S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.06% lower at 8,722.8 points on Thursday.

Brokers have reduced their ratings on numerous ASX 200 shares this week.

Let’s see a sample.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy Group share price is $3.21, down 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 energy share has risen 5%.

UBS downgraded Viva Energy shares to a hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $2.90 to $3.20.

This implies the stock is fully valued already.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $4.54, down 4.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has fallen 7%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded South32 shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker lifted its 12-month price target from $5.10 to $5.20.

This suggests a potential 15% upside ahead.

TechnologyOne Limited (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price is $30.53, down 2.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 tech share has ascended 7%.

RBC Capital downgraded TechnologyOne shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $33 to $32.

This implies a potential 5% upside ahead.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The Sandfire Resources share price is $20.16, down 4.4% on Thursday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 copper share has edged 2% lower.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Sandfire Resources shares to a sell rating this week.

The broker raised its price target slightly from $20 to $20.35.

This indicates a potential gain of just 1% over the next year. 

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is $1.22, down 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) uranium share has tumbled 18%.

Jefferies downgraded Boss Energy shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $1.85 to $1.70.

This suggests a potential 39% upside ahead.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

The Sonic Healthcare share price is $18.35, down 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has fallen 5%.

Goldman Sachs downgraded Sonic Healthcare shares to a hold call this week.

The broker slashed its price target from $23.70 to $19.20.

This suggests potential capital growth of 5% over the next year. 

The post 6 ASX shares hit by broker downgrades this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares I think could still be thriving in 2040
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Own ASX mining shares? Official forecasts show commodity prices peaking in FY27
• 2 ASX energy players that could return 20% to 30% over the next year
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 Goldman Sachs Group and Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX shares have slumped even further into the red in Thursday morning trade, following two consecutive days of declines.

There was a poor night on Wall Street, oil prices have climbed higher, and several ASX companies are holding their annual general meetings today.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN), Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN), and Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) are on my radar this week. They’re all suffering a share price loss on Thursday morning but brokers are confident that they can bounce back over the next 12 months.

Here’s the latest out of the ASX shares, and what the experts tip next.

Broker outlook for Paladin Energy shares

Paladin Energy shares have fallen another 3% to a new annual low of $7.07 at the time of writing. The shares have now crashed 26% over the past month and they’re down 30% for the year-to-date.

The ASX uranium shares have faced strong headwinds this year from geopolitical uncertainty and a drop in confidence for uranium companies. Renewed conflict in the Middle East, higher inflation data, and concerns about more interest rate rises have also seen many investors reduce their exposure to higher-risk shares like Paladin Energy.

This week, the miner announced that its first-quarter FY27 output had dipped to 1.00 million points, but it maintained full-year FY27 guidance for its Langer Heinrich Mine. 

Paladin Energy is targeting annual uranium production of 5.1 to 5.6 million pounds at a cost of US$44–48 per pound. The company expects production to ramp up in the second half of the year as higher-grade ores are mined. 

Management also said it is continuing to target cost reductions and productivity gains as previously outlined.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. And the $13.10 average target price implies an upside of around 85%, at the time of writing.

Broker outlook for Qantas shares

Qantas shares have fallen around 1% to $8.07 at the time of writing on Thursday. The shares have now crashed around 24% since early-August, and they’re down 23% for the year-to-date.

Ahead of the company’s FY26 results announcement in late August, there was market anxiety about the ASX airline company’s upcoming results after several consecutive months of oil supply constraints and higher fuel prices.

And they were right. In late August, Qantas reported a 14% year-on-year decline in its underlying profit before tax, a 29% drop in statutory profit, and a 12.7% decline in underlying earnings.

Oil prices have climbed even higher this week, closing in on the latest US$105 per barrel high in early September, and the rebound is denting Qantas shares.

But it looks like the experts think the business is sound enough to withstand volatile prices, and they expect a turnaround in Qantas shares over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. The $11.38 average target price implies an upside of around 41%, at the time of writing.

Broker outlook for WEB Travel Group shares

WEB Travel Group shares are down around 3% in Thursday morning trade, to $3.32. The shares crashed earlier in the year after investors were spooked by an audit of its Spanish subsidiary, but rebounded in July on renewed investor confidence.

Now, it looks like the share price could be starting to slide lower again. The ASX shares are now down 31% for the year-to-date.

But despite external headwinds, the company has demonstrated strong earnings resilience this year, and it continues to deliver strong EBITDA markets and improving total transaction value (TTV). 

The company is guiding H1 underlying EBITDA in the range of AU$80 million and AU$86 million.

It also expects its WebBeds business to deliver an 11% to 15% year-on-year increase in H1 revenue (in euros).

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX shares. The $4.93 average target price implies an upside of around 48%, at the time of writing.

The post 3 ASX shares tipped by brokers to return 41% to 85% in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could Paladin Energy shares return 90% in 12 months?
• Own ASX mining shares? Official forecasts show commodity prices peaking in FY27
• Paladin Energy: Q1 FY2027 uranium output and outlook
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Wesfarmers vs Qantas: Which ASX share suits a 60-year-old investor?

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 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.

Origin Energy vs Woodside Energy shares

When it comes to top energy names on the ASX, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) both sit high on the list. Everyday investors often weigh up Origin Energy and Woodside Energy shares because they’re leading players powering Australian homes, vehicles, and industries, with large market capitalisations and strong dividend histories. With both now paying fully franked dividends and featuring on a range of watchlists, I think it’s worth looking closely at which is better placed to beat the market over the next five years.

The case for Origin Energy

Origin Energy is a broad-based energy group, supplying electricity, natural gas, solar, and LPG to households and businesses nationwide. Its integrated model spans energy exploration and production, power generation (including renewables), and retailing, giving it diverse revenue streams. Origin’s roots go back to the 1940s, but the company as we know it was formed after a 2000 demerger and has since become one of the heavier hitters on the ASX.

A few things stand out from the numbers. First, Origin boasts a 5.19% fully franked dividend yield, which is attractive for income seekers, especially when combined with 100% franking credits to boost after-tax returns. Its trailing P/E ratio sits at 12.66, and year-to-date returns are a steady 5.74%, suggesting share price stability with income. Origin’s 2026 interim and final dividends were both 30 cents per share, fully franked, and the company’s payout has trended upwards in recent years. According to its most recent public description, Origin operates across Australia, PNG, and the South Pacific, which also helps smooth revenue from any single market.

The case for Woodside Energy

Woodside Energy is Australia’s largest independent dedicated oil and gas company and has a truly global footprint, especially after merging with BHP’s oil and gas portfolio. Woodside dominates domestic offshore oil and gas production and runs a large fleet of production facilities and assets in Australia and abroad.

Woodside’s scale shines through in the fundamentals. With a market cap of $63.12 billion, it dwarfs Origin. Its year-to-date return is particularly eye-catching at 45.87%, indicating much stronger price momentum this year. Woodside’s dividend yield is 4.97% (also fully franked), based on a higher dividend per share of $1.63, thanks to the company’s significant earnings. Its trailing P/E ratio is slightly higher at 14.27 versus Origin’s 12.66, and earnings per share sit at 1.605. Notably, Woodside’s massive size and global footprint may provide it with resilience and potential for future expansion.

Valuation comparison

With both companies operating across the energy value chain, but Woodside more focused on oil and gas and Origin more diversified within energy, their valuation multiples aren’t directly like-for-like. Still, some differences stand out:

Metric	Origin Energy	Woodside Energy
Market Cap	$19.93 billion	$63.12 billion
P/E Ratio	12.66	14.27
Dividend Yield	5.19% (100% franked)	4.97% (100% franked)
Earnings per Share	0.912	1.605
Dividend per Share	0.60	1.63
Year to Date Return	5.74%	45.87%

Origin offers a marginally higher yield, while Woodside shows much stronger recent share price gains.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 14 October 2026:

• Origin Energy: Closed at $11.57 on 14 Oct 2026 (up 0.17% for the day). The YTD return is +5.74%, reflecting modest gains so far this year, with a fairly steady short-term trend.
• Woodside Energy: Closed at $33.20 on 14 Oct 2026 (up 1.28% for the day). The YTD return is a whopping +45.87%, and recent days show strong upward momentum, with gains of over 2% on two of the past five sessions.

Which is the better buy?

Looking at the head-to-head, both Origin and Woodside offer quality, franked dividends and mature energy businesses. However, for investors chasing long-term outperformance, I’d lean toward Woodside Energy. My main reasons? That 45.87% year-to-date return isn’t just a flash in the pan; it suggests the market is rewarding Woodside’s global scale, successful merger execution, and growth opportunities from its broadened asset base. Its higher EPS and robust dividend per share underpin a sustainable payout. While the yield is fractionally lower, the magnitude of recent share price gains tips the balance for me.

Origin is a solid, steady option with slightly better yield, and its diversification could appeal to conservative or income-focused investors. But if I had to back one to beat the market over the next five years based on this data, my pick would be Woodside, given its track record of strong price momentum and the scale to take advantage of any future upswings in global energy markets.

The post Origin Energy vs Woodside Energy: Which ASX 200 share is more likely to beat the market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Own ASX mining shares? Official forecasts show commodity prices peaking in FY27
• Woodside, New Hope, Flight Centre shares: Buy, hold, or sell?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Which does Macquarie prefer out of AGL and Origin?

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.