In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record another gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.8% to 9,088.5 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

The AMP share price is down 30% to $1.21. Investors have been selling this financial services company’s shares following the release of its full-year results. For the 12 months ended 31 December, AMP posted a 20.8% increase in underlying net profit after tax to $285 million. However, statutory profit was down 11.3% to $133 million. Outgoing CEO, Alexis George, commented: “2025 was an important year for AMP with resolution of legacy items and stabilisation of the portfolio. This enabled renewed focus on winning in the segments we play, growing the wealth businesses, and building on the vision to be the place that customers come to plan for a dignified retirement.”

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is down a further 6.5% to $152.97. This biotech giant’s shares have been under pressure since the release of its results and the announcement of a change of CEO. This morning, the team at Bell Potter responded by retaining its hold rating on CSL’s shares with a trimmed price target of $175.00. It said: “We maintain our HOLD recommendation. CSL now trades on an underlying PE of 16.5x in FY27, well below its historical average but remains above the global biopharma avg of ~15x. It faces the daunting prospect of hiring a new CEO to re-invigorate a lacklustre growth outlook in the face of headwinds on multiple fronts.”

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is down 20% to $134.96. This follows the release of the health imaging technology company’s half-year results. Pro Medicus reported a 28.4% increase in revenue to $124.8 million and a 29.7% lift in underlying profit before tax to a record of $90.7 million. This appears to have been softer than some were expecting. Pro Medicus’ CEO, Dr Sam Hupert, said: “Our profits continue to grow strongly even though our biggest implementation during the period in Trinity Cohort 1 went live towards the end of October so had limited impact on the half.”

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The Temple & Webster share price is down 28% to $8.20. Investors have been selling the online furniture retailer’s shares after its half-year results disappointed. The company reported a 19.8% increase in revenue to $375.9 million and a more modest 13% lift in EBITDA to $14.9 million. Management has reaffirmed its FY 2026 EBITDA margin guidance of 3% to 5%.

The post Why AMP, CSL, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster shares are crashing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Temple & Webster shares just crashed 25%. What on earth just happened?
• Are CSL shares a buy after this week’s brutal selloff?
• Pro Medicus shares crash 20% on results day
• Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows
• Pro Medicus interim earnings surge on record profits

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) uranium share Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) is storming higher today.

Paladin Energy shares closed yesterday trading for $12.25. During the Thursday lunch hour, shares are swapping hands for $12.64 each, up 3.6%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.6% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Paladin Energy shares have surged 50.8% over the last 12 months, racing ahead of the 6.3% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

And brave investors who waded in and bought the ASX 200 uranium share on 22 April when it was trading at multi-year lows of $3.98 will currently be sitting on gains of 217.6%.

That’s enough to turn a $5,000 investment into $15,879. In less than 10 months!

Now, here’s what’s grabbing investor interest again today.

ASX 200 uranium share jumps on half-year results

Paladin Energy released its half-year results covering the six months to 31 December (H1 FY 2026) before market open this morning.

As a quick overview, Paladin Energy has a 75% ownership of the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) in Namibia, along with development assets in Australia and Canada.

The ASX 200 uranium share acquired Canadian company Fission Uranium Corp in late 2024. Paladin shares also now trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Over the half year, Paladin sold 1.96 million pounds of uranium from LHM. The company received an average realised price of US$70.5 per pound, generating sales revenue of US$138.3 million.

Amid the ongoing ramp-up of production at LHM, the cost of those sales came to US$112.3 million.

Paladin reported a gross half-year profit of US$26 million, up from a gross profit of US$900,000 in H1 FY 2025.

However, the ASX 200 uranium share still reported a net loss after tax of US$6.6 million. This was driven by the ongoing production ramp-up at LHM, the miner’s business expansion following its acquisition of Fission Uranium (since rebranded Paladin Canada Inc), as well as costs involved with its TSX listing and financing activities.

As at 31 December, Paladin Energy had total unrestricted cash and investments of US$278.4 million, up 213% year on year.

What did management say?

Commenting on the half-year results helping lift the ASX 200 uranium share today, Paladin CEO Paul Hemburrow said, “The first half of the year demonstrated strong and continually improving performance at Langer Heinrich Mine.”

Looking ahead, he added:

With the remaining mining fleet arriving on site, the foundations are now in place to successfully complete our ramp-up at Langer Heinrich Mine during the remaining months of the year.

The post Guess which surging ASX 200 uranium share is leaping higher again today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Paladin Energy shares in focus after uranium sales fuel revenue jump
• These 3 ASX 200 stocks have already soared 20% to 30% in 2026
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Four mining stocks to watch ahead of reporting season
• Why is this ASX uranium stock crashing 30%?

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.

Betmakers Technology Group Ltd (ASX: BET) has confirmed that it was approached by Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH) about a potential takeover of the company.

Betmakers asked for its shares to be placed in a trading halt on Wednesday after the Australian Financial Review published an article suggesting that Tabcorp was considering a takeover bid for its smaller counterpart.

Betmakers said in a short statement to the ASX on Thursday:

BetMakers maintains an ongoing commercial relationship with Tabcorp, supplying wagering technology and content distribution services in support of Tabcorp’s racing and media operations. BetMakers confirms that it was approached by Tabcorp and that preliminary and informal discussions have taken place regarding a potential change of control transaction. While those discussions were at an early stage and highlighted opportunities for BetMakers’ wagering technology products, no formal offer was received and discussions have ceased.

Tabcorp has not made a statement about the discussions.

Betmakers shares fell 15.2% to 19.5 cents after returning to trade on Thursday, while Tabcorp shares were 2.6% lower at 86.7 cents.

Tabcorp is much larger than Betmakers, with a value of $2.03 billion as compared to Betmakers’ value of $258 million.

Business travelling well

Betmakers recently reported positive numbers for the December quarter, with revenue of $22.9 million, up 14.1% on the previous corresponding period, and EBITDA of $2.7 million, a $3 million turnaround.

Betmakers Executive Chair Matt Davey said at the time:

The Q2 FY26 results underscore the consistent performance of the business in the last 12 months, delivering a $3.0 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA compared to the prior corresponding period. This structural improvement, which saw our gross margin expand to 66.4%, is a direct result of our disciplined focus on high-margin, technology-led revenue. Having successfully navigated the transition phase, the Company is now operating from a more resilient financial footing. Our focus is on accelerating growth by leveraging our core technology platform to secure new market leading customers globally.

The company said a key highlight during the quarter was the agreement it signed with global betting brand Stake in December.

The company said regarding the deal:

Under this multi-year contract, BetMakers will provide Stake with its market leading technology solutions, facilitating Stake’s horse racing offering across various international markets. This partnership underscores the strength and scalability of our proprietary technology, as we support a high-volume, global operator in enhancing its product. The deal not only reinforces BetMakers’ position as a preferred racing partner for global operators but also aligns with our strategic focus on high-margin, technology-driven revenue streams that leverage our extensive global racing rights and technology capabilities.

The post Betmakers confirms Tabcorp takeover approach appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 64% in a year, can ASX small cap BetMakers keep rallying?

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 Betmakers Technology Group. 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.

Viva Leisure Ltd (ASX: VVA) shares are up 6.13% on Thursday. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $1.645 a piece. Today’s share price surge follows the company’s half-year results for the period ending 31 December 2025, which were released ahead of market open this morning.

The latest uptick means the shares are now 11.53% higher for the year.

Viva Leisure shares storm higher on results day

Here’s what the Australian health club operator posted this morning:

• Revenue up 17.6% to $116.5 million
• Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) up 46.8% to $8.1 million
• Underlying EBITDA up 20.8% to $25.4 million
• Statutory NPAT up 168% to $5.2 million
• EPS up 173.8% to 5.32 cents

What happened in H1 FY26?

Viva Leisure posted a 17.6% jump in revenue to $116.5 million from $99 million in H1 FY25, driven by continued growth across health clubs and the high-margin TPLR segment.

The company’s TPLR segment was the highest-margin and most scalable growth vector over the first half of FY26. Its revenue surged 44.7% to $9.3 million, now representing 8.1% of group revenue, up from 6.5% in the prior corresponding period (pcp).

The company also revealed a 46.8% surge in underlying NPAT to $8.1 million from $5.5 million in the pcp. 

Underlying EBITDA came in at $25.4 million, up 20.8% from the $21 million posted in the pcp. 

Statutory NPAT was 168% higher at $5.2 million from $2 million in the pcp. Viva Leisure said this demonstrates the company’s “focus on profit conversion”.

“During the period we deliberately shifted capital allocation from physical rollouts toward technology and platform development. TPLR revenue grew 45%, now representing 8.1% of group revenue, and we see this as the best return on investment,” Viva Leisure CEO and Managing Director Harry Konstantinou said.

“Without acquisitions and with just one net new site for the half, the corporate network added over 7,000 members organically – a clear signal that our network optimisation is delivering results.”

What’s ahead for Viva Leisure this year?

The business is optimistic about the outlook for its full-year results. Viva Leisure expects revenue of $237 million in FY26, up from $211.3 million in FY25. 

It also expects statutory EBITDA and underlying EBITDA to come in at $111 million and $53 million, respectively. This is up from $99 million and $45.9 million previously.

The company expects statutory NPAT of $11.5 million for the full year, up from $5.2 million in FY25.

The company said its strategic priorities are focused on converting scale into shareholder returns through continued network optimisation, TPLR expansion (targeting >$28m total TPLR revenue for FY 2027), and disciplined capital management. 

The Board has resolved to recommence an on-market share buyback of up to a maximum of 10% of issued ordinary shares. The buyback will be funded from existing cash reserves and operating cash flows, and will be conducted in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules and the Corporations Act.

The post Viva Leisure shares jumps 6% higher following H1 FY26 result appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Betmakers confirms Tabcorp takeover approach
• Orora shares hit a fresh 12-month high as new buyback announced
• Up 94% in a year, ASX 300 gold stock reports new ‘outstanding high-grade results’
• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX growth shares
• Temple & Webster shares just crashed 25%. What on earth just happened?

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.

Shares in Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) have surged to a new 12-month high on Thursday after the company announced a “robust” profit and a new buyback.

The bottle and packaging maker posted a first-half net profit of $58.9 million, up $58.7 million from what was effectively a breakeven position for the same period last year.

This was achieved on revenue of $1.12 billion, up 9.7%.

Steady as she goes

Orora Managing Director Brian Lowe said it was a “robust operating result for the first half of FY26, underpinned by disciplined execution”.

He added:

In line with our full year guidance, we achieved EBITDA growth across all businesses, reflecting the strength of our operating platform and the benefits of our recent investments and business optimisation actions. Market dynamics and trading conditions vary across Orora’s business segments. Favourable market dynamics in Cans, including the continued consumer preference shift to aluminium and growth in new beverage categories, has supported 11.2% volume growth. Despite softness in premium spirits and wine, disciplined execution supported performance across glass, with Saverglass volumes up 2.6% in the first half primarily driven by tequila and vodka categories.

Mr Lowe said the company was moving from a phase defined by high capital expenditure to a cash generation phase.

He added:

At a group level, with strength in our operating cashflow, cash realisation and balance sheet, and with the major cans capacity expansion completing in FY26, Orora can continue to make meaningful shareholder returns through regular dividends and an ongoing on‑market buy‑back. We enter the second half with confidence and a clear execution agenda.

The company said on Thursday that its previous share buyback had bought back $227.4 million worth of shares, or 8% of the issued capital in the company.

Orora has announced it will refresh that share buyback to purchase up to another 10% of the company’s stock, worth about $270 million.

The company said regarding the outlook, it remained largely unchanged, with growth in EBITDA and cash flow expected for all business units.

Orora shares surged on the news, trading 8.6% higher at $2.39.

Jarden analysts had a look at the results and said in a note to clients on Thursday that it was “better than feared”.

They said the earnings were largely in line with consensus, while core earnings per share were slightly ahead of consensus.

Orora will pay an unfranked interim dividend of 5 cents per share, in line with the same period last year.

The post Orora shares hit a fresh 12-month high as new buyback announced appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Orora earnings: robust half-year profit growth and outlook
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• These two packaging majors are tipped to return better than 25%

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

S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) gold stock Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) is actively drilling for gold across several core Western Australian-based projects.

Amid a series of successful exploration results, investors have sent Black Cat shares soaring 94.4% over the past year, smashing the 6.3% 12-month returns delivered by the benchmark index.

Of course, Black Cat has also enjoyed heady tailwinds from the surging gold price. The yellow metal hit record highs notched in late January and is currently fetching US$5,097 per ounce. This puts the gold price up more than 52% over 12 months.

Here’s what’s happening today.

ASX 300 gold stock hits new high-grade zones

The Black Cat share price is down 1.4% in late morning trade today, at $1.40 a share, despite the miner announcing new high-grade assay results from its 100% owned Paulsens Gold Operation.

The ASX 300 gold stock is continuing to target both Resource growth and optimisation of production areas at Paulsens, with underground diamond drilling ongoing.

This morning, the miner reported that extensional drilling in the upper Main Zone at Paulsens has returned “significant results” outside the current Resource.

Among the top results, Black Cat reported intercepting 5.06 metres at 14.33 grams of gold per tonne from 15.1 metres from one hole. While another hole returned 5.36 metres at 7.25g/t Au from 10.33 metres and 2.37 metres at 15.66g/t Au from 35.38 metres.

Drilling at Paulsens is ongoing, with Black Cat planning to add a second rig at the site to accelerate the extensional drilling program.

What did management say?

Commenting on the latest results that have yet to lift the ASX 300 gold stock today, Black Cat managing director James Bruce said, “Paulsens continues to deliver outstanding high-grade results across multiple lodes, outside the current Resource, clearly demonstrating the potential for ongoing growth as drilling continues.”

Bruce added:

Importantly, high-grade results like these are driving strong operational performance as production ramps up and development accesses new areas. With a second rig planned and mine development progressing well, we are exceptionally well positioned to continue unlocking value from Paulsens.

These results reaffirm our confidence in both the near-mine opportunity and the long-term potential of this high-grade, historically prolific gold system.

Is it too late to buy this surging ASX 300 gold stock?

With the Black Cat share price up more than 94% in 12 months, has the ship already sailed on this surging ASX 300 gold stock?

Not according to the analysts at Moelis Australia.

Moelis recently reaffirmed its speculative buy rating on Black Cat shares with a $1.80 price target. That represents a potential upside of almost 29% from current levels.

The post Up 94% in a year, ASX 300 gold stock reports new ‘outstanding high-grade results’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this surging ASX 300 gold stock is forecast to keep on giving
• ASX gold shares go crazy as gold price rips toward US$5,000 on Friday
• Considering ASX small-cap gold shares? Expert advice on how to decide
• The government is looking to stockpile antimony – these four companies can help you gain exposure

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.

Do you have $10,000 to put into the share market and a penchant for ASX growth shares?

If you do, then it could be worth considering the three named in this article that brokers rate as buys. Here’s why they could be top picks:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

The first ASX growth share to consider is Breville Group. It sells kitchen appliances, which is a category that many investors assume is mature. But Breville’s edge lies in how it treats appliances as premium, design-led products rather than commodities.

The company has spent years building brand loyalty in key global markets, particularly North America and Europe. Once consumers buy into the Breville ecosystem, repeat purchases and word-of-mouth do much of the heavy lifting. That brand-led approach allows the company to command higher prices and protect margins.

In addition, Breville has built a very strong position in the at-home coffee market, which continues to grow at a strong rate. Combined with the rest of the business, Breville could be well-placed for growth over the next decade and beyond.

Citi currently has a buy rating and $36.03 price target on Breville’s shares.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Another ASX growth share to consider is NextDC. It sits behind the scenes of the digital economy. Its data centres provide the physical infrastructure that cloud platforms, enterprises, and governments rely on to store and move data securely.

What makes NextDC interesting from a growth perspective is that demand does not arrive evenly. Large contracts tend to come in waves as customers scale up capacity or enter new regions. That can make short-term results look uneven, even while the long-term trajectory remains intact.

As data usage, cloud adoption, and AI workloads continue to grow, the need for secure, well-located data centres is unlikely to fade. NextDC’s expanding footprint positions it to benefit as customers’ infrastructure requirements become larger and more complex.

Macquarie is bullish on this one and has an outperform rating and $22.30 price target on its shares.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

A final ASX growth share to look at is Telix Pharmaceuticals. It develops radiopharmaceuticals used in cancer diagnosis and treatment, combining biotechnology with specialised manufacturing and distribution.

What sets Telix apart is that it is transitioning from a development-stage business to a commercial one. As products move from approval into wider clinical use, revenue can scale quickly without the need to reinvent the underlying platform each time.

This creates a growth profile that is tied more to clinical adoption and market penetration than traditional economic cycles. For investors, that introduces volatility, but it also offers exposure to a part of healthcare where innovation can translate directly into earnings growth.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $23.00 price target on its shares.

The post Where to invest $10,000 in ASX growth shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Breville shares fall despite a result brokers have welcomed
• Breville Group posts record half-year sales and lifts dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• The ASX 200 shares I’d be comfortable holding in an SMSF
• Macquarie shares taking off today as assets under management top $736 billion

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie 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.

Shares in Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) have been absolutely smashed on Thursday.

At the time of writing, the Temple & Webster share price is down a brutal 25.49% to $8.45 following the release of its half-year results.

That leaves the stock down around 40% since the start of 2026, wiping out a huge chunk of its recent gains.

Let’s dive into what Temple & Webster actually reported that triggered such a heavy sell-off.

Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows

Temple & Webster reported H1 FY26 revenue of $376 million, up 20% on the prior corresponding period. Management said growth accelerated through the half, with revenue up 20% year-on-year from 1 January to 9 February.

Active customers climbed 14% to 1.4 million, while repeat customers now account for 62% of total orders. Revenue from exclusive products increased to 49% of total revenue, up from 45% a year ago.

EBITDA came in at $13.5 million, or $14.9 million excluding New Zealand start-up costs, representing a margin of around 4%.

So why is the share price crashing today?

The issue appears to come down to margins and expectations.

Despite strong top-line growth, delivered margin declined slightly to 30.5%. While marketing costs improved as a percentage of revenue, investors may have been hoping for stronger operating leverage at this stage of the cycle.

Temple & Webster reaffirmed its FY26 EBITDA margin guidance of 3% to 5%. While that range remains unchanged, it suggests profitability will stay relatively modest compared to the company’s long-term ambitions.

There was also a sharp decline in net profit before tax, which fell 28% to $7.4 million. Depreciation and amortisation increased materially during the half, impacting the bottom line.

Balance sheet remains strong

Temple & Webster ended the half with $161 million in cash and no debt. The company generated $23 million in free cash flow and continues to run an on-market share buyback.

Management reiterated its medium-term target of reaching $1 billion in annual revenue and said it remains on track.

It is also worth remembering that Temple & Webster has historically traded on a premium earnings multiple. With expectations already running high, even a small miss was enough to spark heavy selling.

Foolish takeaway

Today’s 25% plunge shows just how sensitive high-growth retail stocks can be to any hint of margin pressure.

Temple & Webster is still growing revenue at a healthy rate and building market share. However, with the share price already down around 40% this year, investors are clearly demanding stronger evidence of margin expansion and bottom-line growth.

The post Temple & Webster shares just crashed 25%. What on earth just happened? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows
• 3 of my high-conviction ASX 200 share picks for February
• 3 ASX stocks poised to ride Australia’s renovation wave
• 2 ASX shares that could be overdue for a new year jump
• 2 excellent ASX All Ords stocks I’d buy today

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

I think it is fair to say that CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have been having a difficult time of late.

Due to the release of a soft half-year result and the shock exit of its CEO the day before, the biotech giant’s shares have crashed to multi-year lows.

Is this a buying opportunity for investors? Let’s see what Bell Potter is saying about the struggling blue chip.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter was not overly impressed with CSL’s performance during the first half, highlighting that the key CSL Behring business weighed on its results. It said:

Key call outs from the various segments include: (1) Ig sales down -4% on pcp and 5% below VA consensus, resulting in a reduction to our full-year Ig sales growth to +3%. (2) Behring gross margin was effectively flat and guided to minimal, if any, increase [for] the full-year FY26. A return to pre-Covid GM for Behring is looking slower and more difficult with each passing result.

(3) Seqirus was a positive surprise following US market share capture and launches into Germany and France; (4) Vifor nephrology sales was a positive surprise, albeit benefited by TDAPA tailwinds lasting to Dec 2026; and (5) Iron sales continue to decline and are unlikely to turnaround in the face of active generic competition in the EU and looming competition in the US.

Are CSL shares good value yet?

According to the note, the broker thinks investors should be keeping their powder dry for the time being.

In response to the results, Bell Potter has retained its hold rating on CSL shares with a reduced price target of $175.00 (from $195.00).

Though, based on its current share price of $154.53, this implies potential upside of 13% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its hold recommendation, Bell Potter said:

The reduction to forecasts lowers our DCF valuation, while we have reduced the PE multiple from 17x to 16x considering the worsening earnings growth outlook and uncertainty around FY26 guidance. The net effect is a 10% reduction in PT to $175 from $195.

We maintain our HOLD recommendation. CSL now trades on an underlying PE of 16.5x in FY27, well below its historical average but remains above the global biopharma avg of ~15x. It faces the daunting prospect of hiring a new CEO to re-invigorate a lacklustre growth outlook in the face of headwinds on multiple fronts.

The post Are CSL shares a buy after this week’s brutal selloff? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Beach Energy, CSL, and Pro Medicus shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why ASX, CSL, GQG, and Meteoric Resources shares are sinking today
• CSL shares crash 12% on half-year results and shock CEO exit
• Here’s everything you need to know about CSL’s upcoming dividend

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

Shares in Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) have fallen on Thursday after the company delivered record first-half revenue, with the effort also applauded by brokers.

The appliance manufacturer said in a statement to the ASX on Thursday that first-half revenue had come in at $1.09 billion, up 10.1% on the previous corresponding period, while net profit was up just 0.7% to $98.2 million.

The company also boosted its interim dividend by 1 cent to 19 cents, fully franked.

Management spruiks solid result

Breville Chief Executive Officer Jim Clayton said the company had performed well in challenging times.

He went on to say:

Breville delivered 10.1% revenue growth, another record half, while executing two transformative programs simultaneously – driving the manufacturing diversification of our 120-volt portfolio and leaning into the front edge of our enterprise-wide AI program.  Coffee continued to lead, delivering double-digit revenue growth. Our new product development pipeline again contributed materially to performance, with strong launches across espresso and cooking. Beanz continued its rapid growth trajectory, scaling across four countries with the infrastructure and processes now proven to support further growth.

Mr Clayton said the company’s newest markets – Mexico, China, the Middle East, and Korea – “collectively grew over 50%, further validating geographic expansion as an important growth lever”.

Mr Clayton added:

What differentiates this half is the deliberate acceleration of our AI transformation. We’re implementing AI enterprise-wide, across every function, at pace. This is Phase IV of Breville’s evolution—not a point solution or pilot program, but a multi-layered, systemic transformation. We’re building this capability internally with our own team, and I am personally training every office, globally, because organisational readiness matters as much as technology readiness.

Mr Clayton said the company also had an improved net debt position despite challenges such as having to pay $42 million in US tariffs.

On the outlook, the company said it expected earnings for the full year to be slightly ahead of FY25, “given the magnitude of the US tariff increases that the group’s value chain is absorbing”.

Brokers like what they see

Jarden analysts ran their ruler over the results and said it was a “solid result overall”, with FY26 guidance “a touch ahead” of consensus.

Jarden said their view was that FY26 was a transition year for the company, with FY27 shaping up to be a double-digit earnings growth year.

RBC Capital Markets said the result was broadly in line with market expectations.

They added:

We expect today’s result to be taken positively by the market, with the provision of guidance enhancing visibility on tariff impacts and largely de-risking the near-term earnings outlook.

Breville shares were 2% lower at $32.74 by mid-morning.

The post Breville shares fall despite a result brokers have welcomed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Breville Group posts record half-year sales and lifts dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 2 ASX 200 shares that could be top buys for growth
• What the stronger Australian dollar means for your shares
• 3 no-brainer ASX shares to consider buying now with just $100

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.