CORPORATE PROFITS – AUSTRALIA

Resources strength holds up reporting season

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 28 : 5-Mar-19

Paul Winter of UBS notes that Australia’s latest February reporting season featured more earnings downgrades than upgrades for the first time in the last four years. Hasan Tevfik of MST Marquee adds that while the reporting season was better than expected, this was largely due to a strong performance by the resources sector, which offset weakness in other sectors. Earnings-per-share growth for S&P/ASX 200 stocks is now forecast to be 6.3 per cent in 2018-19, compared with 7.6 per cent in 2017-18.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MST MARQUEE, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Miners fuel drive towards surplus

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Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 4 : 5-Mar-19

Westpac and the ANZ Bank expect the latest national accounts data to show that the Australian economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the December quarter, while National Australia Bank has forecast growth of 0.4 per cent. Meanwhile, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that pre-tax profits in the resources sector rose by $17.5bn in calendar 2018, which will in turn boost federal government revenue. However, earnings outside of the resources sector fell by 1.5 per cent during 2018.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Ramsay plays down Brexit risks as recovery starts to show

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Original article by Carrie LaFrenz
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 1-Mar-19

Ramsay Health Care has reported a 2018-19 interim net profit of $270.1 million, up 9.6 per cent, while revenue rose by 14.9 per cent to $5.12 billion. Meanwhile, CEO Craig McNally says its UK division is beginning to show some promising signs, although Brexit could pose some short-term challenges. Ramsay’s UK unit generates less than 10 per cent of the private hospital operator’s revenue. McNally says that staffing and supply would be the two biggest areas where Brexit would impact on its UK division.

CORPORATES
RAMSAY HEALTH CARE LIMITED – ASX RHC, CAPIO AB, MONTGOMERY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

House slump hits Harvey Norman

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 1-Mar-19

Furniture and electronics retailer Harvey Norman has posted a 2018-19 interim net profit of $222.8m, which is 7.3 per cent higher than previously. Its Australian franchised stores recorded sales of $2.95bn for the period, a decline of 1.7 per cent, and there was an 0.6 per cent fall in same-store sales. However, its overseas stores boasted sales of $1.07bn, an increase of 12.1 per cent. Chairman Gerry Harvey is confident that Harvey Norman’s overseas stores will eventually contribute 50 per cent of its earnings.

CORPORATES
HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, ALLERON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, IKEA

OZ sets sights on long-term payoff

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 28-Feb-19

OZ Minerals has posted a 2018 net profit of $222.4m, which is 3.8 per cent lower than previously, although revenue was up 9.2 per cent at $1.12bn. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $0.15 per share, but OZ has opted against paying a special dividend to finance growth projects such as the Carrapateena copper mine in South Australia. CEO Andrew Cole has also indicated that OZ will not proceed with a concentrate treatment plant in SA as it does not "stack up" at present.

CORPORATES
OZ MINERALS LIMITED – ASX OZL, AVANCO RESOURCES LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Rio splashes cash with $19bn payday

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 28-Feb-19

Rio Tinto has posted a 2018 underlying net profit of $US8.8bn, which is two per cent higher than previously, while net earnings rose by 56 per cent to $US13.6bn. The full-year result was bolstered by the proceeds of asset sales and an increase in copper production. Rio Tinto shareholders will receive a full-year return of $US13.5bn, which includes share buybacks, a final dividend of $US1.80 per share and a special dividend of $US2.43. Meanwhile, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques notes that there are signs of a slowdown in global economic growth.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, BARCLAYS BANK PLC

Yancoal delivers thumping profit

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 27-Feb-19

Yancoal Australia has posted a 2018 net profit of $852m, compared with $229m previously, while factors such as rising coal prices lifted operating EBIT to $2.18bn. CEO Reinhold Schmidt notes that Yancoal has reduced its dependence on exports to China after increasing its export volumes to other countries in Asia. He has also rejected suggestions that China’s recent coal import restriction were prompted by trade tensions with Australia. Yancoal shareholders will receive a final dividend of $0.126 per share, and a full-year payout of $0.2855.

CORPORATES
YANCOAL AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX YAL, COAL AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES LIMITED, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, GLENCORE PLC, ADANI MINING PTY LTD

Gen-tailer’s 24pc profit lift too high: Taylor

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 26-Feb-19

EnergyAustralia has posted a 2018 net profit of $566m, which is 24 per cent higher than previously. The result was boosted by higher wholesale electricity prices, while parent company CLP Group says EnergyAustralia’s return on invested capital rose to 10.7 per cent, compared with just 3.3 per cent in 2014. Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor has responded to strong earnings growth in the electricity sector by again urging generator-retailers to provide price relief for customers.

CORPORATES
ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CLP GROUP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL

Lendlease slashes dividend as revenue falls

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 36 : 26-Feb-19

Lendlease has posted a 2018-19 interim net profit of $15.7m, compared with $425.7m previously. The result was marred by a $500m writedown in the value of its engineering and services division in late 2018. Lendlease’s revenue for the half-year was $7.7bn, down from $8.7bn previously. Its Australian arm has reported an EBITDA loss of $139.5m, while construction and development revenue also fell. Lendlease’s interim dividend has been reduced from $0.34 per share to just $0.12.

CORPORATES
LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL

Nine chief upbeat as digital lifts earnings

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 21 : 22-Feb-19

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a pro-forma net profit of $126m for the first half of 2018-19, which is five per cent higher than previously. EBITDA rose by six per cent to $252m, although revenue fell three per cent to $1.2bn. CEO Hugh Marks notes that broadcasting now accounts for 54 per cent of the group’s revenue, compared with 86 per cent prior to the merger with Fairfax Media. Nine’s shares closed 7.2 per cent higher at $1.57 on 21 February.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, 9NOW, METRO MEDIA PUBLISHING PTY LTD, NINE.COM.AU, PEDESTRIAN