It was another busy week for 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:
Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)
According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this iron ore miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $5.40. The broker is expecting a reasonably solid quarterly update from Champion Iron this month. It is forecasting production of 3.5Mt and sales of 3.7Mt. This will be up from 3.2Mt and 3.5Mt, respectively, in the previous quarter. Bell Potter also highlights that FY 2026 will be a transition year for the company. The broker believes its shift into higher grade production from 2026 will support improved prices and earnings amid an iron ore price environment generally expected to weaken. In addition, it expects Champion Iron free cash flow to improve from 2026 with major capital programs completed. This should be supportive of generous dividends. The Champion Iron share price ended the week at $4.70.
CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)
A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $310.00 price target on this biotechnology giant's shares. UBS points out that CSL's shares are trading at just 20x forward earnings. The broker feels that this makes them cheap, especially given that it is forecasting a mid-teen earnings per share compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the next few years. It expects this to be driven partly by margin expansion in the key CSL Behring business. The CSL share price was fetching $257.38 at Friday's close.
Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)
Analysts at Bell Potter have also retained their buy rating on this uranium producer's shares with an improved price target of $9.20. According to the note, Bell Potter believes that Paladin Energy's shares could re-rate in the coming quarters as it shakes off negative earnings sentiment over FY 2025. In addition, the broker highlights that coming out of the fourth quarter result, the market should have a better understanding of mining rates, ore performance, and sales contracts. It feels that this, combined with a reshuffle in its leadership, should provide a boost to investor sentiment heading into FY 2026. The Paladin Energy share price ended the week at $7.82.
