Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have fallen into the red in Tuesday lunchtime trade.

At the time of writing the Australian petrol exploration and production company’s shares are down around 1% and are changing hands for $32.62 each.

But the increase barely dents the gains the shares have made recently. Even after today’s dip, the shares are still 38% higher for the year-to-date and 35% higher than 12 months ago.

Why are Woodside shares flying higher this year?

The oil and gas giant’s shares have enjoyed an incredible rally throughout most of 2026 so far.

Conflict in the Middle East and the consequential major oil supply concerns and ongoing volatility have been a key driver so far this year.

Every time the US and Iran show new signs of reaching a potential agreement, volatility reignites in the region and markets are thrown back into chaos. The situation is highly volatile, and the movement of oil from the area will continue to be uncertain until a final resolution is reached. 

Shipping disruptions and production cuts pushed crude oil prices to a multi-year high of around US$113 per barrel in April, according to Trading Economics data. While the price of oil softened in June and early July, it has now flown higher again, to around US$103 per barrel at the time of writing.

According to Trading Economics: “Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which provides an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, remains shut following drone attacks, with no clear indication of when operations will resume. A diplomatic meeting between Iran and the Gulf Arab states to discuss the situation in Hormuz was also abruptly postponed.”

Investment bank Goldman Sachs said they think crude oil could rise above US$120 if production stays well below pre-conflict levels.The bank estimates average output next year could still be around 4 million barrels per day below pre-war levels.

And what is bad news for markets is good news for ASX energy shares like Woodside. If oil stays above US$100 a barrel, Woodside could benefit from higher realised prices.

But it’s not only geopolitical tensions which have driven the company’s share price higher this year. Woodside has also posted strong results recently which has rallied even more investor attention.

What did the company report last month?

Woodside posted its first-half FY26 results in late-August, including a 13% increase in operating revenue, a 27% increase in NPAT, a 7% increase in underlying NPAT, and a huge increase in free cash flow to US$352 million.

The strong result saw management declare a fully-franked interim dividend of 57 US cents per share.

Woodside also reaffirmed its full-year FY26 production and capital expenditure guidance. The company expects to complete key projects, including Scarborough, Trion, and Louisiana LNG, in line with previously announced timelines.

Are Woodside shares a buy, sell or hold?

After the latest rally, it looks like the oil major’s shares are now trading around (or even above) fair value. 

Market Index data shows all brokers have a hold rating on Woodside shares. But the $28.51 average target price now implies a potential 12% downside ahead, at the time of writing.

TradingView data shows something similar. Out of 17 analysts, six have a buy/strong buy rating, eight have a hold rating, and three rate the stock as a sell.

But the average $33.25 target price implies a potential 2% upside, at the time of writing. 

But the difference between the maximum and minimum target price is huge. Some forecast the shares to climb about 36% to $44.28 over the next 12 months. But others think Woodside shares have the potential to fall up to 22% to $25.44, at the time of writing.

The post Woodside shares up 38% in 2026: Here’s what brokers tip next appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Energy shares rose while the ASX 200 slumped last week. Here’s why

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 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is heading lower again on Tuesday as the recent sell-off across the market continues.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.91% to 8,669 points after touching an intraday low of 8,667 points.

That takes the ASX 200 to its lowest level in around 2 months and leaves it down almost 5% over the past month.

The index is now around 6.7% below its late August record high of 9,296 points, with selling picking up noticeably over the past week.

So, what is weighing on the market today?

A weak lead from Wall Street

Investors have had a negative lead to work with after US shares finished lower overnight.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) fell 0.48%, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dropped 0.56%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) lost 0.29%.

Rising bond yields are another concern for markets.

The US 10-year Treasury yield briefly moved above 5% for the first time since 2023.

Investors are weighing higher inflation and the prospect of another interest rate rise from the US Fed Reserve.

A Reuters poll found 85% of economists expect the Fed to lift rates by 25 basis points this week.

Oil prices keep climbing

Oil is another thing investors are watching closely.

According to Trading Economics, Brent crude is trading around US$106 a barrel today as supply concerns remain in focus.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is offline, while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is still heavily disrupted.

The pipeline can carry around 4 million barrels per day, which is roughly 4% of global oil supply.

Commercial vessel traffic through the strait also fell to single digits over the weekend.

And with oil above US$100 a barrel again, investors will be watching what that could mean for inflation and interest rates.

Miners and banks under pressure

Closer to home, some of the ASX’s biggest companies are weighing on the index.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 2.34% to $59.18, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have fallen 2.69% to $163.67.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are down 2.96% to $21.96, and PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares have dropped 3.52% to $4.26.

The banks are lower as well, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares down 1.65% to $152.41.

Selling is fairly widespread across the market, with 110 of the top 200 shares lower, 81 higher and 9 unchanged in early afternoon trade.

The post ASX 200 drops again as selling continues 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

An $800,000 superannuation balance sounds like a substantial amount of money.

But retirement could last for 20 or 30 years, and that money may need to cover everything from everyday expenses to travel and unexpected costs.

So, could $800,000 really be enough for a comfortable retirement?

What does a comfortable retirement cost?

One place I would start is the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia’s Retirement Standard.

ASFA estimates that a single homeowner aged 65 to 84 needs roughly $56,000 a year for a comfortable retirement, while a couple needs around $79,000.

That budget is designed to cover more than the basics. It allows for things such as private health insurance, leisure activities, eating out, maintaining a car, household repairs, and occasional travel.

Of course, everyone’s spending will look different. Someone who enjoys frequent overseas trips with Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) may want considerably more, while another retiree with relatively modest expenses could live comfortably on less.

How does $800,000 compare?

This is where I think an $800,000 balance starts to look encouraging.

ASFA estimates that a single homeowner retiring at age 67 needs around $630,000 in superannuation to fund a comfortable retirement. For a couple, the estimated combined balance is around $730,000.

On those benchmarks, $800,000 sits above both figures.

Importantly, those calculations do not assume someone simply lives off the investment income and leaves the original capital untouched forever.

Retirement savings are there to be used. ASFA’s modelling assumes retirees gradually draw down their superannuation and may also receive some Age Pension support as their balance declines.

That means an $800,000 balance does not necessarily need to produce the entire annual spending requirement through dividends or interest alone.

I would still keep investing

If I retired with $800,000, I would not suddenly move the whole balance into cash.

Retirement could still last 20 or 30 years, and inflation will continue increasing the cost of living throughout that period.

I would therefore want part of the portfolio invested in growth assets such as Australian and international shares or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The aim would be for investment returns to help replace some of the money being withdrawn and give the balance a better chance of supporting rising expenses over time.

I would also keep some more defensive assets available so I was not forced to sell shares after a major market fall.

That balance between growth and stability would become increasingly important once the portfolio was funding my lifestyle.

There are some important assumptions

Whether $800,000 is enough would depend heavily on personal circumstances.

Owning a home outright makes a substantial difference. A retiree still paying rent or a mortgage would generally need considerably more income.

Retirement age also matters. Someone stopping work at 60 needs their savings to support more years than someone retiring at 67.

Health costs, travel plans, family support, and other major expenses could also change the amount required.

For that reason, I would treat the $800,000 figure as part of the retirement plan rather than the whole plan.

Foolish takeaway

I think $800,000 in superannuation could provide a comfortable retirement for many Australians, particularly homeowners retiring around the traditional retirement age.

It is already above ASFA’s current comfortable retirement benchmarks for both singles and couples.

For me, the key would be making sure the money remained invested sensibly, withdrawals were sustainable, and there was enough flexibility to deal with whatever the next few decades brought.

The post Could I retire comfortably with $800,000 in superannuation? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why I’d invest $10,000 into Qantas shares today
• Looking to bank the final Qantas dividend? You’d better hurry!
• How many Qantas shares do I need to buy for $5,000 of passive income in FY27?
• 33 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week
• Top 3 ASX 200 shares now below their 200-day moving average

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.