There are a lot of blue-chip ASX 200 shares to pick from on the Australian share market.

But not all are necessarily buys right now.

So, to narrow things down, let’s see what analysts are saying about three of the most popular shares on the ASX 200 index. Here’s what you need to know:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP is the world’s largest mining company and a major producer of commodities such as iron ore, copper, and metallurgical coal.

One positive currently working in its favour is the strength in copper prices. Copper is widely viewed as one of the most important commodities for electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, and electric vehicles. With demand expected to rise strongly over the coming decade, BHP’s significant exposure to copper could become an increasingly valuable part of its portfolio.

But does this make BHP shares a buy?

Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating on the mining giant with a $56.00 price target. Meanwhile, Ord Minnett has an accumulate rating with a $54.00 price target. This compares favourably to the current BHP share price of $49.39.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL is one of Australia’s largest healthcare companies and a global leader in plasma therapies, vaccines, and biotechnology products.

Unlike some other ASX heavyweights, CSL has not enjoyed much positive momentum recently. Its shares have come under significant pressure and are trading well below their historical highs, which has left the company looking relatively cheap compared to its long-term valuation.

Is this an opportunity to buy a high-quality healthcare business with global operations, a large research pipeline, and strong positions in specialised treatment markets?

Despite its struggles, brokers remain positive on CSL and see value in its shares. Morgans has a buy rating on the healthcare giant with a $241.34 price target, while UBS also has a buy rating and a $235.00 price target. This compares to the current CSL share price of $139.86.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Woodside is Australia’s largest oil and gas producer and generates the bulk of its earnings from global energy markets.

One of the major positives currently supporting the company is the strength in oil prices, which are trading above US$100 per barrel due to the war in the Middle East. Higher oil prices typically translate into stronger cash flow for energy producers, which can support dividends and investment in new projects.

Does this make Woodside shares a buy?

Well, due to recent share price strength, brokers are largely on the fence with this one. UBS currently has a neutral (hold) rating on the company with a $28.10 price target, while Macquarie also has a neutral rating with a $30.00 price target. This compares to the current Woodside share price of $31.51.

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows: Buy, hold, or sell?
• If the oil price remains above US$100, Woodside shares could be raining dividends before Christmas
• Should you buy the dip on ASX mining shares?
• Rio Tinto shares charge higher on big copper news
• Should I invest $2,000 in the VAS ETF?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) are heading south on Wednesday after fresh comments about Australia’s energy transition.

At the time of writing, the New Hope share price is down 5.85% to $4.99. Despite today’s decline, the coal producer’s shares remain up more than 24% in 2026.

The move follows the company’s latest results and renewed attention to management’s comments on Australia’s energy policy and transition.

Here’s what investors need to know.

Coal still needed to keep the lights on

According to The Australian, New Hope chief executive Rob Bishop said the current global energy crisis highlights challenges for renewable power. He noted it may take time before renewables can fully replace coal.

Bishop said recent geopolitical tensions have once again exposed vulnerabilities in global energy supply. Disruptions across oil and LNG markets linked to the Middle East conflict have pushed energy prices higher and reminded policymakers about the importance of reliable power.

The New Hope boss argued that renewable energy still has a long way to go before it can fully support Australia’s electricity needs, particularly when it comes to maintaining consistent power supply.

Bishop said:

Energy is important; it goes into everything we use. So we need to make sure the lights stay on and we need a base load which is going to do that.

At the moment, renewables don’t provide that power source, and until that happens, we’re going to need coal to keep the economy running.

Debate around coal fired power continues

The comments come as debate continues over Australia’s energy transition and the role coal will play in the country’s future power mix.

Bishop said investment is more likely to flow toward extending the life of existing power stations rather than building entirely new coal plants.

While some politicians have proposed new coal fired generation, he suggested such projects would require major policy backing and would take a long time to deliver.

“There would have to be a big change in policy at federal and state levels for that to happen,” Bishop said.

Coal prices surge as global supply tightens

The comments also come as global coal markets have been strengthening again.

Newcastle coal futures are a key benchmark for Australian thermal coal exports. Prices recently climbed to around US$140 per tonne amid geopolitical disruptions to energy supply chains.

Higher coal prices have historically been a major driver of earnings for Australian producers.

New Hope exports most of the coal produced at its operations. This includes the Bengalla mine in New South Wales, with much of the supply heading to customers across Asia.

What next for the New Hope share price?

Despite ongoing debate about coal’s long-term role in the global energy mix, the sector continues to benefit from strong demand across parts of Asia.

Based on the current share price, New Hope has a market capitalisation of about $4.2 billion.

Although the company’s shares are weaker today, the stock has still delivered a solid performance over the past year as energy markets remain tight.

The post Why the New Hope share price is sliding today as coal debate heats up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why New Hope, Pepper Money, Pro Medicus, and Reece shares are falling today
• Should you buy New Hope shares for passive income today?
• Why I invested $3,000 into this great ASX share last week
• New Hope shares crash 12% on profit crunch and big dividend cut
• New Hope Corporation 1H FY26: Profit falls, interim dividend declared

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.

Building long-term wealth in the share market often comes down to owning high-quality businesses.

These companies typically have strong competitive advantages, large market opportunities, and strategies that allow them to expand over time.

With that in mind, here are three ASX 200 shares that could be worth considering for smart investors looking to build wealth over the years ahead.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The first ASX 200 share that could be a top long-term investment is Life360.

It operates the world’s leading family safety and location-sharing platform, helping families stay connected through features such as location tracking, safe driving reports, and emergency assistance. The company has built a massive global user base, which gives it a powerful foundation for monetisation through subscriptions, advertising, and connected hardware devices.

The platform is growing rapidly. Life360 finished FY 2025 with approximately 95.8 million monthly active users, up 20% year over year, while Paying Circles increased 26% to 2.8 million subscribers. Revenue for the year climbed 32% to US$489.5 million, highlighting the strength of its freemium model and growing monetisation.

Looking ahead, management believes the business has the potential to scale significantly. The company is targeting 150 million monthly active users and US$1 billion in annual revenue, supported by subscription growth and the expansion of its advertising platform. With a large user base, growing monetisation engines, and strong guidance for further growth, Life360 could have a long runway ahead.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Another ASX 200 share that could be worth considering is Goodman Group.

The company owns, develops, and manages logistics properties and data centres in major global cities. These assets play a critical role in the digital economy, supporting industries such as e-commerce, logistics, and cloud computing.

Importantly, Goodman is increasingly positioned to benefit from the rapid growth in data infrastructure. Data centres now account for 73% of its development work in progress, reflecting strong demand from hyperscale technology companies and cloud providers. The company also has a significant 6.0 gigawatt global power bank across key markets, giving it the ability to develop new data centre projects over time.

With a portfolio valued at $87.4 billion, strong capital partners, and a pipeline of development opportunities, Goodman appears well placed to benefit from long-term demand for digital infrastructure.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

A third ASX 200 share that could be worth a closer look is ResMed.

It is a global leader in connected devices and digital platforms designed to treat sleep apnoea and other respiratory conditions. It combines medical devices, masks, and cloud-connected software to support patients and healthcare providers.

One of the most compelling aspects of the business is the size of its addressable market. Sleep apnoea alone is estimated to affect more than one billion people globally, yet fewer than 20% of sufferers in the United States and less than 10% in the rest of the world are diagnosed or treated.

This large and underpenetrated market provides a significant long-term growth opportunity. Combined with its growing digital health ecosystem and innovation pipeline, ResMed could continue to expand its global leadership in sleep and respiratory care for many years to come.

The post Life360 and two ASX 200 shares for smart investors to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• No savings at 50? I’d follow Warren Buffett’s method to build retirement wealth
• What are analysts saying about ResMed, Downer, and Nuix shares?
• Buy, hold, sell: Life360, Magellan, and QBE shares
• How to assess company debt as a new ASX share investor
• Why I think DroneShield and 2 more ASX shares are buys

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group, Life360, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Life360, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) share price is on the move today after the mining explorer released an update.

At the time of writing, the Dateline share price is up 3.30% to 47 cents.

The stock has delivered extraordinary gains over a longer timeframe. Dateline shares are now up more than 100% in 2026 and have surged an astonishing 8,950% over the past 12 months.

Here is what the company revealed today.

Dateline completes airborne survey at Music Valley project

Dateline announced that it has completed a high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey over its Music Valley heavy rare-earth element (HREE) project in California, United States.

The helicopter-based survey covered 2,172 line kilometres over the expanded project area.

The program was completed ahead of schedule.

The survey was flown with 50 metre spacing between lines at about 30 metres above the ground. This should produce detailed data to help geologists better understand the area.

Dateline said the data has now been delivered to Mitre Geophysics for processing, inversion, and analysis.

The results will be integrated with ongoing field mapping and rock chip sampling programs currently underway at the site.

Mapping and sampling programs underway

Alongside the airborne survey, Dateline confirmed that field mapping and sampling activities have commenced at Music Valley.

The company said its rare earths element specialists are currently working across the expanded project area to collect geological data and rock samples.

The initial exploration focus will be on outcrops of Pinto Gneiss and surrounding contact zones. These are believed to host potential rare earths mineralisation.

Rock chip samples collected during this program will be sent for laboratory analysis, with assay results expected in around 5 to 7 weeks.

Dateline said the work will help it better understand the geology of the area and identify potential locations for future drilling.

Managing Director Stephen Baghdadi noted that completing the airborne survey is an important step in the company’s exploration plans.

He added that the data will now be combined with fieldwork to guide the next stage of exploration across the project area.

A closer look at Dateline

Dateline is a mining and exploration company focused on projects in North America.

The company’s flagship asset is the Colosseum Gold-REE Project, located in San Bernardino County, California.

Dateline also holds 100% of the Music Valley heavy rare earth project, which sits in the same broader geological region.

Rare earths elements are considered strategically important minerals due to their use in electronics, renewable energy technologies, and defence applications.

Exploration activity is continuing at the Music Valley project, with assay results expected in the coming weeks.

The post This ASX mining stock just jumped again. Here’s what it announced today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX rare earths stock is rocketing 13% on big news
• Dateline shares surge again after major US rare earths deal

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.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have been on fire in 2026.

In early afternoon trade today, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock are down 0.2%, trading for $31.66 apiece.

Despite that minor dip, Woodside shares remain up a whopping 34.2% since the closing bell sounded on 31 December.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 1.5% year to date.

Taking a step back, shares in the ASX 200 oil and gas stock are up 38.8% since this time last year.

And that doesn’t include the $1.653 in fully-franked dividends the company paid (or shortly will pay) eligible stockholders over the year. At the current share price, this sees Woodside trading on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 5.2%.

But passive income investors could see a significantly juicier dividend yield from the company’s next interim dividend payout. Woodside should be paying its interim dividend in late September or early October, in plenty of time to help pay for those Christmas presents.

Here’s what’s happening.

Woodside shares surging alongside global oil prices

On 31 December, a barrel of Brent crude oil was trading for US$60.85, according to data from Bloomberg.

Today, as the United States and Israeli war with Iran continues to disrupt global oil markets, that same barrel is fetching US$102.97. This sees the oil price up a blistering 69.2% in 2026. And it’s seen investors piling into Woodside shares amid expectations of higher profits and dividends to come.

Now, we’re fervently hoping that the Middle East conflict ends sooner rather than later. An acceptable resolution should see oil prices come back down. There’s no shortage of oil, after all, just a shortage of safe shipping routes.

But if the conflict does drag on, and the oil price remains near or above US$100 per barrel, investors could see a return to the supersized dividends delivered by Woodside shares in 2022 and early 2023.

As you may recall, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the Brent crude oil price rocketed to US$118 per barrel in March of that year, with oil topping US$122 per barrel in June. The oil price remained above US$100 per barrel through August 2022. And it led to outsized profits for ASX 200 energy stocks like Woodside.

And the company wasn’t stingy when it came to sharing the wealth.

On 10 October 2022, Woodside paid a fully-franked interim dividend of $1.60 a share. The company then paid an all-time high final dividend of $2.154 a share on 5 April 2023.

That equates to a full-year payout of $3.754 a share.

At the current Woodside share price, that would equate to a fully-franked yield of 11.9%.

Or more than twice the actual trailing dividend yield Woodside stock is currently trading on.

But then that yield is based on the far lower oil and gas prices the company received in 2025.

Should the oil price remain above US$100 per barrel for much of this year, passive income investors may well see that yield approach the levels they enjoyed three years ago.

The post If the oil price remains above US$100, Woodside shares could be raining dividends before Christmas appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Lifestyle Communities, Perpetual, Reliance Worldwide, and Woodside shares are rising today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here’s why ASX 200 energy shares were the only risers last week
• Oil surges 10% overnight. Here are 2 ASX 200 stocks to watch today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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 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.

ASX mining shares have been the worst hit by the Iran war, with the materials sector falling 14.15% so far this March.

A stronger indicator of the decline is the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM), which has dropped 14.6% this month.

The US and Israel began hitting Iran on 28 February (US time), sending oil prices skyrocketing and ASX shares lower.

As we reported earlier, ASX shares have experienced their steepest fortnightly fall since June 2022, when inflation surged to 6.2%.

Energy is the only riser among the 11 market sectors since the war broke out, while materials is the biggest faller.

The Iran war has caused a global fuel crunch, which has direct implications for mining operations.

Mining companies need fuel to run large machinery and processing plants.

They now face higher fuel costs, and there may be shortages if the conflict continues much longer, potentially impacting production.

There are market impacts, too.

ASX mining shares have been on a tear as Australian investors embrace what appears to be the dawn of a new long-term mining boom.

However, the war in Iran has dampened investor sentiment.

This is potentially prompting some investors holding ASX mining shares to take their impressive short-term profits now.

Lower sentiment is driving a ‘risk-off’ appetite, leading some investors to prefer to ‘wait and see’ before investing further.

Warwick Grigor from mining specialist Far East Capital notes the trend, particularly in relation to ASX gold mining shares, commenting:

After being surprisingly resilient to the fluctuations in the gold price whilst toying with a market correction, the downward movement in many stocks accelerated last week, reflecting a heavy downward shift in sentiment.

Interestingly, the hardest hit stocks were in the gold sector. The doesn’t quite make much sense. Maybe it was profit taking.

Since the war began, the gold price has fallen by 5%, while the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has declined by 20.8%.

Should you buy the dip?

Buying the dip means buying ASX shares that have experienced a share price decline.

Arguably, the best time to buy the dip is when ASX shares have fallen due to poor short-term sentiment, not company-specific issues.

As we’ve reported, Australia appears to be at the dawn of a new mining boom, with 5 key factors driving a new commodities supercycle.

Those five factors are unchanged by the war in Iran. In fact, the war has highlighted the growing importance of several of them.

What’s happening with the major ASX mining shares?

The market’s largest ASX mining share has fallen significantly since the Iran war began.

This month, the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price has decreased by 15.4%.

Today, the BHP share price is $49.42, up 0.47%, but well down on its historical record of $59.39 reached on 3 March.

Bank of America retains a buy rating on BHP shares with a 12-month price target of $68.

Several other brokers rate the mining stock a hold.

Last week, RBC Capital reiterated its hold recommendation on BHP shares and raised its target from $55 to $57.

The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price has fallen 6.3% since the war broke out.

Today, Rio Tinto shares are $156.74, up 1.3%.

Morgan Stanley kept its hold rating on Rio Tinto shares last week and lifted its target from $140 to $146.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price has dropped 7.4% in March so far.

Today, Fortescue shares are $19.59, down 0.5%.

Last week, RBC Capital reiterated its hold recommendation on Fortescue shares and reduced its price target from $23 to $21.

The market’s largest ASX gold mining share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has fallen 33.2% in March, however, company-specific issues have contributed to the dramatic drop.

Today, the Northern Star Resources share price is $20.19, down 2.1%.

Yesterday, Morgans kept its buy rating but reduced its 12-month target from $35 to $30 after the miner’s second guidance downgrade.

The market’s largest ASX lithium mining share, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), has fallen 10.7% since the war began.

The PLS Group share price is $4.64 today, down 2.6%.

Last week, UBS reiterated its hold rating with a $4.95 target, while RBC Capital kept its buy rating and raised its target from $5.20 to $5.40.

The post Should you buy the dip on ASX mining shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Collins Foods, Liontown, and Northern Star shares
• Rio Tinto shares charge higher on big copper news
• Northern Star Resources shares crash 22% in 2 days – These brokers say buy the dip
• Should I invest $2,000 in the VAS ETF?
• Should you buy BHP shares for passive income?

Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are fairly flat in Tuesday lunchtime trade. At the time of writing, the ASX bank stock is down 0.1% to $175.35.

Despite today’s softer share price, CBA stock is still 8.83% higher for the year-to-date and 21.22% higher over the year.

CBA shares spiked over 12% in 48 hours mid-February after the bank posted an unexpectedly-positive half-year FY26 result. Since then, the bank shares have remained in the spotlight but have been relatively stable. 

But I don’t think the latest share price gains will continue. CBA shares are significantly overvalued relative to its peers and aren’t supported by the bank’s core business strength or earnings. 

At the same time, the bank is facing ongoing net interest margin pressure thanks to intense market competition and regulatory changes.

More interest rate hikes could also put even more pressure on banks to compete.

I think CBA shares will suffer more overall weakness this year. In fact, I think CBA shares could possibly crash below $100 in 2026.

The good news is that there is another ASX bank stock that analysts are tipping for huge upside.

The ASX bank shares tipped to soar higher

Analysts expect all the big four banks’ shares to drop in 2026. Data shows that experts think CBA shares carry the most downside risk, with a downside of up to 48.67% at the time of writing. This could see CBA shares tumble down to just $90 a piece.

But the outlook for Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) is another story.

Australian-based Judo Bank provides financial services and lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with annual turnovers of up to $100 million. Its business lending starts at $250,000, and it also offers personal term deposit products and home loans.

The bank was founded in 2016 and received its banking license in 2019, and was listed on the ASX in 2021. So it’s relatively new in comparison to majors like CBA. 

Judo Bank has also had a strong start to FY26. At its latest AGM, it said lending momentum was strong over the first quarter and that it’s confident it can achieve FY26 guidance of $180-$190 million. Guidance was confirmed again when it posted its first-half FY26 results in mid-February.

The bank posted a 32% hike in net profit at $59.9 million. It also confirmed it had delivered “above system growth” in gross loans and advances, with $13.4 billion, up 7% over the half and 15% year on year.

At the time of writing, Judo Bank’s shares are down 0.54% to $1.46 a piece. For the year-to-date, the shares are 18.78% higher, and they’re down 23.05% over the past month alone.

Analysts aren’t spooked, though. The latest strong results announcement suggests the share price plummet is likely due to investors taking their gains off the table after a strong price rally. Judo shares soared over 31% between November and early February this year.

What do the analysts expect next?

TradingView data shows 12 out of 13 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Judo shares. The average target price is $2.25, while the maximum is $2.50 per share over the next 12 months.

At the time of writing, that implies a potential 53.67% to 71% upside for investors.

The post Forget CBA shares, this ASX bank stock is tipped to soar another 70% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should I invest $2,000 in the VAS ETF?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• New to investing? Start with ASX ETFs and quality ASX stocks
• No savings at 50? I’d follow Warren Buffett’s method to build retirement wealth
• 2 ASX 200 shares I’m never selling

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.

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares are 0.41% higher in early-afternoon trade on Tuesday. The uptick means the shares have jumped around 12% over the past week, to $7.28 a piece. 

IAG shares are now 9.01% lower for the year-to-date and 3.2% lower than 12 months ago.

What has happened to IAG shares so far in 2026?

IAG shares have been volatile over the past 12 months, fluctuating between $6.39 and $9.18 per share. 

Most recently, the shares crashed nearly 18% last month. 

There was no price-sensitive news out of the company at the time, so it’s possible the share price decline started with investors taking gains off the table ahead of the company’s first-half FY26 results mid-month.

The company’s half-year FY26 results showed a significant drop in profit. For the six months to 31st December 2025, IAG’s revenue was up 23.3%, but its net profit after tax dropped 35.1%. 

Despite the decline, IAG maintains its FY26 profit guidance of between $1,550 million and $1,750 million. But investor sentiment had already been dented, and the share price continued tumbling to a two-year low of $6.44 in early March.

At the same time, extreme country-wide weather conditions such as bushfires and widespread flooding have created headwinds for the insurance business.

Many have raised concerns about the number of insurance claims and reinsurance costs. And investors are apprehensive about what this might mean for the business.

There isn’t any more price-sensitive news out of IAG to explain the latest turnaround. But analysts reiterated their buy ratings on the stock following the results announcement last month, flagging that the shares are now undervalued and oversold. Perhaps investor sentiment is finally following suit?

And there could be a lot more to come…

Earlier this year, IAG successfully integrated its RACQ Insurance (RACQI) business into its main catastrophe cover and expanded its WAQS arrangements to cover 35% of the consolidated business. 

The company has maintained RACQI’s separate, standalone reinsurance program, which includes quota share and catastrophe protections.

For 2026, IAG’s total catastrophe reinsurance program provides main catastrophe cover for two events up to $10 billion, with an attachment point at $500 million.

And analysts expect that the combined impact of recent catastrophes and broader claims inflation will influence upcoming renewals as insurers manage loss ratios and capital requirements.

This means that if weather conditions normalise or decline, earnings could rebound quickly, potentially leading to higher dividends, a share buyback, and increased investor confidence in IAG shares.

TradingView data shows analysts are very bullish on IAG shares. Out of 11 analysts, 7 have a buy or strong buy rating. The maximum target price is $9.80, which implies a 36.36% upside at the time of writing. 

The post IAG shares jump 12%: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Experts say IAG shares and 2 other stocks are buys at 52-week lows this week
• Brokers re-rate IAG and AMP shares after earnings results

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 having a subdued session on Tuesday and is trading marginally higher ahead of the RBA meeting. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up a fraction to 8,588.9 points.

Four ASX shares that are acting as a drag on the market today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

The New Hope share price is down 5.5% to $5.00. Investors have been selling this coal miner’s shares following the release of its half-year results. New Hope posted a 20.1% decline in revenue to $814.4 million and an 84% decline in net profit after tax to $54.3 million. This was driven by a 20.4% decline in its average realised selling price, its exposure to increased prime overburden movement, and lower non-regular gains. In light of New Hope’s falling profits, the company slashed its fully franked interim dividend to 10 cents per share (from 19 cents per share a year ago).

Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM)

The Pepper Money share price is down 10% to $1.90. This follows an announcement from Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) relating to its takeover approach. The annuities company revealed that it has amended its takeover offer and reduced the offer price from $2.60 per share to $2.25 per share. This is less the final fully franked Pepper Money 2025 dividend of 7.8 cents per share and any special dividend. Challenger notes that the revised proposal represents its best and final offer, in the absence of a superior proposal. Pepper Money’s independent board committee advised that it will consider the revised proposal.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is down 3% to $127.50. This is despite there being no news out of the health imaging technology company. However, it seems that AI disruption concerns are continuing to weigh heavily on the tech sector on Tuesday. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index underperform with a 1.3% decline this afternoon.

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

The Reece share price is down over 2.5% to $14.11. The catalyst for this has been the plumbing parts company’s shares going ex-dividend today for its latest payout. Last month, Reece released its half-year results and declared a fully franked 5.4 cents per share dividend. This will be paid to eligible shareholders next month on 1 April.

The post Why New Hope, Pepper Money, Pro Medicus, and Reece shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Challenger, Meeka Metals, Vulcan Energy, and West African Resources shares are rising today
• Should you buy New Hope shares for passive income today?
• Pepper Money shares plunge 10% after Challenger slashes takeover offer
• Why I invested $3,000 into this great ASX share last week
• Challenger revises Pepper Money bid to $2.25 in latest update

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Challenger and Pro Medicus. 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 fighting to stay in positive territory. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up slightly to 8,588.2 points.

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

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is up 2.5% to $7.87. This follows news that the annuities company has amended its takeover offer for Pepper Money Ltd (ASX: PPM). Challenger has reduced the offer price from $2.60 per share to $2.25 per share, less the final fully franked Pepper Money 2025 dividend of 7.8 cents per share and any special dividend. It notes that the revised proposal represents Challenger’s best and final offer, in the absence of a superior proposal. The company also reminded investors that discussions remain incomplete and there is no certainty that the revised proposal will lead to a transaction. Pepper Money’s independent board committee advised that it will consider the revised proposal.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)

The Meeka Metals share price is up 4% to 17.2 cents. This morning, the gold miner revealed that it is upgrading its processing facilities to unlock ~200ktpa of additional mill capacity. This increases throughput to ~800ktpa. Meeka’s managing director, Tim Davidson, said: “Ore sorting unlocks an additional 200,000 tonnes per annum of milling capacity and effectively doubles the head grade of Andy Well ore entering the plant, delivering a meaningful increase in annual gold production.”

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

The Vulcan Energy share price is up 1% to $3.01. This has been driven by an announcement from the lithium developer which revealed that it has been issued its first lithium production permit for the flagship Lionheart Project. This is the first such licence to be granted in the Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field, and in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Vulcan’s managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: “Securing the first lithium production licence within the Lionheart Project marks another important milestone, and we thank the Mining Authority in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate for their excellent and timely collaboration during this process.”

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)

The West African Resources share price is up 6% to $2.95. This follows the release of the gold miner’s full-year results. West African Resources reported revenue of $1.54 billion and a net profit after tax of $567 million. This was underpinned by gold sales of 280,065 ounces with an average realised price of US$3,525 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of US$1,488 per ounce.

The post Why Challenger, Meeka Metals, Vulcan Energy, and West African Resources shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why New Hope, Pepper Money, Pro Medicus, and Reece shares are falling today
• Why the Vulcan Energy share price is rising today
• Pepper Money shares plunge 10% after Challenger slashes takeover offer
• Challenger revises Pepper Money bid to $2.25 in latest update
• Why is this $3 billion ASX 200 gold stock leaping higher on Tuesday?

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