The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price has had a strong year, climbing roughly 25% year to date and recently trading around $7.75. For a stock many investors had written off during the coal downturn, that’s been an impressive rebound.

The obvious question now is whether Whitehaven still has more to offer, or if most of the upside has already been captured.

What’s driving the strength?

A big part of Whitehaven’s recent run has come down to execution. The company’s September quarter update showed production and costs broadly tracking within guidance, while realised coal prices remained well above long-term averages.

Whitehaven reported managed run-of-mine production of 9 million tonnes for the quarter, with managed sales of 7.5 million tonnes. Unit costs were in the top half of FY26 guidance, but management reiterated expectations for costs to improve over the remainder of the year as volumes lift and cost savings flow through.

The company is also making progress on its cost-out program, targeting $60 million to $80 million in annualised savings by June 2026.

Coal prices still doing the heavy lifting

Thermal and metallurgical coal prices have come off their peaks, but they remain supportive. According to Trading Economics, Newcastle thermal coal prices are still sitting comfortably above pre-2021 levels, helping underpin margins for low-cost producers like Whitehaven.

That pricing environment has allowed Whitehaven to strengthen its balance sheet. Net debt sat around $800 million at the end of September, a manageable level given the current cash generation from the company.

What are brokers saying?

Broker views are mixed, which is fairly typical for coal stocks at this point in the cycle.

Jefferies recently lifted its price target to $8, while Bell Potter sits around $7. Macquarie trimmed its target to about $7 but still acknowledges Whitehaven’s solid operational performance. Morgans and Ord Minnett have also made modest adjustments to their targets, reflecting more normalised coal prices rather than company-specific issues.

Is it still a buy?

Whitehaven is never going to be a set-and-forget investment. Coal prices are volatile, sentiment can turn quickly, and long-term demand remains uncertain.

That being said, the company is in a much stronger position than it was a year ago. Production is stabilising, costs are coming down, and the balance sheet looks far healthier. Ongoing buybacks and the potential for shareholder returns also support the case.

My take

After a 25% rally, Whitehaven is no longer a deep-value turnaround play. However, for investors comfortable with commodity exposure, it still offers leverage to coal prices, enhances operational momentum, and maintains a disciplined approach to costs.

At these levels, it’s probably no longer cheap, but it’s not obviously expensive either. But as long as coal prices remain supportive and execution stays on track, Whitehaven can continue to earn its place on my watchlist.

The post Up 25% in 2025: Is Whitehaven Coal still a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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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 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.

Freightways Group Ltd (ASX: FRW) announced today the $71 million acquisition of Victoria-based company VT Freight Express (VTFE).

Yet despite the deal being forecast to lift earnings per share by 6% in year one, the Freightways share price barely moved.

A flat share price doesn’t mean the market is unimpressed. If anything, it suggests that the company may be underfollowed by analysts and large institutional investors, or that the acquisition aligns neatly with what investors already expected from the company.

Despite owning well-known courier and package delivery brands such as Allied Express, Freightways Group remains relatively under the radar in the investor community.

That, however, could change soon as the company continues to execute its growth strategy.

While today’s news didn’t move the needle, the Freightways share price is already up around 43% year to date in 2025, reflecting strong operational momentum. The company has delivered steady revenue and earnings expansion, disciplined cost management, and an improving contribution from its Australian operations, which will grow with this acquisition.

In FY25, revenue grew 6.6% to $1.3 billion, and NPAT rose 12.9% to $80.1 million, with management signalling confidence in continued growth into FY26.

According to Freightways’ announcement, VTFE generated A$77 million in revenue over the past 12 months and operates an asset-light contractor model across all Australian states and territories. This is a structure that mirrors much of Freightways’ existing Australian operations. The business gives Freightways a stronger foothold in the B2B freight segment, complementing allied brands such as Allied Express, which focuses on B2C deliveries.

Against that backdrop, today’s acquisition looks less like a shock announcement and more like another step in Freightways’ broader Australian expansion strategy. VTFE provides density, scale, and a platform for further growth, while reinforcing Freightways’ multi-brand approach in one of its highest-potential markets.

Foolish bottom line

For investors, the key takeaway may not be today’s flat share price, but the fact that Freightways continues to extend its footprint in Australia. If the company maintains its track record of earnings growth and strategic discipline, the recent strong share price performance may not be finished yet.

The post Is this little-known stock setting up for its next move higher? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Freightways Group to acquire VT Freight Express in $71m deal

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) has had an unbelievable year. And investors should have zero complaints. As of Dec. 12, shares have climbed 63% in 2025. There is some serious positive momentum working in the company’s favor.

After such a monumental gain and a $3.7 trillion market cap, should you invest $1,000 in this top tech stock right now? 

Alphabet’s valuation looks reasonable

Investors would be wise to consider adding this dominant internet business to their portfolios. Valuation is one of the main reasons why. Shares currently trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 28, a multiple that is justified given Alphabet’s economic moat, history of innovation, and huge free cash flow.

The stock will continue winning

The stock has crushed the S&P 500 index in the past five years. And it’s poised to keep this streak going between now and 2030.

That confidence stems from Alphabet’s ability to find new avenues to make money. The company is planning to introduce ads to its extremely popular Gemini app next year, which has 650 million monthly active users. This is a smart way for the business to monetize its user base that opts to use the free service instead of a paid tier.

Alphabet generated $74 billion of ad revenue in the third quarter, a figure that should continue marching higher and lifting profits in the process.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Neil Patel 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 Alphabet. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

From pharmaceutical stocks to dividend-payers, these are the ASX shares that have caught my eye this week.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)

Mesoblast is a clinical-stage biotech company which develops and commercialises allogeneic cellular medicines to treat complex diseases. Its FDA-approved Ryoncil® product is in the market and the company is also in the process of developing other cellular medicines to treat other complex conditions. Some are already in the latter stages of their clinical trial pipelines. 

The company is well-positioned for growth and said it can draw additional capital from its convertible note facility as it continues to grow sales and broaden its cell therapy pipeline for other inflammatory conditions.

At the time of writing Mesoblast shares are up 2.89% for the day at $2.85 a piece. Analyst consensus is that there is a strong upside ahead for Mesoblast shares, with some forecasting a target price of $5.25. This implies the shares could hike another 84.11% over the next 12 months.

Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8) 

When it comes to income-generating stocks, I like the look of Plato right now. The ASX dividend share holds a portfolio of mature ASX-listed equities, cash, and listed futures. Its portfolio is mostly Australian companies with strong dividend payouts, which is very well diversified and liquid by design. 

Plato has consistently paid fully franked dividends of 0.55 cents per share every month since April 2022. The company said that it plans to keep its dividends steady going forward too, even amid market uncertainty. Plato is currently trading at $1.45 per share.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The beaten-down stock has suffered multiple setbacks this year. Regulatory issues and broker downgrades have dampened investor sentiment. At the time of writing the ASX biotech company’s shares have plunged another 7.56% to $11.61 a piece.

I think the tide is about to turn Telix though. The company has already had huge success with its flagship prostate cancer imaging product, Illuccix. Once it receives approval for Zircaix, it has the potential to open the door to another long road of growth. 

Analysts are very bullish too. Most have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares and think the shares could climb as high as $34.30 over the next 12 months. That’s a huge potential 195.53% upside. It looks like today’s crash could be a great buying opportunity.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

It’s been a year of ups and downs for the Australian financial technology company. But Zip has shown strong and improved earnings this year, and the company is continually pushing for even more growth. The business is actively broadening its product range and is also looking at ways to scale its US presence.

I think there is still some good momentum ahead for Zip shares. Analysts are mostly bullish on the stock and think the share price could climb as high as $6.20 in 2026. Using the $3.01 share price at the time of writing, that implies a massive potential 106.32% upside.

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra has been in the spotlight for a while now, and triple-0 concerns and buyback programs have dented its share price recently. At the time of writing the shares are $4.81 a piece.

But I like that Telstra is a defensive stock. The company tends to perform steadily, regardless of the stage of the economic cycle. And this is great news for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere. 

The company has performed well this year and has outlined some great growth plans for 2026. I’m optimistic that these can be executed. Analysts are also mostly bullish. They expect the share price could rise as high as $5.40, which implies a potential 12.38% upside for investors at the time of writing.

The post 5 ASX shares I’d buy with $10,000 this week 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 positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and its CEO and significant shareholder, Elon Musk, frequently make the news. It’s not always positive, with Musk’s potentially $1 trillion dollar pay package vote garnering sharp reactions.

But looking purely at the stock’s performance, how much would you have today had you invested $5,000 in Tesla shares a year ago? 

A volatile stock

Tesla’s stock has certainly been volatile. The shares have a 52-week low of $214.25 and a high of $488.54.

Through the ups and downs over the last year, Tesla’s share price rose 8.8% through Dec. 11. However, the S&P 500 index went up 13.4%. While Tesla doesn’t pay dividends, the S&P 500 had a total return of 14.8% after including the payouts.

That means your $5,000 investment would be worth $5,444. That’s below the $5,737 if you’d invested passively in the S&P 500.

A look ahead

Tesla’s stock has certainly rewarded investors with market-beating returns over the long term. Over five years, the shares’ 126% appreciation beat the S&P 500’s 102.4% return.

With growing competition in the electric car industry and U.S. tax incentives disappearing, its core automotive business’ growth has slowed. Third-quarter automotive revenue increased 6% year over year to $21.2 billion.

Musk has promised a future of artificial intelligence, robotics, and self-driving cars. It’s unclear if and when these initiatives will pay off. Given the long wait and current climate for its core business, I’d pass on Tesla shares right now. For those investing, you should prepare yourself for the stock’s wild price swings. 

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post If you had invested $5,000 in Tesla stock 1 year ago, here’s how much you would have today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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Lawrence Rothman, CFA 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 Tesla. 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.

As Christmas approaches, plenty of investors start thinking about where to put fresh money to work before the new year. I am no different. With markets still a bit choppy and sentiment mixed across sectors, I have been focusing on quality businesses where the risk-reward balance looks attractive heading into 2026.

Two ASX shares are standing out to me right now, despite sitting at opposite ends of the market. For different reasons, both are worth a closer look.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price has had a tough run over the past year and is trading around $175, well below the levels investors had become used to. Softer profit guidance, higher costs, and a slower-than-expected recovery in plasma collections weighed on sentiment, and the market did not take kindly to that.

That being said, the long-term story has not broken. Plasma collections have been improving, Seqirus continues to perform solidly, and CSL Vifor is starting to settle after a challenging integration period. Cost discipline is also coming into focus, which is usually the first step toward margin recovery.

Several brokers continue to describe CSL as oversold, with price targets well above current levels. For a global healthcare leader with a long track record of growth, a strong balance sheet, and solid demand for immunoglobulin and vaccines, the current share price is starting to look far more appealing than it did a year ago.

If CSL can show steadier execution across FY26, the share price could start to find support.

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

At the other end of the spectrum sits Accent, with its share price trading around 90 cents. The footwear retailer owns well-known brands such as Platypus, Hype DC and The Athlete’s Foot, and it has built a strong omnichannel business across Australia and New Zealand.

What really stands out here is income. Accent paid 10 cents per share in fully franked dividends over the past year, which puts the trailing yield at roughly 11% at current prices. That is a big number for an ASX 200 stock.

While retail always carries some risk, Accent has performed better than many of its peers, with resilient margins and solid digital sales. Management continues to invest in store rollouts and owned brands, which support earnings over time.

For income-focused investors who are comfortable with some volatility, Accent offers a level of yield that is hard to ignore.

Foolish Takeaway

CSL and Accent Group are very different businesses, but both stand out to me as we head into Christmas. CSL offers quality and long-term growth at a much lower price than usual, while Accent provides immediate income at an attractive yield.

For investors looking to add ideas before the year ends, these two ASX shares are well worth having on the watchlist.

The post Looking for ideas before Christmas? These 2 ASX shares stand out to me appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The gold sector has been a great place to invest this year.

You only need to look at the performance of the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index to see why.

Since the turn of the year, this gold index has more than doubled in value.

The good news is that it may not be too late to invest in this side of the market, with Bell Potter picking out one ASX gold share that it thinks could still rise 50%.

Which ASX gold share?

The gold share that Bell Potter is bullish on is Ausgold Ltd (ASX: AUC).

It is focused on the development of its 100% owned Katanning Gold Project (KGP) in the Wheatbelt Region of Western Australia.

Bell Potter notes that its optimised definitive feasibility study (DFS) has outlined an open pit mine development with average production of 118,000 ounce per annum at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,252 per ounce over an initial 10 year mine life.

It also points out that the ASX gold share’s largely underexplored 3,500km2 Katanning Greenstone Belt mineral tenure holds potential for significant resource growth and mine life upgrades. This includes the potential for regional, high grade satellite deposits to feed a central KGP processing hub.

Big potential returns

According to the note, the broker has responded to the DFS by retaining its speculative buy rating and lifting its price target to $1.70 (from $1.60).

Based on its current share price of $1.12, this implies potential upside of 52% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter notes that the ASX gold share’s management team has a strong track record of advancing assets from exploration through development. Commenting on the company, it said:

AUC’s management team has a demonstrated track record of advancing assets from exploration through development, positioning the company to unlock substantial value as the KGP de-risks toward production. We expect constant updates to include: Drill results (ongoing); permitting & approvals activities (ongoing); updated MRE (midCY26); KGP funding package (mid-CY26); and FID (mid-CY26) for potential first production from late 2027.

Our valuation is based on a potential project development at Katanning, risked for its pre-FID stage of development. AUC is an asset development company with prospective operations and cash flows. Our Speculative risk rating recognises this higher level of risk and volatility of returns.

The post Why this cheap ASX gold share could rise 50% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Up 143% in 2025, ASX All Ords gold stock announces 82,000-ounce gold boost
• Why Ausgold, DroneShield, EML, and TPG shares are falling today
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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.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

It looks like Buffett isn’t the only leadership change at Berkshire Hathaway. Other notable changes include Todd Combs, one of Buffett’s key managers, leaving the company to join JPMorgan Chase, and CFO Marc Hamburg announcing his retirement, effective June 2027.

These changes don’t necessarily mean that Buffett’s influence on Berkshire Hathaway’s culture is fading. Still, it does drive home the point that change is inevitable, especially when an icon like Buffett steps down.

Berkshire Hathaway currently has $381.7 billion in cash on its balance sheet. 

Berkshire Hathaway could invest in tech stocks more than it has previously

It’s widely known that Berkshire Hathaway hasn’t invested very heavily in tech stocks over the years. Warren Buffett typically felt more comfortable in other market sectors, referencing what he called his circle of competence. Even Buffett’s investment in Apple seemed more from the standpoint of a consumer products company than a tech stock.

Berkshire Hathaway’s tech investments have increased as Buffett has given more authority to his staff in recent years. For example, when Berkshire finally invested in Amazon in 2019, Buffett noted that it wasn’t he who bought the stock but one of his fund managers.

More recently, the company opened a nearly $5 billion stake in Alphabet, which, given Buffett’s looming retirement, was probably not his investment either. It’s hard to deny the importance of technology in modern society, and it’s challenging to see how Berkshire Hathaway, at its colossal size, can avoid investing more of its capital in tech companies moving forward.

The company might finally pay a dividend

Buffett has consistently expressed his affinity for dividend stocks throughout his career. He has also been equally vocal about his disdain for the idea of Berkshire Hathaway paying one. Instead, Buffett has long preferred to retain Berkshire’s profits and invest them in acquisitions or other opportunities.

It has not been easy to find places to invest all those profits in recent years. Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of stocks lately, and Buffett has pointed out the stock market’s lofty valuation, as well as refrained from doing many share repurchases.

Now, as Buffett retires, he leaves his successor, Greg Abel, with a $381.7 billion question to tackle: What will the company do with all that cash? The pressure to take action will likely rise as the cash continues to accumulate.

Given the apparent lack of investment opportunities in today’s market, a dividend just makes a ton of sense at this point. It could be something small and symbolic, even if it’s just a way to share some of the company’s profits with shareholders who are looking for reasons to hold the stock after Buffett steps down.

The stock has a higher floor but a lower ceiling

This leads into the final change, and that’s the stock’s upside moving forward. Berkshire Hathaway is a legendary stock because it has consistently outperformed the broader market for decades, transforming modest investments into substantial fortunes.

But with a $1 trillion market cap, Berkshire Hathaway’s massive size is likely to work against it. Buffett himself predicted in his last shareholder letter that a handful of other stocks would outperform Berkshire Hathaway in the future.

The good news is that Berkshire Hathaway is a highly diversified juggernaut. Its subsidiaries and investments span the economy, including energy, manufacturing, insurance, and railroads, among others, and that’s before getting into the cash reserves and additional billions of dollars worth of blue chip stocks the company owns.

If nothing else, investors can buy and hold Berkshire Hathaway, knowing that Buffett built the company to last seemingly forever.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post A new leadership group is emerging at Berkshire Hathaway. Here are some changes that could be in store for Warren Buffett’s massive holding company. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Justin Pope has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are trading in the red again on Wednesday. At the time of writing the shares are down 1.77% for the day, to $23.56 a piece.

It’s been a rocky year for the Australian petroleum exploration and production company, with its shares fluctuating between $27.30 and $18.61. Over the past month, the shares are 10.97% lower and for the year-to-date they’re down 5.61%. 

Dwindling oil prices dampened Woodside’s performance potential throughout most of the year, but the company’s share price pushed higher on the back of a steep uptick in the crude oil price in late October. It climbed nearly-20% over a 4-week period.

Today’s share price slump is likely due to a sharp overnight decline of global oil prices. 

The Brent crude oil is trading at near five-year lows, down 2.7% overnight to US$58.92 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil is trading at its lowest levels since February 2021, at around US$55.27 per barrel.

What about Woodside’s plan for 2026?

In October, the company reported a 3% increase in quarterly revenue to $3.359 billion and a 1% rise in production to 50.8 MMboe, highlighted by strong performances from its Sangomar and Pluto LNG assets.

It also upgraded its full-year production guidance to 192–197 MMboe, progressing key projects like Scarborough and Beaumont New Ammonia, and completed a significant asset sale worth A$259 million.

In 2026, Woodside plans to progress its pipeline of global projects, with the Scarborough and Trion energy projects advancing on schedule. The company is focused on delivering first LNG from Scarborough in 2026 and first ammonia from Beaumont later in 2025.

What next for Woodside shares?

Analysts seem to be relatively optimistic about the outlook for Woodside shares over the next 12 months. 

TradingView data shows that 7 out of 15 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. The remaining 8 have a hold rating. The maximum target price is $33.44, which represents a potential 42.33% upside for investors over the next 12 months. With potential upside like that, I wouldn’t be selling up Woodside shares anytime soon.

Morgans has a buy rating on Woodside with a share price target of $30.50. The broker said the oil producer’s Scarborough, Sangomar and Trion sites are all tracking on time and budget. 

Last month, Fairmont Equities’ Michael Gable said he thinks Woodside shares are at, or close to, the bottom. He added that he is seeing signs of it starting to move higher again. Although the broker currently has a hold rating on the shares.

The post Should I sell my Woodside shares in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Loser stock? Here’s why I’ll never own Woodside shares
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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.

Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models and recommendations again. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes this week.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this defence and space company’s shares with an improved price target of $9.00. This follows news that Electro Optic Systems has signed an agreement worth US$80 million with a customer in Korea. This will see the company manufacture and sell a 100kW High Energy Laser Weapon (HELW). The broker believes that current competitive dynamics in the HELW industry are favourable for Electro Optic Systems. It notes that US companies are unable to export directed energy technology, the UK offers a lower power (30kW) weapon, and Israel’s Iron Beam system lacks clarity on export restrictions. The Electro Optic Systems share price is trading at $7.54 on Wednesday.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this travel agent’s shares with an improved price target of $18.38. Morgans was pleased with the company’s decision to acquire Iglu and sees it as a strategically sound acquisition for its Leisure business unit. Especially given the cruise sector is a high growth and high margin segment within the travel industry. Morgans also feels that Flight Centre’s strong balance sheet can comfortably fund this acquisition and its capital management strategy. Overall, it has upgraded its forecasts to reflect the acquisition and boosted its valuation accordingly. The Flight Centre share price is fetching $15.06 at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Analysts at Macquarie have retained their outperform rating and $4.85 price target on this buy now pay later provider’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes that Zip will deliver on its net transaction margin guidance despite elevating loss rates caused by its accelerating total transaction value (TTV) growth. Outside this, it is forecasting Zip to continue to deliver rapid growth supported by increased product adoption, expansion of merchant network, increased customer engagement, and digital product innovation. The Zip share price is trading at $3.03 on Wednesday afternoon.

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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 Electro Optic Systems and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.