Kelsian Group Ltd – Financial Results, Dividend and Corporate Events
Half‑Year Financial Performance (FY26 1HFY26)
Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS) announced its first‑half 2026 results on 24 February 2026. The company reported:
- Revenue and earnings growth across all divisions, driven by contract expansion, cost indexation and scale benefits.
- Operating leverage from increased scale, particularly in the transport and tourism segments.
- Underlying earnings (adjusted for one‑off costs):
- EBITDA: $153.8 million, up 16.4 % year‑on‑year.
- EBIT: $75.3 million, up 26.5 %.
- Net profit after tax (NPATA): $52.5 million, up 32.2 %.
- Statutory net profit after tax increased 61.6 % to $32.4 million.
- Operating cash‑flow and cash conversion remained strong.
The company also upgraded its FY26 earnings guidance. For the full year, underlying EBITDA is now expected to fall between $303 million and $312 million (previous guidance: $297 million to $310 million).
Dividend Distribution Announcement
On the same day, Kelsian disclosed a new dividend distribution:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Distribution amount | AUD 0.08 per ordinary fully paid share |
| Ex‑date | 19 March 2026 |
| Record date | 20 March 2026 |
| Payment date | 20 April 2026 |
| Dividend type | Six‑month dividend |
The dividend is payable to shareholders recorded as of the record date and is subject to the usual ASX dividend payment procedures.
Trading Pause and Resumption
On 23 February 2026, the company issued a market release announcing a temporary pause in trading of its securities. The pause was pending a further announcement; trading resumed following the release of the financial results and dividend details on 24 February.
Director Resignation
The board also reported the resignation of Mr Neil Smith, a non‑executive director, effective 28 February 2026. Mr Smith resigned for health reasons. He had been a founder and former Chairman of Transit Systems Group and had joined Kelsian’s board after the 2020 acquisition of that business. His departure was acknowledged as a loss of valuable expertise in public transport and sustainable mobility.
Key Takeaway Kelsian Group Ltd demonstrated solid financial performance in the first half of FY26, with notable growth in earnings and a revised, upwardly revised guidance for the full year. The company also maintained shareholder value through a modest dividend and managed a temporary trading pause while handling a board‑level leadership change.
