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

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday despite a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 24 points or 0.25% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 2.85%, the S&P 500 jumped 2.5% and the Nasdaq stormed 2.8% higher.

CSL shares given hold rating

Bell Potter still thinks it is too early to buy CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the biotherapeutics giant's shares with a $155.00 price target (from $175.00). It said: "The current share price reflects a materially de-rated PE multiple of ~15x our FY27 NPAT forecast, bringing CSL in line with the global biopharma peer set which also trades at an avg PE of 15x. While CSL doesn't face the same extent of generic/biosimilar competition as these biopharma peers, it does have a lower growth outlook of ~2.5% revenue CAGR (3yr) per our forecast compared to >4% avg for global peers."

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices crashed overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 14.6% to US$96.42 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 12% to US$96.19 a barrel. This has been driven by the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Dividend payday

Today is payday for shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares. This includes CSL, Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM), Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH), Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX), and NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH). CSL will be rewarding its shareholders with a $1.81 per share dividend later today.

Gold price lifts

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.3% to US$4,748.1 an ounce. Traders appear to believe that falling oil prices could limit interest rate hikes, which would be good news for the precious metal.

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

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

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

ASX All Ords shares about to go ex-dividend

Which companies will we hear from today?

The big one today is the half-yearly report from supermarket network Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Woolworths shares ripped this week after the ASX All Ords consumer staples giant reported a 16% profit lift to $859 million for 1H FY26.

We'll also hear from TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Michael Hill International Ltd (ASX: MHJ), and Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA).

The latest report from The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) will also be interesting, as investors seek further news on the turnaround plan for the beleaguered casino operator.

Yesterday, Star Entertainment shares bounced on news of a debt refinancing deal, including extra liquidity to fund the turnaround plan.

The post 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The takeover consortium initially launched the conditional bid for BlueScope in January at $30 per share, which was quickly rejected by the BlueScope board as too low.

The consortium came back with a revised bid for BlueScope on February 18, offering $32.35 per share, which was, they argued, equivalent to $34 per share once BlueScope's interim and special dividends were added back in.

Bid still too low

The board on Thursday responded to the revised offer, saying it was really only worth $31 per share, given that it planned to pay shareholders $1.65 per share plus another $1.35 in distributions.

The board added:

On this basis, the board has assessed that the scheme consideration would be only $31 per share given that no transaction with the consortium could be completed prior to the payment of the further distributions already announced by BlueScope. If a transaction completed in calendar year 2027, that would cause a further reduction in the offer price below $31 per share.

The board said in its statement that it stood by comments made prior to the increased bid being offered, that the proposal "significantly undervalued the company''.

It added:

The board maintains its view on the fundamental value of BlueScope. The revised proposal does not adequately address our valuation concerns. Consequently the offer price is not sufficient for the board to recommend a scheme of arrangement to its shareholders.

Value could be increased

The board said that despite the revised bid being a "best and final" offer, "we consider that there are various ways to increase the vale that BlueScope shareholders could receive''.

They added:

The board remains open to a transaction at a price that reflects the fair value of BlueScope.

The board said they were happy to look at the assumptions made in the financial modelling of the proposed acquirers and provide feedback.

The board of BlueScope also said there were onerous conditions to the proposed takeover, one of which was the requirement for "hard" exclusivity, meaning BlueScope could not engage with other potential bidders.

They also considered it onerous that the bidders wanted a unanimous recommendation from the board in favour of the bid before due diligence had started.

BlueScope shares were trading lower on Thursday, down 3.1% at $27.50. The company was valued at $12.4 billion at Wednesday's close.

The post BlueScope shares on the slide as takeover again rebuffed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Following earnings results, the company saw its share price climb 3.5% higher. 

For those unfamiliar, SGH is a leading Australian diversified operating and investment group with market leading businesses and investments in industrial services, energy and media sectors.

What did the company report?

In yesterday's results this ASX industrials stock reported:

• Revenue of $5.4 billion, down 2% from 1HY25
• EBIT of $844 million, flat year-on-year, up 22% on 2H FY25
• NPAT of $518 million, up 2% on the prior corresponding period
• EBITDA of $1.1 billion, up 1%
• Operating cash flow of $1.1 billion, up 32%
• Interim fully franked dividend of 32 cents per share, up 7%

Investors were seemingly pleased with the results, as the stock price climbed more than 3%. 

It is now up an impressive 8.7% already in 2026. 

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials (ASX: XNJ) index is up just 0.21% since the start of the year. 

What is Bell Potter's updated outlook?

Following the results, the team at Bell Potter provided updated guidance on this ASX industrials stock. 

Bell Potter said SGH's first-half FY26 result was slightly better than expected. 

This was mainly due to stronger profits from its investments rather than its core businesses. 

The company reported underlying EBIT (uEBIT) of $820 million, which was broadly in line with expectations. 

The overall 4% "beat" came from higher-than-expected profits from equity-accounted investments, particularly Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Seven West Media Ltd (ASX: SWM)

Together these contributed $24 million more than forecast. Excluding this boost, the core result was largely as expected.

Other individual businesses under the SGH umbrella largely performed in line with expectations. 

The company also declared a fully franked interim dividend of 32 cents per share, which was in line with expectations.

Price target increase

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter increased its price target to $56.00 (previously $51.80). 

The broker also maintained its buy recommendation. 

From yesterday's closing price of $50.91, this indicates an upside of 10%. 

Our Target Price lifts to $56.00/sh (up from $51.80/sh) due to model roll-forward and a more optimistic medium-term outlook for Boral sales. We believe operating conditions are set to improve for Boral and Coates from cycle-lows in Infrastructure and residential construction markets. 

With net leverage currently at multi-year lows, SGH has even greater financial flexibility to deliver accretive M&A, a major re-rate catalyst.

The post What is Bell Potter's view on this ASX industrials stock that jumped 3% on earnings results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did SGH report?

• Revenue of $5.4 billion, down 2% from 1HY25
• EBIT of $844 million, flat year-on-year, up 22% on 2H FY25
• NPAT of $518 million, up 2% on the prior corresponding period
• EBITDA of $1.1 billion, up 1%
• Operating cash flow of $1.1 billion, up 32%
• Interim fully franked dividend of 32 cents per share, up 7%

What else do investors need to know?

SGH saw EBIT margin expand 30 basis points to 15.6%, mainly driven by Boral and WesTrac performing strongly thanks to operating leverage and cost initiatives. Boral posted a 10% EBID growth, while continued focus on cash generation helped lower the adjusted net debt to EBITDA ratio to 1.9x, giving SGH extra financial flexibility.

Safety remains a top priority, with the company reporting a 36% reduction in Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate and further progress on operational safety across its businesses. The group also refinanced debt, securing longer maturities and reducing funding costs, with over $2.2 billion in liquidity available at the end of December.

What did SGH management say?

Managing Director & CEO Ryan Stokes said:

We are pleased to deliver a strong result for the first half of FY26. It demonstrates the strength and resilience of our diversified industrial businesses. In a dynamic market, we delivered earnings growth in our core Industrial Services segment, expanded our margins, and generated significant growth in operating cash flow.

What's next for SGH?

SGH heads into the second half of FY26 with solid operational momentum and a balanced outlook across its sectors. The company is sticking with its "SGH Way" operating model, focusing on sales execution, efficiency, and innovation.

Management reiterated guidance for "low to mid single-digit EBIT growth" for FY26, supported by balanced market exposures and ongoing cost control. Investors can expect ongoing investment into key projects and disciplined capital management.

SGH share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, SGH shares have declined 4%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post SGH delivers strong first-half FY26 earnings with higher dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In a notice lodged with the ASX late on Thursday afternoon, the superannuation fund indicated that it had increased its stake in BlueScope, which on Wednesday rejected a $30 per share takeover offer from SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and US company Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD).

AustralianSuper's stake in BlueScope increased from 12.5% to 13.52% following share purchases on Monday and Tuesday at prices ranging from $24.38 to $29.55.

Strong bargaining position

Given that AustralianSuper's stake is higher than 10%, it puts the super fund in a strong bargaining position to potentially block any takeover bid or hold out for a higher price.

Generally, under a takeover scenario, companies can move to compulsorily acquire the shares they do not own if they manage to gain control of more than 90% of a company's shares.

The BlueScope board on Wednesday formally rejected the $30 per share bid from SGH and Steel Dynamics, after news of the bid broke on Monday.

The BlueScope board said it had unanimously rejected the bid, saying it undervalued the company.

BlueScope Chair Jane McAloon put it this way:

Let me be clear – this proposal was an attempt to take BlueScope from its shareholders on the cheap. It drastically undervalued our world-class assets, our growth momentum, and our future – and the board will not let that happen. This is the fourth time we've said no, and the answer remained the same – BlueScope is worth considerably more than what was on the table.

Ms McAloon said the company was "well recognised" for building shareholder value and had delivered over $3.8 billion in shareholder returns since 2017, achieving an average 18% return on invested capital.

Industry at a low point

Ms McAloon also said that steel spread prices in Asia were currently at a low point, and if they returned to historical average levels, "this would be expected to generate an additional $400 to $900 million of EBIT per annum relative to FY2025''.

She added that BlueScope was targeting $500 million in extra earnings from growth programs, which were "well under way", and the company was also targeting $200 million in cost and productivity improvements this financial year.

The proposal from SGH and Steel Dynamics would have involved SGH acquiring all of the shares in BlueScope and then on-selling BlueScope's North American businesses to the American company.

BlueScope shares closed at $29.40 on Thursday, valuing the company at $12.78 billion.

The post AustralianSuper boosts its stake in takeover target BlueScope Steel 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:

Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN)

The Ansell share price is down over 6% to $33.28. Investors have been selling this health and safety products company's shares after it announced the exit of its CEO. Ansell revealed that Neil Salmon has decided to retire after 13 years with the company. Replacing Salmon will be Nathalie Ahlstrom, who brings strong global experience having served until recently as CEO and President of the Fiskars Group. Commenting on the appointment, Ansell's chair, Nigel Garrard, said: "We are delighted to appoint Nathalie as Ansell's next Managing Director and CEO. Nathalie brings exceptional leadership experience, a track record of delivering results in complex global markets, and a deep understanding of innovation and operational excellence."

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)

The Elsight share price is down almost 3% to $3.48. This morning, this global provider of resilient connectivity solutions for unmanned systems announced a new contract win with a U.S.-based commercial customer in the public safety sector. However, the value of the contract is only US$460,000 (A$682,000). Though, Elsight's CEO, Yoav Amitai, believes it is a positive signal. He said: "We see this as an early indicator of accelerating commercial momentum driven by regulatory progress in parallel to the continued growth in the defence market."

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The Ramelius Resources share price is down almost 3% to $4.14. This follows the release of a quarterly update from the gold miner. Ramelius reported gold production of 45,610 ounces for the three months. This was down 17% from 55,013 ounces in the previous quarter. The company also posted underlying free cash flow of $67 million for the three months, which was down from $129 million in the first quarter. Management believes it is positioned to meet its FY 2026 guidance of 185,000 ounces to 205,000 ounces.

SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH)

The SGH share price is down 2% to $48.01. This has been driven by news that BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) has rejected its takeover proposal. The company's chair, Jane McAloon, said: "Let me be clear – this proposal was an attempt to take BlueScope from its shareholders on the cheap. It drastically undervalued our world-class assets, our growth momentum, and our future – and the Board will not let that happen. This is the fourth time we've said no, and the answer remained the same – BlueScope is worth considerably more than what was on the table."

The post Why Ansell, Elsight, Ramelius, and SGH shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the steel products manufacturer's shares are down 1% to $29.56.

What's going on with BlueScope shares?

Investors have been hitting the sell button today after the company released an update on the takeover approach it received from a consortium comprising SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and Steel Dynamics, Inc (NASDAQ: STLD).

The takeover proposal offered to acquire all BlueScope shares by way of a scheme of arrangement at a price of $30.00 cash per share.

According to the release, the BlueScope board has unanimously rejected the unsolicited, non-binding, indicative, and conditional takeover proposal from the consortium.

It notes that the takeover proposal was subject to numerous conditions, including the consortium undertaking extensive due diligence on the company on an exclusive basis and securing significant debt financing.

The board unanimously rejected the takeover proposal on the basis that it "very significantly undervalued BlueScope."

Commenting on the decision, the company's chair, Jane McAloon, didn't hold back. She said:

Let me be clear – this proposal was an attempt to take BlueScope from its shareholders on the cheap. It drastically undervalued our world-class assets, our growth momentum, and our future – and the Board will not let that happen. This is the fourth time we've said no, and the answer remained the same – BlueScope is worth considerably more than what was on the table.

The BlueScope team is well recognised for driving and delivering value for our shareholders and customers. Since its restructure was completed in financial year 2017, BlueScope has invested over $3.7 billion in growth projects, delivered over $3.8 billion of shareholder returns and achieved an 18% average return on invested capital. Under the experienced leadership of the incoming MD&CEO, Tania Archibald, the Board is highly confident that management will continue to deliver superior shareholder value.

Undervaluing its assets

BlueScope believes the consortium's takeover proposal failed to adequately recognise the value of its assets and comes at a time of lower steel spreads in Asia.

It highlights that if steel spreads and foreign exchange rates reverted to historical average levels, this would be expected to generate an additional $400 million to $900 million of EBIT per annum relative to FY 2025.

The company also points out that the consortium are seeking to debt-fund the takeover, and BlueScope had virtually no net debt at FY 2025. As a result, it feels that the bidders are seeking to use BlueScope's strong balance sheet to help fund their opportunistic takeover proposal.

The post BlueScope shares fall after rejecting 'significantly undervalued' takeover offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set to edge lower on Thursday following a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 3 points lower this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.6%, the S&P 500 is flat, and the Nasdaq is 0.5% higher.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session on Thursday after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.6% to US$56.20 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.95% to US$60.13 a barrel. This follows news that Donald Trump has reached a deal to import up to US$2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude.

Buy Premier Investments shares

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) shares could be dirt cheap according to Bell Potter. Despite a disappointing recent update from the Peter Alexander and Smiggle owner, the broker has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $20.00 (from $26.50). It said: "We see limited catalysts for Smiggle, apart from the interim management change and lower our assumptions. However, our views remain unchanged that the current share price implies minimum levels of earnings assumed in the Smiggle brand and any improvements from a lower base case should see some risk-reward for current conditions."

Gold price eases

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued session on Thursday after the gold price eased overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.75% to US$4,462 an ounce. This appears to have been driven by profit taking from traders.

Hold SGH shares

Bell Potter thinks that SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) shares are fully valued. In response to its takeover offer for BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL), the broker has retained its hold rating and $52.00 price target. It said: "We believe SGH is securing a good deal for shareholders, acquiring the Australia and RoW businesses at cycle-lows. These assets will benefit from SGH's capital-backing and high-performance operating model which has proven successful with the Boral turnaround. At an offer price of A$30.00/sh, we estimate SGH is paying A$6.00- 9.00/sh for the non-NA assets or 8.4-12.6x EV / FY25a EBIT (SGH: 15.2x pre-deal). We make no material changes to our EPS forecasts and valuation in this report."

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

For a quick refresher, on Monday, it released an announcement the company has submitted a Non-Binding Indicative Offer (NBIO), together with Steel Dynamics Inc. (NASDAQ: STLD).

The offer is to acquire 100% of BlueScope Steel by way of a scheme of arrangement (the Proposal).

In the announcement, the company said if the proposal is implemented and following the transaction close, SGH would on-sell BSL's North American operations to SDI.

This includes BSL's North Star Flat Rolled Steel Mill and Building and Coated Products North America businesses. 

SGH would retain the remaining BSL "Australia + Rest of World" operations.

This includes Australian Steel Products, Asia Coated Products, and New Zealand and Pacific Islands businesses.

According to the announcement, the consortium has offered $30.00 cash per BlueScope share. 

What did management say?

Commenting on the proposal, Ryan Stokes, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of SGH said: 

We believe BlueScope's Australian business is a strong strategic fit for SGH and we have a proven track record of driving performance improvement in domestic industrial businesses. We intend to leverage our disciplined operating model and capital allocation approach to deliver better outcomes for stakeholders.

Bell Potter weighs in

Following the announcement, Broker Bell Potter released a report with analysis on the company following the proposal. 

The broker said an all-cash consideration of A$30.00/sh was offered, representing a 27% premium to BSL's share price at NBIO submission (12 December 2025). 

This values BSL at 18.6x EV / FY25a EBIT and 9.5x EV / FY25a EBITDA (SGH: 15.2x EV / FY25a EBIT and 11.4x EV / FY25a EBITDA). 

Bell Potter also noted that Steel Dynamics had made three prior offers through a consortium (not with SGH Ltd) and alone, targeting BlueScope Steel's North American operations. 

However all prior proposals were rejected on the basis they undervalued BSL and presented a significant regulatory hurdle.

Ultimately the broker believes SGH is securing a strong deal. 

We believe SGH is securing a good deal for shareholders, acquiring the Australia and RoW businesses at cycle-lows. These assets will benefit from SGH's capital-backing and high-performance operating model which has proven successful with the Boral turnaround.

Valuation remains the same

SGH shares have already jumped 6% higher in 2026. 

But following Monday's announcement, Bell Potter made no material changes to EPS forecasts or valuations.

The broker has maintained its hold recommendation and $52.00 price target. 

This indicates an upside of approximately 6%. 

The post What's Bell Potter's view on SGH shares after the BlueScope Steel acquisition proposal? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But today's slight dip has barely dented the huge gains the Australian-based steel manufacturer has made for the week so far. Over the past five days, BlueScope's share price has jumped 22.87% and it is now trading 54.21% higher than this time last year.

What pushed BlueScope Steel's shares higher this week?

On Monday afternoon, after the ASX closed, the company posted an ASX announcement confirming takeover speculation in the media.

BlueScope said it has received an unsolicited, non-binding, and indicative proposal from an Australian and US consortium to acquire all BlueScope shares under a scheme of arrangement. The consortium comprises SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and US-based Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD).

According to the announcement, the consortium has offered $30.00 cash per BlueScope share. 

The deal is subject to exclusivity, due diligence and a material adverse change in BlueScope's business. It is also subject to a unanimous recommendation from the BlueScope board, approval of BlueScope shareholders, no further share buy-backs, final approvals from SGH and Steel Dynamics' boards, and necessary regulatory approvals. BlueScope has not yet decided if it will accept the proposal.

Investors were clearly impressed with the news which caused a flurry of buying activity yesterday morning.

Are the shares a buy, hold or sell for 2026?

BlueScope has previously rejected takeover offers of up to $29.00 per share saying that they undervalue the company's future prospects. At $30.00 per share, I'm uncertain whether the consortium's latest offer will be enough to get the latest deal over the line. 

BlueScope's growth plan for 2026 includes focusing on its operation efficiency, advancing majority projects and plans to target $500 million in annual earnings growth by 2030.

To me, the company and its growth plans represent significant value.

What do analysts think of the stock?

TradingView data shows that analysts are mostly positive on the outlook for BlueScope Steel shares. Out of 9 analysts, 6 have a buy or strong buy rating. 

The maximum predicted target price is $37.00 per share. At the time of writing that implies the stock could jump another 25.47% over the next 12 months. 

While there is no crystal ball to tell exactly where the share price will be this time next year, it's clear that some analysts think the stock has a lot more room to run, even after this week's uptick.

The post BlueScope Steel shares soar 23%: Buy, hold or sell for 2026? 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 are bucking the trend today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL)

The BlueScope Steel share price is up 22% to $29.80. Investors have been buying the steel products manufacturer's shares after it received a takeover offer. A non-binding $30.00 per share offer has been tabled from a consortium comprising SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and US-based Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD). This would see SGH acquire all of BlueScope's shares and then on-sell BlueScope's North American businesses to Steel Dynamics. BlueScope is yet to make a decision on this proposal and is considering the offer.

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 15% to $3.82. This is despite there being no news out of the counter drone technology company on Tuesday. Though, it is worth noting that drone stocks in the United States charged higher overnight. Investors may believe the US-Venezuela situation could lead to increased demand for counter drone solutions.

Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND)

The Monadelphous share price is up 2.5% to $27.68. This follows news that the diversified services company has won another contract from BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). Monadelphous has been awarded a $175 million construction contract for BHP's car dumper project located at Finucane Island in Port Hedland. The contract covers major civil, structural, mechanical, piping, and electrical works during a planned shutdown. Monadelphous' managing director, Zoran Bebic, said: "We are pleased to build on our long-standing relationship with BHP and look forward to the safe and reliable execution of the car dumper works, following the successful delivery of the Car Dumper 3 Project at Nelson Point last year."

SGH Ltd

The SGH share price is up 5% to $49.01. This follows news that it has made a non-binding offer to acquire BlueScope Steel. Commenting on the proposal, SGH's managing director and CEO, Ryan Stokes, said: "We believe BlueScope's Australian business is a strong strategic fit for SGH and we have a proven track record of driving performance improvement in domestic industrial businesses. We intend to leverage our disciplined operating model and capital allocation approach to deliver better outcomes for stakeholders."

The post Why BlueScope, DroneShield, Monadelphous, and SGH shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the steel products company's shares are up 20% to $29.22.

This compares favourably to the ASX 200 index, which is up 0.2% in early trade.

Why are BlueScope shares charging higher?

Investors have been scrambling to buy the company's shares this morning following the release of an announcement after the market close on Monday in response to takeover speculation in the media.

Well, it turns out that the speculation was correct, with BlueScope revealing that it has received four takeover offers since 2024 from the same suitor.

According to the release, on 12 December it received an unsolicited, non-binding, and indicative proposal from an Australian and US consortium to acquire all BlueScope shares by way of a scheme of arrangement.

The consortium, which comprises SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and US-based Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD), has tabled an offer of $30.00 cash per BlueScope share.

The company notes that the indicative proposal would see SGH acquire all of BlueScope's shares and then on-sell BlueScope's North American businesses to Steel Dynamics.

The proposal is subject to a number of conditions. This includes exclusivity, due diligence, no material adverse change in BlueScope's business, a unanimous recommendation from the BlueScope board, approval of BlueScope shareholders, no further share buy-backs, final approvals from SGH and Steel Dynamics' boards, and necessary regulatory approvals.

BlueScope also highlights that the indicative proposal includes highly conditional debt funding support.

What's next?

BlueScope is yet to make a decision on this proposal and is considering the offer.

However, it is worth noting that after rejecting previous offers of $24.00 per share, $27.50 per share, and $29.00 per share "as they significantly undervalued BlueScope and its future prospects, and presented significant execution risk in relation to regulatory outcomes", it remains to be seen whether this latest proposal will be enough to get a deal over the line.

Commenting on the offer, SGH's managing director and CEO, Ryan Stokes, said:

We believe BlueScope's Australian business is a strong strategic fit for SGH and we have a proven track record of driving performance improvement in domestic industrial businesses. We intend to leverage our disciplined operating model and capital allocation approach to deliver better outcomes for stakeholders.

Steel Dynamics' CEO, Mark Millett, adds:

We believe the acquisition of BlueScope's North American Assets will be highly complementary to our existing operations and further expands our capabilities domestically. The combination of BSL's North American teams and assets with SDI would be an excellent fit in every sense and create value for all stakeholders.

The post BlueScope shares jump 20% on takeover news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to push higher

The Australian share market looks set to push higher on Tuesday following a strong start to the week on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 35 points or 0.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 1.55%, the S&P 500 is 0.7% higher, and the Nasdaq is up 0.65%.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.7% to US$58.29 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.6% to US$61.74 a barrel. Traders were buying oil in response to Venezuelan uncertainty.

BlueScope takeover

BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) shares will be on watch today after the steel products company confirmed that it has received a $30.00 per share takeover offer from a consortium comprising SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH) and US-based Steel Dynamics (NASDAQ: STLD). After rejecting three earlier offers, the company is currently considering this one.

Gold price charges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a good session on Tuesday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2.8% to US$4,449 an ounce. This was driven by safe haven demand after UK strikes on Venezuela.

Buy Northern Star shares

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are good value according to analysts at Bell Potter. According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $30.00 price target on the gold miner's shares. In response to last week's selloff following a production downgrade, Bell Potter said: "NST closed 8.6% lower on the announcement equating to A$3.3bn in market capitalisation loss. Assuming that these issues are merely one-offs, with production normalizing over 2H, we would argue the response is potentially overdone."

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

You've come to the right place!

Below, we look at two stocks analysts expect to be well-placed to outperform in the year ahead (courtesy of The Bull).

A compelling buy-the-dip opportunity

The first ASX 200 share tipped as a buy is SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH), also known as Seven Group Holdings.

SGH shares are up 0.4% in early afternoon trade today, changing hands for $46.26. That sees the share price up a modest 1.6% over 12 months. SGH stock also trades on a fully franked 1.3% trailing dividend yield.

And with the share price down 11% since 11 August, DP Wealth Advisory's Andrew Wielandt believes SGH shares are now trading for a bargain.

"This diversified company focuses on industrial services and energy," Wielandt said.

He noted:

Businesses include WesTrac, Coates and Boral, along with significant exposures to Beach Energy and Seven West Media. WesTrac is the sole authorised Caterpillar dealer in Western Australia, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

Commenting on the growth outlook for the ASX 200 stock, Wielandt said, "We expect the Caterpillar dealerships to benefit from strong expected demand in the resources sector. SGH should also benefit from equipment hire."

And with the SGH share price still well down since August, now could be an opportune time to wade in and buy the dip.

Wielandt concluded:

Fiscal year 2026 guidance fell short of market expectations. Share price weakness provides a buying opportunity. The shares have fallen from $51.86 on August 11, the day prior to reporting full year 2025 results, to trade at $44.72 on December 11.

Which brings us to…

ASX 200 share offers attractive re-rating potential

The second stock you may wish to add to your Christmas list is Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN).

Shares in the health and safety products company are up 0.2% at the time of writing, trading for $36.06 each. Ansell shares have increased by 9.5% over the past 12 months. The ASX 200 share also trades on a 2.1% unfranked trailing dividend yield.

Looking ahead, EnviroInvest's Elio D'Amato sees further strong growth potential.

"Ansell makes personal protection equipment for healthcare and industrial workplaces," said D'Amato, who has a buy recommendation on Ansell shares.

According to D'Amato:

Organic sales growth, efficiency gains and favourable foreign exchange movements supported upgraded earnings per share guidance to between $US1.37 and $US1.49 in fiscal year 2026.

The balance sheet remains sound, and margin momentum is improving across its healthcare and industrial divisions.

And the ASX 200 share should appeal to ESG investors as well.

D'Amato noted:

Environmentally, ANN benefits from tightening global sustainability standards in personal protective equipment procurement and ongoing investment in cleaner manufacturing processes. ANN intends to be net zero, including scope 3 emissions, by 2045.

Connecting the dots, D'Amato concluded, "ANN offers defensive earnings, improving cash flow prospects and attractive re-rating potential."

The post Analysts name 2 top ASX 200 shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's the view of analysts at Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), which are feeling bullish on this name.

Which ASX 200 stock?

The stock that Macquarie is bullish on is SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH).

Previously known as Seven Group Holdings, SGH is a diversified operating and investment company that owns industrial services, media, property and other businesses. This includes Westrac, which operates Caterpillar dealerships.

Macquarie highlights that the company has reiterated its guidance for FY 2026 despite facing some challenges in the first quarter. It said:

While Boral would have faced some weather challenges in 1QFY26, its operational performance was good, while solid performances in WesTrac, improvement in Coates (TU >60%) and stronger Media interests' performance than consensus estimates all likely aided in a reiteration of FY26 guidance for LSD to MSD EBIT growth.

A detailed assessment of key markets points to the challenging backdrop for Boral in 1QFY26 in NSW, with 15 days with rainfall above 5mm in rapid succession. Conversely, conditions in Victoria and Southeast Queensland were conducive to uninterrupted trading. Operational performance continues to improve.

And with the broker not expecting any further interest rate cuts in Australia, it concedes that momentum could be hit in residential construction. Nevertheless, it feels confident with its forecasts. It said:

Resi improving, but choked? Leading indicators of residential construction activity are improving. However, with rate reduction support now slowing (we expect no further cuts), it could stint momentum somewhat. We have not altered forecasts though, as we did not expect material further stimulation from our former reduction rate profile.

Big returns from this ASX 200 stock

According to the note, the broker has retained its outperform rating on the ASX 200 stock with a slightly improved price target of $53.60.

Based on its current share price of $45.08, this implies potential upside of 19% for investors over the next 12 months.

And with a modest 1.5% dividend yield expected in FY 2026, the total potential return stretches to approximately 20%.

Commenting on its outperform recommendation, the broker said:

Maintain Outperform. The stock's valuation is relatively extended in historic terms. However, this is supported by SGH's execution, peer valuations and the prospect of M&A. The group noted intent to reduce leverage to <2x EBITDA 'absent material M&A' — SGH have earned their M&A right, in our view.

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After all, if you hold onto some bad eggs for too long, your portfolio could struggle to keep up with the market.

With that in mind, courtesy of The Bull, let's take a look at three ASX shares that analysts are tipping as sells. They are as follows:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Analysts at Medallion are bearish on Australia's largest bank and thinks investors should be selling its shares.

They highlight that CBA shares trade a significant premium to peers at a time when loan growth is moderating and net interest margins appear to have peaked. Medallion said:

CBA is Australia's strongest major bank, boasting market leadership, exceptional profitability and a rock solid balance sheet, but its valuation has run ahead of fundamentals. Given a recent price/earnings ratio of about 27 times, the stock trades at a significant premium to peers, such as National Australia Bank and ANZ. We expect earnings momentum to subside as loan growth moderates and net interest margins peak.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

Over at Red Leaf Securities, its analysts aren't recommending the beaten down shares of this drinks giant. Instead, they think investors should be selling them.

The broker highlights that the Dan Murphy's owner is facing persistent operational challenges and could be forced to downgrade its guidance. It explains:

Endeavour operates liquor outlets, hotels and gaming facilities. Group sales of $12.1 billion in full year 2025 were down 0.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Net profit after tax of $426 million was down 15.8 per cent. Subdued consumer spending in retail liquor and the impact of supply chain disruption contributed to the weaker result. The company faces persistent operational challenges and possible guidance downgrades as leadership assesses the business and implements changes. The shares remain under pressure. We suggest investors consider selling some stock until a clearer picture of a recovery emerges in the business.

SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH)

Red Leaf Securities is also bearish on this diversified investment company and thinks its shares are a sell.

This recommendation is based largely on valuation grounds after a strong rise over the past two years. The broker said:

This diversified company has businesses across industrial services, energy and media. It has a strong management team. Revenue of $10.7 billion in fiscal year 2025 was up 1 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Net profit after tax of $924 million was up 9 per cent. While operational execution is solid, the stock has traded up to a level where analysts see better opportunities elsewhere. Parts of the business are cyclical, which can be positively or negatively influenced by economic and business conditions. In our view, the company's high valuation presents an opportunity for investors to consider taking some profits. The shares have risen from $26.78 on October 16, 2023, to trade at $48.48 on October 16, 2025.

The post Warning! Why you should sell CBA and these ASX shares asap appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The market surge followed news that unemployment had risen to a four-year high of 4.5%, boosting hopes for another rate cut.

The gold rush also contributed to the market record, with the four biggest ASX 200 gold stocks closing the week at historical peaks.

Amid this heady market activity, experts warn that some ASX 200 shares have overshot their fundamental worth.

Here are four shares that have attracted sell ratings from top analysts.

4 ASX 200 shares to sell now: experts

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

The Hub24 share price is $106.51 on Monday, surging 1.2%. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lifted 56%.

Jabin Hallihan from Family Financial Solutions says the investment platform provider has a strong record of performance.

However, he points out that the ASX 200 financial share has ripped from $56.75 on 7 April to $112.46 on 25 August.

Thus, he sees limited upside from here, commenting (courtesy The Bull):

We see limited upside, with valuation risk outweighing reward after the company set a high benchmark.

We recommend reducing exposure or locking in gains at current levels.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price is $89.47, up 0.7% for the day and up 26% over the past 12 months.

Philippe Bui from Medallion Financial Group says the market's largest ASX 200 consumer discretionary share "looks fully valued after a strong multi-year run".

Bui comments:

Recently trading on a lofty price/earnings ratio of about 34 times and a modest dividend yield below 3 per cent, the stock commands a premium multiple that's difficult to justify given subdued retail sales, rising cost pressures and softer consumer sentiment.

The balance sheet remains strong, but near term growth catalysts are limited.

SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH)

The SGH share price is $48.33 today, up 0.3% for the day and up 12% over the past 12 months.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities points to SGH's strong share price run over the past two years.

The ASX 200 industrial share has lifted from $26.78 on 16 October 2023 to more than $48 apiece last week.

Athanasiou reckons it's time to take profits, commenting:

While operational execution is solid, the stock has traded up to a level where analysts see better opportunities elsewhere.

In our view, the company's high valuation presents an opportunity for investors to consider taking some profits.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy share price is $1.76, down 0.3% today and down 34% in the year to date.

On The Bull last week, Andrew Wielandt from DP Wealth Advisory explained his sell rating on the ASX 200 energy share.

Wielandt said:

The share price is under sustained pressure in response to weaker sales and lower than usual refining margins in the first half of fiscal year 2025.

A 27 per cent fall in tobacco sales, due to an increase in illicit sales, is also hurting the business.

The post 4 ASX 200 shares to sell amid heady market activity: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday following a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 14 points or 0.15% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.5%, but the S&P 500 climbed 0.3% and the Nasdaq rose slightly.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Thursday after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.8% to US$63.77 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.8% to US$67.61 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher after Israel attacked Doha in Qatar.

ASX 200 shares go ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are scheduled to go ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes appliance manufacturer Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG), media company Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC), fund manager Perpetual Ltd (ASX: PPT), and diversified investment company SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH). The latter is paying its eligible shareholders a fully franked 32 cents per share dividend on 10 October.

Gold price eases

It could be a subdued session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price eased overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down slightly to US$3,681.6 an ounce. Traders appear to be waiting for US inflation data to be announced before making a move.

Buy Nufarm shares

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares could be dirt cheap according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $3.55 price target on the agricultural chemicals company's shares. It said: "Our Buy rating is unchanged. Base demand in agricultural chemical markets looks to have remained robust through 3Q25 and active ingredient values appear to be turning the corner. The latter is expected to be beneficial as NUF is cycling the highs in terms of YOY pricing declines from the pcp. In addition, the recent closing of the Peruvian fishing season has put a floor in omega-3 pricing indicators, which have lifted US$100- 200/t off the low."

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