Key Highlights

  • Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC) closed at $7.87, down 0.51%, on 26 October 2026.
  • FY26 underlying NPAT was $227 million on underlying EBITDA of $1.3 billion.
  • A fully franked final Dividend of 6.0 cents per share and about $47 million of buy-backs bring FY26 Capital returns to up to $159 million.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX:WHC) closed at $7.87, down 0.51%, in the Trading session on 26 October 2026, while the S&P/ASX 200 closed at 8,809.9, up 0.17%, and the S&P/ASX 200 Energy index gained 0.92%. Whitehaven is a Brisbane-based coal producer with metallurgical and thermal coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales.

FY26 Results Released on 19 August 2026

Whitehaven reported underlying net profit after tax of $227 million and underlying EBITDA of $1.3 billion for the year ended 30 June 2026. The company said Earnings were reduced by cyclical coal price declines and a higher Australian dollar. Unit cost of coal was $132 per tonne, down from $139. Statutory NPAT was $385 million after $158 million of adjustments, mainly gains on remeasurement of the contingent payment to BMA and foreign exchange gains on net Debt and deferred and contingent considerations.

Revenue was $5.4 billion, down 7%, split 57% metallurgical and 43% thermal coal at an average achieved price of A$202 per tonne. Cash generated from operations was $1.1 billion.

Production, Safety and Balance Sheet

Managed run-of-mine production was 40.3 million tonnes (Queensland 20.1Mt, New South Wales 20.2Mt), up 3% and at the top of guidance. Managed sales of produced coal were 32.7Mt, up 8%, and Equity sales were 26.0Mt following the 30% Blackwater sell-down completed on 31 March 2025. The total recordable injury frequency rate was 3.3, a record for the expanded business.

Net debt was $1.3 billion at 30 June 2026 after the second US$500 million deferred Acquisition payment to BMA in April 2026, and available Liquidity was $959 million. The company refinanced its debt during the year, extending maturities and lowering its cost of debt.

Whitehaven reported that unit cost of coal and Capital Expenditure were both at the low end of FY26 guidance, and that it recovered from significant wet weather in Queensland in the March quarter. Its chief executive described managing higher diesel costs and Supply uncertainty in the second half and said the company focused on productivity, cost discipline, Margin optimisation and cash generation. The company recorded one environmental enforcement action attributed to FY25 during FY26.

Capital Returns

A fully franked final dividend of 6.0 cents per share, about $47 million, was paid on 15 September 2026, taking the full-year dividend to 10 cents. Whitehaven also intends to spend a matching amount of about $47 million over six months on its share buy-back program. In total the company will return up to $159 million of capital in respect of FY26.

The total capital return of up to $159 million consists of the final dividend of about $47 million, the Interim Dividend already paid, and the matching buy-back. The company's FY26 announcement reports a total recordable injury frequency rate of 3.3, compared with 4.6 in FY25.

About Whitehaven Coal

Whitehaven mines and sells metallurgical and thermal coal from operations in Queensland, including its interest in the Blackwater mine, and in New South Wales. It reports production on a managed basis and sales on both managed and equity bases.

Risks and Catalysts on Watch

Results are sensitive to coal prices and exchange rates, which the company cites as the main headwinds in FY26. Higher diesel costs and supply uncertainty affected the second half, and Queensland wet weather affected the March quarter. The buy-back program over the next six months is a scheduled item.

Wrapping Up

Whitehaven's FY26 report shows underlying NPAT of $227 million, net debt of $1.3 billion and up to $159 million in capital returns. The shares closed down 0.51% on 26 October.