The Field Solutions Holdings Ltd (ASX: FSG) share price is rising in late afternoon trade. This comes after the company announced it had secured 5G spectrum for rural, regional and remote parts of Australia.

The telecommunications carrier and technology company provides connectivity for rural, regional and remote areas. It builds fixed wireless networks, employing technologies such as fibre and fixed wireless spectrum.

After reaching a multi-year high of 8.2 cents in morning trade, the Field Solutions share price is trading up 7.35% at 7.3 cents, at the time of writing.

What did Field Solutions announce?

In today’s release, Field Solutions advised it has been allocated 5G millimetre wave spectrum (26GHz) to 85% of Australia’s landmass.

The company currently operates networks in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and the Northern Territory. A recent government contract award approved Field Solutions to develop infrastructure assets in rural areas across the grain belt region. The company estimated its network would cover more than 90,000sq km by the end of the year.

The granted licences will enable Field Solutions to deploy its network in locations that don’t have 5G services. The company noted that the agricultural sector and a change in working trends were driving the increase in regional areas.

The company expects to start rolling out its 5G network within the next 6 months. Field Solutions revealed that deployment areas were based on local demand, government funding, and business strategy.

Words from the CEO

Field Solutions CEO Andrew Roberts welcomed the progress, saying:

FSG has secured 5G spectrum holdings to ensure that rural, regional and remote Australia is not left behind in the rollout of 5G services. We needed to secure this spectrum to ensure we can deploy superfast services within our target markets.

5G deepens our long-term commitment to the bush, and ensures FSG remains the leading provider of services for rural, regional and remote Australia.

Field Solutions share price review

After falling to a 52-week low of 1.8 cents in April last year, the Field Solutions share price has accelerated since. The company’s shares reached a multi-year high of 8.2 cents today, reflecting a gain of more than 300%.

Based on the current share price, Field Solutions has a market capitalisation of close to $40 million.

More reading

• Why the Field Solutions (ASX:FSG) share price is jumping 15% today
• Here’s why the Field Solutions (ASX:FSG) share price is up 20% today

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Bruce Jackson.

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At the start of each week I like to look at ASIC’s short position report to find out which shares are being targeted by short sellers.

This is because I believe it is well worth keeping a close eye on short interest levels as high levels can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right with a company.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most shorted shares on the ASX this week according to ASIC:

• Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) remains the most shorted share on the ASX but only just. This week the online travel agent’s short interest has fallen by 200 basis points to 12.5%. Some short sellers may have been locking in returns after a recent and sharp pullback in the Webjet share price.
• Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR) isn’t far behind with short interest of 12.2%. Short sellers appear to be targeting the seafood company amid concerns that China could slap duties on Australian seafood.
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) has seen its short interest jump to 10.3%. It appears as though some short sellers aren’t convinced by its merger with fellow gold miner Saracen Mineral.
• Speedcast International Ltd (ASX: SDA) has short interest of 9.3%. This communications satellite technology provider’s shares have been suspended for over a year while it undertakes a recapitalisation.
• Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) has 8.6% of its shares held short, which is flat week on week. This poultry company was a poor performer in FY 2020 due to COVID-19 headwinds and higher input costs. Short sellers don’t appear confident that FY 2021 will be much better.
• Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB) has seen its short interest fall week on week to 8.6%. Short sellers may have been closing positions last week following the release of a positive trial update.
• Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA) has seen its short interest rise to 8.4%. This appears to have been driven by a disappointing first half production update and issues at its Flying Fox operation.
• AVITA Medical Inc (ASX: AVH) has seen its short interest slide week on week to 7.8%. Short sellers will have been pleased to see the medical device company’s shares tumble lower last week following the release of its second quarter update.
• Service Stream Limited (ASX: SSM) is back in the top ten with short interest of 7.3%. The essential network services company’s shares have come under pressure this year amid mixed contract updates.
• Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) has 7.1% of its shares held short, which is down slightly week on week. There are concerns the pandemic could accelerate the structural pressures the department store operator is facing.

More reading

• Why ASX travel shares were smashed on Friday
• ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: ASX cools on earnings reality check
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Is the Webjet (ASX:WEB) share price a buy right now?
• Why AVITA, Baby Bunting, Kathmandu, & Webjet shares are sinking

James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Avita Medical Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Webjet Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Avita Medical Limited and Service Stream Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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Future First Technologies Ltd (ASX: FFT) shares are skyrocketing today despite being placed in a trading halt for part of Monday’s session. At the time of writing, the Future First share price has surged 26.67% higher to 9.5 cents. 

This comes despite no new announcements from the company today and an enforced trading halt pending a response to the ASX’s ‘please explain’ price query. 

So why is the Future First share price exploding?

After closing Friday’s session at 7.5 cents, the Future First share price surged 60% during early morning trade today to 12 cents. Considering these unusual price and volume fluctuations, the company was hit with a price query by the ASX mid-morning. In response, the company replied that it was unaware of any unannounced information that could be driving the Future First share price higher.

Following the company’s response, Future First shares resumed trading and rocketed again to an intraday high of 14.5 cents before retracing back to their current level.

Interestingly, last Friday Ava Risk Group Ltd (ASX: AVA) released news regarding its ‘Future Fibre Technologies’ division being awarded a substantial multi-base air force contract. Given the similarity in names, this news could possibly be responsible for today’s rise in the closely named, but completely unrelated, Future First Technologies shares.

In what could possibly be a case of mistaken identity, there’s a chance that the rocketing Future First share price is today stealing some of the kudos surrounding Ava Risk’s announcement of last week.

Company snapshot

Future First Technologies is an information, communications and technology (ICT) and digital consulting organisation with over 400 consultants. 

The Future First Technologies share price has fired up more than 200% over the past 12 months. Based on the current share price, the company has a market capitalisation of around $52 million.

More reading

• Here’s why the Ava Risk (ASX:AVA) share price is surging today
• Here’s why the Ava Risk (ASX:AVA) share price shot up 11% today

Motley Fool contributor Gretchen Kennedy 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Betmakers Technology Group Ltd (ASX: BET) share price is up more than 9% this afternoon. Today’s gains put the Betmakers share price at 86 cents a share, a new 52-week high.

With no new announcements out of the wagering company to explain the share price jump, lets take a look at its latest quarterly announcement, released at the end of January.

How has Betmakers been performing recently?

In its second quarter FY21 activities update, Betmakers reported cash receipts for the first half of FY21 of $7.9 million, an increase of 130% on the prior corresponding period.

As of 31 December 2020, Betmakers held roughly $68.6 million worth of cash and cash equivalents. 

In its update, the company also announced that it entered into binding agreements during the quarter to acquire Sportech’s Racing and Digital assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, for consideration of 30.9 million pounds.

The acquisition is intended to support Betmakers’ international growth strategy to fully capitalise on emerging opportunities in the US market, including fixed odds wagering.

The business also signed agreements to manage fixed odds wagering on all horse racing, including Jamaican and international race meetings, through Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment channels for five years. 

A word from the CEO

According to CEO Todd Buckingham, the company is well-positioned for growth. Commenting on the company’s Q2 FY21 results, he said:

The Q2 FY21 quarter was not only our best quarterly performance to date, but it was also the Company’s most productive and transformational in terms of international expansion. I am pleased with the consistent growth in the domestic business, with the performance for the first half of FY21 setting the company’s annualised revenue run rate in line with our expectations as we aggressively invest in efforts to pursue global opportunities.

Betmarkers share price snapshot

Betmakers is involved in the development and provision of data and analytic products for the B2B wagering market, as well as the production and distribution of racing content. The group’s revenue channels includes Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The Betmakers share price has jumped more than 100% higher over the last 12 months, and is currently at a 52-week high.

On today’s prices, Betmakers has a market capitalisation of $547 million.

More reading

• Is this why the Future First (ASX:FFT) share price is blasting 27% today?
• Why the Fatfish (ASX:FFG) share price is up 74% today
• Digital Wine (ASX:DW8) share price flies 13% higher on partnership deal
• Here’s why the Altium (ASX:ALU) share price is down 4%
• Why the Asaleo Care (ASX:AHY) share price jumped to a 52-week high today

Gretchen Kennedy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Betmakers Technology Group Ltd. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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Fatfish Group Ltd (ASX: FFG) shares are storming higher today after its investee iCandy Interactive Ltd (ASX: ICI) announced the sale of its digital iCandy platform. At the time of writing, the Fatfish share price has surged an astounding 73.58% higher to 9.2 cents.

The company received a speeding ticket and was placed in an enforced trading halt late on Friday but resumed trading at 12:13 pm today to continue its recent run.

Why is the Fatfish share price flying?

The Fatfish share price is skyrocketing today as the company released its response to the ASX price query.

Fatfish was asked if it was aware of any information that may be driving the share price up, to which it responded that it was not. However it did note the recent announcement by iCandy regarding the sale of a subsidiary.

Moreover, Fatfish suggested the strong recent rise in its share price may be as a result of the recent strong performance of buy now, pay later (BNPL) shares generally. For example, both IOUpay Ltd (ASX: IOU) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) shares have been storming higher in recent sessions. To this point, on 3 February, Fatfish announced that its Singaporean based investee company, Smartfunding, had completed the development of its online BNPL platform. It launches on 13 February.

iCandy sale

As mentioned, also announced today was the sale of iCandy Digital for $4.8 million to Rightbridge Ventures. This is noteworthy as Fatfish has a 50.1% ownership of the company through its interest in Abelco Investments Group. Complicated as it is, Fatfish also has a 33% interest in iCandy.

However, as the transaction does not result in any material change in Fatfish’ interest in iCandy, the information should theoretically have no material effect on the Fatfish share price. 

Rightbridge is a Swedish company that is looking to execute an initial public offering (IPO) in 2021. Its core business is investing in companies that shape the future of e-sports and videogames as part of the global digital entertainment industry.

When the transaction is complete, Fatfish will become a major shareholder in the listed shares of Rightbridge. It’s worth noting, the deal still requires shareholder approval.

About the Fatfish share price

Fatfish is a global tech venture investment and development firm. It partners with entrepreneurs to help them build and grow internet businesses via a co-entrepreneurship model. Among the company’s investments is, as mentioned, Abelco, which is invested in the cryptocurrency and blockchain ventures Minerium and Kryptos-X.

The Fatfish share price is up a remarkable 820% in the last year.

More reading

• These 3 ASX shares invested in Bitcoin before Tesla (NASDAQ:TSL)

Daniel Ewing has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Digital Wine Ventures Ltd (ASX: DW8) share price has bolted to 5.0 cents today, increasing 13.6%. The company revealed in an announcement today that its WineDepot business has partnered with online wine marketplace, Vivino.

What is management clinking glasses to?

Described as “the world’s largest wine app and marketplace”, Vivino can be accessed via an app or online and has amassed 50 million users worldwide in 17 countries. Vivino’s uniqueness lies in its recommendation feature to customers based on searches and purchases.

Through the partnership, WineDepot will offer access to Australian wineries without integrating Vivino’s systems into the winery operations. Instead, as the company has now completed technical integration, WineDepot will manage and fulfil the orders itself.

The value-add for local wineries is the broader sales channels now offered through WineDepot’s singular system. Reportedly, the partnership allows producers to generate higher margins due to the direct-to-consumer nature of the integration. This typically leads to higher margins than distributing to retailers.

CEO commentary

WineDepot/Digital Wine Ventures CEO Dean Taylor noted his excitement towards the new partnership and its possibilities. Significantly, the potential to help local producers unlock direct-to-consumer sales.

Mr Taylor went on to say:

In short, it’s a symbiotic relationship that should accelerate the growth and expansion of both our businesses, not just here in Australia but hopefully over time in other major wine markets.

WineDepot has not supplied forecasts for the partnership given there are no minimum fees or maximum order limits involved. WineDepot will pay Vivino a fixed percentage marketing fee on each sale that a WineDepot-affiliated supplier makes through the platform.

Digital Wine share price like a fine wine

Over the past 12 months, the Digital Wine share price has aged like a fine wine, returning 400% to its shareholders. That must be a very palatable payoff for those holding Digital Wine shares.

The question is, will the next 12 months entail big, bold red days or champagne showers for shareholders?

More reading

• Why the Fatfish (ASX:FFG) share price is up 74% today
• Here’s why the Altium (ASX:ALU) share price is down 4%
• Why the Asaleo Care (ASX:AHY) share price jumped to a 52-week high today
• Why the Sezzle (ASX:SZL) share price is charging 7% higher today
• Why the Orocobre (ASX:ORE) share price is zooming 7% higher today

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Altium Limited (ASX: ALU) share price is down by 4% at the time of writing.

Altium has just reported its FY21 half-year result to the market for the six months to 31 December 2020.

Highlights of the Altium FY21 half-year report

Altium disclosed that its Altium 365 product, which is the cloud platform service for engineer clients, has seen its active monthly users rise to 9,300 and monthly active accounts increased to 4,400. This represented growth of 83% and 69% respectively, since July.

Another segment that saw growth was Octopart, its revenue grew by 19% to US$10.8 million. Management said that electronic manufacturing rebounded during the half.

The company also said that Altium’s subscription business grew by 12% year on year to reach 52,157 subscribers. Altium also said that term-based license revenue more than doubled over the half. It has a goal of 80% recurring revenue by 2025.

Turning to the overall financial statistics reported by Altium, continuing revenue (which excludes TASKING) fell 4% to US$80 million. However, continuing reported expenses still increased by 3% to US$53 million.

This combination of lower income and higher expenses led to continuing earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) falling 15% to US$27 million. The underlying EBITDA margin declined from 35.9% to 30.6%.

Continuing profit before income tax dropped 23% to US$20.7 million and continuing profit after tax went down 12% to US$16.6 million.

The Altium dividend was cut by 5% to A$0.19 per share.

In terms of the cash and cashflow, Altium said its operating cashflow fell 10% to US$18.7 million and it ended with US$88.3 million of cash on the balance sheet.

The TASKING business, which Altium has decided to sell, made a profit after tax of US$3.1 million – this was down 26%. The Altium share price has fallen 18% since the announcement of the sale of TASKING. 

Why did revenue decline in this result?

Altium’s management explained that it experienced a challenging first half with extreme COVID-19 conditions in the US and Europe. It also attributed some of the decline to the ongoing shift of the business to the cloud involving a number of significant organisational changes that the company has referred to as the ‘Netflix moment’ when a company pivots to cloud operations.

Altium CEO Aram Mirkazemi said: “These changes include the separation of our CAD software from our cloud business and the bifurcation of our sales into high volume (digital sales channel) and high touch (professional sales channel).”

Altium 365 focus

The cloud offering of Altium 365 is a key focus of the business. Mr Mirkazemi explained: “Altium 365 is key to our future success through indirect monetisation from our CAD software tools and, in time, direct monetisation from the broader ecosystem. I am most heartened by the strong adoption of Altium 365.”

Second half and FY21 expectations

Whilst Altium is positive about the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are being deployed, it still views FY21 as a pre-vaccine year in relation to its goals for 2025. 

The company is expecting stronger execution momentum in the second half, but there are still macroeconomic uncertainties, so its full year revenue guidance is at the lower end of the range. FY21 revenue is now expected to be in the range of US$190 million to US$195 million (excluding TASKING) and the EBITDA margin is expected to be in the range of 37% to 39%.

More reading

• ASX 200 up 0.8%: Nearmap jumps, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank impresses
• Why the Altium (ASX:ALU) share price is inching lower
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Here’s why the Altium (ASX:ALU) share price could be a buy
• 2 of the best ASX growth shares to buy now

Tristan Harrison owns shares of Altium. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. recommends Altium. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of Altium. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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The Asaleo Care Ltd (ASX: AHY) share price has started the week on a positive note.

In afternoon trade the personal care products company’s shares are up 8% to a 52-week high of $1.41.

Why is the Asaleo Care share price jumping to a 52-week high?

Investors have been fighting to get hold of Asaleo Care shares amid speculation that another takeover approach is coming.

In December the company received an unsolicited, indicative, conditional, and non-binding proposal from Essity Aktiebolag (Essity) to acquire all the shares in the company.

Essity, a global hygiene and health company based in Sweden, offered $1.26 per share in cash, less any dividends or distributions declared or paid by Asaleo after 9 December.

That offer was subsequently rejected by the board in January on the belief that it fundamentally undervalued the company and was “materially inadequate.”

The board advised that it undervalued the company on a standalone basis and didn’t take into account its reset of the business. It notes that the latter is creating long term value and putting the company on a path towards sustainable and profitable growth.

Asaleo Chairman, Harry Boon said, “The Independent Board Committee, after careful review, considers that the Proposal fundamentally undervalues Asaleo Care, is materially inadequate and does not reflect the strategic value of the company to Essity. However, the Committee remains open to further engagement.”

Second time lucky?

This morning Asaleo confirmed that it is engaged in ongoing discussions with Essity in respect to a potential proposal to acquire the company.

As part of these discussions, Asaleo has granted limited due diligence to Essity. However, management has warned that there is no certainty that this process will result in a transaction. As a result, Asaleo shareholders do not need to take any action.

Management intends to provide a further update with its results announcement on 17 February.

All eyes will no doubt be on the Asaleo share price when that announcement is made.

More reading

• Why the Asaleo Care (ASX:AHY) share price is dropping lower today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) share price is having a stellar day today, charging 7.1% higher at the time of writing to $11.61 a share. This latest move caps off what has been a corker couple of months from the company.

Back on 15 December, Sezzle shares were asking just $5.38 each. That means Sezzle is up more than 116% in 2 months, 86% year to date, 50% over the past month, and almost 17% over the past week. And (get ready for this one), Sezzle is now up a millionaire-making 7,000% over the past 12 months. Hot damn.

So what is the catalyst behind these latest share price moves?

Sezzle sizzles

There is no obvious catalyst as to why Sezzle shares are on fire today. The last major announcement out of the company came out on Thursday last week. Back then, Sezzle told investors that the company had signed a US$250 million receivables funding facility with Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Bastion Funding. Sezzle told the markets that the money would be used to further aid the company’s expansion in the United States and Canada. Sezzle shares were up 6% on that news at the time.

However, one way to explain today’s movement may be to look to other shares in the ASX fintech and buy now, pay later space (BNPL). Sometimes a rising tide just happens to lift all boats.

ASX companies in this space are on fire today. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) shares are up 14.77% at the time of writing to $12.44. Earlier today, we also covered some dramatic share price movements for Douugh Ltd (ASX: DOU) and IOUpay Ltd (ASX: IOU). Both of those companies have received ‘speeding tickets’ from the ASX as a result of the sharp share price spikes both companies experienced in early trade. IOUpay shares are still up by more than 60% today.

Given Sezzle is a recent strong performer and a member of the BNPL space, it’s possible that investors just got a little carried away with all of the euphoria happening today and have sent Sezzle’s shares along for the ride.

More reading

• Zip (ASX:Z1P) share price is soaring 13%, smashing another record high
• 98% surge in IOUpay (ASX:IOU) share price triggers speeding ticket
• ASX investigates after Douugh (ASX:DOU) share price spikes 56%
• ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: ASX cools on earnings reality check
• These were the best performing ASX 200 shares last week

Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. recommends Sezzle Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sezzle Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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The Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) share price has been a strong performer on Monday.

In afternoon trade, the lithium producer’s shares are up a sizeable 7% to $5.20.

Why is the Orocobre share price zooming higher?

There appear to have been a couple of catalysts for today’s strong gain by the Orocobre share price.

One of those is the increasingly bullish sentiment in the industry due to improving lithium prices. This is being driven by an expected increase in demand for the battery making ingredient thanks to electric vehicle adoption and increased investment in renewable energy.

It isn’t just the Orocobre share price charging higher. Also on the rise today have been the Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY) share price with a 6% gain and the Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price with a 10% gain.

What else happened?

In addition to this, the Orocobre share price was given a boost this morning after revealing that its Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant in Japan was largely unscathed following an earthquake off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture on Saturday.

Management commented: “An initial inspection of the plant with the construction contractor, Veolia Jenets on the morning of 14 February found some minor damage to the site office but did not find any visible defects to plant equipment. Additionally, there is no damage to site infrastructure services.”

“A further inspection will be undertaken on 15 February to confirm the initial observations and assure the safety of the site prior to the recommencement of construction work,” it added.

The Naraha Plant is the first of its kind to be built in Japan and is a joint venture with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC).

It is designed to convert primary grade lithium carbonate feedstock sourced from the Olaroz Lithium Facility into purified battery grade lithium hydroxide.

More reading

• Why Douugh, Janus Henderson, Northern Star, & Orocobre are dropping lower
• The latest ASX stocks to be hit by broker downgrades
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today
• 5 lithium shares that are fast-charging up in 2021
• Why Bathurst Resources, Megaport, Orocobre, & Splitit shares are dropping lower

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro owns shares of Galaxy Resources Limited. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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