0217 GMT - WiseTech Global's bull at Citi still sees the logistics software provider hitting the midpoint of its annual revenue guidance despite granting some customers what amounts to a short-term exemption from its new pricing model. Analyst Siraj Ahmed thinks that the lift to 2H revenue from its so-called Cargowise value packs could be smaller than he previously anticipated. However, stronger-than-expected industry freight volumes effectively offset the impact on his forecasts. There's also a potential upside to Ebitda from lower-than-expected operating expenses, he adds. Citi has a buy rating and A$109.15 target price on the stock, which is up 0.1% at A$67.085. ([email protected])

0103 GMT - Sandfire Resources' production update is "mixed but manageable," RBC Capital Markets analyst Kaan Peker says in a note. Sandfire expects output to be more heavily skewed to 2H than previously anticipated following setbacks at its Motheo mine. "But FY26 guidance remains intact and issues at Motheo appear timing-related and operationally fixable," says Peker. The miner's balance sheet is also improving, helping to bolster confidence that free cash flow generation can continue, he adds. RBC has an outperform rating and A$18.00 target on Sandfire. The stock is up 0.3% at A$18.71.([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

0036 GMT - In Australian mining, Jefferies likes companies with copper exposure and liquid gold stocks. "Copper is still the core theme," say analysts, pointing to demand for the metal in power grids, electric vehicles, data centers and defense technologies. Copper's supply outlook is also constrained, they add. The analysts have a buy rating on stocks including Capstone Copper and AIC Mines. They also reckon aluminum "remains underâ?'owned as liquid leverage to copperâ?'adjacent electrification," highlighting South32 and Alcoa's Australian shares. Overall, they say the "mining sector's strength remains anchored in expectations of a global rateâ?'cut cycle, a solid economic backdrop, and incremental demand from energy security, AI and regional onshoring." Those tailwinds will continue to support dealmaking, too, with large-scale M&A "back in vogue," they add. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

0005 GMT - The main culprit of Super Retail's 1H earnings miss is sportswear and equipment chain rebel, says Citi. Super Retail pointed to a 1H normalized pretax profit of A$172 million-A$175 million. That was 9% below Citi's expectations, although revenue of A$2.2 billion was only a tad short of its forecast. "The major miss was in rebel, with discounting activity hitting margins," analyst Adrian Lemme says. Citi says rebel's Ebit appears to be 15%-20% below its estimates. Super Retail is down 6% at A$14.785. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0000 GMT - AMP regains its bull at Citi following the share-price decline that followed the Australian wealth manager's 3Q update. Analyst Nigel Pittaway lifts Citi's rating on the stock to buy from neutral, three months after a steep rally prompted him to downgrade his recommendation. He tells clients in a note that he expects a capital-return announcement when AMP announces its 2025 result next month. Strong cost control and stabilization in underlying bank earnings are among other positives. Citi keeps a A$2.10 target price on the stock, which is up 3.5% at A$1.8425. ([email protected])

2346 GMT - Zip's bull at Citi sees risks in both directions from U.S. proposals to cap credit card interest rates. Analyst Siraj Ahmed tells clients in a note that there is potential for the 10% rate cap, if legislated, to limit the business that credit card providers do with riskier consumers. He thinks that this could be positive for buy-now-pay-later providers, such as Australia's Zip. However, Ahmed warns that its virtual-card and in-store operations have implied rates in excess of 10% and could therefore be hit. Citi has a last-published buy rating and A$4.50 target price on the stock, which is up 6.3% at A$6.785. ([email protected])

2310 GMT - Super Retail's trading update suggests other Australian clothing retailers may have struggled in December, says RBC Capital Markets. Super Retail pointed to a 1H normalized pretax profit of A$172 million-A$175 million, which misses RBC's estimate by 5.7%. Although sales largely held up well, margins were squeezed by discounting and promotional activity. Analyst Michael Toner says realized gross margins in rebel drove a 14% miss to consensus pretax profit forecasts from that business. Supercheap Auto margins were flat when the market had expected an improvement. "We expect market focuses on softer margin result today," RBC says. Super Retail shares fall 4.6% to A$15.00 early. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2248 GMT - Baby Bunting gets an upgrade from Morgans after the retailer's stock fell more than 20% from its October high. "We see the risk/reward more balanced, and see some upside potential, particularly if refurbished stores continue to perform above expectations," analyst Emily Porter says. Morgans moves to hold, from trim, but keeps its price target unchanged at A$2.70/share. Baby Bunting has now completed nine store refurbishments, and early signs are promising. Morgans says an update on those stores should come at Baby Bunting's 1H result in February, and is likely to be positive. Baby Bunting ended last week at A$2.59.([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2205 GMT - Prices of iron ore and metallurgical coal could move higher in the short term on seasonal influences, but will likely soften by mid-year, according to Jefferies. That is because Chinese steel markets are expected to stay relatively weak while "supply growth (especially in met coal) is coming," they say. The analysts reckon the mining sector will perform well on the whole this year. But they expect shares of diversified giants Rio Tinto and BHP--which generate much of their profits from iron ore--will lag pure-play copper miners and other base metals producers. Vale is Jefferies' top pick of the world's top three iron-ore miners. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires