Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their estimates and recommendations again, leading to the release of a large number of broker notes this week.

Three broker buy ratings that have caught my eye are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

According to a note out of UBS, its analysts have upgraded this mining giant’s shares to a buy rating with a $38.00 price target. The broker made the move largely on valuation grounds after a sizeable decline in its share price over the last three months. It believes this is a buying opportunity and notes that BHP is well-placed to continue paying strong dividends through the pandemic. The broker also sees the easing of lockdowns globally as a big positive. I agree with UBS on BHP and would be a buyer of its shares.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $68.75 price target on this banking giant’s shares following its third quarter update. Commonwealth Bank’s profits are running short of the broker’s expectations for the second half. However, it notes this is due to a $1.5 billion COVID-19 provision. And while the broker appears doubtful on its final dividend and has downgraded its CET1 ratio forecast, it still sees value in its shares at this level. I think Citi is spot on with this assessment and feel Commonwealth Bank’s shares are very attractively priced.

Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

A note out of Credit Suisse reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating and lifted the price target on this business and accounting software provider’s shares to $88.00. Credit Suisse was pleased with Xero’s performance in FY 2020 and notes that it delivered a quality full year result. And while it has downgraded its estimates for FY 2021 slightly to reflect the impact of the pandemic, it remains very positive on its long term growth prospects. I would have to agree with Credit Suisse and feel its recent share price weakness is a buying opportunity.

More reading

• Why Boral, Corporate Travel Management, United Malt, & Xero are dropping lower
• Why the best performing ASX stock might have more room to run higher
• ASX 200 up 0.8%: Big four banks push higher but Xero tumbles lower
• Where growth, income, and value investors can invest $5,000 today
• Want to invest like Warren Buffett? Buy and hold these ASX 200 shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Xero. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX 200 shares to buy today appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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You can be paid huge amounts of cash to own the ASX dividend shares in this article in your portfolio.

If you’re trying to generate income then the RBA’s official interest rate of 0.25% isn’t going to do much for you unless you’re just protecting capital though the coronavirus crisis.

But there are some ASX dividend shares which will handsomely reward you for owning them over the years:

WAM Research Limited (ASX: WAX) 

WAM Research has a grossed-up dividend yield of 11.1%. It has increased its dividend every year since the GFC. There are few shares that could have provided as much dividend income to investors over the past 10 years. I think it’s one of the best ASX dividend shares.

It’s a listed investment company (LIC) that invests in undervalued small and medium businesses. It has generated lots of profit in the past, which allows the LIC to steadily pay out a growing fully franked dividend.

One pleasing factor is that it usually holds a high cash balance for downside protection and opportunities.

Naos Emerging Opportunities Company Ltd (ASX: NCC) 

Naos Emerging Opportunities Company has a grossed-up dividend yield of 13.8%. It hasn’t decreased its dividend in its fairly short existence. Recently it has been maintaining the dividend, but there was a string of increases before that. With such a high yield, just maintaining the dividend would be great from this ASX dividend share.

Naos is another LIC that invests in shares with market capitalisations under $250 million. It’s finding those shares that are undiscovered to the rest of the market. It’s then able to turn some of those capital gains into a solid dividend. Those small caps hopefully have a lot of growth potential.

Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) 

Australian resource shares are known for being decent ASX dividend shares through the cycle. In the good times they are dividend cash machines.

As long as the China-Australia relationship remains amicable then Fortescue should be able to keep generating solid returns and paying those big dividends.

It currently offers a trailing grossed-up dividend yield of 11.5%. That’s a very solid yield in the current world.

Which ASX dividend share to buy

Fortescue’s yield does look attractive, but you’re up for commodity risks if you go for that one. It’s hard to pick a winner of the other two ASX dividend shares. WAM Research is trading at a sizeable premium to its net assets, though I like the cash position and added diversification that WAM Research’s portfolio has.

More reading

• Goldman Sachs names 5 reasons iron ore prices won’t crash
• Looking for dividend income? Try these 3 ASX shares
• Why CBA, CSR, Fortescue, & Northern Star shares are pushing higher
• Why high yield dividend shares can be detrimental to your wealth
• These were the top 10 ASX 200 shares over the last year

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) may be storming higher on Friday, but not all shares are doing the same.

One area of the market that is missing out on today’s rebound is the travel sector.

Here’s a snapshot of the sector at the time of writing:

• The Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) share price is down 3%.
• The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price is 1.5% lower.
• The Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) share price is down 1%.
• The Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) share price is down over 0.5%.

Why are travel shares underperforming today?

Today’s underperformance appears to have been sparked by comments out of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

On Thursday the trade association for the world’s airlines warned that the impact of the pandemic on air travel was likely to be felt for many years to come.

In fact, the IATA estimates that passenger traffic won’t rebound to pre-crisis levels until at least 2023. This would be a blow for the likes of airline operators such as Qantas and travel bookers such as Flight Centre.

Though, the IATA’s director general and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, told CNBC that he is optimistic that more planes will be in the skies in the next six weeks.

He said: “We are asking governments to have a phased approach to restart the industry and to fly again. We are aiming at reopening and boosting the domestic market by end of the second quarter, and opening the regional or continental markets — such as Europe, North America or Asia-Pacific — by the third quarter, and intercontinental in the fall.”

Mr de Juniac also revealed that he is against the idea of 14-day quarantine periods for travellers upon arrival. Given how this is arguably the length of a typical holiday, tourism markets are likely to struggle with restrictions of this nature in place.

He explained: “We are advocating with governments not to implement quarantine measures that will retain people for two weeks that will arrive anywhere. We think that it is useless provided we have implemented the health and sanitary controls that we are discussing with governments. It is absolutely key for the tourist industry which is so important for so many countries in Europe.”

It certainly looks like it will be an eventful few months for Australian travel shares. 

More reading

• Why Boral, Corporate Travel Management, United Malt, & Xero are dropping lower
• Broker tips 10 ASX 200 shares for a post-coronavirus recovery
• Why Beach, CBA, Qantas, & Xero shares are dropping lower
• Are ASX travel shares like Qantas great value?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited and Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Why Qantas, Webjet and these ASX travel shares are dropping lower today appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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