Key highlights

  • Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW) the stock finished the session at $41.16, down approximately 0.10% on 19 October 2026, and the shares are up approximately 53.64% over the past year.
  • The 26 August 2026 release reports Group sales of $71.5 billion, up 3.6%, and Group EBIT before significant items of $3,105 million, up 12.7%.
  • The final dividend is 52 cents per share, up 15.6%, with a total F26 dividend of 97 cents.

Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW) operates supermarkets, eCommerce and other retail businesses in Australia and New Zealand. On 19 October 2026, the stock finished the session at $41.16, down approximately 0.10%. Over the longer term, the shares are up approximately 53.64% over the past year. On 26 August 2026, the company announced its full-year profit and dividend for the 52 weeks to 28 June 2026, covering sales, earnings, segments and current trading.

F26 results

Group sales were $71.5 billion, up 3.6%, and Group eCommerce sales rose 15.9% to $10.6 billion. Group EBIT before significant items rose 12.7% to $3,105 million, and NPAT before significant items rose 15.4% to $1,599 million. NPAT after significant items rose 18.1% to $1,138 million. The final dividend is 52 cents, up 15.6%, and total F26 dividends of 97 cents rose 15.5%. Group cost of doing business fell 24 basis points.

Segment performance

Australian Food sales rose 4.6% with EBIT up 8.5%, or 4.8% excluding the benefit of cycling prior-year industrial action and supply chain implementation costs, and eCommerce sales rose 18.6%. New Zealand Food sales rose 2.5% and EBIT 8.8%, with a more difficult second half. Australian B2B sales rose 4.2% and EBIT 13.0%. W Living EBIT was $116 million, with BIG W returning to a $64 million profit from a $33 million loss and Petstock EBIT up 33.5%.

Current trading and outlook

Australian Food sales rose 7.6% in the first eight weeks of F27, driven mainly by item growth. The company expects a challenging economic environment to continue with household budgets under pressure, and it says implementation costs of ongoing supply chain investments will weigh on F27. It aims to improve its financial performance in F27 by being first choice for customers.

The group result also benefited from other segments. The release says above-store cost savings were delivered in line with expectations, supporting a 24 basis point reduction in Group cost of doing business, and that Group voice-of-customer NPS rose four points. Australian Food sales momentum built in the second half, driven by customer investment and improved retail execution. New Zealand Food growth slowed in the second half because of a flight to value and disruption from store operating model changes.

Reading the share price change

The share price of Woolworths Group is up approximately 53.64% over the past year. That figure measures price movement only. It does not include dividends or franking credits, and the exact amount depends on the start and end dates used, which is why it is described as approximate here. A share price that is approximately 53.64% higher over the period reflects market expectations and conditions across many factors at once, not only the company’s most recent results.

On 19 October 2026 the shares moved approximately 0.10% on the day, which is one session within that longer period. The results referred to in this article cover a period that ended before 19 October 2026 and were released on a different date to the share price figures quoted. For that reason, this article does not treat the share price change as a response to the announcement.

Sector backdrop

The benchmark index finished the 19 October 2026 session higher. The S&P/ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) stood at 8,845.70 at 4:25 pm (GMT+11) on 19 October 2026, up 0.44%, or 39.00 points, for the day. On the sector map, Consumer Staples rose 0.25%. More broadly, Energy rose 2.16%, Industrials 0.93%, Financials 0.85%, Utilities 0.38% and Consumer Staples 0.25%, while Information Technology fell 1.35%, A-REIT 0.34%, Consumer Discretionary 0.18%, Telecommunication Services 0.16% and Health Care 0.13%.

Risks shareholders should weigh

The company expects household budgets to stay under pressure, and supply chain implementation costs will affect F27. New Zealand growth slowed in the second half, and prior-year industrial action flatters the Australian Food EBIT comparison.

What’s next

Woolworths will roll out its customer investments, continue its supply chain program and report its first-quarter sales on its usual timetable.