Sydney, Feb 15, 2026, 17:34 (AEDT) — The market is closed.
- Wesfarmers ended Friday at A$87.69, slipping roughly 0.2%.
- The group rolled out fresh multi-year AI and cloud tie-ups with both Microsoft and Google Cloud.
- Wesfarmers’ half-year results drop Feb. 19, and investors will be hunting for specifics—costs, rollout, and returns are all in focus.
Wesfarmers Limited (WES.AX) kicks off Monday with two new AI and cloud deals on the table—potential game changers for its store operations, customer service, and supply chain. Shares were last at A$87.69 Friday, barely moving.
Timing is key here. Wesfarmers is set to deliver its half-year results later this week, right in the middle of Australia’s February reporting season. Investors are zeroed in on signals about consumer appetite at Bunnings and Kmart, plus details on how much the group expects to spend on tech as cost pressures linger.
The market’s been quick to react to anything branded “AI”—these deals are no exception. For Wesfarmers, though, hype takes a back seat. Investors want to know if the company can actually deliver productivity improvements without ramping up costs or complicating things for employees and shoppers.
Microsoft on Friday announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Wesfarmers, as the Australian retail conglomerate moves to ramp up its use of Microsoft Cloud, Azure OpenAI, and Copilot tools across operations at Bunnings, Kmart Group, Blackwoods, and Priceline. Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott said Copilot was “already” delivering benefits for the company. Microsoft Australia and New Zealand enterprise VP Jo Dooley described the agreement as “a new chapter for retail innovation”. (Source)
In a separate announcement, Google Cloud said Wesfarmers has picked it for a multi-year partnership aimed at rolling out “agentic” AI-driven experiences for customers and staff across brands like Kmart, Officeworks, Priceline and OnePass. Scott emphasized the push to expand AI use “responsibly.” Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, for his part, said the tools will let Wesfarmers “reimagine every customer touchpoint” and streamline internal operations. (Google Cloud Press Corner)
“Agentic AI” — that’s the sector’s catch-all for software agents that go well beyond simple Q&A. These systems can scour for products, write up replies, even steer a customer all the way from initial search to checkout. Speed and tailored experiences are the pitch here. Complexity, especially when you scale up, is the price.
Wesfarmers wrapped up Friday at A$87.69, having moved between A$87.29 and A$89.16 over the course of the day. Morningstar data shows the stock gained roughly 3.1% from where it settled a week ago. (Intelligent Investor)
It was a rough Friday for the broader market. The S&P/ASX 200 slid 1.39%, and consumer discretionary shares took a harder hit—off 2.36%. Retailers were down, but Wesfarmers managed to hold up better than most. (Investing)
Tech sentiment played its part. Shane Oliver, AMP’s head of investment strategy, noted a “rotation from tech to non-tech” as investors backed away from packed AI trades offshore. (ABC News)
Wesfarmers investors are eyeing Thursday, when the company drops its half-year results and hosts a briefing Feb. 19. Everyone’s listening for what execs have to say on margins, inventory, and the competitive pricing landscape. But don’t overlook figures tied to digital spending or hints about how these partnerships could impact OnePass and store operations. (Wesfarmers)
Risk isn’t off the table here. Deploying AI tools over several brands, plus juggling two big tech stacks, opens the door to integration snags, data headaches, and cyber risks. Should expenses outpace productivity improvements, the market’s mood can sour fast, sales staying strong or not.
Monday’s open marks the first serious gauge for the share price, as investors have a full day to react to the partnership news. The bigger moment lands Feb. 19, when Wesfarmers reports—then the market will see if the AI initiative shows real discipline.
