The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ascended 1% last week and is down 2.5% over 12 months.

Let’s start the week with some new ratings from market experts (courtesy The Bull). 

JB Hi Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price has tumbled 37% over 12 months.

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has a buy call on this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share. 

Wielandt said: 

This consumer electronics giant continues to show why it’s one of Australia’s highest quality retailers.

The company delivered record total sales of $11.06 billion in full year 2026, up 4.8 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

Net profit after tax of $489.9 million increased 6 per cent. The total fully franked dividend of $3.37 was up 22.5 per cent.

The company continues to take market share through its low cost operating model, strong brand recognition and leadership across consumer electronics.

Our recommendation is supported by a proven management team, strong cash generation and a history of executing well during varying economic conditions.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The Sandfire Resources share price is up 31% over 12 months. 

Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities has a hold rating on this ASX 200 copper share. 

Gable said: 

SFR is Australia’s largest listed pure play copper producer. Copper demand is increasing in an environment of low supply and this is likely to lead to higher prices.

Group sales revenue of $1.7 billion in full year 2026 was up 41 per cent year on year. Profit after tax of $354 million was up 294 per cent.

Its final fully franked dividend of 35 cents a share was much higher than the market was expecting.

From a charting perspective, the price action for SFR looks bullish and we expect to see a sustainable uptrend from here.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Health Care share price has streaked 77% higher over 12 months.

Toby Grimm from Baker Young has a sell rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Grimm explained: 

Ramsay Health Care is one of the largest private hospital operators in Australia. It has additional operations in the UK and Europe.

Ramsay’s operations have improved. Insurer pricing better reflects cost inflation, with higher demand and higher margin procedures prioritised.

Yet the industry remains challenging and public sector competitors effectively set input costs without needing to operate profitably.

The stock has strongly rallied in the past 12 months to the point we believe it’s exposed to a pullback.

The forward price/earnings ratio has risen significantly above its 10-year average.

Investors may want to consider booking profits and monitor performance from the sidelines.

The post Buy, hold, sell: JB Hi-Fi, Sandfire Resources, Ramsay Health Care shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.

Once a week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top 10 most shorted ASX shares

• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) remains the most shorted ASX share after its short interest jumped from 14.5% to 16.2%. Short sellers may still be concerned about the ASIC investigation into the company’s previous market disclosures and share trading, as well as its ability to deliver on growth expectations.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has seen its short interest rise to 15.6%. With the company working to increase production at its Kayelekera uranium mine, short sellers may be questioning whether it can achieve its production targets without further cost pressures.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 15.1%, up from 13.1% last week. This could reflect doubts about the company’s revised development plans for its Honeymoon uranium operation, particularly whether it can deliver the production and cost improvements outlined in its latest feasibility study.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has moved up the table with 12.9% of its shares held short, compared to 12.6% last week. Short sellers may be concerned about the sustainability of its US growth and the potential for higher funding costs and customer defaults to weigh on profitability due to higher rates.
• PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) has short interest of 12.9%, up slightly since last week. With lithium prices weakening recently and forecasts pointing to a potential supply surplus in 2027, short sellers may be betting that the company’s earnings will be less than expected.
• IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX) has seen its short interest increase to 12.9%. Although the company is making progress with its titanium production technology, short sellers may remain sceptical about how quickly it can scale up manufacturing and generate meaningful profits.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has 12.1% of its shares held short, up from 11.7% last week. The company recently announced another leadership change in Australia and New Zealand, and short sellers may be questioning whether its restructuring efforts can deliver a sustained recovery in sales and earnings.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has short interest of 11.8%, compared to 11.5% last week. Its Langer Heinrich mine recently reported quarterly uranium production below market expectations, potentially adding to concerns about production reliability and recovery rates.
• Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) has seen its short interest rise to 11.8%. Short sellers may be concerned about the financial and operational risks associated with the proposed acquisition of Meteoric Resources and the development of its Caldeira rare earths project in Brazil.
• WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) has entered the top ten with short interest of 11%. Short sellers may be questioning whether the logistics software company can deliver the expected benefits from its major e2open acquisition and AI-driven restructuring, particularly given the significant changes taking place across the business.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ended the week with a strong gain. The benchmark index rose 1% to 8,806.7 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued start to the week following a poor session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 11 points or 0.1% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.35%, the S&P 500 fell 1.1%, and the Nasdaq sank 2.15%.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a strong start to the week after oil prices jumped on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 3.5% to US$101.41 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 3.7% to US$109.86 a barrel. Increased Strait of Hormuz attacks and reports that Ukraine is vowing to hit Russian refineries were behind the rise.

Buy Mesoblast shares

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares offer major upside according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and slightly trimmed price target of $4.40 on the biotech company’s shares. It said: “The miss on September quarter revenues requires a downgrade to the forecast for FY27 Ryoncil revenues. The forecast is lowered by 18% ($243m to $203m) with the NPAT reduced by a similar quantum to $26.7m. The FY28 revenue forecast is reduced by 7%, however, there are no changes to the long-term outlook. Price target is reduced to $4.40.”

Gold price edges higher

It could be a reasonable start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares such as Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price edged higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 0.25% to US$4,181.1 an ounce. This couldn’t stop the precious metal from recording a weekly decline following hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data.

Buy PLS shares

The team at Bell Potter remains positive on PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares following the final investment decision to double Pilgangoora nameplate spodumene concentrate capacity to 2Mtpa. In response, the broker has retained its buy rating on the lithium miner’s shares with a trimmed price target of $4.10 (from $4.40). It said: “While P2000 introduces medium-term execution risk, completion will meaningfully strengthen PLS’ long-term position as a large, low-cost hard-rock lithium producer. The company retains offtake optionality with ~50% of FY30 expected SC production of 2Mtpa uncontracted. Colina development studies are progressing, providing additional organic growth optionality in markets with strong underlying demand fundamentals from EV adoption and BESS deployment.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Buy, hold, sell: Santos, BHP, Telstra shares
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• ASX 200 utilities and healthcare shares win the week again
• Here’s the average superannuation balance at 60 and 70 in Australia

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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.