Category: Stock Market

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares finished last week 1% higher at $123.32, extending their recent rebound. The biotech giant’s shares have climbed 16% over the past month and are now up around 34% since their early June lows.

Even so, it’s important to keep that rally in perspective. CSL shares remain down about 29% in 2026 and have lost roughly half their value over the past 12 months.

So, after one of the biggest falls in the company’s history, could CSL shares double from here and reclaim their former highs?

Changed narrative

For decades, CSL built a reputation as one of the ASX’s highest-quality companies, delivering consistent earnings growth through its leadership in plasma-derived therapies and global healthcare operations.

That reputation took a major hit over the past year.

A string of earnings downgrades, leadership changes, and around US$5 billion in non-cash impairments, largely tied to the CSL Vifor acquisition, have weighed heavily on investor confidence.

Impairments, downward guidance

For almost two years, the ASX biotech stock has been locked in a persistent downtrend. This has been punctuated by sharp 10% to 15% rallies before another disappointing update pushed shares to fresh multi-year lows.

The latest setback came in May, when management guided to FY26 revenue of around US$15.2 billion, about 4% below consensus forecasts, and NPAT of roughly US$3.1 billion, around 7% below expectations. The company also flagged another US$5 billion of non-cash impairments across FY26 and FY27.

Since then, little has changed fundamentally. While Tavneos faces potential withdrawal in the US and Europe, analysts note the product contributes only around 1% of group revenue.

The team at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) believes expectations have now been reset to a relatively low level. Analysts expect modest earnings growth through FY28 and argue that even small earnings beats could support the share price.

What do the experts think?

Broker sentiment has become more cautious than it was a year ago.

According to TradingView data, 10 of 18 analysts now rate CSL shares as a hold. The remaining eight have buy or strong buy recommendations. The average price target sits at $138.88, implying around 13% upside from current levels.

Some analysts remain far more optimistic. UBS retained its buy rating at the start of this month with a $158 price target. The broker argues that much of the bad news surrounding Vifor has already been priced into the shares.

Morgans is also positive, maintaining a buy recommendation and a $147.59 target price. However, it expects a recovery in investor confidence to take time as the market waits for clearer evidence that earnings have stabilised.

A handful of analysts reportedly see the shares reaching as high as $197.85 over the next year. That represents potential gains of about 60%.

That would be an impressive recovery, but still well short of doubling from current levels. Based on current broker forecasts, a return to CSL’s record highs appears more realistic over several years than within the next 12 months.

The post Could CSL shares double from here? Here’s what the experts think appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

I love buying ASX dividend stocks after they’ve fallen because we’re getting much better bang for our buck.

Not only do we get to buy a business at a lower price-earnings (P/E) ratio, but it also means the dividend yield is larger.

For example, if a business has a dividend yield of 4% and then the share price drops 10%, the yield becomes 4.4%. With the ASX dividend stock Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP), we’re talking about a much larger fall.

As the chart below shows, the Propel share price has fallen by around 34% since the start of 2026. I think this is a good time to invest in the funeral provider because of a few different reasons.

Opportunistic time to buy

One of the most important things about investing is that the price we pay has a big impact on the size of the returns generated.

There are a number of headwinds facing the Propel share price right now, which is why it’s so much cheaper. Higher interest rates may have prompted investors to consider other safe assets, such as cash, term deposits, and interest rate-linked bonds, hurting the Propel share price – this effect could reverse if/when interest rates start to come down again, possibly next year.

Plus, the ASX dividend stock is expecting FY26 revenue growth to be between flat to 1.9%. This seems like a relatively low level of revenue growth for the year, and I’m expecting more in future financial years, so this could be an opportunistic time to buy as the ageing demographic tailwinds become stronger.

Long-term growth trend

According to Propel, the industry is expected to see volume growth in the coming years.

The number of deaths in Australia is expected to increase by an average of 2.9% per year between 2026 and 2035 and then 2.4% per year between 2036 and 2045. That compares to a growth rate of 1.1% between 1990 and 2025.

As the saying goes, there are only two things certain in life – death and taxes – and we can’t invest in the Australian Taxation Office.

There is a certain number of deaths each year, which means the business has a certain level of earnings each year, making it very defensive.

According to the forecast on CMC Invest, the business is now valued at 22 times FY26’s estimated earnings. I think this looks reasonable for the long-term growth potential.

Good dividend yield

The ASX dividend stock is delivering a solid level of dividends for investors, which could grow in the coming years.

Based on the forecast on CMC Invest, the potential grossed-up dividend yield for FY26 is 5.5% (including franking credits), and this yield could grow to 6.2% by FY28 (including franking credits).

That’s not the biggest yield on the ASX, but it is a good level of payouts, and it could deliver payout growth in the years ahead.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 34% I’d buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Propel Funeral Partners. 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.

Once a week, I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which ASX shares are being targeted by short sellers.

That’s because I believe it is worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, listed below are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC.

The top ten most shorted ASX shares

• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) is still Australia’s most shorted share with short interest of 22.8%. This uranium developer was due to return from a lengthy suspension last week with an update on its Kayelekera Project. Instead, the company requested more time as it prepares a funding package.
• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease again to 13.8%. Short sellers appear to be doubting this pizza chain operator’s turnaround plans.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has short interest of 12.8%, which is up sharply since last week. This counter-drone technology company’s shares could have been targeted due to a recent ASIC investigation into an announcement and insider share sales.
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) has seen its short interest rise to 12%. This could be due to valuation concerns, with the medical technology company’s shares trading on sky-high multiples. 
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has 11.8% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. There are concerns this travel agent giant could be negatively impacted by the Middle East conflict. 
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 11.7%, which is down slightly again week on week. Short sellers appear to believe the radiopharmaceuticals company could continue to struggle gaining US FDA approvals.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 11.7%, which is down week on week again. This uranium miner’s production outlook beyond 2027 is uncertain. An update is  due by the end of August.
• CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR) has short interest of 11.6%, which is up week on week. There may be fears that higher interest rates could slow the growth of the automotive market and listing volumes.
• Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) has 11.5% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. It is another uranium producer that short sellers have been targeting.
• Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.75%. This agribusiness company has underperformed the market’s expectations this year.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Flight Centre Travel Group, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares could be an increasingly compelling pick for dividends over the next few years.

Woolworths is best known for its supermarket business in Australia – it’s the biggest operator in the country.

But, it owns a number of other businesses including the New Zealand supermarket Countdown, the business food supplier PFD, BIG W, Petstock and more. It’s better diversified than some investors may think it is.

After everything that has happened over the last few years, it’s good to look at the potential dividend income from the ASX defensive share. The company may be able to provide steadily rising payouts for investors.

FY26

The 2026 financial year has already finished, but we haven’t yet seen the FY26 result or the annual/final dividend.

The latest update we have from the business is the FY26 third-quarter update. Total third-quarter sales were up 4.5% to $18.1 billion. Within that, Australian food grew sales by 5.9% to $13.8 billion, Australian business-to-business (B2B) sales grew 4.9%, New Zealand food increased 1.4% in New Zealand dollar terms and ‘W Living’ sales rose 4.8%.

Sales growth does not automatically turn into profit growth because it depends on what’s happening with the profit margin. Woolworths’ margins will be revealed with the full-year result next month.

Underlying earnings growth can turn into a rising dividend, whether that’s this year or next year.

In the FY26 half-year result, the company grew its interim dividend by 15.4% to 45 cents per share. The projection on Commsec suggests the business could hike its annual dividend per share to 99.5 cents per share in FY26.

At the time of writing, that translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.6%, including franking credits.

FY27

We’re already in the 2027 financial year, and investors won’t have too long to wait until the next dividends come along.

Woolworths continues to work on becoming more efficient and resilient, while providing customers with “lower prices, better experiences and greater convenience”, according to the Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell.

It’ll be interesting to see how much Woolworths can grow its earnings in FY27, following the Middle East disruption. In FY26, its Australian food operating earnings (EBIT) growth is expected to be in the “mid to high single-digit range”.

The projection on Commsec suggests Woolworths’ earnings per share (EPS) and dividend per share could both rise by more than 10%.

The FY27 dividend per share is forecast to increase to $1.13, translating to a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.1%, including franking credits.

FY28

The 2028 financial year dividend could increase by more than 10% again in the 2028 financial year.

The FY28 payout could translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.7%, including franking credits. If the company’s dividend does increase to that level, then it’ll be a fairly compelling pick for passive income.

But, investors may be looking for investments that can grow earnings even faster than what Woolworths can deliver.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Woolworths shares 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.

After delivering standout returns through much of 2025 and into 2026, ASX gold shares have finally lost some of their shine. 

Supported by a surging gold price, persistent geopolitical uncertainty, and strong investor demand for safe-haven assets, many of the sector’s biggest names climbed to record or multi-year highs. 

More recently, however, a pullback in the gold price and a wave of profit-taking have seen many ASX-listed gold miners retreat from their peaks, prompting investors to weigh up whether this is simply a healthy correction or the start of a more prolonged downturn.

A new report from VanEck suggests the long-term outlook remains positive despite the recent pullback. 

Sentiment switches

Imaru Casanova, Portfolio Manager, Gold and Precious Metals, VanEck said gold has pulled back roughly 25% from January highs. 

At the end of June, the apparent end of the conflict in the Middle East further eroded gold’s safe-haven appeal, as markets shifted toward a risk-on environment and equity markets traded near recent highs. 

Gold is now trading around US$4,000 per ounce, representing an approximately 25% pullback from its January highs. However, gold stocks remain the best-performing asset class over the past year, and gold continues to outperform most other major asset classes.

There’s still gold in these hills

However, the long-term case remains supported by inflation, central bank buying and lower real rates.

Gold stocks have historically outperformed the metal itself in rising gold price environments. 

However, investors may not need to wait for the next leg higher in gold to begin increasing exposure. 

At current prices, these companies are already generating record cash flow, as Q1 2026 earnings made abundantly clear. Gold has traded at an average price of approximately US$4,700 per ounce so far in 2026. With all-in sustaining costs for the sector estimated to average below US$2,000 per ounce in 2026, margins remain very strong even at US$4,000 gold.

According to the report, this gives companies the ability to finance growth, pay dividends and repurchase shares. 

Gold stocks continue to trade at valuations that remain low relative to historical levels, while the sector appears to be in strong financial and operational health by historical standards. 

Current equity prices appear to reflect more conservative assumptions than those implied by prevailing gold prices.

If investors rotate capital away from sectors with much richer valuations, particularly against a backdrop of rising risk of a pullback, gold stocks could be beneficiaries.

How to gain exposure to gold shares

There are many individual ASX gold shares for investors to consider. 

Some of the most popular include: 

• Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) – One of the largest gold mining companies in the world 
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) – Large mining company with projects in Australia and the United States

Another option is to target gold shares using an ASX ETF. 

For example, VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) includes over 105 companies involved in the gold mining industry. 

Or, the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG) provides exposure to the price of physical Australian gold bullion rather than to gold mining companies.

The post Why gold shares remain a strong long-term option despite recent pullback: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Owning National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares could be a rewarding investment for the year ahead (and beyond).

Investors may normally expect a good dividend from ASX bank shares, but there’s more to the total shareholder return (TSR) than just dividends. Capital gains can be useful or even provide the majority of the return over a particular time period.

A year is a relatively short-term timeframe for investing, but that’s usually the time frame analysts consider when they give their expectations for the share price – it’s called a share price target.

Let’s look at the forecast for both the NAB share price and dividend.

Analyst projections for NAB shares

According to CMC Invest, there have been 10 ratings on the ASX bank share within the last 12 months. Of those, two were buys, four were holds, and four were sells.

Of those 10 analysts, the average price target is $36.90. At the time of writing, that implies a possible decline of around 7% over the next 12 months.

If someone had invested $10,000, the forecast decline could mean those NAB shares are only worth $9,300 in 12 months.

But don’t forget there’s also the forecast dividend. According to CommSec, the business could pay an annual dividend per share of $1.70 in FY26. While the dividend is projected to increase to $1.72 per share in FY27, I’ll be conservative and stick with the lower $1.70 dividend per share estimate.

At the time of writing, that projection translates into a forecast dividend yield of 4.3%. The TSR figure doesn’t usually include franking credits, so I won’t include it for my calculations.

The projected payout could translate into a cash payout of close to $430. That would take the overall $10,000 investment to approximately $9,700. In other words, investors could see a net loss of 3%, or approximately $300, over the next 12 months.

Is this a good time to invest in the ASX bank share?

This is seemingly not a good time to invest. Analysts are suggesting the NAB share price is overvalued, and investors may see negative returns if the bank’s valuation goes backwards.

Of course, a 12-month period isn’t the right time frame to judge a business. Over a longer time period, the NAB share price could rise, and the TSR could be much more positive, with dividend payments adding additional returns each financial year.

With all of the above in mind, I think there are better ASX share opportunities out there with a $10,000 investment.

The post By July 2027, NAB shares could turn $10,000 into… 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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have underperformed materially over the last 12 months.

While this is disappointing for shareholders, it could have created a compelling buying opportunity for others.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who believe the ASX tech stock could have huge upside potential.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that there has been a bit of a rally in the tech sector recently. However, WiseTech shares have missed out due to a number of reasons. It said:

There has been a tech rally of sorts on the ASX over the past couple of months and this has been led by some of the large cap names including Pro Medicus, Block and Life360. One large cap which has not rallied, however, is WiseTech and this is likely due to a number of factors including further negative press reports around founder and Chief Innovation Officer Richard White, concern around the potential future loss of key customer DSV and risk around both the FY26 result and FY27 guidance and whether each meets market expectations. 

The good news is that Bell Potter believes that a change could be coming for its shares. This is especially the case given its belief that WiseTech will deliver on its guidance for FY 2026 and provide guidance that meets expectations. It adds:

In our view, however, these negatives will start to dissipate over the coming months and indeed have already commenced with the appointment earlier this month of Raelene Murphy to Chair which we regard as a positive move. We also believe the company will achieve its FY26 guidance when it reports next month – albeit with some risk around revenue but this should be made up by the margin – and the FY27 guidance will meet expectations following downgrades by the sell-side (ourselves included) over the past few months. 

This potential reduction in negatives could lead to a rally in the share price and this may have already started with the appointment of the new Chair. Some positive outlook statements at the result next month could provide further impetus and, as examples, may include expectations of large freight forwarders shifting to the new pricing model in FY27 and DSV shifting more DB Schenker volumes onto CargoWise.

WiseTech shares tipped to double

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $71.75 price target on the company’s shares.

Based on its current share price of $34.95, this implies potential upside of 105% over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy thesis, Bell Potter said:

There is also no change in our target price of $71.75 and we maintain the BUY. We believe the stock looks value on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.15x and is trading at an excessively large discount to the Technology One multiple of c.27x. We note WiseTech has higher forecast earnings growth than Technology One over the next few years given the expected margin recovery post the e2open acquisition.

The post Why WiseTech shares could rocket 100% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The ASX share Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG) may well be one of the best ways to benefit from the strong growth of AI. It’s the owner of a large uranium deposit in Canada, which could be a great profit generator.

It’s one of the picks inside the L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF) portfolio, which is a listed investment company (LIC) that targets ASX shares and international shares. The LIC likes to invest in ASX mining shares – it’s very willing to do so when they seem attractively priced.

Attractive project

L1 recently noted that NexGen is preparing to develop the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposit called Arrow, which is located in Saskatchewan, Canada.

The fund manager said that Arrow will be a new major strategic Western source of uranium to address the “looming market deficit”.

L1 highlighted that the ASX energy share received final regulatory approvals in March 2026. The company is preparing to commence full-scale project construction, with an estimated four-year construction timeline.

How much money could this project generate?

The fund manager believes that once the project is completed, Arrow has the potential to generate around C$2.8 billion of operating profit (EBITDA) annually, assuming a uranium price of US$80 per pound, which is below the current uranium price. In the three months to June 2026, the uranium price increased by 1.5%.

L1 suggested that the ASX share is a “highly compelling proposition given NexGen’s current market cap” of approximately C$8.8 billion. That suggests it’s trading at around 3 times the future potential operating profit.

I think the project could generate stronger profits than expected because AI demand is growing, and therefore additional power generation is needed to plug the gap. Nuclear could be a key part of the equation globally, alongside renewable energy, as coal is slowly phased out around the world.

What do other experts think of the NexGen share price?

According to CMC Invest, there have been three analyst ratings on the business within the last three months, with all of those being a buy.

The average price target of those three ratings is $21.07, suggesting a possible rise of around 60% from where it is today. The ASX share looks much better value after falling more than 20% since early June 2026.

The Arrow projection completion is still a while away, but the company could be a compelling buy at the current level. But there are other ASX shares that could also be compelling investments today.

The post Is this ASX share the best way to play the AI demand growth? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Long Short Fund. 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.

It has been a strong year thus far for Australia’s two largest blue-chip materials stocks Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). 

Year to date, Rio Tinto and BHP shares are up 9% and 25% respectively. 

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up just 0.8% in the same period. 

Why are Rio Tinto and BHP shares soaring?

These shares have risen strongly this year because investors have become more optimistic about the mining sector. 

Higher prices for key commodities such as copper and resilient iron ore prices, driven by growing demand from AI infrastructure, data centres, electrification and renewable energy projects, have boosted earnings expectations. 

Both companies have also delivered solid production results and attracted investors looking for large, financially strong businesses with reliable dividends, helping push their share prices higher.

What is Morgan’s updated view on BHP shares?

At the end of last week, the team at Morgans provided fresh outlooks on both Rio Tinto and BHP shares. 

Looking at BHP shares, the broker said the mining giant ended FY26 on a good note, with an operational result largely in line with consensus and a touch ahead of our estimates in places. 

Normally a source of volatility, BHP’s coal operations posted decent consensus beats at both BMA and NSWEC. FY27 guidance appears steady relative to our existing estimates, although consensus appears high for group copper. Best-in-breed global diversified miner in what remains a healthy upcycle for resources. We maintain our HOLD rating and A$60.20 target price.

Rio Tinto remains posts healthy Q2

Looking at Rio Tinto shares, Morgans said the company posted a healthy Q2 where it matters. 

Pilbara shipments beat consensus (+2%), while Morgans said it sees the headline Simandou miss (-68% vs consensus) as a net positive: a slower Simandou ramp supports iron ore benchmarks, and each US$10/t on the benchmark is worth ~US$2.5bn of annual EBITDA to RIO’s far larger Pilbara business. 

The sting in the tail was Kennecott, with a late June converting furnace breach requiring a ~75-day full rebuild, hitting H2 refined copper and gold output (total copper including saleable matte unchanged). Copper C1 guidance halved to US30-50c/lb, on strong by-prod prices, a material margin tailwind into the H2 result. Trading back close to where we see fair value, RIO remains one of the highest quality global exposures to a sector enjoying a multi-year upcycle (albeit not without its volatility). We maintain our HOLD rating, A$163.00 TP (was A$165.00).

From last week’s closing price of $160.95, the updated price target is just 1.2% above current levels. 

The post What is Morgan’s updated view on Rio Tinto and BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in BHP Group. 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.

On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished a relatively flat week in the red. The benchmark index fell 0.5% to 8,796.7 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a good start to the week despite a poor session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 55 points or 0.6% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.75%, the S&P 500 dropped 1%, and the Nasdaq sank 1.4%.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a strong start to the week after oil prices jumped on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 4.5% to US$81.49 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 4.6% to US$88.10 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher in response to an escalation in US-Iran tensions.

Buy WiseTech shares

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are seriously undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $71.75 price target on the logistics software provider’s shares. It commented: “We believe the stock looks value on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.15x and is trading at an excessively large discount to the Technology One multiple of c.27x. We note WiseTech has higher forecast earnings growth than Technology One over the next few years given the expected margin recovery post the e2open acquisition.”

Gold price rises

It could be a decent start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price rose on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 0.65% to US$4,018.8 an ounce. This couldn’t stop the gold price from recording a weekly decline on increased US interest rate bets.

Hold BHP shares

Morgans thinks that BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are around fair value right now. In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its hold rating and $60.20 price target on the mining giant’s shares. It said: “A good end to FY26 for BHP, with an operational result largely in line with consensus and a touch ahead of our estimates in places. […] Best-in-breed global diversified miner in what remains a healthy upcycle for resources. We maintain our HOLD rating and A$60.20 target price.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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.