The Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) share price will be closely watched today after full-year sales revenue rose 2.8% to $45.6 billion and earnings (EBIT, excluding significant items) jumped 9.9%, led by strong Supermarkets performance.
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What did Coles Group report?
- Group sales revenue up 2.8% to $45,580 million
- EBIT (excluding significant items) up 9.9% to $2,322 million
- NPAT (excluding significant items) up 13.7% to $1,255 million
- Fully franked total dividend up 13.0% to 78 cents per share
- Supermarkets sales revenue up 3.7%, EBIT up 12.2%
- eCommerce Supermarkets sales grew 26.4% to $5.6 billion
What else do investors need to know?
Coles delivered strong returns from its core Supermarkets business, with EBIT margin expanding by 43 basis points and customer satisfaction scores improving. Notably, Exclusive to Coles sales grew 6.1%, and the company gained market share during the year.
Liquor sales revenue fell 3.3% as the sector faced subdued consumer sentiment and higher costs, prompting the launch of a multi-year repositioning program. The group maintained a robust balance sheet with net assets of $3.95 billion and continued to invest in store renewals, automation, and digital technology.
Coles declared a fully franked final dividend of 37 cents per share, taking dividends for the year to 78 cents — a 13% increase.
What did Coles Group management say?
Commenting on the results, Coles CEO, Leah Weckert, said:
FY26 was another year of consistently strong performance for Coles, with above-market sales and strong earnings growth accompanied by further improvements in customer NPS and team member engagement. This demonstrates the benefits of our investments in automation and eCommerce, disciplined execution and a focus on delivering clear value for customers. We are now investing in the next phase of growth, including through an accelerated store opening and renewal program, coupled with a clear strategy to improve the performance of our Liquor business which will ensure Coles can maintain its growth trajectory.
What's next for Coles Group?
Coles enters FY27 with positive momentum, especially across Supermarkets and digital operations, with sales growth tracking similarly to the final quarter of FY26. The business is ramping up investment in new stores, renewals, and technology—including accelerated eCommerce and supply chain automation.
For Liquor, a strategic repositioning is underway to improve integration with Supermarkets, optimise the store network, and simplify operations. The company will also invest in its new Victorian automated distribution centre and the Coles Capability Centre to drive operational efficiencies and support long-term growth.
Coles Group share price snapshot
Over the past 12 months, the Coles Group share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a gain of around 9%. This reflects ongoing investor confidence in the business's steady performance and dividend growth.
