The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) spent another day in the green on Thursday, gaining 0.13% to close at 7,511.6 points.

It follows the United States Federal Reserves’ decision to bump interest rates another 0.25% to 4.75%, seemingly marking a slowdown in hikes.

Staying overseas, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) led Wall Street overnight, rising 2%.

It likely comes as no surprise then that the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) outperformed all other sectors today, rising 3.1%.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was the worst performer, falling 0.9% amid tumbling oil prices. Brent crude oil slumped 3.1% overnight while the US Nymex crude dropped 3.1% to US$76.41 a barrel.

But which ASX 200 shares posted the biggest gains of all on Thursday? Let’s take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today’s top-performing ASX 200 share was tech giant Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1). Its share price gained 11% today amid a notable tech rally.

These shares made today’s biggest gains:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)	$6.20	11.11%
Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)	$82.60	7.47%
Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)	$63.53	6.77%
Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)	$14.93	6.41%
Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)	$6.72	6.16%
Credit Corp Group Limited (ASX: CCP)	$23.32	6%
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)	$3.36	5.99%
Block Inc (ASX: SQ2)	$120.93	5.93%
Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)	$0.27	5.88%
Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG)	$3.33	5.71%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

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More reading

• These could be the best ASX 200 growth shares to buy: analysts
• I’m listening to Warren Buffett and buying ASX shares on sale
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• Happy days! 8 ASX 200 shares smashing new 52-week highs on Thursday
• Why are ASX 200 iron ore shares like Rio Tinto sliding lower today?

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 Block, Megaport, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Block, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Megaport. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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There are plenty of ASX 200 growth shares for investors to choose from. But two of the best right now could be listed below, according to analysts.

Here’s why they are bullish on these shares:

Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

Morgans is very positive on this gaming technology company and sees it as an ASX 200 growth share to buy right now. Its analysts have Aristocrat’s shares on their best ideas list for February with an add rating and $43.00 price target.

The broker is expecting Aristocrat to continue its strong growth long into the future thanks to a combination of factors. It explained:

We have three key reasons for being positive on ALL. They are: (1) long-term organic growth potential. ALL is better capitalised than many of its competitors and has what we regard as a strong platform to continue investment in design and development in both its land-based gaming and digital businesses; (2) strong cash conversion and ROCE. ALL is a capital-light business despite its ongoing investment in Gaming Operations capex and working capital. It has a high level of cash conversion and ROCE and (3) strong platform for investment. ALL has funding capacity for organic and inorganic investment in online RMG, even after the recent buyback. Its current available liquidity is $3.8bn.

Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

Goldman Sachs is a big fan of Xero and recently named the cloud accounting platform provider as its top ASX 200 tech pick. The broker has a buy rating and $109.00 price target on its shares.

Its analysts are positive on Xero due largely to its very strong long term growth outlook. This is underpinned by its high quality platform, the shift online, and its huge global target market of over 100 million small businesses. Goldman commented:

We see Xero as very well-placed to take advantage of the digitisation of SMBs globally, driven by compelling efficiency benefits and regulatory tailwinds, with >100mn SMBs worldwide representing a >NZ$76bn TAM. Following the recent underperformance (absolute/relative), we see an attractive entry point into a compelling global growth story and our preferred large-cap technology name in ANZ, and are Buy rated (on CL). Key catalysts include: Upcoming results and opex outlook; CEO strategy update, and potential M&A.

The post These could be the best ASX 200 growth shares to buy: analysts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• I’m listening to Warren Buffett and buying ASX shares on sale
• Why Centuria Office, Deep Yellow, Newcrest, and Xero shares are racing higher today
• Xero share price jumps 9% to four-month high
• 3 ASX 200 tech shares going gangbusters on Thursday
• Need passive income? Turn $5,000 into $800 every month

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

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Although ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares have just ended the day 0.5% lower at $25.18, they are still up over 6% since the start of the year.

This means the banking giant’s shares are now up over 20% from their June low or $20.78.

Can ANZ shares keep rising?

The good news for investors is that a number of brokers still see value in ANZ shares at the current level. This could mean that there’s plenty more gains to come over the remainder of 2023.

For example, a note out of UBS this morning reveals that its analysts have reiterated their buy rating and $30.00 price target. This implies potential upside of 19% for investors between now and this time next year.

UBS isn’t alone with its positive view. Citi is a fan and currently has a buy rating and $29.25 price target on its shares. The broker is also expecting a decent increase in the ANZ dividend both this year and next.

In FY 2023, it expects a 20 cents per share increase to $1.66 per share. Whereas in FY 2024, it has pencilled in an increase to $1.76 per share. Based on the current ANZ share price, this implies fully franked dividend yields of 6.6% and 7%, respectively.

Finally, another note out of Credit Suisse from last month reveals that its analysts have an outperform rating and $29.00 price target on ANZ’s shares, implying potential upside of 15%.

All in all, ANZ shares may have started the year strongly, but analysts appear to believe the party could only just be getting started.

The post ANZ shares have been on a roll in 2023. Can it last? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Top ASX dividend shares to buy in February 2023
• ‘Attractive stock’: Fundie names one ASX share to buy, one to watch, one to avoid
• Is the ANZ share price cheap right now?
• Investing in ASX 200 bank shares? Here’s the dividend outlook for 2023
• This could crash the earnings season party for ASX 200 bank shares: Macquarie

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.

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As an investor, you’d be hard-pressed not to have heard about Warren Buffett. The ‘Oracle of Omaha’, his US$108 billion fortune, and his freely given investing advice are famous around the globe. That’s why I apply Buffett wisdom when seeking shares to add to my ASX portfolio.

While Buffett doesn’t typically invest on the ASX, I believe many of his philosophies can translate to Aussie shares.

Using Buffett wisdom to hunt down ASX bargain shares

Let’s start with the billionaire’s “first rule of investment”:

Never lose money.

Well, that’s often easier said than done. But the investing great has a simple trick to ensure he’s protected against risks.

That is, buying undervalued shares that offer ‘economic moats’.

An economic moat is an advantage a company holds over its peers, be it low-cost production or a globally recognised brand. Fortunately, it can be relatively simple to figure out if a company offers such a moat.

On the other hand, identifying the true value of a share ­– and thereby, whether it’s undervalued – can be tricky.

Assessing value

It’s also one of the most impactful aspects of any investment.

If a stock is bought for more than it’s worth, it’s arguably more likely to prove a poor investment.

Conversely, buying a share for less than its true value can kick start an investors’ returns.

However, the market doesn’t always correctly assess a company’s worth. For that reason, different investors tend to use different methods to find a company’s true value.

Delving into a company’s balance sheet

Of course, one simple way to assess value is metrics like a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio or a price-to-book (P/B) ratio. A dividend yield might also act as a value gauge.

Though, these measures don’t delve into why a share might be trading at the valuation it is.

Additionally, they’re not all that much use when surveying a loss-making share.

Finding ASX shares on sale

It’s for that reason that identifying whether an ASX share is ‘on sale’ is incredibly personal.

For instance, an investor might not know much about lithium mining, but could have a good gauge on the retail space.

That same investor might be quick to recognise an ASX retail share trading below the true worth of its business.

I personally tend to turn to companies that have already turned a profit and boast a loyal customer base. I also like those that offer ‘sticky’ products that customers often can’t go without, such as, in my opinion, Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO). The company’s accounting software could count as one of Buffett’s touted ‘economic moats’.

My #1 rule when buying ASX shares

Unfortunately, no investment, no matter how considered, is guaranteed to provide returns.

It’s likely that some of the ASX shares I believe to be ‘on sale’ could actually be fairly valued, thereby compressing my potential returns.

That’s why I also aim to create a diverse portfolio of stocks. That way I can help to protect my portfolio against many of the major risks involved with investing.

The post I’m listening to Warren Buffett and buying ASX shares on sale appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why Centuria Office, Deep Yellow, Newcrest, and Xero shares are racing higher today
• Xero share price jumps 9% to four-month high
• 3 ASX 200 tech shares going gangbusters on Thursday
• How I’d invest $20k in ASX 200 shares in 2023 to aim for a million
• The Nasdaq just had its best January in over 20 years. Are ASX tech shares back?

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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