Another – only just – positive day for the S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO), which was up 0.17% to 5,166 points at the time of writing.
As ever, a number of stocks considerably outperformed, and here's why:
Surfstitch Group Ltd (ASX: SRF) leapt 15% to $1.36, after trading as much as 20% higher on news the Managing Director had resigned and was attempting to take the company private, with the help of private equity backers. Although no formal bid has yet been registered for the company, it seems investors have been buying in anticipation of an offer higher than what shares have been changing hands for recently. As recent experience with some other beaten-up growth shares has indicated, opportunistic bids that undervalue the company are not likely to be well received by management, and I believe any bidders will have to pay well above today's prices to snap up Surfstitch.
Surfstitch shares are down 2% in the past 12 months.
Farm Pride Foods Ltd. (ASX: FRM) rose 7% today on no news and average volume as investors continue to re-value the company in light of its recent announcements and interim results, which revealed an 80% leap in profit. A claim against the company and related bodies by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) was also resolved in favour of Farm Pride, which is likely to reduce investor nervousness as well, although the ACCC is appealing.
Farm Pride shares are up 430% in the past 12 months.
McMillan Shakespeare Limited (ASX: MMS) rose 4% to $12.19 today as investors buy the company on the back of some heavy falls in price recently. McMillan shares recently traded above $14 before investor fears over potential changes to salary packaging impacted the share price. Recent results and the appointment of a wholly-owned subsidiary to the panel of the NSW government's leasing provider reminded investors that McMillan has been a strong performer in recent years, and in truth the company doesn't look particularly expensive today. A price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 12 and a fully franked, 4.8% dividend is likely to lure in some bargain hunters.
McMillan Shakespeare shares are trading virtually flat over the past 12 months.
Worleyparsons Limited (ASX: WOR) rose 4% to $5.64 in ongoing volatility following a sharp spike in share prices on the back of February's interim results. Probably the recent lift in commodity prices had something to do with it, as much of Worley's business is dependent on demand for the infrastructure required to produce commodities like oil, gas, and iron ore. However, investors buying into the rising prices may have misplaced their faith, given that there is often a substantial lag time between higher (or lower) commodity prices and changing demand for commodity infrastructure.
Worleyparsons shares are down 44% in the past 12 months.
