Buy, sell, hold: AMP, Wesfarmers, Woodside shares

Woodside Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have tumbled into the red today while AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) climb higher.

Lets find out which of the three major ASX 200 shares brokers rate a buy, a sell and a hold.

Brokers rate AMP shares a BUY

AMP shares are up around 2% to $2.57 at the time of writing on Wednesday morning. The financial services company’s shares are now up around 42% for the year-to-date.

The shares have climbed higher recently off the back of its strong first-half FY26 result in early-August. It looks like investors were pleased with the company’s 33% increase in underlying NPAT to $174 million. 

The result came within AMP’s boosted profit guidance of $170 million to $180 million and is hugely higher than the $131 million reported in the first half of FY25.

Brokers are pleased with the result too. According to TradingView data the majority have a buy/strong buy rating on AMP shares. But after today’s rally, the $2.57 target price implies around a 2% downside at the time of writing.

Brokers rate Woodside shares a HOLD

Woodside shares have dropped lower this morning, down around 1.5% to $31.22 per share. Despite today’s dip the ASX energy company is still trading around 32% higher than 12 months ago.

The company is likely tracking fluctuations in the price of oil over the past week. On the 15th of September the price of oil spiked to a four-month high of around US$106 per barrel. The price has slipped below $90 per barrel on Wednesday as signs of a potential peace agreement between the US and Iran look positive once again.

The experts are quite divided, however, about where the share price will travel to next. TradingView data shows the majority (eight out of 17) have a hold rating on Woodside shares, six have a buy/strong buy rating and three rate the oil and gas stock as a sell.

The average $33.25 target price implies a potential 6% upside, at the time of writing.

Brokers rate Wesfarmers shares as a SELL

Wesfarmers shares are climbing higher into the green this morning, up around 1% to $73.80 each at the time of writing. It’s been a difficult year of peaks and troughs for the conglomerate, though, and its shares are still around 10% lower for the year-to-date.

The shares have faced several headwinds this year, including inflation and interest rate pressures which have put broad pressure on consumer discretionary and retail stocks. There is also a question about how the business can continue growing in a weakening market.

Analysts have lost confidence too. TradingView data shows half (either out of 16) have a strong sell rating on Wesfarmers shares. The other eight experts are split between a sell and a buy/strong buy rating.

But after the latest share price decline, the average $76.59 target price implies a potential 4% upside ahead, at the time of writing.

The post Buy, sell, hold: AMP, Wesfarmers, Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Where to invest as interest rates charge higher
• How much is needed in superannuation to target a $95,000 annual passive income?
• How to build a $50,000 passive income from ASX shares
• How much passive income can I earn off an $800,000 superannuation balance?
• Woodside vs Ampol: Which ASX energy stock should you buy?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.