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

ASX 200 expected to sink

It looks set to be a tough session for Australian investors on Thursday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 104 points or 1.2% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.7%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.75%, and the Nasdaq was 1.1% lower.

ASX 200 shares paying dividends

A number of ASX 200 shares are rewarding their shareholders with dividends on Thursday. This includes PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC), and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO). The latter is paying a fully franked $2.96 per share interim dividend later today.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.4% to US$92.70 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 4.1% to US$103.35 a barrel. Doubts over a US-Iran peace deal were behind the rise.

Buy Nufarm shares

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares could be a good option for investors according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the agricultural chemicals company's shares with an improved price target of $3.90 (from $3.75). It said: "Our Buy rating is unchanged. In FY26e NUF has delivered a result that was consistent with our expectations, while incurring costs related to plant outages that were not expected. The underlying performance looks to be stronger than what is implied at the headline, with material YoY growth in Seeds and the basis of the next leg of cost outs now articulated."

Gold price falls

It could be a poor day for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.2% to US$4,323.9 an ounce. A rebound in oil prices appears to have led to increased US rate hike bets.

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

Telix is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that is focused on the ongoing development of diagnostic and therapeutic products using targeted radiation. This process treats cancerous or diseased cells without attacking healthy tissue at the same time, like many traditional cancer medicines.

Meanwhile, Ramsay is a large global private healthcare provider that has over 500 facilities across 11 countries. It operates private hospitals, day surgeries, primary care clinics, diagnostic and imaging centres, mental health facilities, pharmacies, and some in-home and community care services.

What the two businesses do have in common is that they both generate a significant portion of their revenues outside Australia, they're both reliant on regulatory approvals, and they've both outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) over the past 12 months.

And this is particularly significant given the amount of headwinds and volatility the ASX healthcare sector experienced through late-2025 and into 2026.

While many shares suffered from intense volatility driven by unstable inflation and a general investor rotation away from the healthcare sector, both Telix and Ramsay shares bucked the trend.

But which stock has made investors richer so far in 2026? And which has the strongest upside ahead?

Let's take a look.

Telix vs Ramsay: Which ASX healthcare stock has climbed higher in 2026?

At the close of the ASX on Tuesday afternoon, Telix shares had climbed another 7% to $16.79 a piece. That brings the company's year-to-date increase to an impressive 48%.

But it hasn't been smooth sailing for Telix shares this year. After tumbling to a three-year low of $8.63 in mid-February, the share price started rebounding in peaks and troughs. Telix shares have fluctuated anywhere between $8.63 and $17.85 this year.

Meanwhile, Ramsay shares closed the day in the red, down slightly by around 0.2% to $55.50. But the share price trajectory is quite different. Despite the dip, the shares are now up an impressive 60% year to date.

Ramsay shares started climbing higher in late 2025 and continued increasing through to early 2026. The rally has been pretty steady and consistent, reaching a two-year high of $55.61 on Monday.

The verdict: Ramsay shares have made investors richer in 2026 so far.

What do brokers tip next for Telix shares?

The experts are still incredibly bullish on Telix shares over the next 12 months. TradingView data shows the majority (13 out of 15) have a buy/strong buy rating on the ASX healthcare stock. 

The $25.63 average target price implies an upside of around 53% at the time of writing. 

But some are even more optimistic and forecast the stock could jump 88% to $31.53 over the next 12 months.

What do brokers tip next for Ramsay shares?

While Ramsay shares may be the winner in terms of which of the two has made investors richer year to date, its 12-month outlook isn't as positive as Telix's.

In fact, analyst forecasts suggest that the ASX healthcare stock could now be trading above fair value.

TradingView data shows the majority (12 out of 17) have a hold rating on Ramsay shares. And the $51.36 average target price now implies around a 7% downside, at the time of writing.

The post Telix Pharmaceuticals vs Ramsay Healthcare: Which ASX healthcare stock made investors richer in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped 0.11% over the week to 8,731.2 points on Friday.

The market was volatile on increased bets of another interest rate hike due to persistently high inflation.

The market is pricing an 82% chance that the Reserve Bank will lift rates by another 0.25% at the end of the month.

Last week, the US Fed raised rates for the first time in three years, and Japan also increased rates to a 30-year high.

Elevated oil prices due to the US-Iran conflict continue to contribute to stubborn inflation worldwide.

Last week, eight of the 11 market sectors finished in the red.

Let's review.

Healthcare led the market sectors last week

Healthcare is continuing its rapid rebound following a 29% slump over the 12 months to early June.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) hit a 9-year low on 3 June.

Healthcare shares have ripped 43% since then compared to a 0.6% fall for the ASX 200.

The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price popped 5.08% to $175.59 last week, and it's up 90% since 3 June. 

Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD) shares rose 5.15% to $31.87, and are 23% higher since 3 June. 

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares jumped 3.18% to $169.57 on Friday, and are up 6% since 3 June. 

The Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) share price lifted 3.44% to $55.39, and is up 52% since 3 June. 

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares edged 1.26% higher to $19.24, and are up 2% since 3 June.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares jumped 13.91% to $17.85 on Friday, and are up 46% since 3 June.

The 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) share price leapt 28.27% to $4.31, and is up 14% since 3 June. 

Chemist warehouse owner Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) bucked the trend last week.

Sigma Healthcare shares fell 3.04% to $2.55, and are 12% lower since 3 June. 

The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price also fell 0.18% to $133.90 last week.

Cochlear shares have recovered 41% since 3 June. 

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meanwhile, brokers have lifted their ratings on several ASX 200 shares this week. 

Let's review. 

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $177.29, up 1.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has ripped 32%.

RBC Capital upgraded CSL shares to a buy rating on Tuesday.

The broker raised its 12-month price target substantially from $148 to $213.

This implies a potential 20% upside ahead.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is $38.91, up 2.3% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 bank share has fallen 1%.

Citi upgraded NAB shares to a buy rating yesterday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $40 to $42.10.

This suggests a potential 8% upside ahead.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

The Lottery Corporation share price is $4.86, up 0.7% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer discretionary share has fallen 9%.

Morgans upgraded Lottery Corporation shares to a buy call today.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $5.60 to $5.40.

This implies a potential 11% upside ahead.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Health Care share price is $55.06, up 0.4% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 healthcare share has risen 23%.

RBC Capital upgraded Ramsay Health Care shares to a buy call this week.

The broker increased its 12-month price target significantly from $52 to $68.

This indicates potential capital gains of 23% over the next year. 

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is $10.09, down 1.9% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has increased 4%.

UBS upgraded Challenger shares to a buy rating with a $11.50 price target.

This suggests a potential 14% upside ahead.

James Hardie Industries Plc (ASX: JHX)

The James Hardie share price is $37.38, up 0.2% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 materials share has fallen 15%.

Morgans upgraded James Hardie shares to an accumulate rating yesterday.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $45 to $43.

This suggests potential capital growth of 15% over the next year. 

Morgans said:

The positive company story and the growth trajectory are only partially offset by the tough macro, a 75bps rise in the 30-year mortgage rate over the past six months, and a peer multiple de-rate.

On this basis we upgrade to an Accumulate rating, whilst moderating our target price to A$43.00 (from A$45.00).

The post 6 ASX 200 shares boosted by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The broking house said healthcare had performed "generally much better than we had feared" across the August reporting season.

They added:

A combination of revenue beats and cost control drove earnings beats for most companies and we are now expecting positive earnings growth across the sector. While most of the sector has enjoyed a re-rating over the past 2 months, we believe a number of stocks could re-rate even further given their earnings growth outlook, appealing relative valuations and attractiveness of the healthcare sector in light of macroeconomic uncertainty.

As a result of this positivity, RBC has upgraded five stocks to an outperform rating and maintained that rating on one more.

Let's see who they like.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

RBC said the recent result showed that CSL was regaining market share in the key immunoglobulin sector.

The broker said they now believed that "growth in the Behring business can offset the weak outlook in the Seqirus and Vifor business, and enable the company to deliver mid-single digit EPS growth for the next 3 years''.

While these growth rates were below historical levels, RBC said they were reasonable compared to other Australian large-cap stocks.

RBC has a price target of $213 on CSL shares.

Resmed Ltd (ASX: RMD)

The sleep apnoea device company delivered an in-line result, RBC said; however, there was more focus on capital management.

The broker is factoring in $1.5 billion in share buybacks per year out to FY31.

RBC has a price target of $262 on Resmed shares.

Ramsay Healthcare Ltd (ASX: RHC)

RBC said Ramsay was being well run, with its recent result showing good revenue growth and cost control.

They have valued the company on a demerger basis and believe such a strategy would create value.

RBC has a price target of $68 on Ramsay shares.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH)

RBC said this company's trading update revealed a strong start to the year and an upgrade to FY27 guidance.

The broker added:

We expect FPH's hospital revenues to continue growing in mid-to-high teens in FY27-FY29 which will enable the company to deliver double digit group revenue growth. FPH has the fastest growth profile across our coverage and we now believe FPH has the best price to earnings growth ratio across our coverage.

RBC has a price target of $52 on Fisher & Paykel shares.

Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN)

RBC said Nanosonics had a mixed result with revenues missing expectations but earnings beating.

The broker said the Trophon business was growing and profitable, and they believed the share price was currently too bearish.

RBC has a price target of $3.75 on Nanosonics shares.

The broker also has an outperform rating on Integral Diagnostics Ltd (ASX: IDX) with a price target of $3.20.

The post CSL, Resmed, and more. See which ASX health stocks RBC Capital Markets has upgraded appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what has happened, and what brokers tip next.

Santos shares

The ASX energy shares have climbed over 2% to $8.74 at the time of writing, in what is the highest recorded share price for Santos since January 2020. Today's increase means the shares are now 42% higher for the year to date and 14% higher than 12 months ago.

It looks like the oil and gas major's shares are enjoying tailwinds from a climbing oil price. According to Trading Economics, crude oil is trading around US$104 per barrel on Wednesday. This is a retreat from a high of US$105 per barrel yesterday, but it still represents a 24% increase in the price of crude oil over the past month alone. 

Prices are rising amid new drone attacks and ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has restricted oil supply even further. 

And investment bank Goldman Sachs said recently that it thinks crude oil could rise above US$120 if production remains well below pre-conflict levels. 

Experts are bullish that Santos shares can keep climbing higher, too. TradingView data shows that all brokers have a strong buy rating on the stock. The $8.99 average target price implies around a 3% upside at the time of writing.

Ramsay Health Care shares

Ramsay Health shares are also up around 2% to a multi-year high of $54.64 at the time of writing. The share price flew higher in late August off the back of a healthcare-sector-wide rebound and the company's impressive FY26 results announcement. 

Ramsay Health shares are now up around 58% for the year to date and 63% higher than 12 months ago.

For FY26, the company reported a 22.9% increase in its underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) and a 11.8% increase in its underlying EBIT. Revenue also climbed 4.2%. Shareholders also received a dividend increase, up 13.8% to 91 cents per share for the full-year FY26.

Looking ahead, Ramsay expects to report EBIT growth and further margin improvement in FY27, with ongoing focus on cost management, activity growth, and capital discipline. 

The company is also moving ahead with plans to separate its 52.79% stake in Ramsay Santé, which owns hospitals across Europe.

But it looks like the experts want to see more evidence that the company can keep growing. TradingView data shows the majority of brokers have a hold rating, with the $51.49 average target price implying a downside of around 6%.

AMP shares

AMP shares are up around 0.5% to $2.51 at the time of writing on Wednesday. This is the highest share price AMP has traded at since November 2018. The shares are also up an impressive 37% year to date and 39% higher than a year ago.

Ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns about Australia's inflation data weighed heavily on financial shares like AMP throughout the first half of the year.

But the diversified financial services company continues to post some strong financial results. In mid-July, it announced first-half NPAT guidance of $170 to $180 million, significantly higher than the $131 million reported for the same period last year. Investors rushed to buy the shares and sent the price flying 22% higher within a week.

Then, early last month, AMP posted its first-half FY26 results, including a 33% year-on-year increase in underlying NPAT to $174 million, an 8.2% year-on-year increase in assets under management (AUM), and a 33% increase in AMP's Platforms net cash flows.

Again, investors were thrilled, and the share price has continued climbing since the announcement.

TradingView data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on AMP shares. But after such a strong rally recently, the average $2.49 target price now implies a downside of around 1%.

The post Santos, Ramsay Health Care, and AMP shares reach new 52-week highs: Can they keep climbing? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here are three defensive ASX shares and three ETFs worth a look.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Supermarkets don't stop trading in a downturn — people still need to eat. Woolworths' dominant market share in the Australian supermarket landscape has long held it in good stead even during tough economic conditions.

And the market has noticed: the ASX share is up 33% year to date. Even as households trade down to cheaper essentials, Woolworths tends to keep the lights on and the dividends flowing.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

Healthcare demand doesn't switch off when the economy slows. Ramsay is one of the largest and well-established private healthcare providers, and elective surgery volumes plus global diagnostic demand tend to hold up regardless of the cycle.

It's the kind of business people rely on whether markets are booming or busting. The ASX share is up an impressive 56% in 2026.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Insurance is one of those products people keep paying for no matter what. Insurance demand tends to remain steady even in weaker economic conditions.

Suncorp hasn't been a growth story over the past 12 months, down 5%, but that's rather the point. This $21 billion ASX share is there to steady the ship, not chase the rally.

Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

For broad, low-cost exposure with a defensive tilt, the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF has characteristics that make it more resilient than many global indices, leaning on Australia's banks, resources and consumer staples sectors.

It's a simple, set-and-forget way to add local stability to a ASX shares portfolio.

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

If you want global exposure to businesses people buy from no matter the economic weather, this ETF is hard to beat. Its holdings include some of the most dependable companies on the planet, such as Walmart Inc (NASDAQ: WMT), and Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO).

These are businesses with strong brands, pricing power, and customer loyalty, making their earnings far more stable than companies tied to discretionary spending.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

Cash is king in a downturn, and this fund is built around exactly that idea. It focuses on stocks with exceptional cash generation, holding global giants like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Visa Inc (NYSE: V).

Two companies with the balance sheet strength to self-fund growth without leaning on debt when conditions get tough.

Foolish takeaway

None of these picks will make headlines for explosive growth, and that's the whole point of defensive investing.

Pairing a couple of resilient ASX shares with a broad ETF or two can help smooth out the ride without forcing you to sit entirely on the sidelines.

As always, defensive doesn't mean risk-free. It means being better positioned to weather the storm.

The post Worried about a downturn? 3 ASX shares and 3 ETFs built to weather it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Fast-forward 8 months, and the picture looks very different.

Ramsay shares are up another 1.52% to $54.11 on Thursday, taking the private hospital operator to its highest level in several years.

The stock has now surged around 57% in 2026 and sits almost 80% above its 52-week low of $30.39.

It was changing hands at just $44.02 on 26 August. Since then, the share price has jumped almost 23% in a little over 2 weeks.

After years of going nowhere, Ramsay has suddenly become one of the more interesting turnaround stories on the ASX.

And I think its latest results explain a lot of the recent excitement.

The numbers are finally improving

Ramsay's FY26 result was a pretty decent one.

Revenue came in at $18.6 billion, while underlying EBIT rose 11.8% to around $1.16 billion.

Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 19.3% to $364.1 million, or 22.9% on a constant currency basis.

Australia did much of the work, helped by higher hospital activity, better theatre utilisation, improved private health insurance pricing, and tighter cost control.

The group's underlying EBIT margin also improved by 30 basis points to 6.2%.

Shareholders got a little extra too, with the full-year dividend rising 13.8% to 91 cents per share.

The business could look very different

Ramsay is moving ahead with plans to separate its 52.79% stake in Ramsay Santé, which owns hospitals across Europe.

Shareholders are expected to vote on the proposed demerger in November.

If the deal goes ahead, investors would be left with a simpler Ramsay business and a much clearer view of how its Australian hospitals are performing.

Ramsay is still putting money into Australia too, with the company agreeing to buy National Capital Private Hospital in Canberra for $251 million.

Management expects the acquisition to add to earnings in its first 12 months.

Would I buy Ramsay shares?

This is probably where I would be a little more careful.

At $54.11, Ramsay shares have already moved above the average TipRanks analyst price target of $50.66. The highest target is $55.69.

Director Michael Siddle also sold 1 million shares at $49 shortly after the result, in an off-market transaction worth $49 million.

Yes, I still like what I am seeing from the business, and I think the turnaround has more substance behind it.

But I wouldn't be chasing Ramsay shares purely because they have been going up.

The post Up 57% this year. Guess which ASX 200 stock just hit a multi-year high? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) is still down 33% over five years and 18% over the past 12 months. Between January 2025 and June 2026, the index lost more than half its value.

Then August happened. The ASX 200 Health Care index surged 13% over a month and now sits 44% above its June low, comfortably beating the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which gained 3% over the same period.

So, have ASX healthcare shares finally turned the corner?

CSL leads the charge

The sector entered August with expectations firmly beaten down. That proved to be a blessing.

Companies largely cleared the low bar, with cost control doing much of the heavy lifting. Healthcare was also the only sector where more companies upgraded their outlooks for the year ahead than downgraded them.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) was the standout. Its shares jumped 40% in August after plasma product sales for the June half came in ahead of expectations.

More importantly, management pointed to improving gross margins at CSL Behring, the plasma business that has caused plenty of headaches in recent years. UBS now believes the worst could be behind CSL ahead of its CEO transition in 2027.

Other healthcare heavyweights also delivered. Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN) jumped 23% after beating expectations, with its FY27 guidance implying double-digit earnings-per-share growth at the midpoint.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) gained 16% after a better-than-expected FY26 result. Its new management team expects further margin expansion in FY27, helped by more predictable private health insurance agreements, better operating theatre utilisation and procurement savings.

The rally wasn't limited to those three names. Eight of the sector's 10 largest ASX healthcare shares finished August higher. Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) climbed 13%, Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) rose 10%, and ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD) gained close to 10%.

Can the rebound continue?

This is where things get interesting. August was impressive, but FY27 will be the real test.

Management teams are generally optimistic, yet analysts aren't quite as convinced. According to a recent Macquarie note, consensus FY27 earnings forecasts for the sector were actually cut by more than 2% during August.

There's another problem: valuations have rebounded alongside share prices. The bargain-basement appeal that existed at June's lows has largely disappeared. Investors are now paying more for the turnaround they hope is coming.

The August reporting season suggests CSL and several of its peers may finally be back on firmer ground. But after such a powerful rebound, the easy part may already be over.

Now, ASX healthcare shares need to deliver.

The post CSL led the ASX healthcare shares rebound. Can it continue? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) fell as low as $90 before staging a recovery, and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) has roughly halved from the high it set less than a year ago.

Yet the sector rose 9% in a week during reporting season, which tells you sentiment may have started to turn.

Why ASX healthcare shares fell so far

The damage was mostly self-inflicted at the company level.

CSL wrote down its Vifor acquisition, Pro Medicus derated from an extraordinary multiple, and drug pricing pressure from the United States hung over the entire sector.

None of those problems has vanished, but the price investors are now asked to pay for them has changed.

That is usually where the better opportunities in a beaten-up sector are found.

1. CSL

CSL trades around $175 against a 52-week range of $90.00 to $222.47.

FY26 was openly badged as a reset year.

Revenue slipped 1% to US$15.8 billion, and impairments of US$7.1 billion drove a statutory loss of US$2.6 billion.

Underlying profit after tax and amortisation still reached US$3.1 billion, which is the figure worth focusing on because the impairments were non-cash and largely historical.

The forward numbers are what matter here.

CSL is targeting US$400 million of annual cost savings, rising to US$550 million by FY28.

FY27 guidance points to underlying profit growth of around 5%, with a further A$1.1 billion buyback authorised.

On the flipside, the company's dividend was held at US$2.92 per share and net debt sits at 1.8 times EBITDA.

2. Pro Medicus

Pro Medicus is the quality name and remains the expensive one.

The shares trade near $185 against a 52-week high of $321.57, so the derating has been severe.

FY26 revenue rose 22.9% to $261.7 million and underlying net profit climbed 24.1% to $144.7 million.

The company's underlying EBIT margin reached 74.9% and the company remains debt-free with $252.3 million in cash.

Chief executive Dr Sam Hupert was optimistic about the previous year:

We were aiming for 30% increases in EBIT and NPAT, and we exceeded both on a constant currency basis.

The company signed $407 million of new contracts and lifted its dividend 25.5% to 69 cents.

At roughly 75 times earnings the shares are still priced for something close to perfection, though considerably less so than they were twelve months ago.

3. Ramsay Health Care

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) is the turnaround story of the three.

FY26 revenue reached $18.6 billion and underlying EBIT rose 11.8% to $1.2 billion.

The EBIT margin improved 30 basis points to 6.2%, which is the number the market had been waiting on.

The full-year dividend lifted 13.8% to 91 cents.

The bigger catalyst is linked to its markets.

Ramsay plans to separate Ramsay Santé, its European business, with a shareholder vote scheduled for 24 November.

Approval would leave behind a simpler, Australian-focused hospital operator with a cleaner balance sheet and a far easier story for investors to value.

What could go wrong with ASX healthcare shares

Each of these stocks carry their own risk.

CSL still has to prove that its cost programme can deliver, and its Vifor division is guided to shrink around 25% in FY27.

Pro Medicus depends on continued contract wins in a US market where it already holds meaningful share.

Then on the other hand, Ramsay's separation still requires a shareholder vote in November, and demergers routinely take longer and cost more than the initial timetable suggests.

Foolish takeaway

Of these three ASX healthcare shares, CSL offers the clearest difference between price and normalised earnings.

Pro Medicus has the best business and the hardest valuation to defend, whereas Ramsay has the most tangible catalyst and yet the least growth behind it.

A brutal twelve months has left the sector significant cheaper than it was, without making any of these three businesses straightforward to own.

The post Top 3 ASX healthcare shares to buy after a brutal year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The list includes BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), along with four other ASX 200 shares.

Combined, the dividends are worth around 31 points on the ASX 200, according to IG.

That could make some of the share price moves look worse than they really are on Thursday.

Let's take a closer look.

BHP, Woodside, and Coles lead the way

BHP is easily the largest company on today's list.

The mining giant closed Wednesday at $64.65 and is trading ex-dividend for $1.39 per share, fully franked.

That means anyone buying BHP shares from today will not receive the payment, which is due to eligible shareholders on 23 September.

Woodside is another heavyweight going ex-dividend.

Its shares finished yesterday at $33.08 and are now trading without a 79.51-cent fully-franked dividend attached. Woodside is due to pay shareholders on 25 September.

Coles closed Wednesday at $23.89 and has a 37-cent fully-franked dividend coming off its share price today. The supermarket giant will make the payment on 22 September.

However, with all three carrying such huge index weightings, going ex-dividend is likely to put some pressure on the ASX 200 today.

4 more ASX 200 shares to watch

There are also several other payouts investors should be aware of.

Amcor Plc (ASX: AMC) closed at $64.15 and is trading ex-dividend for 92 cents per share. Unlike the other larger payouts today, the Amcor dividend is unfranked.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) finished Wednesday at $52.38 and is going ex-dividend for 48.5 cents per share, fully franked.

Meanwhile, NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF) closed at $6.97 and is trading without its 21-cent fully-franked dividend.

Rounding out the group is Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG), which closed at $2.71. Its latest dividend is 2 cents per share, also fully franked.

Sigma shareholders are due to receive their payment on 22 September, Ramsay on 24 September, and NIB on 7 October.

What investors should keep in mind

There is a fair bit going on with the index today, so the headline move may not tell the full story.

BHP, Woodside, and Coles are all large enough to have an impact, and having all 3 go ex-dividend on the same day adds some extra weight.

So, if the ASX 200 looks a bit weak, the dividend effect is worth factoring in.

The post Own BHP, Woodside or Coles shares? Here's what investors should know appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

It looks set to be a better session for Australian investors on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 39 points or 0.45% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.55%, the S&P 500 was up 0.45%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.45% higher.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes packaging leader Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC), mining behemoth BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), supermarket giant Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC), and energy giant Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS). BHP is paying shareholders a 139.2 cents per share fully franked dividend on 23 September.

Oil prices rise again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a positive session after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.45% to US$90.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.6% to US$95.22 a barrel. Traders were buying oil in response to an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Buy Nufarm shares

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares are in the buy zone according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the agricultural chemicals company's shares with an improved price target of $3.75. It said: "Our Buy rating is unchanged. Trading trends continue to infer FY26e is a year where improved gross margin (on lower COGS) and cost out are the main driver of profit growth. The is the potential for surprise is omega-3, where Peruvian fishoil stock is in short supply and pricing indicators are reaching levels consistent with previous peaks."

Gold price charges higher

It could be a good day for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price charged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.9% to US$4,435.8 an ounce. Traders were buying the precious metal after the US dollar and treasury yields pulled back.

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

Brokers have been reviewing ASX 200 company reports and updating their ratings and 12-month price targets accordingly.

Here are three updates from Morgans.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The Woolworths share price is $38.95, down 1.5% today and up 37% over 12 months.

Woolworths released its FY26 earnings this week.

Morgans reiterated its accumulate rating on the ASX 200 consumer staples share.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $37.30 to $43.50.

This implies potential capital gains of 11% ahead for Woolworths shares.

Morgans said:

WOW's FY26 result was slightly better than expected. Australian Food earnings were in line with our forecast, while Australian B2B and W Living exceeded expectations. NZ Food was softer following a challenging 2H26.

Encouragingly, Australian Food sales momentum has continued into early FY27, supported by the popular Disney Ooshies collectibles campaign. Excluding this benefit, sales growth remained solid, indicating the underlying business continues to perform well.

Our target price increases to $43.50 (from $37.30), reflecting changes to earnings forecasts and a higher valuation multiple.

The multiple expansion reflects continued positive momentum in the core Australian Food segment, our increased confidence that this sales growth can be sustained, and improved execution.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Health Care share price is $50.98, up 1.8% today and up 50% over 12 months.

Ramsay Health Care released its FY26 report this week.

Morgans renewed its hold rating on the ASX 200 healthcare share with a $49.39 target.

This suggests the stock is fully valued.

The broker said:

FY26 underlying NPAT increased 23% and was ahead of expectations, with EBIT growth and positive OCF (ex – Santé). Australia remained the earnings driver, while UK Acute was the standout and Elysium showed a material 2H turnaround.

Pleasingly, Australia delivered EBIT growth of 11.2% and 30bp margin expansion despite a 4% headwind from new funding at Joondalup public, supported by activity, acuity, theatre utilisation, PHI indexation and cost control.

While we view result quality as encouraging (OCF & ROCE up), FY27 guidance is qualitative, with management only targeting EBIT growth and margin expansion (ex – Santé), leaving the sustainability question open for debate.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is $5.34, up 3.6% today and up 132% over 12 months. 

PLS Group released its FY26 results this week.

Morgans downgraded the ASX 200 lithium share from hold to trim with a $4.60 target.

This suggests a potential 13% downside ahead.

Morgans commented:

PLS delivered an in-line FY26 Underlying EBITDA result and surprised with a maiden 5cps fully franked final dividend (22% FCF payout).

We view PLS as fairly valued at current levels, with its premium to peers already reflecting the company's best-in-class execution, balance sheet and growth optionality.

Depleted lithium inventories leave scope for short-term upside, though we see the medium-term outlook as more volatile given uncertainty around supply and demand drivers.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Ramsay Health Care, PLS Group, Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By the time the markets closed, the ASX 200 had dropped a nasty 0.98%. That leaves the index at 9,038.2 points.

This tough Thursday for Australian investors came after a milder night on the US markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't hold water, falling 0.21%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared better, only losing 0.081% of its value.

But let us return to the local markets now for a closer look at how the different ASX sectors traversed this Thursday's tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

It was a bleak landscape out on the boards today, with only two sectors managing to escape intact.

Firstly, though, it was consumer discretionary stocks that copped the worst of it today. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) was slammed, crashing 3.18% lower.

Tech shares suffered too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) plunging 2.38%.

Gold stocks didn't hold their value either. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tanked 1.54% this session.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were in a similar boat, as you can tell by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 1.45% dive.

Consumer staples shares were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) cratered 1.43% today.

Nor were mining stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) copping a 1.18% beating.

Communications shares had a day to forget, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) saw its value erode 1.06%.

Utilities stocks also suffered, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.99% tumble.

Financial shares weren't popular either. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slid 0.68% lower this Thursday.

Our last losers were energy shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slipping down 0.19%.

Turning to the two green sectors now, the best place to hide out today was in healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was spared, lifting a comfortable 0.23%.

Finally, our other winners were industrial shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.03% bounce.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our chart-topper this Thursday was healthcare stock Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC). Ramsay shares surged 13.72% higher this session to hit $50.06 by close. This came after the company reported its latest earnings this morning.

Here's how the other top stocks landed their planes:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

What did Ramsay Health Care report?

• Underlying NPAT: $364.1 million, up 22.9% on FY25 (constant currency)
• Underlying EBIT: $1,162 million, up 11.8% (constant currency)
• Revenue: $18.6 billion, up 4.2% (constant currency)
• Final fully franked dividend: 48.5 cents per share; full year payout ratio 60.3% of underlying earnings (total 91 cps)
• Funding Group leverage: 1.83x, below the 2.5x target
• Underlying EPS: 151.0 cps, up 27%

What else do investors need to know?

Ramsay reported positive transformation momentum in its Australian hospital business, driven by activity growth, higher acuity cases, improved theatre use, and stronger cost management. Both UK and Australian businesses were net cash flow positive, while capital discipline delivered a 30bps improvement in Group EBIT margin to 6.2% and ROIC growth.

The company completed or progressed several strategic moves in FY26, including progressing the planned separation (demerger) of its 52.8% stake in Ramsay Santé. The proposed demerger is tracking towards a shareholder vote in late November 2026 and aims to allow greater focus on the core Australian hospital business.

What did Ramsay Health Care management say?

Ramsay Health Care's CEO, Natalie Davis, said:

I am pleased that we are maintaining high patient NPS scores and clinical excellence in every region, building transformation momentum in the Australian business, and improving performance and capital returns across the Group. I would like to thank our incredible people and our clinicians who dedicate themselves to our patients and are the foundation of our success.

What's next for Ramsay Health Care?

Looking ahead, Ramsay expects to report EBIT growth and further margin improvement in FY27, with ongoing focus on cost management, activity growth, and capital discipline. The company will finalise the acquisition of National Capital Private Hospital in September 2026, integrating it into the Ramsay network.

The planned demerger of Ramsay Santé remains a key milestone in the coming year. If approved, it will simplify reporting and sharpen Ramsay's attention on its Australian and UK hospital operations. Investments in technology, "Big 5" hospital initiatives, and continued optimisation are expected to support the next phase of growth.

Ramsay Health Care share price snapshot

The Ramsay Health Care share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a gain of over 15%.

View Original Announcement

The post Ramsay Health Care FY26: Profit surges on transformation momentum appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In afternoon trade on Wednesday, Magellan shares are up 3.1%, changing hands for $10.38 apiece. That sees shares in the ASX 200 funds manager up 21.2% since market close on 1 June, well ahead of the 5.3% gains posted by the benchmark index over this same time.

Ramsay Health Care shares are heading the other way today, down 0.7% at $43.64 each. That leaves shares in the ASX 200 healthcare stock up 19.5% since 1 June.

Looking ahead, however, Catapult Wealth's Dylan Evans forecasts growing headwinds for both ASX 200 stocks (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

Why Ramsay Health Care shares could struggle into 2027

"Ramsay owns and manages private hospitals in Australia, the UK and Europe," Evans said. "The company benefits from an ageing population driving spending on health care."

As for the mounting headwinds facing Ramsay Health Care shares, he noted:

But cost of living and inflationary pressures contribute to higher labour costs for RHC. Also, stretched government budgets put pressure on health care spending. Consequently, margins may be pressured over time as governments offer lower contributions and less than inflation levels of indexation.

And following a strong year of outperformance, Evans issued a sell recommendation on the ASX 200 healthcare stock.

"The shares have risen from $34.59 on January 2 to trade at $44.04 on July 30. Investors may want to consider cashing in some gains," he said.

Which brings us to…

Should I sell Magellan shares today?

Atop his bearish outlook on Ramsay Health Care shares, Evans also issued a sell recommendation on Magellan shares.

"Magellan is an active Australian fund manager that invests in global equities," he said.

Commenting on the company's long-term underperformance, he noted, "On August 9, 2021, the shares were priced at $51.40. The stock was trading at $9.54 on July 30, 2026."

Even factoring in the recent share price lift to $10.38, that still represents a painful 79.8% plunge.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Magellan shares, Evans concluded:

Magellan has been undergoing significant change and faced considerable internal instability during the past four years. Staff turnover, comparably high investment management fees and an underperforming investment portfolio contributed to fund outflows.

Statutory profit of $68.9 million in the first half of financial year 2026 was down 27% on the prior corresponding period. Other diversified financial stocks appeal more in these challenging and volatile times.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Magellan and Ramsay Health Care shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's check out 3 shares with new ratings from the experts (courtesy The Bull). 

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price is $7.26, up 4.6% today and up 146% over 12 months. 

Mark Gardner from MPC Markets has a buy rating on this ASX 200 industrials share. 

Gardner explained: 

This counter drone and laser weapons group had an order book of $846 million at June 30, 2026, an 84 per cent increase since December 31, 2025.

In May, it completed the acquisition of the MARSS Group, a provider of artificial intelligence enabled command and control systems for counter drone capability.

The company upgraded full year 2026 revenue guidance to between $280 million and $300 million, excluding MARRS.

The stock has fallen significantly between June 2 and July 30 to the point it has been materially over-sold, in our view.

Investors can consider buying EOS on weakness.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is $73.53, up 3.1% today and down 58% over 12 months. 

Gardner has a hold rating on this ASX 200 tech share, and commented:  

Xero is a quality accounting software provider. The shares have plunged in the past 12 months, partly in response to investor concerns about artificial intelligence replacing some of its services.

The company has a credible product road map to meet the challenge, such as JAX-powered bank reconciliation and an integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot. The company recently surpassed 5 million subscribers.

Investors can hold, but should monitor the news flow.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Health Care share price is $43.67, down 0.5% today and up 16% over 12 months. 

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has a sell rating on this ASX 200 healthcare share. 

Evans said: 

Ramsay owns and manages private hospitals in Australia, the UK and Europe.

The company benefits from an ageing population driving spending on health care. But cost of living and inflationary pressures contribute to higher labour costs for RHC. Also, stretched government budgets put pressure on health care spending.

Consequently, margins may be pressured over time as governments offer lower contributions and less than inflation levels of indexation.

The shares have risen from $34.59 on January 2 to trade at $44.04 on July 30.

Investors may want to consider cashing in some gains.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Ramsay Healthcare, Xero, Electro Optic Systems shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

To help you figure things out, let's look at three ASX shares that experts are tipping as sells this week, courtesy of The Bull.

Here's what they are saying:

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The team at Catapult Wealth thinks that this fund manager's shares are a sell this week.

It is feeling bearish for a number of reasons. One of those is the underperformance of Magellan's investment portfolio. It commented:

Magellan is an active Australian fund manager that invests in global equities. On August 9, 2021, the shares were priced at $51.40. The stock was trading at $9.54 on July 30, 2026. Magellan has been undergoing significant change and faced considerable internal instability during the past four years. 

Staff turnover, comparably high investment management fees and an underperforming investment portfolio contributed to fund outflows. Statutory profit of $68.9 million in the first half of financial year 2026 was down 27 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Other diversified financial stocks appeal more in these challenging and volatile times.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

MPC Markets has named Qantas shares as a sell this week.

The main reason for this is its exposure to volatile jet fuel prices. MPC Markets appears to believe that fare increases to offset higher costs could impact demand. As a result, it sees now as the time to sell. It explains:

The airline giant is exposed to volatile jet fuel prices in response to the Middle East conflict. Although QAN hedged about 90 per cent of its exposure to crude oil prices in the second half of 2026, it was exposed to movements in jet refining margins. Qantas announced in April that jet refining margins had increased from $US20 a barrel in February to a peak of around $US120 a barrel.

The company announced capacity adjustments and fare increases to mitigate the impact of the Middle East conflict. Higher fares may impact demand. We would be inclined to sell into strength.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

Catapult Wealth is also feeling bearish about Ramsay Health Care and has named the private hospital operator as a sell.

It fears that stretched government budgets will put pressure on health care spending and that margins could be squeezed. As a result, the wealth management company thinks investors should be taking profit after strong gains this year. It said:

Ramsay owns and manages private hospitals in Australia, the UK and Europe. The company benefits from an ageing population driving spending on health care. But cost of living and inflationary pressures contribute to higher labour costs for RHC. Also, stretched government budgets put pressure on health care spending. 

Consequently, margins may be pressured over time as governments offer lower contributions and less than inflation levels of indexation. The shares have risen from $34.59 on January 2 to trade at $44.04 on July 30. Investors may want to consider cashing in some gains.

The post Why experts say Qantas and these ASX shares are sells appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifted 0.92% in the final trading week of FY26. 

The ASX 200 finished the week at 8,844.4 points.

This is the second time in three weeks that ASX 200 healthcare shares have been out in front. 

A sector rotation appears underway as value investors swoop on blue-chip favourites like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME). 

The healthcare sector appears to have turned on 3 June when the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) hit a 9-year low.

That represented a 39% decline over 12 months. You can read comprehensive analysis of why the healthcare sector struggled in FY26 here.

Since then, healthcare shares have increased 20% in just one month compared to an 0.7% rise for the ASX 200 overall. 

In a new note, top broker UBS said ASX 200 healthcare shares and US biotech stocks both rose strongly in June, commenting:

There was limited company specific news to explain this recovery, suggesting it was due to broader market forces including sector rotation.

Healthcare was the worst performer among the 11 market sectors in FY26. You can read more about the market's winners and losers in FY26 here. 

Now, let's review some individual stock performances from last week.

Healthcare shares led the ASX sectors last week

The CSL share price rose 6.05% to $121.81 last week, and it's up 32% since 3 June. 

Pro Medicus shares jumped 11% to $209.65 on Friday, and are up 31% since 3 June. 

Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD) shares ascended 5.39% to $30.50 last week, and are 18% higher since 3 June. 

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares rose 4.06% to $21.25 last week, and are up 13.1% over the month. 

The Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) share price lifted 2.46% to $44.16 last week, and is up 21% since 3 June. 

The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price increased 5.87% to $124.96 last week, and is up 31% since 3 June. 

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares ripped 10.11% to $16.88 on Friday, and are up 38% over the month.

Respiratory imaging technology company 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) rose 2.16% to $4.25 per share on Friday. 

4DMedical shares are up 12% since 3 June. 

The ASX 200 healthcare share was the best performer of the entire ASX 200 in FY26 after skyrocketing 1,786%. 

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post Healthcare shares lead the ASX 200 again as sector rotation gathers pace appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) healthcare stock closed yesterday trading for $42.74. In late morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for $42.65 apiece, down 0.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is just about flat at this same time.

Taking a step back, Ramsay Health Care shares have strongly outperformed in 2026, up 23.3% compared to the 0.3% year-to-date gains posted by the benchmark index.

And the ASX 200 healthcare stock also recently increased its passive income payouts, boosting its fully-franked interim dividend by 6.3% to 42.5 cents a share.

Ramsay Health Care stock currently trades on a 1.9% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

And looking ahead, Nathan Hughes, an Australian equities portfolio manager at Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT), believes there's plenty more upside potential for the Aussie-focused healthcare provider (courtesy of the Australian Financial Review).

Here's why.

Should I buy Ramsay Health Care shares today?

Asked which stock his fund holds that's most undervalued by the market, Hughes replied, "Ramsay Health Care presents compelling upside."

He noted, "The negatives, such as labour inflation and changes to private health insurance rebates that may impact industry participation, are now well understood."

And Ramsay Health Care shares could benefit from their renewed focus on the Aussie market.

According to Hughes:

Beyond the demerger of the Ramsay Santé assets – the European hospitals business Ramsay announced it would spin off in February – we think it's clear the focus of the company is the core Australian business.

There is significant opportunity to improve operating performance and asset productivity in this division, with a sensible approach to capacity and utilisation in contrast to years of expansion. As such, return on invested capital should improve.

Hughes also pointed to the company's strong balance sheet and the fully-franked dividend on offer as reasons to be optimistic for ongoing share price growth.

He concluded:

Further capital repatriation from offshore is not out of the question in the medium term. This would give the company plenty of financial flexibility, noting Ramsay has a large balance of surplus franking credits.

What's the latest from the ASX 200 healthcare stock?

Ramsay reported its half-year results (H1 FY 2026) on 26 February.

Highlights for the six months to 31 December included underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $536.7 million, up 7.3% year on year.

And on the bottom line, underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of $171.7 million increased by 8.1%.

Ramsay Health Care shares closed up 10.4% on the day of the results release.

The post Up 23% this year, why Ramsay Health Care shares are tipped for more 'compelling upside' appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.