WAM Leaders Limited delivered a strong financial performance for the year ended 30 June 2026, with profit from ordinary activities before income tax surging to $218.3 million, representing growth of 176.5% compared to the prior year. Revenue climbed to $249.5 million, up 125.3%, while net profit after income tax reached $161.8 million, an increase of 153.5%. These substantial improvements reflect robust gains across the company’s investment portfolio during the financial year.
The investment portfolio itself generated returns of 14.0% during FY2026, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index by 7.9 percentage points. This performance is particularly noteworthy given the challenging and volatile conditions that persisted in equity markets throughout the period. Since its listing on the ASX in May 2016, WAM Leaders has delivered investment portfolio returns of 12.0% per annum, consistently outpacing the benchmark by 2.9% per annum, demonstrating the effectiveness of its top-down macroeconomic analysis combined with Wilson Asset Management’s fundamental research capabilities.
The company declared a fully franked final dividend of 4.8 cents per share, complementing the interim dividend of 4.8 cents, bringing the total full-year dividend to 9.6 cents per share. Both dividends carry 100% franking, providing shareholders with the benefit of franking credits. At current market prices, this translates to a dividend yield of 7.2%, or 10.3% on a grossed-up basis when factoring in the tax benefits of full franking. The Dividend Reinvestment Plan remains in operation and will apply to the final dividend without any discount, allowing participating shareholders to reinvest their dividends at the volume-weighted average market price over the four trading days commencing on the ex-dividend date.
Net tangible asset backing after tax stood at $1.33 per share at 30 June 2026, compared to $1.31 at 30 June 2025, reflecting the strong underlying asset growth during the year. Since inception, WAM Leaders has distributed a total of 96.5 cents per share to investors in dividends, including the benefit of franking credits. This substantial cumulative distribution underscores the company’s commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining capital growth.
Investors should monitor the upcoming dividend payment dates, with the ex-dividend date falling on 17 November 2026 and payment scheduled for 30 November 2026. The company’s ability to maintain outperformance against the ASX 200 in future periods, particularly as market conditions continue to evolve, will warrant close attention. This announcement has been classified as price-sensitive information and flagged as material by the ASX.
View the full ASX announcement (PDF)
About WAM Leaders Limited (ASX: WLE)
WAM Leaders Limited is an Australian investment company that provides investors with exposure to large-cap stocks listed on the S&P/ASX 200 Index. Launched and managed by Wilson Asset Management, it focuses on identifying large-cap companies with compelling fundamentals and macroeconomic catalysts. The company aims to deliver fully franked dividends, capital growth, and capital preservation for its investors.
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