Sharesight users' top 20 trades on the NZX for 2021

Each year, Sharesight looks back at the top 20 buy and sell trades made by Sharesight users throughout the year. Welcome to the 2021 edition of our annual trading snapshot, where we explore the top trades users have made in stocks on the NZX this year, plus the market-moving news behind them.

Top 20 NZX stocks traded in 2021

In this yearly snapshot, trades were led by the Smartshares NZ Top 50 (NZX: FNZ) and US 500 (NZX: USF) ETFs, as well as a2 Milk (NZX: ATM), which saw its share price plummet throughout 2021 due to the lagging Chinese market. Other top trades include Air New Zealand (NZX: AIR), which has had a tumultuous year due to COVID-related uncertainty, as well as Contact Energy (NZX: CEN), which expanded its business and boosted profits. NZX trades were varied overall, comprising a mixture of ETFs and equities in a wide range of sectors.

Let’s look at the news behind the key stocks in this year’s snapshot:

a2 Milk (NZX: ATM)

• January: a2 one step closer to acquiring majority of Mataura Valley Milk

• March: a2 supplier sees half year net profit plummet by 76% due to lack of demand

• April: Share price hits multi-year low after stock downgraded to ‘hold’ rating

• May: a2 forced to dump NZ$96m of expired infant formula due to reduced Chinese demand

• July: a2 shares drop following Chinese birth policy reforms

• August: a2 reports 79% profit loss; warns of difficult year ahead

• October: a2 Milk sheds AU$630 million in value as shareholders fret over lagging Chinese market

• November: a2 facing another shareholder lawsuit over share price collapse

Air New Zealand (NZX: AIR)

• January: Airlines need NZ$600 million to keep air links to NZ open, says airline group

• February: Air NZ will trial digital COVID-19 vaccine passport on Sydney flights

• March: Air NZ to operate non-stop flights between Auckland and Hobart once trans-Tasman bubble is established

• April: Air NZ government loan increased from NZ$900 million to NZ$1.5 billion

• May: Appoints Paul McLean as new GM for Australia

• July: Air NZ dethroned as the world’s best airline by Qatar Airways

• September: Announces partnership with Airbus to work on carbon-free hydrogen planes

• October: Air NZ suspends cash burn guidance; draws down loan due to COVID uncertainty

• November: Records 17,000 bookings in a day as travel restrictions relaxed

Contact Energy (NZX: CEN)

• February: Contact Energy launches NZ$400 million capital raise to fund geothermal power station

• March: Completes oversubscribed NZ$75 million retail entitlement offer

• April: Contact Energy acquires Western Energy Services

• August: Contact Energy boosts net profit by 50%; reduces annual dividend

• September: Secures contract to supply renewable energy to NZ data centre

• November: Contact Energy warns closure of gas power plants will be ‘chaotic’

Mainfreight (NZX: MFT)

• February: Mainfreight reports share price increased 71% over the past year

• May: Rewards staff with a hike in bonuses after NZ$11.2 million gain in the year to March

• August: Mainfreight sets a new 52-week high as share price reaches NZ$92.91

• October: Mainfreight adds 2 FUSO electric trucks in their bid for sustainability

Meridian Energy (NZX: MEL)

• January: Meridian Energy shares surge 10% on investment from clean energy ETFs

• April: BlackRock sells 106 million shares of Meridian Energy

• July: Meridian to collaborate with Contact Energy on world’s largest green hydrogen plant in NZ

• September: Despite delays, Meridian to continue building oil refinery in North Dakota

• October: Meridian shortlists bidders for sale of Australian business

• November: Meridian to sell Australian business to Shell and ICG for NZ$753 million

Spark New Zealand (NZX: SPK)

• March: Spark opens innovation hub for businesses looking to test out IoT, 5G technology

• August: Reports revenue declined 0.8% due to NZ$38 million roaming revenues loss in FY21

• September: Spark removes broadband data caps to support Kiwis through extended lockdown

• October: Spark struggling in the last three months; share price down 4.6%

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (NZX: FBH)

• January: Fisher & Paykel profit surged 73% since the beginning of the pandemic

• May: Fisher & Paykel to give staff NZ$29 million bonus after record NZ$524 million full year profit

• June: Share price drops 3.3% over concerns of slowing growth as vaccines bring COVID-19 pandemic under control

• August: In FY22 trading update, Fisher & Paykel announces total sales declined 14%, influenced by reduced COVID-19 hospital admissions

• October: Fisher & Paykel launch Evora Full, a full face mask for sleep apnea

Oceania Healthcare (NZX: OCA)

• January: Sales up 44% for Oceania Healthcare

• March: Oceania raises NZ$80 million for Auckland expansion plans

• May: Oceania announces sales volumes are 26% ahead of last year

• July: Oceania appoints new CEO Brent Pattison

• August: Oceania share price 50% higher YoY

• November: Increases interim profit by 22% despite COVID disruptions

Pacific Edge (NZX: PEB)

• March: Pacific Edge reports total revenue increased 101% to NZ$10.4 million in FY21

• April: Share price spikes after Pacific Edge reports Cxbladder tests are covered by United Healthcare

• August: Share price drops following false announcement of NZ$73 million capital raise

• September: Pacific Edge dual lists on the ASX

• October: Pacific Edge named in Deloitte Fast 50 Awards

Infratil (NZX: IFT)

• February: Infratil announces Jason Boyes as new CEO

• March: Pockets NZ$1.4 billion after selling 65% stake in Tilt Renewables

• April: Infratil buys majority stake in Pacific Radiology Group; share price jumps on acquisition news

• September: Infratil commits to US$233 million development of renewables in Asia

• October: Infratil obtains 40% stake in London data centre business, Kao Data

• November: Reports largest ever surplus due to sale of renewable energy business; flags bigger divided

Ryman Healthcare (NZX: RYM)

• May: Ryman CEO Gordon MacLeod announces resignation

• June: Ryman Healthcare buys site in Melbourne to build AU$165 million retirement village

• July: Ryman Healthcare announces NZ$403 million in cash receipts in Q1, an 82% increase

• August: Proposed Mornington Peninsula development rejected by VCAT

• October: Ryman makes first acquisition of Essendon Terrace retirement village

• November: Ryman grows first-half profit; anticipates pent-up demand

Auckland International Airport (NZX: AIA)

• February: AIA reports 80% profit decrease in latest earnings report; first loss since 1998

• May: AIA CEO resigns after "sudden, highly disruptive" COVID-19 impact

• June: Passenger traffic in AIA up 747% since May 2020 due to the Trans Tasman bubble

• July: AIA share price propelled by Sydney Airport takeover bid

• August: AIA reports total revenue down 50.4% to NZ$281 million YoY

• October: Share price increases after AIA appoints Carrie Hurihanganui as new CEO

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