Australia's top brokers have been busy adjusting their estimates and recommendations again, leading to the release of a large number of broker notes this week.
Three broker buy ratings that have caught my eye are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:
Australia and New Zealand Banking GrpLtd (ASX: ANZ)
According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their add rating and increased their price target on this banking giant's shares to $26.00. The broker notes that APRA has removed dividend restrictions on the banks from 2021. It expects this to result in ANZ lifting its dividend payout ratio to upwards of 70% in the coming years. In light of this, Morgans is forecasting a $1.27 per share dividend in FY 2021 and a $1.50 per share dividend in FY 2022. Based on the current ANZ share price of $23.39, this represents 5.4% and 6.4% dividend yields, respectively.
Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)
Analysts at Citi have upgraded this gold miner's shares to a buy rating but lowered the price target on them to $13.90. The broker is expecting the gold price to peak in 2021 before softening from 2022 as COVID-19 passes and global economic growth resumes. And while this will impact Northern Star's earnings in the future, it believes recent share price weakness has dragged it down to an attractive level. The Northern Star share price is fetching $12.90 this afternoon.
Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)
Another note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have retained their add rating and lifted the price target on this health imaging company's shares to $35.02. The broker notes that the company has just won another major contract in the United States. It also points out that this is the first time it has signed a major cloud-only deal. Which could be a sign of things to come. The Pro Medicus share price is changing hands for $32.88 on Friday.
