Daily Roundup

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Chrysos Corporation Delivers Record Growth

Chrysos Corporation wrapped up a stellar FY26, hitting the higher end of its guidance with revenue climbing 33% to $88.1 million and EBITDA surging 68% to $27.2 million. The company's PhotonAssay technology continues to drive adoption, with sample processing volumes jumping 67% to 11.3 million for the year. The real momentum came from new lease agreements—Chrysos signed 24 of them during FY26, bringing total contracted units to 87. The company ended the period in excellent financial shape, holding $25.9 million in cash and $140 million in undrawn debt capacity.

Looking ahead, Chrysos is projecting FY27 revenue between $100 million and $120 million, with EBITDA expected to land between $35 million and $42 million. The company's larger contracted fleet and maturing installed base position it well for continued expansion.

Kip McGrath Tutoring Operator Pursues Growth Strategy

Kip McGrath Education Centres, the leading K-12 tutoring operator across ANZ and the UK, reported FY26 revenue of $30.1 million with a healthy 25% EBITDA margin. The company generated net profit after tax of $2.3 million and achieved a solid 9% five-year revenue compound annual growth rate. With 433 centers operating as of June 2026, Kip McGrath has installed a refreshed leadership team focused on operational improvements. The company's cloud-based KipLearn platform is enhancing service delivery and supporting growth initiatives. Management is actively exploring M&A opportunities to add scale and capability while improving unit economics through performance segmentation.

Austal Faces Headwinds but Explores Strategic Options

Austal delivered mixed results for FY2026, with its Australasia business performing strongly at approximately $62 million in EBIT. However, Austal USA took a significant hit, reporting a non-cash EBIT loss of roughly $175 million due to reassessed recoverability of contractual claims. This resulted in an expected Group EBIT loss of approximately $113 million for the full year.

In a major development, Austal received a non-binding conditional offer from Hanwha Defence USA to acquire Austal USA for an enterprise value of US$1.05 to US$1.20 billion, subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals. The proposal doesn't include Austal's core Australasia operations, which remain the company's profitable anchor. Austal is currently assessing the proposal and will provide further updates as the situation develops.

Helia Group Navigates Challenging Market Conditions

Helia Group reported 1H26 results showing the pressures facing the mortgage insurance sector. Statutory net profit after tax fell 25% to $100 million, while underlying NPAT declined 16% to $106.3 million. Revenue from ordinary activities dropped 24.8% to $215.6 million, primarily driven by a 44% decline in gross written premiums to $61.6 million. The weakness reflected no new business from CBA and reduced First Home Buyer activity.

Despite the headwinds, Helia maintained its dividend commitment, declaring an interim ordinary dividend of 16 cents per share (fully franked) plus an unfranked special dividend of 27 cents per share, totaling 43 cents per share and payable on September 4. The company expects FY26 insurance revenue to fall within a range of $330 million to $360 million. On a brighter note, total incurred claims came in negative at $14 million, resulting in an impressive negative 8% claims ratio, suggesting the portfolio remains well-positioned despite tougher economic conditions.

Dicker Data Returns Cash to Shareholders

Dicker Data announced a fully franked dividend of 11.5 cents per share, with an ex-dividend date of August 14, 2026. The record date is set for August 17, with payment scheduled for September 1. The company is offering a Dividend Reinvestment Plan with a 1% discount to shareholders who elect to participate, with the DRP election deadline falling on August 18 at 5:00 PM.