S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.2% to 9,093 points amid a big day of earnings releases on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at some new expert ratings.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The Wildcat Resources share price is 40 cents, down 5.4% today and up 101% over 12 months. 

Arthur Garipoli from Dolphin Partners has a buy rating on this ASX 200 lithium share. 

On The Bull this week, Garipoli explained:

This Western Australian explorer is advancing the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum project, which is a large-scale, hard rock development in an established mining jurisdiction with low sovereign risk and close to Port Hedland infrastructure.

The recent share price fall may represent a good entry opportunity for investors looking for a recovery in lithium markets and in a company with near term catalysts.

WC8 has completed a pre-feasibility study. A large resource base and an upcoming definitive feasibility study de-risks the company.

In our view, WC8 represents a compelling risk-reward scenario.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Centuria Industrial REIT shares are $3.04, down 0.2% today and down 9% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter has a hold rating and $3.35 price target on this ASX real estate investment trust (REIT).

Analyst Andy MacFarlane said:

CIP announced its FY26 result with FFO / share of 18.2c slightly below BPe (-2%) and Visible Alpha consensus (-1%), and at the bottom end of its guidance range.

FY27 guidance provided for FFO / share range of 18.8c – 19.2c (BPe 18.3c; VA consensus 18.7c) and DPS of 17.3c (BPe 16.8c, VA consensus 17.0c).

A solid result for CIP with some plus and minuses, but ultimately the forward earnings outcome to be driven by two leasing campaigns, as it navigates higher CoD which will increase again into FY28 (all else equal) as it explores ways to fund its growth ambitions.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is $3.47, down 1.6% today and down 17% over 12 months. 

Garipoli has a sell rating on this ASX 200 consumer staples share. 

He commented on the liquor and hotel operator’s unaudited preliminary results for FY26:

Total group sales of $12.212 billion were up 1.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. However, total group underlying net profit after tax of $363 million was down from $426 million in full year 2025.

The group expects to recognise after tax significant items, predominately non-cash, of $311 million.

The recent share price recovery since the start of June and August 13 provides an opportunity for investors to cash in some gains.

In our view, better investment opportunities exist elsewhere given recent numbers and high cost of living expenses.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Centuria Industrial REIT, Endeavour, Wildcat Resources shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares are flying on Tuesday, jumping 7% to $140.90 in afternoon trade and extending their monthly gain to 17%.

Investors have welcomed the hearing-implant leader’s FY26 results, with underlying net profit landing at $322 million — right at the top end of the company’s revised guidance.

That’s a dramatic change in sentiment from April, when Cochlear shares were crushed by around 40% after management slashed its profit outlook. Despite Tuesday’s rebound, the shares remain down 46% year to date and 55% over the past 12 months.

So, what has changed?

Cochlear delivers on revised guidance

Cochlear’s FY26 numbers show a business still facing challenges, but one that’s generating strong cash and continuing to invest heavily in future growth.

Sales revenue increased 2% in constant-currency terms to $2.343 billion. Underlying net profit, however, fell 22% to $322.4 million.

The pressure on profitability was particularly visible in gross margins, which declined from 74% to 71%. Cochlear blamed the deterioration on a less favourable sales mix and production variances.

Still, there were some significant positives.

Operating cash flow surged $130 million to $368 million, while free cash flow also improved substantially. The company continued to invest aggressively in research and development, lifting R&D spending 15% as it accelerated work on its product pipeline.

That investment is already producing results.

Nexa gives investors something to cheer about

Cochlear has launched the Nucleus Nexa System, which it describes as the first smart cochlear implant with upgradeable firmware.

The product has made an impressive start. It quickly accounted for more than 95% of Cochlear’s implant sales across developed markets.

That kind of product momentum could be important as the company attempts to reignite growth in its developed markets.

However, Cochlear isn’t escaping all the pressures facing the business. Gross margins have been squeezed by a greater proportion of lower-priced products being sold in emerging markets. Softer demand in Western Europe and parts of Asia has also weighed on performance.

The company has responded by maintaining tight control over fixed costs and freeing capacity for an additional $25 million of investment in FY27.

What’s next for Cochlear shares?

Management isn’t promising a dramatic recovery overnight. Instead, it expects low single-digit revenue growth in constant-currency terms during FY27.

Underlying net profit is forecast to land between $330 million and $350 million.

Cochlear wants to accelerate adult growth in developed markets by increasing medical engagement and expanding referral pathways. At the same time, it plans to keep investing in R&D and product innovation.

The dividend remains an important part of the shareholder return story. Cochlear declared a final ordinary dividend of $1.30 per share, 85% franked, taking total FY26 dividends to $3.45 per share. That’s down 20% from the previous year.

The company will continue targeting a dividend payout ratio of 70% of underlying net profit.

Cochlear’s balance sheet also gives investors something to watch. Net cash declined, partly because of continued cloud investment and dividend payments. With net cash below management’s preferred level, the on-market share buyback remains inactive.

Gross margins are expected to remain around FY26 levels, while further restructuring costs will factor into the FY27 outlook.

The post Why are Cochlear shares flying 7% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) experienced a devastating peak-to-trough crash of 44% last month.

The KOSPI skyrocketed more than 170% in FY26 due to multiple factors including the artificial intelligence (AI) tailwind.

South Korean chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Inc surged a crazy 459% and 807%, respectively, in FY26.

They make up about half of the market’s total market cap, which means KOSPI is a concentrated bet despite being home to 800 stocks.

It’s no surprise that after stock price gains like that, some investors got a bit wary and chose to take their profits and run.

That’s one reason why the KOSPI crashed on 23 June, falling 10% in one day, and sparking a five-week sell-off.

SK Hynix shares lost just over half their value, and Samsung shares dropped 41% before the KOSPI bottomed out on 29 July.

Australian investors who own SK Hynix and Samsung shares directly felt the full force of that fall.

They also felt it via the iShares MSCI South Korea AUD ETF (ASX: IKO) — the Australian market’s top performing ETF of FY26.

IKO ETF delivered an amazing total return of 171% in FY26. The ASX IKO unit price fell 37% during the KOSPI crash.

What’s happened to KOSPI and IKO ETF since the crash?

For the record, IKO ETF doesn’t track the KOSPI.

Instead, the fund seeks to mimic the performance of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index before fees.

The MSCI Korea 25/50 Index focuses on South Korean large-caps and mid-caps, but in practical terms, it captures 85% of the KOSPI.

SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics make up 46% of the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index market cap.

IKO ETF has been trading for a long time.

Its inception was in the US in May 2000. It was listed on the ASX in November 2017.

IKO was subsequently restructured into an Australian-domiciled ETF in October 2018.

As reflected in IKO ETF’s history in the chart above, the South Korean market has not been a strong performer over the long term.

There are many reasons for this, and it’s summed up by what the professional traders used to call the ‘Korea discount’.

We explain the Korea discount in an earlier story.

Despite its incredible 171% return in FY26, IKO remains a relatively small ASX ETF.

Aussie investors have put about $213 million into the ETF to date, according to ASX data.

That compares to $25.377 billion invested in the market’s largest ETF, Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS).

While small in comparative scale, it’s worth noting the relatively rapid rise in investment in IKO ETF.

ASX investors piled in while watching the KOSPI’s stratospheric rise.

Between January and June 2026 inclusive, IKO’s funds under management rose 40%.

Australians are much more in-tune with overseas markets than they used to be.

Experts agree our home bias toward ASX 200 shares is shifting.

Since bottoming out on 29 July, the KOSPI has rebounded 23%, and IKO has recovered 25%.

SK Hynix shares have lifted 20% and Samsung Electronics stock is 30% higher.

The AI investment megatrend has a long way to go.

As RMIT University finance professor Angel Zhong points out, markets “often move through cycles of exuberance and reassessment”.

Zhong said AI would continue to transform industries:

The AI revolution is creating genuine economic opportunities, but markets often price in expectations long before those benefits are fully realised.

The post How the KOSPI crash impacted ASX investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.