18 Share Tips – 17th March 2025

Welcome to this week’s edition of 18 Share Tips – our weekly selection of top ASX shares, chosen by leading analysts, that we think are worth considering.

This week Dylan Evans of Catapult Wealth, Nathan Lodge of Securities Vault and Niv Dagan of Peak Asset Management share their ‘Buy’, ‘Hold’ and ‘Sell’ recommendations.

Please note these share tips are simply recommendations and are in no way intended as financial advice.  These share tips are general advice and don’t take into account any individual’s financial situation. Investors are advised to seek professional financial advice before investing.

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Dylan Evans, Catapult Wealth

BUY RECOMMENDATIONS

BUY – ASX Limited (ASX)

The past few years have been challenging for this financial markets operator, but the news flow is now turning positive. The company’s first half result in fiscal year 2025 was strong and ahead of market expectations. Operating revenue of $591 million was up 5.9 per cent on the prior corresponding period and statutory net profit after tax of $243.5 million was up 5.6 per cent. Modernising the ASX technology platform is on track and, importantly, in line with budget. We’re seeing signs that listing volumes may improve. With positive signs developing, we view ASX as an attractive alternative to banks, offering a similar yield, but with a more defensive profile supported by a monopoly market position and low gearing.

BUY – Brambles (BXB)

This supply chain logistics giant delivered a solid first half result in fiscal year 2025. While revenue growth was at the lower end of its target, Brambles offset this by continuing to deliver on efficiency and productivity measures. These improvements are increasing margins and delivering strong cash flow. This cash flow has enabled Brambles to increase its dividend by 27 per cent on last year’s corresponding period and conduct a significant share buy-back of up to $500 million. While Brambles is sensitive to economic growth and currency movements, the underlying business appears to be in top shape, with management building a solid track record.

HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS

HOLD – BHP Group (BHP)

The global mining giant is focusing more on increasing copper production. Based on its most recent first half result in fiscal year 2025, copper now makes up 38 per cent of BHP’s earnings, with iron ore down to just 55 per cent. This appears to be a smart long term strategy. Iron ore prices have been resilient, but we do expect a decline in the long term, as steel demand from China matures. Copper appears to have a more buoyant future, driven by widespread use in electronics. A declining iron ore division may limit growth in the short term, but it provides the cash for BHP to continue expanding into copper, setting the company up for a brighter future.

HOLD – Sonic Healthcare (SHL)

Sonic Healthcare is a global leader in pathology, with operations across Australia, the US and Europe. Sonic experienced a post COVID-19 hangover. It scaled up significantly into COVID-19 testing, only to see these revenues fall faster than anticipated. This left Sonic with a high cost base and compromised margins. SHL is now returning to a period of growth and higher margins, as it reduces costs and benefits from acquisitions made after the pandemic. Operationally solid, Sonic’s long term growth is underpinned by an ageing population and resulting demand for healthcare and pathology services.

SELL RECOMMENDATIONS

SELL – Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings (NEC)

The media giant has a diversified portfolio of assets. Streaming service provider Stan and the company’s controlling interest on online real estate platform Domain were solid performers in NEC’s first half results in fiscal year 2025. Nine is a leader in Australian print media and free to air television, but these businesses face fierce competition for readers, viewers and advertisers. Group revenue of $1.390 billion was up 1 per cent on the prior corresponding period, but net profit after tax and minorities of $95.1 million was down 29 per cent. We find it difficult to identify a catalyst that would provide a brighter outlook in the medium term.

SELL – Fortescue (FMG)

Fortescue is the fourth largest iron ore producer in the world, growing its scale to the point where its operating costs now rival the levels of BHP Group and Rio Tinto. Unlike BHP and Rio, Fortescue is a single commodity producer. This leaves Fortescue heavily exposed to economic conditions in China, particularly as it produces a lower quality ore that can be discounted during times of weaker demand. We prefer exposure to BHP or Rio, which offer diversity through copper and aluminum, markets we expect to generate stronger demand over time.

Nathan Lodge, Securities Vault

BUY RECOMMENDATIONS

BUY – E79 Gold Mines (E79)

This gold and copper explorer has tenements in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company’s market capitalisation remains modest relative to its peers, providing substantial upside if exploration success continues. Given the company’s strategic land position, ongoing drilling programs and a favourable gold price, we believe E79 represents an attractive high risk, high reward opportunity for investors.

BUY – Decidr AI Industries (DAI)

DAI is an artificial intelligence (AI) enablement group. It was formerly known as Live Verdure (LV1). DAI has a controlling interest in AI platform Decidr.ai. Decidr helps businesses automate hundreds of simple mundane tasks without supervision. The company recently signed a partnership heads of agreement with Go1, one of the world’s largest corporate learning platforms. We believe DAI offers a bright outlook in the rapidly growing AI sector.

HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS

HOLD – 4DS Memory (4DS) 

4DS is a semiconductor development company, specialising in non-volatile memory technology, particularly interface switching ReRAM for storage in mobile and cloud applications. The company recently completed a $6 million placement from institutional and high net worth investors. It raised a further $2.6 million from a share purchase plan. The capital will be used to progress the design agreement with Infineon Technologies. The shares have been slashed during the past year, but there’s potential for a recovery. However, the stock remains speculative and suits investors with an appetite for risk.

HOLD – Zelira Therapeutics (ZLD)

This biopharmaceutical company is involved in cannabinoid based medicine. The company’s portfolio includes formulations targeting conditions, such as insomnia, autism and chronic non-cancer pain. The company has a pipeline of drug candidates undergoing clinical development that are positioned to enter global markets. The share price has fallen significantly since July 2024. However, the company is active in securing new markets for its products, so, in our view, the outlook is optimistic.

SELL RECOMMENDATIONS

SELL – Pursuit Minerals (PUR) 

This mineral exploration company focuses on lithium projects, notably the Rio Grande Sur project in Argentina. Lithium prices have been smashed in the past few years, impacting many companies across the sector. PUR reported a net loss after tax of $2.099 million for the year ending June 30, 2024. We believe companies in other sectors are more appealing at this point than those operating in the volatile lithium sector. Shares in PUR have fallen from 30 cents on April 26, 2024, to trade at 7.3 cents on March 13, 2025.

SELL – PolyNovo (PNV) 

The company provides dermal regeneration solutions via its NovoSorb biodegradable polymer technology. The company posted record sales of $54.1 million in the first half of fiscal year 2025, up 28.1 per cent on the prior corresponding period. However, the company recently announced it had changed its chief executive officer. The company had been dealing with internal issues. PNV shares have been slashed from $2.29 on January 22 to trade at $1.197 on March 13. The company’s performance and governance remains under scrutiny.

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Niv Dagan, Peak Asset Management

BUY RECOMMENDATIONS

BUY – NoviqTech (NVQ)

NoviqTech focuses on tracking and tracing carbon. The company’s platform carbon central seamlessly integrates carbon reporting to measure, manage and tokenise assets. Its digital twins capability enables clients to replicate their plant or operations in real time and create an international sustainability and carbon certificate to reduce costs. We are a major shareholder in NVQ and expect tokenisation revenues to flow this quarter, leading to a re-rating of the stock. The shares were trading at 5 cents on March 13.

BUY – Triangle Energy (Global) (TEG)

TEG is an energy producer and explorer based in Western Australia. The company has a 78.75 per cent interest in the Cliff Head oil field. It has a 50 per cent share of the L7 production licence and the adjacent EP437 exploration licence, both in the Perth Basin. The company has expanded its interests outside the Perth Basin, with a 50 per cent holding in UK permit P2628, which contains the Cragganmore gas field operated by Athena Energy. The company has suffered from a previous exploration result and issues at Cliff Head. However, the company had $10.89 million in cash on December 31, 2024. The Becos well is planned to be drilled in late March 2025. Triangle continues to pursue opportunities in Australia, Europe and Asia. TEG is highly speculative, but could re-rate on any successful news flow. The shares were trading at less than a cent on March 13.

HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS

HOLD – CSL (CSL)

The biotechnology giant posted a 15 per cent increase in immunoglobulin product sales in the first half of fiscal year 2025 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Albumin sales rose 9 per cent and haemophilia product sales increased 11 per cent. We believe the company is well positioned to deliver on net profit after tax and amortisation growth guidance of between 10 per cent and 13 per cent at constant currency in full year 2025.

HOLD – Telstra Group (TLS)

The telecommunications giant posted a positive first half result in fiscal year 2025. EBITDA of $4.2 billion was up 6 per cent and net profit after tax of $1.1 billion grew 7.1 per cent. The fully franked interim dividend of 9.5 cents a share was up 5.6 per cent. The company announced an on-market, share buy-back of up to $750 million, which was earlier than we expected. In our view, this signals Telstra’s intention to return capital to shareholders and its positive view about its capacity to generate strong cash flow growth.

SELL RECOMMENDATIONS

SELL – Mineral Resources (MIN)

MIN is a leading diversified resources company, with extensive operations in lithium, iron ore, energy and mining services across Western Australia. Revenue of $2.290 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2025 was down 9 per cent on the prior corresponding period due to weaker iron ore and lithium prices. The company reported a statutory net loss after tax of $807 million. The result included $352 million of post-tax impairment charges related to its Bald Hill lithium project. The company didn’t declare an interim dividend. The company’s Onslow haul road needs to be repaired at a cost of about $230 million. In our view, lingering debt issues and potentially weaker commodity prices are among the challenges faced by the company.

SELL – Pilbara Minerals (PLS)

Pilbara owns 100 per cent of one of the world’s largest, independent hard rock lithium operations. Located in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, the company’s Pilgangoora operation produces spodumene and tantalite concentrates. Revenue and EBITDA in the first half of fiscal year 2025 were down on the prior corresponding period. The company posted a statutory loss after tax of $69 million. The shares have fallen from $4.17 on March 14, 2024, to trade at $1.767 on March 13, 2025. Given weaker lithium prices, we envisage further pressure as short sellers possibly push the stock lower in the short-term.

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The above recommendations are general advice and don’t take into account any individual’s objectives, financial situation or needs. Investors are advised to seek their own professional advice before investing. Please note that TheBull.com.au simply publishes broker recommendations on this page. The publication of these recommendations does not in any way constitute a recommendation on the part of TheBull.com.au. You should seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.