Owning Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares has seen its fair share of volatility in the last few years.

I think the ASX energy share could be one to investigate following all of the uncertainty amid the Middle East conflict.

Woodside is one of the largest oil and gas businesses on the ASX, so what happens with the energy prices has a big impact on its earnings.

We’re going to look at what analysts are predicting with Woodside earnings in the next few years, which could give insights as to whether the Woodside share price is undervalued or not.

FY26

We’re about three quarters of the way through the Woodside 2026 financial year, as its financial year follows the calendar year.

The company has already reported how it performed in the first half of FY26.

Woodside revealed that operating revenue grew 13% to US$7.4 billion, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) grew 7% to $1.3 billion, and free cash flow surged 159% to $352 million.

The numbers were driven by a 20% rise in the average realised price to US$74 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE). That helped offset a 13% reduction in total production volume to 86.5 million barrels of oil equivalent.

One of the biggest future drivers of future earnings may be the completion of the various projects it’s working on. In the FY26 half-year result, it reported that Scarborough was 98% complete, Trion was 64% complete, and Louisiana LNG was 28% complete.

As those projects come online, development spending will finish, and the earnings can start flowing, which will be felt in future years.

According to the projection on CommSec, the business is forecast to see earnings per share (EPS) of $2.184. That means it’s now valued at 15 times FY26’s estimated earnings.

FY27

The ASX energy share could see earnings increase in the 2027 financial year, which would be music to investors’ ears.

Its performance in FY27 could be dependent on whether normal energy flows out of the Middle East resume. There doesn’t seem to be an end in sight at this stage.

As I mentioned above, completed projects could be a boost for earnings in FY27 and beyond.

EPS is projected to rise by 21.3% to $2.649, implying it’s valued at 12 times FY27’s estimated earnings.

FY28

You’d hope that by 2028, the Middle East situation will have been resolved for some time. If it is, energy prices could be lower – that’d be good for virtually all Australians, but a headwind for Woodside’s earnings.

Energy prices will probably have a sizeable impact on the FY28 result, whatever is happening in that year.

According to the forecast on CommSec, Woodside’s EPS could decline by 5% to $2.52. That suggests the Woodside share price is valued at 13 times FY28’s estimated earnings.

Is the Woodside share price a buy?

With those future earnings in mind, let’s take a look at what experts think of the business.

According to CommSec’s collation of analyst opinions, there are currently six buy ratings, eight hold ratings, and three sell ratings on the business. That’s a bit of a mixed bag.

I try to invest in cyclical stocks (such as energy) when prices are low rather than high, as is the case now. Therefore, I’d look at other ASX share opportunities first.

The post Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2028 for Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) looked like it was heading for a decent Friday after a strong lead from Wall Street.

However, those early gains have now disappeared.

The ASX 200 is down 0.09% to 8,725 points in early afternoon trade, after reaching 8,771 earlier in the session.

That means the index has dropped almost 47 points from its morning high.

So, what’s dragging the market lower right now?

A decent lead from Wall Street

There was actually plenty going the ASX 200’s way before today’s market open.

Wall Street finished comfortably higher overnight, with the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) gaining 1.14% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) jumping 1.69%.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) also climbed 0.61%.

Oil prices moved lower as well, with Brent crude falling 1.6% to US$103.92 a barrel for its second straight decline.

Meanwhile, the US 10-year Treasury yield dropped back below 5% to around 4.93%.

That helped the ASX 200 open higher and climb around 0.45% in early trade.

However, it appears attention has now shifted back to interest rates here in Australia.

Rates are back in focus

The RBA has been back in the spotlight today after Governor Michele Bullock appeared before a parliamentary committee.

According to Reuters, said some of the inflation risks the RBA had warned about were now starting to emerge.

She pointed to higher oil prices and the global AI investment boom as two areas putting more pressure on prices.

The RBA has already lifted rates 3 times this year, taking the cash rate to 4.35%, but another increase could be coming.

Markets are now pricing a 93% chance of another 25-basis-point hike at the RBA’s 29 September meeting.

This would take the cash rate to 4.60%.

Banks weigh down the index

The big banks are doing plenty of the damage today, with all four major lenders trading lower.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 1.16% to $152.23, while National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is 1.10% lower at $38.79.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has fallen 0.89% to $34.52, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is down 0.50% to $37.59.

Interestingly, the market underneath is actually holding up reasonably well.

At the latest reading, 105 ASX 200 shares were higher, 92 were lower, and 3 were unchanged.

Foolish takeaway

Friday’s session has turned into another fairly choppy one for the ASX 200 after two consecutive gains.

The index is now down around 1.1% over the past week and 3.8% over the past month.

With the next RBA decision coming on 29 September, interest rates will be a hot topic over the next few sessions.

The post ASX 200 slips into the red after a positive start. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Downgrade alert! 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by experts this week
• Wall Street just shrugged off the Fed rate hike. Could the ASX 200 be next?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• ASX shares investors are still buying despite volatility: survey
• ASX 200 rebounds from recent lows. Is this just another false start?

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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.1% to 8,721 points on Friday.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in scores of ASX 200 shares this week.

Let’s see a sample.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

The Santos share price is $8.51, down 0.8% today.

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

Bernstein renewed its buy rating on Santos shares on Monday.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $8.90 to $10.10.

This suggests a potential 19% upside ahead.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is $63.29, down 3.3% today.

This ASX 200 tech share has fallen 24% over the past month.

Citi reiterated its buy call on Xero shares with a price target of $113.60.

This implies potential capital gains of 80% ahead.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is $34.57, down 0.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 bank share has fallen 0.3%.

UBS reaffirmed its buy rating on Westpac shares with a 12-month target of $45.

This suggests a potential 30% upside ahead.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

The Rural Funds share price is $1.95, down 0.5% today.

This ASX 200 agricultural real estate investment trust (REIT) has fallen 11% over the past month.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Rural Funds Group shares with a $2.30 target.

This implies potential capital growth of 19% over the next year.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

The AMP share price is $2.49, down 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX financial share has risen 6%.

Citi renewed its buy rating on AMP shares with a $2.60 target.

This suggests a potential 4% upside ahead.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is $2.21, down 0.5% today.

This ASX 200 financial share has fallen 13% over the past month.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on Zip shares on Monday.

The broker lowered its 12-month target from $3.55 to $3.20 per share.

This implies a potential 45% upside ahead.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The Ramelius Resources share price is $3.57, up 2.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 gold share has fallen 1%.

Morgans renewed its buy call on Ramelius Resources shares with a $4.74 target.

This suggests a potential 33% upside ahead.

Morgans said:

RMS is expected to release FY27 guidance and an updated outlook to FY30 in Sep-26, following execution of the EPC contract for the Mt Magnet mill expansion, providing greater clarity on project costs and timing.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Forget Xero shares! Broker tips this top ASX tech stock for 24% gains
• Starting with $20,000, how to build a portfolio generating $5,000 a year in passive income
• Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, REA Group, and Ramelius shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Buy, hold, sell: AGL Energy, Telstra, Zip shares

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.