Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX:PDN) primarily explores for uranium in Australia and Southern Africa.

Shares in energy stock Paladin Energy have soared today after the company announced a 47% increase in first quarter production compared to the previous quarter.

PDN also said that spot price for uranium is beginning to show signs of strengthening as new demand emerges.

Paladin also re-affirmed its full year production target and earnings guidance, making it one of the days hot stocks.

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Computershare (ASX: CPU) provides technology systems and services for the international securities industry. Its core services comprise the provision of shareholder registry services, employee share plans and associated services such as printing and share registry analytical services.

Computershare’s US$550 million takeover of Bank of New York Mellon Corp’s investor service business has been approved by U.S regulators.

This deal expected to be completed around the 1^st of January and will make CPU the largest provider of share-registry services in the world.

Computershare is one of the hot stocks of the day up around 15%.

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Extract Resources (ASX:EXT) explores, evaluates, develops and produces uranium as a source of fuel conversion for nuclear power.

The group was the subject of takeover speculation today after news reports suggested China Guangdong Nuclear Power is tabling an offer for Kalahari Minerals.

Kalahari is the majority shareholder of EXT, with an ownership stake of 43%.

Australian takeover law stipulates the Chinese company must make a full offer for EXT if it acquires Kalahari.

EXT has been one of the day’s hot stocks on the back of the rumours, and it is so far one of the best performers in the Australian share market.

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Carsales.com Limited (ASX:CRZ) is an Australian business offering online access to automotive classifieds.

The company listed on the ASX at $3.92 in September 2009, up 12% from the $3.50 price at which the shares were issued.

Shortly after listing, CRZ was added to the S&P/ASX 200.

It is the largest consumer website in the country which covers automotive, plant machinery, motorcycle, caravan, marine and display advertising.

CRZ operates 23 individual websites which are all specifically focused on different products.

The company has been a fantastic growth story, benefitting from a migration to online advertising.

It has been one of the hot stocks since bottoming out at $3.79 earlier this month, having surged around 30% in the past few weeks.

Tough conditions, not for Carsales

Whilst most consumer sectors struggle in the face of tough economic conditions, CRZ has continued to prosper.

This is mainly because CRZ has been at the forefront of the continuing migration of advertisers from print to online.

Being proactive in identifying market trends has helped CRZ continue to be a clear leader in market share.

Surprisingly, there has been robust growth in new vehicle enquiry volumes despite decreased new vehicle stock availability.

CRZ recently acquired Jumbuck Entertainment’s OZtion assets which is one of the world’s leading developers of mobile phone applications.

FY earnings

CRZ reported a 30% jump in FY underlying earnings to $83.8 million with EBITDA margins at 55%.

Operating cashflow for the period climbed 19% to $60.1 million with operating revenue rising 26% to $152.5 million.

Earnings per share (EPS) increased by 34% to 25 cps while a final FY11 dividend of 10.5 cents per share was declared.

The majority of its revenue (47%) comes from the Dealer division and the Private division which accounts for approximately 20% of revenue.

The period saw continued strong growth in automotive enquiry volumes, up 15% on year.

Looking ahead

CRZ’s FY earnings were highly impressive, convincingly beating guidance. The company is looking to stay ahead of its competitors through the use of mobile devices.

Mobile now accounts for 13% of CRZ’s automotive traffic.

The acquisition of OZtion delivers CRZ a robust and proven e-commerce platform that will complement its growing general classifieds business.

CRZ has introduced significant new product releases with many planned for the coming months.

Its mobile application is expected to continue growing at a strong rate and will be a key area of ongoing focus.

Tough economic conditions remain a key challenge but we feel CRZ has enough upside potential to remain an outperformer, thus making it one of the stocks to watch.

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WorleyParsons (ASX:WOR) provides professional engineering and management services to the energy, resource and complex process industries.

It offers a broad scope of services, from feasibility studies to design and project services, and is exposed to a number of sectors.

Today, WOR reported a 25% lift in FY11 net profit to $364.2 million, although its underlying result of $298.5 million missed analyst estimates.

WOR was able to grow its earnings despite the impact of the soaring AUD and turmoil in the Middle East.

The group was forecasting good underlying profit growth in FY12, continuing the momentum displayed in the 2H11.

A final dividend of 50 cents was declared.

WOR has been one of the hot stocks in today’s trade, with its almost 10% gain far outpacing the Australian share market.

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Macquarie Airports (ASX:MAP) is one of the world’s largest private airport owners and operators with a core portfolio of three major airports – Sydney, Copenhagen and Brussels.

It has been one of the hot stocks in recent weeks, surging from around $3.00 in June to be currently trading at $3.40.

MAP announced yesterday that it has completed its asset swap with the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTTP).

The deal was revealed last month, but the finer details have now been settled.

Under the deal MAP will acquire OTPP’s 11.02% stake in MAP’s Sydney Airport, taking MAP’s ownership level in its key asset to 85%.

In exchange, MAP is handing OTTP its stakes in the Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

OTTP will also pay MAP approximately $791 million.

The deal will see MAP focus purely on its Sydney airport asset, reducing its exposure to the struggling European market. It will also simplify the company’s corporate structure.

MAP will also be cashed up after the deal and expects to make a return of capital or special dividend of around 80 cents to distribute the surplus proceeds from the OTPP.

The airport manager also gave distribution guidance of 21 cents per security for 2011 and 2012.

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Macarthur Coal (ASX:MCC) is a coal miner, supplying low volatile pulverized coal injection coal (PCI coal) to the steel mills of Asia, Europe and Brazil as well as some thermal and coking coal.

On 11 July, MCC received a takeover offer from Peabody Energy Corp and ArcelorMittal that values MCC at $4.68 billion.

Peabody offered $15 and $16 for the company in multiple attempts over the last two years, and ArcelorMittal owns 16.07% of the company.

The board makes no recommendation in relation to the indicative proposal so far. It will seek to engage the two companies in relation to the price and terms.

MCC has been one of the hot stocks following the takeover offer, bucking the weakness seen on the Australian share market.

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Foster’s Group (ASX:FGL) is a brewing and wine company with a global presence, and whose core operations include Carlton and United Breweries.

In April, FGL shareholders agreed to the beer brewer’s plans to demerge its wine making division.

The division, known as Treasury Wine Estates, was separately listed, whilst the demerger was expected to provide greater flexibility for both companies going forward.

The demerger also increased the likelihood that both divisions could become takeover targets.

Out of Africa

FGL this week rejected a $9.51 billion takeover offer from South Africa’s SABMiller.

The $4.90 a share offer is at an 8.2% premium to FGL’s Monday closing share price.

FGL believes that the proposal significantly undervalues the company.

The move comes after FGL’s recent demerger.

FGL shares have rallied significantly since rejecting the offer as most analysts feel the bid will spark a bidding war.

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St Barbara (SBM) is an Australian gold producer and explorer.

SBM’s primary assets are its Southern Cross and Leonora operations, both of which are located in Western Australia. The company also purchased the Gwalia (WA) mine in 2005, which has become a main focus.

On 13 May, SBM made a takeover offer for Catalpa Resources (CAH).

The part scrip/part cash offer valued CAH at $349 million ($1.92 per share), representing a 41% premium to CAH’s closing price on 10 May.

CAH advised its shareholders to take no action but did signal that it believed St Barbara was opportunistically trying to take advantage of its weak share price.

Nevertheless, CAH advised that it will hold further talks with SBM in the coming weeks.

CAH was one of the market’s hot stocks on the day, surging more than 20%.

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Caltex (CTX) is Australia’s leading transport fuel supplier and convenience retailer and the only integrated oil refining and marketing company listed on the ASX.

CTX operates two major refineries, at Kurnell in Sydney, and Lytton in Brisbane. CTX also operates a convenience store network in association with service station sites.

Caltex supplies about one-third of transport fuel in Australia, and is a net importer of petroleum products.

The refiner’s business value chain incorporates supply, refining, logistics and marketing.

Though CTX has suffered in recent history over refiner margin pressure it has been one of the hot stocks since July last year.

The company has turned things around and recently reported FY earnings which beat analyst expectations.

Refined Earnings

CTX last month reported an FY10 net operating profit of $302 million, up 49% from a year earlier and beating analyst estimates.

CTX attributed the result to higher regional refiner margins, surging fuel sales and improved refinery reliability.  However, the stronger AUD eroded $94 million from CTX’s refiner margin.

Record sales for transport fuels were achieved, helping to bolster the result.

The group was bullish about the medium-long term outlook, citing continued recovery in US dollar refiner margins due to the expected decline in excess fuel supply in the Asia Pacific region.

CTX declared a final dividend of 30 cents, up from 25 cent in the prior year.

Production improves in 2H

In the first half of 2010, CTX’s production struggled hurt by reliability issues. Higher planned maintenance was experienced.

However, the second half showed a marked improvement helped by record mechanical availability.

Production in the second half improved to near record levels of 5.5 billion litres with refinery utilisation in excess of 78%.

For the full year, production of petrol, diesel and jet fuel was 9.8 billion litres. This was slightly weaker than the previous year.

CTX refiner margins averaged US$8.39 per barrel in 2010 compared to US$5.95 per barrel in 2009.

Refining profitability is often impacted by the Aussie dollar. This saw CTX introduce a foreign exchange hedging program from 1 July 2010.

The relative strength of the Aussie dollar to the US dollar will reduce the translated Aussie dollar CTX refiner margin.

However, a rising Aussie dollar in 2H10 offset losses in crude payables from 1H10.

Looking ahead

The Catalyst program is expected to deliver a significant improvement in business dynamics.

The 2011 outlook for CTX remains positive despite the recent spike in oil prices.

When CTX reported its FY earnings, it anticipated that the excess supply in the Asia Pacific region should slowly decline.

The Japan crisis has now thrown a spanner in the works as Caltex is set to benefit after Japan shut down 31% of its refining capacity following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

This will help ease a regional gasoline supply overhang, pushing up margins for refiners.

Exposure to the mining, agriculture and transport industries in Australia is expected to give CTX significant upside as the global economy improves so it will be one of the stocks to watch in coming months.

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