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ASX 200 tech shares closed 1.39% higher on Thursday, mid the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), hitting a new record high.

Today is a rare bright spot for tech shares after a prolonged rout that has devastated the sector.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen by more than 40% over the past six months.

By comparison, US tech stocks are still travelling reasonably well, although some big players have seen dramatic recent drops.

The NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX) is up 6.5% over the past six months, but down 1.4% in the year-to-date (YTD).

Among the index constituents recently smashed are Aussie investor favourite Palantir Technologies Inc. shares, down 24% YTD.

Let’s dig deeper.

What’s driving the tech share downturn?

Investors are worried about how the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution will impact various industries and businesses.

Firstly, there’s concern about US tech stock valuations after strong earnings growth pushed them higher last year.

Investors are also worried about AI capex commitments.

State Street Investment reports that the Mag 7 is expected to spend up to US$520 billion this year, up 30% from 2025.

The Mag Seven stocks all rose in 2025, but all of them have fallen YTD.

The worst performers are Microsoft Corporation shares, down 17%, and Amazon.com Inc., down 11%.

ASX ETF Global X Fang+ ETF (ASX: FANG), which includes the Mag 7 plus three others, is down 14% YTD.

A recent new concern is whether AI will simply wipe out software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies.

If agentic AI and generative tools can custom-write software, what does that mean for proprietary SaaS products?

We saw this fear play out in early February after Anthropic released a legal software plug-in for its Claude AI model on 30 January.

Since then, the share price of Thomson Reuters Corp, owner of Westlaw and legal research tools, has fallen 24%.

Other NASDAQ 100 SaaS companies have also taken a dive.

Atlassian Corporation Plc shares are down 31%, Workday Inc. stock is down 18%, and Adobe Inc. shares are down 10%.

ASX SaaS shares that have taken a beating over this period include accounting services provider Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO).

The Xero share price has fallen 15% since 30 January and is down 57% over the past 12 months.

Shares in enterprise software provider TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) have dipped 4% since 30 January and 22% over the year.

Is there any way to leverage the tech rout for gains?

According to Tony Locantro from Alto Capital, there sure is.

This month, Locantro put a buy rating on Global X Ultra Short Nasdaq 100 Complex ETF (ASX: SNAS).

This ASX ETF allows investors to profit from the tech share rout, but Locantro warns it is best used as a short-term play.

He explains why (courtesy The Bull):

SNAS provides leveraged inverse exposure to the Nasdaq-100, typically rising by about 2 per cent to 2.75 per cent for every 1 per cent fall in the index on a daily basis.

With US technology valuations recently elevated and market leadership increasingly narrow, this ETF offers a tactical hedge against short term weakness in growth equities.

Locantro says the SNAS ETF is designed for short-term positioning and can be affected by compounding if held for extended periods.

However, during heightened volatility or sharp corrections, Locantro says downside moves in the Nasdaq “can translate into meaningful gains”.

The post ASX ETF to buy now amid global tech share downturn appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs to target if you anticipate a tech turnaround 
• Why are ASX 200 tech shares down 43% in six months?
• Why I think this ASX tech share sell-off is a great time to invest
• 2 ASX ETFs I’d buy amid the AI sell-off

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 Adobe, Amazon, Atlassian, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, Technology One, Workday, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Amazon, Microsoft, Technology One, and Workday. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price is in focus as the mining giant delivered its full-year results, reporting revenue of US$57.6 billion (up 7%) and a 9% rise in underlying EBITDA to US$25.4 billion.

What did Rio Tinto report?

• Revenue rose 7% to US$57.6 billion
• Underlying EBITDA increased 9% to US$25.4 billion
• Net profit attributable to owners fell 14% to US$10.0 billion
• Underlying earnings were stable at US$10.9 billion
• Net cash from operating activities up 8% to US$16.8 billion
• Ordinary full-year dividend maintained at US$6.5 billion (60% payout ratio)

What else do investors need to know?

Rio Tinto delivered an 8% uplift in copper equivalent production, supported by the completion of the Oyu Tolgoi underground copper mine and ongoing ramp-up in Pilbara iron ore. Record annual bauxite production and a strong showing from the aluminium segment also contributed to performance, while the recent Arcadium Lithium acquisition expanded the group’s footprint in battery minerals.

The company continues to emphasise operational discipline and cost control, achieving a 5% reduction in unit costs (in 2024 real terms). However, overall net profit declined versus last year, reflecting higher tax, increased depreciation with new projects online, and the integration of lithium assets. The group ended the year with net debt of US$14.4 billion, primarily from the Arcadium deal.

What’s next for Rio Tinto?

Looking ahead, Rio Tinto maintains production and capital investment guidance consistent with its medium-term strategy. The company is targeting a sustained increase in copper equivalent production of 3% CAGR to 2030, supported by ongoing investments in major iron ore, copper, aluminium, and lithium projects across its global portfolio.

Decarbonisation remains a priority, with progress towards its 2030 Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction targets. Management also highlighted plans to unlock further value via asset sales and portfolio optimisation, while keeping shareholder payouts at the top end of the target range.

Rio Tinto share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Rio Tinto share have risen 38%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Rio Tinto FY25: Higher revenue, stable dividend as growth projects ramp up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Rio Tinto FY25: Higher revenue, stable dividend as growth projects ramp up
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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 positions in and has recommended Block, Hub24, and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24, IPH Ltd , and Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) hit a fresh all-time high, up almost 200% from their lows over the past 12 months, after the company delivered a solid set of first-half results and a profit outlook upgrade.

The diversified mining services company said in a statement to the ASX on Thursday that its revenue came in at $2 billion for the half, up 19.5% compared with the previous corresponding period, while net profit was 40.8% higher at $72.8 million.

NRW said that during the half, it successfully acquired and integrated the Fredon business – a national provider of electrical, mechanical infrastructure, technology, and maintenance services – and had now incorporated its results into its own figures.

The company said the growth in revenue was driven by strong performance in its civil and MET division, which supplies a diversified range of mining services, while revenue in the mining division was down due to the completion of several projects.

 The company added:

Looking ahead, Civil is well positioned, supported by a robust tender pipeline, sustained demand from tier‑one miners and major infrastructure programs emerging across Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. Additionally, the outlook for Civil’s Urban development business in Queensland remains strong. Mining continues to benefit from favourable market and weather conditions, including growing opportunities in gold, copper and battery metals, and a solid base of long‑term contracts that underpin stable volumes and disciplined capital returns. MET is building on its strong first‑half performance, with notable tender activity, expanding national and international opportunities, and continued investment in innovation. Our newest division, EMIT, through Fredon, is set for strong growth as demand accelerates across data centres, health, aged care, defence and renewables.

Outlook looking good

NRW said it had an order book of $7.5 billion across the group and was bidding on $9.2 billion in future tenders.

The company said it ended the half with $342.4 million in cash.

NRW managing director Jules Pemberton said it was a solid result.

I am delighted to present a very strong set of financial results for the first half of FY26, reflecting the strength of our diversified business model and the disciplined execution of key projects delivered across the Group. We have delivered earnings growth and a strong cash performance while positioning NRW to benefit from a broad range of future opportunities. Following the successfully executed acquisition of Fredon, I have been very impressed by the business and the people that make up that business, and I see significant upside opportunities from their exposure to several growth sectors including data and defence.

The company declared a fully franked dividend of 8.5 cents per share, up from 7 cents for the same period last year.

The company also upgraded its full-year EBITDA guidance to $275-$285 million, up from $260-$265 million previously.

NRW shares were 8.5% higher on Thursday at $6.11 after hitting an all-time high of $6.57 earlier in the day. The shares have almost tripled from lows of $2.21 they hit during the past 12 months.

The post NRW Holdings shares hit all time high on solid profit results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why this ASX 200 stock is rising after landing major new contracts

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.

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is $53.50, up 2.3% amid the ASX 200 reaching a new record high today.

The materials sector, incorporating mining stocks, is up 1.3% as earnings season continues on Thursday.

BHP pleased the market this week after reporting a 28% profit increase to US$5.64 billion for 1H FY26.

For the first time, copper delivered more than half the miner’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).

BHP’s copper operations contributed record underlying EBITDA of US$8 billion, representing 51% of total EBITDA.

The miner raised its fully-franked interim dividend by 46%, and will pay investors 73 US cents per share on 26 March.

On the same day, BHP also announced a US$4.3 billion silver streaming agreement.

As a result of all this positive news, the BHP share price lifted to a near all-time high of $54.20 on results day.

The BHP share price record is $54.55, set in mid-2021.

Following the 1H FY26 report, brokers have reviewed their ratings and 12-month price targets for the BHP share price.

Let’s see what has changed, and what has stayed the same.

Brokers review ratings on BHP shares

Bank of America reiterated its buy rating on BHP shares and raised its 12-month price target from $57 to $60.

Morgan Stanley also maintained its buy rating but cut its price target from $56.50 to $55.50.

Ord Minnett retained its buy rating on BHP shares and lifted its price target from $51 to $54.

RBC Capital reiterated its hold rating and lifted its BHP share price target from $51 to $55.

Macquarie reiterated its hold rating and lifted its price target from $51 to $52.

UBS maintained its hold rating but bumped up its price target from $47 to $52.

Citi also kept its hold rating on BHP and raised its price target from $48 to $52.

Morgans maintained its hold rating on BHP and raised its target slightly from $48.60 to $49 per share.

The broker said the silver streaming deal offset last month’s revelation of a US$1 billion cost blow-out on the Jansen potash project build.

Morgans commented:

A strong copper-driven 1H26 result, but the highlight was a savvy deal monetising Antamina’s silver stream for value equal to consensus valuation of the entire asset.

Earnings quality continues to step forward, maintaining robust operational and cost performances across the portfolio.

Injecting >US$6bn cash in H2 more than offsets Jansen.

The post BHP share price lifts amid brokers re-rating the miner post-results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. 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.

When ASX 200 shares fall sharply, it is easy to assume something is broken.

But sometimes the opposite is true. The share price may be weak, yet the underlying business continues to expand, win customers, and lift guidance.

Three ASX growth shares that fit this description right now are listed below. All have pulled back heavily from their highs despite their latest updates suggesting operational momentum remains firmly intact.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Life360’s share price volatility hasn’t stopped the company from delivering record operating performance.

In its latest update, the company revealed monthly active (MAU) users climbed to 95.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. This represents 20% year-on-year growth, with full-year net additions of 16.2 million users. In addition, Paying Circles reached 2.8 million, marking the strongest annual subscriber additions on record.

Revenue for FY2025 is expected to grow approximately 31% to 32% year-on-year, with adjusted EBITDA margins around 18% to 19%.

But it won’t stop there. Management is guiding to 20% MAU growth in 2027. This will take it close to 115 million users.

That combination of accelerating user growth, improving monetisation, and expanding profitability hardly points to a company in decline. While sentiment toward growth stocks has softened, Life360’s core metrics continue to trend higher.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Lovisa has seen its share price retreat materially today following its results release, but the business itself continues to expand at pace.

The jewellery retailer is steadily increasing its global footprint, pushing deeper into North America and Europe while maintaining strong momentum in established markets. Store rollout remains central to the strategy, and management has demonstrated an ability to execute across diverse regions.

Even in a tougher retail environment, Lovisa has maintained healthy margins and strong cash generation. The company’s model benefits from fast product cycles, vertical integration, and tight inventory control.

A business that can keep growing store numbers, lifting revenue, and expanding internationally despite macro uncertainty suggests resilience beneath the surface. The share price weakness appears more reflective of market caution than deteriorating fundamentals.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne’s recent guidance update paints a particularly confident picture.

The company upgraded its FY 2026 profit before tax growth guidance to 18% to 20% and expects annual recurring revenue growth of 16% to 18%. Importantly, management explicitly stated that it does not “guide up unless we can see it in the numbers.”

Furthermore, the company highlighted the momentum of its SaaS+ model and AI-driven product enhancements as key growth drivers. This is not a business struggling to find its footing. It is one lifting its long-term growth outlook.

Despite this, the share price remains well below previous highs following the broader tech selloff.

The post These ASX 200 shares look stronger than their share prices suggest appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Lovisa shares are getting hammered on a profit miss, but is the stock still a buy?
• Why Goodman, Lovisa, Medibank, and Zip shares are falling today
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360, Lovisa, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Lovisa, and Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

After a few strong runs last year, some ASX 200 shares have given back a chunk of their gains. For those who missed earlier rallies, this pullback could offer a second chance.

Recent weakness appears to reflect softer market sentiment rather than a shift in business fundamentals. If the company’s growth outlook remains unchanged, lower prices may present an attractive entry point.

Here are 3 names that have sold off recently but could offer upside if conditions improve.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

The Aristocrat share price has dropped about 6% over the past week. It is currently around $49.92, down 1.46% today.

The gaming technology group earns revenue from land-based gaming machines as well as digital and online content. While recent results disappointed some investors, the company continues to generate solid cash flow and operates across global markets.

Broker commentary remains positive. Bell Potter recently highlighted the strength of its core land-based business and ongoing digital growth. Several broker price targets sit well above the current share price, suggesting upside potential over the next year if earnings recover.

However, there are risks. Gaming activity can slow during weaker economic periods, and regulatory changes can weigh on performance. If earnings stabilise, the current valuation may look more compelling.

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

Light & Wonder shares have fallen about 14% over the past week. Although the stock is slightly higher today at $141.35, it remains well below recent levels.

The company operates across gaming machines, digital gaming content, and social casino platforms. This mix of revenue streams can help reduce reliance on any one segment.

On another positive note, a recent legal dispute has now been resolved, removing uncertainty that had weighed on the share price.

Some analysts believe the recent sell-off may have been excessive. If earnings growth continues and margins hold steady, the shares could recover. Although competition in global gaming markets remains strong, and volatility is likely to continue.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 shares have fallen around 10% in the past week. The stock is modestly higher today at $24.13.

The company operates a family safety and location platform used by millions worldwide. It generates revenue mainly through subscriptions and is working to increase average revenue per user over time.

The share price has been volatile, reflecting broader weakness across technology stocks. Recent updates, however, showed continued user growth and improving earnings.

Some brokers remain positive, pointing to the expanding subscription base and improving margins. If the company continues converting free users into paying customers, revenue growth could stay solid.

But keep in mind, sentiment can shift quickly. Investors should be prepared for sharp moves in either direction.

The post 3 out of favour ASX 200 shares that could be worth a look today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These ASX 200 shares look stronger than their share prices suggest
• Why these buy-rated ASX shares stand out to me
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• Why are ASX 200 tech shares down 43% in six months?

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 Life360 and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s been a very good day indeed for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the Australian share market more broadly. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 has lifted by a confident 0.95% to just under 9,100 points after hitting a new all-time record high of 9,118.3 points during intraday trading. It’s been an even better day for Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares, though.

Telstra shares closed at $4.96 each yesterday afternoon, an unremarkable price for anyone who has been watching this ASX 200 telco over the past six months. But what has been remarkable is Telstra’s journey today.

The telco opened at $5.02 this morning before rising up as high as $5.26 a share. Not only is that a new 52-week high for Telstra, but the highest its stock has traded at since way back in early 2017, just before the infamous dividend cut that Telstra implemented later that year. Yes, Telstra shares are at a nine-year high this Thursday. It’s been a long time coming for investors. At the time of writing, Telstra shares have cooled off a little, but are still up a comfortable 4.44% at $5.18 each.

But why is this telco making such a dramatic move today?

Well, investors can thank the telco’s latest earnings, which were released this morning before market open.

What’s pushing Telstra shares to a nine-year high today?

As we covered earlier today, there wasn’t much to not like in what Telstra reported for the second half of 2025. The telco revealed that its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation after leases (EBITDAaL) came in at $4.2 billion for the half, an increase of 4.9% from the same period in 2024. Cash earnings were $2.5 billion, a 14% rise. On an earnings per share (EPS) basis, Telstra reported EPS of 9.9 cents per share, a rise of 11%. Cash EPS was 14 cents per share, up 20%.

That helped Telstra report a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.2 billion, up 8.1% on the previous period.

This profit enabled Telstra to announce an interim dividend of 10.5 cents per share for the period, a healthy 10.5% increase over last year’s interim dividend of 9.5 cents per share. The telco has also expanded its ongoing share buyback program. After buying back $637 million worth of stock over the back half of last year, Telstra has increased its buyback cap from “up to $1 billion” to “up to $1.25 billion” going forward.

All of these measures are probably pulling their weight in lifting Telstra shares to their new highs this Thursday. But the guidance that Telstra provided wouldn’t be hurting matters either.

Telstra has told investors to expect underlying earnings (EBITDAaL) of $8.2 to $8.4 billion for the full 2026 financial year. If that does occur, it would represent a tangible jump from the $8.02 billion Telstra reported for FY 2025.

ASX investors like dividend hikes and share buybacks, but they love certainty. Telstra has delivered all three today, so it’s arguably no surprise to see the shares break new ground.

The post Telstra shares just hit a 9-year high. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why it’s a great time to buy these ASX 200 shares in these rocky times

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

It has been a difficult start to 2026 for Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) shareholders.

After releasing its half-year results on Wednesday, the insurer’s share price fell 4.38% to close at $15.28.

Today, the stock has edged higher and is trading around $15.42, up 0.92%.

Even with that rebound, Suncorp shares remain down about 12% this year amid concerns about the company’s earnings and outlook.

Profit slumps after heavy weather losses

For the half, Suncorp reported net profit after tax (NPAT) of $263 million. That is a significant drop from $1.1 billion in the same period last year. Cash earnings came in at $270 million, down from $828 million a year ago.

The main reason for the decline was higher natural hazard costs. Suncorp said it dealt with 9 major weather events during the half, including severe storms and hail. Natural hazard costs totalled $1.31 billion, which was well above its allowance.

Net incurred claims rose 23.4% to $5.48 billion. At the same time, investment income fell to $259 million from $374 million last year, partly due to market impacts from higher yields.

Despite the earnings pressure, some underlying metrics remained solid.

Gross written premium increased 2.7% to $7.69 billion. The underlying insurance trading ratio was 11.7%, which sits within the company’s target range of 10% to 12%.

Chief Executive Steve Johnston said higher natural hazard costs and weaker investment returns hurt profits, though the underlying business performance remained resilient.

Dividend reduced as earnings fall

Suncorp declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 17 cents per share, equal to 68% of cash earnings for the half. That is down from 41 cents in the prior corresponding period.

The company also completed $168 million of its on-market share buyback and continues to target around $400 million in buybacks across FY26.

Suncorp ended the half with capital above the midpoint of its Common Equity Tier 1 target range, supporting balance sheet flexibility despite elevated claims costs.

Management expects gross written premium growth to be at the lower end of the mid-single digit range for the full year.

What the brokers are saying

Broker reaction has been mixed following the result.

Macquarie upgraded Suncorp shares to outperform, pointing to solid underlying margins despite elevated catastrophe costs.

However, several brokers reduced their price targets.

Morgan Stanley cut its target to $17.01. Barrenjoey lowered its target to $18, and Jefferies trimmed its target to $17. Citi lifted its target slightly to $18.90 and upgraded the stock to outperform.

With shares trading around $15.40, most broker targets still imply upside.

Are Suncorp shares undervalued?

At current levels, Suncorp is trading on a reduced earnings base after a difficult half.

If natural hazard costs ease and investment returns improve, earnings could recover in the second half. However, recent years suggest extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, adding uncertainty to forecasts.

After falling 12% in 2026, the shares may appear cheaper on forward metrics. But the outlook remains closely tied to weather patterns and market conditions.

The post Down 12% in 2026, are Suncorp shares undervalued? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• ANZ Group posts $1.94b cash profit as costs drop in 1Q26

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.

Healthcare shares are 1.8% higher on Thursday as earnings season continues and the ASX 200 sets a new record.

Sector heavyweight Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) is pushing healthcare higher after revealing an 11% profit increase in 1H FY26.

The Sonic Healthcare share price rocketed 14% to an intraday high of $24.14 per share earlier in trading.

Meantime, brokers have reviewed the results of three other sector giants to determine whether they are a buy, hold, or sell.

Let’s check them out.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price is $200.14, up 1.15% today and down 28% over the past 12 months.

This ASX 200 healthcare share was smashed on results day and continues to suffer this week.

The Cochlear share price reached a 3-year low of $197.10 today.

Morgans reviewed the hearing implant company’s results:

The 1H26 result was softer than expected, with revenue, margins and profit negatively impacted mainly on longer than anticipated contracting for the newly launched Nucleus Nexa system (Nexa).

Soft Cochlear Implants (CI) growth mis-matched sales, reflecting unfavourable emerging market mix and delayed developed market momentum, while Services was flat and Acoustics surprised to downside on increased competitive pressures.

While Nexa adoption accelerated late in the half and management maintained FY26 guidance, but now is targeting the lower end of the range, it increases reliance on a strong 2H recovery which appears optimistic, especially in light of flat GM and FX headwinds.

The broker retained its hold rating but reduced its 12-month share price target on Cochlear to $214.93.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $153.62, up 0.57% today and down 42% over 12 months.

Like Cochlear, this ASX 200 healthcare share was beaten up on results day, when the company also revealed its CEO’s resignation.

The healthcare sector’s largest company fell to a 7-year low of $149.85 per share on Monday.

On The Bull this week, Christopher Watt from Bell Potter Securities put a hold rating on CSL shares.

Watt commented on CSL’s results and outlook:

This plasma and vaccines giant reported revenue of $US8.3 billion in the first half of 2026, down 4 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

Underlying net profit after tax and amortisation (NPATA) of $US1.9 billion, excluding restructuring costs and impairments, was down 7 per cent.

The company has maintained full year guidance, with revenue forecast to increase between 2 per cent and 3 per cent and NPATA between 4 per cent and 7 per cent at constant currency. 

CSL trades below its historical price/earnings ratio and peers. Longer term product pipelines remain attractive. 

Following the results, Bell Potter cut its price target on CSL from $195 per share to $175 per share.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is $127.95, up 4% today and down 57% over 12 months.

The ASX 200 healthcare share sank to a 2-year low of $113.67 on Monday.

Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities has a sell rating on Pro Medicus shares.

Gable commented:

This medical technology business is one we have successfully traded on several occasions during the past few years.

However, since mid-2025, we have stayed away from expensive technology companies, such as PME, due to negative market sentiment.

Pro Medicus reported revenue from ordinary activities of $124.8 million in 1H FY26, an increase of 28.4%.

Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) lifted 29.7% to $67.3 million.

Despite these increased earnings, Gable said the healthcare share was “severely punished” on results day.

He commented:

Perhaps, the result fell short of market expectations.

The shares have fallen from $330.48 on July 17, 2025 to trade at  $132.86 on February 12, 2026.

The shares may fall further if sentiment doesn’t improve. 

The post Buy, hold, sell: CSL, Pro Medicus, Cochlear shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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