The Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) share price is in focus after the company reported FY26 earnings in line with guidance, including a return to core poultry volume growth and strong cash generation.

What did Inghams Group report?

• Revenue rose 2.4% to $3,227.4 million
• Underlying EBITDA pre AASB 16 was $186.4 million, down 21.2% on the prior year
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) dropped 61.5% to $34.6 million
• Core poultry volumes grew 1.9%
• Final fully franked dividend of 6.1 cents per share declared
• Net debt reduced by $27.1 million to $403.3 million

What else do investors need to know?

Inghams delivered $82.3 million in cost savings during the year, hitting the upper end of its target, despite facing $13.2 million in additional costs linked to ongoing Middle East conflict. The company continued to diversify its customer base, particularly in Australia, where retail volumes excluding Woolworths rose 17.2%.

Production inefficiencies earlier in the year and cost pressures from ingredients, freight, and labour weighed on full-year profitability. However, the second half saw operational improvements with inventories and supply chains returning to normal levels.

What did Inghams Group management say?

CEO and Managing Director Ed Alexander said:

We made significant progress strengthening the underlying business during FY26. Encouragingly, our earnings in the second half were materially above the first half, reflecting the improved underlying operating metrics… While the operating environment remains challenging, we enter FY27 with a more balanced network, a stronger and more diversified customer portfolio, a refreshed senior management team, and clear visibility of the opportunities still to unlock.

What’s next for Inghams Group?

Looking ahead, Inghams expects its primary earnings measure to shift to underlying EBIT, with FY27 guidance set at $155–180 million. The company forecasts further core poultry volume growth of 2.5–4.0% but anticipates continued cost pressures—including higher transport, packaging, and feed costs—due to both inflation and ongoing geopolitical disruptions.

Management is focused on ongoing cost control, leveraging procurement and continuous improvement initiatives to offset rising expenses. Capital expenditure for FY27 is expected around $80 million, as the group aims to strengthen its network and support future growth.

Inghams Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Inghams Group share price has been among the worst performers on the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a decline of around 37%.

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The post Inghams Group FY26 earnings: volume growth, headwinds, and FY27 outlook 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. 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.

Australian investors have spent more than two decades operating under the same capital gains tax rules. Hold an eligible asset for at least 12 months, sell it, and the taxable capital gain is generally reduced by 50%.

That arrangement is changing.

From 1 July 2027, the 50% capital gains tax discount for individuals, partnerships, and trusts will be replaced by inflation-based cost-base indexation. A minimum 30% tax rate will also apply to real capital gains.

The reforms apply to shares and exchange-traded funds, not only investment property. However, they are prospective: gains accruing before 1 July 2027 retain the existing treatment, even if the investment is sold later.

Importantly, the new system will not automatically leave every investor paying more tax. The outcome will depend on the return earned, inflation, and the investor’s marginal tax rate. Treasury modelling suggests indexation could have produced a slightly larger effective discount than the current system for average ASX share returns over some historical periods.

Nevertheless, the changing rules provide a timely reason to examine how investment returns are delivered. That brings a much older strategy back into focus.

Income that gives itself a pay rise

Dividend growth investing focuses on businesses capable of growing their earnings, cash flow, and shareholder distributions over time.

The objective is not simply to find the highest yield available today. It is to own companies that can increase their dividends without weakening their balance sheets or starving the business of necessary investment.

Consider a $10,000 investment yielding 4%. That produces $400 of income in the first year, before tax. If the dividend grows by 5% annually, the payment reaches approximately $620 in year 10 without the investor contributing another dollar.

Reinvesting those dividends could increase the income further by adding more shares, although taxes and changing share prices will affect the eventual result.

Unlike an unrealised capital gain, a dividend delivers part of the shareholder’s return in cash without requiring the shares to be sold. However, dividends are generally taxable in the year they are received, while capital gains remain deferred until an investment is sold.

That means neither approach is automatically more tax-efficient. The better outcome depends on the business, the price paid, and the investor’s circumstances.

Separating a payer from a grower

Not every generous yield is sustainable. A yield approaching 9% may reflect a falling share price and expectations that the dividend will be cut.

Four characteristics can help separate a genuine dividend grower from a potential yield trap.

The first is earnings and free cash flow growth. A dividend cannot keep rising indefinitely unless the business produces more cash to support it.

The second is the payout ratio, which measures how much profit is being distributed. A company paying out almost everything it earns has little room for weaker conditions or further investment.

The third is balance-sheet strength. Heavy debt repayments compete directly with shareholders for the same cash.

Finally, investors can examine capital-allocation discipline and dividend history. A company that has increased its payout through different economic conditions has demonstrated something a forecast cannot.

How Wesfarmers has grown its dividend

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) provides a useful recent example.

The conglomerate increased its total dividends from $1.80 per share in FY22 to $1.91 in FY23, $1.98 in FY24 and $2.06 in FY25. Its FY26 interim dividend rose to $1.02 per share, up from 95 cents a year earlier. These dividends were fully franked. That record does not guarantee future increases. Wesfarmers must continue growing its earnings while balancing dividends against investment in businesses such as Bunnings, Kmart and WesCEF.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Limited (ASX: SOL) offers a longer example, with FY26 marking its 28th consecutive year of dividend growth. Its record shows why investors may accept a lower starting yield when they believe the payout can compound over decades.

The franking factor

Australia adds another element through dividend imputation.

A 4% fully-franked cash yield equates to approximately 5.7% on a grossed-up basis when the company tax rate is 30%. This accounts for the company tax already paid and attached to the dividend as franking credits.

The investor’s final benefit depends on their tax rate, eligibility for refunds, and compliance with the relevant holding-period rules. Some investors may receive excess franking credits as a refund, while those on higher marginal rates may owe additional tax.

Foolish takeaway

Dividend growth investing is not risk-free. Dividends can be reduced, and an excessive focus on income can leave a portfolio concentrated in mature sectors or cause investors to overlook businesses capable of reinvesting capital at attractive returns.

The CGT reforms do not make dividend growth investing universally superior. Some investors may pay more tax under the new rules, while others could pay less.

However, the calculation is changing. For investors thinking in decades rather than quarters, companies capable of growing both their underlying value and their cash distributions may deserve a closer look.

The post How ASX dividend growth shares can build lasting income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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 Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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.

The Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN) share price is in focus today after the diversified mining services group announced an agreement to divest its BTP Group business for $100 million. The sale will see Perenti receive an initial $80 million cash payment and a further $20 million after 12 months, supporting the company’s strategy to focus on higher returning opportunities.

What did Perenti report?

• Perenti will divest its BTP Group equipment rental and parts business for $100 million to Beetle Industries Pty Ltd.
• An initial $80 million cash payment is due upon completion, with a $20 million deferred payment 12 months later.
• The transaction will result in a non-cash loss of approximately $64 million in FY26 accounts.
• Completion is expected by the end of October 2026, subject to usual approvals and conditions.

What else do investors need to know?

The divestment is the result of a strategic review, with Perenti seeking to optimise its portfolio and allocate capital to higher-return areas of its business. The BTP sale frees up funds to support recent contract wins at Bellevue Gold in Australia and Fourmile in the USA, as well as potential growth opportunities.

The new owner, led by a consortium headed by Cratus Group, will fund the acquisition through a combination of debt and equity. The deferred payment has no performance conditions attached, providing Perenti certainty of proceeds.

What did Perenti management say?

Managing Director & CEO Vanessa Torres said:

Following a strategic review of our portfolio, we have agreed to divest our parts and equipment hire business. The transaction reflects our continued focus on actively managing our portfolio and allocating capital to businesses aligned with our competitive strengths in a way that maximises the Group’s total shareholder returns. While BTP’s performance has been impacted by market headwinds in recent years, its team has remained committed and worked diligently to support the profitability of the business. We believe the new ownership structure will provide a strong platform for BTP to pursue future opportunities and long-term success.

What’s next for Perenti?

Looking ahead, Perenti will use the BTP sale proceeds to fund new and existing operations with higher margins and growth potential. Management says this allows them to back recent wins and explore more opportunities aligned with their core strengths.

The company will also continue to focus on its active tender pipeline and consider further organic and inorganic growth moves as part of its evolving portfolio strategy.

Perenti share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perenti shares have risen 18%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which is flat over the same period.

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The post Perent to divest BTP Group for $100 million 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 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.