0357 GMT - Jarden analysts wonder whether Telstra might lift its share of Australian government contracts due to troubles at rival telecommunications provider Optus. Telstra has traditionally held about 80% of the total contract value enjoyed by Optus, which has high exposure to government departments including Australia's federal tax office, they say in a note. It could be politically challenging to award contracts to Singapore Telecommunications-owned Optus following a highly publicized network outage and failings in its provision of emergency communications, they reckon. Optus has A$1.5 billion of total contract value set to expire through 2026 and Telstra is well placed, they add. Jarden keeps a neutral rating and A$4.80 target price on Telstra stock, which is up 0.7% at A$4.885. ([email protected])

0311 GMT - Coles' bulls at Macquarie see the Australian supermarket operator's superior growth justifying its higher valuation relative to its largest rival. The investment bank's analysts tell clients in a note that Coles' 4.6% comparable sales growth over its fiscal first quarter was indicative of further market-share gains. Growth was two or three times the pace at which Woolworths grew sales over the same period, they observe. The analysts say that Coles' stores appear to be benefiting from the company's investment in fulfillment centers. They will be keen for industry feedback through the key Christmas trading period. Macquarie lifts its target price by 2.8% to A$26.10 and maintains an outperform rating. Shares are down 1.0% at A$21.89. ([email protected])

0252 GMT - JB Hi-Fi's bulls at Macquarie see the Australian electronics retailer enjoying continuing tailwinds from Apple's iPhone 17 launch. First-quarter comparable sales in Australia tracked in-line forecasts by the investment bank's analysts, who are now looking for the impact of the new iPhones. They tell clients in a note that market feedback is positive on the strength of sales, and reckon that JB Hi-Fi's relatively short fulfillment time should benefit its December-quarter performance. Longer term, they see sales growth driven by a continued upgrade cycle, including in laptop computers. Macquarie lifts its target price 2.5% to A$121.00 and keeps its outperform rating on the stock, which is down 3.5% at A$104.70. ([email protected])

0149 GMT - Universal Store keeps its bulls at UBS despite the Australian fashion retailer's slowing sales growth. Like-for-like sales growth at the company's eponymous chain slowed from 11% in the first seven weeks of its fiscal year to 5.6% over the next 10-week period, but UBS analysts tell clients in a note that gross margins should still expand over the full year. They point to Universal Store's investment in its staff, which they say supports retention and further growth. UBS trims its target price 2.4% to A$10.25 and keeps a buy rating on the stock. Shares are down 0.7% at A$8.94. ([email protected])

0146 GMT - The largely non-cash nature of ANZ's A$1.11 billion in second-half significant items leaves Jefferies' valuation of the stock little changed. Analyst Andrew Lyons' forecasts already partially reflected the charge, much of which had been foreshadowed by the Australian bank. He cuts his FY 2025 EPS forecast by 7.5% on the incremental impacts of the charge, which included redundancies and other costs, but tells clients in a note that there is no subsequent material impact. Jefferies trims its target price 0.2% to A$31.60 and stays neutral on the stock, which is down 0.5% at A$36.66. ([email protected])

2311 GMT -- Coronado Global Resources's recent fiscal-support deal with Stanwell "was an important event" that will prop up the coal miner's balance sheet while prices remain low, Macquarie analysts say in a note. They also highlight Coronado's "solid" 3Q production, which was a beat at all three mines, they say. Macquarie raises its target on the stock by 8.3% to A$0.26/share, citing mid-term earnings growth. Still, it retains an underperform rating, with the analysts highlighting weaker-than-anticipated sales and elevated net debt. They also reckon the company could struggle to pay a dividend while it is under financial pressure. Coronado is flat early in Sydney at A$0.35. ([email protected])

2253 GMT -- Macquarie analysts wonder whether Mineral Resources is sprucing up its lithium assets to attract a buyer. The miner's Mt Marion production beat consensus estimates by 14% while Wodgina beat by 50%. That "could indicate that MIN is trying to deliver the best possible production performance snapshot ahead of a partial or full divestment (as indicated by the Chair)," the analysts say in a note. Wodgina's operational performance was an especially big surprise, they say. "The key for sustained success, in our view, is recovery performance, which anecdotally improved." Macquarie has an underperform rating on the miner. It raises its target price by 8.6% to A$38.00. The stock ended Thursday at A$48.20. ([email protected])

2251 GMT - The outlook for Lynas's heavy rare-earths processing plant in Texas has become even less certain, prompting Macquarie to remove the U.S. project from its base case. Lynas has flagged significant uncertainty for the project, and "cooling sentiment" may act as a drag on its development, analysts at Macquarie say in a note. Lynas has also pivoted to increase investment in Malaysia, they say. Combined with cuts to near-term earnings estimates, the removal of the U.S. facilities from Macquarie's base case leads the bank to drop its target on the stock by 8.1% to A$17.00. It retains a neutral rating. Lynas ended Thursday at A$14.79. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires