Chorus Limited FY26 profit surges as fibre uptake climbs and dividend rises

The NZ telco has released its results this morning.

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

The Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU) share price is in focus after the company delivered a solid full-year FY26 result, with revenue growing to $1,029 million and net profit after tax jumping to $37 million.

happy friends playing on phones in park

Image source: Getty Images

What did Chorus Ltd report?

  • Operating revenue rose 1.5% to $1,029 million
  • EBITDA lifted 3% to $726 million
  • Net profit after tax climbed to $37 million (FY25: $4 million)
  • Operating expenses reduced 2% to $303 million
  • Total FY26 dividend increased 4% to 60 cents per share (final dividend of 36 cents per share)
  • Total fibre connections rose by 32,000 to 1,147,000, now 96% of all connections

What else do investors need to know?

Chorus continues to make strong progress transitioning to a simpler, all-fibre business. Fibre uptake reached 75.9% of serviceable addresses, edging closer to the company's 80% target by 2030. The decline in legacy copper connections accelerated, with only 44,000 remaining nationwide at year-end.

Chorus expanded its product range by launching new services such as Express Connect, Unified Transport, and TimeSync, aiming to support next-generation digital needs. The company has also increased its focus on digital inclusion, introducing the affordable Equity Fibre 100 broadband product for eligible low-income households.

What did Chorus Ltd management say?

Chief Executive Officer Mark Aue said:

FY26 marked the start of the second horizon of Chorus' strategy, extending through to FY29, focused on growth, simplicity and efficiency. We are building momentum towards a simpler, more focused business, while continuing to invest in the digital infrastructure New Zealand will rely on for decades.

What's next for Chorus Ltd?

Looking ahead to FY27, Chorus expects EBITDA between $730 million and $760 million, capital expenditure of $375 million to $415 million, and a minimum dividend of 62 cents per share (with partial imputation expected). The company plans to continue its copper network retirement, which is now scheduled to be completed by 2028.

Management sees ongoing demand growth for high-capacity, reliable, low-latency connectivity, driven by increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and data centre services. Chorus believes fibre is well-placed to support this demand and remains focused on disciplined investment, improving operational efficiency, and exploring new infrastructure opportunities.

Chorus share price snapshot

Over the past year, Chorus Ltd's share price has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a decline of almost 9%.

View Original Announcement

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

More on Earnings Results

Happy couple doing online shopping.
Consumer Staples & Discretionary Shares

Kogan surges past $1 billion in sales as margins grow

Kogan delivered record gross sales and dividend growth in FY26, with improving margins and a focus on further efficiency in…

Read more »

A smiling woman looks at her phone as she walks with her suitcase inside an airport.
Consumer Staples & Discretionary Shares

EVT Ltd posts profit jump and pivots focus to hotel growth in FY26 results

Normalised profit jumped 41.3% in FY 2026.

Read more »

A woman presenting company news to investors looks back at the camera and smiles.
Earnings Results

Data#3 posts double-digit profit growth in FY26 earnings

The company reported a 13.1% increase in net profit for FY 2026.

Read more »

A young man sits at his desk working on his laptop with a big smile on his face.
Real Estate Shares

GemLife beats forecasts and upgrades FY26 guidance

GemLife beat expectations with a robust 1H26 result, announcing a guidance upgrade for FY26 EPS.

Read more »

Woman refuelling the gas tank at fuel pump.
Earnings Results

Ampol profit and dividend surge in first-half 2026 results

The fuel retailer's half-year profit soared as reliable supply chains supported results during market disruption.

Read more »

A group of gold nuggets.
Earnings Results

L1 Gold Fund posts debut FY26 result and capital raise update

L1 Gold Fund's FY26 debut saw a $71m net loss as tough gold market conditions weighed on its first results…

Read more »

A man in a suit looks surprised as he looks through binoculars.
Earnings Results

Ventia Services Group delivers higher profit and fully-franked dividend in HY26

Ventia declared a fully franked interim dividend of 11.76 cents per share.

Read more »

a happy plumber smiles while repairing bathroom fittings in a home.
Earnings Results

Reece FY26 earnings: Revenue up, profit edges lower

Here's what the plumbing parts retailer reported for the financial year.

Read more »