Sydney, May 19, 2026, 07:05 AEST
- Orica shares finished Monday at A$22.52, dropping 2.26%. The S&P/ASX 200 ended lower at 8,505.3.
- Shares will go ex-dividend May 21 for Orica’s 28.5 Australian cent interim payout.
- Orica reported first-half EBIT up 5% at A$512 million, but management pointed to external volatility.
Orica Limited dropped 2.3% on Monday, ending a five-day run, with the stock closing at A$22.52 as the S&P/ASX 200 hit a seven-week low. Investors sold off industrials and materials stocks ahead of the explosives maker’s dividend cut-off. Orica traded between A$22.46 and A$22.86.
Orica goes ex-dividend May 21, so if you buy after that you won’t get the next payout. The company set a 28.5-cent interim dividend, payable July 3 to shareholders on record at the May 22 close.
ASX cash equities trading was scheduled to go ahead as usual Tuesday, with standard hours from 9:59 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Sydney. For Orica, any immediate swing hinges less on new headlines and more on whether Monday’s risk-off tone spills into the next session.
Orica dropped Monday, reversing some of its recent rally. The stock had climbed every session between May 11 and May 15, getting a boost from buying after its May 7 half-year results. Even with the fall, Orica stayed above where it closed on May 8 at A$21.73.
Orica reported a 5% lift in first-half EBIT to A$512 million earlier this month. EBIT tracks profit before financing and tax. Net profit after tax and before significant items rose 8% to A$283.1 million. After significant items, the statutory net loss after tax was A$0.6 million.
Orica Managing Director and CEO Sanjeev Gandhi said the company posted “record earnings in the first half,” pointing to demand for premium products, technology and strong gold and copper markets. Orica also finished its A$500 million on-market share buyback and kicked off a cost program aiming for at least A$100 million in lasting savings. Orica
Orica kept its outlook upbeat, saying it expects full-year underlying EBIT to be up in all areas compared to last year. But management said this depends on no unexpected shocks hitting what they described as a volatile external environment.
Supply chain risks were also raised. Orica said it isn’t facing any significant constraints so far from the Middle East conflict, with most of its products and components not using the Strait of Hormuz. The company said it will keep watching geopolitical, market, and FX risks.
Peer numbers held up, though context was mixed. Dyno Nobel said on its site that its explosives business saw strong core earnings growth for the first half of 2026, posting EBIT of A$224 million. DNL shares last closed at A$3.61 as of Monday.
ASX sags as miners, industrials slip; Brambles, Elders weigh
The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.45% to 8,505.3. Materials and industrial names led declines. Energy was the only gain, while Brambles and Elders sank after updates, pushing the market more defensive.
But the setup isn’t all positive. The dividend adjustment can push the share price lower after the ex-dividend date. Orica said net operating cash flow should come in below 2025 and net finance costs a bit higher. If the ASX selloff gets worse, earnings momentum might not protect the stock.
