Sydney, Feb 16, 2026, 18:04 AEDT — After-hours action.
- Aurizon stock jumped 7% at the close, as the company reported a higher half-year profit for FY2026 and announced an increased dividend.
- The company lifted its full-year dividend forecast but left its EBITDA guidance where it was.
- Aurizon has tapped Ian Wells, who previously served as CFO at Fortescue, to join as its new finance chief starting in April.
Aurizon Holdings jumped close to 7% on Monday, finishing at A$3.84. The rail freight company raised its interim dividend and prolonged its on-market buyback following a rise in first-half profit. The S&P/ASX 200 also ended in positive territory. 1
This is notable for Aurizon, a popular income stock. The company increased its half-year payout and flagged even more cash returns for the full year. It also responded to persistent questions over the ownership structure of its regulated Network business.
Aurizon’s EBITDA climbed 9% to A$891 million for the half ended Dec. 31, with net profit after tax up 16% to A$237 million. The company bumped its interim dividend to 12.5 Australian cents per share, 90% franked, and tacked on another A$100 million to its buyback, bringing that total to as much as A$250 million. 2
The company held its FY2026 underlying EBITDA forecast at A$1.68 billion to A$1.75 billion. It bumped up its full-year dividend guidance, now expecting 22–23 cents per share instead of the earlier 19–20 cents. Management also flagged that a draft 10-year access undertaking for the Central Queensland Coal Network, pending approval, could bring an average annual revenue boost of A$45 million. 2
Chief executive Andrew Harding said the half-year results “underscored the strength” in both Aurizon’s Network and Coal divisions. He highlighted last year’s A$60 million cost-out effort, and added that after a structure review, the group will stick with its integrated above- and below-rail Network model. 2
Aurizon broke it down like this: Bulk EBITDA climbed to A$117 million, Coal landed at A$298 million, and Network topped out at A$516 million. The boost came from stronger volumes and a regulatory lift in track access revenue. 2
In a separate move Monday, Aurizon named Ian Wells its new chief financial officer and group executive strategy. He’s slated to start April 7. According to the company, Wells brings 13 years from Fortescue Metals Group, where he served as group CFO for five. 3
Aurizon snapped up 36 million of its own shares in the half, spending A$125 million through its on-market buyback. The program pulls shares off the exchange, reducing the float and potentially boosting earnings per share. 4
Still, the risk is right there. Aurizon depends on coal haulage for earnings, plus its regulated network. Management has already pointed to assumptions: no big supply-chain snags, and a weaker full-year yield in Coal, reflecting changes in both customer and corridor mix.
It’s been an active stretch for transport and logistics stocks. Qube Holdings jumped sharply after the listed logistics company said yes to an A$11.7 billion takeover bid from a consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management. The deal is still pending approvals. 5
Coming up, all eyes turn to whether Aurizon can keep its post-results bounce going into Tuesday. Investors are also tracking any moves on the buyback and updates from the Queensland regulator regarding the proposed access undertaking. Key dates: dividend record on March 3, payment March 25, and Wells kicks off April 7. 2
