4 reasons to buy Wesfarmers shares today

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the diversified S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) conglomerate – whose retail subsidiaries include Bunnings Warehouse, Kmart Australia, Officeworks and Priceline – closed on Friday trading for $83.99. During the Monday lunch hour, shares are changing hands for $82.40 each, down 0.7%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% at this same time, pressured by a new round of global tariff threats from United States President Donald Trump over the weekend.

Taking a step back, Wesfarmers shares have gained 8.5% over the past 12 months, not including dividends. The stock trades on a fully franked dividend yield (partly trailing, partly pending) of 2.5%.

Now, here are four reasons you might want to pick up some shares today.

Should you buy Wesfarmers shares today?

Shaw and Partners’ Jed Richards recently ran his slide rule over the ASX 200 conglomerate (courtesy of The Bull).

The first reason he has a buy recommendation on Wesfarmers shares is one that legendary investor Warren Buffett would most likely agree with. Buffett, as you may recall, famously advises, “A great manager is as important as a great business.”

As for Wesfarmers, Richards noted, “This industrial conglomerate remains one of the best managed companies in Australia.”

Richards added:

Its management team consistently demonstrates smart capital allocation and a disciplined acquisition strategy amid maintaining a strong oversight on operations across its diverse group of businesses. This quality of leadership gives me confidence that Wesfarmers can continue delivering long term value, even through changing economic conditions.

The second reason Richards is bullish on the stock is the diversification it offers.

“Its diversified revenue streams across retail, chemicals and industrial operations also provide resilience that few companies can match,” he noted.

And Richards’ third reason for his buy recommendation relates to Wesfarmers’ strong half year (H1 FY 2026) results.

According to Ricards:

The company posted its first half results for fiscal year 2026 on February 19. Revenue of $24.212 billion was up 3.1% on the prior corresponding period. Statutory net profit after tax of $1.603 billion increased 9.3%.

And I’ll add a fourth reason you might want to buy Wesfarmers shares today. Though depending on when you’re reading this, you’ll have to be quick!

When the company reported its half year results last Thursday, management declared a fully-franked interim dividend of $1.02 per share, up 7.4%.

And Wesfarmers stock trades ex-dividend tomorrow, 24 February.

So if you want to score that passive income payout, you’ll need to own shares at market close. You can then expect to receive that Wesfarmers dividend on 31 March.

The post 4 reasons to buy Wesfarmers shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 of the best Aussie stocks I would buy
• Here’s the earnings forecast out to 2030 for Wesfarmers shares
• 2 more ASX 200 blue chip stocks that increased dividends this week
• 5 low-cost ASX ETFs for a global diversified portfolio
• Buy, hold, sell: Lovisa, Wesfarmers, and Rio Tinto shares

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.