The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed up 1.1% in the month just past, with Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares trailing those gains while Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares just edged out the benchmark index.
Closing on 31 August trading for $24.04 apiece, Coles shares slipped 0.2% over the month.
Woolworths shares went the other way, gaining 1.4% to close the month at $40.31 each.
Both of the ASX 200 supermarket giants reported their full-year FY 2026 results in August.
Here's what's been happening.
Image source: Getty Images
Woolworths shares march higher in August
Woolworths shares were in focus on 26 August following the release of the company's FY 2026 results.
The company achieved solid growth over the year, with sales of $71.54 billion, up 3.6% from FY 2025. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) (before significant items) increased by 6.7% year on year to $6.09 billion.
And on the bottom line, Woolworths reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $1.60 billion, up 15.4% (before significant items).
Passive income investors were rewarded with a 15.6% increase in the final fully-franked Woolworths dividend, which came out to 52 cents per share.
"Sales momentum together with strong productivity and cost discipline has delivered solid EBIT growth with an increased contribution from all trading segments," Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell said.
Woolworths shares closed up 3.4% on the day of the results release.
Coles shares jump on results, slip over the month
Coles released its own FY 2026 results on 25 August.
Over the 12 months, Coles reported sales revenue of $45.58 billion, up 2.8% year on year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of $2.32 billion were up 9.9% (excluding significant items).
On the bottom line, Coles NPAT came out to $1.26 billion (excluding significant items), up 13.7% from FY 2025.
Coles declared a 37-cent per share fully-franked final dividend, up 15% from the prior final dividend payout.
If you want to bank the final Coles dividend, there's still time. But not much!
To grab that passive income, you'll need to own shares at market close today. Coles shares trade ex-dividend on 3 September.
Coles shares closed up 4.9% on the day of the results release.
How have the ASX 200 supermarkets been tracking in 2026?
In morning trade today, Coles shares are changing hands for $23.74 apiece, up 11.3% year to date.
Woolworths shares are trading for $39.36 each, up 33.7% in 2026.
