Azzet reports on three stocks with price moving updates today.
Zip rallies on 3Q update; renewed sector sentiment ~
Shares in Zip Co (ASX: ZIP) were trading 16.1% higher by 12:35 pm AEST (2:35 am GMT) after the consumer lender posted a strong third-quarter performance.
What’s also providing an updraft to today’s result is sustained momentum from Wall Street, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recently hit record highs due to Middle East ceasefire optimism.
This appears to have bolstered investor confidence in high-growth tech and fintech sectors that had been heavily sold off due to valuation concerns and doubts over whether huge capex on AI will ever deliver a profit.
While the S&P/ASX All Technology index is still down 15% year to date, it is up 8.4% in the last week.
It’s hard to say how much of today's share price uptick can be attributed to today’s 3Q update, but at face value, the market liked what it saw.
The company posted record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million, up 41.5% year-on-year, and upgraded its FY26 guidance.
Management told the market to expect FY26 group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million and reaffirmed all key target ranges for the year.
In the U.S. – which delivered standout growth - transaction volume is also expected to rise over 40% in FY26, while group operating margins are expected to remain above 18%.
Closer to home, in Australia and NZ, Zip launched ZMobile, a new capital-light revenue stream.
Other key 3Q numbers reported by Zip Co today:
- Total transaction volume (TTV) up 22.4% year-on-year to $4.0 billion.
- Total income increased 20.2% to $335.2 million.
- Operating margin expanded to 19.4% from 16.5% in the prior year.
- Net bad debts were stable at 1.9% of TTV, within management targets.
- Active customers grew 3.5% to 6.5 million at quarter end.
- Merchants on the platform increased 17.9%.
- US TTV transaction volume and revenue 43% higher than the previous 3Q.
Commenting on today’s update, group CEO Cynthia Scott told the market that momentum continued across both markets, underpinned by deepened customer engagement and disciplined execution.
“We achieved these outcomes while holding credit losses steady within our target range, with US credit losses forecast to decline in 4Q26 to below 1.75% of TTV,” she said.
“The ANZ business continues to accelerate profitable growth with revenue and Australian receivables up 5.0% and 8.7% year on year respectively.”
The company also began an on-market share buy-back of up to $50 million in March, having already acquired $21 million of shares by the end of the quarter.
In Australia, Zip executed a 5-year $300 million rated note issuance in February 2026 at a weighted average margin of 1.62%.
In the U.S., Zip progressed to refinance AR3LLC US$300 million warehouse facility in 4Q26 to further optimise the U.S. funding portfolio.
As at 31 March 2026, Zip had $405.1 million of total cash on the balance sheet with $234.8 million in available cash and liquidity, down from $239.0 million at 31 December 2025.
Based on the four brokers that cover Zip, as reported in by FN Arena, the stock is currently trading at a 54.9% discount the 12-month target price of $3.17.
The stock’s shares appear to be in a near-term rally within a longer-term bearish trend.
Consensus is Strong Buy.
AuKing Mining jumps on acquisition; capital raise
Shares in AuKing Mining (ASX: AKN) gave back early gains of 5% to trade flat after the African-focused junior explorer/developer outlined plans for a $3 million capital raising through the proposed issue of up to 200 million new ordinary fully paid shares and 40 million options.
New securities are to be issued via a placement or similar structure, with a targeted issue date of 22 April 2026, signalling a move to bolster the company’s funding base for ongoing operations and potential project development.
Today’s capital Raise coincides with the proposed 100% acquisition of the high-grade Tundulu Rare Earths Project in south-eastern Malawi from Tusker Minerals (ASX: TSK) which was trading 50% higher this morning.
It’s understood that Tusker retains ongoing exposure to Tundulu REE upside via equity in AuKing, maintaining leverage to rare earth markets.
The acquisition includes a multi-stage consideration of cash payments, $1.25 million in AuKing shares, and $1 million in performance shares contingent on defining a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource of at least 25 million tonnes at 1.25% TREO.
Encompassing a 5-kilometre diameter intrusive carbonatite complex, the Tundulu Project is understood to be one of Malawi’s largest and most under-explored rare earth systems.
The project’s potential is underscored by historical drilling, which has revealed compelling rare earth potential with numerous high-grade intersections.
Drilling by JICA in 1987 and Mota-Engil/Optichem in 2014-2015 yielded results such as 41 metres at 3.7% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 8 metres, and 30 metres at 4.03% TREO from surface.
Twenty-four historical drill holes across the project ended in mineralisation, with eight showing greater than 2% TREO.
The project’s mineralisation indicates high levels of valuable heavy and medium rare earth elements, coupled with low levels of uranium and thorium.
Today’s capital raise is expected to fund the planned initial exploration and drilling program at Tundulu, with the aim of delivering a maiden Mineral Resource estimate within the next 12 months.
AuKing is an Australian exploration company focused on developing a diversified portfolio of critical and other important mineral projects, including copper-zinc-silver, uranium, and tin-tungsten.
AuKing Mining has a market cap of $34 million; the share price is up 185% in one year and up 42% in the last month.
The stock appears to be in a strong bullish trend confirmed by multiple indicators.
Consensus does not cove this stock.
Paladin Energy rallies after increasing production guidance
Shares in Paladin Energy (ASX: PDN) were trading 4.2% higher after the uranium producer/explorer upgraded its FY26 fiscal year production guidance for the Langer Heinrich uranium mine after a stronger-than-expected ramp-up in output through the first nine months of the year.
The miner now expects to produce 4.5 million to 4.8 million pounds of U3O8, up from prior guidance of 4 million to 4.4 million pounds, following year-to-date deliveries of 3.6 million pounds.
Much of the upgrade reflects improved feed grades, strong recovery rates and the successful mobilisation of mining operations, with quarterly production rising to 1.29 million pounds in the March quarter.
While capital and exploration spending have been cut sharply to between US$15 million ($21 million) and US$17 million - from US$26 million to US$32 million, sales guidance remains unchanged.
Paladin has sold 3 million pounds in the first nine months at an average realised price of US$69.8 per pound.
Commenting on today’s update, management told the market that the operation remains on track to transition to full mining and processing capacity by the end of 2025-26, but warned geopolitical risks could still disrupt performance.
“Cost of production is expected to materially align with previous guidance pending the duration of the current conflict in the Middle East and any further associated impacts on forecast cost,” the miner said.
“The revised guidance is based on current operating conditions and assumptions and may be impacted by disruptions arising from current geopolitical events. Paladin is closely monitoring the potential impact of these events.”
Paladin Energy has a market cap of $6.6 billion; the share price is up 223% in one year and up 32% in the last month.
The stock appears to be in a strong bullish trend, confirmed by multiple indicators.
Consensus is Moderate Buy.
This article does not constitute financial or product advice. You should consider independent advice before making financial decisions.
