3 ASX 200 shares making big moves following quarterly updates

Today's proving to be a wild one for these stocks.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is trading relatively flat on Thursday, down just 0.01% at the time of writing, but it's a different story with these three shares.

They're each making notable moves on the back of quarterly updates. Let's take a look.

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3 ASX 200 shares making moves on quarterly updates

Let's start with ASX 200 investment management company Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF). Its share price is down 3.5% to $6.30 after clawing back from an intraday low of $6.24 on the back of its third-quarter update.

The company revealed $2 billion of Total Life sales, a 2% jump in assets under management – reaching $102 billion, and a 3% jump in its Funds Management business' funds under management – coming in at $96 billion.

However, the market might be focused on a 50% drop in institutional annuity sales, falling to $1 billion. Managing director and CEO Nick Hamilton said:

As we prioritise growth in longer duration retail business, we have seen a moderation of institutional annuity sales, with a lower level of maturities reinvested.

Institutional annuity sales are typically much shorter duration, and we remain very disciplined on institutional term annuity pricing.

On a brighter note, the share price of ASX 200 pallet company Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) soared 5% to a 52-week high of $14.66 earlier today on a guidance upgrade. It's since settled at $14.07 a share, 1.15% higher.

The company's sales rose 15% at constant currency over the first nine months of this fiscal year to nearly US$4,482 million.

It now expects its full-year sales revenue growth to come in between 14% and 15% at constant currency. Meanwhile, its underlying profit is forecast to grow by 17% to 19% at constant currency.

It previously tipped its revenue and profits to grow 12% to 14% and 15% to 18% respectively.

Finally, shares in ASX 200 uranium producer Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) tumbled 3% to an intraday low of 62 cents. It followed the release of its quarterly activities and cash flow report.

The company spent US$18.7 million last quarter as it worked to restart activities at the Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia, Africa. That left it with a US$147.2 million cash balance.

The project is estimated to be around 40% complete, with first production on track for the first quarter of 2024. CEO Ian Purdy said today:

With a strong uranium contract book and a world class asset in the Langer Heinrich Mine, Paladin remains well positioned to deliver long term value for our stakeholders.

The company's share price is currently trading at 63.2 cents a share, 1.25% lower.

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Challenger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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