0451 GMT - Uranium producer Paladin Energy's 4Q realized pricing and FY 2026 cost guidance disappoint Citi analyst Samuel Schubert. The stock slides 13% to A$7.13/share. Schubert says Paladin's average realized price, at US$55.60/pound, falls well short of the US$69/pound Citi expected. Paladin's cost guidance of US$44-US$48/pound is higher than Citi's estimate of roughly US$38/pound. That said, "strong quarterly production print should be a relief to the market," he says. Citi has a buy rating and A$10.10 target on the stock. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

0311 GMT - Amotiv's impairment of its APG business suggests to Citi analyst Sam Teeger that the vehicle accessory supplier overpaid for it. The A$180 million-A$190 million impairment doesn't surprise Teeger given Amotiv's track record of missing expectations. He tells clients in a note that APG, which Amotiv acquired in 2021, is a good business but that the deal was done at the wrong time in the cycle. Teeger thinks that the size of the impairment may make investors more nervous about future acquisitions by the company. Citi has a buy rating and A$12.35 target price on the stock, which is up 1.6% at A$8.83. ([email protected])

0202 GMT - Australian banks could be about to lose a key source of valuation support, Macquarie analysts say. Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to a four-year high of 4.3% in June, which may indicate that the tightness in the labor market is easing. The Macquarie analysts point out that overall wage growth is also moderating. The suggestion is that the scenario could hit the affordability of credit for consumers, who face rising house prices amid lower interest rates and policy support. The Macquarie analysts tell clients in a note that the banking sector's recent outperformance looks increasingly unsustainable. ([email protected])

0150 GMT - Australian vehicle retailer Autosports is well funded to capitalize on what its management says is a healthy pipeline of potential acquisitions, Macquarie analysts say. Autosports is focused on inorganic growth and the Macquarie analysts see the recent A$13 million acquisition of Gulson supporting an entry into the region around Canberra, Australia's capital city. The analysts tell clients in a note that the profitability of quality assets is at a cyclical low. Autosports's margins have probably bottomed and should begin recovering, they add. Macquarie lifts its target price 41% to A$2.82 and keeps an outperform rating on the stock, which is flat at A$2.41. ([email protected])

0145 GMT - ARB Corp.'s bulls at Macquarie expect the auto-accessory maker's domestic after-market volumes to rise in fiscal 2026 against a backdrop of interest-rate cuts. Macquarie analysts point out in a note to clients that momentum has already shifted in sales of vehicles that ARB supplies. Sales of the top eight models supplied by ARB declined by 21% in 1H of fiscal 2025, but by just 2.1% in 2H. That included a 4.8% rise in May and a 12% rise in June, they add. They see some uncertainty over U.S. vehicle demand, but remain positive on ARB's medium-term growth opportunities there. Macquarie lowers its target price by 3.7% to A$43.70 but keeps an outperform rating on the stock, which is up 1.2% at A$34.12. ([email protected])

0135 GMT - WiseTech Global's bull at Bell Potter sees potential for the logistics-software operator's annual earnings margin to beat expectations. Analyst Chris Savage forecasts an underlying Ebitda margin of 51.1%, but tells clients in a note that the strong first-half margin already reported offers the chance of a beat. A similar on-year improvement in the 2H margin could result in a full-year margin of about 52%, he observes. That's above the Australian company's 50%-51% guidance range. Bell Potter lifts its target price by 10% to A$135.00 and keeps a buy rating on the stock, which is down 0.4% at A$118.56. ([email protected])

0125 GMT - Scentre's sale of a 25% stake in its Westfield Chermside mall is seen by Citi analysts as providing the capital to buy back subordinated notes or recycle into other developments. The analysts tell clients in a note that the shopping-center operator has achieved an attractive valuation with the A$683 million sale, justifying its book value and potential for further cap-rate compression. Options for the funds include high-return residential developments or increased expansion of retail projects in response to low supply, they add. Citi has a buy rating and A$3.90 target price on the stock, which is up 0.3% at A$3.74. ([email protected])

2342 GMT - It's not clear that zircon prices have bottomed out, says Citi analyst Paul McTaggart following Iluka's 2Q production result. The producer hasn't provided any 3Q zircon sales or price guidance, and is aware of some competitors reducing 3Q prices in China, McTaggart notes. He says Iluka's 2Q revenue is broadly in line with Citi's expectations. Sales are 5% below Citi's forecast, but up 14% on-quarter. Citi has a buy-high risk rating on Iluka, with a target price of A$5.20/share. The stock ended Tuesday at A$5.18. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires