James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX) shares are climbing higher again this week. At the time of writing, the shares are trading at $30.50 a piece, which represents a rebound of around 17% since a four-month low of $26.10 in late March.

The latest uptick is great news for investors. James Hardie shares have suffered an incredibly volatile run over the past 12 months. 

The fibre cement producer and marketer's shares crashed over 31% in March last year following the company's acquisition of The AZEK Company Inc (NYSE: AZEK) and its net debt. Investors did not take the news well.

The fibre cement building product producer suffered another catastrophic 36.5% share price plunge following a disappointing Q1 FY26 results announcement in August.

The shares crashed for a third time, this time by 23.9% in late October, but the company told the ASX there was no known reason for the trading activity.

The volatility has continued through to 2026, with some peaks and troughs. 

Why are James Hardie shares climbing higher now?

There is no price-sensitive news out of James Hardie to explain the latest turnaround. Given the shares are widely considered oversold and undervalued, it's possible that investors have flipped their stance from pessimistic to cautiously optimistic and are buying back into the shares while they are cheap.

The company is a global leader in fibre cement siding and trim, and it has a dominant presence in the US. Its scale gives it pricing power and a strong competitive advantage that its peers are unable to match. 

Its business continues to improve, too, with some solid growth expected ahead.

In February, the company posted a 30% increase in third-quarter net sales and a 26% hike in EBITDA. James Hardie said its balance sheet was reshaped by the AZEK acquisition. It said the move resulted in increased debt and goodwill, but the business generated solid cash and maintained strong profitability across geographies.

It also raised its FY26 guidance to Siding & Trim net sales of US$2.95 to US$3.0 billion and adjusted EBITDA of US$939 to US$962 million. Guidance for Deck, Rail & Accessories was also nudged higher, with net sales of US$787 to US$800 million and EBITDA of US$219 to US$224 million.

Finally, the good news seems to be translating into renewed investor sentiment.

Is this the recovery we've all been waiting for?

It looks like it could be. 

Analysts have been bullish about James Hardie shares for some time now. I'm hopeful that the latest share price uptick represents the beginning of the next rally.

TradingView data shows that 15 out of 22 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. Another seven have a hold rating.

The average target price is $39.32 a piece, which implies a 29% upside at the time of writing. Others are even more bullish, expecting the shares to climb another 48% to $45.10 over the next 12 months.

The post James Hardie shares jump 17%: Is this the beginning of a recovery we've been waiting for? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX shares have come under pressure over the past three months as conflict in the Middle East hikes inflation and interest rates.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is trading in the red on Tuesday morning, down 0.2% at the time of writing. But the index has climbed just over 7% higher in the past month as Australian sharemarkets regain some momentum.

Here are three ASX shares tipped to keep going, and brokers tip upsides of 100% or higher over the next 12 months.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR)

Myer shares have been dragged down by inflation woes and market volatility so far in 2026. The latest downturn comes directly off the back of operational issues and profitability headwinds in late 2025. But the ASX retailer posted solid first-half financial results in March, which implies that the business has its operating costs under control and its strategic initiatives are gaining traction. At the current trading price of just 29 cents a piece, brokers widely view the ASX shares as oversold and undervalued. Market Index data shows most brokers have a strong buy rating on the shares and tip an average 100% upside to 58 cents per share over the next 12 months.

Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT)

Lotus shares spiked at an 18-month high of $3.24 in mid January, and then crashed over 62% to an all-time low of $1.23 in late March. The Australian uranium company with interests in Malawi, Africa, completed a $76 million capital raising in February to help strengthen its balance sheet after a tough period. Investors quickly became concerned that the company could be unable to deliver profits without needing more cash. But sentiment shifted when the uranium company announced a new milestone. Orano Chimie-Enrichissement has confirmed that it will accept the uranium ore concentrate from Lotus' Kayelekera Uranium Mine. At the time of writing, the ASX shares are up 1.4% to $1.58, and brokers tip another 101.13% upside ahead to an average target price of $3.32.

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

Qoria is a small-cap cybersecurity company that offers online safety technology for children. This includes school and parental controls. Qoria aims to become the global leader in children's digital safety and well-being within three years. The ASX company reached 30 million students in 32,000 schools and earns a significant annual recurring revenue from ongoing school contracts. In its half-year FY26 result, Qoria announced a 25% increase in revenue and a 68% hike in EBITDA. And brokers think the strong rate of expansion can continue. At the time of writing on Tuesday morning, the shares are up 3.17% to 32 cents per share. Market Index shows brokers have a consensus strong buy rating on the ASX shares and an average 69 cents target price. That implies a huge potential 111.69% upside at the time of writing.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

Temple & Webster is another retail company that has faced significant headwinds recently. Investors took their gains in late 2025 and early 2026 after a huge mid-year price rally. Meanwhile, over the past few months, inflation concerns have led its customers to tighten their purse strings. The company posted a strong half-year FY26 result, but seemingly missed high expectations. But its outlook is strong, and it has robust growth plans in place. The consensus is that the shares are now oversold and undervalued. At the time of writing, the ASX shares are down 0.9% to $6.61. But analysts tip an average upside of 125.3% to $14.91 over the next 12 months.

The post 4 ASX shares tipped to fly 100% to 125% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Myer and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has been subdued over the past week as ongoing tension in the Middle East continues to weigh heavily on Australian shares.

At the time of writing on Tuesday morning, the index has climbed 0.7% higher, but it is still down 0.6% over the past week.

While many ASX 200 shares are expected to climb higher over the next year as confidence returns, analysts tip some to take a u-turn over the next 12 months.

Here are three of them.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA is Australia's largest energy infrastructure company, owning and operating an extensive portfolio of gas, electricity, solar, and wind assets.

The company is also a major owner and operator of Australia's gas distribution network, including pipelines, gas-fired power stations, and storage facilities. It currently transports more than half the natural gas used in Australia. 

Since listing on the ASX in 2000, APA Group has substantially grown its energy assets. In more recent times, it has added solar farms to its portfolio. 

The group's shares have soared higher this year off the back of business expansion and some impressive half-year FY26 results.

At the time of writing, the shares are 0.4% higher and trading for $9.98 a piece. The latest share price movement means the shares are now 10% higher for the year-to-date and 21% higher over the year.

But it looks like analysts are now concerned that the ASX 200 company's shares are now at or above fair value. Market Index data shows most brokers rate the shares as a hold (three out of six) and another two rate the stock as a sell. The average target price is $8.89, which implies 11% downside over the next 12 months.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

CBA shares have flown higher in 2026, despite being considered overpriced for some time now.

Analysts consensus is that the ASX 200 bank's shares price is overvalued relative to its peers, and that its bumper price tag isn't supported by its business fundamentals. 

CBA's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, at the time of writing, is 28.69, which is much higher than other Australian banks. 

At the time of writing, CBA shares are trading 0.5% higher at $181.13 a piece. This morning's uptick means the shares are now 12% higher for the year-to-date. They're also now 8% higher over the past 12 months.

But broker consensus is still for a strong sell rating, and an average 28% downside ahead to $129.82. Some analysts think the bank's shares could drop as low as $90 over the next 12 months.

Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC)

Westpac is another major big four Australian bank which has seen its share price exceed fair value. 

In a trading update last week, Westpac said that the supply shock from disruption to the energy market is expected to cause a hike in inflation and interest rates.

The bank said that a slower economic environment will be challenging for some of its customers. Following the update and poor outlook expectations, some brokers have revised their stance on the stock to a sell rating.

At the time of writing, Westpac shares are flat at $40 a piece. This morning's increase means the shares are now 3% higher over the year-to-date and 28% higher than a year ago.

Brokers rate the ASX 200 bank shares as a strong sell, with an average $35.40 target price. At the time of writing that implies 12% downside ahead. 

The post 3 ASX 200 shares tipped to tumble 10% (or more) in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares are in the red in Tuesday lunchtime trade. At the time of writing the shares are down 1.7% to $14.50.

Despite today's decline, the ASX biopharmaceutical company's shares have rebounded a whopping 68% since dropping to a multi-year low of $8.63 in mid-February.

Telix shares are now up 27% for the year-to-date, but they're still 43% lower than this time last year.

What has pushed the shares higher over the past 9 weeks?

After bottoming out in mid-February, Telix shares have rebounded following a flurry of consecutive good-news updates.

In late-February, the company confirmed that it had filed a key regulatory approval in Europe.

Later in March, Telix posted several announcements about its growth and development plans. 

It released positive Part 1 results from its global Phase 3 ProstACT study of TLX591-Tx, its novel prostate cancer therapy in early-March.

The following week, Telix announced it had resubmitted its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. FDA for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®), a brain cancer imaging candidate. Telix's resubmission includes new data addressing the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s previous requests. 

The good news continued on through April, too.

On the 10th of April, the company announced that the FDA has accepted its NDA for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®).

Just a few days later, Telix announced a major collaboration with US-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The two companies entered a 50/50 global cost and profit-sharing agreement to co-develop radiopharmaceutical therapies targeting solid tumours.

Last week, the biopharma company released an investor presentation which revealed a 56% increase in group revenue and underlying profitability supported by a positive cash balance of US$142 million. Telix also issued FY26 revenue guidance in the range of US$950 million to US$970 million.

The company has also priced and increased its US$600 million convertible bond offering, up from US$550 million due to strong global investor demand.

The flurry of good news has caused a positive swing of sentiment and it looks like many are now buying back into the biopharmaceutical's shares while they are trading for cheap.

What's next for Telix shares? Are they a buy, sell or hold?

Telix shares are widely considered oversold and undervalued, with brokers tipping a significant upside ahead.

TradingView data shows that brokers have a consensus buy/strong buy rating on the shares, with an average target price of $24.44. At the time of writing that implies a 70% upside over the next 12 months.

Some are even more optimistic that the latest rally of positive updates out of Telix will translate into strong growth this year. The maximum target price is $31.01, which translates to a 114% upside at the time of writing.

The post Up 68% from a multi-year low. Are Telix shares a buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have enjoyed a great rally so far this year. At the time of writing, the shares are up 0.4% to $178.91 a piece.

Today's uptick means CBA shares are now up 11% for the year to date and 6.5% higher than this time last year.

CBA shares spiked over 12% in 48 hours in mid-February after it posted an unexpectedly positive half-year FY26 result. Since then, the bank shares have remained in the spotlight but have been relatively stable.

But CBA shares are widely considered overvalued relative to its peers, and its bumper price tag isn't supported well by its business fundamentals. 

CBA's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, at the time of writing, is 28.69. This is much higher (and therefore more expensive) than the other major big four Australian banks.

At the same time, the bank is facing ongoing net interest margin pressure from intense market competition and regulatory changes. 

I think CBA shares are well overdue for a correction. And when that happens, we could even see the value crash below $100.

Here are two other ASX bank shares I'd rather own instead.

Forget CBA shares, these are my ASX bank stock picks

Analysts are mostly bearish about ASX bank stocks, with some tipping significant downsides and value corrections ahead.

But there are two exceptions: Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) and Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO).

Macquarie is the fifth-largest ASX 200 bank by market capitalisation, and it is incredibly diversified. The bank does more than just banking; it also provides financial, advisory, investment, and fund management services across 34 markets globally. 

That means it has exposure to commodities trading, infrastructure deals, asset management, and capital markets across multiple regions.

Unlike CBA, it isn't reliant on lending margins, and its diversity means that it can remain stable, or even benefit, when markets are going through periods of volatility.

The business is growing too. In February, the investment bank posted its third-quarter trading update for FY26, where it revealed the business has benefited from strong quarterly growth. 

Then there is Australian-based Judo Bank, which provides financial services and lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with annual turnovers of up to $100 million. 

The bank was founded in 2016, received its banking license in 2019, and was listed on the ASX in 2021. So it's relatively new in comparison to majors like CBA. 

Judo Bank has also had a strong start to FY26. At its latest AGM, it said lending momentum was strong over the first quarter and that it's confident it can achieve FY26 guidance of $180-$190 million. Guidance was confirmed again when it posted its first-half FY26 results in mid-February.

What do analysts expect for these ASX bank stocks?

Analysts are very bullish on both Macquarie and Judo shares over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows most analysts (10 out of 15) have a buy or strong buy rating on Macquarie shares, with a maximum target price of $270. At the time of writing, Macquarie shares are trading at $138.60, implying a 13.2% upside.

Analysts are even more positive about Judo Bank shares. Out of 13, 12 have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock, and they forecast a maximum target price of $250. At the time of writing, Judo shares are trading at $1.49 each, which implies a huge 67% upside over the next 12 months. 

The post Forget CBA shares — here are 2 ASX bank shares I'd rather own right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Once you reach your 50s, you'll probably start thinking about what it'll take for you to stop working and start your retirement. This is the age bracket where you'll need to start fine tuning your retirement strategy and think about maximising your superannuation balance.

Some might even think about how they can retire much earlier than the average age of 65. 

But while it's not impossible to retire at age 55, it's not as straightforward as you might think.

Let me explain why.

The price of retirement versus the average balance at age 55

According to data from the Association of Superannuation Funds (ASFA), a comfortable retirement is one defined as a good standard of living. 

It typically would include top-level private health insurance, ownership of a reasonable car brand, regular leisure activities, funds for home repairs and renovations, occasional meals out, and an annual domestic trip. 

It also assumes you own your home outright and that you're receiving the age pension.

ASFA has calculated that a comfortable retirement will cost approximately $54,840 per year for individuals and $77,375 per year for couples.

That lifestyle requires a superannuation balance of around $630,000 for a single person, or $730,000 for a couple.

Compare this figure to the average superannuation balance for Australians aged 55.

For men aged 55-59, the average balance is $319,743 and for women it is just $242,945.

As you can see, the average superannuation at age 55 isn't enough to fund a comfortable retirement. In fact, the figures are very far apart.

But the average balance isn't the only thing preventing 55 year old Aussies from retiring.

Accessing your superannuation balance in retirement

Age 60 is considered the preservation age. This is the milestone where Australians can start living off their superannuation provided they have stopped working.

Once you hit age 65, you can access your superannuation regardless of whether you're earning an income or not. You can withdraw it as a lump sum, start an income stream or do a combination of both.

Then at age 67 you can access the Age Pension payment, if you meet eligibility requirements. Many government or association estimates around retirement are also based on the understanding that you'll retire at age 67.

At age 55, none of these are available to you. That means in order to retire you'd need other savings or income to fund yourself for at least the next five years.

Also, by retiring 10 years ahead of the average age and 12 years ahead of the age used to calculate retirement estimates, your money needs to stretch a lot further.

So, yes it's possible to retire at 55, but not with any superannuation, let alone the average balance at that age.

The post Could you retire at 55 with the average superannuation balance? Here's what the numbers say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Age Pension is a fortnightly payment to Australians aged 67 or older to help fund retirement. The payment comes on top of superannuation and is designed as a safety net for retirees who don't have enough to support themselves after they stop working.

There isn't a flat rate available to everyone though, the amount you can get depends on two criteria: your income and your assets.

An income test assesses all of your income pooled from all sources. That includes anything from superannuation contributions, investment income, dividend payments, part-time wages, bonuses or commission payments. It's applicable regardless of your age. 

Then an asset test, includes any stocks, like S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares, property or possessions you own in full, in part, or have an interest in. This includes assets held outside Australia and any debts owed to you. This generally doesn't include your principal home.

You'll also need to meet residency requirements. 

The problem is, by retirement most Australians have several assets to their name, including owning their home outright. And that could affect how much you are paid.

Here's everything you need to know about exactly what you can get in the Age Pension, and any asset limits.

How much can I get on the Age Pension?

Age Pension rates vary wildly for singles and couples. The payment also depends whether you meet income and assets tests, and whether or not you are a homeowner.

As of March this year, the Age Pension is a maximum payment of $1,100.30 per fortnight for singles and up to $829.40 per person for couples. This doesn't include any additional potential supplement rates.

How much can I own in assets in retirement and still qualify?

As of last month, in order to receive the full Age Pension, single homeowners can own assets up to a value of $321,500 and non-homeowners can own assets up to $579,500 in retirement.

A couple combined can own up to $481,500 in total if they own a property, or $739,500 if they don't.

But it's still possible to receive a part pension if you earn over those limits.

Your assets can total up to $722,000 if you're a single homeowner, and $980,000 if you're a non-homeowner. You can't get the full Age Pension, but you're still entitled to some level of payment depending on where you fall between the two brackets. 

Couples are also entitled to a part-payment so long as their combined assets aren't more than $1,085,000 for homeowners. Non-homeowners can own assets totalling up to $1,343,000.

If you're in retirement and get Rent Assistance with your pension, your cut off point for a part pension is higher.

The post What assets can I own in retirement and still qualify for the Age Pension? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are storming higher today. At the time of writing, the tech shares are up 11% to $44.27 a piece.

Today's uptick means WiseTech shares are now 21% higher over the past five days alone. There is a long way to go before the share price recovers the losses shed over the past eight months but it's a positive step in the right direction.

The shares are now down 36% for the year-to-date and 48% lower than this time last year.

What has pushed WiseTech shares so low this year?

The past eight months have been a bloodbath for WiseTech shares. The company has faced significant headwinds which has sent its share price continually crashing. 

WiseTech was caught up in a tech-sector wide sell-off earlier this year after investors became panicked that AI could disrupt traditional software models. Many were worried that AI tools might replace or reduce demand for subscription-based software. 

There was also concern that tech shares were overvalued and overpriced. 

Concerns about escalating conflict in the Middle East also spooked investors who were worried about the wider implications for sharemarkets. In March, the ASX saw investors turn their back on high-growth technology stocks like WiseTech and rotate towards more stable assets instead.

And why is WiseTech flying higher today?

There hasn't been any price-sensitive news out of WiseTech recently to explain today's price hike, so it's most likely sentiment driven.

ASX tech sector shares are climbing higher today with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) up 7% for the day at the time of writing, and trading at a one-month high. For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.4%.

It looks like investors are regaining confidence in the ASX tech shares off the back of a retreat in macro fears. Investors perhaps think the worst from the US-Iran war, and inflation fears, is now mostly priced in.

After a strong rebound, investors may now consider the stock as trading at good value.

What's next? Are the shares a buy, sell or hold?

It looks like this could be the beginning of a large rally for WiseTech shares.

According to TradingView data, analysts are incredibly bullish about the outlook for WiseTech shares over the next 12 months.

Most have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock (14 out of 16). They tip a potential upside of up to 178% to $123.10, at the time of writing.

The post WiseTech shares rocket 11% higher today: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX bank stocks slumped across the board in March, and then some shares quickly rebounded in April as ongoing geopolitical tensions, the Middle East conflict, and climbing inflation jittered markets.

Investors initially turned away from financial stocks in fear of an unstable macro environment. Then, more recently, it seems like investors have rotated back into bank stocks as macro fears have started easing again.

How are Australia's major banks faring today?

The banking sector is dominated by Australia's big four banks: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ). Together, the big four banks make up around a quarter of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by market capitalisation. 

CBA shares have climbed 3.2% higher over the past month, and are up 12.4% for the year to date. At the time of writing, the bank's shares are changing hands at $181.21.

Westpac shares, however, have fallen 2.32% over the past month but are up 2.4% year to date. At the time of writing, Westpac shares are changing hands for $39.90 a piece.

NAB shares also dropped over the past month by 7.3%, but they're up 2.8% year to date. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $43.64.

ANZ shares are up 1.5% over the past month and up 4.5% over the year to date. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $38.04.

Which banks do analysts rate as a sell?

Analyst sentiment appears to be pretty bearish on most of the major ASX bank stocks.

TradingView data shows that CBA, Westpac, and NAB shares are all rated a sell or a strong sell by brokers, with significant downside risks over the next 12 months.

CBA shares are tipped to crash up to 50.5% to $90 per share, at the time of writing.

Westpac shares are tipped to tumble up to 26.6% to $29.32 per share.

NAB shares are also tipped to drop up to 32% to just $30 per share over the next 12 months.

And there is one major bank which analysts rate as a buy

The data shows that ANZ is the favourite among the bunch. Out of 16 analysts, six have a buy or strong buy rating on ANZ shares, and another six have a hold rating.

The average target price of $26.38 implies a potential 4.5% downside at the time of writing. But some are optimistic that the shares could climb 13% higher from here to $43 each.

Why is ANZ the standout?

ANZ's strong earnings momentum, predictable cash flow, and diversified portfolio mean that it looks like better value versus its peers. It also has a higher dividend yield than the other major banks, suggesting better upside potential.

I expect more investors to rotate into ANZ shares over the next few months.

The post ANZ, NAB, Westpac, and CBA shares: Analysts rate 3 to sell, and 1 to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Monash IVF, NAB, Viva Energy, and Worley shares are falling today
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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are flying higher in Thursday afternoon trade. At the time of writing, the Australian fintech company's shares are up 9.24% to $2.01 a piece.

The latest uptick means the shares have climbed 28.8% so far in April. It's great news for investors, but the share price has a long way to go before it recovers losses shed through late 2025 and early 2026.

For the year to date, the shares are down 40%. They're now also around 58% lower than a multi-year high recorded in October last year.

What happened to Zip shares this year?

Zip has faced several headwinds recently. The stock was caught up in the sector-wide tech sell-off earlier this year and then smashed by rising concerns about the war in the Middle East. Investors have been concerned about the global impact of the conflict. As a result, they've been shying away from high-growth technology stocks and towards more stable assets.

Earlier in February, investors were spooked by concerns about rising competition, slowing growth, and margin compression, which caused a sharp sell-off of shares. 

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider posted a record result in February, but it still missed market expectations. Zip's revenue margin declined 7.9%, and net bad debts increased slightly to 1.73% of TTV. Zip also said it expected its second-half cash EBITDA to be broadly in line with the first half. 

And why are the shares soaring higher today?

There hasn't been any price-sensitive news out of the Zip recently to explain today's price hike. So it's most likely that the share price increase is due to a combination of factors, including a shift in sentiment and investors buying back into the tech stock in the dip.

Analysts widely consider the tech stock to be undervalued and oversold. Potentially, today's uplift means that investors have finally regained confidence in the company and its outlook.

At its results announcement in February, Zip flagged that it is aggressively expanding its US presence with the launch of a new product. It is also pursuing a dual sharemarket listing on the Nasdaq in the US to potentially help drive business expansion in the region.

Zip is expected to post its third-quarter FY26 results tomorrow, which could also be helping today's rally.

Are they still a buy? Or has the opportunity now passed?

Market Index data shows that brokers are still incredibly bullish on the outlook for Zip shares over the next 12 months.

All six brokers have a strong buy rating on the stock. The average $3.82 target price implies Zip shares could rise by another 93.67% at the time of writing. 

The post Why are Zip shares flying 9% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price has tumbled in early morning trade on Thursday. At the time of writing the share price is down 1.3% to $7.63. 

But the decline has barely dented gains made this year. For the year-to-date Santos shares have stormed 24% higher and they're up 39% from 12 months ago.

Rising oil prices have acted as a strong tailwind for Santos shares so far in 2026. Conflict in the Middle East has severely restricted global oil supply causing oil prices to become incredibly volatile. 

Trading Economics data shows that earlier this month the price of WTI crude oil surpassed the US$115 mark. While it has dropped back to just over US$91 per barrel at the time of writing, it is still nearly double its value earlier in the year.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East, tighter oil supply and higher prices could continue to act as a tailwind for Santos going forward. But the situation is incredibly unstable and it's not clear how it will progress from here.

In the near term, I think geopolitical uncertainty will push Santos shares from strength to strength, but there are also three other reasons why I think the ASX energy shares are a screaming buy right now.

1. Santos production is ramping up

In January, Santos announced that its FY25 fourth quarter production was up 15% on the prior quarter which brought full year production to the upper end of guidance at 87.7 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe).

Santos is guiding production of 101-111 mmboe for FY26, which represents a significant 25% (or higher) potential uplift year-on-year.

2. Cash flow is improving

As production ramps up, Santos projects are producing steady cash volumes. In January, the Adelaide-based oil and gas company revealed that its quarterly cash flow was around $380 million, up 30% on the prior quarter. This also brought cash flow for the full year to about $1.8 billion.

At the time, the company said it had a cash flow breakeven target of $45-$50 per barrel of oil (far below current values) for the current year, which "will position Santos over the next few years to deliver sustainable results and provide strong returns for our shareholders".

3. Analysts are tipping attractive upside

TradingView data shows analysts are mostly very bullish on Santos shares over the next 12 months.

Out of 14 analysts, 11 have a buy or strong buy rating on the energy shares. The average target price is $8.47, which implies a potential 10.7% upside at the time of writing. But some think the shares could jump another 34% to $10.17 a piece.

The post 3 reasons why Santos shares are a screaming buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In Australia, many government or association estimates around retirement are based on the understanding that you'll retire at age 67. By this point, you'll be able to access your superannuation (from age 65) and you're also eligible to receive Age Pension payments.

Although with higher inflation and rising cost-of-living, more and more Australians are pushing their retirement to their 70s to give them more time to build up their balance. It also means there will be fewer retirement years to fund. 

Regardless of when you decide to retire, by age 67 you should know exactly how much superannuation you have, and what you need to live the retirement lifestyle you want.

Here's a breakdown of the average superannuation balance of Australians aged 67, and how much you actually need by retirement.

The numbers are quite different.

What is the average superannuation balance at age 67 in Australia?

According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) data, the average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 65-69 is $448,518, and for women it is $392,274.

If your superannuation balance is on track with the rest of the population, that's great news. But it doesn't mean you have enough to retire with the lifestyle you want.

So how much money do I really need by age 67 to retire comfortably?

The benchmark for a comfortable retirement has climbed even higher this year. Australians now need $54,840 per year to retire comfortably, or $77,375 a year for a couple.

To support that level of spending, ASFA estimates you'll need a super balance of roughly $630,000 as a single and $730,000 as a couple by the age of 67. 

A comfortable retirement lifestyle is defined as one that allows Australians to maintain a good standard of living. 

This includes top-level private health insurance, ownership of a reasonable car brand, regular leisure activities, funds for home repairs and renovations, occasional meals out, and an annual domestic trip. 

The figures also assume you own your home outright and that you're receiving the age pension.

Help! I'm falling behind. What can I do?

At age 67 you still have a few options to help boost your superannuation balance and retirement lifestyle.

Many Australians are now delaying their retirement by a few years and retiring in their 70s. This gives you more time to build your superannuation balance, and means there are fewer retirement years to fund. Even three to five years gives your investments more time to grow.

Given superannuation funds are heavily invested in the Australian share market, particularly the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), the longer you wait to access your balance, the more time it has to benefit from compounding growth. 

If you don't want to delay retirement, another option is to live a modest one. ASFA defines a modest retirement as one which is able to cover expenses slightly above the full Centrelink Age Pension. 

Think basic health insurance with limited cap payments, infrequent exercise, a limited home repair budget, minimal utility expenses, limiting dining out, and maybe an annual domestic trip. Again, it assumes you own your home outright.

It's not the ideal scenario but it's certainly do-able.

Australians need $35,503 per year, or $51,299 per year for a couple. To fund that, ASFA estimates you need a superannuation balance of around $110,000, or a couple would need $120,000. These balances are well within the average for Australians at age 67.

The post Average superannuation balance at age 67, versus what you actually need appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares closed 1.35% higher at a 52-week high of $235.13 a piece at the close of the ASX on Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday's uptick follows a month-long share price rally which has seen the stock jump 21.2% in value. They're now up 15.4% for the year to date and 30.5% higher than this time last year.

What has pushed Macquarie shares higher over the past month?

Macquarie is the fifth-largest ASX 200 bank by market capitalisation, but it's more than just a bank. 

Macquarie provides banking, financial, advisory, investment, and fund management services across 34 markets globally. That means it has exposure to commodities trading, infrastructure deals, asset management, and capital markets. 

The bank also makes around two-thirds of its money internationally, which reduces the risk of being too focused on one region.

This means that, unlike many other Aussie banks, it isn't reliant on lending margins and its diversity means that it can remain stable, or even benefit, when markets are going through periods of volatility like we've endured for the past couple of months.

Can Macquarie keep growing?

In February, the investment bank posted its third-quarter trading update for FY26, where it revealed the business has benefitted from strong quarterly growth. 

Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) reported assets under management (AUM) up 3% quarter on quarter, and Macquarie's Banking and Financial Services (BFS) segment's total deposits were up 6% quarter on quarter. 

The BFS home loan portfolio increased by 7%.

Stronger financial results combined with good market momentum has seen analysts hike their performance expectations across several of the bank's divisions.

The Financial Review reports that Bloomberg consensus analyst estimates now point to Macquarie reporting a 2026 profit of $4.3 billion when Wikramanayake delivers the results next month. Macquarie's annual profit peaked at $5.2 billion in 2023.

What do analysts expect from Macquarie shares going forward?  

TradingView data shows that brokers are incredibly bullish on the outlook for Macquarie shares over the next 12 months. Out of 15 analysts, 10 have a buy or strong buy rating on the investment bank's shares, and another five have a hold rating.

The average target price is $242.95 a piece, which implies a potential 3.3% upside from here. But others think the shares could jump another 14.8% to $270.

The team at Morgan Stanley upgraded Macquarie shares earlier this week to an overweight (buy) rating with a price target of $270 per share. The broker said it thinks Macquarie is well-placed to benefit from volatility in commodity markets and still sees potential for a meaningful re-rating thanks to its positive earnings growth outlook. 

Analysts at Jarden also recently reiterated a buy rating on the shares with a price target of $240.

The post Macquarie shares soar 21% to a 52-week high: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd (ASX: VGN) shares closed 7% higher on Wednesday afternoon, at $2.52 a piece.

The uptick is great news for investors after the airline's shares suffered a very rocky start to the year. 

But there is a long way to go before the shares can claw back losses shed over the past six months. Virgin Australia shares are now down 28% for the year-to-date. They're also down over 32% from an all-time high in October last year. 

The airline hasn't been trading for 12 consecutive months yet, but it launched its initial public offering (IPO) at $2.90 per share in June last year.

Why have Virgin Australia shares been tumbling?

It looks like the initial decline late last year was investors selling up and taking gains off the table after the IPO announcement caused a share price rally.

Then, over the past couple of months, Virgin Australia shares have faced some strong headwinds. 

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East has severely restricted the supply of jet fuel (which is derived from refined crude oil). The airline has previously raised its domestic airfares in response to rising jet fuel costs in effort to maintain or even boost revenue. But investors were still concerned about how the higher jet fuel prices will affect the airlines operating costs and profits. 

There have also been reports that Virgin Australia's partnership with Qatar Airways has come under pressure while the war continues to affect aviation routes. 

An overall shift in sentiment has caused Virgin Australia shares to tumble as investors sell up their holdings.

And what caused the latest share price spike?

But it looks like the stock took a sharp u-turn on Wednesday. Ahead of the ASX open the company confirmed that its FY26 financial guidance remains unchanged. Despite fuel prices almost doubling, the airline still expects its underlying EBIT to improve in the second half of FY26.

Virgin Australia's fuel costs are expected to be around $30 million to $40 million above its earlier forecasts. But because it has strong hedging, the group is protected against most price rises. 

The airline confirmed that 92% of its Brent crude and 71% of refining margin exposure is hedged for the remainder of FY26.

The company's outlook for FY26 remains solid. And it looks like investors breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Can Virgin Australia's shares keep climbing from here?

According to analyst estimates, Virgin Australia shares have a long way to run before they reach their peak.

TradingView data shows that seven out of eight analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the airline's shares. 

The average target price of $3.79 implies a 50% upside at the time of writing, whereas the maximum $4.10 target price suggests the stock could surge another 63% over the next 12 months. 

The post Are Virgin Australia shares a buy after flying 7% higher on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is down 1% to $38.07 at the time of writing on Wednesday afternoon.

It's been a pretty volatile start to the year for the Australian banking giant.

ANZ shares were relatively flat between early-December and early-February, but they jumped over 11% off the back of the banking giant's stronger-than-expected quarterly update. 

The bank reported a first-quarter cash profit of $1.94 billion, which was up a whopping 75% on the second-half average of FY25 and came in ahead of expectations.

After a couple of ups and downs the shares ended the month 9% higher before crashing over 10% throughout March. ANZ wasn't alone here though. ASX bank stocks slumped across the board as geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, soaring fuel prices, and interest rate growth caused concerns about an economic slowdown.

It wasn't long until the ANZ share price took another turn, climbing 5.9% in the first couple of weeks of April. Shares are also up 4.5% for the year to date and 37.8% higher than 12 months ago.

Why is the ANZ share price being so volatile?

There are a few reasons.

April has been a good month for the banking sector as a whole. ASX bank shares have rallied after macro fears eased. These were driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, oil shocks, and trade uncertainties.

Expectations that the US and Iran could soon reach a peace agreement to end the war is also helping to boost markets.

At the same time, economists are not predicting higher and sustained interest rate levels. ANZ economists anticipate that the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates in May. 

Banks like ANZ benefit from interest rate increases over the short term because higher net interest markets help to support earnings levels.

Meanwhile, ANZ's stable earnings, predictable cash flow, and diversified portfolio mean that it looks better value versus its peers. It's likely some investors could have been rotating into the stock in the dip.

But why are the shares tumbling again this week?

There isn't any price-sensitive news out of ANZ to explain the latest share price tumble, so its likely to be the result of investors taking gains after a jump earlier this month, combined with some softening across the sector.

What do brokers expect out of the ANZ share price this year?

Brokers are undecided about the outlook for ANZ shares over the next 12 months. Out of 16 analysts, six have a buy or strong buy rating, and six have a hold rating. Another four have a sell or strong sell rating on the bank's shares.

The average target price of $36.43 implies a potential 4.2% downside at the time of writing. But the maximum target price is $43, which represents a potential 13% upside from here.

For context, brokers hold a sell or strong sell rating on all the other big four major Aussie banks. 

The post What's going on with the ANZ share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares are firmly in the spotlight this week after the airline posted a market update and announced new measures to tackle rising fuel prices amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

At the time of writing, the shares are trading 0.72% higher at $9.05 a piece. At one point, just after the market opened, the shares were trading as high as $9.27 each. The latest update means the shares are now down 13.8% for the year to date. However, they're still 6.1% higher over the past 12 months.

How does tight oil supply and rising prices affect Qantas?

The largest operating cost for airlines is its jet fuel, which is refined from crude oil. 

Australia imports more than 90% of its refined fuel. This means local prices closely follow global oil prices and currency movements. As a result, when oil prices rise due to tight supply or geopolitical tensions, the cost of jet fuel also jumps higher. This then means that airlines, such as Qantas, face higher operating costs which can pressure profits and potentially weigh on their share prices.

What is Qantas doing to offset higher fuel prices?

It was expected that Australian airlines could start to increase ticket prices or add fuel surcharges to help recover some costs, and this was confirmed in the airline's market update on Tuesday morning.

The company announced that jet fuel prices have more than doubled and remain highly volatile. It confirmed that its fuel costs for the second half of FY26 is now estimated to be significantly higher than prior expectations, at $3.3 billion. It had previously forecast to be around $2.2 billion. 

To offset the higher prices, Qantas will increase ticket prices and reduce domestic capacity by about 5% in May and June. The majority of cuts will be made on routes between major capital cities, where it flies larger aircraft at higher frequencies. It will also temporarily suspend some routes and indefinitely cancel all flights to and from South Mount Gambier from next month. International fares have already risen by 5%.

Are Qantas shares a buy, sell, or hold following the update?

The airline said that around 90% of its second-half fuel exposure is already hedged. Meanwhile, fare increases and route changes will also help to recover part of the pressure.

According to TradingView data, analysts are still very bullish on the outlook for Qantas shares. Out of 15 analysts, 13 have a buy or strong buy rating on the stock. The average target price is $11.30, which implies a 25% upside at the time of writing. However, some think the shares could jump 41.6% higher to $12.80 a piece.

The post Are Qantas shares still a buy after its latest market update? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares closed 1.2% higher on Tuesday afternoon, at $3.41. The increase is welcome news for investors after the drone operator's shares crashed 17% over the past month alone.

The shares are now up 2.4% for the year-to-date but an incredible 231% higher than 12 months ago.

It's been a rollercoaster ride for DroneShield

There have been plenty of ups and downs for DroneShield's shareholders over the past six months. The stock spiked at an all-time high in October last year before gradually but continually tumbling to a low of $1.72 in late-November.

The shares enjoyed a great rally in early 2026 and climbed over 42% in the first three weeks of the year. But again, investors started taking their gains off the table and the shares tumbled south again through to late-February.

News that conflict between the US and Iran has escalated significantly in late-February smashed the Australian sharemarket. But DroneShield sits firmly as a counterdone electronic warfare business. This means it was primed to absorb a jump in investor interest as governments around the world hike their defence budgets.

Despite the tailwinds, DroneShield shares have sharply corrected again over the past month.

What's happening to DroneShield shares now?

There have been a few hints over the past couple of weeks that the war in the Middle East may be de-escalating. And each time, DroneShield's shares take a hit amid fears that there could mean less demand for the company's technology solutions than initially anticipated. While the war is still very much underway, discussions about a peace agreement are ongoing.

But the share price decline really picked up pace last week when DroneShield announced a leadership reshuffle. It said that its managing director, Oleg Vornik, would step down from his role effective immediately, after more than 10 years leading the business.

The company also announced that In addition, chairman Peter James will retire and not seek re-election at the company's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May.

While the leadership changes look good on paper, the announcement sparked investor panic and a sharp sell off of shares. 

It also raised questions about when Vornik, James, and another director sold a combined $70 million in shares in November last year. The moved sparked a collapse in the company's share price. Investors are clearly unsettled and the shares have shed 14.5% of their value since the announcement last Tuesday. 

Are the shares a buy, sell or hold?

While investors are rattled, it doesn't look like analysts are.

TradingView data shows that analysts ratings and target prices are unchanged. Two have a strong buy rating and one analyst with a hold rating. The average target price is $4.50, which implies a 32% upside at the time of writing. 

Some are more bullish and expect the shares to jump 47% to $5 in the next 12 months. 

The post What's going on with the DroneShield share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield and is short shares of DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares closed the day in the green again on Tuesday. When the bell rang at 4:00pm, the shares were 0.18% higher at $183.52 a piece.

The uptick means CBA shares have now climbed 9.5% in April alone.

They're also up 13.9% for the year-to-date and 16.7% higher than this time a year ago.

What's most surprising is that CBA shares have been considered overvalued for some time now. But they keep on climbing higher!

Analysts have widely commented that the bank's share price is overvalued relative to its peers, and that its bumper price tag isn't supported well by its business fundamentals. 

CBA's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, at the time of writing, is 29.52, which is much higher (and therefore more expensive) than the other major big four Australian banks. 

Are the shares a buy, sell or hold?

Analysts are mostly bearish on the outlook for CBA shares, with consensus of a downturn ahead for its share price. 

TradingView data shows that 14 out of 16 analysts have a sell or strong sell rating on the stock. The average target price is $129.98, which implies a 29.2% downside at the time of writing. But some think the share price could crash 50.7% to just $90 within the next 12 months.

The reality is, while CBA shares offer reliable passive income from a defensive stock with strong operational performance and potential for further growth, investors can also find this elsewhere at a lower price.

If that's the case, why are CBA shares still climbing higher?

It's a good question, and one which boils down to several different factors. 

CBA is a defensive stock, which means it can remain stable in times of economic crisis. Because of this, it generally has strong and consistent operational performance and earnings, even when markets are mostly weak.

For example, the banking giant posted an unexpectedly-positive half-year FY26 result earlier this week. Its share price has been climbing ever since. 

The bank is huge, dominant, and highly profitable, which means investors are struggling to see it as anything other than a safe haven during times of volatility. Scarcity of quality stocks on the ASX also means investors pile into the same dominant players, like CBA.

Not only that, but because of its defensive nature and strong momentum, it's able to pay a decent dividend to investors. It's another perk for investors.

CBA has paid dividends twice per year consistently since 2006. The bank last paid a fully franked dividend of $2.35 per share to investors in late-March.

While a stock might be considered overvalued based on rational pricing and business fundamentals, share prices also run off investor sentiment and demand. So, while CBA continues to look attractive to investors, its share price could keep climbing as more and more buy into the ASX bank stock.

The post CBA shares jump another 9.5% in April: Buy, sell or hold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price closed 1% higher on Tuesday afternoon, at $4.67 a piece. 

The latest uptick means the shares are now up 32% for the year-to-date and have soared an impressive 67% higher over the past 12 months.

ASX 200 mining shares went on a rollercoaster ride over the March quarter. Commodity prices rocketed in January, sending South32 higher. In fact, South32 was one of the best performers on the ASX 200 index in January. 

The miner benefited from a perfect storm of strong central bank buying, falling US interest rates, and dwindling expectations for the US dollar. These all drove investors to safe-haven commodities like gold, silver, and copper. 

But it all changed when the war between the US and Iran escalated in late-February. An injection of fear about rising oil prices, energy costs, and supply quickly cooled the mining sector in March. 

While most ASX mining shares have since recovered some of their losses, South32 is streaking ahead. Compared to its mining peers BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), South32 shares have outperformed over the past month, year-to-date and past 12 months.

Why is the South32 share price racing ahead?

South32 mines and produces commodities, including bauxite, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, manganese, and metallurgical coal, so it has been well-positioned to absorb the uptick in demand across several minerals and metals.

Unlike BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue, it is not heavily tied to iron or and benefits from diversity across other metals and minerals. 

Because of this diversity, the miner has been able to post some strong financial results, solid production figures and shown it has great momentum.

In January, the miner announced that it had exceeded expectations for first-half production. Alumina production was up 3% in the first half. Meanwhile, aluminium production was up 2%, zinc up 13%, and manganese up 58%. Overall, the company's results were ahead of consensus. 

Later in February the diversified miner reported a 29% jump in profit and 16% increase in underlying earnings.

Can the shares keep climbing?

If this momentum continues, alongside a continued uptick of commodity demand and prices, I think the South32 share price could continue to outpace BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue in 2026.

TradingView data shows that the majority of brokers (12 out of 16) have a buy or strong buy rating on South32 shares. Another three have a hold rating and one rates the shares as a sell.

The average target price of $4.93 implies a potential 6% upside at the time of writing. But some brokers are more bullish and are tipping the share price to jump another 18% to $5.51.

The post Up 67% in a year! The red-hot South32 share price is smashing BHP, Rio and Fortescue appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares closed 0.56% lower at $33.96 on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite closing the day in the red, the oil and gas producer's shares are up 7.4% for the month and 71.08% higher than just one year ago.

Woodside shares have rallied 43.5% higher for the year to date, with the most significant increase seen after the conflict between the US and Iran escalated in late February. 

Rising oil prices have acted as a strong tailwind for the oil and gas giant's shares over the past six weeks. Conflict in the Middle East has threatened the movement of oil in the region, while shipping disruptions and production cuts caused prices to skyrocket to a multi-year high. While the price of oil has now softened, it's still significantly higher than in late February. 

So, if I bought $10,000 worth of Woodside shares at the start of 2026, what are they worth now?

Woodside shares were trading at $23.66 a piece on the first day of trading in January. The 43.5% increase in the trading price at the time of writing means that $10,000 worth of shares bought on the 2nd of January is now worth a huge $14,350.

Meanwhile, any investor who bought $10,000 worth of Woodside shares 12 months ago would now be sitting on $17,108!

Can Woodside shares keep climbing higher?

I think there is great potential for another share price rally this year.

Global oil supply concerns arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are acting as a significant tailwind for Woodside shares. Peace talks between the US and Iran ended early Sunday morning in Islamabad, Pakistan, without a deal to end the war, sparking concerns that the two nations could be a long way away from a ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, Woodside has robust financials and reported a strong 2025 result in late February, suggesting that the company is well-positioned for continued growth.

The announcement confirmed an all-time high full-year production of 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), topping guidance. Its costs fell 4% for the calendar year, and while revenue dropped 1%, its EBITDA was in line with 2024. 

What do analysts think of the stock?

I think Woodside shares are a screaming buy right now, but analysts are a little more reserved. 

TradingView data shows that seven out of 14 brokers have a hold rating on the stock, while another five have a buy or strong buy rating on Woodside shares. Another two brokers have a sell or strong sell rating.

The average target price is $32.93, which implies a potential 3.04% downside at the time of writing. However, others are more bullish and think the shares could jump 26.8% to $43.05 over the next 12 months. 

The post $10,000 invested in Woodside shares at the beginning of 2026 is already worth a whopping…. appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.