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Investment Solutions

Features

ASX Trading Wrap: Fresh records for biotech duo Telix and Neuren

Rene Anthony

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Telix Pharmaceuticals and Neuren Pharmaceuticals were two of the biggest success stories over recent trading sessions.

Telix Pharmaceuticals and Neuren Pharmaceuticals were two of the biggest success stories over recent trading sessions.

Key takeaways:

  • Biotech stocks lead the winners list this week, with money pouring into the segment

The local share market weekly winning streak comes to an end as production shortfalls hit miners, but records tumble elsewhere.

Which shares excelled?

One of the best performers across the last month, let alone this week, clinical-stage biotech Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX: TLX) reached a fresh all-time high. The firm, which utilises radiation therapy to treat cancer, has been on a roll since reporting a 15% surge in customer receipts and a 27% increase in revenue during the first quarter of the year.

Investors have also responded favourably to news the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the label indication for its lead product, Illuccix, which is nearing assessment for use in the UK and European markets as well. Earlier this week, the business announced the successful preclinical development of a radiolabeled antibody, Olaratumab.

In keeping with the biotech theme, Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) is another high achiever, also at a record high. It unveiled news that its breakthrough treatment for Rett syndrome, the first of its kind, is now available in the United States. 

That follows the drug receiving FDA approval back in early March, with Neuren set to receive US$40 million from its partner, Acadia, upon the first commercial sale in the US. It will also receive ongoing royalties on net sales in North America, plus milestone payments of up to US$350 million, subject to certain sales goals agreed by the parties. 

There is also another prize at stake, with Neuren eligible to receive a third of the roughly US$100 million Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher awarded to Acadia by the FDA. 

Shares in Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) bounced back following last week slide in response to a disappointing production downgrade. Nonetheless, the company has shed further light on its performance during the most recent quarter, where production fell 12% and the average price of coal received fell 24% versus the preceding quarter. 

Australia most well known coal exporter generated $1.2 billion in cash from operations during the March quarter, allowing it to build a $2.7 billion net cash position. Management also expects the underlying level of demand for coal to remain strong, while emphasising the continuance of the company share buy-back program.

Elsewhere, director buying interest was one of the stories to come out of communications and mining technology company Codan (ASX: CDA), while it is joined by a chorus of other standouts this week in Vulcan Steel (ASX: VSL), Collins Foods (ASX: CKF), Insignia Financial (ASX: IFL), and SiteMinder (ASX: SDR).

Which shares dragged on the market?

Another name falling foul of the market on the back of a production downgrade was Regis Resources (ASX: RRL). The mid-tier gold producer was hammered after slashing full-year production guidance from 450,000-500,000 ounces to 450,000-470,000 ounces. 

At the same time, Regis also hiked its forecast for all-in sustaining costs, which are now predicted to lie between $1,795-$1,845 per ounce, versus a previous range of $1,525-$1,625 per ounce. 

Inflation remains a pressing challenge for the company, while inclement weather, and changes to the company mine schedules weighed on production during the most recent quarter. If that wasn't enough, management was also forced to lift its capital growth forecast in the vicinity of $15 million.

Other goldies were left feeling the effects of Regis quarterly report. With signs that inflation is leading to a sharp increase in operating and capex costs, shareholders exited the likes of Capricorn Metals (ASX: CMM), Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL), and Ramelius Resources (ASX: RMS), among others.Coal miner New Hope Corporation (ASX: NHC) features among this week underperformers, albeit for a reason that won'tdisappoint everyone. The company traded ex-dividend earlier this week, rewarding shareholders with a fully-franked interim dividend of 30 cents per share, in addition to a special dividend of 10 cents per share, also fully-franked.Real estate portal Domain Holdings (ASX: DHG) suffered a broker downgrade, leading to a heavy decline in the company share price. Goldman Sachs revised its outlook for the property aggregator, opting to give the stock a neutral' rating and a price target of $3.65 per share. The broker decision was formed on the basis that it expects Domain could be more vulnerable to reduced marketing income than peer REA Group given the current economic environment. There have also been disappointing showings from Brainchip (ASX: BRN), Strike Energy (ASX: STX), Polynovo (ASX: PNV), and Arafura Rare Earths (ASX: ARU).

We'll be back next week with another Weekly ASX Trading Wrap Up - until then, have a great week!

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