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Laura Stewart

Laura Stewart joined The Motley Fool in 2022, and recently completed a Master of Applied Finance at the University of Adelaide. In her past life, she was a legal advisor in Southeast Asia, before deciding to switch to the finance industry. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her 50 pet sheep in the Adelaide Hills.

Recent Articles

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Share Market News

Ventia extends NZ$160m Transpower contract: What it means for investors

| Laura Stewart

Ventia has locked in a two-year, NZ$160 million contract extension for its specialist electrical services in New Zealand.

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Woman working at computer
Earnings Results

Spark New Zealand earnings: profit rebounds, dividend declared

| Laura Stewart

Spark New Zealand delivered strong H1 FY26 profit and cash flow growth, declared an interim dividend, and reaffirmed full-year guidance.

Read more »

Two businessmen look out at the city from the top of a tall building.
Earnings Results

Mirvac Group posts 5% profit growth, expands pipeline in 1H26

| Laura Stewart

Mirvac Group lifted first-half profit by 5% as residential sales rose and its project pipeline expanded.

Read more »

Two miners standing together.
Earnings Results

Iluka Resources posts lower FY25 profit but advances rare earths strategy

| Laura Stewart

Iluka Resources delivered $976 million revenue and a $288 million loss for FY25, with progress at Balranald and Eneabba.

Read more »

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Share Market News

Contact Energy completes NZ$450m share placement for growth plans

| Laura Stewart

Contact Energy has completed a NZ$450 million share placement as part of a larger equity raising initiative for ongoing investment.

Read more »

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Share Market News

AFIC announces CEO transition: Alison Gibson to succeed Mark Freeman in 2026

| Laura Stewart

Australian Foundation Investment Company announces CEO transition as Mark Freeman retires and Alison Gibson appointed for July 2026.

Read more »

Two smiling men in high visibility vests and yellow hardhats stand side by side with a large mound of earth and mining equipment behind them smiling as the Carnaby Resources share price rises today
Earnings Results

BHP Group posts 28% profit jump and higher dividend in half-year earnings

| Laura Stewart

BHP Group reported strong half-year earnings growth, a higher dividend, and record copper performance for the period to 31 December…

Read more »

a man sits back from his laptop computer with both hands behind his head feeling happy to see the Brambles share price moving significantly higher today
Earnings Results

Sims FY26 half-year earnings: Profit surges, dividend rises

| Laura Stewart

Sims delivered a strong HY26 profit increase and a bigger dividend, with solid gains in most business units.

Read more »

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Earnings Results

SEEK delivers double-digit growth and record dividend in FY26 half-year results

| Laura Stewart

SEEK delivered double-digit revenue growth, record dividend, and an upgraded outlook in its FY26 half-year results.

Read more »

Three miners stand together at a mine site studying documents with equipment in the background
Earnings Results

Deterra Royalties declares record profit and bigger dividend for 1H26

| Laura Stewart

Deterra Royalties reported record half-year profits and a higher dividend, with strong performance from iron ore and lithium projects.

Read more »

An investor looks happy holding a finger to his computer screen while holding a coffee cup in a home office scenario.
Earnings Results

Judo Capital: profit surges 32% and loan growth outlook rises

| Laura Stewart

Judo Capital reported 32% profit growth and updates guidance for stronger loan growth in FY26.

Read more »

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Share Market News

Ventia scores $107m defence contract boost: What investors need to know

| Laura Stewart

Ventia Services Group clinches a $107 million extension to its Defence Maintenance Contract, supporting ADF operational readiness.

Read more »

A happy couple looking at an iPad.
Earnings Results

Challenger earnings: Statutory NPAT surges 369% in H1 FY26

| Laura Stewart

Challenger’s earnings jump, with NPAT up 369% and dividend increase announced for H1 FY26.

Read more »

a man sits in unhappy contemplation staring at his computer on his desk in a home environment, propping his chin on his hand.
Earnings Results

Reliance Worldwide half-year earnings: profit falls, dividend steady

| Laura Stewart

Reliance Worldwide reported lower profit and revenue, but will maintain its interim dividend and proceed with an on-market buy-back.

Read more »

Mini house on a laptop.
Share Market News

PEXA Group: Divestment drives strategy shift

| Laura Stewart

PEXA Group is divesting key businesses, restating FY26 guidance, and sharpening its core focus after a strategic review.

Read more »

A silhouette shot of two business man shake hands in a boardroom setting with light coming from full length glass windows beyond them.
Share Market News

Qube Holdings board backs $11.7bn Macquarie takeover at 27.8% premium

| Laura Stewart

Qube Holdings has agreed to a $5.20 per share cash offer from Macquarie Asset Management, delivering a 27.8% premium to…

Read more »

a man with a hard hat and high visibility vest stands with a clipboard and pen in front of a large pile of rock at a mining site.
Earnings Results

New Hope Corporation Q2 FY26 earnings: coal sales and EBITDA hold steady

| Laura Stewart

New Hope Corporation lifts coal sales and maintains strong cash, while issuing lower capital guidance for Bengalla Mine.

Read more »

a man sits at his desk wearing a business shirt and tie and has a hearty laugh at something on his mobile phone.
Earnings Results

Abacus Storage King posts profit growth, reaffirms outlook for 2026

| Laura Stewart

Abacus Storage King’s HY26 profit rose 4.8% to $71.1 million, with the outlook for distributions remaining unchanged.

Read more »

Rail worker in hard hat kneels over train tracks inspecting tracks
Earnings Results

Aurizon Holdings hikes dividend after stronger FY2026 half-year profit

| Laura Stewart

Aurizon Holdings reports higher first-half FY2026 profit, lifts dividend and upgrades full-year payout guidance.

Read more »

a man in a business suit and carrying a laptop stands smiling with hand in pocket outside a large office building in a city environment.
Earnings Results

Stockland posts strong 1H26 result on development surge

| Laura Stewart

Stockland delivered higher profits and distributions in 1H26, with surging settlements and strong development earnings.

Read more »

a girl wearing headphones strikes a dance pose as she smiles at her phone being held in her hand as if a great song is being played through her music setup.
Earnings Results

JB Hi-Fi posts record first-half sales, profit and dividend lift

| Laura Stewart

JB Hi-Fi delivered record HY26 sales and profit growth, raising its interim dividend and underlying payout to shareholders.

Read more »

A woman sniffs a glass of win as part of a wine-tasting event
Earnings Results

Treasury Wine Estates posts $649.4m loss, suspends dividend as transformation accelerates

| Laura Stewart

Treasury Wine Estates swung to a $649.4m loss in 1H26, suspends dividend, and pushes forward with an ambitious transformation program.

Read more »

Confident male executive dressed in a dark blue suit leans against a doorway with his arms crossed in the corporate office
Earnings Results

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank earnings: Profit up, dividend holds steady

| Laura Stewart

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank delivered higher first-half profit, kept its dividend steady, and outlined further growth plans.

Read more »

A man and a woman stand on an external balcony in a dense city environment filled with high rise buildings and commercial properties. The man is pointing up at a high rise building and the woman is looking on.
Earnings Results

GPT Group delivers strong 2025 profit and distribution uplift

| Laura Stewart

GPT Group reports strong 2025 earnings, with profit up and distributions lifted as development projects progress.

Read more »

a female steel worker wearing a high visibility vest with her protective helmet tucked under her arm smiles as she carries a clipboard in a large warehouse of steel products.
Earnings Results

BlueScope Steel books strong 1H FY26 profit and dividend surge

| Laura Stewart

BlueScope Steel reported a strong 1H FY26, with NPAT up 118% and a significant dividend increase.

Read more »

A woman sits at her computer with her chin resting on her hand as she contemplates her next potential investment.
Earnings Results

Freightways Group lifts profit and dividend in HY26 results

| Laura Stewart

Freightways Group’s HY26 results show strong profit growth, margin improvement, and a higher dividend as its Australian expansion delivers new…

Read more »

two business men sit across from each other at a negotiating table. with a large window in the background.
Share Market News

Contact Energy offers $47m for full King Country Energy ownership

| Laura Stewart

Contact Energy has made a $47m non-binding offer to acquire full ownership of King Country Energy’s hydropower stations.

Read more »

Two people wearing gloves giving each other a fist bump.
Earnings Results

Ansell shares: earnings jump and dividend rises in FY26 half-year

| Laura Stewart

Ansell delivered double-digit earnings growth and lifted its interim dividend, keeping FY26 EPS guidance steady.

Read more »

Older man and young boy smiling while drinking milk with milk moustaches
Earnings Results

The a2 Milk Company impresses with 1H26 earnings—shares in focus

| Laura Stewart

The ASX 200 company beat expectations and upgraded its FY26 guidance.

Read more »

Close-up of a business man's hand stacking gold coins into piles on a desktop.
Share Market News

WAM Leaders announces fully franked interim dividend for 2026

| Laura Stewart

WAM Leaders has announced a fully franked interim dividend of 4.8 cents per share for the half year to 31…

Read more »

A businessman presents a company annual report in front of a group seated at a table
Earnings Results

GQG Partners posts strong FY25 earnings and record FUM

| Laura Stewart

GQG Partners reports solid FY25 earnings growth and record funds under management despite net outflows.

Read more »

An investor looks happy holding a finger to his computer screen while holding a coffee cup in a home office scenario.
Earnings Results

BWP Group posts strong half-year profit and higher distributions

| Laura Stewart

BWP Group reported strong half-year results, with statutory profit up 41.2% and solid growth in distributions.

Read more »

A woman leans forward with her hand behind her ear, as if trying to hear information.
Test Only

Cochlear posts modest sales growth but lower profit as Nexa launch continues

| Laura Stewart

Cochlear's HY26 saw profit decline and steady dividends, as Nexa implant rollout supports second-half growth plans.

Read more »

2 workers standing in front of a wind farm giving a high five.
Share Market News

Meridian Energy lifts generation and storage in January 2026 update

| Laura Stewart

Meridian Energy boosted its January generation by 14.5% year-on-year, with strong storage levels and softer wholesale prices.

Read more »

couple having a happy discussion with a banker
Earnings Results

Westpac posts $1.9bn profit in 1Q26 as digital push and lending gains continue

| Laura Stewart

Westpac’s 1Q26 update reveals $1.9bn profit and solid growth, with a focus on digital transformation and strong capital strength.

Read more »

A businessman presents a company annual report in front of a group seated at a table
Earnings Results

MFF Capital Investments results: Profit falls but dividend rises for H1 FY26

| Laura Stewart

MFF Capital Investments’ H1 profit slipped but the fully franked dividend was lifted and further growth is planned.

Read more »

Miner and company person analysing results of a mining company.
Earnings Results

South32 lifts profit and dividend in strong first half

| Laura Stewart

South32’s H1 FY26 profit surged and the miner lifted its dividend as it targets further growth in base metals following…

Read more »

CEO leading a board meeting.
Share Market News

Lendlease announces CEO succession as Tony Lombardo steps down

| Laura Stewart

Lendlease Group announces CEO succession, with Tony Lombardo to step down after leading a significant strategic reset.

Read more »

A guy helps a girl lift a couch, both are laughing.
Economy

Temple & Webster H1 FY26 earnings: Revenue jumps 20% as market share grows

| Laura Stewart

Temple & Webster’s H1 FY26 earnings showed strong growth in revenue, new customer acquisition, and market share gains.

Read more »

Person holding up a smartphone in front of a stock market chart.
Earnings Results

ASX Ltd posts solid 1H26 results, trims dividend as costs rise

| Laura Stewart

ASX Ltd delivered higher revenue and profit for its 1H26 results but trimmed its dividend amid increased expenses.

Read more »