The Australian share market has been under pressure recently as global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions weigh on investor sentiment.

Market pullbacks can feel uncomfortable. But they also create opportunities to buy high-quality companies at lower prices.

After the latest slide in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), a few standout businesses are starting to look increasingly attractive to long-term investors.

Here are 3 ASX shares I believe could offer compelling value right now.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is currently up 0.58% to $83.90.

Despite today’s modest rise, the accounting software company remains well below its previous highs. The stock has fallen over the past year as investors rotated away from high-growth tech companies.

That pullback may be creating an opportunity.

Xero operates one of the world’s leading cloud accounting platforms for small and medium-sized businesses. Its software allows companies to manage invoicing, payroll, payments, and financial reporting through a simple online interface.

The business has built a strong presence across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, while continuing to expand in North America.

What makes Xero particularly attractive is its growing ecosystem. Beyond accounting software, the platform integrates with a wide range of financial tools and business applications, making it increasingly embedded in customers’ day-to-day operations.

With millions of subscribers already on the platform, Xero still has significant room to grow globally.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is currently up 2.06% to $145.15.

CSL is one of Australia’s most successful healthcare companies and a global leader in biotechnology.

The company develops and manufactures treatments for serious diseases, including immune disorders, haemophilia, and respiratory conditions. Its products are used by patients in more than 100 countries.

Despite its strong global position, CSL shares have struggled over the past year and are now trading near multi-year lows.

A range of factors have weighed on the stock, including higher plasma collection costs and operational pressures across parts of the business.

However, long-term demand for CSL’s therapies remains strong as healthcare needs grow worldwide.

If earnings growth begins to accelerate again, the current valuation could prove very attractive.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is currently up 6.58% to $140.15.

Pro Medicus develops medical imaging software used by hospitals and healthcare providers around the world. Its flagship Visage platform enables clinicians to quickly and efficiently view and analyse complex imaging data.

The company has built a reputation for winning large contracts with leading healthcare institutions, particularly in the United States.

Although Pro Medicus shares surged in recent years, the stock has come under pressure in 2026.

That weakness could represent an opportunity for investors focused on healthcare stocks.

The post After the ASX 200’s latest slide, I spy bargain shares! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows I’d buy before they recover

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 CSL and Xero. 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 Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are a lot of ASX 200 shares to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s see what analysts at Investor Pulse are saying about three, courtesy of The Bull.

Is it bullish, bearish, or something in between?

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)

The expert is tipping this broadband provider as an ASX 200 share to buy now.

It was pleased to see operational leverage starting to emerge and appears to support management’s recent M&A deals. It said:

This telecommunications company continues to build a credible long term growth case as it pushes further into scale and diversification. First half group revenue of $637.8 million in fiscal year 2026 was up 8.4 per cent compared to the prior corresponding period. Underlying EBITDA of $74.7 million grew 13.5 per cent. We’re impressed with the operational leverage beginning to emerge.

ABB recently acquired AGL Energy’s, telecommunications business, adding an estimated 350,000 broadband services and mobile connections to ABB’s customer base. It recently entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Nexgen Investment Group, a provider of advanced business communication solutions. The deals strengthen ABB’s small-to-medium sized enterprise business offering.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN)

This ASX share has been rated as a sell by the expert. While it concedes that Harvey Norman’s dividend yield remains appealing, it believes its shares are now fully valued after a material re-rating over the past 12 months. It said:

Much of the operational recovery now appears reflected in the retail giant’s share price. Fiscal year 2025 results and early fiscal year 2026 trading updates confirmed solid aggregated sales growth, aided by an improving UK performance and continuing strength in Europe.

Yet after a material re-rating over the past year, we see limited room for positive surprises. Competition in the consumer electronics category is intense. While the dividend yield remains appealing, consumer discretionary sector headwinds leave valuation multiples looking extended, in our view.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Finally, Wesfarmers has been named as a hold by the expert. It likes the resilience of the ASX 200 share, but not its valuation. It said:

Despite the recent market turbulence, we continue to hold this industrial conglomerate, reflecting group resilience amid consistency among its core retail divisions. The recent first half result for fiscal year 2026 reinforced our view, with statutory net profit after tax of $1.603 billion up 9.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Bunnings and Kmart Group sustained sales momentum by leaning into their low price positioning at a time when household budgets remain under pressure.

Wesfarmers chemicals, energy and fertiliser division has also become a more meaningful contributor, helped by firmer lithium prices and the ramp up of the Covalent Lithium refinery, which is now producing battery grade lithium hydroxide.

The post Expert gives its verdict on 3 popular ASX 200 shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband and Wesfarmers and is short shares of Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Pioneer Credit Ltd (ASX: PNC) recently upgraded its full-year profit outlook, and what made it even more impressive was that it was the second profit upgrade the company has announced in under a month.

The strong upgrades have caught the eye of the team at Shaw and Partners, which has a bullish share price target for the company.

More on that later, let’s see what the company has recently announced.

Strong operating results

Back on February 18, when the company announced its first-half results, it pulled its first upgrade out of the hat.

The company reported revenue of $47.7 million, up 5% on the previous corresponding period, and a net profit of $10.2 million, which was slightly more than double the same period in FY25.

At the time, and reflecting what the company said was “strong performance”, it upgraded its profit outlook for the full year by $2 million to at least $20 million.

Managing Director Keith John said at the time:

At the beginning of FY25 we outlined a clear pathway to our FY26 guidance. By the end of FY25 we were ahead of those expectations, and this momentum has continued. 1HY26 Statutory NPAT exceeded the full FY25 result, reflecting strong strategy execution and delivery on our commitment to shareholders. We are pleased to upgrade our FY26 Statutory NPAT guidance to at least $20m.

The company, which says it is in the business of “ethical debt recovery”, had cash collections of $71.4 million for the first half, up 1%, and EBITDA of $51.5 million, up 7%.

Then, just last week, the company upgraded its full-year outlook again to a net profit of at least $23 million.

The company said regarding that upgrade:

The increase reflects the material repricing of both the company’s $272.5m Senior Finance Facility and its $55.5m medium term notes (MTN), together with the company’s solid operating performance, where 1HY26 Net Revenue was up 5% of the previous half year. These structural improvements materially strengthen Pioneer’s earnings profile and capital structure. The MTN repricing delivers approximately $1.75m per annum in pre-tax interest savings. When combined with the repricing of the Senior Facility, total cash interest savings of $2.02m will be realised in 2HY26, with annualised savings of approximately $4.63m from FY27 onwards.

Shares looking cheap

The team from Shaw and Partners said the company was demonstrating to investors that it could deliver in three key areas: cash collections, debt purchases, and free cash flow.

The Shaw team added:

PNC is the only debt purchaser in Australia with agreements in place with all four big banks. Debt recovery is a duopoly with high barriers to entry at the large end of the market. Service providers need established, compliant reputations and financial capacity. It could take perhaps a decade to build a market position that rivals PNC.

Shaw has a price target of $1 on Pioneer shares, compared with 67.5 cents currently.

The post Up more than 80% in 12 months, there’s still upside for this ASX finance company: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Successful long-term investing often comes down to finding businesses that can keep expanding for many years.

The best ASX growth shares usually have large addressable markets, strong competitive advantages, and business models that become more powerful as they scale. 

When those ingredients come together, the result can be impressive earnings growth over time.

While no investment is guaranteed to succeed, there are a number of ASX shares that I think have the potential to deliver strong long-term growth.

Here are three that stand out to me.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

Hub24 has become one of the most impressive growth stories in the Australian financial sector, in my opinion.

The company operates a wealth management platform used by financial advisers to manage client portfolios. Over the past decade, it has steadily taken market share from larger incumbent providers by offering a more modern, technology-driven platform.

What makes Hub24 particularly attractive is the structural tailwind behind its business. The wealth management industry is gradually shifting toward professionally advised portfolios and more sophisticated investment platforms.

As that shift continues, Hub24 has positioned itself as a key beneficiary. Its funds under administration have grown rapidly in recent years, and net inflows remain strong as advisers increasingly adopt its platform.

If that momentum continues, I think Hub24 could still have a long runway for growth.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

DroneShield is a very different type of growth opportunity.

The company specialises in counter-drone technology designed to detect and defeat hostile drones. As drones become more widely used in both military and civilian environments, the need for effective countermeasures is increasing.

DroneShield has built a strong reputation in this emerging industry thanks to its radio frequency detection and counter-drone solutions. Its technology is already being used by defence organisations and security agencies around the world.

Defence spending is rising globally, and many governments are prioritising technologies designed to counter drone-based threats. If that trend continues, DroneShield could find itself operating in a rapidly expanding market.

For investors willing to accept a bit more volatility, it could represent a high-growth opportunity.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 has built the world’s most widely used family safety platform, with almost 100 million monthly active users.

Its core app allows families to stay connected through location sharing, driving safety features, and emergency alerts. Over time, the company has expanded the ecosystem to include hardware products and additional services designed to keep families safe.

What stands out to me about Life360 is the scale it has already achieved. Millions of families globally rely on the platform, creating a powerful network effect.

As the company converts more of those users into paying subscribers and introduces new services, revenue per user and annual recurring revenue have the potential to increase significantly over time.

With a large and growing user base and multiple monetisation opportunities, Life360 could have massive long-term growth potential.

Foolish Takeaway

Finding ASX shares with long-term growth potential often means looking for businesses that are still expanding into large markets.

Hub24 is benefiting from structural growth in the wealth management industry, DroneShield is positioned in a rapidly evolving defence technology sector, and Life360 is building a global family safety platform.

If these companies continue executing their strategies, they could deliver magnificent growth over the years ahead.

The post 3 ASX shares to buy for magnificent long-term growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in DroneShield and Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Hub24, and Life360 and is short shares of DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you have $5,000 ready to invest, targeting companies with strong growth potential can be a smart strategy.

Large blue-chip stocks usually deliver steadier returns, but smaller growth companies can generate much bigger gains if their business momentum accelerates.

Right now, there are a couple of ASX growth stocks operating in sectors with powerful global tailwinds that could deliver significant upside over time.

Both of these businesses are benefiting from long-term industry trends and could see their valuations climb substantially.

Let’s take a closer look.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is currently up 4.55% to $10.35.

EOS develops advanced defence technologies, including remote weapon systems (RWS), counter-drone capabilities, and laser-based defence solutions.

These products are becoming increasingly important as governments around the world ramp up defence spending amid rising geopolitical tensions.

The company recently secured new RWS orders worth around $17 million, adding to an order book that was previously reported at about $459 million. This provides strong visibility over future revenue.

EOS also finalised a $100 million funding facility, which management says will support growth initiatives and working capital as the business scales.

From a technical perspective, the EOS share price has been extremely strong over the past year. The stock has surged more than 760% over the last 12 months, reflecting renewed investor confidence after a difficult period.

Momentum remains positive, though the relative strength index (RSI) currently sits around 66, indicating the stock is nearing overbought territory.

Key support appears near $8.50 to $9, while a sustained break above the $11 resistance level could open the door to further gains.

If defence spending continues rising globally and EOS converts its contract pipeline into revenue, the company’s share price could have significant upside.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price is up 1.52% to $8.03 today.

Megaport operates a global network-as-a-service platform that allows businesses to connect to cloud providers and data centres on demand. As more companies shift workloads to the cloud, demand for flexible connectivity continues to grow.

Recent results highlighted strong underlying growth. The company reported annual recurring revenue of $338 million, up 49% year on year, while revenue for the half rose 26% to $134.9 million.

Management also highlighted new products and acquisitions that are expanding Megaport’s addressable market across networking, compute, and artificial intelligence infrastructure globally.

Despite these strong fundamentals, the Megaport share price has fallen significantly over the past year and remains well below previous highs.

Technically, the stock appears to be stabilising after a prolonged downtrend. The RSI is sitting around 37 and nearing oversold territory.

Support appears around $7.50, while a move above the $9.50 resistance level could signal the beginning of a stronger recovery trend.

Foolish Takeaway

Growth investing always comes with risks, but EOS and Megaport both operate in industries benefiting from strong long-term trends.

If EOS keeps securing defence contracts and Megaport executes its cloud growth strategy, today’s share prices could look very cheap in the future.

The post Got $5,000? 2 top ASX growth stocks to buy that could double your money appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems and Megaport. 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 Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price has risen 25% since news of its proposed merger with Barrenjoey broke.

Magellan announced the deal last Monday, and by the end of the week, one of Australia’s wealthiest families had taken a 5.1% stake.

Any investor who holds a 5% stake or more is considered a ‘substantial holder’, and their purchase must be formally disclosed to the ASX.

According to the ASX lodgement, the Lowy family purchased 9.35 million Magellan shares through a trust on Friday.

The Lowy family paid just over $79 million for their Magellan shares.

That shakes out to an average $8.45 per share, which was the offer price in the $130 million institutional capital raise completed last week.

The Lowy family has confirmed their participation, with Steven Lowy describing Magellan post-merger as ‘a sound long-term investment’.

Who is the Lowy family?

The Lowy family is best known for founding the global shopping centre corporation, Westfield.

Bilionaire Frank Lowy built the business up to become one of the world’s largest retail empires.

Frank Lowy’s son, Steven Lowy, is a principal of the family’s private investment business, Oryxium, and its family office.

Steven Lowy told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) that the family had a long history as a Magellan investor.

Steven Lowy said:

We also have long-standing relationships with the senior team at Barrenjoey and have followed their progress since its establishment.

We have taken the opportunity to become a cornerstone shareholder in MFG with immediate effect through the placement this week, as we believe the merged entity would be a sound long-term investment.

What’s the latest news about the merger?

Magellan has set a date for the shareholders’ vote on the Barrenjoey merger.

It will take place at an extraordinary general meeting on Friday, 10 April.

Following the institutional capital raise, Magellan will now conduct a $20 million Share Purchase Plan (SPP) for ordinary investors.

The SPP will open on Thursday, with SPP booklets to be dispatched to retail investors tomorrow.

Shareholders can apply for a maximum of $30,000 worth of new Magellan shares at the same offer price of $8.45.

The SPP will close at 5pm (Sydney time) on Wednesday, 25 March.

In a letter to shareholders attached to the EGM notice, Magellan chair Andrew Formica said:

As a founding investor, MFG has participated in the strong growth of Barrenjoey over its first five years.

This Merger sets the foundation for future growth and enhanced MFG economic participation.

History between Magellan and Barrenjoey

Magellan gave Barrenjoey $150 million in seed capital before its launch in 2020, and currently owns a 36% stake.

The boutique investment bank is the brainchild of co-executive chairs Matthew Grounds and Guy Fowler OAM.

Grounds and Fowler sensationally left global investment bank UBS to start up Barrenjoey.

Barrenjoey’s current and founding CEO, Brian Benari, was previously CEO of Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) for seven years.

The Magellan board unanimously recommends that investors vote in favour of the merger and the issue of new shares to pay for it.

Magellan expects to complete the merger in 4Q FY26.

Magellan share price snapshot

The Magellan share price is $10.48, down 2.3% on Tuesday.

The Magellan share price has been on struggle street since 2021.

That was the year Magellan lost the St James Place mandate, worth about 12% of its revenue at the time, as well as its co-founder and chief stock-picker, Hamish Douglass, who resigned for health reasons.

Magellan’s funds under management have fallen from $113 billion in July 2021 to $40 billion today.

In July 2021, the Magellan share price was about $50.

Over five years, the Magellan share price has crumbled by 73%.

The post Lowy family buys into Magellan after merger news pushes share price 25% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Magellan Financial 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 Challenger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Technology shares have had a rough period recently as investors reassess valuations and the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the sector.

But history shows that selloffs in high-quality tech businesses can often create opportunities for long-term investors.

With that in mind, here are three ASX tech stocks that brokers continues to rate as buys.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The first ASX tech stock that could be a buy is WiseTech Global.

WiseTech develops software used by freight forwarders, logistics companies, and global supply chains. Its flagship CargoWise platform helps customers manage everything from customs compliance to shipment tracking across international trade networks.

Logistics is one of the most complex industries in the world. As global trade grows and supply chains become more digital, the demand for sophisticated software platforms continues to rise.

WiseTech’s strategy has also included acquiring smaller software providers around the world and integrating their capabilities into CargoWise. Over time, this has expanded the platform into a comprehensive operating system for global logistics.

If the company continues to execute on this strategy, it could remain a major technology provider to the global freight industry for many years.

Morgans is bullish on WiseTech and has a buy rating and $83.80 price target on its shares.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Another ASX tech stock that could be a buy is Life360.

Life360 operates a family safety and location-sharing platform that allows users to stay connected with family members. While the core service began as a simple location app, the platform has evolved into a broader safety ecosystem.

The company now offers services such as crash detection, emergency dispatch, and digital driver reports. These features have helped Life360 convert more of its large user base into paying subscribers.

Importantly, the company still has millions of active users who use the platform for free. This provides a large pool of potential future subscribers as Life360 continues introducing new services and features. In addition, it has an advertising business which is able to leverage its troves of data to monetise its free users.

As digital safety services become more important for families, the company has a long growth runway.

Last week, Morgan Stanley put an overweight rating and $50.00 price target on Life360’s shares.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

A final ASX tech stock that could be worth considering is Xero.

Xero provides cloud-based accounting software to small and medium-sized businesses. Its platform allows companies to manage invoices, payroll, and financial reporting through a simple online interface.

The company has built a strong presence in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and continues to expand its reach in North America.

What makes Xero particularly interesting is its growing ecosystem. Beyond accounting, the platform connects with a wide range of financial services, payment systems, and business applications.

This ecosystem approach makes Xero increasingly embedded in the day-to-day operations of its customers. As businesses adopt more digital tools, platforms like Xero can become central to how companies manage their finances.

UBS currently has a buy rating and $174.00 price target on Xero’s shares.

The post 3 ASX tech stocks that brokers rate as buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

I view Warren Buffett as one of the world’s greatest investors, leading Berkshire Hathaway to be one of the world’s largest businesses through numerous good investment decisions. While he hasn’t invested in many ASX shares, I’m using his advice to put money to work in the Australian stock market.

The legendary investor from Omaha delivered an average return of around 20% per year for decades by focusing on long-term investing in businesses that had strong compounding potential and were good value.

It’s during periods of uncertainty when the most attractive prices appear. Warren Buffett has provided timeless advice for investors who are uncertain about what to do.

Warren Buffett’s advice

One of the shortest quotes from Warren Buffett may be the most applicable to the current situation.

He said:

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.

It’s hard to get that mentality (and timing) right all of the time, but I think it’s a good idea to buy when prices have dropped and be more cautious when the share market is booming.

There’s another quote that I really like which Warren Buffett said it regards to buying hamburgers at the supermarket. Don’t let a good discount go to waste.

To refer to a personal taste of mine, I’m going to buy hamburgers the rest of my life. When hamburgers go down in price, we sing the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ in the Buffett household. When hamburgers go up in price, we weep. For most people, it’s the same with everything in life they will be buying — except stocks. When stocks go down and you can get more for your money, people don’t like them anymore.

I get excited when share prices go lower, which is why I’ve put my money into certain ASX share investments in the last few weeks.

I’m buying ASX shares

Motley Fool’s trading rules mean I can’t disclose what I’ve bought this week. But, last week I did purchase some Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) shares as a non-tech growth investment.

I’ve also shared some ideas of names that I’d be excited to buy right now (but haven’t yet) such as Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW), Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA) and Global X S&P World Ex Australia GARP ETF (ASX: GARP).

Ultimately, I’m looking for names that I’m expecting earnings to grow significantly in five and ten years from now because that’s what will drive the share price higher, regardless of what happens in March (or even 2026). When you buy a growing business, it doesn’t matter as much if we don’t manage to invest at the lowest valuation level. Its underlying value will increase at a pleasing pace over time.

I don’t know whether Warren Buffett has made any investment decisions in March, but I’d like to think he’d be supportive of being brave during this period. There are plenty of opportunities out there right now.

The post I’m following Warren Buffett’s advice and buying ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Guzman Y Gomez, Temple & Webster Group, and Tuas. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Berkshire Hathaway and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Berkshire Hathaway 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.

What a difference a week can make. Last Monday, shares of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) were riding high, minting a fresh new record high of $59.39 and clocking a 12-month gain of over 50%. Not bad for one of the largest shares on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). BHP stock is in a very different position today.

Sure, the mining giant is in full recovery mode this Tuesday, up a healthy 2.7% at the tie of writing. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that BHP is still down by double-digits from last Monday’s high. Yep, at $51.42 a share at present, BHP has lost 13.1% over the past eight days.

This has been an exceptionally wild ride for any ASX investor who owns the Big Australian in their ASX portfolios. More so than most other ASX blue chip shares. To illustrate, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price has dropped by just 0.4% since last Monday. Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX :WOW) is down by about 3.8%, while Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) has drifted 1.15% lower.

With this in mind, many ASX investors might be wondering why BHP stock has born so much of the sell-off brunt over the past week. This is particularly beguiling, given that BHP divested most of its energy assets years ago, so, at least in theory, is somewhat insulated from the oil supply fears that have so rattled markets over the past week.

Well, it’s hard to know for sure what has gotten the bees in investors’ bonnets with BHP stock. But I’m guessing it comes down to a handful of factors.

Why has BHP stock plunged 13% since Monday?

Firstly, BHP stock arguably had a lot of empty air under it a week ago. As we’ve already touched on, the stock had topped out after an incredible run in recent months. But BHP’s profits are always subject to rapid change, given the company’s underlying reliance on volatile commodity prices.

It was probably primed for a correction anyway, and the rapid change in the global geopolitical environment no doubt helped trigger that correction.

Secondly, the argument can be made that, although BHP wasn’t directly in line to be impacted by oil supply shock, it was still highly vulnerable to its consequences. For one, fuel inputs like diesel form a massive part of BHP’s cost base. It takes a lot of fuel to drive the mining equipment and transportation infrastructure that allows BHP to ship its iron ore and run its copper mines. A potential disruption to its fuel supply would be catastrophic for the miner.

Further, the largest customers of the oil and oil by-products that come out of the Strait of Hormuz are in Asia. Particularly India and China. These countries are some of BHP’s largest customers. And if steel mills and refineries in China lose access to energy, one of the first companies they will call to cancel shipments of raw materials like iron ore and copper would probably be BHP.

So with this in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise to see BHP shares lose so much value over the past week. Let’s see if today’s recovery can go the distance.

The post Own BHP stock? Here’s why the miner is down 13% in a week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are missing out on the market rebound on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the supermarket giant’s shares are down 2.5% to $20.56.

This compares to a 1.2% gain by the ASX 200 index this afternoon.

Why are Coles shares underperforming?

Today’s decline has been driven by the company’s shares trading ex-dividend.

When a share trades ex-dividend, it means new buyers are no longer entitled to receive the company’s next dividend payment.

In Coles’ case, it has just gone ex-dividend for its latest fully franked interim dividend of 41 cents per share.

Because new buyers will not receive that upcoming dividend, the share price often falls by roughly the value of the dividend when the stock goes ex-dividend. That is why investors commonly see a decline in a company’s share price on the ex-dividend date.

Shareholders who owned Coles shares before the ex-dividend date will still receive the dividend even if they sell their shares today.

The Coles dividend

Last month, Coles released a solid first-half result. For the 27 weeks ended 4 January 2026, the company reported group sales revenue of $23.6 billion, representing growth of 2.5% year on year.

Earnings also improved on an underlying basis. Group EBIT excluding significant items increased 10.2% to $1.23 billion, while underlying net profit after tax rose 12.5% to $676 million.

However, statutory net profit after tax fell to $511 million, reflecting significant items related to a Federal Court judgment linked to earlier Fair Work Ombudsman proceedings.

The strong underlying earnings growth was largely driven by the company’s supermarkets division. Sales revenue in that segment increased 3.6% to $21.4 billion, while EBIT climbed 14.6% thanks to continued sales momentum and improved operational efficiency.

Online sales were also a highlight, with supermarkets eCommerce revenue increasing 27% during the half.

This ultimately allowed Coles to increase its fully franked interim dividend by 10.8% from 37 cents per share to 41 cents per share.

When is payday?

Eligible shareholders won’t have to wait long until payday comes around. The company intends to make its payout later this month on 30 March.

After that, according to a note out of Bell Potter, a fully franked 34 cents per share final dividend is expected in August, bringing total dividends to 75 cents per share in FY 2026.

Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and $22.35 price target on Coles’ shares.

The post Why are Coles shares sinking today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.