Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Woodside and ANZ shares

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares have both smashed the 5.1% 12-month returns delivered by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

In morning trade today, Woodside shares are changing hands for $30.77 apiece. That sees the ASX 200 energy stock up a whopping 47.9% since this time last year, spurred by the company’s own operational successes alongside surging global oil and gas prices.

And that strong performance does not even include dividends. Atop those capital gains, Woodside shares trade on a fully-franked 5.4% trailing dividend yield.

You’re also unlikely to hear longer-term ANZ stockholders complaining.

ANZ shares are trading for $35.21 at the time of writing on Tuesday. This puts the ASX 200 bank stock up 20.7% over 12 months. And ANZ also pays twice yearly dividends, with the big four bank stock trading on a partly franked 4.7% trailing dividend yield.

If you owned ANZ shares at market close last Friday, you can expect to receive the 83 cents per share interim dividend payout (franked at 75%) on 1 July. ANZ traded ex-dividend yesterday.

But following on this strong run, Sanlam Private Wealth’s Remo Greco believes investors would do well to consider locking in some profits (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Time to take profits on ANZ shares?

“The bank delivered a cash profit of $3.780 billion in the first half of 2026, up 14%, excluding significant items, on the second half of 2025,” Greco said of the H1 results ANZ reported on 1 May.

He added:

Return on equity was up 149 basis points. The company posted an interim dividend of 83 cents a share, with franking increased to 75%. The company’s share price has performed well in the past 12 months.

Explaining his sell recommendation on ANZ shares, Greco noted:

Our concern is higher interest rates potentially increasing provisions as mortgage and credit card holders struggle to meet increasing repayments in a weaker economy. It may be prudent to trim holdings and take some profits.

Are Woodside shares a sell today?

Atop recommending taking profits on ANZ shares, Greco also foresees potential headwinds building for Woodside’s outperforming shares.

“The energy company produced a record 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent in full year 2025,” he said. “However, production was offset by lower realised prices.”

Greco concluded:

Consequently, net profit after tax of $2.718 billion was down 24% on the prior corresponding period. Full year fully franked dividends were down 8%.

In our view, relying on dividends carries risk if commodity prices or production fall. Investors may want to take advantage of elevated crude oil prices to cash in some gains.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Woodside and ANZ shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.