The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has climbed slightly higher on Tuesday off the back of easing oil prices and an increase in interest in tech or AI shares. 

Let’s find out how major stocks South32 Ltd (ASX: S32), Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) are tracking this week, and what brokers are forecasting to happen next.

Brokers rate South32 shares a buy

South32 shares are trading at $4.88 each at the time of writing. The current trading price represents an 8% decline from the company’s multi-year high of $5.30 in early September. In fact, South32 shares have rallied strongly over the past year and are now around 86% higher than they were 12 months ago.

In August, the miner posted a couple of good-news announcements that had investors jumping for joy.

It announced a substantial jump in its ore reserve estimate at its Sierra Gorda mine, which extends the mine’s reserve life by another five years, to 2045. The Sierra Gorda copper mine, in which South32 holds a 45% stake, is a large, open-pit operation in northern Chile. 

The announcement was followed soon after by South32’s impressive FY26 earnings result. The miner posted a 1% increase in revenue from continuing operations, a 28% increase in EBITDA, and a 55% increase in underlying earnings.

The company also declared a final fully-franked dividend of 5.4 US cents per share for FY26, which is almost double the miner’s final dividend for FY25.

And it looks like brokers are bullish that the shares can now rebound close to the multi-year highs we saw a couple of weeks ago.

According to Market Index data, the majority of brokers have a buy rating on South32 shares. And the $5.13 average target price implies an upside of around 5% at the time of writing.

Brokers rate Westpac shares a sell

Westpac shares have come under pressure over the past six weeks amid renewed inflation concerns, interest rate fears, and a weakening Australian property market.

Westpac shares are trading at $34.94 at the time of writing, representing a 10% year-to-date decline and roughly 9% lower than 12 months ago.

The ASX bank stock posted its third-quarter FY26 update in early August. And while the result was good on the surface, including a 1% increase in operating income and a steady net interest margin of 1.89%, Westpac also raised some red flags around weaker mortgage demand.

Westpac’s mortgage application volumes declined through the period as competition intensified and borrowers continued to navigate interest-rate uncertainty. The bank said that mortgage growth is likely to continue to be challenging.

Market Index data shows that brokers have now lost confidence in the ASX bank stock. The majority of experts have a sell rating in Westpac shares and the $34.18 average target price implies a downside of around 2% over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Brokers rate Cochlear shares a hold

Cochlear shares have staged an impressive rebound since hitting a 10-year low of just $90 each in late-April. At the time of writing, the shares have now recovered around 57% and are changing hands at $140.82 a piece. For the year-to-date the shares are still down around 46%, and they’re 52% lower than 12 months ago.

It’s clear that investor sentiment has been consistently recovering, boosted by renewed investor interest in ASX healthcare shares overall.

The company has also posted a couple of good-news announcements which have helped boost investors confidence further. 

In July, Cochlear announced that its hearing implant systems will continue to be imported into the US duty-free after the US Government released its findings from a series of Section 301 investigations. 

The following month, management posted an impressive FY26 result, including underlying net profit of $322 million, down 22% but right at the top end of guidance.  

And looking ahead to FY27, Cochlear expects low-single-digit constant currency revenue growth and an underlying net profit between $330 million and $350 million. 

According to Market Index data  the majority of brokers have a hold rating on Cochlear shares. But after the latest share price rally, the $126.07 average target price implies a downside of around 10% at the time of writing.

The post South32, Cochlear, Westpac shares: Buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which big 4 bank stock will rise the most before the end of 2026?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike
• I’m planning to retire with $1 million in superannuation. How much passive income can I earn? 
• Down 15% and paying record dividends: Are CBA shares now a good buy for passive income?

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 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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have jumped higher on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, ASX tech shares are up around 5% and trading at $33.31 apiece.

The increase is a welcome reprieve for investors after the stock fell 23% over the past month, off the back of its FY26 results. The company posted earnings that were in line with analyst expectations, but its EBITDA figures came in short of market forecasts. Investors weren’t thrilled.

Despite today’s increase, WiseTech shares are still down around 51% for the year-to-date. They’re also 66% lower than just 12 months ago.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up slightly, around 0.2% for the year-to-date, but around 1% lower than 12 months ago.

It’s not all bad news for WiseTech shares. Here are three reasons to add the tech stock to your portfolio this year, and three reasons to sell up.

3 reasons to buy WiseTech shares

1. WiseTech has a strong competitive edge

WiseTech’s CargoWise platform is deeply embedded in the global logistics industry. The platform is difficult to replace, and this gives the company both security and a strong competitive advantage amongst its peers. If global trade volumes keep expanding and supply chains become more digital, WiseTech could become a dominant software provider in the logistics industry.

2. The business is performing well

WiseTech reported that it has raised its annual earnings and flagged growth for FY27 in line with analysts’ expectations. Last month, the company reported a significant 46% increase in EBITDA to US$558.4 million for the 12 months through to the 30th of June. The result was in line with the company’s $550 million to $585 million guidance figures. It may have come short of market expectations but this level of EBITDA increase inside a 12-month period shows that the business is performing well.

3. Brokers tip a strong upside ahead

According to Market Index data, all brokers have a strong buy rating on WiseTech shares. The $58.88 average target price implies a potential upside of around 77%, at the time of writing.

3 reasons to sell WiseTech shares

1. AI anxiety

WiseTech shares have been caught up in a tech-sector-wide sell-off over the past 18 months as investors increasingly sold their tech shares amid growing fears that companies’ core services could be replaced by AI. The AI anxiety has been driven further by news of WiseTech’s AI-driven restructure and job cut plan. 

2. Governance concerns and regulatory issues

It’s no secret that the company’s shares have also come under pressure this year following a series of updates and media reports around governance concerns and regulatory issues. These included investigations into founder Richard White by the Australian Federal Police and recent news that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) executed a search warrant on the company. ASIC and the AFP also searched WiseTech Global’s headquarters in late October 2025.

3. WiseTech’s dividend yield is low

If passive income is your goal, WiseTech isn’t the stock for you. The company is still in the transitional growth phase, and while it does pay its shareholders two full-franked dividends per year, they come with a very low dividend yield. For FY26, the company paid shareholders 22 cents per share, which equates to a dividend yield of around 0.7% at the time of writing, which is well below the market average.

The post WiseTech shares: 3 reasons to buy and 3 reasons to sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could the WiseTech share price reach $50 in 2027?
• Do these ASX technology shares have too much upside to ignore?
• Downgrade alert! 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by experts this week
• WiseTech Global vs Xero: Which fallen ASX tech share is the better buy today?
• WiseTech shares have been smashed in 2026. Here’s why I wouldn’t bet against them

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 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.

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) could be producing uranium from three deposits by early in the 2030s Macquarie says, and remains very leveraged to rising uranium prices.

ASX uranium producer looking cheap

Macquarie has released a new research note looking at Boss Energy, which forecasts some healthy share price upside for the company.

The broker said the company had recently provided more clarity around unlocking two satellite deposits – Jason’s and Gould’s Dam – with one to be connected to the processing facility via a trunkline and the other to truck loaded resin in.

Macquarie said the indication was that Jason’s could be in production by early CY30 while Gould’s Dam was looking like early CY31.  

Boss Energy released a new feasibility study for the central Honeymoon uranium mine in August, which envisaged production until at least 2034 based around a new in-situ well design.

The company is expecting to produce about 13.8 million pounds of uranium over a nine year period.

Boss Energy said regarding the new study:

New feasibility study is underpinned by an updated mineral resource estimate incorporating substantially increased drilling density, revised geological interpretations, estimation methodology, incorporated operating permeability data, and experience gained since production recommenced. This enables a materially enhanced understanding of the mineralisation grade and distribution, geology and permeability.  

The study also identified opportunities to further optimise wellfield spacing, “which could reduce infrastructure requirements and improve capital efficiency, recovery and unit costs”.

Share price target increased

Macquarie increased its 12-month price target on Boss Energy shares by 11% to $2 per share following the inclusion of the Jason’s and Gould’s Dam projects.

The broker said that only a small fraction of Honeymoon’s production was contracted, giving the company good leverage to rising uranium prices.

They said:

Boss Energy intends to remain materially under-contracted, noting 73% of inventory and forecast Honeymoon new feasibility study production is currently uncommitted. Additionally, existing inventory largely covers the contract book, largely eliminating its exposure to “deliver or pay” risk (e.g. that others in the sector have suffered from). BOE explained it intends to continue selling production on a slightly forward basis (providing flexibility over timing and preserving leverage to rising prices)

On the valuation of the company Macquarie said:

BOE can develop 3 mineralised systems into Honeymoon, expand scale & lower unit costs (by) early 2030s – despite lower grade & more challenging resource than promised by past management. At current uranium prices this is attractive and not yet priced in.

Macquarie’s $2 price target compares to $1.72 currently.

Boss Energy is valued at $668.4 million.

The post Macquarie says this ASX uranium producer has more than 15% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Temple & Webster, Kelsian, Boss Energy shares
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Boss Energy and Fortescue shares
• Energy shares rose while the ASX 200 slumped last week. Here’s why
• Uranium is back. Three ASX shares that give you exposure
• These 2 ASX energy shares have 18-31% upside according to Bell Potter

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.