TOP-3 of the deals on JSE in Half-year 1 (1/2) 2026

It's time to review the best deals of the first half of the year. While many investors prefer to invest in assets for a longer period, and many, conversely, trade on price changes within a single month as part of their strategy, we believe that a six-month period is an important indicator of the success or failure of acquired assets. While the beginning of the year is considered the best time to enter the market for long-term investments, the middle of the year is an excellent time to take stock of the first results and perhaps even lock in profits or losses.

Which deals turned out to be the most successful, the most profitable, and which investors were the luckiest and smartest in buying these companies' shares? The results will surprise, and perhaps even shock, you.

Deal #1: investments in Stefanutti Stocks Limited (JSE: SSK)

These deals brought investors
, which means +115.42% per annum. Those who believed in this company received +211 ZAc on each share purchased in just six months of 2026, and hundreds of these shares could have been purchased at a reduced price. In January, the stock was consolidating, but the uptrend began six months before the start of 2026, so everyone had plenty of time to find this asset on the exchange and not miss out. No one yet knew how the legal proceedings and company restructuring would end. However, just a few months later, the stock soared in price, reaching 650 cents at the end of June, up from 439 cents on the first trading day of January.

Despite the highly speculative and high-risk nature of investing in Stefanutti Stocks Holdings, investors experienced virtually no drawdowns during the first six months of 2026. This was the envy of even those seeking safe, 100% reliable assets. Therefore, this company rightfully takes first place in our ranking of the best assets for the first half of 2026.

Stefanutti Stocks (JSE: SSK) price chart July 2026

Is Stefanutti Stocks worth investing in today?

Many factors have already been factored into the price, and the stock is generally at its highs. At the same time, the uptrend is far from complete. The stock is supported by strong free cash flow (FCF of R1.4 billion, double the paper profit). However, it's worth considering that the lion's share of the profit is a one-time gain (from the settlement of a dispute). The underlying business is recovering, but legacy issues (accumulated losses) remain to be addressed. For a long-term portfolio, this is an interesting turnaround story.

Deal #2: investments in Sasol Limited (SOL) shares (6M: +57.14%).

While Stefanutti Stocks' success is largely due to successful and fair court decisions, as well as a well-executed restructuring, Sasol's success is undoubtedly due to a fortunate confluence of external geopolitical factors. Just then, the conflict between Iran and the US escalated, the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, and resource prices were skyrocketing. It sounds like a speculative story, but it's worth remembering that Sasol is a truly large company, and its financial reports showed rising profits. By buying shares on the first trading day of January at 10653 ZAc, they could have been sold for twice as much in June, before the Iran-US peace agreement was signed. One could have made 12292 ZAc on each share simply by following the news on social media or television. This is significantly more than one could have made on each Stefanutti Stock, but the entry cost was also higher.

Sasol Limited (JSE: SOL) price chart July 2026

Is it worth investing in Sasol today?

Possibly, but be prepared for a downturn. The geopolitical situation can change at any moment. The shares are highly vulnerable to external factors and the value of the rand. After their peak in March and April, the shares corrected to R163. This is a good entry price, well below the peak, and a good option for long-term investments in the fuel and energy sector. Fundamentally, the company looks much stronger than it did a year ago, and the analyst consensus forecast for a fair price is now in the range of R204–R215, meaning the company currently looks undervalued.

Deal #3: Investment in Grindrod Limited (JSE: GND).

Grindrod is a logistics company, operating ports through which coal, chrome, and other resources are exported. This company almost never appears in daily stock price reports, but in six months,
equivalent to 105.4% annually.

The company's growth was driven not only by demand for resources, which increases export potential and demand for its services, but also by its access to railways, where, with adequate funding, it could gain a dominant position in profitable rail freight transportation, expanding its range of services.

Grindrod (JSE: GND) price chart July 2026

By making a deal on the first trading day of January, at the end of the first half of the year, one could have made a profit of 965 ZAc on each Grindrod Limited share purchased. It's worth noting that the upward trend began a year ago. Regardless, with virtually no drawdowns, one could have made a decent profit by selling the shares, but you probably wouldn't want to sell, as the company retains growth potential against the backdrop of neutral technical analysis indicators and expert estimates. However, the price is currently at its peak, and price corrections are possible.

Nevertheless, the company trades at a comfortable P/E multiple of around 8.3x, has a clear growing business, and strong cash flow. The region's logistics shortage will not go away in the coming years, so Grindrod remains a quality asset, shielded from South Africa's domestic problems by its international revenue.

Conclusions.

We had no trouble finding the most profitable deals on the JSE. In fact, there is a wide range of companies that finished the first half of the year in the green, ranging from speculative stocks to well-known names in the Top 40.

Comparison table of the winners 6M 2026

All three companies that emerged as the best assets for investors, according to our ranking, are from different sectors: logistics, construction, and energy. These success stories range from the random to the predictable. We've compared all three companies in a single table. Perhaps this will help you find an excellent asset for your investment portfolio or add these companies to your list. We hope that your next deal will be just as successful as those, we reviewed today.