Author: openjargon

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are trading in the red again on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX bank shares are down 0.74% to $170.94 a piece. Today’s slide means the shares have now shed 7% of their value since peaking at an annual high of $183.52, in mid-April.

CBA shares are now up 6% for the year to date and are 2% higher than this time last year.

Now many investors are questioning whether the bank shares will continue slumping. Or could there be more to come later this year?

Is there an upside ahead?

It’s been consensus for some time that the bank’s shares are overvalued relative to its peers, and that its bumper price tag isn’t supported by the bank’s business fundamentals. 

Market Index data shows brokers still rate CBA’s shares as a strong sell. The brokers they tip a potential downside of 24% to an average $129.82 12-month target price, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows some analysts are even more bullish. Out of 16 analysts 14 have a sell or strong sell rating on the stock. Some think the shares could crash up to 47% to as little as $90 each over the next 12 months.

If analyst predictions are anything to go by, we can assume that the peak has well and truly passed for CBA shares.

But potential upsides and predicted share price targets aren’t the only reason that investors should consider when they’re thinking about selling up their CBA shares.

CBA is a classic passive income stock

Bank stocks are generally considered cyclical rather than classically defensive, but large-scale banking giants like CBA certainly have defensive qualities.

Banking and credit are usually seen as an essential service. This means the sector can remain relatively stable in times of economic volatility.

As a result, banks like CBA are able to record a consistent operational performance and earnings, even when markets are mostly weak. CBA’s latest results announcement was its  unexpectedly-positive half-year FY26 result in mid-February. 

The bank is huge, dominant, and highly profitable, which means investors generally consider it a safe haven when markets are unstable. Scarcity of quality stocks on the ASX also means investors tend to put major players, like CBA, on a pedestal. 

The bank is able to pay a good dividend to its shareholders, too. Its latest payment was a fully-franked $2.35 per share in late-March, which implies a dividend yield around 2.74% at the time of writing.

So, should I sell my CBA shares in May?

It looks like the CBA shares are on the way down. If the crash is as large as the experts expect, the drop could also affect the level of passive income that the bank pays its shareholders. 

Ultimately, selling CBA shares should depend on how many you hold and how long you expect to keep them for. If you rely on dividend payments this should also be taken into account.

Also keep in mind that ASX bank stocks are cyclical so even a near-term decline could rebound in the mid-term. I personally wouldn’t buy into CBA shares right now, but I’d think twice about selling up this month.

The post Should I sell my CBA shares in May? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• NextDC shares pull back after a funding update. Here’s what you need to know
• Should I buy CBA and Qantas shares this month?
• Buy, hold, sell: CBA, South32, and Worley shares
• Are CBA shares a buy amid record $5.5 billion first-half cash profits?
• What happened with ASX 200 banks stocks NAB and CBA in April?

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.

Owning ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares typically means receiving a solid dividend each year, with a sizeable dividend yield.

We’re going to see what analysts are expecting from the ASX bank share in the next couple of years and consider how attractive those payments could be in yield terms.

Of course, there’s more to considering a bank than just its dividend potential. But, the passive income normally plays an important part in the overall returns.

FY26

The ASX bank share recently announced its FY26 half-year result and now analysts have a good view on what the financials (and dividend) could look like over the rest of the 2026 financial year.

Based on the projection on Commsec, owners of ANZ shares are forecast to see an annual dividend per share of $1.68 in FY26.

At the current ANZ share price, that forecast translates into a dividend yield of 4.7% excluding franking credits. With franking credits, it translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of approximately 6%, at the time of writing.

FY27

Owners of ANZ shares may see another increase in the annual dividend per share in the 2027 financial year.

According to the forecast on Commsec, owners of ANZ shares are expected to receive a larger annual payout per share of $1.72 in FY27.

At the current ANZ share price, that works out to be a dividend yield of 4.8% excluding franking credits or 6.1% including franking credits.

Latest dividend payment

In the FY26 half-year result, the bank decided to maintain its dividend per share at 83 cents.

This dividend payment came with the ASX bank share delivering underlying cash profit growth of 14%, while underlying statutory net profit increased 9%.

Despite its underlying loan growth (of 1%), and the current uncertainty in the Middle East and flow on effects of that for inflation and interest rates, ANZ’s provision charge decreased by 7% to $274 million.

If ANZ is able to continue growing its earnings per share (EPS), then it’s very likely the business will be able to afford larger dividend payments for shareholders.

According to the forecasts on Commsec, ANZ’s EPS is projected to rise to $2.54 in FY26 and then increase again to $2.63 in FY27. That means it’s currently valued at 14x FY26’s estimated earnings.

Commsec’s collation of analyst recommendations on the business suggest there are currently six buy ratings, six hold ratings and four sell ratings on the ASX bank share. Therefore, the average rating on the bank is a hold, though slightly leaning more positive than negative.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• NextDC shares pull back after a funding update. Here’s what you need to know
• What happened with ASX 200 banks stocks NAB and CBA in April?
• 3 ASX dividend stocks with 4% yields to buy for a winning income portfolio
• New ANZ dividend: Here’s everything you need to know
• 16 ASX shares going ex-dividend in May

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) tech shares are 0.9% higher on Tuesday as investors continue to buy the dip.

Or should I say, buy the ‘rout’?

Because that’s what happened to ASX 200 tech shares between 29 August last year and 30 March this year.

Fears over artificial intelligence (AI) drove a 48% fall for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) in just seven months.

A strong turnaround for tech shares on the ASX and in US markets began on 31 March.

Since then, the ASX 200 Info Tech Index has risen 20.1% while the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) has lifted 21%.

Here are five ASX 200 tech stocks that the experts say we should buy today.

5 ASX 200 tech shares to buy while share prices are down

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The Wisetech share price is $46.33, up 6.6% today and up 27% since 30 March.

Wisetech is the fastest rising stock of the entire ASX 200 on Tuesday.

However, the share price of the market’s largest tech company remains 32% down over six months.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on Wisetech shares today.

The broker increased its 12-month share price target from $65.35 to $65.65, implying 40% upside ahead.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is $85.78, up 3.4% on Tuesday and up 22% since 30 March.

This ASX 200 tech share is still trading 41% lower over six months.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy rating on the accounting services provider with a $130 target last week.

This suggests a potential 51% upside ahead.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) 

The NextDC share price is $14.07, down 0.07% today and up 27% since 30 March.

This ASX 200 tech share is down 9% over six months.

Citi maintained its buy rating on NextDC shares with a $19.10 target last week, suggesting a 36% upside ahead.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is $21.22, down 0.05% today and up 17% since 30 March.

Over the past six months, the family tracking app provider has lost 56% of its market valuation.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy rating on Life360 shares with a $30 price target today.

This implies a potential 41% capital gain over the next year.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price is $9.06, up 0.6% today and up 29% since 30 March.

Despite the rebound, this ASX 200 tech share remains down 43% over six months.

Citi reiterated its buy rating with a $15 price target yesterday.

This implies 65% upside ahead for Megaport stock.

The post ASX 200 tech shares rebound 20% in 5 weeks: experts reveal stocks to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• WiseTech shares are flying 6.5% higher today. Can they keep going?
• Why Flight Centre, Sigma Healthcare, Vault Minerals, and WiseTech shares are storming higher today
• Why is everyone talking about Westpac, Ampol and NextDC shares on Tuesday?
• NextDC shares pull back after a funding update. Here’s what you need to know
• NEXTDC secures $1.8bn in new senior debt to boost liquidity

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. href=”https://www.fool.com.au/”>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 Life360, Megaport, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool has a <a href=”https://www.fool.com.au/fool-com-au-disclosure-policy/”>disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Australian supermarket rivals Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) have historically been neck and neck when it comes to grocery prices, revenue growth, and even share market performance. 

Here’s the latest out of the two retailers, and what to expect next.

What’s next for Woolworths shares?

At the time of writing, the shares are down 0.5% to $33.71 a piece. The latest drop means the shares have now tumbled nearly 12% since spiking to a multi-year high of $38.15 late last month.

For the year to date, Woolworths shares are still 15% higher, and they’re 4% higher than this time last year.

The supermarket giant’s shares crashed 10% in a day after it posted its third-quarter sales results last week. 

For the 13 weeks to the 5th of April, Woolworths reported total sales of $18.1 billion, up 4.5% from Q3 in FY25. Its Australian Food sales were up 5.9% year on year to $13.8 billion. 

The company said that underlying trading momentum remained solid, but management noted they have seen “some signs of increased customer caution”.

It looks like investors were spooked, and they quickly offloaded their stake in the supermarket giant.

Analysts are mostly neutral on the outlook for Woolworths shares too, implying that the stock isn’t expected to return to its multi-year high seen last month.

TradingView data shows that 12 out of 18 analysts have a hold rating on Woolworths shares, another five have a buy or strong buy rating, and one has a sell rating.

The average target price is $34.81, which implies a 3% upside at the time of writing.

What’s next for Coles shares?

Coles shares are also trading in the red, down 1.6% to $21.66 at the time of writing. The shares are still 1.5% higher for the year to date and 1% lower than 12 months ago.

The supermarket’s shares climbed 2% on Friday last week after the company’s third-quarter sales update, but have slumped by more than 5% since.

For the 12 weeks to 29 March 2026, Coles reported total group sales revenue of $10.7 billion, representing a 3.1% increase on the prior corresponding period.

The company’s key Supermarkets division delivered a standout performance, with sales revenue rising 4% to $9.8 billion. Comparable sales also climbed 3.6%.

One of the key positives from the update was that sales growth was volume-led, rather than being driven by inflation.

Coles advised that this represented above-market growth, highlighting the strength of its customer offer and continued execution.

Its early fourth-quarter results are so far broadly in line with the third quarter, but the retailer warned that it has seen higher supplier cost prices and higher operations costs, including fuel, freight, and packaging. Management said it is actively managing these and will mitigate impacts where possible.

It looks like investors were unsure what to make of the results, with the share price quickly climbing and then reversing.

Analysts are more bullish on the outlook for Coles shares from here, though. TradingView data shows that the majority (12 out of 18) hold a buy or strong buy rating.

The average $23.55 target price implies an 8% upside at the time of writing. Some expect the shares to jump another 17% to $25.50.

Which supermarket giant has the strongest upside?

According to the analyst data, Coles comes out on top.

Coles’ average upside potential share price is 8%, while Woolworths shares have an average upside of 3% over the next 12 months. Analysts are also more bullish on Coles shares, the majority rating the stock as a buy, versus a majority hold rating on Woolworths.

The post Coles vs Woolworths shares: Which supermarket giant has the strongest upside? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Liontown, and ResMed shares
• Why Coles shares were just downgraded by Bell Potter
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts
• Buy, hold, sell: Mesoblast, Mineral Resources, and Woolworths shares

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 positions in and has recommended Woolworths 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 a poor session on Tuesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.4% to 8,654.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is down 5.5% to $1.16. This artificial intelligence (AI) data services company’s shares have been under pressure in recent sessions following the release of its quarterly update. Although Appen posted a 9% increase in revenue to $54.8 million, it is still barely profitable at an EBITDA level. In addition, the performance of its Appen Global business may have spooked investors. It reported a 37% decline in revenue to $19.9 million. Appen’s shares are now down 27% since this time last week.

Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK)

The Gentrack share price is down 34% to $3.20. This has been driven by the release of a trading update from the utilities software company. Gentrack advised that FY 2026 revenue is expected to be between NZ$229 million and NZ$238 million. This is lower than its previous guidance and compares to NZ$230.2 million in FY 2025. However, recurring revenues in FY 2026 are expected to grow by more than 10% to around NZ$174 million. And due to management prioritising growth over short term earnings, it expects full year EBITDA to be between NZ$13.5 million and NZ$20 million. This is sharply lower than FY 2025’s EBITDA of NZ$27.8 million.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The Magellan share price is down 7.5% to $9.56. This morning, the fund manager announced sweeping changes to its global fund. This includes management fees being cut from 1.35% to 0.89% per annum and performance fees being removed. In addition, management of the Magellan Global Fund and Magellan Global Fund Hedged will change to Vinva Investment Management. The company’s CEO, Sophia Rahmani, said: “Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to putting clients first and our insight into client needs today and in the future. We have carefully considered this decision and are prioritising client outcomes whilst at the same time positioning Magellan for long-term growth, with an attractive core global equities offering.”

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price is down 4.5% to $6.84. This has been driven by news that Regis Resources has agreed to merge with Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU). The agreement will see Regis Resources acquire Vault Minerals via a scheme of arrangement for 0.6947 Regis shares for each Vault share held. The Vault Minerals board is unanimously recommending the scheme. This is in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent expert’s endorsement.

The post Why Appen, Gentrack, Magellan, and Regis Resources shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Magellan shares are getting smashed today
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• Regis and Vault to combine, creating new ASX gold powerhouse
• Magellan Financial Group slashes global fund fees, appoints new manager
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Appen and Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Early this year, ASX industrials stock Chrysos Corp Ltd (ASX: C79) rocketed to nearly $10 per share. 

At the time, this represented a 100% rise over a 12-month period. 

This massive jump was influenced by tailwinds in the mining industry. 

However, since then, it has dipped 30% and now sits at roughly $7 per share. 

A new report from Bell Potter suggests this ASX industrials stock could be set to return close to the record high. 

Company overview

Chrysos Corporation is an Australian‑based provider of novel assay services to the global mining industry through its proprietary PhotonAssayTM technology. 

While PhotonAssayTM can be used to detect a wide range of elements, the technology has proven particularly effective for assaying gold and is currently being rolled out across the gold mining industry. 

This effectiveness in the gold mining industry proved profitable in the last 12 months, as it has risen alongside other gold mining shares.

The company recently released a trading update.

This prompted updated guidance from Bell Potter.  

New lease agreements secured

Bell Potter highlighted that C79 has maintained its strong lease win momentum since the FY26 interim result update, securing an additional 5 agreements. 

Total FY26 contracted units stand at 19, taking the backlog to 34 units (up from 30 at the interim result).

Pleasingly, we are seeing new lease agreements with ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ) the largest geochemistry testing network in the world, as well as additional contracts with relatively newer adopters of the technology (Bureau Veritas and Allied Gold). This is a good sign for industry adoption of PhotonAssay technology.

Bell Potter also noted that revenue is tracking towards the upper end of the $80-90m range (BPe new $90.7m), and EBITDA is tracking towards the upper end of the $20-27m range (BPe new $29.4m). 

Healthy upside for this ASX industrials stock

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter has retained its buy recommendation on this ASX industrials stock. 

However, it has slightly reduced its price target to $9 per share (previously $9.40). 

From today’s share price hovering around $7 per share, this indicates an upside potential of almost 30%. 

PhotonAssay technology adoption continues to accelerate with 19 new lease agreements secured in FY26-to-date (9 units secured in the PcP). The expanded backlog of units to be installed implies an acceleration of deployments in FY27.

The post This ASX industrials stock is tipped to return to near record highs  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should I sell my CBA shares in May?
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2027 for ANZ shares
• ASX 200 tech shares rebound 20% in 5 weeks: experts reveal stocks to buy
• Coles vs Woolworths shares: Which supermarket giant has the strongest upside?
• Why Appen, Gentrack, Magellan, and Regis Resources shares are falling today

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

A fresh record high yesterday has quickly turned into heavy selling today.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares are sinking on Tuesday after registering one of the strongest runs on the ASX over the past year.

At the time of writing, the Codan share price is down 8.40% to $40.23.

That is a heavy fall, but it comes after a huge rally. Codan shares are still up around 41% in 2026 and almost 150% over the past 12 months.

Before today’s sell-off, the stock touched an all-time high of $44.52 on Monday.

So, what changed today?

Major shareholder sells down

The pressure follows an article in The Australian that a block of 8 million Codan shares was sold at $39 per share. That values the sell-down at about $312 million.

The report said the sale was understood to be linked to Pamela Wall, the widow of Codan co-founder Ian Wall.

The sale price was below Codan’s previous close of $43.92, which appears to be the main reason investors are reacting today.

Large block trades often happen at a discount, especially after a strong share price run. But they can still weigh on sentiment, particularly when a stock has just reached record levels.

In this case, the timing looks to be the bigger issue. Codan had been trading at all-time highs, and investors are now taking in a major sell-down from a long-term shareholder.

Why sellers were quick to move

Codan is not falling today because of a weak trading update or a downgrade. The move looks more closely tied to profit-taking after a big rally.

The company designs and sells communications equipment, metal detection products, and related technology. Its products are used across defence, public safety, mining, and recreational markets.

The business has also had strong momentum behind it. Codan has benefited from stronger defence and communications spending, while its metal detection division has been supported by a higher gold price.

Together, that has helped drive the share price much higher over the past year. It has also left the stock trading with far more expectation built in than it had 12 months ago.

Foolish Takeaway

I would not view today’s fall as a sign that the business has suddenly changed.

It looks more like the market reacting to a large discounted share sale after a very strong run.

That said, the size of the recent gain is hard to ignore. Codan has already delivered a huge move, and investors are no longer buying it at beaten-down prices.

From here, I would be watching whether buyers step back in around the $40 level. If they do, the pullback may prove short-lived.

The post Why this ASX 200 stock is being hammered after hitting record highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 175% in a year, do experts think it’s time to sell this ASX 200 tech stock?
• I’d buy BHP and these ASX 200 shares with $5,000 in May
• The five best ASX 200 stocks to buy and hold in April revealed
• Why these ASX shares jumped 15%+ in April
• Up 170% in a year: Are Codan shares a buy?

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.

Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) shares are edging lower today, but still outperforming the benchmark index.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) uranium stock closed yesterday trading for $1.835 cents. In afternoon trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $1.830 apiece, down 0.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.7% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Deep Yellow shares have gained 54.8% over the past 12 months, smashing the 6.0% one-year gains posted by the ASX 200.

And looking ahead, Fairmont Equities’ Michael Gable expects the ASX 200 uranium stock is well-placed to deliver more outperformance (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Should you buy Deep Yellow shares today?

“The uranium sector remains promising because demand should continue to outpace supply for the next few years,” said Gable, who has a buy recommendation on Deep Yellow shares.

“Although the uranium price has edged higher in the past several months, I’m expecting a much bigger move to occur soon when utilities return to contract for future supplies,” Gable noted.

On Monday, uranium futures in the United States were swapping hands for just over US$86 per pound. That’s up from US$76 per pound in December, and up from US$70 per pound this time last year.

And amid expectations of further increases in global uranium prices, Gable thinks Deep Yellow stock looks bargain priced.

“This uranium developer, based in Namibia, appears cheap at these levels and it’s highly leveraged to any increase in the underlying uranium price,” he concluded.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 uranium stock?

Deep Yellow shares closed up 3.9% on 28 April following the release of the company’s March quarter update.

Investors responded enthusiastically to the progress Deep Yellow has been making across its major projects.

The miner reported that, as at 31 March, detailed engineering had progressed to 68% completion, with 91% of the bulk earthworks finished at its Tumas Project, located in Namibia.

Commenting on the results, Deep Yellow CEO Greg Field said:

Deep Yellow entered the March 2026 quarter with clear momentum across the business, underpinned by continued advancement of our flagship Tumas development project and a disciplined focus on creating long-term shareholder value.

As for what’s next for the strengthening uranium price that’s helped boost Deep Yellow shares, the company noted:

Positive market forces including persistent increases in anticipated new builds of both large reactors (1,000 MWe and larger) as well as Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, coupled with rising awareness of increasingly probable future uranium supply shortages, have served to underpin the longer-term uranium market.

Looking forward, increasing commitments for future uranium deliveries are expected to accelerate as utilities enter the long-term market to satisfy substantial uncovered uranium requirements.

The post Up 55% in a year, why Deep Yellow shares still ‘appear cheap’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares to buy this week: Experts
• Buy, hold, sell: Deep Yellow, IGO, and Viva Energy shares
• Is this ASX energy stock a buy, hold or sell following quarterly results?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is everyone talking about Whitehaven, Deep Yellow and Beach Energy shares on Tuesday?

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.

ASX 200 stock Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) is getting plenty of attention on Tuesday.

The infrastructure services stock is climbing again, even as the broader market sits under pressure.

At the time of writing, the Ventia share price is up 6.55% to $5.935. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.59% to 8,646 points.

That puts the stock up around 13% over the past week and roughly 36% over the past year.

The latest move follows a fresh contract win, and investors seem to like what landed.

New Victorian road contracts

Ventia announced today that it has been awarded road maintenance contracts by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

The work covers the Grampians and Eastern Metropolitan regions under the Victorian Road Maintenance Contract model.

Ventia estimates the contracts have a combined value of about $340 million over the 4-year base term. That figure includes routine maintenance, as well as high-level estimates for planned maintenance programs and minor capital works.

Those planned works remain subject to state government budget approvals and road network priorities.

The contracts also include extension options. The Grampians contract can be extended by 2 years, while the Eastern Metropolitan contract has two separate 2-year extension options.

Contract commencement is expected from 1 July 2026.

What Ventia will do

Under the contracts, Ventia will provide road network maintenance, inspections, hazard and defect rectification, emergency response, and minor capital works.

The work will cover both rural and metropolitan arterial roads.

Managing Director and Group CEO Dean Banks said the award reflects “Ventia’s growing role as a partner of choice” for long-term road network management.

He also pointed to the company’s experience across transport operations and maintenance.

Ventia already works across essential infrastructure services, including transport, defence, social infrastructure, water, energy, telecommunications, and resources.

Momentum already in place

The latest win also lands after a strong full-year result from the company.

Ventia reported FY25 revenue of $6.1 billion, while underlying NPATA rose 13% to $257.6 million.

Work in hand reached a record $22.1 billion, up 14.4% on FY24.

That gives the company a large base of contracted work heading into the new financial year.

The company also guided to FY26 NPATA growth of 7% to 10%.

Foolish takeaway

This is a big win for Ventia. A $340 million contract package is not small, and it fits neatly with the company’s existing transport maintenance work.

The market seems to be rewarding the extra visibility this adds to future revenue, especially with the stock already having a strong week.

I would not be chasing the ASX 200 stock blindly after a move like this, but Ventia is doing what investors want to see. It is winning long-term work, building its contract base, and backing that up with earnings growth.

The post This ASX 200 stock just jumped 13% in a week. Here’s why 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.

Morgans has been busy running the rule over a number of updates this month.

Here’s what it is saying about these popular ASX shares after reviewing their latest numbers:

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Morgans was a touch disappointed with this supermarket giant’s performance in the third quarter.

While pleased with its supermarkets business, it highlights that Coles’ liquor business let the company down.

In response, the broker has retained its accumulate rating on Coles shares with an improved price target of $24.60. It said:

COL’s 3Q26 sales update was slightly softer than expected, with another solid performance in Supermarkets offset by ongoing challenging conditions in Liquor. Supermarkets continues to gain market share from discounters and independents, with strong volume growth indicating the value proposition continues to resonate with customers. We reduce FY26-28F underlying EBIT by 0-1%, largely reflecting a more difficult outlook for Liquor.

Despite the minor reduction in earnings, our target price increases to $24.60 (from $22.90), reflecting a higher valuation multiple. In our view, COL’s defensive earnings profile and strong execution warrant a premium amid macro uncertainty and Middle East geopolitical risks. In addition, the core Supermarkets division should benefit from increased at-home consumption and continued demand for own-brand products as customers become more value-conscious. ACCUMULATE rating maintained.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The broker wasn’t impressed with this lithium miner’s performance in the third quarter. It described the quarter as weak due to lower recoveries.

And while its outlook is improving, this hasn’t been enough to stop Morgans downgrading Liontown shares to a trim rating with a $2.20 price target. Morgans explains:

Weak 3Q26 result was driven by lower recoveries, though ramp-up is progressing well and cash flow turned positive. Outlook is improving with recoveries and spodumene prices lifting. Move to a TRIM with a A$2.20ps TP on valuation but the outlook remains positive.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

Morgans was pleased with ResMed’s third-quarter update, highlighting further double-digit growth and margin expansion.

In light of this, the broker has retained its buy rating on ResMed shares with a trimmed price target of $41.72.

Commenting on the company, the broker said:

RMD’s 3Q result was solid, with double-digit revenue and earnings growth, further margin expansion and strong cash flow generation. Sleep and respiratory demand remains robust, with continued mask strength and ROW re-acceleration, while SaaS remains stable but subdued. Notably, GM expansion continues, underpinned via manufacturing, procurement and logistics efficiencies.

And while macro uncertainties remain and investors seemingly focus on variability in US device growth while pondering if the Noctrix acquisition is merely a ‘plug’ to a slowing core, we view these concerns as myopic and manageable. We adjust FY26-28 forecasts modesty with our target price declining to A$41.72, mainly on house changes to FX and risk-free rate. BUY.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Coles, Liontown, and ResMed shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in ResMed. 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.