October was a mixed bag of tricks and treats for Australian companies.
Disclaimer: This article is general information and for education and entertainment purposes only. It does not take into account your personal circumstances. Full disclaimer below.
October was a mixed bag of tricks and treats for Australian companies, but the ASX 200 still lifted 1.35% to close at 8,908.1.
And while the broader market made modest gains, a handful of companies had a much sweeter month, with technology, property and healthcare stocks taking out the top four spots.
From a better-than-expected profit outlook to some major overseas deals, here's what was behind October's biggest share-price moves.
A quick note before we dive in: these are historical results, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Data#3 helps businesses and government organisations keep their tech in check, from cloud computing and cybersecurity to IT infrastructure and software.
In October, its shares shot up 32.85%, making it the ASX 200's biggest winner.
The boost came from a brighter profit outlook. Data#3 expects first-half FY27 gross profit to grow by more than 15%, with pre-tax profit jumping over 40% compared to the same period last year.
But that’s not all. At its October AGM, the company lifted its first-half FY27 pre-tax profit guidance again, to between $52 million and $57 million.
While investors were over the moon, some of that growth came from one-off deals, so the company may not be able to keep up the same pace.
WiseTech Global develops software that helps logistics companies. Think freight forwarding, shipping, customs and all the behind-the-scenes admin that gets your online shopping from A to B.
Its shares climbed 25.72% in October after a major regulatory cloud finally started to clear. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) concluded two investigations involving the company.
ASIC issued no-action letters confirming it wouldn’t take enforcement action over those matters, which helped ease some of the uncertainty hanging over the company.
After a difficult year for WiseTech shareholders, October's rally was a welcome change of pace.
Arena REIT owns and leases properties used for essential services, from childcare centres to healthcare and education facilities.
Its shares climbed 25% in October, helped by some welcome news about one of its major tenants.
Childcare operator Edge Early Learning fell into administration in August, putting the 27 Arena properties it leases into question. But in October, Goodstart Early Learning proposed taking over 20 of Edge’s centres.
If the deal goes ahead, it could mean fewer empty properties and more certainty around Arena’s rental income.
Although it’s not a done deal just yet, with conditions and approvals still to come, it was certainly a positive step for investors.
Pro Medicus develops medical imaging software used by hospitals and healthcare providers to view and manage scans, including X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.
Its shares climbed 19.69% in October after landing not one, but two major US contracts within the space of a few days. Together, these contracts total A$67 million in value over 7 years.
Both deals will see Pro Medicus roll out its medical imaging platform across the healthcare providers' networks, giving doctors and clinicians easier access to medical images.
No surprise, investors were feeling pretty good about the company's prospects.
Were any of these companies in your portfolio this October?
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