What a week it is turning out to be for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and ASX 200 shares. Fresh from minting yesterday’s all-time high of 9,130.3 points, investors have decided the new high wasn’t good enough.

After closing at 9,128.3 points yesterday afternoon, the index quickly climbed as high as 9,202.9 points soon after market open this morning. That’s obviously a new record.

At the time of writing, investors have pulled back a little, but the ASX 200 remains up a comfortable 0.4% at 9,165 points.

This latest rise puts the index up 2.5% over just the past month, up a healthy 5% since the start of 2026, and up 11.3% over the past 12 months.

In yesterday’s coverage of that session’s all-time high, we looked at the ASX 200 shares that were largely responsible for pushing the index to its new record. It’s only fair that we do the same today.

Which ASX 200 shares are pushing the index to its record high?

Well, at first glance, it seems the market isn’t getting any help from the major bank stocks. In stark contrast to yesterday’s high, all four of the major banks are going backwards this Thursday. National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) is leading the charge with its 1%-plus decline. But Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) have also both dropped by more than 0.5% at present.

As the big four banks collectively make up about a quarter of the ASX 200’s weighting, this is a big deal, and it tells us that other major ASX 200 constituents are making up the difference and more.

We don’t have to look too far to find those other major ASX 200 constituents. Mining shares are on fire today. Take the ASX 200’s largest single stock, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). BHP shares are having another cracker today, currently up a massive 2.8% at $58.10 after hitting their own new record high of $58.29 this morning.

BHP alone accounts for almost 11% of the entire ASX 200 portfolio, so investors largely have the Big Australian to thank for today’s latest index record.

Although BHP’s fellow miner, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), doesn’t quite have that level of index sway, its 3.65% surge today thus far wouldn’t be hurting either. Yep, Rio has also minted a new high of its own this session, topping out at $169.50 a share this morning.

So while yesterday’s new ASX 200 record was a joint effort between the banks and miners, today’s is a one-sector show.

The post 9,200 points: ASX 200 hits fresh new record high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Cleanaway Waste Management reports half-year profit and upgrades FY26 guidance
• Elders sells Killara Feedlot in $195.8m deal
• Super Retail Group lifts sales, grows club members in 1H26 earnings
• Perpetual posts higher earnings and tight cost control for 1H26

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL) share price is in focus after the company posted a 9% lift in revenue to $66.7 million and a 10% increase in net profit after tax, reaching $18.7 million for the first half of FY2026.

What did Objective Corporation report?

• Group revenue rose 9% to $66.7 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 11% to $25.9 million
• Net profit after tax was up 10% to $18.7 million
• Annualised recurring revenue (ARR) grew 12% to $120 million
• Operating cash flow rose to $21.7 million, up from $12.6 million in 1HY2025
• Interim unfranked dividend of 13 cents per share declared

What else do investors need to know?

The company continued its strong investment in research and development, spending $16.6 million in the half—equivalent to 28% of software revenue. Over half of this, $8.7 million, was capitalised to support long-term product innovation.

Objective finished the period with a healthy cash balance of $95.1 million and no external borrowings, highlighting a robust balance sheet. The acquisition and full integration of Isovist during the half supported growth in the Planning and Building business line, which posted a 39% increase in revenue.

What did Objective Corporation management say?

CEO Tony Walls commented:

Through 1HY2026 we have built a solid foundation for the remainder of the year, and well into FY2027. While acknowledging there is work yet to do, we approach the second half with confidence. We will continue investment to support the strong momentum in each of our lines of business while delivering strong profit and cash flow margins, to sustain the flywheel of Innovation that underpins our long-term business success. For FY2026, we expect ARR growth to be in the range of 10-14%, on a constant currency basis, recognising that Objective Build in Australia will most likely contribute modestly this year, but provide a strong platform for FY2027. We continue to invest in-line with our internal growth target of 15% annual ARR growth.

What’s next for Objective Corporation?

Objective expects annualised recurring revenue growth between 10% and 14% in FY2026. The company is focusing on increasing its investment in go-to-market capability and further deepening its domain expertise to drive sales growth across its core business areas.

Ongoing investment in both organic development and strategic M&A is part of the company’s plan to build on recent momentum and deliver sustainable returns to shareholders. Management remains optimistic about achieving its 15% annual ARR growth target over time.

Objective Corporation share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Objective Corporation shares have declined 20%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Objective Corporation 1H FY26: profit climbs, dividend declared appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 9,200 points: ASX 200 hits fresh new record high
• Cleanaway Waste Management reports half-year profit and upgrades FY26 guidance
• Elders sells Killara Feedlot in $195.8m deal
• Super Retail Group lifts sales, grows club members in 1H26 earnings
• Perpetual posts higher earnings and tight cost control for 1H26

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Objective. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Objective. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Monash IVF Group Ltd (ASX: MVF) share price is tumbling in early morning trade on Thursday. At the time of writing, the shares are down 6.88% The latest price movement follows the company’s half-year results, which it posted ahead of the ASX open this morning.

This morning’s decrease means the stock is now 14.4% lower for the year to date and down 45.13% over the year.

What did Monash IVF report?

Here’s what the specialist assisted reproductive services provider posted for the six months ending 31st December 2025:

• Revenue down 1.8% to $137.9 million
• Underlying EBITDA down 15.3% to $30.2 million
• Underlying EBIT down 27.5% to $17.5 million
• Underlying NPAT down 34% to $10.4 million
• Fully-franked dividend of 1.2 cents per share

What happened in the first half of FY26?

Monash IVF Group has announced a group revenue of $137.9 million for the first half of FY26, down 1.8% from the prior corresponding period (pcp). The company said the decrease was largely driven by industry softness and domestic IVF market-share loss, and occurred despite consistent IVF pricing across key states. 

Revenue was also partly offset by price growth and an increase in international revenue.

The company’s underlying EBITDA dropped 15.3% to $30.2 million, and its underlying EBIT declined 27.5% to $17.5 million. This was largely driven by a 2.5% decline in market share. Domestic and international EBITDA dragged on the results. 

Monash IVF’s underlying net profit of $10.4 million was down 34% for the first half of the financial year, aligning with previous guidance. 

The board has declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 1.2 cents per share for investors. 

What else did Monash IVF report?

The company confirmed that its recruitment process for a new Chief Financial Officer is still underway and progressing well. The board expects to provide a further market update once an appointment has been finalised. Malik Jainudeen will continue in his role as Chief Financial Officer during this transition period to ensure continuity and stability.

What’s ahead for the company this year?

Looking ahead, Monash IVF anticipates underlying net profit of approximately $20 million for FY26. 

Capital expenditure for the full year is anticipated to be $16 to $17 million, noting the completion of the new clinical infrastructure program during Q4 FY26.

Net debt at 30 June 2026 is expected to be approximately $95 million, and a net leverage ratio of 2.0x, which is well below banking covenant requirements of below 3.5x.

The post Monash IVF shares tumble 7% off the back of its half-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 9,200 points: ASX 200 hits fresh new record high
• Objective Corporation 1H FY26: profit climbs, dividend declared
• Cleanaway Waste Management reports half-year profit and upgrades FY26 guidance
• IDP Education shares surge 12% on upgraded FY26 guidance
• Sigma shares jump 7% on results and Chemist Warehouse expansion

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY) share price is in focus after the company reported a 13.0% increase in net revenue to $1,875.3 million and a 16.9% rise in underlying EBIT to $228.2 million for the half-year ended 31 December 2025.

What did Cleanaway Waste Management report?

• Net revenue up 13.0% to $1,875.3 million
• Underlying EBIT up 16.9% to $228.2 million
• Underlying net profit after tax up 17.8% to $109.7 million
• Underlying EBIT margin improved by 40 basis points to 12.2%
• Interim fully franked dividend of 3.35 cents per share, up 19.6%
• Statutory EBIT down 21.2% to $137.2 million due to significant one-off items

What else do investors need to know?

The company’s upgraded FY26 underlying EBIT guidance, now expected between $480 million and $500 million, reflects strong operational momentum and early integration benefits from the Contract Resources acquisition. The Solid Waste Services segment delivered earnings and margin growth, supported by robust price discipline, labour productivity improvements, and lower fleet costs.

Cleanaway rolled out advanced AI pedestrian detection technology and in-vehicle monitoring systems across its fleet, furthering its focus on health, safety, and efficiency. The company maintained its capital expenditure guidance and remains on track with key projects, including integrating recent acquisitions.

What did Cleanaway Waste Management management say?

Cleanaway CEO & Managing Director Mark Schubert said:

We are pleased to upgrade our FY26 underlying EBIT guidance to between $480 million and $500 million following a robust first-half and outlook. This upgrade to guidance demonstrates both the underlying strength of our business and the delivery on commitments we have made to shareholders to build a stronger, more profitable business. Our core solid waste business delivered earnings growth and margin expansion. Price increases, strong contract management, improved labour productivity and lower fleet costs drove the result. The period included a five-month contribution from Contract Resources that exceeded our expectations. Having built positive momentum in the first half, we are confident that earnings and free cash flow will accelerate in the second half.

What’s next for Cleanaway Waste Management?

Looking ahead, Cleanaway expects positive earnings growth in the second half of FY26, driven by organic volume and price growth, benefits from recent acquisitions, and the first phase of indirect cost reduction. The company will continue to focus on strategy execution, efficiency improvements, and synergy delivery from acquisitions. An investor strategy briefing is planned for April 2026, with the aim of sustaining free cash flow growth and returns through 2030.

Cleanaway Waste Management share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Cleanaway Waste Management shares have risen 2%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Cleanaway Waste Management reports half-year profit and upgrades FY26 guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 9,200 points: ASX 200 hits fresh new record high
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• Elders sells Killara Feedlot in $195.8m deal
• Super Retail Group lifts sales, grows club members in 1H26 earnings
• Perpetual posts higher earnings and tight cost control for 1H26

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) have surged 12% on Thursday (at the time of writing) after the international education provider upgraded its FY26 earnings guidance, signalling confidence in its transformation strategy despite ongoing pressure in global student markets.

The rally comes even as student placement volumes remain under strain across key international markets.

What did IDP report?

For the half-year ended 31 December 2025, revenue declined 6% to $462.2 million as lower student placement and language testing volumes weighed on performance.

Student Placement volumes fell 25%, while English Language Testing volumes were down 7%. However, IDP Education continued to drive strong yield growth, with Student Placement yield up 15% and Language Testing yield up 8%.

Adjusted EBIT came in at $87.5 million, down 14% year on year, while adjusted NPAT declined 25% to $48.6 million. Statutory NPAT fell 65% to $23.5 million.

The board declared an interim dividend of 3 cents per share.

So why are shares up on the news?

The key positive was upgraded guidance.

IDP Education lifted FY26 adjusted EBIT guidance to a range of $120 million to $130 million, up from its prior $115 million to $125 million forecast.

Management remains on track to deliver a $25 million net reduction in the cost base in FY26 as part of its transformation program. Direct costs were down 6% and adjusted overhead costs fell 2% in the half, reflecting headcount reductions and tighter spending discipline.

Cash conversion remained solid at 59%, and net leverage stood at 2.5x (2.0x on a borrower group basis), comfortably within covenant limits.

Importantly, revenue outperformed volume declines, reflecting a shift toward profitable growth and higher-value placements.

What did management say?

CEO Tennealle O’Shannessy said the company continues to execute strongly on its transformation agenda while reinforcing its position as a trusted partner for students and institutions.

She highlighted the acceleration of digital and AI-enabled tools to improve conversion, productivity, and student outcomes.

What’s next for IDP?

IDP Education expects FY26 market volumes to decline 20% to 30% versus FY25, assuming no further policy changes in major international markets.

Whether that is the correct assumption for investors to make is hard to tell because student migration policy changes remain a core risk for IDP Education. Governments in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US are likely to continue to adjust visa and immigration settings, creating ongoing uncertainty.

However, the upgraded guidance suggests management believes cost control, yield growth, and operational improvements can offset much of the volume pressure.

Notably, despite today’s sharp rebound, IDP shares are still down roughly 80% over the past five years, reflecting persistent investor concerns around tightening visa policies and international student migration.

Today’s share price reaction, however, indicates investors may be reassessing whether the worst of the earnings reset has already been priced in.

The post IDP Education shares surge 12% on upgraded FY26 guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) shares are having a strong start to the day.

In morning trade, the Chemist Warehouse owner’s shares are up 7% to $3.20.

This follows the release of another strong half-year result from the retail pharmacy franchisor and pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor.

Sigma shares jump on results day

For the six months ended 31 December, Sigma delivered strong financial performance, continued expansion of the Chemist Warehouse (CW) branded network in both domestic and international markets, and solid progress on its integration and synergy delivery.

The company posted a 14.9% increase in revenue to $5.5 billion, with CW branded store sales in Australia growing 17.2% to reach $5.1 billion. Management notes that it benefitted from an expanding network and strong customer engagement.

Like-for-like sales across the CW branded store network were up 15%, which management believes demonstrates a pharmacy model and value proposition that continues to resonate with customers.

In addition, it notes that total sales also benefited from the structural uplift from the sale of GLP-1 class of medicines like Ozempic and Mounjaro and the strategic decision to distribute online orders directly from stores.

Thanks to a combination of operating leverage, synergy benefits, and product mix, Sigma recorded a 34 basis points increase in its normalised EBIT margin.

This ultimately led to the company posting a 19.2% increase in normalised net profit after tax to $392 million.

In light of this, a 2 cents per share fully franked interim dividend was declared.

Management commentary

The company’s CEO and managing director, Vikesh Ramsunder, was pleased with the half. He said:

Our first half performance reinforces the strength of Sigma. As an integrated healthcare business we see long-term opportunities for growth, headlined by sustained performance across our core domestic market, led by CW branded stores. This has continued to be a consistent feature of the CW business over the past two decades.

CW branded store sales in Australia grew 17.2% for the half to reach $5.1 billion, benefiting from an expanding network and strong customer engagement. LFL sales across the CW branded store network were up 15.0%, demonstrating a pharmacy model and value proposition that continues to resonate with customers. Total sales also benefited from the structural uplift delivered from the sale of GLP-1 class of medicines and the strategic decision to distribute online orders directly from stores.

Outlook

Sigma has started the second half positively. It revealed that year to date trading, including the first seven weeks of the second half, has seen growth momentum continue.

During this period, Australian CW branded store sales are up 16.6% and like for like sales are up 14.4%. Growth in its international retail network continues.

The post Sigma shares jump 7% on results and Chemist Warehouse expansion appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I like to regularly invest and build my portfolio, and a significant portion of my portfolio is ASX dividend stocks.

I’m investing in businesses that I think can generate strong total shareholder returns (TSR) – that’s the combination of dividend payments and the capital growth combined.

A growing business can provide rising payments because it’s the profit that funds the dividend payments, in accounting terms. A business I’ve recently invested in is MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF).

It’s not the first time I’ve invested in this ASX dividend stock and it won’t be the last. Additionally, Chris Mackay, the leader of the business, recently bought shares too. I think it’s a good buy signal for us when Mackay (a very skilled investor) decides to buy MFF shares, suggesting the business is good value.

Strong ASX dividend stock credentials

The business has a great history of strong dividend growth over the last several years. Its regular annual dividend per share has increased each year since 2018, which I think is an impressive record.

But, it’s not just the fact that the dividend has been rising. It has been soaring higher.

In the last several results, it has increased its annual dividend per share by 1 cent compared to the result six months before (and a 2-cent per share increase year-over-year).

In the FY26 half-year result, MFF grew its half-year payout to 10 cents per share (a 25% increase year-over-year).

The ASX dividend stock is expecting to increase its FY26 final dividend per share to 11 cents per share, a year-over-year increase of 22%.

That means the FY26 annual dividend translates into a potential grossed-up dividend yield of 6.3% (at the time of writing), including franking credits. I think that’s a great starting point for a yield and the business seems determined to continue raising the payout in the coming years.

Great set up for investment returns

MFF’s main operation is acting as a listed investment company (LIC) that invests in a portfolio of high-quality, mostly international shares.

The business aims to invest in advantaged businesses that, in MFF’s view, have “high probabilities of maintaining their competitive advantages and achieving above average levels of profitable growth over the medium to long term.”

It usually owns these high-quality businesses for the long-term while also seeking new opportunities that it considers to be advantaged “over the long term and offer attractive investment fundamentals.”

At the end of January 2026, the ASX dividend stock’s largest positions included Alphabet, Mastercard, Visa, Meta Platforms, Bank of America and Amazon.

Pleasingly, over the past ten years, its post-tax net tangible assets (NTA) return (including franking credits) has been an average of 14% per year – that’s a useful measure of the portfolio’s investment performance.

Additionally, MFF recently acquired a fund manager called Montaka. This broadened the investment team and unlocked more research insights, reducing the key person risk of relying solely on Chris Mackay. Additionally, if Montaka’s funds under management (FUM) grows, this can boost MFF’s earnings.   

Overall, I think this is a great dividend-paying business to own for the long-term.

The post Why I just bought this 6%-yielding ASX dividend stock and plan to buy even more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD) share price is in focus today after the company announced it has agreed to sell its Killara Feedlot business to Australian Meat Group for approximately $195.8 million. Killara contributed $12.1 million to underlying EBIT in FY25, and the sale is expected to deliver significant balance sheet benefits.

What did Elders report?

• Entered into agreement to sell 100% of Killara Feedlot for a total consideration of ~$195.8 million
• Killara contributed $12.1 million to underlying EBIT in FY25
• Non-working capital assets valued at $45.5 million as at 30 September 2025
• Elders holds $107.4 million in carried forward capital tax losses, fully offsetting any capital gain from the sale
• Sale expected to complete before 30 June 2026, subject to regulatory approval

What else do investors need to know?

The agreement covers 100% of shares in Killara Feedlot Pty Ltd, which operates on 1,402 hectares and can process up to 62,000 head of cattle annually. The deal includes $122.0 million cash and normalised working capital, mainly cattle inventory, valued at $73.8 million at 30 September 2025.

Elders plans to use the sale proceeds to reduce net debt, targeting a return to sub 2.0 times accounting leverage. The company forecasts the annualised impact on its earnings per share will be less than a 1% reduction. Upon completion, Killara will be reported as a discontinued operation and asset held for sale in Elders’ HY26 statements.

What did Elders management say?

Elders Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Allison said:

Killara has long been a successful and valuable part of Elders’ Products and Services Portfolio. We feel for Killara to continue to grow and develop as a blue chip operation, it is appropriate for it to move to a more natural owner, and we have found this in AMG. The sale at this time supports our value creation strategy for Elders’ shareholders. We thank Killara management and its employees for their contribution to Elders.

What’s next for Elders?

Completion of the Killara sale is subject to approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board and ACCC, with Elders expecting this to finalise before 30 June 2026. Once completed, the company will apply proceeds to lower its net debt, improving future balance sheet flexibility.

Elders notes that its core strategy remains focused on value creation for shareholders. The company’s operational structure will adjust to reflect the divestment, and management has highlighted minimal impact on ongoing earnings.

Elders share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Elders shares have risen 5%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Elders sells Killara Feedlot in $195.8m deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 9,200 points: ASX 200 hits fresh new record high
• Objective Corporation 1H FY26: profit climbs, dividend declared
• Cleanaway Waste Management reports half-year profit and upgrades FY26 guidance
• Super Retail Group lifts sales, grows club members in 1H26 earnings
• Perpetual posts higher earnings and tight cost control for 1H26

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) are under pressure on Thursday after the coal producer released its full-year results for 2025.

In late morning trade, the Yancoal share price is down 10.55% to $5.51. Despite today’s pullback, the stock remains up around 10% in 2026 amid more supportive coal prices.

Here is what the company reported for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Record output, but prices weigh on earnings

Yancoal delivered record production in FY25. Run-of-mine coal production rose 7% to 67 million tonnes on a 100% basis. Attributable saleable production increased 5% to 38.6 million tonnes, toward the top end of guidance.

However, lower realised coal prices drove weaker financial results.

Revenue fell 13% to $5.95 billion. The average realised coal price declined 17% to $146 per tonne, reflecting softer thermal and metallurgical coal markets compared to the prior year.

Operating EBITDA dropped 44% to $1.437 billion, with the margin contracting to 24%. Net profit after tax (NPAT) came in at $440 million, down 64% year on year.

The company noted that lower prices flowed through directly to EBITDA and net profit.

Costs remain controlled

While prices fell, costs were stable.

Cash operating costs were $92 per saleable tonne, down 1% from FY24 and below the midpoint of guidance. The implied cash operating margin was $39 per tonne.

Management said higher production volumes, mine plan optimisation, and equipment utilisation helped offset cost inflation and temporary shipping-related costs earlier in the year.

Looking ahead to 2026, Yancoal has guided to attributable saleable production of 36.5 to 40.5 million tonnes. Cash operating costs are expected to range between $90 and $98 per tonne, allowing for some inflation.

Strong balance sheet supports dividend

Yancoal ended the year with $2.1 billion in cash and no interest-bearing loans. Net cash has been maintained since the end of 2022 following significant debt repayments in prior years.

Operating cash flow for FY25 was $1.26 billion.

The board declared a fully-franked final dividend of $0.1220 per share, representing $161 million. This brings total dividends for FY25 to 55% of full-year profit after tax.

The dividend is scheduled to be paid on 15 April 2026.

Coal market backdrop

Thermal coal markets were marked by strong supply and relatively soft demand conditions through much of 2025. Metallurgical coal demand was also subdued, partly due to softer global steel conditions.

However, management pointed to improving coal price benchmarks more recently. Industry forecasts continue to show resilient demand across parts of Asia, with supply growth constrained by reserve run-down and limited new project development.

Given its scale, low-cost operations, and net cash balance sheet, Yancoal is well placed to manage ongoing price volatility.

Whether today’s share price weakness proves temporary may depend on how coal prices track through 2026.

The post Why Yancoal shares are sinking 10% despite record production in FY25 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL) share price is in focus after the company reported first-half sales climbing 4.2% to $2.2 billion, while normalised NPAT declined 6.8% to $121.9 million.

What did Super Retail Group report?

• Group sales up 4.2% to $2.2 billion
• Group like-for-like sales rose 2.5%
• Normalised NPAT down 6.8% to $121.9 million; statutory NPAT of $104.1 million
• Segment EBITDA up 2.2% to $402 million
• Fully franked interim dividend of 32 cents per share
• Online sales up 9% to $312 million

What else do investors need to know?

Super Retail Group’s brands delivered varied performances, with Macpac outpacing the group at 13.1% sales growth, while BCF saw modest gains amid challenging weather conditions in some regions. Active club membership grew 8% to 13 million, now accounting for a bigger share of sales, pointing to growing customer engagement.

Store network changes saw 16 new openings and 10 closures, with ongoing investment in omni-channel capabilities and a new national distribution centre in Truganina, Victoria, expected to drive future efficiencies. The balance sheet remains solid with no drawn bank debt and $108 million cash.

What did Super Retail Group management say?

Group Managing Director and CEO Paul Bradshaw said:

Super Retail Group delivered first half sales growth of four per cent—a solid outcome considering the competitive retail environment and challenging conditions, notably for rebel and BCF, during the period. We were pleased with the continued momentum from Supercheap Auto, delivering steady growth, market share gains in its core auto category, and benefiting in market from the new Spend & Get loyalty program… I would like to acknowledge the dedication and contribution of our 16,000 team members, whose efforts have been central to delivering this result.

What’s next for Super Retail Group?

The company is planning 12 new store openings in the second half of FY26 and is progressing major projects such as the new distribution centre and HR/payroll systems. Early trading in the second half has seen positive sales momentum, with like-for-like sales up 3.5% and total sales rising 5% over the first eight weeks, suggesting ongoing resilience.

Super Retail Group targets capex of $155 million in FY26, focused on network expansion and digital investment. Management remains confident its strong balance sheet positions it well for both investment opportunities and navigating competitive market dynamics.

Super Retail Group share price snapshot

Over the past year, the Super Retail Group shares have risen 6%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 11% over the same period.

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The post Super Retail Group lifts sales, grows club members in 1H26 earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.