Coles Group’s shares advanced 2.5% to A$23.20 on Tuesday, lifting the broader ASX 200 index by 0.5%, after the Australian supermarket operator reported a fiscal 2026 full-year profit that exceeded analyst expectations.
Underlying net profit after tax reached A$1.26 billion, a 13.7% increase from the prior year, driven by a 9.9% rise in group earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to A$2.322 billion. Total sales revenue grew 2.8% to A$45.6 billion, while the Supermarkets Division’s EBIT margin expanded by 43 basis points to 5.7%, underscoring the segment’s role as the primary growth driver.
The company’s eCommerce division delivered a 26.4% surge in online sales to A$5.6 billion, with eCommerce penetration climbing to 13.6%. Management attributed the performance to sustained investments in automated distribution infrastructure, which have begun to yield measurable returns.
Coles declared a final dividend of 78 cents per share, bringing the full-year payout to A$1.30 per share—a 13% increase that reflects confidence in the automation-led growth strategy. The dividend announcement follows the company’s results, released just one day ahead of rival Woolworths’ scheduled earnings report.
The stock’s gain came as the ASX 200 index edged higher by 0.5%, with Coles’ performance contributing to the broader market’s modest advance.
