2 ASX stocks to buy and 1 to sell

Two of these shares could deliver strong returns.

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There are over 2,000 stocks listed on the ASX. Some look like fantastic buying opportunities right now for savvy investors, while others face headwinds that could drive their share prices lower.

Here are two ASX stocks that analysts have recently rated as a buy, and one they've recommended to sell.

A woman wearing a black and white striped t-shirt looks to the sky with her hand to her chin, contemplating buying ASX shares.

Image source: Getty Images

Why broker says to buy NextDC shares

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) owns a huge network of data centres for cloud computing, telecommunications, and AI workloads, which it is rapidly expanding. The company also owns power and cooling infrastructure and assists with online security. 

Given that demand for data usage is expected to rise, many analysts are bullish on the outlook for the company's share price.  

Late last month, NextDC posted strong first-half FY26 earnings and said it expects strong demand to support even more growth over the remainder of the year. 

Analysts at EnviroInvest agree that the outlook for the data centre operator is positive and named it as a buy earlier this week.

The investment company was pleased with the company's latest results and said it believes NextDC's structural demand and execution momentum support further upside this year.

At the time of writing, the ASX stock is trading at $12.66 a piece.

Why broker says to buy Flight Centre shares

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has lost 21.97% of its value so far in 2026, after slower profit growth and geopolitical tensions put pressure on the company's stock.

But the company posted its FY26 half-year report late last month, blowing expectations out of the water.

The team at UBS said the ASX stock's profit before tax came in 5% above market expectations. The broker also said there are a number of positives to come out of the result, which suggests that the company's shares are trading very cheaply. 

The business has seen a strong start to the year for both leisure and corporate, with both segments on track for year-over-year profit growth.

UBS rates Flight Centre shares as a buy with a $16.45 target price.

At the time of writing, the ASX travel stock is trading at $11.71 a piece.

Why broker says to sell Lynas shares

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares rocketed higher on Wednesday, surging 16% to $20.59, off the back of an update to its major long-term supply agreement with Japan Australia Rare Earths (JARE).

Under the revised agreement, which will be in place until 2038, JARE has committed to purchasing 5,000 tonnes per year of NdPr (neodymium and praseodymium) and 50% of all heavy rare earth oxides produced by Lynas for the Japanese market.

Sales will be based on a market-referenced price with a floor of US$110 per kilogram of NdPr. 

Investors were clearly thrilled with the update, but some analysts think that the company's stock is running ahead of its true value.

Bell Potter believes the run has gone too far and that Lynas shares now reflect overly optimistic long-term rare earths prices.

The broker has a sell rating and a 12-month price target of $11.60. 

At the time of writing, the ASX stock is trading at $20.70 a piece.

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel 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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