Two ASX-listed examples stand out: SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR) and Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ). Their technologies might not make headlines, but both play vital roles in daily life. From booking a hotel room to finding a parking space, both have delivered outstanding growth over the past year.

Powering hotel bookings around the world

Sydney-based SiteMinder is the invisible backbone of online hotel reservations. Its cloud software connects more than 47,000 accommodation providers to hundreds of booking platforms — from Booking.com and Expedia to Google Hotel Ads and TripAdvisor — ensuring room availability, prices, and payments are updated in real time.

That may sound simple, but it replaces an enormous amount of manual work for hoteliers and eliminates costly overbooking errors. Once integrated, SiteMinder's platform becomes mission-critical — a reason customer churn remains near 1% per month.

The company's "land-and-expand" strategy continues to gain traction. In FY25, it grew property subscriptions by 12.6% to over 50,000 and tripled the number of hotels using its transaction-based products, which charge small fees on each booking or payment processed. With nearly two-thirds of customers now using at least one of these add-ons, SiteMinder's average revenue per hotel is rising steadily.

Annual recurring revenue has surpassed $270 million, and management expects to report positive operating earnings and free cash flow for 2026. Despite its scale, the runway remains long: fewer than 5% of the world's one million accommodation providers currently use SiteMinder's platform.

Monetising every parking space

Another company quietly thriving in the background is Smart Parking, a small-cap technology group specialising in parking management. Using a mix of sensors, cameras, and software, Smart Parking helps property owners (for example, shopping centres and airports) monetise their car parks efficiently.

It's a simple proposition with big potential. Site growth jumped 45% in FY25, and the company now operates thousands of sites across multiple countries. Recent financials showed revenue up 42% year on year, operating earnings (EBITDA) up 47%, and free cash flow of $13.3 million, with strong margins of 26.6%.

Smart Parking's model is capital-light and customer-friendly: clients often face little or no upfront cost, while the company shares in parking revenue. Its recent acquisition of US-based Peak Parking opens the door to America's enormous market (estimated at US$16 billion annually) and positions it for the next leg of growth.

Why investors should pay attention

What these two businesses share is their potential for scale. Both tackle large, everyday markets — travel and parking — using technology that makes them more efficient. Both generate recurring or transaction-linked revenue. And both are proving that you don't need to reinvent the wheel to build a great business, you just need to make it spin better.

While neither company is immune to risks (travel downturns for SiteMinder, regulation or competition for Smart Parking), their steady execution and expanding global footprints show how "behind the scenes" technology can quietly deliver powerful results for investors.

The post Unflashy ASX success stories powering life behind the scenes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A business like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) may find it challenging to double its profit quickly because of how large it already is and the difficulty in expanding its market share further.

However, small businesses are much earlier on in their growth journeys and could deliver significant returns.

It's the companies growing rapidly that could be ones to watch closely. Let's look at the two with explosive growth.

Cogstate Ltd (ASX: CGS)

This ASX small-cap share describes itself as a neuroscience technology company that's optimising brain health assessments to advance the development of new medicines and to enable earlier clinical insights in healthcare.

It provides computer-based cognitive tests across a growing list of domains and support partners for delivering electronic clinical outcome assessment solutions to replace "costly and error-prone paper assessments".

The company's offering is clearly resonating. In FY25, the company delivered year-over-year revenue growth of 22% to $53.1 million.

Pleasingly, the company's profit margins are improving, which suggests the bottom line can expand at a much faster rate than the top line over the long-term. FY25 operating profit (EBITDA) climbed by 72% to $16 million, while net profit before tax soared 96% to $13.9 million.

It also reported a strong start to FY26, with $14.1 million of new sales contracts executed since 1 July 2025, taking revenue under contract that's expected to be recognised in FY26 to $35.9 million.

The company plans to continue investing for growth, which I think bodes well for the ASX small-cap share.

Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ)

Smart Parking describes itself as a technology innovator within the parking management industry. It has offices in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the US.

Its managed services division operates and manages tens of thousands of car park spaces using automatic number plate recognition and licence plate recognition. It fully integrates parking, guidance, payment and analytics with other services.

The company is delivering strong growth for shareholders, with revenue rising 42% to $77.2 million, adjusted operating profit (EBITDA) climbed 47% to $20.5 million, adjusted free cash flow up 15% to $13.3 million and earnings per share (EPS) growth of 37% to 1.45 cents.

The ASX small-cap share also announced a strong start to FY26, with July 2025 showing revenue growth of 73% to $9.8 million and adjusted EBITDA surged 60% to $3 million.

The company could grow significantly thanks to a combination of winning more sites in existing markets, entering new countries and growing margins.

The post 2 exciting small-cap ASX shares that are growing quickly appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early afternoon trade today, shares in the integrated global parking services provider are up 7.6%, changing hands for 85 cents apiece.

That sees the Smart Parking share price up an impressive 98% since this time last year.

Although the company hasn't been immune to the broader fallout from US President Donald Trump's tariff war with China.

Despite a strong rebound from the 7 April lows, shares in the ASX All Ords stock remain down 16.7% from the 19 February all-time closing high.

But according to Hayden Beamish, chief investment officer at Endeavour Asset Management, that retrace offers a potentially opportune long-term entry point (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review).

ASX All Ords stock on the growth path

Beamish said his fund has been taking advantage of the tariff-driven sell-down in ASX small-caps by buying stocks that have fallen "30% to 50% but show no earnings impact".

He said these are "companies with recurring revenues, net-cash balance sheets and wide moats – such as high-quality technology and industrial names".

Asked which stock his fund owns that he believes has the most near-term upside, Beamish named Smart Parking.

On 7 April, the ASX All Ords stock was down 32.4% from its 19 February closing high. And despite soaring 23.2% since then, Beamish believes there are more gains to be had.

"Smart Parking Systems is one of our top picks for the next three to six months," he said.

Beamish explained:

Analysts forecast revenue growth of 25% and a move to profitability by next June, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation margins expanding from 10% to 15%.

It trades on about eight times forward enterprise value to its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, well below its long-run average of 12 times when contract wins drove re-ratings.

Beamish is also bullish on Smart Parking's recent US$36 million acquisition of US company Peak Parking. The Smart Parking's expanding footprint is helping the ASX All Ords stock capture a greater share of a soon to be US$10 billion (AU$15.7 billion) parking market.

According to Beamish:

The global smart-parking market is set to reach US$10 billion by 2028, and Smart Parking's USA expansion story gives clear catalysts.

Compared to peers trading at 14 times EV/EBITDA, we see significant re-rating potential as new contracts are announced.

With the Smart Parking share price and market cap flying higher over recent years, the company officially became an ASX All Ords stock on 24 March as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices quarterly review.

The post Up 98% in a year, how this ASX All Ords stock is tapping into a $16 billion market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino's share price is down 2.5% to $30.51. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Citi this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the pizza chain operator's shares to a neutral rating with a reduced price target of $33.25. Citi made the move after lowering its estimated value of the company's European operations. It notes that trading conditions are difficult in France and that recent initiatives that are aiming to improve sales trends are yet to deliver the goods. It is also waiting cautiously to see how the Japan business performs in the key Christmas period.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is down almost 2% to $22.36. This is despite there being no news out of the location technology company this week. However, it seems that profit taking is weighing heavily on its shares this month. So much so, its shares are down over 15% since this time last week. Though, shareholders won't be too disheartened given that its shares remains up approximately 200% in 2024 despite this recent weakness.

Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ)

The Smart Parking share price is down 5.5% to 87.5 cents. This is despite industry data showing that the company has been growing its market share in the United Kingdom. It seems that some investors may have been expecting stronger growth in the key market. Nevertheless, Shaw and Partners was pleased with the data. As a result, it has retained its high risk buy rating and $1.10 price target on the parking technology company's shares.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is down 4.5% to $3.52. Investors have been selling the miner's shares today after it released an update on its Mozal Aluminium operation in Mozambique. South32 advised that due to escalating civil unrest in west African country, the transport of raw materials to Mozal Aluminium is being impacted by road blockages. And while management has implemented contingency plans to mitigate operational impacts, it is withdrawing its production guidance for Mozal Aluminium as it responds to the evolving situation.

The post Why Domino's, Life360, Smart Parking, and South32 shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One example is Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ), whose share price has doubled over the past year. For context, the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index (ASX: XSO) and the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) have advanced by approximately 6% during the same period.

Can Smart Parking keep doing its smart magic?

Why did Smart Parking shares soar?

As the company name implies, it specialises in cutting-edge parking technology. It provides real-time space availability, efficient space management, and seamless payment solutions.

Smart Parking's stock has been rising due to the company's strong business performance. The provider of car parking technology has been rapidly expanding its presence in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. The number of parking sites under management has increased from 286 in June 2018 to 1,219 in December 2023.

Such rapid expansion of its car parks under management led to strong financial results. In 1H FY24, which ended on 31 December 2023, the company delivered a 20% revenue growth to $26.6 million and a 26% growth in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) to $6.7 million.

The company has been rapidly expanding its presence in Europe. Smart Parking initially focused on growth in the UK, then expanded to New Zealand in FY21, Australia and Germany in FY22, and most recently Denmark.

The company's total addressable market is growing as the overall market expands. There are 45,000 parking sites in the UK, 90,000 in Germany, and 10,000 in Denmark, totaling 145,000 in these three countries. Smart Parking currently holds less than 1% market share in these areas.

Business outlook

Smart Parking's growth comes from its operations' scalability and the ongoing expansion. In March 2024, the company acquired Local Parking Security in the UK, adding 126 new parking management sites.

Management is optimistic about the future. In the 1H FY24 update, the company reaffirmed its target to reach 1,500 sites under management by December 2024, marking a 25% increase from its December 2023 figure.

The company also sees "significant new interest and investment from private equity in the UK private parking management market." Two transactions in 1H FY24 demonstrate the attractive growth opportunity in the UK, the company added.

How expensive are Smart Parking shares?

Smart Parking shares are valued at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 28x based on its trailing 12 months' earnings and 22x based on FY25 earnings estimates by S&P Capital IQ. Compared with a few other ASX technology small-cap shares, using S&P Capital IQ estimates:

• VEEM Ltd (ASX: VEE) shares are valued at 31x FY25 earnings estimates
• DUG Technology Ltd (ASX: DUG) shares are valued at 36x FY25 earnings estimates
• IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG) shares are valued at 17x FY25 earnings estimates

The Smart Parking share price is down 1% at $0.54 at the time of writing.

The post Up 102% in a year, can this ASX small-cap technology company keep on rising? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What attracts people to ASX small-cap shares is their ability to respond quickly to new opportunities or changes in the market. This agility can lead to rapid growth. However, remember that while the opportunity for big rewards exists, these stocks can also be quite volatile. Investing in them comes with a mix of high hopes and risks.

With that caveat, let's dive into 3 ASX small-cap shares that I think have promising growth potential.

PWR Holdings (ASX: PWH)

PWR Holdings is a great example of a company using its strong skills in one area to grow into other industries.

Founded in 1997 by Kees Weel, who is still the CEO today, PWR Holdings has become a top player in advanced cooling systems. The company is a global leader in this niche, providing high-performance products for motorsport, automotive, aerospace, and defence industries.

While the company is best known for its motorsports division, the aerospace and defence industry is growing fast.

In 1H FY24, the company reported robust results, as revenue grew by 22.2% to $64.2 billion, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 27.2% to $18.4 billion. While the motorsport sector's 19% revenue growth was solid, the real surprise came from the aerospace and defence sector which saw an impressive 124% growth in revenue. The sector represented 12% of the total revenue, up from 7% a year ago.

Over the past decade, PWR Holdings has delivered stable earnings growth, superior profitability, and high return-on-equity ratios.

The PWR Holdings share price closed Monday at $10.94. Its shares are valued at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 34x on FY25 earnings estimates using S&P Capital IQ.

VEEM Ltd (ASX: VEE)

If there's a leader in PWR Holding for the global cooling systems market, there's also VEEM for the global marine precision parts market. VEEM introduced products that aimed to enhance efficiency and safety within its industry.

Founded in 1968, VEEM makes advanced marine technology and engineering parts, servicing both the defence and commercial marine sectors. Over the years, VEEM has established a strong reputation for innovation and quality, positioning itself as a key player in the global marine technology market.

This expertise and market leadership led to two exciting opportunities for VEEM. Several years ago, VEEM launched VEEM gyrostabilisers, an innovative product that replaces traditional propeller-based stabilisation. While the product's revenue was just $5 million in 1H FY24, it brings a big market potential. Management estimates its total addressable market would be US$1.1 billion for new builds.

The other exciting venture is VEEM's partnership with Sharrow Engineering. Last year, the two companies announced an exclusive agreement to adapt Sharrow's design to a wider range of vessels. While it's still early days, VEEM saw a positive outcome from initial testing and plans to launch this product line throughout FY25.

VEEM is tightly held by insiders, with Managing Director David Miocevich owning over 50% of the company.

The VEEM share price closed Monday at $1.72. According to S&P Capital IQ, its shares are valued at an FY25 P/E ratio of 30x.

Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ)

Smart Parking is the smallest company of the three, with a market capitalisation of $173 million, which puts it at the border between small-caps and micro-caps.

The company is growing fast by scaling up its operations. This company has presence in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, and Denmark.

As the name suggests, Smart Parking specialises in smart parking technology, which helps drivers find available parking spaces more easily and efficiently. Its systems include real-time parking information, automated payment options, and advanced monitoring tools. Smart Parking aims to make parking simpler and more convenient for both drivers and parking operators.

The number of parking sites managed by Smart Parking has grown from 250 in June 2017 to 1,219 in December 2023. During this period, revenue rose from $24.8 million in FY17 to 45.2 million in the last 12 months. As it built scale and operational efficiency, EBITDA margins improved from just 4% in FY17 to over 20% in the last 12 months to December 2023.

In terms of total addressable markets, management estimates there are approximately 45,000 sites in the UK, 90,000 sites in Germany, and 10,000 sites in Denmark. That's a total of 145,000 parking sites, giving a long runway for growth.

The Smart Parking stock closed at $0.48 on Monday, implying a FY25 P/E ratio of 19x, according to S&P Capital IQ.

The post 3 ASX small-cap shares I think have explosive growth potential appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's the opinion of Datt capital chief investment officer Emanuel Datt, who pointed out the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries (ASX: XSO) index is now at a "substantial divergence" from the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

"At present this discount is at about 30% according to our research. This compares to historical norms of the small cap index typically trading at a premium of circa 20%," he said.

"Accordingly, in terms of relative valuation there is a 50% divergence from the historical norm."

And whenever such a huge discrepancy has occurred, according to Datt, a period of "strong returns for small cap investors" has followed, as the market reverts to its average.

Even Australia's huge sovereign fund, the Future Fund, recently entered the fray as it called ASX small caps as a "persistent alpha opportunity".

'Intensive research' for 'strong idiosyncratic returns'

According to Datt, many "unloved" small-cap stocks have potential for "strong idiosyncratic returns" that are independent of macroeconomic factors.

"The size of these companies means they fall under the radar of many or most institutions. 

"There is much less investor interest generally in this sector and therefore greater opportunity of strong returns for those investors who believe in conducting intensive research in this sector."

So how do investors find the right small-cap stocks to buy?

Proper research is imperative, said Datt.

"As investors, we must take time to understand not only the technical aspects of a company's performance but also how the macro and micro factors affect the fundamentals of any company.

"Investors should look for invisible data that lies outside the standard stock screening software, using primary data."

One example could be something like Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ), which has a market capitalisation of just $123 million.

The stock has already risen 37% so far this year, but Canaccord Genuity, Veritas Securities and Marcus Today all currently consider it a buy.

"The company is expanding, backed by consistent financial growth since 2021," said Marcus Today equity analyst Matthew Lattin.

"Smart Parking offers strong leadership and a strategic outlook. [It] is poised for further growth despite potential regulatory risks."

The post The 'unloved' ASX shares ready to explode, now 50% down on historical prices appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But if you are especially keen on revenge for your parking indiscretions, one obscure ASX tech stock has been named as a buy this week.

Theoretically you can make a nice return out of this investment the more parking fines that are dished out.

Let's see what Marcus Today equity analyst Matthew Lattin is on about:

Have you noticed this change when you go shopping?

You might have noticed in recent years many car parks have moved away from paper tickets to cameras that take a picture of your number plate.

One of the providers of such technology is listed on the ASX, and is booming at the moment.

Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ) shares have risen more than 40% so far this year.

"This car parking manager, with a focus on automatic number plate recognition technology, grew the number of sites under management by 33% in fiscal year 2023 when compared to the prior corresponding period," Lattin told The Bull.

Police and council parking officers do not have authority to write parking tickets in car parks operated by private companies, as it is not on public land.

That means violations are enforced by the operator, with penalty proceeds flowing into its coffers.

This is the enviable position Smart Parking finds itself in.

"Its revenue streams are diversified through parking breach notices and technology sales, underpinning a recurring revenue model."

Tech stock climbing up over the long term

The small cap seems to be heading in the right direction in the longer run, with the stock price doubling over the past five years.

"The company is expanding, backed by consistent financial growth since 2021," said Lattin.

"Smart Parking offers strong leadership and a strategic outlook. [It] is poised for further growth despite potential regulatory risks."

Although not widely covered, CMC Markets does show unanimous support for Lattin's bullishness among his peers.

Both Canaccord Genuity and Veritas Securities consider Smart Parking as a strong buy.

The post Hate parking tickets? Here's the ASX tech stock to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A recovery in the works

Smart Parking sources its revenue from two main streams: parking management, and technology. Shareholders are likely rejoicing on the 51% uplift in parking management revenues for the company. The recovery placed the management segment's revenue at $8.674 million, up from $5.741 million in H2 FY20.

On the other hand, technology revenue experienced a drastic 30% fall to $2.316 million. Smart Parking put this down to a delay in revenue and capital projects due to the pandemic. Total revenue fell, despite the company expanding its presence to a total of 576 sites.

The company attempted to improve its operating margin through cost-saving initiatives undertaken last year. Such initiatives have included the reduction of staff, salaries, marketing reduction, and travel cuts. Despite the overhead cuts, adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) was $1.4 million, down from $1.6 million.

Shareholders may have thrown a party when they skipped to the bottom-line profit for the parking provider. Net profit after tax swung to a mighty fine $4.5 million, compared to a loss of $1.5 million in the prior corresponding period (pcp). However, don't celebrate too soon – Smart Parking received a one-off benefit of $6.9 million related to the VAT dispute.

Vaccines to the rescue

Smart Parking largely sees better operational conditions ahead with the rollout of vaccinations globally. Over the dampened period, the company has expanded its total sites and foresees this to be reflected in the results from March onwards.

The company also expects that parking breach notices (PBN) will bounce back in future periods.

An additional $3.4 million of work in progress and new orders are to be delivered moving forward. This consists of the delayed $1.3 million for Gatwick Airport and Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne.

Lastly, Smart Parking noted its Smart City product launch. This is Smart Parking's enforcements app and compliance management system. These are new products that could potentially provide Smart Parking with a new income stream.

The company has retained its growth target of 1,000 sites by June 2023.

Smart Parking share price snapshot

Over the last 12 months, the Smart Parking share price has fallen 10.8%. This would indicate an underperformance when compared with the S&P/ASX 200 Index's (ASX: XJO) return of 2% in the same period. 

The post Why the Smart Parking (ASX:SPZ) share price is soaring 10% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During late afternoon trade, the parking technology company's shares are up 14.8% to 15.5 cents.

Let's take a look at what's driving the Smart Parking share price higher.

What did Smart Parking announce?

In today's release, Smart Parking advised that it has reached settlement with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on the administration of parking breach notices. The company noted a series of adjustments as a result of the settled dispute. They are as follows:

• HMRC to withdraw assessments raised in August 2019 for $3 million which were provided for in the FY19 accounts;
• HMRC to refund an overpayment of input VAT of $2.9 million;
• Smart Parking to write back its profit of $6.9 million in the prior year input VAT. This consists of reversal of a $4 million provision in the FY20 accounts for unpaid input VAT, and a cash refund of $2.9 million for overpaid input VAT;
• Smart Parking to withdraw notices of appeal that had been lodged in relation to the matter; and
• Smart Parking to restrict input VAT on a small number of leased sites where the company acts as principal.

Smart Parking noted that its pre-tax profit would receive a boost going forward as a result of the applied adjustments. This is due to the agreed method of calculating VAT, which will positively impact the company's bottom line.

Smart Parking further stated that if the new method had been implemented across its entire FY20 year, then pre-profit tax would stand $1.7 million higher. The company said that looking ahead, regardless of expanding customer base, customer mix and government lockdowns, there will be significant annual benefits of pre-tax profits.

Smart Parking share price snapshot

Over the last 12 months, the Smart Parking share price has been a weak performer due to the negative impact caused by COVID-19. The company's shares hit a low of 7 cents last March before slowly working their way back up to sit today 20% down on pre-pandemic levels.

The post Why the Smart Parking (ASX:SPZ) share price is jumping 14% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In late-morning trade, shares in the parking technology company have risen 9% to 12 cents. This compares to the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) which is up 0.1% to 6,252 points.

Business update

For the period ending 30 September, Smart Parking recorded a strong growth despite COVID-19 severely impacting the business in Q1.

Car volumes continued to recover, jumping 152%, and parking breach notices (PBN) issuances surged 388% since coronavirus lows in April. The result led Smart Parking to record a positive operating cash flow of $0.6 million.

The UK sales team restructure delivered 56 new site installations, meeting business performance expectations. KFC UK & Ireland installations have started with 15 sites outfitted, and 2 in New Zealand.

Smart Parking advised of technology project delays across all territories due to COVID-19. Gatwick Airport in the UK has been sent equipment, but installation has been deferred until H2 FY21. A recent Queen Victoria Market contract in Victoria will look to fit out guidance systems across 500 parking bays in the next quarter.

Total order book and work in progress remains firm at $3.2 million. The company noted an annualised personal savings of $1.2 million from a reduction in head count.

Smart Parking closed the quarter with a cash balance of $9.3 million, including a draw down loan of $2.7 million.

Outlook

As Q2 is under way, the company is seeking further growth opportunities while the market recovers to pre-COVID levels.

In the pipeline is 40 new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) installations for the current quarter. Smart Parking is focused on achieving 1,000 ANPR installations by June 2023.

Internet of things (IoT) product launches are progressing, as the company seeks new customers, pushing for greater revenue prospects.

About the Smart Parking share price

The Smart Parking share price has failed to climb back since COVID-19 hit the market. Shares in the tech company reached a low of 7 cents in March, after trading around 24 cents the month before.

With a market capitalisation of $43 million, investors will be watching to see if Smart Parking can regain its former glory.

The post Why the Smart Parking (ASX:SPZ) share price is soaring higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's a short recap of the Australian market:

• S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.11% to 6,087.40
• ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.10% to 6,190.90
• AUD/USD at US 75 cents
• Gold at US$1,289.10 an ounce
• Brent Oil at US$79.52 a barrel

The best-performing share in the ASX200 was Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF), the share price of the market-leading annuity company rose 7% today.

Another share to grow well today was Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF), it went up nearly 6% today after announcing the acquisition of a cattle farm yesterday.

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) was the big gainer among the ASX giants. The share price went up 4.1% after increasing its FY18 profit guidance.

The worst performer in the ASX200 was NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF), it dropped 5.3% on worries that private health insurance continues to be unaffordable for workers with little wage growth.

a2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) dropped 4.6% as bulls and bears 'argue' over what fair value for the company is, considering a2 is going to achieve a bit less compared to what the market was expecting.

The Sydney Airport Holdings Ltd (ASX: SYD) share price finished flat after delivering yet another month of passenger traffic growth.

Lithium stocks gave up some of their gains yesterday, with Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY) dropping by 3.9%.

Finally, Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ) finished the day up 17.3%, after losing around half its value yesterday.

Here are some of today's top stories:

• Why I wouldn't invest in Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX:TLS) for years
• Why has Myer Holdings Ltd bounced today
• CSL Limited (ASX:CSL) shares surge higher on profit guidance upgrade

The post ALL ORDINARIES finishes lower Friday: 8 shares you missed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four shares that have defied the market and pushed higher are listed below. Here's why they are ending the week with a bang:

The Codan Limited (ASX: CDA) share price has jumped 7% to $2.94 after announcing a $9.5 million deal between its Minetec business and mining behemoth BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP). Minetec will supply its Fleet Management System to BHP's Olympic Dam mine. As a result, full year underlying net profit after tax is now expected to be in the region of $38 million in FY 2018. I think Codan still looks to be good value despite its strong rise over the last 12 months.

The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has climbed 4% to $182.60 after the biotherapeutics company upgraded its full-year earnings guidance. Thanks to the strong performance of its core business and a severe northern hemisphere influenza season, CSL now expects full-year net profit after tax in the range of US$1,680 to US$1,710 million, compared to previous guidance of US$1,550 to US$1,600 million.

The Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ) share price has rebounded almost 33% to 34.5 cents after providing clarity on the sudden termination of both its UK managing director and UK finance director. The company advised that the two directors "were not operating in good faith and there was evidence they had breached a number of their employment conditions, including in relation to their entitlements and the amount of time they were spending in the business." Smart Parking's shares halved in value yesterday when it was first announced.

The Xanadu Mines Ltd (ASX: XAM) share price has stormed 12% higher to 23.5 cents after the copper and gold exploration company experienced significant insider buying. No less than three of the company's directors have been buying Xanadu Mines' shares this week through on-market trades.

The post Why these 4 ASX shares are ending the week with a bang appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four shares that have fallen more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are sinking lower:

The Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) share price has fallen 3.7% to $8.64 a day after the beverage company's annual general meeting. One broker that wasn't overly impressed was Morgan Stanley. A broker note released this morning reveals that its analysts have retained their underperform rating and $8.00 price target. I thought the company's AGM update was quite weak and would suggest investors hold off an investment.

The Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ) share price has plunged 39% lower to 27.5 cents after the parking solutions company provided an update on its UK business. According to the release, the company has sacked both its UK managing director and finance director after they breached corporate policies. The company also advised that poor weather has adversely impacted its UK operations during the third quarter.

The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price has tumbled 7% to $16.80 after reports claimed that there was a supply glut of some of its low-end products in China. One distributor allegedly has three-year's worth of stock on its hands. The company was quick to dismiss the reports. Though, separate to this, it has advised that it is experiencing delays in getting product through China's customs. This is only expected to be temporary.

The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price has dropped almost 4% to $29.03. Today's decline is almost entirely attributable to the banking giant's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its interim 94 cents per share fully franked dividend. This dividend will be paid to eligible shareholders on July 4.

The post Why these 4 ASX shares are sinking lower today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing the car park technology company's shares are down 50% to 22.5 cents. At one stage they were more than 55% lower at a 52-week low of 20 cents.

Why are Smart Parking's shares being crushed?

This morning Smart Parking provided the market with an update on its UK business.

According to the release, the company has become aware, through an internal audit and review process, of breaches of the company's corporate policies by its UK management team.

The review highlighted non-compliance in HR and operational controls, breaching its customer-focused strategy to build a positive and trusted brand in the UK parking enforcement market.

This has led to the Smart Parking board terminating the employment of both the UK managing director and finance director with immediate effect. The company's CEO and managing director, Paul Gillespie, has assumed the role of UK managing director on an interim basis.

Unfortunately for investors the company hasn't gone into any further detail about what exactly the breach was. But considering both directors were swiftly terminated, it appears to have been a very serious breach.

The concern I have now is whether this breach has damaged the company's reputation in the UK market, potentially stifling its future growth. Management intends to keep the market informed on developments and any financial impact.

In addition to this news, the company also took this opportunity to advise on trading conditions in the market. Due to poor weather conditions, business in the UK has been adversely impacted.

This has led to a sizeable decline in the issuance of parking breach notices in the third quarter of FY 2018 and delays in the roll out and go live process of new sites. Further, management predicts that breach notices will be impacted in the fourth quarter by 25%.

Should you buy the dip?

Until the full details of the breach are known I would stay clear of Smart Parking.

In the meantime, small cap tech shares such as ELMO Software Ltd (ASX: ELO) and Volpara Health Technologies Ltd (ASX: VHT) may be better options for investors.

The post Why Smart Parking Ltd shares just plunged 55% lower appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Shares in diversified investment and financial services company Generation Development Group have been on a downward spiral since its Feb 1 high of $1.74, but according to Morgans, things might be on the up for this $135 million market cap company.

Generation's funds update for the March quarter saw investment bond sales rocket up 84% with a Morgans broker saying its "long term story" looks promising and upgrading the stock to add from hold.

According to Morgans, recent changes to superannuation rules could see low-tax investment options like investment bonds experience "significant structural growth" and the broker believes Generation Development is poised to ramp up performance where it counts to leverage favourable market conditions.

Morgans has raised its share price target on the stock from $1.28 to $1.33 – Generation Development shares finished at $1.08 on April 23, down 1.3%.

As at March 31, 2018 Generation Development announced funds under management (FUM) had risen by 2.8% to $22.7 million since December 31, 2017.

Generation Development was previously known as Austock Group Limited (ASX: ACK), but officially changed its name and ASX code this month.

Select Harvests Limited (ASX: SHV)

Almond producer Select Harvests Limited has found itself on the 52-week high list in the last week with a share price rally to $6.46 on April 20, down slightly at April 23 close to $6.40.

There are huge opportunities at play for ASX food and agriculture stocks who can get the formula right and market their products to overseas markets such as Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and Select Harvests bumper 2018 harvest is something to get excited about.

Its geographically-diverse orchard portfolio is expected to produce record yields this season and it won't be a one-off for the company, who's forward planning means 34% of its orchards are yet to mature and acquisitions are underway to expand its portfolio even further.

With Asia in particular getting a taste for nuts and seeds products from reliable Aussie producers, the sky is the limit for Select Harvests, with fellow small cap walnut producer Webster Limited Fully Paid Ord. Shrs (ASX: WBA) hot on its heels.

These small fry have the likes of Nufarm Limited (ASX: NUF), Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC) and Ruralco Holdings Ltd (ASX: RHL) to aspire to and investors with the stamina for long-term stocks should do their due diligence here.

Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ)

Parking technology player Smart Parking Ltd shares have been flying of late – up in 52-week high territory at April 23 close with its closing price of 53c per share up 112% from its 25c per share price at this time last year.

Smart parking reported some impressive first-half results in February, with group revenue up 26% to $16.1 million, NPAT up 509% to $2.2 million and adjusted EBITDA up 115% to $3.8 million.

In terms of future growth the company looks like it's on track to increase margins exponentially with a strategic partnership with Telstra, the roll out of technology in the UK and a strong order book which includes Coles, the City of Adelaide and Moonee Valley City Council.

One thing is for sure, traffic congestion means parking woes are only getting worse, and a company with a strong balance sheet who has strategies to mitigate this probably has a pretty good future on the cards.

The post 3 small caps with big things on the horizon appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

According to the 2015 Motor Vehicle Census there were 18 million vehicles in Australia in 2015, of which 16 million were cars and light commercial vehicles. That's almost one car for every single adult in Australia.

So, what are some ways to get exposure to this large industry? It's not as though Toyota or Ford trade on the ASX.

One option is Caltex Australia Limited (ASX: CTX). We like to complain about petrol prices all the time, so why not own a piece of the company making a lot of the profit? Things are going well in the servo industry, with margins supposedly close to their all time highs. Caltex is currently trading at 13x FY18's estimated earnings.

Perhaps you believe that petrol-powered cars are going the way of the dinosaur and will be extinct sooner than you think. In that case lithium stocks could be the way to go as batteries become the norm with electric vehicles, meaning Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY), Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Orocobre Limited (ASX: ORE) could be better value after their price falls in recent months.

The most obvious way to get into the car industry is car dealerships. Automotive Holdings Group Ltd (ASX: AHG) and AP Eagers Ltd (ASX: APE) are two of the biggest dealership companies on the ASX and they have impressive profit histories.

ARB Corporation Limited (ASX: ARB) is a good proxy for the car industry with its four wheel drive equipment and accessories.

A left field choice could be Smart Parking Limited (ASX: SPZ) which is a leader in the design, development and management of parking technology.

Foolish takeaway

Sometimes diversifying into a different industry can be a good move for your portfolio if you're too focused on one area, such as banks or healthcare. The car industry could drive your portfolio higher.

The post Want to invest in the car industry? Here are some ideas appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four shares doing their bit and trying to push the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they have stormed higher:

The Auscann Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: AC8) share price has rocketed 21% to 51.5 cents. Investors have been fighting to get hold of shares of many of Australia's leading pot stocks this week following recent changes to legislation which could mean they are generating revenues sooner-than-expected.

The Big Un Ltd (ASX: BIG) share price has surged almost 8% higher to $2.80 after announcing a first-quarter cash profit of $5.6 million from operating activities. This profit was driven by an impressive 488% increase in cash receipts to $15 million as a result of its expansion in the United States and strong demand from existing customers. I think this video technology company is one of the most exciting tech shares on the market right now.

The Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ) share price is up almost 14% to 24.5 cents following the release of its quarterly update. According to the release, the car parking technology company delivered operating cash flows of $1 million, up $0.7 million on the prior quarter. Cash receipts in the first-quarter rose to $7.4 million, compared to $6.5 million in the fourth-quarter of FY 2017.

The Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) share price is up almost 2% to $25.75 after releasing its first-quarter sales update. Investors appear to be pleased that all of the retail conglomerate's businesses posted increases in comparable store sales during the quarter. While I was impressed with its performance, I would wait to see what the company has to say at its AGM on November 23.

The post Why these 4 ASX shares stormed higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Most of them reside in the small-to-mid cap space, but that doesn't mean investors should just put them to one side.

Four of my favourite tech shares to keep an eye on right now include:

Emerchants Ltd (ASX: EML)

Emerchants operates in the fast-growing prepaid card and virtual payments markets. It already has around 850 programs in place across 13 countries, and its most recent first-half result showed an impressive 207% increase in revenue. The company is still in the early stages of profitability, but already has a market capitalisation of $378 million. As a result, I wouldn't rush out to buy the shares today as much of the company's future growth appears to have been priced in already.

Afterpay Holdings Ltd (ASX: AFY)

Afterpay's latest market update was impressive, but its proposed merger with Touchcorp Ltd (ASX: TCH) has created some uncertainty in regards to how the combined entity will emerge. Nonetheless, the payments company remains a share to watch as it continues to sign up some of the biggest retail companies at a very impressive rate.

Smart Parking Ltd (ASX: SPZ)

Smart Parking is involved in the design, development and management of parking technology. The uptake of the company's products has been promising, and although it recently recorded its first ever positive NPAT result, I would still classify Smart Parking as a speculative investment. Nonetheless, it could be worth a much closer look, especially if it can continue to win new installation contracts.

Altium Limited (ASX: ALU)

Many regular Fool readers will be familiar with Altium and there is a good reason for this. The electronics design software company has delivered exceptionally strong results over the past five years which has seen its shares rise by more than 4,000% in that time. More importantly, there is still a lot of growth left in Altium and it is one of the few technology shares that actually offers a decent dividend yield.

The post 4 tech shares that should be on your radar appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.