Let's check out some new ratings on three ASX shares.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

The Cleanaway Waste Management share price is $2.41, up 0.2% today and down 17% over 12 months.

Last week, Cleanaway announced a CFO transition and reaffirmed its FY26 earnings outlook.

Following this, Nathan Lead from Morgans maintained his buy rating on the ASX 200 industrials share. 

Lead said: 

… CWY informed the market that it expects its underlying EBIT for FY26 to be approximately $470m (around the mid-point of its guidance range). This is a touch better than our previous forecast ($465m) and Visible Alpha consensus ($468m).

We update our FY26 forecast to reflect this update, adding 1% to our FY26F EBIT, which leverages into a c.2% uplift to FY26F EPS.

Cleanaway Waste Management will release its full-year FY26 results on 20 August.

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

The Aurizon share price is $4.24, up 0.8% today and up 30% over 12 months.

Toby Grimm from Baker Young has a hold rating on Australia's largest rail freight operator.

On The Bull this week, Grimm said: 

Total containerised freight for the 10 months to April 30 was up 13.2 per cent compared to the prior corresponding period. Growth was driven by new and existing customers.

The company re-affirmed full year 2026 guidance. Group underlying EBITDA is forecast to range between $1.68 billion and $1.75 billion. Coal and bulk EBITDA are expected to be higher.

The stock was recently trading on an appealing dividend yield.

The shares have risen from $3.26 on July 28, 2025 to trade at $4.355 on July 23, 2026.

Aurizon will release its full-year FY26 results on 17 August.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie shares are $26.66 apiece, up 0.5% today and down 1% over 12 months.

Morgans upgraded James Hardie shares to a hold rating after reviewing the building materials suppliers' latest numbers.

Analyst Liam Schofield said:

JHX has delivered a strong set of results for 1QFY27, beating consensus (and MorgansF) EBITDA forecasts by c.9% at the mid-point and prior guidance by c.10%.

The outperformance was largely attributed to execution and above-market growth, rather than an improving US housing market.

The result sets our baseline expectations higher, whilst we expect the business to follow the traditional earnings seasonality (bigger Jun/Mar quarters).

This result is better than expected. Higher growth in FY27 reduces the heavy lifting required in FY28 to achieve consensus' US$1.45/sh EPS forecast.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Cleanaway Waste Management, Aurizon, James Hardie shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Cleanaway Waste Management report?

• Appointment of Nigel Simonsz as incoming Chief Financial Officer, starting 27 July 2026
• Current CFO Paul Binfield stepping down, supporting transition through H1 FY27
• FY26 underlying EBIT expected to be approximately $470 million (midpoint of prior guidance)
• FY26 full year results set for release on 20 August 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Nigel Simonsz brings broad financial leadership experience from listed companies such as United Petroleum, Sigma Healthcare, and Australian Agricultural Company. The appointment follows an internal and external search, with an emphasis on continuity during Cleanaway's reporting and strategy cycle.

Outgoing CFO Paul Binfield has served over five years, during which he guided the company through strategic acquisitions and helped shape Cleanaway's Blueprint 2030 strategy. The board acknowledged his contribution and commitment to a smooth leadership handover.

What's next for Cleanaway Waste Management?

Cleanaway will continue its focus on delivering Blueprint 2030, which centres on long-term sustainable growth and capital discipline. The company plans a structured CFO transition, maintaining stability while progressing its growth and operational strategies.

Further details on full-year financial performance and forward outlook are expected at the FY26 results announcement in August.

Cleanaway Waste Management share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Cleanaway shares have declined 20%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Cleanaway Waste Management appoints new CFO and reaffirms FY26 earnings guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

When one expert is excited about a business, that's interesting. When there are numerous buy ratings on a business, it implies there could be a compelling opportunity.

Let's look at two of the most appealing opportunities according to analysts.

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

Eagers describes itself as the leading automotive group in Australia and New Zealand with its ownership and operation of car dealerships with new and used vehicles, service, parts and the facilitation of allied consumer finance. It has been operating for more than 110 years.

Its operations are usually provided through strategically clustered dealerships, many of which are situated on properties owned by Eagers Automotive in high-profile, main road locations.

In May, the business reported how it had performed in the four months to April 2026 – its financial year follows the calendar year.

Across Australia and New Zealand in 2026 to April, turnover was up 5% year over year, with order intake at record levels. Order intake was at record levels, with orders taken exceeding deliveries by more than 29% because of supply restraints impacting and deferring delivery timing. Its order book climbed by 70% since December 2025.

The company also noted that its independent used segment, comprising easyauto123 and Carlins, continues to grow and delivered a record start to the year, with profit before tax up 40% year over year.

Another growth avenue for the business is CanadaOne Auto, which it recently acquired. This gives the ASX share earnings diversification and geographic growth potential.

According to CMC Invest, there have been eight buy ratings on Eagers Automotive shares within the last three months.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Cleanaway describes itself as Australia's largest provider of total waste and resource recovery solutions.

It has a national footprint of more than 330 sites. Cleanaway provides end-to-end waste solutions, including collection, processing, recycling, treatment and safe disposal. Impressively, it has more than 6,400 vehicles in the fleet.

Customers include commercial, industrial and government customers across Australia.

The company points to a number of areas of potential growth, including GDP and favourable trends (namely recycling) trends. It's also targeting expanding profit margins by more than 260 basis points and growing its cash flow by utilising its branch network, leveraging the scale and utilising its assets.

According to CMC Invest, there have also been eight buy ratings on Cleanaway shares within the last three months. It's now valued at 24x FY26's estimated earnings, according to the CMC Invest forecast.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what they are recommending investors do with these shares this week:

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

DP Wealth Advisory has named this waste management company's shares as a buy this week.

It likes Cleanaway partly because of the waste management industry's high barriers to entry.

In addition, while it acknowledges that there are regulatory risks, the wealth advisory firm appears to see an attractive risk-reward on offer here following share price weakness. It said:

This waste management company enjoys high barriers to entry, making it difficult for competitors to undercut or take market share. Underlying earnings before interest and tax increased by 60 per cent between fiscal years 2022 and 2025. Moving forward, the company is targeting improving EBIT margins and earnings per share growth. However, it's important to note that regulatory risk exists as the company is exposed to volatile commodity prices for recycled material. The recent share price was trading well below its consensus valuation for the next 12 months.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

DP Wealth Advisory isn't as positive on Codan shares this week and has named them as a hold.

Although it has been impressed with its strong performance, the wealth advisory firm appears to see its shares as fully valued now following a strong rise. It explains:

This communications equipment and metal detection company has been a stellar performer in the past 12 months due to its business mix. The company lifted group revenue by 29 per cent in the first half of 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Net profit after tax was up 55 per cent. The communications segment delivered growth at the top end of the fiscal year 2026 target range.

A strong performance from the metal detection segment was driven by gold detector demand in Africa. Performance suggests investors should continue holding the stock. The group recently revealed it was trading above expectations in the second half of 2026.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

The team at Dolphin Partners Financial Services has named this Singapore-based telco as a buy this week.

However, it is worth highlighting that this was prior to the 60%+ decline by the Tuas share price on Monday in response to an announcement relating to its Simba business and impacting its proposed M1 acquisition.

Commenting on the ASX share, Dolphin Partners Financial Services said:

Tuas operates a mobile telecommunications network in Singapore. It lifted revenue by 26 per cent in the first half of fiscal year 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Underlying EBITDA was up 27 per cent. It generated subscriber growth in mobile and broadband services. Tuas and its subsidiary Simba Telecom have proposed acquiring 100 per cent of M1 to become a major telecommunications provider in Singapore.

On May 13, 2026, TUA was awaiting approval for the proposed transaction. If approved, a successful acquisition would leave TUA seeking synergy opportunities amid growing earnings going forward.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Cleanaway, Codan, and Tuas shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Analysts are always looking for opportunities – it's interesting when one expert a stock is a buy. It could be a significant indicator of an opportunity when numerous analysts rate an ASX share as a buy.

With that in mind, we're going to look at two businesses with the most buy ratings.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

Orica is one of the world's leading mining and infrastructure solution providers. It produces explosives, blasting systems, specialty mining chemicals and geotechnical monitoring.

According to CMC Invest, there are currently 10 ratings on the business, with all of those being a buy. That's an extremely bullish view by the experts.

Based on those 10 ratings, the average price target on the ASX share is $26.86, suggesting a possible rise of 23% from where it is at the time of writing. The most optimistic price target on the business is $37.44, suggesting a potential increase of more than 70% within the next year.

Even the most pessimistic price target is $24.04, implying a possible rise of more than 10%.

Of course, positive price targets are not guarantees of returns. But, the company is delivering earnings growth for shareholders.

In the FY26 half-year result, the business reported that its underlying net profit increased by 8% to $283.1 million, with underlying operating profit (EBIT) climbing by 5% to $512 million and the dividend per share growing by 14% to 28.5 cents.

Orica also noted that it's working on a cost-cutting program to reduce its annual cost base by at least $100 million. It has also reached an agreement to acquire Nelson Brothers' explosives business in North America, providing increased exposure to the US quarries and construction sectors and direct channels to market.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Cleanaway is a leading sustainable waste management, industrial and environmental services company. It has Australia's largest waste and industrial services fleet, with more than 6,400 vehicles, as well as an extensive network of recycling facilities, transfer stations, landfills, liquid treatment plants and refineries.

According to CMC Invest, eight analysts currently rate the business as a buy. Of those eight ratings, the average price target is $3.04, suggesting a possible rise of 35% from where it is at the time of writing, if the analysts end up being right.

The ASX share has a blueprint on how it expects to deliver pleasing shareholder returns.

It says that the underlying growth of the continuing business is linked to GDP and favourable secular trends, which is underpinned by its scale, infrastructure, capabilities and customer relationships.

The company is also targeting high value revenue growth, expanding its margins by more than 260 basis points (2.60%), optimising its branch network, leveraging its scale and utilising its assets.

It plans to utilise its growth through investments in technology, automation, data and analytics.

Finally, it's exploring selective investments in new, profitable and scalable 'growth platforms.'

In the company's FY26 half-year result, it reported 13.7% revenue growth, 16.9% underlying EBIT growth and 17.8% underlying net profit growth. In other words, the numbers are generally going in a very positive direction.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Cleanaway Waste Management report?

• The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) over a $6.9 million landfill levy underpayment claim for FY18.
• Additional EPA audits have highlighted further alleged underpayments of $4.7 million for FY19 and $7.2 million for FY22.
• These additional years are not yet subject to court proceedings and figures exclude costs and interest.
• Cleanaway has 42 days to consider an appeal against the Supreme Court's decision.

What else do investors need to know?

The court case centres on landfill levies at the Melbourne Regional Landfill, linked to materials sourced by Cleanaway from the adjacent Boral quarry. The EPA argued these materials qualified as 'waste' and should attract a government landfill levy, while Cleanaway contended otherwise.

Further details on these proceedings, including potential financial implications, can be found in Note 33 of Cleanaway's FY25 Financial Report. Cleanaway will review its options, which may include appealing against the ruling.

What's next for Cleanaway Waste Management?

Cleanaway has 42 days to determine whether to appeal the Supreme Court's decision. In the meantime, the company aims to continue engaging with stakeholders and maintain full compliance with environmental and regulatory obligations.

The financial impact of the decision, together with the possibility of further audits and proceedings, may affect future results and operational planning. Shareholders will be updated as developments arise.

Cleanaway Waste Management share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Cleanaway Waste Management shares have declined 17%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 9% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Cleanaway Waste Management hit with landfill levy ruling appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's why it sometimes pays to check out what the experts are saying. I've had a look at the recent research reports out of broking house Jarden, and selected three stocks that they think could provide some serious upside.

Without further ado, here they are.

Light & Wonder Ltd (ASX: LNW)

Jarden has put together a preview ahead of Light & Wonder reporting its first-quarter earnings on May 7.

The Jarden team is expecting a soft quarter from the gaming company, with their expectations for EBITDA of US$326 million sitting 5% below consensus estimates.

But they do point out that the underlying demand backdrop remains intact, with US gross gaming revenue trends "resilient".

Jarden said they expect the company's FY26 outlook will be maintained, with earnings to grow throughout the year.

They point out that the stock is down about 8% following the FY25 result, with minimal earnings changes, and therefore, "we view current entry levels as compelling''.

They added:

Light & Wonder is well placed to deliver double-digit earnings per share growth over the forecast period (18% FY25–FY28 CAGR), whilst trading at a material price to earnings discount to both market and peer Aristocrat

Jarden has a buy recommendation on the shares with a price target of $190 compared with the current price of $121.07.

HUB24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

HUB24 recently published its third-quarter results, and the Jarden team said that while net funds inflows came in below consensus estimates, the miss was driven by one-off institutional client outflow, while retail flows delivered strong year-on-year growth.

They added:

Against this backdrop, we view the ~8.3% share price decline as an overreaction, driven more by broader market multiple compression than any deterioration in HUB's business fundamentals. With our revised FY27 funds under administration of $162.3 billion sitting at the top end of HUB's guidance range ($148-$162 billion), underpinned by flow assumptions we consider conservative, we retain our Buy rating.

Jarden has a buy recommendation on HUB24 shares and a price target of $115.30 compared with the current price of $83.44.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Cleanaway recently held an investor day where the company talked through its BluePrint 2030 strategy to grow the business and earnings.

The Jarden team said they were encouraged by the projection that Cleanaway would hit a free cash flow inflection point in FY27, "and we see this as largely congruent with Visible Alpha expectations, which has free cash flow yield more than doubling from FY26''.

Jarden said it was now important for the company to deliver on its ambitions, saying "we see 2H26 as a critical juncture for Cleanaway to demonstrate that future organic earnings growth can be supported by strong free cash generation, whilst delivering forecast dividends''.

Jarden has a buy recommendation on Cleanaway shares and a price target of $3.10 compared with $2.34 currently.

The post Three ASX 200 shares the Jarden team says are a buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Does it rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let's see what the broker is saying:

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Morgans notes that this waste management company released its investor day update this week.

While this has led to the broker trimming its medium-term earnings estimates and reducing its valuation, it still sees plenty of value in Cleanaway shares.

As a result, it has retained its buy rating with a new price target of $2.80. It said:

CWY hosted an investor strategy day and tour of its Melbourne Regional Landfill. It discussed how it intends to grow earnings and cashflows across its FY27-30 strategy period. We expect investors will be particularly pleased by management's language about expected free cashflow growth (hasn't historically kept pace with underlying earnings growth).

We moderate our EPS forecasts so as to move closer to CWY's medium term growth expectations. FY27 consensus EPS looks likely to be downgraded as higher interest rates are reflected in interest costs. Target price reset to $2.80ps given lower long-term growth assumption. BUY retained given c.21% potential TSR at current prices.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

This investment platform provider delivered a third-quarter update that was largely in-line with expectations.

Overall, Morgans believes this leaves Hub24 well-placed to deliver on its FY 2027 targets.

This has led to the broker retaining its accumulate rating on Hub24 shares with a $96.50 price target. It said:

HUB's 3Q26 net-flows of $4.0bn came in largely in-line with MorgF, albeit the period saw near-term run-rate momentum slow, with HUB's flows only marginally exceeding NWL's during the quarter. Positively, adviser growth accelerated in 3Q26, which remains supportive of net inflows outlook.

Market momentum remains positive month to date in Apr'26, placing mark-to-markets on track to recover lost momentum in Mar'26 (ASX200 +5.5% MTD) HUB's FY27 FUA growth trajectory remains on track despite near-term headwinds. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating, with a revised price target of $96.50/sh.

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

Another ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is Maas Group. It is a construction materials, equipment, and service provider.

Morgans highlights that the company is well-placed for growth thanks to work relating to Firmus data centre projects.

And after adjusting for its significant cash balance, the broker thinks Maas shares are being significantly undervalued by the market.

As a result, it has put a buy rating and $6.00 price target on its shares. It said:

MGH management have set a new course, underpinned by a growing pipeline of Firmus related data centre projects and $130m of EBITDA from the existing (and growing) civil construction and engineering division. The business currently has a market cap of $1.8bn, with a net cash balance of c.$650m (post transaction and Firmus investment) and an expanded data centre pipeline to potentially deliver c.$333m of value.

Netting out cash ($650m) and our estimate of the Firmus earnings (PV: $245m), we derive a net market cap of $870m, reflecting a PER (net of cash) of 11.8x (on the residual business) – cheap given the DC optionality and relative to peers (c.15x PER). Whilst the new strategic vision for MGH is in its infancy, the current share price is too cheap on a fundamental basis, while the blue sky potential gives investors the chance for outsized returns. On this basis, we reiterate our Buy recommendation with our target price increasing to $6.00/sh.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Cleanaway, Hub24, and MAAS shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After spending the entire session in red territory, the ASX 200 ended up closing down a nasty 1.18%. That leaves the index at 8,843.6 points at this mid-week point.

Today's unhappy performance from the Australian markets follows a similarly negative night up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) closed down 0.59% after initially rising during morning trading.

In a rare coincidence, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) also finished up with a 0.59% loss.

But let's return to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into how today's pessimism filtered down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

The trick is in deciding which shares to invest in.

I've had a look at some of the stocks that UBS' broking house has a buy recommendation on, which might be worth including in your portfolio.

In no particular order, here they are.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Cleanaway this week hosted an investor day, where it introduced the second phase of its Blueprint 2030 strategy, aimed at generating better returns for shareholders.

The company said it was aiming to expand margins by 260 basis points by optimising its branch network and leveraging the scale of its assets.

It was also looking to accelerate growth through investments in new technology, automation, data, and analytics.

UBS said in its note to clients this week that Cleanaway shares had been weak year to date, "which we see as largely attributable to Cleanaway's more recent history of inconsistent delivery against cash and earnings expectations, alongside heightened investor caution on Middle East related fuel cost inflation''.

UBS said on the positive side, the company flagged that free cash flow was at an inflection point, "and improvements will be supported by the completion of one-off restructuring costs and catch-up tax, reduced capital intensity (post network investment) and benefits from strategic initiatives''.

UBS has a price target of $3.05 on Cleanaway shares, compared with $2.44 currently.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

Lynas reported its quarterly production and sales results this week, and UBS said that, despite a number of positive strategic updates throughout the quarter, the company missed consensus estimates for rare earths production.

UBS said sales revenue of $265 million "disappointed" and led it to downgrade the company's full-year earnings outlook.

The UBS team added:

Still, we remain positive the thematic and with the view that current operational hurdles will ultimately be overcome and expectation of further earnings growth from heavies and magnets, we remain buy rated.

UBS downgraded its price target for Lynas shares from $23.90 to $23.65, still comfortably higher than the current share price of $19.50.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

Challenger also released a third-quarter update this week, in which it revealed that its funds under management had fallen by 10% to $104.5 billion.

Managing Director Nick Hamilton said the company had maintained "strong momentum" though, with sales in annuities performing well.

UBS said the update "revealed continued solid momentum across Life sales including longer-duration/higher margin annuity sales''.

The UBS team said Challenger's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was "undemanding" and "we continue to see compelling value and reiterate our Buy rating''.

UBS increased its price target on Challenger shares by 5 cents to $10.10, compared with the current share price of $8.39.

The post UBS names 3 ASX 200 shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the waste management giant rose 3% to $2.385 during Tuesday afternoon trade, extending a recent recovery that has pulled the stock further away from its five-year lows.

While Cleanaway is still down around 8% year to date, lagging the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is up roughly 2.5%, sentiment appears to be shifting.

So, what's driving the interest in this ASX stock today?

Tighten cost, drive efficiency

The key catalyst is Cleanaway's refreshed strategy, which is giving investors a clearer path to improved profitability. On Tuesday, the ASX stock unveiled its "Blueprint 2030 2.0" plan, focused on margin expansion, stronger cash flow, and more disciplined execution.

Management highlighted that underlying EBIT has already lifted 60% since FY22, suggesting the business has momentum heading into its next phase.

The updated strategy rests on three pillars: lifting customer value, optimising the branch network, and using data and digital tools to boost performance. In practice, that means targeting higher-value revenue, tightening costs, and investing in automation and analytics to drive efficiency.

Sales overhaul

One of the standout initiatives of the ASX stock is a major overhaul of its sales approach. Cleanaway is rolling out a centralised "One Sales Engine" model aimed at improving customer retention and increasing cross-selling opportunities.

At the same time, its ongoing digitisation program is targeting better fleet utilisation, real-time tracking, and enhanced safety outcomes.

There's also a significant push in its hazardous waste division. Cleanaway is streamlining its site network while expanding into higher-margin technical services and decommissioning work. These areas are expected to see strong demand growth in the years ahead.

What next for the ASX stock?

Looking forward, management has set some ambitious targets. The company is targeting at least 260 basis points of margin expansion and 10% to 15% EPS growth in FY27 as cost cuts take hold. It's also pushing to deliver steadier free cash flow through tighter capital allocation and better asset use.

Cleanaway is backing its integrated network and growing use of technology to strengthen its lead in sustainable waste. Especially in higher-value areas like hazardous waste.

Fluctuating fuel cost

Of course, challenges remain. The ASX stock is still navigating a volatile operating environment, including fluctuating fuel costs and broader economic uncertainty. Management is focused on tightening operational efficiency, optimising its fleet, and using procurement strategies to better manage costs.

For investors, the story is shifting from turnaround to execution. Cleanaway's strategy has laid out a clearer roadmap for growth. And if it can deliver, the recent price recovery of the ASX stock may have further to run.

The post New strategy sparks rebound in this $5bn ASX stock – what's next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA)

The Artrya share price is up over 11% to $4.65. This appears to have been driven by a bullish broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. According to the note, the broker has initiated coverage on the medical technology company's shares with a buy rating and $6.10 price target. It said: "AYA's unique offering creates an opportunity to achieve rapid growth and a material share of c.4.4m annual CCTA scans in the US market, growing at a CAGR of c.6.2%. AYA has three foundation customers in the US that should deliver c.15k scans annually by FY27. Through the SAPPHIRE study group, AYA has created a warm pipeline of six potential customers and c.400k annual scans that could generate c.10% market share and c.A$450m in annual revenue over the next decade. We expect AYA to reach EBITDA breakeven in FY28."

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

The Cleanaway share price is up 3% to $2.39. This follows the release of the waste management company's investor day update. Cleanaway unveiled its new Blueprint 2030 2.0 strategy, which is built around three pillars. These are delivering customer value, optimising its branch network, and leveraging advanced ways of working through digital and data capabilities. This includes a major upgrade to sales processes, with a centralised One Sales Engine model that is designed to lift customer retention and cross-sell rates.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up almost 8% to $3.89. Investors may have been buying the counter-drone technology company's shares due to concerns that the US and Iran could fail to sign a peace deal before the ceasefire agreement ends. If tensions flare up again in the Middle East, it could lead to increased demand for DroneShield's suite of products.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is up 4.5% to $1.32. This follows news that the investigative analytics and intelligence software provider has completed the $27 million acquisition of Linkurious SAS following Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approval in France. Linkurious provides technology that allows customers to visually explore and investigate graph data, to detect patterns of interest and investigate alerts. Incorporating Annualised Contract Value (ACV) associated with Linkurious, Nuix advises that it now expects full year ACV to be in the range $252 million to $272 million.

The post Why Artrya, Cleanaway, DroneShield, and Nuix shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Cleanaway Waste Management report?

• Underlying EBIT rose 60% between FY22 and FY25, with margin expanding 260 basis points to 12.5%
• Return on capital employed improved by 220 basis points to 9.1% from FY22 to FY25
• EBIT margin reached a record 12.5% in FY25
• Free cash flow is expected to strengthen from FY27 onwards as one-off costs wind down
• Dividend payout ratio maintained at 50–75% of underlying NPAT

What else do investors need to know?

Cleanaway's new "Blueprint 2030 2.0" strategy is built around three pillars: delivering customer value, optimising its branch network, and leveraging advanced ways of working through digital and data capabilities. Management outlined plans to focus on high-value revenue growth, tighter cost controls, and further investment in automation and analytics to drive efficiencies.

Key highlights include a major upgrade to sales processes, with a centralised "One Sales Engine" model designed to lift customer retention and cross-sell rates. The company also flagged its ongoing digitisation program, targeting improved fleet utilisation, real-time tracking, and safety enhancements.

Cleanaway is actively reshaping its hazardous waste business, streamlining its site network while expanding high-margin technical services and decommissioning work—sectors where industry growth is forecast to continue.

What's next for Cleanaway Waste Management?

Looking ahead, Cleanaway is targeting ongoing margin expansion of at least 260 basis points and 10–15% EPS growth in FY27 as cost-saving initiatives gain traction. The company expects to deliver stronger, more stable free cash flow through disciplined capital allocation and optimised asset utilisation.

Management is confident its integrated network and planned technology investments will continue to underpin Cleanaway's leadership in sustainable waste management, providing a pathway for profitable growth in critical sectors such as hazardous waste and technical services.

Cleanaway Waste Management share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Cleanaway shares have declined 9%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Cleanaway Waste Management shares in focus as strategy refresh targets margin growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three that the broker has been looking at are named below. Let's see if it is bullish on these:

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

Morgans was disappointed to see this infant formula company downgrade its guidance this week. However, it acknowledges that the reasons for the downgrade were out of A2 Milk's control.

And with concerns that the issues could linger, the broker has trimmed its forecasts. Nevertheless, due to share price weakness, Morgans has upgraded A2 Milk's shares to an accumulate rating with an $8.70 price target. It said:

A2M's FY26 earnings downgrade was due to factors largely out of its own control, being higher freight/supply chain costs associated with the conflict in the Middle East and delays getting product released (enhanced testing and customs clearance) following peer recalls. Importantly, the demand for its products is strong. Guidance has been revised due to supply constraints (lower sales and product mix issues dilute margins) and higher costs.

We have revised our forecasts. In our view, while some of the issues are one-off in nature, increased costs associated with the conflict are likely to continue into FY27. Despite this, we still expect strong growth in FY27 given A2 Pokeno is expected to break even and new China label (CL) IF products will be launched. Following material share price weakness, we upgrade to an ACCUMULATE recommendation with a new price target of A$8.70 (was A$9.50).

BMC Minerals Ltd (ASX: BMC)

Morgans notes that this mineral exploration company has received a major boost from authorities in Yukon, Canada.

This has de-risked the Kudz Ze Kayah Project, leaving it well-placed to benefit from strong precious metal prices. As a result, it has retained its speculative buy rating with an improved price target of $5.70. It said:

BMC has received a positive Decision Document from the Government of Yukon for development of the ABM deposit at the Kudz Ze Kayah (KZK) Project. This represents the key de-risking milestone for KZK, addressing what has historically been the primary development headwind.

We maintain our SPECULATIVE BUY rating and A$5.70ps price target (previously A$4.90), with the uplift driven by refreshed precious metals price assumptions and reduced permitting risk. The recent de-risking supports our assumption of future equity funding at 0.7x NAV (previously 0.6x NAV), resulting in lower dilution and a reduced forecast SOI.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

The broker highlights that this waste management company has downgraded its guidance due to negative impacts from the war in the Middle East.

While the broker has downgraded its forecasts to reflect this, it remains positive and has put a buy rating and $2.95 price target on its shares. It commented:

CWY has revised down its FY26 EBIT guidance as a result of the impacts of the war in the Middle East. We have updated our forecasts for the EBIT guidance downgrade and higher interest rate environment.

EBITDA downgrades are relatively small but EPS downgrades are material in the short term given the funding and depreciation costs of CWY's asset base. Target price $2.95/sh. BUY retained. Potential upside catalyst is next Tuesday's strategy briefing.

The post What is Morgans saying about A2 Milk and these ASX shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Both ASX shares have fallen so far in 2026, but the broker is confident these companies can rebound.

Buy rating retained for Cleanaway Waste Management

Cleanaway Waste Management is Australia's largest waste management business, with a national footprint. Its services span collection, midstream waste processing, treatment, recycling, and downstream waste disposal.

Its share price is down 13% year to date.

Yesterday, the company released a trading update due to the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. 

The company said the war has increased fuel, supplier, and logistics costs, reduced Middle East Contract Resources activity, and created uncertainty, especially in projects. 

Cleanaway expects to recover much of the fuel cost increases over time but is closely monitoring impacts. The combined effect is an estimated ~$20 million reduction in FY26 EBIT, with revised guidance of $460 to $480 million (down from $480 to $500 million).

In response, the team at Morgans updated its forecasts for the EBIT guidance downgrade and higher interest rate environment. 

EBITDA downgrades are relatively small but EPS downgrades are material in the short term given the funding and depreciation costs of CWY's asset base. Target price $2.95/sh. BUY retained. Potential upside catalyst is next Tuesday's strategy briefing.

From the current share price of approximately $2.26, the price target from Morgans indicates an upside potential of 30%. 

Capstone Copper Corp still a buy

Capstone Copper shares also received updated guidance from the team at Morgans. 

The company operates as a copper producer with a diversified portfolio of operating assets focused in the Americas, with an extensive pipeline of near-term organic growth opportunities.

In 2026, its share price has fallen roughly 11.5%. 

However over the last 12 months, it has benefited from rising global copper prices and its stock price is up more than 80% in that span. 

Today, its share price has climbed approximately 1.4%. 

The team at Morgans slightly reduced its share price target for Capstone Copper shares. 

We have adjusted our CY26 production forecasts to better reflect the phasing of maintenance across assets and a revised production mix between cathode and sulphide output at Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde. Net these changes our target price moves to A$15.40ps (previously A$16ps) and we maintain our BUY rating.

From today's share price of $12.84, the updated price target indicates an upside potential of approximately 20%. 

The post What does this broker have to say about Cleanaway Waste Management and Capstone Copper shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During afternoon trade, the share price fell by 2.2% to $2.28, just a fraction above the 52-week low of $2.23 recorded at the end of March.

So, what's behind the sell-off?

A $20 million hit

It comes down to costs and geopolitics. The ASX stock revealed it expects a $20 million EBIT hit, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and elevated fuel, supplier, and logistics costs.

That has forced management to trim its FY26 earnings guidance, now forecasting EBIT between $460 million and $480 million, down from the previous $480 million to $500 million range.

That downgrade was enough to rattle investors.

Fuel levies, indexed picing

But the situation isn't as straightforward as it first appears. While costs are rising, Cleanaway isn't simply absorbing the hit. The company has built-in protections through contractual cost pass-through mechanisms, allowing the ASX stock to recover a significant portion of higher fuel expenses over time. Many of its customer agreements include fuel levies or indexed pricing, which adjust as input costs change.

There's just a catch — timing. Most of these pricing adjustments don't flow through immediately. Cleanaway expects the bulk of contract repricing to take effect by 1 July 2026, meaning there's a lag between when costs rise and when they are recovered.

That's why the current hit is being framed as largely temporary rather than structural.

No fuel supply issues

Importantly, the company also confirmed there are no fuel supply issues across its operations, despite the volatile global backdrop. It continues to benefit from a long-term strategic partnership with a major fuel supplier, helping secure access to competitively priced fuel during this period of disruption.

Still, uncertainty remains. The Middle East conflict isn't just pushing up costs. It's also weighing on activity levels in that region. Lower project activity has contributed to the earnings impact and could remain a headwind if conditions don't stabilise.

Looking ahead, management of the ASX stock is focused on navigating the volatility. That includes tightening operational efficiency, optimising its fleet, and leveraging procurement strategies to manage costs more effectively.

The expectation is that as fuel markets settle and contracts reset, margins should recover.

What next for the ASX stock?

For now, the market is focused on the near-term hit.

And that's been reflected in the share price performance. Over the past 12 months, Cleanaway shares are down almost 13%, lagging the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen around 15% over the same period.

Cleanaway's earnings downgrade has spooked investors, pushing the ASX stock lower. But much of the pressure appears tied to timing and external factors rather than a breakdown in the business model.

If cost recovery flows through as expected, this could prove to be a short-term setback rather than a long-term shift. For now, though, the market isn't waiting around to find out.

The post Why is this $5 billion ASX stock sliding to a 52-week low today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As we head into the Tuesday lunch hour, all three of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks are underperforming the current 0.4% gain posted by the benchmark index.

Here's what's happening.

Qantas shares slide on surging jet fuel costs

Qantas shares are slipping today, down 1.3% at time of writing at $8.90 each.

This follows an update this morning in which the ASX 200 airline stock warned that fast rising energy costs are going to impact its full year costs assumptions.

Indeed, since the outbreak of the Iran war, the Brent crude oil price has surged from US$71 per barrel to US$98 per barrel today. Brent crude oil traded near US$113 towards the end of March, having kicked off 2026 at just US$61 per barrel.

And that's going to have a material impact on fuel guzzling jetliners.

How much of an impact will that have on Qantas shares?

Well, enough so that the airline has more than doubled its previous expectations for second half year (H2 2026) jet fuel costs to the range of $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion.

To mitigate the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on its operations, Qantas said it is taking steps that include international network changes, capacity adjustments and fare increases.

With the current uncertainty in mind, Qantas planned $150 million on-market share buyback has not yet commenced.

Which brings us to…

Cleanaway shares slip on earnings downgrade

Cleanaway shares are also grabbing investor interest today, and for a related reason to Qantas shares.

Shares in the ASX 200 waste management and environmental services company are down 1.1% at time of writing, changing hands for $2.31 apiece.

Investors are bidding down Cleanaway shares after the company announced that it was downgrading full year FY 2026 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance to between $460 million and $480 million. That's down from prior full year earnings guidance of $480 million to $500 million.

The reason?

You guessed it. The Iran war.

The company estimates earnings will take a full year hit of some  $20 million, catching headwinds from higher fuel prices, increased supplier and logistics costs, and lower Middle East project activity.

Westpac shares in focus amid rising inflation and interest rates

Atop Cleanaway and Qantas shares, investors are tuning into Westpac today after the ASX 200 bank stock released an update detailing items impacting its first-half 2026 (H1 2026) results.

These include, wait for it, the initial impacts of the Middle East conflict.

Westpac noted:

With the supply shock from the energy market disruption expected to result in higher inflation and higher interest rates, an expected slowing in economic growth will create a more challenging environment for some customers.

The bank said its "strong financial position" enables it to support customers during these uncertain times while accelerating the execution of its strategic priorities.

The post Why Westpac, Cleanaway and Qantas shares are catching ASX investor interest on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Cleanaway Waste Management report?

• Estimated FY26 EBIT now forecast between $460 million and $480 million (previously $480 million to $500 million)
• Approximately $20 million adverse EBIT impact from higher fuel, supplier and logistics costs, and lower Middle East activity
• Contractual cost pass-through mechanisms helping recover a substantial portion of higher fuel costs
• No reported fuel supply issues across operations despite market volatility
• Cleanaway's pricing structures allow staged cost recovery, with most contracts adjusting by 1 July 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Cleanaway has a long-term strategic partnership in place with a major fuel supplier, ensuring steady access to competitively priced fuel throughout this period of disruption. Cost pass-through mechanisms, such as customer contracts with fuel levies and indexed repricing, support the company in offsetting input cost volatility.

While higher fuel costs are being felt, Cleanaway says most of this impact is timing-related rather than long-term margin pressure. Recovery of elevated fuel costs should occur as contracts are repriced and fuel markets stabilise, though there may be further uncertainty in Middle East project activity.

What's next for Cleanaway Waste Management?

Looking ahead, Cleanaway will keep monitoring fuel markets and trading conditions, particularly any further impacts from the Middle East conflict. Management expects most contracts to reflect fuel price increases by the start of FY27, which should help recover the bulk of the current cost challenges.

The business intends to maintain its focus on operational efficiency, using levers like fleet optimisation and procurement actions to help navigate volatility. Strategic relationships and contractual protections are expected to support resilient long-term performance.

Cleanaway Waste Management share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Cleanaway Waste Management share price has declined 10%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Cleanaway Waste Management trims FY26 outlook on fuel challenges appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More than 400 companies in the ASX All Ords fell yesterday, with some hitting new 52-week lows.

Brokers say these ASX All Ords shares are good buys in today's market.

Here are their 12-month share price targets on each stock.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

The Objective Corporation share price fell to a 52-week low of $11.68 on Thursday.

The ASX All Ords tech share is down 29% in the year to date (YTD), and down 22% over the past 12 months.

Following the stock's recent fall, Morgans upgraded its rating from accumulate to buy.

However, the broker reduced its 12-month price target from $20 to $16.70.

Morgans said:

We see tailwinds remaining supportive of OCL's long-term growth momentum.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

The Generation Development Group share price fell to a 52-week low of $3.71 yesterday.

The ASX All Ords financial share is down 35% YTD, and down 21% over the past 12 months.

Morgans recently retained its buy rating but reduced its 12-month price target from $7.97 to $6.66.

The broker said:

We believe GDG has a great story, and management has executed well over time.

Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)

The Jumbo Interactive share price dropped to a 52-week trough of $7.66 yesterday.

This ASX All Ords gaming share has fallen 32% YTD, and is down 25% over the past 12 months.

Jarden has a buy rating on Jumbo Interactive shares with a price target of $12.70.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

The Cleanaway Waste Management share price fell to a 52-week low of $2.31 on Thursday.

The ASX All Ords industrials share has fallen 11% YTD, and dropped 9% over 12 months.

Morgans has a buy rating with a 12-month price target of $3.11.

The broker commented:

1H26 was a mixed bag, with a minor bottom-of-the-range EBIT guidance upgrade.

Next catalyst is the investor strategy day planned for 21 April.

Earnings forecast adjustments are minimal, cashflow downgrades more material.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

The Sonic Healthcare share price fell to a 52-week low of $20.50 on Thursday.

The ASX All Ords healthcare share has deteriorated 8% YTD and 20% over the past year.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on Sonic Healthcare with a price target of $27.50.

Saluda Medical Inc (ASX: SLD)

Fellow ASX All Ords healthcare share, Saluda Medical, dropped to a 52-week low of 80 cents yesterday.

The Saluda Medical share price has tumbled 42% YTD, and is down 35% over 12 months.

Morgans has a speculative buy rating with a 12-month price target of $3.07.

The broker said:

1H26 showed solid revenue momentum, improving margins, and continued expansion of the US sales force, supporting confidence in a stronger 2H.

Reiteration of FY26 revenue guidance (US$85m) added further comfort and now expects to exceed IPO metrics for gross margin, adjusted EBITDA and cash burn.

The post 6 ASX All Ords shares at 52-week lows: Experts say buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday despite a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 33 points or 0.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.05%, the S&P 500 is down 0.25%, and the Nasdaq is 0.1% lower.

Oil prices sink again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session on Wednesday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 8.6% to US$86.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 8.4% to US$90.65 a barrel. Optimism over a resumption of supply from the Strait of Hormuz put pressure on prices.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

Another group of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes supply chain solutions company Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), appliance manufacturer Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG), waste management company Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY), and mining technology company Imdex Ltd (ASX: IMD). Breville is paying eligible shareholders a 19 cents per share fully franked interim dividend later this month on 27 March.

Gold price jumps

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.9% to US$5,201.7 an ounce. Easing inflation worries and US dollar weakness were drivers of this gain.

Buy Eagers Automotive shares

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has upgraded the automotive retailer's shares to a buy rating with a $28.50 price target. It said: "Our updated TP of $28.50 is >15% premium to the share price so we upgrade our recommendation from Hold to Buy. Yes, we acknowledge Eagers is consumer facing but we see resilience in the both the new and used vehicle market in Australia as well as Canada."

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