0306 GMT - Pro Medicus's bulls at Morgan Stanley see their positive view supported by the investment bank's survey of 100 U.S.-based hospital executives. MS analysts tell clients in a note that the survey suggests 45% of hospitals are somewhat or very likely to deploy the Australian imaging-tech provider's Visage 7 platform. Academic centers were most likely, they add. MS sees hospital capital expenditure remaining resilient, and the analysts highlight what they believe is a robust adoption pipeline of Pro Medicus tech. MS has an overweight recommendation and A$350.00 target price on the stock, which is up 0.1% at A$246.98. ([email protected])

0037 GMT - Bubs Australia appears to have little margin for error if it is to meet its annual guidance, Bell Potter analyst Jonathan Snape warns. He reckons that the infant-formula maker's guidance for annual revenue of between A$120 million and A$125 million implies a 23% improvement on September-quarter run rates. Writing in a note to clients, Snape observes that the long lead times in formula manufacturing suggest that Bubs needs to build inventory ahead of its anticipated sales uplift. He sees the expected inventory build being funded by existing facilities and cash. Bell Potter cuts its target price 2.9% to A$0.17 and keeps a hold rating on the stock, which is down 1.7% at A$0.1425. ([email protected])

0027 GMT - Australian electronics and entertainment retailer JB Hi-Fi faces a material and growing competitive threat from Amazon, RBC analyst Michael Toner warns. Initiating coverage of JB with a sector perform rating, Toner tells clients in a note that Amazon has sufficiently developed its local operation to compete on range, price and fulfilment. He thinks that Amazon will double its share of total Australian online retail to 24% within five years. He concedes that is low relative to comparable markets, but says this still illustrates U.S. company's growth potential and the challenge to JB. Nonetheless, he sees JB as a high-quality retailer with industry leading cost efficiency. RBC puts a A$101.00 target price on the stock. Shares are down 2.4% at A$92.39. ([email protected])

0011 GMT - Bapcor's guidance downgrade causes some surprise at Citi. Analyst Sam Teeger points out that five of the Australian auto-parts supplier's directors purchased shares on-market following its annual general meeting in October. That would typically be seen as a vote of confidence. Teeger tells clients in a note that the downgrade continues a pattern of consistent disappointment since 2021. He remains cautious on the stock, citing the departure of four directors this year, insufficient signs of a credible turnaround, and elevated gearing. Citi has a last-published neutral rating and A$3.10 target price on the stock, which is down 19% at A$1.91. ([email protected])

0005 GMT - Bapcor's bull at RBC isn't totally sure that the auto-parts supplier can meet its annual profit guidance. Analyst Jack Lynch points out that the Australian company needs margins to improve in order to deliver on guidance for an annual underlying profit of A$44 million-A$49 million. Bapcor has been reinvesting in price in order to regain market share, which crimped margins and contributed to it cutting first-half guidance. Lynch tells clients in a note that Bapcor will need a large second-half earnings skew, supported by cost savings and results from the pricing strategy. RBC has a last-published outperform rating and A$3.70 target price on the stock, which is down 18% at A$1.925. ([email protected])

2246 GMT - While lithium market conditions are tough, Rio Tinto is developing sizable footprint at the lower end of the industry cost curve, Citi analyst Ephrem Ravi says in a note. The miner will have options to quickly develop assets if the market improves, he says. Ravi's comments follow a presentation to analysts in Argentina. Rio Tinto aims to reach roughly 200,000 metric tons of capacity by 2028 and reduce C1 costs from its brines assets to less than US$5-US$8/kilogram. Four projects--two of which are nearly complete--should get Rio Tinto to its capacity goal in three years, says Ravi. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

2201 GMT - Next year is likely to be a strong one for mining stocks, according to Jefferies analysts. They highlight supply constraints in key commodities including copper and aluminum. Demand is expected to be resilient, and the impact of Fed rate cuts should result in earnings upgrades, the analysts say in a note. "All things considered, we are bullish on the miners, and we expect share prices for most of our coverage to rise over the next year," they say. That said, "idiosyncratic factors should also be important for each of our top picks--Freeport, Glencore, Anglo and Alcoa." Freeport should benefit from a recovery in production at its Grasberg mine. For Anglo, there are a number of drivers, including plans to offload its diamonds, met coal and nickel businesses and merge with Teck Resources. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

0402 GMT - Audinate's bull at Canaccord Genuity reckons that the stock's revenue multiple is too low given the audio-visual tech company's market leadership and widened product range. Analyst Owen Humphries tells clients in a note that Audinate's new Iris Studio--which allows cloud-based remote control of cameras and other devices through a web browser interface--extends the Australia-listed company's reach into distributed production and broadcast workflows. Potential subscribers include sports broadcasters, universities and governments, Humphries says. He anticipates revenue acceleration, helped by cost reductions in Audinate's video division. His forecasts imply an enterprise value of 4.5 times fiscal 2026 sales revenue. Canaccord Genuity keeps a buy rating and A$8.50 target price on the stock, which is up A$0.4% at A$4.53. ([email protected])

(END) Dow Jones Newswires