Why Evolution Mining, Whitehaven and Santos shares are creating a buzz on Wednesday

Whitehaven, Evolution Mining and Santos shares are turning heads today. But why?

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Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC), and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are turning heads today.

Two of the big-name ASX shares are charging higher today, while one is trailing the 0.4% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as we head into the Wednesday lunch hour.

Here's what's catching investor interest.

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Image source: Getty Images

Santos shares lift on growth outlook

Santos shares are jumping higher today.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 oil and gas stock are trading for $8.37 apiece, up 3.2%.

This follows the release of Santos half year results (H1 2026).

On the positive side of the ledger, the company reported a 2% year-on-year boost in sales revenue to US$2.62 billion.

Production volumes were up as well, with sales volumes increasing by 1.7% to 48 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe).

And investors appear to be eyeing the forecast future growth and shrugging off the 19% decline in Santos' half-year statutory net profit after tax (NPAT), which fell to US$355 million.

As for that growth that could support Santos shares longer-term, the company revealed that Barossa has reached 97% of planned rates since the end of June. And in Alaska, the company's Pikka Phase 1 project achieved first oil. Management expects the project to hit plateau production in the third quarter of 2026.

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher noted:

The first half marked an important step forward for Santos. We brought the Pikka project online safely and continued to progress Barossa through commissioning towards steady-state production, while the base business continued to perform strongly.

Whitehaven Coal shares slide on revenue decline

Unlike Santos shares, Whitehaven shares are slipping following the release of the ASX 200 coal stock's full-year FY 2026 results.

At time of writing, the Whitehaven share price is down 1.8% at $7.62.

For the 12 months the company reported revenue of $5.40 billion, down 7% from FY 2025.

And underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.25 billion were down 8%.

On the bottom line, Whitehaven's full year NPAT declined by 29% to $227 million, impacted in part by lower coal prices.

Still, management declared a fully franked final dividend of 6 cents per share, in line with last year's payout.

Which brings us to…

Evolution Mining shares jump on record profits

Joining Whitehaven and Santos shares in making waves today, we find ASX 200 gold stock Evolution Mining.

Evolution Mining shares are up 1.1% at time of writing, changing hands for $13.80 apiece.

Investors are bidding up the gold stock following the release of Evolution's own FY 2026 results.

Amid a rising gold price environment and its own operational successes, the miner reported a 44% year-on-year increase in underlying EBITDA to $3.17 billion. And cash flow surged 76% to a record high of $1.39 billion.

Evolution Mining also achieved an all-time high statutory profit after tax of $1.48 billion, up 59% from FY 2025.

This saw management boost the final fully franked dividend to 21 cents per share, up 62% from last year's payout.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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