As earnings season continues, brokers have lowered their ratings on several ASX 200 shares this week.

Let's see a sample.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price is $65.29, up 2.5% today and up 56% over 12 months. 

Morgans downgraded BHP shares after the miner's FY26 report.

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $59.80 to $55.30.

This suggests a potential 15% downside ahead.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price is $23.99, up 6.4% today and up 32% over 12 months. 

Citi downgraded the ASX 200 gold share to a hold call after the miner's FY26 report.

The broker has a price target of $24.30, indicating just a 1% upside over the next 12 months.

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo share price is $1, down 1.8% today and down 45% over 12 months. 

Jarden downgraded the ASX 200 bank share to a sell rating after its FY26 report.

The broker has a $1.25 target, implying a potential 25% upside ahead.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The Temple & Webster share price is $4.25, up 2.4% today and down 82% over 12 months. 

Morgan Stanley downgraded the ASX 200 consumer discretionary share to a hold rating on Thursday.

This followed the online furniture retailer's FY26 report.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $4.23, suggesting a 13% upside from here.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is $3.50, up 2.6% today and down 17% over 12 months. 

Bell Potter downgraded the ASX 200 consumer staples share to a hold call with a $3.60 target.

This followed the liquor and hotel operator's unaudited preliminary results for FY26.

The target implies just 3% potential upside ahead.

QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE)

The QBE share price is $21.75, down 4% today and up 0.8% over 12 months. 

Jarden downgraded the ASX 200 financial share to a sell rating after the insurer's 1H FY26 report.

The broker has a $20.30 target, indicating a 6% downside ahead.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is $7.50, down 0.7% today and up 17% over 12 months. 

Morgans downgraded the ASX 200 coal share from buy to hold after the miner's FY26 report.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $8.50 to $8.05.

This implies a potential 7% upside ahead.

The broker said:

The effects of poor coal prices in the 1H provided a significant headwind for the full-year result.

FY27 guidance was softer than expected, with production growth appearing limited given the unchanged upper end of group guidance, while both costs and capital expenditure expectations have moved higher.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN)

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT is $1.15 per share, down 0.4% today and down 13% over 12 months. 

Jefferies downgraded the real estate investment trust (REIT) to a hold rating this week.

The change came after HomeCo's FY26 report.

The broker lowered its price target from $1.44 to $1.30.

This suggests potential capital growth of 13% over the next year. 

Reliance Worldwide Corp Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The Reliance share price is $4.83, down 0.6% today and up 4% over 12 months. 

Jarden downgraded Reliance shares to a hold call after the company released its FY26 report and revealed a takeover offer of $4.75 per share.

The broker increased its target price from $4.25 to $4.75.

This implies a potential 8% upside ahead.

Imdex (ASX: IMD)

The Imdex share price is $3.85, up 3.2% today and up 15% over 12 months. 

Imdex provides cloud-connected devices and solutions that help miners find, define, and mine ore bodies.

Bell Potter downgraded the ASX 200 materials share to a hold rating on Tuesday.

This followed Imdex's FY26 report.

The broker reduced its 12-month price target from $4.60 to $4.

This suggests a potential 4% upside ahead.

The post 10 ASX 200 shares downgraded by analysts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This miserly finish for the Australian markets this Tuesday followed a rough start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was not feeling Monday-fresh, dropping 0.51%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared slightly better, but still fell 0.32%.

But let's get back to our local markets now and take stock of what the various ASX sectors were up to this session.

Winners and losers

With the market's falls, there were unsurprisingly more red sectors than green ones today.

Leading those red sectors were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had a rough one, cratering by 1.57%.

Communications shares weren't popular either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) plunging 1.26%.

We could say the same for consumer staples stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) saw a 1.16% dive this session.

Financial shares weren't much better, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 1.1% wipeout.

Consumer discretionary stocks came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) suffered a 1.03% reduction this Tuesday.

Tech shares were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) dipping 1.02%.

Industrial stocks had a day to forget, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) endured a 0.75% dip today.

Let's turn to the winners now. Leading the charge were healthcare shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s whopping 7.81% surge. We can thank CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) for that.

Energy stocks enjoyed some time in the sun too. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) jumped up 0.99% today.

Utilities shares also got a reprieve, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) advancing 0.89%.

Mining stocks were another safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rose 0.15% by the closing bell.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) got in under the wire, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.05% inch higher.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our winner this session was manufacturing stock Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC).

Reliance shares exploded 24.65% higher today to close at $4.50 each. This came after the company posted its latest earnings, which included the revelation that it had received a takeover offer.

Here's how the other winners pulled up at the kerb:

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.

The company also revealed that it has entered into a process deed with Brookfield Capital Partners LLC following an unsolicited, non-binding, indicative proposal for the acquisition of 100% of the ordinary shares in RWC by way of a scheme of arrangement for a cash offer price of A$4.75 per share.

What did Reliance Worldwide Corporation report?

• Net sales of US$1,305.6 million, down 0.7% on the prior corresponding period
• Adjusted net sales up 1.5% on a constant currency basis
• Reported NPAT of US$6.3 million (includes US$103.3 million in one-off post-tax items)
• Adjusted NPAT of US$125.1 million, down 15.3% year over year
• Adjusted EBITDA of US$242.1 million, 12.8% lower than last year
• No final dividend declared due to the Brookfield takeover proposal

What else do investors need to know?

The drop in reported profit was mainly due to one-off restructuring charges following the rationalisation of the company's Australian metals manufacturing operations. The board held back on a final FY26 dividend and suspended the share buy-back after receiving an unsolicited takeover offer from Brookfield Capital Partners.

Despite earnings pressures from US tariffs, higher copper costs, and weaker markets in the US and UK, Reliance Worldwide cut net debt by US$88.2 million thanks to strong operating cash flow. If the Brookfield deal does not proceed, the board may consider paying a dividend or restarting the buy-back in 2027.

What did Reliance Worldwide Corporation management say?

Commenting on the results, Reliance Chief Executive Officer, Heath Sharp, said:

FY26 was a challenging year, with earnings impacted by US tariffs, elevated copper costs, cost inflation and softer market conditions in the Americas and EMEA. We responded with targeted price actions, cost reduction initiatives, further optimisation of our manufacturing footprint and product sourcing.

What's next for Reliance Worldwide Corporation?

Looking ahead, the company does not expect a significant improvement in its main markets during FY27. Global factors like geopolitical tensions and US trade policies could keep input costs and demand under pressure. Still, management is targeting mid to high-single digit sales growth for FY27, supported by new products and price increases. EBITDA margin is forecast to stay broadly in line with FY26.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation share price snapshot

The Reliance Worldwide share price is underperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) on a 12-month basis with a decline of over 20%.

View Original Announcement

The post Reliance Worldwide FY26 profit falls but receives Brookfield takeover offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The smaller we go down the market capitalisation list, the more likely it is to find an undervalued business with a long growth runway, in my opinion.

Experts from the listed investment company (LIC) WAM Research Ltd (ASX: WAX) have outlined two businesses that could be ones to watch. The LIC looks for the most compelling, undervalued growth opportunities on the ASX.

Civmec Ltd (ASX: CVL)

WAM described Civmec as a founder-led, mining, construction and engineering services company based in Western Australia.

During June, the company announced its order book had reached $1.5 billion. Growth was supported by a series of new contract awards, panel agreement extensions and new orders across its resources, infrastructure, energy and maintenance activities.

Key project wins included a further package of work with Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) at the Eneabba Rare Earths Refinery and the major construction contract for Perth Park, delivered through an alliance with Seymour Whyte and Aurecon.

The investment team at WAM believes these projects provide strong earnings visibility over the next two years. Wilson Asset Management also believes that the ASX growth share is well positioned to win significant defence contracts which are expected to come to market over the next two to three years.

WAM suggested that Vicmec's ownership of strategic land at the Henderson precinct in Western Australia positions it well in tendering for these projects.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The other ASX growth share that was highlighted in the WAM Research portfolio was plumbing supplies company Reliance, which has operations across Australia, Europe and North America.

WAM noted that during June, it announced the next stage of streamlining its manufacturing operations.

That plan includes the closure of its brass casting, forging and machining operations in Moorabbin and Braeside, Melbourne, along with additional smaller sites.

Those changes are expected to deliver a benefit to net annual operating profit (EBITDA) of approximately US$9 million across the group by the end of FY27.

WAM said the ASX growth share has suffered headwinds in recent years, including US tariffs and higher interest rates, but the investment team believe the outlook is improving as macroeconomic indicators begin to stabilise and the company resets its cost base.

In WAM's view, this positions Reliance to grow earnings into FY27 and FY28. The fund manager sees potential for a rerating in the Reliance share price as earnings momentum improves.

The post 2 ASX growth shares with strong potential to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Is it bullish, bearish, or lukewarm on these shares? Let's find out:

Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC)

Morgans is positive on this packaging giant but not quite enough for a buy rating.

It has put an accumulate rating and $65.40 price target on the ASX share. Based on its current share price of $58.58, this implies potential upside of approximately 12% for investors. It commented:

Following its merger with Berry Global in April 2025, AMC identified a non-core portfolio of ~US$2.5bn in revenue. These lower-growth or lower-margin businesses where AMC lacks scale or leadership positions are expected to be divested over time via cash sales or joint ventures/partnerships.

While there is a range of scenarios that can play out, using conservative assumptions, we estimate the combined non-core portfolio could be worth ~US$1.8bn. To date, AMC has reached agreements to sell six businesses for a combined value of ~US$500m. AMC plans to use proceeds from non-core asset sales to reduce leverage, which stood at 3.8x at the end of 3Q26. While management expects leverage to end FY26 at 3.4-3.5x, the stretched balance sheet remains a key investor concern. Our analysis indicates a strong negative relationship (correlation coefficient -0.76) between AMC's leverage and its 1-year forward PE multiple. We therefore expect a reduction in leverage to support an improvement in AMC's PE multiple over time.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

This ASX energy share has been given a sell rating by Morgans this week with a reduced price target of 81 cents. This compares to its current share price of 86 cents.

The broker is bearish due to its belief that the company could fall short of expectations. It said:

We mark-to-market our second half estimates for weaker spot gas prices, while also trimming our Waitsia output forecasts for FY26-28 on continuing struggles. After downgrading our Q4 estimates for daily production rates, we see potential for BPT to fall just short of its FY27 group production guidance. While BPT's share price has already been under pressure, its earnings outlook has declined at a faster rate, with its forward EV/EBITDA actually rising. We downgrade our recommendation to Sell (from Hold) with a revised target price of A$0.81 (was A$1.10).

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

Although this plumbing parts company's shares trade on undemanding multiples, it isn't quite enough for anything more than a hold rating at present with a price target of $3.60. This is a touch lower than its current share price of $3.72.

The broker was positive on its decision to close its Australian brass operations. It said:

RWC has announced plans to close its Australian brass casting, forging and machining operations, along with several smaller sites, as part of its ongoing global footprint rationalisation program. We think the decision makes sense given RWC's reduced reliance on Australian-sourced brass in recent years. Annualised net savings are expected to be ~US$9m by the end of FY27, with benefits in the Americas more than offsetting an adverse impact on APAC earnings. One-off costs of US$100-110m (including ~US$5m cash) are expected to be incurred in FY26.

We make no changes to underlying assumptions, with changes to earnings forecasts reflecting the one-off costs in FY26 and net benefits expected across FY27 and FY28. RWC's valuation remains undemanding (12.8x FY27F PE) and recent developments related to the Middle East conflict should be positive for the global macroeconomic outlook. However, US housing demand remains subdued with 30-year fixed mortgage rates still around 6.5%. The timing of a recovery in housing activity remains uncertain and we therefore maintain our HOLD rating.

The post 1 ASX share to accumulate, one to hold, and one to sell appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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:

Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)

The Centuria Capital share price is down over 6% to $2.04. This follows the successful completion of an institutional placement and entitlement offer. Centuria Capital has raised $265 million at $2.00 per new share. This represents a discount of 8.25% to its last close price. Centuria's joint CEOs, John McBain and Jason Huljich, commented: "The Centuria and ResetData combination has created a differentiated NVIDIA neocloud partner with scalable sovereign AI Factories and access to Centuria's real estate, land and potential 200MW+ power pipeline. ResetData is one of three Australian NVIDIA Cloud Partners and is uniquely placed to take advantage of an upswing in international demand for the establishment of Australian-based AI Factory capacity uptake. It is worth noting that comparable neocloud platforms in Australia have experienced rapid re-ratings as contracts and scale have emerged and we have this firmly in mind as we respond to increased AI demand and build out our capability in this area."

Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU)

The Iluka Resources share price is down 11% to $7.24. This is despite the mineral sands and rare earths company announcing a major offtake agreement this morning. Iluka revealed that it has signed a binding, multi-year agreement for the supply of magnet rare earth oxides to a global automotive company. The agreement sets pricing at the higher of minimum and market-linked prices for each product to balance the dual risks of downside price volatility and security of supply. Iluka advised that its minimum revenue over the contract period is US$155 million. But assuming industry forecast pricing, Iluka's revenue over the contract period would be US$172 million.

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

The Metcash share price is down 3% to $3.02. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Ord Minnett this morning. The broker has downgraded the wholesale distributor's shares to a hold rating (from buy) with a reduced price target of $3.50 (from $3.70). While Metcash's FY 2026 result was in line with expectations, Ord Minnett was disappointed with its trading update for the first seven weeks of FY 2027.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The Reliance Worldwide share price is down 2.5% to $3.58. Investors have been selling the plumbing parts company's shares after it revealed that it is closing its brass casting, forging, and machining operations in Melbourne, along with additional smaller sites. This is part of its ongoing optimisation of its global manufacturing operations. Management revealed that it expects to recognise a one-off net charge of US$100 million to US$110 million in FY 2026.

The post Why Centuria Capital, Iluka, Metcash, and Reliance Worldwide shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) is in focus after the company announced another round of operational changes.

At the time of writing, the Reliance share price is down 4.36% to $3.51.

The plumbing products company has still gained around 12% over the past month, but it remains about 15% lower than this time last year.

Here's what was in the update.

Reliance closing brass sites

In a statement to the ASX, Reliance said it plans to close its brass casting, forging, and machining operations in Moorabbin and Braeside, Melbourne.

It will also shut several smaller sites as part of a wider move to make its manufacturing operations more efficient.

Reliance said the closures follow a sustained fall in brass production volumes at its Melbourne facilities in recent years. As such, the company no longer sees enough value in keeping those sites running.

Management said the changes are expected to start supporting earnings from FY27.

However, the move will affect around 85 employees in Australia. The company has started consulting with those workers and expects that process to finish in July 2026.

Why is brass demand falling?

Reliance pointed to a few reasons why its brass volumes have been falling.

In the US, the company has invested in its Alabama facility to automate the assembly of its SharkBite Max brass push-to-connect fittings.

SharkBite Max has also been redesigned so it uses less brass. According to the company, that has reduced the amount of brass needed per fitting by about 20%.

Reliance is also moving some of its APAC SharkBite production out of Melbourne and to third-party suppliers in Asia.

On top of this, the company expects brass demand to fall further as it keeps replacing brass with stainless steel across some of its key product ranges.

What will it cost?

The changes will come with a fairly large hit in the short term.

Reliance expects to record a one-off net charge of between US$100 million and US$110 million in FY26. This will be left out of operating earnings.

The charge includes about US$5 million for redundancy and property exit costs, around US$25 million in net asset write-downs, and a US$70 million to US$80 million impairment of intangible assets.

However, most of that isn't a cash cost. Reliance said only about US$5 million is expected to be cash, with the rest being non-cash.

From FY27, the company expects more production to shift away from the APAC region. That is expected to reduce APAC revenue by about US$38 million compared with FY25, but improve APAC operating earnings by about US$9 million.

Across the group, Reliance expects the changes to lift annual EBITDA by about US$9 million by the end of FY27. Once all the benefits are flowing through, the total annual uplift could reach around US$15 million.

The post This ASX 200 stock just dropped 4% after revealing a big business reset appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Reliance Worldwide report?

• Planned closure of brass casting, forging, and machining operations in Moorabbin and Braeside, Victoria, plus smaller sites.
• Expected net annual EBITDA benefit of US$9 million across the group by end FY27.
• One-off net charge of US$100 million to US$110 million in FY26 (excluded from operating earnings).
• Around 85 employees impacted by Australian brass manufacturing closures.
• Transition of APAC brass component supply to third-party Asian vendors in 2025.

What else do investors need to know?

These manufacturing changes follow a steady decline in demand for brass production in Australia. This is due in part to Reliance Worldwide's investment in automating its Alabama facilities and designing products that use less brass, alongside a strategy to increasingly replace brass with stainless steel.

The company anticipates an adverse EBITDA impact of US$9 million on APAC region results after the closures. However, these are expected to be more than offset by an estimated annual Americas region benefit of US$18 million.

What's next for Reliance Worldwide?

Reliance Worldwide's focus moving forward is on sourcing from third-party vendors and ongoing optimisation of its supply chain. The company expects its overall brass requirements to continue declining, supporting a shift towards more cost-effective materials and manufacturing strategies.

Management anticipates these steps will deliver net financial benefits from FY27, with project cash outflows mainly relating to redundancy and asset exit costs, and the bulk of the one-off charges non-cash in nature.

Reliance Worldwide share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Reliance Worldwide shares have declined 12%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Reliance Worldwide closes Australian brass sites appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) enjoyed its second positive trading day of the week so far this Tuesday, although it was a close call.

After yesterday's euphoric session, investors were far more downbeat this morning, with the ASX 200 opening sharply lower. However, the index recovered over the rest of the day, and eventually finished up 0.042% at 8,917.7 points.

This cautious day for Australian investors comes after an excited start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising 0.92%.

But the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was off to the races, rocketing a hefty 3.07%.

Let's return to the local markets now and take stock of what the different ASX sectors were up to today amid our middling trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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

To narrow things down, let's see what analysts at Morgans are saying about the three named below. Are they buys, holds, or sells?

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Morgans remains positive on this investment platform provider following its quarterly update.

However, it isn't quite enough for a buy rating. The broker has put an accumulate rating and $29.00 price target on its shares. This compares to its current share price of $23.44.

Speaking about Netwealth, Morgans said:

NWL's 3Q26 net-flows of $3.96bn came in modestly ahead of expectations, however market volatility during the period eroded this solid performance to see 3Q26 FUA ending the quarter flat QoQ at A$125.8bn, (vs. Consensus A$129.8bn). Despite ongoing volatility and uncertainty tied to a US/Middle East conflict and a potential resolution, market momentum has recovered from peak pessimism in the March Quarter, with the ASX All Ordinaries +5.6% month-to-date in April'26, which will have seen FUA growth momentum improve post quarter end.

Looking through this near-term volatility NWL remains on track deliver solid growth FY26F and well placed to capitalised on the long runway of opportunity ahead. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating, with a Price target of $29.00/sh.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

This lithium giant delivered a strong quarterly update with record production and lower than expected costs.

However, given its strong share price gains, Morgans has downgraded PLS' shares to a trim rating with a $5.40 price target. This compares to its current share price of $6.14.

Commenting on the stock, Morgans said:

Record production +8% ahead of consensus expectations and costs -13% ahead of consensus expectations highlights PLS' strong operating leverage. Strong cash build supports growth and potential shareholder returns. Move to a TRIM rating (previously HOLD) with a A$5.40ps target price. PLS is our preferred lithium exposure, but we see much of the near-term upside priced in and suggest selectively trimming positions.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

This plumbing parts company could be fairly valued according to Morgans. It has put a hold rating and $3.25 price target on its shares. This is largely in line with its current share price of $3.30.

Morgans notes that Reliance's trading update was better than feared. It said:

RWC has reaffirmed all earnings guidance, including regional and group outlooks, for 2H26 and FY26. Against an uncertain global macro backdrop and the potential impact of higher oil prices stemming from the Middle East conflict, the trading update was better than feared. In relation to the expected impact from US tariffs, while there have been several changes since the 1H26 result in February, the anticipated impact on RWC's earnings in FY26 and FY27 remains unchanged.

We make no changes to FY26 earnings forecasts but reduce FY27 and FY28 underlying EBITDA by 2%, reflecting a more modest earnings growth profile amid ongoing subdued housing conditions. Despite the adjustments to earnings forecasts, our target price increases to $3.25 (from $3.00), reflecting an uplift in our PE valuation multiple to 12x (from 11x) following the better-than-feared trading update. HOLD rating maintained.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Netwealth, PLS, and Reliance shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Reliance Worldwide is an Australian-owned company that designs and manufactures branded plumbing and heating products sold internationally.

Year to date, its share price has fallen almost 16%. 

After crashing to start the year, investors may be circling this ASX industrials stock as a bounce-back candidate. 

Fresh information was released from the company this week in the form of its FY26 Full Year Trading Outlook.

What did the company announce?

On Tuesday, the team at Reliance Worldwide reaffirmed all earnings guidance, including regional and group outlooks, for 2H26 and FY26. 

Based on nine months trading ended 31 March 2026, there is no material change to the FY26 second half and full year guidance issued on 17 February 2026. All guidance – including regional and Group outlook, FY26 net tariff impact, cash flow conversion, capital expenditure, D&A, net interest, effective tax rate and cost savings – is reaffirmed.

It appears investors were pleased with the announcement, as this ASX industrials stock has rebounded 7% across the last two days of trading. 

Following the announcement, the team at Morgans also provided updated guidance on the ASX industrials stock. 

Here's what the broker said. 

Trading update better than feared

In a note out of Morgans this week, the broker said that against an uncertain global macro backdrop and the potential impact of higher oil prices stemming from the Middle East conflict, the trading update was better than feared. 

In relation to the expected impact from US tariffs, while there have been several changes since the 1H26 result in February, the anticipated impact on RWC's earnings in FY26 and FY27 remains unchanged.

Target price increases

Morgans made no changes to FY26 earnings forecasts but reduced FY27 and FY28 underlying EBITDA by 2%, reflecting a more modest earnings growth profile amid ongoing subdued housing conditions. 

Despite the adjustments to earnings forecasts, our target price increases to $3.25 (from $3.00), reflecting an uplift in our PE valuation multiple to 12x (from 11x) following the better-than-feared trading update. HOLD rating maintained.

After increasing its price target, it now appears that this ASX industrials stock is trading at fair value. 

It closed yesterday at $3.24, right around the updated target from Morgans. 

Elsewhere, the average analyst price of 16 experts via TradingView sits at $4.09. 

This indicates a potential upside of 26%. 

The post Should you buy this ASX industrials stock after a 16% crash? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By the time trading wrapped up this afternoon, the ASX 200 had fallen 0.64%. That leaves the index at 8,710.7 points.

This unhappy day for ASX investors follows a mixed start to the American trading week last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early spike to close down 0.13%.

Things were better on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) though, which pushed 0.2% higher.

But let's return to the local markets now, and take stock of how today's miserable trading conditions filtered down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

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

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)

The Elsight share price is up over 6% to $7.13. This morning, the ASX defence stock revealed that its Halo connectivity platform has been included in the U.S. Department of War's Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Blue List. It is a directory of approved, National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant unmanned aircraft systems and components. Elsight's CEO, Yoav Amitai, commented: "Halo's inclusion on the Blue List arrives at a moment when U.S. defence drone procurement is scaling at an unprecedented pace. With approximately US$75 billion (A$105 billion) proposed for drone and counter-drone capabilities in FY2027 alone, the pathway from Blue List approval to operational deployment has never been shorter or more clearly defined. This milestone validates Halo as a trusted backbone for the next generation of U.S. defence programs."

Iperionx Ltd (ASX: IPX)

The Iperionx share price is up 5% to $4.48. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. It has retained its speculative buy rating on the titanium production technology company's shares with an $8.25 price target. It said: "IPX has the potential to disrupt the incumbent titanium supply chain through materially lowering production costs and manufacturing waste. The company will incrementally expand capacity and progress commercial relationships with aerospace, automotive, luxury goods and government end users."

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

The Predictive Discovery share price is up 3% to 98.5 cents. Investors have been buying this gold miner's shares following the release of a strong quarterly update. Predictive Discovery revealed that revenue surged 321% to US$200.8 million for the three months. This was driven by a sharp lift in gold sales volumes and stronger realised gold prices (US$4,806 per ounce) during the quarter. And thanks to lower costs, the company delivered a cash margin from operations of US$139 million.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The Reliance Worldwide share price is up 5% to $3.20. This follows the release of a trading update from the plumbing parts company. Investors appear pleased that its full-year guidance has been reaffirmed after nine months of trading. Another positive is that the FY 2026 net cost impact of US tariffs is expected to be at the lower end of the previously indicated US$25 million to US$30 million guidance range.

The post Why Elsight, IperionX, Predictive Discovery, and Reliance shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The rally comes after Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) reaffirmed its FY26 outlook and provided fresh clarity on key risks, including US tariffs and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Even with today's gain, the ASX industrial stock remains about 20% lower over the past year. That's a sharp contrast to the roughly 10% rise in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

What did Reliance Worldwide report?

Reliance Worldwide is a global plumbing and water flow solutions company. It designs and manufactures products like push-to-connect fittings, valves, and pipes used in residential and commercial buildings.

Its earnings are closely tied to construction activity, renovation trends, and input costs like metals and resins. This makes it sensitive to both economic cycles and global supply chain pressures.

Today's update was all about stability. The ASX industrial stock confirmed that its FY26 full-year guidance remains unchanged after nine months of trading to 31 March 2026, a key confidence signal in a volatile environment.

On tariffs, the company expects the FY26 net cost impact from US measures to land at the lower end of its previously guided US$25 million to US$30 million range. Looking ahead, the company forecasts FY27 tariff impacts to ease further to between US$5 million and US$7 million.

Importantly, there were no material changes to its broader assumptions. This includes regional outlooks, group performance, cash flow conversion, or cost-saving initiatives.

Tariffs and global risks: What's changed?

The industrial company also flagged two notable developments in US trade policy. First, tariffs imposed under emergency powers (IEEPA) were struck down by the US Supreme Court and replaced with a temporary Section 122 tariff, set to expire in July 2026. The company has lodged a claim to recover previously paid tariffs, although the final amount remains uncertain.

Second, there have been updates to Section 232 tariffs covering key materials like steel, aluminium, and copper. Despite these shifts, the ASX industrial stock does not expect a meaningful impact on its FY26 earnings or cash flow.

What's next?

Looking ahead, Reliance Worldwide expects to stay on track for FY26, even as higher oil prices push up costs across resin, logistics, and energy. The company is offsetting these pressures through price increases. It currently does not expect material disruption from the conflict in Iran this financial year.

That said, management of the ASX industrial stock did strike a cautious note: a prolonged escalation in the Middle East could start to influence operating conditions into FY27.

Foolish Takeaway

Today's share price jump suggests investors are breathing a sigh of relief.

The ASX industrial stock isn't firing on all cylinders yet. However, steady guidance, easing tariff pressures, and manageable risks may be enough, for now, to rebuild confidence.

The post Why this beaten-down ASX industrial stock just spiked 7% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Reliance Worldwide report?

• FY26 full-year guidance has been reaffirmed after nine months of trading to 31 March 2026
• The company expects the FY26 net cost impact of US tariffs to be at the lower end of the previously indicated US$25 million–US$30 million range
• FY27 net cost impact of US tariffs is forecast to remain at US$5 million to US$7 million
• No material change in assumptions regarding regional and group outlook, net tariff impact, cash flow conversion, or cost savings

What else do investors need to know?

Two notable US tariff changes were flagged: the IEEPA-based tariffs were struck down by the US Supreme Court, replaced by a Section 122 tariff set to expire in July 2026. Reliance Worldwide lodged a claim for a refund of previously paid IEEPA tariffs, but the amounts are yet to be verified.

There's also an update to Section 232 tariffs on metals like steel, aluminium, and copper. Despite these changes, Reliance Worldwide does not anticipate a major shift in their operating earnings or cash flows for FY26 based on current estimates.

What's next for Reliance Worldwide?

Reliance Worldwide expects its FY26 earnings to remain on track, despite higher costs driven by oil price impacts on resin, logistics, and energy. The company is offsetting increased input costs through price rises, and does not foresee material impacts from the war in Iran for FY26.

However, Reliance Worldwide cautions that a sustained conflict in the Middle East may influence operating conditions heading into FY27. The company remains focused on managing external pressures and maintaining its guidance.

Reliance Worldwide share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Reliance Worldwide shares have declined 26%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

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The post Reliance Worldwide resets FY26 outlook, updates on tariffs and Middle East appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After a shaky and volatile session that saw the index whipsaw quite a lot, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.078% lower by the time the markets closed up shop. That leaves the index at 8,786.5 points as we head into the weekend.

This inglorious end to the trading week for ASX investors follows a red night up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't in a good mood, shedding 0.36%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared worse, though, dropping by 0.89%.

But let's return to the local markets now and see how the various ASX sectors ended their respective weeks today.

Winners and losers

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

On Monday, Reliance Worldwide Corp Ltd (ASX: RWC) leapt nearly 7%, while AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) rose 4.2%. 

These were two of the best-performing stocks yesterday, in a day the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 0.4%.

Both had hovered close to yearly lows for some time. 

However, now could be the start of a long-term rebound. 

Why did these ASX shares suddenly jump higher?

Yesterday, investors were gobbling up Reliance Worldwide shares after the company announced that it will undertake a further on-market share buyback targeting $120 million.

The company said the new buyback was in addition to a US$15.3 million buyback announced on February 17. That buyback was part of its interim distribution, which included a US2 cents per share dividend.

The company's Chair, Russell Chenu, said: 

RWC has continued to generate strong cash flows over the past two years despite subdued end markets. This has enabled us to substantially reduce net debt. Consequently, RWC's leverage ratio has fallen below the bottom end of our target range of 1.5 time to 2.5 times net debt to EBITDA. Undertaking this additional share buy-back will enable us to return excess capital to shareholders efficiently and is consistent with our previously articulated capital management strategy.

Meanwhile, AMP, a diversified financial services company, saw its share price rise more than 4% despite no price-sensitive news from the company. 

This was the first sign of relief for the company in 2026, after it had fallen more than 33% so far this year. 

Are these rebounding ASX shares a buy?

Reliance Worldwide shares closed yesterday at $3.12 each. 

Based on recent targets from brokers, it seems yesterday's rebound could be a sign of things to come. 

In February, Morgans released a research note to its clients on Reliance, with a price target of $3.50. 

Also in February, Macquarie had a price target of $4.75 on Reliance shares. 

From yesterday's closing price, these targets indicate an upside between 12% and 52%. 

It's a similar story for AMP shares. 

They closed yesterday at $1.22. 

Recent price targets suggest they could be undervalued after their rough start to the year. 

Morgan Stanley recently issued a buy rating and a $1.90 target price for the stock. 

Citi also has a buy rating and $1.80 target price.

Similarly, Jefferies has a buy rating and a $1.75 price target. 

Finally, Jarden and Ord Minnett have a buy rating and a $1.65 target price on the AMP share price.

These targets indicate an upside between 35% and 55%. 

The post Two ASX shares on the rebound appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After bouncing around quite a bit in red territory this session, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.39% lower by the time trading wrapped up today. That leaves the index at 8,583.4 points.

This rather gloomy start to the Australian trading week follows a similarly bearish end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early lead to finish down 0.26%.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling 0.93%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now for a checkup on how today's tough trading conditions 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.

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

Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC)

The Lifestyle Communities share price is up 2% to $5.43. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Citi. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the retirement communities company's shares to a buy rating with a $5.60 price target. The broker notes that Hometown Australia recently bought a 9.8% stake in the company. It highlights that the $58.46 million deal was undertaken at a premium to the prevailing share price. Citi suspects that this could lead to increased M&A speculation.

Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT)

The Perpetual share price is up almost 2.5% to $16.61. Investors have been bidding the financial services company's shares higher after it announced the sale of its Wealth Management business to Bain Capital for an upfront consideration of $500 million. Perpetual's CEO and managing director, Bernard Reilly, said: "Following a thorough sale process, we believe we have achieved the right outcome for our shareholders, clients and people, and one that reflects Wealth Management's longstanding reputation as a premium provider of high net worth advisory, fiduciary, philanthropic and not-for-profit offerings in the Australian market." Perpetual expects to use sale proceeds to pay down debt and fund further growth in its core Asset Management and Corporate Trust businesses.

Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC)

The Reliance Worldwide share price is up 4.5% to $3.05. This morning, this plumbing parts company announced that it will undertake a further on-market share buy-back targeting $120 million. The company's chair, Russell Chenu, said: "RWC has continued to generate strong cash flows over the past two years despite subdued end markets. This has enabled us to substantially reduce net debt. Consequently, RWC's leverage ratio has fallen below the bottom end of our target range of 1.5 time to 2.5 times net debt to EBITDA. Undertaking this additional share buy-back will enable us to return excess capital to shareholders efficiently and is consistent with our previously articulated capital management strategy."

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is up over 2% to $31.77. This has been driven by a rise in oil prices due to supply disruptions caused by war in the Middle East. It isn't just Woodside that is rising today. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is up almost 1% at the time of writing.

The post Why Lifestyle Communities, Perpetual, Reliance Worldwide, and Woodside shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.