These popular ASX 200 shares are in the Boxing Day sales

These quality shares have been sold down to levels that analysts think could make them dirt cheap.

| More on:
Smiling couple looking at a phone at a bargain opportunity.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Key points

  • James Hardie's shares are considered undervalued by analysts like those at Macquarie, who see stabilising market conditions and improved governance as signals of a potential 30% upside despite recent challenges.
  • NextDC, with its recent customer contract wins boosting utilisation, is viewed as a high-potential buy due to a 25% discount from its yearly high, offering an estimated 45% upside according to Morgans.
  • Both companies offer compelling opportunities for savvy investors looking to take advantage of Boxing Day sales, focusing on long-term growth potential and market recovery.

The market may be trading within sight of its record high, but that doesn't mean that everything is overvalued.

In fact, if you look hard enough, you will find a number of ASX shares that are trading at a deep discount to what analysts think they are worth.

With that in mind, let's take a look at two popular ASX 200 shares that are in the Boxing Day sales this year:

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

This building products giant's shares could be on sale right now.

Although the company has been dealing with a tough demand environment in North America, as higher interest rates and softer housing activity weighed on volumes, its most recent quarterly update signalled that conditions may be stabilising faster than expected.

The team at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) thinks investors should be buying James Hardie's shares while they are down in the dumps. It recently put an outperform rating and $41.70 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of approximately 30% for investors.

Commenting on its outperform rating on this ASX 200 share, the broker said:

Outperform. Market conditions are tough, but stabilising – inventory concerns are fading. Focus now turns to rates and housing policy. An evolving AZEK integration story, a bottoming of markets, and valuation are in support of our thesis. Governance changes also seen as additive.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT)

While this data centre operator's shares are not conventionally cheap, they are trading at a 25%+ discount to their 52-week high. This could be a compelling opportunity for investors to snap up shares in a high-quality company with significant long-term growth potential thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

Morgans certainly thinks this is the case. It recently upgraded NextDC's shares to a buy rating with a $19.00 price target. This suggests that upside of approximately 45% is possible from current levels.

Commenting on the ASX 200 share, the broker said:

NXT has announced that following recent customer contract wins, presumably including a large single customer contract win across multiple locations, its contracted utilisation has increased by 71MW to 316MW as at 1 December 2025. Further contract wins were, and remain in, our forecasts so this mostly underpins our expectations.

However, we upgrade our capex assumptions and lift our FY27/28 EBITDA forecasts by 5%. Our target price remains $19 per share. The share price has declined ~19% in the last three months and given a ~40% differential between the current share price and our $19 target price we upgrade our recommendation to BUY from ACCUMULATE.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. 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.

More on Cheap Shares

Blue chip in a trolley with a man pushing it.
Cheap Shares

3 beaten-down ASX 200 shares to pick up in February

These beaten-down ASX 200 shares are nearing 52-week lows with upcoming results that could shift sentiment.

Read more »

A female CSL investor looking happy holds a big fan of Australian cash notes in her hand representing strong dividends being paid to her
Cheap Shares

5 ASX stocks that are still good value at over $100 a share

Is it time to get in on these premium stocks?

Read more »

A woman gives two fist pumps with a big smile as she learns of her windfall, sitting at her desk.
Cheap Shares

I think these cheap ASX shares are strong buys this month

When quality businesses fall this far, I think it’s worth looking past the noise.

Read more »

A woman and two children in the air over a sofa.
Cheap Shares

2 ASX shares that could be overdue for a new year jump

Sometimes the market prices in too much bad news, too quickly.

Read more »

A woman wearing a hard hat holds two sparking wires together as energy surges between them.
Cheap Shares

1 Australian stock ready to surge in 2026

Bell Potter sees potential for this stock to almost double in value following recent weakness.

Read more »

Paper aeroplane rising on a graph, symbolising a rising Corporate Travel Management share price.
Cheap Shares

Experts think these 2 ASX 300 shares are great buys in February

These businesses are compelling investments, according to a fund manager…

Read more »

A young boy in a business suit giving thumbs up with piggy banks and coin piles demonstrating dividends and ex-dividend day approaching.
Cheap Shares

2 ASX shares that are absurdly cheap right now

These businesses look particularly good value to me.

Read more »

Three women athletes lie flat on a running track as though they have had a long hard race where they have fought hard but lost the event.
Cheap Shares

Why these beaten-down ASX shares are worth a second look

Brokers see the 20% to 40% tumble as a good moment to buy.

Read more »