The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on form again on Thursday and charging higher. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.6% to 9,182.2 points.
Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:
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Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)
The Accent share price is up a further 13% to $1.13. Investors have been scrambling to buy this footwear retailer's shares this week following the release of its half-year results. The Platypus and HypeDC owner reported a 2.4% increase in sales to $865.2 million and a net profit after tax of $28.1 million. Accent's board elected to declare a 3.25 cents per share fully franked dividend for the half. Another positive was that it has "successfully opened the first Sports Direct store and website with pleasing early trade." In response, Morgans upgraded its shares to a buy rating with a $1.30 price target.
DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)
The DroneShield share price is up 10% to $3.73. This has been driven by news that the counter-drone technology company has won a series of contracts from a reseller to Western military customers. The package of six contracts has a total value of $21.7 million and covers dismounted counter-drone systems, spares, and software. Delivery is expected to take place during the first quarter of 2026. It notes that over the past seven years, prior to this contract, DroneShield had received 39 contracts from this reseller totalling over $17.8 million.
IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)
The IDP Education share price is up 14% to $5.23. Investors have been buying the heavily shorted language testing and student placement company's shares following the release of its half-year results. For the first half, revenue declined 6% to $462.2 million as lower student placement and language testing volumes weighed on performance. Things were worse for its net profit after tax, which declined 25% to $48.6 million. However, management has lifted its FY 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance to a range of $120 million to $130 million. This is up from its prior guidance of $115 million to $125 million.
Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)
The Sigma Healthcare share price is up 6% to $3.17. This has been driven by the release of the Chemist Warehouse owner's half-year results. The company reported a 14.9% increase in revenue to $5.5 billion, with Chemist Warehouse branded store sales in Australia growing 17.2% to reach $5.1 billion. On the bottom line, Sigma recorded a 19.2% increase in normalised net profit after tax to $392 million. Sigma's CEO and managing director, Vikesh Ramsunder, said: "Our first half performance reinforces the strength of Sigma. As an integrated healthcare business we see long-term opportunities for growth, headlined by sustained performance across our core domestic market, led by CW branded stores. This has continued to be a consistent feature of the CW business over the past two decades."
