Another Australian reporting season is set to kick off tomorrow with Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) announcing its half-year results.
Companies reporting on a June 30 financial year calendar (the majority of Australian companies) will report full-year FY21 results. Other companies will be reporting either half-year or quarterly results.
A handy calendar of when companies are reporting can be accessed here.
Here are four things I’m looking for this reporting season.
1. Dividends, dividends, dividends
I’d struggle to name something Aussies love more than dividends. This reporting season will be full of them.
The big 4 major banks – Australia and New Zealand Banking Ltd (ASX: ANZ), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), will release up to $34 billion in excess capital to shareholders.
Furthermore, with iron ore prices above $200, major miners Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG), BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto will be paying out big profits.
2. 1st birthdays
A number of new companies hit the market in the past year including Airtasker Ltd (ASX: ART), PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) and Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL).
All will be reporting full-year results for the first time.
This will give investors an idea of how the company fared in its introduction to public markets and whether it achieved its prospectus guidance.
3. Balance sheet strength
In March last year, there was a flurry of companies looking to raise cash as uncertainty around the impact of COVID-19 hit.
With international borders remaining closed, I’ll be checking the balance sheet strength of a number of companies including Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) and Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT).
A quick check is to determine the net debt of a company.
Net debt equals cash minus short term borrowings and long-term debt.
If net debt equals greater than zero, the company has sufficient cash to meet future liabilities.
Conversely, if net debt is less than zero, this may mean the company needs to raise additional capital in the future.
This will give investors an idea of how the company fared in its introduction to public markets and if it achieved its prospectus guidance.
4. E-commerce vs traditional retail
Intermittent lockdowns across the country have accelerated the shift to online retailing.
Furniture e-commerce leader Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) released a cracking result this morning with revenue up 85%. Moreover, Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) and Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) have seen sales soar.
The shift to digital has been somewhat mitigated by government stimulus and rising household savings. JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) recorded a 67% increase in profits and a 12% sales increase.
With a full year of closed borders, what will be the impact on traditional retailers like Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN), Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) and Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)? How much will the shift to digital impact traditional retailing?
For all the latest updates during reporting season, be sure to bookmark the Rask Media Reporting Season 2021 category page.
We will also have a reporting season calendar page, so keep all eyes and ears open!
