Author: openjargon

The APA Group (ASX: APA) share price is in focus after the company reported an 8.3% lift in underlying EBITDA to $2,183 million, surpassing guidance, and announced its 22nd consecutive increase in securityholder distributions.

What did APA Group report?

• Underlying EBITDA rose 8.3% to $2,183 million (FY25: $2,015 million), ahead of the midpoint of guidance
• Free cash flow increased 3.2% to $1,118 million
• Statutory revenue (excluding pass-through) was up 1.9% to $2,764 million
• Statutory net profit after tax jumped 81.4% to $234 million
• FY26 distribution increased 1.8% to 58.0 cents per security, in line with guidance
• EBITDA margin improved by 370bps to 77.9% due to $80 million of cost-out initiatives

What else do investors need to know?

APA’s cost-out program delivered $80 million in savings, exceeding its $50 million target and underpinning stronger margins. Capital investment of $546 million went into major growth projects, such as the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant, East Coast Gas Grid expansion, and Sturt Plateau Pipeline.

The group continues to streamline operations, with business simplification initiatives, divestments, and restructuring measures. Its organic growth pipeline has expanded to approximately $3.5 billion, supported by a strong balance sheet and debt raises, positioning APA to fund new opportunities.

What did APA Group management say?

APA CEO and Managing Director, Adam Watson, said:

FY26 was a year of strong financial and operational performance as we continue to deliver on our commitments to securityholders and position APA to capture value from our ~$3.5 billion organic growth pipeline. Our underlying earnings were up 8.3% and above the mid-point of guidance, supported by new assets and ongoing strong operational performance. $80 million in cost-out initiatives were delivered across the year, exceeding our target. Securityholder distributions again increased for the 22nd consecutive year.

What’s next for APA Group?

Looking ahead, APA has outlined underlying EBITDA guidance for FY27 of $2,260 million to $2,340 million, indicating mid-single-digit growth. This is expected to be driven by inflation-linked tariff escalation, the benefit of the new Sturt Plateau Pipeline, asset conversions, and ongoing cost savings.

Distributions to securityholders are forecast to grow to 59.0 cents per security in FY27. APA is also advancing projects in renewable energy, gas-powered generation, and infrastructure to support data centres, while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation.

APA Group share price snapshot

The APA Group share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a gain of 15%.

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The post APA Group FY26 delivers strong earnings, pipeline expansion, and 22nd annual dividend increase 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 positions in and has recommended Apa 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 Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH) share price is in focus after the company delivered record FY26 results, with underlying revenue jumping 27% to $1.26 billion and underlying EBITDA rising 37% to $300.3 million, in line with updated guidance.

What did Maas Group report?

• Underlying revenue: $1,263.8 million, up 27% on prior corresponding period (pcp)
• Underlying EBITDA: $300.3 million, up 37% on pcp, matching updated guidance
• Statutory NPAT: $136.1 million, up 89%
• Underlying NPAT: $123.4 million, up 57%
• Underlying EPS: 34.2 cents, up 51% on pcp
• Operating cashflow conversion: 93%
• No final dividend declared for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Maas Group pushed forward with its new capital management framework, favouring share buybacks over dividends. The group invested $55.1 million in buybacks since February and is seeking shareholder approval to increase its buyback capacity to 20% of issued capital.

A major sale of the Construction Materials portfolio to Heidelberg Materials Australia, valued at up to $1.703 billion, remains on track to settle in October 2026. This move is expected to further strengthen Maas Group’s balance sheet and provide additional options for future growth.

The group’s electrical division stood out as a key growth driver, with $1.2 billion in external work in hand. The recently secured $855 million Firmus purchase order provides further visibility on earnings for FY27 and beyond.

What did Maas Group management say?

Wes Maas, Managing Director and CEO, said:

FY26 was a defining year for Maas Group. We delivered a record result, and importantly our continuing operations exceeded the guidance range confirming the quality of the business we are carrying into FY27.

What’s next for Maas Group?

Maas Group expects strong revenue and profit growth from continuing operations into FY27, supported by its booming electrical manufacturing arm and a healthy pipeline of residential land settlements. Proceeds from the material sale are expected to provide extra firepower for earnings-accretive investment opportunities.

The company will shift to four reporting segments from FY27: Electrical, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, and MGH Investments. The share buyback will remain in place, reflecting Maas Group’s belief that its shares are trading below underlying value.

Maas Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Maas Group shares have risen 32%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% 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.

The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price is likely to come under the spotlight today as the company announced FY26 revenue surged 37% to $312.2 million, with EBITDA up 24% to $77.1 million and Group Annual Recurring Revenue jumping 62% to $395.2 million.

What did Megaport report?

• Revenue up 37% to $312.2 million (FY25: $227.1 million)
• EBITDA rose 24% to $77.1 million (FY25: $62.3 million)
• Net loss of $39.0 million (FY25: loss of $0.3 million)
• Group Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) increased 62% to $395.2 million
• Cash and cash equivalents at year end: $435.4 million
• No dividend declared for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Megaport completed the acquisition of the compute platform Latitude.sh and India’s Extreme IX internet exchange, broadening its platform and opening new markets. The company also executed over $1 billion in capital raises to fund large strategic contracts and establish an on-demand GPU pool.

During FY26, Megaport delivered eight significant multi-year infrastructure contracts valued at $747.8 million, underscoring rising demand for integrated network, compute and storage solutions, especially supporting AI workloads. Its ongoing global expansion included adding 155 data centres and further building out its US and Indian operations.

What did Megaport management say?

Megaport’s CEO, Michael Reid, said:

A year ago, I said FY26 would be a year of acceleration. We delivered on that promise and went much further, completely transforming the scale, reach, and ambition of Megaport.

FY26 produced an exceptional result. Group Annual Recurring Revenue increased by 62% to $395.2 million, revenue grew by 37% to $312.2 million, and EBITDA reached $77.1 million. These are incredible results and we’re only just getting started.

What’s next for Megaport?

Looking ahead to FY27, Megaport plans to keep integrating its acquisitions, efficiently deliver contracted infrastructure, and bring its on-demand GPU pool to market. Management will also focus on sustaining network momentum while unifying compute, network, and storage through software, aiming to build on its position in distributed AI and digital infrastructure solutions.

Megaport says its priorities are disciplined investment in growth where demand is clear and where the business model provides strong returns. The board remains confident about the company’s international growth opportunity and will continue to pursue markets for cloud, AI, and digital workloads.

Megaport share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Megaport share price has rocketed 42%, outpacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the broader tech sector’s performance.

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The post Megaport FY26: Earnings soar as AI and global footprint drive strategy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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 Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) share price is in focus today after the gold miner reported a 41% jump in its Ore Reserves to 4.1 million ounces and a 15% lift in average reserve grade to 2.22g/t gold, as at 30 June 2026.

What did Westgold Resources report?

• Total gold Mineral Resource Estimate: 194 million tonnes at 2.30g/t Au for 14.4 million ounces, up 8% year-on-year (after adjustments for asset sales).
• Total Ore Reserves: 57 million tonnes at 2.22g/t Au for 4.1 million ounces, up 41% after depletion and divestments.
• Ore Reserve grade increased 15% to 2.22g/t Au (from 1.93g/t Au in FY25).
• Measured and Indicated Resources now at 62.6% of total inventory (up from 56.6% in FY25).
• 10-year Reserve life maintained at current processing capacity across the group.
• Exploration and resource development spend totalled $42 million in FY26; Reserve additions achieved at a competitive $27/oz cost.

What else do investors need to know?

The company’s resource and reserve growth comes despite the divestment of several non-core assets, which removed around 3 million ounces from the prior Mineral Resource total. Westgold highlights that the growth was delivered organically, underpinned by resource drilling programs across both the Murchison and Southern Goldfields portfolios.

The addition of the maiden Fletcher Ore Reserve at Beta Hunt added 1.1 million ounces, while upgrades at Bluebird-South Junction and Starlight also contributed. Westgold continues to maintain strong resource confidence, with the majority of its Mineral Resource now in higher-confidence Measured and Indicated categories.

What’s next for Westgold Resources?

Looking ahead, Westgold plans to invest between $50 million and $75 million in exploration and resource development drilling in FY27, subject to market conditions and board approval. With 26 drill rigs active across its portfolio, the company is targeting further conversion of Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves and additional mine life extension.

Westgold expects ongoing drilling at key assets such as Beta Hunt, Big Bell South, Paddy’s Flat and Cuddingwarra will support both near-term Reserve growth and broader hub optimisation. Management sees continued Ore Reserve growth as fundamental to unlocking mill expansion options and growing production.

Westgold Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Westgold Resources shares have risen 81%, significantly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

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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 IDP Education Ltd (ASXL IEL) share price is in focus after the company reported revenue of $795.4 million, down 11% from last year, and net profit after tax of $13.3 million, a fall of 74%.

What did IDP Education report?

• Revenue: $795.4 million, down 11%
• Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT): $13.3 million, down 74%
• Adjusted NPAT: $57.1 million, down 18%
• Adjusted EBIT: $122.9 million, down 3%
• Final dividend: 6.0 cents per share, unfranked
• EBITDA margin: 15.4% (Adjusted EBIT as percentage of revenue)

What else do investors need to know?

The drop in IDP Education’s earnings was mainly caused by weaker international student demand as a result of ongoing policy changes and tighter migration settings in key markets. Student Placement volumes tumbled by 27% and IELTS English Language Testing volumes dropped by 8%. Despite these headwinds, IDP delivered a $32 million underlying reduction in overhead costs, exceeding its transformation target, and continued to generate strong cash flow, bringing net debt down by 29% to $118.6 million.

IDP also launched a share buy-back program of up to $50 million, reflecting strong capital management and confidence in its transformation strategy. The business continued investing in technology and AI tools, launching new digital products such as FastLane Propose and expanding into the Chinese testing market.

What did IDP Education management say?

IDP Education’s CEO, Tennealle O’Shannessy, commented:

I would like to thank our people around the world for their hard work, resilience and unwavering commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes for our students and university partners. Despite the challenges faced by both our teams and student community, maintaining outstanding NPS and trust scores is an exceptional achievement.

What’s next for IDP Education?

Looking ahead, IDP expects challenging market conditions to persist in FY27, with tightening migration and student visa policies likely to weigh on volumes for a third year. However, management remains focused on building a more agile, technology-enabled business and driving further cost efficiencies. The multi-year transformation program aims to diversify revenue streams, improve margins, and consolidate IDP’s position as a quality leader in international education.

The company plans to leverage its strong balance sheet to invest in digital capability, data, and AI, while expanding its Student Placement destinations and IELTS English testing centres. Investors can also expect continued focus on shareholder returns through the announced buy-back.

IDP Education share price snapshot

The IDP Education share price is down approximately 55% over the past 12 months, while the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) has gained around 1.5% in the same period.

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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.

The Australian Finance Group Ltd (ASX: AFG) share price is in focus today after the company reported FY26 profit up 39% to $49 million, with EBITDA surging 32% and residential lending settlements growing by 18% to $75 billion.

What did Australian Finance Group report?

• Reported NPAT rose to $49 million, up 39% year on year
• EBITDA increased 32% to $74.4 million
• Residential lending settlements grew 18% to $75 billion
• Asset finance settlements were up 19%, reaching $4.3 billion
• Final dividend of 4.8 cents per share, total DPS 9.5 cents (up 4%)
• Net interest margin expanded 9 basis points to 1.25%

What else do investors need to know?

Australian Finance Group has broadened its earnings base, with recurring and diversified income streams now making up 78% of its mix, helping to cushion short-term mortgage market volatility. BrokerEngine subscribers climbed 19% to 4,400, and broker services subscription income rose 13% to $24 million, now representing 23% of Distribution earnings.

The company invested $21 million to drive further growth, including technology, new funding, and minority stakes in broker businesses. AFG’s balance sheet remains strong with $63 million in unrestricted cash and a 94% cash conversion rate, while a share buy-back of up to $15 million was announced in June 2026.

What’s next for Australian Finance Group?

AFG expects continued EBITDA uplift into FY27, with around $13 million in annualised benefit already embedded from recent investments. The group is maintaining focus on margin discipline, funding diversity, and efficiency gains, with further investments in systems, automation, and artificial intelligence planned to support productivity and future growth.

While residential activity has softened in the last two months, AFG sees long-term demand for brokers and competitive lending options supporting its position. The company aims to increase the share of broker service income and expand its AFG Securities loan book, tracking towards FY29 aspirations.

Australian Finance Group share price snapshot

Over the 12 months, Australian Finance Group shares have declined 36%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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The post Australian Finance Group reports FY26 profit growth and expanded earnings base 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 Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) share price is in focus today after the supply chain giant reported sales revenue of US$7.04 billion, up 2%, and underlying profit of US$1.49 billion, up 4% for the year ended 30 June 2026.

What did Brambles report?

• Sales revenue: US$7,042.9 million, up 2% (constant FX)
• Underlying profit: US$1,494.4 million, up 4% (constant FX)
• Operating profit after tax: US$948.5 million, up 5% (constant FX)
• Basic EPS (continuing operations): 69.9 US cents, up 6% (constant FX)
• Final dividend: 23.15 US cents per share (total FY26 dividends up 16% on FY25)
• Free cash flow before dividends: US$1,048.2 million

What else do investors need to know?

Brambles navigated a year marked by persistent inflation and softer consumer demand, especially across its major US and European markets. The company faced operational challenges in the US during the fourth quarter, including repair capacity constraints that created service level issues and dented underlying profit by about US$90 million.

Despite these headwinds, Brambles invested in network upgrades and additional pallet purchases to improve availability and service quality for customers, with clear plans to boost repair capacity and resilience in the US. Strong demand from new customers and momentum in digital and sustainability initiatives continued across key markets.

What did Brambles management say?

Brambles CEO, Graham Chipchase, commented:

We delivered a resilient FY26 result, growing earnings and generating strong free cash flow while advancing initiatives across quality, network and digital that strengthen our long-term competitive advantage and support future growth and value creation.

Our actions are already delivering positive results, with customer order fulfilment improving materially since mid-April. We remain on track to resolve the repair capacity constraints by the end of the first half of FY27 and position our US business to strengthen customer relationships and pursue growth, with quality as a key source of competitive advantage.

What’s next for Brambles?

Looking ahead, Brambles expects sales revenue growth of 2–4% and underlying profit growth of 2–6% at constant currency in FY27. Free cash flow before dividends is forecast between US$800 million and US$950 million.

The company is focused on resolving US repair constraints, accelerating digital transformation, and supporting customers with resilient, efficient supply chains. A decision on a potential North American rollout of its Serialisation+ digital solution is expected in the third quarter of FY27. Brambles also reaffirmed its FY28 margin expansion target and plans to complete its current share buy-back program.

Brambles share price snapshot

The Brambles share price has been a poor performer over the past 12 months. During this time, its shares have fallen 16%, compared to a modest 1.5% gain by the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO).

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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.

The Solstice Minerals Ltd (ASX: SLS) share price is in focus today after the company reported more wide copper-gold intercepts from ongoing drilling at its 100%-owned Nanadie Copper-Gold Project in WA’s Goldfields. Notably, a 148m intercept at 0.77% copper and 0.20g/t gold from one drill hole signals the growing scale of the deposit.

What did Solstice Minerals report?

• Diamond drilling hit 148m at 0.77% copper and 0.20g/t gold from 201m (NANRCD018), expanding mineralisation beyond the current resource boundary.
• Another diamond tail delivered 36m at 0.70% copper and 0.21g/t gold to end of hole (NANRCD026), confirming nearby high-grade results.
• Step-out RC drilling produced multiple strong intercepts, including 43m at 0.59% copper and 0.21g/t gold (NANRC044), outlining mineralisation further south.
• Drilling footprint now spans 100–200m width, over at least 1.2km of strike, remaining open at depth and along strike.
• Solstice holds $45 million in cash and zero debt to fund ongoing exploration.

What else do investors need to know?

Ongoing reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling is mapping out high-grade copper-gold zones that stretch well past the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE). Multiple rigs are operating at Nanadie, with another RC rig arriving soon to speed up campaign progress.

The company is awaiting results from a deep, step-down diamond hole (NANRCD005) drilled some 500m beneath the current MRE. On top of this, assays from an extra 12 diamond tails and 18 RC holes are pending, so further updates are expected over coming months.

What did Solstice Minerals management say?

CEO & Managing Director Nick Castleden said:

Ongoing diamond and RC drilling continues to show that Nanadie is developing into a substantially larger copper-gold system that extends well beyond the current Mineral Resource.… The combined 148m intercept in NANRCD018 is particularly encouraging.… The results to date continue to reinforce our view that Nanadie is growing into a much larger copper-gold system than previously recognised, with the host gabbro and zones of copper sulphide mineralisation extending well beyond the limits of drilling.

What’s next for Solstice Minerals?

Solstice expects a steady flow of drill results in the months ahead as it tests the depth and lateral growth of the Nanadie system. Follow-up work will also focus on defining higher-grade positions, potentially improving future resource estimates.

With a strong cash position and no debt, Solstice is well funded to advance Nanadie, continue drilling, and explore new targets across its growing land position.

Solstice Minerals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Solstice Minerals shares have risen more than 800%, significantly outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

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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 Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is in focus today after the gold miner delivered a record net profit after tax (NPAT) of A$1.7 billion, up 24% year on year, and boosted its fully franked dividend to 55 cents per share.

What did Northern Star Resources report?

• Revenue rose 19% to A$7.6 billion (FY25: A$6.4 billion), driven by a 26% higher realised gold price.
• Statutory NPAT of A$1.66 billion, with underlying NPAT at A$1.79 billion (up 26%).
• Underlying EBITDA increased 22% to A$4.27 billion.
• Cash earnings totalled A$2.91 billion, up 1% from last year.
• Fully franked FY26 dividend of 55 cents per share, including a 30 cent final dividend.
• On-market buy-back program commenced, with A$129 million spent to buy back over 6.3 million shares so far.

What else do investors need to know?

Northern Star ended FY26 with A$1.2 billion in cash and bullion, maintaining a strong balance sheet despite higher capital investments and shareholder returns. The group kicked off commissioning for the KCGM Mill Expansion, a key growth project expected to unlock greater operational consistency and support future cash flows.

The company is investing heavily in both organic growth and exploration, including the ongoing integration of the Hemi gold project. During the year, capital investment focused on expanding processing facilities and upgrading key mining infrastructure, while a new power station was built at KCGM to support future mining volumes.

What did Northern Star Resources management say?

Commenting on its results, Northern Star’s managing director, Stuart Tonkin, said:

We are at an important inflection point for Northern Star. The KCGM Mill Expansion marks a significant milestone for the Company, with the expanded processing plant expected to deliver greater operational consistency and reliability, while supporting a significant increase in free cash generation as it ramps up.

We have a strong track record of disciplined capital allocation, supported by an investment-grade balance sheet, and have returned $3.3 billion of cumulative capital management to shareholders to date. As we enter this next phase, disciplined capital allocation remains a priority, with a clear commitment to generating superior shareholder returns.

To enhance the quality of the portfolio, the KCGM Mill Expansion is expected to structurally reset the cost base and create a stronger platform for long-term value creation. The development of Hemi provides a further opportunity to strengthen the portfolio and underpin the Company’s growth profile.

What’s next for Northern Star Resources?

Looking to FY27, Northern Star has guided to group gold production of 1.5–1.65 million ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$3,050–3,450/oz. The KCGM ramp-up is underway, with production expected to reach 550–650koz in its initial stages.

Capital expenditure is forecast between A$2,550 million and A$2,935 million, with flexibility to adjust spending as operational needs evolve. The group is also allocating A$230–250 million for exploration, focusing on growing resources and extending mine life at key operations including KCGM, Pogo, and Hemi.

Northern Star Resources share price snapshot

The Northern Star Resources share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a gain of 24%. This has been driven largely by a rising gold price.

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The Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) share price is in focus after unveiling its FY26 results, with underlying net profit after tax rising 2.9% to $636.8 million and the full-year dividend increasing 6.7% to 19.2 cents per share, fully franked.

What did Medibank report?

• Group revenue from external customers grew 5.9% to $9,115.2 million
• Underlying NPAT rose 2.9% to $636.8 million
• Full-year fully franked ordinary dividend lifted 6.7% to 19.2 cents per share
• Group operating profit increased 6.7% to $813.5 million
• Medibank Health segment profit up 31.3% to $100.7 million
• Total claims paid of $6.9 billion, delivering around $299 million in customer value

What else do investors need to know?

Medibank added 22,100 net resident policyholders over the year, with its core Medibank brand showing improved growth momentum and ahm continuing to grow ahead of the market. Non-resident policy units fell 2.3%, mostly due to reduced student numbers amid tighter migration settings.

The company maintained strong capital levels, with a Health Insurance required capital ratio of 13.3%—above its targeted range, partly due to APRA supervisory adjustments. Operating expenses rose 7.1% as Medibank invested in brand, technology, and customer rewards, but productivity savings of $10 million were achieved.

What did Medibank management say?

Medibank’s CEO, David Koczkar, commented:

We continued to deliver value for the 6 million people who trust us with their health and wellbeing, as household budgets remain under pressure. Despite this, people continue to prioritise their health. Today’s result reflects the strength of the business, the trust our customers and patients have in us, and the progress we have made towards our 2030 ambitions.

What’s next for Medibank?

Looking ahead, Medibank expects FY27 resident health insurance gross margins to be broadly consistent with FY26, and continued solid growth from its non-resident and Medibank Health segments. The company will focus on disciplined market share growth, further investments in digital health, and integrating recent acquisitions.

Management flagged robust appetite and financial capacity for further M&A to support Medibank’s long-term growth strategy and deliver value to shareholders.

Medibank share price snapshot

The Medibank share price has fallen short of the performance of the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past year with a decline of around 4%.

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The post Medibank FY26 earnings: Profit and dividend rise 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.