The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is in focus as the company reported record results for the half-year ended 31 December 2025, including a 110% jump in net profit after tax to $766.6 million and a fully franked interim dividend of 20 cents per share.

What did Evolution Mining report?

• Revenue rose 37% to $2.79 billion (1H FY25: $2.03 billion)
• Net profit after tax surged 110% to $766.6 million (1H FY25: $365.1 million)
• Underlying EBITDA increased 57% to $1.59 billion
• Basic earnings per share climbed to 37.96 cents, up from 18.36 cents
• Fully franked interim dividend of 20 cents per share (to be paid 2 April 2026)
• Net mine cash flow up 151% to $1.09 billion

What else do investors need to know?

Evolution Mining’s strong financial performance was largely driven by consistently high gold and copper production and higher commodity prices. Commissioning of the expanded Mungari mill in Western Australia was completed 15% under budget, supporting increased production across the Group’s six operating mines.

The company maintained its commitment to cost discipline, with Group all-in sustaining cost (AISC) guidance improved by 6%. FY26 production guidance remains on track, despite a short-term weather-related interruption at the Ernest Henry mine. Evolution also approved new growth projects at Northparkes (E22 block cave) and Ernest Henry (Bert) to underpin future production.

On the sustainability front, Evolution continues to aim for Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a 30% reduction target by 2030. The company released its latest sustainability and modern slavery reports, and maintained sector-leading ESG ratings.

What’s next for Evolution Mining?

Looking ahead, Evolution Mining is focused on delivering FY26 production targets and progressing major capital projects, including mine expansions at Cowal and Northparkes. The company expects a stronger cash flow in the second half, assisted by higher prevailing gold prices compared to its first-half realised price.

Further development of growth projects and disciplined capital management remain priorities. The Board has committed to returning value to shareholders via regular dividends and a continued focus on sustainability initiatives as it advances its project pipeline.

Evolution Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Evolution mining shares have risen 141%, significantly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Evolution Mining half-year results: record profit and higher dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Santos 2025 Annual Reserves statement: higher reserves and long-life assets
• National Storage REIT grows profit and portfolio in 1H FY26 results
• Evolution Mining unlocks $120m Northparkes deal with Triple Flag
• GQG Partners lifts FUM to US$165.7b in January update

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 GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) share price is in focus as the company reported an increase in total funds under management (FUM) to US$165.7 billion at January 2026, up from US$163.9 billion, despite net outflows across all strategies.

What did GQG Partners report?

• Total FUM at 31 January 2026: US$165.7 billion (up from US$163.9 billion in December 2025)
• Net flows: Outflows of US$4.2 billion across all strategies during January
• Investment performance: Positive US$6.0 billion contribution for the month
• International strategy FUM: US$72.8 billion
• US strategy FUM: US$13.8 billion
• Global strategy FUM: US$37.4 billion

What else do investors need to know?

GQG Partners recorded net withdrawals during January, with each primary strategy seeing outflows. However, positive investment performance more than offset this, resulting in modest FUM growth overall.

The figures represent both discretionary and non-discretionary mandates and include fee- and non-fee paying accounts. The company’s private capital solutions activity was not included in this update.

Monthly FUM announcements are scheduled, with the next report set for 11 March 2026, helping investors stay up to date on ongoing flows and performance trends.

What’s next for GQG Partners?

GQG Partners continues to provide regular monthly FUM transparency to investors. The business is focusing on investment performance while balancing client inflows and outflows across its suite of global strategies.

Investors will be watching future FUM updates for signs of flow stabilisation and to see if positive market performance can continue to support overall growth.

GQG Partners share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, GQG Partners shares have declined 29%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post GQG Partners lifts FUM to US$165.7b in January update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Centuria Industrial REIT grows earnings and holds guidance for HY26
• Santos 2025 Annual Reserves statement: higher reserves and long-life assets
• National Storage REIT grows profit and portfolio in 1H FY26 results
• Evolution Mining unlocks $120m Northparkes deal with Triple Flag
• Evolution Mining half-year results: record profit and higher dividend

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 recommended Gqg Partners. 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 share market is home to a wide range of dividend-paying shares, but not all income is created equal.

It can be smart to focus on businesses with predictable cash flows, defensible assets, and the balance sheet strength to support dividends through different market conditions. When those boxes are ticked, dividend yields can look far more reliable than headline numbers alone suggest.

With that in mind, here are three defensive ASX dividend shares that brokers are currently recommending to clients.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first ASX dividend share to consider is APA Group. It owns and operates critical energy infrastructure across Australia, including gas pipelines, storage facilities, and power assets. These assets are typically long life and regulated or contracted, which helps provide steady and visible cash flows.

Macquarie is positive on APA’s outlook and currently has an outperform rating and $9.23 price target on its shares.

As for income, Macquarie is forecasting dividends of 58 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 59 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $9.23, that equates to very attractive dividend yields of 6.3% and 6.4%, respectively.

Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

Another ASX dividend share analysts like is Rural Funds Group. It provides exposure to high-quality Australian agricultural assets, including cattle properties, cropping farms, and almond orchards. These assets are leased to high-quality operators under long-term agreements, which helps smooth income over time.

Bell Potter currently has a buy rating and a $2.45 price target on the company’s shares. The broker thinks its shares are being undervalued based on its net tangible assets, potentially making now an opportune time to invest.

This is especially the case for income investors, with Bell Potter forecasting dividends of 11.7 cents per share in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $2.00, this would mean generous dividend yields of 5.85% in each year.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

The final ASX dividend share analysts are backing is Telstra. It is of course Australia’s largest telecommunications provider, with dominant positions in mobile, fixed-line, and enterprise services. Its scale and network investments continue to support recurring revenue and cash generation.

Macquarie is positive on the company and has an outperform rating and $5.08 price target on its shares.

With respect to dividends, Macquarie is forecasting fully franked payouts of 20 cents per share in FY 2026 and 21 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $4.87, this equates to dividend yields of 4.1% and 4.3%, respectively.

The post 3 defensive ASX dividend shares that analysts are tipping as top buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

This morning, AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) reported a statutory profit after tax of $94 million for the first half of FY26 and declared a fully franked interim dividend of 24 cents per share.

What did AGL Energy report?

• Statutory profit after tax: $94 million (includes $143 million loss in the fair value of financial instruments and $116 million significant items)
• Underlying EBITDA: $1,092 million (flat compared to 1H25)
• Underlying net profit after tax: $353 million, down 6% on 1H25
• Interim fully franked dividend: 24 cents per share
• 4.7 million total customer services, up 108,000 since FY25
• FY26 earnings guidance narrowed: underlying EBITDA of $2,020–$2,180 million; underlying NPAT of $580–$680 million

What else do investors need to know?

AGL’s retail transformation program is progressing, with key capabilities deployed and committed benefits on track. The company also grew its development pipeline to 11.3 GW, signing new long-term power purchase agreements for wind farms in South Australia and Western Australia.

The 500 MW Tomago Battery project in New South Wales has begun construction, while the Liddell Battery’s first 250 MW is targeted to be operational in the third quarter. AGL has also struck a deal to divest its telecommunications business to Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) , with migration of customers planned for FY27 and an expected $115 million investment in ABB shares.

What did AGL Energy management say?

AGL Managing Director and CEO Damien Nicks, said:

The strength of our first half result was delivered by our excellent operational performance. In Customer Markets we saw an improvement in customer margins, driven by growth in our customer base and a return to more sustainable margins.

What’s next for AGL Energy?

AGL has narrowed FY26 earnings guidance and is targeting $50 million in sustainable net operating cost reductions in FY27. Focus areas for the remainder of the year include continued delivery of the retail transformation, advancing renewable and storage projects, and careful cost management.

The company expects second-half earnings to be seasonally lower due to customer demand patterns and legacy contract changes. All guidance remains subject to regulatory and operational factors.

AGL Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, AGL Energy shares have declined 24%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post AGL Energy posts 1H26 profit and narrows FY26 earnings guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Centuria Industrial REIT grows earnings and holds guidance for HY26
• Santos 2025 Annual Reserves statement: higher reserves and long-life assets
• National Storage REIT grows profit and portfolio in 1H FY26 results
• Evolution Mining unlocks $120m Northparkes deal with Triple Flag
• Evolution Mining half-year results: record profit and higher dividend

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 positions in and has recommended Aussie Broadband. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aussie Broadband. 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.

Generating passive income is a common goal for investors, but it doesn’t have to involve managing dozens of individual shares or constantly monitoring company announcements.

For many people, exchange traded funds (ETFs) offer a simpler and more diversified way to build income over time. By holding a basket of dividend-paying companies or income-generating assets, ETFs can provide regular cash flow while reducing reliance on any single business.

Why ETFs work well for passive income

One of the biggest advantages of ETFs is diversification.

Instead of depending on one ASX share to keep paying dividends, an income ETF spreads that risk across many holdings. If one company cuts its payout, others can help offset the impact. This can make income streams more resilient, especially during periods of economic uncertainty.

ETFs are also low maintenance. Once purchased, they require very little ongoing management from the investor, which suits those looking to build income without constantly adjusting their portfolio.

Australian dividend ETFs

Australia’s share market is well known for its dividend culture, and several ETFs are designed to capture this.

Funds such as the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY) and the Betashares S&P Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: HYLD) focus on shares offering above-average yields.

These ETFs typically hold banks, miners, and large industrial companies that generate strong cash flows and regularly return capital to shareholders. In many cases, distributions also come with franking credits, which can boost after-tax income for Australian investors.

Global income through ETFs

Passive income doesn’t have to come only from Australia. Some ETFs provide access to global income streams that behave differently to local dividends.

The Betashares Global Royalties ETF (ASX: ROYL), for example, invests in stocks that earn royalties from intellectual property, natural resources, and infrastructure-like assets.

Because royalties are often paid regardless of who operates the underlying asset, this can result in relatively stable cash flows that are less tied to traditional economic cycles.

Combining income with long-term growth

Many investors make the mistake of chasing yield too early.

Instead, a common approach is to pair income ETFs with growth-focused investments. ETFs such as the Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) or the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) may offer lower yields today, but can help grow the portfolio over time.

As the portfolio grows, investors can gradually tilt more toward income-focused ETFs, allowing dividends to become a larger part of total returns.

Foolish takeaway

ETFs can be powerful tools for building passive income.

By offering diversification, simplicity, and access to both local and global income sources, they allow investors to construct income portfolios without excessive complexity. Whether used on their own or alongside growth assets, ETFs can help turn investing into a steady and scalable source of passive income over the long term.

The post How ETFs can help investors build significant passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) share price is in focus today as the company reported a 30% rise in third-quarter net sales to US$1.24 billion, helped by its recent AZEK acquisition, while adjusted EBITDA grew 26% to US$330 million.

What did James Hardie report?

• Net sales up 30% to US$1,239.8 million (Q3 FY26)
• Adjusted EBITDA up 26% to US$329.9 million (margin: 26.6%)
• Net income down 52% to US$68.7 million
• Adjusted net income of US$142.2 million, down 7%
• Operating cash flow US$455 million (nine months)
• Free cash flow US$260.8 million (nine months)

What else do investors need to know?

James Hardie’s strong net sales were largely driven by the addition of AZEK, with organic sales flat overall but down 2% for legacy Siding & Trim in North America due to softer demand. Deck, Rail & Accessories sales ticked up 2% on a comparable basis, reflecting steady momentum in material conversion and channel expansion.

The company is progressing ahead of schedule on integration and synergy targets following the acquisition, already surpassing its full-year cost synergy goal and aiming for a combined US$125 million run rate. Operating margin improvements were notable in Siding & Trim, with a sequential lift of about 500 basis points, even as volumes softened in key US markets.

James Hardie’s balance sheet was reshaped by the AZEK acquisition, resulting in increased debt and goodwill, but the business generated solid cash and maintained strong profitability across geographies.

What did James Hardie management say?

CEO Aaron Erter said:

In the third-quarter, we achieved or exceeded each of our financial commitments despite a mixed macro backdrop. We are taking actions to address the current market environment, including optimizing our manufacturing footprint and better aligning our cost structure with the slower, but stabilizing, pace of demand. These actions will improve near-term profitability and better position the Company to profitably grow when conditions improve.

Siding & Trim organic net sales were down modestly in the quarter, while Adjusted EBITDA margin improved nearly 500 basis points sequentially primarily driven by price / mix favorability and our actions to drive Hardie Operating System savings. Deck, Rail & Accessories delivered mid-single-digit sell-through growth, demonstrating our ability to drive material conversion through channel expansion and new product initiatives.

What’s next for James Hardie?

Looking ahead, James Hardie has modestly raised its FY26 guidance to reflect a stronger Q3 result. The company now sees full-year Siding & Trim net sales of US$2.95–3.0 billion and Adjusted EBITDA of US$939–962 million, both slightly higher than previous forecasts. Guidance for Deck, Rail & Accessories was also nudged higher, with net sales of US$787–800 million and EBITDA of US$219–224 million.

Management is remaining cautious in the near term given ongoing softness in residential construction in key US regions. However, the business expects to unlock further value as AZEK is fully integrated, with synergies and channel momentum setting the platform for growth when housing demand improves.

James Hardie share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, James Hardie shares have declined 37%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post James Hardie lifts Q3 sales 30% on AZEK acquisition appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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.

For long-term investors, the real challenge is finding investments that can quietly compound wealth over many years.

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) can be well suited to this task, offering diversification, transparency, and low ongoing effort.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could be particularly attractive for buy and hold investors:

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

The Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF takes a quality-first approach to global investing. Rather than simply owning the biggest stocks, it focuses on 150 businesses with strong balance sheets, high returns on equity, and stable earnings.

Some of its largest holdings include Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX), ASML (NASDAQ: ASML), and Costco (NASDAQ: COST). These are companies with entrenched competitive positions and long histories of profitability.

What makes the Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF appealing for buy and hold investors is its built-in discipline. By screening for financial strength and earnings stability, the ETF naturally tilts away from weaker or more speculative businesses. Over long periods, this quality bias has the potential to reduce downside risk while still delivering solid growth. It was recently recommended to investors by Betashares.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

The iShares S&P 500 ETF is about as simple as buy and hold investing gets. It tracks the S&P 500 Index, giving investors exposure to 500 of the largest and most influential companies in the United States. Among its top holdings are Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Visa (NYSE: V), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). These are businesses that sit at the centre of global technology and innovation.

The key attraction of this ASX ETF is consistency. Over decades, the US share market has been driven by productivity growth, innovation, and strong corporate profitability. The iShares S&P 500 ETF allows investors to harness those forces without needing to guess which company will lead the next wave.

For buy and hold investors, this fund works well as a core portfolio building block and offers broad diversification, low fees, and exposure to stocks that reinvest heavily in growth.

Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF (ASX: CFLO)

Finally, the Betashares Global Cash Flow Kings ETF could be worth considering if you are a buy and hold investor.

It focuses on stocks that generate strong and consistent free cash flow. Some of its notable holdings include Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG), Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), and Visa (NYSE: V).

Free cash flow matters because it gives companies flexibility. It allows them to reinvest, pay dividends, reduce debt, or buy back shares. Over long periods, businesses with strong cash generation often prove more resilient during economic downturns. It was also recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

The post Why these ASX ETFs could be perfect for buy and hold investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Lam Research, Microsoft, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, Tesla, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Lam Research, Microsoft, Nvidia, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There is a wide array of opportunities available on the ASX stock market – any of them can produce good investment returns, not just the most popular ones.

The funds management team at Wilson Asset Management have identified a few different names in its WAM Research Ltd (ASX: WAX) portfolio that could be good ideas.

WAM Research is a listed investment company (LIC) that looks to invest in the most compelling undervalued growth opportunities in the Australian market.

Let’s look at two ASX stocks that WAM believes are buys at the current share prices.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

WAM describes Generation Development Group as a provider of wealth and retirement-related products and services across platforms, including managed accounts and investment bonds.

The fund manager noted that the ASX stock released its update for the three months to December 2025 last month, which showed “strong underlying operating momentum”, including total funds under management (FUM) of $34.5 billion (up 36% year over year) and record quarterly gross inflows of $393 million (up 57% year over year).

This growth was driven by Generation Life, one of the company’s three divisions, which offers investment bonds and lifetime annuities.

WAM noted that the Generation Development Group’s share price fell sharply after delivering its quarterly update.

The fund manager believes that market commentary suggested the reaction was driven less by the headline growth numbers and more by “pre-existing investor positioning and valuation levels ahead of the results, coupled with investor sensitivity to the timing of inflows within the Evidentia Group business.”

WAM then explained why it sees this as an opportunity and why it thinks it’s a buy:

While lumpier in nature versus the traditional investment bonds business, we believe momentum within Evidentia Group remains strong and view the current weakness as opportunity to add to our position given our conviction in the medium-term growth profile.

Supply Network Ltd (ASX: SNL)

The other ASX stock highlighted within the WAM Research portfolio was Supply Network, an automotive parts distributor that’s focused on specialist undercarriage parts for the independent repair market.

The fund manager noted that in late January, the business released an earnings forecast for the six months to 31 December 2025, leading to a rise in the Supply Network share price.

That forecast included expected overall sales revenue of $200 million, as well as net profit after tax (NPAT) guidance of $22.9 million. The company also announced a fully-franked interim dividend of 36 cents per share, which will be paid on 2 April 2026.

Aside from the numbers, why was this such a promising update from the ASX stock? WAM wrote:            

The update reinforced confidence in the business’ earnings momentum heading into its half -year result expected in late February, with the fully franked dividend also highlighting balance sheet strength and cash generation.

The post Experts reckon both of these ASX stocks are good buys today! 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 Supply Network Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Generation Development Group and Supply Network Ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) share price is in focus today after the company posted half-year FFO per unit growth and reaffirmed its FY26 guidance, powered by positive property revaluations and strong portfolio performance.

What did HomeCo Daily Needs REIT report?

• First-half FY26 FFO per unit of 4.4 cents, up from 4.3 cents a year ago
• First-half FY26 distribution per unit (DPU) steady at 4.3 cents
• Net asset value (NTA) per unit of $1.55, up 5.4% since June 2025
• Dec-25 proforma gearing at 34.6%, within management’s 30–40% target
• Asset revaluations delivered a $219 million gross uplift (+4.5%) on June 2025 values
• FY26 guidance reaffirmed: FFO of 9.0 cents per unit and DPU of 8.6 cents per unit

What else do investors need to know?

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT maintained occupancy and cash rent collections above 99% since its IPO, demonstrating ongoing tenant demand and stable cashflow. The REIT also reported $87 million of asset disposals during the half, locking in a 1.6% premium to book value and providing flexibility for future acquisitions and developments.

The company has a development pipeline exceeding $650 million, targeting a return on invested capital of around 7%. Active projects worth $100 million are currently underway, aiming to drive earnings and future growth. Management highlighted disciplined asset recycling, focusing on high-quality centres and tenant-led opportunities.

What did HomeCo Daily Needs REIT management say?

Managing Director and CEO Sid Sharma said:

HDN has delivered another strong half, with robust top-line revenue growth driving an increase in FFO per unit and continued NTA growth. Operational excellence remains the cornerstone of our performance, with occupancy and cash collections above 99%, consistently positive leasing spreads and comparable NOI growth of 4%.

What’s next for HomeCo Daily Needs REIT?

Looking ahead, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT remains focused on delivering sustainable income growth for investors, leveraging its well-capitalised balance sheet and active development pipeline. The trust intends to continue strategic asset recycling and reinvesting in neighbourhood centres that support future valuation upside and improved earnings quality.

Management reaffirmed full-year FY26 guidance for FFO and distributions, underpinned by stable rental income and disciplined capital deployment. The portfolio’s exposure to leading national tenants and high-growth metropolitan areas supports HomeCo Daily Needs REIT’s strategy for resilient, long-term growth.

HomeCo Daily Needs REIT share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, HomeCo Daily Needs REIT shares have risen 8%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post HomeCo Daily Needs REIT posts 1H FY26 FFO growth and reaffirms guidance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• James Hardie lifts Q3 sales 30% on AZEK acquisition
• CSL half-year earnings: profit drops but guidance reaffirmed
• CBA half-year results: profit lifts, dividend grows, tech spend ramps up
• SGH delivers strong first-half FY26 earnings with higher dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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 recommended HomeCo Daily Needs REIT. 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 CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price is in focus today after reporting underlying NPATA of US$1.9 billion, down 7% on the prior period, with total revenue falling 4% to US$8.3 billion.

What did CSL report?

• Total revenue: US$8.3 billion, down 4% (constant currency)
• Underlying NPATA: US$1.9 billion, down 7%
• Reported NPAT: US$401 million, down 81%
• Interim dividend: US$1.30 per share (steady year-on-year)
• Cash flow from operations: US$1.3 billion, up 3%
• Share buy-back expanded from US$500 million to US$750 million

What else do investors need to know?

CSL’s first-half results were weighed down by government policy changes, one-off restructuring costs, and asset impairments of around US$1.1 billion, mainly relating to CSL Vifor and CSL Seqirus. Despite these headwinds, transformation programs achieved around 60% of targeted cost savings for FY26, driven by simplifying operations and reducing R&D and infrastructure expenses.

The company announced a US$1.5 billion expansion of its US plasma manufacturing and highlighted strong revenue growth in CSL Vifor (up 12%). However, CSL Behring’s revenue declined 7%, and Seqirus faced a dip following non-recurring avian influenza revenue last year.

What did CSL management say?

CSL’s Chief Financial Officer Ken Lim said:

We are clearly not satisfied with our performance and have implemented a number of initiatives to drive stronger growth going forward. Our first-half results were also adversely impacted by a number of factors including government policy changes, one-off restructuring costs and impairments. In the second half we have an ambitious growth plan, driven by immunoglobulin (Ig), albumin and our newly launched products. We continued to advance our broader transformation strategy, making strong progress on our cost‑efficiency initiatives and strengthening the foundations of the business. We invested in growth opportunities including our strategic collaboration with VarmX. This will deliver enhanced growth, profitability and shareholder returns.

What’s next for CSL?

CSL has reaffirmed its FY26 guidance for 2–3% revenue growth and 4–7% NPATA growth, excluding one-off items and at constant currency. The second half is expected to benefit from growth in immunoglobulin, albumin, and new products. Seqirus will see lower contributions due to flu seasonality, while Vifor’s growth may be offset by continued generic competition.

Management remains focused on transformation and efficiency, with more than half the targeted cost savings for FY26 already achieved. Initiatives such as expanding manufacturing capacity and investing in innovative collaborations are intended to position CSL for longer-term value creation.

CSL share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the CSL shares have declined 33%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 5% over the same period.

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The post CSL half-year earnings: profit drops but guidance reaffirmed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. 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.