ASX:CEN

New Zealand Shares Rise Slightly; Contact Energy Posts Higher Retail Electricity, Gas Sales in July

New Zealand shares ended slightly higher on Friday after Thursday's Wall Street rally, while a US-Iran peace deal remained elusive.The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 0.21% or 29.08 points to close at 13,854.38.On Thursday, the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, the Nasdaq gained 0.8%, while the Dow Jones was up 0.1%.The US said on Thursday it could maintain its naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and would intensify economic pressure on Tehran, as ceasefire talks stalled, global oil supply tightened, and regional tensions continued to rise, according to a Reuters report.In domestic news, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) on Friday left loan-to-value ratio (LVR) settings unchanged in its annual review of macroprudential policy, noting that housing risks are currently contained.Further, manufacturing in New Zealand continued to expand in July, although at a slower pace than in June, as broader sentiment remained negative, with concerns about the Middle East conflict and cost pressures holding back spending, BusinessNZ said.Also, costs for supermarkets in New Zealand from grocery suppliers increased 1.9% in July from a year earlier, Infometrics said in a report.In corporate news, Contact Energy's (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) retail mass-market electricity and gas sales increased year on year in July, alongside a rise in wholesale contracted electricity sales.Meridian Energy's (ASX:MEZ, NZE:MEL) retail contracted sales volumes rose to 870 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in July from 850 GWh a year earlier.

Contact Energy Posts Higher Retail Electricity, Gas Sales in July

Contact Energy's (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) retail mass-market electricity and gas sales increased year on year in July, alongside a rise in wholesale contracted electricity sales, according to Friday filings with the New Zealand bourse.Mass market electricity and gas sales jumped to 579 gigawatt hours (GWh) in July from 456 GWh last year.Wholesale electricity sales to customer businesses rose to 431 GWh in the month from 413 GWh in July 2025, while sales to commercial and industrial customers were up to 183 GWh from 142 GWh.Wholesale contracted electricity sales rose to 1,079 GWh from 987 GWh, while spot electricity sales increased to 1,076 GWh from 915 GWh.Total customer connections reached 706,000 in July, compared with 651,000 a year earlier.

Jarden Research Adjusts Contact Energy's Price Target to NZ$11.19 from NZ$11.11, Keeps at Overweight

Contact Energy (NZE:CEN, ASX:CEN) has an average rating of overweight and mean price target of NZ$10.44, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

New Zealand Shares Fall Slightly; Contact Energy Accepts Responsibility for December 2025 Under-Frequency Event

New Zealand shares ended slightly lower on Tuesday, as most Asian stocks fell following a sell-off on Wall Street and ongoing difficulties in US-Iran peace negotiations.The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 0.2% or 27.6 points to close at 13,860.66.US President Donald Trump on Monday countered Iran's peace conditions with his own demands that Tehran pay compensation for lives lost in wars, attacks and protests, a rhetorical escalation that risks complicating efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Monday Reuters report.In domestic news, per-person spending on Westpac-issued credit and debit cards in New Zealand rose 2% in July after mostly trending sideways earlier in the year, the bank said.Also, the New Zealand Light Traffic index rose 1.3% in July, remaining broadly in line with its level a year earlier, according to data from ANZ Research.In corporate news, Contact Energy (NZE:CEN, ASX:CEN) accepted a draft determination from New Zealand's Electricity Authority that it was responsible for an under-frequency event that occurred in December 2025, the regulator said.Spark New Zealand (NZE:SPK, ASX:SPK) said its subsidized prepaid broadband program Skinny Jump is now connecting around one in five of those identified as having no internet access at home in the 2023 census.

Contact Energy Accepts Responsibility for December 2025 Under-Frequency Event in New Zealand, Electricity Authority Says

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) accepted a draft determination from New Zealand's Electricity Authority that it was responsible for an under-frequency event that occurred in December 2025, the regulator said Tuesday.The event involved Contact Energy's Tauhara generator tripping, which reduced North Island frequency to 49.225 hertz.The Tauhara TAB G1 electricity generation unit tripped due to the activation of turbine differential expansion protection, with the system operator's report identifying Contact Energy as the causer, the Electricity Authority said.The event charge calculated in the operator's report is NZ$136,700, and the clearing manager will rebate the event charges to the relevant participants.Contact Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from.The company's New Zealand and Australian shares each gained 1% in recent Tuesday trade.

New Zealand Shares Rise; Contact Energy Fiscal 2026 EPS, Revenue Down

New Zealand shares ended higher on Monday as most Asian shares saw gains after a rally in Friday's Wall Street trading session.The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 0.46% or 64.11 points to close at 13,888.24.On Thursday, the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.3%, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% while the Dow Jones added 0.3%.Iran said it was close to finalizing a shipping lane agreement with Oman through the Strait of Hormuz but insisted the US must meet additional conditions, including paying compensation and lifting sanctions and military threats, before the waterway would reopen, according to a Monday Reuters report.In domestic news, residential property values in New Zealand fell 1.5% across the three months through July as the market remained subdued and buyers grew more cautious, according to the QV house price index.In corporate news, Contact Energy (NZE:CEN, ASX:CEN) logged NZ$0.414 in earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with NZ$0.416 a year ago.Westpac Banking (ASX:WBC, NZE:WBC) logged AU$1.8 billion in net profit excluding notable items for the fiscal third quarter.

Contact Energy Partners With Australian Data Center Operator for Potential Development in New Zealand

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) partnered with CDC Data Centres to explore a potential data center at Taranaki in New Zealand, according to a Monday filing with the Australian bourse.The parties will secure resource consent for a 250-megawatt data center to be built near the site of Contact Energy's retired Taranaki Combined Cycle gas power plant, the filing said.Contact Energy's joint venture with Lightsource is also advancing an option for a solar farm with integrated battery storage near the site, per the filing.Contact Energy shares rose 1% in midday New Zealand trade.

Contact Energy Fiscal 2026 EPS, Revenue Down

Contact Energy (NZE:CEN, ASX:CEN) logged NZ$0.414 in earnings per share for fiscal 2026, compared with NZ$0.416 a year ago, a Monday filing showed.Analysts polled by FactSet expected about NZ$0.419.For the 12 months ended June 30, revenue was NZ$3.24 billion versus NZ$3.44 billion previously, the Australia and New Zealand dual-listed energy generator and supplier added. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected NZ$3.12 billion.The company's board approved a final dividend of NZ$0.24 per share, up from NZ$0.23, payable Sept. 23 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 18.The company's New Zealand shares added about 1% in recent Monday trade.

Contact Energy Posts Fiscal 2026 EPS of NZ$0.414, Total Revenue of NZ$3.24 Billion

Contact Energy Fiscal 2026 EBITDAF Forecast to be NZ$1.01 Billion, Beating Guidance, Jarden Says

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) is forecast to report fiscal 2026 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and fair value adjustments (EBITDAF) of NZ$1.01 billion, after NZ$26 million of one-off Manawa integration costs, versus initial guidance of NZ$980 million normalized EBITDAF, according to a Tuesday note by Jarden.The long-term structural electrification drivers remain intact, including rapid growth in data center and electric vehicle loads and continued progress on dairy-processing heat-load conversion projects.Analysis supports an around NZ$10 to NZ$15 per megawatt-hour downward revision to its medium-term spot price forecasts, driven primarily by a slower near-term demand trajectory and near-record hydro storage. New Zealand's electricity demand, excluding the Tiwai Point smelter, is tracking 1.8% above 2025.Hydro storage is nearly 1,000 gigawatt-hour above average, keeping near-term winter supply risks low.The investment firm retained an overweight rating on Contact Energy with a price target of NZ$11.11 per share.

New Zealand Advocacy Groups Call for Separation of Gentailers' Retail, Generation Operations

The Auckland Business Chamber and advocacy group Northern Infrastructure Forum on Tuesday called for the separation of the generation and retail operations of New Zealand's major energy companies, saying that the proposal will help boost competition in the retail market.The proposal is part of a two-step plan for the domestic energy market's reform, which also includes the establishment of long-term energy supply agreements for generation to enable independent projects to bypass the firming barrier.The parties said New Zealand has the potential to grow its economy by NZ$30 billion annually if it can bring on an additional 20 terawatt-hours of supply.This will require policymakers to resolve structural issues related to market concentration, with four gentailers controlling 85% of the country's generation and 95% of firming, or back-up supply, as well as their vertically integrated model where generation and retail arms operate as a single, integrated business."Concentration on the generation side incentivizes gentailers to hold back new supply, because additional supply will bring down prices and reduce income from existing assets," said Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges.The proposal to separate generation and retail operations does not represent a structural break-up as it does not involve forced asset sales, said Northern Infrastructure Forum Executive Director Barney Irvine."It simply means the internal deal-making that currently keeps the contracts market illiquid is replaced by real market trading," Irvine added.In a response to' request for comment, the industry organization Electricity Retailers & Generators NZ, or ERGANZ, said that "any reforms should ultimately be judged against whether they improve affordability and reliability of the energy system."

NZX Midday Sector Update: Consumer Services Soar, Utilities Sector Struggles

Consumer services stocks advanced over 3% on midday trade on Wednesday.SkyCity Entertainment Group (NZE:SKC, ASX:SKC) gained almost 9% in recent trade.The company on Wednesday said it has entered into a non-binding heads of agreement to sell The Grand Hotel as part of its asset monetization program.Meanwhile, shares of the utilities sector fell 1%.Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) drove the decline, with shares dropping 2%.

Awareness of Power Support Services Grows in New Zealand, Electricity Authority Says

New Zealand's Electricity Authority on Wednesday published a post-implementation review that found increasing awareness of services that help consumers with utility disputes and price comparisons following measures implemented in 2021.The review showed that the majority of retailers and distributors are in compliance with requirements in the country's Electricity Industry Participation Code, making information about the support services generally available to consumers.Although awareness of dispute resolution services is still relatively low, there are signs of improvement as the latest Utilities Disputes annual report pointed to a 62% year-over-year increase in complaints, the Electricity Authority said.It added that retailers will be required to furnish information about utilities disputes on power bills starting from Oct. 30, as opposed to providing it only with billing communications.The review further found that roughly 60% of consumers are familiar with comparison and switching services, but awareness is lower among modest-income households.The New Zealand-listed shares of Genesis Energy (ASX:GNE, NZE:GNE) and Mercury NZ (ASX:MCY, NZE:MCY) were marginally lower in recent Wednesday trade, while Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) fell 2% and Meridian Energy (ASX:MEZ, NZE:MEL) shed past 1%.

New Zealand Shares Fall; Contact Energy Posts Higher Retail Electricity, Gas Sales in June

New Zealand shares ended lower on Tuesday as investors braced for a possible intensified US-Iran conflict after the Iran-aligned Houthis said they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 0.29% or 40 points to close at 13,656.03.The Houthis, Yemen's Iran-backed militant group, announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia on Monday, a move that risks drawing Riyadh into the broader US-Iran conflict and adding further pressure on global energy markets and shipping lanes, according to a Monday Reuters report.New Zealand and the Philippines have established a comprehensive partnership, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Tuesday, according to a Tuesday Reuters report.In domestic news, New Zealand's annual consumer inflation increased by 4.1% in the June quarter, up from a 3.1% increase in the 12 months to the March quarter, data from Stats NZ showed.Further, the signal on underlying inflation in New Zealand's June quarter consumer price index (CPI) data was mixed and isn't likely to budge the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) from its policy stance, with the trimmed mean and weighted median measures accelerating, but the ex-fuel and energy measure slowing, ANZ said in a note.In corporate news, Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) said retail mass-market electricity and gas sales increased year-on-year in June, alongside a rise in wholesale contracted electricity sales.AFT Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:AFP, NZE:AFT) Scomara topical cream intended for the treatment of facial angiofibromas in tuberous sclerosis received a tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Contact Energy Posts Higher Retail Electricity, Gas Sales in June

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) said retail mass-market electricity and gas sales increased year on year in June, alongside a rise in wholesale contracted electricity sales, according to Tuesday filings with the Australian and New Zealand bourses.Mass market electricity and gas sales jumped to 495 gigawatt hours (GWh) in June from 410 GWh last year.Wholesale electricity sales to customer businesses fell to 364 GWh in the month from 374 GWh in June 2025, while sales to commercial and industrial customers were up to 186 GWh from 120 GWh.Wholesale contracted electricity sales rose to 1,056 GWh from 810 GWh, while spot electricity sales increased to 981 GWh from 818 GWh.Total customer connections reached 700,000 in June, compared with 646,000 a year earlier.

Contact Energy Posts Higher Retail Electricity, Gas Sales in May

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) said retail mass-market electricity and gas sales increased year on year in May, alongside a rise in wholesale contracted electricity sales, according to Tuesday filings with the Australian and New Zealand bourses.Mass market electricity and gas sales jumped to 461 gigawatt hours (GWh) in May from 365 GWh last year.Wholesale electricity sales to customer businesses rose to 341 GWh in the month from 331 GWh in May 2025, and sales to commercial and industrial customers were up to 205 GWh from 142 GWh.Wholesale contracted electricity sales rose to 1,027 GWh from 768 GWh, while spot electricity sales increased to 919 GWh from 816 GWh.Total customer connections reached 695,000 in May, compared with 642,000 a year earlier.

New Zealand Regulator Imposes New Rules on Top Energy Companies to Boost Competition in Electricity Sector

New Zealand's Electricity Authority on Tuesday imposed non-discrimination obligations on the country's four largest energy companies in a bid to level the playing field for hedging contracts in the electricity sector.Under the new rules, which are effective from July 1, Contact Energy (NZE:CEN, ASX:CEN), Genesis Energy (NZE:GNE, ASX:GNE), Mercury (NZE:MCY, ASX:MCY), and Meridian Energy (NZE:MEL, ASX:MEZ) will be required to provide risk management contracts to all buyers on an even-handed basis. This will prevent the companies from favoring their own retail divisions on price or non-price terms.The four power generation-retailer, or gentailer, firms will need to furnish compliance plans to the Authority each year, and also submit six-monthly assessments justifying their retail price offers relative to their expected cost of electricity supply.Electricity Authority Acting Chair Erik Westergaard said the new rules will boost competition, enhance transparency, and can be implemented quickly without a material cost increase for gentailers.Shares of all four companies rose less than 1% in recent Tuesday trade on the New Zealand bourse.

Contact Energy Says Macquarie Group Ceases to be a Substantial Shareholder

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) received notice that Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) and its affiliates are no longer substantial holders of the company from Monday, according to a Tuesday filing with the New Zealand bourse.Macquarie Group and its affiliates became a substantial holder of the company on May 20, with a total voting power of 5.04%, an earlier filing showed.

Infratil Cuts Stake in Contact Energy

Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN) said the stake of Infratil (ASX:IFT) and Infratil Investments in the firm fell to 9.081% as of Monday from 14.081% previously, according to same-day filings with the Australian and New Zealand bourses.Infratil Investments signed a deal with Macquarie Securities (NZ), under which Infratil Investments appointed Macquarie Securities to underwrite, sell, and manage the disposal of 53.5 million ordinary shares in the firm held by Infratil Investments. The shares were allocated to investors at a sale price of NZ$9.25 per ordinary share.Infratil now holds 97.2 million shares of the firm.Contact Energy's shares rose nearly 1% in recent trading on Monday.

New Zealand Shares Fall; Infratil Agrees to Cut Stake in Contact Energy in Over NZ$495 Million Block Trade

New Zealand shares ended lower on Wednesday amid broad-based losses in Asian shares as inflation fears drove bond yields higher.The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 1.64% or 213.29 points to close at 12,761.03.The 10-year US Treasury rose to 4.663%, while the 30-year yield climbed to ​5.182%.In domestic news, a total of 12,972 metric tonnes (MT) of products were sold during the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction held on Tuesday, with supply ranging from 12,245 MT to 16,233 MT, according to data from the trading platform.Further, New Zealand's housing market continued losing momentum in April, with sales volumes down 9% year on year and activity across the first four months of the year around 5% below the same period last year, Cotality NZ said in a report.Also, the mean one-year-ahead expected inflation in New Zealand was 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.2% in the previous quarter, while the perception of current inflation came in at 7.5%, according to a survey by the Reserve Bank of New ZealandMeanwhile, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand is expected to make no change to the official cash rate on May 27, leaving it steady at 2.25%, with a 50/50 chance of a rate hike in July, ANZ said in a note.In corporate news, Infratil (ASX:IFT, NZE:IFT) agreed to sell 53.5 million shares in Contact Energy (ASX:CEN, NZE:CEN), representing 5% of the utility's issued share capital, via a fully underwritten block trade priced at NZ$9.25 per share, with the deal expected to raise about NZ$495.2 million.Vista Group International (ASX:VGL, NZE:VGL) has secured a six-year agreement with Cinepolis to transition its Mexican circuit to the Vista Cloud operational excellence platform.