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 Mark Gardner of MPC Markets, Tony Locantro of Alto Capital, and Damien Nguyen of Morgans 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.
Mark Gardner, MPC Markets
BUY RECOMMENDATIONS
BUY – Woodside Energy Group (WDS)
Woodside is one of Australia’s leading oil and gas producers. The company remains leveraged to LNG demand from Asia. The Scarborough Energy project is reportedly 96 per cent complete and on track for first LNG cargoes in the fourth quarter of 2026. Energy prices remain volatile, but gas continues to play an important role in regional energy security. In our view, the market isn’t fully pricing in the production uplift from Woodside’s major growth projects. The dividend has been under pressure, but the balance sheet and asset base remain appealing for investors seeking energy exposure.
BUY – 4DMedical (4DX)
4DMedical develops advanced respiratory imaging technology. The company has attracted attention after securing commercial validation through relationships with GSK, Mayo Clinic and Philips, which support the case for broader adoption of its CT:VQ technology in the United States and other markets. The shares remain volatile, and the business is still in the early stages of converting partnerships into material revenue. However, the company has a stronger funding position after its recent capital raise and a clearer commercial pathway than in prior years. We believe the market is undervaluing the longer term opportunity at recent levels.
HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS
HOLD – Cochlear (COH)
Cochlear remains a global leader in hearing implants, but the investment case has become more balanced. The shares have been under pressure after analysts re-assessed growth expectations and lowered revenue, margin and valuation assumptions. The long term demand profile remains attractive, supported by ageing populations and continued adoption of implantable hearing technology. However, the market will need evidence that procedure volumes and margins can recover before a stronger recommendation is warranted. At these levels, investors can continue to hold, but should monitor earnings momentum and further analyst revisions.
HOLD – ResMed Inc (RMD)
ResMed remains a high quality respiratory care business. Concerns about the impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs have weighed on sentiment, although recent analysis suggests the big undiagnosed sleep apnoea market still provides a long runway for device demand. The company continues to benefit from a strong mask and device portfolio, but investors were disappointed management left its fiscal year 2026 outlook unchanged after a solid third quarter result. Our hold recommendation balances the quality of the franchise against near term uncertainty around margins, competition and investor expectations.
SELL RECOMMENDATIONS
SELL – Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC)
Westpac has a strong retail franchise, but the valuation appears stretched. Consensus targets imply downside from current levels. The bank has made progress on simplifying its operations and cutting costs, but, in our view, earnings growth is still expected to lag the broader Australian market. The bank is up against competitive pressures and the risk of softer credit conditions. Investors may want to consider taking a profit at these levels.
SELL – National Australia Bank (NAB)
NAB remains a quality banking franchise, but the near term earnings outlook is under pressure. The bank’s first half net profit in fiscal year 2026 missed analyst expectations, with bad debt provisions and one-off charges weighing on the result. The dividend remains attractive, but valuation support looks less convincing if earnings momentum continues to soften. In our view, the bank faces the challenges of margin pressure, higher credit risk and slower profit growth. We prefer to reduce exposure and direct capital towards stronger growth opportunities elsewhere.
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Tony Locantro, Alto Capital
BUY RECOMMENDATIONS
BUY – Maronan Metals (MMA)
This base and precious metals developer focuses on the Maronan project in Queensland, one of Australia’s largest undeveloped silver-lead-copper and gold deposits. The company recently secured about $22 million in strategic funding, strengthening its balance sheet and supporting an expanded drilling program. A second drill rig has now been deployed to accelerate resource growth and improve confidence in the starter zone. The recent separation from Red Metal has also simplified the investment case and increased market visibility. While development stage projects carry funding and execution risk, the combination of a high quality resource, strong financial backing and upcoming catalysts support a speculative buy recommendation.
BUY – Great Southern Mining (GSN)
This gold explorer has projects across Western Australia and Queensland. Recent activity has focused on deep diamond drilling at the Golden Boulder discovery, where gold mineralisation has been identified over a strike length of about 3.5 kilometres. The company has also resumed drilling at the Edinburgh Park project following the wet season, providing multiple opportunities for exploration success. With gold prices remaining supportive and drilling results expected in coming months, Great Southern offers significant leverage to discovery outcomes. Exploration risk remains high, but active news flow and potential for resource growth support a speculative buy stance.
HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS
HOLD – Nyrada Inc. (NYR)
This biotechnology company is developing novel therapies targeting cardiovascular, neurological and oncology related diseases. Recent announcements highlighted progress in the Phase IIa PROTECT-MI trial for its lead drug candidate Xolatryp, along with encouraging pre-clinical oncology data and additional patent protection. These developments continue to strengthen confidence in the broader platform and its commercial potential. However, the company remains at a clinical development stage, with key efficacy and regulatory milestones still ahead. While the long term opportunity remains attractive, the current risk profile supports a hold recommendation pending further clinical validation.
HOLD – Talisman Mining (TLM)
This exploration company focuses on gold and copper opportunities across Australia. Drilling has started at the East Peak Hill project, targeting multiple copper-gold prospects following encouraging earlier exploration results. The company has also announced a leadership transition, with experienced mining executive Todd Ross appointed chief executive officer. These developments provide renewed momentum across the portfolio and support ongoing exploration activity. However, the company remains reliant on future drilling success to unlock value. Given the early stage nature of its projects and the inherent risks associated with mineral exploration, a hold recommendation remains appropriate.
SELL RECOMMENDATIONS
SELL – Goodman Group (GMG)
Goodman Group is a global industrial property and data centre developer with significant exposure to logistics infrastructure and the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) theme. Results highlighted an operating profit of $1.203 billion in the first half of 2026, with data centres representing about 73 per cent of the company’s development pipeline. Total work in progress is expected to reach about $18 billion by June 30, 2026. While the long term outlook for digital infrastructure remains highly attractive, investor enthusiasm surrounding AI and data centres has driven a substantial re-rating in the share price. With significant growth expectations already reflected in the valuation, future returns may become increasingly dependent on flawless execution of large scale projects. Given the strong share price performance and elevated market expectations, the risk-reward balance supports taking profits at current levels, in our view.
SELL – BHP Group (BHP)
BHP is Australia’s largest diversified mining company, with significant exposure to iron ore, copper and metallurgical coal. The company delivered a strong first half result in fiscal year 2026, reporting underlying EBITDA of $US15.5 billion, up 25 per cent on the prior corresponding period. A major milestone was copper contributing 51 per cent of group EBITDA for the first time. While the long term outlook for copper remains attractive, investor enthusiasm surrounding electrification and AI-related demand has contributed to a strong share price performance. In our view, the strong operational result, elevated expectations and risk-reward balance support taking some profits.
Damien Nguyen, Morgans
BUY RECOMMENDATIONS
BUY – Deterra Royalties (DRR)
The company manages a portfolio of royalty assets across a range of commodities. DRR’s royalty structure provides highly leveraged, low cost exposure to iron ore volumes with no operational risk, capital expenditure, or direct commodity price hedging. As production ramps up further at Mining Area C (MAC) and BHP Group continues to invest in expanding capacity, Deterra’s royalty stream is set to grow over the medium term. The balance sheet is conservatively managed, and the company has a strong track record of returning capital to shareholders through fully franked dividends. The market appears to be discounting near term iron ore price softness more heavily than the long term volume growth story warrants. We see the recent share price as an attractive entry point.
BUY – Coles Group (COL)
The supermarket operator offers a resilient, non-discretionary earnings base. Demand for consumer staples remains stable through economic cycles, and Coles benefits from pricing discipline across a duopolistic market structure. Recent share price weakness, driven partly by broader cost-of-living and regulatory scrutiny concerns, has created a more attractive entry point for long term investors. The company also offers a solid dividend yield and improving operational leverage.
HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS
HOLD – BHP Group (BHP)
The global miner offers broad diversification across iron ore, copper and potash, underpinned by a fortress balance sheet and a disciplined approach to capital returns. Copper provides meaningful long term exposure to the global electrification and energy transition theme, while iron ore remains the dominant near term earnings driver. However, the macro backdrop remains uncertain, with Chinese steel demand facing structural headwinds and global growth indicators sending mixed signals. The valuation at current levels appears broadly fair, with commodity price assumptions already reflecting a reasonable medium term outlook. BHP remains a core holding for resource oriented portfolios, but with limited near term re-rating catalysts, we retain a hold recommendation.
HOLD – Rio Tinto (RIO)
Rio Tinto is a world class diversified miner with high quality iron ore, aluminium and copper assets generating solid cash and consistent shareholder returns. Iron ore earnings remain central to the investment case, but are sensitive to Chinese property and infrastructure activity, which continues to face near term headwinds. Copper and lithium assets provide structural growth exposure. The balance sheet is strong and the dividend remains well-supported, making RIO a sound income holding. However, with the near term earnings outlook balanced rather than clearly positive, we retain a hold recommendation.
SELL RECOMMENDATIONS
SELL – Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
CBA is Australia’s highest quality retail bank, with a leading market position, strong digital platform and reliable earnings generation. However, quality alone doesn’t justify the recent valuation, which stands at a significant premium to domestic and global banking peers. Credit quality remains sound, but should be monitored in a higher-for-longer interest rate environment. The market has long rewarded CBA with a premium multiple. But at recent levels, the shares appear to price in a near perfect outcome with little room for disappointment.
SELL – Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC)
Revenue growth appears constrained by a competitive mortgage market and subdued business lending conditions. The bank has made meaningful progress on its strategic simplification agenda, shedding non-core businesses and improving its risk and compliance foundations. The pathway to sustainable outperformance remains unclear. In our view, the recent share price doesn’t offer a sufficient margin of safety in a challenging banking environment. We see the risk–reward equation as unfavourable at recent levels.
Featured Names – The Roundup
| Name | Recommendation | Firm |
|---|---|---|
| Woodside Energy Group (WDS) | Buy | MPC Markets |
| 4DMedical (4DX) | Buy | MPC Markets |
| Great Southern Mining (GSN) | Buy | Alto Capital |
| Maronan Metals (MMA) | Buy | Alto Capital |
| Deterra Royalties (DRR) | Buy | Morgans |
| Coles Group (COL) | Buy | Morgans |
| Cochlear (COH) | Hold | MPC Markets |
| ResMed Inc (RMD) | Hold | MPC Markets |
| Nyrada Inc. (NYR) | Hold | Alto Capital |
| Talisman Mining (TLM) | Hold | Alto Capital |
| BHP Group (BHP) | Hold, Sell | Morgans, Alto Capital |
| Rio Tinto (RIO) | Hold | Morgans |
| Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC) | Sell | MPC Markets, Morgans |
| National Australia Bank (NAB) | Sell | MPC Markets |
| Goodman Group (GMG) | Sell | Alto Capital |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | Sell | Morgans |
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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.
