0131 GMT - Worley's FY 2030 earnings-growth target is ambitious versus consensus, Jefferies says. Worley CEO Chris Ashton says the company is aiming for double-digit underlying Ebita growth over the medium term to FY 2030. That is well above Jefferies' forecast of roughly 1% per annum and consensus of around 4%, the bank says. The growth outlook is underpinned by several things, including expansion in new markets and customers responding to Middle East disruptions. "Detail around near/medium-term drivers will be important for market to gain confidence in growth ambitions," Jefferies says. The bank has a hold rating and 11.48 Australian dollars a share target price on the stock. Shares are 1.8% higher at A$12.19. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

0126 GMT - A tough operating environment means Temple & Webster will find it hard over the next 12 months to generate material revenue growth without sacrificing market share, Macquarie analysts warn in a note. Cutting their recommendation to neutral from outperform, the analysts tell clients in a note that the Australian furniture retailer's focus on reducing costs is correct but newly implemented marketing efficiencies will weigh on growth. They warn that, with interest-rate rises making things harder for consumers, this makes the online retailer's pursuit of real operating leverage look even trickier. Macquarie cuts its target price on the stock 65% to A$4.75. Shares are down 2.6% at A$4.85. ([email protected])

0106 GMT - Commonwealth Bank of Australia's bears at Jarden reckon that investors are favoring the stock without regard for its fundamentals. The investment bank's analysts tell clients in a note that Australia's largest lender is exposed to the same low growth, declining returns and increasing credit risk as its peers, but is still trading at 3.7 times book value for about 13% return-on-equity growth. They warn that it is most heavily reliant on free or low-cost deposits, which they worry is unsustainable and could reflect a dated business model. Jarden keeps a sell rating and A$90.00 target price on the stock, which is up 0.3% at A$154.17. ([email protected])

0045 GMT - Is Mineral Resources' Bald Hill the next lithium project to restart? Jefferies thinks it could be. It highlights a significant increase in job advertisements for the Kambalda area of Australia posted by MinRes on its careers page. Analyst Mitch Ryan points out that MinRes has previously signaled it could restart Bald Hill within 4 months of any decision. "While accelerated relative to the Wodgina restart (six months) Bald Hill's capacity, simplicity and adjacency to Mt Marion leave us optimistic," says Jefferies, referring to MinRes's other lithium operations. Jefferies assumes Bald Hill restarts in 2Q of FY 2027. It sees the operation ramping up to full capacity of 1.2 million tons/year by the following quarter. Jefferies rates MinRes a hold. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0043 GMT - There's more pain ahead for Healius in pathology services, suggests Jefferies. Healius now expects underlying Ebitda of A$259 million-A$264 million in FY 2026. It cited lower pathology volumes and higher costs as the reason for lower than previously expected profitability. Analyst David Stanton expects Healius's underlying Ebit will total some A$31 million in FY 2026. That implies a pathology Ebit margin of around 2%, down 30 bps on a year earlier. "The outlook for growth in the pathology sector remains challenging--we continue to flag a decrease in FY 2026 net pathology funding of up to A$90 million," Jefferies says. "Healius is not immune to this." ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0030 GMT - Xero's annual result is seen by its bull at Citi as suggesting potential upside to his FY 2027 revenue forecast. Analyst Siraj Ahmed reckons that the accounting-software provider's improved annualized monthly recurring revenue growth could imply FY 2027 revenue of NZ$3.2 billion. This compares with his prior forecast of NZ$3.1 billion. This excludes the impact of its recently acquired Melio unit. Overall subscriber growth is another positive for Ahmed, who calls out the U.K. as a particular highlight. He tells clients in a note that U.S. organic revenue is growing more strongly than he had expected. Citi has a last-published buy rating and A$112.65 target price on the stock, which is down 4.7% at A$77.20. ([email protected])

0023 GMT - James Hardie Industries's last three quarterly results have been accompanied by elevated volatility in its share price. Morgan Stanley expects more of the same when the building materials supplier reports its 4Q result on May 20. Analyst Joseph Michael expects James Hardie to reset expectations for earnings modestly. However, MS notes that James Hardie's stock is down some 25% from its February high, so this appears to be largely reflected in the share price. MS says FY 2027 guidance, delivery on cost savings and efforts to lower debt are key focus areas. "We lean positive into the result," says MS, which has an overweight call on James Hardie. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0014 GMT - GrainCorp's share price is testing lows last reached in February. One reason identified by RBC Capital Markets is lower-than-expected net cash. GrainCorp reported a 'core net cash' position, which excludes inventory, of A$163 million alongside its results for the six months through March. That was much lower than analyst Owen Birrell's A$368 million expectation and well below a consensus forecast of A$293 million. RBC said GrainCorp's cash position was hit by factors including a negative working capital build, higher taxes and business transformation costs. It had a sector perform call and A$7.75/share price target on GrainCorp ahead of the 1H result. GrainCorp is down 9.8% at A$5.61. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0010 GMT - Xero's bull at RBC Capital Markets thinks the accounting-software provider is heading in the right direction despite its weak local performance and slightly soft guidance. Analyst Jackson Lee tells clients in a note that annual customer growth in ASX-listed Xero's Australia and New Zealand markets was weaker than expected, while the midpoint of its FY 2027 revenue guidance is about 3% lower than consensus. However, the big picture is brighter in Lee's view. He points to strong U.S. momentum and the expansion of Xero's AI capabilities. RBC has a last-published outperform rating and A$155.00 target price on the stock, which is up 1.1% at A$81.86. ([email protected])

(END) Dow Jones Newswires