Buy, hold, sell: Macquarie, South32, and Woodside shares

Analysts have given their verdicts on these blue chips.

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Key points

  • Fairmont Equities highlights Macquarie Group as a potential buy due to technical indicators suggesting a rally to new highs once selling pressure diminishes, especially after recent price consolidation under previous highs.
  • Catapult Wealth recommends South32 as a buy, attracted by its diversified mining operations including aluminium and copper, positioning it well in the energy transition and electrification sectors, supported by a strong balance sheet.
  • Although optimistic about oil price recovery, Fairmont Equities has placed a hold on Woodside Energy, noting the company's potential gains from rising crude prices but awaiting more solidified upward trends in its share price.

There are a lot of ASX 200 shares for investors to choose from, but which ones could be buys this month?

To narrow things down, let's look closer at three popular options and see what analysts are saying about them, courtesy of The Bull. Here's what you need to know:

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The team at Fairmont Equities thinks that this investment bank could be an ASX 200 share to buy.

Its analysts expect Macquarie's shares to rally higher once selling pressure eases. They said:

MQG shares are displaying technical characteristics which suggest the stock is about to rally to new highs. After bouncing off the April low of around $170, MQG climbed to a closing price of $229.02 on July 2, which was below a high of about $240 in January. Since late June, the stock has traded in a sideways range. Consolidating under the old high is a positive sign as it means new buyers are stepping up to meet the price of sellers. Once the selling pressure subsides, we expect MQG to rally strongly into calendar year 2026.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

Over at Catapult Wealth, its analysts are feeling positive about mining giant South32. So much so, they have named it as a buy this week.

Catapult Wealth likes South32 due to its exposure to the energy transition and electrification. It explains:

Spun out of BHP just over a decade ago, South32 has a diversified range of mining operations, including aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, manganese and silver. The company's earnings are volatile, but the commodity mix provides diversification across price cycles. S32's long life mine assets are high quality and low on the cost curve. Overall, we're attracted to the company's commodity mix during the energy transition and electrification. S32 holds a net cash position created by the sale of its coal division in 2024.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Fairmont Equities has been running the rule over energy giant Woodside.

Although its analysts are feeling positive about the outlook for oil prices due to lower than anticipated supplies, they aren't recommending Woodside has a buy just yet. Fairmont Equities has put a hold rating on its shares instead. It said:

Woodside Energy Group (WDS) Crude oil prices were recently back near their lows in 2025 and well down from the peaks seen in 2022. We believe US crude oil production has hit a peak and strategic reserves having been substantially drawn down and supplies are much lower than many have anticipated. Woodside benefits when crude oil prices rise. The share price chart of Woodside indicates the stock has bottomed amid seeing signs of it starting to move higher again.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group. 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.

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