Author: openjargon

SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR) shares are higher on Wednesday after the hotel software company delivered its half-year results.

At the time of writing, the SiteMinder share price is up 8.16% to $3.18.

The gain follows a sharp sell-off in recent weeks. The stock is down roughly 43% over the past month amid broader weakness across artificial intelligence-linked tech names.

Here’s what the company reported for the 6 months ended 31 December 2025.

Revenue and ARR continue to accelerate

SiteMinder reported total revenue of $131.1 million for H1 FY26, up 23% year on year on a constant currency organic basis. This compared to 21% growth in H2 FY25.

Subscription revenue increased 14%, while transaction revenue rose 38.2%, supported by uptake of products including Dynamic Revenue Plus and the Smart Distribution Program.

Annualised recurring revenue (ARR) climbed 27.4% to $280.3 million on a constant currency organic basis. Subscription ARR increased 15.7%, while transaction ARR surged 49.2%.

Net property additions were 2,900 during the half, taking total properties on the platform to 53,000, representing 2.5 million rooms globally.

Margins expand as scale benefits emerge

Gross margin improved during the period, reflecting operating leverage and product mix.

Adjusted subscription gross margin increased 125 basis points to 86.7%. Adjusted transaction gross margin rose 558 basis points to 40.1%. At the group level, adjusted gross margin increased 98 basis points to 67.8%.

Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $12.3 million, up from $5.3 million in the prior corresponding period.

On a reported basis, operating cash flow improved by $11.6 million to $17.4 million. Adjusted free cash flow was positive at $2.7 million, compared to an outflow in H1 FY25.

Operating expenses increased during the half as SiteMinder continued investing in product development and go-to-market capabilities. Despite this, adjusted net loss after income tax narrowed to $3.9 million, compared with a loss of $9 million in the prior corresponding period.

Outlook unchanged

Management reiterated its focus on sustaining ARR growth while improving profitability metrics.

Building on the 27.4% ARR growth delivered in H1, the company expects continued ARR growth through FY26, alongside further improvement in adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow.

SiteMinder noted that transaction product adoption and Smart Platform initiatives remain key drivers of revenue growth and margin expansion.

Foolish Takeaway

SiteMinder delivered another period of strong revenue and ARR growth, with margins improving and free cash flow turning positive.

While the share price has been heavily impacted by the recent tech sell-off, today’s strong result points to continued operational momentum.

Attention now turns to whether ARR growth and expanding margins can translate into sustained profitability in the second half.

The post Why the SiteMinder share price is jumping 8% today 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 SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended SiteMinder. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Now could be a good time to buy the ASX All Ords stock in this article.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who are tipping it as a buy following its half-year results.

Which ASX All Ords stock?

The stock in question is Mader Group Ltd (ASX: MAD).

It is a leading provider of specialised contract labour for maintenance of heavy mobile equipment in the resources and civil industries.

As well as its core market, Bell Potter notes that it is currently pursuing growth opportunities in large addressable markets. This includes in the United States mining and energy markets.

Bell Potter highlights that Mader’s performance in the first half of FY 2026 was slightly softer than expected due to weaker margins. However, improvements are expected in the second half. It said:

MAD delivered Group revenue of $485m (BPe $488m), up 18% YoY. At the divisional level, Australia revenue was $385m (BPe $384m), up 19% YoY, North America delivered revenue of $90m (BPe $91m), up 13% YoY, and RoW revenue was $10.6m (BPe $12.6m), up 36% YoY. Group EBITDA of $56.2m (BPe $61.0m) grew 9% YoY, with weaker than expected margins across the segments: Australia 11.1% (vs BPe 12.1%); North America 17.0% (vs BPe 19.1%); and RoW 14.2% (vs BPe 16.0%).

Australia and North America profitability is anticipated to improve in 2H FY26 as revenue lifts quicker than the respective segment’s cost bases. The interim dividend was deferred to bring forward achievement of net cash (excluding leases) to support the company’s financial position before it embarks on a “more aggressive approach to organic and inorganic growth opportunities.

Should you invest?

The broker sees value in the ASX All Ords stock at current levels. In response to its results, the broker has upgraded its shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $9.70 (from $9.00).

Based on its current share price of $8.16, this implies potential upside of 19% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

Our Target Price lifts on a roll forward of our segment DCF models and a lower WACC. The 1H FY26 result puts MAD on track to achieve FY26 NPAT guidance of >$65.0m (BPe $67.3m new; VA $67.6m). MAD continues to expand rapidly into adjacent markets in Australia and convert well on business development opportunities across North America, with labour recruitment and deployment into the region the key constraint. Disclosure of MAD’s next 5-year strategy represents a near-term catalyst.

The post Bell Potter says this ASX All Ords stock is a top buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why ARB, Austal, Mader, and Steadfast shares are dropping today

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

Shares in Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE) have jumped 12% on Wednesday (at the time of writing) after the financial software provider delivered full-year results ahead of guidance and outlined a clear pathway to higher margins in FY26.

The rally reflects investor enthusiasm for improving earnings momentum, a strengthened balance sheet, and renewed dividend confidence.

What did Iress report?

Iress reported statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $79.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2025, down 10% on the prior year. However, underlying profit after tax (UPAT) rose 16% to $73.9 million, beating guidance.

Headline adjusted EBITDA increased 2% to $136.2 million, ahead of the $128 million to $132 million guidance range. On a continuing business basis (i.e. excluding divested assets), revenue rose 6% to $504.3 million, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 15% to $132.6 million. Margins expanded to 26%, up 192 basis points.

Underlying earnings per share increased 16% to 39.6 cents.

The board declared a final dividend of 13 cents per share, 100% franked, bringing total FY25 dividends to 24 cents per share.

What else do investors need to know?

FY25 marked the completion of Iress’ simplification strategy, exiting non-core businesses such as Superannuation and QuantHouse.

Proceeds from asset sales were used to reduce debt, with leverage falling to 0.5x at year-end, down from 1.0x a year earlier. Net debt reduced materially, providing flexibility to reinvest in product development and support capital returns.

Performance across the continuing business was robust:

• Global Trading & Market Data revenue rose 6%, with adjusted EBITDA up 8%
• APAC Wealth revenue grew 2%, with second-half momentum strengthening
• UK revenue increased 7%, driving a 50% lift in segment EBITDA

Operating discipline remained a key theme, with cost controls supporting margin expansion.

What did management say?

Group CEO Andrew Russell said FY25 reflected disciplined execution and sharper operational focus following the company’s portfolio reset.

He highlighted progress on the accelerated business efficiency program, targeting around $30 million in annualised cost savings by the end of FY26, with approximately 60% already delivered.

What’s next for Iress?

For FY26, Iress expects revenue of $520 million to $528 million and cash EBITDA of $116 million to $123 million, implying 15% to 23% growth. UPAT is forecast at $84 million to $90 million.

Importantly, management is targeting a FY26 cash EBITDA margin exit run-rate of more than 25%.

After a period of restructuring and divestments, investors appear to be backing Iress’ leaner model and improving earnings trajectory.

The post Iress shares surge 12% as profit beats guidance and margins expand appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 tech shares lead market sectors with a 7% bounce back

Motley Fool contributor Kevin Gandiya has no positions 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.

The Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price is racing higher today,

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) tech stock, which provides data solutions for AI applications, closed yesterday trading for $1.325. In late morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $1.51 apiece, up 14%.

For some context, the All Ords is up 0.9% at this same time.

This strong outperformance follows the release of Appen’s full calendar year 2025 results.

Here’s what’s got ASX investors reaching for their buy buttons today.

(*Note, all figures below in US dollars.)

Appen share price leaps on earnings growth

For the 12 months to 31 December, the ASX tech stock reported operating revenue of $230.8 million, up 4.5% from 2024. Management said the ongoing turnaround within Appen Global was supported by strong growth from Appen China.

While Appen Global revenue of $127.9 million was down 21% year on year, Appen China revenue of $102.9 million was up 75%, driven by new and expanding large language model (LLM) related projects.

The company credited a greater mix of generative AI projects for the 1.00% increase in gross margin, which came to 40.3% in 2025.

And the Appen share price looks to be getting a lift with the company reporting a 251% year-on-year increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), before FX, to $12.2 million. That reflects a 5.3% EBITDA margin.

On the bottom line, management noted that underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) improvement “was minimal despite the EBITDA improvement due to an increase in non-cash amortisation”.

Appen reported a net loss after tax of $10.3 million, compared to a $10.5 million loss reported in 2024.

As at 31 December, Appen had a cash balance of $59.8 million, down 33% from last year.

What did management say?

Commenting on the full-year results boosting the Appen share price today, CEO Ryan Kolln said, “FY25 was pleasing as we saw durable improvements to the business, with new wins in generative AI, operational efficiencies, and the revenue trajectory throughout the year.”

Kolln added:

Q4 in particular saw a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China achieved a meaningful milestone exceeding $100 million in revenue for the full year.

What’s ahead for the Appen share price?

Looking to what’s ahead for the ASX All Ords tech stock, Kolln said:

With the progress we continue to make, we are confident that Appen is well positioned to capture growth at a global scale as AI adoption deepens across consumer, enterprise and emerging applications. We have a strong balance sheet and maintain our focus on revenue growth and ongoing underlying EBITDA profitability.

Appen provided full-year 2026 revenue guidance in the range of $270 million to $300 million. The company expects to achieve an underlying EBITDA (before FX) margin of around 5% to 10%.

With today’s big intraday lift factored in, the Appen share price is now up 75.6% in 2026.

The post Appen share price leaping 14% today on surging full-year earnings 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 positions in and has recommended Appen. 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.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares have jumped 7.65% higher in morning trade on Wednesday. At the time of writing, the beaten-down tech stock has climbed to $46.28 a piece. The uptick follows the company’s half-year results for FY26, which it posted ahead of the ASX open this morning.

It’s good news for the logistics software company after several huge headwinds sent WiseTech shares crashing over the past 8 months.

This morning’s increase means the shares are now down 32.48% year-to-date and 51.3% on the year.

Here’s what investors were happy with in WiseTech’s latest results

For the six-month period ended 31st December 2025, WiseTech posted increases across most of the business

The company posted an impressive 76% total revenue surge to US$672 million, compared with $381 million in the first half of FY25. 

Revenue from its CargoWise business increased 12% on the prior corresponding period (pcp) alone, to US$372.4 million. This was thanks to customer growth and global rollouts. The increase included $6.6 million from FY25 M&A and a $3.7 million FX tailwind, with 1H/2H skew now expected to be more in line with FY25 as initiatives continue to roll out. Organically, CargoWise revenue grew by 9% on the pcp, or $30.4 million.

WiseTech also posted a 31% increase in EBITDA to US$252.1 million, and a 2% increase in underlying net profit to US$114.5 million.

Its statutory NPAT, however, dropped 36% to US$68.1 million. This was due to increased intangible amortisation and interest expenses related to the consolidation of e2open (which was completed on the 4th of August 2025).

WiseTech confirmed that on the 30th of July 2025, $2.4 billion of its $3 billion senior unsecured syndicated debt facility was drawn down as bank loans. This was used to complete the acquisition of e2open and provide additional working capital and liquidity. 

WiseTech’s net leverage ratio was 3.2x as at 31 December 2025. It expects to deleverage to ~3.0x by the end of FY26 and ~2.5x by the end of FY27. It expects to progress toward a long-term target of less than 2.0x by August 2028.

AI transformation = job cuts

WiseTech said it is undergoing a “deep AI transformation” in what it described as the “most significant shift in decades”.

As part of this transformation, the company said it is expecting to reduce teams in FY26 and FY27. Initially, WiseTech said it expects to reduce product and development, and customer service across the company, including e2open, by up to 50% in headcount. 

Overall, it expects the program will see a reduction of approximately 2,000 roles in FY26 and FY27.

The post WiseTech shares jump 7% on its half-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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>>>>> href=”"”https://www.fool.Motley”> contributor Samantha Menzies 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 WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Tabcorp Holdings Ltd (ASX: TAH) shares have surged as much as 20% in early trade after the company easily surpassed analysts’ expectations for half-year net profit.

The company said in a statement to the ASX on Wednesday that group revenue was a modest 1% higher at $1.345 billion, while EBITDA before significant items was $2178.4 million, up 14.3%.

The statutory net profit before significant items came in at $35.7 million, up 61.5%.

A solid set of numbers

The team at Jarden has had a look at the result and said that the adjusted net profit figure was a hefty 34% higher than consensus estimates, while the unfranked interim dividend of 1.5 cents, up from 1 cent, was also a positive surprise.

Jarden has an overweight rating on the stock and a price target of 95 cents.

Tabcorp Holdings shares traded as high as $1.02 early on Wednesday, up 20%, before settling back to be 15.9% higher at 98.5 cents.

Cost control the key

Tabcorp Managing Director Gillon McLachlan said the company was “executing on our game plan while delivering ongoing cost and capital discipline”.

He added:

There’s greater depth in our business. I’m proud we’ve delivered double digit earnings growth in a half where wagering operators were impacted by a run of low yields during the Footy Finals and Spring Racing Carnival. We have been able to absorb this through strong execution by the team, particularly on the cost side, and through the diversity in our business. “Through TAB and SKY, our digital, retail and media assets are more closely connected, creating a genuine omnichannel experience for our customers and I expect that to evolve further in the second half of the year. TAB Takeover, TAB Time, Mega Pot and Miss By One products are examples of the differentiation we are creating. “There’s more to do and we’re not where we want to be yet, but we have made significant progress in the first half, and we will remain relentless in executing on our strategy in the second half and beyond.

Tabcorp’s net debt was $631.2 million at the end of the half, with the company saying its strong balance sheet put it in a good position to pursue growth opportunities.

No comment was made about Tabcorp’s takeover approach to Betmakers, which the smaller company confirmed earlier this month had happened.

The company will pay its dividend on March 24 to shareholders on the register on March 3.

Tabcorp was valued at $1.95 billion at the close of trade on Tuesday.

The post Tabcorp shares surge higher after net profit smashes expectations appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 positions in and has recommended Betmakers Technology Group. 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 Helia Group Ltd (ASX: HLI) share price is charging higher on Wednesday after the mortgage insurer released its full-year results.

In mid-morning trade, Helia shares are up 15.71% to $6.225. By comparison, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is 0.9% higher.

Here is what the company reported for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Profit edges higher as claims remain contained

Helia delivered statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) of $244.9 million for FY25. This was up 5.8% compared to the prior year.

On an underlying basis, net profit rose 12% to $247 million. Underlying diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased 18% to 89.9 cents.

The company said favourable claims experience helped support earnings. Gross loss ratios remained well below long-term averages, while delinquency rates declined during the year.

Insurance revenue fell 5% compared to FY24, reflecting lower gross written premium from recent book years. However, gross written premium for FY25 increased 23% to $240 million.

The company also noted that new insurance written increased during the year, supported by solid housing credit growth and continued lender demand for lenders mortgage insurance.

Underlying return on equity improved to 23.5%.

Capital position supports large dividend

A major focus for investors was Helia’s capital management.

The company ended the year with a prescribed capital amount coverage ratio of 2.03 times, representing a strong buffer above regulatory minimum requirements.

Helia declared a fully-franked final dividend of 16 cents per share. It also announced a special dividend of 67 cents per share. In total, shareholders will receive 83 cents on 26 March.

Total dividends for FY25 came to 126 cents per share. The company said FY25 dividends represent a 100% payout of statutory NPAT, alongside a reduction of approximately $100 million in its capital base.

Balance sheet and investment trends

Net investment revenue declined 17% over the year due to a smaller investment portfolio and unrealised losses in the second half.

Insurance contract liabilities fell 5% during the half year, reflecting favourable claims experience and changes in the reserving basis.

Net tangible assets per share finished the year at $3.71.

What about FY26?

Looking ahead, Helia expects FY26 insurance revenue to be between $320 million and $370 million.

Management also expects the total incurred claims ratio to remain well below long cycle average levels.

Overall, Helia delivered modest profit growth, maintained favourable claims performance, and returned significant capital to shareholders.

The sizeable special dividend and strong capital position appear to be key reasons the Helia share price is moving higher today.

The post Helia shares rocket 15% on full-year results. Here’s why 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 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.

There are not many ASX dividend stocks that I think could be a better choice for long-term annual passive income than WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG).

The business is a listed investment company (LIC) that gives investors exposure to a high-quality portfolio of international shares and an impressive record of regular dividend growth.

LICs generate their (accounting) profits by making investment returns, so the strategy and level of performance are essential for paying large and growing dividends.

So, we’ll start by looking at why WCM Global Growth invests and then look at the dividend potential of the business to make $2,000 of annual passive income.

Impressive investment performance

There are two main elements that the fund manager looks for.

First, it wants to invest in businesses with good economic moats, or durable competitive advantages. It’s focused on the moat trajectory – is it structurally improving – rather than the size of the moat. WCM also uses a forward-looking competitive assessment as part of its process.

Second, the culture of the business is important as a source of advantage. WCM looks at factors like “leadership, alignment, adaptability” and how that can drive long-term value creation.

But, as you’d expect, there are a few other elements of the investment process.

WCM wants to find businesses benefiting from tailwinds with long-term secular trends that can help deliver compounding growth. Preferably, there’s a global structural demand supporting earnings.

The ASX stock has a high-conviction portfolio, meaning it’s concentrated in just WCM’s best ideas, not hundreds of names that could mean being too diversified.

On the valuation side of things, WCM looks for businesses offering great growth at fair prices, while maintaining a “downside protection focus” and an “active risk management”. This has helped its portfolio to decline less than the global share market when there are falls.

At 31 January 2026, its portfolio had delivered an average net return of 16% per year since inception in June 2017, outperforming the global share market by an average of 2.7% per year. The returns have been very good and helped fund a pleasing dividend, though that’s not guaranteed every year or over the long-term.

Excellent ASX dividend stock credentials

The business has increased its half-year dividend every year since FY19, which is when it first started paying a dividend. In the last few years, it switched to paying quarterly dividends, which is helpful for shareholder cash flow.

WCM Global Growth expects to continue increasing its quarterly dividend every quarter until at least the March 2027 dividend. The business aims to continue increasing its quarterly payout to “enhance shareholder value”.

Annualising the expected FY27 second quarter dividend of 2.45 cents per share means a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.4% (at the time of writing) is within sight and I’m expecting further dividend increases during FY27 (and beyond).

To reach an annual passive income of $2,000 (excluding the franking credits) from the ASX stock, we’re talking about owning 20,409 WCM Global shares at the time of writing.

I think it’s one of the leading ideas to look at for dividends, among others.

The post I’d buy 20,409 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $2,000 of annual passive income 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.

The Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) share price is on fire today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) supermarket giant closed yesterday trading for $31.54. In morning trade, shares are swapping hands for $34.66 apiece, up 9.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.9% at this same time.

This strong outperformance follows the release of Woolworths’ half-year results for the period ending 4 January (H1 FY 2026).

Here’s what’s stoking investor interest today.

Woolworths share price leaps on profit growth

Looking at the results before significant items, Woolworths reported half-year sales of $37.14 billion, up 3.4% year on year.

The company’s eCommerce sales were a particularly strong performer, up 14.6% to $5.4 billion.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $1.66 billion was up 14.4% from H1 FY 2025.

The supermarket highlighted that all of its segments achieved year-on-year sales and EBIT growth. This growth was supported by cost of doing business (CODB) reductions in Australian Food, New Zealand Food, and BIG W. Australian Food sales increased by 3.6% in the half.

And on the bottom line, the Woolworths share price looks to be getting a big boost today with net profit after tax (NPAT) surging 16.4% year on year to $859 million.

With profits rising, management declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 45 cents per share. That’s up 15.4% from last year’s interim payout.

If you want to bag the interim Woolworths dividend, you’ll need to own shares at market close on 3 March. The ASX 200 stock trades ex-dividend on 4 March. You can then expect to bank that passive income payout on 2 April.

What did management say?

Commenting on the half-year results lifting the Woolworths share price today, CEO Amanda Bardwell said, “We are making progress on the strategy we outlined in August and have invested in value, our fresh offer, On Demand convenience and in-store execution.”

She added, “All customer metrics have improved, trading momentum is stronger and we are seeing market share stabilise.”

Looking to the months ahead, Bardwell said:

Trading in Q3 to date has been strong in Australian Food; however, customers continue to be value-focused, shopping multiple retailers in a highly competitive environment.

Our focus is to continue to provide value to customers, rebuild trust and maintain sales momentum while making further progress on our strategic priorities to deliver for our customers, team and shareholders.

With today’s big intraday gains factored in, the Woolworths share price is up 17.8% in 2026.

The post Why is the Woolworths share price rocketing 10% on Wednesday? 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 positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) share price is in focus today after the company posted a HY26 operating profit after tax (OPAT) of $54.6 million and upgrades guidance for FY26, impressing investors with record funds under management.

What did Centuria Capital Group report?

• HY26 operating profit after tax (OPAT): $54.6 million
• Operating earnings per security (OEPS): 6.6 cents, up 6.5% from HY25
• Interim distribution per security (DPS): 5.2 cents
• Record assets under management (AUM): $21.8 billion (up from $20.6 billion at FY25)
• Operating EBITDA: $89.3 million, supported by 49% growth in core Property Funds Management
• FY26 OEPS guidance upgraded to 13.6 cents per security (11.5% above FY25), DPS guidance set at 10.4 cents

What else do investors need to know?

Centuria completed $0.5 billion in real estate acquisitions and has an additional $0.8 billion in due diligence or secured since 31 December 2025. The company also increased its interest in Centuria Bass Credit to 100%, which strengthens its presence in real estate finance.

Notably, Centuria secured management rights for Arrow Funds Management, growing agricultural assets under management to $1.3 billion. The company’s property funds saw a mix of listed and unlisted AUM, with no single unlisted asset exceeding 3% of total AUM, reflecting disciplined diversification.

Centuria’s cash and undrawn debt stood at $288 million as of 31 December 2025. Its balance sheet gearing remained conservative at 12.4% and the group’s fund gearing averaged 45%, well below the weighted average covenant of 57%.

What did Centuria Capital Group management say?

Joint CEO John McBain said:

Today’s earnings upgrade reflects the strength of the underlying Group’s profit drivers and improved earnings visibility into 2H26. Centuria’s platform is positioned to benefit from improving real estate market conditions, supported by rising transactional activity and a growing network of more than 15,500 private investors.

What’s next for Centuria Capital Group?

Centuria has raised its FY26 guidance in light of improving market conditions and the successful acquisition of Arrow Funds Management. The business continues to pursue both organic and inorganic growth, building momentum through ongoing acquisitions and capital raisings.

Looking ahead, Centuria plans to advance its long-term strategy, including expanding its digital infrastructure and agricultural investment platforms, while maintaining a disciplined approach to balance sheet management. The group says it remains nimble amid changing markets and expects to benefit from its broad investor network and diversified portfolio.

Centuria Capital Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Centuria Capital Group shares have risen 13%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

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The post Centuria Capital Group lifts profit and upgrades FY26 outlook 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.