Buy, hold, sell: REA, Northern Star Resources, Suncorp shares

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are only just inside the green at 9,076.8 points, up 0.04%, on Tuesday.

Among the 11 ASX 200 market sectors today, healthcare is screaming higher, up 7.1%.

This follows earnings releases from sector heavyweights CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME).

Reliance Worldwide Corp Ltd (ASX: RWC) shares are the fastest risers of the ASX 200 today.

The Reliance share price is up 25% to $4.50 after a takeover offer for $4.75 per share.

Meanwhile on The Bull this week, two experts share their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s take a look.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA share price is $179.56, up 1.2% today and down 31% over 12 months. 

Tom Fairchild from Lazarus Capital Partners has a buy rating on this ASX 200 communications share. 

He said: 

Revenue from core operations of $1.793 billion in full year 2026 was up 7 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

Net profit after tax from core operations of $650 million was up 15 per cent. Earnings per share of $4.93 was up 15 per cent.

The final fully franked dividend of $1.73 was up 25 per cent.

Investors responded positively after the full year result was released on August 6.

But we believe the company still has ample room to improve its performance from here.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

The Suncorp share price is $18.46, down 1.3% today and down 14% over 12 months. 

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has a hold rating on this ASX 200 financial share.

Wielandt said: 

Suncorp provides insurance products and services. Higher interest rates and bond yields can be a tail wind for the company’s investment portfolio.

Gross written premiums of $15.407 billion were up 2.7 per cent in full year 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Cash earnings of $1.042 billion were down from $1.452 billion in 2025.

An on-market share buy-back of up to $250 million is planned for full year 2027.

All insurance companies are challenged by appropriately pricing risk in a rapidly evolving climate change environment.

It remains our long term concern, so we retain a hold recommendation.

Suncorp shares began trading ex-dividend yesterday.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price is $22.45, down 3.2% today and up 23% over 12 months. 

Fairchild has a sell rating on this ASX 200 gold share. 

He said: 

The company announced total gold sales of 1.543 million ounces for full year 2026, which was above revised group guidance of 1.5 million ounces.

NST disappointed investors after downgrading production guidance twice in fiscal year 2026 following weaker than expected operational performance.

The shares have fallen from $31.73 on March 2 to trade at $23.28 on August 13.

The company’s final investment decision regarding the Hemi project is targeted for late fiscal year 2027. 

In our view, other gold companies appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

Northern Star will release its full-year FY26 report on Thursday.

The post Buy, hold, sell: REA, Northern Star Resources, Suncorp shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 3 reasons to buy this rebounding ASX 200 dividend stock today
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• Experts name 3 popular ASX 200 shares to sell today
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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 CSL and Cochlear. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.