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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has finished this Thursday in the red. At market close, the ASX 200 is down 0.5% to 7,464.6 points. But instead of dwelling on that number, let’s take a look at some of the heaviest treading ASX 200 shares today:

3 heavy-trading ASX 200 shares on Thursday

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

Our first share to make the list today is ASX 200 mining heavyweight BHP, with 26.1 million shares bought and sold. The ‘Big Australian’ has had a shocker of a week this week. On Monday, the company was sitting pretty close to its all-time high at $53.90 a share. But today, BHP closed at just $44.67, having shed a nasty 6.35% this Thursday.

That move comes after the miner lost another 7% just yesterday – putting its week-to-week losses at a pretty depressing 14.3%. The steep slide today has likely pushed BHP shares to the top of the pile in terms of trading volume.

Scentre Group (ASX: SCG)

ASX Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Scentre is our second ASX 200 share to check out today. A hefty 26.6 million Scentre units have traded hands on the ASX boards today.

Since there is no major news or announcements out of the Westfield owner today, it’s likely that this high trading volume is the result of the Scentre unit price alone. Scentre units finished down 0.39% today to $2.55 each. However, the company had been bouncing around between $2.52 and $2.59 all day. It’s probably this volatility that has led to Scentre’s high trading volume.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

And last, but certainly not least in terms of trading volumes, we have ASX 200 lithium producer Pilbara Minerals. Pilbara is another ASX resources share that has had a week to forget. It’s lost around 9% of its value since last Thursday. Saying that, Pilbara still closed in the green, with the company finishing the day up 0.47% to $2.14 a share.

Even so, Pilbara was down as much as 2.8% earlier in the trading day before it made a remarkable recovery to its current level. As with Scentre, it’s probable that this share price volatility has propelled Pilbara to the top of the trading volume pile today, with 35.38 million shares changing hands.

The post Here are 3 of the heaviest trading ASX 200 shares this Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• ASX 200 drops, Redbubble soars, TWE falls
• What could delisting from the LSE mean for BHP shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• These ASX 200 bank experts are forecasting a bumpy ride for our economy

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price has continued to tumble, down 6.11% to $20.14 at market close on Thursday.

Shares in the iron ore major have lost almost a quarter in value since its record $26.50 open just a few weeks ago on 29 July.

Iron ore and the Fortescue share price slide to 5-month lows

Iron ore spot prices have slumped to their lowest since March, in line with how Fortescue shares have been performing.

Chinese production mandates on its steel industry in efforts to curb output and reduce emissions has led to a dent in the iron ore market.

According to Mining.com, “Iron ore inventories at 45 ports in China increased by 260,000 tonnes last week to 127 million tonnes, data from Mysteel consultancy showed”, signalling that supply is outstripping demand.

It also flagged that with the Chinese Government “stepping up steel output cuts, iron ore could face increasing pressure”.

According to Market Index, iron ore prices closed at US$159.59/tonne on Wednesday, a 1-month decline of almost 30%.

Fortescue results are around the corner

Fortescue’s FY21 full year results are expected to land on Monday, 30 August.

Unfortunately, the post-earnings performance of peers such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) aren’t very reassuring.

In the case of Rio Tinto, its shares have tumbled 21% since the miner released its half-year results on 28 July.

The market appeared to be uninterested in its outstanding financial performance which included a 156% jump in underlying earnings to US$12.2 million, a 143% increase in interim dividend to $3.76 per share as well as a special fully franked special dividend of US$1.85 per share.

Foolish takeaway

Iron ore prices have surged from approximately US$80/tonne in early 2020 to record highs of US$230/tonne in May this year.

Surging prices have helped the Fortescue share price deliver a triple-digit return in 2020, whilst maintaining a generous double-digit dividend yield.

However, as iron ore prices continue to fall, investors may need to prepare for change.

The post Why the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) share price has plunged 6% to a 5-month low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX sectors to avoid like the plague
• How does the Fortescue (ASX:FMG) dividend compare to its sector?
• 7 traps to avoid right now when buying ASX shares
• Why are Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG) shares down 14% in a month?
• ASX 200 Weekly Wrap: New records just keep coming for the ASX 200

Motley Fool contributor Kerry Sun 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) share price has edged higher on Thursday as a trademark battle with Nestlé rages on.

A2 Milk share price lifts amid trademark stoush

Shares in the Kiwi dairy group closed 0.46% higher following media coverage of the ongoing battle for the A2 trademark.

According to an article in The Australian, A2 Milk is “stepping up its fight” with Nestlé. A2 Milk is reportedly appealing a decision from the Australian Trademarks Office to side with Nestlé over its own infant formula range containing the A2 protein.

A2 Milk’s initial challenge was rejected by the trademarks office after stating that it “failed to establish any grounds of opposition”.

The Kiwi dairy group, known for vigorously defending its intellectual property, has appealed the decision. It’s the latest legal battle that has drawn A2 in as it fights to protect its signature branding around the world.

One of the fundamentals at the root of these lawsuits is the chemistry of milk. Cow’s milk contains both the A1 and A2 beta casein proteins. However, A2 Milk removes the A1 protein to create its line of products.

According to the article, A2 Milk commented the following in its defence against Nestlé:

“This decision is based on scientific research that suggests that milk that is free from A1 protein has been associated with reduced symptoms in individuals who are dairy sensitive.”

It comes as Nestlé is rumoured to be considering a takeover of A2 Milk following its FY21 results release next week. The A2 Milk share price has plummeted 43.3% in 2021 as flagging China sales have weighed on earnings guidance.

Foolish takeaway

The A2 Milk share price edged higher on Thursday despite broader weakness in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). The benchmark Aussie index closed the day down 0.50% at 7,464.60 points.

The post A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) share price lifts amid trademark stoush appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why the A2 Milk (ASX:A2M) share price has underperformed the ASX 200 in the last year
• Here are 3 ASX 200 share investors can’t leave alone today
• Here are the top 10 ASX shares today
• Who’s starting the week off as the biggest mover on the ASX 300 today?
• Why a2 Milk, AVZ, BHP, & GWA shares are charging higher

Motley Fool contributor Ken Hall 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 recommended A2 Milk. 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 Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NSB) share price jumped higher this morning before becoming subject to a trading halt at lunchtime.

Before the pause in trading, the Australian biotech company’s shares were exchanging hands at 31.5 cents apiece, an 8.6% leap from the open. The share price gain came after an update was released to the market prior to the opening bell.

What did Neuroscientific announce today?

Neuroscientific shares jumped on Thursday as the company provided an update on its EmtinB label.

According to Neuroscientific, “EmtinB is currently being developed as a treatment for neurodegenerative dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and degenerative conditions of the optic nerve”.

The announcement said EmtinB was shown to be effective in reducing “important biomarkers” associated with severe COVID-19. The study demonstrated Neuroscientific’s label was effective in reducing these biomarkers by “more than 50%”, versus controls.

As such, this indicates a “strong therapeutic potential” for EmtinB, “in preventing severe immune responses” from COVID-19.

Neuroscientific’s hypothesis in examining EmtinB in COVID-19 was to address the “cytokine storm” that occurs with an aggressive inflammatory response in COVID-19 infection.

For example, this “storm” results in a cascade of uncontrolled inflammation in the body, which decreases a person’s lung function. A rise in the incidence of these events has been purported with COVID-19, thereby leading Neuroscientific to conduct its trial.

The results obtained suggest EmtinB “is safe to administer in future work”, and are an important milestone for the company.

Why are Neuroscientific shares in a trading halt?

Shares paused trading just after midday on Thursday, with the company stating it was working to “finalise an announcement detailing further information in regard to the results from pulmonary studies as announced today”.

The halt will remain in place until Monday 23 August, or until the announcement is released to the market.

Neuroscientific share price snapshot

The Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals share price has posted a year-to-date return of 26%, extending the previous 12 months’ climb of 31%.

These returns have both outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s gain of around 25% over the last year.

The post Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:NSB) share price jumps 9% before trading halt appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What could delisting from the LSE mean for BHP shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today
• These ASX 200 bank experts are forecasting a bumpy ride for our economy
• Why BHP, Codan, IGO, & Origin shares are dropping

The author Zach Bristow 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price closed on the back foot on Thursday. Shares in the mining giant tumbled more than 5% for the second day in a row following its announcement of significant business reshaping.

At market close, the BHP share price is 6.14% lower to $44.77 apiece. That means shareholders are now down roughly 18% from the 52-week high that was set earlier this month.

Some shareholders have shared great disappointment with the dual-listed company’s plan to do away with its spot on the London Stock Exchange.

What it means for the BHP share price?

Coming back home

In its preliminary report, BHP shared its intentions to simplify its corporate structure by doing away with its current dual listing.

Currently, BHP shares hold a main listing on both the Australian Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange (LSE). This eventuated after BHP merged with South African mining company, Billiton, back in 2001.

As a result, BHP Group has come to be an integral part of the FTSE 100 Index in London over the years gone by. Delisting from the LSE would automatically trigger the iron ore miner’s removal from the index.

The announcement has left some UK investors shocked and saddened to be potentially losing what has become a staple of many portfolios. However, CEO Mike Henry reassured investors abroad that there will remain a secondary listing on the LSE, clarifying BHP will only be unifying its main listings.

In the report, BHP highlighted the unification of BHP shares is particularly attractive from a cost perspective. The company expects the simplification to reduce duplication as well as streamline governance and internal processes.

Additionally, management believes now is an ideal time for the unification process. The reason being is the expected costs of moving to one main listing are now between US$400 million to US$500 million. Previously, the estimated costs came to around US$1.2 billion.

Where to next?

The unification proposal still requires approval. However, if it proceeds, BHP will likely delist from the London Stock Exchange in the first half of the 2022 calendar year.

At the same time, the BHP share price will be in focus as its attempts to merge its petroleum business with Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX: WPL).

The post What could delisting from the LSE mean for BHP shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why BHP, Codan, IGO, & Origin shares are dropping
• Here are the top movers on the ASX 300 today
• BHP (ASX:BHP) share price slides 7% to a 5-month low
• What you need to know about the BHP (ASX:BHP) dividend dates in 2021
• Which shares topped ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) trading volumes on Wednesday

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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 Bruce Jackson.

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Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell for its fourth consecutive session. The benchmark index finished down 0.49% to 7,465.5 points. Weighing down the Aussie index on Thursday were the big iron ore miners, such as BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) — both falling more than 5%.

However, as always, the question is: which shares from the top 200 delivered the most green on the ASX today? Here are the ten stocks that delivered gains while the broader market was red:

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown today

Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the New Zealand telco increased 14.16% after announcing the verdict of the New Zealand Commerce Commission on its regulated fibre business. Find out more about Chorus here.

The next best performing ASX share out of the top 200 today was Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN). The energy company’s shares climbed 8.43% to $7.85 despite no announcements. Uncover the latest Contact Energy information here.

Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX shares:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU)	$6.895	14.16%
Contact Energy Ltd (ASX: CEN)	$7.85	8.43%
Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)	$15.31	7.51%
The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR)	$3.625	6.93%
Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)	$32.44	5.22%
Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)	$2.46	4.24%
Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)	$21.83	3.95%
TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG)	$6.63	3.43%
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMN)	$140.68	3.43%
Nib Holdings Ltd (ASX: NIB)	$7.86	3.29%

Our top 10 ASX shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check-in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These ASX 200 bank experts are forecasting a bumpy ride for our economy
• Will the ASX 200 follow the S&P 500 to double its March 2020 lows?
• Why the Chorus (ASX:CNU) share price is rocketing 13% on Thursday
• Here are the top movers on the ASX 300 today
• The Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) share price is down 8% on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and has recommended Netwealth. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Corporate Travel Management Limited and Netwealth. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dominos Pizza Enterprises Limited, NIB Holdings Limited, and TPG Telecom 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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Yesterday I looked at three ASX shares brokers have given buy ratings to this week.

Unfortunately, not all shares are in favour with them right now. Three ASX shares that have just been given sell ratings by brokers are listed below. Here’s why these brokers are bearish on them:

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their underperform rating but lifted their price target on this pizza chain operator’s shares to $113.00. This follows the release of a full year result that came in a touch ahead of the broker’s expectations. However, due to the sky high multiples its shares trade on, the broker doesn’t see enough value in them to have a more positive rating. The Domino’s share price is trading at $140.95 on Thursday.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

A note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that its analysts have retained their sell rating and cut their price target on this fund manager’s shares to $46.07. Goldman notes that Magellan delivered a full year result that fell 4% short of its estimates. Unfortunately, it feels that earnings risks remain skewed to the downside and sees few near term catalysts that could prompt a re-rate. The Magellan share price is fetching $45.23 today.

Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME)

Analysts at Morgans have retained their reduce rating but lifted their price target on this healthcare technology company’s shares to $54.49. According to the note, Pro Medicus’ revenue missed Morgans’ estimates by 7%. Though, a pleasant surprise was a greater than expected increase in its EBITDA margin. The improvement was twice as great as Morgans was anticipating. However, this isn’t enough for a more positive rating. Morgans believes the company’s short-term earnings growth is fully priced in now. The Pro Medicus share price is trading at $64.88 today.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Domino’s (ASX:DMP) dividend boosted by 45%
• These top ASX dividend shares keep giving investors a payrise
• Pro Medicus (ASX:PME) share price rockets 16% on earnings beat
• ASX 200 drops, BHP falls, Pro Medicus soars
• The ASX reporting wrap-up: BHP Group, Domino’s, CSL

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. owns shares of and has recommended Pro Medicus Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Pro Medicus Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Dominos Pizza Enterprises 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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As the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) looks set to cement its fourth consecutive day of losses, top economists warn of a volatile economic period once the country attempts to return to normal.

Unfortunately, many have been impacted by the recent COVID-19 delta surge. This has led to extended lockdowns and restrictions across much of Australia at some point or another. Businesses have been closed, or at minimum, interrupted — putting immense strain on the Aussie economy.

Economists from some of the biggest banks in the ASX 200 foresee a rollercoaster ahead for our economy.

What do economists from ASX 200 banks expect?

As part of the government’s reopening plan, Australia must reach 80% fully vaccinated before some level of normality may return to daily activity. This follows a surge in COVID-19 cases as the delta strain proves difficult to contain. Sadly, the recent surge in cases on local soil rivals that of last year.

The re-emergence has spurred many Australians to get inoculated, in the hope our economic suppression will soon subside. Unfortunately, economists from some of the biggest banks in the ASX 200 forecast the road to be sprinkled with bumps.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) head of economics Gareth Aird expects the real test to come once the nation hits 80% fully vaccinated.

It will simply be a matter of time before the virus is rampant across the entire country. For the first time, Australia will experience ‘living with COVID’.

This is likely to mean that there will be a significant period of adjustment for households and businesses as the virus circulates within the community in large numbers and hospitalisations rise. It will mean that the economic ­recovery, at least initially, is a bumpy ride.

Gareth Aird, CBA

Certainly, the hardest state hit by the resurgence currently is New South Wales. Another ASX 200 bank constituent, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) chief economist Bill Evans, is expecting an 8.3% shrinkage in the NSW economy this quarter. This reflects the extended lockdowns in the state through to the end of October.

Sectors susceptible to the volatility

Economists from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) are concerned about the industries that have already been impacted. Sectors such as tourism, arts and recreation, and hospitality were highlighted as those that could have the most to lose.

Furthermore, the economists explained the abovementioned sectors have a limited ability for ‘catch-up spending’. This could be compounded by consumer spending appearing to dry up compared to last year.

In short, economists from ASX 200 banks expect the Federal Government will need to offer more financial support in the coming months.

The post These ASX 200 bank experts are forecasting a bumpy ride for our economy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Will the ASX 200 follow the S&P 500 to double its March 2020 lows?
• The Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) share price just hit an all-time high!
• The Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) share price is down 8% on Thursday
• ASX 200 midday update: Treasury Wine results, Origin’s $2bn loss, Star impresses

Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia. 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 Bruce Jackson.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is following the lead of US markets and on course to record another decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.4% to 7,473.3 points.

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

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price a further 6% to $44.90. Investors have been selling BHP and other iron ore mining shares today after the price of the steel making ingredient pulled back. According to CommSec, the spot iron ore price lost US$6.45 a tonne or 4% and fell to US$153.05 a tonne.

Codan Limited (ASX: CDA)

The Codan share price has fallen 8% to $16.18. This follows the release of the metal detector focused technology company’s full year results this morning. Although Codan delivered a record profit and spoke positively about FY 2022, this was overshadowed by news that its long-serving CEO will be retiring within 9-12 months.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

The IGO share price has fallen 6% to $8.96. Investors have been selling the battery materials focused mining company’s shares after it confirmed its interest in acquiring nickel producer Western Areas Ltd (ASX: WSA). Investors don’t appear convinced with its plan, particularly given Western Areas’ underwhelming performance in recent years.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin share price is down 4% to $4.20. This follows the release of the energy company’s full year results. Those results revealed a heavy loss for the 12 months ended 30 June. Origin posted an 8% decline in revenue to $1.2 billion and a statutory loss of $2.2 billion in FY 2021. Things were a bit better on an underlying basis, with EBITDA falling 35% to $2 billion. This was driven by a 32% decline in Energy Markets EBITDA to $991 million and a 35% reduction in Integrated Gas EBITDA to $1,135 million.

The post Why BHP, Codan, IGO, & Origin shares are dropping appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What could delisting from the LSE mean for BHP shares?
• Here are the top movers on the ASX 300 today
• BHP (ASX:BHP) share price slides 7% to a 5-month low
• ASX 200 midday update: Treasury Wine results, Origin’s $2bn loss, Star impresses
• Origin (ASX:ORG) share price slides 5% after revenue decline

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 Bruce Jackson.

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The Spacetalk Ltd (ASX: SPA) share price has soared into the green during Thursday’s session as the wearable communications company reported its FY21 earnings.

Let’s investigate further.

Spacetalk share price jumps on 44% revenue increase

The company detailed several investment highlights in its report, including:

• Revenue of $15.1 million, a 44% year on year increase and record for the company
• EBITDA of $1.1 million, up 615% year on year
• Device revenue grew 65% to $10 million
• Wearables revenue of $12.75 million that also grew 65% over the year prior
• Cash balance of $4.2 million which expanded 32% over the year
• Decreased the debt load by 60% to $1.27 million
• Earnings per share (basic) cents increase of 65%.

What happened in FY21 for Spacetalk?

It was the best quarter on record for Spacetalk in terms of revenue, which came in at $15.1 million. Positive EBITDA that grew more than 600% from the year prior was underscored by “strong device sales” of $10 million.

For instance, Australian and New Zealand device sales grew by 85% to $9.1 million whereas UK sales were flat from the previous year.

In addition, sales benefited from “more than one Spacetalk device being offered in the same category for the first time” in the company’s history.

As an example, this was attributable to the Spacetalk Kids and Adventurer devices in the children’s domain. Moreover, the Spacetalk LIFE device defined a new category “of seniors connected wearables”.

Moreover, app revenue also grew 75% to reach $2.2 million, driving annual recurring revenue of $2.8 million. That’s an 88% year-on-year increase.

The company said it managed to “meet its MNO and mass market retailer inventory demands”, successfully navigating its way through COVID-19 to do so.

What did management say?

Speaking on the Spacetalk Adventurer’s success to date, Spacetalk management said:

Spacetalk Adventurer has been a particular success since its
launch in December 2020 and is our flagship device, accounting
for 41% of device sales revenue achieved in just over six months
of the year ended 30 June 2021 (versus 55% for Spacetalk Kids
and 4% for Spacetalk LIFE, which sold for the whole year).

Moreover, touching on the company’s operating leverage, it added:

The strong global growth in the kids smartphone watch category,
and the urgent focus of retailer and MNOs, has enabled us to
increase sales while decreasing our Customer Acquisition Costs1
(“CAC”) to $1.5 million (-14%), as the Company increasingly benefits
from operating leverage.

What’s next for Spacetalk?

According to the company, it is “well positioned for strong growth in FY22”.

For instance, it is committed to expanding Spacetalk Life for seniors to a business-to-business model, where it is seeing “strong interest” from aged care providers.

In addition, it is working with a handful of NDIS and aged care providers to pilot a strategy to “enable over 39,000 Aged care and NDIS service providers promote and sell Spacetalk Life”.

Investors have favoured the news, pushing the Spacetalk share price well into the green on Thursday. Spacetalk shares are now exchanging hands at 19 cents apiece, a 15% jump from the open.

This extends the run into the green for the Spacetalk share price, which has climbed 73% since January 1. As such, Spacetalk shares have outpaced the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s gain of around 14% this year.

The post Spacetalk (ASX:SPA) share price surges 15% on record revenue increase appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Neuroscientific Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:NSB) share price jumps 9% before trading halt
• What could delisting from the LSE mean for BHP shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to sell today
• These ASX 200 bank experts are forecasting a bumpy ride for our economy

The author Zach Bristow has no positions on 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 Bruce Jackson.

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