Yesterday
Victoria’s busted economy is profit season’s sneaky big shock
Beneath the wild share price moves, a stunning narrative has emerged from reporting season about one of Australia’s most critical economic growth engines.
February
Boral earnings bonanza lifts Stokes family’s SGH to bumper payout
The industrial conglomerate will reward shareholders after a rise in Boral profits. It took the massive building supplies business off the ASX in July.
ASX flat; CSL extends sell off on sales blow, lithium miners tumble
Sharemarket seesaws; CSL tumbles on sales blow; gold buoys Evolution, De Grey; impairment hit for Ramsay; upgrades on the horizon for Breville.
What we learnt: The ASX giant that can’t excite investors
CSL consistency isn’t winning over investors, Ryan Stokes explains the new dump truck dance, and Macquarie’s return on equity puzzler.
Ryan Stokes declares Victoria in ‘recession’ as investment flees
Ryan Stokes has SGH’s profit margins humming, even despite Victoria’s stalled economy and unending housing supply drought.
Beach CEO doubles down on gas strategy amid heightening Vic crisis
Brett Woods has said several parties are interested in joining Beach for power generation after the company disappointed the market with its dividend and outlook.
December 2024
The good, the bad and the ugly of corporate Australia in 2024
Big deals, big names, big disasters. From AirTrunk to Woolies to our own Nine Entertainment, here are the biggest moments of the year.
Stokes’ Seven misses out on BGC cement deal
Kerry Stokes’ Seven Group was the underbidder in the auction for the cement business owned by the late Len Buckeridge.
Australia’s 50 highest-paid CEOs in 2024 revealed
Macquarie Group’s Shemara Wikramanayake is Australia’s best-paid CEO for the fourth year in a row.
Ryan Stokes out-works, out-earns rivals to take SGH to new highs
The SGH chief, one of The Australian Financial Review Business People of the Year for 2024, is renowned as one of the hardest-working CEOs in Australian big business.
November 2024
One of the few remaining building groups on the ASX hits the gas
Maas Group was founded by former Rabbitohs player Wes Maas two decades ago. With three acquisitions in one day, it is turbocharging its expansion plans.
Founder problems? Pull the other one. Founder stocks are flying
Look at the companies whose shares have hit all-time highs this week and what do you see?
October 2024
Irish giant CRH to buy CPE Capital-backed concrete infrastructure biz
Civilmart is the country’s No.2 manufacturer of concrete pipes and precast products, backed by John Haddock’s buyout firm CPE Capital.
Stokes backs nuclear, and free electricity for those who live near it
Chief executive of Seven Group Holdings Ryan Stokes says the nation must consider nuclear energy as a baseload power source.
September 2024
Seven West Media stokes tension behind the scenes at Seven Group
The broadcasting and publishing empire accounts for just 0.6 per cent of the broader conglomerate’s total assets. It accounts for much more of its problems.
Why this fundie is watching the ‘housing Ponzi scheme’ so closely
From banks to healthcare stocks, the pain of poor housing affordability – and an uneven economy – is shaping Martin Conlon’s thinking.
August 2024
What I learnt from 30 CEOs in 30 days
The profit season has delivered a confusing picture of an economy stuck between cycles. Here are 30 nuggets to help investors navigate this tricky environment.
Loose ends at Seven’s ‘second chance’ saloon
Fresh allegations plague the Kerry Stokes-controlled media organisation as it tries to turn the page.
Advertising slump kills Seven West buyback, keeps dividends paused
Commercial broadcasters have lost $650 million over the past two years. Seven’s new chief executive is preparing the company for it never to come back.
Stokes’ vision for Seven’s Boral comes to life
Seven Group boss Ryan Stokes says the company is interested in buying the BGC cement division left behind by the late WA entrepreneur Len Buckeridge.