** Shares of Pioneer Credit PNC.AX rise as much as 4.4% to A$0.720, their biggest intraday pct gain since Feb 27

** Financial services co now expects FY26 NPAT of at least A$23 million ($16.27 million), a 28% hike from earlier forecast

** Co saw 1HY26 net revenue up 5% from previous half year

** YTD, shares up 8.3%

($1 = 1.4136 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)

((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com))