Tag: Stock pick

Two of the biggest ASX healthcare stocks by market cap have been heavily sold off in 2026. 

At the time of writing:

• Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) is down 38% year to date
• Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) has fallen 63%. 

These heavy sell-offs have been a large contributor to the overall fall of the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) which is down 22% in that same period. 

After such a strong decline, many brokers and analysts have re-rated and adjusted their outlooks on these ASX healthcare stocks. 

Let’s see which is attracting more optimism right now. 

Pro Medicus

Pro Medicus provides medical imaging technology globally. The company is recognised as a leading supplier of radiology information systems (RIS), picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), and advanced visualisation solutions for medical practices and hospitals.

It sits within the top 5 largest ASX healthcare companies by market cap. 

However it has suffered a brutal decline over the last year, falling almost 60% from its 12-month highs reached last July, when shares were trading for $330.

Yesterday, after another decline, it closed at $138.12 per share. 

General consensus is that this ASX healthcare stock is now undervalued. 

Yesterday, Medallion Financial Group cited recent contract renewals on higher fees and recent share price weakness as tailwinds for the company. 

Analysts at Morgans have also recently retained their buy rating on this health imaging technology company’s shares with a price target of $210.00.

The broker also is bullish on the company thanks to contract newsflow since February which has been “exceptional”. 

We re-emphasise our positive long-term conviction on the name although lower our valuation to reflect current but potentially fleeting headwinds.

From yesterday’s closing price, this target indicates an upside potential of 52%. 

Cochlear

Cochlear is the world’s leading cochlear implant device manufacturer with around half of global market share.

Its share price fell a further 2.5% yesterday, taking its year to date fall to 63%. 

The bulk of this fall occurred last week following a cut to its earnings outlook.

The announcement sent the stock price plummeting 40% in a single day session. 

Despite such a heavy fall, sentiment is mixed on what’s next for this ASX healthcare stock. 

It closed trading at $95.25 yesterday.

Some recent price targets from experts include: 

• Jarden has a share price target of $169 on Cochlear shares
• Macquarie’s 12-month price target is $115 (reduced from $239)
• Morgans has a hold rating and target price of $107.17. 

Foolish takeaway 

When traditional blue-chip stocks fall significantly, it always attracts attention. 

With a long-term view, ASX healthcare shares could be set for a recovery, but several headwinds will need to subside. 

However, those trying to buy low on these options may need to accept more volatility in the short term. 

The post Which beaten down ASX healthcare stock is a better buy right now: Pro Medicus vs Cochlear shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Pro Medicus, Life360, A2 Milk shares
• Why Cochlear, Karoon Energy, Origin Energy, and WiseTech shares are falling today
• Analysts pick 3 ASX 200 stocks to buy
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Down 43% this week, are Cochlear shares now the best bargain buy of the year?

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

A $7,000 investment can go a long way if it is put into the right businesses.

For me, that means focusing on companies that still have room to expand and can keep building over time, rather than those that have already reached their peak.

Here are three ASX growth shares I would consider right now.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Network-as-a-service company Megaport is one growth share I’d buy.

What interests me is where it sits in the digital ecosystem. As more businesses shift workloads between cloud providers and data centres, the need for flexible, on-demand connectivity continues to grow. Megaport is positioned right in the middle of that.

Instead of building physical infrastructure for each connection, it allows customers to scale their network connections up or down as needed. That flexibility becomes more valuable as systems become more complex.

The company is also expanding what it can offer. Its acquisition of Latitude.sh adds bare metal infrastructure into the mix, which could deepen its role in how customers deploy and connect their workloads.

The key for me is adoption. As usage increases, the economics of the model tend to improve. That means revenue can build without the same level of incremental cost, which supports long-term growth potential.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is often thought of as a mature business, but I do not see it that way.

It already has a strong position in Australia, though I think the growth is coming from how it continues to build on that.

Over time, it has found ways to increase revenue per listing, introduce new products, and deepen its role in the property transaction process.

That tells me there is still room to expand within its core market.

There is also the international side of the business, which does not get as much attention. As those operations develop, they could become a more meaningful contributor.

What I like here is that growth does not rely on one single driver. It comes from multiple smaller improvements that build over time.

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

Another ASX growth share I’d buy is SiteMinder. It operates in a niche that is becoming more important.

Hotels are increasingly relying on digital platforms to manage bookings, pricing, and distribution. SiteMinder provides the software that helps connect hotels to online travel agents and other booking channels.

What I find interesting is how this can scale. Once a hotel is using the platform, it becomes part of its daily operations. That creates stickiness and recurring revenue.

At the same time, the company still has a large number of hotels globally that are yet to adopt this type of technology. That leaves room for expansion.

As more properties come onto the platform and existing customers use more features, revenue can build in layers.

Foolish takeaway

If I were investing $7,000 into ASX growth shares today, I would focus on businesses that have clear pathways to expand.

I think all three in this article tick this box and have the potential to deliver good returns in the coming years.

The post 3 ASX growth shares I’d buy with $7,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Atlas Arteria, Forrestania, Megaport, and WA1 shares are charging higher today
• Why are Megaport shares jumping 9% today?
• Megaport secures $35.4m compute deal and lifts recurring revenue
• What are the best Australian shares to buy now to try and make a million?

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

When you’re looking for ASX 200 investments which will drive outsized returns it pays to turn to the experts for help.

I’ve been through the research reports issued by the Macquarie team over the past week and singled out two companies from very different industries which Macquarie analysts believe will generate returns of about 30% over the next 12 months.

Let’s take a look.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Last week, Judo released its third quarter report, revealing that its lending growth, net interest margins and operating expenses all remained on track to meet existing guidance, “resulting in Judo reaffirming guidance for FY26 profit before tax of between $180 million – $190 million”.

This also included the company factoring in an extra provision, “in response to current economic conditions”.

Judo’s gross loan balance was $13.8 billion at the end of the quarter, up from $13.4 billion, with strong loan growth coming through high levels of originations and lower attrition.

The bank’s net interest margin was about 3.15%, up from 3.03% in the first half and in line with guidance.

Macquarie said in its note to clients on Judo that the underlying revenue performance was strong, “with continued lending book growth and positive margin momentum”.

The broker said they remained of the view that Judo would beat its guidance on margins in the second half.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on Judo shares, with a 12-month price target of $1.85, compared with the current share price of $1.43, implying a potential return of 29.4%.

Judo does not pay dividends.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

IGO was sharply sold down after its third quarter results recently, with ongoing challenges at the company’s Greenbushes asset in focus.

Despite the price of the lithium mineral spodumene nearly doubling during the quarter, the market focused on the fact that Greenbushes’ production was flat, with operational performance declining in areas including grade, plant recoveries and in increased downtime from maintenance outages.

On the other hand, the company’s Nova nickel operation performed well, with production up 11% for the quarter and free cash flow generation of $52 million.

Macquarie said in its note to clients that despite the company’s issues, it still held value at current levels.

Despite a 17.9% sell-off on the day of the quarterly report, we continue to see value in IGO given its exposure to a tier-one lithium asset. While several factors drive near term operational volatility, resource quality is inherently more stable over the short to medium term. On our forecasts, IGO is trading at an implied lithium price of US$1,150/t, ~50% below spot (US$2,390/t) and 10% below our long-term price assumption of US$1,350/t.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.50 on IGO shares compared with $7.32 currently, implying potential upside of 29.7%.

IGO does not pay dividends.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares Macquarie thinks will return nearly 30% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares upgraded by Morgans to buy ratings
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why Brainchip, Fortescue, IGO, and Life360 shares are tumbling today
• Guess which ASX 200 bank stock is pushing higher on Friday (hint, not CBA shares)
• IGO shares sink 14%. Here’s what just spooked investors?

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

Wondering where to put fresh capital to work in the share market?

Well, it could pay to listen to what analysts at Ord Minnett are saying about two ASX 300 shares.

Here’s why it rates them as buys:

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

The first ASX 300 share backed by Ord Minnett is Breville Group.

Breville designs and sells premium kitchen appliances across global markets, with its products sold under brands such as Breville, Sage, and Baratza.

A key focus for the broker is the company’s recent expansion in the United States. Breville rolled out store-in-store formats across 300 locations within Best Buy, as part of a broader shift by the retailer to streamline its supplier base.

Ord Minnett highlights that this change could have long-term implications for the competitive landscape. It said:

Breville executed a major US retail expansion in late 2025 where it installed ‘store-in-store’ formats in 300 of the more than 1,000 stores operated by US big-box consumer electronics retailer Best Buy. This was part of a deliberate consolidation of vendors by Best Buy.

The broker points out that Best Buy has reduced its appliance offering to a small group of preferred brands, including Breville. This effectively gives those partners greater visibility and shelf space.

Breville management has described the shift as a “material change” to the retail channel, with selected brands benefiting from stronger positioning while others lose access to physical stores.

As a result, Ord Minnett believes this could create a meaningful advantage for Breville in a key growth market.

This has seen the broker put a buy rating and $37.20 price target on its shares.

MA Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MAF)

Another ASX 300 share rated as a buy by Ord Minnett is MA Financial Group.

It operates across asset management, lending, and advisory services, with its asset management division making up the majority of earnings.

Ord Minnett sees strong growth ahead, supported by increasing funds under management and expanding lending operations. It said:

Its asset management business is seeing continuing momentum in net flows and the launch of new investment vehicles in FY25 leads us to expect strong growth in assets under management (AUM) in the near term.

The broker also highlights that MA Financial’s exposure differs from some overseas peers, particularly in areas such as software, which reduces certain risks. In addition, the residential lending business is beginning to contribute more meaningfully. It has recently achieved positive EBITDA and continues to grow its loan book.

Ord Minnett expects this to support profit growth in the coming years, noting:

We see an attractive value proposition in MA Financial, with the stock trading on a one-year forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 14.7x, along with a forecast EPS compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23% over the FY25–28 horizon.

With multiple growth drivers across its business lines, it thinks MA Financial offers exposure to both asset growth and expanding earnings streams.

Ord Minnett has a buy rating and $9.20 price target on the ASX 300 share.

The post Ord Minnett says these ASX 300 shares are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Two ASX All Ords shares with 20% to 45% upside according to Morgans
• 5 oversold ASX shares to buy before the end of April
• After a brutal 2026, this $1.5 billion ASX financial stock is pushing higher again
• 2 ASX growth stocks to buy now and hold until 2036
• 3 ASX 300 shares to buy and hold for the next decade

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

The Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) share price has experienced significant volatility over the past year, as the chart below shows. It’s good to think about what could happen next because the business is delivering growth in its financials.

Sometimes the market may be overly optimistic about the business, and sometimes it’s pessimistic.

It’s heavily tied into market and economic confidence because a significant part of its transaction value is linked to consumer discretionary spending.

What could happen with the Zip share price?

We should remember that analyst price targets are just estimates of where experts think the share price will be within a year, not guarantees that they will be met, of course.

According to CMC Markets, there have been six recent ratings on the buy now, pay later business over the past three months. All of them were buys!

The average price target for those six ratings is $3.57, suggesting a possible rise of nearly 50% over the next 12 months.

The most optimistic price target is $4.50, implying a potential rise of more than 80%, while the lowest is $2.60. That suggests a rise of 7%.

Why are analysts optimistic on the business?

The business continues to grow at a very strong rate.

Its latest update was for the company’s FY26 third quarter, where it reported total income growth of 20.2% to $335.2 million following total transaction value (TTV) growth of 22.4% to $4 billion.

The cash net transaction margin (NTM) remained “strong” at 3.9%, which was flat year over year, and the cash operating profit (EBTDA) surged 41.5% to $65.1 million.

The US is the key region driving growth for the company. US TTV increased 29% to $3.05 billion, and US revenue increased 29.3% to $223.9 million.

In terms of active customers, there is diverging performance between the two core regions. US active customers increased 9% to 4.6 million, and ANZ active customers declined 7.4% to 1.9 million.

Considering the huge scale of the US market, it seems like there’s plenty of growth to come in that country. However, the fact that the mature ANZ market is seeing declines is not ideal.

Zip share price valuation

According to the forecast on CMC Invest, the business is projected to generate 12.4 cents of earnings per share (EPS).

At the time of writing, the Zip share price is valued at just 19x FY27’s estimated earnings. That may prove to be a great time to buy while investors are seemingly more negative right now.

The post Experts think the Zip share price can rise 48% in a year! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• Up over 70% in a month, is it too late to buy Zip shares?
• Up another 9%, how much higher can Zip shares go?
• Why Navigator Global, St Barbara, Vulcan Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares

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.

Superannuation is one of the best avenues that investors can utilise to invest and build wealth due to the lower taxation environment. It can also be a place to invest in assets that can unlock high passive income.

We don’t necessarily need to be able t access the income immediately for it to be a good investment – it could be a great asset because of earnings stability and the more consistent returns that it delivers year to year.

Considering superannuation has a lower tax rate, there’s less of a drag on after tax passive income returns compared to investments outside of super for a full-time working Australian.

Plenty of investors can invest in passive income assets through self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs). Other super funds also offer the ability to invest in areas such as S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares – there are plenty of options within that index for income.

How to generate $2,500 of monthly passive income from superannuation

Each investor’s situation will be different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach that I can outline to say what the net income would be. Therefore, I’ll focus on the gross income, before taxes and costs.

Generating $2,500 of monthly passive income equates to $30,000 per year.

The amount required to be invested would depend on the dividend yield (or interest rate) of the investments.

For example, if someone had $1 million invested with a 3% dividend yield, that would generate $30,000 of annual income.

But, with a larger dividend yield, an investor wouldn’t need as much in superannuation to create that same level of annual/monthly passive income.

For example, with a 4% dividend yield, an investor would need $750,000.

A 5% dividend yield suggests investors would need a $600,000 portfolio.

If the dividend yield were 6% then it would require just a $500,000 portfolio.

Where I’d invest for a high yield

If I were looking for investments to unlock a high level of monthly passive income, I’d focus on businesses with a good dividend yield.

I’d look at names like MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF), L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF), WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG), Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) and Hearts and Minds Investments Ltd (ASX: HM1).

But, I wouldn’t want to forget about somewhat lower-yielding businesses that have a track record of regular dividend growth as well as attractive capital growth.

The post How much is needed in superannuation to target a $2,500 monthly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX income stocks with rocketing dividends
• Want to build up a second income? These 2 top ASX shares are a buy
• 2 ASX shares I’d much rather buy than an investment property
• 2 ASX shares with dividend yields above 7%
• 5 ASX dividend shares I’d buy for a second income

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Hearts And Minds Investments, L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, Rural Funds Group, and Wcm Global Growth. 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 Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Mff Capital Investments and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If someone told me that I could buy $20,000 worth of ASX shares and get $5,000 back in annual passive dividend income, I would probably channel Darryl Kerrigan and ‘tell ’em they’re dreaming’.

After all, $5,000 from a $20,000 investment would necessitate obtaining a starting dividend yield of 25%, which, as any serious dividend investor will tell you, is fanciful.

Yet I think it is possible to get that kind of passive income yield from an ASX dividend share. You just need the right stock, and the addition of a crucial ingredient – time.

Let’s start with the right stock. As I’ve argued many times before, only the best ASX dividend stocks have the financial capacity to deliver an ever-rising stream of passive income. Even many of the ASX’s best blue-chip stocks tend to have dividends that fall into a cyclical pattern.

But some income stocks can deliver a dividend that rises by more than the rate of inflation each year.

One of my favourites is Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL).

Soul Patts has the distinction of being the only ASX share that has increased its annual dividend every single year for 28 years running. What’s even better is that the passive income from this ASX investing house has increased by an average compounded annual growth rate of 11.9% over the past five years (FY21 to FY25).

Now, Soul Patts currently trades on a trailing dividend yield of 2.57% (at the time of writing). That means a $20,000 investment right now would come with a reasonable expectation of about $514 in annual passive income. That’s a long way from $5,000.

A 25% yield from an ASX passive income stock?

But let’s add some time into that equation. If we assume (and we can never just assume in the world of investing) that Soul Patts will continue to grow its annual dividends by 11.9% per annum going forward, we can see how a 25% yield on cost is possible.

After one year, that $514 in annual passive income would grow to just over $575. When six years have passed, it would hit four figures. After 14 years, we’d be halfway at just over $2,500 in annual passive dividend income. By the time 21 years have passed, our initial investment would be yielding $5,550 in annual dividends.

Of course, 21 years is a long time to wait. But this exercise shows how the power of compounding can get one to a 25% yield on cost. And this is assuming no additional cash investments, too. If our investor put some extra dollars into their Soul Patts position each year, as well as reinvesting those dividends back into more shares, they could reduce that 21-year time frame significantly.

The post Spend $20,000 on ASX shares and get $5,000 in passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX income stocks with rocketing dividends
• 2 ASX shares I’d much rather buy than an investment property
• Has your ASX dividend stock increased its payout 28 years in a row?
• 2 quality ASX 200 shares I’d buy if the market fell another 10%
• Want to build a second income? I’d buy these ASX shares today

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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 exchange traded funds (ETFs) to buy next month, then read on.

That’s because listed below are three ETFs that could be among the best to buy for the new month.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF.

This fund has been under significant pressure during the recent tech selloff, which has pulled valuations back across the sector. That weakness has changed the starting point for investors.

The BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF offers exposure to a group of Australian tech shares that are now rebuilding from lower levels. These businesses are still tied to long-term trends such as cloud computing, digital platforms, and software adoption.

Its holdings include companies such as Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), and TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE).

If sentiment toward technology stabilises, the BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF could be a great way to gain exposure to a recovery in the sector. It was recently recommended by analysts at Catapult Wealth.

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

Another ASX ETF to look at in May is the BetaShares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

This fund gives investors easy access to stocks that are helping transform the world with robotics and artificial intelligence.

Its holdings include companies such as ABB (SWX: ABBN), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), and Keyence Corporation.

ABB highlights how broad this theme has become. Its automation systems are now being used across manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure, showing that robotics is no longer confined to factories alone.

The BetaShares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF captures the shift toward automation across the global economy. It was recently recommended by analysts at BetaShares.

Global X Defence Tech ETF (ASX: DTEC)

A third ASX ETF to consider in May is the Global X Defence Tech ETF.

Defence spending is no longer just about traditional equipment. Increasingly, it is being directed toward technology, including artificial intelligence, drones, and cybersecurity.

The Global X Defence Tech ETF focuses on companies operating in these areas, providing exposure to how defence is evolving.

Its holdings include companies such as Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), and Rheinmetall (ETR: RHM).

With global defence spending continuing to rise and becoming more technology-driven, the Global X Defence Tech ETF offers exposure to an increasingly important theme.

This fund was recently recommended by analysts at Global X.

The post Are these the best ASX ETFs to buy in May? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• All-weather ASX ETFs to buy if the market crashes 20%
• Why it’s time to look past the “SaaSpocolypse” and target Aussie tech
• 3 ASX ETFs with market-beating potential over the next 10 years
• Is this ASX ETF the perfect companion to Vanguard’s VAS?
• Where I’d invest my first $500 into ASX shares

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Abb, Intuitive Surgical, Palantir Technologies, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall and has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The team at Morgans has been busy this month updating its recommendations

Three ASX shares that have just been upgraded to buy ratings are listed below. Here’s why it has become bullish on them:

GemLife Communities Group (ASX: GLF)

Morgans has turned more positive on this retirement living company following a period of share price weakness.

This has seen the broker upgrade its shares to a buy rating with a $5.66 price target. It said:

The recent share price weakness looks overdone in our view. We have used the pullback as an opportunity to reassess key assumptions (ASP, settlement volumes, home build margins and gearing) in the context of the Iran conflict, a higher rate outlook, softer auction clearance rates and renewed cost inflation concerns. Ultimately, we remain enthused and our investment thesis is unchanged. We take the opportunity to upgrade our ACCUMULATE recommendation to BUY.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Another ASX share that has been upgraded by analysts at Morgans is small business lender Judo Capital.

Morgans has upgraded Judo Capital’s shares to a buy rating and estimates a potential return of almost 50% over the next 12 months. It said:

JDO provided a 3Q26 trading update, which included reaffirming its FY26 earnings guidance range albeit now expected to be at the bottom end of the range given it conservatively topped up its expected loan loss provision. We view JDO’s recent share price weakness as a buying opportunity for a stock with high growth potential, increasing the margin of safety for the investment. Upgrade from ACCUMULATE to BUY. Potential TSR at current prices is c.49%.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

A third ASX share that Morgans has upgraded is gold miner Regis Resources.

In response to a strong quarterly update and recent pullback in its share price, Morgans has upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $10.07 price target. It said:

Gold sales of 89.1koz at an AISC of A$2,807 beat our expectations whilst performing in line with company guidance, delivering revenue of A$622m at an average realised price of A$6,977/oz. RRL continues to build a substantial cash balance, adding an additional A$198m bringing the total to A$1.12bn.

Replenished ounces with group MRE exceeding 10% yoy resource growth underpinning future production. We upgrade to BUY (from HOLD) following recent weakness across the gold sector which we believe has uncovered value in RRL underpinned by attractive immediate term cash generation paired with a structured capital management framework.

The post 3 ASX shares upgraded by Morgans to buy ratings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 top ASX 200 gold stocks brokers say are buys now
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Are these ASX materials stocks a buy, hold or sell according to Morgans?
• Guess which ASX 200 bank stock is pushing higher on Friday (hint, not CBA shares)
• Judo Capital reaffirms FY26 profit guidance as lending growth continues

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) kicked off the week’s trading on a rather sour note this Monday. After a lacklustre week last week, it seems the weekend did nothing to cheer investors up.

After staying in red territory all session, the ASX 200 ended up finishing down 0.23%. That leaves the index at 8,766.4 points.

This rather depressing start to the Australian trading week comes after a more nuanced end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in the same mould as the ASX, dropping 0.16%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared far better, roaring 1.63% higher.

But let’s get back to this week and our local markets now, and check out what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors this Monday.

Winners and losers

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 positions in Newmont. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.