Feb 19 (Reuters) - Wesfarmers Ltd WES.AX:

• AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER DEMAND REMAINS SOLID

• COST OF LIVING PRESSURES ARE BEING FELT UNEVENLY ACROSS THE ECONOMY AND IMPACTING MANY HOUSEHOLDS

• PRODUCTION RAMP-UP PLANS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED AT COVALENT LITHIUM JOINT VENTURE

• RECENT INTEREST RATE RISE AND UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE OUTLOOK FOR INFLATION & INTEREST RATES AFFECTING CONSUMER SENTIMENT

• HIGHER OPERATING EXPENSES ARE WEIGHING ON BUSINESS CONFIDENCE & SPENDING

• H1 NET PROFIT AUD 1,603 MILLION

• SEES FY26 NET CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF BETWEEN $A1,000 MILLION AND $A1,300 MILLION

• RETAIL DIVISIONS CONTINUED TO TRADE WELL IN FIRST SIX WEEKS OF SECOND HALF OF THE 2026 FINANCIAL YEAR

• INTERIM DIVIDEND OF A$1.02 PER SHARE

• BUNNINGS' SALES GROWTH BROADLY IN LINE WITH FIRST HALF OF 2026 FINANCIAL YEAR IN FIRST SIX WEEKS OF SECOND HALF OF 2026 FY

• LITHIUM EARNINGS IN 2H EXPECTED TO BE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF H1

• KMART GROUP’S SALES GROWTH WAS STRONGER IN FIRST SIX WEEKS OF SECOND HALF OF 2026 FY COMPARED TO H1

• HIGHER OPERATING EXPENSES ARE WEIGHING ON BUSINESS CONFIDENCE AND SPENDING

Further company coverage: WES.AX

((Reuters.Briefs@thomsonreuters.com;))