The S&P/ASX 200 is posting small gains, opening on February 21 up 1.4 points to 5942.3, but that hasn't stopped a number of shares on the index from racing higher at rate of knots to hit 52-week highs.
CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)
A biopharmaceutical company involved in the research, manufacture and marketing of products to treat bleeding disorders and other diseases, CSL Limited, opened up 0.7% on February 21 at $157.17.
CSL's share price has stormed higher over the last 52 weeks, sitting 31.7% up from its $119.28 share price at the same time last year.
Investors have rallied behind CSL since the release of its February 14 half-year results, which handed down a 31% lift in NPAT to surpass US$1 billion for the first time – driven by strong sales growth from immunoglobin and seasonal flu vaccine products.
Shareholders have an unfranked A$1.00 per share dividend to look forward to, with CSL increasing its FY18 net profit forecast from US$1.55 billion to US$1.6 billion, even taking into account losses expected on its flu vaccine business as a result of sales being skewed towards northern hemisphere sales in the first half.
How much higher can CSL push its share price?
An interesting one to keep an eye on.
Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU)
Shares in the provider of services in transfer agency and share registration, Computershare Limited, has tracked upwards in the last 52 weeks, from $13.64 at this time last year to $17.96 today.
Computershare announced a 14% rise in net profit to US$171.2 million when it handed down its half-year results on February 14, with investors impressed by its growing US business drivers.
Shares have continued to climb since the report was handed down, with a 12.4% increase in revenue to US$1.12 billion announced.
Computershare's CEO said the company was well-positioned for solid growth, with the successful half partly due to "cyclical recovery and improvements" in some events-based businesses.
Shareholders were no doubt impressed by Computershare's announcement of an unfranked interim dividend of 19c, up from 11.8c, and have certainly continued to show their support for the company in the last year.
