Tag: Stock pick

A number of popular ASX shares released their results last week and Morgans has been busy running the rule over them.

Let’s now see if the broker is bullish or bearish on them after updating its estimates and valuations. Here’s what you need to know:

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Morgans was pleased with this fashion jewellery retailer’s half-year results, highlighting that its earnings were comfortably ahead of expectations.

In light of this and a sharp pullback in its share price, the broker feels that a buying opportunity has opened up. It has retained its buy rating with a $36.80 price target. It said:

LOV reported a strong underlying 1H26 result with EBIT up 20.4%, ~6% ahead of our expectations, driven by store network growth and strong gross margins. During the period, the pace of store rollout continued with a net of 64 new stores in the period, bringing the total count to 1,095.

We have increased our EBIT by 3%/1% respectively in FY26/27, driven by higher sales and gross margin offset by higher costs and D&A. We see the pull back in share price as a buying opportunity at ~23x FY27 PE. Our valuation lowers to $36.80 (from $40) and we retain our BUY recommendation.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

Morgans described Rio Tinto’s full-year results as solid thanks to its copper operations.

However, due to its valuation and concerns over the potential for deal-making at the top of the cycle, the broker has retained its trim rating with a $146.00 price target. It said:

Solid earnings result, albeit flat earnings despite Copper EBITDA doubling. An investment heavy phase, FCF will rise on Simandou/OT ramp. Underlying NPAT US$10.9bn (in line with cons). Final dividend was 254 USc (+1% vs cons). Whether RIO prove sceptics wrong and unlock value from mega deals at the top of the cycle is a key question and risk. We lean towards ‘no’, as in our experience M&A action in bull markets pushes listed targets beyond fair value.

RIO is keeping pace with the upgrade cycle, which supports gains but undermines our view on further value, although it remains one of the highest quality sector exposures. We maintain a TRIM rating on RIO with a valuation-based A$146 target price (previously A$142).

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Finally, Bunnings and Kmart owner Wesfarmers delivered a better than expected half-year result.

Despite this, Morgans feels that Wesfarmers shares are overvalued at current levels. As a result, it has maintained its trim rating with an $80.50 price target. It explains:

WES’s 1H26 result was better than expected with productivity and efficiency improvements a key highlight. Earnings for all divisions except Industrial & Safety were either in line or above our forecasts. WES noted that despite a modest improvement in consumer demand, higher costs continued to weigh on many households and businesses, while residential construction activity remains subdued.

We adjust FY26/27/28F group EBIT by +2%/+1%/+1%. Our target price rises slightly to $80.50 (from $79.30) and we maintain our TRIM rating with a 12-month forecast TSR of -2%. While we continue to view WES as a core long-term portfolio holding with a diversified group of well-known retail and industrial brands, a healthy balance sheet, and an experienced leadership team, trading on 30.7x FY27F PE we continue to see the stock as overvalued in the short term.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Lovisa, Wesfarmers, and Rio Tinto shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why are Rio Tinto shares sinking today?

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

The PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price has delivered great returns over the past year, rising by approximately 120%, as the chart below shows. Broker UBS doesn’t think the ASX lithium share is finished rising yet.

The business recently reported its FY26 half-year result, which included 47% revenue growth to $624 million and net profit growth of 147% to $33 million. The numbers themselves were very good and UBS is optimistic about the company’s future.

Very positive outlook

UBS noted that many of the company’s financials had already been released, so there were no surprises and the numbers were as expected.

The broker highlighted that PLS Group did approve the restart of Ngungaju from July, as well as committing to delivering a feasibility study for the P2000 brownfields expansion in the quarter for the three months to December 2026 and for Colina (a project in Brazil) in the quarter of the three months to December 2027.

The FY26 guidance is between 820kt to 870kt, with UBS forecasting that PLS Group can achieve 875kt and then reach approximately 1.1mt in FY27 thanks to the addition of Ngangaju.

UBS forecasts that Pilgan can reach 2mt per year of production from FY30 and potentially higher in the early years.

In terms of Colina, UBS said that the diversification offered by a second operation in a different jurisdiction is a “key consideration”. The broker noted that PLS Group is taking its time to incorporate additional drilling and project optimisation work due to the risks associated with a greenfield development.

As part of that (regarding Colina), UBS said that it suspects the ASX lithium share is “is keen to deploy its processing (flotation) expertise in optimising the project.” This may lead to a larger project than what UBS is currently modelling (which is around 500kt per year) from FY32.

Is the PLS Group share price a buy?

UBS certainly thinks so. The broker has a buy rating with a price target of $4.95, suggesting a possible rise of more than 10% over the next year.

The broker commented:            

While spodumene pricing has recovered to ~US$2,000/t already, we are bullish demand (BESS) and agree with PLS that the supply response takes time. We can see prices moving even higher from here and model a price 2x consensus a year from now. Continued strength in the price could see attention focus once again on long term assumptions which may have been cut too hard during last down cycle.

The post The PLS Group share price is a buy – UBS 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 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.

Building wealth in the share market is not just about picking the right stocks. It is about building a portfolio you can actually hold through market crashes, corrections, hype cycles, and boring years.

In my experience, the biggest threat to long-term returns is not volatility. It is behaviour. So the goal is simple: construct a portfolio that makes it easier to stay invested.

Here is how I think about it.

Start with quality ASX shares

If I want to stick with a portfolio for 10 or 20 years, I start with businesses I genuinely understand and trust.

On the ASX, that might mean blue chips like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), or ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD). These are ASX shares with established market positions, recurring earnings, and strong balance sheets. They are not guaranteed to outperform every year, but they have proven they can navigate economic cycles.

When markets fall, I find it much easier to hold high-quality businesses than speculative ones. Quality gives you confidence. Confidence helps you stay invested.

Mix growth and income

A portfolio that is 100% high-growth tech shares can be exciting in a bull market, but very uncomfortable in a downturn.

I prefer balance.

That might mean pairing growth names such as Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB), or Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) with reliable income stocks like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) or Transurban Group (ASX: TCL). Alternatively, adding exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) or the Vanguard Diversified High Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDHG) can smooth things out.

Growth provides long-term upside. Income provides cash flow and psychological comfort. Together, they make the portfolio easier to live with.

Diversify across sectors and themes

One of the simplest ways to reduce regret is diversification.

You do not need 50 stocks. But owning businesses across different sectors can reduce the risk of one theme dominating your results.

If one sector struggles for a few years, another can carry the load. That balance helps you avoid the urge to panic-sell.

Invest regularly, not emotionally

I think consistency is more powerful than clever timing.

Investing a set amount each month into quality ASX shares or ETFs removes emotion from the process. It also takes advantage of volatility instead of fearing it. When prices fall, your money buys more shares. When prices rise, your portfolio benefits. This is called dollar-cost averaging.

Over time, this approach builds discipline and reduces the temptation to jump in and out based on headlines.

Focus on a 5–10 year view

Before I buy an ASX share, I ask myself one simple question: would I be comfortable owning this if the market closed for five years?

If the answer is no, I probably should not buy it.

Thinking in longer timeframes changes your behaviour. Short-term price moves become less important. Business performance becomes more important.

That mindset shift alone can dramatically improve your ability to stick with a portfolio.

Accept that volatility is normal

Even the best ASX shares fall 10% to 20% at times. Sometimes more.

If you expect that in advance, it feels normal when it happens. If you don’t, it feels like something is broken.

A long-term portfolio is not one that never falls. It is one built in a way that allows you to tolerate those falls without abandoning your plan.

Foolish takeaway

The best ASX share portfolio is not the one that looks perfect on paper. It is the one you can hold through good times and bad.

Focus on quality businesses, diversify across sectors, mix growth and income, and invest consistently. If you design your portfolio around your own temperament, not just potential returns, you give yourself the best chance of long-term success.

The post How to build an ASX share portfolio you can stick with long term appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia, Hub24, Transurban Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Hub24, Megaport, ResMed, Transurban Group, Wesfarmers, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed, Telstra Group, Transurban Group, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and Wesfarmers. 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) healthcare share Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) reported its results this week, which included a number of positive growth numbers.

It’s worth asking whether the business is a good buy at this valuation, given it rose around 10% on the day of the report.

Let’s first remind ourselves what the business reported by looking at the numbers that were revealed.

HY26 earnings recap

The pathology business reported that revenue grew 17% to $5.4 billion in the first half of FY26. Within this growth, there was an organic growth of 5%.

Earnings grew at a good pace, though not as fast as the revenue growth. Operating profit (EBITDA) climbed by 10% to $907 million, net profit increased 11% to $262 million, earnings per share (EPS) grew 8% to 53.1 cents, and operating cash flow rose 10% to $682 million. These numbers allowed the business to increase its interim dividend by 2.3% to 45 cents per share.

It wasn’t a surprise to see that its German revenue increased 52% to $1.36 billion, thanks to the LADR acquisition, which settled on 1 July 2026. Organic revenue grew by 5%, and, combined with synergies and cost control, this led to a higher profit margin. Germany made around a quarter of the ASX 200 healthcare share’s total revenue.

Australian pathology delivered organic revenue growth of 5% (and total revenue of $1.08 billion) while the USA saw total revenue growth of 3% to $1.05 billion (and no organic growth)

Impressively, the UK segment delivered 24% organic growth and 30% total growth to $489 million. The ASX 200 healthcare share benefited from a number of new contracts.

Is the Sonic Healthcare share price a buy?

After reviewing the result, broker UBS noted that management is prioritising EPS and return on invested capital (ROIC), with a review and restructuring in the US, as well as plans to sell and lease back properties in Australia, which could support a share buyback.

UBS noted that Sonic (and its peers) are lobbying for more government funding to cover the increased wages mandated by the Fair Work Commission ruling, to ensure the same quality of service. The broker is sceptical that the government will increase funding amid broader budgetary pressures, so margin headwinds seem “unavoidable”.

The broker highlighted that Sonic is delivering weaker organic growth than peers in the US, including the loss of an Alabama contract. Meanwhile, the new NHS contract was an impact on markets, but supports full-year revenue growth.

UBS also thinks the US restructuring is “sensible but does not address the core issue: declining market share as larger peers consolidate via hospital deals”. Sonic “has not participated in this trend and risks being left behind.”

The broker has a neutral rating on the ASX 200 healthcare share, with a price target of $21.80, suggesting a decline over the year ahead. UBS forecasts the business can grow net profit to $597 million in FY26 and $646 million in FY27.

The post Is this ASX 200 healthcare share a great buy after reporting? 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 recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It has been a busy month for the big four banks, with all the majors releasing updates.

The good news for their shareholders is that these updates have gone down well with the market, driving their shares higher.

But is it too late to invest? Let’s see what Morgans is saying about the big banks:

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

Morgans highlights that ANZ’s quarterly update suggests that it is performing ahead of expectations. However, this outperformance was driven by cost-outs. While this would ordinarily be good news, Morgans notes that management has retained its cost guidance for the full year.

In light of this and recent share price strength, the broker has downgraded ANZ shares to a sell rating with a $32.65 price target. It said:

On face of it, the 1Q26 trading update suggested ANZ was tracking ahead of 1H26 growth expectations. However, the beat was driven mostly by the speed of cost-out and will unlikely affect consensus expectations as ANZ retained its FY26 cost guidance of c.$11.5bn. We make minor adjustments to FY26-28F EPS, reflecting 1Q26 Markets revenue strength, impairment charges lower than expected (but off an already low base), and higher shares on issue (DRP uptake was higher than assumed). 12-month target price $32.65 (+8 cps).

We estimate ANZ is trading on 1.8x P:TBV, 16x PER, and 4.1% cash yield (partly franked), all stretched against historical trading ranges. Given the recent share price strength, we downgrade our rating from TRIM to SELL with a potential TSR of -15%.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Morgans was impressed with the performance of Australia’s largest bank during the first half. It highlights that CBA’s earnings were comfortably ahead of expectations, which has led to an upgrade to its forecasts.

However, due to CBA shares trading on lofty multiples, the broker has retained its sell rating with an improved price target of $124.26. It said:

CBA delivered a meaningful beat of 1H26 earnings expectations. We have materially upgraded our EPS forecasts after factoring in continuation of higher loan growth and benign credit loss environments. We expect DPS growth won’t match EPS growth as we see approaching CET1 capital tightness. Target price lifted to $124.26. SELL retained, with potential TSR of -24% (including 3% cash yield) at current elevated prices and trading multiples.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

Morgans has lifted its forecasts for NAB following its strong quarterly update. It notes that the bank is also benefitting from a supportive interest rate, credit growth, and asset quality environment.

However, once again, the broker thinks NAB shares are overvalued and has retained its sell rating with a $37.27 price target. It said:

Like its peers that reported in February, NAB’s 1Q26 trading update showed it is benefitting from a supportive interest rate, credit growth, and asset quality environment. We make upgrades to our forecasts to reflect performance and outlook. 12 month target price set at $37.27/sh. With more aggressive assumptions than previously we estimate a higher fundamental value for NAB. However, the share price is still trading far ahead of this revised estimate. SELL retained, with potential TSR of -17% (including 3.6% cash yield).

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

Finally, Morgans is a little more positive on the investment opportunity here. In response to Westpac’s quarterly update, it has upgraded its shares to a trim rating (from sell) with a $35.12 price target. It said:

A largely stable 1Q26 result compared to the 2H25 quarterly average (normalised for 2H25’s restructuring charge), which is better than 1H26 expectations. We are assuming a more bullish loan growth and impairments outlook than previously (and slightly more conservative costs). There is no change to FY26F EPS but there are 5-8% upgrades to FY27-28F. Target price lifts to $35.12/sh. We upgrade to TRIM given the improved, but still negative, potential TSR.

Is anyone bullish?

While most brokers believe that ANZ, CBA, NAB, and Westpac shares are overvalued, not everyone agrees.

For example, Morgan Stanley upgraded ANZ shares to an overweight rating with a $41.30 price target.

In addition, Jefferies retained its buy rating on NAB shares with a $50.64 price target.

The post Buy, hold, sell: ANZ, CBA, NAB, and Westpac shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Buy, hold, sell: NAB, Santos, and Suncorp shares

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.

I believe that one of the best ways to build wealth is through buy and hold investing.

And one of the simplest ways to do this is with exchange traded funds (ETFs).

But which ones could be top picks for buy and hold investors? Let’s look at three that could be worth considering:

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF (ASX: MOAT)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF.

This popular fund tracks a portfolio of US stocks that possess wide economic moats. This is a term to describe sustainable competitive advantages that could last 20 years or more.

This fund isn’t about chasing hype. It is about backing businesses with pricing power, brand strength, intellectual property, or network effects. Current holdings include firms such as Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). These companies operate in industries where scale and competitive positioning matter deeply.

Over long periods, businesses with genuine moats tend to defend margins and generate strong returns on capital. That quality bias could make the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat AUD ETF well suited to patient investors.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

If you’re thinking 10 years ahead, it makes sense to look at where global growth could come from.

The Betashares India Quality ETF provides investors with exposure to high-quality Indian stocks that are screened for profitability and balance sheet strength. India’s economy is expanding rapidly, supported by favourable demographics, rising middle-class consumption, and structural reforms.

Rather than tracking the entire market indiscriminately, this fund focuses on stocks exhibiting quality characteristics. That helps tilt exposure toward more sustainable long-term operators.

A decade is long enough for demographic and economic trends to play out. For investors seeking geographic diversification beyond developed markets, the Betashares India Quality ETF offers a targeted way to participate. It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The final ASX ETF to consider is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

It provides exposure to stocks involved in robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. These are technologies reshaping manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and software.

Its holdings include names such as Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), a leader in robotic-assisted surgery, and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), which supplies the hardware backbone of AI systems.

Automation is not a short-term theme. Labour shortages, productivity pressures, and technological advances all support continued investment in robotics and AI. Over a 10-year horizon, these trends could compound meaningfully. This fund was also recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post The best ASX ETFs to buy and hold for 10 years or more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Retiring at 60 certainly sounds appealing.

For many Australians, it represents freedom, flexibility, and the chance to step away from full-time work earlier than the traditional retirement age. But there’s one big question that sits underneath the dream:

Is the average superannuation balance actually enough to make that possible?

What does the average 60-year-old have in superannuation?

Based on recent industry data, Australians aged 60–64 hold average super balances of approximately $278,000 for women and $358,000 for men.

That means a typical couple at 60 may have a combined super balance of roughly $636,000.

On paper, that sounds substantial. But retirement isn’t just about having a lump sum, it is about whether that lump sum can generate enough income to last potentially 25 to 30 years.

What kind of retirement are we talking about?

According to the ASFA Retirement Standard, a comfortable retirement requires around $54,240 per year for singles and $76,505 per year for couples.

To support that lifestyle from age 67, ASFA estimates retirees need about $595,000 in superannuation for singles and $690,000 combined for couples, assuming they own their home outright.

But here’s the key complication: those figures assume retirement at 67, not 60.

Retiring seven years earlier means your super needs to last longer, you won’t yet qualify for the Age Pension, your investments have fewer years to keep compounding.

That changes the equation significantly.

Could the average balance support retirement at 60?

For a single person with an average balance between $278,000 and $358,000, retiring at 60 and funding a comfortable lifestyle purely from super would be challenging. Drawing $50,000+ per year from a balance of that size could deplete savings relatively quickly, particularly during periods of market volatility.

For a couple with around $636,000 combined, the situation is more promising, but still tight. With disciplined spending and modest investment returns, it may be possible to bridge the gap until Age Pension eligibility. However, it likely requires careful budgeting rather than carefree spending.

If the goal is a modest retirement, which ASFA says requires around $35,199 per year for singles and $50,866 for couples, the average couple’s balance at 60 could be workable, especially once the Age Pension begins to supplement income.

The biggest variable: lifestyle expectations

Retirement success at 60 depends less on the average and more on the gap between your savings and your desired lifestyle.

A debt-free homeowner with moderate spending needs is in a very different position from someone renting or planning frequent international travel.

Health, part-time work, other investments, and inheritance expectations also matter.

So, what’s the verdict?

For most Australians, the average superannuation balance at 60 makes a comfortable, fully self-funded retirement difficult, especially for singles.

But it doesn’t make early retirement impossible.

Many retirees combine super drawdowns, part-time income, and eventually the Age Pension to make it work. Others delay retirement by a few years to strengthen their financial buffer.

The post Could you retire at 60 with the average superannuation balance? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

It’s earnings season on the ASX, and that means it’s also dividend season. When an ASX share reports its latest financials, it also usually tends to tell investors how much its next dividend will be worth (if it is a dividend-paying stock, of course). This dynamic makes earnings season one of the most interesting periods that investors can enjoy in a given year. This week, we heard from a number of ASX 200 blue-chip shares, and boy, did they have some good news for income investors.

So today, let’s go through two ASX 200 blue-chip shares that just gave investors a pay rise.

Two ASX 200 blue-chip shares that just increased dividends

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

First up, we have ASX 200 dividend stalwart Telstra. This telco has long been a favourite for ASX income investors, given its long history of providing fat, fully-franked dividends.

Well, Telstra’s earnings on Thursday did not disappoint on most metrics. The telco revealed that its first dividend of 2026 would be worth 10.5 cents per share, underpinned by strong earnings growth. That’s a (coincidental)10.5% rise from the 9.5 cents per share interim dividend that Telstra doled out in 2025. Together with the final dividend of 9.5 cents per share from September, it takes the company’s 12-month payouts to a total of 20 cents per share.

However, this dividend comes with a major caveat. It is the first dividend Telstra has paid in decades that will not come fully franked. It will come partially franked at 90.5%, arguably making this a change with more symbolism than impact.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Next up, we have another ASX 200 blue-chip share in Wesfarmers. Wesfarmers reported its own half-year earnings on Thursday, too. Although the market received these earnings less enthusiastically than it did Telstra’s, Wesfarmers still reported strong growth across revenue, earnings, and profits.

This helped the company declare an interim dividend of $1.02 per share. That represents a 7.37% rise over last year’s interim dividend of 95 cents per share. Unlike Telstra’s payout, it will come with full franking credits attached. This is a significant dividend from Wesfarmers, as it is the largest ordinary dividend the company has funded since the 2018 spin-off of Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Together with the final dividend of $1.11 per share from October, this ASX 200 blue-chip share’s 12-month ordinary dividend total is $2.13 per share ($2.53 if we include December’s special dividend).

The post These 2 ASX 200 blue-chip shares just raised their dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Why I think the Wesfarmers share price is a buy after its HY26 result
• What is Bell Potter saying about Telstra shares following its strong result?
• Recap: Winners and losers from earnings season week 3
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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you are looking for some new portfolio additions, then read on.

That’s because analysts at Morgans have been busy updating their recommendations for the ASX 200 shares in this article.

Is it bullish, bearish, or something in between? Let’s find out.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Morgans was pleased with this investment platform provider’s half-year results, noting that its profit was ahead of expectations. It was also pleased to see that its guidance for FY 2026 has been reiterated.

In response, the broker has retained its accumulate rating with a $29.00 price target. It said:

NWL reported 1H26 Revenue +24.7%; EBITDA +24.0%; and Underlying NPAT +19.8% on pcp, delivering strong momentum across the group, which was ahead of expectations. FY26 EBITDA margin guidance was reiterated for, implying 2H26 is expected to see a step-up in investment vs 1H26 ahead of the formal launch of its Broker/iHIN offering in 3Q26. Netflow guidance was also reaffirmed, with the group confident of momentum into FY27 as it looks to further scale its offering. We make minor changes to our NPAT forecasts of +3%/-1%/-3%, overall, this sees our price target move to A$29.00/sh, and we retain our ACCUMULATE rating.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Another ASX 200 share that delivered a solid result was PLS, which was formerly known as Pilbara Minerals. Morgans was pleased with its stronger than expected earnings and plans to restart the Ngungaju operation.

However, due to its current valuation, the broker has retained its hold rating and $4.60 price target. It explains:

1H26 result: solid result. Key positives: underlying EBITDA beat, Ngungaju plant restart confirmation and growth project studies brought forward. Key negatives: no dividend despite strong liquidity but ultimately this was not expected by most of the market. We maintain our HOLD rating with an unchanged A$4.60ps target price.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

This gold miner delivered a half-year result slightly ahead of expectations. But the highlight was a significantly larger than expected dividend.

However, due to recent share price strength, Morgans has downgraded the ASX 200 share to an accumulate rating (from buy). It said:

RRL reported its 1H26 result which demonstrated a series of modest beats across both EBITDA and NPAT, complimented by dividend payment of A$0.15ps. Key positive: Introduction of a structured capital management framework, with semi-annual distributions targeted at 25–50% of cash build, provides improved visibility on shareholder returns and better aligns with RRL’s leveraged exposure to the gold price.

The 15cps fully franked dividend materially exceeded both MorgansF and consensus expectations and reinforces the strength of current cash generation. Key negative: No material negatives from the result. Operational and financial metrics were largely pre-reported, and delivery was consistent with guidance.

The post What is Morgans saying about these popular ASX 200 shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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 positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals and Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Treasury Wine Estates. 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.