Author: openjargon

Shares in A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) continued to fall on Tuesday after a trading halt as investors digested some dire statistics out of China around the country’s birthrate.

The company’s shares fell more than 13% on Monday to be changing hands for $8.30, prompting the company to place its shares in a trading halt while it formulated an explanation for the fall to the ASX.

Company sheds little light

In an announcement that came out mid-afternoon yesterday, the company said there was no unannounced information that it believed could explain the share price fall.

It did say, very briefly, that the China National Bureau of Statistics “made its annual announcement of the number of newborns in China for the preceding year”.

What the company did not explain, and which has been reported in a number of media outlets, is that China’s birthrate for 2025 fell to 5.63 births per thousand people, down from 6.39, and the lowest figure on record.

Given that A2 Milk derives a large proportion of its revenue from infant formula sales in China, the demographic shift away from having children is not good news for the company.

A2 Milk shares fell a further 1.9% on Tuesday morning to be changing hands for $8.13.

Guiding to revenue growth

A2 Milk in November upgraded its FY26 revenue guidance, saying that infant milk formula, other nutritionals, and liquid milk product categories were trading stronger than expected, and it was also benefiting from positive foreign currency movements.

It said at the time that it expected revenue growth in the double digits over the half and for its EBITDA margin to be 15% to 16%.

A2 Milk will report its first-half results on February 16.

The company also announced on Tuesday that Helena He would take on the role of Chief Marketing Officer at the company.

The company said in a statement:

Helena has significant experience in the China infant milk formula and vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) categories, and has both chief marketing officer and management experience working with leading global nutrition and fast-moving consumer goods companies including in Australia. Helena will; join a2 Milk Company from her most recent role as general manager, VMS – Haleon China, where she spent the past five years based in Shanghai leading the VMS category.

A2 Milk said Ms He’s previous experience was with one of Europe’s largest dairy companies, FrieslandCampina.

A2 Milk was valued at $6.02 billion at the close of trade on Monday.

The post Chinese birthrate punches a hole in the A2 Milk share price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

Shares in Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) remain firmly in the spotlight after the defence technology group notched a fresh all-time high last week.

On 13 January 2026, the EOS share price touched a record $11.20, eclipsing its previous peak of $10.80 set in early 2020, before the COVID sell-off.

After some modest consolidation, the stock is still trading higher today, up 5.82% to $11.09, having reached $11.14 in early morning trade.

Zooming out, the move caps off a stunning run. EOS shares are now up more than 850% compared to this time last year, making it one of the strongest performers on the ASX over the past 12 months.

Geopolitics heats up

The rally in EOS shares is being driven by more than contract wins lately. A rapidly deteriorating global security backdrop is forcing governments to accelerate defence spending.

In recent days, the US has withdrawn non-essential personnel from Middle Eastern bases within range of Iranian missiles, while the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group moves toward the Gulf, materially lifting American military presence in the region. While political rhetoric has played down the risk of escalation, markets are responding to actions on the ground.

Contract momentum continues to build

EOS has not relied on macro tailwinds alone. Over the past month, the company has announced a number of new contracts across its remote weapon systems and space systems divisions. Those wins are strengthening expectations for earnings growth into 2026.

However, the most closely watched catalyst remains the conditional South Korean high-energy laser contract, which is expected to be resolved before the end of this month. With roughly one week left in the decision window, investor attention is squarely focused on developments.

The conditions attached to the deal relate to regulatory approvals and customer due diligence, including site visits to EOS’ manufacturing facility in Singapore. With those inspections reportedly underway, many investors believe there is little left beyond final checks.

Why a new high may not be the end

If the South Korean contract is approved, it would strongly back EOS’ technology and show it can deliver complex systems at scale. It would also add another important source of revenue and strengthen its position in a key market.

From a market perspective, EOS now carries a market capitalisation of around $2.1 billion, yet many investors believe it is still early in its global expansion cycle.

With a growing order book, multiple near-term catalysts, and defence budgets rising worldwide, momentum continues to build for EOS. If the South Korean deal crosses the line, the recent all-time high may prove to be just another stepping stone higher.

The post Another record in sight? Why this ASX defence stock is back in rally mode appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

The Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) share price has had a tough 12 months. This ASX 200 financial stock and leading Australian insurer was going for $8.65 a share this time last year. However, today, those same shares are currently trading for just $7.54 each (at the time of writing). That puts IAG stock down a nasty 12.9% over the past 12 months.

Considering the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has risen by about 5.9% over the same period, we can conclude that it has been a lacklustre 12 months to own this stock.

But looking at this disappointing IAG share price today, some investors may get excited about what could be on offer when it comes to dividends. After all, a falling share price boosts the dividend yield one can theoretically obtain from an ASX share. And IAG has historically been known as a generous income payer.

So today, let’s check out IAG shares from an income perspective and see what might be on offer from this stock going forward.

IAG share price: Show me the dividends

Starting off, IAG shares paid out two dividends last year, as is typical of an ASX income stock. The first was the March interim dividend worth 12 cents per share. This payout came partially franked at 60%. The second dividend was the September final dividend, worth 19 cents per share. This dividend was partially franked at 40%.

Both of these payments represented healthy increases over what investors enjoyed in 2024. That year saw IAG fork out an interim dividend worth 10 cents per share, and a final dividend of 17 cents per share. So IAG’s income trajectory has been going in the right direction.

Together, this 31 cents per share in annual dividends for 2025 gives the IAG share price a trailing dividend yield of 4.11% at the current $7.54 share price.

Some ASX experts think 2026 might be even more fruitful. A few days ago, my Fool colleague reported that ASX broker UBS had given a ‘buy’ rating to the IAG share price.

UBS reckons the IAG share price could hit $9.25 over the next 12 months, thanks to a possible net profit of $1 billion. As IAG has a dividend policy of paying out 60% to 80% of net profit after tax as dividends on a full-year basis, this could potentially result in another dividend hike this year if accurate.

No doubt IAG investors would love to hear that. But let’s see what happens in 2026.

The post Looking at the IAG share price? Here’s how much this stock pays in dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) materials outperformed the other 10 market sectors significantly in 2025.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rose by 31.71% and produced total returns, including dividends, of 36.21%.

This was mainly due to strongly rising commodity prices, which fuelled the growth of ASX 200 mining shares.

The question now is whether those ASX 200 mining shares have any room for growth left this year.

Morgan Stanley says the following 3 stocks do not. Here’s why.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

The Fortescue share price is down 0.4% to $22.30 on Tuesday.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 iron ore mining share has leapt almost 30%.

It reached a 52-week high of $23.38 on 11 December.

Valuation is one reason why Morgan Stanley just downgraded Fortescue shares to an underweight rating.

The broker’s 12-month share price target for Fortescue is $19.75.

Morgan Stanley said it expects Fortescue to report strong realised iron ore prices for 2Q FY26.

However, it’s concerned that costs may rise and production from Iron Bridge may weaken.

This implies an 11% potential downside from here for Fortescue shares.

Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

The Sandfire Resources share price is down 0.7% to $18.98 today.

The ASX 200’s largest pure-play copper share has risen 72% over six months and 93% over 12 months.

The stock reached a record $19.61 per share last week.

A rising copper price has been powering this share price growth.

Copper is in high demand as the green energy transition continues worldwide. Copper is an essential input in electrification.

Yesterday, Morgan Stanley reiterated its sell rating on Sandfire Resources shares.

The broker raised its price target on the ASX 200 mining share from $11.45 to $16.15.

This implies a potential downside of 15% from here.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

The IGO share price is 0.8% lower at $8.84 at the time of writing.

This ASX 200 lithium mining share has ripped 112% in FY26 so far.

This lines up with the period of time in which lithium commodity prices have rebounded.

Lithium began a long-awaited recovery in July after three years of dramatic declines followed by stagnation.

Today, the lithium carbonate price is at a two-year high.

Improving global demand for batteries, EVs, and new infrastructure associated with the green energy transition is fuelling the rebound.

Yesterday, Morgan Stanley reiterated its sell rating on IGO shares.

The broker increased its 12-month price target from $4.50 to $8.40.

This implies a potential downside of 5% from here.

The post ASX 200 materials was the best sector of 2025 but it’s time to sell these 3 shares: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

Global blood products company CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) has had a year to forget from a share price point of view and is changing hands not far off its lows over the past 12 months.

But the analysts at RBC Capital Markets believe the stock is oversold, and “while CSL is facing increased competition in its core markets and a backdrop of weak flu vaccinations, we believe the large share price fall now presents a compelling investment opportunity”.

Recovery program on foot

CSL Chair Brian McNamee addressed the underperformance at the company’s annual general meeting held in late October, and agreed that the fall in the company’s share price, from highs of $282.20 to as low as $168, had been “disappointing”.

But he said the company was addressing areas where it could improve, and he had faith that the company’s immunoglobulin business would “generate strong returns”.

On areas which needed improvement, Dr McNamee said:

The reality is that for some time CSL has been operating in a way that is too complex, and this has impacted our ability to react decisively to geopolitical headwinds and to maintain our market position. (Chief executive Paul McKenzie) and his management team, with the full support of the board, have identified areas where our business must evolve. They are bold strategic steps to reshape and simplify the business, build our growth pipeline, reduce costs and improve clinical and commercial execution.

Time to buy

The analysts at RBC have issued a research note to their clients this week and have upgraded CSL to an outperform rating, with a price target of $230.

They say they believe the first-half result could beat expectations, “which could begin the process for a stock rerating”.

As the RBC team said:

We forecast CSL beating consensus numbers for its 1H26 result underpinned by growth in Hemgenix and Speciality products revenue, a beat in Vifor and lower interest expense. We anticipate the operational beat being well taken and could begin the process for a stock re-rating.

While there were “numerous potential headwinds”, including low vaccination rates, possible issues with US tariffs, and increased competition in some sectors, the RBC team believed these to be largely priced in at the current share price.

RBC added:

CSL is a well-run company with a market-leading position in plasma-derived therapies. The plasma-derived therapeutics industry is attractive to operate in given strong patient demand, the product is difficult to replicate, there are high barriers to entry and products do not face patent cliffs. CSL has a particularly strong position in the immunoglobulin market, which has been growing at a 9% compound annual growth rate.

CSL was valued at $85.62 billion at the close of trade on Monday.

The post Check out this CSL share price forecast for 2026. It’s hard to believe! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.4% in morning trade today, but that’s not holding back this soaring ASX All Ords gold stock.

The outperforming company in question is Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX: STK).

Shares in the Aussie gold miner closed yesterday trading for 21 cents. At tithe me of writing, shares are swapping hands for 21.5 cents each, up 2.4%.

With today’s gains factored in, this sees the Strickland Metals share price up an eye-popping 168.8% since this time last year.

Part of that stellar rise has been driven by the soaring gold price. Gold is currently trading for US$4,666 per ounce, putting the gold price up 70% over 12 months.

But Strickland Metals has hardly been sitting idle.

Here’s what investors are mulling over today.

ASX All Ords gold stock gains on drilling results

Before market open this morning, Strickland reported on a fresh batch of assay results from three diamond drill-holes. The holes were drilled at Strickland’s 5.3-million-ounce gold equivalent (AuEq) Shanac Deposit, which is located within its 100%-owned 8.6Moz AuEq Rogozna Project in Serbia.

The ASX All Ords gold stock highlighted that the significant new intercepts from its diamond drilling campaign demonstrate the potential of both bulk tonnage and higher-grade mineralised zones within the Shanac Deposit.

Among the top results, Strickland reported 37.2 metres at 1.1 grams of gold equivalent per tonne from 284.4 metres; and 113.4m at 1.7g/t AuEq from 451.0 metres, including 28.0m at 2.7g/t AuEq from 532.4 metres.

Investors can expect further updates from the exploratory drill campaign, with assays still pending for multiple holes from across the Rogozna Project. The ASX All Ords gold stock expects to receive those results in the coming weeks.

On the funding side, as at 30 September, Strickland Minerals held cash and liquids totalling $41.8 million.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results that look to be boosting the ASX All Ords gold stock today, Strickland managing director Paul L’Herpiniere said, “The three diamond holes reported in this announcement all returned outstanding zones of strong copper-gold mineralisation, reinforcing the scale, quality and potential of our cornerstone ~5.3Moz AuEq Shanac Deposit.”

L’Herpiniere added:

We are pleased to see that the latest holes have also provided further definition of the higher-grade zones within the deposit, with the results to contribute towards an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Shanac – which remains on track to be reported later this quarter.

Against the backdrop of record metal prices, and with an aggressive ongoing exploration commitment, strong expected news-flow and a strong balance sheet, Strickland is poised for another exceptional year in 2026.

The post Up 169% in a year, why is this ASX All Ords gold stock jumping again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for NAB 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 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.

Owning ASX dividend stocks certainly comes with its advantages. Who wouldn’t want to own an investment that pays great passive income each year?

The investment I want to highlight in this article has risen by around 90% over the past five years and has also provided strong dividends to shareholders.

That business is MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF). I’ve made it one of the largest positions in my portfolio for a few very good reasons. So, let’s get into why it’s a compelling idea.

Great ASX dividend stock credentials

The business has a goal of increasing its dividends for shareholders over time. It has been very successful with this goal over the last several years.

MFF has increased its annual ordinary dividend each year since 2017.

Pleasingly, it has increased the half-yearly dividend by 1 cent per share every six months, going back to October 2023. The latest two payments were 9 cents per share from the FY25 annual result and 8 cents per share with the FY25 half-year result.

If it continues this trend and declares a 10-cent per share dividend next month (February) and an 11-cent per share dividend in August, it will have a grossed-up dividend yield of around 6% this year, including franking credits. That would represent a year-over-year increase of 23%.

I’m expecting plenty of dividend growth in subsequent years because of the large profit reserve and good investment track record.

Excellent portfolio process

MFF has a fabulous track record of delivering long-term returns with its portfolio that is largely focused on high-quality global stocks.

The ASX dividend stock has had names like Visa, Mastercard, Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft in the portfolio for years. Recent investments include L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G) and KKR, which could be great ideas for the long term.

MFF targets great businesses with strong compounding potential with above-average prospects.

Some investments out there have a much larger risk of not working out than others, and MFF has a good track record of avoiding those sorts of duds, even if it means missing out on the occasional Nvidia-type business.

According to CMC Markets, MFF has delivered an average total shareholder return (TSR) of 18% per year over the last five years. I think that’s a good proxy for its portfolio performance in that time.

It trades at a discount

Isn’t it great when we go into a shop, and the item we want is cheaper than we expected? In my view, MFF is trading at a very appealing value.

Every week, MFF tells investors what its underlying value is with its pre-tax net tangible assets (NTA). At the time of writing, the MFF share price is trading at a 9% discount to the latest weekly NTA figure.

While the discount has been larger in the past, I think it’s still a very attractive value to buy this ASX dividend stock.

The post Why this could be the best ASX dividend stock to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, KKR, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Mff Capital Investments, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in ARB Corporation Ltd (ASX: ARB) are under heavy pressure on Tuesday after the 4WD accessories giant released a half-year trading update.

The ARB share price is down a sharp 14.89% to $27.50, extending a tough run for investors. The stock is now down roughly 30% over the past 12 months, pushing it back toward levels last seen in 2023.

So, what did the company say, and why has the market reacted so harshly?

Revenue slips despite export growth

ARB revealed that unaudited sales revenue for the six months to 31 December 2025 came in at $358 million, down 1% on the prior corresponding period (pcp).

The result reflected weaker domestic conditions, partially offset by strong growth offshore.

Australian aftermarket sales declined 1.7%, reflecting softer demand for key vehicle models and ongoing fitting capacity constraints. At the same time, OEM channel sales in Australia fell sharply, down 38.2%, largely due to the timing of OEM contracts and model releases.

That weakness was offset by continued momentum in international markets. Export sales increased 8.8%, with sales into the key US market up 26.1%, highlighting the growing importance of offshore demand to ARB’s earnings mix.

Profit takes a hit

The bigger concern for investors sits at the earnings line, where margin pressure and softer domestic conditions weighed on results.

ARB expects to report underlying profit before tax of approximately $58 million for the half, representing a 16.3% decline compared with the prior year.

Management pointed to two key factors behind the drop. Gross margins were squeezed by a weaker Australian dollar against the Thai baht, increasing manufacturing costs. In addition, lower factory overhead recoveries followed elevated inventory levels in the pcp.

The company also flagged several one-off items during the half. These included a $1.3 million pre-tax gain on a property sale, partially offset by $2.2 million in goodwill impairment costs linked to the termination of the Thule distribution agreement.

Balance sheet still rock solid

Despite the profit downgrade, ARB’s balance sheet remains a clear strength.

At 31 December 2025, the company held $59.4 million in cash and no debt, even after paying a 35-cent final dividend and a 50-cent special dividend during the period.

That balance sheet strength gives ARB flexibility as it navigates margin pressure and softer domestic conditions, while continuing to invest in offshore growth opportunities.

Is the sell-off overdone?

Today’s reaction suggests the market is increasingly focused on earnings risk and the outlook for margin recovery in the near term. That concern is clearly understandable given the profit downgrade from management.

However, ARB remains a high-quality brand with growing export exposure, a debt-free balance sheet, and long-term leverage to global 4WD and off-road demand.

With the share price now well below its 2024 highs, investors will be watching closely when full half-year results are released on 24 February to see whether margins begin to stabilise.

For now, sentiment toward ARB has clearly turned negative, and the shares remain firmly in the penalty box.

The post ARB shares are crashing 15% today. What’s spooking investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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.

Owning National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares usually means receiving a good level of passive income each year. But, dividend payouts are not guaranteed.

ASX bank shares usually trade on a relatively low price/earnings (P/E) ratio and are fairly generous with their dividend payout ratio. That can result in a solid dividend yield.

NAB faces strong competition in Australia, with some businesses like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) wanting to take some of the bank’s market share in the business banking space. Let’s see how analysts think the dividends could play out in the coming months.

First, FY26

We’re currently in the 2026 financial year, so investors won’t have to wait too long to find out what the dividend payments are going to be in the months ahead.

Following multiple RBA rate cuts over the last 12 months, demand for loans has picked up, and this is a useful tailwind for earnings for NAB (and other banks). Not only that, but a lower interest rate also helps reduce the risk of loan defaults for borrowers.

But, rate cuts can be a negative for the net interest margin (NIM) of an ASX bank share because it can’t earn as much on the no-interest transaction accounts when it lends out that money to borrowers.

In terms of the dividend, the projection on CMC Markets suggests investors are going to get a stable payout in the 2026 financial year (compared to FY25). The forecast implies the business could pay an annual dividend of $1.70 per NAB share.

That level of payment would translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.7%, including franking credits, at the time of writing. That’s not the biggest payout around, but it’s noticeably better than the term deposits NAB offers.

Next, FY27

For investors hoping for dividend growth, the FY26 projection may be disappointing.

But, earnings per share (EPS) is expected to increase in the 2027 financial year, which is a useful driver of funding larger dividends.

The forecast on CMC Markets for the dividend is $1.705 per share. That would only represent a year-over-year increase of 0.3%, but it’s better than nothing.

If owners of NAB shares do receive that, it’d be a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.7%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

Finally, FY28

In the 2028 financial year, investors may finally start seeing a noticeable increase of the payout.

The projection on CMC Markets suggests the business could pay an annual dividend of $1.72 per NAB share. That would represent an annual increase of 0.9% year -over-year. This would be a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.75%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

It’s certainly not one of the first ASX shares I’d buy for dividends based on the payouts.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2028 for NAB shares 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 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.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) diversified financial services company closed yesterday trading for $1.815. In early morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $1.792 apiece, down 1.3%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.3% at this same time.

This comes following major leadership news.

Here’s what’s happening.

AMP shares dip on CEO succession

This morning, investors learned that Blair Vernon will take the reins as the company’s new CEO.

Sitting CEO, Alexis George, will retire from her executive roles on 30 March. George has served as AMP’s CEO since August 2021, overseeing a period of significant transformation and growth for the company.

Indeed, AMP shares have gained around 70% over this period, not including the ASX 200 stock’s dividends.

Following her retirement, George will be available to AMP to assist with the leadership handover and ongoing support.

As the current chief financial officer (CFO) of AMP, the company noted Vernon’s appointment as CEO will help to ensure a seamless transition and ongoing execution of its key strategic initiatives.

Indeed, Vernon already has served as acting CEO for AMP Australia from August 2020 to January 2021.

Vernon will earn a base salary of $1.4 million per year, along with a range of incentive opportunities.

A word from management

Commenting on the CEO transition that’s yet to lift AMP shares today, chair Mike Hirst said:

Alexis has guided AMP through a significant transformation that has streamlined the organisation and focused each business on its strongest growth opportunities. She stabilised the business and oversaw the successful sale of AMP Capital and the Advice business whilst building a customer focused culture.

Hirst noted that the board was “unequivocal in its view that Blair brings the right breadth of experience and capability to lead AMP in its next phase of growth as CEO”.

He added:

Blair has built confidence by tightening financial management, steering our capital return program and successfully executing both the AMP Capital separation and the AMP Advice sale and partnership. The Board congratulates Blair on his appointment and looks forward to working with him and our excellent leadership team to build on the positive momentum within the business.

George said:

AMP has undertaken significant transformation to become a simpler, customer-focused, and growth oriented organisation. I am proud of our achievements over the past five years, particularly helping our customers retire with confidence.

Incoming CEO Vernon concluded, “AMP is delivering against its strategy, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in executing our strategic ambitions and delivering positive outcomes to customers, shareholders, communities and colleagues.”

With today’s dip factored in, AMP shares remain up 12% since this time last year.

The post AMP shares sliding today on big leadership news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.