Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed Friday trading for $27.87. During the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $28.21 each, up 1.2%. 

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, Woodside shares have smashed the benchmark performance so far in 2026.

Year to date, the ASX 200 has gained a modest 1.4%, while the shares in the Aussie oil and gas giant have surged 19.2% this calendar year. That’s despite the stock having retraced by 21.2% from its 7 April multi-year closing high of $35.80 per share.

Atop that market-beating capital gain, Woodside also paid out an 83.5-cent-a-share fully-franked dividend on 27 March. Adding in the interim dividend, the stock trades on a juicy 5.9% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

As for the sizeable retrace since April, that has come amid fast falling oil prices as the United States and Iran negotiate an end to the war and work to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Brent crude oil is currently trading for US$71.80 per barrel, down from more than US$118 per barrel on 29 April. 

But with the stock still up more than 18% over 12 months, is it a good buy today? 

Should I buy Woodside shares today?

Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan recently analysed the outlook for the outperforming ASX 200 stock (courtesy of The Bull). 

“Woodside Energy is a major Australian LNG producer with a portfolio of global gas projects,” he said.

And Halligan sounded an optimistic note on Woodside shares amid its growth projects. He said:

The company is increasing its stake in the Browse joint venture to 41.27% via a US$225 million deal, reinforcing its strategy to extend the life of the North West Shelf.

This adds long term upside along with the Scarborough project, which is 94% completed.

Woodside announced its increased stake in Browse on 12 June, after exercising its pre-emption right to acquire a 10.67% interest from PetroChina. 

“Woodside’s decision to pre-empt reflects our commitment to continue progressing the proposed Browse to North West Shelf development,” Woodside CEO Liz Westcott said on the day. “We see this as a pathway to maximise long-term shareholder value. “

Wescott added:

This acquisition is a disciplined and capital efficient way to align integrated value in these assets for a development with long-term cash flow potential. We will continue working with the Browse Joint Venture to fully evaluate development opportunities.

Despite the long-term upside potential from the company’s growth project, Halligan issued a hold recommendation on Woodside shares for now.

He concluded:

Regulatory uncertainty, rising costs and policy risks in Australia temper the outlook. While growth options are significant, execution and approvals risk support a balanced hold stance at current valuation levels.

The post Up 19%, should I still buy Woodside shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) are both major ASX bank shares with large customer bases, strong brands, and attractive dividend profiles. 

They are also both trading well below their 52-week highs. 

Both shares definitely have appeal, but I think one stands out as the better buy.

The numbers

NAB shares are currently trading around $38.57. 

According to CommSec, consensus estimates suggest NAB could generate earnings per share of $2.43 in FY26 and $2.53 in FY27. 

That puts NAB on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 15.9 times FY26 earnings and 15.2 times FY27 earnings.

On the dividend side, CommSec estimates dividends per share of $1.70 in FY26 and $1.72 in FY27. That implies forward dividend yields of around 4.4% and 4.5%. 

Westpac shares are trading around $35.69.

CommSec shows the consensus forecasting earnings per share of $2.12 in FY26 and $2.14 in FY27. That puts Westpac on a P/E ratio of around 16.8 times FY26 earnings and 16.7 times FY27 earnings.

Forecast dividends of $1.54 in FY26 and $1.55 in FY27 imply forward yields of around 4.3% in both years.

On these numbers, NAB actually looks slightly more attractive to me. It has the lower forward earnings multiple and a slightly higher forecast dividend yield. 

Why I prefer NAB shares

The numbers are useful, but they are not the only reason I would pick NAB.

The bigger reason is the shape of the business. Australian retail banking is a challenging market. Mortgage competition remains intense, deposit pricing matters, and households are still dealing with cost-of-living pressure and higher interest rates than they enjoyed a few years ago. 

Westpac has a large retail banking franchise, and that gives it scale. But in this environment, I prefer NAB’s stronger exposure to business banking. 

Businesses need credit, transaction accounts, deposits, payments, working capital support, and advice through different parts of the economic cycle. That does not remove risk, especially if the economy slows, but it gives NAB a valuable point of difference. 

I also think business banking relationships can be sticky. A company may rely on its bank for multiple services, which can make the relationship deeper than a simple home loan. That is why NAB looks better positioned to me.

What about Westpac shares?

Westpac is not a bad bank share.

It offers a solid dividend yield, a large customer base, and potential upside if sentiment toward the banking sector improves. Investors who already own Westpac may be happy to keep holding it for income.

But if I were choosing between the two today, I would rather buy NAB.

Its share price has weakened from its 52-week high of $49.45, and I think that pullback has created a more attractive entry point. The valuation is reasonable, the forecast income is attractive, and the business banking skew gives it a stronger case in the current environment.

Foolish Takeaway

I think NAB shares are the better buy.

Westpac still has appeal as a major bank with a solid dividend profile, but NAB gives me a more attractive mix of valuation, income, and business banking exposure.

In a tough retail banking market, that difference is important to me. For investors looking at the big banks today, I would buy NAB shares ahead of Westpac.

The post Better buy? NAB vs Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A leading analyst is forecasting growing headwinds for NAB shares. Should investors be worried?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• This is the ASX bank stock I would buy today for franked dividend income
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• How much passive income can I earn off a $100,000 portfolio?

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 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.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) shares are pushing higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) sleep disorder treatment company closed on Friday trading for $30.50. In afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $30.58 apiece, up 0.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time. 

Despite today’s bump, though, ResMed shares remain down 22.1% over the past 12 months, compared to the 3% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index. 

Though we shouldn’t dismiss the passive income on offer, especially with ResMed paying quarterly dividends. Over the last 12 months, the stock paid out a total of 24.6 cents a share in unfranked dividends. That sees ResMed trading on a 0.8% unfranked trailing dividend yield.  

But, after a disappointing year of returns – with the stock hit over concerns that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic could impact demand for its core sleep apnoea products – is the ASX 200 healthcare stock back in the buy zone?

Should I buy ResMed shares today?

Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 healthcare share (courtesy of The Bull).

“ResMed is a global leader in sleep apnoea devices and digital health platforms, benefiting from strong structural demand and resilient clinical positioning,” he noted. 

And Halligan isn’t overly concerned over the impact of GLP-1 drugs.

“Despite the progression in GLP-1 therapies for treating sleep apnoea, ResMed’s CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatments remain superior at this point in time,” he said.

Summarising three reasons you might want to buy ResMed shares today, Halligan concluded, “RMD continues to offer appealing growth, income and defensive healthcare exposure.”

A more bearish take on the ASX 200 healthcare share

Sanlam Private Wealth’s Remo Greco also recently analysed the outlook for ResMed.

“The company makes medical devices to treat sleep apnoea,” he said.

And revenue has been on the upswing.

“The company lifted revenue by 11% in the third quarter of financial year 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period,” Greco noted.

But Greco is concerned over the potential for GLP-1 to impact future growth.

He noted:

In my view, GLP-1 weight loss drugs may reduce the incidence of sleep apnoea. ResMed’s share price has been volatile in the past 12 months as investors weighed up the company’s outlook in light of popular GLP-1 drugs.

With that in mind, he recommended selling ResMed shares following the stock’s recent rebound from its recent 3 June one-year lows.

“The shares have risen from $25.84 on June 3 to trade at $29.37 on July 2. It may be prudent to sell some shares prior to RMD’s full year result,” Greco concluded.

The post Down 22%! 3 reasons to buy the big dip in ResMed shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares to buy now: experts
• Why BHP and these ASX shares could be strong buys this week
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX healthcare shares have jumped 21% since June. Can the recovery continue?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.