Today could be an opportune time to buy Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares.

That’s according to Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou, who issued a buy recommendation on both S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks this week (courtesy of The Bull).

In intraday trade on Tuesday, CSL shares were changing hands for $181.88 each. While that leaves shares in the ASX 200 biotech giant down 8.6% in a year, the share price has rocketed a remarkable 96.8% since notching a multi-year closing low of $92.24 on 3 June.

CSL stock also trades on a 2.2% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

As for Woodside shares, trading for $31.27 on Tuesday, the ASX 200 energy stock has gained 33.6% in 12 months. Woodside shares also trade on a 5.2% fully franked trailing dividend yield. That equates to a grossed-up yield of 7.5% once we take those franking credits into account.

Should I buy CSL shares today?

“CSL’s recovery is gaining momentum after forecasting underlying profit growth guidance of about 5 per cent in fiscal year 2027,” Athanasiou noted. “Guidance exceeded market expectations.”

Summarising his buy recommendation on CSL shares, Athanasiou said:

Immunoglobulin sales improved in the second half of fiscal year 2026 amid the company announcing a further share buy-back of $1.1 billion. The outlook for this global health care company is improving after prolonged underperformance. CSL shares have risen from $92.24 on June 3 to trade at $179.19 on September 24.

Successfully meeting or exceeding its targets leaves room for a potentially higher share price considering the stock was trading above $300 in calendar year 2024.

Which brings us to…

Woodside shares benefiting from global energy crunch

Atop his bullish outlook on CSL shares, Athanasiou also issued a buy recommendation on Woodside shares.

“Woodside offers exposure to recent elevated global energy prices amid supply disruptions and continuing Middle East tensions,” he said. “Stronger realised prices should support near term cash flow and dividends.”

On the risk front, Athanasiou added, “A major risk is an easing of geopolitical tensions and a corresponding fall in crude oil prices.”

Explaining his buy recommendation on Woodside shares, Athanasiou concluded:

However, the company delivered a solid interim result. Operating revenue of $7.446 billion in the first half of 2026 was up 13 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Underlying net profit after tax of $1.334 billion was up 7 per cent. The Scarborough energy project is almost completed.

The post Expert names Woodside and CSL shares as top buys today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided this week to increase the cash rate by 25 basis points (0.25%), which I think has opened up significant opportunities with some ASX share sectors.

I’m always on the lookout for potential buys that could mean strong returns.

Sometimes that means investing in businesses that consistently grow earnings year after year. But there can also be excellent cyclical opportunities when we buy at the weaker point of the cycle.

High interest rates are a headwind for some areas of the ASX share market, and I think that opens up an opportunity to buy during a temporary dip. Hopefully, interest rates will start coming down again at some point, and that could lead to a significant turnaround of investor confidence.

I’m going to highlight three areas that now look significantly undervalued.

Real estate investment trusts

A lot of real estate investment trusts (REITs) now trade at significant discounts to their underlying net asset value (NAV) or net tangible asset (NTA).

I love being able to buy assets for less than they’re worth, and I think, on a long-term basis, that the current unit prices are trading too cheaply.

With how taxes have changed for investing in residential property, I think there could be stronger investor demand for commercial property, which could be supportive for REIT unit prices in the medium term.

I don’t necessarily think that every single REIT is a buy, but I’d focus on the ones with positive long-term outlooks and rising rental income.

I think industrial properties and farmland are two areas with promising outlooks. That’s why I currently really like Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) and Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF).

Each of those four ASX shares has declined recently, but they’re offering strong distribution yields, making them particularly appealing today.

ASX retail shares

The high cost of living and higher interest rates are likely to be a headwind for retail spending, particularly for discretionary retailers.

Retail spending is notoriously cyclical, and it can lead to volatile businesses during an economic cycle.

Even if consumers do reduce spending somewhat, I don’t think the current prices reflect the long-term prospects of the retail businesses, largely just the shorter-term pain.

I’d look at names like JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH), Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW), and Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

I think they could be great opportunities to buy today for the longer term.

ASX defensive shares

Higher interest rates can make defensive businesses look less appealing because investors can get a solid return from safe investments like savings accounts, term deposits, and quality bonds.

I think ASX defensive shares could be a great investment amid higher interest rates, and lower rates in the future could make the current valuations very attractive.

After recent falls, I think names like Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), and Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) look appealing.

These aren’t the only ASX shares on my watchlist after the RBA interest rate rise, but they’re among my favourite ideas today.

The post Where I’d invest in ASX shares after the recent RBA rate rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Propel Funeral Partners, Rural Funds Group, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa, Temple & Webster Group, Transurban Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group, Telstra Group, and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa, Nick Scali, Sonic Healthcare, Temple & Webster Group, Universal Store, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price is in focus after the company approved a $389 million Final Investment Decision (FID) to expand its Kathleen Valley lithium operations, aiming to lift spodumene concentrate production capacity by 56% to approximately 780,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa).

What did Liontown Resources report?

• Final Investment Decision approved for $389 million expansion at Kathleen Valley.
• Expected production capacity to increase from ~500 ktpa to ~780 ktpa (a 56% boost).
• Forecast unit operating costs to fall to A$840–920 per tonne (FOB basis) once fully ramped up.
• Capital intensity of A$1,619 per tonne—among the lowest of recent brownfield expansions.
• Payback period for the expansion estimated at approximately 2.5 years.
• The project is set to create roughly 400 full-time jobs, supporting local communities.

What else do investors need to know?

The expansion will see operational flexibility enhanced through the accelerated development of the Kathleen’s Corner Underground mine, complementing existing Mount Mann operations. Upgrades to the processing plant and non-process infrastructure—including power and water facilities—will support the increased capacity and maintain efficiency.

With construction phased over three years, first ore from new mining areas is targeted for the first quarter of FY28. Incremental capital required for expansion is already reflected in Liontown’s FY27 guidance, with funding planned via existing cash and ongoing cash flow. The company also highlights its ability to sell into both spot and contract markets, providing flexibility in volatile conditions.

What did Liontown Resources management say?

Managing Director Tony Ottaviano said:

Our expansion decision demonstrates confidence in Kathleen Valley’s world-class resource, cost competitiveness, and our team’s ability to deliver value for shareholders, employees and regional communities.

What’s next for Liontown Resources?

Liontown is prioritising a disciplined delivery schedule, with the construction program spread across mining, processing, and infrastructure streams. The company targets average production of around 780 ktpa by Q1 FY30, reinforcing Kathleen Valley’s position among the world’s top 10 lithium producers. Management expects lower unit costs and flexibility to adapt to market conditions, supported by robust long-term lithium demand and a structural market supply gap.

Looking ahead, Liontown will continue development and commissioning activities, aiming for sustained low-cost production as global lithium needs evolve. The expansion offers Liontown a platform for future growth and potential upside as the battery materials sector matures.

Liontown Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Liontown shares have declined 4%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Liontown Resources approves $389m Kathleen Valley lithium expansion appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 summary of the company announcement. 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.