The S&P/ASX 200 has opened strong to start the trading week, and these three companies are following suit, kicking Mondayitis to the curb by sitting pretty at 52-week highs.
Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)
Shares in global banking giant Macquarie Group Ltd were up 1.4% to $106.85 at the time of writing – a 52-week high for the stock and a 19.4% rise from $89.42 at this time last year.
Macquarie Group has been in the news recently for its move as the pioneer of Australian banks moving towards open banking platforms – a trend now also picked up by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) – allowing customers to connect their banking data with the rest of their digital lives.
Macquarie has predicted a 10% profit rise for FY18, as the company continues to kick goals internationally – boosting earnings without needing to be reliant on the local mortgage market like its peers.
There is little doubt that the company is forward-thinking, with more than half of its income generated outside of Australia and New Zealand. It plans to capitalise on green investment trends and global infrastructure demand in the short to medium-term future.
Macquarie shares dipped down to around $80 last September, definite buy territory, so investors who stepped in at that juncture will be cheering at today's record-high share price – with all predictions on it continuing to rise for the short term at least.
Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL)
It is no great shock to the Australian investment community to see Tasmanian-owned baby food and formula company Bellamy's Australia on the S&P/ASX 200 gainers list again today, as the share price was up 5% to $21.51 at the time of writing – a record high.
Shares in Bellamy's have rocketed up a whopping 458% from a $3.85 share price at this time last year leaving most Australian investors wishing they'd bought in 12-months ago.
Bellamy's has gone absolutely gangbusters in the last year with no signs of stopping and the release of its half-year results report on February 21 showed an upgrade on FY18 guidance to between 30% and 35% revenue growth and 20% and 23% EBITDA margin growth.
The company is enjoying increased global confidence in its suite of more than 30 organic food and formula products for children, with operations in Australia, China and South East Asia all performing consistently.
Who knows how much longer Bellamy's will be at the top, but for now, it remains an S&P/ASX 200 stand-out.
Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN)
A global provider of health and safety protection solutions, Ansell Limited, is enjoying life at the top of a 52-week high with shares up marginally to $26.18 at the time of writing – a rise from its 52-week low of $20.30.
Ansell has undergone a restructure of late, selling its condoms business to a Chinese consortium for $800 million last year after 112 years of ownership as part of a move to reaffirm its focus in rubber gloves.
But Ansell is also shaping up to enjoy greater success out of its position in the global industrial protective clothing market – designing, developing and manufacturing protective clothing for a range of industries.
Investors rallying behind the stock are perhaps looking forward to news of second-half profit results, with the period expected to be strong and Morgans $26.30 price target on the stock last month already surpassed.
