It has been another busy week for many of Australia's top brokers. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.
Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:
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Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)
According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this supermarket giant's shares with an improved price target of $22.00. Macquarie was impressed with the company's performance in the first half of FY 2025, highlighting that Coles was able to increase its margins despite operating in a tough environment. Looking ahead, the broker is positive on Coles' outlook due to its Simplify and Save to Invest program and lower stock losses. In light of this, its analysts still see value in the company's shares despite recent strength. The Coles share price is trading at $19.77 on Friday.
Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)
A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating on this airline operator's shares with an improved price target of $11.50. This follows the release of a strong half year result from the Flying Kangaroo that was in line with the broker's forecasts. It was also pleased to see fully franked dividends return ahead of expectations. Looking ahead, Morgan Stanley believes that management's outlook commentary poses upside risk to earnings and sees potential for a re-rating in the near term if it continues to demonstrate that the current level of earnings is sustainable. The Qantas share price is fetching $9.39 at the time of writing.
Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)
Analysts at Goldman Sachs have retained their buy rating and $36.10 price target on this supermarket operator's shares. According to the note, Woolworths delivered a half year result that was slightly below expectations. It notes that this didn't go down well with the market. However, it wasn't all bad news. One positive that the broker feels the market overlooked was the announcement of a $400mn support centre cost out plan. In addition, Goldman highlights that it sees early signs of a refocus on productivity and increased precision execution driving promotional effectiveness. All in all, the broker expects strong earnings per share growth in FY 2026 and FY 2027, making its shares inexpensive at current levels. The Woolworths share price is trading at $29.97 on Friday afternoon.
