Shares of Pro Medicus (ASX:PME) have emerged as the top gainer on the benchmark ASX 200, having climbed 10.8% to reach a record high of A$78.85.

This significant growth comes after the healthcare imaging software company sealed a massive 10-year contract with Baylor Scott & White Health in Texas.

The value placed on the contract is approximately AUD140 million ($89.89 million).

As of the last close, Pro Medicus (ASX:PME)’s stock has risen by an impressive 28.3% this year, reflecting the company’s positive trajectory.

Pro Medicus (ASX:PME) is a healthcare imaging software company.

Orbital Corporation (ASX:OEC) has announced it will raise AUD 4.0 million at a premium as part of its funds to advance engine development.

The raise was cornerstoned by a new investor.

In other news, Todd Alder has relinquished his roles as Managing Director and CEO of Orbital Corporation (ASX:OEC).

The company has chosen Andrew Mills as interim CEO.

The capital raising will take place at an issue price of AUD 0.14 per share.

Orbital Corporation (ASX:OEC) is a company that focuses on the development and manufacturing of advanced engine and vehicle systems.

Thrive Tribe Technologies' shares (ASX:1TT) are on the rise, boasting as much as a 25% increase to A$0.030, a record high since September 1.

Currently, the stock is up by 12.5%, marking the best performance for the company since May 12, provided the gains are sustained.

The technology-focused company has amplified its shareholding in Daily Food from 37.5% to 54%.

To achieve this, the company has reported an expenditure of A$132,000.

The effects of this strategic move are already visible, with more than 1.2 million shares changing hands, a noteworthy 7.0 times higher than the average 30-day volume of 175,314 shares.

This year, the stock has significantly surged in value, tripling since the beginning of the year.

Thrive Tribe Technologies is a software company specializing in the development and distribution of a variety of technological solutions.

Shares of Pantera Minerals rose by as much as 11.5% to a value of A$0.058, potentially setting records for it’s best day since the 24th of August.

The rise comes as the mineral exploratory company secured a 35% interest in the Superbird Project located in the U.S.

The acquisition was made possible via a A$2 million convertible note facility with Daytona Lithium.

With this acquisition, the Superbird lithium brine project has increased by a substantial 58%.

As a result, the company’s stock hit its highest level since September 5.

The trend also suggests a potential second consecutive session of gains for Pantera Minerals stock.

However, the end of the year, specifically the last closing, showed a decline of 52.7% year-to-date.

Pantera Minerals is a mineral exploratory company based in Australia.

Australia’s Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) experienced a downward trend in share prices after analysts cut its price target following the airline’s caution over raised costs due to escalating fuel costs and future investments to enhance customer services.

The airline’s shares fell by as much as 3.3%, marking their lowest point since October 3 in 2022.

Brokerage Citi dimmed the price target from A$6.95 to A$6, all while maintaining a ‘neutral’ rating.

In the meantime, Jefferies decreased the price target from A$8.78 to A$7.79 despite a ‘buy’ rating.

Citi alluded that Qantas' acceptance of climbing costs may suggest impending public issues could infiltrate earning potentials.

The brokerage foresaw that the A$330 million surge in costs could lead to a year-on-year falter in earnings.

Nevertheless, Jefferies noted a ‘positive’ customer improvement program, coupled with continual strong demand hinting the damage to Qantas' brand is mendable and an increased profitability can be achieved from the second half of 2024 onward.

For the fiscal years 2024 - 2026, Jefferies cut the EPS forecasts by 14%, 4.4%, and 2.1% respectively.

As of the last closure, Qantas' stock has decreased roughly 13% this year.

Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) is a leading Australian airline brand, offering domestic and international flight services and renowned for its strong customer demand.

Botanix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:BOT) shares plummeted as much as 36.1% to A$0.115, hitting their lowest level since late June.

The stock’s 27.8% downturn potentially marks its worst trading day since March 25, 2020.

The dermatology-focused company received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to its New Drug Application (NDA) for Sofpironium Bromide gel, a treatment for excessive sweating.

The company plans to correspond with the FDA and perform principally minor tasks needed to elucidate product use instructions.

The company aims to refile the NDA in early Q1 CY2024, targeting a mid-CY2024 approval.

Based on their communication with the FDA, the company does not anticipate any new review issues as part of the resubmission review process.

An overwhelming 12.5 million shares have been traded, more than tripling the 30-day average volume of 3.8 million shares.

Prior to this dramatic drop, the company’s stock had tripled in value this year.

Botanix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:BOT) is a dermatology company specializing in the development of therapeutic gels.

Financial services firm Morningstar forecasts gambling machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure to acquire a larger market share in both outright sales and leased machines in the North American market.

The firm views Aristocrat Leisure as one of three major entities dominating a significant portion of North American outright sales and a similar proportion of leased machines.

The company’s fair value estimate for Aristocrat Leisure’s shares remains unchanged at A$43.

Morningstar points out the company’s main competitors, Light&Wonder and International Game Technology, but does not anticipate the competitive climate to soften.

According to them, it may prove challenging for these competitors to secure a substantial and sustainable share against the dominance of Aristocrat Leisure.

LSEG data shows that out of 11 analysts, 10 recommend a ‘buy’ or higher rating for the stock, while one suggests a ‘hold’, with a median target price of A$44.75.

As of the latest closing, Aristocrat Leisure’s shares have risen 35.4% year-to-date.

Aristocrat Leisure is a premier gaming machine manufacturer.

Jefferies expressed optimism on Star Entertainment Group’s (ASX:SGR) capital raising strategy.

The casino company’s shares are forecasted to reach a market price of A$0.68 as it taps the capital market for the second time this year.

Star Entertainment (ASX:SGR) aims to attract A$750 million as part of a key capital restructuring initiative.

The brokerage has upheld its ‘buy’ rating on the company’s stock.

The company’s earnings are projected to stabilize with a current EBITDA running rate of A$252 million.

Jefferies highlighted that this capital raising and debt refinancing push the company closer to resolving the myriad of issues that have plagued the stock for a considerable period.

A majority of analysts (6 out of 7) have given the stock a buy or higher rating, while one has suggested a hold.

Despite these forecasts, the stock has dipped 54% YTD as of the most recent closure.

Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) is a casino entertainment company.

Jefferies has reported that the revision of Allkem’s project timeline continues to exhibit challenges in bringing lithium units to the market.

The brokerage firm has reduced its price target to A$14 from A$16.5 but maintains its ‘buy’ rating.

Allkem, a lithium mining company, announced an increase in capital costs for its projects earlier this week, which included the Canadian James Bay project.

According to Jefferies, Allkem’s total capital required for growth projects was revised 23% higher than forecasts.

In the short-term, Jefferies expects lithium prices to drift lower into the year end.

Out of 18 analysts, 15 rate the stock ‘buy’ or higher, while three suggest to ‘hold’; their median price target is A$17.3 according to LSEG data.

As per the latest figures, Allkem’s stock is up 3.4% this year.

Allkem (ASX:AKE) is a company dedicated to the production and distribution of lithium.

Analysts have reduced their price targets for Australia’s Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) following the airline’s warning about heightened expenses due to increasing fuel prices and their announcement of further investments targeted at improving customer experience.

Brokerage firm Citi has cut its price target to A$6.00 from A$6.95, whilst maintaining a ‘neutral’ rating.

Similarly, Jefferies has lowered its price target to A$7.79 from A$8.78 and continued to uphold a ‘buy’ rating.

Citi contends that Qantas’s voluntary assumption of heftier expenses may hint at recent public issues potentially affecting earnings.

The firm calculates that the roughly A$330 million in extra costs could result in a year-on-year earnings downturn.

Conversely, Jefferies believes that the airline’s ‘positive’ customer improvement initiative and continuous robust demand suggest that any damage to the Qantas brand is ‘fixable’.

Jefferies also argues that a structurally higher profitability level could be achieved from the second half of 2024 onwards, despite slashing its earnings per share forecasts for fiscal years 2024 to 2026 by 14%, 4.4%, and 2.1% respectively.

As of its last close, Qantas’s shares had fallen around 13% year-to-date, settling at A$5.230 on Monday.

Qantas Airways (ASX:QAN) is a leading Australian airline, offering domestic and international flights.