Category: Stock Market

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price is in focus after the company delivered record iron ore shipments and posted a nine per cent jump in underlying EBITDA to US$8.6 billion for the year ended 30 June 2026.

What did Fortescue report?

• Revenue grew 9% to US$17.0 billion.
• Underlying EBITDA rose 9% to US$8.6 billion (margin: 51%).
• Underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) increased 3% to US$3.5 billion.
• Free cash flow up 25% to US$3.2 billion.
• Fully franked dividends for FY26 totalled A$1.08 per share (65% payout ratio).
• Net debt reduced to US$0.9 billion; cash balance at US$5.1 billion.

What else do investors need to know?

Fortescue achieved record iron ore shipments of 201.3 million tonnes, supported by ongoing operating excellence and a focus on safety, with a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate of 1.3. The company’s Hematite C1 unit cost was US$18.74 per wet metric tonne, within guidance despite higher energy prices.

Fortescue advanced its Green Grid strategy, progressing renewable energy projects and installing over 300,000 solar panels in the Pilbara. The company also completed the acquisition of Alta Copper, expanding its copper portfolio in Peru.

Ongoing investments in technology, including artificial intelligence for operations and energy management, are intended to boost productivity and long-term cost competitiveness.

What did Fortescue management say?

Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO Dino Otranto said:

Our record operating performance this year underpinned a nine per cent increase in Underlying EBITDA and a 25 per cent increase in free cash flow. We invested US$3.6 billion across the business and finished the year with US$5.1 billion in cash and net debt of just US$0.9 billion. That puts us in a strong position to continue investing in growth while delivering returns to shareholders.

What’s next for Fortescue?

Guidance for FY27 includes 197–207 million tonnes of iron ore shipments and a Hematite C1 unit cost between US$20.50 and US$21.75 per wet metric tonne. Planned capital expenditure is up to US$4.7 billion for metals, with an additional US$150 million earmarked for energy investments.

Fortescue will continue developing its renewable Green Grid, expanding exploration efforts, and focusing on autonomous and AI-driven efficiency improvements. The company aims to build on its strong financial position to support future growth across metals and energy.

Fortescue share price snapshot

The Fortescue share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a decline of around 7%.

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The post Fortescue hits new records in FY26: profit up, dividends flow 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.

ASX dividend shares are some of the most appealing things about investing in the Australian stock market because of the dividend yields on offer.

It’s one thing to hope for good capital growth, but seeing real cash hit the bank account during the year is especially appealing to investors seeking passive income.

I’m going to highlight two ASX dividend shares that have yields above 7%

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW)

This business is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that aims to maximise the distribution income that it provides to investors. It also has tenants locked into long-term rental contracts. The average weighted lease expiry (WALE) of the REIT is around nine years.

Charter Hall Long WALE REIT is invested in various types of commercial property around Australia such as hotels and pubs, grocery and distribution, telecommunication exchanges, data centres, service stations, banking and professional services, food manufacturing, healthcare and more.

The reason why it’s able to provide such a good distribution yield to investors is because it targets a distribution payout ratio of 100% of its rental earnings. In other words, it pays out all of its rental profit each year.

The business expects to pay an annual distribution per unit of 25.5 cents in FY27. That translates into a distribution yield of 7.1%, at the time of writing.

I think this is a great time to invest in the business because it’s trading at a 24% discount to the net tangible assets (NTA) per security of $4.71 as of 30 June 2026.

With rental income regularly growing thanks to fixed annual increases and inflation-linked increases, the business has a compelling outlook for rental growth for the foreseeable future.

Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI)

The other ASX dividend share I want to highlight is Dexus Industria REIT, which is invested in high-quality industrial warehouses across Australia. As of 30 June 2026, the portfolio was valued at $1.5 billion and is allocated across major Australian cities.

It aims to provide sustainable income and long-term capital growth for investors.

There are a number of tailwinds supporting the rental potential and value of industrial real estate, including growing e-commerce adoption, increased demand for refrigerated space, and the onshoring of logistics.

In FY26, the business reported strong like-for-like portfolio income growth of 5.3%, supported by rental escalations, strong re-leasing spreads of 21.4% and a high occupancy rate of 98.8%.

A re-leasing spread tells investors what the new rate of rent is compared to the old rental rate. The reported re-leasing spread figure implies a rental increase of 21.4% compared to the old rental contract.

The business expects to pay an annual distribution of 16.6 cents per security in FY27, translating into a yield of 7.1%, at the time of writing.

The ASX dividend share also looks cheap because it’s trading at a 32% discount to its reported NTA as of 30 June 2026.

The post 2 ASX dividend shares with yields above 7% 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 NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) share price is in focus after the company announced record full-year earnings and outlined a strong outlook. Revenue jumped 31.4% to $4.3 billion while underlying EBITA soared nearly 39% to $288.6 million.

What did NRW Holdings report?

• Revenue rose 31.4% to $4.3 billion (FY25: $3.3 billion)
• Underlying EBITA climbed 38.8% to $288.6 million
• Underlying NPAT up 43.6% to $182.7 million
• Fully franked final dividend of 14.5 cents per share, up 53%
• Underlying EBITA margin increased to 6.7% from 6.4%
• Fredon acquisition added new earnings pillar EMIT

What else do investors need to know?

NRW’s impressive result reflects growth across all divisions as well as a nine-month contribution from acquired company Fredon. This acquisition formed the company’s fourth operating segment, EMIT, increasing exposure to promising sectors like health, defence and data centres.

Mining produced stronger profits after improved productivity and reduced weather impacts in Queensland. Meanwhile, the civil segment kept steady margins despite softer resource construction demand in some regions.

The company finished the year with $7.5 billion in secured revenue and a future work pipeline worth $29.1 billion, including $11.1 billion in active tenders. Refinancing of bank facilities in July 2026 has further strengthened NRW’s balance sheet.

What’s next for NRW Holdings?

Looking ahead, NRW expects revenue of $4.6 billion–$4.8 billion and underlying EBITA of $320–$330 million in FY27, with around 85% of revenue already secured. The business will continue targeting growth across resources, energy transition, defence, infrastructure and data centre markets.

Thanks to a wider set of operating segments and a robust balance sheet, NRW aims to pursue further acquisitions and maintain disciplined capital allocation, supporting its competitive edge in attractive long-term sectors.

NRW Holdings share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, NRW shares have risen 104%, significantly outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

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The post NRW reports record FY26 earnings, strong FY27 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.

The APA Group (ASX: APA) share price is in focus after the company reported an 8.3% lift in underlying EBITDA to $2,183 million, surpassing guidance, and announced its 22nd consecutive increase in securityholder distributions.

What did APA Group report?

• Underlying EBITDA rose 8.3% to $2,183 million (FY25: $2,015 million), ahead of the midpoint of guidance
• Free cash flow increased 3.2% to $1,118 million
• Statutory revenue (excluding pass-through) was up 1.9% to $2,764 million
• Statutory net profit after tax jumped 81.4% to $234 million
• FY26 distribution increased 1.8% to 58.0 cents per security, in line with guidance
• EBITDA margin improved by 370bps to 77.9% due to $80 million of cost-out initiatives

What else do investors need to know?

APA’s cost-out program delivered $80 million in savings, exceeding its $50 million target and underpinning stronger margins. Capital investment of $546 million went into major growth projects, such as the Brigalow Peaking Power Plant, East Coast Gas Grid expansion, and Sturt Plateau Pipeline.

The group continues to streamline operations, with business simplification initiatives, divestments, and restructuring measures. Its organic growth pipeline has expanded to approximately $3.5 billion, supported by a strong balance sheet and debt raises, positioning APA to fund new opportunities.

What did APA Group management say?

APA CEO and Managing Director, Adam Watson, said:

FY26 was a year of strong financial and operational performance as we continue to deliver on our commitments to securityholders and position APA to capture value from our ~$3.5 billion organic growth pipeline. Our underlying earnings were up 8.3% and above the mid-point of guidance, supported by new assets and ongoing strong operational performance. $80 million in cost-out initiatives were delivered across the year, exceeding our target. Securityholder distributions again increased for the 22nd consecutive year.

What’s next for APA Group?

Looking ahead, APA has outlined underlying EBITDA guidance for FY27 of $2,260 million to $2,340 million, indicating mid-single-digit growth. This is expected to be driven by inflation-linked tariff escalation, the benefit of the new Sturt Plateau Pipeline, asset conversions, and ongoing cost savings.

Distributions to securityholders are forecast to grow to 59.0 cents per security in FY27. APA is also advancing projects in renewable energy, gas-powered generation, and infrastructure to support data centres, while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation.

APA Group share price snapshot

The APA Group share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) over the past 12 months with a gain of 15%.

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The post APA Group FY26 delivers strong earnings, pipeline expansion, and 22nd annual dividend increase 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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH) share price is in focus after the company delivered record FY26 results, with underlying revenue jumping 27% to $1.26 billion and underlying EBITDA rising 37% to $300.3 million, in line with updated guidance.

What did Maas Group report?

• Underlying revenue: $1,263.8 million, up 27% on prior corresponding period (pcp)
• Underlying EBITDA: $300.3 million, up 37% on pcp, matching updated guidance
• Statutory NPAT: $136.1 million, up 89%
• Underlying NPAT: $123.4 million, up 57%
• Underlying EPS: 34.2 cents, up 51% on pcp
• Operating cashflow conversion: 93%
• No final dividend declared for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Maas Group pushed forward with its new capital management framework, favouring share buybacks over dividends. The group invested $55.1 million in buybacks since February and is seeking shareholder approval to increase its buyback capacity to 20% of issued capital.

A major sale of the Construction Materials portfolio to Heidelberg Materials Australia, valued at up to $1.703 billion, remains on track to settle in October 2026. This move is expected to further strengthen Maas Group’s balance sheet and provide additional options for future growth.

The group’s electrical division stood out as a key growth driver, with $1.2 billion in external work in hand. The recently secured $855 million Firmus purchase order provides further visibility on earnings for FY27 and beyond.

What did Maas Group management say?

Wes Maas, Managing Director and CEO, said:

FY26 was a defining year for Maas Group. We delivered a record result, and importantly our continuing operations exceeded the guidance range confirming the quality of the business we are carrying into FY27.

What’s next for Maas Group?

Maas Group expects strong revenue and profit growth from continuing operations into FY27, supported by its booming electrical manufacturing arm and a healthy pipeline of residential land settlements. Proceeds from the material sale are expected to provide extra firepower for earnings-accretive investment opportunities.

The company will shift to four reporting segments from FY27: Electrical, Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, and MGH Investments. The share buyback will remain in place, reflecting Maas Group’s belief that its shares are trading below underlying value.

Maas Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Maas Group 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 Maas Group delivers record FY26 earnings, boosts buybacks, eyes growth 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 Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price is likely to come under the spotlight today as the company announced FY26 revenue surged 37% to $312.2 million, with EBITDA up 24% to $77.1 million and Group Annual Recurring Revenue jumping 62% to $395.2 million.

What did Megaport report?

• Revenue up 37% to $312.2 million (FY25: $227.1 million)
• EBITDA rose 24% to $77.1 million (FY25: $62.3 million)
• Net loss of $39.0 million (FY25: loss of $0.3 million)
• Group Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) increased 62% to $395.2 million
• Cash and cash equivalents at year end: $435.4 million
• No dividend declared for FY26

What else do investors need to know?

Megaport completed the acquisition of the compute platform Latitude.sh and India’s Extreme IX internet exchange, broadening its platform and opening new markets. The company also executed over $1 billion in capital raises to fund large strategic contracts and establish an on-demand GPU pool.

During FY26, Megaport delivered eight significant multi-year infrastructure contracts valued at $747.8 million, underscoring rising demand for integrated network, compute and storage solutions, especially supporting AI workloads. Its ongoing global expansion included adding 155 data centres and further building out its US and Indian operations.

What did Megaport management say?

Megaport’s CEO, Michael Reid, said:

A year ago, I said FY26 would be a year of acceleration. We delivered on that promise and went much further, completely transforming the scale, reach, and ambition of Megaport.

FY26 produced an exceptional result. Group Annual Recurring Revenue increased by 62% to $395.2 million, revenue grew by 37% to $312.2 million, and EBITDA reached $77.1 million. These are incredible results and we’re only just getting started.

What’s next for Megaport?

Looking ahead to FY27, Megaport plans to keep integrating its acquisitions, efficiently deliver contracted infrastructure, and bring its on-demand GPU pool to market. Management will also focus on sustaining network momentum while unifying compute, network, and storage through software, aiming to build on its position in distributed AI and digital infrastructure solutions.

Megaport says its priorities are disciplined investment in growth where demand is clear and where the business model provides strong returns. The board remains confident about the company’s international growth opportunity and will continue to pursue markets for cloud, AI, and digital workloads.

Megaport share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Megaport share price has rocketed 42%, outpacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the broader tech sector’s performance.

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The post Megaport FY26: Earnings soar as AI and global footprint drive strategy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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 Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) share price is in focus today after the gold miner reported a 41% jump in its Ore Reserves to 4.1 million ounces and a 15% lift in average reserve grade to 2.22g/t gold, as at 30 June 2026.

What did Westgold Resources report?

• Total gold Mineral Resource Estimate: 194 million tonnes at 2.30g/t Au for 14.4 million ounces, up 8% year-on-year (after adjustments for asset sales).
• Total Ore Reserves: 57 million tonnes at 2.22g/t Au for 4.1 million ounces, up 41% after depletion and divestments.
• Ore Reserve grade increased 15% to 2.22g/t Au (from 1.93g/t Au in FY25).
• Measured and Indicated Resources now at 62.6% of total inventory (up from 56.6% in FY25).
• 10-year Reserve life maintained at current processing capacity across the group.
• Exploration and resource development spend totalled $42 million in FY26; Reserve additions achieved at a competitive $27/oz cost.

What else do investors need to know?

The company’s resource and reserve growth comes despite the divestment of several non-core assets, which removed around 3 million ounces from the prior Mineral Resource total. Westgold highlights that the growth was delivered organically, underpinned by resource drilling programs across both the Murchison and Southern Goldfields portfolios.

The addition of the maiden Fletcher Ore Reserve at Beta Hunt added 1.1 million ounces, while upgrades at Bluebird-South Junction and Starlight also contributed. Westgold continues to maintain strong resource confidence, with the majority of its Mineral Resource now in higher-confidence Measured and Indicated categories.

What’s next for Westgold Resources?

Looking ahead, Westgold plans to invest between $50 million and $75 million in exploration and resource development drilling in FY27, subject to market conditions and board approval. With 26 drill rigs active across its portfolio, the company is targeting further conversion of Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves and additional mine life extension.

Westgold expects ongoing drilling at key assets such as Beta Hunt, Big Bell South, Paddy’s Flat and Cuddingwarra will support both near-term Reserve growth and broader hub optimisation. Management sees continued Ore Reserve growth as fundamental to unlocking mill expansion options and growing production.

Westgold Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Westgold Resources shares have risen 81%, significantly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

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The post Westgold Resources lifts Ore Reserves by 41% in 2026 update 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 IDP Education Ltd (ASXL IEL) share price is in focus after the company reported revenue of $795.4 million, down 11% from last year, and net profit after tax of $13.3 million, a fall of 74%.

What did IDP Education report?

• Revenue: $795.4 million, down 11%
• Statutory net profit after tax (NPAT): $13.3 million, down 74%
• Adjusted NPAT: $57.1 million, down 18%
• Adjusted EBIT: $122.9 million, down 3%
• Final dividend: 6.0 cents per share, unfranked
• EBITDA margin: 15.4% (Adjusted EBIT as percentage of revenue)

What else do investors need to know?

The drop in IDP Education’s earnings was mainly caused by weaker international student demand as a result of ongoing policy changes and tighter migration settings in key markets. Student Placement volumes tumbled by 27% and IELTS English Language Testing volumes dropped by 8%. Despite these headwinds, IDP delivered a $32 million underlying reduction in overhead costs, exceeding its transformation target, and continued to generate strong cash flow, bringing net debt down by 29% to $118.6 million.

IDP also launched a share buy-back program of up to $50 million, reflecting strong capital management and confidence in its transformation strategy. The business continued investing in technology and AI tools, launching new digital products such as FastLane Propose and expanding into the Chinese testing market.

What did IDP Education management say?

IDP Education’s CEO, Tennealle O’Shannessy, commented:

I would like to thank our people around the world for their hard work, resilience and unwavering commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes for our students and university partners. Despite the challenges faced by both our teams and student community, maintaining outstanding NPS and trust scores is an exceptional achievement.

What’s next for IDP Education?

Looking ahead, IDP expects challenging market conditions to persist in FY27, with tightening migration and student visa policies likely to weigh on volumes for a third year. However, management remains focused on building a more agile, technology-enabled business and driving further cost efficiencies. The multi-year transformation program aims to diversify revenue streams, improve margins, and consolidate IDP’s position as a quality leader in international education.

The company plans to leverage its strong balance sheet to invest in digital capability, data, and AI, while expanding its Student Placement destinations and IELTS English testing centres. Investors can also expect continued focus on shareholder returns through the announced buy-back.

IDP Education share price snapshot

The IDP Education share price is down approximately 55% over the past 12 months, while the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) has gained around 1.5% in the same period.

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The post IDP Education posts steep FY26 profit drop but stays on transformation track 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 Australian Finance Group Ltd (ASX: AFG) share price is in focus today after the company reported FY26 profit up 39% to $49 million, with EBITDA surging 32% and residential lending settlements growing by 18% to $75 billion.

What did Australian Finance Group report?

• Reported NPAT rose to $49 million, up 39% year on year
• EBITDA increased 32% to $74.4 million
• Residential lending settlements grew 18% to $75 billion
• Asset finance settlements were up 19%, reaching $4.3 billion
• Final dividend of 4.8 cents per share, total DPS 9.5 cents (up 4%)
• Net interest margin expanded 9 basis points to 1.25%

What else do investors need to know?

Australian Finance Group has broadened its earnings base, with recurring and diversified income streams now making up 78% of its mix, helping to cushion short-term mortgage market volatility. BrokerEngine subscribers climbed 19% to 4,400, and broker services subscription income rose 13% to $24 million, now representing 23% of Distribution earnings.

The company invested $21 million to drive further growth, including technology, new funding, and minority stakes in broker businesses. AFG’s balance sheet remains strong with $63 million in unrestricted cash and a 94% cash conversion rate, while a share buy-back of up to $15 million was announced in June 2026.

What’s next for Australian Finance Group?

AFG expects continued EBITDA uplift into FY27, with around $13 million in annualised benefit already embedded from recent investments. The group is maintaining focus on margin discipline, funding diversity, and efficiency gains, with further investments in systems, automation, and artificial intelligence planned to support productivity and future growth.

While residential activity has softened in the last two months, AFG sees long-term demand for brokers and competitive lending options supporting its position. The company aims to increase the share of broker service income and expand its AFG Securities loan book, tracking towards FY29 aspirations.

Australian Finance Group share price snapshot

Over the 12 months, Australian Finance Group shares have declined 36%, trailing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen 1% over the same period.

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The post Australian Finance Group reports FY26 profit growth and expanded earnings base 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 Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) share price is in focus today after the supply chain giant reported sales revenue of US$7.04 billion, up 2%, and underlying profit of US$1.49 billion, up 4% for the year ended 30 June 2026.

What did Brambles report?

• Sales revenue: US$7,042.9 million, up 2% (constant FX)
• Underlying profit: US$1,494.4 million, up 4% (constant FX)
• Operating profit after tax: US$948.5 million, up 5% (constant FX)
• Basic EPS (continuing operations): 69.9 US cents, up 6% (constant FX)
• Final dividend: 23.15 US cents per share (total FY26 dividends up 16% on FY25)
• Free cash flow before dividends: US$1,048.2 million

What else do investors need to know?

Brambles navigated a year marked by persistent inflation and softer consumer demand, especially across its major US and European markets. The company faced operational challenges in the US during the fourth quarter, including repair capacity constraints that created service level issues and dented underlying profit by about US$90 million.

Despite these headwinds, Brambles invested in network upgrades and additional pallet purchases to improve availability and service quality for customers, with clear plans to boost repair capacity and resilience in the US. Strong demand from new customers and momentum in digital and sustainability initiatives continued across key markets.

What did Brambles management say?

Brambles CEO, Graham Chipchase, commented:

We delivered a resilient FY26 result, growing earnings and generating strong free cash flow while advancing initiatives across quality, network and digital that strengthen our long-term competitive advantage and support future growth and value creation.

Our actions are already delivering positive results, with customer order fulfilment improving materially since mid-April. We remain on track to resolve the repair capacity constraints by the end of the first half of FY27 and position our US business to strengthen customer relationships and pursue growth, with quality as a key source of competitive advantage.

What’s next for Brambles?

Looking ahead, Brambles expects sales revenue growth of 2–4% and underlying profit growth of 2–6% at constant currency in FY27. Free cash flow before dividends is forecast between US$800 million and US$950 million.

The company is focused on resolving US repair constraints, accelerating digital transformation, and supporting customers with resilient, efficient supply chains. A decision on a potential North American rollout of its Serialisation+ digital solution is expected in the third quarter of FY27. Brambles also reaffirmed its FY28 margin expansion target and plans to complete its current share buy-back program.

Brambles share price snapshot

The Brambles share price has been a poor performer over the past 12 months. During this time, its shares have fallen 16%, compared to a modest 1.5% gain by the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO).

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The post Brambles earnings: FY26 profit rises, dividend up, outlook steady 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.