net profit

Salmon production and marketing company Tassal Group (ASX:TGR) have announced its first half profits to the Australian stock market investors and traders.

• Tassal Net Profit $15.3 million for the first 6 months to December 31. Up 22.1 percent on $12.96 million on the previous corresponding period.

Online classifieds company, CarSales.com.au (ASX:CRZ) have announced its half year results for FY 2012-13 to stock traders and investors on the Australian stock market.

• CarSales net profit increased 14 percent to $37.6 million for the first half. Up from $33.1 million from the previous corresponding period.

Australasia's largest marketing communications group, comprising over 70 specialist companies, STW Communications Group (ASX:SGN) have announced its profit results for the full year financial results for 2012 to investors and share traders. The group includes a mix of advertising, media, PR, branding and other agencies including Ikon Communications, JWT, DT, Mindshare, Maxus and Ogilvy.

APN News & Media (APN) expects its net profit this year to downgrade to between $75 million and $77 million, which is slightly below market consensus, despite having a better second half. The decline is caused by weakness in advertising markets, natural disasters in Queensland and New Zealand, and the 5% depreciation of the New Zealand dollar.

James Hardie Industries (JHX) bounces back to profitability after reporting that its net profit for the last six months reached $US128.4 million ($A126.51 million), compared to the $US318.8 million loss in the previous period. Chief Executive Louis Gries said that the company's recovery for the past six months proved the benefit of a more stable operating environment in the United States.

Sims Group Limited (ASX:SGM) expects profits to rise by 23 percent, amounting to $6.2 billion. Scrap intake and shipments are also expected to rise by 8 and 9 percent to 10.5 million and 9.9 million tonnes. Over the nine months up to the end of March the projected sales revenue is $123 million, which is up by 74 percent from the previous year.

Australian banking company, Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) announced a record $6.1 billion net profit after tax, up 42 percent on the previous year. However the bank's shares dropped 3 percent or$1.56, to $51.19 (almost $9 below the stock's peak this year). The market jitters was caused by weaker second half performance.

• Cash NPAT of $6,101 million - up 42 percent on prior year;

Hills Industries Profit Soars
Australian manufacturer Hills Industries (ASX:HIL), which manufactures clotheslines, antennas and security equipment as well as the famous Hills hoist, have announced that it has quadrupled its profit to $40.2 million. Shares in Hills Industries soared by 11 percent on the news by 24 cents to $2.41.

Hills Industries Dividends Net Profit

Private education provider, Navitas (ASX:NVT) a company which provides of pre-university and university programmes for domestic and overseas students has announced a 31 percent increase in net profit. Navitas net profit for the year to June 30 was $64.3 million, up from $49.2 million in the previous corresponding period.

Navitas Dividends

Wotif.com Holdings (WTF), an online travel agency that offers online accommodation booking services to around 45 countries with main focus on the Australian and New Zealand market has announced that it is expecting to see its full-year profit to increase by as much as 29 percent based on strong occupancy levels in Australia. The WTF shares went up by 1.84 percent or 9c on Wednesday hitting $4.99 where it was closed at an eight month low ($4.90 a share) on Tuesday.