Tag: Stock pick

It’s been another brutal start to the week for this ASX financial stock. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares slipped another 6.2% to $1.48 at the time of writing.  

That pushes its total year-to-date loss to a staggering 55%.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) has lost 3.9% so far this year.

Modest profit projections

The pain isn’t new — over the past 12 months, Zip has been battered by market headwinds, regulatory scrutiny, and investor jitters.

The half-year results released last month triggered the biggest single drop, with the ASX financial stock tumbling 34% on concerns about modest profit projections.

Zip is a homegrown fintech innovator, best known for its buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) offerings. It allows customers to split purchases into interest-free installments, while offering merchants faster access to cash and analytics on spending behavior.

The platform has been widely adopted by Australian consumers, but rising competition and a cooling economy have put pressure on growth and margins.

Increasing revenue per user

Despite the rough patch, Zip isn’t standing still. Management of the $2 billion ASX financial stock is focused on expanding its product suite beyond core BNPL offerings, including digital wallets, credit products, and business financing.

The goal is to increase customer engagement and revenue per user. The company is trying to address the very concern that spooked investors during the half-year results — namely, the pace of profit growth.

One of Zip’s key strengths is its brand recognition and tech infrastructure. The platform has millions of users and a growing merchant network, which creates a network effect that competitors find hard to replicate.

By leveraging this base, Zip has the potential to cross-sell new services and diversify revenue streams, potentially driving a recovery in both earnings and investor sentiment.

Consumer debt concerns

That said, risks remain for the ASX financial stock. The fintech sector is under regulatory scrutiny, and BNPL players have come under the microscope amid concerns over consumer debt.

Rising interest rates and tighter credit conditions could further dampen adoption and usage. With the share price of the ASX financial stock sitting near 12-month lows, any stumble in execution or softer-than-expected earnings could prolong the decline.

What next for the ASX financial stock?

From a valuation perspective, Zip now trades at a significant discount relative to its historical highs, which could make the ASX financial stock attractive to long-term investors willing to ride out volatility. If management can successfully execute on its growth initiatives and reassure the market about profit trajectory, there’s room for a strong rebound.

Analysts are optimistic, noting that the company’s technology, brand, and customer base are durable competitive advantages. Even if near-term earnings remain challenged.

The average price target is $4.21. That’s about 184% upside — nearly triple its current share price. 

The post Down 55%! Can this ASX financial stock stage a major comeback? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Are these battered ASX financials stocks finally bouncing back?
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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) share price is sinking on Monday, falling 4% to 12 cents.

The latest drop leaves Star Entertainment shares down more than 30% in 2026, extending what has already been a brutal year for the embattled gaming group.

Despite today’s major update, investors are still heading for the exits.

Here’s what appears to be driving the sell-off.

New debt package removes immediate funding pressure

According to the release, Star Entertainment has entered a binding refinancing commitment with WhiteHawk Capital Partners.

The 3-year debt facility is worth US$390 million (roughly A$550 million).

The new funding will fully refinance the group’s existing debt and provide extra cash to keep the business running.

The 3-year term includes an annual interest rate based on the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR), plus a margin consistent with recent lending agreements. Quarterly repayments will begin on 31 March 2027.

The agreement also sets strict liquidity requirements.

The company must keep at least $50 million in available cash during the first 12 months after financial close. That rises to $75 million between months 12 and 18, and then $100 million after that.

It also includes minimum asset coverage and EBITDA tests starting in late 2026 and early 2027.

The refinancing still depends on final finance documents, regulatory approvals, and completion of the sale of its interest in the Destination Brisbane Consortium.

Management said it is working to complete the deal by 15 May 2026 to meet the conditions tied to the lender waiver announced in February.

Why the share price is still falling

The market’s reaction suggests investors are looking beyond the refinancing itself and focusing on what happens next.

While the new funding gives the company more breathing room, it does not fix the bigger problems still hanging over the business.

Star Entertainment is still dealing with weak trading conditions, ongoing regulatory pressure, and the fallout from past compliance failures across its casino operations.

The structure of the deal may also be contributing to the weakness.

This type of rescue financing often comes with tighter lender controls, higher borrowing costs, and strict financial targets that must be met over time.

That leaves less room for further weakness in earnings or cash flow.

After several liquidity scares over the past 18 months, investors now seem to be waiting for proof that management can steady revenue, protect cash, and rebuild confidence under the new debt structure.

Foolish bottom line

Today’s refinancing removes the most immediate funding threat and gives the business a clearer path through the next 3 years.

But the share price reaction shows investors are looking beyond short-term survival.

The bigger question now is whether management can improve trading conditions and meet the tougher financial targets built into the new debt package.

The post This beaten-down ASX stock just secured a $550 million lifeline. So why is it falling? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why 4DMedical, Brainchip, Catapult, and Star Entertainment shares are falling 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 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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are a popular option for investors.

It isn’t hard to see why this is the case.

Australia’s largest bank is widely regarded as one of the highest quality banks in the world.

In addition, CBA shares have a strong track record of delivering outsized returns for investors.

But right now, according to The Bull, experts think investors should be taking profit and putting their money into a beaten down exchange traded fund (ETF).

Let’s see what it is recommending.

Sell CBA shares

Sanlam Private Wealth fears that higher interest rates could impact credit growth for CBA.

And given its premium valuation, it thinks this could make it a good time to reduce exposure to the bank. It explains:

The bank is a quality company and a staple in investor portfolios. It has established a strong track record of performance over many years. The company delivered a 5 per cent increase in statutory net profit after tax in the first half of fiscal year 2026. However, the dividend yield was trading below 3 per cent on March 26, so better income is available elsewhere.

The conflict in Iran suggests a possibly slowing global economy likely to impact credit growth in Australia’s higher interest rate environment. CBA is trading at a premium to peers, so it may be time to consider reducing exposure in this volatile environment.

Buy this ASX ETF

Catapult Wealth is very positive on the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC) after a heavy share price decline.

This week, the wealth management firm named the tech-focused fund as a buy. It thinks artificial intelligence (AI) disruption fears are overdone, explaining:

This exchange traded fund invests in Australian technology companies. ATEC has experienced a material pullback alongside the broader Australian technology sector, creating an attractive entry point for long term investors. Share prices in several of its key constituents, including Xero, WiseTech Global, Pro Medicus and REA Group, have fallen significantly despite stable earnings trajectories and ongoing revenue growth across the sector.

Market concerns surrounding artificial intelligence disruption appear overdone, in my view, particularly given the high costs of switching software platforms. Despite weaker sentiment, fundamentals are largely intact. In our view, an appealing opportunity exists to gain exposure to high quality Australian technology names through ATEC.

The post Forget CBA shares and buy this ASX ETF: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Well, the hopes of investors for a smooth and prosperous 2026 that many harboured at the start of this year are looking increasingly precarious as we approach April. With the ongoing and perhaps escalating war in the Middle East, investors are bracing for ongoing fallout in their ASX share portfolios.

This war has already delivered a severe and perhaps unprecedented energy shock, which is what happens when 20% of the global oil supply is effectively shuttered overnight. By many accounts, even if the war ends tomorrow, the energy shock will persist for some time. And if it doesn’t end in the next few weeks, that shock could get even worse.

This all puts ASX investors in a tricky position. Almost no ASX share outside the energy sector is completely immune from the deleterious effects of sharply higher oil costs. Oil and its derivatives, including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and plastics, are inputs into the production of most every good and service one can think of. Not to mention the primary input of transport.

So, putting all of this together, how should investors build a defensive portfolio in 2026 that is capable of riding out this brewing storm?

Building a defensive ASX share portfolio in 2026

It might be tempting to take a look at what’s happening in the Middle East and go out and buy ASX energy stocks. Or even energy-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like the BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF (ASX: FUEL). Otherwise, investors might be tempted to sell ASX shares and buy that famous ‘safe-haven asset’, gold.

I’m not doing any of that though.

Yes, energy shares are the one sector that is shining right now. However, energy prices are famously volatile. If this energy shock begins to choke the growth of the global economy, there is a good chance that oil prices come off the boil and fast. Recessions tend to see demand for energy collapse, as we saw back in the global financial crisis. No one knows if or when this dynamic could play out. As such, I would equate buying ASX energy shares right now to gambling.

Instead, I would continue to invest as I always do – by looking for ASX shares that possess some kind of economic moat that can protect them from inflation, high energy prices, or a recession. The best companies tend to possess at least one form of moat. That could be a cost advantage (i.e. providing a good or service at consistently lower prices than competitors), or else selling a good or service that customers find difficult to avoid using.

Moats are your ASX share portfolio shield

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) are two examples of companies that possess such a moat. Telstra offers vital telecommunications services to Australians with the nation’s superior mobile network. Many customers simply have to use Telstra for mobile and internet, given it covers parts of the country that competitors do not. Higher energy costs and lower economic growth will not change this dynamic.

In Woolworths’ case, yes, its costs are set to rise significantly with higher energy bills. But, given we all need to eat and stock our households with life’s essentials, most of us will continue to shop there if it remains the cheapest and most convenient place to do so.

As such, I would ensure my ASX share portfolio is only occupied by these sorts of companies that offer some kind of moat that can protect their profits from external threats.

A final note on cash

Normally, I don’t hold a lot of cash in my portfolio, besides a prudent rainy day safety net. I also don’t sell ASX shares just because the market is in a downturn. However, I think as a short-term investment, cash is abnormally attractive right now. Interest rates are high, and might continue to rise. Indeed, you can apply for a term deposit with an interest rate above 5% today. A safe 5% return is not a bad way to put your surplus cash to work in an environment so rife with uncertainty as this.

The post How to build a defensive ASX share portfolio in 2026 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are plenty of ASX shares for investors to choose from.

To narrow things down, let’s see what analysts are saying about three popular shares, courtesy of The Bull. Here’s what they are recommending:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The team at Sanlam Private Wealth is positive on mining giant BHP and has named it as a buy this week.

It believes recent share market volatility has created an opportunity for investors to snap up the Big Australian’s shares at an attractive price. It explains:

The current volatility presents investors with an opportunity to buy this global miner at attractive prices. The recent BHP announcement of Brandon Craig replacing the retiring Mike Henry as chief executive is a good appointment. Craig was responsible for the company’s Americas business, and that’s where the growth is likely to come from in the medium term. Group revenue in the first half of 2026 was up 11 per cent on the prior corresponding period and profit from operations was up 34 per cent.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Over at Catapult Wealth, its analysts aren’t positive on this quick service restaurant operator. Despite its shares falling heavily from recent highs, they have named Guzman Y Gomez as a sell this week.

Catapult Wealth highlights that the company’s shares are still trading on a high price to earnings ratio despite recent weakness. It feels there are better options out there for investors, saying:

GYG is a Mexican themed restaurant chain. Although network sales grew 18 per cent to $682 million in the first half of fiscal year 2026, several metrics signal caution. Segment underlying EBITDA in the United States posted a loss of $8.3 million. The stock continues to trade on high price/earnings multiples. In our view, execution risks are rising and margins are under pressure. Investors may find better opportunities by re-allocating funds to alternative investments. GYG shares have fallen from $31 on March 31, 2025 to trade at $16.81 on March 26, 2026.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

One ASX share that Catapult Wealth is positive on is Pro Medicus. It has named the health imaging technology company as a buy.

Due to its strong long-term growth outlook, it believes Pro Medicus shares would be an attractive addition to a portfolio this week. It said:

Pro Medicus develops advanced medical imaging software used by major hospitals and radiology groups globally. The company reported a strong first half result in fiscal year 2026, with revenue up 28.4 per cent to $124.8 million and underlying profit before tax rising 29.7 per cent to $90.7 million. In March, PME secured two important contract renewals worth a minimum of $40 million, both at higher transaction fees, signalling strengthening pricing power. With an underlying earnings before interest and tax margin at 73 per cent and cash of $222 million, PME remains financially robust. Growing US market share supports a positive long term growth outlook, making PME an attractive portfolio addition.

The post Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Guzman Y Gomez, and Pro Medicus shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is extending its recent slide on Monday as surging oil prices and growing recession fears hit investor sentiment.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1.32% to 8,403.7 points. That leaves the ASX 200 down 8.4% over the past month, a steep reversal that has erased a large chunk of this year’s earlier gains.

Today’s weakness comes as oil prices surge to their highest levels since 2022, with Brent crude climbing above US$116 a barrel and WTI moving past US$102.

Here’s what’s driving the sell-off.

Oil surge is becoming the market’s main problem

The ASX 200 is pushing deeper into the red as oil prices climb and US futures point to another weak night on Wall Street.

The selling is not limited to just Australia, either. Share markets across Asia are also moving lower, with Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi both falling as the Middle East conflict drags on.

The bigger issue is oil prices staying elevated.

While crude prices rise, the impact spreads across almost every part of the economy. Petrol becomes more expensive, freight costs rise, airlines pay more for fuel, and businesses across mining, manufacturing, food, and transport all face higher operating costs.

Australian households feel it too through higher fuel and energy bills, leaving less money to spend elsewhere.

At the same time, businesses are forced to absorb rising costs or pass them on to customers.

This mix of weaker consumer spending and higher business costs is why investors are becoming more concerned about the ASX 200 outlook.

Why recession fears are building

The recession risk is becoming harder for investors to ignore.

If Brent crude stays around these levels or pushes higher, inflation could start rising again just as economic growth is already slowing.

That would make it harder for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to consider rate cuts later this year. Instead, markets may need to factor in the risk that interest rates remain higher for longer.

Higher borrowing costs combined with weaker consumer spending create a difficult backdrop for retailers, housing-linked stocks, transport businesses, and other cyclical sectors.

Some global analysts are now warning that oil above US$120 could have a wider knock-on effect across share markets and household demand.

Macquarie also warned today that an extended Strait of Hormuz disruption could send oil as high as US$200 a barrel in a severe scenario, which would materially lift recession risks across major economies.

Foolish Takeaway

The ASX 200’s 8.4% fall over the past month shows investors are quickly reassessing the economic damage that high oil prices can cause.

If oil stays above US$100 and supply disruptions worsen, the risk of Australia slipping into recession will evidently rise. That is likely to keep pressure on the ASX 200 in the coming sessions ahead.

The post ASX 200 sinks deeper as oil shock sparks fresh recession fears 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 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.

With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this sports technology company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $4.75. This follows the release of a trading update last week which revealed expectations for strong annual contract value (ACV) growth in FY 2026. Catapult is expecting ACV of US$133 million to US$134 million, which Bell Potter notes is ahead of its US$131 million estimate. It believes this is a big positive as it seen as the key leading indicator. Outside this, the broker notes that it has trimmed its valuation to reflect changes in its model to focus on earnings and cash flow. Nevertheless, it still implies significant upside from current levels. The Catapult share price is trading at $2.93 on Monday.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $4.80 price target on this counter-drone technology company’s shares. The broker has been looking at the counter-drone market and highlights that the war in the Middle East is accelerating demand for this technology. It points out that lessons learned in Ukraine are being repeated. This includes the fact that using up to US$4 million missiles to take down US$35k drones is unsustainable. Bell Potter expects there to be broad adoption of C-UAS technologies alongside advanced hypersonic defence capabilities to improve on this equation. This bodes well for DroneShield given its strong position in the market and high-quality product portfolio. The DroneShield share price is fetching $3.91 at the time of writing.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $144.80 price target on this cloud accounting platform provider’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes that Xero’s partnership with AI giant Anthropic is a positive. It highlights that the move aligns with management’s strategy of leveraging AI assistants as a distribution and go-to-market channel. While there is a risk that AI assistants could evolve into primary platforms for small businesses, Citi believes that Xero’s app ecosystem and go-to-market strength are competitive advantages. The Xero share price is trading at $68.44 this afternoon.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, DroneShield, and Xero and is short shares of DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) shares are sinking today.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) tech stock, which provides data solutions for AI applications, closed on Friday trading for $1.445. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $1.355 apiece, down 6.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 1.2% at this same time.

Despite today’s fall, Appen shares remain up an impressive 108.5% since closing at one-year lows of 65 cents on 21 November.

Without a doubt, then, that would have been an opportune time to buy the All Ords tech stock.

But after more than doubling from those lows, has the train left the station on further gains?

For some greater insight into that question, we defer to MPC Markets’ Mark Gardner (courtesy of The Bull).

Is it too late to buy Appen shares today?

“Appen is a former market darling of technology stocks,” Gardner said. “The company built a global business providing the human-labelled data that artificial intelligence systems needed to learn.”

However, Gardner expects that the artificial intelligence revolution is going to take a material bite out of the company’s future earnings.

Explaining his sell recommendation on Appen shares, he said:

Demand seemed unlimited and the share price reflected optimism, trading above $35 in July 2020. While Appen pays workers to label data, artificial intelligence is getting better at doing the role itself.

Synthetic data generation, automated labelling pipelines and AI systems that can evaluate their own outputs are advancing rapidly. In our view, the recent share price bounce reflects short term sentiment around AI investment themes rather than an improvement in the structural outlook.

Gardner concluded, “The company’s statutory net loss after tax of US$21.8 million in full year 2025 was up from a US$20 million loss in the prior corresponding period. The shares were trading at $1.565 on March 26, 2026.”

What’s the latest from the ASX All Ords tech stock?

Appen reported its full-year 2025 results, which Gardner mentioned above, on 25 February.

Despite the company’s full-year loss, Appen shares closed up 27.6% on the day of the release.

Investors reacted positively to the company’s 4.5% year-over-year increase in operating revenue to $230.8 million.

On the earnings front, the company achieved a 251% increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), before FX, to $12.2 million.

“FY25 was pleasing as we saw durable improvements to the business, with new wins in generative AI, operational efficiencies, and the revenue trajectory throughout the year,” Appen CEO Ryan Kolln said.

The post Up 109% since November, are Appen shares still a buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Appen. 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 Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB) share price is under pressure on Monday, falling 5% to $2.565.

The latest decline adds to what has already been a brutal year for the travel tech stock, with shares now down roughly 46% in 2026.

Today’s weakness comes as investors digest a fresh leadership shake-up that has reopened takeover speculation around the company.

Let’s take a closer look.

CEO exit revives bid talk

According to The Australian, Chief Executive Katrina Barry has resigned less than 2 years after taking the top job following the demerger.

Her exit comes only 5 weeks after the departure of deputy and Webjet online travel agency boss David Galt, leaving what RBC Capital Markets described as a potential “leadership vacuum”.

That leadership gap has quickly put takeover interest back in focus.

RBC analyst Wei-Weng Chen said the loss of the company’s two most senior leaders could place the business back into the hands of recent suitors Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) and BGH Capital, both of which still hold 18.3% stakes in the group.

Takeover discussions only collapsed in mid-February, when no binding offer emerged despite previous indicative prices around 90 cents to 91 cents a share for the old Webjet structure.

This renewed speculation may explain why investors are seeing today’s sell-off as more than just another weak session.

Guidance still intact

The leadership change was not accompanied by a downgrade.

The Australian reported that management reaffirmed FY26 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance of $28 million to $29 million, excluding the legacy travel business.

Katrina Barry is also expected to stay on through the May full-year result to support the transition.

That continuity may help calm concerns after the stock’s recent volatility, which has already included the Spanish tax audit scare and the failed takeover process.

Even after today’s fall, the company still sits on a market capitalisation of roughly $927 million. It also remains one of the most heavily sold consumer cyclical names on the ASX this year.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s move shows that investor confidence in Web Travel is still fragile.

The CEO’s resignation creates fresh uncertainty, but it has also brought back the chance of takeover interest returning after February’s failed talks.

With earnings guidance unchanged and major shareholders still on the register, the next key focus will be on how quickly the board moves to appoint a successor.

Investors will also be watching to see if strategic interest builds again ahead of May’s result.

The post Why Web Travel shares are sliding as fresh takeover hopes return appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 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.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares are pushing higher on Monday, rising 3.76% to $1.297 despite a broad market sell-off.

The gain stands out on a weak day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), with investors responding positively to a capital management update and a key leadership transition.

Even after today’s rally, AMP shares remain down around 28% in 2026, highlighting just how hard the stock has been hit since its February result.

Here’s why the stock is rising today.

$150 million buyback gives investors something to work with

Late last week, AMP confirmed it will undertake an on-market buyback of up to $150 million of ordinary shares. The company said the repurchase will begin after its first-quarter cash flow update on 16 April.

In addition, Blair Vernon officially steps into the Chief Executive role today, taking over from Alexis George as planned following her retirement on 30 March.

The Australian reported that Citi believes the buyback may ease some of the concerns that weighed on sentiment after AMP’s weak FY25 result, particularly around capital allocation and the risk of large-scale acquisitions under new leadership.

At roughly 5% of AMP’s market value, the buyback is not huge, but it gives the market something more concrete to focus on after the stock’s heavy fall this year.

That appears to be what the market is responding to today.

What did management say?

In AMP’s own release, outgoing CEO Alexis George said the group remained committed to returning surplus capital to shareholders where there was no better use for it.

She said the buyback was the most efficient use of capital at this time.

That language is likely resonating with investors because AMP shares have fallen heavily from their highs.

The stock traded as high as $1.82 in January after the CEO succession announcement, but concerns around the FY25 result and broader market volatility have since dragged it lower.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s move indicates investors are welcoming two things at once: a disciplined capital return and a smooth leadership handover.

Blair Vernon is a familiar name inside the AMP business, having served as Chief Financial Officer and previously led major divisions across Australia and New Zealand. Having this continuity helps reduce uncertainty at an important point for the company.

The buyback also gives investors something tangible to focus on after the stock’s 2026 slide.

With AMP still down 28% this year, the next move depends on whether Blair Vernon can lift momentum across the core businesses.

The post AMP jumps on $150 million buyback and CEO handover. Is this beaten-down ASX stock turning a corner? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• AMP shares charge higher on Monday despite market selloff: What’s going on?
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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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.