** Cedar Woods Properties CWP.AX jumps as much as 11.8% to A$8.90, highest since December 19

** Stock headed for best day since December 17

** Residential communities and commercial property developer hikes FY26 NPAT growth guidance to 30%-35% from earlier outlook of minimum 20%

** Posts record NPAT of A$39.6 million (~$28 million) in H1 FY26

** Declares interim dividend of 14.0 AU cents/share above last year's 10 AU cents

** Around 222,052 shares traded, ~1.9x the 30-day average

** YTD, CWP down ~2.5%

($1 = A$1.4164)

(Reporting by John Biju in Bengaluru)

((John.Biju@thomsonreuters.com;))