SYDNEY, March 2, 2026, 18:14 AEDT — After-hours
- Coles settled at A$21.33, up 3.7%, having hit A$21.94 earlier in the session
- The stock is still working to regain lost territory following Friday’s steep slide on its half-year results.
- Coles’ March dividend record date is on traders’ radar, with the next RBA rate decision also due later this month.
Coles Group Ltd shares finished up on Monday, clawing back some ground after last week’s earnings-triggered drop. Investors rotated into steadier names as volatility persisted. 1
The supermarket operator ended the day 3.7% higher at A$21.33. The broader market, after a choppy session, managed to notch another record close. 2
Coles is trading like a “results stock” these days, with investors weighing up whether a bump in grocery profits can make up for weaker liquor numbers and lingering wage-related expenses.
Coles posted first-half group sales revenue of A$23.62 billion on Friday, a 2.5% lift. EBIT, stripping out significant items, hit A$1.23 billion—up 10.2%. Net profit after tax landed at A$511 million, falling 11.3% on a reported basis, after A$235 million in significant items tied to a Federal Court ruling in the Fair Work Ombudsman case, the company disclosed. The board unveiled a fully franked interim dividend of 41 Australian cents per share, with the “fully franked” label confirming corporate tax has already been paid. The record date is March 11; payment goes out March 30. “Another strong set of results in a highly competitive operating environment,” said Coles CEO Leah Weckert.
Last week’s initial response from the market was swift and unforgiving. Coles plunged 7.35% on Friday after posting profits that missed analyst expectations, according to Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at capital.com, who called it “a bit of punishment.” Woolworths shares slipped as well, losing 0.96% that same day, Rodda noted. 3
Yet, the rebound hasn’t put the debate to bed. Investors quickly zeroed in on competitive threats and Coles’ liquor division after the earnings-call transcript came out. 4
Macro risk is re-entering focus, beyond just the earnings figures. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s next policy move lands March 17, per the ASX rate tracker. 5
Later in March, traders will be watching a packed slate of domestic numbers. The ABS calendar lists the February labour force report and the February CPI (consumer price index) data. 6
Coles is now watching to see if Monday’s bounce can stick through Tuesday’s session. Investors will also be eyeing positions ahead of the interim dividend record date, set for March 11.
