Category: Stock Market

ASX mining shares like South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) are a popular choice among Australian investors looking for passive income.

The attraction is simple. When commodity prices are strong, large-scale miners can generate a huge amount of cash and return a good portfolio to their shareholders in the form of dividends.

But what exactly would it entail to earn the passive income you want?

Let’s take a look at what it takes to earn $6,000 off South32 shares in FY26.

What passive income does South32 pay its shareholders?

First, we need to understand what dividends the mining giant pays its shareholders.

South32 typically pays its investors twice-yearly dividends: an interim dividend in April and a final dividend in October.

South32 paid a fully-franked interim dividend of 3.9 US cents (equivalent to 5.52 AUD cents) per share in April.

As part of its FY26 results announcement this morning, the miner declared another final 5.4 US cent (equivalent of 7.5 AU cents) dividend will be paid to shareholders in October. 

That comes to a total FY26 dividend of 9.3 US cents (equivalent of 13 AU cents) per security.

At the time of writing, this translates to a dividend yield of around 1.8% for FY26. 

So, how many South32 shares do I need to generate $6,000 of passive income every year?

Using the FY26 total dividend payment of 13 cents per share, investors would need to own around 46,154 South32 shares in order to earn $6,000 in passive income.

What would that cost me?

At the time of writing, South32 shares are $5.14 each.

That means, in order to buy the 46,154 shares needed for $6,000 of annual passive income in FY26, you would need to invest roughly $237,231. 

It’s not a small amount, but it could be worth it in the long run.

And remember, you don’t need to invest the entire amount in one go. Start off small and let compound growth do some of the work for you.

Could South32 shares climb higher in value this year?

The experts are optimistic about the outlook for South32 shares over the next 12 months.

Market Index shows the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the mining stock. But the $4.94 average target price now implies a potential 4% downside ahead.

Sentiment is also mostly positive on TradingView. The data shows that the majority of analysts (seven out of 14) have a buy/strong buy rating on the shares. Another six rate South32 shares as a hold.

But after the latest rally, the average $4.77 target price now implies a potential downside of around 7%, at the time of writing. 

The post How many South32 shares do I need to buy for $6,000 per year of passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• South32 FY26 earnings: base metals drive profit surge and new dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• South32, Woolworths, BHP shares reach 52-week high: Buy, sell or hold?
• South32 share price in focus as Sierra Gorda mine life jumps with 61% reserve boost
• Bell Potter names the best ASX shares to buy in August

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.

The Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) share price is in focus today after the company posted a statutory profit after tax of $1.29 billion and declared a final fully franked dividend of 19.8 cents per share for FY26.

What did Qantas Airways report?

• Underlying Profit Before Tax: $2.06 billion, down $330 million from FY25
• Statutory Profit After Tax: $1.29 billion, down $316 million
• Final dividend: 19.8 cents per share (fully franked), total FY26 dividends $600 million
• Underlying earnings per share: 96 cents, down 14 cents
• Net capital expenditure: $4.0 billion, up 3%
• 17 new aircraft delivered during the year

What else do investors need to know?

Qantas continued to invest heavily in new aircraft and training facilities, marking the largest fleet renewal in its history. The group opened a new training centre in Mascot as part of a $100 million upgrade.

Around 25,000 eligible non-executive employees will each receive $1,000 in Qantas shares, following another year of meeting financial targets. Qantas Loyalty delivered strong results, with a 12% increase in underlying EBIT and record engagement from frequent flyers.

Net debt increased to $6.2 billion, remaining within management’s target range. The Board cancelled a planned $150 million share buy-back as part of its capital management.

What did Qantas Airways management say?

Commenting on the results, Qantas’ CEO, Vanessa Hudson, said:

This has been another year of progress, with customer satisfaction at its highest in a decade and world-leading operational performance, even as the aviation industry faced record high fuel costs and disruption from the conflict in the Middle East. We came through it with a strong result, which is what allows us to continue investing in the largest fleet renewal in our history and deliver more for our customers, people and shareholders.

What’s next for Qantas Airways?

Qantas expects domestic and international travel demand to remain resilient, with capacity growth and new routes on the horizon in FY27. The group will receive its first Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR in April, and the first non-stop Sydney-London flight will launch in October.

Management forecasts unit revenues to grow by 8–10% in the first half of FY27, despite ongoing pressure from elevated fuel prices. Qantas Loyalty earnings are expected to increase by 5–7% next year, and investment in new aircraft and employee training will continue.

Qantas Airways share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Qantas Airways share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a decline of almost 20%.

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The post Qantas Airways share price on watch as FY26 profit dips but dividend and upgrades unveiled appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Two of the most influential ASX defence stocks released half-year results yesterday: Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) and Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS). 

These companies are involved in the defence sector, which boomed on the back of tailwinds through 2025 and into 2026. 

However, since then, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. 

How the tables have turned

Defence-related ASX shares surged in 2025 as investors anticipated sustained growth in global military spending.

Ongoing conflicts, strategic competition, and a growing focus on national security reinforced expectations of stronger demand for defence equipment, cybersecurity, surveillance systems, and advanced military technologies.

However, the share prices of many ASX defence stocks have reversed course in recent months. 

This decline has largely reflected profit-taking and a reset in valuations after a strong rally, with investors becoming less willing to pay the high premiums built on expectations of sustained defence spending growth.

One stock hit harder than almost any other has been DroneShield shares. Once fetching over $6, DroneShield shares have come crashing back to earth in 2026. 

Its stock price is down 45% year to date and is now hovering around $1.70. 

Meanwhile, Elsight shares have continued to steadily grow. 

Its share price is up more than 220% in the last 12 months. 

Why Elsight shares are a buy

Despite moving in such different directions this year, the team at Bell Potter has similar optimism about both companies over the next 12 months. 

Following the half-year results, the broker has a buy recommendation on Elsight shares along with a price target of $8.20. 

From current levels, this indicates an upside potential of 42%. 

We believe ELS has developed a market leading product that is leveraged to the proliferation of unmanned systems in both a defence and commercial context. We believe ELS shares offer relative value versus listed peers at 33x CY26e EV/EBIT given its recurring revenue, high ROIC business model and defensible niche.

Elsight’s half-year report can be found here.

DroneShield shares a bounce-back candidate

After crashing in 2026, the team at Bell Potter believes DroneShield shares could be a value at its current price. 

Following its results, the team at Bell Potter issued a new report on the company. 

The broker has a buy recommendation and $2.40 (previously $2.50) price target on DroneShield shares. 

From yesterday’s closing price, this indicates an upside of 38%. 

We expect RFRecon and new high-moat next gen products to drive continued contract wins, particularly from Europe where DRO has a leading presence in the CUAS EW vertical. Top end of CY26 revenue guidance looks achievable. Retain Buy.

The post Defence Duel: Are Elsight or DroneShield shares a better buy right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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 Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) share price is in focus after the company reported a sharp increase in revenue to US$120.3 million for the 2026 financial year and a 44% reduction in net loss.

What did Mesoblast report?

• Total revenue climbed to US$120.3 million, up from US$17.2 million in FY2025
• Gross profit reached US$103.6 million, with gross profit excluding amortisation at US$109.7 million
• Net loss reduced by 44% to US$57.5 million, down from US$102.1 million last year
• Net operating cash spend was US$43.8 million, improved from US$50.0 million in FY2025
• Period-end cash balance stood at US$103 million with a new US$125 million five-year credit facility
• US commercial launch of RYONCIL generated US$115.2 million in net revenue

What else do investors need to know?

Mesoblast successfully launched RYONCIL in the US for children with steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease, securing broad adoption at major paediatric transplant centres and major payer coverage. The median time from patient identification to treatment dropped from 29 days at launch to 8 days.

The company is expanding RYONCIL’s use to adults with severe SR-aGvHD, a market potentially three times larger than the paediatric segment, and progressing a registration trial as part of a second-line regimen with ruxolitinib. Mesoblast also obtained FDA clearance for a trial in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

For its rexlemestrocel-L platform, Mesoblast completed treatment of 350 patients in a Phase 3 clinical trial for chronic low back pain, positioning the company to address a market worth over US$10 billion. Top-line results are expected in mid-2027.

What did Mesoblast management say?

Mesoblast’s CEO, Dr. Silviu Itescu, commented:

We are very pleased to report a strong full year gross profit of US$104M for the fiscal year 2026. The financial result is a product of continued growth in RYONCIL market adoption and focus on disciplined capital allocation while investing in our high-value opportunities.

What’s next for Mesoblast?

Looking ahead, Mesoblast plans to expand RYONCIL’s label to adults with severe SR-aGvHD and further advance development for chronic low back pain using rexlemestrocel-L, with a pivotal data readout due next year. The company also aims to develop next-generation cell therapies through new CAR-MSC and oncolytic virus technologies, broadening its pipeline for inflammatory and immunological diseases.

With a solid cash balance and new funding in place, Mesoblast intends to continue investing in high-value clinical programs and commercial execution, maintaining its position as a sector innovator.

Mesoblast share price snapshot

The Mesoblast share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a decline of around 5% over the past 12 months.

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The post Mesoblast earnings: Strong revenue growth and operational milestones in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price could be in focus after the company delivered a record half-year result, with revenue rising 24% to $8.05 billion and net profit after tax up 23% to $165.2 million.

What did Eagers Automotive report?

• Revenue rose 24% to $8,053.5 million compared to 1H25
• Statutory net profit after tax increased 23% to $165.2 million
• Underlying EBITDA up 23% to $364.6 million
• Ordinary interim dividend up 4% to 25 cents per share, fully franked
• Liquidity at $2.61 billion and net debt at $674.9 million as at 30 June 2026
• Acquisition of CanadaOne Auto Group contributed $40.5 million in profit before tax across two months

What else do investors need to know?

Eagers Automotive entered the Canadian market by acquiring a 65% stake in CanadaOne Auto Group, which made an immediate positive impact on group results and expanded the company’s international footprint. The strategic investment saw the company issue exchangeable shares as partial consideration, strengthening the balance sheet and broadening shareholder alignment.

In Australia, Eagers increased its market share in new vehicles, reaching 15.9%, up from 13.8% a year ago. The group also signed a non-binding agreement to divest its franchised automotive business in New Zealand—retaining the easyauto123 operations—to redeploy capital into other growth initiatives.

What’s next for Eagers Automotive?

Eagers Automotive expects a full second-half contribution from CanadaOne Auto Group, with further opportunities for organic and acquisitive growth in North America. The company remains focused on optimising its partner portfolio, expanding its independent pre-owned vehicle business, and leveraging its unique scale and brand partnerships to outperform industry benchmarks.

Management cited a disciplined approach to capital allocation and cost management, aiming for sustainable, industry-leading returns. While mindful of current economic conditions and higher interest rates, the board remains optimistic about growth prospects in both the Australian and Canadian markets.

Eagers Automotive share price snapshot

The Eagers Automotive share price has modestly outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) on a 12-month basis with a gain of over 6%.

View Original Announcement

The post Eagers Automotive posts record 1H26 earnings on strong Canadian expansion 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 recommended Eagers Automotive Ltd. 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 Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR) share price is in focus after the company announced exceptionally wide, high-grade gold intercepts from infill drilling at its Two Mile Hill-Shillington deposit, part of the Sandstone Gold Project. Standout results include a 225.7 metre interval at 3.11 grams per tonne gold, with individual assays up to 449 grams per tonne.

What did Brightstar Resources report?

• Received further assay results from reverse circulation and diamond core drilling at Two Mile Hill-Shillington.
• Key intercepts include 225.7m @ 3.11g/t Au (including 19m @ 24.3g/t Au) and 194m @ 2.10g/t Au (including 13m @ 4.35g/t Au).
• Current Mineral Resource Estimate: 14.6 million tonnes at 1.6g/t Au for 731,000 ounces gold at Two Mile Hill-Shillington.
• Infill drilling targets areas for potential underground mining and aims to upgrade resources to Indicated classification.
• Visible gold was observed throughout significant intersections, typically associated with galena and pyrite.

What else do investors need to know?

Drilling at Sandstone is ongoing, with both RC and diamond rigs active across multiple deposits as part of workstreams for the pre-feasibility study. These latest results support Brightstar’s plans to potentially include underground mining in its upcoming study.

The infill drilling builds on recent success, following earlier results such as 305m at 1.8g/t Au from extension drilling. Initial work has also identified a newly discovered “Shirvington Zone” at Two Mile Hill, revealing even broader mineralisation than previously modelled.

What did Brightstar Resources management say?

Managing Director Alex Rovira said:

The latest results continue to demonstrate the broad widths of the Two Mile Hill deposit and high-grade nature of the quartz veining within the host tonalite, with individual grades reaching 449g/t Au. These infill results are hugely encouraging for a potential future underground mining operation at Two Mile Hill, which is currently being assessed by Brightstar and Entech for inclusion in the upcoming pre-feasibility study.

What’s next for Brightstar Resources?

Brightstar plans to incorporate the new infill drill results into its next Mineral Resource Estimate and pre-feasibility study, both set for release in November 2026. The ongoing drilling programs seek to further enhance geological confidence and explore extensions at depth.

Construction of the 1.5Mtpa processing plant is already underway as part of the broader Goldfields Hub development, with initial gold production targeted for June 2027. The company aims to progress towards large-scale underground and open pit mining across its Western Australian gold assets.

Brightstar Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Brightstar Resources shares have risen 32%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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The post Brightstar Resources posts record gold drilling intercepts at Sandstone 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 Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) share price looks like an excellent long-term opportunity after seeing the growth numbers from its FY26 result.

Lovisa is a global retailer of affordable jewellery across numerous countries worldwide. Impressively, it has stores on every continent and has an excellent outlook, in my view.

Lovisa may not be a tech stock, but few names on the ASX have such a wide geographic reach, with plenty of growth potential to come.

Lots of store growth

The company continues to expand its global store network at an impressive pace, which is driving the overall business.

In FY26, the company reported a 10.2% year-over-year rise of its global store count to 1,136.

There was a net increase in stores over the year in Australia, Vietnam, South Africa, Zambia, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the USA, Canada and the Middle East and Africa franchise.

It’s growing in a number of markets, and this is helping increase its presence and scale there.

The business actually closed 43 underperforming stores during the financial year, as well as relocating a further 12 stores. It’s continuing to focus on store profitability – where landlords don’t provide a profitable rent, it is willing to close that store.

Its FY26 comparable store sales grew by 2%, with an acceleration to 3% growth in the first eight weeks of FY27. I think this shows the business can continue to expand, while maintaining profitability with its existing stores.

Impressive financial growth

Compounding is a very powerful force, and if Lovisa continues growing its store count by around 10% (or more) a year, it’s on course for a very profitable future.

In FY26, Lovisa’s revenue grew 17.6%, gross profit rose 18.4%, operating profit (EBITDA) climbed 20.9%, and net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 10.7%. Net profit rose more slowly than EBITDA because of store rollout costs.

But I think the benefits of the store rollout will be reflected in the bottom line in the coming years.

I believe that Lovisa’s net profit can continue growing at a double-digit compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the coming years, which will help increase the value of Lovisa’s shares.

I’m optimistic the company can grow strongly in Europe and North America in the coming years.

Rewarding cash payouts

The company is steadily increasing its payout to investors, which is helping boost cash returns, even before considering what could happen to the Lovisa share price over the next few years.

In the FY26 result, Lovisa hiked its annual dividend per share by 11.7% to 86 cents. That translates into a dividend yield of 3.1%, excluding any franking credits.

I expect the dividend will continue to grow alongside net profit in the coming years, so the yield for today’s investors could grow significantly by the end of the decade.

The post Why I think the Lovisa share price is an excellent long-term buy right now 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 Lovisa. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Tivan Ltd (ASX: TVN) share price is in focus today after the company announced it has commenced a large-scale drone magnetic survey at its Turiscai and Baucau Projects in Timor-Leste. The survey covers 57 square kilometres and aims to sharpen priority drilling targets for copper and gold, building on previously reported high-grade copper and gold mineralisation from rock chip and stream sediment sampling.

What did Tivan report?

• Launched a large-scale drone magnetic survey over ~57 km² at Turiscai and Baucau Projects.
• The survey includes high-definition magnetic, LiDAR and photogrammetric data collection.
• Previous assays at Turiscai returned up to 23.1% Cu and 7.19g/t Au, and at Baucau up to 0.76% Cu and 9.3g/t Au.
• Survey work managed by PT Geologi Eksplorasi Indonesia with local Timor-Leste partners to encourage local participation.
• The survey will help refine targets for planned drilling campaigns.

What else do investors need to know?

Tivan’s use of drone-based technology marks a step up from previous exploration by delivering improved spatial resolution in magnetic data. This will help better define geological structures and mineralisation zones under cover, particularly where regional datasets could not provide enough detail for drill targeting.

The company has also entered a joint venture for the Baucau Project with state-owned Murak Rai Timor E.P., reinforcing local collaboration and laying the groundwork for longer-term development of Timor-Leste’s mineral sector.

Following completion of the current magnetic survey, advanced data processing and geological modelling will focus on pinpointing high-priority targets for the next phase of on-ground exploration and eventual drilling.

What did Tivan management say?

Mr Grant Wilson, Executive Chairman, said:

Today’s announcement marks a new phase of Tivan’s journey in Timor-Leste, moving beyond surface sampling and stream sediments, to the deployment of cutting-edge drone technology in this emerging and very special country.

In taking this step, we aim to refine and specify multiple drilling targets, enabling Tivan to secure the relevant regulatory approvals in good time, so that we may commence maiden drilling at Baucau and Turiscai this year.

This is an ambitious agenda.

With the trust we have established locally, including with our joint venture partner, Murak Rai Timor EP, along with the dedication of our world-class team, we will deliver.

What’s next for Tivan?

Tivan aims to use the new high-resolution survey data to upgrade its geological models and better target high-grade mineralisation at Turiscai and Baucau. Once the data is processed and interpreted, the company plans to advance priority exploration sites to drill-ready status, pending regulatory approvals.

The partnership with local and international geoscience teams demonstrates Tivan’s commitment to innovation and responsible resource development, with eyes set on maiden drilling within the current year.

Tivan share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Tivan shares have risen 130%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

View Original Announcement

The post Tivan launches drone magnetic survey at Timor-Leste copper-gold projects 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.

Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) share price is in focus after the company posted a statutory net loss after tax of $73.3 million for the first half of 2026, mainly due to non-operating costs, while underlying net profit after tax rose to $94.3 million, up 29% on the prior period.

What did Atlas Arteria report?

• Statutory net loss after tax: $(73.3) million (H1 2025: $73.3 million profit)
• Underlying net profit after tax: $94.3 million (up 29% from H1 2025)
• Proportional toll revenue: $917.5 million (down 3.9%)
• Proportional EBITDA: $702.6 million (down 3.6%)
• Operating free cash flow per security: 19.1 cps (down 1.5%)
• Interim distribution: 20.0 cps; full-year guidance reaffirmed at 40.0 cps

What else do investors need to know?

Atlas Arteria’s results were weighed down by one-off costs tied to settling the Chicago Skyway Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan put option and costs related to the unsolicited takeover offer from IFM. Excluding these, the company’s operational results proved fairly resilient despite foreign exchange headwinds weighing on revenue and cash flow.

IFM’s takeover saw its stake in Atlas Arteria lift from 34.5% to 67.4%. The board says it remains committed to its strategy and is now engaging closely with IFM to deliver value for all securityholders. The company also completed extinguishing the Chicago Skyway put option, funded by new corporate debt.

Atlas Arteria reported progress on legislative reform in Virginia, where changes are set to streamline future rate cases for its Dulles Greenway business. There were also steady operational metrics across its European and North American assets.

What did Atlas Arteria management say?

Hugh Wehby, Chief Executive Officer, said:

Our results for H1 2026 were affected by a number of non-operating costs, as well as unfavourable foreign exchange movements. Excluding these items, the underlying performance of our businesses was stable. The IFM Takeover Offer was significant for Atlas Arteria and our securityholders. As a result of the Takeover Offer, IFM’s relevant interest is now around 67%, and the Boards and management remain focused on delivering value for all securityholders.

What’s next for Atlas Arteria?

Atlas Arteria reaffirmed its 2026 full-year distribution guidance of 40.0 cps, with the interim distribution set at 20.0 cps for payment in October 2026. The group says it will continue to align distributions with free cash flow, paying out 90–110% of free cash flow on a full-year basis.

Looking ahead, the company is focusing on optimising its global toll road portfolio, unlocking cash flow at the Dulles Greenway, and preparing for French concession retenders. Management will update 2027 distribution guidance with its February 2027 results.

Atlas Arteria share price snapshot

The Atlas Arteria share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a decline of almost 11%.

View Original Announcement

The post Atlas Arteria H1 2026 earnings: profit swings on one-offs, guidance held appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The Aurelia Metals Ltd (ASX: AMI) share price is in focus after the company posted a 69% surge in net profit and declared a fully franked final dividend of 1.0 cent for FY26.

What did Aurelia Metals report?

• Total revenue jumped 40% to $480.2 million
• EBITDA rose 55% to $189.2 million, with EBITDA margin up to 39.4%
• Net profit after tax increased 69% to $82.7 million
• Operating cash flow grew 10% to $142.8 million
• No drawn debt at year-end, with cash balance at $143.9 million
• Declared fully franked final dividend of 1.0 cent per share (approx. $17.2 million total distribution)

What else do investors need to know?

Aurelia Metals delivered higher gold and base metal production than the prior year, with group gold output at 50.4 thousand ounces, exceeding revised guidance. The company’s operating costs rose to $315.3 million, reflecting increased mining activity and the ramp-up at the Federation mine.

Development of the Great Cobar project continues on schedule, targeting first ore in 2028. The Peak Plant Expansion is progressing as planned, recently commissioning a new tailings thickener and advancing the Tertiary Ball Mill project to boost processing capacity.

Aurelia completed a major refinancing in June without drawing on any debt facilities, ensuring a robust financial position to support ongoing projects and the declared dividend.

What did Aurelia Metals management say?

Interim Chief Executive Officer Martin Cummings commented:

FY26 was a year of strong operational and financial performance for Aurelia, with material increases in EBITDA, net profit after tax and operating cash flows. Gold production exceeded the revised guidance range and all other metals were produced within guidance. Along with strong metal prices, these results supported robust margins and cash generation. This performance has enabled the Board to declare a fully franked dividend of 1 cent per share

Throughout the year, we continued to advance our growth strategy to lift mining rates and expand processing capacity. Development of Great Cobar remains on track for first production in FY28, while the Peak Plant Expansion projects continued with commissioning of the Tailings Thickener, and the continued progress of the Tertiary Ball Mill project. Together, these projects enable an increase in processing capacity from 800ktpa to 1.1 – 1.2Mtpa.

Aurelia is well positioned to continue delivering strong production while advancing its pipeline of growth opportunities across the Cobar Basin, supported by our recently completed refinancing and strong balance sheet.

What’s next for Aurelia Metals?

For FY27, Aurelia is guiding for gold production between 50,000 and 60,000 ounces and expects higher output across copper, zinc, and lead. Group operating costs are anticipated to increase as production ramps up, but unit costs should fall as the plant expansion comes online.

Medium-term, the company is focused on completing Great Cobar and the New Occidental Tailings Retreatment projects, which are expected to extend mine life and support stable production. Exploration spend is set to rise as new drilling platforms become available, particularly at Great Cobar.

Aurelia Metals share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Aurelia Metals shares have risen 89%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

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The post Aurelia Metals: FY26 profit surges, dividend announced 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.