Down 17% in a week: What has happened to Paladin Energy shares?

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares are changing hands for $9.51 each in Wednesday afternoon trade.

That's around a 0.5% decrease over the day, but after a line of share price declines, means the shares have now tumbled around 17% over the past week alone.

For the year-to-date, Paladin Energy shares are down 6%, but they're still 23% higher than a year ago.

What has happened to Paladin Energy shares over the past week?

There hasn't been any price sensitive news out of the company over the past week to explain the latest selloff. 

It looks like the decline is due to a number of factors, including geopolitical uncertainty, a drop in confidence about the outlook for ASX uranium shares, a company update, and its FY26 results late last month.

As a uranium production company that focuses on developing and operating uranium mines globally, Paladin Energy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in sentiment about uranium. 

The escalating conflict in the Middle East, higher inflation data and concerns about more interest-rate rises has seen some investors reduce their exposure to riskier shares like Paladin Energy.

Elsewhere, Paladin Energy posted a note to the ASX last week confirming that JP Morgan Chase & Co, and its affiliates have ceased to be substantial holders in the company. It's possible that the news may have spooked already concerned investors.

Meanwhile the company posted its FY26 results late last month. The company posted a 71% year-on-year increase in sales revenue to US$304 million. Paladin Energy also reported a gross profit of US$52 million, up from a gross loss of US$26 million in FY25.

But while the uranium miner has shown improving operational metrics and turned a net profit, it also posted notable operating cash outflows. Paladin Energy ended the financial year with a net loss after tax of US$9.1 million, although that's an improvement from the US$77 million net loss reported in FY25.

Are the uranium miner's shares a buy, sell or hold now?

Despite the confidence loss and recent selloff, it looks like brokers are still very bullish about the outlook for Paladin Energy shares over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows that out of 15 analysts, 11 have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares and another 1 has a hold rating. Three more analysts have a strong sell rating on the shares.

The average $13.19 target price implies the shares could jump another 39% over the next year, at the time of writing. And some are even more bullish that the shares have the potential to climb 100% higher to $18.96.

The post Down 17% in a week: What has happened to Paladin Energy shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a ref="https://www.fool.com.au/fool-com-au-disclosure-policy/">disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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