0337 GMT - Webjet's new bull sees potential for the consumer-focused travel agent's first-half results to act as a positive catalyst for the stock. RBC Capital Markets analyst Wei-Weng Chen initiates coverage of the stock with an outperform rating, telling clients in a note that the company--which recently separated from the Web Travel corporate-focused business--is well capitalized, highly cash generative and expected to return to dividend payments from fiscal 2026. Chen says that his forecasts are undemanding, albeit higher than the analyst average. He sees first-half Ebitda for Webjet's online travel agency rising 1% on year. RBC places a A$1.30 target price on the stock, which is up 4.2% at A$0.9275. ([email protected])

0110 GMT - Computershare's outlook commentary is sufficiently bullish to ease worries at Morgans over risks to the share-registry provider's earnings guidance. The Australia-listed company reaffirmed its expectation of 7.5% annual EPS growth and said it has increased confidence in the guidance. Analyst Richard Coles reckons his previous view that risks are skewed to the downside was too conservative, telling clients in a note that he had been concerned about the potential for larger-than-expected interest-rate cuts. Morgans raises its target price 13% to A$33.37 and keeps an add rating on the stock, which is up 1.8% at A$30.99. ([email protected])

0103 GMT - Technology One's annual result supports Jefferies analysts' view of improving momentum at the Australian enterprise software provider's U.K. business. The analysts say that 31% annual recurring revenue growth off a larger base chimes with the findings of their earlier conversations with software-as-a-service sales consultants and Technology One customers. Technology One's annual pretax profit was slightly stronger than Jefferies analysts had expected. They tell clients in a note that they retain a buy rating on the stock. Jefferies has a last-published A$29.00 target price. Shares are up 12% at A$30.08. ([email protected])

0028 GMT - Details are scarce but Bendigo & Adelaide Bank could benefit significantly if Australia's government implements a levy on banks to support services in regional areas, says Morgan Stanley analyst Richard E. Wiles. He tells clients that a system under which banks are rewarded for having a larger regional branch and ATM network relative to the size of their household deposits would be positive for Bendigo. Wiles sees NAB as the next best-placed lender, followed by Bank of Queensland. That said, neither banks nor government have commented on media reports about such a scheme, so Wiles warn investors against drawing firm conclusions. ([email protected])

0005 GMT - Elders' acquisition of Delta Agribusiness is in line with the Australia-listed company's broader strategy, Macquarie analysts say in a note. Macquarie's involvement in the equity raise that is partly funding the A$475 million acquisition means the analysts are on research restrictions, but they still point out that Elders has a successful track record on acquisitions. They tell clients that they have yet to factor the acquisition into their forecasts, but flag the potential for Elders to deliver A$12 million in annual synergies within three years of completion. Elders shares are down 7.7% at A$7.86 following the capital raise. ([email protected])

2347 GMT - Collins Foods is likely to report improving same-store sales momentum for its Australian KFC stores, Goldman Sachs analysts say. The Australian fast-food franchiser is scheduled to report its first-half results next month, and the GS analysts reckon that momentum will have improved from the 0.1% growth seen over the eight weeks to Aug. 18. Improved delivery and promotion-linked volumes will be the drivers, they tell clients in a note. GS expects A$102 million in first-half Ebitda at a 14.4% margin, in-line with company guidance of 14.2%-14.5%. GS reiterates its buy rating and keeps a A$10.00 target price on the stock. Shares are up 0.3% at A$8.525. ([email protected])

2333 GMT - Technology One's annual result shows the Australian software provider is on track to beat its accelerated revenue goal, Wilsons analysts tell clients. The company reported A$472 million in annual recurring revenue for its 2024 fiscal year, which analysts Ross Barrows and Lachlan Woods point out is within reach of its A$500 million target for the first half of fiscal 2025. Technology One has already brought that target forward from the end of fiscal 2025, they remind clients in a note. The pair see the fiscal 2024 result as very strong. Wilsons has a last-published overweight rating and A$22.28 target price on the stock. Shares are up 7.25% at A$28.70. ([email protected])

2306 GMT - Concerns about the risk Resolute Mining now faces in Mali prompts Macquarie to slash its target on the stock by 40% to A$0.57/share. Still, after a 54% plunge in the stock this month, to A$0.38/share, the Australian bank reckons the miner is worth buying. It reiterates an outperform rating. Mali detained Resolute's CEO and two other employees, and the miner expects to pay US$160 million to settle claims made by the government in relation to taxes and other issues. "Our base case assumes no further government ownership of Syama (a key risk) and that the Phase 1 expansion is completed, but we suspect RSG might think twice before inventing in Phase 2," which was never in Macquarie's base case, the bank says. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

2239 GMT - Key areas of interest in breathing device maker Fisher & Paykel Healthcare's 1H result on Nov. 28 are the rate of sales growth and profit margins following a strong 1Q, Jefferies says. It's also keen to learn more about how the new flu season in the northern hemisphere is shaping up. "We will be interested in the impact of influenza-like infections over the past three months and any insights into the 2024-25 flu season," analyst Vanessa Thomson says. The flu season there seems benign, but it's very early. Respiratory hospitalizations in the U.S. are tracking below recent years at this point in the season, Jefferies says. Its price target moves up 2.6% to NZ$39.00/share. F&P Healthcare rises 0.1% to NZ$37.63 early on Tuesday. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2238 GMT - Global Business Travel Group, Flight Centre and Corporate Travel Management have an opportunity in front of them even though demand for business travel appears to have settled at a lower than before Covid-19, Jefferies says. Total transaction value for business travel is at some 80% of pre-pandemic levels, analyst John Campbell says. The listed trio can win market share over time from smaller players, and business travel appears to have a lower risk of disruption than leisure travel. Jefferies views Corporate Travel Management as the best opportunity in the sector. "It has been materially de-rated and recent earnings downgrades have been driven largely by its material exposure to government agency project and humanitarian work," Jefferies says. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2225 GMT - Elders is paying a full price to acquire Delta Agribusiness, says Wilsons, but there's lots to like about the deal. Elders has agreed to buy Delta for A$475 million, and will part-fund the transaction via a A$246 million entitlement offer. "We like the alignment in core product offering (ie. Retail Products), broadly complementary geographic footprints (ie. gives Elders more exposure to New South Wales and Western Australia) and opportunity for margin expansion through own brand penetration," analyst James Ferrier says. Still, there is a risk that Australia's competition regulator will get involved. Also, the purchase price looks full when compared to Nutrien's acquisition of Ruralco in 2019, Wilsons says. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2205 GMT - Takeover speculation is likely to linger around PointsBet despite it shooting down a media report of bid talks earlier this month, says Bell Potter. PointsBet is the fifth largest wagering company in Australia, illustrating its appeal as an M&A target, analyst Chris Savage says. It's more evenly split between sport and racing compared to Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Entain/Ladbrokes, which are the largest players. Also, barriers to entry in Australia are increasing, Bell Potter says, citing higher consumption taxes and more restrictions on advertising. "Speculation of a takeover will likely only grow if PointsBet continues to generate good results as it did recently for 1Q," Bell Potter says. "We also think the company becomes more attractive as the Canadian business continues to grow and heads toward positive Ebitda sometime in 2H of FY 2025." ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2128 GMT - Rural services provider Elders's A$475 million acquisition of Delta Agribusiness looks sound to Citi. It thinks a target of A$12 million annual Ebitda savings from the transaction could prove conservative, given Elders's strong track record in integrating businesses. Analyst William Park says Elders's EPS could be boosted by 15% once those savings are accounted for. "With Delta's earnings likely to be 2H skewed (i.e. Delta Ebit A$43 million in FY24), we see potential further upside to A$170 million Ebit forecast for FY 2025," Citi says. The risk of the transaction being blocked is unlikely given Elders's market share, it adds. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires