• ARB posts profit and sales drop but holds dividend steady

    A man in a four wheel drive vehicle lifts an arm and gives a thumbs up in the air as he traverses rugged mountain style terrain with a green valley and rocky hills in the background.

    The ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB) share price is in focus today after the 4×4 accessories manufacturer announced a 3.8% drop in FY26 sales revenue to $702.0 million, while net profit after tax slid 5.2% to $92.4 million.

    What did ARB Corporation report?

    • FY26 sales revenue: $702.0 million, down 3.8% year on year
    • Net profit after tax (NPAT): $92.4 million, down 5.2%
    • Basic earnings per share: $1.11, down 5.9%
    • Fully franked interim dividend: 34 cents paid in April 2026
    • Fully franked final dividend: 35 cents to be paid in October 2026 (unchanged)
    • Net cash holdings: $47.9 million; zero debt as at 30 June 2026

    What else do investors need to know?

    Despite a challenging year for new vehicle sales and macroeconomic headwinds, ARB managed to hold margins firm and maintain its dividend. The most significant sales decline came from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers, down 27.2%, reflecting a lull between new vehicle model cycles and supply constraints for major platforms like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

    International performance was mixed, with export sales slightly up by 0.5% to $268.4 million. North America and Asia showed growth, partly offsetting declines in the UK and New Zealand. ARB successfully launched operations in China and started direct wholesale operations in Africa, highlighting its push into emerging markets.

    What’s next for ARB Corporation?

    Looking ahead, ARB is betting on the ongoing recovery of new vehicle sales, particularly for Toyota and Ford platforms, to drive a return to growth. The company plans further investment in its retail network through the Preferred Partner Program and store expansions, as well as broadening its engineering and manufacturing capabilities.

    Internationally, ARB aims to leverage new product launches, deeper partnerships with OEMs—especially in the US—and stronger distribution across emerging markets. With a strong cash position and no debt, management says ARB is well placed for long-term, sustainable growth as vehicle supply and consumer sentiment improve.

    ARB Corporation share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, ARB shares have declined 57%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has fallen 3% over the same period.

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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 ARB Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ARB Corporation. 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.

  • Bank of Queensland earnings: FY26 profit up 88% as dividends stay steady

    Colleagues checking out company's financial numbers on a laptop.

    The Bank of Queensland Ltd (BOQ) share price is in focus after the release of its FY26 results, which saw statutory net profit after tax surge 88% year on year to $250 million, while cash earnings after tax dipped 7% to $358 million.

    What did Bank of Queensland report?

    • Statutory net profit after tax: $250 million, up 88% on FY25
    • Cash earnings after tax (excl. notable items): $358 million, down 7% on FY25
    • Net interest margin: 1.70%, up 6 basis points on FY25
    • 2H26 fully franked dividend: 20 cents per share
    • Special dividend: 15 cents per share, paid in August 2026
    • Common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio: 11.64%, up 70 basis points on FY25

    What else do investors need to know?

    BOQ continued to simplify its operations, delivering 82% of its productivity program and successfully migrating all ME Bank customers onto its new digital platform. Notably, the partnership with Challenger Limited enabled a capital-light approach to equipment finance through a $3.6 billion whole-of-loan sale and forward flow arrangement, enhancing capital efficiency and allowing a special capital return to shareholders.

    The group’s business banking arm delivered 16% commercial lending growth, focused on industries like health and agriculture, while home lending contracted 8%, reflecting transformation activity and competitive market pressures. BOQ’s cost discipline saw expenses rise just 2% (excluding notable items), and the cost-to-income ratio edged up to 65.4%.

    What did Bank of Queensland management say?

    Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer Rod Finch said:

    FY26 was a year of consistent delivery for BOQ. We completed the ME migration, transitioned mortgage origination to digital channels, and continued to grow our Business Bank. All ME customers are experiencing an end-to-end digital banking proposition. These achievements reflect our progress in simplifying the bank, strengthening our risk foundations and investing in a scalable digital platform

    We maintained disciplined cost management and further strengthened our capital position. Reflecting the Group’s resilient financial position and strong capital levels, we returned 55 cents per share to shareholders during the year, including a fully franked special dividend of 15 cents per share.

    As we enter FY27, we are well positioned for a sustainable return to growth. While economic conditions remain uncertain, the foundations we have built give us confidence in our ability to deliver for our customers and shareholders.

    What’s next for Bank of Queensland?

    Looking ahead, BOQ is aiming for a return to growth in home lending in FY27, assisted by expanding its digital mortgage offering. Commercial lending is expected to grow at a pace similar to FY26, with a continued focus on selected industries and lending quality.

    Management is targeting flat annual cost growth and expects asset quality to remain solid. The bank will keep its CET1 target range of 10.25–10.75% and maintain a dividend payout target of 60–75% of cash earnings, providing stability for shareholders. Further productivity and technology efficiencies are planned as the decommissioning of ME legacy systems and Capgemini partnership roll out in FY27.

    Bank of Queensland share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Bank of Queensland shares have declined 9%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 3% over the same period.

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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 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.

  • Netwealth reports record FUA and platform growth in September 2026 quarter

    Two business partner colleagues discuss financial and company results.

    The Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) share price is in focus after the company’s September 2026 quarterly update revealed funds under administration (FUA) rose to a record $139.2 billion, up 2.5% for the quarter and 15.2% on the prior year. Custodial inflows remained strong at $7.8 billion, while funds under management (FUM) climbed 24% to $36.6 billion.

    What did Netwealth report?

    • Total FUA increased by $3.4 billion for the quarter to $139.2 billion (up 15.2% year-on-year).
    • Custodial inflows were $7.8 billion; net FUA flows totalled $3.6 billion (excluding pension payments and key outflows).
    • FUM net flows reached a record $2.4 billion, lifting total FUM to $36.6 billion (up 24.0% year-on-year).
    • Managed Account FUM increased 26.0% to $32.4 billion; Managed Funds rose 10.9% to $4.2 billion.
    • Netwealth added 3,822 net new accounts (now totalling 186,098) and 21 new financial intermediary relationships (now 4,226).

    What else do investors need to know?

    Netwealth made further progress on its platform capabilities with the launch of Individual HIN and Netwealth Private, expanding into stockbroking and private wealth markets. The company also announced the acquisition of Paradino, an AI-powered adviser platform designed to boost adviser productivity, which is expected to close by October 2026.

    Operational highlights included a major upgrade to the Managed Accounts platform, strengthening scalability and efficiency. Its virtual assistant Nova and the new Research Hub have supported advisers with tens of thousands of enquiries and investment research in the quarter. Regulatory-wise, Netwealth is defending a class action relating to First Guardian investments but says it continues to deliver on its RISE plan.

    What did Netwealth management say?

    Chief Financial Officer Hayden Stockdale said:

    Our record flows and ongoing investment in technology reflect our focus on supporting adviser growth and client outcomes. Our strategic initiatives are well on track.

    What’s next for Netwealth?

    Looking ahead, Netwealth has updated its FY27 guidance (before Paradino) to target FUA net flows of $17–19 billion and maintain a strong EBITDA margin of approximately 47%. The company expects a low capital expenditure year with strong cash reserves and recurring revenue underpinning predictable results.

    After finalising the Paradino deal, Netwealth expects a one-off EBITDA loss of around $3 million for the unit in FY27 and plans to invest a further $10 million over two years to accelerate product development. Paradino’s financials will be reported separately.

    Netwealth share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Netwealth shares have declined 52%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has declined 3% over the same period.

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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 Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth 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.