The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) shook off a rare negative week to open 0.4% higher on Monday. The IT and property sectors, up 1.7% and 0.9% respectively were the key contributors as ASX reporting season continued.
Energy remains under pressure with Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) down 4.8% on a weaker earnings report and growing concern about a slowing economy.
Meanwhile, shares in Spark Infrastructure Group (ASX: SKI) were 1.8% higher to $2.82 after the board agreed to accept KKR’s offer to takeover the group at a price of $2.95 per share; the deal will still require regulatory approvals, hence the discount.
Charter Hall share price bounces
Property manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) jumped over 6% after reporting a 20% increase in revenue to $668 million, with profit growing at double that rate hitting $476 million.
Management has capitalised on the pandemic, acquiring another $6 billion in property, whilst benefitting from $4 billion in revaluations, which took total assets in its managed funds to $52 billion.
The group’s on balance sheet property also increased 15% to $1.4 billion, with management confirming it holds some $6.7 billion in investment capacity.
Reliance’s record
Plumbing supplier Reliance Worldwide Corporation Ltd (ASX: RWC) fell 1.5% despite doubling profit to $188 million and delivering a record dividend.
The group has seen significant growth in every key market as stuck at home consumers have turned to renovations rather than travel.
The result was a 15% increase in revenue to $1.16 billion with the US up 31%, Europe up 25% and Australia up 18%, with management confident this is set to continue.
Ampol acquiring Z Energy
As mentioned, Ampol shares fell 4.8% with management announcing the acquisition of New Zealand-based Z Energy, at the same time as delivering a strong earnings recovery.
Earnings improved to $340 million from $221 million, as revenue continued to recover, jumping 22% on the back of improving volumes and margins at its refineries.
The company is well positioned following last year’s government support package and was able to more than double its dividend to 52 cents per share.
Cinemas in trouble
Finally, Event Hospitality and Entertainment Ltd (ASX: EVT) jumped 6.2% after narrowing its loss from $48 million to $27 million, as the company was decimated by lockdowns. Excluding the benefit of government subsidies, group revenue nearly halved to $541 million.
ASX 200 today
Looking ahead, the ASX 200 is heading towards another positive open, following a strong lead from US markets overnight.
According to Rask Media’s ASX reporting season calendar, SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK), Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) and Oil Search (ASX: OSH) are just a few of the companies set to report today.
