This ASX tech stock has been one of the standout performers in the market in 2025. The share price of Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) has soared this year by 93%.

It’s a stark contrast with the performance of ASX 200 tech shares in general. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) is down 24% from its peak in September.

Back in the groove

After a few challenging weeks, during which trade in this high-flying ASX tech stock was lower, Megaport has found its groove again. At the time of writing, the shares trade hands for $14.30 apiece, up 3.1%. That brings this week’s share gains to 11%.  

Several factors explain why the Brisbane-based company is breaking away from the tech pack. Some major brokers continue to recommend buying or holding the ASX 200 tech stock. They highlight Megaport’s competitive advantage in automated networking and its growing list of large enterprise customers.

Megaport is a network-as-a-service solutions provider that makes it fast and easy for businesses to connect to the cloud. Instead of building expensive physical networks or signing long-term telecom contracts, companies can use Megaport’s software to create private, secure data connections in minutes. It’s cheaper, quicker and more flexible than traditional networking.

Expanding global footprint

Megaport’s platform allows customers to connect to around 860 data centres worldwide. In the first half of FY25 alone, the tech company added another 82 data centres and four new internet exchange locations.

The ASX 200 stock has continued to scale quickly, too. Its customer numbers are growing rapidly, and it has an expanding global footprint. This has helped Megaport underpin a strong annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth. For example, in FY25, it reported a 20% increase in ARR to $243.8 million. 

Can Megaport keep climbing?

Consensus analyst forecasts suggest there’s still room for this ASX tech stock to go higher. The average 12-month price target sits around $16 to $17, implying further upside from current trading levels.  

Broker Morgans just upgraded its recommendation for the tech share to a buy rating with a $17.00 price target. This implies potential 19% upside for investors over the next 12 months.

The broker released its update to reflect the acquisition of Latitude.sh and its network expansion into the India market. Analysts are pleased with Megaport’s performance so far in FY 2026.

Explaining its upgrade, Morgans said:

We update our forecasts to include MP1 recent capital raising, acquisition of “Compute-as-a-Service” provider Latitude.sh and network expansion into India. The acquisitions accelerate revenue and EBITDA growth while the core MP1 business keeps improving. Since June 2025 NRR (net revenue retention) has lifted 2 ppts to 109%. Revenue and ARR (annual recurring revenue) growth is strong. We upgrade to a BUY recommendation and our target price moves to $17.

The post Why this high-flying ASX tech stock is surging again appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

Shares in seaweed farming outfit Sea Forest Ltd (ASX: SEA) have made a strong debut on the ASX, with the shares charging almost 30% beyond their initial public offer price.

The company raised $20.5 million via the issue of new shares at $2 apiece, with the stock charging to $2.59, up 29.5%, soon after trade on the ASX started on Wednesday morning.

The company is involved in the commercial cultivation of a particular type of seaweed native to Australia, which has benefits as a stock feed additive, in that it leads to the production of less methane when consumed.

Decarbonisation a key focus

Chair John McKillop said in the company’s prospectus that Sea Forest was a leader in the field.

Founded in Tasmania in 2018, Sea Forest is one of the first companies to achieve success in the commercial cultivation and application of the native Australian seaweed asparagopsis. Our operations span manufacturing and distribution, with world-class research facilities, land-based cultivation infrastructure in Triabunna and Swansea, and 1800 hectares of marine leases in Tasmania. These have enabled extensive research and development that have led us to where we are today.

The company’s flagship product is SeaFeed, which Mr McKillop said was an innovative livestock feed additive that had been scientifically proven to reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals such as cows, “while also delivering measurable productivity gains and sustainability benefits across the livestock sector”.

He went on to say:

The agricultural industry is undergoing transformation, driven by the shift to decarbonise supply chains and meet the growing demand for sustainable food production. Sea Forest’s technology addresses these challenges directly, enabling farmers and supply chain partners to reduce scope 3 emissions (being indirect greenhouse gas emissions), access premium markets for low emission products and contribute to global climate goals.

Funds to boost expansion

Mr McKillop said commercialisation of SeaFeed was under way, with the first trial sales in FY24.

The company is now focussed on expanding its production capacity, and is developing new facilities in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales as well as in Europe and South Africa.

The company’s financial results, included in its prospectus, showed it increased sales from $313,000 to $451,000 from FY24 to FY25, and made a net loss of $9.1 million in FY25.     

New investors in the company were expected to hold 18.3% of the shares on issue following the company’s listing on the ASX.

Sea Forest is valued at about $145 million based on the current trading price of $2.59.

The post Seaweed farmer’s shares take off on first day of trade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on form on Wednesday and charging higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.7% to 8,598.3 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are climbing:

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 8.5% to $2.17. This is despite there being no news out of the counter drone technology company. However, with its shares down heavily in recent weeks, it seems that some investors believe they are now a bargain buy. Bell Potter appears to agree. It recently put a buy rating and $5.30 price target on its shares.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is up over 7% to $4.78. This follows news that the defence company has completed a key acquisition and settled ASIC’s investigation in relation to certain disclosure matters in 2022. The settlement includes an agreed proposed penalty of $4 million. As for the acquisition, EOS has completed the deal to acquire the UK-based Interceptor business from MARSS Group for $10 million.

Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK)

The Gentrack share price is up a further 5% to $8.93. This airport and utilities software provider’s shares have been rocketing this week thanks to the release of its FY 2025 results. Gentrack posted an 8% increase in revenue to NZ$230.2 million and an 18% jump in EBITDA to NZ$27.8 million. Management also reiterated its mid-term target of more than 15% compound annual revenue growth and an EBITDA margin of 15%–20%. Bell Potter was pleased and retained its buy rating on its shares with an improved price target of $11.00. Gentrack’s shares are now up 33% this week.

Web Travel Group Ltd (ASX: WEB)

The Web Travel share price is up a further 6% to $4.63. This travel technology company’s shares have been flying this week following the release of its half year results on Tuesday. Web Travel posted a 22% lift in total transaction value (TTV) to a record of $3.17 billion and a 17% jump in underlying EBITDA to a record of $81.7 million. Commenting on its performance, Web Travel’s managing director, John Guscic, said: “WebBeds continues to deliver world class TTV growth. We reported $3.2 billion TTV for the first 6 months of the financial year, 22% more than the same period last year, driven by the significant above-market growth coming through in our top 3 regions, particularly the Americas.” This morning, Macquarie put an outperform rating and $6.85 price target on its shares.

The post Why DroneShield, EOS, Gentrack, and Web Travel shares are surging today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Web Travel Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Electro Optic Systems, Gentrack Group, and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Gentrack Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The recent sell off across the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has hit tech stocks disproportionately, Wilsons Advisory says, creating two buying opportunities in particular.

In a research note to clients, Wilsons says the circa-6% fall in the ASX 200 has been accompanied by a far sharper sell off across Australian-listed technology stocks of about 25%.

As the Wilsons team says:

This is the largest drawdown in local tech stocks since the April ‘Liberation Day’ correction and stands in stark contrast to offshore markets, with the Nasdaq Composite for instance only about 7% below its recent highs and the S&P 500 IT sector down about 10% – highlighting the disproportionate pressure on Australian tech names.

Reasons for the large sell off include “demanding” valuations for many companies, meaning that, “even modestly underwhelming updates from WiseTech, TechnologyOne and Xero have been enough to trigger a sharp rotation out of the sector”.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and Wisetech Ltd (ASX: WTC) have also been dealing with the integration of major acquisitions, with the US$2.5 billion purchase of Melio by Xero and Wisetech’s US$2.1 billion buyout of e2open.

Wilsons said:

Both deals have clear strategic merit, but carry integration risks, while they also face an ASX investor base that is generally sceptical of large offshore M&A. In Xero’s case, the sizable capital raise appears to have contributed to material stock indigestion, with seemingly few incremental buyers for the stock post the raise.

Uncertainty creating opportunity

So who does Wilson like in the sector? The Wilsons team said the recent pullback in technology stock prices “appears to have created attractive buying opportunities”.

While past performance is not a reliable predictor of future returns, drawdowns of more than 10% have historically presented attractive buying opportunities in the tech sector for patient capital willing to look through near-term volatility. With the current drawdown, at about 25%, marking only the fifth drawdown of 20% or more in the past decade – and the largest since the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs in April – this pullback appears to offer a relatively rare opportunity to accumulate high-quality tech names at discounted entry prices.

The first stock Wilsons has named as a key pick is TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), which has fallen about 15% since reporting its full-year results recently.

Wilsons said the result was broadly positive despite some numbers coming in slightly below consensus, with pre-tax profit up 19%, well ahead of guidance of 13%-17%.

As the Wilsons team said:

Despite small misses on select line items, TechnologyOne’s fundamental outlook remains intact. The decline in (the) share price following its result largely reflects the correction of its supernormal valuation – with forward P/E having recently peaked at about 90x – leaving effectively no margin for even a very modest miss at reporting. Most importantly, TechnologyOne continues to execute exceptionally well, and our conviction in the outlook remains as positive as ever.

With the company’s valuation on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio basis now back within its “normal” historical range, “this presents a rare opportunity to invest into one of the ASX’s highest-quality earnings compounders at a relatively attractive valuation”, Wilsons says.

They also note that “Canaccord Genuity Research has a 12-month price target of $42.15, representing 40% upside to the last close”.

Plenty of runway for growth

Wilsons’ other key pick is accounting software firm Xero, which they said delivered a slightly softer than expected first-half result recently.

However, we remain constructive on the medium-term growth outlook and view the 14% share-price decline as overdone. With the stock already under pressure heading into the print, the pullback creates a particularly attractive entry point for investors with the medium-term growth story remaining intact.

Wilsons said they remain confident that earnings will continue to grow, underpinned by healthy subscriber growth and average revenue per user expansion, plus the monetisation of artificial intelligence tools.

Overall, with the growth story remaining firmly intact, Xero offers attractive value at current levels.

The post Two ASX tech stocks Wilsons Advisory says are a buy after the recent tech sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.6% to 8,590.6 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Meteoric Resources NL (ASX: MEI)

The Meteoric Resources share price was down 4.5% to 57.5 cents before being placed into a trading halt. Its trading halt request states: “Meteoric is seeking the trading halt pending release of an announcement in response to media speculation in relation to the Preliminary License (LP) approval process.” There is speculation that authorities in Brazil have recommended that the preliminary license for its rare earth mining project be suspended urgently. This would be a big blow to the rare earths developer.

Race Oncology Ltd (ASX: RAC)

The Race Oncology share price is down 9% to $2.64. This is despite the announcement of a positive development from the oncology company this morning, Race revealed that it has received human ethics approval from the St Vincents Hospital Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to initiate a Phase 1a/b clinical trial. It will assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of RC220 with Osimertinib. This will be in patients with non-small cell lung cancer that have activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutations. Patient enrolment is subject to final institutional approval and site activation by Monash Health, which is expected in late Q4 2025 to early Q1 2026.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The Temple & Webster share price is down 33% to $13.67. This morning, this online homewares retailer reported an 18% increase in sales for July to 20 November. While this is sales growth that most companies would be envious of, the market was expecting an even stronger growth rate for the first half of FY 2026. They don’t appear to believe that Temple & Webster will be able to make up the ground over the final weeks of the half.

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)

The West African Resources share price is down over 13% to $2.63. This gold miner’s shares have crashed down to earth after returning from a three-month suspension. The gold miner has been busy negotiating with the Burkina Faso government after it requested a larger equity interest in its Kiaka operation. West African Resources’ chair and CEO, Richard Hyde ,said: “Our discussions regarding the ownership structure of our recently constructed Kiaka Project have reflected a shared vision to develop a strong and sustainable mining industry that benefits the Burkinabe people and delivers long-term value for all stakeholders. Sanbrado and Toega have not been part of these discussions.”

The post Why Meteoric Resources, Race, Temple & Webster, and West African shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Qube Holdings Limited (ASX: QUB) share price has climbed 0.52% higher again on Wednesday morning. At the time of writing the shares are trading at $4.86 a piece. For the year, the shares are 21.5% higher.

Much of that growth happened when Qube shares surged 19.4% to a record high of $4.86 on Monday this week. 

What happened?

Qube is Australia’s leading provider of logistics solutions, with a primary focus on import and export supply chains. The company comprises two core units: its logistics operating division and the company’s 50% interest in Patrick Terminals, Australia’s leading container terminal operator.

Its operations business unit covers road and rail transport, warehousing and distribution, container parks, automotive terminals, and grain storage and handling. It also provides comprehensive logistics services and solutions at more than 40 ports in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. 

Its Patrick Terminals business is a leading terminal operator providing container stevedoring services in the Australian market. 

Investor interest in Qube rocketed this week after the company announced that Macquarie Assessment Management has launched a $11.6 billion takeover bid for the company. Investors were falling over themselves to snap up the stock, which sent the company’s share price soaring. 

Macquarie is offering $5.20 per share for the logistics provider, well above its current record-breaking trading price. It means that shares purchased today could be worth 7% more following a successful takeover. 

The takeover bid is conditional on several factors, including completion of due diligence and a unanimous recommendation from the Qube board.

The board stated on Monday that it had granted Macquarie a period of exclusive due diligence until 1 February. It also indicated that, at this stage, the directors intend to support the proposal unanimously, provided that the deal is in the best interest of the shareholders.

If the acquisition is successful, it would be Macquarie’s largest ever completed transaction in Australia.

Qube is well-positioned to continue record growth

Macquarie’s takeover bid for Qube shares is timely, given that the company held its annual general meeting (AGM) last Thursday. The company announced that in FY25, it achieved a record underlying revenue of $4.46 billion, representing a 27.3% year-over-year increase. Qube also lifted its fully franked full-year dividend by 7.1% to 9.8 cents per share.

Qube anticipates that it can maintain this growth momentum in FY26. And management has already confirmed that the company’s financial performance in Q1 FY26 is in line with expectations. 

So, are Qube shares a buy?

Macquarie’s takeover bid presents a clear upside for Qube shares, and it appears likely that the board will support the deal. Qube’s board has already agreed to grant Macquarie exclusive due diligence and stated that it will support the deal in the absence of a better offer.

But it’s important to note that the deal is not final yet. It is still non-binding, which means it is subject to due diligence and other approvals.

There is also a risk that if the deal is delayed or falls through for any reason, the current share price could be at risk. 

The post Why is everyone talking about Qube shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

Shares in Abacus Storage King (ASX: ASK) have charged more than 10% higher in early trade on Wednesday, and I’ve got a pretty good idea why.

Abacus is a player in the booming self-storage industry in Australia and has grown to be worth $1.83 billion after listing on the ASX in August 2023.

Takeover in the wings

One of the company’s key competitors, and a shareholder in Abacus itself, is National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR), which on Wednesday asked that its shares be placed in a trading halt.

NSR, as reported by The Australian, is currently fielding a potential takeover offer purportedly from Brookfield and GIC, and has asked that its shares be suspended while negotiations continue.

It’s my bet that traders are looking at the potential NSR deal and wondering whether Abacus might be wrapped into a larger play either now or down the track.

Abacus in predators’ rights

Abacus has this year been itself the target of a protracted takeover attempt by Ki Corporation and US-listed firm Public Storage (NYSE: PSA), with the $1.47 per security bid rejected in May.

Abacus said at the time that its net tangible asset value was $1.73 based on an independent valuation, and hence the consortium’s bid was too low.

The consortium’s bid was withdrawn in August, however, not before Ki Corporation ended up with control over 63.5% of the shares in Abacus.

In fact, three shareholders now control almost 95% of Abacus shares, with a company called Abacus Property Group holding 20.9% and Runway Technologies holding 10.2%.

Add to that NSR’s shareholding of just under 5%, which it declared early this year, and you can account for nearly all of the Abacus shares in issue.

With major private equity players running the ruler over NSR, it stands to reason they might do the same for Abacus, and either launch a separate bid or look to take out both entities and combine them into one.

Any such deal could generate significant merger synergies.

Abacus shares were trading 10.4% higher after news of the NSR deal broke, to be changing hands for $1.54.

NSR, meanwhile, asked that its shares be placed in a trading halt pending an announcement “in relation to a potential control transaction for all of NSR’s stapled securities”. The trading halt will remain in place until an announcement is made or until the start of trade on 28 November, the statement to the ASX said.

The post Why are this storage outfit’s shares more than 10% higher today? I’ll tell you my theory appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Brookfield, Brookfield Asset Management, and Brookfield Corporation. 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.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) shares jumped 8% today after the company delivered a strong set of half-year results, marked by double-digit revenue growth, expanding margins, and a sharp uplift in profitability.

At the time of writing, Fisher & Paykel shares were trading at $34.52 on the ASX and up 8% for the day.

The market’s response was in appreciation of the broad-based strength across both the Hospital and Homecare divisions, as well as an upgrade to full-year guidance.

What did Fisher & Paykel report?

Fisher & Paykel posted operating revenue of $1.09 billion for the six months to 30 September 2025, an increase of 14% on the same period last year, or 12% in constant currency. Net profit after tax rose sharply to $213 million, up 39%, reflecting strong demand for the company’s respiratory care products and the benefits of operational efficiencies.

The hospital division was the standout contributor. Revenue in this segment reached $692.2 million, up 17%, driven by broad-based strength across the consumables portfolio and a particularly strong lift in hardware sales, which grew 21% in constant currency. Notably, this momentum came despite a relatively mild respiratory season, underscoring the structural shift toward high-flow therapy and non-invasive ventilation across global hospitals.

Homecare also delivered steady growth, with revenue rising to $395.9 million, an increase of 10%. The company highlighted robust uptake of its newest obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) masks (including the Nova Nasal and Nova Micro), which are now available across several major markets. These products contributed to an 8% constant-currency lift in OSA mask revenue.

Margins improved materially during the half. Gross margin expanded to 63%, up 110 basis points year on year. Even after accounting for the drag from US tariffs on New Zealand-sourced hospital products, margin gains were supported by continuous improvement initiatives and efficiency gains across the business. Operating profit rose 31%, lifting the operating margin to 26.3%.

The board increased the interim dividend to 19 cents per share, fully imputed and payable on 16 December 2025.

Outlook

In addition to the result, FPH upgraded its full-year outlook. At prevailing exchange rates as of 31 October, the company now expects revenue of $2.17 billion to $2.27 billion (previous guidance provided in August was for revenue of $2.15billion to $2.25billion) and net profit of $410 million to $460 million (previous guidance provided in August was $390m to $440m).

Management noted that last year’s Northern Hemisphere winter was unusually strong for respiratory hospitalisations. Should the upcoming season follow a similar pattern, performance is likely to land toward the higher end of guidance.

Despite the improved earnings outlook, the company emphasised that full-year margins will continue to reflect the impact of US tariffs, which are expected to reduce gross margin by around 75 basis points. Even so, Fisher & Paykel believes its operational efficiency initiatives will continue to offset part of this drag.

Foolish bottom line

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare delivered the combination of growth, margin expansion, and upgraded guidance that investors look for in a high-quality medical technology company. The strength in hospital consumables (even during a softer clinical season) suggests the company’s products are becoming increasingly embedded in global care pathways. Homecare continues to provide a solid second engine of growth, supported by an expanding pipeline of OSA mask innovations.

The result reinforces FPH’s long-term ambition to sustainably double its constant-currency revenue every five to six years. With clinical adoption rising, a refreshed product portfolio gaining traction, and operational efficiency improving, the market’s positive reaction reflects growing confidence that the company is back on a clear upward trajectory.

The post Fisher & Paykel shares surge 8% on half-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares are catching the eye on Wednesday.

At the time of writing, the ASX defence stock is up 10% to $4.92.

Why is this ASX defence stock surging?

There have been a couple of reasons why investors have been snapping up EOS shares today.

The first is news that it has completed the transaction to acquire the UK-based Interceptor business from MARSS Group. This transaction was previously announced last week on 19 November 2025.

According to the release, under the transaction, EOS has acquired all Interceptor assets, as well as the specialist engineering team that developed the system.

The total investment of 5.5 million euros (approximately $10 million) has been funded from EOS’ existing cash reserves.

Development of this advanced prototype is expected to take a further 12-24 months before full commercial launch. This is expected to require further investment of up to $10 million over the next three years.

Management believes the acquisition broadens EOS’ counter-drone effector portfolio, extends EOS’ software and AI capabilities, and initiates EOS’ presence in the United Kingdom, which is an important AUKUS partner market.

What else?

The ASX defence stock also revealed that it has settled ASIC’s investigation in relation to certain disclosure matters in 2022. The settlement includes an agreed proposed penalty of $4 million, which requires the approval of the Federal Court.

This settlement relates to an investigation by ASIC in connection with the company’s 2022 revenue guidance.

It highlights that it navigated a challenging environment in 2022 marked by strategic, financial, and operational pressures. But it concedes that it accepts ASIC’s conclusion that it breached its continuous disclosure obligations in the period from 25 July 2022 to 31 October 2022.

ASIC has indicated that it intends to bring separate proceedings against Dr Ben Greene (former CEO and current Chief Innovation Officer of EOS). This is in relation to the same revenue guidance issues. Dr Greene is not a party to this settlement.

EOS’ chair, Garry Hounsell, said:

This outcome represents a constructive resolution with ASIC that allows the business to move forward with clarity, removing the potential of protracted litigation on the matter. We believe this outcome is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Since late 2022, we have made significant progress in strengthening our business and remain committed to best-practice and transparent communication. As we look to the future, we are well-positioned to execute our strategic priorities and deliver long-term value for our shareholders.

The post Why is this ASX defence stock rocketing 10% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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.