Collins Foods Limited reported a substantial profit surge for FY26, with net profit climbing to $44.2 million, an increase of 399.8 percent from $8.8 million in the prior year. The jump is particularly striking given that revenue grew a more modest 8.6 percent to $1.59 billion, suggesting significant operational leverage and improved cost management across the KFC operator’s business. For a restaurant operator with 375 locations, this level of profit expansion despite single-digit revenue growth points to meaningful margin improvement.
Profit from ordinary activities after tax reached $47.1 million compared to $12.4 million previously, a gain of 280.5 percent. This disparity between revenue growth and profit growth indicates that Collins Foods made meaningful progress in working capital efficiency, cost control, or margin expansion during the period. The company operates across Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany, serving customers through approximately 22,000 team members spread across its restaurant footprint.
The Board’s confidence in the improved earnings is evident in the dividend decision. A fully franked final dividend of 15.0 cents per share was declared, up from 13.0 cents in the previous corresponding period. Combined with the interim dividend of 15.0 cents paid in January, the total fully franked dividend for FY26 reaches 30.0 cents per share, an increase from the prior year’s total of 24.0 cents. The DRP remains active, allowing shareholders to reinvest dividends at the volume-weighted average price over the nominated 10-day trading period.
Net tangible asset backing per share improved materially to $0.30 from $0.18, reflecting balance sheet strengthening. This 67 percent increase in NTA suggests either improved profitability flowing to retained earnings or more efficient asset utilization across the restaurant footprint. For a restaurant operator, this type of NTA improvement typically indicates successful cost management and operational discipline rather than significant capital deployment on new assets.
The discontinued operations charge of $2.9 million warrants scrutiny in the full annual report, which should clarify which assets are being wound down. The detailed report should provide additional color on same-store sales trends, consumer demand patterns across each geographic market, and the company’s capital allocation strategy. The balance sheet improvement evident in the 67 percent increase in NTA provides useful context for the profit performance. This announcement is price sensitive and has been flagged as material by the ASX.
View the full ASX announcement (PDF)
About Collins Foods Limited (ASX: CKF)
Collins Foods Limited is the largest KFC franchisee in Australia and operates both KFC and Taco Bell restaurants across multiple countries. The company operates approximately 275 franchised KFC restaurants and 27 Taco Bell locations in Australia, with additional KFC operations in Germany and the Netherlands. Its primary revenue is generated from the operation and management of these quick-service restaurant franchises.
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