Category: Stock Market

There are plenty of ASX shares for investors to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s see what analysts are saying about three popular shares, courtesy of The Bull. Here’s what they are recommending:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The team at Sanlam Private Wealth is positive on mining giant BHP and has named it as a buy this week.

It believes recent share market volatility has created an opportunity for investors to snap up the Big Australian’s shares at an attractive price. It explains:

The current volatility presents investors with an opportunity to buy this global miner at attractive prices. The recent BHP announcement of Brandon Craig replacing the retiring Mike Henry as chief executive is a good appointment. Craig was responsible for the company’s Americas business, and that’s where the growth is likely to come from in the medium term. Group revenue in the first half of 2026 was up 11 per cent on the prior corresponding period and profit from operations was up 34 per cent.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Over at Catapult Wealth, its analysts aren’t positive on this quick service restaurant operator. Despite its shares falling heavily from recent highs, they have named Guzman Y Gomez as a sell this week.

Catapult Wealth highlights that the company’s shares are still trading on a high price to earnings ratio despite recent weakness. It feels there are better options out there for investors, saying:

GYG is a Mexican themed restaurant chain. Although network sales grew 18 per cent to $682 million in the first half of fiscal year 2026, several metrics signal caution. Segment underlying EBITDA in the United States posted a loss of $8.3 million. The stock continues to trade on high price/earnings multiples. In our view, execution risks are rising and margins are under pressure. Investors may find better opportunities by re-allocating funds to alternative investments. GYG shares have fallen from $31 on March 31, 2025 to trade at $16.81 on March 26, 2026.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

One ASX share that Catapult Wealth is positive on is Pro Medicus. It has named the health imaging technology company as a buy.

Due to its strong long-term growth outlook, it believes Pro Medicus shares would be an attractive addition to a portfolio this week. It said:

Pro Medicus develops advanced medical imaging software used by major hospitals and radiology groups globally. The company reported a strong first half result in fiscal year 2026, with revenue up 28.4 per cent to $124.8 million and underlying profit before tax rising 29.7 per cent to $90.7 million. In March, PME secured two important contract renewals worth a minimum of $40 million, both at higher transaction fees, signalling strengthening pricing power. With an underlying earnings before interest and tax margin at 73 per cent and cash of $222 million, PME remains financially robust. Growing US market share supports a positive long term growth outlook, making PME an attractive portfolio addition.

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Guzman Y Gomez, and Pro Medicus shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 reasons to buy Pro Medicus shares today
• 3 reasons to buy BHP shares today
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• 3 ASX 200 shares that could beat the market over the next 10 years
• How to become a millionaire with a $5,000 investment in ASX 200 shares each year

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Pro Medicus. 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 extending its recent slide on Monday as surging oil prices and growing recession fears hit investor sentiment.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1.32% to 8,403.7 points. That leaves the ASX 200 down 8.4% over the past month, a steep reversal that has erased a large chunk of this year’s earlier gains.

Today’s weakness comes as oil prices surge to their highest levels since 2022, with Brent crude climbing above US$116 a barrel and WTI moving past US$102.

Here’s what’s driving the sell-off.

Oil surge is becoming the market’s main problem

The ASX 200 is pushing deeper into the red as oil prices climb and US futures point to another weak night on Wall Street.

The selling is not limited to just Australia, either. Share markets across Asia are also moving lower, with Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi both falling as the Middle East conflict drags on.

The bigger issue is oil prices staying elevated.

While crude prices rise, the impact spreads across almost every part of the economy. Petrol becomes more expensive, freight costs rise, airlines pay more for fuel, and businesses across mining, manufacturing, food, and transport all face higher operating costs.

Australian households feel it too through higher fuel and energy bills, leaving less money to spend elsewhere.

At the same time, businesses are forced to absorb rising costs or pass them on to customers.

This mix of weaker consumer spending and higher business costs is why investors are becoming more concerned about the ASX 200 outlook.

Why recession fears are building

The recession risk is becoming harder for investors to ignore.

If Brent crude stays around these levels or pushes higher, inflation could start rising again just as economic growth is already slowing.

That would make it harder for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to consider rate cuts later this year. Instead, markets may need to factor in the risk that interest rates remain higher for longer.

Higher borrowing costs combined with weaker consumer spending create a difficult backdrop for retailers, housing-linked stocks, transport businesses, and other cyclical sectors.

Some global analysts are now warning that oil above US$120 could have a wider knock-on effect across share markets and household demand.

Macquarie also warned today that an extended Strait of Hormuz disruption could send oil as high as US$200 a barrel in a severe scenario, which would materially lift recession risks across major economies.

Foolish Takeaway

The ASX 200’s 8.4% fall over the past month shows investors are quickly reassessing the economic damage that high oil prices can cause.

If oil stays above US$100 and supply disruptions worsen, the risk of Australia slipping into recession will evidently rise. That is likely to keep pressure on the ASX 200 in the coming sessions ahead.

The post ASX 200 sinks deeper as oil shock sparks fresh recession fears appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this sports technology company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $4.75. This follows the release of a trading update last week which revealed expectations for strong annual contract value (ACV) growth in FY 2026. Catapult is expecting ACV of US$133 million to US$134 million, which Bell Potter notes is ahead of its US$131 million estimate. It believes this is a big positive as it seen as the key leading indicator. Outside this, the broker notes that it has trimmed its valuation to reflect changes in its model to focus on earnings and cash flow. Nevertheless, it still implies significant upside from current levels. The Catapult share price is trading at $2.93 on Monday.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $4.80 price target on this counter-drone technology company’s shares. The broker has been looking at the counter-drone market and highlights that the war in the Middle East is accelerating demand for this technology. It points out that lessons learned in Ukraine are being repeated. This includes the fact that using up to US$4 million missiles to take down US$35k drones is unsustainable. Bell Potter expects there to be broad adoption of C-UAS technologies alongside advanced hypersonic defence capabilities to improve on this equation. This bodes well for DroneShield given its strong position in the market and high-quality product portfolio. The DroneShield share price is fetching $3.91 at the time of writing.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $144.80 price target on this cloud accounting platform provider’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes that Xero’s partnership with AI giant Anthropic is a positive. It highlights that the move aligns with management’s strategy of leveraging AI assistants as a distribution and go-to-market channel. While there is a risk that AI assistants could evolve into primary platforms for small businesses, Citi believes that Xero’s app ecosystem and go-to-market strength are competitive advantages. The Xero share price is trading at $68.44 this afternoon.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why 4DMedical, Brainchip, Catapult, and Star Entertainment shares are falling today
• Why are Catapult shares tumbling 13% on Monday?
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• Why are DroneShield shares trading higher today?

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, DroneShield, and Xero and is short shares of DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) shares are sinking today.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) tech stock, which provides data solutions for AI applications, closed on Friday trading for $1.445. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $1.355 apiece, down 6.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 1.2% at this same time.

Despite today’s fall, Appen shares remain up an impressive 108.5% since closing at one-year lows of 65 cents on 21 November.

Without a doubt, then, that would have been an opportune time to buy the All Ords tech stock.

But after more than doubling from those lows, has the train left the station on further gains?

For some greater insight into that question, we defer to MPC Markets’ Mark Gardner (courtesy of The Bull).

Is it too late to buy Appen shares today?

“Appen is a former market darling of technology stocks,” Gardner said. “The company built a global business providing the human-labelled data that artificial intelligence systems needed to learn.”

However, Gardner expects that the artificial intelligence revolution is going to take a material bite out of the company’s future earnings.

Explaining his sell recommendation on Appen shares, he said:

Demand seemed unlimited and the share price reflected optimism, trading above $35 in July 2020. While Appen pays workers to label data, artificial intelligence is getting better at doing the role itself.

Synthetic data generation, automated labelling pipelines and AI systems that can evaluate their own outputs are advancing rapidly. In our view, the recent share price bounce reflects short term sentiment around AI investment themes rather than an improvement in the structural outlook.

Gardner concluded, “The company’s statutory net loss after tax of US$21.8 million in full year 2025 was up from a US$20 million loss in the prior corresponding period. The shares were trading at $1.565 on March 26, 2026.”

What’s the latest from the ASX All Ords tech stock?

Appen reported its full-year 2025 results, which Gardner mentioned above, on 25 February.

Despite the company’s full-year loss, Appen shares closed up 27.6% on the day of the release.

Investors reacted positively to the company’s 4.5% year-over-year increase in operating revenue to $230.8 million.

On the earnings front, the company achieved a 251% increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), before FX, to $12.2 million.

“FY25 was pleasing as we saw durable improvements to the business, with new wins in generative AI, operational efficiencies, and the revenue trajectory throughout the year,” Appen CEO Ryan Kolln said.

The post Up 109% since November, are Appen shares still a buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Web Travel shares are sliding as fresh takeover hopes return
• AMP jumps on $150 million buyback and CEO handover. Is this beaten-down ASX stock turning a corner?
• Why are Australian aluminium shares charging higher today?
• Why 4DMedical, Brainchip, Catapult, and Star Entertainment shares are falling today
• This ASX stock is halted after plunging nearly 18% in 2 sessions

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 positions in and has recommended Appen. 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 Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) share price is under pressure on Monday, falling 5% to $2.565.

The latest decline adds to what has already been a brutal year for the travel tech stock, with shares now down roughly 46% in 2026.

Today’s weakness comes as investors digest a fresh leadership shake-up that has reopened takeover speculation around the company.

Let’s take a closer look.

CEO exit revives bid talk

According to The Australian, Chief Executive Katrina Barry has resigned less than 2 years after taking the top job following the demerger.

Her exit comes only 5 weeks after the departure of deputy and Webjet online travel agency boss David Galt, leaving what RBC Capital Markets described as a potential “leadership vacuum”.

That leadership gap has quickly put takeover interest back in focus.

RBC analyst Wei-Weng Chen said the loss of the company’s two most senior leaders could place the business back into the hands of recent suitors Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) and BGH Capital, both of which still hold 18.3% stakes in the group.

Takeover discussions only collapsed in mid-February, when no binding offer emerged despite previous indicative prices around 90 cents to 91 cents a share for the old Webjet structure.

This renewed speculation may explain why investors are seeing today’s sell-off as more than just another weak session.

Guidance still intact

The leadership change was not accompanied by a downgrade.

The Australian reported that management reaffirmed FY26 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance of $28 million to $29 million, excluding the legacy travel business.

Katrina Barry is also expected to stay on through the May full-year result to support the transition.

That continuity may help calm concerns after the stock’s recent volatility, which has already included the Spanish tax audit scare and the failed takeover process.

Even after today’s fall, the company still sits on a market capitalisation of roughly $927 million. It also remains one of the most heavily sold consumer cyclical names on the ASX this year.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s move shows that investor confidence in Web Travel is still fragile.

The CEO’s resignation creates fresh uncertainty, but it has also brought back the chance of takeover interest returning after February’s failed talks.

With earnings guidance unchanged and major shareholders still on the register, the next key focus will be on how quickly the board moves to appoint a successor.

Investors will also be watching to see if strategic interest builds again ahead of May’s result.

The post Why Web Travel shares are sliding as fresh takeover hopes return appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• ASX travel shares are hovering near yearly lows – time to buy?

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.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares are pushing higher on Monday, rising 3.76% to $1.297 despite a broad market sell-off.

The gain stands out on a weak day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), with investors responding positively to a capital management update and a key leadership transition.

Even after today’s rally, AMP shares remain down around 28% in 2026, highlighting just how hard the stock has been hit since its February result.

Here’s why the stock is rising today.

$150 million buyback gives investors something to work with

Late last week, AMP confirmed it will undertake an on-market buyback of up to $150 million of ordinary shares. The company said the repurchase will begin after its first-quarter cash flow update on 16 April.

In addition, Blair Vernon officially steps into the Chief Executive role today, taking over from Alexis George as planned following her retirement on 30 March.

The Australian reported that Citi believes the buyback may ease some of the concerns that weighed on sentiment after AMP’s weak FY25 result, particularly around capital allocation and the risk of large-scale acquisitions under new leadership.

At roughly 5% of AMP’s market value, the buyback is not huge, but it gives the market something more concrete to focus on after the stock’s heavy fall this year.

That appears to be what the market is responding to today.

What did management say?

In AMP’s own release, outgoing CEO Alexis George said the group remained committed to returning surplus capital to shareholders where there was no better use for it.

She said the buyback was the most efficient use of capital at this time.

That language is likely resonating with investors because AMP shares have fallen heavily from their highs.

The stock traded as high as $1.82 in January after the CEO succession announcement, but concerns around the FY25 result and broader market volatility have since dragged it lower.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s move indicates investors are welcoming two things at once: a disciplined capital return and a smooth leadership handover.

Blair Vernon is a familiar name inside the AMP business, having served as Chief Financial Officer and previously led major divisions across Australia and New Zealand. Having this continuity helps reduce uncertainty at an important point for the company.

The buyback also gives investors something tangible to focus on after the stock’s 2026 slide.

With AMP still down 28% this year, the next move depends on whether Blair Vernon can lift momentum across the core businesses.

The post AMP jumps on $150 million buyback and CEO handover. Is this beaten-down ASX stock turning a corner? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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.

Shares in Australian aluminium producers are surging after Iranian attacks on smelters in the Middle East over the weekend.

Major producers targeted

Aluminium Bahrain, which operates one of the world’s largest smelters, said on Sunday it was assessing damage to its facility after Iranian attacks over the weekend.

The company said further:

The safety and security of Alba’s people remain its top priority and the Company confirms that 2 of Alba’s employees sustained minor injuries. Alba is assessing the extent of the damage to its facilities and remains focused on maintaining its operational resilience and the safety of its employees. The Company will provide further updates, as required, in due course.

Meanwhile, there was reported to be significant damage at Emirates Global Aluminium’s site after attacks from missiles and drones.

Shares in Australian aluminium producers jumped as a result, with Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) leading the pack with its shares trading 9.2% higher at $93.84.

Shares in South 32 Ltd (ASX: S32) were 6.3% higher in early trade, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares were 2.9% higher at $157.64.

The Reuters report on the attacks said the aluminium suppliers in the Persian Gulf region had already been unable to ship to world markets due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.  

Aluminium Bahrain had already shut down lines one, two, and three at its site, “which together represent 19% of Alba’s total production capacity of 1,623,000 metric tonnes per annum, as an operational measure to preserve business continuity amid ongoing supply and transit disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz”.

The company said further:

This targeted, line-specific action is designed to optimise the utilisation of Alba’s existing raw materials inventory and prioritise operational stability across Reduction Lines 4, 5 and 6. By concentrating strategic raw materials’ inputs on the most sustainable operating configuration, Alba aims to maintain production resilience, manage working capital prudently, and develop alternatives to reduce exposure to near-term supply volatility. Alba continues to monitor and respond to the situation and will provide updates to the market as appropriate. The Company is also working closely with suppliers and customers to manage commitments and mitigate disruption.

Emirates Global Aluminium claims to be the number one premium aluminium producer in the world, accounting for 4% of global production and 2.83 million tonnes of metal cast in 2025.

Local operators on the ropes

Australia’s aluminium industry has been struggling to survive without government support in recent years, with Rio just last week securing a $2 billion taxpayer handout to keep Queensland’s Boyne smelter operating until at least 2040.

The post Why are Australian aluminium shares charging higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a tough start to the week. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 1.2% to 8,416.3 points.

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

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is down 10% to $5.63. This may have been driven by profit-taking from some investors following a very strong gain last week. Investors were buying the respiratory imaging technology company’s shares after it made a big announcement. 4DMedical revealed that its CT:VQ technology has been deployed at the Mayo Clinic in the United States. The company’s managing director and CEO, Andreas Fouras, commented: “Mayo’s deployment is uniquely significant. When the world’s number one hospital chooses to use your technology, it sends the strongest possible signal to the entire U.S. healthcare market about the clinical value and readiness of CT:VQ.”

Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

The Brainchip share price is down 3.5% to 14 cents. Although this semiconductor company announced a licensing agreement today, the market doesn’t appear overly impressed given the customer and the terms. BrainChip has entered into a technology licensing deal with Korea-based semiconductor company EDGEAI for its Akida 2 neuromorphic IP. The company will receive unspecified payments as it provides various deliverables, including IP access, engineering support, and integration services, as well as royalties on product sales. The agreement is global and non-exclusive, meaning EDGEAI is not restricted from working with other technology providers. In addition, it can be terminated by the customer without cause on one month’s notice.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is down 14% to $2.92. This follows the release of the sports technology company’s analyst day presentation. Catapult revealed bold growth ambitions, targeting a rise in average annual contract value (ACV) per pro team from US$20,000 to between US$100,000 and US$150,000. However, this will depend on successful upselling to existing teams and launching additional products.

Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR)

The Star Entertainment share price is down 2% to 12.25 cents. This morning, this casino and resorts operator revealed that it has entered into a binding commitment letter with funds associated with WhiteHawk Capital Partners. This is in relation to a refinancing of its debt. It notes that the annual interest rate based on the term SOFR plus a margin that is materially consistent with its recent facility agreements.

The post Why 4DMedical, Brainchip, Catapult, and Star Entertainment shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are Catapult shares tumbling 13% on Monday?
• What’s going on with BrainChip shares today?
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• What’s Bell Potter’s updated view on Catapult shares after its earnings results?

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

After a brutal two-day sell-off last week, shares in Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) are frozen on Monday.

This comes as the market waits for details of a fresh capital raising.

The ASX granted the trading halt following the company’s request for time to finalise the proposed funding announcement.

Dateline shares last traded at 45.5 cents, down 10.78% on Friday after already falling 8.11% in the prior session. That rapid pullback interrupted what has otherwise been a huge run in 2026, with the stock still sitting up more than 100% since the start of the year.

Trading is expected to resume by Wednesday morning unless the company releases the raising details sooner.

Here’s what has triggered the halt.

Funding details now become the key focus

Today’s ASX release confirms the halt is tied to a proposed material capital raising, with management using the pause to finalise terms.

At this stage, the company has not disclosed the size of the raising, the issue price, or whether existing shareholders will be able to participate.

Those details are now likely to determine the direction of the share price when trading resumes.

The biggest question for the market is how aggressively the new shares are priced relative to Friday’s close of 45.5 cents.

A steep discount would raise the risk of short-term selling pressure, particularly after last week’s significant decline.

That backdrop may also explain why the stock was already weakening into the halt, with some traders potentially anticipating a funding update.

The bigger picture behind the 2026 rally

Even with the latest sell-off, Dateline remains one of the ASX’s strongest performers this year.

The stock is still up more than 100% in 2026, supported by growing market interest in its 100%-owned Colosseum Gold and Rare Earths Project in California.

That asset has become the central driver of the company’s re-rating, particularly as investors look for exposure to US-based gold and strategic minerals projects.

Because of that, the market’s reaction to the raising is likely to depend heavily on where the funds are going.

If the capital is directed toward drilling, resource upgrades, permitting, or development work at Colosseum, shareholders may be more willing to absorb the dilution.

The market has already shown it is willing to support the stock when there’s clear progress at the project.

Foolish Takeaway

The trading halt has shifted the focus from last week’s heavy selling to what Dateline announces next.

After falling nearly 18% across two sessions, attention now turns to the pricing and purpose of the raising. This will likely determine whether the recent weakness is temporary or the start of a broader downtrend.

Nonetheless, the stock is still holding onto triple-digit gains for 2026. That could help support sentiment if the new funds are directed towards further developing its flagship California project.

The post This ASX stock is halted after plunging nearly 18% in 2 sessions appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares are tumbling today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) health imaging company closed Monday trading for $117.70. During the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $112.46 apiece, down 4.5%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 1.4% at this same time.

Unfortunately for longer-term stockholders, today’s underperformance has been more the rule than the exception over the past eight months.

Indeed, Pro Medicus shares are now down a painful 66.0% since notching an all-time closing high of $330.48 on 17 July last year.

That comes despite the company posting some strong financial growth metrics in H1 FY 2026, as investor fears over potentially rising competition from AI models has intensified this year.

But after this sharp sell down, two top analysts believe the ASX 200 healthcare stock is well-placed to rebound (courtesy of The Bull).

Should you buy Pro Medicus shares today?

“Pro Medicus develops advanced medical imaging software used by major hospitals and radiology groups globally,” said Catapult Wealth’s Blake Halligan

Citing the first reason he has a buy recommendation on Pro Medicus shares, Halligan said, “The company reported a strong first half result in fiscal year 2026, with revenue up 28.4% to $124.8 million and underlying profit before tax rising 29.7% to $90.7 million.”

Then there’s the company’s strong balance sheet and recent new contract wins.

According to Halligan:

In March, PME secured two important contract renewals worth a minimum of $40 million, both at higher transaction fees, signalling strengthening pricing power. With an underlying earnings before interest and tax margin at 73% and cash of $222 million, PME remains financially robust.

And the third reason you might want to buy the ASX 200 healthcare share today is the company’s positive growth prospects in the massive US healthcare market.

“Growing US market share supports a positive long term growth outlook, making PME an attractive portfolio addition,” Halligan concluded.

Also tipping the ASX 200 healthcare share as a buy

MPC Markets’ Mark Gardner also has a bullish outlook on the beaten down Pro Medicus shares.

“The company provides medical imaging software and services to hospitals and healthcare groups across the world,” said Gardner. “Its software has quietly become the dominant choice across some of the largest hospital networks in the United States.”

And rather than expressing concern over the potential impact of AI, Gardner believes it will help the company’s growth prospects.

“The product is faster, more scalable and modern than what its competitors offer. Artificial intelligence is built in, so it complements the business,” he said.

Summing up his buy recommendation on the ASX 200 stock, Gardner concluded:

The share price plunge has been driven by broad technology sentiment as opposed to issues with the business. Earnings are still growing and the company still wins major new hospital contracts.

In our view, the market has handed investors an appealing entry point into one of the best software businesses on the ASX. We retain our buy recommendation.

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

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