Woolworths Group’s shares surged 4.5% to A$40.59 on Wednesday after the company reported a 15.4% increase in group net profit before significant items to A$1.599 billion for the year ended June 30, 2026. Earnings before interest and tax rose 12.7% to A$3.105 billion, beating analyst expectations by roughly 2%. Total group sales reached A$71.5 billion.
The Australian Food division delivered a 4.6% sales increase, with second-half growth accelerating to 5.7% as management intensified price investments and improved store execution. The W Living division, which includes hotels and pubs, swung from a loss to a A$116 million profit.
Woolworths declared a fully franked final dividend of 52 cents per share, a 15.6% increase from the prior year. The results were released one day after rival Coles posted its FY2026 figures, lifting sector sentiment ahead of Woolworths’ announcement. The broader S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.56% during the session.
