To The Moon

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 9,019.00 on Friday, up 0.34% in the past 5 days.

1. $PILBARA MINERALS LTD(PLS.AU)$ +20.52%

PLS saw a significant share price increase, primarily driven by its strong financial and operational performance for the first quarter of the 2026 financial year (FY26).

• The company reported a 30% quarter-over-quarter increase in revenue to A$251 million, driven by a 20% rise in the average realized lithium price. This top-line growth, coupled with a significant reduction in costs, led to an improved cash margin, beating market expectations.

• Pilbara Minerals achieved a 13% reduction in its unit operating cost (to A$540 per tonne) during the quarter. This was attributed to operational efficiencies and higher recovery rates at its Pilgangoora operation, directly boosting profitability.

• Spodumene production for the quarter rose by 2% to 224,800 tonnes, building on the stable output from recently completed expansion projects. This demonstrated the company's ability to not only control costs but also gradually grow its output.

• The company's robust cash balance of A$852 million and a positive quarterly update reinforced investor confidence in its financial health and strategy. Broader factors, such as a new critical minerals alliance between Australia and the U.S., also contributed to positive sentiment around the sector and the company's long-term prospects.

2. $WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LTD(WDS.AU)$ +10.41%

The share price of WDS saw positive momentum leading up, driven by a combination of strong operational performance and favorable market conditions.

• The company reported robust Q3 revenue of $3.36B and raised its full-year production guidance, signaling strong operational health and exceeding market expectations.

• Woodside entered a key partnership with Williams Companies for its Louisiana LNG project, securing funding and reducing future capital expenditure by about $1.9 billion.

• The company benefited from a surge in Brent crude oil prices, which rose approximately 7.2% during the period due to geopolitical tensions.

3. $Block Inc(XYZ.AU)$ +6.86%

The rise appears to be primarily driven by a product launch and sustained analyst optimism.

• The company launched "OpenIP," a new product initiative which was directly followed by a 3% rise in its share price.

• Analysts from multiple firms, including Jefferies and Bank of America, maintained or raised their price targets for Block, reflecting confidence in its growth prospects, particularly for its Square segment.

• There was a significant increase in shares held by institutions in the months leading up to October, and the put/call ratio indicated a bullish outlook among investors.

4. $Alcoa Corp(AAI.AU)$ +5.78%

The primary reasons for this upward movement were a combination of better-than-feared quarterly results and positive commentary from the company's CEO regarding aluminum prices and tariffs.

• Alcoa reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss. The loss per share was $0.02, which significantly beat analyst estimates that had projected a loss of $0.15 per share .

• The company's CEO, William Oplinger, stated that the current high aluminum prices, combined with the Midwest premium, fully cover the impact of U.S. import tariffs . This alleviated a major investor concern regarding profitability.

• The price of aluminum on the London Metal Exchange (LME) surged, crossing $2,850 per tonne . This rally was fueled by global supply concerns, including production issues at smelters in Iceland and Mozambique .

• Following the earnings report, several analysts raised their price targets for Alcoa stock. For instance, BMO Capital Markets increased its target to $37, reflecting growing confidence in the company's financial prospects .

5. $LIFE360 INC-CDI(360.AU)$ +5.20%

• Life360 recently teased and then launched a new pet tracking device, signaling a strategic move to expand its product ecosystem beyond family safety and into the pet care market

• Life360's core strengths are its robust ARR growth and expanding profit margins, demonstrating strong monetization capabilities. These advantages are supported by its large and active user base in a vast addressable market.