Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares are mounting an impressive comeback.

The hearing implant leader has climbed 11% over the past five trading sessions to $127.86, at the time of writing. That takes its gain over the past month to an impressive 32%. Even so, the healthcare stock remains down 51% year to date after one of the biggest sell-offs seen on the ASX this year.

So, has the worst passed, or is this simply a relief rally?

What do brokers think?

Broker sentiment remains cautious, but few analysts appear ready to give up on Cochlear. According to TradingView data, most brokers currently rate Cochlear shares as a hold. The average 12-month price target sits at $127.33, only slightly below the current share price, suggesting analysts see limited upside in the near term.

Of the 18 brokers covering the company, six rate the stock as either a buy or strong buy. The most optimistic analyst expects the shares to climb another 33% over the next year. At the other end of the spectrum, two brokers recommend selling the stock. The lowest price target sits at $95, implying downside of around 25%.

Bell Potter is among those taking a balanced approach. The broker continues to recommend holding Cochlear shares, arguing the company’s long-term outlook remains attractive thanks to its dominant market position, significant growth opportunity and continued product innovation.

Why did Cochlear shares crash?

To understand the recent rebound, it’s important to remember what caused the sell-off in the first place. On 22 April, Cochlear shocked the market with a disappointing trading update that sparked one of the largest one-day declines on the ASX this year.

Management reported weaker-than-expected demand for hearing implants across developed markets. At the same time, ongoing conflict in the Middle East led to order cancellations and shipment delays, adding further pressure to earnings.

The company also slashed its FY26 underlying net profit guidance to between $290 million and $330 million, well below its previous forecast of $435 million to $460 million. Investors responded swiftly, sending Cochlear shares tumbling by more than 40% in a single session.

Since then, the market has been trying to answer one question: was this a temporary disruption or a sign of a more structural slowdown?

Is the long-term growth story still intact?

Despite the earnings downgrade, Cochlear’s competitive position remains difficult to challenge.

The company controls around half of the global cochlear implant market, giving it a leadership position built on decades of research, innovation and close relationships with surgeons and healthcare providers. Its products are deeply embedded within healthcare systems around the world, creating significant barriers for competitors.

The long-term growth opportunity also remains substantial. More than six million people across developed markets are estimated to be eligible for cochlear implants, yet only around 3% currently receive one. As awareness improves, diagnosis rates increase and technology advances, that penetration rate has considerable room to grow.

An ageing global population is expected to provide another powerful tailwind over the coming decades.

The post Cochlear shares are flying. Is this just the start? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX healthcare shares have jumped 21% since June. Can the recovery continue?
• 3 ASX shares down at least 50% in FY26
• Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace
• Where I’d invest $20,000 into ASX 200 shares this month

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

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) and PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares just earned sell ratings from two top stock market analysts.

Now the two S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks have delivered widely different returns over the past year, which leads to different reasoning behind those sell recommendations.

For example, ASX 200 lithium stock PLS– formerly known as Pilbara Minerals – has been on a tear amid surging global lithium prices.

On Monday afternoon, PLS shares were trading for $5.15 apiece. That sees the share price up an eye-popping 254.8% over 12 months.

As for Endeavour, shares in the ASX 200 liquor outlets, hotels and gaming venue owner and operator were changing hands for $3.34 each on Monday. This puts the Endeavour share price down 19.7% over 12 months.

Now I should note that Endeavour did pay 17.1 cents a share in fully franked dividends over the past year. Endeavour shares trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.3%.

But that’s not keeping the ASX 200 stock from joining PLS shares on the chopping block.

Time to sell PLS shares?

Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan recently analysed the outlook for the ASX lithium producer (courtesy of The Bull).

“PLS Group is a leading Australian lithium producer focused on spodumene concentrate,” he said.

Commenting on the recent strong run higher in PLS shares, Halligan noted:

Over the past three months, sentiment has been driven by a sharp rebound in spot spodumene prices and improving earnings expectations. Stronger spodumene prices are triggering global supply re-starts and expansions.

But following on the big share price gains, Halligan believes investors would do well to take profits on the lithium stock.

He concluded, “The company’s valuation already reflects elevated prices amid supply growth potentially adding pressure on margins.”

Which brings us to…

Time to exit Endeavour shares?

Atop selling PLS shares investors also might want to consider unloading Endeavour shares.

That’s according to Shaw and Partners James Bills.

“Endeavour operates liquor outlets, hotels and gaming facilities,” Bills said.

“It’s navigating a more challenging consumer environment amid cost pressures in fiercely competitive sectors.,” he noted.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Endeavour shares, Bills concluded:

While the company has a strong asset base and market position, we believe near term performance is likely to remain subdued. With limited catalysts for a re-rating, the stock lacks appeal at this stage of the cycle, in our view. The shares have fallen from $4.04 on March 2 to trade at $3.375 on July 2.

The post Sell alert! Why these experts are calling time on Endeavour and PLS shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• Why did ASX 200 lithium stocks like PLS, Liontown and Mineral Resources shares get smashed in June?
• 5 best ASX 200 mining shares of FY26
• ASX shares vs. property in FY26: Which investment outperformed?
• 6 ASX 200 large-cap shares that rose 60% to 275% in FY26

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

If you are looking to build wealth over the long term but aren’t a fan of stock picking, then it could be worth considering exchange traded funds (ETFs).

They allow investors to back long-term ideas without needing to pick every individual winner.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could be buy-and-hold options for the next decade.

iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF gives investors a simple way to own a large slice of the American share market.

“It offers exposure to companies selling software, pharmaceuticals, devices, advertising, financial services, entertainment, and consumer products to households and businesses around the world.”

That global reach is what makes the S&P 500 so attractive. Many of its largest companies earn revenue far beyond the United States, so investors are buying into businesses that influence spending habits, workplaces, healthcare systems, and technology adoption across many countries.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF is focused on the physical rollout of automation across the global economy.

The fund owns companies involved in industrial robots, autonomous systems, drones, smart machinery, and artificial intelligence-enabled equipment.

The long-term opportunity is being driven by a simple problem. Many industries need to become more productive, but labour, time, safety, and precision remain major constraints.

Robotics and automation can help address those constraints in factories, hospitals, warehouses, farms, logistics networks, and other work environments.

Over the next decade, the idea of machines doing more complex work in more places could become much less futuristic and much more normal.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

Finally, the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF could suit investors who want technology exposure beyond the usual US names.

The Asian market plays a huge role in the digital economy. It is home to major semiconductor companies, hardware manufacturers, ecommerce platforms, gaming businesses, and internet giants.

That gives this fund a different flavour from a Nasdaq-focused ETF.

It is tied to the region where much of the world’s digital hardware is made, where online platforms serve enormous populations, and where consumer technology adoption can happen at scale.

This ASX ETF is arguably a higher-risk option because it is concentrated in one region and one sector, but the long-term opportunity remains significant.

This fund was also recently recommended by the team at Betashares.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• SpaceX will be included in the Nasdaq index this week. Here’s what that means for ASX investors
• The currency-hedged ASX ETFs magnifying dividends by up to 10x this season
• Own NDQ, ARMR, HACK or other Betashares ASX ETFs? Dividends just announced
• Own ASX IVV or other iShares ETFs? Here is your next dividend
• The ASX ETF I’d buy if I wanted to get rich slowly

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.