It's been a fairly lacklustre day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), as well as many ASX 200 shares, so far this Tuesday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 has retreated by 0.13%, leaving the index at just over 7,800 points.
But even though the broader market is suffering today, we are still seeing several ASX 200 shares hit new 52-week highs.
Let's check them out.
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5 ASX 200 shares smashing new 52-week highs today
First up is ASX and British banking stock Virgin Money UK plc (ASX: VUK). Virgin Money shares are enjoying a 0.24% tick upwards at present to $4.11 a share, which happens to be this bank's new 52-week high for the past 12 months. It's also the highest that Virgin Money shares have traded at since 2018.
This company has been on a rocket ship of late, thanks to a generous takeover offer of approximately $4.25 a share, which looks like it may go ahead soon.
Next up we have ASX 200 oil stock Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT). Beach shares have enjoyed a huge 4.73% rise today and are presently sitting at $1.82 a pop. But earlier this morning, we saw this company get up to a high of $1.84, which is the new 12-month benchmark for Beach.
This may have something to do with a positive broker note out on Beach today. As my Fool colleague covered earlier, ASX broker Morgans has given the company an add rating, alongside a 1-month share price target of $2.15.
NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) is another ASX 200 share worth mentioning. NRW shares have risen a healthy 1.77% so far today up to $2.88 a share, which is also the contract services company's fresh new high for the last year.
There's been nothing out of the company itself that might explain this new high today. However, NRW shares traded ex-dividend yesterday, so this could just be an enthusiastic rebound from that stock price dip.
Chemicals and clothes
Next on the 52-week train today is ASX 200 chemical and explosives manufacturer Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI). Orica shares are also having a pleasant day, with the company currently enjoying a 1.86% boost up to $18.04 a share. That comes after Orica hit $18.05 a share this afternoon, which, you guessed it, is a new 52-week high.
This might be related to the recent Orica share purchase plan, which has just wrapped up. As we covered last month, the company is raising $465 million to help purchase sodium cyanide manufacturer Cyanco Intermediate 4 Corp. ASX filings today show several management figures participating in the share purchase plan. This could be giving Orica shares a boost too.
Finally, let's check out ASX 200 retail stock Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV). Premier shares are up a rosy 3.88% right now at $31.80 each. But this is after the company spiked to $33.51 a share this morning just after open – the new 52-week high for Premier.
This seems to be a direct result of the company's earnings results and demerger plans that were announced this morning. As we went through, these had Premier reveal slight drops in sales, earnings and profits.
But investors seem excited about the plans to spin off Premier's star performers Smiggle and Peter Alexander into separate entities in 2025.
