Now that the February reporting season is past, we can see some of the big movers over the past month. The story of each stock drives the share price. If they can sustain their growth, and increase earnings, their share prices may be higher in the future.
Oil and gas explorer and producer Beach Energy Limited (ASX: BPT) has its main oil developments in the Cooper and Eromanga Basins in SA and QLD. The region's resource potential has been opened up by new drilling and production technologies.
The company raised production to a record 5.6 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) in the six months ending 31 December. Half-year underlying net profit was up 160% on the pcp to $158 million.
Seek Limited (ASX: SEK) is still the number one jobs website in Australia, but it wants more growth. It will acquire approximately 80% of the remaining shares in JobStreet, a Kuala Lumpur-based jobs website, for complete ownership.
Further expansion into South East Asia is coming on the back of a record-half year result. Underlying net profit was up 29%, and revenue increased 38% to $380.7 million.
Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC), the private hospital and day surgery facility operator, has added to its total number of facilities, bringing the total to 151. They are located in Australia, the UK, France and Asia.
In addition to acquisitions, it committed $70 million to expand capacities in existing Australian hospitals to generate more income and higher efficiencies. Net profit for H1 2014 was up 13.9% to $157.7 million.
Leighton Holdings Limited (ASX: LEI), the engineering and construction company, shot up in share price in early March when its largest shareholder, the German company Hochtief, made a proportional takeover offer for the company.
The offer is for buying shares so that its stake increases to a maximum of 74.23% from its current 58.77%. Hochtief's goal is to increase its representation on the board, and possibly change the business structure to improve efficiencies and earnings. The company has a great amount of receivables for work that is weighing down the balance sheet.
Foolish takeaway
Reporting season is exciting with profit increases and sudden share price movements. However, the stock market is a forward-looking beast, so companies will have to show how earnings will continue to rise and business will grow.
