Tag: Stock pick

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are edging lower today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed yesterday trading for $55.69. During the Tuesday lunch hour, shares are swapping hands for $55.48 apiece, down 0.4%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.2% at this same time.

Taking a step back, BHP shares have gained 52.2% over 12 months, racing ahead of the 14.3% one-year gains delivered by the benchmark index.

Atop those capital gains, BHP stock also trades on a 3.5% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

And the Aussie mining giant will be in sharp focus tomorrow, following the scheduled release of its March quarter (Q3 FY 2026) production results.

What might investors expect from the ASX 200 miner’s March update?

The two core commodities that could materially move BHP shares tomorrow are copper and iron ore.

At its half-year results (H1 FY 2026), BHP reported underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from its copper division of US$8.0 billon. That was up 59% year-on-year, and it marked the first time the copper produced more than half (51% in this case) of BHP’s underlying earnings.

Underlying half year EBITDA from its iron ore division came in at US$7.5 billion, up 4% from H1 FY 2025.

And with copper prices up 42% over the past 12 months, currently at US$13,275 per tonne, the red metal is likely to gain be a big earnings contributor.

Commenting on expectations for BHP’s results, eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert said:

So far, BHP is tracking well on production, with iron ore guidance for FY26 holding at around 292 million tonnes. Meanwhile, copper is expected to land in the top half of its 1.9 to 2.0 million tonne range, thanks to strong performances at Escondida and Antamina.

On the copper front, Gilbert noted:

The recent decision to extend the mine life at Escondida out to FY31, and the push into the Vicuna joint venture with Lundin Mining in Argentina, show just how serious BHP is about building a pipeline that could deliver two million tonnes of attributable copper a year by the 2030s.

As for iron ore, he added:

Iron ore remains the cash engine, with prices held up at around US$85 a tonne in the first half. While Chinese steel demand has moderated, India is increasingly picking up the slack as a source of structural growth. Any sign of recovery from China will matter for BHP’s full-year earnings picture.

And Gilbert noted that BHP shares have been catching increased investor interest of late. He said:

For investors, they’ll be looking to see if this week’s update shows whether BHP’s copper pivot is on track, whether iron ore is holding up, and if it’s on course to meet its full-year guidance. Local retail investors are clearly backing the story, with BHP appearing on eToro’s Q1 ‘top risers’ list.

Which brings us back to our headline question…

Should you buy BHP shares today?

Red Leaf Securities’ John Athanasiou recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 mining stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“BHP is one of the world’s largest diversified miners, with high quality assets in iron ore, copper and energy minerals,” he said. “The company generates strong cash flows and dividends, benefiting from its scale and operational efficiency.”

But Athanasiou isn’t ready to hit the buy button just yet, issuing a hold recommendation on BHP shares.

He concluded:

However, BHP’s performance is closely tied to volatile commodity cycles, particularly iron ore prices and global demand, which can cap near term valuation expansion.

While long-term fundamentals in key metals remain robust, with electrification and decarbonisation trends supporting copper demand, the stock is fairly priced and may trade sideways until clearer commodity drivers emerge.

The post Should you buy BHP shares ahead of the miner’s production update? 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 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.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares are in the red in Tuesday lunchtime trade. At the time of writing the shares are down 1.7% to $14.50.

Despite today’s decline, the ASX biopharmaceutical company’s shares have rebounded a whopping 68% since dropping to a multi-year low of $8.63 in mid-February.

Telix shares are now up 27% for the year-to-date, but they’re still 43% lower than this time last year.

What has pushed the shares higher over the past 9 weeks?

After bottoming out in mid-February, Telix shares have rebounded following a flurry of consecutive good-news updates.

In late-February, the company confirmed that it had filed a key regulatory approval in Europe.

Later in March, Telix posted several announcements about its growth and development plans. 

It released positive Part 1 results from its global Phase 3 ProstACT study of TLX591-Tx, its novel prostate cancer therapy in early-March.

The following week, Telix announced it had resubmitted its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. FDA for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®), a brain cancer imaging candidate. Telix’s resubmission includes new data addressing the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s previous requests. 

The good news continued on through April, too.

On the 10th of April, the company announced that the FDA has accepted its NDA for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®).

Just a few days later, Telix announced a major collaboration with US-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The two companies entered a 50/50 global cost and profit-sharing agreement to co-develop radiopharmaceutical therapies targeting solid tumours.

Last week, the biopharma company released an investor presentation which revealed a 56% increase in group revenue and underlying profitability supported by a positive cash balance of US$142 million. Telix also issued FY26 revenue guidance in the range of US$950 million to US$970 million.

The company has also priced and increased its US$600 million convertible bond offering, up from US$550 million due to strong global investor demand.

The flurry of good news has caused a positive swing of sentiment and it looks like many are now buying back into the biopharmaceutical’s shares while they are trading for cheap.

What’s next for Telix shares? Are they a buy, sell or hold?

Telix shares are widely considered oversold and undervalued, with brokers tipping a significant upside ahead.

TradingView data shows that brokers have a consensus buy/strong buy rating on the shares, with an average target price of $24.44. At the time of writing that implies a 70% upside over the next 12 months.

Some are even more optimistic that the latest rally of positive updates out of Telix will translate into strong growth this year. The maximum target price is $31.01, which translates to a 114% upside at the time of writing.

The post Up 68% from a multi-year low. Are Telix shares a buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR) share price is in focus today after the company announced that court approval has been granted for its proposed schemes, paving the way for its acquisition by a consortium led by Brookfield Funds and GIC Investor affiliates.

What did National Storage REIT report?

• The Supreme Court of NSW has approved the share scheme of arrangement and provided advice on the trust scheme.
• All issued stapled securities of National Storage REIT will be acquired by entities jointly owned by the Brookfield Funds consortium and GIC Investor affiliates.
• Lodgement of court orders and constitution changes has occurred with ASIC, making the schemes legally effective.
• Trading in NSR securities is expected to be suspended from the close of trading today.
• Scheme Record Date: 7.00pm (Sydney time), 29 April 2026.
• Implementation Date: 8 May 2026, with scheme consideration to be paid to securityholders.

What else do investors need to know?

National Storage REIT has now met all legal and procedural requirements to implement the transaction. This means the previously announced acquisition is proceeding as planned, with no expected delays at this time.

The effective suspension of trading marks the transition of NSR from a listed entity to ownership by the Brookfield consortium, subject to the final implementation steps. Securityholders will receive their scheme consideration after the implementation date.

Both the record date for determining entitlements and the implementation date are still indicative and could change if necessary. Any changes will be announced to the ASX.

What’s next for National Storage REIT?

Looking ahead, the focus shifts to finalising the transaction. Securityholders should expect payment of consideration on or shortly after 8 May 2026, subject to confirmation of final dates.

National Storage’s business will move under the private ownership of the Brookfield consortium, marking a new chapter for the company and its customers across Australia and New Zealand.

National Storage REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, National Storage REIT shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post National Storage REIT: Court approves Brookfield-led buyout 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.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) is back near its highs on Tuesday, with the rally showing little sign of slowing.

Shares are up 2.75% to $63.96 in morning trade, leaving the stock within striking distance of its January peak of $65.79.

That follows a gain of more than 270% across the past 12 months, as demand for resources exposure has picked up again.

The move comes after a new announcement was issued before the open.

A major refinancing deal lands

According to a release, Mineral Resources has priced a US$1.3 billion senior unsecured notes offering.

The deal includes two tranches, with US$650 million due in 2032 and another US$650 million due in 2034. The notes carry interest rates of 6% and 6.25% respectively.

Settlement is expected later this month, with interest payments scheduled twice a year.

The proceeds will be used alongside existing cash to refinance debt, including the full repayment of US$625 million in notes due in November 2027.

It will also cover the remaining balance of US$1.1 billion in notes due in October 2028.

Lower costs and longer runway

The refinancing is expected to improve the company’s funding position.

Mineral Resources estimates annual finance cost savings of around $48 million. At the same time, its weighted average cost of debt is projected to fall from 8.4% to 7.4%.

Debt duration is also being extended, with the average maturity moving from 3.1 years to 5 years.

Overall, this lowers interest costs and spreads repayments over a longer period.

Commodities backdrop adds another layer

The update comes at a time when commodity prices have been moving higher.

Lithium prices have climbed roughly 17% over the past month, with demand picking up and supply tightening.

Iron ore has also edged higher, rising about 1% over the same period.

Part of that move has been tied to geopolitical tension, including the US-Iran conflict, which has brought attention back to resource stocks.

With exposure to both lithium and iron ore, Mineral Resources is tied closely to those price moves.

Strong run keeps attention on the stock

Even before today’s announcement, the share price had been trending higher.

The stock is up more than 22% over the past month and has stayed near the top of its range despite some volatility.

That kind of price action points to buying on dips, with support coming from both company updates and the broader commodities cycle.

With the balance sheet improving and commodity prices holding up, the latest update keeps the stock on investors’ radar.

The post Mineral Resources just made a $2 billion move. Here’s why the stock is climbing again 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.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are making waves today.

Two of the big Aussie miners are outperforming the 0.4% loss posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in late morning trade, while one is trailing those losses.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest on Tuesday.

Rio Tinto shares increasing copper exposure

Rio Tinto shares have given back their earlier intraday gains to be down 0.1% at time of writing, changing hands for $172.31 apiece.

Still, the ASX 200 mining giant remains within around 1% of its all-time highs as investors mull over the company’s first quarter production results (Q1 2026).

Highlights for the three months included a 13% year-on-year increase in Pilbara iron ore production to 78.8 million tonnes. Iron ore sales increased by 2%.

Rio Tinto shares have also been steadily increasing their exposure to copper amid strong global demand and price growth for the red metal. Over the March quarter, the miner produced 229,000 tonnes of copper, up 9% from Q1 2025.

Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott noted:

Operating excellence drove 9% YoY copper equivalent production growth across our portfolio as the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine continues to ramp up as planned and our integrated aluminium business, again, delivered a strong performance.

Management reaffirmed Rio’s full year 2026 production and cost guidance for its core operating divisions.

Regis Resources shares gain on $198 million cash build

Regis Resources shares are also grabbing headlines today following the release of the gold miner’s own quarterly update (Q3 FY 2026).

Shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are up 1.4% at $7.79 apiece after the company reported gold production of 90,600 ounces in Q3. That brings Regis Resources gold production for the first three quarters of the financial year to 277,500 ounces.

Investors will also have noted that Regis Resources added $198 million to its cash and bullion holdings over the quarter. As at 31 March, the gold miner has a cash and bullion balance of $1.13 billion.

With no disruptions to its fuel supplies yet from the Middle East conflict, the ASX 200 gold stock’s full year FY 2026 gold production is in the range of 350,000 ounces to 380,000 ounces.

Which brings us to…

 Lynas shares slip despite revenue boost

Atop of Regis Resources and Rio Tinto shares, investors are also talking about Lynas shares today after the ASX 200 rare earths miner reported on its March quarterly results.

Lynas shares are down 2.3% at time of writing, trading for $19.93 apiece. That fall comes despite a strong operational quarter, with market expectations clearly running high following the stock’s 123% share price gains over the past 12 months.

As for the March quarter, Lynas reported gross sales revenue of $265 million. That’s up 115% year-on-year and marks the highest quarterly sales revenue since 2022.

Management credited a 25% increase in the average Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) selling price and increased rare earth sales for the revenue boost.

The post Why is everyone talking about Regis Resources, Lynas and Rio Tinto shares on Tuesday? 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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in toll road operator Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX) have hit a 12-month low after the company reported toll revenue had increased by just 0.1% over the past quarter.

Shares in the ASX 200 company fell to $4.20, down from $4.28 at the close on Monday, and are significantly lower than their high over the past year of $5.54.

Fuel price impact yet to hit

Atlas said traffic performance across its businesses was “mixed”, but that it “has not observed material impacts of current global macroeconomic factors and fuel costs in the first quarter”.

The company went on to say:

Historically, there has been low elasticity in the long term between fuel prices and traffic performance on our roads, which have demonstrated resilience through varied economic conditions. Atlas Arteria will continue to monitor the impacts of fuel costs and concerns created by the disruptions to supply out of the Middle East, noting that the regions in which Atlas Arteria primarily operates have lower exposure to these supply disruptions compared to Australia. In addition, most of our roads have toll regimes which are primarily CPI-linked, noting that any increases in fuel costs and associated impact to inflation will take time to flow through.

Dividend yield still high

RBC Capital Markets issued a “quick take” on the quarterly revenue results, saying they were negative for the company, with “very soft” traffic and revenue numbers.

They added:

From an investment perspective ALX remains focused on delivering ‘at least 40cps’ in dividends to support its current dividend yield, however we note growing pressure to further optimise the capital structure and seek new opportunities. We remain Sector Perform rated.

RBC Capital Markets has a price target of $5 on Atlas shares.

At the current share price, the company is paying an unfranked dividend yield of 9.34%.

Mixed results

Looking into the detail, the company’s French APRR Group recorded a 0.9% decrease in traffic compared with the first quarter of 2025.

The company said:

Light vehicle traffic across France has been lower on most of the French toll road network, including before global fuel prices rose sharply worldwide. Conversely, heavy vehicle traffic has been consistently higher across the period. This, together with CPI-linked toll increases implemented from 1 February 2026, supported revenue performance in the period with toll revenue up 1.1%.

A price increase at the company’s Chicago Skyway business supported a 1.8% increase in revenue while traffic increased by 0.1%.

Traffic at the Dulles Greenway business was up 7.6% despite a series of adverse weather events.

Atlas Arteria was valued at $6.21 billion at the close of trade on Monday.  

The post Why have Atlas Arteria shares hit a 12-month low today? 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) and Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG) have opened up in the green on Tuesday morning. 

At the time of writing, Light and Wonder shares are up 2.7% while Generation Development Group shares are up over 2%. 

These jumps come after what has been a down year so far in 2026 for both ASX 200 companies. 

Let’s see what’s behind the spike, and if this marks the start of a longer rebound. 

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

Light & Wonder engages in the development of technology-based products and services and associated content. 

It operates through the following segments: Gaming, SciPlay, and iGaming. The Gaming segment designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of gaming products and services.

This ASX 200 company has struggled in 2026, falling almost 19% year to date. 

There is no price-sensitive news out of the company today. 

Despite this, it has been hotly covered by the team here at The Motley Fool over the past month, as many have tipped it as a bounce-back candidate this year. 

It appears investors may now be jumping on the company as a value play. 

Brokers also agree this ASX 200 stock could be set to recover this year. 

Macquarie recently set a $205 price target on Light and Wonder shares, which indicates a potential further upside of 61%. 

This optimism is consistent amongst other experts. 

21 analyst forecasts via TradingView have an average one year price target of $189.95. 

This indicates an upside potential of approximately 50% from current levels.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Generation Development Group engages in the provision of development capital to financial sector businesses.

It has fallen more than 21% in 2026, however has opened today trading more than 2% higher. 

There is also no price sensitive news out of the company today, as it appears investors are seeing the ASX 200 stock as another value play. 

Last month, the team at Morgans placed a $6.66 price target on the company, saying management has shown a strong track record over time. 

Today, Generation Development Group shares are hovering around $4.64. 

If this ASX 200 stock reached this target, it would be a rise of nearly 50%. 

Similarly, 8 analysts forecasts via TradingView place an average 12 month price target of $7.17 on the company. 

This indicates an upside potential of 55%. 

The post These ASX 200 stocks are surging today and could rally 50% higher this year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA) shares are racing higher on Tuesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX AI stock is up 10% to $4.58.

Why is this ASX AI stock racing higher?

The catalyst for today’s gain appears to be a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning.

According to the note, the broker has initiated coverage on the medical technology company’s shares with a buy rating and $6.10 price target.

Even after today’s strong gain, this still implies potential upside of 33% for investors over the next 12 months.

What is Artrya?

Artrya is a medical technology company that uses AI powered image-analysis software to improve the detection and management of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Commenting on the ASX stock, the broker said:

AYA’s AI-powered cloud platform and image-analysis software, Salix, delivers near real time, point of care assessment and management of coronary artery disease. Proprietary AI and advanced engineering algorithms are applied to interpret data from CCTA scans and deliver results in a single point-of-care solution. In addition to a 3D model to visualise a patient’s arteries, Salix conducts automated report writing, which clinicians can review and edit as needed. Unlike competing point solutions, Salix combines CCTA reporting, comprehensive plaque analysis, and non-invasive blood flow simulation, all within 10 minutes and from a single point-of-care solution.

This can materially improve clinical workflow, patient treatment, and enable clinicians to target medical procedures in a more effective fashion at a lower cost than traditional methods or competing solutions. Competing offerings typically take up to 24+ hours, are not as seamless as Salix, and depend heavily on offsite human involvement.

Big market opportunity

One of the reasons that Bell Potter is bullish on the ASX AI stock is its sizeable market opportunity. It explains:

AYA has two of its three Salix modules approved with the third module for Blood Flow (FFRCT) expected to be approved in 4Q26. Attractive reimbursement is in place for all three modules via Category 1 CPT codes, with an expected blended ASP of US$855 / scan.

AYA’s unique offering creates an opportunity to achieve rapid growth and a material share of c.4.4m annual CCTA scans in the US market, growing at a CAGR of c.6.2%. AYA has three foundation customers in the US that should deliver c.15k scans annually by FY27. Through the SAPPHIRE study group, AYA has created a warm pipeline of six potential customers and c.400k annual scans that could generate c.10% market share and c.A$450m in annual revenue over the next decade. We expect AYA to reach EBITDA breakeven in FY28.

This could make Artrya one to watch in the coming years.

The post Bell Potter just initiated coverage on this ASX AI stock with a buy rating appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• This ASX stock is up 74% in a month. Here’s why it’s ripping 9% higher today
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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.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) shares are down around 3% today, extending the 2026 year-to-date share price decline to 14% after the company reported a third-quarter update.

While the company’s latest update showed pockets of strength, investors seemed to be more focused on the decline in funds under management.

Decline in funds under management

Challenger reported that funds under management fell 10% over the quarter to $104.5 billion, driven largely by net outflows of about $8 billion. That’s not just a reflection of a decline in broader equity markets; it largely reflects institutional investors pulling capital out, mainly from equity strategies.

Given that the business earns fees based on assets under management, sustained outflows place downward pressure on earnings. They point to weaker future earnings and raise questions about competitiveness. In simple terms, this is the part of the business that benefits from scale but equally suffers when funds under management decline.

Strong annuity growth

On the other side of the business, things are going well. Challenger’s annuity division continues to perform strongly, with total Life sales up 19% to $1.7 billion. Demand for retirement income products remains robust, particularly as ageing populations in Australia and Japan seek stable income streams.

The issue is that this part of the business is capital-intensive and balance-sheet heavy. It generates earnings, but not in the same scalable, high-margin way as funds management. So when funds management weakens, it tends to dominate investor sentiment.

There are also signs the business is in transition. Challenger plans to redeem its Capital Notes 3 in May 2026, following regulatory approval. While this reflects a solid capital position, it also signals a shift in how the company is managing its balance sheet.

At the same time, the broader environment isn’t helping. Challenger pointed to negative market movements, ongoing global volatility, and a continued shift away from active equity strategies. These are structural headwinds for its funds management arm and help explain why assets are falling.

Foolish bottom line

Put it all together, Challenger’s core retirement business is holding up, but the engine that drives scalable growth is under pressure. Whilst it’s been a tough start to 2026, Challenger shares are up 19% over the past 12 months and 62% over the past 5 years.

The post Why are Challenger shares falling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are in the red on Tuesday as the war in Iran and the global oil shock continues.

ASX 200 shares are trading at 8,918.1 points, down 0.4% at the time of writing.

Iran will reportedly participate in a second round of talks with US officials in Islamabad before the two-week ceasefire ends.

Meanwhile on The Bull this week, two experts have provided their views on three popular ASX 200 shares.

Let’s see what they had to say.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The Coles share price is $22.70, down 0.53% today and up 6.4% in the year to date (YTD).

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has a buy rating on this ASX 200 consumer staples giant.

Evans said:

The supermarket giant posted a solid first half result in fiscal year 2026, maintaining margins and delivering earnings before interest and tax growth of 10.2 per per cent.

Coles has continued to grow its share of own-brand sales, leverage its quality locations into home delivery and online sales growth and expand locations to capture population growth.

The Middle East conflict and its inflationary impacts may be a short term disruption, but an inflationary environment is somewhat cushioned for supermarkets, particularly compared to more discretionary sectors.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price is $74.26, down 0.5% today and down 18.5% over the past six months.

Wesfarmers is the largest company by market capitalisation in the ASX 200 consumer discretionary market sector.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities has a sell rating on Wesfarmers shares.

He says recent trading suggests slowing consumer demand and cost pressures are weighing on investor sentiment.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index dropped 12.5% to 80.1 this month.

That’s the biggest fall since the start of the pandemic.

It signals that people are worried about the ongoing oil price shock and an anticipated increase in inflation and interest rates.

Athanasiou said:

With much of its value already priced in amid a mixed outlook on near term retail growth, Wesfarmers lacks fresh catalysts to drive meaningful upside.

Trimming positions into strength may be prudent for investors seeking a better risk-reward proposition.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price is $55.68, down 0.02% today and up 52.5% over the past 12 months.

BHP is the largest ASX 200 mining share on the Australian share market.

Athanasiou has a hold rating on BHP shares.

BHP is one of the world’s largest diversified miners, with high quality assets in iron ore, copper and energy minerals. The company generates strong cash flows and dividends, benefiting from its scale and operational efficiency.

However, BHP’s performance is closely tied to volatile commodity cycles, particularly iron ore prices and global demand, which can cap near term valuation expansion.

While long-term fundamentals in key metals remain robust, with electrification and decarbonisation trends supporting copper demand, the stock is fairly priced and may trade sideways until clearer commodity drivers emerge.

The post Buy, hold, or sell? Coles, Wesfarmers, BHP shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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