Aurizon (ASX:AZJ) announced a robust financial performance for the first half of fiscal year 2026, headlined by a 9% increase in group EBITDA to $891 million.
The growth was underpinned by a combination of higher operational volumes, regulatory revenue uplifts, and disciplined cost management across its core business units.
The company's net profit after tax rose 16% to $237 million, reflecting increased efficiency and a favourable operating environment.
Performance across Aurizon’s key segments remained consistently strong, with coal EBITDA climbing to $298 million, supported by improved revenue yields.
Network EBITDA reached $516 million following an uplift in track access revenue, while bulk EBITDA saw a jump to $117 million as volumes increased by 4%.
Earnings per share rose 20% to 13.6 cents, bolstered by a series of strategic share buybacks.
The board has declared an interim dividend of 12.5 cents per share (90% franked), representing a high 90% payout ratio of underlying NPAT.
Aurizon has extended its on-market buy-back program by $100 million, bringing the total capacity to $250 million.