S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are higher on Friday after a strong lead from Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) rose 0.55% to a record close of 50,381.41 points overnight.
The US market surged as oil prices dropped amid hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran soon.
Meanwhile, ASX 200 shares are up 0.53% to 8,668.2 points at the time of writing.
However, the ASX 200 remains in the red, down 0.71%, for the calendar year to date.
Amid volatile trading conditions, brokers have reduced their ratings on several ASX 200 shares this week.
Let’s take a look.
ASX 200 shares downgraded this week
Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)
The Telstra share price is $5.43, down 0.7% today.
The ASX 200 telco share has risen 15% over the past 12 months.
Macquarie downgraded Telstra shares from outperform to neutral today.
The broker shaved its 12-month price target by 1.2% to $5.57.
This suggests just 4% upside ahead.
IAG Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)
The IAG share price is $7.87, down 3.5% today.
Over the past year, this ASX 200 financial share has fallen 10%.
Citi downgraded IAG shares from buy to hold with an $8.50 price target on Friday.
This still implies a potential 8% upside ahead.
Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)
The Brambles share price is $16.77, down 1.2% today.
Over the past month, Brambles shares have fallen 26%.
Morgans downgraded the ASX 200 industrial share from accumulate to hold on Tuesday.
The broker also reduced its 12-month price target from $25.50 to $18.70.
This still implies a potential 11% upside ahead.
Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK)
The Nick Scali share price is $13.20, down 3.6% today.
Over the past six months, this ASX 200 retail share has fallen 43%.
Jefferies downgraded Nick Scali shares from buy to hold on Friday.
Analyst Michael Simotas forecasts lower profits ahead due to falling consumer sentiment amid higher interest rates and proposed changes to capital gains tax (CGT) in the Federal Budget.
Simotas attributed his profit forecast downgrades to “operating deleverage in Australia, New Zealand and U.K. due to softening macroeconomic conditions and given Nick Scali’s sales are strongly correlated to housing market”.
The broker slashed its 12-month price target by 44% to $14 per share.
This indicates only a small potential uplift ahead.
Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)
The Elders share price is $5.77, up 2.7% today.
This ASX 200 agribusiness has lost 23% of its market valuation over the past six months.
Canaccord Genuity downgraded Elders shares to hold after the company released its 1H FY26 results.
The broker cut its 12-month target from $8.64 to $5.34.
This suggests a potential 7% downside ahead.
The post 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Should you invest $1,000 in Brambles right now?
Before you buy Brambles shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Brambles wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
* Returns as of 20 Feb 2026
.custom-cta-button p {
margin-bottom: 0 !important;
}
More reading
- Here’s a 9% ASX dividend stock to consider for a monthly passive income
- Should I invest $5,000 in Telstra shares before the end of May?
- 2 ASX 200 shares I’d buy today and hold for years
- 3 ASX stocks expected to increase their dividends in 2026
- Brokers say these ASX 300 shares are too cheap to ignore
Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 Jefferies Financial Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders and Nick Scali. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.