• Morgans says these ASX shares could rise 5%, 20%, and 55%

    Smiling man sits in front of a graph on computer while using his mobile phone.

    Looking for some investment options? Well, Morgans has just given its verdict on these ASX shares.

    Is it bullish or bearish? Let’s see what the broker is saying about them:

    Astron Ltd (ASX: ATR)

    Morgans is a fan of this mineral sands and rare earths company and has named it as a (speculative) buy with a 90 cents price target. This implies potential upside of 55% for investors from current levels. It commented:

    ATR’s flagship Donald Project is shovel-ready and on track for a Phase 1 FID in the Sept-Q 2026, with project financing and HMC offtake the final gating items. A newly released Phase 2 study and JV partner Energy Fuels’ rapid US rare earth processing build-out reinforce the long-term upside of this high-quality, ex-China critical minerals developer. Maintain SPECULATIVE BUY rating with a A$0.90ps target price.

    Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN)

    The broker thinks a compelling entry point has arrived for investors to accumulate this baby products retailer’s shares. It has a price target of $1.70 on its shares, which implies potential upside of 20% for investors from current levels.

    Morgans believes at under 9x earnings, this ASX share looks good value. It said:

    BBN reported a weaker than expected trading update, downgrading its pro-forma NPAT by ~11% at the midpoint of guidance. The downgrade was driven by softer sales, particularly in the 4Q, and increased supply chain costs. Our price target lowers to $1.70 (from $1.79), and we maintain our ACCUMULATE rating. Despite a softer consumer environment, we see the strength of the refurbished store program likely to underpin earnings growth in FY27. Trading at <9x PE, we see the current price as a compelling entry point to accumulate.

    Tasmea Ltd (ASX: TEA)

    Morgans has downgraded this specialist maintenance services provider’s shares to an accumulate rating with a $9.80 price target (offering 5% upside). It made the move after the ASX share recorded very strong gains over the past month. The broker adds:

    Hot-on-the-heels of the Maxim acquisition announced earlier this month, TEA has entered into an agreement to acquire JPS Group, a specialist integrated services provider to [the] energy sector, for $50m upfront (5x FY26 EBIT) or up to $75 million inclusive of all earn-outs (7.5x FY26 EBIT or just 6.2x $12m maintainable EBIT).

    This adds scale and an important growth lever to the underperforming Mechanical division, with JPS expected to double revenue by FY29. For the base business, FY26 guidance of $117m EBIT and $72.5m NPAT has been reiterated. We increase our EPS forecasts by +5-6% in FY27 and FY28. Our target price rises in line with our earnings forecasts to $9.80 (from $9.15).

    The post Morgans says these ASX shares could rise 5%, 20%, and 55% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Astron right now?

    Before you buy Astron shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Astron wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

  • Lendlease shares jump 6% after $525 million deal. Is the worst over?

    A view through a glass wall into a board room where people are sitting in chairs around a long table, some with their backs to the front of the picture, others racing the front.

    Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC) shares are in demand on Thursday after the ASX-listed property group announced another major divestment.

    At the time of writing, the Lendlease share price is up 5.84% to $3.08.

    That adds to a better recent run for the ASX real estate stock, which has now climbed almost 10% over the past month.

    However, shareholders are still sitting on some heavy losses in 2026. Lendlease shares remain down about 40% since the start of the year, showing just how much pressure the stock has been under.

    Here’s what the company told the market today.

    Lendlease sells Keyton stake

    According to the release, Lendlease is selling its remaining interest in the Keyton Retirement Living Trust.

    Current co-investor Aware Super will acquire Lendlease’s 25.1% interest for $525 million, with the net proceeds to be used to reduce group debt.

    The deal is in line with the company’s half-year 2026 book value and remains subject to conditions, including regulatory approvals.

    Lendlease is targeting completion in the first half of FY27.

    Keyton is a retirement living business, and the sale adds another piece to Lendlease’s plan to simplify the group and recycle capital out of its non-core assets.

    That has been a major focus for Lendlease as it works through its turnaround. Over the past year, sentiment has been weighed down by debt concerns, asset sales, and earnings pressure.

    More capital recycling

    The latest deal adds to a growing list of moves from Lendlease’s Capital Release Unit (CRU).

    The company said it has now announced or completed more than $3.4 billion of capital recycling transactions since its May 2024 strategy update.

    That includes asset sales across Australian communities, US military housing, international land and inventory, retail and office interests, and other holdings.

    Management said the “focus remains on balancing value realisation with speed of execution.”

    Can the recovery continue?

    Today’s gain is a welcome change for Lendlease shareholders, but it doesn’t erase what has been a brutal year.

    The stock is still down around 40% since the start of 2026, so the market is unlikely to get carried away on one deal.

    The $525 million Keyton sale gives Lendlease more cash to reduce debt and keeps its capital recycling plan moving.

    But there’s still a lot of work to do. The company needs to keep completing asset sales, bring debt down further, and avoid selling assets too cheaply.

    Until that happens, the Lendlease share price could move sideways from here.

    The post Lendlease shares jump 6% after $525 million deal. Is the worst over? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Lendlease Group right now?

    Before you buy Lendlease Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Lendlease Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

  • Buy, hold, sell: Karoon Energy, Brambles, REA shares

    A male broker wearing a dark blue suit and tie puts his finger to his lips to signal a secret tip about the Xero share price

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.3% to 8,780.1 points on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, three experts have revealed their views on three ASX 200 shares.

    Let’s see what they think. 

    Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

    The Karoon Energy share price is $1.29, down 5.8% today and down 17% in the calendar year to date (YTD). 

    Karoon Energy shares tumbled 11% last Tuesday when the company issued production downgrades.

    Calendar year 2026 total production guidance was revised to a range of 7.2 MMboe to 8.2 MMboe.

    That’s down from 8.1 MMboe to 9.2 MMboe previously.

    Citi reiterated its buy rating on this ASX 200 energy share but cut its 12-month target from $2.50 to $1.75.

    Last week, oil prices slumped back to pre-war levels after the US and Iran signed an interim deal and began new talks in Switzerland.

    Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

    The Brambles share price is $19.57, up 2.6% today, and down 14% YTD.

    Christopher Watt from Bell Potter has a hold rating on this ASX 200 industrials share. 

    On The Bull, Watt explained: 

    The underlying franchise remains high quality, but a recent trading update introduced uncertainty around supply constraints, freight costs, plant inefficiencies and softer conditions in parts of Europe, Middle East and Africa.

    Management has presented a credible plan to improve capacity through new pallets and service centres, but the financial recovery may take longer than the operational fix.

    With earnings expectations still at risk, the outlook is balanced.

    REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

    The REA share price is $133.43, up 1.4% today and down 28% YTD. 

    Michael Ardrey from Bell Potter has a sell rating on this ASX 200 communications share. 

    REA expects no growth in home values across the combined capital cities in CY26, and a rebound to 5.5% growth in CY27.

    Ardrey explained the broker’s reiterated sell recommendation: 

    Our thesis rests on REA’s share price declining from a reduction in EPS forecasts in-line with market pricing, driven by: (1) Elevated near-term RBA cash rate forecast driving softening in demand for lending, (2) Recent budget measures adversely impacting investment in property as an asset class, largely in the investor book partially offset by owner-occupied; (3) Both factors combining to negatively impact average national dwelling values and listing volumes more than offsetting Buy yield for REA; and (4) REA’s history of EPS declines in a falling 12-mth average dwelling price environment.

    The analyst gave REA shares a 12-month target of $133, down from $137.

    The post Buy, hold, sell: Karoon Energy, Brambles, REA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in REA Group right now?

    Before you buy REA Group shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and REA Group wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 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.