Australian investment bank Macquarie Group achieves its second-highest annual profit of $4.8bn, driven by strong performances across divisions, but faces scrutiny over increased fossil fuel funding.
Macquarie Group has delivered its second-highest annual profit on record, after a strong finish to the year helped the Australian investment bank lift earnings to $4.8bn.
The result, announced on Friday, was 30 per cent higher than the previous year and ahead of market expectations of about $4.4bn for the 12 months to March 31. Its half-year profit of $3.2bn was also a record, almost double the comparable period a year earlier.
Chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake said the group’s four businesses had drawn on their specialist expertise to manage a challenging environment while also seizing opportunities for longer-term growth. Veteran banking analyst Brian Johnson of MST Financial told Ms Wikramanayake during a briefing that the result was “a cracking result”.
The biggest contributor was Macquarie’s commodities and global markets division, which lifted profit 49 per cent to $4.2bn after the sale of British smart meter asset provider OnStream. Macquarie Capital posted a net profit of $1.5bn, up 43 per cent, supported by stronger income from equity investments and mergers and acquisitions fees.
Macquarie Asset Management increased profit 27 per cent to $2.6bn, helped by higher performance fees, while the banking and financial services arm rose 17 per cent to $1.6bn.
The bank said it would return half of its half-year profit to shareholders, with a second-half dividend of $4.20 a share. That lifted total dividends for the year to $7 a share, up from $6.50 a year earlier.
Macquarie also released its annual and sustainability reports on Friday. Activist group Market Forces said the disclosures showed the bank had increased funding for fossil fuel projects, with its analyst Morgan Pickett accusing it of tripling finance for oil and gas over four years. The group also pointed to Macquarie’s support for Whitehaven Coal’s mine expansion plans and gas fracking projects in the Beetaloo Basin south of Darwin.
Macquarie shares were down 0.9 per cent to $239.80 by noon on Friday.
- https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/business/investment-bank-macquarie-posts-second-highest-profit-c-22253767 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2024/macquarie-group-announces-annual-profit.html – Macquarie Group announced a net profit after tax of $A3,522 million for the year ended 31 March 2024, a 32% decrease from the previous year. The profit for the half year ended 31 March 2024 was $A2,107 million, up 49% from the half year ended 30 September 2023. The decline in annual profit was attributed to fewer asset sales and lower commodity prices. The final ordinary dividend was set at $A3.85 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $A6.40 per share for the year, representing a payout ratio of 70%.
- https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2024/macquarie-group-announces-annual-profit.html – Macquarie Group announced a net profit after tax of $A3,522 million for the year ended 31 March 2024, a 32% decrease from the previous year. The profit for the half year ended 31 March 2024 was $A2,107 million, up 49% from the half year ended 30 September 2023. The decline in annual profit was attributed to fewer asset sales and lower commodity prices. The final ordinary dividend was set at $A3.85 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $A6.40 per share for the year, representing a payout ratio of 70%.
- https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2024/macquarie-group-announces-annual-profit.html – Macquarie Group announced a net profit after tax of $A3,522 million for the year ended 31 March 2024, a 32% decrease from the previous year. The profit for the half year ended 31 March 2024 was $A2,107 million, up 49% from the half year ended 30 September 2023. The decline in annual profit was attributed to fewer asset sales and lower commodity prices. The final ordinary dividend was set at $A3.85 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $A6.40 per share for the year, representing a payout ratio of 70%.
- https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2024/macquarie-group-announces-annual-profit.html – Macquarie Group announced a net profit after tax of $A3,522 million for the year ended 31 March 2024, a 32% decrease from the previous year. The profit for the half year ended 31 March 2024 was $A2,107 million, up 49% from the half year ended 30 September 2023. The decline in annual profit was attributed to fewer asset sales and lower commodity prices. The final ordinary dividend was set at $A3.85 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $A6.40 per share for the year, representing a payout ratio of 70%.
- https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2024/macquarie-group-announces-annual-profit.html – Macquarie Group announced a net profit after tax of $A3,522 million for the year ended 31 March 2024, a 32% decrease from the previous year. The profit for the half year ended 31 March 2024 was $A2,107 million, up 49% from the half year ended 30 September 2023. The decline in annual profit was attributed to fewer asset sales and lower commodity prices. The final ordinary dividend was set at $A3.85 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $A6.40 per share for the year, representing a payout ratio of 70%.
- https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2024/macquarie-group-announces-annual-profit.html – Macquarie Group announced a net profit after tax of $A3,522 million for the year ended 31 March 2024, a 32% decrease from the previous year. The profit for the half year ended 31 March 2024 was $A2,107 million, up 49% from the half year ended 30 September 2023. The decline in annual profit was attributed to fewer asset sales and lower commodity prices. The final ordinary dividend was set at $A3.85 per share, resulting in a total dividend of $A6.40 per share for the year, representing a payout ratio of 70%.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on Macquarie Group’s annual profit of $4.8 billion, a 30% increase from the previous year. This aligns with Macquarie’s official announcement of a net profit after tax of $3,715 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, up 5% on the prior year. ([macquarie.com](https://www.macquarie.com/au/en/about/news/2025/macquarie-group-fy25-result-announcement.html?utm_source=openai)) The discrepancy in figures may be due to currency conversion or reporting differences. The article was published on 8 May 2026, which is within a reasonable timeframe for reporting on financial results.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes a quote from CEO Shemara Wikramanayake and analyst Brian Johnson. While these quotes are plausible, they cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. The absence of direct links to the original statements raises concerns about their authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from PerthNow, an Australian news outlet. While it is a known publication, it is not as widely recognised as major news organisations like the BBC or Reuters. The lack of direct links to Macquarie Group’s official statements or reputable financial news sources diminishes the reliability of the information.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The reported profit increase and dividend announcement are plausible and consistent with Macquarie Group’s historical performance. However, the absence of corroborating reports from other reputable news outlets or financial analysts raises questions about the completeness and accuracy of the information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article reports on Macquarie Group’s annual profit, but discrepancies in reported figures, unverified quotes, and reliance on a single source without independent confirmation raise significant concerns about accuracy and reliability. The absence of corroborating reports from reputable news outlets further diminishes confidence in the information presented.