That's a sharp reversal for a company that delivered strong results, yet still got caught in the broader tech sell-off.

After trading around $40 in August 2025, the share price has steadily slid to $23.36 at the time of writing.

So, what's going on and could this be an opportunity?

Let's break it down.

A dominant market position

CAR Group isn't just another tech stock. It operates leading online automotive marketplaces across multiple regions, including Australia and key international markets.

These platforms benefit from powerful network effects. Buyers go where the listings are. Sellers go where the buyers are. That creates a self-reinforcing cycle and a strong competitive moat.

Once established, these marketplaces are incredibly hard to displace.

Attractive margins

This is also a high-margin business.

Digital marketplaces don't carry the same heavy costs as traditional businesses. Once the platform is built, additional users and listings come at relatively low incremental cost.

That scalability helps drive strong margins and consistent cash generation, exactly what long-term investors want to see in an ASX tech share.

A long runway for growth

Perhaps the biggest drawcard for the ASX tech share is the growth runway. Globally, automotive sales are still shifting online. In many regions, penetration remains relatively low, giving CAR Group plenty of room to expand.

As more dealers and private sellers move online — and as digital advertising becomes the norm — the company stands to benefit.

In other words, this isn't just a mature business. It's still growing into its opportunity.

So why the sell-off?

The recent decline looks less about fundamentals and more about sentiment.

Tech stocks broadly have been under pressure, with investors rotating away from growth and reassessing valuations. CAR Group has been caught in that downdraft, despite continuing to execute.

Of course, this ASX tech share is not risk-free.

Competition remains a factor, particularly in global markets where local players can be strong. Economic slowdowns could also impact vehicle sales volumes, which in turn affects listings and advertising demand.

And like all tech stocks, CAR Group is sensitive to shifts in market sentiment and interest rates.

What next for the ASX tech share?

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy rating last week, although it trimmed its 12-month price target from $38 to $32.

Across the broader market, sentiment remains firmly positive. According to TradingView data, 14 out of 16 analysts rate the stock as a buy or strong buy.

The average price target sits at $34.90, implying upside of nearly 50% from current levels.

Foolish Takeaway

CAR Group's share price has taken a hit. But the business itself still looks strong.

With a dominant position, attractive margins, and a long growth runway, this ASX tech share could be one to watch, especially while sentiment remains weak.

Because if confidence returns, this could be a very different story a year from now.

The post Here's why this $9 billion ASX tech share could be a buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After a tough month in March, Australia's benchmark index has shown signs of a rebound during April. 

Last week, the index rose 4.4%, its best weekly gain since October 2022.

With the tide finally turning for ASX 200 shares, here are 5 that remain significantly below fair value according to broker estimates. 

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

The CAR Group share price fell 14% in March. However, since late March, it has slowly turned a corner. 

Investors will be hoping it has reached the bottom of this latest cycle, as investors exited their positions in CAR Group shares largely due to AI replacement fears.

It is opening this week at $23.36 per share, which is still 24% lower than the start of 2026. 

This is significantly below fair price estimates from brokers. 

Recently, Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy recommendation and placed a $32 price target on the ASX 200 company. 

This indicates a healthy 37% upside from current levels. 

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL has also generated plenty of headlines recently as the ASX 200 stock appears to have been oversold. 

The biotechnology company has seen its share price fall 19% year to date and more than 40% over the last 12 months. 

It has reached a point where it is simply too cheap to ignore for many investors, and Bell Potter recently placed a $155 target on the ASX 200 stock. 

Despite its hold recommendation, this still indicates an upside of 11.5% from current levels. 

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville Group shares are currently hovering around $28.25, significantly below yearly highs. 

The consumer discretionary stock fell 16% during March. 

Macquarie recently placed an outperform rating and price target of $37.10 on the ASX 200 stock. 

This indicates an upside of 31%. 

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

JB Hi-Fi shares are down more than 20% year to date, which includes an 11% fall during March. 

Late last month, Bell Potter retained their buy rating on this retail giant's shares with a price target of $90.

From last week's closing price of $75.21, this indicates an upside of nearly 20% for this ASX 200 stock. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Finally, WiseTech shares have been heavily sold off this year amidst AI concerns. 

The ASX 200 company has seen its share price tumble 45% since the start of 2026. 

However, it also appears too cheap to ignore. 

Morgan Stanley recently retained its buy rating for Wisetech with a $70 price target. 

This suggests an upside potential of 86%. 

The post 5 ASX 200 shares that could be a bargain right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to bounce back on Monday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong start to the week despite a mixed finish on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 70 points or 0.75% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.55%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.35%.

Oil prices ease

It could be a subdued start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices eased on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 1.23% to US$96.57 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 0.75% to US$112.57 a barrel. This may have been driven by optimism over peace talks between the US and Iran.

Dividends being paid

A couple more ASX 200 shares will be rewarding their shareholders with dividend payments on Monday. This includes hearing solutions company Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) and auto listings giant CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR). They will be paying partially franked dividends of $2.15 per share and 42.5 cents per share, respectively, later today.

Gold price slides

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a soft start to the week after the gold price fell on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was down 0.65% to US$4,787.4 an ounce. This may also have been driven by news of peace talks between the US and Iran.

Hold Orora shares

Morgans isn't a buyer of Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) shares despite their heavy decline last week. The broker has retained its hold rating with a heavily reduced price target of $1.55 (from $2.30). It prefers fellow packaging company Amcor (ASX: AMC) and has a buy rating and $76.00 price target on its shares. It said: "Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, visibility on the timing of a potential restart at the RAK facility remains limited. In addition, global consumer confidence and spirits demand have already been negatively affected by the conflict and may remain subdued for some time, even in the event of a near-term resolution. Given this uncertainty, we believe it is prudent to await further updates before reassessing our view. Within the Packaging sector, our preference remains Amcor (AMC, BUY, $76.00 TP)."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Oil and gas prices soared while gold and other metals crumbled, impacting ASX 200 shares in different ways.

Shares in the energy sector surged 18.5% while the materials sector, which includes Australia's biggest miners, crumbled 14.1%.

Amid the upheaval for share prices, brokers reviewed their ratings and 12-month targets on a bunch of ASX stocks.

Here are some of the ASX 200 shares elevated to strong buy consensus status after last month's turmoil.

7 ASX 200 shares newly elevated to strong buy ratings

These ASX shares have just been upgraded to strong buy consensus ratings on the CommSec platform.

A consensus rating represents the average rating among analysts.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The Genesis Minerals share price dropped 20.7% in March alongside a steep fall in the gold price.

So far this month, the ASX 200 gold mining share is up 10.9% to $6.53 at yesterday's close.

MA Financial is among the brokers that have upgraded Genesis Minerals to a buy rating.

The broker has lifted its 12-month price target from $8.05 to $8.40.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

The Orica share price descended 17.9% in March.

So far this month, the ASX materials share is up 6.7% to $21.40.

Jefferies has reiterated its buy recommendation, but reduced its price target from $25.73 to $24.04.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price fell 15.9% in March.

So far in April, the ASX 200 airline share has rebounded 8.6% to $9.09.

Jefferies has reiterated its buy rating with a price target of $12.80.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price declined 20% in March.

So far in April, the market's largest ASX 200 tech share is up just 1.6% to $38.62.

Morgan Stanley is buy-rated on Wisetech but has slashed its target from $100 to $70.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price descended 9.7% in March.

The tech share has fallen a further 2.3% in April to $73.41 at yesterday's close.

Morgan Stanley has reiterated its buy recommendation with a $130 target.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

The Yancoal share price skyrocketed 41.5% in March, as power plants switched from gas to coal.

So far this month, the ASX 200 coal share has declined 10.3%.

Huatai Securities is buy-rated on Yancoal with a $14.40 share price target.

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

The CAR Group share price fell 14% in March.

In April, the ASX 200 retail share is up 2.7% to $23.41.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy recommendation last week.

However, the broker reduced its 12-month target from $38 to $32.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy ratings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, shares are down 1.92% to $22.51, after falling as low as $22.19 earlier in the session. That marks a multi-year low, with the stock now trading at levels last seen in April 2023.

The latest move adds to a rapid decline this year, with CAR Group shares now down around 27% since January.

Here's what's driving the continued weakness.

Strong results but share price still falling

CAR Group operates a global online automotive marketplace, with established platforms across Australia and international markets.

Recent results point to continued growth, with double-digit increases in both revenue and EBITDA in its latest half-year update. This was supported by pricing gains and product improvements across its platforms.

However, this has not been reflected in the share price.

Recent broker commentary indicates the stock has been caught in broader tech sector selling, with concerns around artificial intelligence (AI) disruption weighing on valuations. This trend has also affected similar digital platform companies, particularly those relying on listings and advertising.

In addition, the company was previously trading at a premium, which has left it more exposed to a de-rating as sentiment has weakened.

Technical picture shows sustained downtrend

The share price has moved steadily lower since peaking near $40 in 2025, with lower highs and lower lows forming throughout the period.

Bollinger bands indicate the stock is trading near the lower band, and the relative strength index (RSI) is sitting around the mid-30s.

There is also limited nearby support, with the recent low around $22.19 acting as the first key level. A break below this could open the door to further downside, while resistance appears to be forming closer to the $24 to $25 range.

What the market is pricing in

The current share price suggests the market is reassessing expectations around the company's growth and valuation.

While the business continues to expand globally and deliver earnings growth, sentiment toward technology-linked names has softened.

This has led to a pullback in valuations across the sector, even where CAR Group's underlying earnings remain solid.

Foolish Takeaway

CAR Group shares are now trading at multi-year lows after a sharp decline in 2026.

The business itself continues to deliver growth, but the share price reflects changing sentiment toward valuation and sector-wide pressures.

With the stock trending lower and technical indicators still weak, near-term performance is likely to depend on market conditions and investor confidence in the company's growth outlook.

The post This ASX 200 stock just hit a multi-year low. Here's what's behind the slide appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meanwhile, several ASX 200 stocks hit new 52-week lows today.

Do they present a buying opportunity, or is it best to be cautious on these stocks?

Let's defer to the experts.

ASX 200 shares at new annual lows today

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price fell to a 52-week low of $138.73 on Tuesday, and is down 43% over 12 months.

Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities has a sell rating on the market's largest ASX 200 healthcare share.

On The Bull this month, Gable lamented:

This biotechnology giant was a market darling for a long time, but it's now failing to command a premium as uncertainty surrounding the company's US vaccine business is making it more difficult for investors to forecast future earnings.

The recent departure of its chief executive also adds to the uncertainty.

From a technical perspective, the stock has topped out and is trending lower.

In my view, this leaves further downside risk in the share price until investors feel more confident that CSL can lift earnings.

Car Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

The Car Group share price fell to a 52-week low of $23.52 on Tuesday.

This ASX 200 communications share has fallen 29% over the past 12 months.

On The Bull this week, Toby Grimm from Baker Young revealed a buy rating on Car Group shares.

He reckons the stock has been caught up in the fear around artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting certain industries.

Grimm commented:

Recent sector-wide selling driven largely by concerns around potential artificial intelligence (AI) disruption has weighed on valuations.

However, we believe CAR's trusted brands, established distribution network and strong dealer relationships position it well to integrate AI tools into its services rather than be disrupted by them.

Over time, AI could enhance listing quality, pricing transparency and advertising effectiveness across its platforms.

Grimm said the carsales.com.au portal owner produced better-than-expected results for 1H FY26.

They included a 13% lift in revenue and an 11% rise in reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).

He said:

Given the company's strong market position, attractive margins and long runway for digital automotive marketplace growth across several geographies, we view recent price weakness as an opportunity to accumulate a high quality technology-enabled marketplace at a more reasonable valuation.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

This fellow ASX 200 communications share tumbled to a 52-week low of $14.42 today.

The Seek share price has fallen 37% over 12 months.

Morgans sees an opportunity at this price level.

After reviewing Seek's 1H FY26 report, Morgans upgraded the ASX 200 communications share to a buy rating.

Morgans said:

SEK's 1H26 result was largely as per expectations with net revenue (+12% on pcp), Adjusted EBITDA (+19% on pcp) and adjusted NPAT (+35% on pcp) all broadly in line with Visible Alpha consensus and MorgansF.

Morgans kept its 12-month share price target at $27.50 for Seek shares.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows: Buy, hold, or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the auto listings company closed yesterday trading for $24.21. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are swapping hands for $24.04 apiece, down 0.4%, giving the company a market cap of some $9.1 billion.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.4% at this same time.

It was only back on 18 August that CAR Group shares closed at an all-time high of $41.62.

Since then, the ASX 200 share has plunged 42.2%. Longer term, shares are down 27.8% over 12 months. Losses that will only be partially eased by the two partly franked dividends, totalling 84 cents a share, that the company paid out (or shortly will pay out) over the full year.

Car Group currently trades on a 3.5% partly franked trailing dividend yield.

A lot of the selling pressure hitting the stock in recent months has come amid the broader tech stock sell off. As you likely known, this has been fuelled by concerns that artificial intelligence, or AI, could replace a lot of the services companies like Car Group provide.

But Baker Young's Toby Grimm has a decidedly different take on the future impact of AI on this particular company's performance. And with the share price down sharply, he believes now is an opportune time to buy the stock (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

ASX 200 share tipped to rebound

"This online automotive marketplace operator posted stronger-than-expected first half results for 2026," Grimm said.

"It grew revenue by 13% and reported EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation] by 11%," he noted.

The ASX 200 share closed up 9.9% on 9 February, the day it reported those H1 FY 2026 results. Atop the revenue and earnings growth, CAR Group achieved a 16% year on year increase in reported net profit after tax (NPAT) to $143 million.

As for investor concerns over the potential disruption posed by AI, Grimm said:

Recent sector-wide selling, driven largely by concerns around potential artificial intelligence (AI) disruption, has weighed on valuations. However, we believe CAR's trusted brands, established distribution network and strong dealer relationships position it well to integrate AI tools into its services rather than be disrupted by them.

Over time, AI could enhance listing quality, pricing transparency and advertising effectiveness across its platforms.

Summing up his buy recommendation on the beaten down ASX 200 share, Grimm concluded:

Given the company's strong market position, attractive margins and long runway for digital automotive marketplace growth across several geographies, we view recent price weakness as an opportunity to accumulate a high-quality technology-enabled marketplace at a more reasonable valuation.

The post Why this beaten down $9 billion ASX 200 share is now a buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Well, if you are, let's see what analysts are saying about the popular shares in this article, courtesy of The Bull.

Are they buys, holds, or sells? Let's find out:

Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

The team at Peak Asset Management has named this struggling semiconductor company as a sell this week.

It highlights that the small cap is battling against AI giants like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) in an intensively competitive sector. It said:

BrainChip is a commercial producer of neuromorphic artificial intelligence (AI). The company operates across Australia, the US and Europe and had a market capitalisation of about $A349.17 million during trading on March 12. The broader AI hardware landscape is increasingly dominated by big players, such as Nvidia.

The AI sector is intensively competitive. The company substantially lifted revenue in full year 2025, but reported a loss from continuing operations after tax. The shares have fallen from 24.5 cents on October 9, 2025 to trade at 14 cents on March 12. Other stocks appeal more at this stage of the cycle.

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

Over at Baker Young, its analysts are positive on this auto listings company.

It highlights that its shares have fallen heavily recently amid AI disruption concerns. However, the broker believes this has created a buying opportunity and has named it as a buy this week. It said:

This online automotive marketplace operator posted stronger-than-expected first half results for 2026. It grew revenue by 13 per cent and reported EBITDA by 11 per cent. Recent sector-wide selling driven largely by concerns around potential artificial intelligence (AI) disruption has weighed on valuations. However, we believe CAR's trusted brands, established distribution network and strong dealer relationships position it well to integrate AI tools into its services rather than be disrupted by them.

Over time, AI could enhance listing quality, pricing transparency and advertising effectiveness across its platforms. Given the company's strong market position, attractive margins and long runway for digital automotive marketplace growth across several geographies, we view recent price weakness as an opportunity to accumulate a high quality technology-enabled marketplace at a more reasonable valuation.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Finally, Baker Young has been looking at drinks giant Endeavour. It felt that the Dan Murphy's owner delivered a solid half-year result last month.

However, it isn't enough for a buy rating just yet. The broker has put a hold rating on its shares instead. It said:

The drinks and hotels operator delivered solid first half results for fiscal year 2026. Hotel sales increased by 4.4 per cent and total retail sales increased by 0.2 per cent. Hotel sales growth in the first seven weeks of the second half of fiscal year 2026 was up 4.5 per cent followed by 1.3 per cent for retail sales.

The company is investing heavily in price competition to support volumes, which will likely pressure margins in the near term. While it may be too early to call a full recovery, we believe risks are broadly balanced and we're comfortable maintaining our position ahead of the strategic update.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Brainchip, CAR Group, and Endeavour shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

The CAR Group share price is down 3% to $24.47. The catalyst for this has been the auto listings company's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its latest payout. Last month, CAR Group released its half-year results and declared a partially franked interim dividend of 42.5 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this dividend next month on 13 April.

Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM)

The Immutep share price is down a massive 89% to 4.4 cents. Investors have been selling this late-stage biotechnology company's shares after it released an update on the TACTI-004 Phase III study. Immutep revealed that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) for the TACTI-004 Phase III study has recommended the discontinuation of the trial following a planned interim futility analysis in accordance with the study protocol. The company's CEO, Marc Voigt, said: "We are very disappointed and surprised with the outcome of the futility analysis, in light of efti's performance in every other clinical trial. […] We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of the available data to better understand the results and determine the appropriate next steps for the program."

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down over 17% to $22.10. This morning, this gold miner downgraded its production guidance for FY 2026 a second time. Northern Star advised that it has been impacted by weaker-than-planned milling performance at the KCGM operation and reduced mining productivity across several operating areas. It now expects FY 2026 production to come in above 1.5 million ounces. This compares to its most recent guidance of 1.6 million to 1.7 million ounces, which was downgraded from 1.7 million to 1.85 million ounces.

Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR)

The Syrah Resources share price is down 28% to 17.25 cents. This has been driven by news that the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has reached a final negative determination in an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation. It was looking into whether graphite active anode material (AAM) imports into the United States from China are materially retarding the establishment of a domestic AAM industry. Syrah believes the decision may "delay AAM sales from the Vidalia AAM facility and limit near-term demand growth for AAM produced in the United States and Balama natural graphite as feedstock for natural graphite AAM facilities outside China."

The post Why CAR Group, Immutep, Northern Star, and Syrah Resources shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall again on Friday following a poor night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 21 points or 0.25% lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 1.5%, the S&P 500 is down 1.45% and the Nasdaq is down 1.7%.

Oil prices jump

It could be a strong finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices jumped. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 9.6% to US$95.61 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 9.45% to US$100.62 a barrel. Oil prices surged after Iran's supreme leader said that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes auto listings company CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR), quick service restaurant operator Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG), and logistic solutions company WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC). CAR Group will be paying a partially franked 42.5 cents per share dividend next month on 13 April.

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.5% to US$5,100.3 an ounce. A stronger US dollar weighed on the precious metal.

Buy Liontown shares

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the lithium miner's shares with a $2.42 price target. It said: "LTR is now in a net cash position. Over FY26-27, LTR will continue to ramp up and de-risk Kathleen Valley. With current lithium price strength, LTR can rapidly generate cash to support incremental production expansions and shareholder returns. Kathleen Valley is highly strategic in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction. LTR has offtake contracts with top-tier EV and battery OEMs. The company has a strong balance sheet with long tenor debt finance."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

To narrow things down, let's take a look at two that Morgans is bullish on right now.

Here's what the broker is recommending to clients:

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

This auto listings company has been named as a buy by analysts at Morgans.

It feels that its shares are trading at a level that has created an attractive entry point for investors. The broker said:

CAR's 1H26 result was strong overall, in our view, and was largely in line with consensus (Visible Alpha) expectations. CAR reported double-digit percentage revenue and EBITDA growth in its key offshore markets (North America, Latam and Korea), whilst Australia revenue growth remained sound (~+8% vs the pcp). We make minor changes to our FY26 assumptions.

CAR is trading on ~22x FY27F PE, which we view as an attractive entry point given its double-digit EPS growth profile. We move to a BUY recommendation with a $35.20 PT.

Morgans expects fully franked dividends of 89.5 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 99 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on the current share price of $25.69, this would mean dividend yields of 3.5% and 3.9%, respectively.

Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)

Another ASX dividend share that has been named as a buy is investment management company Pinnacle.

While its half-year results were softer than expected, the broker remains positive and sees lots of value in its shares at current levels. It said:

PNI's 1H26 NPAT (~A$67m, -11% on the pcp) came in -4% below consensus, but it was more in line excluding one-offs (e.g. mark-to-market investment impacts). Overall, we saw the 1H26 result as compositionally stronger than the headline numbers suggested, and positively accompanied with a move-the-dial acquisition.

We reduce FY26F EPS by -7% on a softer-than-expected 1H26 "reported" result, and dilution from the PAM equity issue. Conversely, FY27F EPS rises +8% on PAM earnings benefits and a broader review of our assumptions. Our price target falls to A$23.21 (from A$26.30). We move to a BUY recommendation (previously Accumulate) with >20% upside existing to our PT.

Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends of 63 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 80 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $15.10, this would mean dividend yields of 4.2% and 5.3%, respectively.

The post 2 buy-rated ASX dividend shares for income investors in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For you to be entitled to a stock's next dividend, you must own it before its ex-dividend date.

Here are some of the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's see what they are saying about three popular names, courtesy of The Bull. Here's what you need to know:

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

The team at Morgans thinks this auto listings company could be worth considering. The broker has named the carsales.com.au owner as a buy this week.

It feels that recent share price weakness has created an attractive entry point for long term investors. The broker said:

Car Group is Australia's leading online automotive marketplace, benefiting from a strong network and steady demand for new and used cars. Its diversified revenue streams, including listings, data services and finance, provide consistent growth and help cushion softer economic periods. Recent share price weakness has improved the valuation, while the company's dominant position and scalable marketplace model support attractive long term returns. We view the current share price as an attractive entry point for long term investors.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Morgans isn't as positive on the investment opportunity with this one. It has named the Bunnings and Kmart owner as a sell this week.

While the broker is a fan of the company, it isn't a fan of its valuation and feels that the risk-reward profile is unfavourable. It explains:

This industrial conglomerate is a well managed and diversified group, but market pricing has become demanding after a strong run. Bunnings and Kmart continue to perform well, but the retail environment is softening. The current valuation appears to assume sustained strength across all divisions, leaving little margin for error should consumer spending weaken or emerging businesses take longer to deliver meaningful returns. While Wesfarmers remains a high quality operator, its risk‑reward profile looks unfavourable relative to other opportunities, supporting a cautious sell for now.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Over at Fairmont Equities, its analysts have named this cloud accounting platform provider's shares as a sell this week.

While it thinks Xero is a great business, it notes that it has been caught up in a major sector rotation. And until its shares find a bottom, it is staying clear of them. It explains:

Xero is a global accounting software provider. XRO is a great business, but it's caught up in a major sector rotation, where investor funds have been moving out of technology stocks with high price/earnings ratios and into hard assets. The downtrend in the share price indicates sellers were recently still in control and any price bounces are struggling to gain traction. We believe the shares will remain under pressure until the market stops trying to pick the bottom. The shares have fallen from $194.21 on June 24, 2025 to trade at $81.525 on February 26, 2026.

The post What are analysts saying about CAR, Wesfarmers, and Xero shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Nvidia is one of the most important businesses in the technology supply chain, providing chips needed for AI and data centres. AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic wouldn't be able to do what they do without the foundations provided by Nvidia.

Let's take a look at what Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said and how it could be applied to ASX tech shares.

The markets got it wrong

Earlier this week, Huang spoke with CNBC's Becky Quick and shared his thoughts on investor concerns that AI agents might affect the earnings of several software companies.

He said that he thought "the markets got it wrong" regarding fears that AI agents will cannibalise the enterprise software industry. He doesn't think AI agents will replace the software tools, but will use them instead to boost efficiency. Huang then said to CNBC:

That's the reason why we also say agents are tool users.

All of these tools that we use today, whether it's Cadence or Synopsys or ServiceNow or SAP, these tools exist for a fundamentally good reason. These agentic AI will be intelligent software that uses these tools on our behalf and help us be more productive.

Nobody's going to service better than ServiceNow, and they're going to come up with agents that are really fine-tuned and optimized for the work that uses the tools that they have.

In the end, we need the tools to finish their work and put the information back in a way that we can understand.

I'm not in a position to know how AI tools and their use will develop in the coming years, but I think it would be too bearish to assume businesses will lose a large chunk of clients and margins in the next few years.

Why I think the ASX tech shares are undervalued

A share price is meant to reflect the long-term future prospects of a business, but I don't think the prospects of names like Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME), Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR), REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), and CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR) have dropped by 40% or 50%.

I think all of them have stronger economic moats than what the market is giving them credit for. Virtually all of them delivered strong revenue growth in the most recent reporting season, and I believe that profit margin improvement is quite likely to rise at many of them over the rest of FY26 as well.

I'm not sure I could commit to all of them for 50 years, but I'd be excited to buy any of them for my portfolio as a medium-term investment.

The post Why Nvidia's insights suggest ASX tech shares are undervalued appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As it happens, the ASX 200 closed the week right on its new record high of 9,198.6 points after a bouncy day that saw stints in both red and green territory. That was a gain worth 0.25% for the index.

This happy end to the Australian trading week on the ASX comes after a decidedly less sunny morning over on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to squeak a rise, but only just, inching 0.034% higher.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was far more decisive, but not in a good way, falling 1.18%.

But let's get back to the happier market now, though, and take a deeper look at what the various ASX sectors were up to this session.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Not because the share price has fallen, but because it forces an important question: has the business deteriorated, or has sentiment simply turned?

Right now, three ASX 200 shares stand out after hitting new lows. But, in my view, each remains a high-quality business despite recent share price weakness.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus has long been one of the ASX's standout growth stories. It has consistently delivered high margins, strong recurring revenue, and a capital-light model that generates impressive returns on equity.

Some investors appear worried that rapid advances in AI could commoditise parts of the medical imaging workflow or reduce the value of premium imaging platforms. When markets get nervous about disruption, high-multiple software names are often the first to be sold.

However, I think it is important to understand what Pro Medicus actually does. Its Visage platform is deeply embedded within hospital systems, handling complex imaging workflows at scale. It is not simply an image viewer. It is a mission-critical, enterprise-grade platform that integrates with hospital IT systems and supports radiologists across large networks.

Management has indicated that it doesn't see AI as a threat to its business model. In fact, it views AI as complementary.

To me, this looks less like structural disruption and more like sentiment-driven volatility. While valuation always matters, I believe the market may be overestimating the AI risk and underestimating the durability of Pro Medicus' competitive position.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear, another global healthcare leader, has also found itself under pressure.

Short-term challenges, including margin pressure and operational factors, have weighed on sentiment. But the underlying business remains dominant in implantable hearing solutions, with a large installed base and recurring revenue from upgrades and services.

I think it is easy to underestimate how powerful that installed base is. Once a patient is in the Cochlear ecosystem, they are typically there for life. That creates long-term revenue visibility.

When a market leader with decades of innovation trades at a 52-week low, I am inclined to look at the long-term opportunity rather than the most recent headline.

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

CAR Group, formerly known as Carsales, operates leading automotive classifieds platforms in Australia and internationally.

The business benefits from network effects. Buyers go where the listings are, and sellers go where the buyers are. That creates a durable competitive advantage.

Share price weakness has reflected softer auto markets and broader tech sentiment. But the long-term shift to digital marketplaces is not reversing. Over time, transaction volumes and pricing power tend to follow platform scale.

If I can buy a market-leading digital classifieds platform at a 52-week low, I see that as an opportunity to accumulate quality.

Foolish Takeaway

A 52-week low does not automatically mean a bargain. Sometimes it signals deeper problems.

But in the case of Pro Medicus, Cochlear, and CAR Group, I believe the core businesses remain strong. Each has global reach, defensible market positions, and structural growth drivers.

The post Here are 3 ASX 200 shares trading at 52-week lows I'd buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX 200 shares that have received sell ratings, courtesy of The Bull, are named below. Here's why analysts are bearish on these names:

CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR)

This auto listings company's shares have been named as a sell by Shaw and Partners this week.

The broker has concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) disrupting the ASX 200 share's business model and heightening competition. It said:

CAR operates a global digital marketplace across diverse vehicle categories. Reported revenue of $626 million in the first half of fiscal year 2026 was up 8 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Reported net profit after tax of $143 million was up 16 per cent. However, the shares have fallen from $41.62 on August 18, 2025 to trade at $25.51 on February 19, 2026. In my view, CAR is another group exposed to advancing artificial intelligence, which is transforming the economics of software creation. AI can reduce barriers to entry and heighten competitive pressures. It may be prudent to reduce exposure.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Over at MPC Markets, its analysts believe this fashion jewellery retailer's shares are expensive and think investors should be looking in some gains.

As a result, it has named the ASX 200 share as a sell. It explains:

This global fashion and jewellery accessories retailer generated total revenue of $500.7 million in the first half of fiscal year 2026, an increase of 23.3 per cent. The company released its results on February 19, 2026. Statutory net profit after tax of $58.39 million was up 2.6 per cent. The results appear to have fallen short of market estimates as the shares were down about 12 per cent in morning trade on February 19. The shares have fallen from $43.14 on August 29, 2025 to trade at $27.85 on February 19, 2026. Despite, the share price fall, we believe the shares are trading at a premium, so investors may want to consider cashing in some gains.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

Shaw and Partners is also feeling concerned about the threat of AI disruption on this property listings company's business.

In addition, it highlights that Domain now has a powerful owner that could increase competition. In light of this, it has named REA shares as a sell. The broker said:

This online multinational digital advertising business specialises in property. The shares have plunged since Nasdaq-listed CoStar Group acquired REA competitor Domain Holdings Australia in August 2025. REA is a strong operator, with a well established brand. However, CoStar is well equipped to provide fierce competition. Also, investors are most concerned about the impact artificial intelligence will have on the company's operations moving forward. As new AI‑driven competitors emerge, margins may compress and the traditional valuation multiples applied to software centric companies could moderate.

However, it is worth noting that not everyone agrees. For example, Morgans has a buy rating and $35.20 price target on CAR Group shares, Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating and $32.50 price target on Lovisa's shares, and Bell Potter has a buy rating and $211.00 price target on REA shares.

The post Experts name 3 ASX 200 shares to sell now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However, it delivered solid H126 results last week and is a company that has shown it can evolve. Here's what's happening and why I believe there is significant upside right now.

What is driving the CAR Group share price down?

CAR Group runs online vehicle marketplaces in Australia, South Korea, the USA, and Chile. It is also a majority shareholder in the Brazil-based webmotors. While it continued to deliver solid results in FY25 despite rising cost of living in its biggest markets, investors have remained cautious heading into 2026.

Partly, this is due to broader weak sentiment across the tech sector. Investor appetite for high-growth stocks has eased, amidst fears of overvaluation. In addition, the potential for a softening of the vehicle market and the easing of used car prices this year may be contributing to investor concerns.

But perhaps its biggest headwind is the fear that generative AI will soon replace online marketplaces. Generative AI is disrupting the established 'search and browse' model, and some investors are concerned that CAR Group will lose its footing as customers lean into personalised AI-driven shopping experiences.

Can CAR Group effectively respond to the growing threat of generative AI?

For me, it can.

Firstly, I believe vehicle sales will be insulated from the shift for longer than some other consumer products, due to the high cost and level of trust required in the transaction.

Secondly, CAR Group has a solid track record of responding to major shifts.  

In the 1990s, CAR Group (then known as Carsales.com) transformed the way Australians bought and sold cars with its digital marketplace, accelerating the shift from print classifieds. By the early 2000s, it was widely considered Australia's go-to online car marketplace.

Over its history, it has, by and large, demonstrated that it is an early mover, scales responsibly, and uses acquisitions to increase depth and complement its core business.

Notably, across the 2010s, it made a significant and successful move from a listing site to a sophisticated automotive marketplace, integrating a broad range of value-added services, including vehicle inspections, dealer analytics, and financing.

Now, with generative AI threatening another major shift, I believe it will once again respond with agility and discipline. It has shown that it is facing the challenge head-on by establishing a global AI hub.

Of the move, Managing Director and CEO, William Elliott, said:

We see AI as a critical enabler and we are embedding it into our products, platforms and operations. This capability will be further accelerated by the establishment of CG/lab, our global AI hub in Brazil, which is focused on developing core agentic technology that can be built once and scaled across the Group. Recent highlights include the introduction of voice-controlled vehicle search and AI companions that help guide consumers through the vehicle buying and selling journey.

And while it navigates this AI shift, CAR Group will likely still have the network effect on its side for some time. Buyers, sellers, and dealers alike are accustomed to using its sites, meaning each will go there to find the others. Obviously, that can and will change if CAR Group doesn't step up. But for me, it has an established history of success in evolving to meet its contemporary customers.

Of course, sceptics remain. But I'm still bullish on CAR Group because I believe it is making all the right moves in the present climate, supported by a consistent track record. For me, current prices present an attractive entry point for long-term investors who share my faith that it can once again evolve as AI disruption looms.

The post Why I am still bullish on CAR Group appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While best known for the Australian business Carsales, it also has exposure to other markets, including South Korea (through Encar), Brazil (with Webmotors), and the USA (with Trader Interactive).

After seeing the result, UBS said that it was a "solid result", which points to continuing execution in all regions.

UBS view on the result

The broker pointed out that CAR Group's results showed consistent execution and growth across all regions.

CAR Group reported that revenue rose 8% to $626 million, operating profit (EBITDA) went up 11% to $324 million, and reported net profit climbed 16% to $143 million. The board of directors decided to increase the interim dividend per share by 10% to 42.5 cents.

Australian revenue rose 8%, with adjusted EBITDA growth of 8%. North America revenue grew 13%, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 11%. In Latin America, revenue grew 23% and adjusted EBITDA climbed 29%. Asian revenue increased 17% and adjusted EBITDA went up 13%.

UBS liked CAR Group's reassurance on AI because of market concerns. AI investment by the business will fall within the "existing spend envelope" over the medium term, at around 10% of capital expenditure. It's also starting to see signs of incremental revenue from AI-supported products such as "lead nurturing, sourcing products in Australia and the US, and guarantee inspection in South Korea."

The broker believes the investment in AI will continue to support yield and depth growth across all regions. For example, a fully AI-driven search experience has led to two times the leads in Brazil.

UBS also noted that there is "longer term margin upside potential" from AI, with the company suggesting near-term reinvestment of AI productivity savings back into AI developments, but with potential for margin expansion in the medium-to-longer term.

The broker forecasts that CAR Group's margins can continue expanding in FY27 onwards by an average of 80 basis points (0.80%) per year over the next three years.

UBS also believes that growth in the US (with Trader Interactive) is poised to return to double digits, driven by dealer additions, a 6% price rise in January, and growth in leads in private, media, and marine.

How much could the CAR Group share price rise?

The broker suggested that the business is trading at a relatively low price compared to its typical historical earnings multiple, while still delivering double-digit earnings growth. It's valued at 25x FY26's estimated earnings, according to UBS' projections.

UBS has a buy rating on the business with a price target of $39.60. That implies a possible rise of more than 50% at the time of writing.

The post The CAR Group share price is a strong buy – UBS appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What's going on with tech and AI?

After a period of strong gains driven by optimism around artificial intelligence, markets have turned more cautious. 

This has been driven by growing concern that AI could both fail to justify lofty valuations and disrupt the traditional software business models many ASX tech companies rely on. 

Many Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies and online classified platforms have been sold off as investors worry that generative AI could replicate core software functions. 

We've seen this fear deplete the share price of many ASX stocks including REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) and CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR). 

While discourse amongst experts suggests this fear is largely overblown, it hasn't stopped the steady decline due to negative sentiment.  

The sell-off has also been amplified by weaker leads from Wall Street and a rotation into more defensive, income-generating sectors such as banks and resources, leaving local tech stocks exposed to a sharp sentiment reversal.

How to protect your portfolio with ASX ETFs

For investors who are suffering with significant exposure to these tech shares, it could be an ideal time to gain exposure to other sectors. 

There are several ASX ETFs that target sectors that are less exposed to these fears. 

Keep in mind none of these are completely immune to broad market sell-offs – they can still decline if overall sentiment turns bearish. 

However they could hold up better relative to tech-focused or growth-oriented stocks during periods of risk aversion.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

This fund provides investors with the performance of the S&P Global 1200 Consumer Staples Sector Index. 

The index is designed to measure the performance of global consumer staples companies that produce essential products, including food, tobacco, and household items. 

These companies tend to have steady earnings regardless of tech cycle swings. 

Consumer staples are viewed as defensive because the demand for these products stays relatively stable even when markets wobble.

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT)

This fund targets companies with strong profitability and balance sheets, which can help reduce volatility compared with growth or tech-heavy funds. 

These companies tend to be more resilient in market downturns.

By sector, it has a large exposure to ASX dominant sectors like financials (35.9%) and materials (16.2%). 

BetaShares Global Banks ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: BNKS)

This ASX ETF could appeal to investors seeking protection from an AI-driven tech sell-off. 

It provides exposure to a very different part of the market, namely global banks rather than high-growth software or platform companies.

SaaS or online marketplaces whose valuations hinge on future earnings growth and AI disruption narratives. 

Meanwhile, banks generate profits primarily from net interest margins, lending volumes and credit quality. 

Essentially, their earnings are tied to economic activity. 

Foolish Takeaway

It's important for investors not to abandon AI or tech completely. 

These sectors remain powerful drivers of productivity, earnings growth and long-term innovation across the global economy. 

Rather, the recent global fears have driven valuations down, reminding investors of the importance of diversification.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to protect your portfolio from the tech sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.