S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares edged 2.77% higher and produced total returns, including dividends, of 7% in FY26.    

Here, we review new notes from the experts regarding three ASX 200 shares. 

Let’s take a look.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price fell 17% to $26.70 on 30 June amid a broader technology sector downturn in FY26.

Chris Savage from Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX 200 tech share for FY27.

In a new note last week, Savage said:  

Life360 is our key pick amongst the large tech stocks we cover based on quality, valuation and potential catalysts.

We note the stock looks reasonable value on a 2027 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.23x versus the FY27 EV/EBITDA of Technology One (which has a September year end) of c.26x.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $33 to $35. 

Savage noted that Life360 will report its 2Q FY26 results on 11 August, and said this may be a catalyst for the share price for three key reasons: 

1. We expect MAU growth to rebound to 4.3m – consistent with 2Q2025 – if not higher (VA consensus is 4.6m) which importantly will imply an exit run-rate of close to 5m given the Android issues which persisted into April and even May; 2. We expect paying circle growth to be strong again at c.155k which is notably above VA consensus of c.135k and even see upside risk to our forecast closer to the 1Q2026 result of 202k; and 3. If paying circle growth is >155k then we see potential for a further upgrade to 2026 revenue and EBITDA guidance as paying circle growth is obviously the key driver of subscription revenue.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price rose 6.67% in FY26 to finish at $90.40 on 30 June. 

James Bills from Shaw and Partners has a hold rating on the market’s largest ASX 200 consumer discretionary share.

Bills explained why on The Bull this week:  

Wesfarmers continues to demonstrate strength through its diversified portfolio of businesses, particularly with solid contributions from retail giants Bunnings and Kmart.

The group’s ability to generate consistent earnings and reinvest capital effectively supports its premium valuation.

Recent updates indicate stable trading conditions, although cost pressures and a softer consumer backdrop may limit near term growth.

While the company remains a high quality industrial with strong management, its current valuation suggests more of a balanced risk-reward profile, which supports a hold stance.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price ripped 34.02% to close out FY26 at $3.90. 

Morgans downgraded its rating on this ASX 200 mining share from accumulate to hold last week.

The broker also cut its 12-month target price from $5 to $4.50.

Morgans said: 

S32 has agreed to sell its entire ali business for total consideration of US$5.6bn (US$4.1bn upfront), and transfer of US$1.2bn closure/rehab liabilities.

Our view on S32’s aluminium sale is genuinely mixed. It leaves S32 a simpler and, in important respects, a better business, but also a smaller and less valuable one.

We reduce our valuation on S32’s ali assets to in line with the agreed Alcoa deal… As a result we update our rating to HOLD (from Accumulate).

 

 

The post Buy, hold, sell: Life360, South32, Wesfarmers 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 Life360 and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. 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.

ASX shares often take a back seat to property when it comes to investing. Australians have long viewed property as the ultimate wealth-building asset. Bricks and mortar have created fortunes over decades, and owning an investment property remains a dream for many.

But shares deserve just as much attention.

While property can deliver impressive long-term returns, investing in quality ASX shares offers several advantages that many investors overlook. Here are three reasons why shares may be the smarter choice for growing wealth.

You can start investing with far less money

One of the biggest barriers to property investing is the upfront cost. Buying an investment property often requires a substantial deposit, stamp duty, legal fees, inspections, insurance and ongoing maintenance. For many Australians, saving enough to get started can take years.

ASX shares are different. You can begin building a diversified portfolio with a few hundred dollars and add to your investments whenever you have spare cash. Instead of waiting until you’ve saved tens of thousands of dollars, you can put your money to work immediately.

That flexibility also makes dollar-cost averaging much easier. By investing regularly, regardless of market conditions, investors can smooth out the impact of market volatility over time.

Shares give you instant diversification

Buying one investment property usually means putting a large amount of money into a single asset in a single location. If that suburb underperforms or the local economy weakens, your investment can suffer.

With ASX shares, diversification is much easier. An investor can spread their money across banks, miners, healthcare companies, retailers and technology businesses. They can also gain international exposure through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), reducing reliance on any one company, industry or economy.

Diversification won’t eliminate risk, but it can significantly reduce the impact of any single investment disappointing.

More flexibility and liquidity 

Liquidity is one of the share market’s biggest advantages. If you need access to your money, you can generally sell ASX shares within minutes during market hours, with the proceeds typically settling within a couple of business days.

Selling property is a completely different experience. The process can take weeks or months, involves agent commissions and legal costs, and there’s no guarantee you’ll achieve your desired sale price.

Shares also require far less ongoing management. There are no tenants to find, no repairs to organise, no leaking roofs to fix and no unexpected maintenance bills arriving in the mail.

Many companies even reward shareholders with regular dividends, providing an income stream without the day-to-day responsibilities that come with owning an investment property.

Why not combine the best of both worlds

Investors don’t necessarily have to choose between ASX shares and property. A balanced approach can offer the best of both worlds.

For example, buying shares in REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) provides exposure to Australia’s property market through the country’s leading real estate listings platform, while Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) and Stockland Corp Ltd (ASX: SGP) give investors access to major residential and commercial property developments.

These ASX shares allow investors to benefit from housing market activity, rental demand, and new developments without the high upfront costs or ongoing responsibilities of owning an investment property. At the same time, they retain the flexibility and liquidity that come with investing on the share market.

The post Property or ASX shares? Here’s why I’d choose the share market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

It has been one of the most dramatic destructions of shareholder value in recent ASX history.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have fallen approximately 70% over the past twelve months. The company has shed tens of billions of dollars in market capitalisation. This has landed the logistics software company among the worst-performing stocks in the entire ASX 200.

Yet something has shifted in the past week.

There are small but noticeable signs that at least some investors are beginning to reassess.

The question remains whether that reassessment is warranted.

What actually drove the 70% fall

The sell-off in WiseTech shares has been primarily driven by governance concerns rather than by any fundamental deterioration in the CargoWise business itself.

Founder and Executive Chair Richard White has faced a series of allegations over the past twelve months, including separate ASIC and AFP investigations and most recently reports of an AFP inquiry into alleged trafficking matters, which White has emphatically denied.

Each successive wave of negative coverage has eroded institutional confidence in a way that the underlying business numbers alone have not justified.

WiseTech has maintained its FY26 guidance, expecting revenue of US$1.39 billion to US$1.44 billion and EBITDA of US$550 million to US$585 million at a healthy 40% to 41% margin.

However, the market has stopped paying a premium multiple for that growth while the governance cloud remains.

The case for a rebound for WiseTech shares

The bull case starts with the business itself, which has not broken.

CargoWise is used by 23 of the world’s top 25 global freight forwarders. Switching costs are high and as a result customer retention has remained robust even through the governance turmoil.

The platform serves more than 22,000 logistics companies across 193 countries and is deeply embedded in mission-critical workflows that cannot be easily or cheaply replaced.

Furthermore, CEO Zubin Appoo recently purchased approximately $1 million of WiseTech shares on-market. This is a signal of insider confidence that management believes the shares are trading below intrinsic value.

On valuation, WiseTech shares trade on approximately 28 times FY27 earnings and closer to 15 times FY28 earnings.

At 15 times FY28 earnings, a business with WiseTech’s market position and expected earnings growth rate looks quite attractive. The broker community agrees.

Twelve of the fifteen analysts covering WiseTech rate the stock as a buy or strong buy, with none recommending a sell.

Bell Potter retains a buy rating with a price target of $71.75, implying significant upside from today’s price.

The case against WiseTech shares

Governance concerns are not resolved simply because the share price has fallen far enough.

Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group retains a hold rating. The broker notes that while WiseTech remains one of Australia’s highest-quality technology businesses, near-term sentiment may remain volatile amid management executing its long-term strategy.

For the share price to sustain a recovery rather than simply bounce from deeply oversold levels, the market will need greater clarity on three things: the resolution of the Richard White legal matters, confirmation that the CargoWise Value Pack transition with large customers is progressing, and a FY26 full-year result in August that confirms the guidance the company has maintained throughout the year.

None of those three catalysts has yet landed.

Until they do, investors will continue to face a great deal of uncertainty.

Foolish takeaway

WiseTech shares are down 70% for reasons that are substantially governance-driven rather than business-driven.

The CargoWise platform is intact, guidance has been maintained, the CEO is buying shares, and twelve of fifteen brokers see significant upside.

Whether WiseTech shares are ripe for a rebound depends on whether the governance cloud lifts in FY27.

If it does, the business case for a material recovery is well-established.

If it does not, patience will be required for longer than most investors would like.

The post Are WiseTech shares ripe for a rebound? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.