Sydney, Feb 23, 2026, 17:27 AEDT — The session wrapped up and the market’s closed.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd slipped 1.2% to finish at A$27.10 on Monday, erasing a brief rally as oil prices softened late in the session. Shares opened at A$27.30 before swinging from A$27.03 up to A$27.47. 1
Woodside is on tap to publish its 2025 full-year results, annual report, and climate and sustainability update this Tuesday, a batch of documents likely to influence sentiment around energy stocks heading into the end of the month. Acting CEO Liz Westcott and CFO Graham Tiver are set for a 10:00 AEDT teleconference, the company said. 2
Oil prices took a hit. Brent dropped roughly 1%, settling near $71 a barrel, with the U.S. and Iran heading into a third round of nuclear negotiations. Fresh tariff jitters fueled a broader pullback. “Risk aversion” flows after the weekend’s tariff talk were a drag on crude, IG Markets analyst Tony Sycamore said. Vandana Hari of Vanda Insights put the Iran-related risk premium in Brent at “at least $10 per barrel.” 3
Woodside’s cash is still tied to global oil and gas swings, even with its heavy tilt toward LNG — liquefied natural gas — with most shipments locked up under long-term deals. A drop in crude usually cools the sector, if only for a day.
Investors’ attention won’t just stick to headline profits; Woodside’s commentary on dividends and capital discipline will get picked over, especially as large-scale projects continue to consume cash. The company fully green-lit its Louisiana LNG development in the U.S. last year, committing to a multi-year wager on demand picking up towards the decade’s end. 4
Traders are pressing for more specifics on volumes and timelines. Back in late January, Woodside warned of reduced 2026 production, pointing to scheduled maintenance, a significant Pluto LNG overhaul set for the second quarter, and delays to Scarborough’s first output. That project, now 94% built, is pegged to come online in the final quarter of 2026. 5
Another layer in Tuesday’s numbers: sentiment’s running thin. A tariff shock—one that shakes the growth view—can hit demand projections fast, and it’s usually energy stocks that take the first punch.
The setup isn’t one-way traffic. Should crude prices keep falling, or if Woodside flags rising costs or a less generous cash return, shares could come under pressure despite solid results. Any hint of delay on projects would hit hard in a market already on edge.
Traders this week are watching oil’s direction, with any fresh headlines about U.S.-Iran diplomacy set to matter. Another wild card: whether tariff moves start to weigh more heavily on risk sentiment. But first up, all eyes are on Woodside’s 2025 full-year results, dropping Tuesday. 6
