Category: Stock Market

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and tumbled lower. The benchmark index fell 1.35% to 9,077.3 points.

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

ASX 200 to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall again on Wednesday after a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 104 points or 1.1% lower. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.5%, the S&P 500 is down 0.75% and the Nasdaq is 0.9% lower. The Dow Jones was down 2% at one stage before recovering.

Oil prices jump again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Wednesday after oil prices stormed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5% to US$74.79 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 5% to US$81.63 a barrel. This was driven by threats by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

Another group of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes Chemist Warehouse owner Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG), healthcare company Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL), and supermarket giant Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW). The latter will be paying a fully franked 45 cents per share dividend next month on 2 April.

Gold price tumbles

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a difficult session on Wednesday after the gold price sank overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 3.6% to US$5,121 an ounce. A strong US dollar and higher rate bets put pressure on the precious metal.

Buy Life360 shares

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360) shares are undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to its FY 2025 results, the broker has retained its buy rating on the family safety technology company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $40.00. It said: “2025 revenue of US$489m was slightly above our forecast of US$488m and VA consensus of US$486m and was top end of the US$486-489m guidance range. Adjusted EBITDA of $93m, however, was a beat versus our forecast of US$90m and VA consensus of US$88m and was also above the US$87-92m guidance range. Cash at year end was US$495m which was ahead of our forecast of US$476m.”

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

More reading

• $10,000 invested in DroneShield shares 12 months ago is now worth…
• 3 ASX 200 shares tipped to climb 130% (or more) in the next 12 months
• 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows: Buy, hold, or sell?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX 200 energy shares just given new 12-month price targets post-results

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360 and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Woolworths Group. 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.

If there’s one lesson worth remembering from Warren Buffett, it’s this: you don’t need to chase fads, you need to own quality.

Buffett didn’t build Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) by jumping in and out of whatever was hot at the time. He focused on businesses with durable competitive advantages, strong returns on capital, capable management, and predictable earnings power. And, crucially, he tried to buy them at fair prices.

Not necessarily bargain-basement prices. Just fair ones.

It’s not about cheap

One of the biggest misconceptions about Warren Buffett is that he only buys stocks when they look dirt cheap on a simple valuation metric.

That might have been closer to the truth early in his career. But over time, he shifted toward buying “a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.”

Quality matters more than a low multiple.

A company that can compound earnings at high rates for a decade doesn’t need to look optically cheap to be a good investment. If its competitive position is strong enough, time does a lot of the work.

That’s the mindset I try to apply when looking at ASX shares today.

What does quality actually mean?

When I think about quality, I’m looking for a few key traits:

Consistent revenue and earnings growth, high or improving returns on capital, strong balance sheets, products or services that are difficult to replicate, and a track record of disciplined capital allocation.

If those boxes are ticked, I’m far more comfortable paying what I consider to be a fair price.

And right now, I think there are several ASX shares that broadly fit that framework.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL hasn’t been a market darling lately. Its shares remain well below their prior highs, and the company has gone through leadership changes and a period of softer earnings momentum.

But I still see a global biotechnology leader with powerful competitive advantages in plasma therapies, vaccines, and specialty medicines.

CSL generates strong cash flow, invests heavily in research and development, and operates in markets with high barriers to entry. While it may not look cheap on traditional metrics, I think it is trading at a far more reasonable price relative to its long-term growth potential than it was a few years ago.

To me, that’s closer to Warren Buffett-style fair value for quality.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne is another ASX share I consider quietly high quality.

It has built a dominant position in enterprise software for government and education clients across Australia and increasingly the UK. Its transition to SaaS has strengthened recurring revenue, lifted margins, and improved visibility.

It rarely looks cheap. But the consistency of its growth, low churn, and expanding customer base make it a strong long-term compounder in my view.

If I’m buying for the next 10 years rather than the next 10 weeks, I’m comfortable paying a fair multiple for that kind of reliability.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is a different type of quality story. It operates in consumer appliances, but it has built premium global brands in categories like coffee and food preparation. It has demonstrated an ability to innovate, expand geographically, and protect margins even in tougher retail environments.

After a period of market volatility and cost pressures, its shares are down heavily from their highs. In light of this, I now see a company with long-term global growth opportunities, especially in North America and Europe, trading at what I would consider a fair entry point.

That combination gets my attention.

James Hardie Industries (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie isn’t immune to housing cycles. But over time, it has shown it can grow through them.

Its fibre cement products have strong brand recognition, particularly in the US, and the business benefits from structural trends such as home renovation and repair activity.

While short-term earnings can fluctuate with housing conditions, I believe the company’s competitive position and pricing power make it a quality operator. At current levels, I think the valuation reflects cyclical uncertainty without fully discounting its longer-term potential.

That feels like the sort of setup Buffett would at least examine.

Foolish takeaway

The ASX share market has pockets that look stretched, and others that have quietly reset.

If I were taking a Warren Buffett-inspired approach today, I wouldn’t be hunting for the cheapest stocks on the board. I’d be looking for high-quality businesses with durable advantages that are trading at fair, not inflated, prices.

For me, shares like CSL, TechnologyOne, Breville, and James Hardie broadly fit that description right now.

The post I’d listen to Warren Buffett and buy quality ASX shares at fair prices today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 shares to buy on the cheap right now
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, TechnologyOne, and Woodside shares
• Follow Warren Buffett: 3 cheap ASX 200 shares worth a closer look
• These ASX 200 shares sank 20% or more in February
• 3 ASX ETFs for a stress-free start to investing

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway, CSL, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway, CSL, and Technology One. 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 closed 1.34% lower at 9,077.3 points yesterday, after matching Monday’s record high of 9,200.9 points during intraday trading.

The market took a breather yesterday to assess the impact of the US and Israel attack on Iran, with energy the only sector to rise.

Meanwhile, the following three ASX 200 shares hit new 52-week lows yesterday.

Are they a buying opportunity?

Let’s ask the experts.

3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

This ASX 200 healthcare share fell to a 52-week low of $2.70 on Tuesday.

The stock has come off by 7.5% after reaching heady levels last year due to the Chemist Warehouse merger.

Morgans thinks Sigma Healthcare shares are still worth buying, but cautiously.

The broker downgraded its rating from buy to accumulate after going through Sigma’s 1H FY26 report.

In a note, Morgans said:

SIG posted a solid 1H26, which was in line with consensus.

The highlights included solid CW LFL sales growth (up 15%), revenue growth higher than cost growth by 4.5%, and synergy targets on track.

We move to an ACCUMULATE (was Buy) due to YTD share price strength.

Morgans reduced its 12-month price target from $3.39 to $3.36.

Reliance Worldwide Corp Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The Reliance Worldwide share price fell to a 52-week low of $3.13 on Tuesday.

The ASX 200 industrial share has pulled back 35% over the past 12 months.

Morgans maintained a hold rating on the stock after reviewing the company’s 1H FY26 report.

The broker commented:

RWC’s 1H26 result was below expectations, impacted by ongoing subdued housing conditions in all regions and higher costs, particularly in relation to US tariffs.

Management anticipates trading conditions in 2H26 to remain broadly consistent with 1H26, albeit US tariff mitigation strategies and the roll-off of some costs should see an uplift in margins.

Longer term, RWC aims to reduce its exposure to copper price volatility by substituting copper with alternative materials such as plastic and stainless steel.

The company’s new operations in Poland and Mexico will also help lower costs and provide manufacturing flexibility.

Morgans said it prefers “to wait for clearer signs of an improvement in housing conditions before reconsidering our view”.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $4.50 to $3.65.

Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

This ASX 200 communications share fell to a 52-week low of 99 cents yesterday.

That’s a 40% fall over 12 months.

Following the media giant’s 1H FY26 report, Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy rating on Nine Entertainment shares with a $1.40 target.

UBS kept its hold rating on the stock and lowered its price target from $1.22 to $1.13.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows: Buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: HMC Capital, Ramsay Health Care, and Sigma shares
• 2 great ASX 200 blue-chip shares I’d buy right now
• Is it too late to buy the shares of Chemist Warehouse owner Sigma?
• 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Why Accent Group, DroneShield, IDP Education, and Sigma shares are jumping today

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

These two ASX mining stocks have started the year with a bang. Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) both raced higher, 34% and 29% respectively for the year to date.

Over 6 months, the upswings are even more impressive with Evolution Mining gaining 87% and South32 up almost 72% at the time of writing.

On Tuesday, both ASX mining stocks slipped about 4%, raising the obvious question: can the rally continue?

Evolution Mining: Copper and gold exposure

This $36 billion ASX mining stock is one of Australia’s biggest gold producers, with operations in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. It also earns meaningful copper revenue, giving it some exposure to metals beyond gold.

The company focuses on cost control, meeting production targets and turning ore into cash, which has helped it benefit from elevated gold prices.

In its half-year results to 31 December 2025, the ASX mining stock posted a strong profit performance. Statutory net profit jumped substantially compared with the prior corresponding period, backed by higher output and solid realised commodity prices.

Its strengths are hard to ignore. The company’s long-life assets and diversified metal exposure give it durability through cycles. Its project pipeline, including expansions at key underground and open pit operations, offers upside without over-reliance on a single mine.

Management’s focus on disciplined spending and debt reduction also appeals in uncertain times.

But risks remain. Metal prices swing, and gold and copper can retreat sharply, dragging earnings with them. Cost inflation and operational hiccups at any mine can erode margins.

Not many brokers are convinced the current valuation of the ASX mining stock still offers large upside. The average target price is $14.05, which implies a 16.7% downside at the time of writing.

South32: Broad mix helps smooth earnings

South32’s diversified metals base and cost discipline has helped it capture investor interest amid resurgent industrial metal prices. This ASX mining stock operates across alumina, aluminium, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, lead and silver.

That broad mix helps smooth earnings when one commodity dips and another rallies. In its first-half FY2026 update, South32 reported steady production, solid margins and free cash flow generation. The company maintained its full-year guidance and continued to return capital through dividends and buybacks.

The diversified base remains one of South32’s biggest strengths. No single commodity dominates earnings, and exposure to base metals tied to electrification, infrastructure and energy transition themes gives the ASX mining stock strategic relevance.

Balance sheet discipline and shareholder returns also appeal to long-term investors.

Risks stem from volatility in underlying commodity prices and operating costs. Aluminum and alumina markets can be soft, and production cost inflation can erode margins.

Brokers are a little more positive on this ASX mining stock than Evolution Mining. The latest consensus from analysts pegs an average 12-month price target of $4.83. This points to a 6% upside from current levels.

The post Can these 2 ASX mining stocks keep soaring in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Evolution and Newmont shares tumble despite surging gold price
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Which ASX 200 mining shares raised their dividends this earnings season?

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in South32. 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 Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price just capped off a very strong month.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed out January trading for $25.37. When the closing bell sounded on 27 February, shares were changing hands for $28.31 apiece, up 11.6% for the month.

That’s well ahead of the 3.7% gains posted by the ASX 200 in February.

A rising oil price counts among the tailwinds helping boost the Woodside share price.

Brent crude oil was trading for US$66 per barrel at the beginning of February, with the oil price rising more than 9% to US$72 per barrel by the end of the month.

Investor also responded positively to Woodside’s full calendar year 2025 results.

Woodside share price lifts on results

The ASX 200 oil and gas giant reported its 2025 earnings results on 24 February.

The Woodside share price closed up 2.4% on the day, with the company exceeding its full year production guidance. 2025 saw Woodside produce 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe). That marked a new record one-year high.

While the oil price has rebounded in 2026 (notably so this week, following the US and Israeli military actions in Iran), 2025 saw Woodside report a 5% year on year decline in its realised prices, sliding to US$60.2 per barrel of oil equivalent.

That led to a 1% decline in full year revenue to$12.98 billion, despite the record production levels.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $9.28 billion were in line with 2024, while on the bottom line the company’s underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) slipped 8% to $2.65 billion.

Passive income investors may have helped boost the Woodside share price on the day, with management declaring a fully franked final dividend of US 59 cents per share, up 11% from the final Woodside dividend in 2024 (in US dollar terms).

If you’re looking to bank that Woodside dividend, you’ll need to be fast! The ASX 200 energy stock trades ex-dividend on Thursday. Meaning you’ll need to own shares at market close tomorrow, 4 March to receive that payout. You should then receive those dividends on 27 March.

What now?

Looking to what could impact the Woodside share price in the months ahead, the company provided full year 2026 production guidance in the range of 172 MMboe to 186 MMboe. Management expects capital expenditure to be between US$4.0 billion and US$4.5 billion.

The post Here’s why the Woodside share price surged 12% in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 energy shares just given new 12-month price targets post-results
• What’s next for the Woodside share price?
• No savings at 30? Here’s how I’d aim for an extra $24,600 a year in retirement boosting passive income buying ASX shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Oil prices rocket to 4-year high as ASX energy giants surge

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.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares closed in the red again on Tuesday afternoon. Throughout the day the shares tumbled 1.81% to $9.24 a piece. 

The downturn means the airline stock has tumbled 13.24% over the past week and is now down 11.92% for the year-to-date. The stock is also 7.51% lower than this time last year.

What happened to Qantas shares?

Qantas shares tumbled 9.2% on Wednesday last week after the airline posted its first-half results for FY26. 

The company revealed a 6.3% increase in revenue, and a 5.1% hike in underlying profit before tax, which was around 2% ahead of market estimates. It also announced a net debt of $5.6 billion which was in line with its target range.

The flying kangaroo’s strong results meant the board was able to declare a fully franked interim base dividend of 19.8 cents per share, up 20%. The company also confirmed that it intends to undertake an on-market share buyback of up to $150 million.

But it looks like the results came in short of investor expectations and the share price suffered. 

The airline’s share price has tumbled even further this week as uncertainty around fuel prices heats up. Oil has surged as the US and Israeli war against Iran continues. Trading Economics data shows that WTI crude futures rose more than 2% toward $73 per barrel on Tuesday after rallying roughly 6% in the prior session

How long will the downturn last?

It’s not clear how long the share price will decline. Airlines are closely monitoring fuel prices, and, at the AFR Business Summit on Tuesday, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said that the airline has “pretty good” fuel hedging in place. 

“We’ve got pretty good hedging in place, but these are pretty significant impacts on aviation and we’re just continuing to watch how it all unfolds,” she said at the event.

Is there any upside ahead? Or has the share price already peaked?

Analysts are still very bullish on the outlook for Qantas shares. Once the current geopolitical uncertainty cools, the airline’s stock could well fly much higher.

TradingView data shows that 11 out of 15 analysts still have a buy or strong buy rating on Qantas shares. The average target price is $12.36 a piece, which implies a potential 33.8% upside at the time of writing. But some think it could climb even higher, by 45.36% to $13.43.

The post Qantas shares sink 13% in a week: What happened, and how long will it last? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• 2 great ASX 200 blue-chip shares I’d buy right now
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Should I buy Qantas shares after their 9% decline?
• Everything you need to know about the latest Qantas dividend

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

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price finished February in the green.

Barely.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) iron ore giant closed on 30 January trading for $21. When the closing bell rang on 27 February, shares were swapping hands for $21.14 apiece.

This saw the Fortescue share price edge up 0.7% over the month just past, underperforming the 3.7% gain posted by the ASX 200 over this same time.

One of the headwinds impacting the miner was the declining iron ore price. Iron ore kicked off February trading for around US$109 per tonne, falling some 9% to just under US$100 per tonne by the end of the month.

Here’s what else investors were considering.

Fortescue share price gets a results boost

Fortescue reported its half-year results (H1 FY 2026) on 25 February.

The Fortescue share price closed up 4.7% on the day, with the Aussie miner reporting all-time high iron ore shipments of 100.2 million tonnes, up 3% year on year.

Adding fuel to those record shipments, Fortescue enjoyed a 7% increase in the realised price it received for its Hematite (iron ore), which came out to US$90.87 per dry metric tonne (dmt).

And costs came down over the six months to 31 December. The ASX 200 miner reported Hematite C1 unit costs of US$18.64 per wet metric tonne (wmt), down 3% from H1 FY 2025.

In other core financial metrics, Fortescue raked in revenue of US$8.4 billion over the half year, up 10% year on year. And underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) leapt 23% to US$4.5 billion.

The miner also revealed strong cash flow generation, with net cash flow from operating activities of US$3.2 billion. Free cash flow for the half year came out to US$1.5 billion, after the miner invested US$1.7 billion in capital expenditure.

On the bottom line, Fortescue’s net profit after tax (NPAT) surged by 23% from the prior corresponding period to US$1.9 billion.

The Fortescue dividend

The Fortescue share price also looks to have gotten a lift on the day the miner reported its results after management declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 62 Aussie cents per share. That’s up 24% from the 2024 interim payout.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit too late to grab the latest passive income payout from the ASX 200 miner.

Fortescue stock traded ex-dividend on Monday, 2 March.

At the time of writing, Fortescue shares trade on a 6.2% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

The post Did you catch what happened with the Fortescue share price in February? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2030 for Fortescue shares
• No savings at 30? Here’s how I’d aim for an extra $24,600 a year in retirement boosting passive income buying ASX shares
• Why Brainchip, Fortescue, Qantas, and Westpac shares are dropping today
• Is the Fortescue share price a buy in March?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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.

Two ASX small-cap shares that have drawn the attention of Morgans after earnings season are Ridley Corporation Ltd (ASX: RIC) and Peoplein Ltd (ASX: PPE). 

These companies reported half-year results in late February, contrubuting to a mostly positive outlook from the broker. 

Here’s what Morgans had to say. 

Ridley delivers strong results

Ridley provides and markets stock feed and animal feed supplements.

In late February, the consumer staples company saw its share price soar after investors reacted positively to earnings results. 

Investors gobbled up these ASX shares after the company reported a large increase in first-half net profit and revenue.

Its share price is now up 13.5% year to date. 

Morgans said the 1H26 result was stronger than expected and that the Integrated Poultry Feed (IPF) segment is off to a solid start. 

RIC’s outlook comments were stronger than expected for Bulk Stockfeeds and IPF but softer for the Packaged Feeds & Ingredients (PF&I). Pleasingly, IPF synergies have been upgraded to A$15m from A$7m previously. We have revised our forecasts. RIC’s new FY26-28 Growth Plan will be released at its Investor Strategy Day on 10-11 March. We view this event as the next catalyst for the stock.

Based on this guidance, Morgans said it remains positive on the group’s future prospects and maintains its accumulate rating. 

It also maintained its $3.20 price target.

From yesterday’s closing price of $2.94, this indicates 8.84% upside.

Peoplein has plenty of upside according to Morgans

Peoplein is a workforce solutions company operating in Australia and New Zealand. The company’s services include recruiting, contracting, onboarding, rostering, timesheet management, payroll, and workplace health and safety management.

It released H1 FY26 results on February 20. 

Earnings results in line with expectations at $16.1m, while ongoing operating EBITDA of $10.5m declined 9.2%. 

Morgans said the result reflected its streamlined business, following the sale of its Health and Community operations in late CY25. 

Key P&L metrics improved hoh, while still falling short of the prior year, suggesting any earnings recovery is still unproven. To this end, we continue to believe that PPE is producing cyclically low earnings, with the improvement hoh still too early to be called a trend.

Based on this guidance, Morgans retained its speculative buy recommendation on these ASX shares. 

It also maintained its $0.95 price target, which is around 45% upside from yesterday’s close price.

The broker commented:

Whilst tentative, we see some early signs of improvement and reiterate our Speculative Buy recommendation and $0.95/sh price target.

The post Are these ASX shares a buy, hold or sell after earnings results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which rural products company’s shares are up almost 20% on solid results?

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

Certain areas of the share market have been under significant pressure in recent months.

This has dragged a number of quality exchange traded funds (ETFs) deep into the red.

While this is disappointing, it may have created a buying opportunity for investors.

For example, the three ASX ETFs listed below have fallen by more than 25% from their highs and could be worth a closer look. Here’s what you want to know about them:

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF has been hit hard, falling around 38% from its highs.

This ASX ETF holds leading Australian technology names such as WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE). These companies have faced heavy selling as investors reassessed valuations and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on software businesses.

However, these are not speculative startups. They are profitable, globally expanding companies with recurring revenue models and high switching costs.

Australia’s tech sector is still relatively young compared to the US. If even a handful of these businesses continue scaling internationally over the next decade, this fund’s current weakness may look like a compelling long-term entry opportunity.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF has fallen approximately 26% from its high amid broader tech volatility.

The ETF includes global cybersecurity leaders such as CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), and Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT). While these stocks have been volatile, the underlying demand for cybersecurity has not disappeared.

In fact, cyber threats continue to rise in frequency and sophistication. Governments and corporations cannot afford to ignore digital security. In many cases, cybersecurity budgets are considered essential rather than discretionary. This bodes well for the companies in this fund over the next decade and beyond.

VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF (ASX: ESPO)

The VanEck Video Gaming and Esports ETF is down about 30% from its highs.

This ASX ETF provides exposure to companies involved in video games, hardware, and esports. Its holdings include Nintendo, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), Take-Two (NASDAQ: TTWO), and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA).

Over the past decade, gaming has evolved into a global entertainment industry with recurring revenue models, digital downloads, and in-game purchases. As connectivity improves and new technologies such as cloud gaming develop, the industry’s addressable market continues to expand.

In light of this, while a 30% pullback may be painful in the short term, it has lowered the entry point for investors who believe in the long-term growth of interactive entertainment. This fund was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

The post 3 ASX ETFs down 25% that could be big long-term winners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Take-Two Interactive Software, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Electronic Arts and Palo Alto Networks. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Advanced Micro Devices, CrowdStrike, and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a brutal day for the Australian markets and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) this Tuesday. After hitting a new record high yesterday, investors were brought back down to earth today by a savage sell-off.

By the time trading wrapped up this session, the ASX 200 had fallen a horrid 1.34%, leaving the index at 9,077.3 points.

This rather calamitous drop for the ASX comes after a far calmer morning over on Wall Street to kick off the American trading week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a volatile session but closed 0.15% lower.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was luckier, managing to close 0.36% higher.

But let’s get back to the local markets now and take stock of how today’s nasty falls affected the various ASX sectors this session.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.