The ASX200 closed down just over half a per cent.
The staples sector took the biggest hit, plummeting more than 4 per cent – and was mostly impacted by the more than 6 and a half per cent decline to Woolworths today, off the back of its half-year results, but also the unexpected resignation of CEO Brad Banducci. We’ll have more on that shortly.
In this bulletin, we’ll discuss Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, WiseTech Global, Codan, Woolworths Group, Santos and Iress.
In the green
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises (ASX:DMP) was up 2 per cent on its half-year results.
The pizza conglomerate reported network sales were up 8.8 per cent to $2.14 billion.
Online sales were also up 11.8 per cent to $1.71 billion. With that said, DMP’s board has sliced the interim dividend by 18.4 per cent to 55 cents apeice.
DMP closed at $40.39.
Australia’s largest tech player WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) was up more than 10 per cent also on its half-yearly results.
The company posted revenue of $500 million, up 32 per cent from H1 2023. EBITDA was also up 23 per cent year-on-year to $230 million.
WiseTech has also lifted the interim dividend to be worth fully-franked 7.7 cents a share. It marks the 15th dividend increase in a row since the company started dividend payments back in 2017.
WTC closed at $88.46.
International electronic producer Codan (ASX:CDA) was up around 15 per cent on its, suprise suprise, half year results also.
The company saw a 26 per cent increase in its group revenue to $265.9 million for the first six months of FY24.
Its NPAT was up 24 per cent from H2FY23 and totalled $38.1 million.
CDA closed at $9.72.
In the red
Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW) was one to watch today – as it dropped more than 6.5 per cent – on news its CEO of eight and a half years – Brad Banducci – will step down in September. He’ll be succeeded by e-commerce head Amanda Bardwell.
Woolworths also released its half-year results to the end of December.
The company reported a 4.4 per cent increase in revenue to $34.6 billion and a 2.5 per cent rise in Net Profit After Tax to $929 million. However, there was an overall loss of $781 million, due to value write-downs and increased borrowing costs. The interim dividend is set at 47 cents per share.
WOW closed at $33.44.
Australia’s second-largest energy major Santos (ASX:STO), was down more than 1 per cent after posting its full year results for 2023.
Santos’ sales revenue was down 24 per cent to US$5.9 billion, while its porfits also slid 42 per cent to US$1.4 billion.
Santos closed at $7.31.
And fintech company Iress (ASX:IRE) was down nearly 5 per cent after releasing its full-year results for 2023.
Iress revealed its operating revenue was up by 2 per cent increase to $625.7 million – however its underlying EBITDA was down 12 per cent and totalled $128.3 million.
The company’s CEO says despite 2023 being a challenging year for the company, Iress is well positioned to grow in 2024.
IRE closed at $8.32.
