Woolworths reported FY26 sales growth of 4%, EBITDA growth of 7% and EBIT up 13%. The company’s sales momentum remains good and it should continue for the next six months, but then outperformance is likely to fade as Woolworths laps higher promotional activity. We expect a modest pick-up in inflation. Woolworths earnings growth was helped by unusually low depreciation growth. Nevertheless, Woolworths has more margin expansion opportunity over the next three years than Coles. The NZ and Big W segments had better earnings. The path to a 10%+ return on funds is plausible for these businesses but margins would still be low by historical and industry standards.

Lovisa reported FY26 EBIT of $158 million, up 14%. Sales grew 18% in FY26 with second half sales up 12%. Gross margin at 82.6% improved 60bp. We lower our sales forecasts on lower store numbers but improved comparable sales, with comp sales for the first eight weeks up 3%. We lift gross margin and lower costs. While there is a strong pipeline of store openings, the store network will need to be optimised further and competitive threats are increasing.

Accent Group reported EBIT of $83 million in line with guidance and Visible Alpha consensus. Like-for-like sales in the second half was down 2% and continued in the trading update for the first seven weeks of 1H27e. Gross margin improved in 2H26 on 1H26. We lower our sales forecasts but increased our gross margin expectations.

Woolworths has good sales momentum, which has led to a higher PE ratio. The chances of surprisingly strong sales momentum in Woolworths trading update is high given the success of the Ooshies collectables campaign. We may see sales growth of 7%+. However, such programs have no discernible ongoing benefit to sales. As a result, Woolworths sales trends are peaking and are likely to slow through FY27e.

Chemist Warehouse has sustained double-digit comparable sales growth for three consecutive years. The retailer has won market share from other pharmacies and Coles and Woolworths. Chemist Warehouse advantages are its pricing tactics and breadth of range. While Coles and Woolworths are unlikely to fix their ranging issue, they may adjust pricing tactics. Chemist Warehouse is cheaper than the supermarkets when comparing shelf prices to Chemist Warehouse’ standard price, but much less so when comparing promotional prices. The risk to Chemist Warehouse is that Coles and Woolworths use everyday low pricing tactics to improve their relative pricing to Chemist Warehouse. They have begun lowering prices on high profile products and more will come over the next 12 months. We may see a slowdown in Chemist Warehouse sales growth towards single digits over the next year.

Frasers Group has announced a full takeover offer for Accent Group with no premium at A$0.65. Frasers Group has used the strategy in the past, building up a stake and launching an opportunistic bid with varying success. The offer represents a 3.3x EV/EBITDA multiple (FY26e). Frasers may lift the bid but has exercised patience in the past. The board will say that the offer undervalues the company, holding out for an improved offer in our view. We weight three scenarios at an equal chance of occurring: a full takeover going ahead at a premium to the current offer, a status quo scenario and a Sports Direct agreement termination.

Accent Group strategy day focused on long term growth targets for 2030 which are driven by the rollout of Sports Direct, cost out initiatives and an assumed improvement in like-for-like sales growth beyond FY27e. We are cautious on the ability to reach the longer term store count goals with more than a hundred stores in the current network under review. An improvement in like-for-like sales is predicated on the continued strength of performing brands and the recovery of brands that have been out of favour in recent years.

Lovisa’s global expansion has added operational complexity including currency changes which we have mitigated by forecasting on a constant currency basis. We have lowered our comparable sales forecasts and our ANZ store count estimates. Lovisa has de-rated as consumer sentiment and discretionary spend is impacted by geopolitical tensions. Competition domestically, global tensions and Jewells expansion remain key risks.

Woolworths reported 14% EBIT growth for 1H26, helped by improving sales trends and more consistent execution across its divisions. While a good result, there was a low base in the previous corresponding half. Woolworths sales trends may slow from here and the margin gains in eCommerce and Digital & media will be difficult to repeat. The outlook for FY26e through to FY28e is good as margins recover further and supply chain investments deliver a return. The PE premium to Coles is back to its long-term average.

Accent Group reported 1H26 EBIT of $57m, down 30%. Underlying gross margin of 54.3% was down 130bp. The trading update for the first eight weeks was flat. We have rebased our forecasts for FY27e on the proforma earnings base of FY26e which strips out the exit of Glue Store and OzSale. We lower our sales forecasts on closures and lift our gross margin and cost of doing business forecasts. A Strategy Day will be held in May 2026 to provide an update on growth priorities.