Author: openjargon

Share prices are always changing, so it can be smart to look across a wide range of ASX shares for potential market-beating returns.

Analysts are always looking for opportunities – it’s interesting when one expert a stock is a buy. It could be a significant indicator of an opportunity when numerous analysts rate an ASX share as a buy.

With that in mind, we’re going to look at two businesses with the most buy ratings.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

Orica is one of the world’s leading mining and infrastructure solution providers. It produces explosives, blasting systems, specialty mining chemicals and geotechnical monitoring.

According to CMC Invest, there are currently 10 ratings on the business, with all of those being a buy. That’s an extremely bullish view by the experts.

Based on those 10 ratings, the average price target on the ASX share is $26.86, suggesting a possible rise of 23% from where it is at the time of writing. The most optimistic price target on the business is $37.44, suggesting a potential increase of more than 70% within the next year.

Even the most pessimistic price target is $24.04, implying a possible rise of more than 10%.

Of course, positive price targets are not guarantees of returns. But, the company is delivering earnings growth for shareholders.

In the FY26 half-year result, the business reported that its underlying net profit increased by 8% to $283.1 million, with underlying operating profit (EBIT) climbing by 5% to $512 million and the dividend per share growing by 14% to 28.5 cents.

Orica also noted that it’s working on a cost-cutting program to reduce its annual cost base by at least $100 million. It has also reached an agreement to acquire Nelson Brothers’ explosives business in North America, providing increased exposure to the US quarries and construction sectors and direct channels to market.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

Cleanaway is a leading sustainable waste management, industrial and environmental services company. It has Australia’s largest waste and industrial services fleet, with more than 6,400 vehicles, as well as an extensive network of recycling facilities, transfer stations, landfills, liquid treatment plants and refineries.

According to CMC Invest, eight analysts currently rate the business as a buy. Of those eight ratings, the average price target is $3.04, suggesting a possible rise of 35% from where it is at the time of writing, if the analysts end up being right.

The ASX share has a blueprint on how it expects to deliver pleasing shareholder returns.

It says that the underlying growth of the continuing business is linked to GDP and favourable secular trends, which is underpinned by its scale, infrastructure, capabilities and customer relationships.

The company is also targeting high value revenue growth, expanding its margins by more than 260 basis points (2.60%), optimising its branch network, leveraging its scale and utilising its assets.

It plans to utilise its growth through investments in technology, automation, data and analytics.

Finally, it’s exploring selective investments in new, profitable and scalable ‘growth platforms.’

In the company’s FY26 half-year result, it reported 13.7% revenue growth, 16.9% underlying EBIT growth and 17.8% underlying net profit growth. In other words, the numbers are generally going in a very positive direction.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts 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 best ASX share opportunities to buy today may not be some of the most famous opportunities. They could be significantly undervalued, according to experts.

The two businesses I want to highlight are names that have fallen heavily in the last few months. But analysts suggest the companies could rise significantly in the next year.

Let’s look at two of the ideas that could deliver dramatic market-beating returns.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL)

Objective Corporation says that thousands of public sector organisations are shifting to digital operations using Objective software. It says that it has more than 1,000 customers with a 99% customer retention rate. Impressively, the business invests significantly in research and development each year.

According to CMC Invest, there have been six recent analyst ratings on the business, with four of those being a buy and two being a hold.

A price target is where analysts think the share price will be in 12 months from now.

Of those six ratings, the average price target is $17.70. That suggests a possible rise of around 60% over the next year, from where it is at the time of writing.

The ASX share’s financials are growing at a pleasing pace. In the FY26 half-year result, revenue grew by 9% to $66.7 million and net profit after tax (NPAT) climbed 10% to $18.7 million.

Its growth remains promising – HY26 annual recurring revenue (ARR) increased by 12% to $120 million. The business is expecting its FY26 ARR growth to be between 10% and 14%. I think many ASX shares would be pleased with that level of growth.  

With the Objective Corporation share price down by around 40% in the last six months, it looks much better value.

Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

Adairs sells furniture and homewares across three different businesses – Adairs, Mocka, and Focus on Furniture.

According to CMC Invest, there have been six recent ratings on the business, with three buy ratings and three hold ratings.

The average price target on the business from those six ratings is $2.02. That implies a possible rise of 65% from where it is today, though that may be an optimistic view amid the rising interest rate environment, which may impact retail spending.

The latest we heard from the business of its performance was for the first seven weeks of the second half of FY26, though this was before all of the various impacts seen over the last few months that could impact the sales.

At the time of the FY26 half-year result, it said it expects margin and underlying operating profit (EBIT) growth in the second half. While the short term may be uncertain, I think the longer term could prove to be positive for the ASX share.

It looks a lot cheaper to me after falling more than 50% in the last 12 months.

The post 2 ASX shares tipped to grow 60% or more in the next 12 months 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 positions in and has recommended Adairs and Objective. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Adairs and Objective. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL) shares are pushing higher on Monday.

In morning trade, the ASX 200 share is up 8% to $3.60.

Why is this ASX 200 share jumping?

Investors have been buying the company’s shares on Monday after it released its half-year results and revealed strong growth from continuing operations.

According to the release, group revenue fell 15.7% on the prior corresponding period to $1.9 billion.

However, this was largely due to the separation of the Fertilisers business. On a continuing operations basis, the explosives business delivered revenue of $1.6 billion, which was up 11.4% on the prior corresponding period.

That growth was driven by strength in the company’s core regional businesses.

Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific delivered a 9% lift in revenue to $599.3 million, supported by strong demand in metals, growth from new contracts, and expansion in Malaysia and Indonesia.

But Dyno Nobel Americas was the standout. It posted a 17% increase in revenue to $891.3 million. This reflected strong demand across coal, quarry and construction, and metals markets, as well as profitable trading of surplus ammonium nitrate.

Dyno Nobel EMEA and LATAM revenue fell 8% to $144.5 million. This reflects foreign exchange headwinds.

The company’s group EBIT (excluding individually material items) rose 39.3% to $242.7 million, while EBITDA excluding individually material items increased 17.2% to $378 million.

On the bottom line, net profit after tax excluding individually material items increased 83.3% to $160.9 million. However, statutory net profit after tax was only $19.9 million. This is due to the impact of $141 million of after-tax individually material items, mainly relating to impairment and site exit costs from the sale of Phosphate Hill.

In light of its strong performance, the Dyno Nobel board declared an unfranked interim dividend of 4.6 cents per share, up 91.7%  on the prior corresponding period and representing a 50% payout ratio.

Management commentary

Commenting on the result, the ASX 200 share’s CEO, Mauro Neves, said:

1H26 marks the beginning of a new era for Dyno Nobel as we concluded our separation from the Fertilisers business and move forward as a pureplay global explosives leader. We continued the successful execution of our transformation program, and our explosives business delivered robust underlying earnings growth, driven by the strong operating performance of our privileged assets.

Outlook

Dyno Nobel reaffirmed its FY 2026 EBIT guidance for its explosives business of $460 million to $500 million. Neves said:

Highlighting the resilience of our business in the volatile global landscape, I am pleased to report we remain on track to deliver both our FY26 EBIT guidance of $460m – $500m and our FY28 EBIT ambition of $600m as our transformation program continues to yield results.

Looking ahead, our gas backed manufacturing facilities, high vertical integration and consistent earnings growth with low volatility position Dyno Nobel as an increasingly compelling investment proposition.

The post Explosive ASX 200 share jumps 8% on first-half profit surge appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Now could be the time to buy Cyclopharm Ltd (ASX: CYC) shares.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who believe this small-cap ASX share could deliver market-beating returns over the next 12 months.

What is Cyclopharm?

It is a medical device company operating in nuclear medicine.

Bell Potter notes that Cyclopharm’s main revenue driver is Technegas, which is a system indicated for functional lung imaging.

The primary use of Technegas is diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in patients contraindicated for a CT scan. It was approved for use in the United States in September 2023.

Bell Potter was pleased with the small-cap ASX share’s annual general meeting update. It points out that management remains bullish on the remainder of 2026 and beyond. It said:

The AGM commentary maintains the bullish outlook for the remainder of CY26 and beyond. The CEO re-affirmed guidance for 250 – 300 Technegas generators installed in the US by the end of 31 Dec 2026. There are currently 55 generators in market, hence 195 instals required to meet the bottom end of guidance. We estimate 11 instals in the first 17 weeks of CY26 including 5 since 31 March.

Bell Potter also highlights that the small-cap ASX share has a sizeable pipeline with a high conversion probability. The broker adds:

CYC has 175 contracts signed and awaiting installation with a further 111 at contract review stage and described as a very high conversion probability. Beyond these, the pipeline is extensive with several hundred devices at the proposal stage. Numerous hospital groups have now committed to subsequent devices across locations in their networks, in fact, half the growth (we presume in FY26) is attributable to 2nd and subsequent orders by existing clients. We conclude that the signs are highly encouraging for strong revenue growth in FY26.

~9 weeks remain in the half, hence CYC is on track to hit our forecast of 65 instals in the US by 30 June. The bottom end of the guidance requires an enormous acceleration of installations in 2H, however, with contracts in place the business is there to be had. The client service teams are now engaged with multiple installation programs at any one time to ensure a continuous stream of instals on a weekly basis.

Small-cap ASX share tipped to rise

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $1.00 price target on Cyclopharm’s shares.

Based on its current share price of 84.5 cents, this implies potential upside of 18% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, the broker said:

The revenue base to CYC from 250 devices in the US is estimated at ~A$23m annual recurring revenue. We expect cash burn has now peaked and will begin to fall in 2H26. Next major catalyst is the June quarter update where we are increasingly confident that the pace of generator installations in the US will be sustained at the current rate or better. No earnings adjustments, PT remains $1.00.

The post Which small-cap ASX share could beat the market over the next 12 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

I’d describe Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) as one of Australia’s top shares because of the growth it’s currently achieving and its potential to continue growing at a very attractive rate.

When I look at non-tech names that could deliver the most profit growth over the next five years, I think Sigma Healthcare – the owner of the Chemist Warehouse brand – is one of the most compelling businesses on the ASX.

At the time of writing, the Sigma Healthcare share price is down by approximately 10% from its 2026 high in February 2026. That’s not a huge fall, but it has big growth plans so it may be rare for it to be this low again.

I think this is a good time to look at the business, given it’s cheaper and looks more compelling than ever.

Excellent Australian growth

When I think about which businesses are likely to deliver market-beating returns (of more than 10% per year), I think it’s a really big help if the business is achieving revenue growth of at least 10% per year. At that pace, I’d call it one of Australia’s top shares as long as it’s combined with profit growth.

In my view, revenue is one of the biggest drivers of net profit, perhaps the most important one because of how that feeds into a company’s other profit lines.

Considering the business is already worth tens of billions of dollars, it’d be understandable for the growth rate to be fairly slow these days. But, Chemist Warehouse is still growing its market share at a very strong pace.

The business recently gave a trading update which included some very positive numbers.

The Chemist Warehouse-branded Australian store network saw total sales growth of 16.7% for the period of 1 July 2025 to 30 April 2026. This isn’t just being driven by new stores – it reported that like-for-like (LFL) growth was 14.4%, showing excellent growth at its existing stores.

These sales were strong despite cycling the structural uplift of GLP-1 sales in the second half of FY25. Growth in GLP-1 sales growth is expected to continue.

International growth

The most important thing is that the core business is growing well, but Chemist Warehouse has another massive growth pillar to its company – international. This is one of the main reasons why I think it’s one of Australia’s top shares.

It currently has a presence in New Zealand, Ireland, Dubai and China. While the sales generated by these markets are just a fraction of what Australia delivers, there is scope for the international segment to become a bigger part of the picture, considering Australia’s population is relatively small.

According to the recent trading update, Chemist Warehouse’s international store network delivered total sales growth of 24.7%, with like-for-like sales growth of 11.8%.

It also recently announced an acquisition agreement that will allow it to expand into the UK, initially starting with a few locations in London. The UK has a bigger population than Australia, so if Chemist Warehouse can get this right then the opportunity is large for that market.

Rising profit margins

Many investors value a business based on how much profit it generates and could generate in the future.

As I’ve said, revenue is already growing at a fast pace. But, excitingly, the company’s net profit can grow even faster than that because of its rising profit margins. That’s another sign that it’s one of Australia’s top shares, in my view.

In the FY26 half-year result, total revenue increased 14.9% to $5.5 billion, normalised operating profit (EBIT) grew 18.7% to $582.9 million and normalised net profit after tax (NPAT) rose 19.2%. As you can see, each line of the financials grew faster than the last.

If operating leverage continues to play out and its bottom line continues rising at a strong pace, it’ll definitely be one to watch. I’m planning to buy some of this business this year, which I’m happy to call one of Australia’s top shares.

The post A rare buying opportunity in 1 of Australia’s top 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.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares have gone into freefall in 2026 after a brutal earnings downgrade stunned investors.

The ASX healthcare stock is down roughly 62% year to date, wiping billions from its market value and leaving many shareholders nursing heavy losses.

Things look even worse for investors who bought near the peak.

Damage is real

Back in late July last year, Cochlear shares were trading just below $320. At the time of writing, they have crashed to $99.89.

That represents a staggering decline of almost 69% in just nine months.

For investors, the damage is very real.

A $10,000 investment at $319.50 per share would have bought roughly 31 Cochlear shares in July. Today, those same shares would be worth approximately $3,126.

That’s a painful capital loss of more than $6,870 in a very short time.

What triggered the collapse?

The sell-off accelerated after Cochlear released a disappointing trading update on 22 April.

Cohlear shares plunged from around $168 to near $90 within days — an extraordinary 46% wipeout for a blue-chip healthcare company.

Although the share price has since recovered slightly, the broader damage remains significant.

Cochlear, which controls roughly 50% of the global cochlear implant market, sharply downgraded its FY26 underlying net profit guidance to between $290 million and $330 million.

That was a major cut from its previous guidance range of $435 million to $460 million. For a company long viewed as one of the ASX’s most reliable healthcare performers, the downgrade rattled confidence badly.

Management of the ASX healthcare stock pointed to weaker demand across key developed markets, with fewer hearing implant procedures taking place than expected. The company also flagged disruptions in the Middle East, where ongoing conflict has contributed to cancelled orders and delayed deliveries.

At the same time, some patients appear to be postponing surgeries, with referrals slowing and procedures being pushed back.

Is this temporary?

Importantly, the long-term investment case may not be broken.

Cochlear remains the global leader in implantable hearing technology and continues investing heavily in research and development, reinvesting around 13% of revenue into innovation.

Cochlear shares also continue benefiting from a large and growing pool of patients with hearing loss, particularly as populations age globally. Management still believes there is a “significant, unmet and addressable clinical need” supporting long-term growth.

That suggests the current weakness could be more cyclical than structural.

Analysts remain divided

Even so, uncertainty remains high.

At current prices, Cochlear shares are trading on a little over 19 times FY26 earnings, a valuation level rarely seen for a company previously considered a premium healthcare stock.

That has divided broker opinion sharply. Jarden currently has a $169 price target on Cochlear shares, implying potential upside of almost 70% if conditions improve.

On the other hand, Macquarie has slashed its valuation target from $239 to $115.

Morgans sits somewhere in the middle, maintaining a hold rating and a $107.17 target price.

For now, the sharp divergence in analyst forecasts highlights just how uncertain Cochlear’s near-term outlook has become.

The post $10,000 invested in Cochlear shares in July is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Australian household spending fell for the first time in over a year in February 2026.

The RBA, in its May Statement on Monetary Policy, also alluded to this drop in consumer spending:

The response on consumption to lower real household incomes is assumed to be faster than the typical historical experience, given the share declines we have seen in consumer sentiment.

With this somewhat gloomy backdrop, it’s time to assess what the implications could be for some beloved Aussie stocks.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is the most defensive name on this list, given its focus on supermarket retail.

As one of Australia’s largest supermarkets, Coles benefits from defensive consumer spending. After all, consumers will always need to eat regardless of the prevailing economic conditions.

90% of Coles’ revenue comes from its supermarket business, which may help protect it from a major economic slowdown.

However, Coles remains exposed to reduced consumer spending, which can negatively affect margins.

What’s more, the ACCC’s ongoing court case alleging illusory Down Down discounts, set to be resolved in May 2026, has increased regulatory risks, and Coles reported lower profit in its first half of fiscal 2026 despite higher sales revenue.

A sustained consumer pullback could further erode margins and profitability, leaving Coles uniquely exposed to any noticeable decline in consumer spending.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

One key difference between Woolworths and Coles is Woolworths’ ownership of BIG W.

BIG W meaningfully increases Woolworths’ exposure to consumer spending habits outside of supermarket retail.

In 2025, the unit posted an EBIT loss of $63 million, squeezed by clearance activity, soft discretionary spending, and operational complexity.

More recently, Bell Potter downgraded Woolworths shares to hold with a reduced price target of $35.50 (from $38.25), citing supply chain cost pressures.

Reduced consumer spending within this unit may lead to even more pain for Woolworths in the short-to-medium term.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Australians tend to cut holidays and flights first when mortgage repayments bite.

Qantas, as Australia’s flag carrier, is on the frontline of this reduced spending.

Analysts identify an economic downturn as a key risk that could cause corporate clients to cut travel budgets, directly hitting Qantas’ most profitable customer base.

What’s more, jet fuel costs have more than doubled since February 2026, which is set to hit Qantas earnings directly.

Qantas’ loyalty program and domestic duopoly may provide some buffer, but be ready for Qantas’ earnings to potentially be hit by macroeconomic issues.

Foolish Takeaway

None of these companies is in crisis, but they are exposed to a sustained drop-off in consumer spending.

Investors may want to consider diversifying into companies that service businesses or governments with sticky long-term contracts.

In the meantime, investors would do well to keep a close eye on discretionary spending data in the months ahead.

The post 3 ASX retail shares exposed to a drop in consumer spending appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Dyno Nobel Ltd (ASX: DNL) share price was in focus on Monday after the company reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance, highlighting robust underlying growth in its global explosives business and a sharp lift in first-half earnings.

What did Dyno Nobel report?

• Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT): $20 million (1H25: $7 million)
• NPAT excluding individually material items (IMIs): $161 million, up 83% (1H25: $88 million)
• EBIT excluding IMIs: $243 million, up 39% (1H25: $174 million)
• EBITDA excluding IMIs: $378 million, up 17% (1H25: $323 million)
• Interim dividend: 4.6 cents per share (unfranked), 50% payout ratio
• Return on Invested Capital: 9.5% (1H25: 6.1%)

What else do investors need to know?

Dyno Nobel completed the strategic separation of its Fertilisers business during the first half, signing a binding agreement for the sale of the Phosphate Hill facility. This move positions the company clearly as a standalone explosives business, aligning with its long-term growth and sustainability strategy.

In terms of capital management, $558 million of the $900 million on-market share buyback program has been completed, and the buyback is set to resume following the trading blackout ending. The company also reported improved financial metrics, including stronger interest cover (12.5x) and a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.3x, comfortably within policy limits.

What did Dyno Nobel management say?

CEO and Managing Director Mauro Neves commented:

“1H26 marks the beginning of a new era for Dyno Nobel as we concluded our separation from the Fertilisers business and move forward as a pureplay global explosives leader. We continued the successful execution of our transformation program, and our explosives business delivered robust underlying earnings growth, driven by the strong operating performance of our privileged assets.

Safety always remains our number one priority, and while I’m disappointed to record an increase in our total recordable injury frequency rate, no incidents were classified as serious harm and we saw an overall reduction in injury severity. We will continue our focus on field leadership and proactive hazard identification, with targeted explosives risk reviews at our key manufacturing facilities.

Highlighting the resilience of our business in the volatile global landscape, I am pleased to report we remain on track to deliver both our FY26 EBIT guidance of $460m – $500m and our FY28 EBIT ambition of $600m as our transformation program continues to yield results.

Looking ahead, our gas backed manufacturing facilities, high vertical integration and consistent earnings growth with low volatility position Dyno Nobel as an increasingly compelling investment proposition.”

What’s next for Dyno Nobel?

Dyno Nobel has reaffirmed its FY26 EBIT guidance for the explosives business at $460 million to $500 million, with its transformation program progressing as planned. The group now expects lower capital expenditure in the $250 million to $300 million range for FY26, as some growth investment shifts into FY27.

The successful sale of the Fertilisers business reduces operational and environmental commitments, reinforcing Dyno Nobel’s focus on global explosives and blasting services. Management expects to benefit from stable, vertically integrated operations and continued momentum from its transformation program.

Dyno Nobel share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Dyno Nobel shares have risen 27%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Dyno Nobel posts higher earnings as explosives transformation accelerates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING) share price is in focus today after the company reaffirmed its FY26 EBITDA guidance and reported higher group poultry volumes and selling prices for the first nine months of the year.

What did Inghams Group report?

• Reaffirmed FY26 guidance for Underlying EBITDA (pre AASB 16) of $180 million to $200 million
• For the first nine months of FY26, group core poultry volumes rose 1.1% versus prior comparable period (PCP)
• Group core poultry net selling prices increased 1.1% versus PCP
• Annualised cost savings initiatives expected to deliver $60–80 million
• Revised capital expenditure guidance of approximately $80 million for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Inghams continues to make operational improvements, with stronger performance reported in areas such as yield, labour, and inventory management. The company reduced its frozen inventory by $25 million, which has helped restore system balance and improve cash flows.

Cost pressures remain a focus, particularly feed, diesel fuel, and packaging. The company noted a net $7–10 million impact expected from higher fuel costs in FY26, partially offset by pricing actions and efficiency gains. Feed costs are presently well covered for the year, though higher costs are expected in FY27.

What did Inghams Group management say?

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director said Ed Alexander said:

We are seeing improved operational performance and positive momentum from initiatives already delivered, while reaffirming our FY26 guidance in a challenging environment.

What’s next for Inghams Group?

Inghams says it will maintain its focus on stabilising the business, optimising assets, and growing value per bird. The company’s ongoing operational improvements and cost controls are expected to support further earnings and return growth, even as it navigates uncertainties in input costs.

Growth priorities include expanding ingredients and higher value product segments, leveraging recent investments, and scaling new business initiatives like launching the Bostocks brand in Australia.

Inghams Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Inghams Group shares have declined 55%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Inghams Group boosts FY26 guidance as poultry volumes and prices rise appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Metcash shares: FY26 earnings highlight portfolio resilience and cost discipline
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• Is this the best ASX 200 stock to buy in May?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS) share price is in focus today after the company announced an underlying profit after tax of $268–270 million for FY26, supported by revenue growth of 0.7% and resilient performances across Food, Liquor, and Hardware.

What did Metcash report?

• Underlying NPAT expected at $268–270 million
• Group revenue up 0.7% year-on-year (+3.8% excluding tobacco)
• Liquor EBIT margin recovered in the second half
• Hardware & Tools revenue rose 4.3%, with improved sales momentum
• Strong cashflow and disciplined capital expenditure, at ~$170 million (about $30 million below guidance)
• Ongoing cost initiatives targeting at least ~$25 million annualised savings in FY27

What else do investors need to know?

Metcash’s Food segment saw supermarkets remain competitive, helped by promotional programs like Extra Specials, while Foodservice & Convenience grew strongly on the back of new customer wins. The group’s Liquor division continued to gain market share, fuelled by a multi-channel approach and a return to long-term EBIT margins in the second half.

Despite challenging conditions in the Trade market, the Hardware & Tools business improved its sales momentum in the latter half, benefiting from pricing and range initiatives. Cash realisation outperformed targets, helping keep the company’s debt leverage at the lower end of its guided range.

What did Metcash management say?

Metcash Group CEO Doug Jones said:

We have delivered a solid result supported by the resilience of our Food and Liquor businesses, our diversified portfolio and disciplined execution.

Hardware & Tools maintained share in a soft Trade market, with improved second half sales momentum. We have taken further action to strengthen the business and position the Group for sustained performance.

Cashflow remained strong, with cash realisation above guidance and leverage at the low end of our target range.

What’s next for Metcash?

Looking ahead, Metcash is focusing on structural cost reductions, with new programs projected to yield at least $25 million in annual savings by FY27. These efforts target labour and non-trade procurement savings and are set to further support profit margins, particularly in Hardware & Tools.

The company is also closely monitoring global uncertainties—like those affecting freight and product supply—by maintaining higher inventory levels as a precaution. Management continues to proactively support customers and prioritise efficient operations in a changing market.

Metcash share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Metcash shares have declined 18%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

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The post Metcash shares: FY26 earnings highlight portfolio resilience and cost discipline 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.