Woolworths Group reported a 15.4% increase in full-year net profit before significant items to AUD 1.599 billion for the fiscal year ended June 2026, as group sales rose 3.6% to AUD 71.5 billion.
The Australian retailer’s shares advanced 4.08% to AUD 40.435, near a 52-week high of AUD 41.19, following the results. Group EBIT before significant items climbed 12.7% to AUD 3.1 billion, with EBIT margins expanding 35 basis points to 4.3%. Net profit after tax including significant items rose 18.1% to AUD 1.138 billion, while operating cash flow increased 5.2% to AUD 6.5 billion.
The Australian Food division led performance with a 4.6% sales increase to AUD 53.9 billion and an 8.5% rise in EBIT. H2 sales growth accelerated to 5.7%, though New Zealand operations saw a 7.7% earnings decline in the half despite a 2.5% annual sales gain in local currency. BIG W returned to profitability with AUD 64 million in EBIT, a AUD 97 million swing from the prior year’s loss, while Petstock reported comparable sales growth of 5.8%.
E-commerce sales surged 16.9% for the year, with app-based orders exceeding 70% in Q4 as average weekly digital visits rose 22.9%. Delivery orders completed within two hours accounted for 47% of delivery sales, offered across over 850 stores. Direct-to-boot Now sales more than doubled year-over-year.
Woolworths maintained its 34-year dividend track record with a yield of 2.32%, while above-store cost savings reached AUD 400 million. Operating capex declined AUD 187 million to AUD 1.84 billion, with guidance for FY2027 set between AUD 1.9 billion and AUD 2.0 billion.
Supply chain milestones included full operation of the Moorebank National Distribution Center and ramp-up of the Regional Distribution Center at over 2.4 million cartons weekly. The Sydney chilled and fresh distribution center is scheduled to launch early next calendar year, with the Melbourne North automated e-commerce facility due online in FY2028.
CEO Amanda Bardwell noted the group’s strategy improved performance despite pressure from inflation, global volatility and consecutive interest rate rises. Early FY2027 sales growth in Australian Food reached 7.6%, with the Disney Ooshies campaign contributing 1.5 to 2 percentage points of incremental sales.
