BUZZ — Jefferies initiates Australia's Superloop with 'buy,' views earnings quality improving

* Analysts at Jefferies initiate coverage of Superloop with a "buy" rating at a price target of A$3.60 per share * Brokerage views that SLC has underperformed within ordinaries index in last quarter as investors stay concerned about domestic competitors such as Telstra, Optus and foreign entrants like SpaceX's Starlink * Smart Communities — SLC's business segment that offers direct fibre to the premises, or FTTP, and owns the last-mile fibre infrastructure serving new residential developments — is viewed as a quality earner for SLC, according to Jefferies * Brokerage estimates Smart Communities can grow gross profit from A$17 million in FY26 to A$40 million by FY29 * Eight of 10 analysts rate the stock "buy" or higher, two "hold"; their median PT is A$3.75, according to data compiled * Stock down 7.7% YTD, as of last close (Reporting by Rudrannsh Mehra in Bengaluru) ((Rudrannsh.Mehra@thomsonreuters.com)