Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), A2 Milk Co Ltd (ASX: A2M), and Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares are turning heads today.
As we head into the Thursday lunch hour, two of the ASX 200 heavyweights are charging ahead of the 0.2% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) at this time, while one is trailing that performance.
Here's what's grabbing ASX investor interest on Thursday.
Image source: Getty Images
Pro Medicus shares leap on AI news
Pro Medicus shares are up 2.5% at the time of writing, swapping hands for $183.40 each.
This outperformance follows an announcement from the ASX 200 health imaging company on how it is expanding its AI-driven cardiology solutions.
In the latest move, Pro Medicus has signed binding heads of agreement with AI and medical technology company Echo IQ Ltd (ASX: EIQ).
The deal would see Pro Medicus take an initial $10 million stake in Echo IQ. A further $10 million investment is contingent on Echo securing US FDA approval for its EchoSolv HF product.
Commenting on the deal that's helping boost Pro Medicus shares today, CEO Sam Hupert said:
In addition to providing financial backing, we are looking to offer our Visage 7 Cardiology customers the option of Echo IQ's technology.
This is in line with our AI strategy of offering a curated suite of algorithms that will be a mixture of algorithms created by us, those created in conjunction with our clinical partners and third party algorithms such as Echo-IQ.
A2 Milk shares surge on NZ$300 million special dividend
A2 Milk shares are also catching investor attention today, and outperforming, after the board declared a NZ$300 million fully-franked special dividend.
The welcome passive income boost follows the recent Chinese approval to transition product registrations to A2 Milk-branded infant formula.
And it sees shares in the infant formula company up 4.1% today, trading for $7.13 each.
Breaking that NZ$300 million dividend payout down, it equates to 41.36 New Zealand cents per share (33.90 Aussie cents at current exchange rates).
If you want to bag the special A2 Milk dividend, you'll need to own shares by market close on 7 July. A2 Milk shares trade ex-dividend on 8 July.
Commenting on the special dividend payout boosting A2 Milk shares today, chair Pip Greenwood, said:
With the necessary China regulatory approvals now in place, the board is pleased to declare a $300 million special dividend. This reflects our commitment to delivering shareholder returns while maintaining disciplined capital management.
Which brings us to…
Mineral Resources shares sink on mine closure
Joining A2 Milk and Pro Medicus shares in grabbing headlines today is lithium miner and diversified resources producer Mineral Resources.
However, Mineral Resources shares are underperforming today, down 2.9% at $63.93 apiece.
This comes amid news that the ASX 200 mining stock is placing its Western Australia-based Lucky Bay Garnet Project into care and maintenance at the end of the month.
Mineral Resource noted:
The mine's financial performance has been materially impacted by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a region representing a significant proportion of Lucky Bay's sales.
Combined with materially higher diesel and shipping costs, a strategic review of Lucky Bay has determined it is in the best interests of the company and its shareholders to cease operations and transition the project into care and maintenance, effective 1 July 2026.
