Sydney, Feb 23, 2026, 17:10 AEDT — Market closed
- Wesfarmers ended Monday at A$82.58, down 1.7%.
- The stock is due to trade ex-dividend on Feb. 24 ahead of a A$1.02 interim payout.
- Dividend record date is Feb. 25, with payment scheduled for March 31.
Wesfarmers shares fell 1.7% on Monday, closing at A$82.58 and extending a rough five-day run for the Bunnings and Kmart owner. (MarketScreener)
The slip came with the broader market on the back foot. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 ended down 0.61%, with losses led by information technology, healthcare and real estate investment trusts, according to Investing.com. (Investing)
For Wesfarmers, the calendar is now doing some of the talking. The stock is set to trade ex-dividend on Feb. 24, meaning buyers from that day will not receive the interim payout; the company set a fully franked interim dividend of A$1.02 a share, with a Feb. 25 record date and March 31 payment.
Some investors are still working through last week’s result and outlook, which landed in the middle of reporting season. Wesfarmers posted a forecast-beating half-year profit but flagged uneven consumer spending, with CEO Rob Scott pointing to inflation “impacting the cost of living,” and the shares fell sharply on the day. (Reuters)
The company sits at the intersection of household budgets and building activity, through Bunnings, and value-led retailing, through Kmart. That mix tends to do well when consumers trade down, until it doesn’t — especially if price competition eats into margins.
Income-focused holders are also watching franking, which can matter as much as headline yield in Australia. Still, the ex-dividend step-down can muddy the next session’s tape, particularly after an earnings-driven selloff.
A key risk is that the recent caution on spending hardens into weaker sales as the half wears on. If that happens, the market’s focus can shift quickly from dividends to estimates, and then to valuation.
Tuesday’s trade will be the first clean read since the latest pullback, even if the dividend mechanics cloud it a bit. Traders will also keep an eye on whether post-results selling fades or keeps rolling through large-cap defensives.
