The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) fell 0.1% on Wednesday solely due to a 7.1% fall in BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) as investors digest the massive merger deal with Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL); the materials sector was down 3.0% as a result.
Given the dual listing set-up and structure of the Woodside deal, it’s hard to determine if this is a result of capital flows or a negative view on the deal.
Vicinity recovers
On the positive side, the real estate sector led the market, adding 1.8% behind a strong report by Vicinity Centres (ASX: VCX), which jumped 1.9%. Management confirmed a stabilisation amid the pandemic with funds from operations hitting $559 million in the second half, up from $520 million in 2021 on the back of an improvement to 84% of gross rental billings being collected in cash.
The loss was narrowed despite a further $181 million devaluation in the underlying property assets, with occupancy remaining strong at 98.2%, down from 98.6%. Importantly, Vicinity’s dividend was increased by 30% and its net tangible assets remain at $2.13, well above the current $1.60 Vicinity share price.
CSL’s bumper year
Portfolio stalwart CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) fell 1.5% after announcing another bumper year, reporting a 13% increase in sales and profits with the latter hitting US$2.375 billion, both ahead of expectations.
CSL’s dividend was increased by 10%, despite management flagging slower profit growth in 2022 as it invests further into the company’s manufacturing capabilities. The influenza business continued to perform well, up 30%, with some anticipated slowdown in blood collection due to the Delta outbreak.
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Pizza pays for Domino’s
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) has continued its recovery after a difficult few years with management announcing a 62% increase in the dividend on the back of a 29% increase in profit to $188 million.
Where many said the group couldn’t open any more stores, it has managed to deliver continued growth by doing just that, opening 285 stores around the world, adding 10% to its network.
Same-store sales growth across Europe, Asia and Australia were a solid 9.3%, double their expectations, but growth is expected to slow as locked-down consumers turn back to their own pantries. Domino’s shares jumped 7.1% on the result.
OZ Minerals triples profit
Copper miner OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL) fell 0.4% despite announcing a tripling of profit to $268 million with a 71% increase in commodity sales, driven by a boom in the decarbonisation and battery theme. Copper is a key input into everything from batteries to vehicles and remains in short supply.
Woodside bumps up dividend
Woodside followed suitor BHP lower, falling 2.1% despite announcing FY21 results and delivering a 10% increase in the dividend. The company has benefited from a recovery in the oil price with revenue up 31% to $2.5 billion and profit $317 million.
Digging into the Magellan sell-off
Looking more closely at Magellan Financial Group Ltd’s (ASX: MFG) results on Tuesday, the reason for the selloff appears to relate to a change in the group’s tax rate payable on overseas operations from 10 to 30%. This is a negative for global investors in the business but for Australians, the higher tax rate will likely be offset by an increase in franking credits.
ASX 200 today
Looking ahead, the ASX 200 is expected to head lower when the market opens on Thursday, following a negative lead from US markets overnight.
ASX reporting season continues, with a bunch of ASX miners set to report alongside Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG), Treasury Winne Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) and Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL). For all the latest, check out Rask Media’s ASX reporting season calendar.