CORPORATE PROFITS – AUSTRALIA

A whiff of optimism behind PE expanders

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 27 : 28-Aug-18

The average forward price-earnings multiple of the 25 most expensive stocks in the S&P/ASX 300 has risen by 9.8 per cent since these companies reported their latest financial results, while the PE multiple of the indice’s 25 cheapest stocks has contracted. Jason Steed of JP Morgan has attributed the PE expansion to factors such as momentum buying, short covering, deployment of high cash balances and the recent political uncertainty. Meanwhile, Steed notes that 30 per cent of the stocks that JP Morgan covers have exceeded expectations during the August reporting season, while 28 per cent have failed to meet expectations.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 300 INDEX, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, MONADELPHOUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX MND, COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCL, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, APA GROUP – ASX APA, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED, ZTE CORPORATION, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

APN Outdoor finishes up with a profit jump

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 24-Aug-18

APN Outdoor Group has posted a 2018 interim net profit of $17.8m, which is 13 per cent higher than previously. The outdoor advertising group has advised that it still expects underlying EBITDA of $92m to $96m for the full year, which is likely to be its last as a listed company after its acquisition by JC Decaux was cleared by the competition regulator. APN Outdoor CEO James Warburton has declined to comment on his future, but sources have indicated that he is likely to leave the company when the deal is completed.

CORPORATES
APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED – ASX APO, JC DECAUX SA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, OOH!MEDIA LIMITED – ASX OML, ADSHEL PTY LTD, HT&E LIMITED – ASX HT1, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED, SYDNEY TRAINS, NEW SOUTH WALES. ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES, TRANSPORT FOR BRISBANE, SYDNEY AIRPORT – ASX SYD

Department stores aren’t dying, says DJ’s owner

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 24-Aug-18

David Jones’s operating profit fell by 49.6 per cent to $64 million in the year to June 2018, as advised by parent company Woolworths Holdings. This compared to an operating profit of $127 million for the previous corresponding period. Department store earnings were down 58 per cent to $5 million. Sales for the second half of the reporting period increased by 2.2 per cent, while sales for the first seven weeks of 2018-19 have risen by 3.7 per cent.

CORPORATES
DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED, ZARA, HENNES OCH MAURITZ AB, LOUIS VUITTON, CHANEL INCORPORATED, WALT DISNEY COMPANY

Northern Star not budging on cash stash

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 24-Aug-18

Gold miner Northern Star Resources has posted a 2017-18 net profit of $194.1m, which is three per cent higher than previously. EBITDA rose by four per cent to $442.9m and revenue was up 11 per cent at $964m. The company has spent $212m on exploration in the last five years, and it has allocated a further $60m for exploration in 2018-19. Northern Star Resources has cash reserves of $443m, but CEO Bill Beament has downplayed talk of capital management initiatives. He says a healthy balance sheet is desirable given that the company is in growth mode.

CORPORATES
NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, S&P GLOBAL MARKET INTELLIGENCE

Content and data to underpin Nine growth

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 24-Aug-18

Nine Entertainment Company has posted a 2017-18 underlying net profit of $156.7m, which is 26.8 per cent higher than previously. Underlying EBITDA was up 25.1 per cent at $257.2m and revenue rose 6.5 per cent to $1.3bn. Nine boasted a 38.6 per cent share of free-to-air metropolitan advertising revenue in 2017-18, ahead of Seven West Media with a 38.1 per cent share. Nine CEO Hugh Marks is upbeat about the media group’s outlook, highlighting its capabilities in delivering content across media platforms and targeted advertising via its addressable TV technology.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, 9NOW, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT

Lihir gold output to hit 1 million oz: Newcrest

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 23-Aug-18

Newcrest Mining has posted a 2017-18 net profit of $US202m, which is 34 per cent lower than previously. A $US155m insurance payout arising from seismic events at the Cadia mine partially offset impairment charges associated with other assets. Newcrest has also advised that gold production at its Lihir mine is expected to be within the range of 950,000 and 1.05 million ounces in 2018-19. Rival gold miners St Barbara and Saracen Mineral Holdings have reported net profits of $227m and $75.6m respectively.

CORPORATES
NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, ST BARBARA LIMITED – ASX SBM, SARACEN MINERAL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SAR

Warning over gas glut: Oil Search

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 23 : 22-Aug-18

Oil Search has posted a 2018 interim net profit of $US79.2m ($107.7m), which is 39 per cent lower than previously. Production fell by 31 per cent to 10.24 million barrels of oil equivalent after its Papua New Guinea operations were disrupted by an earthquake in February. Oil Search expects full-year output of 24 million to 26 million boe. Meanwhile, CEO Peter Botten has questioned whether all four of the proposed LNG import terminals in the eastern states would be economically viable.

CORPORATES
OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION

BHP frees cash for shareholders

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 19 & 23 : 22-Aug-18

BHP Billiton has posted a 2017-18 underlying profit of $US8.93bn, which is 33 per cent higher than previously. The resources giant boasted free cash flow of $US12.5bn for the financial year, and it expects to return about $US20bn to shareholders in 2018-19, including the proceeds from the recent sale of its shale assets in the US. Shareholders will receive a full-year dividend of $US1.18 per share for 2017-18, including a record final dividend of $US0.63.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, PENDAL GROUP LIMITED – ASX PDL, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Seven West open to closer News Corp ties

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 22-Aug-18

Seven West Media has posted a 2017-18 net profit of $135.8m, following a $744.3m loss in the previous financial year. Revenue was 3.2 per cent lower at $1.6bn and underlying EBIT fell 9.9 per cent to $235.6m, while Seven forecasts growth in underlying EBIT of 5-10 per cent in 2018-19. CEO Tim Worner says Seven may seek to strengthen its commercial partnerships or forge new deals in the wake of Nine Entertainment’s proposed merger with Fairfax Media. He notes that Seven already has an alliance with News Corp, but he has downplayed suggestions of a merger.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MARTIN CURRIE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT

Outdoor advertiser reaps growth rewards

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 27 : 21-Aug-18

Australian-listed oOh! Media has posted a 2018 interim net profit of $9.2m, which is three per cent higher than previously. The outdoor advertising group’s EBIT was up 11 per cent at $37.9m and revenue increased by 11 per cent to $192m. CEO Brendon Cook says oOh! Media will ramp up its investment in digital billboards and an online trading platform as part of its growth strategy. Shareholders will receive a fully franked interim dividend of $0.035 per share.

CORPORATES
OOH!MEDIA LIMITED – ASX OML, ADSHEL PTY LTD, HT&E LIMITED – ASX HT1, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, JUNKEE MEDIA PTY LTD, APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED – ASX APO, JC DECAUX SA, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN