CORPORATE PROFITS – AUSTRALIA

Rio tamps down iron rally hope

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 19 : 4-Aug-16

Rio Tinto has posted a 2016 interim underlying profit of $US1.56bn, which is 47 per cent lower than previously. Weaker commodities prices reduced the underlying profit by $US1.9bn, while the net profit from its iron ore operations in Western Australia fell by 17 per cent to $US1.74bn. Meanwhile, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques has warned that the recent upturn in the iron ore price may not be sustained, noting that the availability of credit was a major driver of increased demand for steel in China during the June quarter.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ARNHEM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LIMITED

Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton enter new era of dividends

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 3-Aug-16

The dividend payouts of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto will be closely scrutinised in the August 2016 reporting season, after their progressive dividend policies were scrapped earlier in the year. BHP has committed to paying shareholders a minimum of 50 per cent of its underlying attributable profit as dividends, while Rio Tinto’s new dividend policy will take into account its financial results and future earnings outlook. Meanwhile, analysts polled by Bloomberg generally expect Rio Tinto to post a 2016 interim underlying net profit after tax of $US1.56bn.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, BLOOMBERG LP, VUMA

Seven earnings plunge but Worner bets on old media comeback

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 3-Aug-16

Shares in Seven West Media and Nine Entertainment Company fell sharply on 2 August 2016, after the former issued a profit warning. Seven has advised that its underlying EBIT for 2016-17 will be 15-20 per cent lower than previously, citing factors such as a slowdown in the advertising market and the rising cost of sports broadcasting rights. Meanwhile, Seven has booked a net profit of $184.3m for the year to 25 June 2016, following a loss of $A1.89bn in 2014-15.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, 7PRODUCTIONS, 7WONDER, 7BEYOND, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Citi’s Brennan tips resilience in earnings growth

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 34 : 29-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket currently boasts a forward price-earnings ratio of 16.6 times, but some market watchers expect that the August 2016 reporting season will justify the high earnings multiple. Tony Brennan of Citigroup is upbeat about the reporting season, saying the positive earnings surprises are likely to outweigh the negative surprises. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed at 5556.6 on 27 July, although Brennan expects it to end the year at about 5,500. However, he forecasts that it will rise to 5,750 by mid-2017.

CORPORATES
CITIGROUP PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, APPLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Northern Star improves dividend after annual profit climbs 65pc

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 27-Jul-16

Australian-listed Northern Star Resources has reported a 2015-16 net profit of $A151.4m, which is 65 per cent higher than previously. Most analysts had expected the gold producer to book a profit of about $A166m, while its full-year dividend of $A0.07 per share was also lower than some analysts had forecast. Northern Star Resources has also reported that its all-in sustaining cost of production was $US780 an ounce in 2015-16.

CORPORATES
NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Flight Centre slides as brokers cut forecasts

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Original article by Jamie Freed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 25-May-16

Shares in Flight Centre Travel Group have shed 13.5 per cent in two trading sessions, in the wake of an earnings downgrade. The stock closed five per cent lower at $A31.88 on 24 May 2016. Deutsche Bank has reduced its 12-month share price target by 25 per cent to $A36, while Bell Potter’s target price has been slashed by 12 per cent to $A35.70. Deutsche has also reduced its recommendation on the stock from "buy" to "hold".

CORPORATES
FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, MACQUARIE EQUITIES LIMITED, AUNT BETTY

Good Guys sees earnings surge if IPO proceeds

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 24-May-16

Consumer electronics retailer The Good Guys has appointed three lead managers to handle a potential IPO, which is expected to raise up to $A900m. However, chairman Andrew Muir is retaining options such as a trade sale. The Good Guys boasts 100 stores, and Muir aims to complete the purchase of 56 joint venture stores by the end of 2015-16. The group has forecast pro forma EBITDA of $A85m for the financial year.

CORPORATES
THE GOOD GUYS, THE MUIR ELECTRICAL COMPANY PTY LTD, JJB SPORTS, STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BAIN CAPITAL LLC, TPG CAPITAL LP, KKR AND COMPANY LP

Flat outlook for Coca-Cola Amatil puts doubt on growth

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 & 26 : 19-May-16

Shares in Coca-Cola Amatil closed $A0.04 lower at $A8.99 on 18 May 2016, following the group’s annual meeting. CEO Alison Watkins is aiming for earnings per share growth of five per cent in the near-term, but says the bottler may not necessarily meet this target in 2016. However, she expects the group to achieve earnings growth in the year to December. Analysts have forecast underlying profit growth of 3.6 per cent and growth in sales of 2.7 per cent for 2016.

CORPORATES
COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCL, ARNHEM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, PEPSICO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SCHWEPPES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Cost focus puts BHP on track to raise dividend

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 18-May-16

Credit Suisse has upgraded its underlying earnings forecast for BHP Billiton in 2015-16 by 3.5 per cent to $A12bn, in response to the resources giant’s revised production costs for commodities such as iron ore and coal. Credit Suisse also suggests that BHP could lift its 2015-16 dividend by 10.8 per cent to $A0.25 per share. The firm has lifted its share price target for BHP stock from $A20 to $A21.5.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Orica shares dive 12pc as shareholders blast poor result

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Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 10-May-16

Mining services group Orica has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A149m, which is 33 per cent lower than previously. The explosives manufacturer’s revenue was 22 per cent lower at $A2.6bn, and its half-year dividend has been reduced from $A0.40 per share to just $A0.205 following a decision to abandon its progressive dividend policy. CEO Alberto Calderon has warned that a significant improvement in commodity markets is unlikely for some time.

CORPORATES
ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED