Author: openjargon

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares were in fine form on Tuesday.

Following the release of the supermarket giant’s FY 2026 results, its shares were bid almost 5% higher, closing the session at $23.75.

This leaves Coles shares trading close to their record high of $24.59.

Can they keep climbing? Let’s see what Bell Potter is saying about the company and its shares.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that Coles delivered a profit slightly ahead of expectations in FY 2026. It said:

Revenue of $45,580m was up +2.8% YoY (vs. BPe $45,698m and VA $45,602m). EBITDA of $4,220m was up +7.1% YoY (vs. BPe of $4,220m and VA $4,244m). Underlying NPAT of $1,255m was up +13.7% YoY (vs. BPe of $1,195m and VA $1,241m).

The broker also highlights that Coles plans to make a significant investment in its store network, which will include the opening of 45+ new stores and the refurbishment of many more. It said:

COL has unveiled a material investment in its business, in: (1) Network investment of $300m over FY27-28e, covering new stores (+45 new Supermarkets) and refurbishments (1500 renewals); (2) $880m investment in VIC ADC ($190m spent to date and $300m in FY27e) with commissioning in FY30e; and (3) Strategic partnership with Accenture to generate >$100m in benefits by endFY29e (requiring an upfront $190m investment to be booked as an NRI).

Bell Potter has boosted its net profit estimates by 11% in FY 2027 and FY 2028, reflecting lower depreciation charges and the benefits of accelerated store opening program.

Should you buy Coles shares?

According to the note, Bell Potter has retained its hold rating on Coles shares with an improved price target of $24.40 (from $22.80).

This implies modest potential upside of 2.7% before dividends. Including them, Bell Potter expects a total return of just over 6%.

Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said:

The major acceleration in business investment creates a reasonably attractive growth profile through to FY29e, with a reasonable dividend yield. Staples remain in favour and COL is a beneficiary of this dynamic.

In determining our target price we have considered a sum of the parts and ROIC model. Major features of these approaches are: (1) Sum of the parts: We have incorporated multiple of 9.5x EBITDA for Supermarkets and 8.0x EBITDA for the liquor business, modest discounts to its peers; and (2) ROIC based approach : Which is predicated on a WACC of 8.1%, deriving an implied EV/EBITDA is ~9.3-9.5x FY27- 28e.

The post Are Coles shares a buy after its results? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Everything you need to know about the Coles dividend
• These 3 ASX income shares just hiked their dividends
• By August 2027, $5,000 invested in Coles shares could turn into…
• Post-earnings: Why I’d buy this ASX dividend share for income
• Why is everyone talking about Coles, Ramelius Resources and Woodside shares on Tuesday?

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.

It seems strange to think about now, but it really wasn’t that long ago that bank stock Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) was the largest share on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

CBA held this crown for a long time, but it was usurped back in January by none other than BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). The mining giant only held on to said crown for a few weeks, returning it to CBA in February. By March, though, BHP was back on top, and has been there ever since.

Today, the gap looks almost insurmountable. As we speak, BHP rules the ASX 200 roost with its market capitalisation of just over $344 billion. CBA comes in a distant second at a value of $262.75 billion.

In an ASX 200 index fund, this means that BHP commands about a 12% weighting, with CBA taking up 9.6%.

Given that just a few months ago, these two titans of the ASX were in lockstep, it is worth asking the question: ‘Will CBA shareholders take back the crown that it relinquished to BHP many moons ago?’

Well, the theoretical answer is of course yes. The ASX has seen many swings and roundabouts in the makeup of its top echelons over many decades. If CBA has supplanted BHP before, there’s no reason it cannot do so again. And vice versa.

So let’s look at what it took to get where we are today.

CBA vs BHP shares: The race to the top of the ASX 200

CBA shares have really had a year to forget in 2026. The stock is down about 2.5% year to date. It has had a lacklustre 12 months too, with the bank last hitting a record high of $192 a share back in June of 2025. Today, at $157.01, it is down more than 18% from that all-time high. An arguably stretched valuation, as well as concerns over housing and financial markets in Australia, are the likely culprits for this drop.

Meanwhile, BHP has been firing on all cylinders. The ‘Big Australian’s bet on copper has paid off handsomely, with roaring prices pushing BHP stock to reset its own record highs several times over 2026 to date. The most recent record came just yesterday, seeing the miner hit $68.22 a share.

Year to date, BHP has now lifted an astonishing 47.88%.

So we can see how the disparity between BHP and CBA shares has established itself.

But all it would take for the gap to narrow, or even invert, would be a change in economic conditions. BHP is a resources stock, and thus highly sensitive to commodity prices. If prices came off the boil, you can bet that BHP’s shares would follow, and sharply.

If CBA held its own or even attracted buyers looking for a safe haven (the company has benefited from this before), we could well see Commonwealth Bank regain its ASX 200 crown. It’s entirely possible. But whether it happens next month, next year or next decade is the $80 billion question.

The post Will CBA shares ever get back to the top of the ASX 200? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• I put $25,000 into BHP shares 5 years ago. Here’s what it’s worth now
• How much passive income can I earn off my $800,000 superannuation balance?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth

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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are trading in the green this week. The ASX lithium stock has gained 21% over the past month and nearly 140% over the last 12 months, at the time of writing.

The question for investors is whether the rally can continue after PLS Group delivered a remarkably strong FY2026 result.

The latest earnings report, released on Monday, showed just how dramatically the lithium market has improved.

Profit and revenue surge

Higher lithium prices and stronger market confidence provided a major boost to PLS’ financial performance.

The company’s realised selling price jumped 121% to US$1,488 per tonne. That helped revenue surge 152% to $1.9 billion, while net profit after tax (NPAT) exploded 369% higher to $528 million.

The company also improved its underlying operations. Unit operating costs (FOB) fell 9% to $569 per tonne, while sales volumes reached a record level. PLS Group also strengthened its balance sheet, helped by a successful US$600 million bond issue.

Management of PLS shares says the business enters FY2027 “larger, lower cost” and with significantly stronger finances and greater flexibility.

From defense to growth

The company plans to build on that position by progressing growth projects including P2000 and Colina, while ramping up production at Ngungaju.

During the year, the improving lithium environment allowed Pilbara Minerals to shift from defensive positioning towards growth. It restarted the Ngungaju processing plant and updated timelines for the P2000 and Colina projects.

The P2000 and Colina feasibility studies have also progressed, with the company approving approximately $175 million of pre-FID capital expenditure for P2000 in June.

There won’t be many ASX companies with a market capitalisation above $10 billion delivering this level of growth during the current reporting season.

Are PLS shares still a buy?

Despite the impressive numbers, investors may need to be more selective after such a huge share-price rally.

Bell Potter believes PLS shares may have peaked for now. The broker retained its hold rating on Tuesday morning but increased its price target from $4.70 to $5.20. With PLS shares currently trading at $5.15, this suggests they are near fair value.

TradingView data shows a divided analyst community. Nine of 18 brokers rate the stock a buy or strong buy, while the average price target is $5.36, slightly above the current share price.

The most bullish forecast sees PLS shares climbing 28% to $7.00. At the other end of the spectrum, the most pessimistic forecast points to a potential 40% decline.

So, while PLS Group’s fundamentals have improved dramatically, the share price may already reflect much of that optimism. After a 140% gain over 12 months, investors should weigh the company’s strong growth prospects against lithium price volatility and valuation.

The post Up nearly 140%, are PLS shares still a buy after exploding profit growth? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, PLS, EOS shares
• What is this broker’s updated view on PLS shares after big results?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Everything you need to know about the PLS Group dividend

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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.

On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and raced higher. The benchmark index rose 0.7% to 9,164.6 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a good session on Wednesday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 31 points or 0.35% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.3%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.3%, and the Nasdaq charged 0.65% higher.

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a tough session on Wednesday after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 5% to US$80.81 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 6% to US$86.63 a barrel. This was driven by easing US-Iran war fears.

Buy EOS shares

In response to its results on Tuesday, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating and $12.60 price target on Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares. It said: “EBITDA was $21.6m (4% beat vs. BPe) driven by higher-than-expected gross margins offset partially by higher opex which reflected a 42% YoY expansion in headcount as EOS scales geographic presence for further order book growth plus MARSS sign on bonuses.. […] Retain Buy. EOS is positioned as a C-UAS market leader leveraged to increasing budget allocations to C-UAS tech. The next 3-12 months is catalyst rich for EOS.”

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price rose again. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.45% to US$4,719 an ounce. Traders bid the gold price close to a three-month high on US dollar weakness.

More ASX 200 results

Another group of ASX 200 shares will be releasing their results on Wednesday and will be on watch. This includes counter-drone technology company DroneShield (ASX: DRO), pizza chain operator Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), supermarket giant Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW), investment platform provider Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL), and logistics technology company WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Will CBA shares ever get back to the top of the ASX 200?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Are Woolworths shares a buy, sell or hold ahead of its FY26 results announcement?
• Why WiseTech shares are pushing higher again on Tuesday
• Why is the ASX 200 having its best day in 3 weeks?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, WiseTech Global, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, Electro Optic Systems, Netwealth Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares surged to a new all-time record $68.22 on Tuesday, taking their 2026 gain to 48% and 12-month return to 58%.

That’s great news for BHP shareholders — myself included.

More than five years ago, I made one of my first Australian share purchases: BHP shares. So, how has that early bet worked out?

Let’s run the numbers.

$25,000 in BHP shares

At the end of 2020, I backed the $330 billion ASX mining giant at $36.63 per share. I invested $24,987 to buy 682 BHP shares.

What followed was an extraordinarily volatile five years. The investment began amid pandemic uncertainty, with commodity prices swinging wildly and BHP shares briefly falling into the low $30s.

Then came the commodity boom. Iron ore prices surged, BHP’s profits ballooned and the stocks climbed above $50 during 2021 and 2022.

The cycle eventually turned. China’s property slowdown weighed on iron ore and mining stocks, pushing BHP back towards the high $30s before the shares recovered.

The income and capital gains

With BHP shares now around $67, my original 682 stocks would be worth approximately $45,694. That represents a capital gain of about $20,707 before dividends.

But BHP isn’t just a capital-growth story. Its dividends have been a major part of the investment return. Over the five-year period, the miner paid approximately $19 per share in dividends. Across 682 shares, that equates to around $12,958 in income.

Add that to the capital value and the investment has generated roughly $58,650 in total value if dividends were taken as cash. That’s more than double the original investment.

Reinvesting the dividends

However, I opted to participate in BHP’s dividend reinvestment plan (DRP).

Assuming the dividends were reinvested at an average share price of around $51, the original 682 BHP shares could have grown to approximately 806 shares. At $67 per share, that holding would now be worth roughly $54,002.

Compared with the original $24,987 investment, that’s a gain of more than $29,000.

And the benefit doesn’t stop there. Owning more shares means future dividends are calculated on a larger holding.

The DRP effectively turned volatility into an opportunity. When BHP shares traded in the $30s and $40s, reinvested dividends bought more shares. When the mining cycle recovered, those additional shares amplified the gains.

Was the BHP investment worth it?

The past five years demonstrate two important things about BHP shares.

First, the mining giant remains highly cyclical. Investors need to stomach significant swings driven by commodity prices and global demand.

Second, when the commodity cycle works in BHP’s favour, its combination of earnings growth and substantial dividends can be powerful.

For a patient investor willing to ride out the volatility, my $25,000 BHP investment has turned into a holding worth more than $54,000.

Not bad for one of my first ASX share purchases.

The post I put $25,000 into BHP shares 5 years ago. Here’s what it’s worth now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off my $800,000 superannuation balance?
• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth
• 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today
• Buy, hold, sell: Judo Capital, Healius, BHP shares
• BHP share price hits new record high

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.&amp;amp;amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;</p>

As earnings season continues, one ASX 300 stock that is drawing significant broker attention is Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL). 

Regal Partners provides investment management services. It offers access to a diverse range of strategies covering hedge funds, private markets and real assets.

Over the last 12 months, it has experienced some volatility, and is down 3% in that span. 

However, following the release of full-year results, the team at Morgans have an improved outlook on the ASX 300 stock moving forward. 

What did this ASX 300 stock report?

In strong news out of the company, Regal Partners reported normalised NPAT of $93.3 million for the half, more than doubling the previous year. Funds under management rose to $21.4 billion, supported by record net inflows.

Other results included: 

• Normalised fully diluted earnings per share of 21.4 cents, up 104%
• Fully franked interim dividend of 12 cents per share declared for 1H26
• Balance sheet with approximately $290 million in capital post-dividend. 

The stock price has climbed more than 6% since Monday when these results were announced. 

The team at Morgans believe this is a sign of what’s to come over the next 12 months. 

What did Morgans have to say?

The team at Morgans said this ASX 300 stock has delivered another solid result. 

It was moderately above prior guidance (NPAT of “at least $90m” in July-26), resulting in Normalised NPAT increasing 108% (vs pcp) to $93.3m, supported by performance fees which increased 180% (vs pcp) to $119m. 

Importantly, the largely recurring management fees increased 14% (vs pcp), while the business trades on <10x PER. Phil King’s intended retirement is likely to continue weighing on the market, something we believe investors will overcome as the deep bench gains in profile (and presumably performance persists). On this basis, we retain our Buy recommendation with a $4.25/sh price target (previously $4.00).

Based on this updated price target, the broker sees approximately 50% upside from current levels. 

Elsewhere, Bell Potter has retained its buy rating and $4.80 price target on the company, suggesting 70% upside. 

Don’t forget the dividend 

If 50% upside isn’t enough, this ASX 300 stock also offers a very attractive dividend yield. 

Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 19 cents in FY 2026, 20 cents in FY 2027, and then 22 cents in FY 2028. 

This represents yields of 6.7%, 7.1%, and 7.8%, respectively.

The post Attention! This ASX 300 stock could be set to rise 50% and has a 7% yield appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How much passive income can I earn off my $800,000 superannuation balance?
• One super ASX dividend share to buy with a 7% yield
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

Your early-60s are a turning point for your superannuation, as this is when your focus shifts from wealth accumulation to preservation.

By age 63, you’ve passed your preservation age (60 years old), which means you can access your superannuation if you’ve quit working. 

And you’re just four years away from potentially receiving the Age Pension.

The question is: How does your super compare to others your age?

And is it enough to retire on?

Let’s take a look.

The average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 63 in FY27

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 63, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides a good starting point.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 60 to 64 has around $395,852 in their superannuation.

And the average superannuation balance for Australian women the same age

Women in the same age bracket have a lot less. The average balance for Australian women aged 60 to 64 is around $313,360. That’s a gap of around $83,000 compared to men the same age.

That’s because women are more likely to take extended periods out of the workforce. Whether that’s for a career break, to have children, or to care for family. Overall, women are more likely to have periods where they receive little to no compulsory employer superannuation.

Time out of the workforce or reduced hours means women don’t get the same benefit from compounding, which overall contributes to a lower super balance. 

How does your super balance stack up with men and women the same age as you?

And most importantly, have you got enough to retire on?

How much does it cost to retire?

ASFA estimates that it’ll cost single Australians around $55,923 per year to retire comfortably. Couples living together will need to have closer to $78,566 per year combined to finance a comfortable retirement.

These figures also assume you’ll start your retirement at age 67. It also assumes that you’ll receive a part Age Pension around this time and that you own your home outright.

How do I know if I’m on the right track?

In order to fund a comfortable retirement, ASFA calculates that single Australians will need around $630,000 in their superannuation at age 67. Meanwhile, couples will need around $730,000 combined at the same age.

To reach this goal, at 63, all Australians should aim to have around $562,000 stashed away in their superannuation.

As you can see, the amount you need to retire comfortably is significantly higher than the $395,852 or $313,360 average superannuation balances at the same age.

Why is the gap so large?

A quick calculation shows that the average Australian is behind by up to $249,000 at age 63.

Part of the reason is that Australia’s compulsory Superannuation Guarantee only began in 1992. That means many people aged around 63 probably didn’t earn any super through their early working lives. 

There is also a common misconception that accumulating superannuation alone is enough to be able to fund retirement. The reality is, while superannuation is a great tool to help, you need to contribute extra if you want to reach your goal. 

The power of compounding returns means the more money you can invest when you’re younger, the more impact it will have on your final balance.

The post The average superannuation balance at age 63 in Australia. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off my $800,000 superannuation balance?
• Ingenia Communities posts strong FY26 with profit up 45% and guidance exceeded
• Steadfast Group FY26 earnings: Profits and dividend on the rise
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Everything you need to know about the Coles dividend

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

When it comes to superannuation, it pays to start planning as early as possible, so you know exactly what you’re in for as you approach retirement.

Figures released by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia show that on average, people do not have enough in their superannuation for what they deem to be a comfortable retirement.

If you’re keen to figure out how much you can expect to have in your superannuation when you retire, be that at age 60 or later, there are plenty of calculators around; however, I’d suggest the Federal Government’s MoneySmart website as the one to use.

How much income can I generate from my superannuation?

Looking at a lump sum of $800,000, the good news is that it’s well above the $630,000 ASFA says you need for a comfortable retirement as a single person.

Keep in mind that ASFA assumes you own your own home and draw a part of the Age Pension.

So how much could you expect to earn from your $800,000 in investments?

If you are simply drawing dividends and not drawing down any of the capital, the sums are quite simple.

If you can earn a 10% yield – which would be ambitious – you would earn $80,000, while if you were earning a 5% yield, the amount would be $40,000.

I’d suggest a yield somewhere between these two is achievable, so let’s assume a 7.5% return, which would return $60,000.

What makes this even more realistic is that once you are retired, your tax rate on your superannuation drops to zero, and you get the full benefit of franking credits.

This means that if a share pays a 5% yield, the retiree receives a yield of 7.14% once franking credits are added back in.

Franking credits compensate shareholders for tax already paid by the company.

Which shares generate good income streams?

So, what are some shares that might be worth owning if you’re aiming for these sorts of returns?

A consistent high dividend payer is Universal Store Ltd (ASX: UNI), which is currently paying right on 5%, while Regal Partners Ltd (ASX: RPL) just declared an improved first-half dividend and is paying an annualised rate of 9.7%.

The Betashares Australian Dividend Harvester ETF (ASX: HVST) is paying 5.54%, while another dividend-focused fund, WAM Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: WMX), is paying 4.29%.

Among the blue-chip shares, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is paying 3.72%, while Telstra Ltd (ASX: TLS) is paying 4.43%, and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) is paying 4.89%.

So as you can see, there are plenty of companies paying healthy dividends, which can help you attain your income aspirations.

The post How much passive income can I earn off my $800,000 superannuation balance? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 3 ASX income shares just hiked their dividends
• Everything you need to know about the Woodside dividend
• How I’d use ASX shares to build a second source of wealth
• 8 ASX mining shares hitting 52-week highs today
• Here’s what brokers tip for Woodside shares over the next 12 months

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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) share price will be on watch on Wednesday after the company beat both EPS and EBIT guidance and posted a 45% jump in statutory profit. Revenue also grew by 8% for FY26, supporting continued delivery on the Group’s five-year plan.

What did Ingenia Communities report?

• Statutory profit of $186.4 million, up 45% on FY25
• Group revenue of $555.3 million, up 8% year on year
• EBIT of $193.4 million, exceeding guidance and up 18%
• Underlying EPS of 35.8 cents, up 16% and above guidance
• Distribution per security maintained at 9.6 cents
• 573 new home settlements, a 10% lift on the prior year

What else do investors need to know?

Ingenia continues to scale its portfolio, with an enlarged development pipeline now supporting up to 8,800 potential new land lease home sites. The company reported steady recurring rental income and strong demand underpinning tourism and residential communities.

During FY26, Ingenia invested $240 million in growth initiatives, including $174 million in development. Notably, ongoing asset sales (totalling around $125 million) aim to further boost capital flexibility.

Operating cash flow rose 5% year on year to $152.5 million, despite higher borrowing costs. The company’s balance sheet remains sound, with gearing at 31% and available liquidity to fund upcoming projects and acquisitions.

What did Ingenia Communities management say?

Ingenia CEO and Managing Director John Carfi said:

Two years into the delivery of our strategic plan, this result shows the benefit of ongoing focused execution and builds on the progress achieved in Year 1, demonstrating clear progress against our financial and strategic goals. Underlying EPS and EBIT exceeded guidance, development returns improved and our recurring revenue base continued to grow.

We remain on track to achieve our Year 3 and Year 5 goals, subject to market conditions, supported by a streamlined operating structure, ongoing refinements to the platform and a stable corporate cost base that enables disciplined execution.

What’s next for Ingenia Communities?

Ingenia is targeting EBIT and underlying EPS growth of 0–10% for FY27, citing moderate market activity and buyer sentiment in the near term. The Group expects to benefit from its flexible business model, strong demand for affordable housing, and targeted capital recycling to support new growth.

Looking ahead, Ingenia will focus on scaling development, integrating new acquisitions, and optimising its operational platform. The company remains confident that continued execution of the five-year plan and a diversified revenue base will support growth, even as some cost and market challenges persist.

Ingenia Communities share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Ingenia Communities share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a decline of almost 30%.

View Original Announcement

The post Ingenia Communities posts strong FY26 with profit up 45% and guidance exceeded appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Steadfast Group FY26 earnings: Profits and dividend on the rise
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Everything you need to know about the Coles dividend
• These 3 ASX income shares just hiked their dividends
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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 Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) share price will be in focus on Wednesday after the company reported underlying diluted EPS of 28.8 cents, up 7.7%, and a 9% increase in its final fully franked dividend to 12.75 cents per share.

What did Steadfast Group report?

• Underlying revenue: $2,104.7 million, up 15.3% on FY25
• Underlying NPATA: $366.3 million, up 7.1%
• Underlying NPAT: $319.5 million, up 8.2%
• Underlying EBITA: $669.8 million, up 13.8%
• Final dividend: 12.75 cps fully franked (up 9%); total FY26 dividends: 20.95 cps, up 7.4%
• Statutory NPAT: $269.1 million, down from $334.9 million

What else do investors need to know?

Steadfast’s growth came from both organic initiatives and acquisitions. Gross written premium (GWP) in its Australasian Network rose 6.2% to $13.2 billion, with underlying EBITA up 13.2% for this segment. The Group also highlighted successful broker hubbing strategies designed to drive efficiency and further growth.

The company has entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with Amwins Australasia Group and Starboard BidCo. The Steadfast Board unanimously recommends shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme, subject to no superior proposal and a positive independent expert report.

Underwriting Agency operations generated $2.5 billion of GWP, up 2.3%, while strong organic growth also supported Steadfast’s international business, contributing to a favourable EBITA result.

What did Steadfast Group management say?

Managing Director & CEO Robert Kelly AM stated:

I am pleased to present our FY26 results, continuing Steadfast’s track record of accretive growth since listing in August 2013. Despite a challenging operating environment, disciplined execution and strong cost management, we delivered solid performance and positioned the business for continued long-term growth.

What’s next for Steadfast Group?

Looking ahead, Steadfast is guiding for underlying NPATA of $382–$392 million and underlying NPAT of $333–$343 million for FY27. The company expects underlying EBITA of $700–$715 million and EPS growth of 4–8%.

Management sees further growth opportunities, with expectations of 2–3% increases in insurance premium pricing and ongoing benefits from its broker and agency network strategies, both in Australia and internationally.

Steadfast Group share price snapshot

Over the past year, the Steadfast Group share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a decline of 5%.

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The post Steadfast Group FY26 earnings: Profits and dividend on the 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 positions in and has recommended Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Steadfast 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.