Azzet reports on three stocks with price moving updates today.
Accent Group soars on 1H FY26 update ~
Shares in Accent Group (ASX: AX1) were trading around 18.1% higher by 1:45 pm AEDT (2:45 am GMT) after the market responded favourably to the Australian footwear and apparel retailer and wholesaler’s mixed 1H FY26 result.
Today’s share price gain is a welcome kicker for shareholders who have watched the share price tumble from around $2 a share in mid-May 2025, with last November’s guidance downgrade pushing the price under $1 a share.
However, today investors appear to have overlooked a 40.5% drop in net profit to $28.1 million, in favour of a positive reaction to its ability to meet previously downgraded $56.5 million 1H FY26 earnings guidance, while also maintaining its full-year earnings outlook.
The owner of Athlete’s Foot, HOKA, Merrell, Nude Lucy and Platypus outlets also reaffirmed full-year FY26 earnings guidance of $85 million to $95 million that were also downgraded last November and signalled confidence in a second-half recovery.
The group reported 1H FY26 earnings of $56.5 million and total sales of $865.2 million - up 2.4% on the previous period - with owned sales up 5.7% and like-for-like retail growth of 0.9%.
Management also confirmed guidance for H2 FY26 earnings in the range of $30 million - $35 million, which assumes flat like-for-like sales growth and flat gross margin percentage growth on the previous year.
Accent will pay an interim dividend of 3.25¢ per share on March 18.
The market also liked the group’s plans to exit the loss-making Glue store business to focus on more profitable growth areas.
The group plans to expand higher-potential banners, opening 27 stores and closing 21 in the half to end with 898 locations.
Overall, at least 40 new stores are planned to open in FY26.
It also advanced key growth platforms with the launch of the first Sports Direct store and website, strong wholesale momentum in HOKA, Lacoste and Ugg, and a larger, lower-cost debt facility extended to 2028.
These measures are expected to position the group for further expansion despite a promotional retail environment and currency headwinds.
Commenting on today’s update, CEO Daniel Agostinell told the market that sales growth in the first 8 weeks of H2 was up 7.1%, along with record back-to-school sales.
He also expects the recent strengthening in the AUD/USD exchange rate to provide gross margin support at the back end of FY26 and improvement into FY27.
During the half, the group completed debt refinancing, increasing the total facility by $102 million to $372 million on improved terms, including a lower margin and tenure extended to December 2028.
Accent Group has a market cap of $589 million; the share price is down 51% in one year and up 11% in the last week.
Investor sentiment among investors has been weak, resulting in a bearish-sloping 200-day moving average.
More recently, the stock has fallen dramatically enough to register in the oversold region of the Stochastic Oscillator.
This is positive in that it means the recent momentum is unsustainable and there could be a near-term rally.
Consensus is Hold.
DroneShield rises on FY25 update
Shares in DroneShield (ASX: DRO) were trading around 11.3% higher at noon after the drone defence company released its full-year earnings result for calendar year 2025.
While the share price tends to swing up and down with alacrity – due in part to short selling accounting for around 10% of trades – the stock managed to lift today after announcing that revenues for the 12 months to 31 December of $216.5 million, were up 276% from 2024.
Profit after tax was up 367% year on year to $3.5 million.
Today’s result wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it was the extra detail and underlying commentary that appears to have captured the market's attention today.
While underlying profit before tax rose 1686% to $33.3 million, SaaS revenue didn’t go unnoticed.
SaaS revenue increased 312% to $11.6 million, and management reminded the market that it is continuing to target 30% of revenue from SaaS within five years.
Commenting on today’s update, chairman Peter James told the Market that FY26 already has $104 million in secured revenue, of which $22 million has been recognised to date.
SaaS in FY26, added James, is expected to increase further as additional sales are secured.
Underpinned by three consecutive quarters of positive operating cash flow, the company ended the year with $210 million in cash and term deposits and no debt.
Overall, the company’s sales pipeline expanded 92% to $2.3 billion across almost 300 opportunities.
Much of DroneShield's strong tailwinds is wired to plans by governments around the world continue to scale military budgets, especially in the area of counter-drone solutions.
“In Australia, DroneShield was included in the LoE3 panel under the LAND156 program and received initial work orders under LoE2,” said James.
“Further afield with the coming launches of DroneShield’s US and European local assembly facilities, as well as the ability to offer sovereign versions of its AI software in its next generation of devices, means it will be ideally positioned to meet the production sovereignty focus in key markets.”
James also told the market that the release of the next generation hardware and software updates - scheduled through 2026 and 2027 - should further boost demand and conversion to sales.
DroneShield’s share price has halved from the $6.60 it was trading at early October last year, when major insider sell-downs and an oversight, which saw the same result disclosed twice, started to derail the growth narrative surrounding the stock.
Since then, the stock has struggled to regain the market’s trust, and ignited concerns over the sustainability of future growth in light of mounting competitive pressures.
DroneShield has a market cap of $2.8 billion; the share price is 289% in one year and down 30% in the last month.
In the recent short-term, investors have been purchasing the company’s shares.
This bullish sign is evidenced by a rising 20-day moving average.
Consensus is Strong Buy.
Arika Resources rallies after updating on Yundamindra Gold Project
Shares in Arika Resources Limited (ASX: ARI) - formerly Metalicity Limited - were trading 9% higher at the open at $0.036 after the Perth-based explorer and developer of gold assets revealed new assay results from ongoing drilling at the Pennyweight Point prospect within its Yundamindra Gold Project in WA.
Drilling results confirm that mineralisation extends from the surface over a 350m strike length and to a vertical depth of 250m, and that the system remains open, which suggests further growth potential.
Standout results included 21m @ 4.65g/t Au from 251m, which contained an even higher-grade zone of 3m @ 19.39g/t Au.
Commenting on today’s update, Arika’s managing director, Justin Barton, told the market that these results provide a "great platform" for the company to move toward a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in 2026.
“We successfully extended the hole from 262m to a final depth of 329m and which has returned a staggering 21m grading almost 5g/t Au. This is a truly exceptional result, particularly as it represents the deepest hole completed at Pennyweight Point to date and is in fact the deepest hole drilled on the entire Yundamindra Project,” said Barton.
“Importantly, the recent drilling has confirmed the continuity of mineralisation to a vertical depth of 250 metres, with strong indications that the grade and tenor of mineralisation is increasing at depth – highlighting the potential for future underground mining.”
RC drilling re-commenced in early January and is continuing around the clock, with a second rig to be added shortly.
Meanwhile, the miner is awaiting assays from drilling completed at the F1-Fault and Landed at Last prospects.
Together with the ongoing aggressive drilling at Pennyweight Point, added Barton, shareholders can look forward to a period of strong news-flow over the coming weeks and months.
Early February, Arika told the market that it had secured 100% ownership of the Yundamindra and Kookynie projects through a binding agreement to acquire the remaining 20% joint venture interest for $2.5 million cash plus shares.
The acquisition involves Nex Metals Explorations Limited (ASX: NME) divesting its 20% joint venture stake through Arika's wholly-owned subsidiary KYM Mining Pty Ltd.
In addition to its two primary gold projects located in the Eastern Goldfields of WA, the miner has historically held interests in other mineral assets, including the Admiral Bay Zinc Project and the Mt Surprise Lithium Project.
The miner successfully raised around $5 million in May 2025 to fund drilling and as of early February reported having $4.9 million in cash.
Arika Resources has a market cap of $40 million; the share price is down 10% in one year and up 9% year to date.
The stock appears unable to make a substantial move up or down.
Its 20 and 200-day moving averages are relatively flat and imply a lack of interest by both buyers and sellers.
Consensus does not cover this stock.
This article does not constitute financial or product advice. You should consider independent advice before making financial decisions.
