Author: openjargon

Elon Musk’s SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) IPO is almost here, with retail investors expected to play a bigger part in the offer than usual.

The company is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq this week under the ticker SPCX, with the IPO price reportedly set at US$135 per share.

That would value SpaceX at about US$1.77 trillion, making it one of the largest companies on the US market from day one.

But the size of the float isn’t the only reason this listing is getting attention.

SpaceX is giving everyday investors a bigger piece of the pie than they normally get in a float of this size.

Retail investors are getting a bigger slice

According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk is expected to reserve a large portion of the SpaceX IPO for individual investors.

The report said retail buyers could receive around 20% or more of the offer, compared with the 5% to 7% often seen in major floats.

That gives us smaller investors a rare chance to buy into a company that has been private for more than two decades.

SpaceX is already a household name by IPO standards.

Its reusable rockets, Starlink satellite internet business, NASA work, defence contracts, and longer-term space ambitions have made it one of the best-known private companies in the world.

So, there will be plenty of investors who want exposure to the SpaceX brand before looking too closely at the numbers.

This is why the retail allocation deserves a closer look.

Getting access to a popular IPO can feel like a win. But investors are still being asked to buy into SpaceX at one of the highest valuations ever attached to a market debut.

And while the stock may still list strongly, investors should not mistake the size of the allocation for a bargain.

A quick Nasdaq-100 path

The other part to watch is what happens after SpaceX starts trading.

Nasdaq has reportedly given the company a quicker route into the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), with SpaceX potentially eligible after just 15 trading days.

If SpaceX is added to the index, funds that track the Nasdaq-100 would likely need to buy the stock. That could add more demand soon after the IPO, especially if only a small number of shares are available to trade at first.

It also means some investors may end up owning SpaceX indirectly through ETFs or super funds, even if they decide not to buy the shares themselves.

However, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) is a different story.

Reports suggest S&P has rejected a fast entry for SpaceX because companies usually need to be profitable before joining the index.

SpaceX reportedly lost US$4.9 billion last year, which makes the S&P 500 decision less surprising.

Foolish Takeaway

Without doubt, SpaceX is a remarkable company, and the IPO will probably attract huge demand.

A famous founder, a huge brand, a limited supply of shares, and forced index buying could all help support the stock early on.

But at nearly US$1.8 trillion, SpaceX is coming to market with a lot of future growth already built into the price.

That leaves very little room for disappointment if profits take longer to arrive, or if investors start looking past the SpaceX excitement.

The post Elon Musk wants everyday investors in the SpaceX IPO. Is that a red flag? 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.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares have climbed into the green again in Wednesday’s trade. 

At the time of writing, the Australian conglomerate’s share price is up around 3% and trading at $82.04 per share.

Today’s price increase follows a run of gains over the past three weeks. Since bottoming at a 52-week low in mid-May, Wesfarmers shares have rebounded over 15%.

Now the question is, can they keep going?

What happened to Wesfarmers shares this year?

Global volatility, concerns about inflation, and the rising cost of living smashed the retail giant’s shares in early 2026. 

Wesfarmers reported a solid half-year profit earlier this year, with NPAT up 9.3%, but investors focused on weaker-than-expected trading in the early weeks of the second half. On paper, the result looked good, but investors weren’t impressed, and many quickly sold up their shares.

The downturn was exacerbated by an overall shift in the market from retail-heavy stocks, such as Wesfarmers, to energy assets during periods of peak volatility.

After initially climbing around 9% through the first six weeks of the year, Wesfarmers shares crashed over 20% to a low in mid-May.

But it looked like investors then concluded the Wesfarmer share sell-off had become excessive.

Why did sentiment turn?

Over the past month, markets have become more optimistic about the potential for future interest rate cuts, and investors have started buying back shares in high-quality stocks in the dip.

A couple of good-news announcements also helped rally investors.

Earlier this month, Wesfarmers announced a major business restructuring, stating that the Industrial and Safety businesses, Blackwoods and Workwear Group, will transition into Wesfarmers-owned Bunnings Group on the 1st of July.

Wesfarmers shares are pushing higher again today after the company posted its 2026 Strategy Briefing Day presentation. The company said it is accelerating its growth and productivity agenda, has a portfolio of high-quality businesses with a mix of growth and resilience, and retains a strong balance sheet with the flexibility to invest. 

Can the conglomerate’s shares keep climbing higher in 2026?

It looks unlikely.

In fact, it seems that analysts now consider Wesfarmers shares to be trading above fair value, with many tipping a downside ahead.

Market Index data shows the majority of brokers rate Wesfarmers shares as a hold. The $78.05 target price implies a potential downside of around 2.5% at the time of writing.

TradingView data also shows that the majority (seven out of 12 have a hold rating on the stock). However, the average target price of $74.36 implies Wesfarmers shares could drop around 10% from the current trading price.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities has a hold rating on Wesfarmers shares. He said that while Wesfarmers is able to generate steady returns across cycles, near-term growth is likely to remain subdued. 

Meanwhile, Philippe Bui from Medallion Financial Group is a little more bearish. He put a sell rating on this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share earlier this month. The broker said that while Wesfarmers is a high-quality business, the outlook is softening. 

The post How high could Wesfarmers shares go? 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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are charging higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) supermarket giant closed yesterday trading for $22.61. During the Wednesday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $23.09 apiece, up 2.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.3% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Coles shares have also strongly outpaced the benchmark index so far in 2026.

While the ASX 200 has dropped 1.1% year to date, Coles stock is up 8.3%.

And that doesn’t include the fully-franked 41 cents per share dividend the company paid eligible stockholders on 30 March.

Adding in the 32 cents final dividend, paid on 22 September, and Coles trades on a 3.2% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

And looking ahead, Morgans’ Damien Nguyen believes Coles is well-placed to keep outperforming over the coming months (courtesy of The Bull).

Here’s why.

Should I buy Coles shares today?

“The supermarket operator offers a resilient, non-discretionary earnings base,” Nguyen said.

“Demand for consumer staples remains stable through economic cycles, and Coles benefits from pricing discipline across a duopolistic market structure,” he added, citing the first reason he has a buy rating on Coles shares.

And, despite outperforming the ASX 200, Coles stock remains down more than 4% from last September’s highs.

“Recent share price weakness, driven partly by broader cost-of-living and regulatory scrutiny concerns, has created a more attractive entry point for long term investors,” Nguyen said.

Which brings us to the third reason you might want to buy the ASX 200 supermarket giant today.

Namely, passive income.

“The company also offers a solid dividend yield and improving operational leverage,” Nguyen concluded.

What’s been happening with the ASX 200 supermarket?

Coles shares closed up 3.7% on 1 May after the company reported its third-quarter (Q3 FY 2026) results, covering the 12 weeks from 5 January to 29 March.

Highlights from the quarter included a 3.1% year-on-year increase in revenue to $10.70 billion.

Coles’ eCommerce division showed particularly strong growth, with eCommerce sales up 24.8% year on year to $1.33 billion.

“We delivered another strong sales result reflecting the strength of our customer offer and disciplined execution against our strategic priorities,” CEO Leah Weckert said.

Weckert noted:

Achieving consistent sales momentum for the period over multiple years demonstrates our commitment to remaining focused on long term outcomes whilst successfully navigating short term volatility in market conditions and supply chains.

Looking at what could impact Coles shares in the months ahead, the company said it expects to maintain supermarket sales growth into the fourth quarter (Q4 FY 2026).

The post 3 compelling reasons to buy the rebound in Coles 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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed yesterday trading for $60.80. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $60.92 apiece, up 1.4%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.6% at this time.

Today’s outperformance is par for the course for Australia’s biggest miner and biggest stock on the ASX by market cap.

Indeed, BHP shares have rocketed 58.3% over the past 12 months, smashing the 0.8% one-year gains posted by the ASX 200.

And that’s not including the two fully-franked dividends the miner paid to eligible stockholders over this period. BHP stock currently trades on a fully-franked 3.2% trailing dividend yield.

Part of that outperformance has been driven by BHP’s own mining successes. And part of it has been fuelled by a resilient iron ore price alongside surging copper prices. Trading for US$13,615 today, the copper price is up 39% in a year.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

With those outsized gains already in the bag, is the ASX mining stock still a good buy today?

BHP shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Morgans’ Damien Nguyen recently ran his slide rule over BHP (courtesy of The Bull).

“The global miner offers broad diversification across iron ore, copper and potash, underpinned by a fortress balance sheet and a disciplined approach to capital returns,” he said.

“Copper provides meaningful long-term exposure to the global electrification and energy transition theme, while iron ore remains the dominant near term earnings driver,” Nguyen added.

Explaining his hold recommendation on BHP shares, Nguyen concluded:

However, the macro backdrop remains uncertain, with Chinese steel demand facing structural headwinds and global growth indicators sending mixed signals. The valuation at current levels appears broadly fair, with commodity price assumptions already reflecting a reasonable medium-term outlook.

BHP remains a core holding for resource-oriented portfolios, but with limited near-term re-rating catalysts, we retain a hold recommendation.

A more bearish take on the Aussie mining giant

Alto Capital’s Tony Locantro also dug into the outlook for BHP shares this week on The Bull.

“BHP is Australia’s largest diversified mining company, with significant exposure to iron ore, copper and metallurgical coal,” he said.

Commenting on the growing importance of copper for BHP’s earnings, Locantro noted:

The company delivered a strong first half result in fiscal year 2026, reporting underlying EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation] of $US15.5 billion, up 25% on the prior corresponding period. A major milestone was copper contributing 51% of group EBITDA for the first time.

But with the BHP share price having leapt more than 58% in a year, not including dividends, Locantro issued a sell recommendation for the ASX 200 miner.

He noted:

While the long-term outlook for copper remains attractive, investor enthusiasm surrounding electrification and AI-related demand has contributed to a strong share price performance.

In our view, the strong operational result, elevated expectations and risk-reward balance support taking some profits.

The post Up 58% in a year, are BHP shares still a good buy 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

With looming changes to the capital gains tax treatment for investment in housing, Citi Research has downgraded its outlook for the housing market, and by extension, the big four banks.

In a research report published this week, Citi says it has downgraded its credit growth assumptions to 4% system growth by FY27, with business at 5%, and mortgage credit at 3.5%.

Bank earnings to come under pressure

Citi said re the banks:

This drives modest earnings downgrades for the majors on our numbers. The policy impact adds to the already unfavourable stagflation outlook for the Australian banks, with close to peak rates, slowing growth and rising credit risk.

Citi said there was “prior precedent” that could help investors understand the impact of regulatory intervention in the housing market.

Given Australia’s fascination with property, this is not the first attempt to bring investor animal spirits in check. The mid-2010s saw a vast slowdown in investor credit as APRA applied a speed limit to investor credit growth, strengthened serviceability and other changes were made to borrowing power and risk weights. The net result was a slowdown in investor credit from ~11% to ~2% over 15 months. Similar tightening took place across the Royal Commission period as tightening of serviceability by the banks saw investor credit fall from ~4% to 0% over an 18-month period. Investor lending commitments were down ~30-40% in both instances.

Citi said that with fewer investors in the market, the question was whether there would be an offset from more owner-occupiers, including first-home buyers.

They said:

Back in the mid-2010s, despite investor credit decelerating from ~11% to ~2%, we saw overall housing credit only experience a ~1% slowdown because less investor credit was offset by owner occupier credit accelerating from ~5% to ~9%. With a clearer playing field, the owner occupiers effectively stepped into the gap, a move that was aided by falling rates which improved borrowing capacity.

ANZ leading the pack

In terms of the banks, Citi’s order of preference is ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) with a buy rating, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) both with a neutral rating, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) with a sell rating.

Citi said:

We think CBA’s multiple holds greatest risk to a slowdown in the housing market given its stretched starting point, and hence we reiterate our Sell Rating.

Citi has price targets of $39.25 for ANZ, $135 for Commonwealth Bank, $36.75 for NAB, and $39 for Westpac.

The post What are the big 4 banks worth as the housing market falters? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

$5,000 to invest but unsure which ASX 200 shares to buy?

Well, the three shares in this article could be looking cheap after significant pullbacks.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

Collins Foods Ltd (ASX: CKF)

The first ASX 200 share to look at is Collins Foods.

The KFC restaurant operator’s shares are down approximately 20% this year, which has left it looking much cheaper than it did not long ago.

Collins Foods is not the kind of business that grabs attention like a high-growth technology stock. It operates in quick-service restaurants, where convenience, brand strength, and repeat customer behaviour are important.

Its core KFC operations give it exposure to one of the most recognised food brands in the world. That can be valuable during tougher economic periods, when consumers may still want affordable takeaway options but become more selective about bigger discretionary purchases.

Bell Potter is bullish on Collins Foods and has a buy rating and $10.80 price target on it.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Another ASX 200 share that looks cheap after a selloff is Lovisa.

Its shares are down approximately 37% over the past 12 months, which is a sharp fall for a company that has delivered extraordinary growth over the long term.

Lovisa’s story is not just about selling affordable jewellery. It is about a retail model that can be rolled out across many countries with relatively small-format stores, fast product rotation, and a brand that appeals to fashion-conscious shoppers.

That gives the company a very different growth profile from many local retailers. Its opportunity is global, and management has already shown it can open stores across multiple regions.

Morgans thinks the company has a bright future. It recently put a buy rating and $32.50 price target on its shares.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

A third ASX 200 share to consider is ResMed.

The sleep treatment company’s shares are down almost 30% over the past 12 months, which is a notable pullback for a global healthcare leader.

ResMed’s products sit in an area of healthcare that is still underpenetrated. Sleep apnoea remains widely undiagnosed, despite its links to fatigue, cardiovascular risk, and broader health outcomes.

That gives the company a long-term demand driver that is not tied to the economic cycle in the same way as retail or housing. People may delay some purchases when money is tight, but healthcare needs do not disappear.

Ord Minnett is a big fan of the company. Last week, it put a buy rating and $38.35 price target on its shares

The post 3 cheap ASX 200 shares to buy with $5,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Collins Foods, Lovisa, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Collins Foods and Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares are trading in the green again in Wednesday trade, up slightly by less than 0.1% to a four-year high of $19.05 a piece.

The latest increase follows Megaport’s strong share price run recently. Its shares are now trading 194% higher than when they dipped to a three-year low exactly two months ago on the 10th of April. 

The steep recovery means the shares are now up 57% year to date and 39% higher than 12 months ago.

What caused Megaport shares to rebound?

A crash in investor confidence sent ASX tech stocks, including Megaport, plummeting in late 2025 and into early 2026. 

While many tech shares have struggled to pick up pace, Megaport shares rebounded strongly in April thanks to a run of good-news announcements and a reversal of sentiment.

In late April, the software-defined network (SDN) service provider confirmed that it had secured a three-year compute and storage contract with a total value of approximately US$25.1 million (A$35.4 million) through its recently acquired Latitude.sh business.

The company also reaffirmed its FY26 combined guidance in early May.

Later in May, Megaport announced it had secured three more binding contracts with two US AI customers, worth a total contract value (TCV) of approximately US$183 million and annualised recurring revenue (ARR) of approximately US$65 million. Two of those three contracts have 36-month terms, providing visibility into revenue. 

Earlier this month, Megaport went into a trading halt ahead of the launch of a new fully underwritten $827.3 million entitlement offer. The company completed the institutional component of the offer, priced at $14.30 per share, on the 5th of June.

The run of contract wins, confirmation that the business is on track for FY26, and the entitlement offer have rallied investors. It looks like many have flocked to buy the shares while they’re still trading at a good value.

What can we expect for the remainder of 2026?

I think we’ll see a lot more out of Megaport shares this year, and it looks like analysts agree.

TradingView Data shows that the majority of analysts (12 out of 14) have a buy or strong buy rating on the ASX tech shares. The other two have a hold rating.

The average $21.72 target price implies a potential 15% upside over the next 12 months, at the time of writing. 

But some are even more bullish. Some analysts are forecasting a maximum target price of $27.80 over the next 12 months, implying Megaport shares could increase another 47%.

UBS is one broker that is bullish on Megaport shares. It renewed its buy rating and raised its 12-month price target to $24.20, up from $16.70, earlier this month. The broker said it has been and notes that contracts secured since November have an annual recurring revenue 6 times larger than the acquired business. With accelerating AI and cloud demand, cross-selling opportunities, and balance sheet capacity, UBS believes Megaport has the potential to secure even more contract wins.

The team at Macquarie are also positive about the outlook for Megaport shares. The broker recently confirmed its buy rating and lifted its 12-month target to $27.80, up from $26.30 previously.

But Morgans downgraded its rating earlier this week, to accumulate, from hold previously, but with a listed $21 target price. The broker said that the move comes on the back of the company’s huge share price increase over the past month. 

The post Megaport shares soar 194% in 2 months. What’s ahead for the remainder of 2026? 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 Macquarie Group and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) shares aren’t going anywhere on Wednesday.

The insurance broking and agency network has been placed in a trading halt before market open after flagging a potential control transaction.

At the time of writing, the Steadfast share price is frozen at $3.95.

That leaves the stock down around 25% in 2026 and almost 34% over the past year.

Let’s take a closer look at the announcement.

Steadfast enters trading halt

According to the ASX release, trading in Steadfast shares has been halted at the company’s request.

Steadfast said the halt is needed while it prepares an announcement regarding a potential control transaction.

The halt is expected to remain in place until the earlier of an announcement to the market or the start of normal trading on Friday, 12 June 2026.

That means investors may not have to wait long for more details.

A control transaction usually points to a deal that could involve a change in control of the company. That can include a takeover offer, merger, or other major corporate move.

For now, Steadfast hasn’t yet provided the name of any potential buyer or deal partner. It has also not confirmed whether any agreement has been reached.

Why investors will be watching closely

The market will be watching because the Steadfast share price has already fallen heavily this year.

The stock last traded at $3.95, giving the company a market capitalisation of about $4.39 billion.

It is also trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 12.2 and a dividend yield of just over 5%.

But after such a large drop, a bid at a premium to today’s price could still look low compared with where Steadfast was trading last year.

Keep in mind, Steadfast isn’t a small or speculative business.

The company provides services to insurance brokers and underwriting agencies, with operations across Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Its network model gives it exposure to insurance broking, agency earnings, and related services.

Where it could go from here

The next update should tell us whether this is heading toward a firm offer or if talks are still at an early stage.

Steadfast has only said it is preparing an update on a potential control transaction.

That means the price, structure, timing, and any conditions are still unknown.

If a proposal lands, shareholders will have to decide whether the price is good enough to give up any future upside.

The post Could this struggling ASX 200 stock be about to receive a takeover offer? 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 Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are edging lower today.

Shares in the big four S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed yesterday trading for $160.48. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $160.33 apiece, down 0.1%.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are heading the other way, up 1% at $35.04 each.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.5% at this same time.

Taking a step back, CommBank stock has dropped 11.2% over the past 12 months, trailing the 0.7% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index. CBA shares also trade on a 3.1% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

Westpac shares have managed to outperform the ASX 200 this past year, gaining 4.6% since 10 June 2025. Westpac shares also trade on a 4.4% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

Looking ahead, however, Morgans’ Damien Nguyen expects both ASX 200 bank stocks to likely underperform (courtesy of The Bull).

Should I sell CBA shares today?

“CBA is Australia’s highest quality retail bank, with a leading market position, strong digital platform and reliable earnings generation,” Nguyen said.

“However, quality alone doesn’t justify the recent valuation, which stands at a significant premium to domestic and global banking peers,” he added.

Summarising his sell recommendation on CBA shares, Nguyen concluded:

Credit quality remains sound, but should be monitored in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. The market has long rewarded CBA with a premium multiple. But at recent levels, the shares appear to price in a near perfect outcome with little room for disappointment.

Time to exit Westpac shares?

Atop his bearish outlook on CBA shares, Nguyen also issued a sell recommendation on Westpac shares.

“Revenue growth appears constrained by a competitive mortgage market and subdued business lending conditions,” he noted.

Citing ongoing uncertainty, Nguyen noted:

The bank has made meaningful progress on its strategic simplification agenda, shedding non-core businesses and improving its risk and compliance foundations. The pathway to sustainable outperformance remains unclear.

In our view, the recent share price doesn’t offer a sufficient margin of safety in a challenging banking environment. We see the risk–reward equation as unfavourable at recent levels.

Also bearish on Westpac shares

Westpac topped CBA shares on The Bull this week, with two analysts tipping the ASX 200 bank stock as a sell.

“Westpac has a strong retail franchise, but the valuation appears stretched,” MPC Markets’ Mark Gardner said. “Consensus targets imply downside from current levels.”

According to Gardner:

The bank has made progress on simplifying its operations and cutting costs, but, in our view, earnings growth is still expected to lag the broader Australian market.

The bank is up against competitive pressures and the risk of softer credit conditions. Investors may want to consider taking a profit at these levels.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Westpac and CBA shares 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.

Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models and recommendations. This has led to a number of broker notes being released this week.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this banking giant’s shares with a trimmed price target of $39.25. Citi has been looking into the potential impact of proposed housing tax changes. The broker suspects that the changes could slow credit growth and has adjusted its estimates to reflect this. The good news is that Citi believes mortgage growth will moderate more than business lending growth, which leaves ANZ, with its strong business franchise, better positioned to handle the slowdown. As a result, the broker has named ANZ as its preferred major bank at present. The ANZ share price is trading at $34.46 on Wednesday afternoon.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Another note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this location technology company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $28.25. Citi highlights that app data suggests that Life360 had a strong month in the United States in May. In addition, international markets showed stronger momentum. And while it is only one month of the year, the broker suspects this strength could lead to Life360 outperforming subscription revenue expectations. The Life360 share price is trading at $22.30 on Wednesday.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their speculative buy rating and $1.35 price target on this gold developer’s shares. The broker highlights that Minerals 260 has released more positive drilling results from the Bullabulling Gold Project. Bell Potter points out that the results continue to confirm the continuity and grade of mineralisation at Bullabulling. They also demonstrate that key deposits remain open at depth and along strike. And with high-grade hits below the existing pit-shells and along the more recently identified footwall shear zones, Bell Potter believes there are strong high-grade targets emerging. Outside this, the broker notes that Minerals 260 has a very strong balance sheet and enough cash to fund it through to a final investment decision in early 2027. The Minerals 260 share price is fetching 76 cents at the time of writing.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.