Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are sliding today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) business and accounting software provider closed yesterday trading for $74.25. In morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $73.17 apiece, down 1.5%.

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

Unfortunately for long-term shareholders, today’s underperformance is all too familiar. With today’s intraday losses, Xero shares are down 54.2% over the past 12 months, compared to the 1.4% one-year gain posted by the benchmark index.

Though a more accurate comparison here would be against the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ), which has crashed 40.9% since this time last year.

As you’re likely aware, ASX tech shares were caught up in a broader global sell-down of the tech sector. That came amid the so-called ‘SaaSpocalypse’, which refers to concerns that AI could potentially replace many of the services that Software as a Service (SaaS) companies like Xero provide.

ASX tech stocks have also come under pressure amid rising interest rates. Growth-oriented shares like Xero tend to be priced with higher future earnings in mind. And as interest rates go up, so too does the present cost of investing in those future earnings.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

With the company’s share price having lost more than half its value over the last year, is the ASX 200 tech stock now a good buy?

Xero shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Gray Perry Wealth Advisers’ Blake Halligan recently analysed the outlook for the embattled ASX 200 tech stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Xero remains a leading cloud accounting platform, with a dominant position in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

Halligan added, “Fiscal year 2026 operating revenue increased 31 per cent, supported by 506,000 net customer additions and the Melio Payments acquisition.”

But amid concerns over the integration costs of that acquisition, Halligan issued a hold recommendation on Xero shares.

He concluded:

Melio should aid in revenue growth, but costs associated with its integration contributed to a 27 per cent fall in net profit after tax and a gross margin decline from 89 per cent to 83.9 per cent.

The profitable ANZ and UK businesses offer growth potential and could assist in a continuing share price recovery.

Commenting on Xero’s completed Melio acquisition following the company’s FY 2026 results release, CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy said:

We have powerful momentum across our markets, and delivered strong EBITDA growth while absorbing Melio. This has moved us beyond single-job workflows in the US by integrating Melio to unite accounting and payments on one platform.

The post Down 54% in a year, are Xero shares now a buy, hold, or sell? 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 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.

The Australian healthcare sector has rebounded well over the August reporting season, with Bell Potter analysts saying it was the key sector winner with about a 20% improvement.

Major improvements in stocks, including CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Ramsay Healthcare Ltd (ASX: RHC), and Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) bolstered the sector, following weakness earlier in the year.

Where does the broker see good value now?

Bell Potter has selected seven ASX healthcare shares as its key picks going forward, some of which it says could more than double in value.

One of these is Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6), which Bell Potter said could have some big news shortly.

The broker said:

For companies with significant clinical readouts over the near-term, it’s hard to go past CU6 which is expected to deliver topline data from its two PSMA imaging Phase 3 trials in early CY27. The data from these studies should support a New Drug Application for 64Cu SAR bis PSMA in CY27. Once approved, we expect 64Cu SAR bisPSMA will enter the ~US$3b PSMA imaging market with a highly differentiated label claim to the incumbents.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating on the shares with a $6.40 price target.

The broker is also predicting solid share price gains for Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB), which has been preforming well since gaining FDA approval for its drug Ryoncil in late 2024.

Bell Potter said Mesoblast was also progressing a lower back pain drug, with a large potential market.

Its price target for Mesoblast is $4.45.

Other companies which are scaling up in the US are Lumos Diagnostic Holdings Ltd (ASX: LDX) and Aroa Biosurgery Ltd (ASX: ARX).

Bell Potter said regarding these two:

LDX is rapidly scaling its commercial channels ahead of its first flu season in North America, while ARX is driving strong direct growth through Myriad and positioning to capitalise on disruption across the outpatient chronic wound market with Symphony. Both remain well positioned in sizeable US growth opportunities.

Bell Potter has a price target of 25 cents on Lumos and $1.09 on Aroa.

The broker also likes Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: VFY), which it said “has recently emerged with the potential to develop dominant positions across various large cryopreservation markets, but particularly in the blood products segment”.

Bell Potter has a price target of $5.15 on Vitrafy.

The broker said Cogstate Ltd (ASX: CGS) delivered “stellar returns” in FY26, “following significant contract wins across an increasingly diverse range of clinical indications and channel partners”.

It has a price target of $3.70 on Cogstate.

And lastly, Bell Potter is also bullish on Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), which it said “continues to win ever more business in the US”.

Bell Potter has a price target of $226 on Pro Medicus.

The post 7 ASX healthcare stock picks from Bell Potter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in CSL and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Cogstate. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Cogstate. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I’d describe Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) as one of Australia’s top shares for a variety of reasons, and I think right now is a great time to invest.

Most of the company’s profit generation comes through its ownership of the Chemist Warehouse franchise business. It also owns the Amcal and Discount Drug Store businesses.

In my view, Sigma Healthcare is delivering exceptional growth and its outlook is very compelling. Let me run through three very attractive elements.

Strong Australian growth         

The company’s core earnings driver is Australia, where a vast majority of the franchise stores are located. There were 561 Australian Chemist Warehouse stores at the end of FY26, following the addition of 24 locations in FY26.

The Australian segment saw revenue growth of 14.9% to $10.4 billion, with Chemist Warehouse branded like-for-like network sales growth of 13.4% amid continued demand for GLP-1 medicines.

Over the long term, it has franchise network targets of around 900 Chemist Warehouse stores, around 300 Amcal locations, and approximately 150 Discount Drug Stores.

It expects to open 13 Chemist Warehouse-branded stores in the first half of FY27, with 12 refurbishments also planned.

The fact that the business continues to deliver double-digit revenue growth after such a long time says to me that the business can deliver good revenue growth for the foreseeable future.

Exciting international growth

Australia is not the only market where the company is growing. Excitingly, it has a presence in New Zealand, Ireland, the UAE, and UK. It also has a presence in China where it’s focusing on profitable online sales.

In FY26, 20 stores were opened in international markets, with 14 new stores in New Zealand and four new ones in Ireland.

Impressively, sales grew by 45% in Ireland and 20.3% in New Zealand during FY26. Overall, international revenue increased 33% to $421.4 million.

The business is entering the UK market in FY27, which could be another exciting growth market for one of Australia’s top shares. The success in nearby Ireland – which is now profitable – is a good sign for the UK, in my view.

I think the company could expand to other markets in the longer term.

Operating leverage

Not only is the business growing its top line rapidly, but I think profit can increase even faster thanks to its rising profit margins. Remember, it’s normally profit growth rather than revenue growth that can send a share price higher.

The FY26 financials were a great demonstration of its ability to deliver stronger profits.

While overall revenue rose 15.5%, normalised operating profit (EBIT) climbed 20.6% to $1.09 billion, and normalised net profit grew 22.3% to $732.3 million. It also reduced net debt to $663 million.

Australian segment normalised EBIT grew 18.3% and international segment EBIT soared 91.3% to $55.8 million.

I think the strengthening profit margins are a great sign for one of Australia’s top shares to continue becoming more valuable.

After falling 15% since February 2026, the Sigma Healthcare share price is now valued at 35 times FY27’s estimated earnings. I think Sigma Healthcare, one of Australia’s top shares, could be undervalued at this level.

But, it’s not the only stock I’ve got my eyes on.

The post A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.