The S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) is up 0.2% today, with plenty of help from one soaring ASX 300 stock.
The outperforming company in question is global transport provider and tourism operator Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS).
Kelsian shares closed yesterday at $2.79. In earlier trade, they leapt to $3.25 each, up 16.5%. After some likely profit-taking, they are trading for $3.16 apiece at the time of writing, up 13.3%.
Kelsian shares are still down a sharp 46% since this time last year. But faithful shareholders have been enjoying a strong rebound since the stock hit a multi-year closing low of $2.22 on 9 April, with shares now up 42.3% since that low.
Here's what's driving investor interest in the ASX 300 stock today.
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ASX 300 stock leaps on Macquarie presentation
Investors are bidding up the Kelsian share price on the heels of the company's presentation at the Macquarie Australia Conference alongside a trading update.
In a pitch to investors, the ASX 300 stock noted that it's, "A diversified global business with a strong track record of growth, underpinned by highly defensive, long-term, service contracts with strong counterparties."
Kelsian employs more than 12,600 people and operates more than 5,800 buses and 115 vessels.
The company highlighted that most of its service contracts are government and corporate-backed.
So, what about the trading update?
What's been happening with Kelsian?
In Q3 FY 2025, Kelsian said its Australian and International Bus performance was in line with expectations, while its Marine & Tourism's Queensland operations were negatively impacted by Cyclone Alfred.
Management estimated that the cyclone reduced year-to-date earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) by around $2.8 million.
In the United States, the ASX 300 stock reported "strong utilisation" across charter operations with no material impact yet from the Trump tariff changes.
In Australia, Kelsian said it enjoyed continued strong revenue growth, driven in part by its Western Sydney bus contracts.
For the nine months to 31 March, the company reported underlying EBITDA of $210.4 million.
What's ahead for the ASX 300 stock?
So far in the fourth quarter, Kelsian said revenue during Easter trading was in line with its expectations.
Management also expects the efficiency program and service changes in Sydney to deliver an improved contribution.
And investors appear pleased that the ASX 300 stock is on track to meet full-year FY 2025 earnings guidance of between $283 million and $295 million. Though the company did note it is tracking towards the lower end of that EBITDA guidance range.
FY 2025 capex guidance remained unchanged.
