Although shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock didn't bottom out until 20 March, we won't cherry-pick our dates here.

Instead, we'll focus on those brave ASX investors, lacking today's 20/20 hindsight, who bought the BNPL stock on its downward slide on 17 March. Mind you, this would be after shares had tumbled 54% year to date.

So, if you were one of those daring investors, and if you'd bought $10,000 worth of Zip shares a month ago, just how much would you have today?

What a $10,000 investment in Zip shares a month ago is worth today

On 17 March, you could have picked up Zip shares at an intraday low of $1.50 each.

Meaning you could have bought 6,666 shares in the BNPL company for $10,000.

Five trading days later, on 23 March, you would have watched shares changing hands for as little as $1.375  each.

Fortunately, in our scenario, you didn't cut and run but held fast in hopes of a turnaround.

And you wouldn't have been disappointed.

On Friday, Zip closed the day trading for $2.33 a share. Meaning the 6,666 shares you bought for $10,000 a month ago are now worth an impressive $15,531.78.

Here's what's been helping to boost the ASX 200 stock.

ASX 200 BNPL stock smashes short sellers

Zip shares enjoyed tailwinds on several fronts this past month, much to the chagrin of the raft of short sellers betting against the stock. Indeed, on Monday, Zip shares were the 10th most shorted on the ASX, with a short interest of 11.2%.

But the stock defied short sellers, boosted in part by renewed hopes of a possible peace deal in Iran. An end to the conflict would ease energy prices and inflationary pressures, which in turn would reduce the chances of further central bank interest rate hikes. And BNPL stocks like Zip have proven to be very sensitive to interest rate moves.

Zip shares also enjoyed a big lift on Friday, closing the day up 13.66%.

Those outsized gains followed the release of Zip's third-quarter (Q3 FY 2025) results.

Investors were overheating their buy buttons after Zip reported total quarterly transaction volume (TTV) of $4.0 billion, up 22.4% year on year.

Zip also reported record quarterly earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBTDA) of $65.1 million. That's up 41.5% from the prior corresponding quarter.

With earnings ramping up, management upgraded Zip's full-year FY 2026 cash EBTDA guidance to "no less than" $260 million.

The post $10,000 invested in Zip shares one month ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

All three of the outperforming stocks on my list for the week have strong technology links. And all three are up more than 20% for the week.

Which fast-rising ASX 200 shares am I talking about?

Read on!

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares join tech rally

WiseTech Global shares are setting the bar high this week.

Shares in the logistics software solutions company closed last Friday trading for $37.63. At the time of writing, shares are swapping hands for $46.50.

That sees this ASX 200 stock up 23.6% in this week's slumping market.

There's no price-sensitive news out from WiseTech this week. But ASX tech stocks have broadly outperformed this week, as witnessed by the 9.8% weekly gain in the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX).

This broader outperformance comes amid hopes of successful negotiations in the Iran war. An end to the conflict would ease global inflationary pressures and the resultant pressures for central banks to boost interest rates. And tech stocks like WiseTech have proven to be sensitive to rate increases.

Moving on…

ASX 200 stock Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) rebounds from lows

The second ASX share screaming higher in this week's sinking market is Megaport.

Shares in the network-as-a-service solutions provider closed last week trading for $6.71 and are currently changing hands for $8.53 each. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 27.1% for the week.

There's also no fresh price-sensitive news out from Megaport this week. Like WiseTech, the stock looks to be benefiting from broader improved investor sentiment in the tech sector. And with Megaport shares trading at a multi-year closing low last Friday, investors look to have been bargain hunting.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares rocket on Q3 results

The fastest rising stock on my list for the week is Zip.

Shares in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company closed last Friday trading for $1.85. At the time of writing, shares are trading for $2.37 each, putting this ASX 200 stock up a whopping 28.1% over the week.

A lot of those gains are being delivered today.

Zip shares are up 15.4% in afternoon trade following the release of the company's third-quarter (Q3 FY 2026) results.

Investors are piling into Zip shares today, with the BNPL stock reporting a 22.4% year-on-year increase in total transaction volume (TTV), which reached $4 billion.

And Zip achieved all-time high quarterly earnings, with earnings before tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBTDA) of $65.1 million, up 41.5% from Q3 FY 2026.

Zip also upgraded its full-year FY 2026 cash EBTDA guidance to no less than $260 million.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks leaping higher in this week's slumping market 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:

Eden Innovations Ltd (ASX: EDE)

The Eden Innovations share price is up 22% to 22 cents. Investors have been buying the concrete admixture developer after it announced the EdenShield division. It is a new dedicated Defence, Military and Infrastructure division. Management advised that it has been created to commercialise the company's product suite across critical infrastructure and national security applications. This includes drones, data centres, bunkers, military bases, hospitals, and defence-related buildings. Eden Innovations' executive chair, Greg Solomon, said: "The establishment of EdenShield represents a significant strategic step for Eden as we position our technologies to address the rapidly growing global demand for defence capability and infrastructure resilience."

Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)

The Elsight share price is up almost 6% to $7.19. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter this morning. This morning, the broker retained its buy rating on the shares of the supplier of communication modules to drone manufacturers with an improved price target of $8.00 (from $5.80). It said: "We retain Buy. We believe ELS has developed a market leading product that is leveraged to the proliferation of unmanned systems in both a defence and commercial context. We believe ELS shares offer relative value versus listed peers at 43x CY26e EV/EBIT given its recurring revenue, high ROIC business model and defensible niche."

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is up 3% to $14.57. This morning, this uranium producer released an update on its performance in FY 2026. It advised that its Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) has achieved year-to-date FY 2026 production of 3.6Mlb U3O8. As a result, management now expects U3O8 production of 4.5Mlb to 4.8Mlb for the 12 months. This is up from its previous guidance range of 4Mlb to 4.4Mlb.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is up 16% to $2.38. Investors have been fighting to get hold of the buy now pay later provider's shares following the release of its third-quarter update. Zip reported record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million for the third quarter, which represents a 41.5% increase on the prior corresponding period. In light of its stronger than expected performance, management now expects group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million for the full year. This is up from its previous guidance of approximately $248.6 million.

The post Why Eden Innovation, Elsight, Paladin Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade on Friday, two of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks are racing ahead of the 0.5% losses posted by the benchmark index at the time of writing, while one is trailing those losses.

Here's what's catching ASX investor interest.

Zip shares rocket on record quarterly earnings

Zip shares are racing higher today, up 11.7% and trading for $2.29 apiece.

This strong performance follows the release of the ASX 200 buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock's third-quarter (Q3 FY 2026) results.

Highlights for the three months included a 22.4% year-on-year increase in total transaction volume (TTV) to $4 billion. And total income was up 20.2% from Q3 FY 2025 to $335.2 million.

Zip shares are also getting a boost with the company reporting record quarterly earnings. Earning before tax, depreciation and amortisation surged 41.5% year on year to $65.1 million.

This led management to upgrade Zip's full-year FY 2026 cash EBTDA guidance to no less than $260 million.

Which brings us to…

Paladin Energy shares lift on production upgrade

Paladin Energy shares are also making news and enjoying a strong run today. Though not quite as strong as Zip shares.

Shares in the ASX 200 uranium stock are changing hands for $14.54 at the time of writing, up 2.7%.

Investors are bidding up Paladin Energy shares after the company released a positive operations and guidance update for its Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM).

Following an efficient ramp-up of LHM to full mining, and with 3.6 million pounds of uranium oxide produced so far in FY 2026, management increased full-year uranium production guidance to between 4.5 million and 4.8 million pounds. That's up from previous guidance of 4.0 million to 4.4 million pounds.

Also likely helping boost Paladin Energy shares today, the company reduced its full-year capital and exploration expenditure guidance.

And finally…

Alcoa shares slide on revenue dip

Joining Paladin and Zip shares in the headlines today, but heading in the other direction, is Alcoa, which produces and sells bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products.

Alcoa shares are down 2.9% at the time of writing, swapping hands for $97.14 apiece.

Investors have been pressuring the ASX 200 stock following the release of its quarterly update.

While adjusted EBITDA, excluding special items, increased 13% quarter on quarter to US$595 million, alumina production fell 5%, impacted in part by Cyclone Narelle.

This led to a 7% quarter-on-quarter decline in revenue to US$3.2 billion.

The post Why Paladin Energy, Alcoa and Zip shares are making headlines on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the buy now pay later provider's shares are up 24% to $2.54.

This follows the release of its third quarter update before the market open.

Zip shares rocket on results day

Investors have been buying the company's shares following the release of a quarterly update which revealed strong growth and an upgrade to guidance.

According to the release, Zip delivered record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million for the third quarter. This represents a 41.5% increase on the prior corresponding period.

This was underpinned by total transaction volume growth of 22.4% year on year to $4.0 billion, and total income growth of 20.2% to $335.2 million.

Importantly, the company also reported operating margin expansion to 19.4%, up from 16.5% a year earlier.

US performance a key highlight

A major focus for investors is likely to be Zip's US business, which continues to drive its overall growth.

The company reported that US total transaction volume grew strongly, increasing 43.1% year on year on a constant currency basis.

Encouragingly, US net bad debts remained steady at 1.86% of transaction volume, despite broader growth in the business.

This appears to align with expectations that the company would be able to maintain credit quality while scaling its operations.

However, at a group level, net bad debts increased to 1.9% of transaction volume, up from 1.6% a year ago.

Margins and profitability are improving

Zip also highlighted strong unit economics during the quarter. Its cash net transaction margin remained stable at 3.9%, while operating leverage helped drive profitability higher.

The company's active customer base grew year on year to 6.5 million, and the number of merchants on its platform increased 12.7% to 93,900. However, it is worth noting that active customers are down from 6.6 million at the end of December.

Management pointed to deeper customer engagement and disciplined execution as key drivers of the performance.

Zip's CEO and managing director, Cynthia Scott, said:

Zip's resilient business model continues to drive increased profitability at scale, delivering record cash earnings of $65.1m, up 41.5% year on year. Operating margin expanded 292bps to 19.4%, reflecting strong unit economics and significant operating leverage. Momentum continued across both markets, underpinned by deepened customer engagement and disciplined execution.

In the US, TTV growth accelerated to 43.1% (in USD) year on year while active customers grew 9.0% (+375k), merchants on the platform increased 17.9%, and the business expanded its Pay-in-Z offering through the launch of Pay-in-2. We achieved these outcomes while holding credit losses steady within our target range, with US credit losses forecast to decline in 4Q26 to below 1.75% of TTV.

Guidance upgraded

Giving Zip shares a boost today is news that it has upgraded its FY 2026 guidance following the strong third quarter.

The company now expects group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million for the full year, reflecting confidence in continued momentum. This compares to its previous guidance of approximately $248.6 million.

It also reaffirmed expectations for strong US growth, targeting transaction volume growth of more than 40% in that market.

Scott commented:

Following a strong third quarter performance, we have upgraded our FY26 Group cash EBTDA guidance to be no less than $260.0m, while reconfirming each of our FY26 target ranges.

The post Why are Zip shares rocketing 24% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Zip Co report?

• Total transaction volume (TTV) rose 22.4% year-on-year to $4.0 billion.
• Total income increased 20.2% to $335.2 million.
• Operating margin expanded to 19.4% from 16.5% in the prior year.
• Net bad debts were stable at 1.9% of TTV, within management targets.
• Active customers grew 3.5% to 6.5 million at quarter end.
• FY26 group cash EBTDA guidance upgraded to no less than $260 million.

What else do investors need to know?

Zip's US business delivered standout growth, with TTV and revenue each rising more than 43% year-on-year in local currency. Credit losses in the US remained within target ranges, and management expects these to fall below 1.75% of TTV in the fourth quarter.

In Australia and New Zealand, Zip launched ZMobile, a new capital-light revenue stream. The company also began an on-market share buy-back of up to $50 million in March, having already acquired $21 million of shares by the end of the quarter.

Zip continues to invest in AI capabilities, with 95% of employees using enterprise-grade tools. Funding remains in focus, highlighted by a successful $300 million note issue in Australia and ongoing refinancing work in the US.

What did Zip Co management say?

Group CEO and Managing Director Cynthia Scott said:

Zip's resilient business model continues to drive increased profitability at scale, delivering record cash earnings of $65.1m, up 41.5% year on year. Operating margin expanded 292bps to 19.4%, reflecting strong unit economics and significant operating leverage. Momentum continued across both markets, underpinned by deepened customer engagement and disciplined execution.

What's next for Zip Co?

Following its strong third-quarter performance, Zip has upgraded its FY26 group cash EBTDA guidance to at least $260 million and reaffirmed all key target ranges for the year. US transaction volume is forecast to rise over 40% in FY26, while group operating margins are expected to remain above 18%.

Management will focus on balancing profitable growth, controlling credit losses, and building out new products like ZMobile. Zip also plans to continue leveraging its AI initiatives to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.

Zip Co share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Zip shares have risen 23%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Zip Co posts record cash EBTDA and upgrades FY26 guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The market was caught off-guard by news of a major fire at one of Australia's two oil refineries yesterday.

This will undoubtedly add pressure to the fuel supply chain and potentially add to inflation and the chances of higher interest rates.

Amid the growing global fuel crisis, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares.

These companies received renewed buy ratings this week.

Let's review.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

The Rio Tinto share price closed at $172.60 on Thursday, down 0.7%.

Over the past month, the ASX mining giant has lifted 11.6%.

Macquarie reiterated its buy rating on Rio Tinto stock this week.

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $168 to $183.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

The ANZ share price finished the session at $37.73, down 1.3%.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 bank share has edged 0.75% higher.

Morgan Stanley maintained its buy rating on ANZ shares this week.

But the broker shaved its 12-month price target from $37.80 to $37.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price closed at $81.86 yesterday, up a whopping 9%.

In an apparent rebound for the entire tech sector, Xero shares have risen 16.1% since 30 March.

UBS reiterated its buy rating on Xero shares this week.

However, the broker slashed its 12-month target from $174 to $127.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price closed at $14.15, up 2.6% on Thursday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 uranium share has rocketed 27.6%.

Morgan Stanley kept its buy rating in place with a $14.45 price target this week.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price finished yesterday's trading day at $4.62, down 0.2%.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has lifted 11.1%.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy recommendation this week.

The broker also lifted its share price target from $4.70 to $5.

Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU)

The Iluka Resources share price closed at $7.77, up 4%.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mineral sands share has ripped 20.7%.

Morgan Stanley maintained a buy rating and raised its target from $6.70 to $7.90.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Zip was the third-strongest performer within the ASX 200 yesterday.

The Zip share price ripped 11.4% higher to $2.05 ahead of its quarterly update today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has soared 28.1%.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on the buy now, pay later provider this week.

The broker has a $2.60 price target on Zip shares.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The Coles share price closed at $22.70, up 0.2%, yesterday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 consumer staples share has lifted 9%.

Jefferies reiterated its buy rating this week.

The broker also raised its share price target on Coles from $23.50 to $25.50.

The post ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week 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 fall

The Australian share market looks set to edge slightly lower on Friday despite a decent night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 12 points or 0.15% lower this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.25%, the S&P 500 rose 0.25% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.35%.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares such as Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.1% to US$93.19 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.7% to US$89.65 a barrel. This was driven by concerns over Iran-US peace talks and the Strait of Hormuz.

Zip results

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares will be on watch today when the buy now pay later provider releases its eagerly anticipated third-quarter update. According to a note out of Citi, its analysts are expecting Zip to announce an improved US net transaction margin despite rising bad debts as a percentage of total transaction value.

Gold price edges lower

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price edged lower overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.25% to US$4,810.9 an ounce. Inflation and rate hike fears continue to weigh on the precious metal.

Buy Netwealth shares

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) shares could be good value according to Bell Potter. In response to the investment platform provider's quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $30.00 price target on its shares. It said: "Following the update, we have downgraded our EPS estimates -1% contained within FY27 and driven by steadier average FUA balances and take-rates. Our Buy rating is unchanged. NWL has de-rated to trade on 28x forward EBITDA consistent with prior risk off environments and compares to 33x through-the-cycle. We would expect the earnings catalysts and sentiment exposure to drive enhanced shareholder returns."

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

The latest uptick means the shares have climbed 28.8% so far in April. It's great news for investors, but the share price has a long way to go before it recovers losses shed through late 2025 and early 2026.

For the year to date, the shares are down 40%. They're now also around 58% lower than a multi-year high recorded in October last year.

What happened to Zip shares this year?

Zip has faced several headwinds recently. The stock was caught up in the sector-wide tech sell-off earlier this year and then smashed by rising concerns about the war in the Middle East. Investors have been concerned about the global impact of the conflict. As a result, they've been shying away from high-growth technology stocks and towards more stable assets.

Earlier in February, investors were spooked by concerns about rising competition, slowing growth, and margin compression, which caused a sharp sell-off of shares. 

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) provider posted a record result in February, but it still missed market expectations. Zip's revenue margin declined 7.9%, and net bad debts increased slightly to 1.73% of TTV. Zip also said it expected its second-half cash EBITDA to be broadly in line with the first half. 

And why are the shares soaring higher today?

There hasn't been any price-sensitive news out of the Zip recently to explain today's price hike. So it's most likely that the share price increase is due to a combination of factors, including a shift in sentiment and investors buying back into the tech stock in the dip.

Analysts widely consider the tech stock to be undervalued and oversold. Potentially, today's uplift means that investors have finally regained confidence in the company and its outlook.

At its results announcement in February, Zip flagged that it is aggressively expanding its US presence with the launch of a new product. It is also pursuing a dual sharemarket listing on the Nasdaq in the US to potentially help drive business expansion in the region.

Zip is expected to post its third-quarter FY26 results tomorrow, which could also be helping today's rally.

Are they still a buy? Or has the opportunity now passed?

Market Index data shows that brokers are still incredibly bullish on the outlook for Zip shares over the next 12 months.

All six brokers have a strong buy rating on the stock. The average $3.82 target price implies Zip shares could rise by another 93.67% at the time of writing. 

The post Why are Zip shares flying 9% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here's why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this copper producer's shares with a trimmed price target of $15.40. The broker has adjusted its FY 2026 production estimates to reflect the phasing of maintenance across assets and a revised production mix between cathode and sulphide output at Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde. While this has resulted in a slightly lower valuation, the broker remains very positive. It highlights that Capstone Copper has a very strong growth outlook and looks cheap compared to peers. The Capstone Copper share price is trading at $12.85 on Wednesday afternoon.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

A note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this airline operator's shares with a trimmed price target of $11.00. This follows the release of a market update which revealed higher fuel costs compared to previous expectations. However, Macquarie was pleased to see that Qantas' yields have improved, which has led to international and domestic revenue growing more than expected. In addition, it thinks Qantas is well-placed to adapt to the war in the Middle East through its accelerated fleet retirement. The Qantas share price is fetching $9.12 at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $2.60 price target on this buy now pay later provider's shares. According to the note, the broker has been looking at app data and believes it points to steady growth in downloads in March. In addition, app sessions data suggests that users are making more transactions. Citi believes this reflects the company's focus on transaction growth ahead of just new customer acquisitions. In light of this, the broker feels optimistic that Zip will release a solid quarterly update later this week. However, it will be keeping a close eye on US net bad debts. The Zip share price is trading at $1.85 on Wednesday.

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

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn't quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) continues to be the most shorted ASX share after its short interest remained flat at 15.3%. Short sellers appear to have doubts that the pizza chain operator's turnaround strategy will succeed.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) has short interest of 14.6%, which is up since last week. Unfortunately for short sellers, this radiopharmaceuticals company's shares stormed higher last week after the US FDA accepted its NDA for Pixclara
• Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) has 14% of its shares held short, which is down since last week. This high level of short interest may be due to valuation concerns. The medical device company's shares are trading on high earnings multiples.
• Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG) has short interest of 13.7%, which is down week on week. Unfortunately for short sellers, this quick service restaurant operator's shares rocketed last week after it reported a big improvement in its performance.
• Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) has seen its short interest rise to 12.5%. This wine giant is struggling due to consumer spending pressures and distributor disruption.
• Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) has short interest of 12%, which is up slightly week on week. Short sellers may believe that travel demand could be impacted by the Middle East conflict.
• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) has short interest of 11.7%, which is down since last week. This uranium miner's production outlook beyond 2026 is uncertain and attracting short sellers.
• Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN) has short interest of 11.6%, which is down slightly since last week. This infection prevention technology company's recent performance has been disappointing. Short sellers don't appear confident a change is coming.
• DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) has 11.5% of its shares held short, which is up since last week. Last week, this counter drone technology company announced the sudden exit of its CEO and chair.
• Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has entered the top ten with short interest of 11.2%. Later this week, the buy now pay later provider will be releasing its third-quarter update. Short sellers appear to believe it could disappoint.

The post These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The market was closed on Monday as Australians celebrated Easter.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ripped 4.41% to 8,960.6 points over the four trading days.

The remarkable recovery followed news of a two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

ASX investors hope this will pave the way toward an end to the war in Iran.

Investors continued to buy the dip last week following the steep sell-off over the first three weeks of March.

ASX 200 shares fell 9.1% between 2 March and 23 March before a rebound began, with the index now up 7.1% since then.

James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners says "war fear" in the market is fading but "we're not out of the woods yet".

Businesses across multiple sectors are still assessing the impact of the oil shock, which is likely to reverberate for months to come.

Let's recap the week.

Financial shares led the ASX sectors last week

The ASX 200 financial sector incorporates bank shares, insurers, fund managers, financial services providers, and more.

Let's take a look at how some of these ASX financial stocks performed last week.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price rose 5.98% to close at $183.38 on Friday.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares lifted 6.31% to $38.84.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares ascended 6.87% to $42.77.

The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price spiked 9.06% to $45.36.

The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price soared 9.3% to finish the week at $225.

Among the ASX 200 investment companies and fund managers, GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) shares fell 0.28% to $1.78.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) shares fell 0.84% to $9.45 amid a shareholder vote on the Barrenjoey merger on Friday.

Magellan announced it had received more than 90% approval from shareholders.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares lifted 3.92% to $42.98.

Among the financial services providers, AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares lifted 6.06% to $1.37.

The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price lost 2.6% to close at $8.07 on Friday.

ASX 200 buy now, pay later share Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) ripped 16.5% to $1.85.

Among the insurers, Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares fell 1.03% to $7.21.

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) shares lifted 1.92% to $4.52.

The QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price ascended 4.13% to $22.46.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the four trading days:

Looking for inspiration after the March sell-off?

Check out these 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy consensus ratings after last month's turmoil.

The post ASX 200 shares rip with financials leading a remarkable recovery last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Energy prices and supply chain networks impact almost all corners of the global economy.

So it wasn't surprising to see a broad market sell-off over the first three weeks of March as multiple industries assessed the damage.

The sell-off now leaves room for investors to buy the dip.

A two-week ceasefire is underway amid hopes of a long-term deal between the US and Iran soon.

Brokers have reviewed their ratings after many shares fell, and they see good opportunities across a number of industries.

Here are some of the ASX All Ords shares elevated to strong buy consensus ratings after last month's turmoil.

6 ASX All Ords shares newly upgraded to strong buy ratings

These ASX shares have just been upgraded to strong buy consensus ratings among analysts on the CommSec platform.

A consensus rating represents the average rating among analysts.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate Consolidated share price fell 38% in March alongside a big fall in the gold price.

In April so far, the ASX All Ords gold share is up 19% to $5.22 at yesterday's close.

MA Financial is among the brokers that have upgraded Kingsgate shares.

The broker also lifted its 12-month share price target from $6.85 to $6.95.

Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)

The Pinnacle Investment Management share price fell 10% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords financial shares is up 4% to $14.63.

Canaccord Genuity is buy-rated on Pinnacle shares with a $24.53 target.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price fell 19% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords financial share is up 19% to $1.84.

Blackwattle holds Zip shares in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Portfolio managers Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren describe Zip as 'one of the most compelling value opportunities on the ASX'.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

The WA1 Resources share price fell 20% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords copper share is up 9% to $15.19.

Canaccord Genuity is buy-rated on WA1 Resources shares with a $32 target.

Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ)

The Macquarie Technology share price fell 12% in March.

In April so far, the ASX All Ords tech share is up 12% to $66.60.

Canaccord Genuity is also buy-rated on this stock with a $95 target.

Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX: SMI)

The Santana Minerals share price fell 27% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords gold share is up 2% to 68 cents.

Shaw & Partners has a buy rating and a $2.15 target on Santana Minerals shares.

Further reading

Check out 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy ratings, too.

The post 6 ASX All Ords shares elevated to strong buy status after March sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One of the top-performing stocks on our list for this week is a major Aussie bank, the second provides buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, and the third earns its keep in the fast food sector.

So, which ASX 200 stocks are leading the charge higher this week?

Read on!

ASX 200 stocks storming higher

First up, we have Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN).

Bendigo Bank shares closed last Thursday (ahead of the Good Friday holiday) trading for $10.12. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $11.51 each.

That sees this ASX 200 stock up 13.4% over the four-day trading week. A lot of those gains were delivered on Thursday.

Bendigo Bank shares closed up 8.4% yesterday after the company released its March-quarter trading update (Q3 FY 2026).

Highlights for the three months included unaudited cash earnings of $137.9 million. That represents an increase of 7.6% from the quarterly average the bank reported in the first half of FY 2026.

Bendigo Bank reported a quarterly statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $109.4 million.

Which brings us to the second ASX 200 stock shooting the lights out this week, Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP).

Zip shares closed last Thursday trading for $1.58, and are currently trading for $1.84. This sees the Zip share price up an impressive 16.5% for the week.

There was no fresh news out from the company this week. But BNPL stocks like Zip have proven to be highly sensitive to interest rate moves and expectations.

With negotiations underway to end the Iran war this week, energy prices came down, which lowered the outlook for inflation. This, in turn, has lowered expectations for future interest rate hikes from central banks like the RBA and the US Federal Reserve.

Leading the charge

The top performing ASX 200 stock on our list for this four-day trading week is Guzman Y Gomez (ASX: GYG).

Shares in the Mexican fast food restaurant chain closed last Thursday trading for $15.20. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $20.67 apiece. This sees the embattled Guzman Y Gomez share price up a sizzling 36% for the week.

The ASX 200 stock closed up 18.6% on Tuesday following the release of its third-quarter trading update.

Investors responded favourably to the company's 19.5% year-on-year increase in sales to $345.9 million.

The quarter also saw Guzman Y Gomez open five new restaurants in Australia, bringing its global network to 278 outlets.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks surging 13% to 36% in this shortened trading week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In afternoon trade, the Zip share price is down 9.40% to $1.808.

That leaves the ASX fintech stock down roughly 45% in 2026, despite yesterday's massive 19.46% jump to $1.995.

The strong gain on Wednesday came after Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire with the US and Israel, which helped lift confidence across the broader share market.

Growth shares such as Zip were among the biggest winners from that improved mood.

But by today, that optimism has already faded.

Why Zip shares are falling today

The recent weakness comes as fresh Middle East developments again weigh on risk appetite across the share market.

Reports of Israeli attacks in Lebanon have raised doubts over how long the temporary ceasefire can last, reversing much of the confidence that drove yesterday's rebound.

As a higher-growth fintech stock, Zip often sees larger swings when investors move away from riskier parts of the market and into more defensive areas.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has also come under pressure again today, down 6.93%, which has added to weakness across local tech shares.

That backdrop helps explain why Zip has gone from a near 20% rally yesterday to a fall of close to 10% today. And this is even without any company-specific update driving the move.

Big swings are nothing new for Zip

This kind of volatility has become a regular feature for Zip shares.

The stock has been moving wildly for months as investors respond to changing views on interest rates, consumer spending, and now the Middle East war.

Even before this week's geopolitical developments, Zip had already seen some large moves.

Its half-year results in February triggered a big share price drop, despite the company reporting strong earnings growth and continued momentum in the US business.

Since then, the stock has regularly bounced hard on good news, only to pull back again when market nerves return.

This week's price action is another example of just how quickly the market's view on Zip can change.

Foolish Takeaway

Zip is clearly capable of delivering huge short-term moves, but that level of volatility would make it too unpredictable for my own portfolio.

While the growth story still has appeal, I would rather focus on more stable businesses that are also delivering solid earnings growth without the same headline-driven swings.

For me, there are simply better risk-reward opportunities elsewhere on the ASX.

The post Zip shares plunge again after yesterday's 19% surge. Here's what changed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However, with changing economic conditions, investors began asking more questions about execution and profitability.

What's happening at Zip Co?

While Zip Co shares saw circa 60% growth over the last twelve months, year to date, they have dropped roughly 40%.

Zip has been responding to changing investor sentiment for some time, reducing costs, improving margins, and narrowing losses. In February, it reported some impressive 1H26 results, including:

• A significant improvement in operating margin at 18.7%, up from 13% on the prior corresponding period (PCP)
• Record total transaction volume of $8.4 billion, a 34.1% increase on PCP
• A 4.1% increase in active customers on PCP
• 10.5% growth in merchants on the platform

But it is still asking investors to believe that the worst is behind it and the best is still worth waiting for. There is no denying that Zip is a company on the improve. The question is whether investors will be willing to back its next phase.

What is happening in the BNPL sector more broadly?

Looking at what is happening in the BNPL sector more broadly, it was flying in 2022. In Australia, according to Finder, 49% of Australians were actively using the service to fund purchases. And this looked set to grow. But things went the other way, dropping to 40% or 2 in 5 Australians by 2024. That said, more recent surveys have found high adoption rates amongst younger consumers and Australians remain one of the highest users of BNPL. In addition, with Gen Z eschewing the traditional credit card model, there is still room for user growth.

Of course, BNPL is irrevocably tied to consumer spending. And it is more widely used by younger consumers, who are also more likely to be affected by current conditions. On the flip side, given that it can fund a wide range of products and services, it may prove an interest-free lifeline on hard-to-delay purchases for some right now.

Whether you believe BNPL can pick up or not in the current climate is key to your investment decision as reaching profitability for Zip Co is highly sensitive to the broader economic backdrop. 

Are Zip Co shares a buy right now?

Many analysts certainly think so. And with the share price rallying 20% yesterday, it looks like investors are starting to agree.

Zip Co is a materially better business today than it was in 2022. Costs and losses are both trending in the right direction and its geographic footprint is more focused. User growth and transaction volume continue to grow, despite challenging market conditions.

But right now, Zip is sitting in an uncomfortable middle ground. It is no longer a high-growth disruptor that investors are willing to fund on belief alone, but it has not yet reached profitability. In calmer economic conditions, it could well have remained in investor favour.  

For me, Zip Co shares are a conditional buy. There is certainly potential upside at the current price. And it is making the right moves towards profitability. But you have to be comfortable with some volatility in the near-term and wholeheartedly believe in a cyclical recovery in consumer spending.

The post Are Zip Co shares a buy right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The price hike marks a turnaround for the Australian financial technology company's shares after they plunged 19% in March alone.

The latest trading price means Zip shares are now down 41% for the year-to-date, but a huge 57% higher than this time 12 months ago.

The fintech company delivered a record result in February but missed expectations. Zip's revenue margin declined 7.9%, net bad debts increased slightly to 1.73% of TTV. Zip also said it expected its second-half cash EBITDA is expected to be broadly in line with the first half. 

Investors were spooked by concerns about rising competition, slowing growth and margin compression and it caused a sharp sell-off.

It's just one of many headwinds which has faced the business over the past six months. The stock faced pressure from short sellers in late-2025, and investors taking their gains off the table after a huge mid-year price rally.

As a tech company, Zip has also been caught up in the recent sector-wide tech sell off. Rising concerns about the global impact of the war in the Middle East drove investors away from high-growth technology stocks and towards more stable assets.

What caused the mid-week Zip share price rally?

There hasn't been any price sensitive news out of the fintech company recently to explain the sudden price surge. It's likely that the price hike is due to a combination of factors.

I'd expect that a major theme driving the share price higher is investors buying back into the stock amid a shift in sentiment. Analysts widely consider the tech stock to be undervalued and oversold, and it looks like investor sentiment has finally caught up.

Meanwhile, news that US President Donald Trump has reached a ceasefire agreement with Iran has renewed hopes that the Middle East conflict could resolve. As a result, we saw large gains across many sectors on the ASX on Wednesday, technology included. 

There are great growth prospects for Zip this year which may also have boosted sentiment. In February, the company announced it is aggressively expanding its US presence by launching its new Pay in 2 product. Its US business now drives over 75% of its total translation volume. The new product allows consumers to split a purchase into two instalments paid over two weeks.

Zip is also pursuing a dual sharemarket listing on the Nasdaq in the US. This could potentially drive opportunity for business expansion.

How high can Zip shares go?

Last month I predicted that the buy-now-pay-later (BPNL) provider's shares could explode higher this year. Even after Wednesday's share price spike, Zip shares look like a bargain.

Analysts agree, and TradingView data shows all 11 analysts with a rating on the stock hold a consensus buy rating on Zip shares. 

The average target price is $4.04, which implies a potential 102% upside at the time of writing. Others still think the stock could soar even higher, up another 164% to $5.27 within the next 12 months!

The post Are Zip shares still a buy after soaring 20% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The two ASX shares I'm going to highlight are among the most highly-rated businesses in Australia and they both may be capable of producing very pleasing shareholder returns.

Of course, these are just analysts' predictions, not guarantees of how things will play out.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Zip is one of the largest buy now, pay later businesses in Australia and the US.

According to CMC Invest, there have been six recent ratings on the business, with all of those being a buy.

The business could deliver significant capital growth according to the price targets. A price target is where analysts think the share price could be in a year from the time of the investment call.

According to CMC Invest, the average price target on Zip is $3.84, suggesting a potential rise of around 130% over the next year. The most optimistic price target is $4.50, suggesting a possible rise of approximately 170%, while the lowest price target is $2.60, implying a rise of more than 50%.

Of course, it's not common for a particular business to rise more than 50% in a year, so a rise of over 100% would be very impressive.

The ASX share's FY26 first-half result was impressive. Total income grew 29.2% to $664 million, operating profit (cash EBITDA) jumped 85.6% to $124.3 million and active customers rose 4.1% to 6.6 million.

However, net bad debts increased to 1.7% of total transaction value (TTV), up from 1.6% of TTV in the first half of FY25.

Most importantly, the business is expecting ongoing strength growth in the US. In FY26, the company expects to report US TTV growth of more than 40% in USD dollar terms, balancing profitability and credit loss performance. The US TTV in January 2026 grew by more than 40% year-over-year.

According to CMC Invest, the business is valued at around 20x FY26's estimated earnings.

Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN)

Another ASX share that's currently liked by analysts is Baby Bunting, a retailer of various baby and toddler items like prams, beds, clothing, toys and so on.

According to CMC Invest, in the last three months, there have been four buy ratings on the business and two holds.

The average price target of those ratings is $3.18, suggesting a possible rise of more than 130% for the ASX share.

The most optimistic price target is $4.20, suggesting a potential increase of around 210%, while the lowest estimate is $2.60, which implies a possible rise of more than 90%.

In the FY26 half-year result, the business was able to report a number of positives.

Total sales increased by 6.7% year-over-year to $271.4 million, with comparable store sales growth of 4.7%. Excitingly, its 'store of the future' refurbishment program unlocked a 25% sales increase, which was the top end of its guidance range of between 15% to 25%.

Pleasingly, the company said that second half sales momentum continued in the first seven weeks with comparable sales growth of 6.7%.

The projection on CMC Invest suggests the business could generate earnings per share (EPS) of 12.8 cents in FY26, putting the current valuation at under 11x FY26's estimated earnings.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Zip share price has been volatile over the past 12 months.

Zip has traded between a low of $1.09 on 7 April last year and a high of $4.93 on 20 October.

In 2026, Zip stock is down 50.4%.

Fund manager Blackwattle holds Zip in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Portfolio managers Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren gave their assessment of this ASX financial share in a newsletter last week.

Zip shares offer 'compelling value', say experts

Hawkesford and Broeren said Zip faced heavy selling during earnings season despite a strong 1H FY26 result.

The buy now, pay later provider reported record cash EBTDA of $124.3 million, up 85.6%, and total income of $664 million, up 29.2%.

The managers said strong operating leverage was also evident, with operating margins expanding 580 basis points to 18.7%.

Nonetheless, Zip shares were pummelled, crashing 33% on results day.

Hawkesford and Broeren said:

Unfortunately, Zip appears to be caught in the crosshairs of two broader market themes: negative sentiment toward technology stocks amid concerns around AI disruption, and a rotation out of higher-multiple growth companies as investors place greater emphasis on valuation.

However, Hawkesford and Broeren said Zip does not fit neatly into either category, commenting:

Its BNPL offering is fundamentally a payments and consumer finance product embedded at the point of sale, with competitive advantages stemming from its merchant network and proprietary credit decisioning (and data), rather than being 'pure software'.

The managers point out that Zip shares are trading at an attractive entry point after a 50% decline year to date.

… at just 12x FY27e P/E, with significant growth potential, it is far from expensive – currently ranking, in our opinion, as one of the most compelling 'value' opportunities on the ASX.

What do other experts think?

On the CommSec trading platform, Zip shares have a strong buy consensus recommendation.

Ten of 11 analysts rating Zip on the platform give it a strong buy rating, and one offers a moderate buy rating.

On the TradingView website, Zip also scores a strong buy consensus rating.

Once again, 10 out of 11 analysts give Zip a strong buy, and one gives it a moderate buy.

The analysts' 12-month share price targets for Zip range from a low of $2.60 to a high of $5.27.

Zip is scheduled to release its 3Q FY26 results update next Friday, 17 April.

The post Down 50% in 2026, Zip shares are 'one of the most compelling value opportunities on the ASX' appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This jubilant hump day session for ASX shares comes after an even more euphoric morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was off to the races, gaining 2.49%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) put the turbocharger on though, exploding 3.83% higher.

Let's get back to the local markets now and see how today's gains filtered down into the different ASX sectors.

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