Jobs marketplace Seek (ASX: SEK) is the top gainer so far on Tuesday, rising 7% to A$27.52 in afternoon trade, after providing stronger forward guidance despite a mixed earnings result.
Seek reported underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of A$156 million, down 12% year-on-year but broadly in line with consensus expectations. Statutory profit after tax rose to A$245.2 million, rebounding from a A$100.9 million loss in FY24 and beating some estimates of A$164.4 million.
Adjusted profit from continuing operations fell 13% to A$155.2 million, missing forecasts of A$167.9 million. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations eased 2% to A$459.2 million. The board declared a final dividend of 22 cents per share, taking the full-year payout to 46 cents, up from 35 cents in FY24.
Looking ahead, Seek guided to FY26 net revenue of A$1.15 billion–A$1.25 billion, implying around 10% growth at the mid-point. EBITDA is forecast at A$510 million–A$550 million, in line with Visible Alpha’s consensus of A$533 million. Underlying NPAT is expected to reach A$190 million–A$220 million, around 1% above Citi and consensus estimates at the mid-point.