Earnings and Policy Shifts Make Money Moves for Investors

Global markets have continued their upward climb, with several indices hitting record highs on the back of strong corporate earnings and pockets of economic resilience. Earnings surprises and policy changes remain powerful catalysts, capable of sending stocks sharply higher or lower in a single session.

Political uncertainty, particularly policy signals from the United States, continues to stir volatility, shaping investor sentiment and capital flows. One recent example came when cannabis stocks such as Canopy Growth Corporation and Tilray Inc. surged by double digits after former US President Donald Trump suggested marijuana could be reclassified as less dangerous.

South Africa has had its own moments of resilience, with two standout companies delivering double-digit, earnings-driven share price gains. Both Weaver FinTech and Sasol posted strong updates, proving that solid fundamentals can shine even in a noisy macroeconomic and political environment

Weaver FinTech: Growth Across the Board

PayJustNow’s parent company, Weaver FinTech, saw its shares rise after releasing a strong earnings update. As one of South Africa’s leading buy-now-pay-later providers, it now serves over 3.7 million customers and continues expanding aggressively. Investors welcomed the solid revenue and profit growth, improved collections, and a higher dividend payout.

Performance Highlights – Weaver FinTech

• Customer base expanded to 3.7 million
• Revenue up 29% year-on-year
• Profit before tax up 48% to R370 million
• Interim dividend of 140 cents per share (+47% year-on-year)
  
  • Dividend Dates: The last day to trade shares eligible for the dividend is 26 August 2025, with payment on 01 September 2025.
    

Sasol shares gained after its latest trading statement, despite falling oil prices. Investors were encouraged by a strong earnings recovery from last year’s losses. Sasol remains one of the world’s largest oil producers and ranks among the most widely held companies on EasyEquities.

Performance Highlights – Sasol 

• EPS expected to rise more than 100% to R7.00–R12.00 (prior year: loss of R69.94) 
• HEPS expected to grow 85%–100% to R33.60–R36.30 (prior year: R18.19)
• Adjusted EBITDA expected to decline 10%–17% to R50–R54 billion (prior year: R60 billion)
  
  • Sasol will release full results on 25 August 2025. The company has also lowered its dividend payout trigger from a sustainable net debt level of US$4 billion to US$3 billion.

Investor Takeaway

While the political backdrop remains challenging, new record highs in global markets reflect strong investor appetite for quality companies. Locally, Weaver FinTech’s broad-based growth and Sasol’s earnings recovery illustrate how company-specific performance can outpace broader market headwinds.

Policy announcements could spark short-term volatility, as markets often react quickly to changes in regulations, interest rates, or government priorities. These shifts could cause sharp price swings, even if the underlying fundamentals of a company remain unchanged. In contrast, financial results reveal how a business is actually performing, offering insight into revenue growth, profitability, and operational health.

Going forward, investors may want to keep an eye on evolving BNPL regulations, oil price movements impacting Sasol, and how companies adapt to an economy increasingly shaped by policy shifts.

Sources – EasyResearch.

Follow Cay-Low Mbedzi

@caylow_SA