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Contango Asset Management Ltd. (AU:APL)
ASX:APL
Australian Market

Contango Asset Management Ltd. (APL) AI Stock Analysis

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AU:APL

Contango Asset Management Ltd.

(Sydney:APL)

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Neutral 55 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:55Neutral
Price Target:
AU$0.19
▲(2.78% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/07/26
The score is primarily supported by improving financial trajectory (positive operating/free cash flow and reduced losses) and a strong technical uptrend above key moving averages. Offsetting these positives are continued net losses (negative P/E) and an overextended RSI that increases near-term pullback risk.
Positive Factors
Very high gross margin
A ~97.7% gross margin indicates structural pricing power or very low cost of goods sold for the investment management model. Such a high gross margin supports durability of core profitability and the ability to cover fixed costs, enabling reinvestment or cushioning against revenue shocks.
Sustained revenue growth
Consistent top-line growth (6.7% in 2025 and multi-year revenue expansion) suggests stable client demand and traction for the firm’s managed investment structures. For an asset manager, recurring management fees tied to AUM growth create a durable revenue base if inflows and performance remain steady.
Return to positive cash flow
Operating and free cash flow turned positive in 2025 after prior years of burn, improving self-funding ability. Durable cash generation reduces dependence on external financing, supports operations and strategic initiatives, and increases resilience versus cyclical AUM-driven revenue moves.
Negative Factors
Continued net losses
Despite strong gross margins and improved cash flow, net margin and ROE remain negative. Persistent bottom-line losses can erode retained capital, limit dividend or buyback optionality, and force capital raises if losses re-emerge, constraining long-term shareholder returns.
Eroding shareholders' equity
A declining equity base reduces the balance-sheet buffer available to absorb volatility or pursue strategic investments. Even with modest leverage, shrinking equity limits flexibility for acquisitions or capital deployment and increases vulnerability if operating performance weakens.
Fragile cash-flow turnaround
The 2025 cash-flow improvement followed several years of burn and showed a modest FCF decline versus the prior period, indicating the recovery may not be firmly established. Reliance on a single-year improvement raises risk that OCF/FCF could revert under AUM or fee pressure.

Contango Asset Management Ltd. (APL) vs. iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA)

Contango Asset Management Ltd. Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAssociate Global Partners Limited is a publicly owned investment manager. It manages large cap, mid cap, small cap, micro cap, and income focused mandates for its institutional clients. The company was formerly known as Contango Asset Management Limited and changed its name to Associate Global Partners Limited in November 2022. Associate Global Partners Limited is based in Sydney, Australia.
How the Company Makes MoneyContango Asset Management Ltd. makes money through management fees charged on the assets they manage for clients. These fees are typically a percentage of the total assets under management (AUM) and can vary based on the investment products and strategies utilized. Additionally, the company may earn performance fees, which are contingent on achieving specific investment returns or benchmarks. Contango may also engage in strategic partnerships with other financial institutions to expand its product offerings and reach more clients, thereby increasing its revenue potential.

Contango Asset Management Ltd. Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Operational trend improved in 2025 with revenue up 6.7%, very high gross margin (~97.7%), and a return to positive operating and free cash flow (~$0.89m/~$0.88m). However, profitability remains negative (net margin ~-2.6%, ROE ~-2.2%), and the cash-flow turnaround is still early after prior-year burn.
Income Statement
46
Neutral
Revenue has grown over time, with a solid uptick in the latest year (2025 revenue growth of 6.7%) and very high gross profitability in 2025 (gross margin ~97.7%). However, the company remains unprofitable at the operating and net level (2025 net margin ~-2.6%), and while losses have narrowed meaningfully versus 2023–2024, the business has not yet demonstrated consistent bottom-line profitability.
Balance Sheet
62
Positive
Leverage looks manageable with debt-to-equity around 0.25 in 2025, and equity remains a meaningful portion of the capital base. That said, profitability on shareholder capital is still negative (2025 return on equity ~-2.2%), and equity has trended down from 2022 to 2025, which can pressure flexibility if losses persist.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash generation improved sharply in 2025, with positive operating cash flow (~$0.89m) and positive free cash flow (~$0.88m) after multiple years of cash burn (2020–2024). The key watch item is durability: 2024 operating and free cash flow were negative, and the latest free cash flow showed a modest decline versus the prior period (free cash flow growth of -44.2k), suggesting the turnaround is still early.
BreakdownJun 2025Jun 2024Jun 2023Jun 2022Jun 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue6.66M6.03M5.66M6.21M5.54M
Gross Profit6.50M5.08M3.85M4.32M3.94M
EBITDA-42.00K-421.00K-1.75M-425.00K-757.00K
Net Income-171.00K-798.00K-1.99M-642.00K-800.00K
Balance Sheet
Total Assets12.58M12.71M13.09M13.21M13.86M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.84M4.18M4.05M6.59M5.53M
Total Debt1.93M1.74M1.95M1.62M1.64M
Total Liabilities4.92M4.99M6.01M4.31M4.48M
Stockholders Equity7.67M7.72M7.08M8.90M9.37M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow882.00K-495.00K-2.17M-833.00K-312.00K
Operating Cash Flow885.00K-489.00K-2.16M-824.00K-307.00K
Investing Cash Flow-226.00K-607.00K-307.00K1.82M1.82M
Financing Cash Flow0.001.23M-71.00K76.00K70.00K

Contango Asset Management Ltd. Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price0.18
Price Trends
50DMA
0.19
Negative
100DMA
0.17
Positive
200DMA
0.15
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
>-0.01
Positive
RSI
39.40
Neutral
STOCH
8.33
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AU:APL, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 0.18 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 0.20, below the 50-day MA of 0.19, and above the 200-day MA of 0.15, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of >-0.01 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 39.40 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 8.33 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for AU:APL.

Contango Asset Management Ltd. Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
AU$64.02M7.0532.22%6.39%22.67%19.47%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
58
Neutral
AU$102.85M23.772.66%1.96%40.89%175.00%
55
Neutral
AU$10.36M48.65-2.22%15.52%79.73%
53
Neutral
AU$29.29M29.102.42%2.03%18.17%
52
Neutral
AU$121.15M-36.15-15.05%76.36%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AU:APL
Contango Asset Management Ltd.
0.18
0.02
16.13%
AU:CIW
Clime Investment Management Ltd
0.37
-0.03
-6.89%
AU:MAM
Microequities Asset Management Group Ltd.
0.49
-0.01
-2.20%
AU:ARA
Ariadne Australia Limited
0.53
0.04
8.16%
AU:SHN
Sunshine Gold Ltd
0.05
0.04
370.00%

Contango Asset Management Ltd. Corporate Events

Associate Global Partners Outlines FY26 Priorities in Investor Presentation
Feb 27, 2026

Associate Global Partners Limited has released an investor presentation for February 2026 outlining its operations, financial position, and strategic priorities. The document signals the company’s intent to review its first-half fiscal 2026 performance, highlight its investment manager partnerships, and set out priorities that may influence future growth and competitiveness in the asset management market.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.20 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Associate Global Partners Narrows Half-Year Loss as Revenue Jumps, No Dividend Declared
Feb 27, 2026

Associate Global Partners Limited, an ASX-listed asset and wealth manager, reported a modest increase in net tangible asset backing to 3.0 cents per share for the half year ended 31 December 2025, compared with the prior corresponding period. The group continues to operate in the funds management sector, providing investment products and related financial services to its client base.

For the half year to 31 December 2025, the company recorded a significant rise in revenue from ordinary activities to $3.565 million, but still posted a reduced net loss after tax of $32,000, an improvement from a $413,000 loss a year earlier. No interim or final dividend was declared, signalling a continued focus on preserving capital and stabilising financial performance, while the reviewed interim results indicate gradually improving profitability metrics for stakeholders to monitor.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.20 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Associate Global Partners Director Increases Holding via Dividend Reinvestment
Jan 27, 2026

Associate Global Partners Limited has disclosed a change in director Nerida Campbell’s indirect interests, with an increase of 257 units in the WCM Quality Global Growth Fund – Active ETF via the fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Following the transaction, Campbell’s indirect holdings now comprise 320,074 ordinary shares in the company and 22,231 units in the ETF, signalling routine portfolio adjustment through reinvested distributions rather than strategic on-market trading, with no changes reported in any related contracts or dealings during a closed period.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.20 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Associate Global Partners Director Increases Holding in WCMQ ETF via Dividend Reinvestment
Jan 27, 2026

Associate Global Partners has disclosed a change in director Jason Craig Billings’ indirect interests, following the issue of additional units in the WCM Quality Global Growth Fund – Active ETF to his superannuation entity under the fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Through Jasbaat Super Pty Ltd as trustee for his superannuation account, Billings’ holding in the ETF increased by 229 units across October 2025 and January 2026, taking his total ETF units to 10,100 while his 1,006,432 fully paid ordinary shares in the company remain unchanged, signalling a modest reinvestment-driven uplift in his exposure to the firm’s managed products rather than a strategic shareholding move.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.20 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Associate Global Partners Director Lifts Fund Units via Dividend Reinvestment
Jan 27, 2026

Associate Global Partners Limited has disclosed a change in director Brett Peter Cairns’ indirect interests, stemming from his roles as director, shareholder and beneficiary in various Euclid Pty Limited–related entities that hold securities and units in funds managed by the group’s subsidiary. Cairns’ indirect holding in the WCM Quality Global Growth Fund Active ETF increased modestly from 9,983 to 10,100 units through the fund’s dividend reinvestment plan, with no change to his substantial ordinary shareholding in the company; the notice signals ongoing alignment between the director’s personal investments and the firm’s managed products but does not indicate any broader strategic or operational shift for the business.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.20 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Director of Associate Global Partners Limited Increases Shareholding
Dec 18, 2025

Associate Global Partners Limited announced a recent adjustment in the shareholding interests of its director, Brett Peter Cairns. This change reflects an on-market purchase of additional fully paid ordinary shares, enhancing the director’s overall stake in the company and potentially signaling confidence in its growth and performance trajectory.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.15 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Director’s Interest Update at Associate Global Partners
Dec 1, 2025

Associate Global Partners Limited announced a change in the director’s interest notice, indicating that Martin Francis Switzer has converted 100,000 performance rights into an equivalent number of fully paid ordinary shares. This change reflects an increase in Switzer’s direct holdings in the company, which may impact the company’s governance and shareholder dynamics.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.15 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

APL Gains ASX Relief from Quarterly Reporting
Nov 28, 2025

Associate Global Partners Limited, operating under the ASX ticker APL, has announced that the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has lifted the requirement for the company to submit quarterly cash flow and activities reports. This decision comes after APL achieved four consecutive quarters of positive net operating cash flows, indicating a stable financial performance. The company’s positive cash flow trend, with notable figures in the last three quarters of FY25 and the first quarter of FY26, reflects its strong operational efficiency and financial health, potentially enhancing its market credibility and investor confidence.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:APL) stock is a Hold with a A$0.15 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Contango Asset Management Ltd. stock, see the AU:APL Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 07, 2026