Shares of Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) are creating a buzz today.

In late morning trade on Thursday, two of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) heavyweights are racing ahead of the 0.4% gains posted by the benchmark index, while one has just tumbled deep into the red.

Here’s what’s piquing investor interest.

Zip shares rocket on record earnings

Zip shares are off to the races today, up 14% at $2.94 apiece.

This strong performance follows the release of the ASX 200 buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock’s full-year FY 2026 results.

Among the highlights, Zip grew its active customers by 3.7% year-on-year to 6.5 million. And the company’s total transaction volume (TTV) of $16.7 billion was up 27.2%.

This helped drive a 24.7% increase in revenue to $1.34 billion, with Zip’s operating margin improving by 4.2% from FY 2025 to 20%.

Also helping lift Zip shares today, the company achieved record cash earnings before taxes depreciation and amortisation (EBTDA) of $268.9 million, up 57.9% from last year.

And on the bottom line, Zip’s net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 45.7% to $116.4 million.

Looking ahead, the ASX 200 BNPL stock is targeting cash EBTDA growth of 26% to $340 million in FY 2027. Zip is aiming for an operating margin in the range of 20% to 22%.

Northern Star shares leap on record profits

Like Zip shares, Northern Star shares are charging higher today.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are changing hands for $24.15 each, up 7.1%.

Northern Star also reported its FY 2026 results today. And investors are clearly impressed.

Highlights from the financial year just past included a 19% year-on-year increase in revenue to $7.6 billion. The revenue boost was supported by a 26% higher average realised gold price.

On the earnings front, Northern Star reported underlying EBITDA of $4.27 billion, up 22% from FY 2025.

And on the bottom line, the ASX 200 gold miner achieved a record NPAT of $1.7 billion, up 24% year on year.

For passive income investors, management declared a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share, in line with last year’s final payout.

Which brings us to…

Megaport shares fall on $39 million net loss

Joining Northern Star and Zip shares in turning heads today, and releasing its FY 2026 results, we find Megaport.

Shares in the ASX 200 network services company kicked off the day in positive territory but have since tumbled into the red, down 4% at $19.52 apiece.

With Megaport shares having closed yesterday up some 79% in 2026, investor expectations are clearly high.

On the positive side of the ledger, Megaport achieved a 37% year-on-year increase in revenue to $312 million. And EBITDA increased by 24% from FY 2025 to $77 million.

But Megaport shares look to have come under pressure, with the ASX 200 tech stock reporting a statutory net loss of $39 million, which compares unfavourably to the net loss of $300,000 reported last year.

The post Why Megaport, Northern Star and Zip shares are turning heads on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, sell, hold: Dexus, APA, Zip shares
• Here’s what brokers tip for Megaport shares over the next 12 months
• Zip Co reports record FY26 earnings and outlines growth strategy
• Megaport FY26: Earnings soar as AI and global footprint drive strategy
• Northern Star Resources posts record profit and steady dividend for FY26

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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.

Hansen Technologies Ltd (ASX: HSN) shares are slightly more than 40% down over the past 12 months, but following their full year results broker Shaw and Partners is predicting some serious upside for the ASX 300 stock.

Shaw and Partners has a buy recommendation on the shares and a very bullish share price target which I’ll get to shortly.

First, let’s look at what the company reported recently.

Strong profit result from steady revenue

Hansen earlier this week reported operating revenue of $386.5 million, down 1.5%, with the company saying the result was impacted by lower licence fees and foreign exchange headwinds.

Underlying net profit was strong however, coming in 22.5% higher than the previous corresponding period at $48.5 million.

Hansen Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hansen said regarding the result:

FY26 demonstrated the resilience of Hansen’s business model. In a more cautious environment, we have remained focused on disciplined execution, protecting earnings quality while continuing to invest for long-term growth. What we have seen during the year, with regards to revenue, is primarily caused by mix and foreign exchange. We continue to have a solid pipeline of demand for our products and services. Our recurring revenue base continues to improve, providing stability and visibility through the cycle. AI is increasingly driving productivity, operating leverage and long-term margin expansion.

The company said AI had been a large focus, and an AI enablement team had been set up to drive capability across the workforce.

Hansen said it was now, “shifting from capability building to the deployment and commercialisation of AI solutions that deliver measurable value for customers and shareholders”.

On the corporate front, the company said its strong cash generation and conservative balance sheet provided flexibility to pursue accretive opportunities.

Hansen Technologies shares looking cheap

Shaw and Partners said in a note to clients following the result, that it was a better result than the headline numbers indicated.

They said:

Key takes: 1) FY26 was stronger underneath the headline, with improving recurring revenue mix, disciplined costs and record cash generation; 2) FY27 is now a transition/investment year as licence revenue shifts to recurring streams and HSN reinvests in AI and sales, with growth and 30%+ margins expected to return in FY28; and 3) Stuart MacDonald’s appointment as CEO adds a credible new growth lens.

Shaw and Partners reiterated their buy rating but reduced their 12-month price target on Hansen shares from $7.60 to $6.80.

This compares to $3.26 currently. Hansen Technologies is valued at $869.2 million.

The post This ASX 300 technology stock is tipped to double in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Hansen Technologies appoints new CEO as Andrew Hansen becomes Executive Chair

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price is having a bit of a wild ride today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed trading yesterday for $18.06. In morning trade on Thursday, shares have been swinging between losses and gains.

At one point, shares were down 2.1% at $17.68 each. At the time of writing, shares have recouped those losses to be changing hands for $18.20 apiece, up 0.8%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.4% at this same time.

This wild ride for the Fortescue share price follows the release of the miner’s full-year FY 2026 results.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest.

Fortescue share price swings back in the green on earnings growth

Over the 12-month period, Fortescue reported revenue of US$17 billion, up 9% from FY 2025. Management credited the revenue boost to the 7% increase in the hematite (iron oxide mineral) realised price to US$91 per dry metric tonne (dmt) and a 2% increase in iron ore sales to 201.4 million tonnes.

But costs were up too, with the hematite C1 unit cost of US$18.74 per wet metric tonne (wmt) up 4% year on year.

Likely helping lift the Fortescue share price today, the company achieved a 9% increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to US$8.6 billion.

And underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) was up 3% from FY 2025 to US$3.5 billion.

Potentially explaining the volatile price swings, statutory NPAT of US$2.9 billion was down 15%, reflecting a US$525 million non-cash impairment charge relating to Iron Bridge, and a US$73 million compensation claim expense.

The passive income declined as well, with management declaring a fully-franked dividend of 46 cents per share, down 23.3% from last year’s final payout.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results rocking the Fortescue share price today, Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO Dino Otranto said:

Our record operating performance this year underpinned a 9% increase in underlying EBITDA and a 25% increase in free cash flow.

We invested US$3.6 billion across the business and finished the year with US$5.1 billion in cash and net debt of just US$0.9 billion. That puts us in a strong position to continue investing in growth while delivering returns to shareholders.

And Fortescue is tapping into the artificial intelligence revolution to further ramp up productivity.

“We’re also continuing to look for ways to lift productivity and get more from our assets,” Otranto said.

He noted:

AI is one of our biggest opportunities to create value and has the potential to change almost every aspect of how we operate. We’re already putting it to work across drilling, processing, rail and haulage, and using it to optimise how we generate, store and use energy across our Green Grid.

And this is just the start. Autonomy changed how we operated and helped drive our costs down. We see AI doing the same – but on a much broader scale.

With today’s intraday moves factored in, the Fortescue share price is down 6.4% since this time last year, not including dividends.

The post Why is the Fortescue share price on a rollercoaster today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Fortescue hits new records in FY26: profit up, dividends flow
• How much passive income could I earn from a $630,000 superannuation balance?
• How much do I need in my superannuation to earn $50,000 per year in passive income?
• Reporting season half-time report: 5 lessons from August so far
• If I invest $10,000 in Fortescue shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.