Company Interview / MarketMeter Corporate Performance Awards

Key points:

Retail investors reportedly focus on share price performance, financial strength and management quality Wesfarmers (ASX:WES), BHP Group (ASX:BHP), Santos (ASX:STO) and JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH) are rated highly across different categories Retail investors increasingly use AI tools to deepen research and narrow the information gap with institutions

MarketMeter’s latest ASX 300 corporate performance research highlights how retail and institutional investors rank Australia’s biggest listed companies, with some striking differences in sentiment across the market. Nick Coles from MarketMeter and Rachel Waterhouse from the Australian Shareholders Association outline why understanding these perspectives may matter for boards, management teams and self-directed investors.

Coles states that the study surveys both institutional investors and experienced retail investors, many with more than a decade in Australian equities and often using SMSFs. Retail respondents reportedly prioritise share price performance, financial strength and management quality, with personal experience as a shareholder and ASX announcements also rating highly. ESG factors, Coles notes, tend to matter more to institutions than to retail investors.

Waterhouse points to Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) as the standout overall performer for retail investors, citing long-term returns, dividends and everyday customer experience through brands such as Bunnings. BHP Group (ASX:BHP) tops management perceptions, while Santos (ASX:STO) leads on financial performance, in Waterhouse’s view reflecting long-term portfolio presence and capital allocation. JB Hi-Fi (ASX:JBH) scores strongly on communication, with investors valuing clear engagement beyond the AGM. Small caps such as SCGX Global, DroneShield (ASX:DRO) and EOS highlight rising interest in defence and growth opportunities, while Coles notes that retail investors remain generally positive on the ASX outlook despite market volatility.