AGM season kicks off in Australia this month, with many S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) stocks holding their annual general meetings.
This provides shareholders a chance to hear from management and gauge how the business is tracking.
The market closely follows company AGMs.
Data collected by Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) revealed that stocks have higher trading volume on AGM day, averaging a 41% increase. This is followed by a period of share price underperformance. However, on average, share prices recover in line with the market around four weeks after their AGM.
In a 1 October research note, Stocks to buy & sell for 2025 AGM season, Macquarie said that after the guidance reset in August, it expects net positive surprises for the AGM season.
Macquarie also noted that, after three years of decline, ASX earnings trends had turned more positive in September, with earnings per share (EPS) upgrades of 4%.
The broker also named 5 stocks that it expects to deliver the most positive surprises during AGM season, as determined by Macquarie analysts.
Here are the 5 companies named.
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Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB)
Macquarie's first pick is telecommunications stock Aussie Broadband.
The stock has soared an impressive 67% for the year to date, while offering a small dividend yield of 0.68%. That's substantially higher than the All Ords Index, which has risen 10% over the same period.
The broker has an outperform rating and price target of $5.90 on Aussie Broadband shares.
Aussie Broadband will hold its AGM on 14 October.
Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)
Property development company Stockland was the second stock named.
Stockland shares have also performed well recently, rising 28% for the year to date.
Macquarie currently has a neutral rating and price target of $6.16 on Stockland shares.
Stockland will hold its AGM on 16 October.
Australian Finance Group Ltd (ASX: AFG)
Macquarie named mortgage broking group Australian Finance Group as its third pick.
The company has soared 78% for the year to date.
Macquarie currently has an outperform rating and price target of $2.86 on Australian Finance Group.
Australian Finance Group will hold its AGM on 17 October.
JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)
Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi was the fourth company named.
JB Hi-Fi shares have risen 26% for the year to date.
Macquarie has an outperform rating and price target of $118 on JB Hi-Fi shares.
JB Hi-Fi will hold its AGM on 30 October.
Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW)
Macquarie named integrated services company Downer EDI as the final stock to deliver a positive earnings surprise during earnings season.
Like the other four ASX All Ords stocks named, Downer EDI shares have substantially outperformed the ASX All Ords Index for the year to date, rising 42%.
Macquarie has an outperform rating and price target of $7.65 on Downer EDI shares.
Downer EDI will hold its AGM on 11 November.
