Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT) shares are climbing on Thursday after the company announced a leadership change at the top.

At the time of writing, the Ventia share price is up 0.89% to $6.75.

The stock is now trading close to record highs, with Ventia shares up around 13% since the start of 2026 and 34% higher than this time last year.

Here’s what the company told the market today.

Ventia names its next CEO

According to the release, Ventia has appointed Mark Ralston as its next Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer.

Ralston will replace current Managing Director and Group CEO Dean Banks, with the change to take effect on 1 September 2026.

The company said the appointment follows a detailed internal and external succession process.

Ralston is already well known inside the business, having spent 12 years at Ventia. Over that time, he has held senior roles across enterprise strategy, mergers and acquisitions, telecommunications, and more recently defence and social infrastructure.

Ventia said Ralston will work closely with Banks over the coming months to support a smooth handover.

Chairman David Moffatt said Ralston has a deep understanding of Ventia’s business, customers and markets, and has made a strong contribution to the company’s performance and strategy.

Ralston said he was honoured to lead Ventia and pointed to the company’s “strong business, clear strategy and talented team”.

What does Ventia actually do?

Ventia provides infrastructure services across Australia and New Zealand.

Its work covers areas such as defence, water, power, gas, transport, telecommunications, resources and social infrastructure.

That includes maintaining defence bases, looking after roads and transport networks, supporting utilities, managing facilities, and providing services for government and large corporate customers.

Importantly, this gives Ventia a broad contract base across parts of the economy where maintenance and service work doesn’t just disappear when market conditions get tougher.

The business also has plenty of scale, with more than 35,000 employees and subcontractors working across more than 400 sites.

Keeping things steady

Leadership changes can sometimes make investors nervous, especially when a long-serving CEO is moving on.

But today’s share price reaction suggests the market is comfortable with the choice.

That is likely because Ralston is already well known inside the business. He has been involved with Ventia for more than a decade and has held roles across several parts of the group.

And the company’s recent share price performance also helps. Ventia has had a strong year, and the market appears comfortable with the stock moving into its next leadership phase.

The post Near record highs: Why this ASX 300 stock is rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Ventia Services appoints new CEO in leadership succession
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why 4DMedical, IperionX, Pro Medicus, and Ventia shaares are storming higher today
• Ventia secures $133m contract extension at Australian Marine Complex

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) shares are in the spotlight on Thursday.

In morning trade, the infant formula company’s shares are up 6% to $7.29.

This compares favourably to the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which is down 0.45% at the time of writing.

A2 Milk shares jump on big news

The catalyst for today’s gain has been the announcement of a special dividend.

According to the release, following the receipt of approval from the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) to transition its two China label infant milk formula product registrations acquired in connection with the a2 Pokeno facility to a2 branded products, the board has decided to return a substantial amount of cash to shareholders.

A2 Milk advised that the board has now declared a NZ$300 million (A$245 million) special dividend that will be both fully franked and unimputed.

The company notes that this will be paid to eligible shareholders on 24 July 2026.

Speaking of eligibility, A2 Milk shares will go ex-dividend for this payout on 8 July. This means that investors need to own the company’s shares before the market close the day before to qualify for it.

The company estimates that the dividend has a value of 41.36 New Zealand cents per share (33.9 Australian cents per share). Based on its last close price of $6.85, this represented a dividend yield of just under 5%.

Commenting on the return, A2 Milk’s chair, Pip Greenwood, said:

With the necessary China regulatory approvals now in place, the Board is pleased to declare a $300 million special dividend. This reflects our commitment to delivering shareholder returns while maintaining disciplined capital management.

Should you invest?

While Bell Potter has yet to respond to this news, earlier this week it put a hold rating on A2 Milk shares with a price target of $6.90.

The broker commented:

This announcement is a positive development with regard to the internalisation of the CL supply chain and growth levers for FY27-29e. The debate at present is more nuanced around the wide FY27e consensus forecast ranges at EBITDA at NZ$296- 415m and NPAT at NZ$189-285m (both consistent on Bloomberg & VA) which is exceptionally wide for a ASX100 consumer stock.

This likely reflects the issues around 2H26e margin, the recent downgrade saw the top end of revenue consistent with the previous range but margin guidance reduced ~300bp in 2H26e, and expectations of additional marketing support in 1H27e. At current share price levels the stock sits at the more expensive side of the consumer sector (on a FY25-28e PEG ratio) and is likely to be materially more volatile given the polarising views on earnings expectations into the August guidance statement. Our forecasts largely split the divide and for this reason our Hold rating is unchanged.

The post A2 Milk shares jump amid $300 million special dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A2 Milk declares $300 million special dividend after securing China approval
• Why A2 Milk, Calix, CSL, and Ioneer shares are charging higher today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Why A2 Milk, Lindian Resources, Perenti, and SGH shares are pushing higher today
• A2 Milk shares jump 7% on big China and special dividend news

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares are having another strong session on Thursday as investors continue to buy back into the ASX healthcare stock.

At the time of writing, the Pro Medicus share price is up 2.05% to $182.66.

It has been a big month for the company’s shares, which have now climbed around 40% over that period.

That bounce has helped repair some of the damage from earlier in the year. Even after the recent rally, Pro Medicus shares are still down roughly 17% since the start of 2026.

The latest announcement appears to have given the rally another push.

Pro Medicus signs AI agreement

According to the release, Pro Medicus has signed binding heads of agreement (HoA) with Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ).

The deal would see Pro Medicus take a stake in Echo IQ and work with the company to sell its products in the US.

Echo IQ is an AI and medical technology company working in cardiology. Its software is designed to help doctors make decisions using heart imaging data.

Under the agreement, Pro Medicus will make an initial $10 million investment in Echo IQ through secured convertible notes.

There is also room for another $10 million investment if Echo IQ receives US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its EchoSolv HF product.

EchoSolv HF is an AI-powered tool that helps identify heart failure risk using cardiac imaging data.

Furthermore, the agreement includes a proposed reseller arrangement. This allows Pro Medicus to market and distribute Echo IQ’s products to its healthcare customers, particularly in the United States.

Echo IQ deal opens another door

The update seems to have gone down well because it gives Pro Medicus another way to build out its cardiology offering.

The company is already best known for its Visage Imaging platform, which is used by large healthcare groups to view and manage medical images.

This agreement could add Echo IQ’s AI technology to the mix, while giving Echo IQ access to a much larger customer network.

Pro Medicus CEO Dr Sam Hupert said the company is “looking to offer Visage 7 Cardiology customers the option of using Echo IQ’s technology.”

He said the agreement fits with the company’s strategy of offering a carefully selected suite of algorithms. That includes its own technology, tools created with clinical partners, and third-party algorithms such as Echo IQ.

What comes next?

It’s worth remembering that despite the positive news, the agreement still needs final legal documentation.

The companies said the deal is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

Echo IQ also said its FDA submission for EchoSolv HF remains on track for an outcome in the near-term.

The post Pro Medicus shares jump again as AI deal adds fuel to 40% rally appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Pro Medicus signs Echo IQ deal to boost AI cardiology offering
• 2 ASX 200 shares I’d buy for powerful growth
• 3 buy-rated ASX tech shares with bright futures
• US chip stocks were smashed overnight. So why are ASX tech shares rising?
• 5 ASX growth shares I want in my portfolio in FY27

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.