Author: openjargon

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are rising strongly on hopes that the US and Iran will shortly announce a deal.

The ASX 200 is up 1.5% to 8,721.7 points at the time of writing.

Reported expectations are that the ceasefire will be extended by 60 days and the Strait of Hormuz may be reopened.

Despite today’s recovery, ASX 200 shares remain in the red for 2026.

However, the experts have flagged five ASX shares that they believe will outperform over the next 12 months.

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) 

The Champion Iron share price is $4.51, down 5.7% today.

This ASX mining share is down 27% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

RBC Capital has a buy rating on Champion Iron shares with an $8.11 target.

This indicates a potential 80% upside ahead.

Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

The Kogan share price is $4.17, up 1.5% today.

This ASX consumer discretionary share has increased 12.4% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $7.50 target.

This implies potential capital gains of 80% ahead.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price is $6.10, up 4.1% today.

This ASX gold mining share is up 5.7% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $10.30 target.

This implies a potential near-70% upside ahead.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Guzman y Gomez share price is $19.50, up 0.6% today.

This ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has fallen 9.6% in 2026.

After Guzman upgraded its earnings guidance and announced its US exit, Morgans renewed its buy rating.

The broker also raised its 12-month price target from $26.70 to $29.40.

This suggests capital growth of 51% over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

The exit removes a loss sooner than consensus anticipated and simplifies the story while the Australian operations are performing well and in line with expectations.

Stripping out the US losses results in material upgrades to our EBITDA and NPAT forecasts.

We maintain our BUY rating and upgrade our price target to A$29.40.

Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC)

The Australian Agricultural Company share price is $1.31, up 0.5% today.

This ASX agriculture share is down 9.8% YTD.

Bell Potter has a buy rating with a $1.85 price target.

This implies a potential 41% capital gain over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

AAC delivered a record operating performance that was understated, due to the inclusion of $9m in flood related costs.

While costs are currently experiencing inflationary pressure (grain and oil), continued strong pricing in core offshore markets, uplifts in grainfed cattle capacity (FY27-28e sales program) and a larger herd are reason for optimism in future periods.

The post 5 ASX shares set to soar 40% to 80% in 12 months: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are these 3 ASX 200 stocks crashing in this week’s rebounding market?
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is this ASX materials stock a buy, hold or sell after sliding on earnings results?

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

The Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC) share price is in focus today after the company announced it has completed its $165 million acquisition of Lightning Broadband, significantly expanding its national fibre presence and accelerating its Smart Communities strategy.

What did Superloop report?

• Acquisition of 100% of Lightning Broadband for $165 million in cash
• Lightning Broadband operates an open-access wholesale FTTP network across 400+ developments
• Approximately 56,000 lots secured, including 16,000 services in operation as at April
• Acquisition funded by cash and debt; net debt post-acquisition expected to be about 1.4x EBITDA
• Joint Functional Separation Undertaking now approved and effective

What else do investors need to know?

The acquisition marks a major step forward for Superloop’s Smart Communities growth strategy, expanding its fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) reach across six Australian states and territories. By integrating Lightning Broadband, Superloop strengthens its position as a challenger in the national FTTP market.

The approval and commencement of the Joint Functional Separation Undertaking by the ACCC ensures that Superloop’s wholesale FTTP activities will operate within a clearly separated and regulated framework, enhancing transparency and access for retail service providers.

What’s next for Superloop?

Superloop is expected to focus on integrating the Lightning Broadband business into its existing operations and leveraging its open-access FTTP infrastructure to attract new retail partners. The company will continue advancing its Smart Communities platform, aiming to grow its footprint and service capability nationwide.

With net debt remaining low post-acquisition, Superloop states it will maintain financial flexibility to pursue further growth, while the JFSU is set to support healthy competition in the wholesale fibre market.

Superloop share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Superloop shares have risen 29%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Superloop completes Lightning Broadband acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Chorus’s 2025 regulatory report: RAB grows, revenue falls short
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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
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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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are rising strongly, up 1.5% to 8,721.4 points, on new hopes of a US-Iran deal.

While the world waits for further news, the global oil shock continues to cause direct economic ramifications worldwide.

The conflict between the US and Israel against Iran has resulted in the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

That’s a key global shipping channel through which about 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply is transported.

We are now in the third month of the conflict, which has exacerbated already resurgent inflation in Australia.

Despite today’s recovery, ASX 200 shares remain just inside the red for 2026 so far.

Experts say some stocks have strong potential upside ahead, despite the impact of the war.

Here is a selection of them.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The Web Travel share price is $2.71, up 6.5% today.

This ASX 200 travel share is down 44% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

In a new note this week, Morgans gave Web Travel shares a buy rating with a price target of $3.75.

This suggests 38% capital growth over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

Given the Middle East conflict affected trading in March, WEB’s FY26 result came in at the lower end of guidance, albeit better than consensus, proving its resilience.

Unsurprisingly, WEB’s FY27 update showed that trading has slowed materially given the conflict. Adverse FX has been another headwind.

Given the uncertainty, WEB did not provide any formal FY27 earnings guidance.

We have made significant downgrades to our forecasts. We assume that the conflict and a subdued consumer environment impacts WEB’s 1H27 (seasonally stronger half), followed by a recovery in the 2H27.

After material share price weakness, we upgrade WEB to a BUY rating. The company is worth materially more than the current share price.

We know from past economic and geopolitical events, that after a downturn, travel demand rebounds and so will its earnings and share price.

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

The Graincorp share price is $5.04, up 2.3% today.

This ASX 200 consumer staples share has tumbled 30% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $6.88 target.

This implies potential capital growth of 37% over the next year.

Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG)

Nexgen shares are $15.86, up 2.9% today.

The ASX 200 uranium share has lifted 10.9% YTD.

In light of the Iran war, energy security is a hot topic these days.

Nations are highly motivated to develop new domestic energy supplies, and modern nuclear reactors are one way to do it.

This trend bodes well for ASX 200 uranium shares like Nexgen.

UBS has a buy rating on Nexgen shares with a $21 target.

This indicates a potential 32% upside ahead.

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

The Charter Hall share price is $20.33, up 4.5% today.

This ASX 200 real estate investment trust (REIT) has declined 16.8% YTD.

Morgan Stanley has a buy rating with a price target of $26.89.

This implies a potential 32% upside ahead.

The post 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to rise 30% or more in the year ahead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Macquarie names 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy right now
• How high could Web Travel Group shares go? 3 brokers weigh in
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Temple & Webster, Web Travel and Guzman Y Gomez shares could have even further to fall

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 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.

There’s been plenty of market-moving news out this week, which has given the analyst team at Macquarie plenty to look at.

They’ve issued a bunch of new research notes, and I’ve selected three focused on ASX 200 companies that Macquarie has given an outperform rating to.

Let’s see what they’re saying.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Santos held its annual investor briefing this week, which focused on the company’s growing free cash flow.

The company’s Barossa and Pikka projects are also now producing, with Macquarie saying Santos was now past “peak capex”.

Santos’ break-even oil price is now US$45 to US$50 per barrel, compared to current prices of about US$88 per barrel.

Macquarie said Santos outlined US$4.9 billion in shareholder returns over CY26-30 and a US$2.5 billion reduction in debt by 2030.

Macquarie said in its research note:

Santos now has a suite of higher-quality opportunities to pursue in Alaska, PNG, Beetaloo (potentially Bedout). This focus should see it create currently unrecognised value from its existing footprint.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.15 on Santos shares compared to the current price of $7.73.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

Web Travel Group earlier this week delivered a strong set of full-year numbers, reporting that total transaction volume (TTV) was up 20% year over year to $5.8 billion, driven by “significant organic growth in the Americas and Europe”, while TTV margins improved by 0.1% to 6.8%.

Revenue increased 20% to $394.1 million while net profit was up from $11.1 million in FY25 to $35.5 million.

Macquarie said while TTV was in line with consensus estimates, TTV margins were better than expected.

They said margins could come under pressure as the Middle East conflict drags on, but that the company’s ongoing investment should position them well for any recovery in travel activity.

As Macquarie said:

Outlook continues to be impacted by ongoing conflict disruption and uncertainty, continued investment supports WEB’s ability to improve margins as it scales over the medium term.

Macquarie has a price target of $4.05 on Web Travel Group shares compared with $2.70 currently.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

Infratil, which invests in data centre and renewable energy businesses, this week reported that full-year EBITDAF rose 11% to NZ$989 million, while total asset value increased 13% to NZ$20.6 billion.

The company said its earnings were mainly driven by investments in its Australasian data centre business CDC and its US renewable energy business Longroad Energy, and it expected earnings to increase by 21% in FY27.

Macquarie said there were several potential catalysts to boost the share price, including the possible sell-down of an additional $1 billion in assets, which would simplify the company.

Further announcements around contracting for signings to CDC could also be a positive, they said.

Macquarie has a price target of $17.23 on Infratil shares compared to $13.17 currently.

The post Macquarie names 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to rise 30% or more in the year ahead
• 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• How high could Web Travel Group shares go? 3 brokers weigh in
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. 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.

With a strong performance today as we head into the end of trade on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.5% for the week, but these three ASX 200 stocks certainly haven’t helped the recovery.

One of this week’s laggards is a major iron ore miner, the second is a telecommunications company, and the third is a listed exchange group I’m confident you’re well familiar with.

So, which stocks are tumbling amid this week’s rebounding market?

I’m glad you asked!

Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)

The first stock having a week to forget is Champion Iron.

Champion Iron shares closed last Friday trading for $4.93. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $4.50 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock down 8.7% for the week.

Shares in the iron ore miner closed down 4.6% on Thursday, and are down another 6.1% today, following the release of the company’s March quarter results.

On the plus side, the miner reported an 8% year-on-year increase in iron ore concentrate production to 3.4 million wet metric tonnes (wmt).

But investors have been favouring their sell buttons, with Champion Iron reporting a 2.3% year-on-year decline in quarterly revenue to US$414.5 million.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$114.3 million were down a steeper 10.3%.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

Also taking a tumble this week, we have Tuas.

Shares in the Singapore-based telecom stock closed last Friday trading for $2.31, and are currently trading for $2.05 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock down 11.3% for the week.

There was no fresh price-sensitive news out from the company this week. But Tuas shares have been under intense selling pressure since 18 May. This follows an admission by the company that its SIMBA mobile business “may have been using radio frequency bands that it was not authorised to use”.

Tuas then terminated its agreement to acquire Singapore telecom company M1 Limited, noting it would not move forward with its intended purchase.

Tuas shares are now down 66.1% since market close on 15 May.

Which brings us to…

ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)

The worst performing ASX 200 stock this week is Australian stock exchange operator ASX Ltd.

ASX shares closed last Friday trading for $59.50. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $45.88.

This sees the ASX share price down a steep 22.9% for the week.

ASX shares closed down 13.2% on Tuesday after the company released an update pointing to a sharp rise in costs in FY 2027.

The telco expects total expenses to increase between 18% and 21% in the financial year ahead, partly driven by ongoing technology investments.

The post Why are these 3 ASX 200 stocks crashing in this week’s rebounding market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Champion Iron, IDP Education, Tuas, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is this ASX materials stock a buy, hold or sell after sliding on earnings results?
• Warning: Champion Iron shares slide as profits take a hit
• Why ASX, CBA, Endeavour, and Tuas shares are falling today

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.

A new month is almost here and now could be a good time for investors to think about where to put fresh money to work.

While markets may remain volatile, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can offer a simple way to stay invested without relying on a single company to perform.

They can also provide diversification, exposure to long-term themes, and a clear investment strategy in one trade.

Here are three excellent ASX ETFs that could be worth watching closely in June.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The first ASX ETF to watch is the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF.

This fund is built around companies with strong financial characteristics. That means businesses with healthy profitability, solid balance sheets, and the ability to generate attractive returns on capital.

That can be a useful approach in uncertain markets. When conditions become tougher, financially strong companies usually have more room to keep investing, protect margins, and defend their market positions.

The fund is not trying to chase every fast-growing company in the world. It is more selective than that. It gives investors exposure to global businesses that have already demonstrated a level of durability.

This could make it useful for someone who wants international growth exposure, but with a quality filter doing part of the work.

VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF (ASX: MVW)

Another ASX ETF that could be worth watching is the VanEck Australian Equal Weight ETF.

Most Australian share market funds are heavily influenced by the biggest banks and miners. That can be fine when those sectors are performing well, but it also means investors may end up with more concentration than they realise.

This fund takes a different approach by giving companies a more equal weighting. That changes the shape of the exposure and reduces the dominance of the largest names.

It can also give more room for mid-sized companies to influence returns. These businesses may not always make the headlines, but some can have stronger growth profiles than the market’s biggest incumbents.

The fund will still move with the Australian share market. But its structure gives investors a different way to own local shares without relying so heavily on the usual giants.

BetaShares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

A third ASX ETF to watch in June is the BetaShares India Quality ETF.

India has become one of the most closely watched growth markets in the world, supported by a large population, rising incomes, expanding digital adoption, and increasing economic influence.

This fund focuses on Indian companies with strong quality characteristics, rather than simply chasing the biggest businesses in the market. That can help investors gain exposure to long-term growth trends while still applying a quality filter.

Emerging markets can be volatile, and investors should expect periods of sharp market swings. But for those wanting exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, this ETF could add an interesting international growth angle to a portfolio.

The post 3 excellent ASX ETFs to watch in June appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX ETFs I’d buy for retirement investing
• 3 ASX ETFs that could help investors tap into global growth
• Three unique ASX ETFs to target the ASX 200 
• 3 ASX ETFs that could be top picks for beginners
• How beginners could go from zero to $50,000 with ASX shares

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 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.

Friday has delivered a much stronger finish to the week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.24% to 8,699.3 points.

The rally comes after a rough session on Thursday, when the ASX 200 fell 1.43% as a spike in oil prices and renewed US-Iran tensions hit investor sentiment.

Nonetheless, the index has clawed back part of that fall today, helped by less pressure across commodity markets and a strong night on Wall Street.

Reuters reported that oil prices were heading for a weekly fall as traders weighed the possibility of lower geopolitical risk.

US markets also gave local investors something to work with, with major share market indices pushing to record highs overnight. That helped offset some of Thursday’s pain, when elevated oil prices weighed on risk sentiment.

Miners lead the rebound

The strongest buying is coming through the resources sector, with the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) up 2.3%.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has been among the major contributors, with its shares up 1.9% to $62.45.

Gold miners have also helped lift the index, with Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) up 5.7% to $19.91, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) up 5.2% to $12.26, and Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) up 3.8% to $155.16.

Property and infrastructure names are also adding support. Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) is up 1.2% to $31.13, while Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) is 1.3% higher at $14.54.

The banks are also adding support, though their moves are more modest.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is climbing 0.5% to $162.26, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is 0.5% higher at $36.09, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is up around 0.3% to $37.22, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is lifting 0.9% to $35.20.

Why investors are buying again

Today’s rally suggests buyers are starting to return to the market after Thursday’s sell-off.

The US-Iran situation remains volatile, and oil prices can change quickly when headlines shift. But investors appear more comfortable buying back into the market after Wall Street hit fresh highs and crude prices lost some of their heat.

The index is now up 0.90% over the past week, but it’s still slightly lower over the past month and for 2026. Over the past year, the ASX 200 remains up about 3.44%.

The next test is whether today’s rebound can hold if oil prices turn higher again over the weekend.

The post ASX 200 storms higher as investors pile back into miners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Chorus’s 2025 regulatory report: RAB grows, revenue falls short
• Judo upsizes $750m securitisation to boost capital and ROE
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Goodman Group. 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 are 1.4% higher at 8,716.8 points amid fresh hopes of a US-Iran deal.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated continued confidence in several ASX 200 shares, issuing renewed buy calls this week.

Let’s review.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The Goodman share price is $31.39, up 2% today.

The ASX 200 real estate share has risen 2% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Morgans renewed its buy rating on Goodman shares on Thursday.

The broker raised its 12-month share price target from $32.45 to $36.

This suggests a potential 15% upside ahead.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price is $35.27, up 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 bank share has fallen 2.5% over the past month.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on ANZ shares with a price target of $40 on Monday.

This implies potential capital gains of 13% ahead.

Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)

The Ora Banda share price is $1.37, up 7.6% today.

This ASX 200 gold share has fallen 10.9% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its buy rating with a $2.25 target this week.

This implies a potential 64% upside ahead.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

The Codan share price is $42.13, up 2.7% today.

This ASX 200 tech share has rocketed 45% YTD.

Canaccord Genuity reaffirmed its buy rating with a 12-month target of $47.05.

This suggests a potential 11% upside ahead.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo share price is $1.56, up 12% today.

This ASX bank share has fallen 14% YTD.

Citi renewed its buy rating on Judo shares with a $2.20 target today.

This implies potential capital growth of 40% over the next year.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is $72.99, up 3.1% today.

This ASX 200 mining share is up 32% YTD.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Mineral Resources shares this week.

The broker raised its share price target from $73 to $83.

This implies potential capital growth of 14% over the next year.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $10.99, up 8.8%.

This ASX 200 travel share is down 27% YTD.

Jefferies has reaffirmed its buy rating on Flight Centre shares with a $14 target.

This suggests a potential 28% capital gain ahead. 

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

The Guzman y Gomez share price is $19.49, up 0.5% today.

This ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has fallen 16% over six months.

Last week, the Mexican restaurant chain upgraded its earnings guidance and announced it was exiting the US.

Morgans renewed its buy rating on Guzman y Gomez shares on Monday.

The broker upped its price target from $26.70 to $29.40.

This suggests a potential 50% upside ahead.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

The Santos share price is $7.77, down 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 energy share has lifted 26% due to higher oil and gas prices in 2026.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Santos shares with a $8.60 target on Thursday.

This suggests a potential 11% upside ahead.

The post 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why 4DMedical, Elsight, Judo Capital, and Northern Star shares are racing higher today
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• Which ASX 200 bank stock is jumping 12% on big news?
• 3 ASX shares that could benefit most if the US-Iran peace deal holds
• Forget DroneShield and EOS, could this ASX 200 defence stock be one of the best to buy?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 Goodman Group and Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group and Goodman Group. 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 are 1.2% higher at 8,695.9 points on Friday.

The US and Iran are reportedly close to an agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and potentially reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the benchmark index remains in the red for 2026, down 0.3%.

Brokers have reduced their ratings on several stocks this week.

Let’s take a look.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)

The AGL share price is $8.64, up 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 utilities share has fallen 8.9%.

Ord Minnett downgraded AGL shares from buy to hold this week.

The broker cut its price target from $13.25 to $11.75.

This still implies a healthy potential upside of 36% ahead.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin Energy share price is $10.85, down 0.4% today.

This ASX 200 utilities share has fallen 9.9% over the past month.

Ord Minnett also downgraded Origin Energy shares from hold to lighten this week.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $11 to $10.40.

This indicates a possible 4% downside over the next year.

Ord Minnett explained the downgrades in a note:

Ord Minnett sees increasing downside risk to AGL Energy and Origin Energy as electricity market transition dynamics evolve less favourably than had been anticipated.

Our central thesis is that battery capacity in the National Electricity Market (NEM) is being deployed materially faster than required in the absence of corresponding coal-fired generation retirements.

This excess flexibility is suppressing price volatility, reducing the earnings potential for batteries and other flexible generation assets such as gas peakers and hydro.

Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

The Adore Beauty share price is steady at 31 cents today.

The ASX consumer discretionary share has lost 76% of its valuation in 2026.

Bell Potter downgraded Adore Beauty shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $1 to 39 cents.

This suggests a potential 26% upside ahead.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is $16.74, up 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 industrial share has fallen 27% in 2026 so far.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Brambles shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $28 to $19.

This still suggests capital growth of 13% over the next year.

Abacus Group (ASX: ABG)

The Abacus Group share price is $1.02, up 3.6% today.

In 2026 so far, this ASX property share has fallen 15%.

Shaw and Partners downgraded Abacus Group shares to a hold rating yesterday.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $1.05, implying the stock is fully valued now.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by brokers this week 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 recommended Adore Beauty Group. 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 small-cap stock Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB) shares are sliding on Friday after the infant nutrition company released a FY26 trading update.

At the time of writing, the Bubs share price is down 3.19% to 9.1 cents.

Today’s fall adds to a difficult recent run for shareholders. Bubs shares are now down around 17% over the past month and 34% in 2026.

The stock is also trading near the bottom of its 52-week range of 9.1 cents to 19 cents.

So, what has investors selling today?

Guidance points to more pressure

According to the release, Bubs now expects FY26 revenue of $105 million to $115 million.

The company said this still shows underlying growth, but the market appears more focused on the headwinds sitting behind the update.

Reported EBITDA is expected to land between a $2 million loss and a $2 million profit. Underlying EBITDA is expected to be between $4 million and $8 million.

Sales and earnings have been hit by several external factors.

Bubs pointed to evolving regulatory requirements, product availability constraints, geopolitical disruption in the Middle East, higher air freight use, and competitive pressures.

The company is still growing, but getting product into the right markets has become more expensive and complicated.

The US remains the key market

Demand for Bubs products remains in place, with the United States continuing to be its strongest growth market.

Chief executive Joe Coote said the company has taken a careful approach to managing its supply chain in a more complex external environment.

He noted that Bubs has been using air freight to support restocking in the United States. That extra cost is now winding down as the company continues to prioritise customer service.

Bubs said it remains on track to achieve ranging in more than 10,000 stores in July 2026.

Wider distribution in the US gives the company a bigger addressable market, but it also raises the pressure to execute well.

Foolish takeaway

Bubs remains a small-cap consumer stock with a market capitalisation of about $82 million.

That can make the share price sensitive to any change in expectations, especially when investors are already nervous.

The company has a strong brand in infant nutrition and exposure to large offshore markets, including the US and China. But today’s update shows growth is still coming with extra cost and operational risk.

The next test is whether Bubs can turn its wider US store footprint into stronger sales, while keeping a tighter hold on costs.

The post This ASX small-cap stock is sliding after a tough FY26 update 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.