Daily Roundup

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Flight Centre faces Middle East headwinds but backs buyback

Travel company Flight Centre has trimmed its FY26 profit guidance to $275m-$295m underlying profit before tax, down from earlier expectations. The Middle East conflict is taking a $50m bite out of leisure earnings, though the midpoint of $285m sits roughly in line with last year's $286m result. Despite the disruption, the company's corporate travel business remains on track for strong growth, and management is confident enough to greenlight a $200m on-market share buyback.

Stealth Group hits record sales as HBT acquisition pays off

Hardware distributor Stealth Group is heading for a record year, with FY26 sales expected to reach $165 million, up 13.7% from the prior year. The November acquisition of Hardware & Building Traders has been a key driver, expanding the company's supplier network and product range. Net profit jumped 87.1% to $5.8 million, while EBITDA surged 44.4% to $14.3 million. The company remains on track for its ambitious FY28 target of $500 million in annual sales with an 8-12% EBITDA margin, bolstered by the full-year contribution from HBT and new distribution deals with global brands.

Symal bulks up defence exposure with Shamrock Civil deal

Construction and defence contractor Symal has snapped up Shamrock Civil for $51 million upfront, positioning itself to capitalize on Australia's $425 billion defence spending pipeline. Shamrock brings over 30 years of experience, 200 employees, and roughly $220 million in annual revenue—more than half from defence work. The Queensland-based contractor's 70% defence pipeline and established relationships with major energy players like Santos and Origin Energy add significant strategic value. The deal is expected to boost Symal's earnings per share in its first full year of ownership.

RocketDNA consolidates ownership of WA subsidiary

Drone technology company RocketDNA is acquiring the remaining 40% of its Western Australian subsidiary for $1 million in newly issued shares. The move simplifies the group structure without affecting operations, customers, or revenue. The founders will receive their consideration in escrowed shares, aligning their interests with RocketDNA shareholders for the next 12 months.

Aerometrex lands AI data deals worth $1.07 million

Geospatial data specialist Aerometrex has secured two off-the-shelf licensing contracts totaling $1.07 million with AI innovators. US-based Zeromatter Technologies will license 3D datasets for autonomous simulation training, while Sydney's Neara will tap Aerometrex's LiDAR imagery for its digital twin platform. Both contracts will be invoiced and paid before the end of the financial year, reflecting growing demand from AI companies seeking real-world spatial data to train their models.