Sydney, Feb 20, 2026, 17:59 AEDT — Market shut down for the day.
- Woolworths shares finished Friday at A$31.23, down 2.3%, just off the session’s low.
- Half-year results from the grocer are set for Feb. 25, marking a pivotal moment for both margins and guidance resets.
- Australia’s major supermarkets still face ongoing questions about their pricing as reporting season approaches.
Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX:WOW) dropped 2.3% on Friday, closing at A$31.23—a loss of 73 Australian cents from the previous session. Shares fluctuated between A$31.20 and A$31.85 throughout the day, with roughly 3.4 million shares traded.
After the week’s trading wraps up, the focus swings to Wednesday, Feb. 25. That’s when Woolworths will post its half-year results to the ASX—a six-month earnings readout that tends to shake up price forecasts in a hurry.
The date comes as regulators ramp up scrutiny on the sector compared to last year. ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, in a Feb. 19 speech, noted that ongoing court actions against Woolworths and Coles over allegedly misleading discount pricing are still before the Federal Court. “Accurate and meaningful pricing information is fundamental to effective competition,” Cass-Gottlieb said. ACCC
This week, Woolworths disclosed new specifics about its cost and energy usage. On Feb. 19, the retailer announced it now sources 100% of its electricity from renewables in both Australia and New Zealand, achieving its 2020-set target well ahead of the RE100 initiative’s 2030 deadline. “Every supermarket and distribution centre … has been running solely on renewable electricity,” said Simon Lowden, who oversees public affairs, communications and sustainability. Woolworths Group
The retailer is ramping up its loyalty-driven offers to attract shoppers watching their budgets. Woolworths plans to launch an Everyday Rewards cookware deal with Fissler, running from March 18 through July 7; shoppers earn credits based on spending, which they can swap for stainless-steel cookware. “We’re always looking at how we can give our customers more value,” said Robert Glenn, who heads collectibles at Woolworths. Woolworths Group
Not much relief from the wider market. The S&P/ASX 200 edged down 0.05% Friday, pulled lower by consumer staples dragging on the index.
Coles Group shares finished 1.6% lower at A$21.52, the company’s share price page showed. Investors tend to push Coles and Woolworths in the same direction, with both stocks frequently tracking each other when sentiment shifts on supermarkets.
Woolworths heads into next week’s results with three things in the spotlight: sales trends, cost headwinds, and management’s read on how hard promotions are biting as consumers hunt for deals. Investors will be quick to pick up on any signal about how discounting is squeezing margins.
But it’s a double-edged sword here. Should the company sound cautious, or point to rougher trading, the stock might keep sliding after Friday—especially with pricing still drawing legal and regulatory heat.
