S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are 0.3% higher at 9,086.1 points on Monday.

Let’s start the new week with some fresh ratings from the experts

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $170.37, up 1.3% today and down 21% over 12 months. 

CSL shares soared 23% last week after the company released its FY26 results and provided a positive outlook.

The CSL share price has ripped 85% since the healthcare sector began its long-awaited rebound on 3 June.

Morgans has a buy rating on this ASX 200 healthcare giant.

Analyst Derek Jellinek said: 

The FY26 result was broadly in line with expectations, with revenue of US$15.8bn (+3% vs guidance) and underlying NPATA of US$3.1bn.

Importantly, underlying Ig demand remains strong, Seqirus delivered seasonal influenza growth despite lower US immunisation rates and transformation savings reached US$176m ahead of target, although Vifor continues to face challenges.

While FY27 targets flat top line growth, as Vifor remains a significant drag, the earnings trajectory is becoming increasingly skewed towards recovery, supported by stabilising plasma economics, cost-outs and improved commercial execution.

We make modest changes to FY27-28 estimates and increase our blended DCF, PE and EV/EBITDA-based target price to A$187.71 on a multiple roll forward.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price hit a new record high of $67.72, up 3.9%, in early trading on Monday.

BHP released its FY26 report last week, and following this, John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities gave the miner a hold rating.

Athanasiou said (courtesy The Bull):

The company posted attributable profit of $US9.8 billion in full year 2026, up 9 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Revenue of $US58.8 billion was up 15 per cent.

The company’s copper portfolio is positioned to benefit from electrification, renewable infrastructure, power grid investment and data centre growth.

However, BHP remains heavily exposed to iron ore, leaving earnings sensitive to Chinese demand and commodity price movements.

The quality of BHP’s asset base, balance sheet and diversified portfolio leaves existing shareholders with little reason to sell.

However, after a solid run, prospective investors may be better served waiting for a potentially more attractive entry point.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is $33.60, down 0.7% today and down 12% over 12 months. 

Following Westpac’s 3Q FY26 update, Athanasiou put a sell rating on the ASX 200 bank share. 

He said: 

The bank remains well capitalised and continues to generate solid earnings, but the operating environment is becoming increasingly competitive.

Mortgage pricing is aggressive, deposit competition remains intense and the scope for sustained margin expansion appears limited.

Westpac’s dividend remains attractive, but investors should also consider opportunity cost.

We believe there are more compelling opportunities on the ASX, which offer stronger structural growth or more attractive valuations.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CSL, BHP, Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Could CSL shares really hit $200? Experts reveal their 12-month targets
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• How much must I invest in BHP shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?
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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 positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I were starting out in the share market today, I would want businesses I could understand and feel comfortable holding for years.

I would also favour companies that already have strong positions but still have clear ways to grow.

For those reasons, these three would be high on my list.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman develops and owns large-scale property used by some of the world’s biggest companies.

Its portfolio includes logistics facilities, warehouses, and data centres, with properties concentrated around major cities where land and access to power can be difficult to secure.

I think that makes Goodman a particularly interesting way for a beginner to gain exposure to some powerful long-term trends.

Online shopping and increasingly complex supply chains have created demand for well-located logistics space. At the same time, cloud computing and artificial intelligence are driving enormous investment in data centres.

Goodman’s advantage is that it already owns and controls property in locations where these facilities are needed.

It also has decades of experience developing major projects and works with large global customers that need substantial amounts of space.

For a beginner, I like that the basic investment idea is easy to follow. Businesses need somewhere to store goods and run computing infrastructure, and Goodman is focused on supplying that property in places where it can be difficult to build more.

I think that could keep creating opportunities for a long time.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

ResMed is one of the world’s major providers of technology for treating sleep apnoea and other respiratory conditions.

Its devices help people breathe properly while they sleep.

But selling a sleep treatment machine is only the beginning. ResMed can generate recurring revenue by providing replacement products, while its digital technology helps patients and healthcare providers manage treatment.

There is also a large group of people around the world who have sleep apnoea but have either not been diagnosed or are not receiving treatment.

As awareness improves and more people seek help, ResMed has the opportunity to bring more patients into its ecosystem.

For someone new to investing, I think this is a relatively straightforward long-term story. ResMed provides products that address a genuine medical need, has spent decades developing expertise in the field, and can keep growing by helping more people receive treatment.

That is the type of business I would be comfortable learning to invest with.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie is much more than an Australian bank.

It operates across asset management, commodities and financial markets, banking, advisory, and investing, with activities spread around the world.

I think that range is one of the reasons it could suit a beginner.

Macquarie has several ways to find opportunities as economic conditions change. Its asset management business can invest in areas such as infrastructure, energy, and real assets. Its commodities operations help businesses manage financial and physical risks, while its banking and advisory businesses provide further sources of earnings.

What interests me is the experience Macquarie has built in areas requiring large amounts of capital and specialist knowledge.

Infrastructure, renewable energy, digital networks, transport, and other major projects will continue requiring investment for decades. Macquarie has positioned itself to participate in many of those opportunities around the world.

The business can be more complicated than the other two, but I think the central idea remains simple. That is that Macquarie has built expertise in allocating capital and finding opportunities across markets.

I would be comfortable backing that capability over a long period.

Foolish takeaway

If I were a beginner, I would not feel any pressure to find the most exciting share on the market.

I would rather start with established businesses whose long-term opportunities I can understand, then give myself time to learn while those companies continue doing what they do well.

Goodman, ResMed, and Macquarie would give me that kind of starting point, which is why I would be happy to buy all three with the intention of holding for years.

The post 3 ASX shares I’d buy if I were a beginner today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 3 excellent ASX shares I would buy and hold for 10 years or more

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has become one of the ASX’s most closely watched growth shares.

The opportunity is substantial, but this is still a company where investors need to be comfortable with plenty of uncertainty along the way.

So, would I buy the shares and hold them for the long term?

Counter-drone technology has become increasingly important

The first reason I am positive on DroneShield is the problem it is trying to solve.

Small drones are now being used extensively in modern conflicts, while governments are also thinking more seriously about protecting airports, military bases, critical infrastructure, and other sensitive locations.

That creates demand for technology that can detect drones quickly and, when appropriate, stop them.

DroneShield specialises in this area. Its products use radio-frequency sensing, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, and other technology to identify and respond to drone threats.

I think its focus is an important strength.

DroneShield has spent years developing specifically for the counter-drone market rather than treating it as a small part of a much larger defence business. I think that experience could become increasingly valuable as customers look for technology that has already been tested and can continue adapting as drones change.

The technology keeps moving forward

Another reason I would be comfortable holding DroneShield is that the company is not relying on one successful product.

Drone threats are changing quickly. New drones can use unfamiliar frequencies, move faster, and try to avoid existing detection methods.

DroneShield has been responding with regular software and hardware development. Its recently released RfAI-3 technology is designed to identify previously unseen drones rather than depending entirely on a catalogue of known signals.

It has also recently launched RfRecon, a portable system that helps military and security users understand activity across the radio-frequency environment.

I like this because it shows the opportunity extends beyond simply selling more of the same equipment.

If DroneShield can keep improving the technology already deployed with customers while developing new products around their needs, it could build much deeper relationships over time.

It is preparing for a much larger business

Manufacturing is another part of the story I think investors should watch closely.

There is little value in winning major defence orders if a company cannot produce enough equipment to fill them.

DroneShield has been investing heavily to increase its manufacturing capability in Australia, while also establishing production in Europe. Its first European-produced counter-drone system came off the production line earlier this year.

That gives the company more capacity to pursue larger programs while also bringing production closer to important overseas customers.

For me, that is an encouraging sign that management is building the business for a much greater level of demand than it has historically served.

I would still treat this as a high-risk investment

This is where I would be careful.

Defence orders can be large and unpredictable, procurement processes can take time, and future revenue may not arrive smoothly from one period to the next.

Competition is another consideration. The counter-drone opportunity is attracting major defence companies and specialist technology businesses around the world.

DroneShield also needs to keep investing rapidly enough to stay ahead as drone technology evolves.

That means I would be much more comfortable holding DroneShield as a relatively small part of a diversified portfolio than making it one of my largest investments.

Foolish takeaway

For an investor with a high tolerance for risk, I think DroneShield shares are worth buying and holding.

What keeps me interested is the possibility that counter-drone technology becomes a much larger and more permanent part of defence and security spending around the world.

DroneShield has already spent years developing specialist technology and is now building the manufacturing footprint needed to compete for bigger opportunities.

There could be plenty of volatility between here and there. But with a long timeframe and sensible position size, I think the potential reward makes that risk worth considering.

The post Are DroneShield shares worth buying and holding? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.