QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares have climbed higher into the green in Thursday morning trade.

At the time of writing, the shares are up around 0.5% and changing hands at $25.49 a piece. At one point this morning, the shares were as high as $25.52.

The current trading price is the highest level seen since early 2009.

QBE shares had a slow start to the year after dropping to a low of $18.83 in December. The shares have rebounded 35% from that dip and are now up around 29% for the year to date and 12% higher than this time last year.

What has driven the QBE share price rebound in 2026?

QBE shares have rebounded off the back of support from stronger insurance earnings and higher premiums.

In May, the company posted its first-quarter FY26 update. It revealed an 11% year-on-year increase in gross written premium (GWP), or 7% on a constant currency basis. 

The insurer also reported total funds under management of $36.1 billion at the end of the quarter.

QBE maintained its FY26 outlook, pointing to mid-single-digit gross written premium growth and a group combined operating ratio of around 92.5%.

Then, just yesterday, the company announced a senior leadership change. In a statement to the ASX, QBE said Sue Houghton will step down from her role as Chief Executive Officer for Australia Pacific at the end of 2026. The move hasn’t seemed to spook investors, and the company’s share price has continued rallying higher.

Are the shares a buy, sell, or hold now?

The experts are divided about the outlook for QBE shares over the next 12 months.

Market Index data shows that around half of brokers have a buy rating on the shares. But the $23.35 average target price currently implies a potential 8% downside ahead.

Sentiment is a little more bullish on TradingView data. Out of 11 analysts, six have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. Another two rate QBE as a hold, and three have a sell stance.

But the average $24.52 target price also implies a 4% downside at the time of writing, likely due to the latest share price rally.

Some are more optimistic, though, and think QBE shares have the potential to climb another 9% to $27.62 a piece.

Investment firm Market Partners is positive on the outlook for QBE shares and sees an emerging turnaround story ahead. It recently noted that QBE has been working hard to simplify its business over the past 5 to 10 years, including a number of acquisitions, and it’s now paying off. 

The post QBE shares rebound 35% to fresh multi-year high: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU) shares are flying higher into the green in Thursday morning trade.

At the time of writing, Fletcher Building is the best-performing stock on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). The shares are up around 7% this morning and changing hands at $2.97 a piece.

Today’s uptick also follows a 1.5% increase in the company’s share price at the close of the market on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s been a great recovery story for the construction management company’s shares over the past couple of months. The stock has now rebounded around 31% in value from a two-decade low recorded in late April.

Over the past month, Fletcher Building shares have climbed nearly 13% higher, and they’re roughly 8% higher than 12 months ago. 

What is driving Fletcher Building shares higher today?

In a statement to the ASX ahead of the market open this morning, the company announced it has raised its full-year EBIT guidance by 6.4% to $400 to $403 million.

The company’s FY26 EBIT from continuing operations (excluding property sales) has also been raised to $348 to $351 million, up around 3.6% from its mid-June guidance.

The company cited positive quarterly volumes across its core manufacturing and distribution segments. The increase was partly driven by customers bringing forward demand ahead of expected price increases.

Clearly, investors were thrilled with the update, and many have rushed to buy the shares today.

Fletcher Building is expected to announce its final FY26 financial results this earnings season in mid-August.

Can the shares keep climbing higher?

If the company can deliver, or even exceed, its latest guidance figures, I think the shares have a lot of potential to keep climbing higher in the near future.

It looks like analysts are relatively neutral on the stock, however.

At the time of writing, 6 of 13 analysts have a hold rating on the shares. Another four rate the shares as a buy or strong buy, and three rate the stock as a strong sell.

After today’s price rally, the average $2.82 target price implies a potential 2% downside at the time of writing.

The range between the minimum and maximum is significant, though. Some forecast the shares to climb around 17% to $3.37 each. Meanwhile, others think the stock could fall as much as 53% to $1.355 a piece.

After today’s announcement, it’s possible we’ll see some brokers revise their outlooks in the coming days. 

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

More reading

• Fletcher Building lifts FY26 profit guidance as quarterly volumes rise
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Fletcher Building tips stable FY26 as divestments strengthen balance sheet

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 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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are sliding on Thursday as investors weigh the latest developments around the gold miner.

At the time of writing, the Northern Star share price is down 3% to $19.70.

Northern Star shares are still up around 4% this week, but today’s fall has taken some momentum out of the move.

The ASX gold stock remains down 26% in 2026.

Here’s the latest.

More boardroom movement

According to The Australian, Northern Star has appointed former Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) boss Jeff Quartermaine to its board as a non-Executive Director.

Quartermaine has more than 35 years of mining experience and spent 15 years with Perseus, including as Chief Executive.

Northern Star told investors that Quartermaine brings “significant gold mining, processing and development experience” to the board.

The board change also comes while pressure is building behind the scenes.

US activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a stake worth more than $1 billion and has been pushing for change, including board renewal and a wider strategic review.

The Australian also reported that Northern Star appears set to appoint two new board members with mining experience in the coming months.

Northern Star reshuffles at the top

Northern Star has been trying to clear up some leadership uncertainty.

The company recently named Suresh Vadnagra as its next Managing Director and Chief Executive. He is expected to replace Stuart Tonkin in October, with Chief Financial Officer Ryan Gurner stepping in as interim CEO until then.

Vadnagra is currently a senior executive at Glencore, where he oversees nickel and zinc industrial assets.

Northern Star has confirmed that Michael Ashforth will replace long-serving Chairman Michael Chaney after the company’s annual general meeting in November.

At the same time, takeover speculation is sitting in the background.

The Australian noted that Northern Star has received takeover approaches, although they are understood to be opportunistic and short of what the company could accept.

Gold Fields has been floated as one of the more likely names to watch.

Production update stays in focus

The boardroom changes and takeover talk aren’t the only things helping Northern Star this week.

The company also gave investors a better production update last week, which helped calm some of the concerns around the stock.

Northern Star said it remains on track for FY26 gold sales of 1.543 million ounces. That is within its recently downgraded guidance range.

Preliminary figures included 844,000 ounces from the wider Super Pit operations and 434,000 ounces from Yandal.

Still, there is a lot to work through. With Elliott applying pressure and takeover speculation brewing, the incoming CEO has quite a big job ahead.

The post Takeover talk and a boardroom shake-up: Why Northern Star shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.