Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA)

The Orora share price is down 20% to $1.57. Investors have been selling this packaging company's shares following the release of a trading update. Partly due to the war in the Middle East, Orora's Saverglass has been underperforming expectations. Orora now expects FY 2026 underlying EBIT for Saverglass to be in the range of 63 million euros to 68 million euros. This is down from its previous guidance of broadly in line with FY 2025 EBIT of 79.2 million euros. It notes that shipping routes and overland access have been disrupted in the Middle East, forcing Orora to transition its facility into a closed-loop hot operation. This means the furnace is kept running, but no bottles are produced.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price is down 8% to $3.69. This morning, this almond producer revealed the surprise resignation of its CEO, David Surveyor, after three and a half years leading the company. The release notes that Mr Surveyor will remain with the company to work through his six-month notice period and assist with an orderly transition. Surveyor commented: "It has been a privilege to lead Select Harvests over the past three years. I am proud of the transformation we have achieved together. Our people have lifted strategy and execution across the business, from improving our horticultural practices to step changing our processing capability and redefining our approach to market."

Tamboran Resources Corp (ASX: TBN)

The Tamboran Resources share price is down 17.5% to 26 cents. This has been driven by the completion of the institutional component of an equity raising. The natural gas company has raised US$103 million (A$147.1 million) of gross proceeds via a registered underwritten public offer. Tamboran Resources' CEO, Todd Abbott, said: "We are entering what will be the most active two‑year period in the Beetaloo Basin to date, including the delivery of first gas sales in the third quarter of 2026 and the continued delineation of gas resources across our Beetaloo East and Beetaloo West acreage."

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 10% to $38.92. This is despite there being no news out of the logistics solutions software provider on Thursday. However, it is worth noting that the tech sector is a sea of red today, with heavy declines being seen across the board. This has led to the S&P/ASX All Technology index dropping a sizeable 4.5%.

The post Why Orora, Select Harvests, Tamboran, and WiseTech shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Select Harvest shares fell 3.43% yesterday, closing at $3.94 per share. 

Its share price is now down just over 20% year to date. 

However a new report from Bell Potter suggests it could now be priced at an attractive entry point.

The new report from Bell Potter has come after the company's FY25 AGM.

Response to the AGM 

Select Harvests is an integrated grower, processor and marketer of almonds owning and operating farming and processing assets in Australia. It offers a vertically integrated model with core capabilities in farming, processing and marketing.

Yesterday, Bell Potter adjusted its outlook on this company following the AGM. 

The broker anticipates softer near-term earnings driven mainly by currency and cost assumptions, while maintaining a positive long-term outlook.

It said cost pressures remain in areas such as bees, water and fertiliser, though FY26 water cost assumptions have been slightly reduced given lower year-to-date prices.

Volume forecasts remain unchanged at 29,000 tonnes for FY26, with management noting a fast bloom, successful bee procurement and no major frost damage, while industry forecasts point to a 7% year-on-year increase in Australia's 2026 crop.

As a result of updated pricing, FX and water assumptions, Bell Potter has reduced EBITDA forecasts by 7% in FY26 and 10% in FY27, with a modest 1% uplift in FY28.

Price target adjustment for this consumer staples stock

According to yesterday's report, the target price has been lowered to $5.30 per share (from $5.80). 

However Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation, citing supportive global supply dynamics – including a smaller-than-expected Californian crop and weak snowpack – along with attractive valuation metrics (11.4x FY26e EPS, ~30% EPS CAGR FY25–28e) and a roughly 20% discount to market book value.

Bell Potter's price target of $5.30 indicates a potential upside of 34.5%. 

We also see SHV trading at a ~20% discount to market-BV, with recent orchard transactions supportive of the market value as reported (~$4.97/sh).

Elsewhere, the average analysts rating via TradingView also indicates there is plenty of upside for this consumer staples stock. 

TradingView has an average 12 month price target of $5.42 which indicates an upside of approximately 37.5%. 

The post Bell Potter tips 34% a turnaround for this ASX consumer staples stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

To narrow things down, let's take a look at three Australian shares that analysts are recommending as buys this week, courtesy of The Bull. Here's what they are bullish on:

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

The team at Bell Potter is positive on investment bank Macquarie Group and has named it as a buy. It highlights its resilient earnings and strategic plays as reasons to be positive. The broker explains:

This diversified financial services group is actively advancing strategic plays. The company's asset management division has lodged a $11.6 billion takeover bid for Qube Holdings, a provider of integrated import and export logistics, at $5.20 a share. MQG recently sold its United States and European public asset management business to Nomura, a financial services group. MQG has increased its interim dividend and extended its buy-back program. Despite a softer profit phase, core earnings remain resilient, reinforcing our buy recommendation.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

Bell Potter's analysts also think that almond producer Select Harvests could be an Australian share to buy now.

It notes that almond prices have rebounded, which has supported improvements in its balance sheet. In addition, cyclical tailwinds and margin improvement initiatives, together with rising global demand, look set to support its future growth. The broker said:

Select Harvests has delivered a solid recovery, supported by a rebound in almond prices and healthy crop volumes. The business has significantly strengthened its balance sheet, halving net debt and returning to strong cash flow generation. Management commentary points to further upside through operational efficiencies and potential processing volume growth. Given rising global demand for almonds and favourable export trends, SHV is poised to benefit from cyclical tailwinds and internal margin improvement initiatives. This remains a compelling agribusiness story in recovery mode.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

The team at Shaw & Partners is a fan of this pathology provider and has named it as a buy.

The broker highlights the company's strong growth outlook for FY 2026, its global scale, and dividend yield as reasons to be positive. It said:

Company operations include pathology, radiology, laboratory medicine, general practice medicine and corporate medical services. The company has operations in Australasia, Europe and North America. Revenue of $9.645 billion in fiscal year 2025 was up 8 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Net profit of $514 million was up 7 per cent. The company is expecting strong earnings per share growth in fiscal year 2026. Global scale and dividend yield supports our buy recommendation. The shares have risen from $20.89 on November 18 to trade at $22.55 on December 18.

The post Analysts say these 3 Australian shares are buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are pushing higher:

HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC)

The HMC Capital share price is up 8% to $3.83. This investment company's shares have been in fine form this week, rising very strongly. So much so, they are now up 18% since this time last week. A catalyst for this could have been a broker note out of Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) earlier in the week. Its analysts have reaffirmed their outperform rating and $4.90 price target on HMC Capital's shares. This still implies potential upside of approximately 27% for investors over the next 12 months.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price is up 9% to $4.48. Earlier this week, in response to its results, Bell Potter put a buy rating and $5.80 price target on the almond producer's shares. It said: "Our Buy rating is unchanged. FY25 results appeared broadly consistent with our expectations and should benefit in FY26e from improved production volumes and elevated almond prices. While costs are lifting (this was anticipated in our forecasts) and there is the scope for this to be mitigated by cost out initiatives. At spot almond prices we would see SHV trading on a FY26e PE of ~9x, with upside to EPS through delivery of cost out initiatives and securing third party processing volumes."

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The Web Travel share price is up 4.5% to $4.79. This may have been driven by the release of a bullish broker note out of UBS this morning. According to the note, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating and $6.15 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of almost 30% for investors over the next 12 months. The broker was pleased with the company's recent update, highlighting that it is growing stronger than a key rival. It was also happy to see that Web Travel's margins have held up better. Though, there is a risk that this rival will try to undercut Web Travel in order to boost its growth.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is up a further 5.5% to $73.65. This is despite there being no news out of the logistics solutions technology company on Friday. However, it is worth noting that a number of ASX tech shares have been rising strongly this week after being sold off this month amid concerns over an AI bubble. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index rise by 0.85% at the time of writing. WiseTech Global shares are now up 13% over the past two sessions.

The post Why HMC Capital, Select Harvests, Web Travel, and WiseTech shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because Bell Potter believes it could deliver outsized returns for investors between now and this time next year.

Which ASX All Ords stock?

The stock in question is Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV).

It is an integrated grower, processor, and marketer of almonds owning and operating farming and processing assets in Australia.

The broker notes that the ASX All Ords stock operates a diversified portfolio of almond orchards as well as start of the art processing facility in Carina, Victoria, with capacity to process 50,000t of almonds.

It released its FY 2025 results this week and delivered a result largely in line with expectations. The broker explains:

Revenue of $398.3m was up +18% YOY (vs. BPe $309.8m). Operating EBITDA of $76.5m was up +63% YOY (and vs. BPe of $78.0m). An operating NPAT of $27.8m compares to $2.3m in FY24 (and vs. BPe of $27.3m). FY25 results are predicated on a crop of 24,903t (vs. BPe of 24,700t and FY25e guidance of 24,700t) and an almond price assumption of A$10.18/kg (vs. BPe of A$10.17/kg and FY25e guidance at A$10.14-20/kg). Headline NPAT of $31.8m includes a $5.8m pretax gain on sale of water rights (which occurred in 1H25).

And while there was no real guidance for FY 2026, it believes the stage is set for a strong performance. It adds:

here is no formal guidance. Qualitative comments include: (1) Normal but quick bloom, with no frost damage. Harvest likely later than usual due to cooler weather season to date; (2) Favourable almond price backdrop through FY26e (we have spot at ~A$10.90/kg); and (3) some cost headwinds and notably water, bees and electricity (~$20m YOY) with some mitigation through business investment. NPAT changes are +4% in FY26e and +13% in FY27e.

Big potential returns

In light of the above, the broker feels that this ASX All Ords stock is too cheap at 9x forward earnings.

It has put a buy rating and $5.80 price target on its shares, which implies potential upside of 39% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, it expects a 1.7% dividend yield in FY 2026 (and 3.6% dividend in FY 2026), which takes the total potential return beyond 40%.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

Our Buy rating is unchanged. FY25 results appeared broadly consistent with our expectations and should benefit in FY26e from improved production volumes and elevated almond prices. While costs are lifting (this was anticipated in our forecasts) and there is the scope for this to be mitigated by cost out initiatives. At spot almond prices we would see SHV trading on a FY26e PE of ~9x, with upside to EPS through delivery of cost out initiatives and securing third party processing volumes.

The post Why this ASX All Ords stock could return 40% in a year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Australian almond grower reported a net profit of $30.9 million, up from just $900,000 the previous year, while EBITDA was up 81% to $82.4 million.

This was despite the company's almond crop falling by 16% to 24,903 tonnes.

The profit uplift came as a result of an improved almond price, up 32% over the previous corresponding period.

The company said it also achieved a "meaningful reduction in net debt" to $79.1 million, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 15.1%.

Almond consumption growing

The company said on the outlook, it "continues to hold the view that the macro environment for almonds is positive''.

On the demand side, global trends indicate continued growth in the consumption of healthy foods and snack products, alongside increasing demand for high-quality protein in our key markets. This along with our customer strategy means we continue to see a strong order book. We anticipate world almond demand to continue at a compound annual growth rate of 5% – 7%. On the supply side, our view is that US bearing acres have peaked and we are witnessing a reduction in almond acreage across California.

Managing Director David Surveyour said the company continued to execute against its strategic pillars.

The investment in safety, our people, horticulture, processing and sales has positioned us to leverage the favourable macro-economic conditions. The improvements to our profit, cash and balance sheet reflect the quality of our assets, the operational gains we are making and our commitment to financial discipline. We thank our team and partners for their dedication and our customers for their continued support of the business.

The company said with regards to the current season, the bloom was "generally positive", however, it was not forecasting a crop size at this time.

Our sales and operations teams are well prepared for the coming season. It remains our view there is substantial leverage and growth in our core business. Our focus remains on growing, processing and selling as efficiently as we can.

Select Harvests did not declare a final dividend for FY25, with the company saying the board was balancing the importance of paying down debt against dividend payments, and it would continue to do so.

Select Harvests was valued at $568.4 million at the close of trade on Tuesday. The company's shares were 3.5% higher at $4.14 around noon on Wednesday.

The post Almond grower's shares up on positive full-year profit result appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this energy giant's shares with an improved price target of $11.00. The broker believes that significant share price weakness since the release of its FY 2025 results has created a buying opportunity for investors. Especially now its shares are trading at almost 9x earnings, which is notably lower than both historical multiples and the average among peers. Another positive is the above average dividend yield on offer with AGL's shares, which Macquarie believes is sustainable at current levels. Particularly given its belief that the company's earnings are going to be better quality in the coming years. The AGL share price was fetching $8.47 on Friday.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $32.50 price target on this job listings company's shares. The broker was pleased with the company's performance in FY 2025 and feels that its start to FY 2026 is supportive of its positive view on the stock. It also notes that the market appears to be underestimating its ability to achieve double digit growth. Morgan Stanley is expecting 11% revenue growth and for operating leverage to underpin 19% EBITDA growth and 25% earnings per share growth in FY 2026. It notes that this makes its medium term growth rate stronger than peers. The Seek share price ended the week at $28.00.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating on this almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $5.45. According to the note, the broker believes that the market is undervaluing the company's shares. Especially given how almond prices have rebounded strongly recently. And with its costs remaining in line with expectations, Bell Potter is expecting strong earnings from Select Harvests. In addition, it highlights that the long-term under development of orchards in California implies a period of limited supply expansion potential, which it views as a positive for the direction of future almond pricing trends. So, with its shares trading at ~5.9x estimated FY 2026 "spot price" EBITDA, it feels its valuation is undemanding, particularly if pricing continues to firm. The Select Harvests share price closed Friday's session at $4.27.

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

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 5% to $3.23. This is despite there being no news out of the counterdrone technology company. However, with its shares pulling back meaningfully in recent weeks, some investors may believe a buying opportunity has opened up. In addition, some investors may think that rising tensions in the Middle East could lead to increased demand for its products in the near term.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price is up 10% to $4.25. This may have been driven by the release of a bullish broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. According to the note, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating on the almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $5.45. Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said: "Buy rating is unchanged. Volatility in almond pricing has been a feature since May'25. However, the long-term under development of orchards in California implies a period of limited supply expansion potential, which we view as a positive for the direction of future almond pricing trends. Trading at ~7% discount to market NAV, ~5.9x FY26e "spot price" EBITDA and ~9.3x FY26e "spot price" PER (@29kt production), valuation is undemanding, particularly if pricing continues to firm."

Tower Ltd (ASX: TWR)

The Tower share price is up almost 10% to $1.58. The catalyst for this has been news that the insurance company has updated its guidance for FY 2025. Tower's underlying net profit after tax is now expected to be in the range of between NZ$100 million to NZ$110 million, provided that no large events are recorded in September. Its previous guidance was for underlying net profit after tax of between NZ$70 million and NZ$80 million.

Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT)

The Ventia Services share price is up 5% to $5.29. This morning, this essential infrastructure services provider announced the extension of its Facility Management Agreement with the City of Sydney, valued at approximately $100 million over two years. This extension will commence on 22 January 2026 and continue through to 21 January 2028. Management believes it reinforces the City of Sydney's continued confidence in Ventia's ability to deliver high-quality, data driven and strategic asset management services across its diverse asset portfolio.

The post Why DroneShield, Select Harvests, Tower, and Ventia shares are roaring higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For example, if Bell Potter is on the money with its recommendation, the ASX 300 stock in this article could be destined to deliver outsized returns for investors over the next 12 months.

Which ASX 300 stock?

The stock that Bell Potter thinks is being undervalued by the market is Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV). It is an integrated grower, processor and marketer of almonds via farming and processing assets in Australia.

While this may not be the most exciting industry to be in, the broker believes that exciting returns could be on the cards thanks to rising almond prices. It said:

In recent weeks as the Californian harvests has commenced almond prices have been rallying, as the 3.0bnlb USDA forecast may be considered optimistic.

USD almond prices have rallied ~26% from the bottom, with the Stratmarkets Almond index now at ~US$3.11/lb and at a higher level than that just prior to the Jul'25 Objective estimate. The move is on the back of mixed early harvest reports in California, calling into question the 3.0Bnlb USDA forecast. In AUD terms, almond prices have moved to ~A$10.35/kg, a 3-month high and up +19% YOY.

More good news is that costs remain in line with expectations at present. The broker adds:

Input costs: Major cost inputs in water and fertiliser are broadly unchanged from our previous update. Our baseline assumptions are for +6% YOY growth in costs per kg (on a 29kt equivalent basis).

Big returns

In light of the above, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating on the ASX 300 stock with an improved price target of $5.45. Based on its current share price of $3.85, this implies potential upside of approximately 42% between now and this time next year.

In addition, it is expecting a modest 1% dividend yield in FY 2025, followed by a 1.8% dividend yield in FY 2026.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

Buy rating is unchanged. Volatility in almond pricing has been a feature since May'25. However, the long-term under development of orchards in California implies a period of limited supply expansion potential, which we view as a positive for the direction of future almond pricing trends. Trading at ~7% discount to market NAV, ~5.9x FY26e "spot price" EBITDA and ~9.3x FY26e "spot price" PER (@29kt production), valuation is undemanding, particularly if pricing continues to firm.

The post Guess which ASX 300 stock could rise 40% in 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to charge higher

The Australian share market looks set to charge higher on Friday following a strong night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 46 points or 0.5% higher this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 1.4%, the S&P 500 is 0.8% higher, and the Nasdaq is rising 0.7%.

Oil prices tumble

It could be a poor finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) after oil prices tumbled overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.7% to US$62.57 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.5% to US$66.52 a barrel. This was driven by oversupply concerns and weak demand in the United States.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

More ASX 200 shares are due to go ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. Among them are auto listings leader CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR), waste management company Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY), and logistics solutions software company WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC). The latter will be paying eligible shareholders a fully franked 11.9 cents per share final dividend next month on 10 October.

Gold price slips

ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price eased overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.2% to US$3,674 an ounce. This was despite the release of US economic data that was supportive of rate cut bets.

Buy Select Harvests shares

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV) shares are good value at current levels according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $5.45. It said: "Buy rating is unchanged. Volatility in almond pricing has been a feature since May'25. However, the long-term under development of orchards in California implies a period of limited supply expansion potential, which we view as a positive for the direction of future almond pricing trends. Trading at ~7% discount to market NAV, ~5.9x FY26e "spot price" EBITDA and ~9.3x FY26e "spot price" PER (@29kt production), valuation is undemanding, particularly if pricing continues to firm."

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

This is often the case because defensive shares are companies that provide products that are essential, even during an economic downturn.

When household spending is tight, discretionary purchases such as travel, electronics and fashion might be cut.

Meanwhile healthcare and groceries remain important.

Consumer staples shares haven't received much attention lately, as they have remained flat over the last year.

However, broker Bell Potter has tipped two consumer staples shares to grow between 40-52%.

Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

Elders Ltd is an agribusiness that provides goods and services to Australian primary producers.

As well as selling seed, fertiliser, agricultural chemicals, animal health products, and general rural merchandise, Elders also supplies professional and technical services to farmers via its network of agronomists.

The consumer staples company has seen its share price fall 22.62% over the past year.

However, broker Bell Potter indicates the stock may be good value at the current price.

The broker currently has a "buy" recommendation and price target of $9.10.

This indicates an upside of 40%.

In a report analysing the company released in June, the broker indicated the current share price does not reflect the upside.

We don't believe the current share price of ELD is reflective of the upside in the existing
ELD business through execution of its current strategy, let alone ascribing any likelihood of
completion of the proposed Delta acquisition.

If ELD can deliver on current business initiatives while operating under improved seasonal conditions in SA, then ELD has the scope to deliver 10-15% p.a. EPS growth through to FY27e.

In addition to the upside, the company also offers an attractive dividend yield of 5.49%.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

Select Harvests Ltd engages in the processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution of edible nuts, dried fruits, seeds, and a range of natural health foods in Australia.

It has brought market beating returns in the last 12 months, rising 9.67%.

Broker Bell Potter seems to believe the ASX consumer staples share price can continue to rise.

The broker currently has a "buy" recommendation and price target of $6.05. This target is 52% higher than its current share price of $3.97.

The broker looked kindly on the stronger than expected first half FY25 results.

Select Harvests reported a much stronger than expected first-half FY25 profit, with EBITDA up 210% year-on-year to $57.9 million, beating forecasts due to earlier recognition of crop earnings.

For the full year, SHV slightly raised its crop forecast and is expected to benefit in the second half from more hull sales and increased third-party processing.

The post Broker tips 40-52% upside for these ASX consumer staples shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Friday despite a good night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 22 points or 0.25% lower this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.3%, the S&P 500 rose 0.4%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.4% higher.

Oil prices tumble

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) could have a poor finish to the week after oil prices tumbled overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.4% to US$60.96 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.1% to US$64.22 a barrel. News that Trump's trade tariffs have been reinstated following an appeal put pressure on oil prices.

Buy Champion Iron shares

The Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA) share price could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to the release of its full year results, the broker has retained its buy rating on the iron ore miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $5.80. It said: "While current geopolitics has shifted the focus away from carbon emissions, we ultimately expect government policy in CIA's target markets (EU) and the growth in DRI steel production to be supportive. We expect earnings to continue to support dividends."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a decent finish to the week after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.6% to US$3,314.6 an ounce. Safe haven demand amid trade tariff uncertainty appears to have been behind this rise.

Select Harvests shares rated as a buy

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV) shares are a buy according to the team at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $6.05. In response to its half year results, the broker said: "Our Buy rating is unchanged. FY25e crop earnings look broadly consistent with our expectations and should benefit in FY26e from improved production volumes and elevated almond prices."

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

It's not guaranteed that these businesses will deliver pleasing returns, but I think it's good to see which businesses are rated as opportunities.

The two ASX shares I'll discuss look like good picks to the broker UBS.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

UBS describes Select Harvests as a major almond producer and the largest listed almond company in the world. It produces significant amounts of almonds across a number of regions, including southern NSW, northern Victoria, and eastern South Australia. Its portfolio includes 23,156 acres of land, according to the ASX food share, of company-owned and leased almond orchards, as well as land suitable for planting.

It supplies almonds domestically and internationally to supermarkets, health food stores, other food manufacturers, retailers, and the almond trade. The ASX share also says it has a state-of-the-art processing facility at Carina West near Robinvale, Victoria.

UBS currently has a buy rating on the business. The Select Harvests share price has dropped 14% since 7 May 2025, as the chart below shows.

The broker believes that Select Harvests stands out as a beneficiary from the US tariff, "as China reallocates almond imports away from California." Due to the "increasingly positive" almond price outlook, UBS believes Select Harvests offers "strong earnings visibility with upside risk".

UBS currently has an almond price estimate of $10.35 per kilo for FY25 and $9.50 per kilo in FY26, with structural supply headwinds (in California) and strong near-term demand from China and India. The broker's five-year average price forecast for FY29 is $9.37 per kilo.  

The broker then said:

The global almond backdrop is the most positive for SHV in years: 1) ~2.7b 2024 US crop expected, below the Objective Estimate (2.8b), supporting carry-out to be <500m lbs and stock-to-use ratio <20% (a level favourable for prices), 2) Liquidity issues among growers, which has driven cuts to input purchases (fertiliser, water); 3) Crop pull outs exceeding new plantings, including young trees (as opposed to older trees), driven by the impact from SGMA groundwater regulation; 4) Solid global demand out of China/India, with China demand supported by the US tariff regime (increases demand for Australian almonds into China), noting SHV is pivoting more of its mix into China.

According to UBS' estimates, the Select Harvests share price is valued at 12x FY26's forecast earnings. The broker has a price target of $5.40 on the business, suggesting a possible rise of 18% from where the ASX share is today.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

UBS describes Sandfire as a copper miner with multiple international projects, including the MATSA copper-zinc mine in Spain, the Motheo copper project in Botswana, and the high-grade DeGrussa copper-gold project in Western Australia.

The broker currently has a price target of $13.15 on the copper miner and a buy rating, which implies a possible rise of 13.1%.

UBS highlighted in a note that in the three months to March 2025, the copper miner reported weaker-than-expected production at both MATSA and Motheo, as unprecedented rainfall restricted access to higher-grade ore at both sites. The company retained its FY25 guidance of 109kt, implying a significant step up in the last quarter of the 2025 financial year. The broker's forecast is 107kt of production in FY25.

But, UBS is bullish on copper for the longer term. It said:

The market continues to underestimate the supply challenges facing the copper industry. Miners are struggling to keep copper supply up given the accelerating industry trends of; declining exploration, older mines, increasing depths, lower grades, longer development timeframes, higher capex and higher operating costs. We believe 6mt of new supply is required within 10 years and a US$5.00/lb copper price is required to incentivise that supply.

This could be a very helpful tailwind for the ASX share over time, if that copper demand-supply dynamic plays out.

The post Buy these 2 impressive ASX shares in June: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The biggest losers are mostly companies that manufacture goods in Asia and import into the United States. These include Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) and Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN).

However, one ASX agriculture company is well positioned to benefit.

An opportunity to boost almond sales

That company is Select Harvest Ltd (ASX: SHV), Australia's largest listed almond producer. It operates 15 farms across Victoria, New South Wales and Australia. 

The US imposed a further 35% tariff on Chinese imports last week, bringing the cumulative levy to 54%. China has responded with its own tariffs, including an additional 10% on Californian almonds, raising total tariffs to 35%.

California produces around 80% of the world's almonds, with around three-quarters of produce exported.  Australia accounts for approximately 10%, and has positioned itself as a viable alternative. 

CEO of the Almond Board of Australia Tim Jackson, suggested these tariffs provide a clear advantage to Australian almond growers in the global market. 

As reported by Fresh Plaza, he stated:

"The trade agreements our federal governments have delivered have made a huge difference to grower returns. The retaliatory tariffs tend to accentuate that advantage."

China and Australia entered a free trade agreement in 2015. 

To counter these tariffs, Californian almond growers will need to either absorb the costs or pass them on to consumers through higher prices. Given how competitive almond pricing is, the latter option would likely crush demand, which would benefit Australian almond growers. 

During Trump's first term trade war, China placed a 55% tariff on California almonds, causing significant losses. Congress eventually passed relief funds to compensate almond growers, although they weren't eligible initially. 

How has Select Harvest performed?

While Select Harvest's share price is down 28% over the past five years, it is up 16% this year. 

Last year, the company went through a recapitalisation at $3.80 per share and has since turned around. 

Select Harvest expects the industry to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5-8%. 

The company expects to achieve higher prices, forecasting $9.20 per kilo, as well as higher production. That's a winning formula that could deliver market-beating performance over the next few years.

The post This ASX agricultural stock could be a major winner of Trump's tariffs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) had dropped by 0.44% and is back to just under 8,430 points. But let's talk about two ASX 300 consumer shares that are going the other way, thanks to well-received market updates.

Two ASX 300 consumer shares bucking the market today

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

First up, we have ASX 300 agricultural share Select Harvests. Select Harvests stock is currently up a confident 0.9% at $5.02 a share, after rising as high as $5.23 this morning. That high also happens to be a new 52-week high for this company.

This spike in share price that we've witnessed today seems to be a reaction to the annual general meeting (AGM) presentation that Select Harvests released to the market this morning.

This presentation mostly covered Select's FY2024 numbers, which have already been released to the market. However, the company also issued some guidance for FY2025, which appears to be driving Select Harvests' shares higher.

Select told investors that it is expecting a "positive year" for its primary almond crop. Its Australian orchards are reportedly experiencing "normal but quick bloom conditions" with an expected crop size of between 27,500 and 29,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, this ASX 300 share's Californian crop isn't doing as well, with poor weather and insect damage reportedly a concern.

Even so, Select Harvests notes that "strong global demand", particularly from the Chinese and Indian markets, as well as high almond prices, bode well for the company's FY2025.

ARB Corproation Ltd (ASX: ARB)

Next up, we have ASX 300 share and offroad accessories company ARB Corp. ARB shares are comprehensively bucking the market today, currently up a rosy 4.14% at $10.01 each.

This gain comes after ARB dropped its latest earnings report this morning. It was a bit of a mixed-bag report from this ASX 300 share. ARB revealed that, over the six months to 31 December, its revenues grew by 5.9% year-on-year to $361.7 million. However, profits before tax slipped by 0.7% on last year's levels to $70.3 million. Profits after tax also fell by 0.6% to $51 million.

ARB also revealed its latest interim dividend, which will be 34 cents per share, fully franked. That matches last year's interim dividend but trails the final dividend of 35 cents that we saw doled out last October.

Judging by today's share price reaction, it seems investors are impressed by what was in ARB's report, or perhaps relieved that the numbers weren't worse.

The post 2 ASX 300 consumer shares bucking the market's falls today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But as always, there are outliers within the pack.

Here are three ASX 300 shares reaching new multi-year highs today.

3 ASX 300 shares hitting new price peaks on Friday

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

The Sigma Healthcare share price lifted to an almost two-decade high of $3.05 on Friday.

Sigma Healthcare owns a network of chemists, including Amcal, Discount Drug Stores, and Guardian Pharmacy. The company has no news for the market today.

However, the ASX 300 healthcare share continues to enjoy upward momentum as investors wait for the finalisation of merger plans with the privately owned Chemist Warehouse pharmaceutical chain.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) green-lighted the deal in November.

Sigma Healthcare shares have risen 214% over the past 12 months.

The company was one of 16 ASX shares that doubled in value in 2024.

Sigma was also among the top 5 best-performing healthcare stocks of the year.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price lifted to a 52-week peak of $4.69 despite no news from the company today.

Select Harvests is one of Australia's largest almond producers. 

Last month, broker UBS placed a buy rating on the stock with a 12-month price target of $4.40.

This is largely due to a positive outlook for almond prices.

UBS predicts the almond price will rise to $8.50 per kilo, which is substantially higher than its previous forecasts of $8.10 in FY25 and $8.20 in FY26.

The long-term average price is $8 per kilo.

The ASX 300 consumer staples share has risen 65% over the past 12 months.

Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL)

The Insignia Financial share price lifted to a three-year high of $4.14 per share on Friday.

Shares in the financial services company have lifted this week after Insignia announced it had received a confidential, non-binding, and indicative proposal from CC Capital Partners.

The offer was $4.30 cash per share, which was a 21.4% share price premium at the time. It was also a 7.5% premium to Bain Capital's offer, which Insignia rejected last month.

The company issued a statement today in response to an article in The Australian newspaper. The article was about speculation that Brookfield was actively considering making a bid for Insignia Financial.

Insignia said it had not received any proposal from Brookfield.

The ASX 300 financial share has risen 66% over the past 12 months.

The post 3 ASX 300 shares smashing new multi-year highs while the market struggles appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And if a company can beat the market's return, then it could be worth owning, in my view.

The more undervalued a business is, the higher the return could be or the higher the margin of safety we're giving ourselves.  

Here are two ASX shares the broker UBS considers undervalued and rates as buys. Let's get into it.

Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR)

UBS currently rates hotel software provider Siteminder as a buy, with a price target of $6.20. A price target suggests where the broker thinks the business will be trading in 12 months from the time of the investment call on the company.

The broker expects Siteminder's revenue to rise 24% in FY25 and 23% in FY26. A business growing revenue at that pace could be an appealing investment option.

Based on the company's FY24 results, UBS sees "good growth potential from new products" and product enhancements. The broker also expects Siteminder to "gain efficiencies in new markets and product segments."

Detailing why the underlying business was performing well, UBS said:

In our view, the underlying business continues to track well, with a focus on adding larger hotels, growing share of customer wallet, increasing Transaction penetration and a pipeline of new product launches to potentially support targeted 30% org[anic] annual rev[enue] growth [in the] medium-term.

By FY29, UBS expects the ASX share to generate $485 million in revenue and $61 million in net profit after tax (NPAT).

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

Select Harvests is one of Australia's largest almond producers. It grows almonds in seven regions across southern New South Wales, northern Victoria and eastern South Australia and has food processing facilities.

UBS rates Select Harvests as a buy, with a price target of $4.40.

The broker believes that the almond price outlook is promising, with price momentum looking "set to persist". It predicts the almond price will be $8.50 per kilo, up from its forecast of $8.10 in FY25 and $8.20 per kilo in FY26.

This is more than market expectations, with the long-term average at $8 per kilo.

UBS pointed to very positive recent industry feedback in its optimistic thoughts about the ASX share:

Our recent industry discussions regarding the Californian almond sector have been the most positive for SHV in years: 1) Downside risk to 2.8b lbs Californian Objective Estimate to potentially ~2.65b lbs, based on light supply coming from the South Valley, crop quality issues and elevated heat levels; 2) Liquidity issues among growers, leading to cuts to input purchases (fertiliser, water), with an expectation for grower default rates to pick up early 2025; 3) Crop pull outs exceeding new plantings, including young trees (as opposed to older trees), driven by the impact from SGMA groundwater regulation.

Based on UBS estimates, the ASX share's net profit could rise 70% in FY26, leading to earnings per share (EPS) of 29 cents. That would put the Select Harvests share price at less than 15x FY26's estimated earnings.

The post Buy these 2 undervalued ASX shares in December, says expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up 7.5% to 49.5 cents. Investors have been buying the respiratory imaging technology company's shares after it signed a commercial contract with Perth Radiological Clinics (PRC). This contract will see the company deliver its XV Technology-enabled ventilation reports across an initial 16 clinics in Perth. Management notes that the agreement marks an important milestone in the expansion of 4DMedical's presence across the Australian healthcare market. PRC is a leading provider of diagnostic imaging services in Western Australia, known for its clinical excellence and strong market presence.

De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG)

The De Grey Mining share price is up 29% to $1.96. This follows news that the gold developer has agreed to be acquired by Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) in a blockbuster $5 billion deal. De Grey's managing director, Glenn Jardine, said: "Given the high-quality nature of Hemi, De Grey is in the fortunate position to have had many avenues to progress the asset, including M&A. The Transaction that we have entered with Northern Star today is a highly attractive opportunity for De Grey shareholders in terms of the upfront premium, as well as retaining ongoing exposure to Hemi and gaining exposure to the broader Northern Star portfolio."

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

The Metcash share price is up almost 3.5% to $3.23. This has been driven by the release of a better than feared half year result from the wholesale distributor this morning. Metcash reported a 6.3% increase in group revenue to $9.6 billion but a 5.5% decline in underlying profit after tax to $134.6 million. Goldman Sachs responded: "Whilst the 1H25 segment sales and group underlying NPAT has been pre-announced, we think it is important to consider total earnings inclusive of Project Horizon costs, which were higher than GS estimate."

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price is up 10% to $4.07. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $5.00. It said: "The balance sheet exited FY24 in a stronger position than expected and has benefited from ~$80m in cash inflows post balance date. Spot almond prices are also higher than the level assumed in our FY25e estimate (i.e. our assessment is a spot price >A$9/kg), implying an upside bias in forecasts should the 2025 crop develop as expected."

The post Why 4DMedical, De Grey, Metcash, and Select Harvests shares are racing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR)

The Imricor Medical Systems share price is up a further 8% to $1.19. Investors have been buying this medical device company's shares this week after it announced a licensing agreement with ADIS. It is a Switzerland based software company that has been working with Imricor to build artificial intelligence (AI) modules to integrate into Imricor's NorthStar 3D mapping system. Although it isn't approved for commercial sale yet, the company notes that regulatory processes are well progressed. As a result, it is busy making preparations for planned commercial launches across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East in 2025.

Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH)

The Maas Group share price is up 9% to $5.00. This morning, the construction materials, equipment and service provider announced the successful completion of a placement. It has received commitments for approximately $140 million, which is upsized and increased from the initial $128 million. These funds are being raised at $4.65 per new share. CEO, Wes Maas, said: "The successful completion of the Placement, as well as the commitments from myself and a number of our directors and shareholders under the Conditional Placement, will allow us further runway to continue to execute on our growth and acquisition initiatives."

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is up 5% to 43.5 cents. This follows the release of an announcement from the gold miner this morning in relation to its Mali operations. Resolute Mining revealed that it has made the second settlement payment of approximately US$50 million to the Government of Mali. The remaining payment of approximately US$30 million is anticipated to be paid by the end of 2024 from existing liquidity sources. These payments are part of a framework for further detailed discussions regarding the long-term future of its operations in Mali.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvests share price is up 3% to $3.77. Investors have been buying this almond producer's shares following the release of its full year results. Select Harvest reported EBITDA of $46 million and a net profit after tax of $1.5 million for FY 2024. This is a huge improvement on last year when it recorded an EBITDA loss of $117.1 million and a net loss of $114.7 million. Managing Director, David Surveyor, said: "Select Harvests recorded Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) of $1.5 million for FY2024. This profit is greater than a $116 million turnaround from FY2023 and shows that the business is returning to normal operations."

The post Why Imricor, Maas, Resolute Mining, and Select Harvests shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This was somewhat unusual by historical standards, as September is often a weak month for ASX shares.

However, investors certainly welcomed the reversal of historical trends!

Meanwhile, analysts on CommSec raised a bunch of ASX shares to 'strong buy' status last month.

In this article, we take a look at five of those picks from the ASX All Ords index.

5 ASX All Ords shares upgraded to 'strong buy' ratings

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is currently $3.39, up 2.89% for the day.

The uranium explorer released a positive production update for its Honeymoon Uranium Mine in South Australia at the beginning of the month.

The company said the commissioning and ramp-up to steady-state production were proceeding according to plan.

Boss Energy's first NIMCIX production column also achieved nameplate uranium production, which managing director Duncan Craib described as a "pivotal point" in the project's development.

The ASX All Ords energy share is down 20.5% in the year to date.

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV)

The Select Harvest share price is steady at $3.68 on Tuesday.

Last month, the almond producer completed an institutional equity raising that netted about $61.7 million.

Management said there was significant demand from both existing and new shareholders. Institutional shareholders took up approximately 72% of their entitlements.

The retail component of the equity raising is expected to raise approximately $18.3 million. The retail booklet was lodged last week.

The proceeds of the equity raising will be used to repay some debt and raise processing capacity.

This ASX All Ords consumer staples share is up 27.3% in the year to date.

Firefly Metals Ltd (ASX: FFM)

The FireFly share price is $1.07, up 0.47% on Tuesday.

Last month, the copper-gold explorer reported more high-grade assay results and new high-grade copper zones at its Green Bay Copper-Gold Project in Canada.

The company also completed a $65 million institutional share placement at 95 cents per share.

At the time, that represented a 9.1% discount to the last closing price of $1.045 on 23 September.

This ASX All Ords copper share is up 67.2% in the year to date.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

The WA1 Resources share price is currently $14.82, down 1.72% for the day.

In September, the company announced it had signed a negotiation protocol with Tjamu Tjamu (Aboriginal Corporation) RNTBC. That's the native title representative body for the Kiwirrkurra People.

The protocol relates to WA1's 100%-owned West Arunta Project in Western Australia.

The ASX All Ords mineral explorer is up 16% in the year to date.

Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)

The Ora Banda Mining share price is 62 cents, down 1.6% for the day.

Last month, Ora Banda released an update on its Riverina and Sand King underground mines at the Davyhurst Gold Project.

The news included expectations of first development ore at Sand King in the December quarter.

The company aims to increase its annual production from 77,084 ounces now to between 140,000 and 160,000 ounces in FY26. The update sent the ASX All Ords stock 3.57% higher.

Ora Banda was the top-performing ASX All Ords gold share of FY24, up 162% to 34 cents by 30 June.

As my colleague Bernd reported, the miner enjoyed tailwinds from strategic asset sales, promising exploration results, and a $30 million capital raise to advance Sand King operations.

The ASX All Ords mining share is up 146% in the year to date.

The post 5 ASX All Ords shares upgraded to 'strong buy' status in September appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.