Author: openjargon

The initial reaction to Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)’s announcement of a $3.3 billion merger with German company ITM appears lukewarm, with its shares falling more than 6%.

Building a nuclear medicine powerhouse

The Australian company said in a statement to the ASX that it would pay ITM shareholders an upfront payment of US$1.65 billion, with additional contingent payments of US$700 million.

ITM, Telix said, is the world’s leading supplier of therapeutic radioisotopes and the only producer of globally-scaled, commercial-grade lutetium-77.

Telix said regarding the deal:

The merger will further strengthen Telix’s leadership as a vertically integrated radiopharmaceutical company with the capabilities required to develop, manufacture and deliver innovative treatments to patients globally. The combined organisation will be uniquely positioned as a radiopharmaceutical industry leader, differentiated by a world-class scaled isotope manufacturing business with a validated global distribution network, a market-leading commercial precision medicine platform and the industry’s most extensive therapeutic radiopharmaceutical pipeline.

Telix said ITM grew at a compound annual rate of 40% from 2021 to 2025 and generated US$273 million in revenue in 2025.

Telix added that the global market for radioisotopes was growing, with the nuclear medicine market expected to be worth US$34 billion by 2034.

Telix Managing Director Dr Christian Behrenbruch said:

This merger positions Telix at the forefront of the consolidation that is occurring as the industry matures. ITM is the leader in radioisotope production, with deep scientific expertise and a track record of value-adding innovation. We have enjoyed a close working relationship with ITM for many years and there is strong management alignment for the rationale behind this transaction. By combining our complementary strengths, we will create a company with commercial scale, world-leading supply and the most exciting theranostic drug portfolio in the sector.

Telix shares were 6.1% lower on the news at $16.77.

Brokers bullish on Telix Pharmaceuticals shares

Morgan Stanley recently valued the company at $23 per share following the US Food & Drug Administration approving Telix’s new drug, Pixclara, an amino acid positron emission tomography (PET) drug for imaging gliomas (brain cancer).

RBC Capital Markets also released a research note at the time, valuing the company at $19.

RBC estimated the total addressable market for Pixclara’s current use to be US$140 to US$160 million per year.

The broker added:

Assuming a penetration rate of ~60% in FY35, we estimate Pixclara’s first indication would be valued at $0.56/share with further upside potential of $0.62/share if Pixclara achieves ~80% penetration. If the company is successful in securing approval to expand Pixclara’s indication to include brain metastases, we estimate this could potentially add as much as ~$3.85/share to our price target.

The post Why are Telix Pharmaceuticals shares on the slide today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) has long been a popular choice with Australian income investors.

The telecommunications giant provides essential services to millions of households and businesses, while regularly returning cash to shareholders.

At around $4.86 today, would I buy Telstra shares for passive income?

Why Telstra suits an income portfolio

I think Telstra has several characteristics that work well for investors looking for regular income.

Mobile and internet services have become a normal part of household and business spending. Customers still need connectivity when economic conditions weaken, which gives Telstra a relatively dependable source of revenue.

The company also holds a strong position in Australian mobile.

Its network reaches across the country, and continued investment should help Telstra maintain the quality and coverage that customers expect.

For an income investor, I like having the dividend supported by a business selling services people use every day.

Telstra is not immune to competition or rising costs, but I think its position provides a solid foundation for shareholder returns.

What income could investors receive?

Telstra has also made growing shareholder returns part of its longer-term plans.

Consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends of 22 cents per share in FY27 and 22.5 cents per share in FY28.

At a Telstra share price of $4.86, those forecasts translate into prospective dividend yields of approximately 4.5% and 4.6%, respectively.

That is a healthy level of income in my view, particularly with franking credits potentially increasing the value of those dividends for eligible Australian investors.

While the forecast increase from 22 cents to 22.5 cents is fairly modest, I am comfortable with that.

For passive income, I would rather see the dividend gradually increase alongside the business than depend on an unusually high yield that may prove difficult to sustain.

There could still be some growth

I would not view Telstra shares purely as a dividend investment.

The company’s Connected Future 30 strategy is targeting growth in cash earnings through to FY30, which could give management more capacity to invest in the network and increase shareholder returns over time.

Mobile remains important, but Telstra also has opportunities across enterprise connectivity, infrastructure, and other telecommunications services.

I am not expecting spectacular growth from a company of Telstra’s size.

But a combination of modest earnings growth and regular dividends could still produce worthwhile total returns over a long holding period.

What would I watch?

Competition is one area I would keep an eye on.

Telstra needs to continue investing heavily in its network while ensuring customers see enough value to remain with the company.

Capital expenditure is also substantial in telecommunications, so strong revenue does not automatically translate into money available for dividends.

Still, I think Telstra’s scale and recurring customer demand put it in a good position to manage those requirements.

Foolish takeaway

Yes, I would buy Telstra shares for passive income.

At $4.86, forecast dividends of 22 cents and 22.5 cents per share offer prospective yields of around 4.5% to 4.6%, with full franking expected.

I also like that the income comes from an essential-services business with the potential to keep growing earnings gradually over time.

For investors looking for a combination of regular income and relative stability, I think Telstra remains one of the ASX shares worth considering.

The post Should I buy Telstra shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Three popular S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stocks are catching investor interest today following some big updates.

One is charging ahead of the 0.2% losses posted by the ASX 200 in morning trade on Monday, while the other two are trailing that performance.

Here’s what’s happening.

ASX 200 gold stock Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Resolute Mining shares are down 5% today, trading for $1.29 apiece.

The West African-focused ASX 200 gold stock is making headlines following an update on its Syama Gold Mine, located in Mali.

Resolute reported that production at Syama has remained below plan due to the challenging operating environment in Mali. This is impacting performance across underground mining, open-pit mining, and sulphide processing at the project.

The miner revised its 2026 gold production forecast for Syama to 150,000 to 160,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,300 to $2,400 per ounce.

With Resolute Mining’s other assets remaining on track, the company now expects its total gold 2026 production to be 205,000 ounces to 225,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,250 to $2,350 per ounce.

Resolute Mining CEO Chris Eger said:

While the near-term impact at Syama is disappointing, the broader business remains supported by a strong gold price environment and disciplined cost management. These actions will enable us to continue generating positive returns and build a stronger platform for operational performance in 2027.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

Bellevue Gold shares are down 1.2%, trading for $1.60 each.

This comes after the ASX 200 gold stock released an exploration update and its annual Resource and Reserve statement for its owned Bellevue Gold Project, located in Western Australia.

Bellevue said that exploration drilling will form an important element of its renewed growth strategy, with exploration set to “substantially increase” in FY 2027.

The miner also revealed that the Bellevue Gold Project now has an Indicated and Inferred Resource of 2.7 million ounces at 8.6 grams per tonne gold. That compares to 3.1Moz at 8.9g/t gold last year.

Which brings us to…

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The third ASX 200 gold stock turning heads today is Ramelius Resources. And unlike the other two Aussie gold miners, Ramelius Resources shares are leaping higher, up 4.9% and trading for $3.76 apiece.

This follows the release of the gold miner’s FY 2027 production forecast and four-year outlook.

Investors are reacting positively to Ramelius’ FY 2027 gold production guidance of 205,000 to 225,000 ounces of gold at an AISC of $2,150 to $2,350 per ounce.

And management increased the miner’s FY 2030 gold production target by 11% to 560,000 to 610,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,100 to $2,400 per ounce.

The post 3 ASX 200 gold stocks turning heads on big news 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are trading around $152.43 on Monday.

That is much closer to their 52-week low of $146.97 than their high of $185.59.

So, could the CBA share price return to $180 in 2027?

Could CBA shares reach $180?

I think they could.

From $152.43, the CBA share price would need to rise around 18% to reach $180.

That is a decent gain, but it does not look unrealistic to me. After all, CBA shares have already traded above $180 during the past year.

I also remain positive on the business.

CBA is my preferred major Australian bank. It has strong positions across home loans, deposits, business banking, and everyday financial services.

I particularly like its digital offering. The CommBank app has become an important part of how many customers manage their finances, helping CBA build deeper relationships across multiple products.

The bank’s size is another advantage. It has millions of customers and a large deposit base, giving it a strong platform to keep generating profits.

If CBA continues performing well, I think investors could become more positive on the shares again and push them back towards their previous highs.

Would $180 be too expensive?

This is where I would pay closer attention.

CBA has rarely looked cheap in recent years, and a share price of $180 would once again put it on a high valuation.

Consensus forecasts suggest earnings per share of $6.67 in FY27 and $6.86 in FY28.

At $180, that would put CBA shares on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 27 times FY27 earnings and 26 times FY28 earnings.

That is a substantial premium for a bank.

Still, I think CBA deserves to trade at a higher valuation than its major rivals.

In my view, it is the strongest banking business in Australia, with a powerful customer franchise, leading digital capabilities, and a track record of producing substantial profits.

So, if the business continues delivering, I think a valuation around that level could be justified.

What about the dividend?

CBA also remains an attractive income stock.

Consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends of $5.15 per share in FY27 and $5.30 per share in FY28.

At today’s share price, the FY27 forecast represents a dividend yield of around 3.4%, before including any benefit from franking credits.

That is not the highest yield available from the major banks, but income is only part of the reason I like CBA.

I think the combination of a growing dividend and the potential for the share price to recover makes the overall investment case more interesting.

Foolish takeaway

For me, $180 does not look like a stretch for CBA.

The shares have come back a fair way, but I still think the business is in good shape and remains the major bank I would most want to own.

At today’s price, I would be happy to buy and give CBA time to work its way back towards those previous highs.

The post Could CBA shares reach $180 in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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.

Coal prices have been back in focus over the past few weeks, and to be frank, the move has been pretty hard to miss.

According to Trading Economics, coal finished last week at around US$144 per tonne.

That leaves the commodity almost 11% higher over the past month and around 39% above where it was a year ago.

The other thing worth looking at is demand.

Global coal consumption is heading for another record in 2026, despite huge amounts of money being spent on renewable energy around the world.

And coal still generates more electricity than any other individual source.

So, why is it having such a strong run again?

Why are coal prices climbing again?

A lot of it comes back to what’s happening in global energy markets.

The war in the Middle East has disrupted LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed gas prices higher.

Virtually no coal travels through Hormuz, but that hasn’t stopped coal from benefiting.

This is because when gas gets too expensive, some power generators will use more coal instead.

According to the IEA, demand has picked up across China, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe.

Supply has tightened a bit as well, with China stepping up mine safety checks and Indonesia cutting its 2026 production target.

The world is burning more coal than ever

The demand numbers are pretty eye-opening as well.

The IEA now expects global coal consumption to rise 1.2% to a record 8.94 billion tonnes in 2026.

That’s quite a turnaround, considering it was previously expecting demand to fall this year.

China is still by far the biggest user, with demand expected to come in at around 5 billion tonnes.

India isn’t exactly slowing down either.

Coal consumption there is forecast to rise 4.2% to around 1.35 billion tonnes this year.

Between them, China and India will consume more than 70% of the world’s coal.

Coal is still important

This is probably the part that gets overlooked the most.

In 2025, coal provided around 34% of global electricity generation, making it the largest individual source of power worldwide.

Natural gas was a distant second at around 21%.

Yes, renewables are growing quickly and are expected to overtake coal-fired generation during 2026.

But coal isn’t disappearing anytime soon.

The IEA still expects it to remain the world’s largest single source of electricity through 2030.

At the same time, worldwide electricity demand is forecast to grow 3.6% this year and another 3.8% in 2027.

The post Coal is still the king of global power. 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.

The Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) share price has fallen by more than 18% since 19 August 2026, which is a hefty drop for an ASX healthcare share in a short time. When businesses fall that much, it’s worthwhile considering an investment.

Sonic Healthcare is a global pathology business with a presence across a number of countries, including Australia, Germany, the US, the UK, Switzerland, and New Zealand.

Let’s take a look at whether this is a good time to buy or not.

Defensive earnings

There’s a lot of uncertainty for the global economy at the moment, with rising interest rates, stronger inflation, AI uncertainties, and so on.

Healthcare is one of those industries, in my view, that have defensive earnings. We don’t choose when to get sick, so there’s fairly consistent demand year to year. Most people also place their health as a high priority compared to many other spending categories.

But higher interest rates are a headwind for most share prices, including defensive names. Still, I believe Sonic Healthcare’s financials can continue growing.

In FY26, revenue rose 13% to $10.9 billion, underlying operating profit (EBITDA) grew 11% to $1.9 billion, operating profit (EBITDA) rose 9% to $1.88 billion, underlying net profit rose 17% to $621 million, and statutory net profit grew 18% to $608 million.

Statutory earnings per share (EPS) grew 15% to $1.23.

Assuming the same exchange rate as FY26, EBITDA is predicted to grow to between $1.95 billion and $2.03 billion, excluding back office IT systems transformation costs of around A$30 million.

In the longer term, according to CommSec, analysts think earnings in FY28 and FY29 could grow.

With a mixture of organic growth (from tailwinds like an ageing population) and the occasional bolt-on acquisition, the future looks promising for profit growth.

The dividend yield

Sonic Healthcare has an impressive history of dividends. There have only been a couple of times over the last 35 years when the business didn’t increase its payout (it was maintained instead), and I expect that to continue in the years ahead.

The FY26 annual dividend was increased by 0.9% to $1.08. Future earnings growth is expected to support achieving of the target dividend payout ratio of between 70% to 80% of net profit.

The FY26 payout translates into a 7.2% dividend yield, including franking credits, at the time of writing. That’s a very attractive yield, in my view.

Is the Sonic Healthcare share price cheap?

At the time of writing, the Sonic Healthcare share price is trading on a price-earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 16.

I think this is a great time to invest in the business, as I don’t expect the outlook to remain as uncertain forever. Therefore, a temporary sell-off could be a long-term opportunity. Even if the P/E ratio doesn’t increase, future earnings growth (and large dividends) can help drive shareholder returns.

The post Down more than 18% in a month with a 7% yield, are Sonic Healthcare shares too cheap to ignore? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Ingenia Communities Ltd (ASX: INA) share price is in focus after the company rejected a revised takeover proposal, stating it undervalues the business. Warburg Pincus increased its non-binding indicative offer to $5.05 cash per stapled security, up from $4.75, but Ingenia’s board concluded the proposal is not in the best interests of its securityholders.

What did Ingenia Communities report?

• Received a revised, non-binding indicative takeover offer at $5.05 per stapled security
• Offer followed a prior bid at $4.75 per security
• Ingenia Board, supported by independent financial and legal advice, rejected the new proposal
• The proposal was conditional on due diligence and regulatory approvals
• Ingenia’s market capitalisation stands at approximately $1.7 billion

What else do investors need to know?

Ingenia’s board engaged financial adviser Greenhill, a Mizuho affiliate, and external legal counsel, showing its commitment to a careful and thorough assessment of offers. The board remains open to alternative proposals that offer compelling value and serve the best interests of securityholders.

The company continues to focus on delivering its strategic plan. Securityholders are advised that no action is required regarding the revised offer and Ingenia remains committed to growth through acquisition and development.

What’s next for Ingenia Communities?

Ingenia will keep executing its current strategy, which aims to deliver long-term value for securityholders. The board indicated confidence in the company’s direction and growth path, and will continue to consider any future proposals that adequately reflect Ingenia’s value.

The company operates 96 communities and has a strong platform for ongoing expansion, focused on Australia’s growing seniors’ market.

Ingenia Communities share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ingenia shares have declined 22%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ingenia Communities rejects revised $5.05 takeover offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have clawed back serious ground in recent months, climbing 10% over the past month and 29% over the past six months. Even so, the ASX biotech stock remains 12% below where it stood a year ago.

The next test looms larger, though: the psychological $200 barrier. Clearing it won’t be a gimme. The $85 billion healthcare giant still has to prove it can deliver on several fronts before that milestone becomes more than just a broker’s spreadsheet fantasy.

The good news? CSL has actually laid out the roadmap. Now it just has to walk it.

The Behring problem, and the Behring fix

Everything starts with CSL Behring, by far the group’s biggest business and the one that’s caused the most headaches. After a rough patch, management is now promising a return to mid-single-digit revenue growth in FY27, with immunoglobulin sales expected to climb at a mid-to-high single-digit clip.

That’s not just corporate optimism. Demand for immunoglobulin remains genuinely strong, and CSL is squeezing more out of its plasma collection and manufacturing process at the same time. If Behring turns the corner, it drags the whole group with it.

New kids on the block

CSL isn’t relying on Behring alone. ANDEMBRY and HEMGENIX both posted strong uptake in FY26, and management expects that momentum to keep building.

If these newer therapies can scale into genuine earnings contributors, they give CSL something it’s lacked for a while: a growth story that doesn’t depend entirely on plasma.

Cost-cutting isn’t just noise

CSL’s transformation program has actual receipts. The company banked around US$176 million in cost savings during FY26 – ahead of schedule – with more coming in FY27. Roughly half of those incremental savings are being ploughed straight back into growth initiatives.

If revenue growth and cost discipline both fire at once, that’s a genuine earnings tailwind, not just a management slide deck promise.

The part nobody wants to talk about

Here’s the catch. CSL expects Vifor revenue to fall roughly 25% in FY27, hammered by generic competition in iron products. Seqirus, meanwhile, is only expected to scrape out low-single-digit growth.

Translation: Behring and the new therapies need to do the heavy lifting almost entirely on their own, while the rest of the portfolio does its best impression of dead weight.

Brokers are starting to bite

That improving – if uneven – outlook is enough to get some brokers genuinely excited. In September, RBC Capital Markets upgraded CSL to outperform and hiked its price target from $148 all the way to $213. That points to a 21% upside at the current share price level.

RBC’s bullish call rests on a simple bet: that Behring’s recovery can outrun the drag from Vifor and Seqirus, and earnings growth returns from here.

Barrenjoey followed with an upgrade to overweight and a $180 target.

Not everyone’s convinced. Citi is stuck at hold with a $160 target, while UBS sits at buy with $181.

Foolish takeaway

The path to $200 isn’t a straight line. It’s a bet that demand for immunoglobulins stays strong, new therapies scale quickly, cost savings keep flowing, and the weak links stop bleeding.

Leadership uncertainty adds another variable to the $200 case. In a notice of annual general meeting lodged with the ASX last week, CSL chair Brian McNamee said the search for a new Chief Executive Officer was well-advanced, though still ongoing.

Investors will want clarity on who’s steering the recovery before fully buying into it.

That’s a lot of boxes to tick. But if CSL ticks them, $200 starts looking like the obvious next stop.

The post Why brokers think CSL shares could be on track for $200 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Share prices of many ASX shares have fallen recently due to worries about bond yields, private credit uncertainties, AI, the Middle East, inflation and rising interest rates. There’s a lot to worry about for investors.

With all of the above in mind, it’s not surprising that some interest rate-sensitive ASX shares are down (close) to their 52-week lows.

Below are two of my favourites right now at a low point.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Interest rates act like gravity on property prices – when rates go down, interest costs fall, and property values are likely to rise. The reverse is also true. With interest rates anticipated to rise this year, the market has pushed the Centuria Industrial REIT share price down 20% in the past year to a 52-week low.

This business owns a portfolio of industrial properties across Australia. I think it’s appealing to be able to buy a slice of so many properties in just a single transaction.

Property values do change over time, and it’s hard to know exactly what the ASX share’s property portfolio is worth without actually going to sell it, which the business isn’t going to do.

However, we can look at the REIT’s distribution as a way to see how attractive it is.

The business grew its annual distribution by 3% in FY26 and expects to grow its payout by another 3% to 17.3 cents per unit. That’s a forward distribution yield of 6.1%. To me, that’s an excellent yield from a business like this.

When rates do eventually come down, I think this valuation could make it seem like a cheap ASX share.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

JB Hi-Fi is another name that has seen a sell-off. The JB Hi-Fi share price has dropped 44% in the past year, and it’s now close to its 52-week low.

Inflation of living costs and higher interest rates are already causing headwinds, and investors are feeling negative. I think it’s been heavily oversold.

For July 2026 (the first month of FY27), the business provided a sales update showing total sales dropped 0.5% for JB Hi-Fi Australia and declined 1.7% for The Good Guys. Positively, JB Hi-Fi New Zealand’s sales growth was 20.9%.

At this stage, sales are only slightly down in Australia.

I believe JB Hi-Fi Australia is well-placed to serve customers with its scale benefits, very competitively priced products, a wide product range, a productive sales floor, and an expanding network of locations in Australia and New Zealand.  

Using the projection on CommSec, the JB Hi-Fi share price is valued at under 15 times FY27’s estimated earnings, with earnings growth projected in FY28 and FY29. That makes it look like a cheap ASX share to me.

The post 2 cheap ASX shares near 52-week lows I’d buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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) shares have weakened by almost 1% over the past 12 months.

Last week, the market edged lower on growing expectations of another interest rate hike due to stubborn inflation.

Meanwhile, here are some new ratings from the experts.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

The Orica share price is up 5.7% over 12 months. 

Ord Minnett has a buy rating on this ASX 200 materials share. 

The broker said: 

NaCN [sodium cyanide] is a critical reagent used in gold extraction, and the two largest global producers, Orica and Draslovka, have both indicated their production capacity is fully committed.

With supply effectively sold out, pricing power is improving, as evidenced by recent Australian trade data.

In addition, NaCN costs have not increased at the same pace as broader mining costs despite being an essential input and the gold miners enjoying elevated profitability from strong gold prices. This suggests further pricing upside may be achievable.

Stronger NaCN pricing and improved plant utilisation could drive returns in ORI’s chemicals division back towards historical levels (before the acquisition of Cyanco in 2024) and closer to the company’s broader target range of 13%– 15%. 

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price has soared 53% over 12 months. 

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has a hold rating on this ASX 200 mining share. 

Evans said (courtesy The Bull): 

The global miner’s full year results were impressive, with the company increasing revenue and profit.

Growth was driven by the copper division, which is now the primary revenue generator for BHP.

As a result, future earnings will be influenced by the copper price, but the price should be underpinned by several long term themes, including electrification and growing digital infrastructure.

BHP is a core holding. However, the share price has risen substantially in the past 12 months to the point where it can appear expensive.

GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

The GQG Partners share price has tumbled 37% over 12 months. 

Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory has a sell rating on this ASX 200 financial share. 

Wielandt said: 

GQG is a global active fund manager with a diversified range of equity strategies. However, total funds under management of $US149.2 billion at August 31, 2026 had fallen from $US156.4 billion at July 31, 2026.

Total funds under management are also down $US14.7 billion between December 31, 2025 and August 31, 2026.

Outflows create uncertainty about the sustainability of earnings and income.

Until investment performance and funds under management stabilise or tick up, we retain a sell recommendation on GQG.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Orica, GQG Partners, BHP shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Gqg Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.