S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares closed the session on Friday up 1% to 7,252 points.
But a bunch of stocks had a far better day, reaching new heights and cracking various records.
Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)
ASX 200 tech share darling Xero ripped up the charts today to a high of $118.26 per share.
This is a new 52-week high for the stock but is well down on its all-time record of $156.65 recorded in November 2021.
During the week, Xero announced it is increasing its prices for users in Australia and New Zealand.
Goldman Sachs has retained its buy rating and $130 price target on the cloud accounting platform provider following the news.
The broker said it was "surprised by the quantum of the price rises in ANZ" and sees "upside risk to FY24E forecasts."
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)
The ASX 200 juggernaut reached an all-time high of $81.25 per share on Friday.
Shares in the logistics software company are up 63% in 2023 and up 124% over the past year.
The Wisetech share price has ascended an astonishing 377% over the past five years.
Xero and Wisetech are among the best-performing ASX growth shares of 2023.
My colleague Tristan pits Wisetech shares against Xero shares in his story today.
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)
The IAG share price reached a 52-week peak of $5.56 today. IAG shares are up 18% in the year to date.
The ASX 200 insurance share has been doing well this week on the back of a successful investor day on Wednesday.
The company released a new investor presentation on the day. IAG informed investors it was on track to achieve its FY23 guidance.
The company is among several ASX 200 businesses conducting share buybacks at the moment.
AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)
The AGL share price climbed to a new 52-week high of $11.14 today.
AGL shares are cooking with gas after the company released an update on its earnings guidance.
AGL has revised its guidance higher for FY23 and says its FY24 underlying profit after tax should be more than double year over year.
While today's almost 10% gain is welcome news for long-suffering AGL shares investors, the ASX 200 utilities share is still more than 51% lower than where it was five years ago.
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)
James Hardie shares reached a new 52-week high of $40.55 today. The stock is up a remarkable 53% in 2023 so far.
The stock is among several ASX 200 buy-the-dip opportunities that may have passed us by in 2023.
Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)
Shares in the kitchen and bathroom plumbing parts company hit a 52-week high of $19.23 today.
Reece shares are likely benefitting from a turnaround in the Australian property market and improving supply chains in the construction sector.
Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW)
Seven has been in the headlines lately after the resignation of its high-profile executive Ben Roberts-Smith.
The former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient recently lost his defamation case against The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (owned by Seven's rival Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) and The Canberra Times.
Roberts-Smith had been employed as general manager of Seven Queensland.
The court saga hasn't stopped Seven shares from ascending to an all-time high of $25.45 today.
Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR)
Liontown shares stretched to an all-time high of $3.20 today.
The lithium share has skyrocketed by 157% in the year to date following the takeover offer from US lithium giant Albemarle Corp (NYSE: ALB).
That offer was $2.50 per share, so it looks like the board was right in evaluating it as less than the ASX 200 company is worth.
As my colleague James reports, Bell Potter reckons the share price can go 11% higher to $3.35 over the next year. Macquarie values the stock at an even $3, and Citi and UBS see value at $2.80.
Goldman Sachs is hyper-bearish on Liontown shares with a $1.50 price target.
NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF)
NIB shares hit $8.71 today, which is a record high for the ASX financial share.
This makes the insurer close to full value, according to Goldman Sachs.
The broker recently initiated coverage on the private health insurer with a buy rating and a 12-month price target of $8.80.
Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS)
Shares in bus company Kelsian hit a 52-week high of $7.51 today.
The ASX 200 travel share, formerly known as Sealink, is up 30.8% in 2023.
