Reporting season is winding up and a slew of companies have reported their results today. But with a number of large cap stocks going ex-dividend today, the S&P / ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is trading up just 0.1% at lunchtime.
Here are four stocks that have soared today, with three reporting fantastic full year results…
Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)
The company that sells software to design printed circuit boards has seen its shares climb 4.3% to $2.69, after reporting a 717% increase in net profit for the 2014 financial year. Altium saw revenues rise 15% to $71 million and net profit at $11.2 million. That's equates to a still hefty P/E ratio of 26.7x, but if the company can continue to generate growth like that, the current price is cheap.
Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF)
Insurance broker Steadfast's shares are up 8.3%, as the company reported a 287% increase in net profit to $25.1 million for 2014 and exceeded its prospectus forecasts. Steadfast declared a final dividend of 2.7 cents, fully franked, putting it on an annualised yield of 3.6%.
The company also announced a takeover of Calliden Group Limited (ASX: CIX), offering 41.5 cents cash per share and a 5 cents special dividend to be paid by Calliden. Calliden shares soared 33% to 46 cents.
WDS Limited (ASX: WDS)
Mining services company WDS's shares have soared 9%, after the contractor reported a 61% rise in net profit to $13.3 million for the 2014 financial year. The company declared a final dividend of 3.25 cents per share and a special dividend of 1.25 cents. Total dividends for the year were 9.5 cents, a whopping fully franked yield of 9.8%! WDS also says it see promising signs in coal seam gas going forward.
Beyond international Ltd (ASX: BYI)
The TV and movie producer delivered the only fall in net profit of the these four stocks – a 14% fall in net profit to $8 million, as revenues fell 13% to $89 million. Shares were 5.4% higher after Beyond said it expects 2015 financial year net profit to be around 10% higher than this year. At current prices, Beyond is trading on a P/E ratio of 10x, and paying an unfranked dividend yield of 6.5%, which doesn't appear expensive.
