Highlights:

• A takeover announcement sent one stock soaring by double digits.
• Solid full-year results paired with ongoing tech investment lifted another counter.
• Growing momentum in AI infrastructure — backed by new power supply, fresh financing and rising customer interest — pushed a third stock higher.

The Australian share market saw a strong burst of corporate and sector-specific momentum, with several stocks attracting heightened investor interest on 13 August 2026. Takeover activity, stronger financial performance and growing exposure to artificial intelligence infrastructure emerged as key drivers behind the gains. Against this backdrop, three stocks stood out with notable share price movements, highlighting how corporate transactions, technology investment and evolving growth opportunities continue to influence market sentiment.

Stocks in Focus:

• Cleanaway Waste Management Limited (ASX: CWY) was trading at $2.750, up 16.03%, after the company disclosed a revised takeover proposal from EQT Infrastructure at $3.13 per share.
• ASX Limited (ASX: ASX) climbed to $61.350, representing a 10.52% gain, as investors responded to stronger FY26 earnings and increased activity across its markets and post-trade businesses.
• Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) advanced to $1.585, gaining 6.38%, as progress in its AI infrastructure strategy strengthened the company's growth narrative through additional power capacity, GPU funding and customer opportunities.

Cleanaway Jumps on Takeover InterestASX-listed stocks saw robust buying across multiple sectors on 13 August 2026, led by Cleanaway Waste Management Limited (ASX: CWY), which surged 16.03% to $2.750. The rally came after Cleanaway disclosed it had received a conditional, non-binding takeover approach from EQT Infrastructure, proposing to buy out all outstanding shares via a scheme of arrangement.

Under the terms outlined, shareholders would be paid $3.13 per share in cash, adjusted for any dividends or distributions. This values the company at roughly $9.4 billion in enterprise terms and represents a 32.1% premium over Cleanaway's previous closing price of $2.37 on 12 August 2026. The offer equates to an enterprise value multiple of about 20 times projected FY26 EBIT.

 This latest proposal builds on an earlier, unsolicited offer of $3.00 per share. Cleanaway's board has now granted EQT a nine-week window of exclusive due diligence as both sides work toward a possible scheme implementation deed. Should a binding agreement be reached at $3.13 per share or higher — with no rival bid emerging and a positive independent expert opinion — directors have signaled they would back the deal. Still, several hurdles remain. The transaction depends on completion of due diligence, regulatory sign-off from FIRB and the ACCC, and other standard conditions, and Cleanaway cautioned that a binding deal is not guaranteed.Cleanaway's FY27 OutlookSeparately, Cleanaway offered a preliminary look at its FY27 earnings expectations, projecting underlying EBIT in the range of $500 million to $530 million. Growth in the collections segment and a rebound in areas that underperformed in FY26 are expected to drive this improvement, though gains will be partially offset by increased spending on IT infrastructure, technology upgrades and the company's Blueprint 2030 2.0 initiatives. Between the takeover premium and improved earnings guidance, Cleanaway has become a focal point for investors, with the next key development likely to be movement toward a firm, binding agreement.ASX Limited Rallies on Strong FY26 NumbersASX Limited (ASX: ASX) also had a standout session, climbing 10.52% to $61.350 after unveiling its FY26 results. The exchange operator posted operating revenue of $1.25 billion, up 13.3% year-on-year. Underlying net profit after tax grew 5.2%, though statutory NPAT slipped 3.5%, weighed down by one-off items tied to ongoing ASIC litigation, a milestone expense from the CHESS Replacement Partnership Program, and the divestment of its stake in Sympli. A fully franked final dividend of 104.7 cents per share was declared, bringing total FY26 payouts to 206.5 cents per share. Underlying return on equity rose to 13.7%, though the EBITDA margin narrowed to 61.0% as costs outpaced revenue growth. On the operational side, ASX delivered its best listings performance since FY22, welcoming 100 new entities and adding over $32 billion in quoted market capitalisation. Its Markets division also benefited from increased activity in futures, commodities and cash trading.Ongoing Tech Investment at ASXThe exchange continues to pour money into system upgrades, with capital expenditure for FY27 forecast between $180 million and $200 million. Total expenses are projected to grow 18% to 21%, while operating costs excluding depreciation and amortisation are expected to rise 13% to 16%.

Progress also continues on the CHESS replacement project, with Release 1 now complete and the broader rollout aiming for primary build completion by late calendar 2027, ahead of a planned 2029 launch.Centuria Gains on AI Infrastructure ProgressCenturia Capital Group (ASX: CNI) rose 6.38% to $1.585 as investors reacted positively to new developments in its AI infrastructure venture, ResetData, in which Centuria holds a 50% stake. The company revealed that ResetData had entered into a Master Services Agreement with CDC Data Centres, starting with a 7MW capacity allocation and a Letter of Intent to expand this to 10MW. GPUs have already been ordered for the initial rollout, with revenue generation expected to begin in the second half of FY27. Centuria has also locked in 72MW of dedicated power generation capacity for a data centre project, part of a broader pipeline exceeding 250MW. This is expected to shave roughly two years off deployment timelines, opening the door to further customer projects starting in early 2028.Fresh Financing Backs GPU ExpansionAdding to the momentum, Centuria and ResetData finalized a $165 million senior bridge financing facility with Macquarie Bank to fund GPU purchases. This arrangement works alongside ResetData's existing partnership with Dell Financial Services, supporting a phased approach to acquiring and deploying NVIDIA GPUs. Demand from customers is also outpacing ResetData's near-term sovereign AI compute capacity, with several deals moving through commercial, technical and contract negotiation stages. Revenue is still expected to begin flowing in the second half of FY27.Looking AheadThese three stocks illustrate distinct forces shaping investor sentiment: a possible acquisition at Cleanaway, strong earnings paired with tech investment at ASX, and expanding AI infrastructure at Centuria. For Cleanaway, the key question is whether EQT's proposal evolves into a finalized deal. At ASX, attention will turn to whether heavy technology spending can deliver lasting earnings growth while meeting regulatory obligations. And for Centuria, the focus will be on turning AI capacity and customer interest into signed contracts and actual revenue. With each of these three stocks posting significant gains, what happens next may prove just as consequential as today's rally.Note- All data presented is based on information available at the time of writing.Disclaimer for Kapitales ResearchThe materials provided by Kapitales Research, including articles, news, data, reports, opinions, images, charts, and videos ("Content"), are intended for personal, non-commercial use only. The primary goal of this Content is to educate and inform readers. This Content is not meant to offer financial advice, nor does it include any recommendation or opinion that should be relied upon for making financial decisions. Certain Content on this platform may be sponsored or unsponsored, but it does not serve as a solicitation or endorsement to buy, sell, or hold any securities, nor does it encourage any specific investment activities. Kapitales Research is not authorized to provide investment advice, and we strongly advise users to seek guidance from a qualified financial professional, such as a financial advisor or stockbroker, before making any investment choices. Kapitales Research disclaims all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of the Content, which is provided without any warranties. The opinions expressed by contributors or guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Kapitales Research. Media such as images or music used on this platform are either owned by Kapitales Research, sourced through paid subscriptions, or believed to be in the public domain. We have made reasonable efforts to credit sources where appropriate. Kapitales Research does not claim ownership of any third-party media unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

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