This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) continues to be the most shorted ASX share after its short interest remained flat at 15.3%. Short sellers appear to have doubts that the pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy will succeed.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 14.6%, which is up since last week. Unfortunately for short sellers, this radiopharmaceuticals company's shares stormed higher last week after the US FDA accepted its NDA for Pixclara
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has 14% of its shares held short, which is down since last week. This high level of short interest may be due to valuation concerns. The medical device company's shares are trading on high earnings multiples.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.7%, which is down week on week. Unfortunately for short sellers, this quick service restaurant operator's shares rocketed last week after it reported a big improvement in its performance.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 12.5%. This wine giant is struggling due to consumer spending pressures and distributor disruption.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 12%, which is up slightly week on week. Short sellers may believe that travel demand could be impacted by the Middle East conflict.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 11.7%, which is down since last week. This uranium miner's production outlook beyond 2026 is uncertain and attracting short sellers.
• Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) has short interest of 11.6%, which is down slightly since last week. This infection prevention technology company's recent performance has been disappointing. Short sellers don't appear confident a change is coming.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has 11.5% of its shares held short, which is up since last week. Last week, this counter drone technology company announced the sudden exit of its CEO and chair.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has entered the top ten with short interest of 11.2%. Later this week, the buy now pay later provider will be releasing its third-quarter update. Short sellers appear to believe it could disappoint.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early afternoon trade on Wednesday, Domino's shares are trading for $18.26 apiece. That sees shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fast food pizza retailer up 7.0% today.

Pro Medicus stock is enjoying an equally strong. At $130.44 apiece, shares in the ASX 200 health imaging company are up 6.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 2.6% at this same time, buoyed by news of a ceasefire in Iran.

Unfortunately for longer-term stockholders, today's outperformance of Pro Medicus and Domino's stock is not par for the course.

Despite today's boost, Domino's shares remain down 29.5% since this time last year. And the Pro Medicus share price remains down 30.7%.

While both ASX 200 stocks pay dividends, those haven't come close to making up for the capital losses suffered over the past year.

And looking ahead, Fairmont Equities' Michael Gable doesn't expect a near-term rebound for either company (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

Time to sell Pro Medicus shares?

"The company provides medical imaging software and services to hospitals and healthcare groups across the world," said Gable.

Explaining his sell recommendation on Pro Medicus shares, he said:

We remain negative on the technology sector as higher interest rates, continuing market volatility and increasing uncertainty leaves investors questioning the high multiples that companies, such as Pro Medicus, trade on.

As we saw in the early 2000s, technology stocks can lose a significant amount of value before they become attractive again. This rotation out of technology stocks often sees investors flocking to hard assets, such as mining company shares. This is what we're seeing in share markets at the moment, and this dynamic has further to go, in my view.

Is there more pain to come for Domino's shares?

Atop Pro Medicus shares, Gable also recommends selling Domino's shares.

"Although the share price of this fast food company has lost a lot of value in the past few years and recently remained in a downtrend, I don't see any price support emerging at current levels," he said.

Gable concluded:

The company is entering a challenging period, where increasing costs and lower consumer confidence could erode margins and put downward pressure on earnings. I can't identify a positive catalyst at least until the company posts full year results in August.

I expect investors to continue selling the stock on any sharemarket bounce.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Domino's and Pro Medicus shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In April so far, ASX 200 shares have recovered by 2.91%. However, trading activity remains volatile.

Meantime, brokers have reviewed their ratings on the following three ASX shares.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) 

Telstra is the largest ASX communications share on the market.

Ord Minnett issued a new note on Telstra shares yesterday.

The broker maintained its accumulate rating with a 12-month target of $5.50.

Telstra shares hit a record high of $5.44 apiece on Tuesday.

Ord Minnett said it raised its earnings per share (EPS) estimates for FY26-FY28 after the telco announced some price increases.

The broker said:

Telstra has flagged it will raise prices on almost all of its post-paid and prepaid mobile phone plans from 5 May, two months ahead of the 1 July start date it used last year, and cease sales of its non-advertised 5 gigabyte (GB) 'starter plan' to new customers from the same date.

Ord Minnett views the scale of the changes as largely in line with consensus estimates and see them as supportive of Telstra's target of generating operating earnings growth of $300 million per annum.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

Treasury Wine Estates owns household-name wine brands including Penfolds, Wynns, Wolf Blass, Lindemans, and Squealing Pig. ‍

Ord Minnett issued a new note on this ASX wine share yesterday.

The broker upgraded Treasury Wine shares from lighten to hold and cut its price target from $5 to $4.50.

Treasury Wine shares closed the session yesterday at $3.78, up 1.3%.

The stock has fallen 28.7% in the year to date (YTD) and 55.7% over 12 months.

Ord Minnett said it had increased its debt assumptions due to tight grape supply contracts in the US and Australia.

The broker said:

‍Combined, the impact of these contract terms means Ord Minnett estimates Treasury's inventory will increase again in FY27 before scaling down in the following years.

Size-wise, we see inventory topping out at circa $2.9 billion, a whisker away from the company's current market capitalisation and twice the inventory size it held a decade ago.

We raise our recommendation to Hold from Lighten, however, given the stock's lost 18% slide in March and fall of decline of almost 30% in the year to date.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

Domino's Pizza shares closed at $17.06 on Tuesday, up 6.8%.

The ASX consumer discretionary share has fallen 21.8% YTD and 29.5% over 12 months.

On The Bull this week, Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities revealed a sell rating on Domino's shares.

Gable explained:

Although the share price of this fast food company has lost a lot of value in the past few years and recently remained in a downtrend, I don't see any price support emerging at current levels.

The company is entering a challenging period, where increasing costs and lower consumer confidence could erode margins and put downward pressure on earnings.

I can't identify a positive catalyst at least until the company posts full year results in August.

I expect investors to continue selling the stock on any sharemarket bounce.

The post Buy, hold, or sell? Treasury Wine, Domino's Pizza, and Telstra shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) continues its run as the most shorted ASX share after its short interest rose slightly to 15.3%. It seems that short sellers are betting against the pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 14.3%, which is down slightly since last week. This radiopharmaceuticals company failed to gain FDA approval for a couple of its therapies last year. Short sellers don't appear confident that 2026 will be any better despite a recent resubmission.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 14.2%, which is flat since last week. This may be due to valuation concerns with the medical device company's shares trading on high earnings multiples.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 14.1%, which is up week on week. This quick service restaurant operator's shares have fallen heavily over the past 12 months due to their premium valuation and concerns that its US expansion could be a failure. The US was supposed to be its largest growth opportunity.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 12.1%, which is up again since last week. There are major concerns over this uranium miner's production outlook beyond 2026.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest fall again to 11.6%. This wine giant is battling consumer spending pressures and distributor disruption. Short sellers appear to believe it will get worse before it gets better.
• Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) has entered the top ten with short interest of 11.8%. This infection prevention technology company's performance has underwhelmed in recent times. It seems that short sellers aren't confident a change is coming.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 11.8%, which is up week on week again. Short sellers have been loading up on the travel agent's shares since the Middle East conflict. There are concerns it could have a negative impact on travel markets.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has 11.4% of its shares held short, which is up since last week. Short sellers appear to think this counter drone technology company's shares are overvalued after surging over the past 12 months.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has short interest of 10.2%. This uranium producer is one of a number of stocks in the industry being targeted by short sellers, with several sitting just outside the top ten.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) remains the most shorted ASX share despite its short interest easing to 15.2%. Short sellers appear to be doubting that the struggling pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy will succeed.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 14.5%, which is down since last week. This radiopharmaceuticals company has faced delays gaining FDA approval for a couple of its therapies recently. Short sellers don't appear to believe a change is coming in 2026.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 14.2%, which is up again since last week. This may have been driven by valuation concerns with the medical device company's shares trading on high multiples.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.8%, which is up week on week. This burrito seller's shares have been under significant pressure since the release of its results last month which revealed that it is struggling in the United States market. This was supposed to be its largest growth opportunity.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 12%, which is up since last week. There are concerns over this uranium miner's production outlook beyond 2026.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest fall meaningfully to 11.9%. It has been a tough period for this wine giant, which is battling consumer spending pressures and distributor disruption.
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) has entered the top ten with short interest of 11.1%. It is one of a number of ASX uranium stocks being targeted by short sellers.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 10.9%, which is up week on week again. Short sellers may believe the Middle East conflict will impact travel markets.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has entered the top ten with 10.8% of its shares held short. Short sellers may believe this counter-drone technology company's shares are overvalued after surging over the past 12 months.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 10.2% of its shares held short, which is down week on week once again. Short sellers have been targeting this student placement and language testing company due to changes to visa rules in key markets.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) continues to be the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 16%. This is up week on week. Short sellers appear doubtful that the struggling pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy will be a success.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 15.3%, which is up again since last week. This radiopharmaceuticals company has been struggling with FDA approvals. It seems that short sellers don't believe regulators will be approving its therapies any time soon.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise again to 15.1%. This wine giant has been battling very tough trading conditions, with consumers focusing on value rather than its premium wines.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.4%, which is down week on week. This may be due to the burrito seller struggling the United States market, which was supposed to be its largest growth opportunity.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 13.3%, which is up again since last week. This medical device company's shares trade with a premium valuation.
• Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) has 11.7% of its shares held short, which is up week on week again. This infection prevention company's performance has been underwhelming in FY 2026, with profit before tax falling 3% during the first half.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 11.2%, which is down since last week. Short sellers continue to close positions in the uranium producer, which was the most shorted ASX share for much of 2025.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 10.7% of its shares held short, which is down week on week again. Short sellers have been targeting this student placement and language testing company due to unfavourable changes to visa rules in key markets.
• Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) has short interest of 10.5%, which is flat week on week. This is likely due to valuation concerns after the rare earths producer's shares rocketed over the past 12 months.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 10.3%, which is up week on week. There are concerns that the travel agent won't deliver on its revenue margin targets, especially given how the war in the Middle East could impact travel markets.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) is the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 15.6%. It appears that short sellers believe the struggling pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy will not be a success.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 14.8%. This wine giant has been battling very tough trading conditions. Short sellers may not believe a change is coming in the near term.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 14.2%, which is up since last week. This radiopharmaceuticals company has been facing delays with FDA approvals. Short sellers don't appear confident that regulators will be approving its therapies any time soon.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.8%, which is up week on week. This burrito seller continues to struggle and make a loss in the United States market, which was supposed to be its largest growth opportunity.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 13%, which is up since last week. This medical device company's shares trade on sky-high earnings multiples.
• Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) has 11.4% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. Last month, this infection prevention company posted a 3% decline in profit before tax during the first half.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 11.4%, which is down significantly since last week. With the uranium producer's shares down 65% since the start of July on production concerns, some short sellers may be buying back shares to lock in their gains.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 10.8% of its shares held short, which is down week on week. This student placement and language testing company has been battling changes to visa rules in key markets.
• Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) has short interest of 10.5%, which is up since last week. This may be due to valuation concerns and the rare earths producer's shares rocketed over the past 12 months.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 9.7%, which is down week on week. There are concerns that the travel agent won't deliver on its revenue margin targets.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you are, then it could be worth considering the two ASX 200 shares named below that Morgans is bullish on. Here's why it thinks they could rise strongly from current levels:

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

This beaten-down pizza chain operator could be an ASX 200 share with major upside according to the broker.

Morgans has a buy rating and $25.00 price target on the company's shares. Based on its current share price of $18.60, this implies potential upside of 34% for investors over the next 12 months.

The broker appears optimistic on management's strategic reset. It explains:

1H26 marks a clear strategic reset for DMP, with management prioritising a more profitable operating model over near-term volume. SSS was hard to digest, below expectations, but the balance of new information was encouraging, underpinned by a 4.5% lift in franchisee profitability and further cost-out opportunities.

We believe early actions from the new leadership team are directionally sound, although this is a multi-year turnaround and proof of execution is still required. Returning economics to franchisees is a prerequisite for improved sales momentum and store roll-outs, meaning shareholders may need to be patient, but the prize is there if the strategy is delivered. BUY maintained with an unchanged target price of $25.00.

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

Another ASX 200 share that gets the thumbs up from Morgans is hotel technology company Siteminder.

Morgans has a buy rating and $7.00 price target on the company's shares. Based on its current share price of $3.19, this implies potential upside of over 100% between now and this time next year.

The broker believes the company's shares are severely undervalued. It explains:

SDR's 1H26 result was largely per expectations at the revenue line (A$131m, +23% on the pcp on a constant currency basis), however marginally below at EBITDA. Growth in transaction revenue and the mix shift towards the higher margin Smart Platform offering saw the group gross margin expand ~98bps to 67.8%.

Key business metrics remain robust (e.g LTV/CAC of 6.7x, ARR and Rule of 40 growth). We undertake a broad review of our assumptions in this update. Our price target is lowered to A$7.00 (from A$8.10) as a result. However, given the significant discount of the current share price versus our valuation we upgrade to a BUY recommendation.

The post These ASX 200 shares could rise 30% to 100% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Australia's benchmark index swung heavily throughout the week, ultimately finishing 2.95% lower on Friday's close than Monday's open. 

Three ASX shares in particular that bounced around were: 

• Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)
• 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

When stocks crash and recover on a daily basis, it can be difficult for investors to pinpoint true value. 

Here's what experts are saying about these ASX shares. 

Light & Wonder

Light & Wonder shares crashed more than 7% at the start of last week. They then recovered by Thursday, before falling again on Friday. 

All in all, they finished the week down 1.35%. 

It's been a rough start to the year for the game developer, down 28% since the middle of January. 

Holders of this ASX 200 stock will be pleased to know that analysts have a positive outlook, meaning there is the possibility of a larger recovery. 

Last week, Morgans had a buy rating and $195 price target on the company. 

Unlike other sectors, the broker thinks AI disruption will strengthen its competitive edge. 

From Friday's closing price of $129.97, the Morgans price target indicates an upside of 50%. 

Elsewhere, Bell Potter is tipping even more upside for the ASX 200 stock. 

The broker has a $220 price target on Light and Wonder shares. 

Domino's Pizza Enterprises

It was also a turbulent week for Domino's shares. 

The ASX 200 stock initially dropped 12% before recovering significantly. 

It finished the week 3.74% lower than Monday's open. 

This is a snapshot of what Domino's shareholders have endured over the last year. 

The share price is ultimately down 29% for the last 12 months. 

Outlook is mixed amongst experts moving forward. 

Morgans currently has a buy rating and $25 price target on Domino's shares. 

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley has a sell rating on Domino's Pizza shares with a target of just $15.20.

The ASX 200 company closed last week in between these targets at $19.07. 

4DMedical

This ASX stock was another up-and-down company last week. 

It endured heavy rises and falls but finished the week more than 13% above Monday's open. 

The medical technology company is up an astounding 1000% in the last year. 

Following such a run, there are now questions on valuation vs revenue. 

Meanwhile, Bell Potter is optimistic that the growth can continue. 

The broker set a $4.50 price target and issued a buy recommendation.  

That indicates an upside of roughly 4% from last week's close. 

The post What to make of these volatile ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By the time the market's closed, the index had lost another 1%, leaving it at a flat 8,851 points as we head into the weekend.

This rather horrid end to the trading week for Australian investors follows a similarly rough morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) suffered a horrendous day, dropping 1.61%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared much better, 'only' falling 0.26%.

But let's get back to the local markets and take a closer look at how today's sell-off affected the different ASX sectors this session.

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

Three ASX 200 shares that Morgans is bullish on after reviewing their results are named below. Here's what the broker is saying about them:

ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

Morgans remains positive on this 4×4 auto parts company and believes that a return to growth is coming in FY 2027.

In light of this, the broker thinks investors should be buying this ASX 200 share while its shares are down in the dumps. It has put a buy rating and $31.85 price target on them. It said:

ARB's 1H26 result was pre-released (sales -1%; PBT -16%) and we saw limited incremental information today that justified the sharp share price fall. Exports remain the highlight, as the US delivered +26% growth with ARB product sales through the ORW/4WP network up +100% LFL, the UK returned to growth (+5%), and management expressed confidence EMEA headwinds are behind them with the orderbook tracking well ahead of pcp.

Within Aftermarket, network expansion, the new e-commerce platform, new product cycles and the Ford partnership provide levers to help offset a slower start to industry volumes. FY26 reflects a base year for ARB and we remain positive on a resumption of sustainable growth in FY27. We view ~18x FY27F PE as undemanding relative to ARB's market leadership, strong balance sheet and ongoing US execution. BUY.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

Another struggling ASX 200 share that Morgans is positive on is pizza chain operator Domino's Pizza.

While there is still a lot of work to be done, the broker is pleased with the action that management is taking. In light of this, it has retained its buy rating and $25.00 price target on Domino's shares. It said:

1H26 marks a clear strategic reset for DMP, with management prioritising a more profitable operating model over near-term volume. SSS was hard to digest, below expectations, but the balance of new information was encouraging, underpinned by a 4.5% lift in franchisee profitability and further cost-out opportunities. We believe early actions from the new leadership team are directionally sound, although this is a multi-year turnaround and proof of execution is still required.

Returning economics to franchisees is a prerequisite for improved sales momentum and store roll-outs, meaning shareholders may need to be patient, but the prize is there if the strategy is delivered. BUY maintained with an unchanged target price of $25.00.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

This alternative investment company could be an ASX 200 share to buy according to Morgans.

After releasing an impressive half-year result that was ahead of expectations, the broker retained its buy rating with a $6.66 price target. It said:

GDG's 1H26 group underlying NPAT (A$20.1m, +63% on the pcp), was in line with MorgansF and +5% above Visible Alpha consensus (A$19.3m).    We acknowledge the change in divisional reporting made this a messy result, albeit it was more straightforward than we envisaged, and largely as expected across the board. Positive commentary on potential Evidentia mandates dropping this quarter was arguably our key takeaway, and this could provide a catalyst at the 3Q26 update (if management can deliver as promised). We lower our GDG FY26F/FY27F EPS by -1%/-6%.

Changes to our forecasts reflect a broad review of our earnings assumptions, and re-modelling per GDG's new reporting structure. Our PT falls to A$6.66 (previously A$7.97). We believe GDG has a great story, and management has executed well over time. With the stock trading at a >20% discount to our TP, we maintain our Buy call.

The post Broker names 3 ASX 200 shares to buy in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Tuesday despite a decent start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 12 points or 0.15% lower. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, the S&P 500 is up 0.3%, and the Nasdaq is up 0.6%.

Oil prices jump

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 6.3% to US$71.27 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 6.8% to US$77.85 a barrel. This was driven by the war in Iran.

Magellan shares on watch

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) shares will be on watch today when they return from a trading halt. On Monday, the fund manager announced a proposed $1.6 billion merger with Barrenjoey. Magellan's chair, Andrew Formica, said: "The merger with Barrenjoey marks a transformative step in MFG's evolution, bringing together two highly complementary businesses to create an Australian financial services group with meaningful scale and breadth."

Gold price storms higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a good session on Tuesday after the gold price stormed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.8% to US$5,342.1 an ounce. This was driven by strong demand for safe haven assets in response to the war in the Middle East.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes pizza chain operator Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), property listings giant REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), scrap metal company Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM), and logistics solutions company Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB). The latter will be paying eligible shareholders a 5.4 cents per share dividend next month on 9 April.

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

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) remains the most shorted ASX share with short interest of 16.1%, which is down since last week. There are concerns over this uranium miner's production outlook.
• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has seen its short interest ease to 15.6%. Short sellers appear to believe the struggling pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy will fail. Last month, it reported a 2.5% decline in same store sales during the first half.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 14.4%. This wine giant has been battling very tough trading conditions. Short sellers may not believe a change is coming in the near term.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.4%, which is down week on week. This burrito seller's shares crashed last month in response to the release of a disappointing half-year result. It continues to make a loss in the United States, which was supposedly its largest growth opportunity.
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has short interest of 12.9%, which is up since last week. This medical device company could have been targeted due to its lofty valuation.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 12.4%, which is flat since last week. This radiopharmaceuticals company has been facing delays with FDA approvals.
• IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH) has short interest of 12.3%, which is up week on week. This intellectual property services company has been battling weaker volumes and market share losses.
• IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) has 11.8% of its shares held short, which is up week on week. Changes to visa rules in key markets have weighed on sentiment and this student placement and language testing company's performance.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 10.8%, which is up week on week. There are concerns that the travel agent won't deliver on its revenue margin targets.
• Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) has entered the top ten with short interest of 10.3%. Last month, this infection prevention company posted a 3% decline in profit before tax during the first half. Short sellers may believe this trend will continue.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After launching into positive territory with gusto this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire day there, closing 0.51% higher at 9,175.3 points. That's after the index clocked a new all-time high of 9,202.9 points during intra-day trading.

This euphoric session for Australian investors follows a similarly happy morning over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising 0.63%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more enthusiastic, gaining a solid 1.26%.

But let's return to the local markets now and dive deeper into how today's market optimism has trickled down into the different ASX sectors.

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

As earnings season continues, brokers are busy reviewing company reports and re-rating stocks as buys, holds, or sells.

Let's take a look at what they think of these ASX 200 companies following their 1H FY26 reports.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The Woolworths share price is 1.09% higher at $36.02, after reaching a 52-week high of $36.09 earlier today.

This week, Woolworths reported a 3.4% lift in sales to $37.14 billion and a 14.4% rise in earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to $1.66 billion for 1H FY26.

The net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 16.4% to $859 million.

The supermarket giant declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 45 cents per share, up 15.4% from 1H FY25.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its hold rating on Woolworths shares but lifted its 12-month price target from $31.30 to $34.40.

Bell Potter is more ambitious on the ASX 200 consumer staples share, retaining its buy rating with a price target of $38.25.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino's Pizza Enterprises share price is $20.76, up 7.5% today.

The pizza maker reported a 1% lift in underlying EBIT to $101.5 million for 1H FY26.

Network sales fell 1.6% to $2.04 billion, and same-store sales dropped 2.5%.

Franchise partner profitability rose 4.5% to a 12-month rolling EBITDA of $103,000.

Executive Chairman Jack Cowin said:

These results reflect deliberate decisions taken as part of our reset to strengthen the foundations of the business, prioritising an increase in franchise partner profitability.

We reduced reliance on discounting during the half. Volumes moderated, as expected, but unit economics improved. That was a conscious trade-off to build a stronger system.

Domino's Pizza declared an unfranked interim dividend of 25 cents per share, up 16.3% on 1H FY25.

After reviewing the numbers, Morgan Stanley kept its sell rating on Domino's Pizza shares with a target of just $15.20.

Macquarie upgraded the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share to a hold rating and lifted its target from $19.40 to $20.40.

Morgans is far more optimistic, retaining its buy rating on Domino's Pizza shares with a price target of $25.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) 

The Wisetech share price is $49.72, up 4.2% on Thursday.

Wisetech reported a 76% total revenue increase to US$672 million and a 31% lift in EBITDA to US$252.1 million for 1H FY26.

The underlying NPAT rose 2% to US$114.5 million, but the statutory NPAT plummeted 36% to US$68.1 million.

The company said this was due to increased intangible amortisation and interest expenses related to the consolidation of e2open.

WiseTech said it was undergoing a "deep AI transformation" in what it described as the "most significant shift in decades".

As a result, the company expects to cut 2,000 jobs over FY26 and FY27.

Citi retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 tech share with a price target of $109.15.

UBS kept its buy rating but slashed its 12-month target price from $115 to $89.

Macquarie also kept its buy rating with a target of $94.

The post What are the experts saying about Domino's Pizza, Wisetech, and Woolworths shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was the worst-performing S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock for the day.

The decline comes off the back of the company's FY26 half-year result, which it posted ahead of the market open on Wednesday morning.

The drop means the shares are now down 11.68% for the year-to-date and 33.3% lower over the past 12 months.

What spooked investors?

The fast food operator posted a 1.6% decline in network sales for the six months to the 31st of December 2025. 

But the good news is that the business swung back to profit and delivered modest growth in underlying earnings. This signals that Domino's turnaround strategy is gaining traction. 

Domino's underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) reached $101.5 million, up 1.0% on the prior corresponding period (pcp).

The company said it took deliberate steps to improve its franchise partner profitability during the six-month period. It did this by reducing heavy discounting and resetting store pricing. This impacted short-term volumes but will help strengthen operational foundations. 

The company's new leadership team, including the announced appointment of a new group CEO, is now focused on disciplined execution and supporting franchise partners through cost-saving and simplification initiatives.

But the reset-style results didn't sit well with the market. Investors were spooked and it saw many offload their stock. Which in turn, sent the share price crashing.

Is this a buying opportunity for Domino's shares, or time to sell up?

Some brokers have recently pulled or adjusted their position on the stock. But that now the results have been published, we could see some brokers confirm or adjust their outlook on Domino's shares in coming days.

At the time of writing, after the ASX close on Wednesday, analysts are still on the fence about the outlook for Domino's shares this year.

TradingView data shows that out of 14 analysts, five have a buy or strong buy rating, four have a hold rating, and five have a sell or strong sell rating.

Just a week ago there were 17 analyst ratings, and six of them were a hold.

The latest data shows that the average target price is now a little higher at $21.46. This implies 11.38% potential upside at the time of writing.

But some analysts think the shares could rise 55.68% to $30 a piece. Meanwhile, others think they should sink another 32.54% to $13.00.

The post Are Domino's shares a buy, sell or hold after its half-year result? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors weren't too impressed with the reset-style results for the first half of 2026 that Domino's Pizza released this morning.

Back to profitability

Domino's Pizza swung back to profit and delivered modest growth in underlying earnings. It signals that Domino's turnaround strategy is gaining traction. Underlying EBIT reached $101.5 million in the 6 months ending 31 December 2025, up 1.0% on 1H25.

Network sales and same-store sales remained soft, but franchise profitability improved by 4.5% to $103,000. This was due to management pulling back on heavy discounting and focusing on sustainable margins over pure volume.

Largest Domino's franchisee outside US

Domino's Pizza Enterprises is the largest Domino's franchisee outside the United States. It runs a sprawling network across Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and parts of Europe.

The group generates revenue from company-owned stores, franchise royalties, and supply chain operations. A vertically integrated model that has helped Domino's Pizza build one of the ASX's biggest fast-food networks.

But scale hasn't shielded it from pressure. Store closures, rising costs, and softer consumer demand in key markets have squeezed earnings and dented investor confidence in Domino's Pizza shares in recent years.

Clear step forward

This wasn't a knockout result. But the board of the pizza-giant said it's a clear step forward. After a tough stretch, Domino's priority is profitability, franchise strength, and balance sheet repair. Something that long-term investors needed to see.

Executive Chairman Jack Cowin commented:

These results reflect deliberate decisions taken as part of our reset to strengthen the foundations of the business, prioritising an increase in franchise partner profitability.

We reduced reliance on discounting during the half. Volumes moderated, as expected, but unit economics improved. That was a conscious trade-off to build a stronger system.

Mixed regional performances

Performance across regions was mixed. Europe showed pockets of improvement, while trading in Australia and Japan remained challenging. But the key takeaway wasn't regional volatility; it was improved profitability and tighter execution.

Encouragingly, Domino's generated solid cash flow, reduced debt, and rewarded shareholders with an interim dividend of 25.0 cents per share (unfranked), up 16.3%.

What's next for Domino's Pizza shares?

Management has reaffirmed full-year guidance and is zeroing in on what matters: lifting franchise partner profitability, generating strong free cash flow, and cutting group leverage.

As the foundations strengthen, Domino's plans to invest selectively. It will back sustainable same-store sales growth and disciplined network expansion, not reckless rollout.

The post Domino's Pizza shares tumble 16% after reset-style results 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:

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino's share price is down 12% to $19.11. This follows the release of the pizza chain operator's half-year results. Domino's posted a 1.6% decline in network sales to $2.04 billion but a 1% lift in underlying EBIT to $101.5 million. One positive was that the Domino's board decided to reward shareholders with a 25 cents per share interim dividend. This was up 16.3% on the prior corresponding period. Executive Chairman Jack Cowin said: "These results reflect deliberate decisions taken as part of our reset to strengthen the foundations of the business, prioritising an increase in franchise partner profitability."

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is down 2.5% to $12.94. Investors have been selling the travel agent's shares after it released its half-year results. Flight Centre reported a 6% increase in revenue to $1.41 billion and a 4% lift in underlying profit before tax to $125 million. Investors may be doubting that the company will be able to achieve its reaffirmed profit guidance based on its first-half performance.

Mader Group Ltd (ASX: MAD)

The Mader share price is down a further 5% to $8.06. This specialist technical services provider's shares have come under pressure since the release of its half-year results this week. Mader revealed net profit after tax of $30.5 million. While this was an increase of 17% over the prior corresponding period, it was short of expectations due to weaker than expected margins. In addition, its board decided to not pay a dividend in order to reduce debt. It said: "The Group has accelerated its pathway to a net cash position by deferring the 1H FY26 interim dividend, bringing forward achievement of its net cash target and strengthening liquidity to support a more aggressive approach to organic and inorganic growth opportunities."

Paragon Care Ltd (ASX: PGC)

The Paragon Care share price is down 11% to 18.2 cents. The catalyst for this decline has been the healthcare distributor's half-year results release. Paragon Care reported a modest 2.9% increase in revenue and a 0.7% rise in underlying net profit to $13.3 million. In addition, the company has taken a full provision ($46.4 million) against its Infinity Pharmacy Group debt. It notes: "The Infinity Group of 92 Pharmacy stores had incurred significant debt to acquire new pharmacies, resulting in an inability to pay suppliers and creditors, which resulted in Receivers being appointed to 52 pharmacies, and Administrators appointed over the remainder of stores."

The post Why Domino's, Flight Centre, Mader, and Paragon Care shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Domino's Pizza Enterprises report?

• Underlying EBIT: $101.5 million, up 1.0% on 1H25
• Network sales: down 1.6% to $2.04 billion
• Same-store sales: down 2.5%
• Franchise partner profitability: up 4.5% to $103,000
• Interim dividend: 25.0 cents per share (unfranked), up 16.3%
• Strong free cash flow supported further debt reduction

What else do investors need to know?

Domino's took deliberate action during the half to improve franchise partner profitability by reducing heavy discounting and resetting store pricing, impacting short-term volumes but strengthening operational foundations. The refreshed leadership team, including the announced appointment of a new Group CEO, is now focused on disciplined execution and supporting franchise partners through cost-saving and simplification initiatives.

Regional performance was mixed, with Europe showing improvement—particularly in the Benelux and Germany—while softer trading persisted in Australia, Japan, and France. Importantly, franchise partners saw profitability reach its best level in three years as unit economics improved across the group.

What did Domino's Pizza Enterprises management say?

Executive Chairman Jack Cowin said:

These results reflect deliberate decisions taken as part of our reset to strengthen the foundations of the business, prioritising an increase in franchise partner profitability.

We reduced reliance on discounting during the half. Volumes moderated, as expected, but unit economics improved. That was a conscious trade-off to build a stronger system.

Domino's continues to offer our customers compelling value. Our focus is on targeted promotions that make sense for customers and for franchise partners.

What's next for Domino's Pizza Enterprises?

Looking ahead, Domino's will continue its reset, focusing on stabilising group performance, strengthening unit economics, and keeping capital allocation disciplined. Management has reaffirmed full-year guidance and intends to measure progress through franchise partner profitability, free cash flow, and reduction in group leverage.

As the business foundations solidify, selective investment will be directed toward supporting sustainable same-store sales growth and disciplined network expansion, with the ongoing aim of delivering improved returns for both franchise partners and shareholders.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Domino's Pizza Enterprises shares have declined 25%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 9% over the same period.

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The post Domino's Pizza Enterprises lifts dividend and franchise profitability in first-half reset appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But popular doesn't necessarily mean they are good investments. So, let's see what Catapult Wealth is saying about them, courtesy of The Bull. Are they buys, holds, or sells?

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

Although Catapult Wealth acknowledges that this financial services company has made progress with its turnaround strategy, it isn't enough for a positive rating.

This is especially the case given the increased competition for its platforms business. As a result, the wealth management firm has named AMP as a sell. It said:

This diversified financial services company has been making progress with its turnaround strategy. Simplifying the business is revealing positive outcomes. However, there's a long road ahead for AMP given its disappointing performance over many years.

Its platform business is exposed to the tailwind of a growing superannuation asset pool, but it lags competitors in a space with rapidly evolving technology. The shares were priced at $1.41 on March 1, 2021. The shares were trading at $1.37 on February 19, 2026. Better options exist elsewhere.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

This pizza chain operator could be one to avoid according to Catapult Wealth. It thinks Domino's faces too many headwinds and has named its shares as a sell. It explains:

The fast food giant has been expanding into European and Asian markets with some success. However, in our view, DMP faces too many headwinds. Domino's is battling cost inflation on raw materials, cost of living pressures among consumers and a long term trend towards healthier options.

Also, Domino's faces significant competition from an ever-growing list of food choices and home delivery services.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

One ASX share that Catapult Wealth is positive on is Netwealth. This week, it has named the investment platform provider's shares as a buy.

While its exposure to the First Guardian collapse was disappointing, the wealth management firm thinks investors should look beyond this and focus on the future. It highlights that Netwealth has a significant growth opportunity with less than 9% market share. It said:

Netwealth agreed in late 2025 to pay compensation of $100.7 million to customers who invested in the First Guardian Master Fund, a collapsed fund that was included on its platform. On February 18, 2026, investors responded positively to the company's first half results in fiscal year 2026. Platform revenue of $189 million was up 25.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period.

A statutory loss of $2.2 million includes the First Guardian compensation expense. Excluding the expense, net profit after tax of $69 million was up 19.9 per cent. Netwealth is the second fastest growing superannuation and investment platform in Australia, driven in part by technology investment and leadership in a rapidly changing sector. With less than 9 per cent of market share, Netwealth still has plenty of room to continue growing in double digits.

The post Buy, hold, or sell? AMP, Domino's and Netwealth shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.