N1 Holdings, Wisr and Beforepay led the week’s share-price gains as lenders reported stronger profits and larger loan books. Takeovers, payment growth and a major HSBC loan sale also shaped the market.
- N1 Holdings rose 50.00% after record quarterly settlements and a 28% increase in cash receipts.
- Wisr gained 42.86% after reaching full-year cash profit and raising its FY27 profit target.
- Beforepay climbed 34.38% after revenue grew 43% and the company secured a $100 million credit facility.
- Zurich’s ClearView takeover moved closer to completion after court approval and a planned $0.05 special dividend.
- HSBC agreed to sell its $36 billion Australian home and personal loan portfolio to Blackstone.
Small lenders produced the biggest share-price gains this week. N1 Holdings (ASX:N1H) jumped 50.00%, Wisr (ASX:WZR) rose 42.86%, and Beforepay Group (ASX:B4P) gained 34.38%. Each company reported stronger operating results, giving investors a clear reason to buy. Their gains also came after sharp price gaps, so some of the move may reflect renewed trading rather than a full change in business value.
Lenders turn profitable
N1 Holdings reported record settlement volumes in the June quarter. Cash receipts rose 28%, while FY26 revenue increased 10% to $21.67 million. The company also recorded about $1.21 million in net profit before tax. Investors responded to evidence that its loan distribution business can grow while using technology to reduce costs.
Wisr delivered its first full-year cash profit of $1.0 million, compared with a $5.3 million loss in FY25. Its loan book grew 32% to $1.08 billion, and late repayments fell. Management now expects at least $5.0 million in cash profit for FY27. The risk is that weaker borrowers could increase losses if economic conditions deteriorate.
Beforepay reported a 43% rise in revenue to $14.8 million and a record net transaction margin of $9.2 million. It also secured a $100 million credit facility, which should reduce the cost of lending money to customers. The share price continued higher after reopening, showing sustained buying. Investors will still need to watch whether profit growth lasts after the recent jump.
Payments companies show uneven progress
Novatti Group (ASX:NOV) rose 13.33% after quarterly revenue reached $7.6 million and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation turned positive at $0.3 million. Payments in Australia and New Zealand grew strongly. The stock gained further after reopening, suggesting buyers stayed involved.
Raiz Invest (ASX:RZI) added 6.34% as funds under management grew 27.5% to $2.32 billion. Active customers rose to 351,362. Peppermint Innovation (ASX:PIL) also reported a 171% quarterly revenue increase, while its QRPh payment pilot lifted monthly transaction values from 50 million to 150 million. However, Peppermint remains focused on regaining its ASX listing, so that process remains important.
Takeovers and banking exits
ClearView Wealth (ASX:CVW) moved closer to Zurich’s acquisition after the Supreme Court of New South Wales approved the scheme. Trading is due to stop on 31 July. Shareholders are scheduled to receive a $0.05 special dividend and $0.60 in scheme cash, with implementation expected on 20 August 2026.
Perpetual (ASX:PPT) is facing a different decision. EQT raised its non-binding proposal to $22.50 per share, but the offer depends partly on Perpetual completing the sale of its Wealth Management business to Bain Capital. The board has not recommended action. Shareholders must wait for a firm proposal before judging the price.
HSBC Australia agreed to sell its $36 billion home and personal loan portfolio to Blackstone-managed funds. Pepper Money (ASX:PPM) will service the portfolio, supporting its plan to earn fees without funding every loan itself. The transaction still needs regulatory approval and is expected to close in the first half of 2027. HSBC will wind down its retail business over the next 18 months.
Investment returns split the sector
WAM Leaders (ASX:WLE) reported a 14% portfolio return for FY26 and raised its fully franked dividend to 9.6 cents per share. AMCIL (ASX:AMH) took a different result, with its portfolio falling 10% and total dividends dropping to 4.0 cents per share. AFIC (ASX:AFI) kept total dividends at 31.5 cents despite returns lagging the broader market. These results show why income can remain steady even when the value of investments falls.
DigitalX (ASX:DCC) recorded its first cash-flow-positive quarter and announced a buy-back of up to 120 million shares. Its Sell My Shares platform produced record FY26 revenue of $2.89 million. The stock had reopened at 2.8 cents but later fell 7.14%, making it the clearest example of early gains evaporating after trading resumed. Investors may question whether the buy-back can support the price while the company maintains its Bitcoin holdings.
Elsewhere, Omni Bridgeway (ASX:OBL) delivered record investment proceeds of A$350.5 million, while WT Financial Group (ASX:WTL) lifted net profit before tax 20% to $6.6 million. WTL also declared a fully franked dividend of 0.75 cents. Both companies reported stronger results, but their future returns depend on new investments and continued growth in their business networks.
Bottom Line?
The coming weeks will centre on ClearView’s scheduled 20 August 2026 implementation, regulatory review of HSBC’s loan sale, and Perpetual’s assessment of EQT’s proposal. Investors will also look for evidence that the recent gains in smaller lenders and payment companies are supported by continuing profits.
Questions in the middle?
- Will ClearView’s scheme complete on 20 August after trading stops on 31 July?
- Can Wisr, Beforepay and N1 Holdings maintain profit growth while loan losses remain controlled?
- Will regulators approve HSBC’s $36 billion portfolio sale in time for the planned first-half 2027 completion?