The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has run out of steam on Thursday and is trading lower. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.25% to 8,512.2 points.

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

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is up 3% to $3.67. This follows the release of a trading update from the sports technology solutions company this morning. Catapult revealed that it expects its annual contract value (ACV) for FY 2026 to be in the range of US$133 million to US$134 million with low churn. This represents reported year-on-year growth of 27% to 28% on a constant currency basis. In addition, EBITDA is expected to grow by approximately 50% year-on-year as its profitability continues to outpace its strong top-line growth. This reflects the accelerating operating leverage in Catapult’s business model and the company’s continued discipline in managing its fixed and variable cost base.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 5.5% to $4.50. This is despite there being no news out of the counter-drone technology company. However, with the war in the Middle East demonstrating just why its technology is growing in importance, it seems that some investors are betting on DroneShield’s strong growth continuing over the medium term.

Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT)

The Infratil share price is up over 2.5% to $9.49. This morning, this infrastructure investment company upgraded its guidance for FY 2027. Infratil now expects FY 2027 EBITDAF of A$680 million to A$720 million. This is up from its previous guidance of ~A$660 million. For FY 2026, it now expects to achieve the lower end of its A$390 million to A$400 million EBITDAF guidance range. Infratil’s CEO, Jason Boyes, commented: “Our focus is on supporting CDC to deliver more capacity to meet the growing demand for data centre space across Australasia. Infratil, along with CDC’s other major shareholders, recently provided A$500 million in equity funding to support the acceleration of CDC’s construction programme.”

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

The Qoria share price is up 3.5% to 30 cents. This follows the release of an update on the cyber safety company’s proposed merger with Aura. Qoria provided an update on Aura’s performance for the two months ended 28 February. It revealed that Aura’s annual recurring revenue reached US$238 million, which is up 30% year-on-year, with total subscribers up 35% to 1.3 million. In light of this, the Qoria board continues to unanimously recommend the proposed merger.

The post Why Catapult, DroneShield, Infratil, and Qoria shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX tech stock is surging 11% on strong trading update?
• Which data centre operator just upgraded its earnings outlook?
• Catapult Sports delivers strong FY26 growth and profitability
• Droneshield shares rocket 20% higher: What has happened?
• Infratil lifts CDC outlook and FY27 earnings guidance

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 and DroneShield and is short shares of DroneShield. 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) shares are up 1.2% while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.07% today.

ASX 200 energy shares have soared 16% since Israel and the United States attacked Iran on 28 February (US time).

The ensuing oil supply shock has sent the Brent Crude oil price 42% higher over 30 days to US$103.14 at the time of writing.

Gas prices are also substantially higher, with European gas up 64%, UK gas up 69%, and German gas up 60% over 30 days.

The thermal coal price is also 15% higher over 30 days as disrupted gas supplies force power plants to switch to coal.

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut, choking off 20% of global oil and gas supplies, as Middle East producers curtail production.

The US and Iran are in discussions to end the war, but how long this will take is anyone’s guess.

While we watch and wait, here are some recent recommendations from the experts on four ASX 200 energy shares.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are up 0.3% to $33.30 on Thursday.

Stock in the national service station network owner has rocketed 18% since the conflict in Iran began.

This week, Jefferies reiterated its buy rating on this ASX 200 energy share.

The broker also lifted its 12-month share price target on Ampol from $35 to $36.50.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is 1.4% higher at $34.09 on Thursday.

The market’s biggest ASX 200 oil share has risen 20% since the war began.

This week, UBS put a hold rating on Woodside shares with a price target of $30.20.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

The New Hope Corporation share price is $5.49, down 1.1% on Thursday and up 17% since the war began.

Last week, Morgans maintained its hold rating on this ASX 200 coal share with a $5 target.

The broker said:

With an increasing production profile and material upside potential in coal prices, NHCs outlook remains positive.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven share price is $8.74, down 1.5% on Thursday and up 12% since the war began.

UBS maintains a sell rating on this ASX 200 energy share.

However, the broker lifted its 12-month price target from $7.70 to $7.90 this month.

The post New ratings on 4 ASX 200 energy shares: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Fund manager names 3 top ASX 200 dividend stocks to buy today
• Why are ASX 200 energy shares tumbling today?
• Why Amplitude Energy, Atlas Arteria, Computershare, and Woodside shares are falling today
• Are these ASX shares hitting 52-week highs still worth buying?
• 5 most traded ASX 200 shares since the war began

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

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form and on course to record a decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.25% to 8,511.4 points.

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

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE)

The Brazilian Rare Earths share price is down 4.5% to $4.30. This may have been driven by profit taking from some investors after the rare earths developer’s shares raced higher on Wednesday. Investors were buying Brazilian Rare Earths shares after it revealed that it has secured a Trial Mining Licence from Brazil’s National Mining Agency for its Monte Alto project in Bahia. This allows for the extraction of up to 2,000 tonnes per annum of material from the deposit. The company’s managing director and CEO, Bernardo da Veiga, said: “Securing the Trial Mining Licence is a significant milestone for Monte Alto and a major step forward in BRE’s integrated ore-to-oxides development pathway in Brazil.”

L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G)

The L1 Group share price is down 5.5% to $1.00. This morning, the fund manager previously known as Platinum Asset Management, revealed that it is launching a new investment company that is expected to be listed on the Australian share market next month. The L1 Gold Fund aims to deliver positive absolute returns for shareholders over the medium to long term through investment in domestic and international gold sector securities, as well as a secondary allocation in the other precious metals sector.

Silver Mines Ltd (ASX: SVL)

The Silver Mines share price is down 4.5% to 16.7 cents. This appears to have been driven by another pullback in the silver price overnight. This is down approximately 38% from the high it reached in January. A stronger US dollar and inflation concerns have been weighing on both the silver and gold price this month.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is down 3% to $72.59. This is despite there being no news out of the cloud accounting platform provider on Thursday. However, it is worth highlighting that most ASX tech stocks are falling today, reversing some of the strong gains they made on Wednesday. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index tumble 1.8% at the time of writing.

The post Why Brazilian Rare Earths, L1 Group, Silver Mines, and Xero shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 1 ASX dividend stock and 1 growth stock I’d buy today
• Following a key approval, one broker tips 80% upside for this ASX rare earths stock
• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX shares right now
• Here are expert views on whether the Xero share price is a buy amid AI concerns
• 3 ASX growth shares that could rebound strongly after the selloff

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

Prior to the commencement of trading of its new Listed Investment Company (LIC), Solaris has named three top S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dividend stocks it’s backing to provide market beating passive income.

The initial public offering (IPO) for the Solaris Australian Equity Income Plus Ltd (ASX: SET) closes next Wednesday, 1 April.

With energy prices surging amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, two of the fund manager’s top picks earn their keep drilling for and supplying oil and gas.

“While surging energy and oil prices are hammering household budgets, income investors exposed to key names in the energy sector are set to cash in,” Solaris portfolio manager Charles Casey said.

The third ASX 200 dividend stock is a logistics solutions provider.

So, which passive income stars does Solaris recommend?

I’m glad you asked!

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

First up we have Woodside Energy.

“Woodside’s earnings and dividends are strongly supported by the current high gas prices,” Casey said.

Commenting on the passive income outlook for this ASX 200 dividend stock,

A large volume of gas production from competitors in the Middle East, particularly Qatar, has been impacted. It could take three to five years to bring that production back online, meaning Woodside is supplying product into an undersupplied market and gaining a significant competitive advantage.

Importantly, Woodside has both the ability and the capacity to pay higher dividends. They have surplus franking credits, and we see strong potential for a dividend lift backed by these elevated earnings.

Woodside currently trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 4.8%

Which brings us to the second company you might want to buy for its positive income outlook.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

Solaris is also bullish on ASX 200 dividend stock Ampol.

“Ampol is a clear beneficiary of the higher oil refining margins currently being realised at their Lytton refinery,” Casey said.

Commenting on the passive income outlook for the Aussie fuel supplier he added:

Oil refining earnings are cyclical, but at times like this they can deliver substantial windfall gains. This will help increase Ampol’s earnings, support higher dividends and further strengthen their balance sheet.

Ampol is definitely one to watch for a material dividend increase in the coming year. It also has the potential to pay special dividends if margins stay elevated given its surplus franking credits. On the willingness side, the board led by Steven Gregg has a strong track record of returning capital to shareholders, they have paid two special dividends in the recent past.

Ampol currently trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.0%.

Rounding off the list of income stocks we have…

Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB)

Solaris is optimistic on the outlook for this ASX 200 dividend stock following the recent Macquarie-led transaction to acquire interests in key port and logistics infrastructure.

“Qube Logistics is pending a material special dividend, which is particularly attractive for investors on lower tax rates,” Casey said. “This is supported by surplus franking credits, and we have confidence in the board’s willingness based on our direct engagement.”

Casey concluded:

As shareholders prior to the approach from Macquarie, there was some uncertainty regarding UniSuper’s intentions as they were aggressively buying shares on market. However, given the existing relationships between UniSuper and Macquarie on multiple other unlisted investments, we took the firm view that they were highly likely to support the deal.

The post Fund manager names 3 top ASX 200 dividend stocks to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are ASX 200 energy shares tumbling today?
• Why Amplitude Energy, Atlas Arteria, Computershare, and Woodside shares are falling today
• 5 most traded ASX 200 shares since the war began
• Oil slides below US$100 as tensions shift, ASX energy stocks pull back
• Why is the Woodside share price getting smashed on Tuesday?

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 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.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares are up 0.9% in Thursday lunchtime trade. At the time of writing the ASX 200 stock is changing hands for $16.69 each.

It’s welcome news for investors after a slow but steady 12-month share price decline pushed the stock to a historic-low of $16.45 on Tuesday. 

The latest uptick means the fast food operator’s share price is now down a huge 50% over the past 12 months, and down 22.6% for the year-to-date.

Now the question is this: Is this dip, and subsequent rebound, a rare buying opportunity for investors to get into a high-growth stock for cheap?

According to the analysts, it looks that way.

The ASX 200 stock is set to soar higher

TradingView data shows that analyst sentiment on the outlook for Guzman Y Gomez shares is shifting. Out of 13 analysts, seven have a buy or strong buy rating and another five have a hold rating. One has a strong sell rating.

The average target price is $22.85, which implies a potential 36% upside at the time of writing. Some are even more bullish and expect the fast-food retailer’s shares to soar up to 85% to $31 each over the next 12 months.

Morgans is one broker who is optimistic about the outlook for the stock. It recently placed a buy rating and $24 target price on the shares. 

What could push Guzman Y Gomez’s share price so high?

The Mexican fast-food restaurant has huge ambitions for business expansion. In the six months to December 31, the company opened 17 restaurants in Australia, one in Singapore, and two in the US.

As of the end of the first-half of FY26, the group owns 237 locations in Australia and 272 worldwide. 

It has another 108 restaurants in the pipeline, 32 of which are expected to open in Australia, including 23 drive-through stores. Guzman Y Gomez plans to reach 1,000 restaurants within 20 years.

Its expansion success in Australia has been exceptional, but the company has fallen short of its expansion goals overseas, particularly in the US.

According to Morgans, the company’s initial global expansion strategy was ambitious and the pace of network expansion in the US has been much slower than expected, with much more money lost than anticipated. But the broker believes global growth will soon “kick into gear” to complement what it considered a “very healthy Australian business”. 

In the first half of FY16, its network sales in Australia jumped 17.4% and its Asian network sales rocketed 19.3%. The group’s overall profit was 44.9% higher. If the company can continue expanding at the same rate, and if it manages to break the US market, its sales figures and profit margins could rise very quickly, dragging its share price up with it. 

The post A rare buying opportunity for this ASX 200 stock as it rebounds from a historic low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX All Ords shares at 52-week lows: Buy, hold, or sell?
• Why DroneShield, Guzman Y Gomez, IAG, and Myer shares are falling today
• 2 ASX shares that I rate as buys today for both growth and dividends!
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• These ASX 200 shares could rise 40% to 60%

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 S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) is down 0.53% on Thursday, while the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is up 0.09%.

ASX mining shares have been the worst hit by the war in Iran, with the Metal & Mining Index falling 15.7% vs. a 7.3% drop for the ASX 300.

Mining shares have fallen as investors sell out on fears that diesel shortages and higher oil prices will impact earnings and production.

Perennial portfolio manager Sam Berridge told the Australian Financial Review (AFR):

Australia is uniquely sensitive to this because our fuel inventory is so low, and we import such a high proportion of refined products.

Operations in the US, Brazil and Canada are definitely not going to run out of diesel and won’t have to curtail production … so we are seeing more opportunities overseas where there isn’t the same level of diesel supply risk that Australian miners have.

Berridge, who runs Perennial’s Strategic Natural Resources Trust, has sold the fund’s ASX gold shareholdings but kept overseas stocks.

US and Iran are continuing negotiations to end the war, but no one knows how long this will take.

The longer the conflict drags on, leaving the Strait of Hormuz virtually non-operational, the more severe this oil supply shock will be.

While we watch and wait, here are the experts’ recommendations on three ASX mining shares.

Turaco Gold Ltd (ASX: TCG)

The Turaco Gold share price is 61 cents, up 0.8% today and down 23% since the conflict in Iran began.

Morgans maintains a buy rating on the ASX gold mining share with a 12-month price target of $2.19.

This implies a potential 260% upside ahead.

The broker said:

TCG released an MRE upgrade for the Afema Gold Project lifting the resource base to 4.65Moz Au at 1.3g/t Au (up from 4Moz)– a beat on our forecasts of 4.5Moz Au at 1.1g/t Au.

Afema now ranks as one of the largest undeveloped gold resources on the ASX.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

The Rio Tinto share price is $150.35, up 0.3% today and down 10% since the war began.

This week, UBS reiterated its hold rating on the diversified ASX 200 mining share with a $160 target.

This implies a potential 6% upside from here.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is $1.69, down 2.6% on Thursday and down 1.5% since the war began.

On The Bull this week, Tony Locantro from Alto Capital revealed a sell rating on this ASX lithium mining share.

Locantro explained:

With earnings still developing and the company transitioning through a capital intensive ramp-up phase, the risk-reward balance at current levels favours taking profits following the sector’s recent re-rating.

The post 3 ASX mining shares: Buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Rio Tinto just locked in a major deal. Here’s why investors are buying today
• Are these 3 ASX 200 mining shares a buy, hold, or sell?
• ASX mining shares have slumped but long-term outlook is positive
• 4 of the best ASX mining stocks to buy in the current environment

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

The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price is edging lower on Thursday following developments around its operating structure.

At the time of writing, NAB shares are down 0.12% to $42.65. The weakness adds to a softer run over recent weeks, with the stock now down around 13% over the past month.

Here’s what investors are reacting to.

Restructure signals shift in operating model

NAB is undertaking a broad business reset aimed at improving efficiency and reshaping how parts of the group operate.

According to The Australian, the changes span multiple divisions, including business banking, retail, technology, and operations.

The update points to a continued shift toward lower-cost operating structures, including increased use of offshore centres alongside changes to local teams.

This approach is widely used across the banking sector and shows investors that NAB is focused on lifting productivity.

Cost pressures remain in focus

The move comes at a time when managing expenses is becoming increasingly important for major banks.

Inflationary pressures remain elevated, with ongoing war in the Middle East contributing to higher input costs and broader market volatility.

This is flowing through to higher operating outlays, while revenue growth is becoming much tighter.

Margins are also under pressure as competition for deposits remains strong and funding costs stay high.

At the same time, loan growth is starting to slow, as higher interest rates continue to weigh on borrowing demand across both households and businesses.

That mix is limiting earnings growth and keeping the focus on how banks run their operations.

As a result, financial institutions are continuing to look for ways to streamline operations and protect profitability.

Share price reflects broader sector weakness

While today’s decline is relatively modest, the recent trend in NAB’s share price points to a more cautious tone from investors.

The stock is now down 10% in a week, reflecting a mix of macroeconomic pressure and softer sentiment across the banking sector.

Other major ASX bank stocks have also faced similar headwinds, particularly as expectations around interest rates, funding costs, and credit growth continue to shift.

Foolish takeaway

NAB’s business reset highlights the current environment for Australian banks, where controlling costs is becoming just as important as growing revenue.

While the changes are aimed at improving efficiency over time, they also reflect the pressure being felt across the sector.

With margins still under pressure, near-term performance is likely to depend on how well NAB manages spending while maintaining earnings.

The post Why NAB shares are slipping today despite a major business reset appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: NAB, Pro Medicus, and Telstra shares
• ASX bank stocks: Buy, sell, or hold?
• How have the ASX big four bank shares held up in March?
• 3 reasons to buy NAB shares today
• Here’s the latest earnings forecast out to 2030 for NAB shares

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.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares are losing altitude today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) airline stock closed yesterday trading for $8.70. During the Thursday lunch hour, shares are swapping hands for $8.53 apiece, down 2.0%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Qantas shares have come under heavy pressure since the outbreak of the war in Iran on 28 February.

On 27 February, shares closed at $9.95. This puts the ASX 200 stock down 14.3% since investors woke to news of the Middle East conflict on 28 February. That’s roughly twice the 7.2% losses posted by the benchmark index over this period.

Qantas has in part been pressured by potential disruptions to its international routes. Though to date, the company has not made any major changes to its schedule.

But an even bigger potential hit to the airline’s profits, and Qantas shares, could come if the oil price remains elevated.

Brent crude oil is currently trading for US$103 per barrel. That’s up 69% year to date and up 43% since 27 February.

Qantas shares facing profit hit

Qantas former chief economist Tony Webber warned that in a worst case scenario of a “prolonged conflict” in the Middle East, Qantas earnings could fall to $544 million. That’s down more than 54% from prior earnings forecasts of $1.19 billion.

Should the war drag on, Webber said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

They will cut capacity most on longer sectors where fuel costs are a higher percentage of total costs and where reducing capacity provides the strongest fare response, usually routes with more business and fewer leisure travellers.

To give you an idea of just how much jet fuel prices can impact Qantas shares, on 26 February Qantas said it expected fuel costs for H2 FY 2026 to be around $2.5 billion, inclusive of hedging and carbon costs.

But in light of the surging oil price and ongoing war in Iran, Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)  analyst Ian Myles said Qantas’ overall costs could increase by $250 million over two to three months.

Myles cautioned that Qantas’ earnings could fall by $315 million if the company doesn’t cut costs and reduce flights.

Myles noted (quoted by the AFR):

Qantas arguably has an … opportunity with off-peak flights on deeper domestic routes depending on Virgin’s response, albeit the savings are not that material and more likely to be driven by physical fuel conservation needs … the fuel savings are relatively small [compared to] customer inconvenience and limited ability to move the other costs.

Internationally, the opportunity is reduced flying hours of the Airbus A380s, whose fuel usage is twice the rate of smaller aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350.

The post Why Qantas shares could be flying into turbulence appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Qantas stock is down 17.7% in a month. Time to buy?
• Down 15% in March, should you buy Qantas shares today?
• 3 massively popular ASX 200 shares experts say to sell (inc. CBA)
• Why BHP, EchoIQ, Life360, and Qantas shares are racing higher today
• Why is the Woodside share price getting smashed on Tuesday?

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 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.

Shares in Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) are in a trading halt on Thursday following an announcement to the market.

The halt comes after a strong move in the previous session, with Weebit Nano shares finishing 5.09% higher at $4.54. Despite that gain, the stock remains under pressure in 2026 and is down roughly 10% year to date.

Here’s what investors need to know.

Trading halt tied to capital raising

According to the release, Weebit Nano requested the trading halt pending an announcement related to a proposed capital raising.

The company stated the raise is expected to include an institutional placement alongside a share purchase plan.

This suggests the company is looking to bring in fresh capital from both professional investors and existing shareholders.

The halt will remain in place until the earlier of an announcement being made or the resumption of trading on Monday, 30 March.

Balance sheet move, not an operational update

Details remain sketchy at this stage, but the structure points to a funding round aimed at strengthening Weebit Nano’s balance sheet.

Separately, the Australian Financial Review has reported that the company is planning a capital raise of around $100 million.

While that figure has not been confirmed in the ASX release, it provides context around the potential scale of the transaction.

The move is not linked to a new product milestone or commercial agreement. Instead, it looks to be a capital management decision as the company continues to develop its semiconductor memory technology.

Share price context

Weebit Nano has been one of the stronger performers on the ASX over the past year, with the stock still up more than 100% over 12 months.

However, recent performance has been more mixed.

The stock has pulled back from its record high of $6.25 reached in late January and is now close to 30% lower.

At a market capitalisation of roughly $950 million, the company is still a growth stock. Its valuation depends more on future commercial progress than current earnings, especially as it works towards wider adoption.

What happens next

The key focus now is on the terms of the capital raising.

This includes the size of the placement, the pricing relative to the last traded price, and any dilution impact for existing shareholders.

Discounted placements can often place short-term pressure on share prices once trading resumes, particularly if issued at a material discount.

At the same time, a successful raise would leave the company better funded to progress its plans.

The post This ASX tech stock is frozen today. Here’s what’s going on appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX tech shares tipped to jump up to 140% higher
• Why 4DMedical, Block, PEXA, and Weebit Nano shares are launching higher 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.

Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (ASX: VGN) shares are up 0.8% at the time of writing on Thursday morning to $2.54 a piece. Today’s share price uptick follows a 11.5% rally in the airline’s share price on Wednesday. 

The Australian airline company’s share price has struggled recently after news that ongoing conflict in the Middle East will severely tighten jet fuel supply. Reports are that Virgin Australia’s partnership with Qatar Airways is also being tested as the conflict in the Middle East continues to affect aviation routes. This also dented investor sentiment earlier this month.

Qatar Airways currently owns 25% of Virgin Australia and provides aircraft and crew for several services under a wet lease arrangement.

For the year-to-date the shares are down 27% and they’re down 21.4% over the year.

But the latest uptick suggests that Virgin Australia shares could have finally reached the bottom and are beginning to ascend.

What is pushing Virgin Australia shares higher?

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive news out of Virgin Australia this week to explain the sudden share price reversal. This suggests the rebound is driven by broad market sentiment.

Virgin Australia recently raised its domestic airfares in response to rising jet fuel costs, which could help maintain or even boost revenue. 

At the same time, the airline’s share price has fallen heavily in the past month, by almost 20%, due to concerns about how tightened fuel supply will affect Australia’s travel companies. The shares bottomed to an all-time low on the 20th of March which sparked interest from bargain-hunting investors.

Another positive which has possibly supported the share price increase is a jump in demand for domestic travel. With many international flights postponed or cancelled, many Australians are refocusing their attention to short-haul domestic travel instead. 

Will the ASX travel stock’s share price keep climbing?

TradingView data shows that seven out of eight analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Virgin Australia shares. One more has a hold rating.

The average target price is $3.86, which implies a potential 51.5% upside at the time of writing. Although, some are even more bearish and expect Virgin Australia shares to soar 66.7% higher to $4.25 over the next 12 months.

The post Virgin Australia shares fly 13% higher: Is this the start of the rebound we’ve all been waiting for? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.