Australian Market Community

The supermarket chain Coles is the kind of “boring” business that may have been overlooked as an investment opportunity. Although it was divested from Wesfarmers in 2018, Coles’ heritage traces back to 1914 — giving it over 110 years of history.

There’s an old saying that in a gold rush, those who make the money are the ones selling the shovels; and mining service companies have indeed proven to be shrewd investments historically. XRF Scientific holds a strong niche in sample preparation equipment and consumables used in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which are essential in determining the quality and purity of materials.

Atlas Pearls is an Australian-listed company operating eight pearl farms across the Indonesian archipelago. It has established itself as one of the world’s leading producers of high-quality white and silver South Sea pearls—a niche luxury product with strong global appeal, particularly in Asia.

Pro Medicus (ASX: PME) is an Australian company that develops medical imaging software under its Visage product range. Leading medical institutions including NYU Langone, UCSF, and Mass General Brigham have publicly or semi-publicly praised the platform—often via PME-issued press releases or interviews.

Despite its somewhat cringe worthy name—ironically the kind Peter Lynch often sought in his hunt for undervaluation—Boss Energy has emerged as a key player in Australia's uranium sector. With macroeconomic trends pointing towards a global pivot away from fossil fuels over coming decades, uranium is well-positioned to benefit.

As of 31 July 2024, Suncorp completed the sale of its banking division to ANZ, marking a significant strategic shift to become a pure-play insurance company. Almost a year into this transformation, it's worth reviewing how the business is shaping up ahead of the next reporting season.

Vita Life Sciences (ASX: VLS) – A Solid Business Seeking Renewed Momentum Vita Life Sciences (ASX: VLS) is a well-established healthcare company specializing in the formulation, packaging, distribution, and sale of vitamins and supplements across the Asia-Pacific region. Founded in 1947, the company boasts strong brand recognition through its labels such as VitaHealth, Herbs of Gold, VitaScience, and VitaLife, offering over 350 premium healthcare and pharmaceutical products.

Aurizon’s decade-long medians sit at –2.3 % revenue/share growth, 11.1 % net margin and a 17× P/E. Looking five years out, scenarios span 0–4 % top-line CAGR, 8–12 % margins and 9–14× multiples, hinging on Bulk-freight expansion, tariff indexation, cost inflation and ESG-driven market sentiment.

Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB) – A Practical Pillar of Global Logistics Brambles is an Australia-based logistics company with operations in over 60 countries, best known for its CHEP-branded pallet pooling system. Founded in 1875, it has evolved into a key enabler of global supply chains, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.