To The Moon

As of the close on Friday,$S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 7,115.20 points, down 0.46% in the past 5 days.

During the last 5 trading days,  $Altium(ALU.AU)$ was up 29.50%; $Premier Investments Ltd(PMV.AU)$ added 16.09%; $Idp Education Ltd(IEL.AU)$ was up 15.06%; $Hub24 Ltd(HUB.AU)$ rose 12.92%; and $Qube(QUB.AU)$ increased 11.03%.

1. $Altium(ALU.AU)$ achieves strong financial performance and secures a new contract with Renesas

$Altium(ALU.AU)$ surged nearly 30% on company’s stellar earnings.

The company reported a 19.2% increase in revenue to US$263.3 million and a 20.3% lift in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$96 million for the full year ended June 30, 2023.

It is guiding to revenue of US$315 million to US$325 million (20% to 23% growth) and an underlying EBITDA margin of 35% to 37% in FY 2024.

The company announced that it has secured a new customer in the AI cloud space, which could provide a long-term growth opportunity for its test solutions.

Altium's announcement of a multi-year contract with global semiconductor manufacturer Renesas was another positive, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.

The agreement highlights Altium's position as a key electronics-industry player and supports long-term expansion of its total addressable market, the Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note.

2. $Premier Investments Ltd(PMV.AU)$ witnesses over 10% surge amid game-changing projection of sales and strategic review

Premier Investments Limited share price has surged by more than 10% following a series of significant announcements made by the company.

Premier Investments announced that it anticipates reporting record global sales for its retail division, reaching $1.64 billion for the 52-week period ending July 29, 2023. This represents a substantial 9.7% year-over-year growth.

Additionally, the company expects to achieve a record underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for FY23, projected to be between $355 million and $357 million. These strong financial figures have likely sparked investor enthusiasm, contributing to the share price increase.

Premier Investments initiated a formal strategic review to assess its corporate, operating, and capital structures. This review acknowledges the significant growth opportunities within its various businesses, such as Peter Alexander and Smiggle, both of which are experiencing expansion in existing and new markets.

The announcement that Premier Investments is considering the separation of the group into two or more entities through a possible demerger has likely piqued investor interest. This kind of structural change can sometimes unlock value for shareholders by allowing each segment of the business to focus on its specific growth opportunities.

3. $Idp Education Ltd(IEL.AU)$ achieves record revenue A$982 million in 2023, driven by returning international students

IDP Education, a leading player in student recruitment and marketing, has announced a remarkable milestone with record revenue of AUD $982 million in the 2023 financial year, surging from $793 million in the previous year.

The resurgence of international students returning to Australia has been a pivotal factor in this growth. Notably, income generated from student recruitment to Australia witnessed a striking 86% increase in 2023, reaching $152 million. Similarly, other global destinations experienced a substantial rise of 49%, reaching $199 million.

In a momentous achievement, IDP successfully placed a record-breaking 84,600 international students across the globe in 2023. Geographically, recruitment revenue witnessed significant spikes, with the UK registering a 53% growth, Canada rising by 44%, and the USA seeing a 45% surge.

4. $Hub24 Ltd(HUB.AU)$ initiates $50 million share buyback after stellar earnings

Hub24, an investment platform business, has revealed its intention to execute a share buyback worth $50 million in the market.

In the recently concluded 2023 financial year, Hub24 reported a 35% increase in revenue to A$283.4 million and a 41% rise in net profit after tax to A$38.4 million for the full year ended June 30, 2023. The company also declared a final dividend of 3.5 cents per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 6.5 cents per share.

Mr. Alcock anticipates continued growth and investment in the forthcoming financial year, though he refrained from providing specific financial guidance.

Hub24's overarching objective is to achieve total funds under administration within the range of $92 billion to $100 billion by the fiscal year 2025. The company has already established its reputation as Australia's top investment platform, showcasing market-leading net inflows and expanding its market share.

5. $Qube(QUB.AU)$ climbs most in 6 months on boosted dividend, growth outlook

The company reported revenue of A$2.9 billion and a 16.7% growth in underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to A$226.6 million for the full year ended June 30, 2023.

Qube advances as much as 5%, the most since Feb. 23, after the Australian logistics company increased its final dividend and forecast FY24 earnings growth in its operating division.

Final dividend per share A$0.0435 vs. A$0.033 y/y

Management expects to deliver stronger operational results in FY24, even as interest rate pressures remain. Jefferies analysts led by Anthony Moulder wrote in a note

We continue to see upside to fair value for the business" given Qube's diversity of earnings and upside in valuation for its Patrick division

Analysts have upgraded their ratings and target prices for the company, citing its strong operational performance, its strategic position in the logistics sector, and its growth potential in the post-pandemic era. Morgan Stanley and Macquarie Research upgraded QUB to “overweight”, while Citi maintained its “buy” rating.