share price rises on strong Q2 results
February: Profit falls 32% amid low iron ore prices
March: Signs carbon capture pilot agreement with Chinese steelmaker
April: BHP’s latest quarterly earnings fall slightly short of expectations
May: BHP shares hit 6-month low amid plummeting iron ore prices
June: Share price drops following news of carbon reduction plans
July: BHP posts iron ore record but warns of uncertainty ahead to due to inflation and global economic volatility
August: Profit drops 37%, fuelled by Chinese economic woes
September: Receives council approval for 1,100-bed mining camp in Kalgoorlie-Boulder
November: BHP share price up 10% in a month
December: Share price plummets following BHPs decision not to acquire Broken Hill copper project

Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS)

January: Woodside records highest-ever quarterly production
February: Woodside profit hits record high due to BHP merger and soaring oil and gas prices
March: Seeks shareholder approval for CEO bonus, pay rise for directors
May: Shares rise as analysts declare Woodside will be largely unscathed by PRRT changes
June: Shareholders back AU$10 billion Mexican oil project despite activist warnings
July: Q2 revenue down almost 30% compared to Q1, fuelled by lower global commodity prices
August: Woodside approved to develop Mexico’s Trion deepwater oil project
October: Misses Q3 revenue estimate, narrows full-year production outlook
November: Woodside blames poor customer uptake for slow progress on clean energy goals
December: Woodside in preliminary talks with Santos over proposed merger

CSL (ASX: CSL)

June: Share price drops 8% following profit guidance downgrade
July: CSL shares drop as competitor delivers strong trial results
September: CSL pens deal with UK government to produce flu vaccines
October: Share price hits multi-year low
December: Unions urge super funds to drop CSL shares

Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG)

March: Announces investment in US fibre business Pavlov Media
May: Macquarie announces record AU$5.2 billion profit
September: Shares drop due to concerns over economic headwinds for asset management branch
November: Macquarie Group purchases 15% stake in insurance platform The Envest Group

Westpac (ASX: WBC)

January: Westpac share price up 20% in 6 months
February: Share price drops following mixed quarterly results
May: Westpac shares jump following announcement of AU$4 billion half-yearly profit
August: Announces AU$1.8 billion quarterly profit; 10% down from first-half quarterly average
September: ASIC sues Westpac over alleged failure on hardship notices; share price dips
November: Share price rises on strong earnings, big dividend and AU$1.5 billion share buyback