Azzet reports on three ASX stocks with price moving updates today.
Bapcor tumbles on profit downgrade, unsatisfactory operational practices ~
Shares in Bapcor (ASX: BAP) were down 18% by 1:45 pm AEDT (2:45 am GMT) after the auto parts mid-cap dropped a double-whammy bombshell on the market this morning, including a profit downgrade and disclosure around unsatisfactory operational practices requiring immediate attention.
First, the numbers; the group told the market today that first-half earnings will be negatively impacted by $12 million pre-tax earnings hit relating to non-recurring margin impacts, plus stock-take variances and stock adjustments.
Bapcor, owner of retail brands Autobarn and the Burson Trade network, expects statutory net profit for the first half of FY26 – excluding any potential impairments associated with the NZ segment - to be between $3 million and $7 million, while underlying net profit, before one-off / non-recurring items, is expected to be in the range of $14 million to 18 million.
FY26 statutory net profit guidance now sits between $40 million and $50 million, while underlying net profit for FY26 - before anticipated non-recurring items - is expected to be in the range of $51 million to $61 million.
By comparison, the group reported a statutory loss of $253.1 million in FY24 and an underlying net profit of $94.8 million.
While not entirely unexpected by some analysts, the second bombshell the group unloaded on investors today was the admission of poor operational practices that are continuing to be unearthed within the business.
The company is attributing the $12 million pre-tax negative impact for the 1H FY26 to non-recurring margin impacts, stocktake variances, and stock adjustments stemming from the historic operational failures.
In light of these issues, the board has flagged the need for immediate management changes and an externally supported operational review.
“Our roots have been built on acquiring businesses, not integrating them. Some of the practices that have been accepted inside the wider business do not meet acceptable operational standards nor the required financial/commercial expectations,” Bapcor executive chairman Angus McKay told investors today.
“I acknowledge the continued discovery of historic poor operational practices is frustrating, however, we are committed to facing into the issues and correcting them. The turnaround of the business is more challenging and taking longer than expected but will result in a stronger, more sustainable company. We remain committed to achieving the 5-year indicative scorecard contained within our strategy.”
Capital expenditure for the full year is expected to be in the range of $32-38M and will be largely focused on targeted branch expansions and technology investments.
Bapcor has a market cap of $928 million; the share price is down 45% in one year and down 14% in the last week.
The stock’s shares appear to be in a long-term bearish trend, confirmed by multiple indicators. Long-term, the 200-day moving average is falling and shows that demand for this stock is low.
Consensus is Moderate Buy.
Deep Yellow tumbles following CEO exit
Shares Deep Yellow (ASX: DYL) were down 17% after the uranium large-cap miner announced a leadership revamp that clearly unnerved the market.
As of today, John Borshoff will step down from the role of managing director and CEO but will remain with the company as an advisor to ensure a smooth leadership transition process, until the end of November 2025.
Meanwhile, chief financial officer Craig Barnes will step in as interim CEO until a replacement managing director and CEO is made.
Non-executive chairman of the board, Chris Salisbury, will step into a temporary executive chair role to support Barnes and the organisation during Deep Yellow’s planned transition into a global, multi-project uranium producer, with ongoing projects like the Tumas and Mulga Rock projects.
The company remains committed to its growth strategy amid the increasing importance of nuclear energy for global decarbonisation.
To the uninitiated, Deep Yellow Limited is a leading uranium company with a dual-pillar growth strategy aimed at establishing a globally diversified, Tier-1 uranium production of over 10 million pounds per annum.
The miner boasts the largest uranium resource base among ASX-listed companies, with significant projects in Namibia and Western Australia.
The company is well-positioned for growth through its exploration portfolio and strategic M&A activities, driven by a best-in-class team of experienced uranium mine builders and operators.
Today’s leadership revamp follows confirmation last week of uranium extensions at the S-Bend prospect in Namibia, adjacent to its flagship Tumas Project.
A reverse circulation program of 452 holes (3,361m) intersected shallow mineralisation, with highlights including 8m at 332ppm eU₃O₈ and 2m at 1,217ppm eU₃O₈ from surface.
The results show higher-grade mineralisation concentrated in four clusters, which require further drilling to delineate a resource.
The discovery enhances the potential to expand the Tumas resource base and extend its current 30-year mine life.
Deep Yellow emphasises that this aligns with its growth strategy to become a Tier-1 uranium producer.
The miner recently reported its full-year earnings for the period ended June 30, 2025, revealing revenue of $11.59 million, up from $3.9 million, and a turnaround to a net profit of $7.16 million after a year-earlier loss.
Much of the stock’s share price growth since trading as low as $0.81 early April can be attributed to growing investor confidence that it has a credible path to becoming a 7 Mlbpa uranium producer.
However, much of that confidence was due to the capabilities of Borshoff and a team largely composed of ex-Paladin Energy executives who have a proven track record of actually building and operating uranium mines, most notably Langer Heinrich in Namibia.
Given that this track record clearly matters, the market will be watching the replacement of Borshoff closely.
Deep Yellow has a market of $1.8 billion; the share price is up 30% in the last year and up 71% year to date.
The stock appears to be in a strong bullish trend, confirmed by multiple indicators.
Specifically, a 5-day moving average of the stock price is above the 20 and 50-day moving averages.
Consensus is Moderate Buy.
Neuren Pharma soars on FDA Fast Track update
Shares Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) were up over 8.3% after the biotech company revealed that the FDA has granted Fast Track to its NNZ-2591 treatment for Phelan-McDermid syndrome, along with Angelman and Pitt Hopkins syndromes.
Underscoring the significance of today’s update are revelations that there are no FDA-approved therapies for PMS currently.
The Koala Phase 3 trial for NNZ-2591 in children with PMS is underway, and all NNZ-2591 indications have orphan drug status in the US and EU, providing potential expedited development and review benefits.
With an increase in share price by 74% over the past year, Neuren is set to update on ongoing clinical trials and development, particularly with the Fast Track and orphan drug designations promoting a clearer path toward commercialising these treatments.
Key announcements today include:
- US FDA Fast Track designation granted to NNZ-2591 for PMS.
- NNZ-2591 is also Fast Tracked for Angelman and Pitt Hopkins syndromes.
- Koala Phase 3 trial for NNZ-2591 in PMS is underway in children aged 3–12.
- Positive Phase 2 clinical results in PMS, Pitt Hopkins, and Angelman syndromes.
- All NNZ-2591 indications have received "orphan drug" status in the U.S. and EU.
Designed to speed up both the development and review process of drugs targeting serious conditions with unmet needs, today’s fast track means Neuren can expect to receive potentially quicker feedback and more communication from the FDA.
There’s also the potential eligibility for accelerated or priority review pathways if trial results are strong.
Neuren's Koala trial is the first ever Phase 3 clinical trial in PMS, a rare condition impacting 1 in 8,000 to 15,000 people. NNZ-2591 is a key part of its strategy to develop therapies for critical childhood neurological disorders with limited or no available treatments.
Commenting on today’s update, CEO Jon Pilcher hopes Neuren's Koala trial - the first ever Phase 3 clinical trial for PMS – will lead to a much-needed treatment for this community.
“We encourage all initiatives to increase awareness and diagnosis of PMS and applaud the leadership of both the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation and CureSHANK,” he said.
Today’s update follows revelations early August that quarterly royalties from U.S. sales of its Rett syndrome treatment Daybue were up 9%.
Neuren said net sales totalled US$96.1 million ($147.9 million) in the second quarter, up 14% quarter on quarter, and also a 14% rise compared to the same period last year.
Neuren said there remains "substantial potential for future growth in the US", with two-thirds of the 5,500 to 5,800 diagnosed Rett patients yet to try Daybue.
Neuren Pharmaceuticals has a market cap of $2.8 billion; the share price is up 74% in one year and up 15% in the last month.
The stock is in a strong bullish trend, confirmed by multiple indicators.
Consensus is Strong Buy.
This article does not constitute financial or product advice. You should consider independent advice before making financial decisions.