ASX

A developer of downsizer-centric homes across Victoria has struggled to get investor interest in the face of the state’s struggling economy. A negative media report highlighting residents’ complaints about fees hasn’t helped.

Like the curate’s egg, the markets software group’s investment story is good in part. While the 2024 full-year result was a marked improvement compared with 2023, investors don’t need reminding the share price has retreated over the past five years.

The private health insurer delivered a healthy first-half result, with its net profit up 14 per cent to $299 million. Policies emanating out of Canberra could play a big part on how well it builds on that number in the second half.

The New Zealand-based medical-device maker notched a strong interim result and was on track to repeat the performance for the full year. It might struggle now to meet its rosy projections in the wake of the US decision to impose tariffs on Mexico.

Despite Australia’s largest writer of annuities delivering strong interim earnings and increasing the dividend by 12 per cent, investors still pushed the share price down – sharply.

The giant insurer’s share price has been on a roll for the past year – to the extent of largely being unaffected by the ex-cyclone that lashed south-east Queensland and northern NSW earlier this month.

The West Australian conglomerate bucked weaker consumer sentiment in the first half of the 2025 financial year to notch a $1.5 billion after-tax profit. For shareholders, there was a 4.4 per cent lift in the fully franked payout to 95 cents.

Investors dined out on a higher interim payout from the supermarket giant, and with the economy picking up it should make for a compelling second half. The flies in the ointment are a ACCC report due to be handed down soon and politicians who opt for “supermarket bashing”.

The employee services and fleet solutions provider’s 2024 financial year scorecard was up to scratch. So, with shareholders well rewarded via a 48.5-cent payout, it’s somewhat perplexing why the share price is lagging.

The telecommunications giant remains confident of maintaining market dominance, building on its business momentum, strong cost controls and disciplined capital management. The competition is not sitting still, however, with Optus and TPG now sharing their regional networks.

The COVID share price implosion aside, the toll-road group is still failing to excite the share market. While new projects in Melbourne and the US might stir some interest, ongoing toll negotiations with the NSW government are casting a pall over the share price.

The retirement specialist and digital bank is prioritising growth over capital returns to shareholders. While that might be the right long-term strategy, investors are less than impressed in the short term.