2356 GMT - IAG's bull at Citi wonders whether the Australian general insurer might be looking for more bolt-on acquisitions. Analyst Nigel Pittaway tells clients in a note that IAG's capital should rebuild quickly following its recent A$855 million underwriting purchase. He sees scope for further consolidation among motor and home insurers, but thinks any acquisitions are likely to be smaller scale. He adds that IAG has suggested that smaller players may be facing capital challenges. Citi raises its target price by 16% to A$9.55 and keeps a buy rating on the stock. Shares are up 1.0% at A$8.615. ([email protected])

2348 GMT - Collins Foods needs to raise menu prices despite improving sales momentum, Wilsons analysts tell clients in a note. They write that same-store sales growth at the fast-food franchiser's KFC Australia unit is showing sequential improvement on higher average transaction values. They reckon that margins are set to benefit from input-cost deflation and operating leverage, but that Collins's first-half result makes clear its need to further raise prices. Customer numbers will rise when economic conditions improve, they add. Wilsons cuts its target price 9.1% to A$10.72 but keeps an overweight rating on the stock. Shares are up 1.0% at A$8.33. ([email protected])

2300 GMT - Collins Foods' first-half performance makes its annual margin guidance look conservative to its bulls at Goldman Sachs. Analysts Elijah Mayr and Elise Bailey point out that the fast-food franchiser's guidance for a full-year Ebitda margin of 14.2%-14.7% implies potential for a second-half contraction at the range midpoint. This looks unlikely to them, given deflation in food prices and an improving sales trajectory. They tell clients in a note that they forecast margin recovery into the 2025 calendar year. Goldman keeps a buy rating and A$10.00 target price on the stock, which is at A$8.25 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

2254 GMT - Pro Medicus's conversion of opportunities into contracts means the imaging tech provider's stock still look fairly valued despite surging over the past six months, Bell Potter analyst John Hester writes in a note. He tells clients that he had underestimated the Australia-listed company's price leadership in key markets, flagging value accretion emerging from contract upgrades with existing customers. Hester says that Pro Medicus is benefiting from a chronic shortage in U.S. radiologists, which is driving demand for improved productivity. There's no prospect of this changing soon, he adds. Bell Potter doubles its target price to A$260.00 and keeps a hold rating on the stock. Shares are at A$256.73 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

2250 GMT - WiseTech Global's unplanned change of leadership looks like being a net positive for the logistics software developer, Macquarie analysts reckon. They tell clients in a note that the additional time that former CEO Richard White can dedicate to product development since stepping aside represents the best outcome for the Australian company. They say that customers have spoken positively on the depth of strength among management, which was reinforced by WiseTech's recent investor day. Macquarie has an outperform rating and A$152.70 target price on the stock, which is at A$127.77 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

2247 GMT - A recent slowdown in hiring at WiseTech Global is due to the logistics software provider's focus on quality personnel rather than any growth concerns, Goldman Sachs analyst Kane Hannan writes in a note. He tells clients that the Australian company is aiming for impactful senior hires. Hannan adds that founder Richard White is expected to spend up to 95% of his time in his new role driving product development and strategy, compared with 20% when he was CEO. WiseTech's operating momentum remains strong and the company believes it has passed a tipping point for adoption in Asia, Hannan says. Goldman keeps a buy rating and A$138.00 target price on the stock, which is at A$127.77 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

2245 GMT - Logistics software provider WiseTech Global doesn't appear to be in any kind of a hurry to appoint a new CEO, Jefferies analyst Roger Samuel tells clients in a note. Samuel says that the Australian company used its investor day to highlight the strength of its existing senior management team, who have been working together for decades. Founder Richard White recently stepped down as CEO, but Samuel says interim CEO Andrew Cartledge appears to have in-depth knowledge of both product and strategy. WiseTech is focused on hiring the right CEO rather than rushing, he adds. Jefferies has a hold rating and A$124.50 target price on the stock, which is at A$127.77 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

2212 GMT - Collins Foods gets a new bull at Citi on what analyst Sam Teeger sees a pathway to medium-term profitability for the Australian fast-food franchiser's core operations. Teeger tells clients in a note that the improved outlook centers on an expectation that same-store sales growth has passed an inflexion point and that costs are switching from a headwind to a tailwind. He says that an undemanding year-earlier period means that same-store sales growth should accelerate over the remainder of fiscal 2025, with earnings margins then expanding in fiscal 2026. Citi raises its recommendation to buy from neutral, and lifts target price 19% to A$9.38. Shares are at A$8.25 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

1148 ET - Lockheed Martin says there is significant international demand for its defense technologies, shortly after adding Romania as its 20th international customer. CFO Jay Malave says at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference that demand is most prevalent throughout Europe and the Middle East. The demand goes beyond simply selling the company's rocket-launch systems."We have a lot of dialogue with international countries, not just selling them equipment, but also developing co-production capabilities," he says. These countries include Poland, Australia and Germany, according to Malave. ([email protected])

0403 GMT - BHP should speed up its Laguna Seca debottleneck project as much as possible, Goldman Sachs analyst Paul Young says after an investor tour of BHP's Escondida and Spence copper mines in Chile. An acceleration of the project by one to 1.5 years and "maximizing mined copper grade from Escondida Norte over 2028-2030 could reduce the projected production dip at Escondida in half," to roughly 150,000 metric tons, he says. On the other hand, BHP's US$2.3 billion-US$3.2 billion Cerro Colorado extension project should be deferred by two to three years, Young notes. The project has low returns and will struggle to compete for capital compared to BHP's potentially more lucrative projects, he says. BHP is up 0.2% at A$40.78/share. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires