DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares have fallen further into the red in Wednesday lunchtime trade.

At the time of writing, the shares are down around 7% and are changing hands for $2.26 a piece. It’s the lowest level the shares have fallen to in 2026 so far.

Today’s decline means DroneShield shares are now down 18% over the past month, are around 32% lower for the year-to-date, and are 11% lower than trading levels this time last year.

What happened to DroneShield shares this year?

There has been a significant shift in sentiment around DroneShield shares over the past couple of months.

The company had a strong start to the year. Its shares were supported by higher global defence budgets, and geopolitical volatility amid conflict in the Middle East. But by May, investors seem to turn their backs on the stock.

A combination of recent governance and regulatory issues and the cooling of conflict in the Middle East has dragged DroneShield’s shares down.

While heightened conflict can increase interest in defence technology, particularly counter-drone systems, signs of easing will do the opposite.

Meanwhile, governance concerns have also weighed on sentiment. DroneShield announced in May that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) had requested the company provide reasonable assistance in connection with an investigation relating to market announcements and share trading in November 2025.

Now there are concerns about ongoing volatility, and that the company’s future growth may not be large enough to justify its share price. 

So the question is, is there anything left ahead for DroneShield shares? Or can the stock fall even further? 

Here’s what the experts think.

Buy, sell or hold?

I wouldn’t jump at the chance to add more DroneShield shares to my portfolio right now, but I wouldn’t cut and run either.

And it looks like analysts are sharply divided too.

TradingView data shows that analysts are split in their outlook for the counter-drone technology stock over the next 12 months, but they all agree we’ll see some element of upside ahead.

Out of four analysts, two have a strong buy rating, and two have a sell or strong sell rating.

The average $3.41 target price still implies a potential 49% upside at the time of writing. The maximum $4.80 target price implies that DroneShield shares could leap another 110%. Meanwhile some are more bearish, tipping the shares to sit unchanged from the current trading price of $2.28 a piece. 

Canaccord Genuity is one analyst with a bullish view on the shares. It renewed its buy rating on Droneshield shares earlier this month, with a 12-month price target of $3.75.

The post DroneShield shares crash another 7% today: Is this the end for the once-soaring defence stock? 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 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.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) shares are trading in the red on Wednesday afternoon.

At the time of writing, the shares are down around 1% and are changing hands for 12.48 a piece.

Despite today’s slump, the shares are up around 12% over the past months and have rebounded an impressive 30% since they fell to a multi-year low of $9.62 in mid-May.

Now the question is, can Flight Centre shares keep flying higher? Or is today’s decline the beginning of the next share price crash?

Here’s what the experts think.

Buy, sell or hold Flight Centre shares? Here’s what brokers tip for the next 12 months.

If broker analysis is anything to go buy, we should see a lot more out of Flight Centre shares over the next year.

Market Index data shows a consensus buy rating for the ASX travel shares over the next 12 months. The average $15.36 target price implies a potential 23% upside ahead, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something similar. Out of 17 analysts, 15 have a buy or strong buy rating on Flight Centre shares. Another two rate the shares as a hold, however they all agree an upside ahead.

The average $14.69 target price implies a potential 18% upside, at the time of writing. Although some tip the shares to jump 45% to $18.13 over the next 12 months.

UBS is positive on Flight Centre Travel Group. The broker has retained its buy rating and $14.70 price target on the travel company’s shares.

Morgans also believes the recent share price weakness has created an opportunity for investors. The broker pointed to the company’s financial strength and the potential for a stronger recovery in the second half of FY27. It has a buy recommendation and $14.80 target price on the shares.

Jarden recently upgraded Flight Centre shares to a buy rating with a $15.90 target price.

What could drive the ASX travel stock higher?

Slower-than-expected profit growth, higher travel costs, geopolitical tensions, and inflation concerns pulled the brakes on Travel Centre’s shares earlier this year. 

But improved travel demand and less fuel price volatility has helped investor confidence recently. 

If fuel supply continues to improve and lower interest rates boost consumer spending, we could well see a stronger rebound ahead.

The company is also due to release its FY26 earnings results in late-August. If the result comes in ahead of market expectations we could see another lift in the share price. 

The post Flight Centre shares rebound 30% from multi-year low: Can they keep climbing higher? 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 recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. 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) is having another difficult session on Wednesday as investors respond to a weaker lead from global markets.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.69% to 8,743 points.

The session looked much worse earlier on. The ASX 200 fell as low as 8,676.7 points this morning before trimming some of those losses.

Still, the decline has been enough to push the index back near its lowest levels in weeks.

Here’s what is dragging on the market today.

Oil is back in focus

Crude prices have been pushed higher after renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Fresh attacks on commercial vessels, along with another round of US military strikes against Iran, have put supply risk back in the spotlight.

According to Trading Economics, WTI crude is trading at around US$72.32 a barrel, up 2.66%, while Brent crude is near US$76.05 a barrel, up 2.55%.

That has helped support energy shares, even as the broader market loses ground.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 4.8% to $7.43, while Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are 2.79% higher to $28.75.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) shares are also up 1.63% to $10.315.

Miners and tech drag on the index

The problem for the ASX 200 is that the gains in energy are being offset elsewhere.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 3.3% to $56.925, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are 2.35% lower to $164.19.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are also weaker, falling 0.93% to $18.21.

The selling has also spread beyond resources.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are down 1.63% to $249.22, Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) shares have dropped 2.43% to $29.935, and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are off 2.47% to $4.945 following the recent outage.

Overall, 128 ASX 200 shares are falling, 62 are rising, and 10 are unchanged.

Banks and defensives soften the fall

The ASX 200 is still lower, but support from the banks and defensives is helping limit the damage.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 0.41% to $166.01, although the rest of the major banks are holding up a little better.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are 0.25% lower at $36.04, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is flat at $39.22, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) has edged 0.31% higher to $35.55.

The supermarkets are also giving the market some support.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares are up 0.79% to $39.73, while Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) has added 0.43% to $23.42.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) is also in positive territory, climbing 0.96% to $25.23 on the back of a leadership update.

The post Why the ASX 200 is sliding towards a 4-week low 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 positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, 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.