Takeover action and strong funds growth drove the week in finance stocks. Big winners came from deal news and fresh money coming onto platforms, while a few profit stories still saw sellers step in.
- OFX jumped on a cash bid at a 108% premium.
- GDG surged after strong funds growth and a Colonial First State deal.
- Wealth platforms and fund managers reported rising inflows, advisers and assets.
- Lenders posted solid loan growth, but some capital raisings and leadership changes weighed on prices.
- Macquarie paired a 30% profit lift with a planned CEO handover.
OFX Group (ASX:OFX) led the week with a 42.59% jump after agreeing to a A$1.00-a-share cash takeover from UK-based Equals. Investors cared because the offer was more than double OFX’s early February price and gave a clear exit value, even though the deal still needs due diligence, debt funding and shareholder approval. Generation Development Group (ASX:GDG) climbed 21.91% after funds under management rose 36% to A$46.4 billion and the group struck a strategic alliance with Colonial First State. Regal Partners (ASX:RPL) went the other way, falling 10.16% despite saying first-half normalised profit should more than double. That drop suggests some investors had already priced in strong numbers and then sold when the update arrived.
Deals and boardroom moves
Mergers, special payouts and leadership changes set the tone in several names. ClearView Wealth (ASX:CVW) was flat at 0.00% after its board approved a fully franked 5 cent special dividend tied to Zurich’s takeover. The cash dividend cuts the scheme price to 60 cents, but attached franking credits may leave some investors better off in total. Count Limited (ASX:CUP) edged up 0.48% after revising Oracle acquisition terms and lifting expected cost savings. Sequoia Financial Group (ASX:SEQ) fell 8.33% after CEO Garry Crole resigned immediately, leaving interim leaders in charge while the board searches for permanent replacements. Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) slipped 1.30% for the week, even after reporting a 30% profit rise to A$4.85 billion. Investors were also given a long-dated succession plan, with Shemara Wikramanayake to retire in November 2026 and Greg Ward named as successor, subject to approvals. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (ASX:BEN) added 1.61% after saying it will redeem A$125 million of subordinated notes early. In plain English, the bank is paying back a layer of debt capital before maturity, with regulator approval already in hand.Wealth platforms keep pulling in money
HUB24 (ASX:HUB), Praemium (ASX:PPS) and Generation Development Group (ASX:GDG) all reported strong asset growth, even if the share price reaction differed. HUB24 fell 2.25% despite record FY26 net inflows of A$18.9 billion and a 20% lift in funds under administration to A$164.3 billion. More advisers joined the platform, and new products widened its reach. Praemium dropped 7.04% after posting 21.1% growth in funds under administration to A$77.9 billion and A$1.9 billion in platform net inflows. The numbers were solid, but the selling shows good updates do not always lift a stock if expectations were already high. Fund managers also had a mixed week. Wilson Asset Management's listed vehicle WAM Active (ASX:WAA) fell 3.39% even after a 75.5% portfolio return for FY2026 and a higher fully franked dividend. WAM Income Maximiser (ASX:WMX) rose 1.46% as it lifted monthly dividends and pointed to a 6.9% to 7.1% annualised fully franked yield, including franking credits. Regal’s fall sat in contrast to its strong profit update, while smaller adviser network operator WT Financial Group (ASX:WTL) gained 6.67% after EBITDA rose 22% and cash nearly doubled. In WTL’s case, buying held after the stock reopened, which usually means investors were still willing to pay up after the first jump.Lenders and specialty finance names stayed busy
Plenti Group (ASX:PLT) rose 9.42% after reporting record quarterly loan originations of A$536 million and a 23% bigger loan book. Investors liked the mix of growth and stable bad debt levels, meaning losses from unpaid loans did not worsen. MoneyMe (ASX:MME) slipped 2.44% despite growing its loan book past A$2 billion and posting positive second-half normalised profit. QuickFee (ASX:QFE) added 1.45% as Australian loan growth offset weaker US finance revenue and the company expanded its local debt facility. Pioneer Credit (ASX:PNC) fell 7.91% after a record FY26 profit and a A$17 million placement. The company wants the new money to buy more debt ledgers, which are bundles of overdue consumer debts collected over time. That growth plan appealed at first, but early gains evaporated after the stock reopened, leaving it below the initial burst of buying. Klevo Rewards (ASX:KLV) dropped 10.34% after buying a small credit licence holder to enter digital finance. The licence matters because it allows the group to offer regulated credit products, but investors may want proof the new plan can turn into revenue.What investors will watch next
Attention now shifts to whether corporate deals close on the terms announced and whether strong asset growth turns into stronger earnings. For OFX, the key issue is whether due diligence and financing stay on track. For Macquarie, investors have more than a year to judge the planned handover before Greg Ward is due to take the top job in November 2026. Across platforms, fund managers and lenders, the next test is simple: can they keep bringing in client money or writing new loans without credit losses or costs spoiling the result?Bottom Line?
The next stretch will hinge on deal completion at OFX and ClearView, the progress of Macquarie’s CEO transition ahead of November 2026, and whether recent inflow and loan growth updates carry into the first part of FY27.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Equals complete its due diligence and financing, or does OFX’s takeover premium narrow if conditions drag on?
- Can HUB24, Praemium and GDG keep attracting new adviser money at the same pace once the next reporting cycle begins?
- Will Pioneer Credit and other lenders turn fresh capital and bigger loan books into steady profit without a rise in unpaid loans?