SYDNEY, Feb 26, 2026, 18:02 AEDT — Market closed.
- Woodside slipped 1.1% at the close on Thursday, chipping away at its gains from earlier in the week.
- Heavy project spending and a CEO change are giving investors something to chew on, even with the dividend in play.
- March 5 is up next—the ex-dividend date for the stock.
Woodside Energy Group Ltd fell 1.1% to finish at A$27.94 on Thursday, pulling back after its recent post-earnings rally. Even with today’s drop, the stock has climbed roughly 3% since Monday’s close, after rising 2.4% Tuesday and 1.8% Wednesday.
This shift is significant: Woodside’s juggling both hefty LNG investments and the need to sustain high cash returns. Investors aren’t fixated on dividend headlines anymore—they’re watching how cash flow holds up with capital spending still running hot.
The CEO handover is right in the thick of things. Traders are watching closely for any indication that Woodside might trim its U.S. LNG exposure, but not at the cost of missing out on potential gains.
Woodside’s annual update this week delivered numbers investors have been watching: record output at 198.8 million barrels of oil equivalent, net profit after tax at $2.72 billion, and $2.65 billion in underlying net profit after tax. The board declared a fully franked final dividend of 59 U.S. cents per share, carrying Australian tax credits. Acting CEO Liz Westcott cited “strong underlying NPAT of $2.6 billion,” noting the result came through even as commodity prices eased. The company also highlighted progress on its expansion projects. Louisiana LNG hit 22% completion by year-end after a $17.5 billion final investment decision, with Woodside still in talks to sell up to another 20% stake in Louisiana LNG LLC. Scarborough reached 94% complete and remains lined up for its first LNG shipment in the fourth quarter of 2026. ASX Announcements
Woodside has nailed down its dividend schedule. The ex-dividend date lands on March 5, 2026, with the record date following on March 6 and the payout set for March 27, per the latest dividend notice. For shareholders looking to choose their dividend currency, the cutoff is March 9 at 19:00 AEDT. The Australian dollar amount will be announced on March 11.
Woodside is targeting the first quarter of 2026 to appoint a permanent chief executive, following Meg O’Neill’s exit to BP. “Appointment of the CEO is a very important activity,” the company said during its results briefing, per Reuters. Reuters
This could unravel quickly. If supply ramps up before demand catches up, LNG prices might buckle, and these massive projects don’t tend to go easy on anyone if budgets overrun or timelines drift. Acting CEO Westcott flagged the risk, cautioning that “new supply may place downward pressure on prices,” but he also pushed back against talk of a looming, game-changing glut, saying such fears should be viewed “with caution,” according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg.com
Woodside is moving ahead with both Louisiana and Scarborough, joining the global LNG race. The company now finds itself jostling for buyers and for construction slots, while rival producers build out their own projects.
Traders are watching for the March 5 ex-dividend date. After that comes the March 11 currency translation, plus any word from the CEO call or on the Louisiana LNG sell-down talks.
