Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are outlined below. Here's why they are bullish on them:

Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN)

According to a note out of UBS, its analysts have initiated coverage on this uranium developer's shares with a buy rating and $5.15 price target. The broker is positive on the long-term uranium outlook and is forecasting a price of US$100 per pound. This is due to an increasing focus on energy security and growing demand from AI and data centres. UBS highlights that this enhances the project economics of Bannerman's Etango operation in Namibia, which it views as a relatively stable jurisdiction with a track record of successful and stable uranium assets with international ownership. In light of this, the broker sees significant value in the company's shares at current levels. The Bannerman Energy share price is trading at $3.52 on Monday afternoon.

DigiCo Infrastructure REIT (ASX: DGT)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $3.40 price target on this data centre operator's shares. The broker highlights a seemingly exponential acceleration in data centre construction in recent years. In fact, it points out that this construction boom is now contributing 1.9% of Australia's GDP. While there are many winners from this trend, the broker believes DigiCo Infrastructure REIT likely presents the most upside opportunity via acceleration of its SYD1 DC expansion. It believes this expansion will be able to capture current demand and boost EBITDA above consensus expectations. The DigiCo Infrastructure REIT share price is fetching $2.58 at the time of writing.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this job listings company's shares with a reduced price target of $18.60. The broker remains positive on Seek and has named the company as its preferred rate-sensitive classifieds exposure. It also highlights its belief that Seek is well-placed to avoid disruption from artificial intelligence (AI), pointing out that its underlying proprietary data (~750m points per day) partially consists of traffic meta data which is unable to be scraped by third parties. It thinks this is valuable for targeted job placements and should support yield through soft volume environments. The Seek share price is trading at $13.91 on Monday afternoon.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, which remains positive on the job listings giant.

What is the broker saying about this popular ASX 200 stock?

Bell Potter highlights that recent economic data remains mixed for SEEK, with interest rate hikes potentially causing headwinds for the company. However, data centre investments and increased discretionary spending are seen as positives. It said:

Recent Australian economic data remains mixed, with a view to an additional RBA rate hike as a headwind for jobs growth, noting some commentary that the current 4.35% cash rate may be the peak; unemployment eased to 4.5% from 4.1% across Jan-May after previously remaining tight through the rate rise cycle (+ve for cuts), GDP came in softer than expected at 0.3% for the March quarter (2.5% YoY) despite $13bn in data centre investment for the quarter (+ve), discretionary spending at+0.1% qtrly growth likely indicates a stretched consumer broadly (+ve), though we anticipate geo-political headwinds continue to flow through the energy-related inflation (-ve).

Clerical/Admin internet job ads have been the most challenged job category declining -3% in April on YoY/R3M/R6M bases and potentially reflects early AI-impact; Professionals, Managers, Technicians/Trades, Labourers, and Sales job ads all grew across the comparable periods.

Should you invest?

According to the note, Bell Potter continues to see value in the ASX 200 stock despite trimming its valuation.

This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating with a reduced price target of $18.60 (from $23.90).

Based on its current share price of $13.68, this implies potential upside of 36% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, an attractive 3.8% dividend yield is expected over the forecast period, boosting the total potential return to almost 40%.

Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

We maintain our Buy; SEK is our preferred rate-sensitive classifieds exposure looking through to a dovish RBA tilt, given the diversification in CAR and policy-impacted earnings outlook for REA.

Our Target Price is reduced to $18.60sh through earnings changes and an increase in our WACC to 10.3% (prev. 10.2%), a reduction our Growth Fund valuation via Coursera and an increase in Fund discount rate to 30% (prev. 20%) on visibility in PortCo operating performance in an AI-enabled environment. SEK's underlying proprietary data (~750m points per day) partially consists of traffic meta data which is unable to be scraped by third parties, is valuable for targeted job placements, should support yield through soft volume environments.

The post Bell Potter says this popular ASX 200 stock could deliver a 40% return appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a decent start to the week following a solid finish to the last one on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 39 points or 0.45% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.7%, the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, and the Nasdaq climbed 0.3%.

Oil prices tumble

ASX 200 energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) will be on watch after oil prices tumbled on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 3.2% to US$84.88 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 3.4% to US$87.33 a barrel. Reports that the US and Iran are on the verge of signing a peace deal could put further pressure on oil prices in Asian trade.

SpaceX takes off

Space Exploration Technologies Corp (NASDAQ: SPCX) had a very successful IPO on Friday. The space, satellite broadband, and AI company's shares jumped 19% to end at US$160.95. This leaves Elon Musk's SpaceX with a US$2.1 trillion valuation and makes him the world's first trillionaire.

Gold price jumps

ASX 200 gold shares including giants Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a great start to the week after the gold price jumped on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 3% to US$4,238.8 an ounce. Falling oil prices have eased inflation concerns and interest rate hike bets.

Buy SEEK shares

Bell Potter thinks Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) shares are still good value despite cutting its valuation this morning. According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating with a reduced price target of $18.60 (from $23.60). It said: "We maintain our Buy; SEK is our preferred rate-sensitive classifieds exposure looking through to a dovish RBA tilt, given the diversification in CAR and policy-impacted earnings outlook for REA. Our Target Price is reduced to $18.60sh through earnings changes and an increase in our WACC to 10.3% (prev. 10.2%), a reduction our Growth Fund valuation via Coursera and an increase in Fund discount rate to 30% (prev. 20%) on visibility in PortCo operating performance in an AI-enabled environment. SEK's underlying proprietary data (~750m points per day) partially consists of traffic meta data which is unable to be scraped by third parties, is valuable for targeted job placements, should support yield through soft volume environments."

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

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is essentially flat in 2026. 

This is far below the historical average annual return of between 7% and 9%. 

However with inflation persisting and value outperforming, it could be time to scoop up quality companies at a relative discount. 

This is the core philosophy of value investing.

It could be a rare opportunity to gain exposure to blue-chip companies at a low price. 

Here are three ASX 200 stocks that could be buy-low options for investors with long term upside. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech shares have fallen close to the furthest of any ASX 200 company in the last 12 months. 

It has been weighed down by broader tech sector negative sentiment. 

However the fundamentals still remain strong, and the share price appears to have fallen beyond a fair price. 

At the time of writing, WiseTech shares are trading for roughly $38 each. 

As my colleague Bronwyn Allen reported recently, the Market Matters team sees 30% to 40% upside over the next 12 months for Wisetech shares.

Elsewhere, 15 analysts offering a one year forecast via TradingView have an average 12 month price target of $71.70 on these ASX 200 shares. 

This indicates an 88% upside from current levels. 

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Seek is an online classifieds platform which has also suffered from the Aussie tech sell-off this year. 

This ASX 200 stock is down 42% year to date. 

However it now presents as another value option. 

The Motley Fool's Mark Verhoeven covered last week the tailwinds from increased job ads that could be set to benefit the ASX 200 company. 

Additionally, the analyst team at Jarden believes the shares are oversold and have a price target of $23.25 on Seek. 

From yesterday's closing price of $13.49, this indicates a 72% upside. 

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Another value option right now is Guzman Y Gomez. 

The ASX 200 company (for now) has fallen significantly over the last 12 months, but is showing signs of a rebound after refocussing on the domestic market. 

At the time of writing, shares are trading hands for approximately $19.30 each. 

Amongst brokers, targets are ranging from $24 to $29.40 from Morgans.

These targets indicate an upside potential between 24% and 50%. 

This kind of upside can be hard to come buy for ASX 200 stocks. 

The post Are these the 3 best value ASX 200 shares right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I've had a look at the broker reports published this week and selected three that make a good case for potentially lucrative upside in the shares covered.

Let's look at what they're saying.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Shares in the employment website and technology company have struggled over the past 12 months, shedding about 45% of their value over the period.

The analyst team at Jarden thinks the shares are oversold and bases this opinion on a "proprietary tracker" it has built to assess how Seek is faring.

In short, they think the company is well-positioned.

As they said:

We believe Seek can easily achieve its 'low double digit' yield growth guidance for FY26 … 2H26's strong momentum gives us confidence that Seek can achieve its 'high single digit' % yield growth ambition in ANZ, with upside risk. Our proprietary tracker indicates that Seek has maintained its year-on-year pricing growth from 1H26 into 2H26.

Jarden notes that it believes the Australian labour market is past its peak, which will be a headwind for the company.

Jarden has a price target of $23.25 on Seek shares, down from $23.50, but still well above the current price of $13.07. If achieved, the price target would constitute a 77.8% gain.

Propel Funeral Partners Ltd (ASX: PFP)

Propel just announced three acquisitions in New Zealand, which will cost it $9.1 million and expand its network into regional markets.

Together, the companies being acquired generate about $4 million in revenue from more than 700 funerals annually and operate from four locations.

The company also gave guidance on its expected performance this year, saying revenue would be in the range of $225 to $230 million compared to last year's $225.8 million, while EBITDA would be in the range of $54.5 to $56.5 million, compared to last year's $56.2 million.

Macquarie downgraded its outlook for the company across the next three years, but still has a share price target of $5.50, well above current levels of $3.24. If achieved, the price target would constitute a 69.8% gain.

IperionX Ltd (ASX: IPX)

This company this week published a definitive feasibility study for its Titan critical minerals project in the US, which said the project could be developed over two stages for US$381.3 million.

The mine, which would produce titanium, zircon, and heavy rare earth concentrate, was expected to have a mine life of 14 years and to earn US$2.8 billion in EBITDA over that period.

Bell Potter, in a report issued this week, has a speculative buy rating on the shares, with a price target of $8.25 compared to the current price of $5.43.

If achieved, the price target would constitute a 51.9% return.

Bell Potter said the company now had the opportunity to forge ahead with funding and partnership discussions.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares poised for 52% to 78% gains appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 spent the entire session in red territory, and ended up closing with a 0.057% loss. That drags the index down to 8,724.4 points.

This rather uninspiring Tuesday session for the local markets comes after a more positive start to the American trading week up on the US markets last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a wild ride, but managed to pull off a win, gaining 0.091%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was a little more decisive, rising 0.42%.

But let's return to the ASX boards now and take stock of what the different ASX sectors were up to amid today's challenging trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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

This follows a 3.7% decline over the prior two months and rising 2% year on year.

That is not a dramatic number on its own.

But in the context of a labour market that has been softening since mid-2022, it represents a potential inflection point.

Senior economist Callam Pickering noted that Victoria and New South Wales recorded the strongest growth for the month, and that Queensland and Western Australia have been the two best performers over the past year.

Three ASX shares in particular stand to benefit from an improving jobs market, each through a different mechanism.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

The most direct beneficiary of rising job ads is Seek.

Australia's dominant online employment marketplace earns revenue primarily from employers paying to advertise job vacancies.

When ad volumes fall, Seek's revenue growth slows. When they rise, the trend goes in the other direction.

Seek shares are down approximately 47% year to date in 2026, battered by the prolonged decline in ad volumes since mid-2022.

Despite those volume headwinds, Seek's first-half FY 2026 result demonstrated resilience.

Revenue grew 21% to a record $765 million, driven by AI-enabled product innovations that boosted pricing and yield even as raw volumes softened.

Seek's placement share in the Australian recruitment market stands at 4.9 times its nearest competitor, a dominance that gives the company significant pricing power regardless of short-term volume fluctuations.

Today's data, combined with a second consecutive month of trend improvement per SEEK's own May employment report, is the first tangible evidence that the ad volume trough may be approaching.

Citi carries a buy rating on Seek with a price target of $26.

This would imply significant upside from current levels. Citi describes the stock as meaningfully undervalued given its dominant market position.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero benefits from a rising labour market through a less obvious but equally important channel.

When Australian businesses hire more staff, they need payroll software to manage those employees.

Xero is the payroll and accounting platform of choice for the vast majority of Australian small businesses.

Every new employee added to an Australian small business payroll is a potential trigger for an existing Xero customer to upgrade their subscription tier or add payroll module functionality.

That dynamic makes Xero's revenue growth positively correlated with Australian employment activity in a way that few investors fully appreciate.

Xero shares are down 56% over the past twelve months, battered by a combination of sector-wide software selling and concerns about Melio acquisition costs.

Nevertheless, the underlying business continues to deliver.

In FY 2026, Xero reported operating revenue of $2.75 billion, up 31% on FY 2025, with adjusted EBITDA growing 18% to $757.4 million.

The board also authorised a $550 million share buyback for FY 2027, a clear signal of management confidence in the business at current prices.

For patient investors, the combination of a recovering labour market, a dominant small business platform, and a buyback-supported share price makes Xero one of the more interesting beaten-down technology stocks on the ASX today.

Peoplein Ltd (ASX: PPE)

For investors prepared to accept higher risk in exchange for a more direct earnings link to the jobs market, Peoplein offers the most leveraged exposure of the three.

Formerly known as People Infrastructure, Peoplein is an ASX-listed workforce solutions company operating across healthcare and community, professional services, and industrial and specialist services.

The company directly places contract workers with clients, meaning its revenue rises and falls with employment activity.

Hospitality, education and training, and nursing were among the sectors contributing the most to job advertisement growth in May. Peoplein operates directly across these three verticals, with its 26 brands across Australia and New Zealand.

Foolish Takeaway

It may be too early to say whether improving job ads data signals a full labour market recovery.

Despite the uptick in May, figures remained 2% below the recent February peak, and ANZ economist Madeline Dunk expects the economy to slow over the coming months, with the unemployment rate gradually rising.

However, for Seek, Xero, and Peoplein, even a stabilisation in labour market conditions removes a meaningful headwind that has weighed on each business throughout 2026.

This week's data is the first positive macro signal these three ASX shares have received in some time.

The post Job ads rose for the first time in three months. Here is why that is good news for these ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Hays 2026 Jobs Report confirms that accountants, teachers, engineers, and trades workers remain undersupplied relative to employer demand across the country.

The construction sector alone needs 90,000 additional workers to meet the federal government's 1.2 million home target by 2029. 

For a company that sits at the centre of how Australian employers and job seekers find each other, that backdrop should be unambiguously positive. 

Yet Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) shares are down approximately 50% in the last twelve months, making it one of the worst performing large-cap technology stocks on the ASX this year. 

The question for investors is whether that sell-off represents a warning sign or a rare buying opportunity.

What has gone wrong in the near term

The near-term headwinds are worth acknowledging. 

Job ad volumes in Australia and New Zealand dipped in the first half of FY2026 due to macroeconomic factors, including elevated interest rates, cost of living pressures, and corporate caution around headcount expansion. 

Australia's unemployment rate jumped to its highest level since late 2021 in April 2026, as reported by the ABS, as a wave of corporate redundancies pushed more workers onto the market simultaneously. 

For a business that earns revenue primarily from employers paying to advertise job vacancies, softer hiring conditions translate directly into lower ad volumes and slower revenue growth. 

That is one core reason the market has sold the stock down so aggressively this year.

But the underlying business keeps improving

Despite the volume headwinds, Seek's first-half FY2026 result demonstrated that the business model is becoming more resilient, not less. 

Revenue grew 21% to a record $765 million for the half year, driven by AI-enabled product innovations that boosted pricing and yield even as raw ad volumes softened. 

Seek's placement share in the Australian recruitment market now stands at 4.9 times its nearest competitor, a dominance that is almost impossible to replicate and gives the company significant pricing power regardless of short-term volume fluctuations. 

The company declared a record interim dividend of 25 cents per share, a 25% increase on the prior corresponding period.

This signals management confidence in the business trajectory despite the challenging macro backdrop. 

Seek's AI-powered platform improvements, including smarter candidate matching, automated screening tools, and dynamic pricing, are expanding the value the platform delivers to both employers and job seekers.

This in turn supports ongoing price growth without material churn.

The skills shortage thesis

The near-term softness in job ads is driven by macroeconomic cyclicality.

However, there is no structural change to Australia's underlying skills shortage. 

The Hays 2026 Jobs Report confirms that demand for skilled professionals in engineering, technology, healthcare, and construction exceeds available supply.

This is a gap that demographic trends will widen rather than close over the coming decade. 

As the RBA's hiking cycle eventually reaches its peak and business confidence stabilises, employer hiring activity should gradually recover.

Seek will be the primary beneficiary of that normalisation given its dominant market position and the absence of any meaningful competition at scale. 

Furthermore, Seek's international operations in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, offer a significant and largely untapped growth opportunity as those labour markets continue to formalise and digitalise. 

Citi carries a buy rating on SEEK with a price target of $26, implying upside of approximately 80% from current levels, and has acknowledged near-term headwinds while maintaining that the stock remains meaningfully undervalued at current prices. 

Foolish takeaway

Seek is not a stock for investors seeking a near-term catalyst. 

The macro headwinds are significant and the share price may remain under pressure until hiring volumes clearly recover. 

However, for patient investors with a multi-year time horizon, the combination of an unassailable domestic market position, AI-powered platform improvements, a growing international opportunity, and Australia's structural skills shortage as a persistent demand tailwind makes the current entry point worth serious consideration.

The post Why Australia's skills shortage could be a long-term tailwind for this ASX stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However there is a pivotal point where ASX shares, despite these headwinds, become especially attractive to value investors.

This arbitrary number can be difficult for investors to pinpoint. 

However looking at expert estimates can help identify ASX shares that have been oversold, and now represent a buy low candidate. 

Here are three such options that may have reached that price after hitting fresh 52-week lows yesterday.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Seek is a global leader in the online employment marketplace, serving Australia, Asia, Latin America, and beyond.

Its share price tumbled 5% yesterday to hit a new 52-week low of $12.08 per share. 

This was despite no price sensitive news from the company. 

Seek shares are now down 48% year to date. 

It seemed they had finally shaken AI replacement fears during April as its share price recovered somewhat. 

However the downslide has since continued during May. 

These ASX shares now appear too cheap to ignore. 

At the time of writing, 14 analysts offering a one year forecast have an average price target of $23.12 on Seek shares. 

This indicates an upside potential of 91% from current levels. 

Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

Austal is an Australian-based shipbuilder that specialises in the design, construction, and support of defence and commercial vessels globally.

Its products include naval vessels, defence surface warfare combatants, high-speed support vessels, patrol boats for law enforcement, offshore vessels, as well as passenger and vehicle ferries.

The company enjoyed a defence craze in 2025, as its share price rocketed over 100% during the last calendar year. 

However since the start of 2026, it has crashed 44%. 

This has come despite contract wins and a record order book of $17.7 billion in contracted work, up from $13.1 billion just eight months earlier. 

It now has a decade of work locked in the pipeline, yet has been heavily sold off. 

Broker targets are hovering around $6.94 for this ASX defence stock. 

This is 83% higher than its current share price, making it an enticing buy low option. 

Energy One Ltd (ASX: EOL)

Energy One engages in the development and provision of software solutions to the electricity and gas sector.

Its share price slumped 5% yesterday and it now sits 32% lower today than the start of 2026. 

These ASX shares also now appear oversold, as recent price targets have been placed on the company as high as $17.10. 

From yesterday's closing price of $11.63, this indicates a 47% upside. 

The post Are these oversold ASX shares too cheap to ignore? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Since then, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has recovered by 12%.

By comparison, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has risen 2.1% over the same period.

Let's look back and see what happened to the share prices of the top 10 ASX tech shares during the downturn.

Then, let's compare that data to the performance of BetaShares S&P/ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC).

Given the popularity of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) these days, I'm curious as to whether the only ASX tech ETF tracking Australian technology shares alone provided any protection against the sector downturn.

One of the appeals of ETFs is that they represent a basket of stocks. This can reduce the impact of a large price drop in a single stock.

But what if a whole sector falls? Does the structure of ASX ETFs provide any protection for investors?

Let's conduct a litmus test.

Top 10 ASX tech shares

As stated earlier, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index fell 48% between 29 August and 30 March, and has rebounded 12% since.

Let's compare that to the share price falls and recoveries of the top 10 tech shares on the market.

How did ATEC ETF do?

The ATEC ETF fell 42% between 29 August and 30 March compared to the 48% drop for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index.

Since then, ATEC ETF has recovered 8% compared to a 12% lift for the ASX 200 Info Tech Index.

So, the fall was not as bad with ATEC ETF during the tech rout, but the recovery has not been as fast as the ASX 200 tech sector.

Interesting.

ATEC tracks the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (before fees and expenses).

It's the only option for investors who want exposure to Australian technology through an ASX ETF.

However, it's important to know that the S&P/ASX All Technology Index is different to the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index.

The ASX 200 Info Tech Index is comprised of the top 200 tech companies ranked and weighted by market capitalisation.

The All Tech Index is much smaller, comprised of just 45 companies, and only 56% are technically in the tech sector.

The others are from the communications, industrials, healthcare, and financial sectors, but their operations are heavily tech-related.

For example, the largest holding in ATEC is ASX 200 industrials share, Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) at 10%.

The fourth biggest holding is Car Group Limited (ASX: CAR), which is a communications sector share, at 8.9%.

The owner of realestate.com.au, REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), is the sixth biggest holding at 7.5%. REA is also a communications share.

At No. 8 is ASX 200 healthcare share Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) at 6%.

At No. 9 is another communications share, Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) at 4.2%.

This diversity of sectors, along with the less volatile nature of ETFs, appears to have provided some protection during the tech sector rout.

The post ASX tech shares vs. ATEC ETF: How they fared during sector downturn appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During periods of market weakness, it's important to look for stocks with the strongest outlooks. Here are four ASX stocks that brokers rate as strong buys, with potential upside of over 50%.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Seek shares have tumbled another 0.6% in Wednesday morning trade, to $13.97 a piece. There is no price-sensitive news from the company this week, so the downward share price pressure is likely a mix of broad economic fears about slowing economic growth and a higher cost of living, combined with concerns about a weakening job market. Seek reported robust double-digit revenue growth for the first half of FY26, although investors were underwhelmed by the result. But it looks like analysts consider the shares well below fair value. Hiring activity is expected to slowly improve this year, and as a company so closely linked to the employment market, this is great news for Seek. Market Index data shows brokers are tipping a 58% upside to $21.94 at the time of writing.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Telix shares have rebounded sharply from a multi-year low in mid-February. In Wednesday morning trade, the ASX 200 biopharmaceutical stock is climbing higher again, up 0.2% to $14.77 a piece. The rebound comes off the back of a series of good-news announcements out of the company over the past couple of months. In late February, the company confirmed that it had filed a key regulatory approval in Europe. Later in March, Telix posted several announcements about its growth and development plans. Earlier this month, Telix announced that the FDA had accepted its NDA for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®) and also announced a major collaboration with US-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. It has also announced a 56% increase in revenue and issued FY26 guidance in the range of US$950 million to US$970 million. Brokers seem to think there is plenty more room for the stock to run too. They tip a 54% upside to $22.63 a piece, at the time of writing.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

Westgold shares are tumbling this morning, down 1.23% to $6.02 a piece, after posting a $285 million quarterly cash build ahead of the market open. The miner maintained its FY26 gold production guidance of 345,000 to 385,000 ounces despite slightly lower quarterly grades and volumes. A softening gold price has also contributed to downward pressure on many ASX gold stocks this week. But Westgold said it expects production rates to ramp up in Q4 FY26, with ventilation upgrades at Beta Hunt and Big Bell now complete and no major shutdowns planned. Its Higginsville Expansion Plan is also underway, with plans to increase processing capacity and reduce unit costs from mid FY28. Brokers tip a 55% upside to $9.31 per share over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Zip shares are in focus this month after rebounding from an annual low in late March. The shares have rocketed 64% higher over the past month, and the gains keep on coming. The ASX 200 stock is up another 1.24% at the time of writing to $2.44 a piece. The BNPL provider posted its Q3 FY26 results ahead of the ASX earlier this month, including a 41.5% year-on-year EBITDA increase. The company also updated FY26 guidance figures ahead of the back of the results. It looks like investor sentiment has finally turned a corner, and many are buying back into the tech company's shares. Brokers tip a 56% upside to $3.76 over the next 12 months.

The post 4 ASX 200 stocks rated a strong buy with an upside over 50% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

US President Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to several demands during further talks between the two nations.

Meanwhile, the US continues its blockade of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf, and Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire.

Amid this week's ongoing turmoil, brokers have reduced their ratings on six ASX 200 shares this week.

Let's take a look.

Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC)

The Lynas Rare Earths share price is $20.76, down 0.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has lifted 3.7%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded Lynas shares to a hold rating on Wednesday.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $18.50 to $20.45.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is $5.98, up 4.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 lithium share has rocketed 28%.

Morgan Stanley downgraded this stock to a hold rating this week.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $5.30 to $5.25.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac share price is $39.58, down 1.1% today.

Over the past month, the ASX 200 bank share has fallen 4.6%.

Morgans downgraded Westpac shares from a trim to sell rating this week.

The broker has a $34.04 target on the financial stock.

Morgans said:

WBC published a trading update ahead of its 1H26 result due for release on 5 May.

Implied revenues were weaker, costs lower, and credit impairment charges higher than our and market expectations.

We revise our rating from TRIM to SELL as total return expectations at current prices have fallen below the -10% trigger.

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

The Bank of Queensland share price is $7.29, up 0.2%.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has lifted 5.3%.

Morgans downgraded the bank share to a hold rating on Wednesday.

The broker has a $7.39 target price on Bank of Queensland shares.

Morgans said:

We expect a material decline in 1H26 earnings, with recent share price strength driven by the expected capital return from the equipment finance whole-of-loan sale.

Share price strength has compressed total return potential to c.5%.

As such, we moderate our rating from ACCUMULATE to HOLD.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

The Seek share price is $15.54, up 1.1% today.

Over the past month, this ASX communications share has increased 6.4%.

Jefferies downgraded Seek shares to a hold rating this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $24.80 to $15.90.

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price is $62.47, up 5.3% today.

The ASX 200 mining share is 13.3% higher over the past month.

Morgans lowered its rating from buy to accumulate this week.

The broker has a slightly reduced 12-month price target of $67.

Morgans said:

We have updated our 2H26 forecasts to reflect weather impacts in 3Q26, which we expect to have a modest effect on Onslow iron ore shipments, alongside minor increases to cost and capex assumptions driven by inflation in shipping and fuel.

We have also incorporated our revised LT iron ore price of US$85/t (previously US$80/t).

… we move to an ACCUMULATE rating (previously BUY) as recent share price strength has reduced valuation upside.

The post 6 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two standout examples are Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) and Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK).

Over the past six months, Megaport shares have plunged 53%, while Seek has dropped 47%. Both have been caught in the same broad tech sell-off that has hit valuations across the sector.

So, is this the bottom or just another leg down?

Let's take a closer look.

Megaport: beaten down, but not broken?

This ASX tech stock has had a brutal run. But underneath the share price weakness, its core business continues to tap into a powerful long-term trend: the growth of cloud computing and data infrastructure.

Megaport provides network-as-a-service solutions, allowing businesses to connect to cloud providers quickly and efficiently. As demand for data, Artificial Intelligence, and cloud services accelerates, that positioning becomes increasingly valuable.

And there's a new tailwind emerging. According to Citi, demand for GPU rentals is surging, a trend that could significantly benefit Megaport's Latitude business. As companies race to access AI computing power, infrastructure providers like Megaport could sit right in the middle of that demand spike.

Citi clearly sees value here. The broker has retained its buy rating and a $14.65 price target, implying potential upside of 114% from current levels.

That's a bold call, but not without risk. The ASX tech stock is still a high-growth tech company, which means execution matters. Any slowdown in customer growth or margins could quickly derail sentiment. And in the current market, investors are less forgiving of misses.

Still, if AI-driven demand continues to build, Megaport could be one of the quieter beneficiaries.

Seek: a digital leader facing near-term headwinds

Seek tells a slightly different story. Unlike many tech names, this ASX tech stock is already a well-established, profitable business with a dominant position in online job classifieds across Australia and key international markets.

That market leadership gives it strong pricing power and a highly scalable platform. When hiring activity is strong, Seek tends to perform exceptionally well.

But that's also where the risk lies. Seek is closely tied to economic conditions. If hiring slows — particularly in key markets — revenue growth can come under pressure. And right now, there are signs of exactly that.

Citi recently flagged near-term headwinds but still believes the ASX tech stock is undervalued. The broker has a $26 price target, suggesting around 77% upside from current levels.

The broader analyst community agrees. According to TradingView data, most brokers rate Seek as a buy or strong buy. The most bullish forecasts go even further, with price targets as high as $28.40, nearly double where the stock trades today.

Foolish Takeaway

Both Megaport and Seek have been hit hard by the tech sell-off. But neither story is broken.

Megaport offers exposure to the fast-growing world of cloud and AI infrastructure. Seek provides a dominant, cash-generating platform tied to employment cycles.

Both ASX tech stocks come with risks and face near-term uncertainty. But if sentiment turns and growth expectations stabilise these beaten-down tech stocks could have significant upside from here.

The question for investors is simple: are you willing to ride out the volatility to capture it?

The post Down 50%, but could these top ASX tech stocks double from here? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Since last Thursday, Australia's benchmark index has recovered roughly 4%. 

If this momentum continues, there are several notable ASX stocks that could be poised for strong growth. 

Here are five ASX stocks with lofty price targets from brokers. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech is a provider of logistics software that aims to improve the world's supply chains. 

It has suffered along with many tech shares at the hands of artificial intelligence integration/takeover fears. 

This has resulted in a 45% fall year to date. 

However, brokers are anticipating a rebound in the mid-term. 

The team at Blackwattle are confident it will be one of the tech shares to emerge from this bear market. 

Additionally, Morgan Stanley has a buy rating on Wisetech along with a $70 price target. 

From today's stock price of $37.43, that indicates approximately 87% upside. 

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Similar AI takeover fears have weighed heavily on Seek shares this year. 

The company behind the well-known online employment marketplace has seen its share price fall nearly 37% in 2026. 

Last month, the team at Citi acknowledged there are some headwinds coming for the company, but they still think it is undervalued.

The broker has a $26 price target on this ASX stock, which indicates an upside of roughly 76% from current levels. 

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group is an online real estate advertising company that provides property and property-related services on websites and mobile apps across Australia, Asia, and North America.

So far in 2026, its share price has fallen by almost 15% and remains down 35% in the last year. 

Some estimates from brokers place a fair price target of $199 on this ASX stock, indicating an upside of 26%. 

Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL)

Catalyst Metals is engaged in the mineral exploration, evaluation, and production of gold.

Like many gold shares, it enjoyed a strong run-up until January this year. 

Since then, it has dropped by more than 30%. 

However, 6 analysts' forecasts on TradingView have an average one-year price target of $14.10, which is 110% above today's opening stock price of $6.69. 

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

Vulcan Energy is focused on providing lithium with a zero-carbon footprint to European electric vehicle manufacturers.

This ASX stock has fallen by approximately 15% year to date. 

Today, it is changing hands for roughly $3.72 per share. 

However, the average analyst stock price target on TradingView is $7.24, which is 94% above current levels. 

The post Could these ASX stocks double by the end of 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Some of these companies have been oversold, however, and for some, AI looks set to be a positive, allowing them to build products more cheaply and serve their customers better.

The analyst team at Citi has recently issued research notes to their clients on three ASX technology shares they think are looking cheap.

So let's take a look.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Citi says that its analysis of the rate of business formation and insolvencies paints a positive outlook for Xero, "with business formation accelerating in Australia and US and insolvency trends improving in Australia and New Zealand, steady in UK and increasing in US''.

The Citi team added:

While there is typically a lag between both metrics and subscriber growth and churn for Xero, we see this as positive. One question is whether AI is driving an increase in business formation – in our view, it is likely too early but is an interesting trend to watch as it could be an offset to the disruption thesis.  

Citi has a price target of $144.80 on Xero shares, compared with its current price of $77, which would represent an 88.1% return if achieved.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

The Citi team believes there are some headwinds coming for employment listings company Seek, but they still think the company is undervalued.

On the downside, Citi says job listings in Australia were down 3% year on year in February and 0.5% month on month, which they said wasn't surprising given the rate hike in February.

The Citi team added:

After the rate hikes in February and March, Citi economists expect another hike in May due to concerns over inflation expectations. These may pose downside risk on job volumes for the remainder of FY26 and 1H27 job volumes.

Despite these moderating factors, Citi has a price target of $26 on Seek shares compared with $14.44 currently. If achieved, this would be an 80.1% return.

Block Inc (ASX: XYZ)

This company, which owns payments brands Square and CashApp, announced last month that it would slash staff numbers by 4,000 to a new headcount of 6,000.

Citi said this has been the focus of much investor attention, but in its view, the more interesting AI development would be its ability to drive product releases "leading to potential gross profit upside".

The Citi team added:

Focusing on recent initiatives led by AI releases, our proprietary analysis shows potential gross profit growth outperformance vs consensus by about 180 basis points in 2026, about 430 basis points in 2027 and about 440 basis points in 2028, pushing consolidated GP growth to the high-teens.

Citi has a price target of US$85 on Block shares, compared to US$59.37 currently. That increase would represent a 43.2% gain.

Applied to the Australian-listed Block shares, it would mean an increase from $82.86 currently to $118.57.

The post What are the 3 ASX technology shares Citi rates as a buy at the moment? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Seek reported robust double-digit revenue growth for the first half of FY26, but investors were underwhelmed, and the share price dived once again. The ASX 200 company's shares are now down 50% from a multi-year high recorded in September last year. 

But it looks like after a sharp pullback, Seek shares are now trading well below fair value. Analysts are expecting to see a slow improvement to hiring activity, and as a company so closely linked to the employment market, this is great news for Seek. Meanwhile, the company's engagement with AI technology could help to drive user engagement.

Analysts are tipping a 68% upside to an average target price of $24.45.

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)

Light & Wonder posted a 4% revenue lift and 18% increase in adjusted NPATA in its FY25 results last month. It didn't do anything to boost sentiment though, and the share price has continued tumbling.

The stock is now down 37% from an all-time high posted in mid-January this year. The ASX 200 company's shares leapt 25% on announcement that it has settled its legal dispute with Aristocrat Leisure. 

Analyst sentiment still appears to be optimistic, however. Earnings results have reinforced confidence in management's execution, but some are still concerned about revenue consistency. It's also likely that a lot of pullback in the share price is investors taking gains off the table after large spikes in the company's value.

Analysts are tipping a 78% upside to $204.29 a piece.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The ASX travel stock has recently crashed to a six-year low after a Spanish audit into Web Travel Group sent sentiment spiralling. The audit will review direct taxes paid (and owed) between April 2021 and March 2024, as well as indirect taxes for the period between January 2022 and December 2025. The news sent tongues wagging, and investors rushed to hit the sell button in a state of panic.

It looks like the selloff has been way overdone now, and the shares are very cheap.

Analysts are tipping a 125% upside to $15.01 a piece.

The post Top 3 ASX 200 shares I'd buy today with $12,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

Let's defer to the experts.

ASX 200 shares at new annual lows today

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

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

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

On The Bull this month, Gable lamented:

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

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

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

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

Car Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

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

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

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

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

Grimm commented:

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

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

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

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

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

He said:

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

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

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

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

Morgans sees an opportunity at this price level.

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

Morgans said:

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

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

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

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

ASX 200 set to rebound

The Australian share market looks set for a good session on Tuesday following a decent start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 43 points or 0.5% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.8%, the S&P 500 is up 0.95%, and the Nasdaq is 1.1% higher.

Oil prices sink

It could be a poor session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 4.75% to US$93.89 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.7% to US$100.31 a barrel. This was driven by news that Donald Trump is pressuring allies to protect tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

RBA meeting

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares will be on watch on Tuesday when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) makes its decision on interest rates. According to the latest cash rate futures, the market is pricing in a 71% probability of the RBA lifting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1%.

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price softened overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.85% to US$5,019.4 an ounce. Inflation fears have been weighing on the precious metal.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes job listings company Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK), plumbing parts company Reece Ltd (ASX: REH), and debt collector Credit Corp Ltd (ASX: CCP). With respect to Seek, it will be rewarding its shareholders with a fully franked 27 cents per share interim dividend on 1 April.

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

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

As we've reported, some of the biggest dividend increases among ASX mining shares this season came from the gold miners.

Next week, two of them go ex-dividend.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 3 cents per share on 15 April.

This exceeds the company's commitment to pay a minimum annual dividend of 2 cents per share for FY26.

Ramelius Resources reported a 13% increase in EBITDA to $347.7 million but a 6% fall in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $160 million.

The ASX gold share goes ex-dividend on Monday.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares will pay a maiden fully franked interim dividend of 5 cents per share.

The gold miner reported a 130% jump in underlying NPAT to $144.8 million for 1H FY26.

The ASX gold share also goes ex-dividend on Monday.

Here is a sample of the other ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post 26 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week 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:

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The Coles share price is down 2.5% to $20.57. This has been driven by the supermarket giant's shares trading ex-dividend this morning. Last month, the company released its half-year results and declared a fully franked interim dividend of 41 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this payout later this month on 30 March.

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)

The Pantoro Gold share price is down 20% to $3.90. This appears to have been driven by the release of the gold miner's half-year results after the market close on Monday. Although the company reported a significant jump in revenue to $238.6 million (from $153.4 million) and an even larger increase in EBITDA to $135.5 million (from $63.8 million), this was overshadowed by a guidance downgrade. Management revealed that it now expects production of 86,000 ounces to 92,000 ounces for FY 2026. This is down from its previous guidance range of 100,000 ounces to 110,000 ounces. This has been driven by a significant rain event associated with ex-tropical cyclone Mitchell in February, which negatively impacted operations at Norseman.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

The Seek share price is down 2% to $16.09. Investors have been selling this job listings giant's shares after they were downgraded by analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG). According to the note, Macquarie has downgraded Seek's shares to a neutral rating with a trimmed price target of $18.50. The broker has concerns over the outlook for the Australian job market given rate hikes, automation, and AI disruption.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is down over 5% to $29.66. This has been driven by a sharp pullback in oil prices overnight after US President Donald Trump suggested that the US could take control of the Strait of Hormuz. This would help with bringing oil supply back to the market. It isn't just Woodside shares falling today. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down over 4%.

The post Why Coles, Pantoro Gold, Seek, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.