2304 GMT - Macquarie should make a A$700 million gain and free up capital for higher-returning investments from its sale of its smart-meter portfolio, Morgan Stanley analysts say. The Australian asset manager is divesting a portfolio of 7 million smart meters. The MS analysts estimate that Macquarie should make a A$400 million gain once tax and profit-share arrangements are accounted for. They tell clients in a note that, while Macquarie will forgo A$100 million in fiscal 2027 lease income, freed up capital can be deployed into other divisions or capital management. MS has an "equal-weight" rating and A$223.00 target price on the stock, which is up 1.1%, at A$207.24. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 25, 2026 19:04 ET (23:04 GMT)

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