Category: Stock Market

European Lithium Ltd (ASX: EUR) shares are making noise again on Monday, with buying picking up quickly throughout the day.

The stock is up 12.25% to 27.5 cents, adding to a strong run that has been building over recent months.

That move leaves the shares up roughly 80% in 2026, as interest across lithium names starts to return following last year’s downturn.

There has been no shortage of volatility for European Lithium, but today’s jump stands out from the recent trend.

It comes after a new update was released to the market.

Here’s what investors are reacting to.

Full control of Tanbreez project locked in

In a statement to the ASX, European Lithium said Critical Metals Corp (NASDAQ: CRML) will move to full ownership of the Tanbreez rare earths project in Greenland.

The deal involves picking up the remaining 50.5% stake, bringing the project under a single owner.

European Lithium will keep a 7.5% free carried interest in Tanbreez.

This removes the split ownership and makes decision-making more straightforward.

Tanbreez is seen as one of the larger rare earths deposits globally, and full ownership helps move it closer to development.

Management also pointed to recent approval from the Greenland government, which clears a key step for the project.

Ownership shift brings clearer pathway

With one owner in place, attention now shifts to what happens next on the ground.

Joint venture structures can slow things down, especially when major funding decisions are involved.

Full ownership gives Critical Metals direct control over timelines, capital allocation, and development plans.

European Lithium still keeps exposure through its retained interest, but without being involved day to day.

That setup removes some of the unknowns around the project and is starting to draw interest from investors.

Lithium sentiment starts to turn

The update lands as conditions across battery materials begin to improve.

Lithium prices have lifted in 2026 after a long decline, with demand expectations picking up and supply looking tighter.

That change has started to show up across ASX-listed names, particularly those linked to large or strategic assets.

European Lithium is not a pure lithium producer, but its rare earths exposure still links into the broader electrification push.

As pricing steadies, investors are starting to revisit names that were sold down heavily last year.

Foolish Takeaway

This kind of move can pull attention back in quickly, especially after a strong run.

But the stock has already climbed a long way this year and still trades with large swings.

Keep in mind that moves like this can fade just as fast as they appear.

For me, this is one to watch rather than chase.

There are other ASX stocks where the setup looks more consistent and easier to follow.

The post This ASX lithium stock just exploded 12%. Here’s what sparked it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Up 2,000% in a year, why this ASX healthcare stock is in focus today
• Why Monash IVF, NAB, Viva Energy, and Worley shares are falling today
• Why this $9 billion ASX stock is edging closer to record highs today
• Up 130% in a year, are Lynas Rare Earths shares still a good buy today?

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.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) is back on the radar after an active start to the week.

The stock is currently up 2.56% to $5.99 after earlier touching an intraday high of $6.38.

That pullback has come as the broader market softened, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) down 0.1% to 8,935 points.

Even with today’s volatility, the overall trend remains strong. The shares are up roughly 50% in 2026 and 2,000% over the past year.

Here’s what was announced.

Several updates hit at the same time

According to the release, 4DMedical reported a series of developments across commercial, regulatory, and its upcoming inclusion in the ASX 200.

The company confirmed a contract with GlaxoSmithKline to support pulmonary drug development using its imaging technology.

GlaxoSmithKline is a global pharmaceutical and healthcare company headquartered in the UK. It develops vaccines, specialty medicines, and consumer health products, and is one of the largest drugmakers in the world.

The agreement runs for 1 year and will see 4DMedical provide lung imaging biomarkers across clinical trials.

4DMedical did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

At the same time, the company reported regulatory clearance in the UK for its CT:VQ technology.

CT:VQ is 4DMedical’s imaging technology that uses CT scans to map how air and blood move through the lungs. It produces detailed functional images that help clinicians detect and measure lung conditions without requiring invasive tests.

This follows CE Mark certification received in March and allows for immediate clinical use.

The UK is one of the largest markets for diagnostic imaging, with millions of chest scans performed each year.

The update also highlighted clearance for its coronary artery calcium analysis solution in Canada.

Reimbursement progress opens a revenue pathway

Another part of the release focused on progress in the United States.

A new reimbursement code has been established for AI-enabled coronary calcium analysis from CT scans.

The code allows hospitals to claim around US$15.50 per study in the outpatient setting.

This puts a clear revenue pathway in place without requiring additional imaging or changes to workflow. Providers can integrate the analysis into existing scans, which helps lower barriers to adoption.

Reimbursement has often been a key step in moving imaging technologies into routine clinical use.

ASX 200 entry puts the stock on more screens

4DMedical has also been added to the S&P/ASX 200 Index at market open today.

The move brings the stock into Australia’s main benchmark, which is tracked by institutional and passive funds.

Inclusion can lead to increased demand as index funds adjust their holdings.

It also increases visibility among larger investors and can improve liquidity over time.

The post Up 2,000% in a year, why this ASX healthcare stock is in focus today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Viva Energy Group issues update on Geelong Refinery after fire
• Qube updates FY26 outlook: expects short-term headwinds but maintains earnings growth target
• National Australia Bank strengthens balance sheet ahead of 1H26 results
• NextDC reports 60% increase in contracted utilisation growth and higher capex guidance

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a small decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down slightly to 8,942.4 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

Monash IVF Group Ltd (ASX: MVF)

The Monash IVF share price is down 8% to 70.5 cents. Investors have been selling this fertility treatment company’s shares after it rejected a takeover offer from a consortium that includes Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL). The company’s chair, Richard Davis, said: “The Board, in consultation with its advisers, has formed the view that the revised Proposal in its current form undervalues the Company. The Board is supportive of Dr Victoria Atkinson and looks forward to the execution of her strategy to bring stability and growth to Monash IVF.” However, Monash IVF revealed that it “remains open to discussions regarding a change of control transaction at a higher valuation.”

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is down 3% to $41.30. This morning, the banking giant advised that it has reviewed its credit provisioning and capital settings to better reflect the risks in the market caused by the conflict in the Middle East. NAB expects first-half credit impairment charges to be $706 million. This includes “$201 million increase in Forward Looking Adjustments (FLAs) for potential stress which may emerge in sectors more likely to be impacted by fuel supply and cost issues related to the Middle East conflict.”

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy share price is down almost 7% to $2.36 after returning from a trading halt. This morning, the fuel retailer released an update on last week’s fire at its Geelong refinery. Viva Energy advised that in the near-term, the refinery is expected to run diesel and jet fuel production at around 80% capacity, while petrol output is closer to 60%. The good news is that management expects production to recover to 90% capacity over the coming weeks.

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR)

The Worley share price is down 3.5% to $11.40. This follows the release of a trading update this morning. The global professional services company revealed that it expects the ongoing Middle East conflict to have a negative impact on its FY 2026 earnings, with underlying EBITA expected to be reduced by between $30 million and $40 million. In light of this, Worley has indicated that it is now unlikely to achieve growth in underlying EBITA in FY 2026.

The post Why Monash IVF, NAB, Viva Energy, and Worley shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why NextDC, Viva Energy and NAB shares are catching investor interest on Monday
• Viva shares drop out of halt as refinery disruption raises new questions
• Why are NAB shares sinking 4% on Monday?
• Why is this ASX 200 stock sinking today?
• Worley flags $30–40m EBITA hit from Middle East conflict in FY26 outlook

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 positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX stock Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB) rose 0.7% to $5.05 during early afternoon trade on Monday, leaving the logistics giant just shy of its all-time high of $5.07.

The move extends a strong run for the ASX stock. Qube is now up 31% over the past 12 months, as investors continue to reward its steady exposure to Australia’s import and export supply chains.

Let’s take a closer look at Monday’s move.

Geopolitical and weather hit

Qube is Australia’s leading integrated logistics provider, with operations spanning freight movement, warehousing, and supply chain services across key trade routes.

Monday’s share price gain came after the ASX stock issued an operational update highlighting modest short-term earnings headwinds. The company flagged a $10 to $20 million EBIT impact linked to ongoing geopolitical disruption in the Middle East, alongside a further $3 to $5 million hit from cyclones in Western Australia and storms in New Zealand.

While these figures sound material, they are relatively small in the context of Qube’s multi-billion-dollar earnings base.

Strong contractual frameworks

Importantly, management emphasised that the business has not experienced any operational interruptions. Instead, the issues are being absorbed through its diversified operations and strong contractual frameworks.

Many of Qube’s agreements include cost pass-through mechanisms and pricing levers that allow it to recover higher fuel and shipping-related expenses over time, albeit with some timing delays.

That timing gap is the key nuance. While short-term profitability may fluctuate, most of the cost pressures are expected to be temporary. If conditions stabilise, some of these impacts could unwind in FY27, providing a potential earnings tailwind.

What next for Qube shares?

Beyond near-term volatility, Qube continues to highlight longer-term growth opportunities. One area of increasing focus is its role in supporting alternative energy projects. The demand for specialist logistics and infrastructure services is expected to grow.

Management of the ASX stock believes this segment could become a meaningful contributor over time. It could leverage its existing capabilities in complex supply chain coordination.

Looking ahead, Qube remains confident of delivering underlying earnings growth in FY26, even as external conditions remain uneven. The outlook is not without uncertainty, particularly around fuel costs and global trade volumes. However, the company maintains that most headwinds are cyclical rather than structural.

Meanwhile, progress continues on its previously announced scheme with the Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) consortium. The group led by MAM plans to acquire 100% of Qube shares at $5.20 cash per share.

Management reiterated that the scheme remains on track and unaffected by the updated trading commentary. Regulatory approvals are still progressing in line with the timeline set out earlier this year.

Foolish bottom line

For investors in the ASX stock, the takeaway is a familiar one: short-term noise, long-term infrastructure.

Qube’s steady march toward its record high reflects a market increasingly willing to look through temporary disruption and focus on the structural growth story beneath it.

The post Why this $9 billion ASX stock is edging closer to record highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Qube updates FY26 outlook: expects short-term headwinds but maintains earnings growth target
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
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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 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.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rare earths miner closed on Friday trading for $20.70. During the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $20.39 each, down 1.5%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.1% today.

Today’s underperformance is not the norm for this ASX 200 mining stock this past year.

Indeed, over the past 12 months, Lynas Rare Earths shares have surged 129.6%, smashing the 14.3% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

But with the stock having more than doubled in value in a year, has the ship sailed on this opportunity?

Should you buy Lynas Rare Earths shares today?

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 mining stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Lynas remains one of the few rare earths producers outside China, and the strategic value of its Australian location has only become more obvious in the shadow of the war in Iran,” Evans said.

And the miner’s longer-term outlook recently got a boost, courtesy of Malaysia’s government.

“The recent 10-year renewal of the company’s Malaysian operating licence provides further certainty, particularly as the Malaysian government has left uncertainty in the past,” Evans noted.

But after the big run-up in Lynas Rare Earths shares, Evans isn’t ready to pull the trigger on this ASX 200 stock right now, issuing a hold recommendation on Lynas Rare Earths shares.

He concluded, “Sustaining the company’s demanding valuation is a challenge, with much of its future potential priced into the share price at recent levels, in our view.”

What’s been happening with the ASX 200 rare earths miner?

Lynas Rare Earths reported its half-year results (H1 FY 2026) on 26 February.

Among the highlights, the company reported a 63% year-over-year increase in revenue to $414 million. And earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) surged 300% from H1 FY 2025 to $152 million.

On the bottom line, Lynas reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $80 million, up 1,260%.

The miner ended the half year with cash and cash equivalents of $1.03 billion.

“Alongside market movements, half year production volume, sales volume, revenue and average selling price all increased from the prior corresponding period,” Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said.

Lynas Rare Earths shares closed up 1.2% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 130% in a year, are Lynas Rare Earths shares still a good buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Why Lynas could be one of the ASX’s biggest winners again today
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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on track to start the week with a small decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down slightly to 8,944.7 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are racing higher:

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

The Navigator Global share price is up 7% to $2.45. This follows the release of a quarterly assets under management (AUM) update from the investment company this morning. Navigator Global revealed that AUM was US$31.6 billion at the end of March. This is up 9% over the quarter and 16% from last year. It advised that growth was driven by a mix of inflows and investment performance across its platform.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is up 6% to 72.5 cents. This has been driven by the release of a production update from the gold miner this morning. St Barbara revealed that it expects to increase its gold production to 200,000 ounces per year by 2030. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 59%. The company’s managing director, Andrew Strelein, said: “St Barbara’s recent breakthroughs with the Mining Lease Extension and now FID on the New Simberi Gold Project, the permitting of the Touquoy Restart and the impressive results of the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study set up the Company for an attractive gold production CAGR of 59% lifting attributable production to over 190koz in FY30 and more than 200koz in FY31.”

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

The Vulcan Energy share price is up 2% to $3.59. This morning, the lithium developer revealed that it has entered into a 40 million euros major project framework agreement with Siemens for the supply of engineering, automation, telecommunications, and building technology systems. Vulcan Energy’s managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: “The signing of this framework agreement with Siemens AG builds on our established partnership with the broader Siemens group which shares Vulcan’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. We are pleased to be working alongside Siemens who have a vast local presence and history working in the broader region, and bring decades of experience in delivering engineering, automation, telecommunications, and digital technology systems to similar types of industrial projects.”

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is up a further 11% to $2.58. This buy now pay later provider’s shares have been racing higher since the release of its third-quarter update at the end of last week. Zip reported record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million for the third quarter, which represents a 41.5% increase on the prior corresponding period. In light of its stronger than expected performance, management now expects group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million for the full year. This is up from its previous guidance of approximately $248.6 million.

The post Why Navigator Global, St Barbara, Vulcan Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• $10,000 invested in Zip shares one month ago is now worth…

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.

EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML) recently announced a downgrade in earnings guidance for the full year, but according to at least one broker, there’s still plenty of upside in this company’s shares.

Downgrade spooked the market

EML shares took a tumble last week, falling from 57.5 cents to 37 cents, after the company revised its expected EBITDA for FY26 from $58 to $60 million down to $47 to $50 million.

The shares are currently changing hands for 40 cents.

The company said the revision took into account two factors, in its own words:

First, while EML has continued to secure new business, including a further $2.5 million in forecast annual revenue signed since the release of its FY26 Interim Results, a number of program implementations are now expected to go live later than previously assumed. This has reduced the revenue contribution expected in FY26. Second, trading in our northern hemisphere businesses has been significantly below forecast during the third quarter, reflecting weaker consumer demand and broader macroeconomic uncertainty. We have assumed this trend will continue through the fourth quarter.

The company said its strategic initiatives including Project Arlo and the development of a global mobility solution remained on track, and said it “is actively positioning itself to focus on higher margin, higher growth categories in its portfolio”.

Executive Chair Anthony Hynes added:

These implementation delays are timing-related rather than lost opportunities, and we are working closely with our partners to bring those programs to market as efficiently as possible. Trading over recent months has been weaker than expected in our northern hemisphere businesses, reflecting both challenging sentiment and a need to upweight commercial leadership, particularly in Europe, which is well advanced. Our strategic initiatives remain on track, and we remain focused on disciplined execution through FY26 to position the business for stronger performance in FY27 and beyond.

Shares looking cheap

The analyst team at Canaccord Genuity has run the ruler over the changes, and has downgraded its share price outlook for the company by 15 cents to $1.60 – which would still represent a fourfold return on investment if achieved.

The Canaccord team said:

Despite the negative outcome for EML, which has been largely driven by factors outside its control (customers delaying and macroeconomic environment), we remain positive on the company’s medium-term growth trajectory. Our view is underlined by the company having successfully built its pipeline from near $0m to greater than $105m since FY24 with a proven ability to convert pipeline opportunities into new business wins. We expect this to continue in both existing product lines and with new strategic product development.

EML Payments is valued at $153.5 million.

The post Despite a downgrade, one broker thinks this ASX small cap can still deliver four-fold returns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 130% in a year, are Lynas Rare Earths shares still a good buy today?
• Why Navigator Global, St Barbara, Vulcan Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today
• Is this ASX mining stock still a buy after a recent setback?
• 3 reasons to buy Coles shares today
• Forget CBA shares — here are 2 ASX bank shares I’d rather own right now

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 EML Payments. 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.

Shares in 29Metals Ltd (ASX: 29M) took a tumble last week after the company announced that there would be delays in reestablishing mining at the Xantho Extended ore body at the Golden Grove project in Western Australia.

Major share price plunge

The shares closed at 37 cents the day before the April 16 announcement, but fell sharply once the news broke, and are now changing hands for 21.5 cents.

The question is, are the shares good value at the new lower price? I have had a look at two broker reports, and the good news is that there is some upside expected, although the two brokers have differing views on just what the shares are worth.

I’ll get to their actual share price targets shortly.

Firstly, let’s review what the company announced. 29Metals said in its statement to the ASX that it had done a review which had given it a greater understanding of the Xantho Extended decline and “level access areas impacted by seismicity”.

The company said:

Based on this new assessment, additional works to further reduce the risk of future potential production interruptions are being progressed prior to recommencement of mining. Additional works include alternate level access development to mitigate interactions with higher stress zones of the existing decline, which are expected to be completed during the Dec-Qtr-2026. Potential to accelerate recommencement of mining in the upper areas of Xantho Extended whilst additional works are completed is under review.

The company said alternate ore sources would be mined and milled while the additional works were carried out, but there would still be an impact on production rates.

The company added:

Full year production outcomes for zinc, gold and silver are now expected to be 5kt to 25kt (previously 40kt to 50kt), 6koz to 14koz (previously 12koz to 20koz) and 400koz to 600koz (previously 600koz to 800koz), respectively. Due to the expected change in full year production mix, selling costs guidance has been lowered to $20 million to $45 million (previously $50 million to $70 million). The additional works at Xantho Extended are expected to be implemented within existing site cost and capital cost guidance.

Shares looking cheap

The analyst teams at Morgans and Jarden have both had a look at the changes, and both have downgraded their price target on the company.

That said they differ widely in their estimates.

Jarden reduced their price target from 38 cents to 32 cents, which would still provide strong upside from current levels.

Morgans had a much more bullish price target of 54 cents before the update, but has slashed this to just 26 cents, once again, still higher than the current share price.

Morgans said while the update was “operationally prudent, the market focus has clearly shifted to liquidity risk and execution through CY26”.

29Metals is valued at $402.5 million.

The post Is this ASX mining stock still a buy after a recent setback? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why 29Metals, DGL, Fletcher Building, and Newmont shares are falling today
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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) supermarket giant closed on Friday trading for $22.54. As we head into the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $22.85 apiece, up 1.4%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, Coles shares have underperformed the benchmark index over the past full year, gaining 6.2% compared to the 14.5% 12-month gains posted by the ASX 200.

Of course, that’s not including the two fully franked dividends the supermarket paid out to eligible stockholders over this time. Coles stock currently trades on a 3.2% fully franked dividend yield.

Which brings us back to our headline question…

Should you buy Coles shares today?

Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans recently analysed the outlook for the ASX 200 supermarket (courtesy of The Bull).

Citing the first reason he has a buy rating on Coles shares, he said, “The supermarket giant posted a solid first half result in fiscal year 2026, maintaining margins and delivering earnings before interest and tax growth of 10.2%.”

Among the tailwinds to its earnings, Evans noted, “The liquor business struggled, but it only makes up a small percentage of group revenue, so its overall impact is limited.”

As for the second reason you may want to buy Coles shares today, Evans said, “Coles has continued to grow its share of own-brand sales, leverage its quality locations into home delivery and online sales growth and expand locations to capture population growth.”

And with the Iran war showing signs that it may drag on far longer than we’d like, he noted that Coles is well-placed to weather the potential negative impacts of higher energy prices.

Evans concluded:

The Middle East conflict and its inflationary impacts may be a short-term disruption, but an inflationary environment is somewhat cushioned for supermarkets, particularly compared to more discretionary sectors.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 supermarket?

The last price sensitive news out from Coles was the company’s half year (H1 FY 2026) results, released on 27 February.

Atop the earnings growth Evans mentioned above, Coles reported a 2.5% year on year increase in sales revenue to $23.6 billion.

The company’s online business was a standout performer, with its supermarket’s eCommerce segment achieving sales growth of 27.0%.

On the bottom line, net profit after tax (excluding significant items) of $676 million was up 12.5% from H1 FY 2025.

Amid high investor expectations, Coles shares closed down 7.4% on the day of the results release.

The post 3 reasons to buy Coles shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• BHP vs Coles shares: Which is the better buy this week?
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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have enjoyed a great rally so far this year. At the time of writing, the shares are up 0.4% to $178.91 a piece.

Today’s uptick means CBA shares are now up 11% for the year-to-date and 6.5% higher than this time last year.

CBA shares spiked over 12% in 48 hours mid-February after it posted an unexpectedly-positive half-year FY26 result. Since then, the bank shares have remained in the spotlight but have been relatively stable.

But CBA shares are widely considered overvalued relative to its peers and that its bumper price tag isn’t supported well by its business fundamentals. 

CBA’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, at the time of writing, is 28.69. This is much higher (and therefore more expensive) than the other major big four Australian banks.

At the same time, the bank is facing ongoing net interest margin pressure from intense market competition and regulatory changes. 

I think CBA shares are well overdue for a correction. And when that happens, we could even see the value crash below $100.

Here are two other ASX bank shares I’d rather own instead.

Forget CBA shares, these are by ASX bank stock picks

Analysts are mostly bearish about ASX bank stocks, with some tipping significant downsides and value corrections ahead.

But there are two exceptions: Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO).

Macquarie is the fifth-largest ASX 200 bank by market capitalisation, and it is incredibly diversified. The bank does more than just banking, it also provides financial, advisory, investment, and fund management services across 34 markets globally. 

That means it has exposure to commodities trading, infrastructure deals, asset management, and capital markets across multiple regions.

Unlike CBA, it isn’t reliant on lending margins and its diversity means that it can remain stable, or even benefit, when markets are going through periods of volatility.

The business is growing too. In February, the investment bank posted its third-quarter trading update for FY26, where it revealed the business has benefitted from strong quarterly growth. 

Then there is Australian-based Judo Bank which provides financial services and lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with annual turnovers of up to $100 million. 

The bank was founded in 2016, received its banking license in 2019, and was listed on the ASX in 2021. So it’s relatively new in comparison to majors like CBA. 

Judo Bank has also had a strong start to FY26. At its latest AGM, it said lending momentum was strong over the first quarter and that it’s confident it can achieve FY26 guidance of $180-$190 million. Guidance was confirmed again when it posted its first-half FY26 results in mid-February.

What do analysts expect for these ASX bank stocks?

Analysts are very bullish on both Macquarie and Judo shares over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows most analysts (10 out of 15) have a buy or strong buy rating on Macquarie shares with a maximum target price of $270. At the time of writing, Macquarie shares are trading for $138.60 so that implies a 13.2% upside ahead.

Analysts are even more positive about Judo Bank shares. Out of 13, 12 have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock and they forecast a maximum target price of $250. At the time of writing, Judo shares are trading at $1.49 each so that implies a huge 67% upside over the next 12 months. 

The post Forget CBA shares — here are 2 ASX bank shares I’d rather own right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• In the midst of economic turmoil, what does Morgan Stanley say the ASX banks are worth?

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. 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.