Buy, hold, sell: Mesoblast, Transurban, NextDC shares

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.4% to 8,749.7 points on Monday.

Among the 11 market sectors, information technology is in the lead today, up 2.3%.

The consumer staples sector is the laggard, down 1.4%.

Here are some new recommendations from the experts.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

The Mesoblast share price is $2.02, up 0.8% today and down 29% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter has a buy rating with a 12-month price target of $4.45 on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Analyst John Hester said: 

The short term outlook for Mesoblast’s revenue growth remains highly attractive.

Pivotal events for valuation are approaching, including the interim readout on the adult GvHD study (1QCY27) and the headline data from the chronic lower back pain trial (CLBP) due mid CY27.

Both are substantially larger markets than paediatric GvHD, nevertheless the market remains cautious.

Australian biotech has had a difficult 12 months with several randomised clinical trials failing to meet clinical endpoints and we expect this has undermined investor confidence in the sector and is a contributing factor to the recent MSB share price.

While there is inherent risk in clinical trials, there is little to no read through from recent performance of others to MSB.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

The Transurban share price is $13.15, down 0.8% today and down 8% over 12 months. 

Blake Halligan from Gray Perry Wealth Advisers has a hold rating on this ASX 200 industrials share. 

Halligan said (courtesy The Bull): 

Transurban owns and operates toll roads across Australia and North America, generating cash flows from essential transport infrastructure.

The company recently agreed to acquire additional interests in Sydney toll roads, which should support longer term earnings and cash flow growth.

No equity funding is required for the $4.5 billion deal.

However, in our view, the benefits are likely to be offset in the near term by increased funding requirements, elevated leverage and ongoing sensitivity to interest rates.

Dependable earnings is challenged by limited immediate upside.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The NextDC share price is $10.38, up 0.1% today and down 34% over 12 months. 

Tom Fairchild from Lazarus Capital Partners has a sell rating on this ASX 200 tech share. 

Fairchild said: 

NXT is riding the AI data centre boom. The company generated total revenue of $496.5 million in full year 2026, up 16 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

To fund capital expenditure of $3.397 billion in full year 2026, NXT raised $9.75 billion, much of it in senior debt, subordinated notes and hybrid securities.

The company’s $82.1 million statutory profit relied on a revaluation gain of $128.8 million.

In our view, rising interest costs could squeeze returns before new capacity starts paying its way.

The shares have fallen from $16.37 on June 4 to trade at $10.23 on October 8.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Mesoblast, Transurban, NextDC shares 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 positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.