Tag: Stock pick

ASX biotech stock Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) is among the standout performers on the ASX on Thursday.

In afternoon trade, the ASX biotech stock is up 6.3% to $2.10. While Mesoblast shares remain down 23% since the start of 2026, they have still delivered a gain of approximately 17% over the past 12 months.

So, what’s driving the buying interest today?

Ryoncil could be a game-changer

While there hasn’t been any major price-sensitive news from Mesoblast today, investors appear increasingly optimistic about the company’s outlook. Growing sales, a strengthened balance sheet, and the potential of its FDA-backed pipeline may be giving the market fresh arguments to buy the biotech stock.

One of the key reasons investors remain excited about this ASX biotech stock is the commercial potential of its recently approved therapy, Ryoncil. The company believes that as sales of Ryoncil continue to grow, the treatment could eventually generate enough revenue to support earnings growth and cash flow-positive operations.

Transition into sustainable business

That would be a major achievement for a biotechnology company, given that many peers spend years relying on capital raisings and external funding to fund research and development.

Investors appear increasingly focused on the possibility that Mesoblast could transition from a development-stage biotech into a commercially sustainable business. If management can successfully scale Ryoncil sales, confidence in the company’s long-term financial outlook could strengthen significantly.

For a speculative ASX biotech stock, the prospect of generating sustainable cash flow is a particularly attractive catalyst and may help explain today’s share price strength.

More than a one-product story

Another factor supporting investor sentiment is the growing value of Mesoblast’s broader pipeline.

While Ryoncil remains the company’s flagship commercial opportunity, management has highlighted that regulatory pathways are advancing for treatments targeting heart failure and chronic lower back pain. Both represent large markets with significant long-term revenue potential.

Successful approvals in either area could dramatically expand the ASX biotech stock’s commercial footprint and create additional growth engines beyond Ryoncil.

Multiple shots on goal

Importantly, investors are increasingly viewing Mesoblast as a company with multiple shots on goal rather than one dependent on a single product outcome. As its portfolio expands, the business could benefit from more diversified revenue streams, potentially reducing risk and increasing resilience over time.

The combination of a growing commercial product, advancing regulatory opportunities, and the prospect of future approvals appears to be underpinning today’s strong share price performance of the ASX biotech stock.

For investors willing to accept the volatility often associated with biotech investing, Mesoblast continues to offer significant upside if its commercial and clinical milestones are achieved.

The post Why is this ASX biotech stock blasting higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s why I’d add Alphabet shares to an ASX stock portfolio right now
• Down 30%, should I buy ResMed shares now?
• Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today?
• Why did this ASX defence stock jump 5% before entering a trading halt?
• Buy, hold, sell: Liontown, Wildcat Resources, PLS Group shares

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.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) shares have had a tough year.

The sleep health giant is trading around $26.53 on Thursday, which means the share price is down more than 30% since this time last year.

That sort of fall can make investors cautious. But I think patient investors should be looking closely at the opportunity.

In my view, ResMed remains one of the highest-quality healthcare businesses on the ASX, and the current valuation looks much more appealing than it did when sentiment was stronger.

A better price for a strong business

The first reason I would consider buying ResMed shares is valuation.

According to CommSec, consensus earnings per share estimates are $1.57 in FY26, $1.69 in FY27, and $1.84 in FY28.

Based on the current share price, that puts ResMed on roughly 17 times FY26 earnings, 16 times FY27 earnings, and 14 times FY28 earnings.

For a global healthcare company with ResMed’s market position and outlook, I think those multiples undervalue it.

Of course, forecasts are only forecasts. The company still needs to deliver, and the market will keep watching competition, margins, product demand, and the impact of weight-loss drugs on sleep apnoea diagnosis and treatment behaviour.

But I think the share price fall has created a much better entry point for investors who are willing to look beyond the next few quarters.

A huge market opportunity

The second reason I like ResMed is the size of the market it serves.

Sleep apnoea is a major global health issue, with more than 1 billion sufferers estimated worldwide. Many of those people remain undiagnosed, which creates a long runway.

Further, ResMed is not simply selling a one-off device. It is part of a treatment system that can include machines, masks, accessories, software, data tools, and ongoing patient support. Once people are diagnosed and begin therapy, they may need replacement products and continued care over many years.

I think that recurring element is important to the investment thesis.

Healthcare companies can be particularly attractive when they solve a problem that is both large and persistent. Poor sleep can affect energy, concentration, heart health, safety, and overall quality of life. As awareness improves, diagnosis rates rise, and healthcare systems put more focus on chronic conditions, ResMed should have opportunities to keep growing.

The company also has the scale, brand, distribution, and clinical relationships to benefit if more people move into treatment.

Foolish takeaway

I think now could be a good time to buy ResMed shares for patient investors.

The stock has fallen heavily, the forward valuation looks reasonable, and the company still has exposure to a very large, underpenetrated healthcare market.

ResMed may take time to win back stronger investor confidence, and I would not expect the share price to rebound quickly. But for investors who can look several years ahead, I think this beaten-down ASX healthcare share looks well worth considering.

The post Down 30%, should I buy ResMed shares now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. 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 back in the red on Thursday after briefly moving into positive territory earlier in the session.

At the time of writing, the benchmark is down 0.55% to 8,916 points after touching an intraday high of 8,983.8 points.

That leaves the market giving back Wednesday’s 0.54% gain, although the index is still around 3% higher over the past week.

So, why has the local market lost ground today?

Wall Street gives investors a rough lead

Australian shares opened lower after a weak session in the United States overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 0.98%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) dropped 1.2% following the latest US Federal Reserve meeting.

The central bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at between 3.5% and 3.75%. However, updated forecasts showed 9 of the 19 officials now expect at least one rate rise before the end of 2026.

Keep in mind that’s a major change compared to March, when no officials were forecasting an increase this year.

Nonetheless, US share market futures rebounded strongly during the Australian morning, helping the ASX 200 briefly move into positive territory.

But that support didn’t last long, with sellers returning before midday.

Miners and banks weigh on the index

The losses are spread across much of the market, with 123 stocks trading lower, 68 higher and nine unchanged.

Several heavyweight miners are among those falling after iron ore, gold and copper prices softened overnight.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.24% to $65.43, while Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares have dropped 1.70% to $19.98.

The major banks are also mixed. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are 0.34% lower at $163.15, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have fallen 1.14% to $35.16.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are down 1.30% to $37.18. However, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are 0.17% higher at $35.11.

A few big names are holding up

There are still a few decent gains elsewhere in the market.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) shares are up 1.53% to $23.93, while Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares have gained 0.90% to $38.12.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are also 0.82% higher at $107.67 as the stock continues to recover from its recent lows.

And oil prices have fallen again after the United States and Iran signed an interim peace agreement that includes plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude was trading near US$78.66 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) had slipped to around US$75.81.

Despite this, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares have managed to edge 0.35% higher to $29.06.

The post Why has the ASX 200 given up its early rebound today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares were on the move on Thursday before being placed in a trading halt.

The defence tech stock climbed 4.83% to $9.34 during the opening minutes of trade.

However, investors didn’t have long to buy or sell the stock, with trading paused shortly after the market opened.

EOS shares are relatively flat since the start of 2026 but remain almost 240% higher than this time last year.

So, what announcement is the company preparing to make?

Why are EOS shares halted?

According to the release, EOS called for the trading halt while it puts the finishing touches on two announcements.

The first relates to a material contract for the sale of its remote weapon systems (RWS).

These systems can be fitted to military vehicles and allow weapons to be operated from inside the vehicle instead of leaving a solider exposed.

The other announcement is linked to a joint venture that EOS is working to establish.

The company has not yet revealed the customer, the size of the contract or who it plans to team up with.

EOS said the details are still being worked through and asked for the halt so investors would not be trading without the full information.

The shares should begin trading again once the announcements are released or when the market opens on Monday, 22 June.

Defence demand remains strong

The trading halt comes after a busy few months for EOS, with defence spending still rising across several markets.

Earlier this week, the company said conflicts in Europe and the Middle East were continuing to drive enquiries across its product range.

That includes RWS, high-energy laser weapons (HELW), counter-drone equipment and its space systems division.

EOS also recently secured a US$5 million order from L3Harris Technologies in the United States.

The equipment will be made here in Australia and delivered during 2026.

The company expects its existing operations, excluding MARSS, to generate between $240 million and $270 million of revenue this year.

Its combined order book with MARSS stood at $726 million in May, with 60% to 80% expected to turn into revenue across 2026 and 2027.

What should investors expect?

Investors will be looking for the size of the RWS contract and when the revenue is expected to start flowing through.

There should also be plenty of interest in the joint venture, including who EOS is partnering with and what the new operation will involve.

Nonetheless, after the stock’s huge run over the past year, investors will be expecting plenty from both announcements.

The post Why did this ASX defence stock jump 5% before entering a trading halt? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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) shares are down 0.4% to 8,929.7 points on Thursday. 

The materials sector, including ASX lithium shares, is underperforming the broader market today, down 0.7%.

Lithium is among the best-performing commodities of 2026.

Lithium is well into a substantial recovery powered by the green energy transition and demand for batteries and electric vehicles (EVs).

The oversupply that smashed lithium prices for two years between mid-2023 and mid-2025 is over.

Producers that put their mines into care and maintenance, such as Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO), are restarting as demand begins to outstrip supply worldwide.

Exemplying the trend, the lithium carbonate price is now up 43% in the calendar year to date (YTD), following a 58% increase in 2025.

With all this in mind, let’s check out 3 ASX lithium shares with new ratings from Bell Potter this week.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is $6.27, down 1.5% today and up 45% YTD. 

Formerly Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group’s flagship mine is the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project in the Pilbara area of Western Australia.

Bell Potter reiterated a hold rating on the market’s largest ASX lithium share this week.

The broker said: 

At current lithium market prices, PLS will generate substantial earnings and cash flow with the restart of the 200ktpa Ngungaju processing plant.

P2000 and Colina development studies are being progressed, providing substantial organic growth optionality in markets with strong underlying EV and BESS-led long term demand fundamentals.

The broker lifted its 12-month share price target on PLS Group shares from $5.50 to $6.15.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is $2.07, down 3.1% today and up 27% YTD. 

Liontown owns the Kathleen Valley project in Western Australia.

Bell Potter analyst Stuart Howe maintained a buy rating on this ASX lithium share this week.

Howe increased his expectations for growth in the lithium spodumene concentrate (6% Li2O) price by 11% for the rest of 2026, 7% in 2027, and 17% in 2028.

He also lifted Bell Potter’s long-term spodumene concentrate price to US$1,500 per tonne, up from US$1,400 per tonne.

Howe said: 

LTR is now in a net cash position. Over FY26-27, LTR will continue to ramp up and de-risk Kathleen Valley.

With current lithium price strength, LTR can rapidly generate cash to support incremental production expansions and shareholder returns.

Kathleen Valley is highly strategic in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction.

LTR has offtake contracts with top-tier EV and battery OEMs.

Howe increased the 12-month target from $2.65 to $2.90 for Liontown shares.

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The Wildcat Resources share price is 57 cents, up 3.1% today and up 51% YTD. 

WC8 is progressing its hard rock lithium development, Tabba Tabba, in the Pilbara.

Analyst James Williamson commenced coverage on this ASX lithium share with a speculative buy rating this week.

Williamson said: 

Tabba Tabba is the only large scale near-term Australian lithium development positioned to commence production during the current lithium price cycle.

The project is strategically located 80km from Port Hedland and WC8 enters financing discussions with 100% of offtake uncommitted.

The company trades on undemanding EV/Resource multiples compared with Western Australian spodumene producers.

We expect its share price will re-rate as Tabba Tabba reaches key feasibility and permitting milestones and transitions into development.

However, Williamson warns:

WC8 is an asset development company with forecast cash flows only; our Speculative risk rating recognises this higher level of investment risk and share price volatility.

Willamson gives this ASX lithium share a $1 valuation.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Liontown, Wildcat Resources, PLS Group shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Core Lithium. 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.

Despite all of the volatility this year, the Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) share price has delivered positive returns for shareholders in the last five years, as the chart below shows.

According to CMC Invest, it has delivered an average total shareholder return (TSR) of 10.8%.

A sizeable portion of those returns has been the dividend payments, but the ASX telco share has also delivered adequate capital gains for investors.

How many Telstra shares we could buy in 2021

Five years ago, Australia’s economy was still dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Telstra share price is now far above where it was trading during the COVID-19 period as investors price in the progress the company has made in recent years.

Five years ago, an Australian investor with $10,000 would have been able to buy 2,801 Telstra shares.

What about now?

Since June 2021, the Telstra share price has risen by just over 40% to $5.08, at the time of writing.

There has been a bit of volatility in the last few weeks, leading to the ASX telco share dropping 8% since 19 May 2026. Its returns would look even more impressive if it had maintained that valuation.

If someone were to invest $10,000 today into the ASX telco share, they’d be able to buy 1,968 Telstra shares.

What caused the Telstra share price to rise?

I think the company’s underlying growth has been a key factor in the company’s success over the long-term.

The most recent update from the ASX telco share was the FY26 half-year result which showed the ongoing performance of the mobile business – there has been steady progression of this segment over the long-term.

In HY26, average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by 5.1% year-over-year, while mobile handheld users increased by 135,000 compared to the second half of FY25 (this includes postpaid, prepaid and wholesale subscribers).

This helped the business report an 11.2% increase in earnings per share (EPS), while cash EPS jumped 19.7%.

Telstra’s strong 5G network has enabled it to enact regular price increases and boost revenue and operating leverage.

Its regular dividend growth has also been a useful contributor to stronger returns for investors. Rising payouts are welcome in this era of higher inflation, with the current environment giving the company more justification for increasing prices because of its own higher costs.

The ongoing digitalisation of the Australian economy makes me believe that Telstra can continue to be a solid performer, particularly if its revenue can continue rising.

For me, it’s one of the most appealing ASX blue-chip shares to buy.

The post 5 years ago, $10,000 bought 2,801 Telstra shares. But how many would it buy now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

ASX mining shares are lower on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) down 0.7%.

The ASX 300 mining Index is 22% higher in the calendar year to date (YTD). This follows last year’s spectacular 38% growth.

A new commodities super cycle is underway, with lithium and copper among the best performers in 2026.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 2% this year and rose 7% last calendar year.

Major diversified miners, including Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), have reset their historical highs this year amid rising commodity prices.

The Rio Tinto share price hit a new record of $195.84 on 3 June.

Copper miner Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) hit a record $21.75 on 30 January.

The ASX copper mining share then retreated for a period before returning to near-record highs this month.

Yesterday, Sandfire Resources shares traded at an intraday high of $21.64.

Despite the new mining boom now underway, experts don’t have buy ratings on ASX mining shares across the board.

On The Bull this week, Warwick Grigor from Far East Capital names two mining stocks to sell.

But in both cases, the sell recommendation is for the best reason possible: to take enormous profits.

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated (ASX: SX2)

The Southern Cross Gold share price is $4.51, down 2.6% today but up a whopping 82% YTD. 

Grigor has a sell rating on this ASX gold mining share.

He explains:

The gold company operates three exploration projects. Two projects are in Victoria and one is in Queensland.

The company has reported high grade assays, most recently from the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony project in Victoria where it drilled seven holes.

Any JORC mineral resource estimate in the future needs to meet investor expectations, or the share price may be punished.

The shares rose from $5.37 on August 1, 2025 to $12.04 on March 2, 2026. The shares were trading at $8.75 on June 11.

Investors may want to consider taking a profit.

Almonty Industries CDI (ASX: AII)

The Almonty Industries share price is $26.42, up 1.1% today and doubling in value YTD. 

Grigor recommends selling this ASX tungsten mining share.

Almonty supplies conflict free tungsten, a strategic metal critical to the defence and advanced technology sectors.

The company is continuing to ramp up its tungsten mining operations in South Korea.

The company has ridden the tungsten boom and benefited from soaring tungsten prices.

However, the share price rise is losing momentum. It now has to deliver on some aggressive earnings estimates to justify its rating.

The shares have fallen from $32.51 on April 21 to trade at $22.18 on June 11. It may be time to cash in some gains.

The post 2 ASX mining stocks to sell after strong runs: expert 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 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.

Beacon Minerals Ltd (ASX: BCN) has just announced a major return of cash and equity to its shareholders, and it’s not too late to grab a piece of the pie.

Dividends and shares to flow

The gold miner has announced that it will return about $30.4 million to its shareholders in the form of a 10-cent-per-share, fully-franked special dividend, along with a distribution of shares in fellow gold company Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS).

To give you an idea of the scope of the capital return relative to the company’s size, Beacon itself was worth $257.5 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

Beacon Minerals Managing Director Graham McGarry said regarding the return to shareholders:

Beacon has consistently focused on generating strong cash flow, maintaining a robust balance sheet and delivering value to shareholders. The Board is pleased to reward shareholders through a significant fully franked cash dividend together with the distribution of our Forrestania Resources shareholding. This dividend package reflects the strength of Beacon’s operations, the benefits of our disciplined capital management strategy and our confidence in the Company’s future. The in-specie distribution dividend also provides shareholders with direct exposure to Forrestania Resources while allowing Beacon to continue focusing on its core objective of growing gold production and shareholder returns.

The company has delayed the ex-dividend date for the shareholder return until Monday, 13 July, to allow option holders to exercise their options and take part. This also allows new shareholders to buy in.

Beacon was granted 36 million shares in Forrestania following a deal struck in February under which it sold a package of tenements in the Coolgardie region of Western Australia to the latter company.

Beacon was also paid $5 million as part of that deal.

ASX gold sector consolidating

Forrestania, for its part, just last week launched a takeover bid for Zenith Minerals Ltd (ASX: ZNC).

The Zenith board is recommending the bid, under which Zenith shareholders would receive one Forrestania share for every 4.3 Zenith shares held.

Zenith said the Forrestania offer followed a strategic review process it started on May 7, and the Zenith board, which owns about 4.5% of the company, was unanimously recommending the offer.

The company said:

The Zenith Board believes the Transaction represents an attractive strategic and financial outcome for Zenith shareholders, providing a premium to recent trading prices while enabling shareholders to retain exposure to the future value potential of Zenith’s assets through ownership in Forrestania.

The post This ASX gold stock is rewarding shareholders with cash and shares, and it’s not too late to buy in 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.

In afternoon trade on Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.45% to 8,925.1 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Actinogen Medical Ltd (ASX: ACW)

The Actinogen Medical share price is up 9% to 3.5 cents. Investors have been bidding the biotechnology company’s shares higher after it received its third positive Data Monitoring Committee recommendation for the XanaMIA Alzheimer’s disease pivotal trial. Actinogen’s CEO, Dr Steven Gourlay, said: “With the third positive independent safety review complete we are confident of the suitability of Xanamem for longer-term treatment. Xanamem has the potential to be a game-changer for Alzheimer’s disease given its potential product profile as a safe and effective oral medication with the ability to slow disease course progression significantly more than any approved therapy.”

Devex Resources Ltd (ASX: DEV)

The Devex Resources share price is up over 10% to 28.2 cents. This appears to have been driven by a bullish broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. Its analysts have initiated coverage on the uranium developer’s shares with a speculative buy rating and 41 cents price target. It said: “The key value catalysts for DEV include uranium market fundamentals, exploration results and M&A-led growth. We have a positive medium- to long-term outlook for the uranium market, supported by barriers to new supply and demand growth linked to electrification, energy security and AI-related power requirements.”

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price was up 5% to $9.34 before being placed in a trading halt. Commenting on the trading halt request, the defence and space company said: “EOS requests the trading halt pending an announcement by EOS in relation to entry into a material contract for the sale of Remote Weapon Systems and a material contract to establish a joint venture, the disclosure of both of which is presently being finalised.”

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The Web Travel share price is up 2.5% to $3.09. This is despite there being no news out of the travel technology company. But with the US and Iran confirming that a peace deal has been signed, investors may believe that trading conditions will improve markedly in FY 2027 and are buying shares while they are down in the dumps.

The post Why Actinogen, Devex, EOS, and Web Travel shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Web Travel Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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.

Peter Warren Automotive Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWR) shares are charging higher on Thursday after several company insiders increased their holdings.

At the time of writing, the Peter Warren share price is up 5.75% to an intraday high of 92 cents.

The rebound comes after the automotive dealership group released several director interest notices following Wednesday’s market close.

However, shareholders have still endured a painful year. The stock remains down around 50% since the beginning of 2026 and more than 35% over 12 months.

So, what has investors buying today?

Incoming chairman spends $4.4 million

The largest purchase came from incoming chairman Paul Warren, whose family founded the company.

According to the announcement, Warren bought 107,583 shares for around $97,431 on 11 June. He then purchased another 4.2 million shares for approximately $4.32 million on 15 June.

That takes the total value of the two purchases to roughly $4.41 million.

Following the transactions, Warren’s direct and indirect interests total just over 69.3 million securities, including a small number of performance rights.

The buying also comes ahead of a leadership change at the end of June. Long-serving chairman John Ingram is retiring, with Warren set to take over the role.

Ingram has also increased his holding, buying 44,844 shares across two transactions for around $41,794.

Non-Executive Director John Eastham joined the buying as well, spending approximately $140,766 on 153,489 shares.

Warren family lifts its stake

A separate substantial holder notice showed that the Warren family’s voting interest has increased from 37.72% to 40.22%.

Its holding rose from around 65 million shares to 69.3 million shares following the purchases.

It’s worth noting that insider buying can attract attention because directors are using their own money to increase their exposure. However, it doesn’t guarantee that a falling share price has reached the bottom.

The purchases also came as fund manager Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL) reduced its position.

Regal sold around 3.6 million shares, cutting its voting interest from 10.36% to 8.29%.

Why has the stock struggled?

Peter Warren sells new and used vehicles and provides servicing, parts, finance, and insurance products.

Earlier this month, the company warned that trading conditions had weakened as customers changed their spending habits.

Higher interest rates and cost-of-living pressure have pushed more buyers towards smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Customers are also buying fewer higher-margin vehicles and optional accessories.

Growing competition between car brands has added further pressure to new vehicle margins.

Without doubt, the director purchases have helped lift the share price, but investors will still want to see trading conditions improve.

The post This beaten-down ASX stock is jumping 6% after a $4.4 million insider buy 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.