Sydney, Feb 23, 2026, 17:50 AEDT — Market closed.
- Brambles closed up about 1.2% at A$24.52, bucking a weaker broader market.
- The company lodged filings to quote 15,047 ordinary shares issued under employee incentive arrangements.
- Investors now turn to buyback pace and the March 11 ex-dividend date.
Brambles Ltd (BXB.AX) rose about 1.2% to A$24.52 on Monday, finishing higher as the broader market slipped. The move left the logistics group holding onto gains after last week’s half-year update. (Intelligent Investor)
The stock matters in a hurry because Brambles is a big industrial and cash is the story right now. The company last week lifted its FY26 free cash flow outlook — cash left after capital spending — to between US$950 million and US$1.1 billion, while keeping its underlying profit growth target and trimming its revenue growth range. “We delivered a resilient first-half result, with strong operating leverage and free cash flow outcomes, despite ongoing demand headwinds in key markets,” CEO Graham Chipchase said.
In two filings lodged on Monday, Brambles applied to quote 15,047 ordinary shares issued under its performance share plan, including parcels of 14,740 shares and 307 shares. The documents put the issue price at A$23.9856 a share and showed the group has roughly 1.36 billion shares on issue, making the extra stock immaterial for dilution. (Open Briefing)
A transcript of the half-year briefing, posted on Monday, leaned into the same message: steady execution, softer demand. “Consumer demand remained weak, particularly in the US and Europe,” Chipchase told investors. He said Brambles ended the half with about 4 million excess pallets in the United States — the sort of overhang that can push up storage, handling and repair costs. (Brambles Corporate Site)
Broker Jarden lifted its target price on Brambles to A$25.60 from A$23.10 and reiterated a neutral rating, according to a broker-note summary. It pointed to operating leverage in CHEP Americas and said core earnings per share came in ahead of consensus, while flagging weaker profit in CHEP EMEA. (Fnarena)
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.61% on Monday, with losses in IT, healthcare and A-REITs weighing on the index. Brambles, in the transport and logistics pocket of the market, traded against that drift. (Investing)
Brambles runs the CHEP pooled pallet network, renting reusable pallets and crates to retailers and manufacturers. Management has argued price rises can recover “cost-to-serve” inflation, while new business wins can offset weaker volumes from existing customers.
But the company still lives with the cycle. If U.S. and European demand stays weak or customers keep inventories lean, pallet volumes can lag and surplus pallets can build, lifting transport and repair work and squeezing margins.
Investors also have the dividend clock in view. Market Index data shows the interim dividend is due to go ex-dividend on March 11 — when shares trade without the payout attached — with payment set for April 9, and the next scheduled reporting date in late August. (Market Index)
