Smart investing does not always mean chasing the strongest performer of the moment.

It can also mean looking for businesses with durable advantages, clear growth paths, and the ability to keep investing through different market conditions.

With that in mind, here are three ASX 200 shares that could be worth a closer look in May.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

One ASX 200 share that stands out for long-term investors is CSL.

The biotechnology giant has been under pressure in recent years, but its core business remains high quality. CSL is a global leader in plasma therapies, vaccines, and other specialist healthcare products.

Its plasma collections network gives it scale that is difficult to replicate. That is important because plasma-based medicines require deep infrastructure, regulatory expertise, and long-term supply chains.

The company is also exposed to long-term healthcare demand, which tends to be less tied to the economic cycle than many other industries.

If CSL can improve margins and return to stronger earnings growth, its current weakness could prove to be an attractive entry point over time.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Another ASX 200 share worth watching in May is Life360.

Life360 has built a global app-based platform focused on family connection and safety. The strength of the business is its ability to sit inside users’ daily routines, which supports engagement and retention.

The technology company’s opportunity is increasingly about monetisation. It already has a large user base, but the earnings upside comes from converting more users into paying subscribers and adding services that deepen the relationship.

Features such as driver protection, emergency assistance, and location-based tools give Life360 more ways to increase value for customers.

With scale already in place and monetisation still developing, Life360 remains tied to a growth story that could have further to run.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

A third ASX 200 share that could appeal to smart investors is Wesfarmers.

Wesfarmers owns a collection of high-quality retail and industrial businesses, with Bunnings at the centre of the group.

Bunnings remains one of the strongest retail franchises in Australia. Its scale, brand trust, and wide product range give it a powerful market position across home improvement and trade customers.

The broader Wesfarmers portfolio also adds flexibility. Businesses such as Kmart, Officeworks, and its chemicals and industrial operations give the group multiple sources of earnings.

This mix of quality, scale, and capital discipline has helped Wesfarmers perform well over long periods.

For investors looking for a proven operator with several ways to keep compounding, Wesfarmers remains one of the ASX 200’s standout businesses.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares for smart investors in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 10 ASX shares bought and sold in April
• What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year?
• CSL, Resmed, Cochlear shares crash to multi-year low: Buy, sell or hold?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• I think this simple ASX investing habit can build wealth over time

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Life360, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The gold industry has pulled back recently after the gold price softened.

The team at Morgans appears to believe this could have created a buying opportunity and has named three ASX 200 gold shares to buy this week.

Here’s what it is recommending to clients:

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

Morgans thinks Newmont, which is the world’s largest gold miner, could be an ASX 200 gold share to buy.

In response to its stronger than expected quarterly result, the broker has put a buy rating and $208.00 price target on its shares. It said:

Strong beat and capital returns increased: NEM delivered a strong beat across multiple operating and financial metrics, while completing its US$6bn buyback and announcing a further US$6bn program. The result reinforces NEM’s positioning as a high-quality, cash-generative gold producer with strong balance sheet flexibility and increasing capacity to return capital to shareholders. Maintain BUY rating with a A$208ps target price.

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)

Another gold share that could be a buy according to Morgans is Pantoro Gold.

Although its production was softer than expected during the third quarter, it remains positive. In response, it has put a buy rating and $6.29 price target on its shares. It said:

PNR reported gold sales for 3Q26 of 20.0koz at an AISC of A$3,204/oz, generating revenue of A$138.9m from an average realised price of A$6,916/oz. Production of 17.8koz fell below expectations despite the company’s revised guidance released in March, paired with a substantially higher cost of production.

Whilst we forecast a narrow miss to FY26 guidance, we still anticipate a material uplift in 4Q26 ounce production as Gladstone open-pit delivers higher ore volume to the mill alongside Mega Resources ore treatment partnership. We maintain our BUY rating, with a price target of A$6.29ps (previously A$6.53ps) – the revision a function of adjustments to long-term head-grade and 4Q26.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

A third ASX 200 gold share that Morgans is tipping as a buy this week is Regis Resources.

Like Newmont, it outperformed the broker’s expectations during the third quarter.

As a result, Morgans upgraded the company’s shares to a buy rating with a $10.07 price target. It said:

Gold sales of 89.1koz at an AISC of A$2,807 beat our expectations whilst performing in line with company guidance, delivering revenue of A$622m at an average realised price of A$6,977/oz. RRL continues to build a substantial cash balance, adding an additional A$198m bringing the total to A$1.12bn. Replenished ounces with group MRE exceeding 10% yoy resource growth underpinning future production.

We upgrade to BUY (from HOLD) following recent weakness across the gold sector which we believe has uncovered value in RRL underpinned by attractive immediate term cash generation paired with a structured capital management framework.

The post Morgans names 3 ASX 200 gold shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buying ASX gold shares like Newmont and Northern Star? Here’s Goldman Sachs’ latest 2026 gold price forecast
• 5 ASX mining shares to buy: experts
• Morgans tips 1 ASX mining share to rip — and 1 to avoid — in 2026
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you have $10,000 to invest in May, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can make it easy to access global markets without needing to pick every stock yourself.

The key is choosing funds with a clear purpose. Some focus on quality, some target long-term themes, and others use a disciplined stock-selection process to look for companies that could outperform over time.

Here are three ASX ETFs that could be worth a closer look this month.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

It is built around a simple idea. Some companies are better protected than others. They may have strong brands, cost advantages, network effects, or other qualities that make it difficult for competitors to take market share.

The ETF looks for US companies that have these sustainable advantages, while also paying attention to valuation.

Its holdings include NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI), NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), and Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB). NXP is an interesting example because its chips are used across cars, industrial systems, and connected devices. These are areas where reliability matters and customer relationships can be hard to displace.

That gives the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF a different feel from a standard US market ETF. It is not just buying the biggest names. It is trying to own stocks with staying power when the price looks reasonable.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

Another ASX ETF that could appeal in May is the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF.

Gaming is no longer just a niche entertainment category. It has become a global media industry, with revenue coming from consoles, mobile games, online worlds, in-game spending, and the hardware that powers the experience.

This fund provides exposure to companies involved in video game development, esports, and related hardware and software globally.

Its holdings include Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), and Nintendo. Nintendo shows why this sector can be attractive over long periods. Its value is not only in hardware sales, but also in the franchises it owns and can monetise across games, films, merchandise, and new platforms.

This makes the VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF a way to access the broader economics of gaming rather than betting on one title, one console cycle, or one developer. It was recently recommended by VanEck.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

A third ASX ETF worth considering in May is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF.

This fund focuses on global stocks outside Australia that rank well on measures such as return on equity, debt-to-capital, cash flow generation, and earnings stability.

Its holdings include UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET), and Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX). Arista is a useful example. It sells networking equipment used by large cloud and AI customers. That gives it exposure to digital infrastructure, but within a business that has been selected through a quality-focused lens.

The appeal of the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF is that it does not rely on one theme or region. It looks for companies with financial strength across global markets, which can be a useful approach when investors want growth exposure without leaning too heavily into speculative names. This fund was recently recommended by the team at Betashares.

The post Where to invest $10,000 in ASX ETFs in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Why quality is king during economic downturns
• Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio
• Wondering which ASX ETFs to buy? Try these top picks
• This ASX ETF has generated returns of almost 15% per year!

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Airbnb, Arista Networks, Lam Research, NXP Semiconductors, Nintendo, Nvidia, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Electronic Arts and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Airbnb, Arista Networks, Lam Research, Nvidia, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was yet another red day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Thursday, cementing what has become a pattern of pessimism on the Australian markets. In its seventh red session in a row, the ASX 200 closed down a miserly 0.24% today. That leaves the index at 8,665.8 points.

This unhappy Thursday session for ASX investors follows a more mixed night on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a foul mood, dropping by 0.57%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) managed to stay above ground, inching 0.038% higher.

But let’s return to the local markets now and check out what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 10 ASX shares bought and sold in April
• What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year?
• ASX 200 sinks into longest losing streak in years as oil prices surge
• Why Capstone Copper, Gentrack, Mineral Resources, and WiseTech shares are racing higher today
• Why Mineral Resources, Woolworths and Boss Energy shares are turning heads on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Cochlear and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group, Cochlear, and Generation Development Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares closed 0.2% lower today in the market’s eighth consecutive day in the red.

The benchmark index rose 2.2% this month despite peace negotiations between the US and Iran stalling and oil prices continuing to surge.

The Brent Crude oil price rose 8.8% during April to trade above US$113.50 per barrel today, its highest level since 2022.

The Strait of Hormuz remains shut down, and the global fuel supply crisis worsens by the day.

We saw the impact in yesterday’s Australian inflation data, with automotive fuel prices spiking 33% in March alone.

This contributed to annual inflation rising from 3.7% over the 12 months til the end of February to 4.6% in March.

This is well outside the Reserve Bank’s target band of 2% to 3%.

The market is now pricing in a 69% chance of a third interest rate increase for 2026 in Australia next week.

What’s happening with the Iran war today?

There are reports that the US military will brief US President Donald Trump on potential further action against Iran.

This follows the President’s rejection of Iran’s latest peace proposal.

Trading Economics analysts summarised the situation:

Trump … reaffirmed that the US will maintain its naval blockade until a nuclear agreement is reached, further weakening prospects for a diplomatic resolution.

Iranian authorities warned of retaliation if the blockade continues, accusing Trump of attempting to force Tehran into submission through economic pressure and internal destabilization.

Amid this uncertainty and fears of a global recession, here are the ASX shares and ETFs that investors bought and sold most this month.

Most bought ASX shares in April

The following ASX shares and ETFs were the most bought by investors using the Bell Direct trading platform this month.

The rankings are based on order of net value of buy orders, minus sell orders, placed by Bell Direct customers.

Rank	ASX share
1	Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)
2	Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY)
3	Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)
4	BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200)
5	BetaShares Australian High Interest Cash ETF (ASX: AAA)
6	CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)
7	WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)
8	Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)
9	BetaShares Australian Cash Plus Active ETF (ASX: MMKT)
10	Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Source: Bell Direct

Most sold ASX shares this month

Rank	ASX share
1	Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)
2	Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
3	Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)
4	Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)
5	Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)
6	Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)
7	Westpac Banking Corporation Ltd (ASX: WBC)
8	PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)
9	Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL)
10	Antipa Minerals Ltd (ASX: AZY)

Source: Bell Direct

The post Top 10 ASX shares bought and sold in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year?
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• Should I sell my Telstra shares in May?
• 5 ASX All Ords shares downgraded by brokers this week
• 5 ASX mining shares to buy: experts

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Wesfarmers, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group, WiseTech Global, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It is not an uncommon event for the ASX stock market to welcome new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to its boards. Heck, one seems to make its public markets debut every other month. This April is no different, with Australian investors, as of today, having three new choices to pick between if they are on the hunt for their next ASX ETF.

Earlier this week, my Fool colleague heralded the launch of these three new funds in question. They are all from ETF provider VanEck.

VanEck is a well-known name amongst the ETF investor community. Some of this provider’s most popular offerings include the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT), the VanEck International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL), and the VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX: MVW).

Today, these products have three new stablemates.

They are:

• VanEck Core+ Diversified Balanced Active ETF (ASX: VBAL)
• VanEck Core+ Diversified Growth Active ETF (ASX: VGRO)
• VanEck Core+ Diversified High Growth Active ETF (ASX: VHGR)

What’s new with these ASX ETFs?

As you might guess, all three of these new ETFs are in a family. All three offer investors a diversified portfolio of underlying ETFs – a ‘ETF of ETFs’ model that has grown in popularity in recent years. The underlying ETFs are all VanEck products too, and aim to give investors a specific exposure to different asset classes, depending on their desired risk level.

To illustrate, both the VanEck Core+ Diversified Balanced Active ETF and the VanEck Core+ Diversified High Growth Active ETF both hold stakes in the Australian Equal Weight ETF we touched on earlier.

VBAL’s portfolio allocates about 17% of its portfolio to this ETF, while the higher-growth VHGR product ramps this up to about 35%. In lieu of additional exposure to ASX shares, VBAL instead opts to employ a higher use of bonds and fixed-interest investments to reduce its risk level to investors.

So VanEck is clearly trying to offer something for everyone here. It’s a similar product offering to that of VanEck’s fellow ETF providers like BetaShares and Vanguard. These two providers also offer ‘ETFs of ETFs’. They include the BetaShares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) and the Vanguard Diversified Conservative Index ETF (ASX: VDCO).

All three of these new VanEck ETFs floated at $20 a unit today. At the time of writing, all three have taken a slight dip, reflecting today’s market-wide drop, no doubt. Let’s see how these funds fare going forward.

VBAL, VGRO, and VHGR all charge management fees of 0.39% per annum. That’s $39 per year for every $10,000 invested.

The post These 3 ASX ETFs just hit the Australian stock market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Top 10 ASX shares bought and sold in April
• Is there still opportunity in ASX media shares?
• This ASX gold stock could charge more than 70% higher: Broker
• 5 ASX shares scoring upgraded ratings this week
• What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In recent years, ASX media shares have faced significant volatility. Investor sentiment has soured as structural disruption, declining audience numbers, and unstable advertising revenue impact the sector.

But is the sector a write-off, or is there still opportunity for investors?

What’s happening in the sector?

Advertising revenue has become increasingly unstable across the sector. Advertising is often one of the first budgets to be cut in challenging business climates. So, with the current economic uncertainty and rising interest rates, it’s a difficult time to rely on these revenue streams.

In addition, businesses are pivoting away from traditional advertising formats towards user-generated content and influencer collaborations.

While there is some hope of a recovery in advertising spend later in the year, we’re not likely to ever see a return to the golden age of media. So, the focus has to shift to more future-proofed income streams. For the big players, this requires them to think less like complex media businesses and more like streamlined content platforms, data houses, and subscription services.

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC): The Diversification Play

Nine’s diversified revenue streams include broadcasting (Nine Network), streaming (Stan), newspapers (AFR, SMH, The Age), and digital outdoor advertising, with the recent acquisition of QMS Media.

This diversification gives it less reliance on advertising revenue alone, so investing in Nine isn’t a total turnaround play that involves simply betting on advertising recovery. But it isn’t a compelling digital growth story either — at least not yet.

It is, however, well positioned to benefit from a simple stabilisation of advertising spend, as its diversification means it won’t rely on a full rebound.

Some analysts are assigning a moderate buy rating to the entertainment share, which closed at $0.95 on Wednesday, down from a 52-week high of $1.90.

For me, Nine presents a lower risk than many other ASX media shares. But it also offers the least potential reward, in my opinion. If a full recovery of advertising spend does eventuate, it doesn’t stand to benefit to the same degree as some of its competitors, but it does offer some downside protection in its diversification.

News Corporation (ASX: NWS): The Asset-Backed Play

While advertising remains an important revenue stream for this media giant, it is not the core driver of investor value for News Corp. Its portfolio includes a stable of newspapers, subscription services (Foxtel), marketplaces (a majority stake in REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)), and book publishing (Harper Collins).

Of course, like all media players, News Corp’s traditional media operations face significant headwinds as print continues its structural weakening. And its subscriptions don’t seem to be growing at a pace that can offset a continued decline in advertising revenue.

That said, its diversified portfolio provides News Corp with insulation against dips in advertising revenue cycles and significant asset backing. REA Group gives it exposure to Australia’s buoyant, if temporarily softened, property market, while Harper Collins offers a solid, cash-generating performer.

The News Corp share price is down by about 14% over the last 12 months, and some analysts consider it a buy at the current price. In my opinion, News Corp represents the most defensive option of the ASX media shares, as an asset-heavy media business with a strong balance sheet and limited potential upside.

Southern Cross Media Group Ltd (ASX: SXL): The Higher Risk/Reward Play

Southern Cross Media Group is probably the most exposed to advertising revenue among these ASX media shares, so its share price may be more reliant on an advertising bounce-back.  

In H1 2026, its first results following its merger with Seven West Media, saw a 1.5% revenue drop and 16.5% drop in net profit after tax as the advertising crunch began to bite. The share price has dropped around 9% over the last year, closing at $0.61 on Wednesday, up from a 52-week low of $0.52.

However, the merger has created a multi-platform media opportunity, including radio (SCA, Triple M), television (Channel 7), newspapers (The West Australian), and digital publishing (LiSTNR). And this should give it broad appeal for advertisers as it is now able to reach around 95% of Australians. So, if we see advertising bounce back later in the year, there may be a reward for patient investors. 

It’s almost definitely a higher risk play. But at the current share price, it could offer decent upside. For me, it is the one with the most opportunity for growth, if, of course, you believe an advertising recovery is on the cards.

The post Is there still opportunity in ASX media shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• How much would I need to invest in ASX shares to earn $1,000 in passive income every month?
• After a big acquisition what are Nine Entertainment shares worth?

Motley Fool contributor Melissa Maddison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nine Entertainment. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) impressed shareholders this week, with its third-quarter report showing its cash pile has grown to more than half a billion dollars on the back of steady gold production.

The analysts at Canaccord Genuity took the opportunity to run the ruler over Capricorn’s results in the wake of their release, and have a buy recommendation on the stock and a bullish price target, which we’ll get to shortly.

Firstly, let’s have a look at what the company announced.

Gold production steady

Capricorn said its Karlawinda Gold Project generated 30,358 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of $1617 per ounce.

Production was marginally down on the 30,476 ounces in the second quarter, but the costs were a slight improvement.

The company said it was on track to hit the upper end of its guidance of 115,000 to 125,000 ounces of gold for the full year.

Capricorn had $507.6 million in cash and gold on hand at the end of the quarter, up from $457.4 million in the second quarter, and the company declared a fully-franked dividend of 5 cents per share during the quarter.

The company said it was a strong quarter operationally, and added:

The sustained post expansion mining run rate allowed Capricorn to deliver the planned quarterly gold production whilst also achieving the development requirements of the Karlawinda Expansion Project (KEP). Mining production rates have stabilised at the expanded run rate for the KEP over the full year, with first ore delivered to KEP Run of Mine 2 during the quarter.

Capricorn said the expansion project was expected to be commissioned in the first quarter of FY27.

The company added:

On completion of the KEP the accelerated mining rates which have been required for the last 12 months will be reflected in a gold production rate increasing from around 120,000 ounces per annum to around 150,000 ounces per annum. Capricorn looks forward to the completion of this exciting project and the optimisation of mining to the increased production run rate that will be reflected in detailed FY27 production and cost (AISC and growth capital) guidance.

Shares looking cheap

Canaccord said in its note to clients that the company also released drilling results from the Lexington underground prospect, with all seven holes reported striking mineralisation.

They said another 10,000m of drilling was planned in the June quarter, “to support a maiden inferred underground Resource for Lexington”.

Canaccord has a price target of $19.85 on Capricorn shares, which would be a 72.3% return if achieved.

Capricorn is valued at $5.39 billion.

The post This ASX gold stock could charge more than 70% higher: Broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX gold stock charging higher on dividend news?
• Capricorn Metals reports record cash flow and first dividend in March 2026 quarter
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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.5% lower during the market’s eighth consecutive session in the red today.

Investors are pessimistic, with no end to the Iran war and global fuel crisis in sight.

Meanwhile, some ASX shares have attracted upgraded ratings from the experts this week.

Let’s take a look.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

The Beach Energy share price is $1.19, up 1.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX energy share has fallen 9%.

Canaccord Genuity upgraded Beach Energy shares to a buy rating yesterday.

The broker upped its 12-month price target from $1.35 to $1.43.

This implies 21% potential capital growth ahead.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo share price is steady at $1.43 on Thursday.

Over the past month, this ASX bank share has risen 5.7%.

Morgans upgraded Judo shares from accumulate to buy with a $2.09 target this week.

This price target suggests 46% capital growth over the next year.

The upgraded rating following Judo’s 3Q FY26 trading update.

Judo reaffirmed its FY26 earnings guidance, albeit at the bottom of the range.

Morgans commented:

We view JDO’s recent share price weakness as a buying opportunity for a stock with high growth potential, increasing the margin of safety for the investment.

Upgrade from ACCUMULATE to BUY. Potential TSR at current prices is c.49%.

Amcor CDI (ASX: AMC)

The Amcor share price is $53.26, down 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX materials share has fallen 5.4%.

Ord Minnett upgraded Amcor shares from accumulate to buy yesterday.

However, the broker shaved its 12-month price target from $70 to $66.

This still implies a potential near-25% upside ahead.

In a note, the broker said:

We raise our recommendation to Buy from Accumulate on valuation grounds, however, viewing current share price levels as fully discounting the earnings and cash flow risks facing the company.

Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR)

The Stanmore Resources share price is $2.27, up 0.4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX coal share has fallen 17%.

Morgans upgraded Stanmore Resources shares to a buy rating this week.

However, the broker lowered its 12-month price target from $2.95 to $2.80.

This still implies a healthy potential 23% upside ahead.

A soft opening to FY26 saw two of three headline metrics narrowly miss consensus, though without material impact.

FY26 production guidance is unchanged and the year remains back-end weighted.

FOB cash cost guidance increased to US$98-103/t from US$93-97/t due to inflationary pressures on fuel costs.

Following recent share price weakness, we upgrade our recommendation to BUY (previously HOLD).

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is $77.38, down 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX retail share has lifted 6.9%.

Morgans upgraded JB Hi-Fi shares to a buy rating this week.

The broker cut its share price target from $87 to $83.50, implying a potential 8% upside ahead.

The post 5 ASX shares scoring upgraded ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Amcor Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 healthcare shares have tumbled 39% in a year, with several sector giants trading around multi-year lows today.

This makes healthcare the worst performer of the 11 market sectors over the past 12 months.

It’s even worse than technology, which is down 26% on fears that artificial intelligence (AI) is an existential threat to the sector.

However, while technology is turning around, healthcare remains in the doldrums.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) hit a six-year low of 25,193 points today.

What’s going on?

Expert explains multiple headwinds hitting healthcare

Samy Sriram, a market analyst at online investment platform, Stake, says there are multiple reasons for healthcare’s downward spiral.

First of all, there are currency headwinds and the likelihood of further interest rate rises in Australia.

Sriram said:

A weaker US dollar is eroding the offshore profits of giants like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), which accounts for 45% of the index.

At the same time, the RBA’s decision to keep interest rates high to fight inflation is weighing heavily on the valuations of growth stocks like Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME).

The Australian dollar is currently at a four-year high of 71.3 US cents, up 12% over 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank has already raised interest rates twice this year, and the market is pricing in a 76% chance of another hike next Tuesday.

Cost-of-living pressures force patients to compromise

Sriram also says cost-of-living pressures are impacting healthcare companies, not only in Australia, but also overseas.

She commented:

… persistent cost of living pressures in the US are alarmingly turning some medical procedures into optional expenses.

We’ve seen this with Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), an Australian company that manufactures and supplies hearing aids.

Their shares tumbled 35% due to patients deferring implants.

Last week, Cochlear downgraded its FY26 earnings guidance substantially.

The company now expects an FY26 underlying net profit of $290 million to $300 million, down from $435 million to $460 million.

Management commented:

Consumer sentiment has declined in key markets, reaching historic lows in the US.

The decline appears to be affecting discretionary healthcare decisions in the adults and seniors segment, adding to demand uncertainty in the near term.  

In Australia, consumer sentiment experienced its biggest fall in five years this month.

Iran war’s impact on healthcare

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of a global recession as the fuel crisis drags on, with no end to the war in sight.

A recession would further erode consumer confidence due to inevitable job losses.

For now, Sriram said the war in Iran was hitting healthcare through higher shipping costs.

She commented:

With hospital operators like Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) already being squeezed by rising staff wages and capped insurance payouts, geopolitical volatility is putting extra strain on the books, despite having a turnaround in 2026.

(Ramsay Health Care shares hit an 18-month high of $44.73 in March. The ASX 200 healthcare share is up 21% over six months.)

Cochlear also discussed shipping issues and capped insurance payouts last week.

Cochlear said it expects “order cancellations and a heightened risk of delivery delays to some countries” due to instability in the Middle East, and that lower reimbursements to patients in China “will lower premium tier sales in China in the second half”.

FDA uncertainty under Trump

Biotech investors are also growing wary of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Trump administration.

Leadership upheaval at the FDA, along with conflicting signals on approval standards across different categories of foods and medicines, has created uncertainty over how, and whether, new drugs and products will reach the market.

Earlier this month, a rare diseases advocacy group wrote to President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing reduced flexibility at the FDA and a large proportion of biotech firms reporting difficulty raising funding.

Meanwhile, Secretary Kennedy has openly promoted vaccine scepticism and disputed scientific claims amid a global trend in fewer people seeking vaccinations, possibly as a reaction to mandatory programs and COVID-vaccine injuries during the pandemic.

At CSL’s 2025 AGM, former CSL CEO Dr Paul McKenzie commented: “… we have seen a greater decline in influenza vaccination rates in the U.S. than we expected.”

Last week, The Australian reported that the US military has now scrapped its annual flu shot requirement for service members.

Foolish Takeaway

All of these factors are hitting the healthcare sector hard, and sending many ASX 200 healthcare shares to multi-year low prices.

Here’s how the top 10 ASX 200 healthcare shares by market capitalisation have performed over the past 12 months.

ASX 200 healthcare share	12-month share price movement
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)	-50%
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)	-8%
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH)	-6%
ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)	-19%
Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)	-41%
Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)	-24%
Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)	+18%
Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)	-66%
Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)	-45%
Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN)	-13%

The post What’s making healthcare the worst sector on the ASX 200, down 39% in a year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• CSL, Resmed, Cochlear shares crash to multi-year low: Buy, sell or hold?
• 3 amazing ASX 200 shares to buy with $5,000 in May
• 3 ASX dividend shares to build a passive income
• These beaten down ASX 200 tech stocks could rise 55% to 60%
• Down 65%, are Cochlear shares a once-in-a-decade buying opportunity?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Cochlear, ResMed, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ansell, CSL, Cochlear, Pro Medicus, Sonic Healthcare, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.