Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ: LI) released Q3 results before the market open in the US on Thursday. Let’s take a look at how the Chinese company performed. Company overview Founded: 2015 Headquarters: Beijing, China Number of employees: 19,396 (2022) Industry: Automotive Key people: Li Xiang (Chairman and CEO), Yanan Shen (President), Tie Li (CFO) The results World’s 12th largest automaker reported revenue of $4.749 billion for Q3 (up by 271.2% year-over-year), above analyst estimate of $4.581 billion.
EPS reported at $0.449 per share vs. $0.368 per share expected. The electric vehicle company delivered 105,108 cars in the previous quarter – up by 296.3% from the same period in 2022. Li Auto has delivered 284,647 vehicles so far this year.
CEO commentary "In response to the evolving market demand in the third quarter, we continued to strengthen synergies across production, supply, and sales, while enhancing our production capability. With these efforts, we achieved a number of breakthroughs across our delivery performance during the quarter, becoming China’s first emerging new energy automaker to reach the milestone of 500,000 cumulative deliveries. Each of our three Li L series models recorded over 10,000 monthly deliveries for three consecutive months since August, maintaining our position as the sales champion among SUVs and NEVs priced over RMB300,000 in China.
As we further expand our business scale, we will continue to maintain our profitability at a healthy level, while investing in research and development to propel the long-term growth of our business," Chairman and CEO of Li Auto, Li Xiang said in a press release to investors. The stock was down by around 2% on Thursday despite posting better-than-expected results. Shares of Li Auto are up by 118.68% in the past year at $38.28 a share.
Stock performance 1 month: +10.41% 3 months: -11.16% Year-to-date: +86.62% 1 year: +118.67% Li Auto price targets B of A Securities: $60 Barclays: $48 Citigroup: $54.3 HSBC: $36 Jefferies: $20.66 Li Auto Inc. is the 453rd largest company in the world with a market cap of $38.17 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap. You can trade Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ: LI) and many other stocks from the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, ASX, LSE and DE with GO Markets as a Share CFD. GO Markets now offers pre-market and after-market trading on popular US Share CFDs.
Trade the pre-market session: 4:00am to 9:30am, normal session, and after-market session: 4:00pm to 8:00pm, Eastern Standard Time. Volatility never sleeps. Trade over earnings releases as they happen outside of main trading hours Reduce your risk and hedge your existing positions ahead of a new trading day Extended trading hours on popular US stocks means extended opportunities Sources: Li Auto Inc., TradingView, MarketWatch, CompaniesMarketCap, Wikipedia, Benzinga, Macrotrends
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Klavs Valters
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Las acciones de defensa de ASX vuelven a estar en más listas de vigilancia y según el Instituto Internacional de Investigación para la Paz de Estocolmo (SIPRI), el gasto militar mundial alcanzó aproximadamente 2.718 billones de dólares en 2024, un alza de 9.4% en términos reales.
El entorno actual de defensa de Australia se establece en la Estrategia de Defensa Nacional de 2024 y los documentos de planificación de inversiones relacionados, que describen las prioridades de financiación de la capacidad a largo plazo. Además, Canberra ha apuntado a una inversión de capacidad de 330 mil millones de dólares australianos hasta 2034, incluida la financiación adicional para combatientes de superficie, preparación, ataque de largo alcance y sistemas autónomos.
Aquí está la parte que la mayoría de la gente extraña: no todas las acciones de defensa ASX son del mismo comercio. Algunos se sientan cerca de la construcción naval. Algunos son nombres de contra-drones y algunos son operadores más pequeños y de mayor riesgo donde un contrato puede importar mucho más de lo que el mercado supone.
Estos cinco nombres no son una lista de compras, sino que son una lista de vigilancia práctica para los inversores que intentan entender dónde puede aparecer realmente el impulso de adquisiciones en el ASX.
1) Austal (ASX: ASB)
Austal es una de las empresas cotizadas en ASX más directamente expuestas al oleoducto de construcción naval de Australia, aunque la ejecución del contrato, los márgenes y el tiempo de entrega siguen siendo variables importantes.
No solo están ganando contratos aleatorios; han firmado un acuerdo legal masivo (el Acuerdo Estratégico de Construcción Naves) que los convierte en el socio oficial para la construcción de la próxima generación de buques militares de tamaño mediano de Australia en Australia Occidental.
En febrero de 2026, el gobierno dio luz verde a Austal a un proyecto de 4 mil millones de dólares. Esto no es para un solo barco, es para 8 buques “Landing Craft Heavy”. Se trata de enormes barcos de transporte (de unos 100 metros de largo) diseñados para llevar tanques pesados y equipos directamente a una playa. Pero aquí está la parte que la mayoría de la gente extraña, la construcción naval es un maratón, no un sprint.
Como puede ver en el cronograma de entrega, mientras que la construcción comienza en 2026, el barco final no se entregará hasta 2038. Para un inversionista, esto significa que Austal tiene un flujo de ingresos “garantizado” para los próximos 12 años, pero tienen que ser muy buenos en el manejo de sus costos durante ese largo período para realmente obtener ganancias.
2) Escudo del DroneShield (ASX: DRO)
Si ha visto imágenes de pequeños drones que interrumpen los campos de batalla modernos, DroneShield está construyendo parte del “interruptor de apagado”. Su enfoque es la tecnología antidrones, que incluye sistemas que detectan, interrumpen o derrotan drones utilizando guerra electrónica, sensores y herramientas dirigidas por software, en lugar de depender solo de municiones tradicionales.
A principios de 2026, DroneShield había ido más allá de la etiqueta de una prometedora start-up y se había adentrado en una fase comercial mucho más grande. Reportó ingresos para el año fiscal 2025 por 216.5 millones de dólares estadounidenses, un 276% más que en el año fiscal 2024, y dijo que inició el año fiscal 2026 con 103.5 millones de dólares de A$ en ingresos comprometidos.
Un punto que el mercado puede pasar por alto es la capa de software en el modelo. DroneShield reportó 11.6 millones de dólares estadounidenses en ingresos de Software como Servicio (SaaS) en el año fiscal 2025 y dijo que está trabajando para que SaaS represente el 30% de los ingresos dentro de cinco años. Su modelo de suscripción incluye actualizaciones de software para sistemas implementados, lo que agrega un flujo creciente de ingresos recurrentes junto con las ventas de hardware.
Entre las acciones de defensa ASX, DroneShield es una de las formas más directas de seguir el tema Counter-UAS. También es uno de los nombres donde el sentimiento puede oscilar rápidamente, porque las historias de crecimiento pueden regenerar tanto hacia arriba como hacia abajo cuando cambia el tiempo de los pedidos.
EOS construye tanto el “cerebro” como el “músculo” para plataformas militares. Es mejor conocido por los sistemas de armas remotas, que permiten a los operadores controlar torretas armadas desde el interior de vehículos protegidos, y por los sistemas láser de alta energía dirigidos a la defensa contra drones. EOS ha dicho que su rezago incondicional alcanzó alrededor de 459.1 millones de dólares estadounidenses a principios de 2026, tras una serie de victorias contractuales hasta 2025. Eso apunta a una base mucho mayor de trabajo seguro, aunque el tiempo de entrega y la conversión de ingresos siguen siendo importantes.
EOS firmó un contrato de 71.4 millones de euros, unos 125 millones de dólares australianos, con un cliente europeo para un sistema de armas láser de alta energía de 100 kilovatios. EOS dice que el sistema está diseñado para un bajo costo por disparo y puede involucrar hasta 20 drones por minuto. El gobierno australiano ha reservado 1.300 millones de dólares australianos a lo largo de 10 años para la adquisición de capacidad de contra-drones, y EOS ha revelado que formó parte de un exitoso equipo de licitación de LAND 156. Eso no garantiza ingresos futuros, pero sí soporta visibilidad a mediano plazo en un mercado al que la compañía ya se dirige.
EOS se lee como una historia de rebote, pero una que aún depende de la ejecución. La compañía se ha reorientado en torno a sistemas de armas remotas, sistemas de contra-drones y láseres, todas áreas vinculadas a un mayor gasto en defensa. La pregunta clave es si puede seguir convirtiendo el backlog y la canalización en ingresos entregados mientras mantiene la disciplina del balance.
4) Codan (ASX: CDA)
Codan a veces se deja fuera de las listas de acciones de defensa casuales porque está más diversificado. Eso puede ser un descuido. En sus resultados del primer semestre fiscal 26, Codan dijo que su negocio de Comunicaciones diseña comunicaciones de misión crítica para los mercados militares y de seguridad pública globales. Los ingresos por comunicaciones subieron 19% a 221,8 millones de dólares de A$. La compañía también dijo que DTC brindó un fuerte crecimiento de la demanda de sistemas no tripulados y de defensa, con ingresos por sistemas no tripulados que aumentaron 68% a A$73 millones. Codan dijo que aproximadamente la mitad de esos ingresos no tripulados estaban vinculados a aplicaciones de defensa operativa en zonas de conflicto.
Aquí es donde la historia se vuelve más matizada. En una canasta de acciones de defensa ASX, Codan puede ofrecer un perfil diferente, con una sensibilidad de titular menos pura, una diversificación operativa más amplia y una exposición significativa a las comunicaciones militares y los sistemas no tripulados sin ser un nombre de tema único. Esa diversificación también puede significar que las acciones no siempre se negocian como un nombre de defensa de juego puro.
HighCom se encuentra en el extremo especulativo de esta lista, y debería etiquetarse de esa manera. La compañía dice que sus dos negocios continuos son HighCom Armor, que suministra protección balística, y HighCom Technology, que suministra y mantiene pequeños y medianos sistemas aéreos no tripulados, sistemas aéreos contra-no tripulados, e ingeniería relacionada, integración, mantenimiento y apoyo logístico para la ADF y otros ejércitos regionales alineados.
En el primer trimestre del año fiscal 26, los ingresos por operaciones continuas cayeron 59% a A$10.9 millones, mientras que el EBITDA pasó a una pérdida de A$5.4 millones desde una ganancia de A$1.9 millones un año antes. HighCom también reveló 5,1 millones de dólares australianos en ingresos de HighCom Technology, incluidos 3,5 millones de dólares australianos de piezas de repuesto para sistemas aéreos no tripulados (SUAS) y 1,6 millones de dólares australianos por servicios de sostenimiento prestados al Departamento de Defensa de Australia.
Entonces sí, HighCom es una de las acciones de defensa ASX más sensibles financieramente en la junta. Pero también es el tipo de nombre más pequeño que puede mostrar cómo las adquisiciones se filtran hacia el soporte, el mantenimiento y el equipo de protección especializado.
Observaciones clave del mercado
Haga un seguimiento de los hitos del programa, no solo los titulares políticos. Las adjudicaciones de contratos, los inicios de fabricación, los cronogramas de entrega y el trabajo de mantenimiento a menudo importan más que un solo día de anuncio.
Separe la exposición pura de la exposición diversificada. DroneShield y EOS están más cerca de los temas concentrados de tecnología de defensa, mientras que Codan aporta exposición a las comunicaciones dentro de una combinación de negocios más amplia.
Vea temas de capacidad soberana en Australia. Austal y EOS están vinculados a la fabricación local, la integración y las cadenas de suministro australianas, lo que respalda el tema de capacidad soberana más amplio en este grupo.
Presta atención a los balances y conversión de efectivo. El impulso de las adquisiciones puede ser real incluso cuando el tiempo se vuelve desordenado. La última mitad de HighCom es un recordatorio de eso.
Los titulares de defensa pueden parecer inmediatos. Por lo general, las ganancias no lo son. El principal trabajo naval de Austal se extiende hasta la próxima década. Los contratos EOS se entregan a lo largo de varios años. El flujo de pedidos de DroneShield parece sólido, pero la compañía aún separa los ingresos comprometidos de una oportunidad de canalización más amplia. HighCom muestra la otra cara de la moneda. La exposición a las adquisiciones no se traduce automáticamente en una ejecución financiera fluida.
Las referencias a las acciones de defensa que cotizan en ASX son solo información general, no una recomendación para comprar, vender o mantener cualquier título o CFD. Estas acciones pueden ser altamente volátiles y son sensibles al momento de los contratos, la política gubernamental, la geopolítica, el riesgo de ejecución y las condiciones del mercado. Las expectativas de backlog, pipeline e ingresos no son garantías de performance futuro.
El 28 de febrero de 2026, cuando comenzó el ataque conjunto de Estados Unidos e Israel, los números en las pantallas comenzaron a moverse de maneras que se sentían clínicas, incluso cuando la realidad sobre el terreno con las trágicas muertes de víctimas civiles en Irán, se sentía todo menos. Los mercados, como dicen, no tienen una brújula moral, más bien tienen una máquina de pesaje y ahora mismo, están sopesando la transición de toda la economía global de un modelo “justo a tiempo” a un ciclo “justo por si acaso”.
Lo que los mercados estaban señalizando
El 2 de marzo, la cinta índice se mantuvo cautelosa mientras que la defensa subió. Históricamente, los conflictos pueden acelerar la reposición y los pedidos, pero su tamaño (y qué tan rápido) aún depende de los presupuestos, las aprobaciones y los cuellos de botella en la entrega.
Los ganadores
1. Hanwha Aerospace (012450.KS)
Hanwha es uno de los nombres comercializados más activamente vinculados al tema “K-Dence”, una empresa que los mercados cada vez más se ve como un proveedor escalable en un ciclo global de artillería y municiones cada vez más estricto. Capacidad y credibilidad de entrega.
Cuando la reposición se vuelve urgente, la capacidad de producir a escala a menudo importa tanto como la plataforma misma. La demanda de exportación vinculada a sistemas como el K9 Thunder y Chunmoo ha reforzado la narrativa del flujo de pedidos duradero incluso cuando los resultados aún giran en torno a presupuestos, aprobaciones y plazos de entrega.
Cosas clave que pueden mover el sentimiento: actualizaciones de libros de pedidos, cadencia de producción y cualquier anuncio de exportación posterior.
2. Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Northrop se centró en la medida en que los inversores revalorizaron la exposición a la modernización estratégica y a los programas grandes y de larga duración. Los mercados de defensa a menudo vistos como de misión crítica pueden persistir a lo largo de los ciclos. Se trata menos de una cuarta parte y más sobre si el impulso se mantiene estable si las prioridades de modernización se mantienen en su lugar (y si los plazos cambian si no lo hacen).
Variables clave que pueden mover el sentimiento: El ritmo de adquisición, el calendario del contrato y el lenguaje de financiación relacionado con el programa.
3. Corporación RTX (RTX)
RTX volvió al centro de la cinta cuando los inversores fijaron el precio de un ciclo de reposición de interceptores y la economía de la defensa aérea de alto tempo. El desgaste es costoso y cuando las tasas de uso aumentan, los gobiernos generalmente tienen que reponer inventarios y, en muchos casos, financiar la expansión de la producción, lo que puede extender la acumulación de trabajo y aumentar la visibilidad de los ingresos.
Variables clave que pueden mover el sentimiento: Pedidos de reabastecimiento, indicadores de expansión de fabricación y rendimiento de entrega.
4. Lockheed Martin (LMT)
Lockheed llamó la atención ya que los mercados se centraron en la demanda de defensa antimisiles y la pregunta a la que se enfrenta cada mesa de compras en un entorno de alto ritmo: ¿qué tan rápido se pueden reconstruir los inventarios? Si la utilización se mantiene elevada, los ganadores tienden a ser los contratistas mejor posicionados para escalar la producción y entregar de manera confiable. La exposición de defensa antimisiles de Lockheed la mantiene estrechamente ligada a esa narrativa de reposición.
Variables clave que pueden mover el sentimiento: señales de rampa de producción, economía unitaria y cadencia de pedidos basada en el presupuesto.
5. Sistemas BAE (BA.L)
Con un atraso de 83.600 millones de libras esterlinas y un papel central en el programa submarino AUKUS, BAE se centró en el enfoque a medida que partes de Europa señalaban mayores ambiciones de gasto en defensa. La acción subió un 6.11% a un máximo de 52 semanas en medio de una rotación de “riesgo”, con los comerciantes observando los hitos de AUKUS y las adquisiciones europeas de defensa aérea y antimisiles, incluido “Sky Shield”.
Variables clave que pueden mover el sentimiento: Un catalizador potencial es cualquier claro aumento en el gasto alemán que eleve el flujo de pedidos en las unidades europeas de BAE, mientras que los riesgos clave incluyen un fuerte aumento en los rendimientos dorados del Reino Unido, una volatilidad renovada de la libra esterlina o una “amenaza de paz” la toma de ganancias.
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Los perdedores: no todas las 'existencias de guerra' suben
6. AeroEnvironment (AVAV)
AeroVironment se desplomó 18% al aire libre antes de caer 17% intradiaria tras los informes de que la Fuerza Espacial de Estados Unidos estaba reabriendo un contrato de 1.400 millones de dólares. La medida destaca cómo los procesos de adquisición y el riesgo de contratos pueden impulsar la volatilidad, incluso en entornos temáticos de apoyo.
7. Defensa Kratos (KTOS)
Kratos se sienta en el tema de los drones y las municiones que se hacen malograntes que llamó la atención a medida que se intensificaba el conflicto en Oriente Medio. Las acciones aún se vendieron después de las ganancias, lo que destaca un riesgo común del sector de defensa. Kratos anunció una gran oferta de acciones de seguimiento en el rango de US$1.200 millones a US$1.400 millones, la medida fortalece el balance y puede apoyar futuras inversiones en programas.
Para los comerciantes enfocados en narrativas de “prima de conflicto” a corto plazo, la dilución puede cambiar rápidamente la configuración. Incluso cuando las condiciones de demanda parecen favorables, el mercado puede reponer el precio de las acciones si cada accionista finalmente posee una porción más pequeña del negocio.
8. Máquinas intuitivas (LUNR)
Algunos nombres especulativos de tecnología espacial se quedaron rezagados, ya que los inversores parecían favorecer a las empresas con ingresos vinculados a la defensa más establecidos.
9. Boeing (BA)
Boeing bajó alrededor de 2.5% en la sesión. Si bien su división de defensa es significativa, su negocio comercial puede ser más sensible a la demanda de aviación, las interrupciones del espacio aéreo y los movimientos de los precios del petróleo.
10. Spirit AeroSystems (SPR)
Spirit AeroSystems sigue estrechamente ligado al ciclo mundial de producción de aeronaves como importante proveedor de aeroestructuras.Los resultados recientes mostraron pérdidas cada vez mayores a pesar del aumento de las ventas, lo que refleja aumentos en los costos de producción en los principales programas de aeronaves. Estas presiones han pesado sobre la confianza de los inversionistas en las perspectivas a corto plazo. La adquisición planificada por parte de Boeing podría, en última instancia, remodelar la posición de la compañía en la cadena de suministro, pero el riesgo de ejecución y la estabilidad de la producción siguen siendo fundamentales para la forma en que el mercado cotiZA las acciones.
Qué ver a continuación
Escalamiento vs desescalamiento: Un cambio hacia la diplomacia o las discusiones sobre el alto el fuego pueden cambiar rápidamente el sentimiento en torno a las acciones de defensa.
Petróleo y transporte marítimo: Los picos energéticos pueden endurecer las condiciones financieras y presionar a los sectores cíclicos.
Presupuestos y premios: Los movimientos de precios a veces pueden preceder a las decisiones contractuales, y la claridad llega cuando se finalizan las adjudicaciones.
Capacidad de producción: Las empresas con un historial probado de producción y entrega a menudo atraen la mayor atención de los inversores.
Restricciones de la cadena de suministro: Las tierras raras, la propulsión y la electrónica siguen siendo cuellos de botella potenciales que pueden limitar la rapidez con la que la producción escala.
La lente a más largo plazo
El conflicto iraní de 2026 es ante todo una tragedia humana. Para los mercados, también puede representar un cambio en la forma en que se prioriza el gasto en seguridad nacional dentro de los marcos fiscales. Si el gasto en defensa se mantiene elevado en un horizonte multianual, las empresas con capacidad de fabricación escalable y pilas de tecnología integradas podrían atraer la atención sostenida de los inversores. Dicho esto, los mercados se mueven en ciclos. Los temas estructurales pueden persistir, pero también pueden repreciar rápidamente cuando cambian las suposiciones. Mantenerse analítico y consciente de los riesgos sigue siendo fundamental.
Las referencias a empresas, sectores o movimientos del mercado específicos se proporcionan únicamente para comentarios generales del mercado y no constituyen una recomendación, oferta o solicitud para comprar o vender ningún producto financiero.Las reacciones del mercado a eventos geopolíticos o macroeconómicos pueden ser volátiles e impredecibles, y los resultados pueden diferir materialmente de las expectativas.
So FY24 earnings are now done and from what we can see the results have been on the whole slightly better than expected. The catch is the numbers that we've seen for early FY25 which suggested any momentum we had from 2024 may be gone. So here are 8 things that caught our attention from the earnings season just completed.
Resilient Economy and Earnings Performance Resilience surprises remain: The Australian economy has shown remarkable resilience despite higher inflation and overall global pessimism. The resilience was reflected in the ASX 300, which closed the reporting season with a net earnings beat of 3 percentage points - a solid beat of the Street's consensus. This beat was primarily driven by better-than-expected margins, indicating that companies are effectively managing cost pressures through flexes in wages, inventories and nonessential costs.
The small guy is falling by wayside: However, the reporting outside of the ASX 300 paints a completely different picture. Over 53 per cent of firms missed estimates, size cost efficiencies and other methods larger firms can take were unable to be matched by their smaller counterparts. The fall in the ex-ASX 300 stocks was probably missed by most as it represents a small fraction of the ASX.
But nonetheless it's important to highlight as it's likely that what was seen in FY24 in small cap stocks will probably spread up into the larger market. Season on season slowdown is gaining momentum Smaller Beats what also caught our attention is the three-percentage point beat of this earnings season is 4 percentage points less than the beat in February which saw a seven-percentage point upside. That trend has been like this now for three consecutive halves and it's probable it will continue into the first half of FY25.
The current outlook from the reporting season is a slowing cycle, reducing the likelihood of positive economic surprises and earnings upgrades. Dividend Trends Going Oprah - Dividend Surprises: Reporting season ended with dividend surprises that were more aligned with earnings surprises, with a modest DPS (Dividends Per Share) beat of 2 percentage points. This marked a significant improvement from the initial weeks of the reporting season when conservative payout strategies led to more dividend misses.
The stronger dividends toward the end of the season signal some confidence in the future outlook despite conservative guidance. However, firms that did have banked franking credits or capital in the bank from previous periods they went Oprah and handed out ‘special dividends’ like confetti. While this was met with shareholder glee, it does also suggest that firms cannot see opportunity to deploy this capital in the current conditions.
That reenforces the views from point 2. Winners and Losers - Performance Growth Stocks Outperform: Growth stocks emerged as the clear winners of the reporting season, with a net beat of 30 percentage points. This performance was driven by strong margin surprises and the best free cash flow (FCF) surprise among any group.
However, there was a slight miss on sales, which was more than offset by higher margins. Sectors like Technology and Health were key contributors to the outperformance of Growth stocks. Stand out performers were the likes of SQ2, HUB, and TPW.
Globally-exposed Cyclicals Underperform: Global Cyclicals were the most disappointing, led by falling margins and sales misses. The earnings misses were attributed to slowing global growth and the rising Australian Dollar. Despite these challenges, Global Cyclicals did follow the dividend trend surprised to the upside.
Contrarian view might be to consider Global Cyclicals with the possibility the AUD begins to fade on RBA rate cuts in 2025. Mixed Results in Other Sectors: Resources: Ended the season with an equal number of beats and misses. Margins were slightly better than expected, and there was a positive cash flow surprise for some companies.
However, the sector faced significant downgrades, with FY25 earnings now expected to fall by 3.2 per cent. Industrials: Delivered growth with a nine per cent upside in EPS increases, although slightly below expectations. Defensives drove most of this growth, insurers however such as QBE, SUN, and HLI were drags.
Banks: Banks received net upgrades for FY25 earnings due to delayed rate cuts and lower-than-expected bad debts. However, earnings are still forecasted to fall by around 3 per cent in FY25. Defensives: Had a challenging reporting season, with net misses on margins.
Several major defensive stocks missed expectations and faced downgrades for FY25, which led to negative share price reactions. Future Gazing - Guidance and Earnings Outlook Vigilant Guidance has caused downgrades: As expected, many companies used the reporting season to reset earnings expectations. About 40 per cent in fact provided forecasts below consensus expectations, which in turn led to earnings downgrades for FY25 from the Street.
This cautious approach reflects the uncertainty in the economic environment and the potential for slower growth ahead, which was reflected in the FY24 numbers. Flat Earnings Forecast for FY25: The initial expectation of approximately 10 per cent earnings growth for FY25 has completely evaporated to just 0.1 per cent growth (yes, you read that correctly). This revision includes adjustments for the treatment of CDIs like NEM, which reduced earnings by 2.8 percentage point, and negative revisions in response to weaker-than-expected results, guidance, and lower commodity prices.
Resources were particularly impacted, with a 7.7 percentage point downgrade, leading to a forecasted earnings decline of 2.8 percent for the sector. Gazing into FY26: Early projections for FY26 suggest a 1.3 percent decline in earnings, driven by the expected declines in Resources and Banks due to net interest margins and commodity prices. However, Industrials are currently projected to deliver a 10.4 percent EPS growth, would argue this seems optimistic given the slowing economic cycle.
The Consensus Downgrades to 2025 Earnings: The consensus for ASX 300 earnings in 2025 was downgraded by 3 per cent during the reporting season. This reflects a broad range of negative revisions, with 23 percent of stocks facing downgrades. Biggest losers were sectors like Energy, Media, Utilities, Mining, Health, and Capital Goods all saw significant consensus downgrades, with Media particularly facing downgrades as budgets are slashed in half.
Flip side Tech, Telecom, Banks, and Financial Services, saw aggregate earnings upgrades. Notably, 78 percent of the banking sector received upgrades, reflecting some resilience in this group. Cash Flow and Margin Surprises Positive Cash Flow: Operating cash flow was a positive surprise, with 2 percentage point increase for Industrial and Resource stocks reporting cash flow at least 10 per cent above expectations.
The main drivers of this cash flow surprise were lower-than-expected tax and interest costs, along with positive EBITDA margin surprises. Capex: There were slightly more companies with higher-than-expected capex, but the impact on overall Free Cash Flow (FCF) was modest. Significant positive FCF surprises were seen in companies like TLS, QAN, and BHP, while WES, CSL, and WOW had negative surprises.
Final nuts and bolts Seasonal Downgrade Patterns: The peak in downgrades typically occurs during the full-year reporting season, so the significant downgrades seen in August are not necessarily a negative signal for the market. As the year progresses, the pace of downgrades may slow, and there could be some positive guidance surprises during the 2024 AGM season. However, with a slowing economic cycle, the likelihood of positive surprises is lower compared to 2023.
Overall, the reporting season highlighted the resilience of the Australian economy and the challenges facing certain sectors. While Growth stocks outperformed, the outlook for FY25 remains cautious with flat earnings growth and sector-specific headwinds. Investors will need to navigate a mixed landscape with potential opportunities in contrarian plays like Global Cyclicals, but also be mindful of the broader economic uncertainties.
Markets enter May with the federal funds target range at 3.50% to 3.75%, the Fed having concluded its 28-29 April meeting, and the next decision not due until 16-17 June. Brent crude is trading near US$108 per barrel, with the IEA describing the ongoing Iran conflict as the largest energy supply shock on record as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.
The macro tension this month is straightforward but uncomfortable: an oil-driven inflation impulse landing into a labour market that surprised to the upside in March, while Q1 growth came in soft.
The Federal Reserve has revised its 2026 PCE inflation projection to 2.7% and continues to signal one cut this year, though the timing remains contested. With no FOMC scheduled in May, every high-impact release may carry more weight than usual into the June meeting.
Fed Funds Rate
3.50% to 3.75%
Next FOMC
16-17 June 2026
Brent Crude
~US$108
Key data events
6+ high-impact releases
Growth: business activity and demand
The growth picture entering May is mixed. The Q1 GDP advance estimate landed on 30 April, while softer retail sales and inventory data have made the demand picture harder to read.
ISM manufacturing has been a quieter source of optimism, with recent prints holding in expansionary territory. Energy costs and tariff effects are now the variables most likely to shape the next move in business activity.
Key dates (AEST)
02
May
ISM Manufacturing PMI (April)
Institute for Supply Management · 12:00 am AEST
High
06
May
ISM Services PMI (April)
Institute for Supply Management · 12:00 am AEST
Medium
15
May
Retail Sales (April)
US Census Bureau · 10:30 pm AEST
High
What markets look for
Whether manufacturing PMI holds above 50, with the prices paid sub-index giving a read on input cost pressure
Services PMI as a check on the larger share of the US economy, particularly employment and prices
Retail sales control group, which feeds into consumption forecasts
Any sign that sustained Brent crude above US$100 is starting to affect household spending
How this data may move markets
Scenario
Treasuries
USD
Equities
Activity data prints firmer
↑ Yields rise
↑ Firmer
Mixed - depends on valuation stretch
Activity data softens
↓ Yields fall
↓ Softer
Support if inflation cooperates
Labour: payrolls and employment data
The April Employment Situation is one of the most concentrated risk events of the month. March payrolls came in stronger than expected, while earlier data revisions left the trend less clear. April will help show whether the labour market is genuinely re-accelerating or simply absorbing seasonal noise.
Key dates (AEST)
06
May
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
Bureau of Labor Statistics · 12:00 am AEST
Medium
06
May
ADP National Employment Report (April)
ADP Research Institute · 10:15 pm AEST
Medium
08
May
Employment Situation, April (NFP)
Bureau of Labor Statistics · 10:30 pm AEST
High
What markets may watch
Headline non-farm payrolls (NFP) and the size of any prior-month revisions
Average hourly earnings, with energy-driven cost pressure keeping wage growth in focus
Unemployment rate and labour force participation
Sector mix, including whether goods-producing payrolls show signs of disruption
Market sensitivities
Scenario
Treasuries
USD
Equities
Firm NFP/wage growth
↑ Yields rise
↑ Strength
Pressure on valuations
Soft NFP/weak print
↓ Yields fall
↓ Softer
Mixed - risk of growth scare
Inflation: CPI, PPI and PCE
April inflation lands as the most market-relevant data block of the month. The March consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.3% over the prior 12 months, with energy up 10.9% on the month and gasoline up 21.2%, accounting for almost three quarters of the headline increase. With Brent holding near US$105 to US$108 through the latter half of April, a further passthrough into the April CPI energy component looks plausible.
Core CPI and core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) remain the better read on underlying trend.
Key dates (AEST)
12
May
CPI (April)
Bureau of Labor Statistics · 10:30 pm AEST
High
15
May
Producer Price Index (PPI), April
Bureau of Labor Statistics · 10:30 pm AEST
Medium
29
May
Personal Income and Outlays/PCE (April)
Bureau of Economic Analysis · 10:30 pm AEST
High
What markets may watch
Headline CPI year on year, especially the gasoline component
Core CPI, including shelter, services excluding shelter and core goods
PPI as a read on producer-level passthrough from energy and tariffs
Core PCE, which remains the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge
Market sensitivities
Scenario
Treasuries
USD
Commodities
Inflation cools/surprises lower
↓ Yields fall
↓ Softer
Gold consolidation
Headline runs hot/core sticky
↑ Yields rise
↑ Strength
Gold supported on stagflation risk
Policy, trade and earnings
May has no FOMC meeting, so policy attention shifts to Fed speakers, the path of any leadership transition, and the dominant geopolitical backdrop. Chair Jerome Powell's term concludes around the middle of the month. President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair, with the Senate Banking Committee having held a confirmation hearing.
The Iran conflict, now in its ninth week, remains the single largest source of macro tail risk, with the Strait of Hormuz blockade and stalled US-Iran talks setting the tone for energy markets and broader risk appetite. Q1 earnings season is in its peak weeks, with peak weeks expected between 27 April and 15 May, and 7 May the most active reporting day.
What to monitor this month
Iran-US negotiations and the operational status of the Strait of Hormuz
Fed speakers and any change in tone between meetings
Q1 earnings, especially from retail, energy and cyclical names
Weekly EIA crude inventories
Any tariff-related announcements that may affect inflation expectations
Bottom line
May is not a quiet month just because there is no FOMC meeting. Payrolls, CPI, PPI, retail sales and PCE all land before the June policy decision, while oil remains the dominant external shock.
For markets, the key question is whether the data points to a temporary energy-driven inflation lift, or a broader inflation problem arriving at the same time as softer growth. That distinction may shape the next major move in bonds, the US dollar, gold and equity indices.
Asia-Pacific markets start May with a more complicated macro backdrop than earlier in 2026. Regional growth has shown resilience, but higher energy prices are testing inflation expectations, trade balances and policy flexibility across fuel-importing economies.
For traders, the month's focus is likely to sit across three linked areas.
China Focus
Activity data
April CPI, PPI and purchasing managers' index (PMI)
Japan Focus
BOJ signals
Corporate goods prices and April CPI
Australia Focus
RBA decision
Statement on Monetary Policy and April CPI
Main Regional Risk
Energy volatility
Trade-sensitive sentiment
China
China remains central to the May Asia-Pacific market drivers outlook because its data can influence commodity demand, regional equities and the Australian dollar. The April data round may help traders assess whether the early-year recovery is broadening or still reliant on production, exports and policy support.
Key Dates (AEST)
30
Apr
Official PMI
National Bureau of Statistics · 11:30 am AEST
Medium
11
May
CPI and industrial producer price index (PPI)
National Bureau of Statistics · 11:30 am AEST
High
18
May
April activity data
Industrial production, retail and property · 12:00 pm AEST
High
27
May
Industrial economic benefits
National Bureau of Statistics · 11:30 am AEST
Medium
What markets may look for
Whether CPI data suggest demand-led inflation or continued subdued household pricing power
Whether PPI data point to improving factory margins or cost pressure from energy and raw materials
Whether retail sales show a firmer household sector or continued reliance on production and exports
Whether property data continue to weigh on confidence, construction demand and local government revenue
Why China matters for the region
China data can influence sentiment toward Asian equities, iron ore, copper, energy markets and the Australian dollar. Stronger domestic demand may support commodity-linked sentiment, while softer retail or property figures may keep markets focused on policy support and downside growth risks.
Japan inflation and BOJ signals
Japan's May calendar is less about a fresh BOJ rate decision and more about how markets interpret the April policy meeting, inflation data and wage-sensitive price trends. That matters because Japanese government bond yields and the yen remain sensitive to any shift in policy normalisation expectations.
Key Dates (AEST)
07
May
Minutes of the March BOJ meeting
Bank of Japan · 8:50 am AEST
Medium
12
May
Summary of Opinions – April BOJ meeting
Most market-sensitive Japan event · 9:50 am AEST
High
15
May
Corporate goods price index
Tracks input cost inflation · 9:50 am AEST
Medium
22
May
National April CPI
Statistics Bureau · 9:30 am AEST
High
29
May
Tokyo May CPI
Leading indicator for national trends · 9:30 am AEST
High
What markets may look for
Whether the BOJ still sees conditions for gradual policy normalisation, or whether energy-driven inflation complicates the outlook.
Whether goods and services inflation remain consistent with the 2% inflation objective.
Whether corporate goods prices reflect energy cost pass-through into producer pricing.
Whether Tokyo CPI points to firm or easing near-term price pressure ahead of the June meeting.
Why Japan matters
Japan’s data can influence yen volatility, Japanese government bond yields and the Nikkei 225. A stronger inflation pulse may support expectations for tighter policy over time, but energy-driven inflation can also pressure households and corporate margins. That balance may keep yen and equity reactions data-dependent.
Australia and the RBA decision
Australia has one of the clearest domestic policy events in the region in May. The RBA's Monetary Policy Board meets on 4 and 5 May, with the decision statement and Statement on Monetary Policy due at 2:30 pm AEST on 5 May. The Governor's media conference follows at 3:30 pm AEST.
Key Dates (AEST)
29
Apr
March CPI
Final read before RBA decision · 11:30 am AEST
High
05
May
RBA decision and Statement on Monetary Policy
Key domestic volatility event · 2:30 pm AEST
High
19
May
Minutes of the May RBA meeting
Reserve Bank of Australia · 11:30 am AEST
Medium
27
May
April CPI
First read on energy pass-through · 11:30 am AEST
High
What markets may look for
Whether the RBA gives more weight to inflation persistence or household demand risks in its decision statement.
Whether the Statement on Monetary Policy adjusts inflation, growth or labour market assumptions from the February update.
Whether April CPI confirms or challenges the inflation narrative after the May decision.
Whether labour conditions remain firm enough, with unemployment at 4.3% in March, to keep services inflation in focus.
Why Australia matters
Australia’s May data may influence AUD/USD, ASX 200 rate-sensitive sectors and short-end bond yields. A firmer inflation profile could support expectations for a restrictive RBA stance, while softer activity or household signals may limit how far markets price additional tightening. For index CFDs and forex CFDs, this is the highest-signal domestic event of the month.
Regional swing factors
Energy remains the main cross-market risk for May. Higher oil and gas prices can lift inflation, widen trade gaps and reduce policy space, particularly for economies dependent on imported fuel such as Japan, South Korea and parts of South-East Asia.
Regional themes to watch
ASEAN purchasing managers' index releases may indicate whether manufacturing momentum is broadening or losing speed. The Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar and Asian FX may remain sensitive to China data and global risk appetite. Iron ore and energy prices may influence Australia and China-linked equities. The RBA, BOJ and People's Bank of China face different inflation and growth trade-offs, and energy supply concerns may continue to shape inflation expectations and risk sentiment across the region.
Key watchlist
01
Top China Data Point
18 May activity data, particularly retail sales and property indicators
02
Top Japan Event
12 May BOJ Summary of Opinions from the April meeting
03
Top Australia Event
5 May RBA decision and Statement on Monetary Policy
04
Main Regional Wildcard
Energy price volatility linked to Middle East developments
05
Most Sensitive Market
AUD/USD, given its link to China demand and RBA repricing risk
06
Key Condition Shift
Evidence that inflation pressure is becoming persistent rather than mainly energy-led
Bottom Line
May’s Asia-Pacific calendar gives markets several points to reassess the region’s inflation, growth and policy mix. China data may shape commodity and risk sentiment, while Japan’s inflation signals and the RBA decision will guide rate pricing.
Energy remains the primary regional risk. If inflation pressure appears more persistent rather than energy-led, markets will become increasingly sensitive to central bank communication and yield repricing.
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As we enter May 2026, the global FX market is attempting a difficult high-wire act. April was defined by "civilisation-ending" ultimatums and a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire that sent Brent crude on a rollercoaster from US$110 down to the mid-US$90s.
For traders, the connect-the-dots moment is this: the peak panic around the Iran conflict has faded, but it has been replaced by a structural regime shift. Markets may be moving from a war premium to a transition premium.
With Kevin Warsh nominated to take the Fed chair in mid-May and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) staring down a generational ceiling near 160.00, the calm in the headlines may be masking a major repricing of global yield differentials.
DXY context
Holding near 100.00 on the “Warsh hawk” floor
Strongest currency
USD, supported by safe-haven demand and yield advantage
Weakest currency
JPY, pressured by the rate gap and energy import exposure
Main central bank theme
The hawkish hold and Fed leadership transition
Main catalyst ahead
RBA (5 May) and US Non-Farm Payrolls (8 May)
Monthly leaderboard — biggest movers
01USD
Rose sharply on safe-haven demand and higher for longer yield expectations.
Strongest
02CHF
Advanced strongly as the preferred European refuge from Middle East risk.
Safe Haven
03AUD
Mixed; caught between domestic energy inflation and a hawkish RBA.
Mixed
04NZD
Under pressure; yield gap and capital outflows remains the primary narrative.
Down
05JPY
Fell to 20-month lows; pressured by the widening rate gap and energy import costs.
Weakest
Strongest mover: US dollar (USD)
The US dollar enters May with a new kind of ballast. While the ceasefire reduced the immediate need for a panic hedge, the nomination of Kevin Warsh, widely viewed as an inflation hawk, has provided a structural floor for the greenback.
Markets may be front-running a shift in Fed independence alongside a stricter approach to inflation targeting. That combination - a credible hawkish signal at the policy level - tends to support the dollar even when the near-term data is mixed.
Key drivers
The Warsh effect:
Markets may be front-running a shift in Fed independence and a stricter approach to inflation targeting.
Energy insulation:
As a net exporter, the US may be better cushioned against any fragile ceasefire-related flare-ups in oil than Europe or Japan.
Yield floor:
The federal funds rate at 3.50% to 3.75% remains a potential magnet for global capital.
What markets are watching next
Traders are watching the 101 level on the DXY. A sustained break above this high-volume area could signal a restart of the primary uptrend and a softer-than-expected US non-farm payrolls report on 8 May may challenge that view.
Weakest mover: Japanese yen (JPY)
If you wanted to design a currency to struggle in 2026, the yen fits the brief. Despite the "TACO" script, short for "Trump always chickens out", providing some relief to equities, the mathematical pressure on JPY remains significant.
The BOJ continues its delicate exit from long-term stimulus, but this process has been slower than many anticipated. The USD/JPY pair remains particularly sensitive to US Treasury yields. A move above 4.5% on the US 10-year could put additional pressure on the BOJ to act.
Key drivers
The yield chasm:
Even if the BOJ hikes to 1.00%, the spread against the US dollar would remain around 275 basis points (bps), which may keep the carry trade attractive.
Import vulnerability:
Japan’s heavy reliance on Middle East oil means energy costs may continue to weigh on its current account, even with oil near US$93.
Intervention fatigue:
Finance Minister Katayama has warned of “bold action”, but past interventions in 2022 and 2024 have tended to provide only short-lived relief.
Strategic outlook
USD/JPY is sitting near 159.80. The generational ceiling around 160.40, reportedly not breached in 35 years, remains the key battleground.
The pair to watch: AUD/USD
The Australian dollar sits at an interesting intersection.
Inflation in Australia has proven more persistent than in other developed economies, which may encourage the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to maintain a cautious, higher-for-longer stance. This could create potential yield support for the AUD that does not exist in the same way for currencies where central banks are already cutting.
What could support the AUD
At the same time, the AUD remains deeply exposed to commodity markets and Chinese demand.
Iron ore and copper are critical inputs for the Australian economy. If global demand remains stable, the Australian dollar could find further support. Any shift in Chinese industrial data will be a key signal for this pair.
The EUR/USD comparison
The EUR/USD dynamic also warrants attention.
The European Central Bank (ECB) is balancing a cooling economy with regional inflation targets. Growth in Germany remains a concern for the eurozone, and markets are pricing in a potential rate cut that could narrow the interest rate differential with the US.
That shift may cause the euro to soften relative to the US dollar. Political developments within the European Union, particularly any fiscal disagreement, could add to volatility in that pair.
Data to watch next
Four events stand out as the clearest catalysts. Each has a direct transmission channel into rate expectations and, by extension, into forex CFDs.
Key dates and FX sensitivity
05
May
RBA Policy Decision
AUD pairs, ASX 200 · 02.30 pm AEST
Markets are pricing a 74% chance of a hike to 4.35% as domestic inflation remains persistent. The outcome may shape AUD direction over the following weeks.
08
May
US Labour Market (NFP)
USD pairs, Gold · 10:30 pm AEST
A second consecutive miss could create an uncomfortable narrative for the new Fed leadership transition. The NFP report provides the clearest picture of US labour market health.
12
May
US consumer price index (CPI), April
USD/JPY, EUR/USD · 10:30 pm AEST
The first clear read on whether the April oil price spike has flowed into core services and sticky inflation. It may influence the Fed’s tone for the remainder of the quarter.
20
May
NVIDIA Q1 Earnings
US Tech, AI Infrastructure · Morning AEST
A key pulse check for the AI infrastructure “invoice phase” and broader risk-on sentiment. It may influence risk-correlated currencies, including AUD and NZD.
Key levels and signals
◆
USD/JPY 160.00
A possible line in the sand for Ministry of Finance intervention. Actual or threatened action here has historically produced sharp reversals in the pair.
◆
AUD/USD 0.7000
A psychological handle that acted as a heavy pivot during the 2025 trade war; remains a near-term directional reference for positioning.
◆
Brent crude US$92.13
Technical resistance where a break lower could confirm the geopolitical floor has weakened, potentially easing pressure on importers.
◆
US 10-year yield 4.5%
A break above this level could create significant valuation pressure for growth-linked FX pairs and emerging market assets.
Bottom line
The FX moves heading into May are being shaped by a normalisation trap. Traders may be betting that the worst of the energy shock is over but a hawkish Fed leadership transition could still re-steepen the yield curve.
Moves are likely to remain highly data-dependent and sensitive to overnight gaps from the Middle East, where geopolitical shifts can gap markets before the next session opens.
The FX market heading into May is being shaped by a normalisation trap. Traders may be betting that the worst of the energy shock is over, but a hawkish Fed leadership transition could still re-steepen the yield curve. Moves are likely to remain highly data-dependent and sensitive to overnight gaps from the Middle East, where geopolitical shifts can gap markets before the next session opens.
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