The AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB) share price is in focus today after the company delivered record underlying NPAT of $224.6 million for FY26, up 12% from the prior year, and lifted its fully franked final dividend to 71 cents per share.

What did AUB Group report?

• Underlying NPAT rose to $224.6 million (FY25: $200.2 million).
• Reported NPAT was $96.0 million, down from $180.1 million a year earlier.
• Underlying earnings per share increased to 183.69 cents (FY25: 171.75 cents).
• Fully franked final dividend of 71.0 cents per share declared (FY25: 66.0 cps), bringing total FY26 dividend to 98.0 cents, up 7.7%.
• Strong underlying profit growth in International (+19.6%), Australian Broking (+10.0%), and BizCover (+19.9%) business segments.
• Leverage ratio of 2.30x, with $330.5 million in accessible cash and debt facilities at 30 June 2026.

What else do investors need to know?

AUB Group saw solid organic growth across most segments, with International, Australian Broking, and BizCover leading the improvements. New Zealand Broking’s earnings declined slightly in Australian dollar terms due to currency movements and competitive pressures, despite a modest lift in local currency profit.

The company completed the acquisition of Prestige in the International division, helping lift its international EBIT margin. Agencies achieved organic growth in gross written premium, though performance was tempered in the strata insurance market. The dividend reinvestment plan remains suspended.

What did AUB Group management say?

AUB Group CEO and Managing Director, Michael Emmett, said:

AUB Group begins FY27 with greater scale, a stronger portfolio and clear opportunities to lift returns for shareholders. In FY26, we delivered record earnings and higher margins, despite moderating insurance markets, while continuing to invest for long-term growth.

This performance reflected the breadth of the Group, led by strong progress in International and continued momentum across Australian Broking, BizCover and Agencies. In FY27, our focus is clear: integrate Prestige effectively, lift performance where we have more to do, and use our expanded platform to deliver stronger shareholder returns.

What’s next for AUB Group?

Looking ahead, AUB Group has issued FY27 underlying NPAT guidance in the range of $245 million to $265 million, signalling anticipated earnings growth of 9.1% to 18% for the year ahead. Management sees clear opportunities arising from the recently acquired Prestige business and ongoing improvements in its international and domestic divisions.

The company plans to focus on integrating acquisitions, optimising operational performance, and leveraging its broader platform to drive shareholder returns, all while keeping a close eye on foreign exchange movements and macroeconomic conditions.

AUB Group share price snapshot

AUB Group shares have underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with an 11% decline.

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The post AUB Group FY26 results: record underlying profit and higher dividend 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 recommended Aub 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.

The Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL) share price is front of mind for investors after the company reported a 34% jump in underlying NPAT to $46.1 million and lifted its full-year dividend by 62% to 10.5 cents per share for FY26.

What did Tourism Holdings report?

• Statutory NPAT from continuing operations of $39.9 million (FY25: loss of $14.1 million)
• Underlying NPAT up 34% to $46.1 million
• Sale of services revenue (rentals) up 11% to $517.5 million; total revenue $852.9 million (down 5%)
• Full-year dividend of 10.5 cents per share, up 62%
• Net operating cashflows up 67% to $67.3 million
• Net debt reduced to $436 million; leverage improved, equity ratio at 41%

What else do investors need to know?

Tourism Holdings delivered on its four key strategic priorities, including the sale of its UK & Ireland business and exiting two loss-making Australian dealerships, which helped further strengthen its balance sheet. The company also consolidated manufacturing in Australasia and unlocked about $5 million in labour, corporate, and digital savings.

Shareholders will want to note two current takeover proposals: a $3.10 per share bid from BGH consortium and a competing offer between $3.30 and $3.40 per share from a credible strategic acquirer. Both proposals remain non-binding and subject to due diligence over the next six weeks.

What did Tourism Holdings management say?

CEO Grant Webster said:

Rentals remain the engine of thl. Sale of services revenue increased 11% to $517.5 million, the average rental fleet grew 11.5% and RevPARV increased 1% to $58,000.

We entered the second half of FY26 with real momentum. The Middle East conflict in March disrupted international travel with the flow on impacts on fuel pricing impacting domestic tourism for a time. Southern Hemisphere booking intake has since recovered to be ahead of the prior year, with New Zealand intake over the last four weeks up around 40%, Canada is on track for record rental revenue this summer season, and recent U.S. intake is tracking around 45% ahead. That tells us a portion of demand was deferred rather than lost.

Operationally this was a year of delivering hard actions. We consolidated Australasian manufacturing into Hamilton and launched a redesigned Winnebago range, opened a new Queenstown site on 17 August, exited two loss-making Australian dealerships and delivered approximately $5 million of underlying labour, corporate and digital cost savings.

What’s next for Tourism Holdings?

Tourism Holdings says the fundamentals remain supportive of its $100 million underlying NPAT goal, even though the delay in RV sales market recovery and international disruptions have tempered near-term expectations. Recent booking trends are positive, with New Zealand and Australia up around 40% and 15% respectively over four weeks, and Canada and the US seeing record or strong rental demand.

While uncertainty from the Middle East conflict has impacted FY27 momentum, management continues to focus on fleet growth, manufacturing efficiencies, and further cost initiatives, believing the longer-term potential is intact for shareholders.

Tourism Holdings share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Tourism Holdings shares have risen 17%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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The post Tourism Holdings lifts dividend 62% on higher profit, eyes takeover proposals 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.

The ASX dividend stock Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI) has delivered reliable dividends to shareholders this decade. I think it could be a top investment for passive income in the coming years and it’s enacting business plans to deliver it.

Universal Store owns a portfolio of premium youth fashion brands across retail and wholesale businesses. Its core businesses are Universal Store and Perfect Stranger. It also has CTC (which operates the THRILLS and Worship brands). The company has more than 120 stores across Australia.

Compelling dividend record

The business started paying a dividend in FY21 and it has increased its payout every year since then, including in FY26.

In the recent 2026 financial year report, the Universal Store board of directors hiked its annual dividend per share by 11.7% to 43 cents. At the time of writing, Universal Store now has a dividend yield of 5.2% excluding franking credits and 7.4% including franking credits.

But, it’s more than just the dividend that makes this business attractive.

Strong business growth

In FY26, overall sales grew 12.9% to $376.1 million, with Universal Store sales growing 11.5% (amid 8.1% like-for-like (LFL) sales growth). Perfect Stranger sales soared 40.8% to $35.9 million, with 13% LFL sales growth.

Operating leverage was clear in the FY26 result. The company achieved a 140 basis point increase in the gross profit margin to 62.5%, operating profit (EBIT) climbed 17.2% to $64 million, and underlying net profit grew 16.3% to $40.5 million.

Dividend growth is not guaranteed, of course, but Universal Store has delivered regular dividend growth, including during the high-inflation period three years ago and in FY26 amid the Middle East fallout.

The outlook looks good for further dividend growth because of the company’s plans and the strong start to trading in FY27.

Management intends to open between 16 and 20 stores across the group in FY27, with nine to ten new Universal Stores, between six and eight Perfect Stranger stores and one or two new THRILLS stores.

It also plans to reopen a temporarily closed store, refurbish four or five stores and relocate three stores. The company said it continues to be prudent in ensuring the long-term profitability of new stores and lease renewals.

FY27 has started strongly with 9.1% overall direct-to-consumer sales growth.

Universal Store sales are up 5.5% (with 2.9% LFL sales growth), Perfect Stranger sales are up 45.8% (with 17.6% LFL sales growth) and CTC direct-to-consumer sales are up 10.1% (with 3.8% LFL sales growth).

Time will tell whether the business can continue this strong level of sales growth over the rest of FY27 amid the challenging retail conditions.

$1,000 investment in the ASX dividend stock

At the time of writing, if an investor invested $1,000 into Universal Store shares, they’d be able to buy 120 shares with a little bit of money left.

Based on the FY26 payout – but I expect growth in FY27 – an investor would receive $51.60 of cash and approximately $22.11 of franking credits.

It’s not as cheap as it was earlier this year, but this ASX dividend stock continues to impress me, and I’d happily buy some shares today.

The post $1,000 buys 120 shares in an incredibly reliable ASX dividend stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.