Latest news with #ColesGroup
The Australian
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Australian
‘It has to count': purpose quest shaped this finance leader's career
Samantha Douglas is Executive General Manager of Finance at Coles Group and has built a distinguished career leading finance functions across the sport, retail and banking industries. In this interview, Samantha shares key lessons from a journey that's included senior positions at National Australia Bank, the Carlton Football Club's finance committee and the CFO role at Cricket Australia. For Samantha Douglas, purpose and connection have always been central to her life. Whether supporting high-performing teams or driving financial strategy in the boardroom, she's guided by a strong belief in the power of impact. That conviction was shaped early. When Samantha was young, her father employed 12 young people with Down Syndrome. She saw what working meant to them, and the experience instilled in her the importance of purpose. 'He was ahead of the time,' she says with immense pride. 'He showed me that inclusion, care and kindness are important leadership qualities and that everyone can have an impact. I carried that with me.' But purpose can be hard to come by in corporate finance. 'It's not like working on the medical frontline where your purpose is really tangible,' she says. 'In big organisations, and especially support functions like finance, you can feel like a cog in the machine. It's not always clear how your work connects to real people or outcomes.' Samantha Douglas is Executive General Manager of Finance at Coles Group That search for meaning became a throughline in Samantha's career. When the work felt disconnected, the long hours were harder to justify. 'If you're missing bedtime or rushing through dinner, you want to believe it's for more than just paying the mortgage. That's when it really has to count.' Samantha didn't just seek purpose for herself: she created it for her teams. In various senior finance roles at NAB, she helped create skilled volunteering programs that connected finance professionals with customers in vulnerable financial positions. 'Even small things like that helped,' she says. 'It reminded people their work mattered.' Capitalising on her experience in sport to take a role on the Finance Committee at Carlton Football Club was also an opportunity to connect with something that provided meaning. 'I love how sport brings people together and provides a platform to provide awareness for issues bigger than the game.' While Samantha didn't take the most linear path, she made deliberate decisions at each step, anchored in purpose and balance. One pivotal move came when she took on the role of chief of staff to the Group CFO at NAB where she had a front-row seat to executive leadership. 'I got to see everything,' she says. 'Balance sheet committees, interactions between senior leaders, strategic planning. It demystified the CFO role and gave me exposure I couldn't have gotten elsewhere and whilst it was fast paced and challenging, it gave me confidence I could do it.' It also gave her clarity on the type of leader she wanted to be. 'I saw how decisions were made and how relationships mattered. That experience was invaluable.' Later, she was encouraged by the same CFO to step into the role of financial controller, recognising it would give Samantha the skills and experience she was missing. This saw her leading large teams both onshore and offshore. It wasn't a role she had aspired to, but looking back she realised, 'if you're serious about becoming a CFO, it's important experience.' It wasn't just the roles that shaped her — it was the internal work too. 'The most important relationship I've had to build is the one with myself,' she says. 'I had to learn to get out of my own way.' Building confidence became a deliberate practice that didn't happen overnight. She started small, writing down what went well each week and more importantly what she had done to make it go well. 'Eventually I just got sick of standing in my own way and got on with it.' Support was also key. A deeply supportive partner helped create space for her to balance ambition with family. Trusted former leaders remained in her corner for the occasional coffee when she hit a fork in the road, and she worked with an executive coach when she felt stuck or lacked momentum. 'It was about finding someone I trusted to help me get moving again,' she says. Like many, throughout her career, Samantha navigated the complexity of raising a young family. For over a decade, she worked part time. 'I disappeared into the wilderness of part-time work,' she jokes. During this period, Samantha learnt how to be softer on herself despite her driven nature. 'If you choose to work part time, you have to let go of everyone who rockets past.' But what it really taught her was that career progression doesn't have to come at the cost of family. It also gave her a deep appreciation for flexibility, something she now drives as a leader. 'There's more genuine flexibility now,' she says. 'If I look at teams that I've been a part of over the past few years, many women work five days, because now we can get to school functions and appointments.' But she's realistic about the challenges. 'There are parts of finance that are immovable: month-end, year-end. But with rhythm, planning and support, it's doable.' Now with decades of experience across stretch roles, part-time work and purposeful pivots, Samantha brings it all to bear as executive general manager of finance at Coles. Her advice to others? 'Chase personal growth. Back yourself, and build broad experience early. And don't feel guilty about how you do it, whether full-time, part-time, or in-between. There's no single path.' - Disclaimer This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ('DTTL'), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see to learn more. Copyright © 2025 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved. -
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why We Think Coles Group (ASX:COL) Is Well Worth Watching
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Coles Group (ASX:COL). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. Coles Group's Improving Profits Even with very modest growth rates, a company will usually do well if it improves earnings per share (EPS) year after year. So EPS growth can certainly encourage an investor to take note of a stock. Coles Group has grown its trailing twelve month EPS from AU$0.77 to AU$0.83, in the last year. That amounts to a small improvement of 8.4%. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. EBIT margins for Coles Group remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 5.9% to AU$45b. That's progress. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image. View our latest analysis for Coles Group The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. While crystal balls don't exist, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for Coles Group's future EPS 100% free. Are Coles Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a AU$27b company like Coles Group. But thanks to their investment in the company, it's pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. Indeed, they hold AU$53m worth of its stock. This considerable investment should help drive long-term value in the business. Despite being just 0.2% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture. It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Our quick analysis into CEO remuneration would seem to indicate they are. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Coles Group, with market caps over AU$12b, is around AU$6.4m. The Coles Group CEO received AU$4.7m in compensation for the year ending June 2024. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally. Does Coles Group Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? One important encouraging feature of Coles Group is that it is growing profits. The fact that EPS is growing is a genuine positive for Coles Group, but the pleasant picture gets better than that. With a meaningful level of insider ownership, and reasonable CEO pay, a reasonable mind might conclude that this is one stock worth watching. Still, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Coles Group. While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in AU with promising growth potential and insider confidence. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why We Think Coles Group (ASX:COL) Is Well Worth Watching
For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Coles Group (ASX:COL). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. Coles Group's Improving Profits Even with very modest growth rates, a company will usually do well if it improves earnings per share (EPS) year after year. So EPS growth can certainly encourage an investor to take note of a stock. Coles Group has grown its trailing twelve month EPS from AU$0.77 to AU$0.83, in the last year. That amounts to a small improvement of 8.4%. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. EBIT margins for Coles Group remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 5.9% to AU$45b. That's progress. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image. View our latest analysis for Coles Group The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. While crystal balls don't exist, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for Coles Group's future EPS 100% free. Are Coles Group Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a AU$27b company like Coles Group. But thanks to their investment in the company, it's pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. Indeed, they hold AU$53m worth of its stock. This considerable investment should help drive long-term value in the business. Despite being just 0.2% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture. It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Our quick analysis into CEO remuneration would seem to indicate they are. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Coles Group, with market caps over AU$12b, is around AU$6.4m. The Coles Group CEO received AU$4.7m in compensation for the year ending June 2024. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally. Does Coles Group Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? One important encouraging feature of Coles Group is that it is growing profits. The fact that EPS is growing is a genuine positive for Coles Group, but the pleasant picture gets better than that. With a meaningful level of insider ownership, and reasonable CEO pay, a reasonable mind might conclude that this is one stock worth watching. Still, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Coles Group. While opting for stocks without growing earnings and absent insider buying can yield results, for investors valuing these key metrics, here is a carefully selected list of companies in AU with promising growth potential and insider confidence. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Look At The Fair Value Of Coles Group Limited (ASX:COL)
Coles Group's estimated fair value is AU$21.93 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Coles Group's AU$20.46 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Our fair value estimate is 2.9% higher than Coles Group's analyst price target of AU$21.31 Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Coles Group Limited (ASX:COL) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$1.44b AU$1.62b AU$1.36b AU$1.34b AU$1.34b AU$1.35b AU$1.37b AU$1.40b AU$1.43b AU$1.47b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x6 Analyst x6 Analyst x2 Est @ -1.20% Est @ 0.05% Est @ 0.92% Est @ 1.53% Est @ 1.95% Est @ 2.25% Est @ 2.46% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% AU$1.3k AU$1.4k AU$1.1k AU$1.0k AU$958 AU$904 AU$858 AU$818 AU$782 AU$750 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$10.0b After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF2035 × (1 + g) ÷ (r – g) = AU$1.5b× (1 + 2.9%) ÷ (6.9%– 2.9%) = AU$38b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$38b÷ ( 1 + 6.9%)10= AU$19b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is AU$29b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$20.5, the company appears about fair value at a 6.7% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Coles Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.921. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Check out our latest analysis for Coles Group Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Retailing market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 4 years. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Australian market. Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Coles Group, there are three important items you should further research: Risks: You should be aware of the 2 warning signs for Coles Group we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does COL's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen. Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten Fehler beim Abrufen der Daten
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fed-up tradie sums up the frustration we are all feeling about the construction industry in epic rant: 'No one has integrity'
A furious tradie has lashed out at the dire state of the construction industry, claiming it is 'nearly impossible' to run an 'honest building company' in Australia. Richard Dargham claimed the cost-of-living crisis had ravaged the sector and pushed up prices of 'poor-quality materials', leading to zero profit margins. He accused the government of sitting on its hands, claiming the only businesses that were able to survive were the ones that 'cut corners'. Mr Dargham erupted into his foul-mouthed rant after he had been called out to a property on Saturday to fix a mistake made by his 'idiot boys' three years ago. 'No one wants to come out and fix anything because no one in this industry has integrity, right?' he said. 'You guys want to know why builders are not fixing anything? Because we're running on zero profit margins. 'None of the trades want to take responsibility for anything. 'Everything is hyperinflated and stupidly expensive and this is the situation that we're in in this country.' Mr Dargham claimed supplies had become expensive because the government had not been cracking down on price gouging within the industry. 'How about if the government gets off its a**, stops protecting its rich mates and actually fix this for us?' he said. 'People don't have the money to pay your friends. They're making maximum profits - Bunnings Group, Coles Group, Woolies, all of these people, right - they're making the maximum amount of money while everyone in this country is suffering. 'Our leaders don't give a s*** about you or me.' Mr Dargham said he was trying to 'run an honest building company, but it's nearly impossible'. 'I work 16 hours a day, six to seven days a week, and I have no money in the bank account,' he said. 'The only people that make money are the shifty b******s cutting corners.' Mr Dargham complained about how prices had become ridiculously high for poor quality materials. 'Everything we're buying is rubbish material and they're going up in price,' he said. Mr Dargham said it wasn't only builders being impacted by the cost-of-living crisis. 'And then in your freaking Coles and Woolies, the prices are going up and the packet sizes are going down,' he said. 'Come on, man, what is this? You need to earn $3,000 to $4,000 a week these days just to survive.' On top of the increased overheads, the tradie added it was difficult for teenagers looking to enter the trades due to a lack of apprenticeship positions. 'Now my son wants to do a plumbing apprenticeship,' Mr Dargham said. 'Oh there may not be enough positions, we don't have enough teachers. What's the government doing about fixing that? 'Nothing. They're underpaying the teachers. None of the teachers want to do teaching. 'Everyone's underpaid. Nobody wants to do their job.' All the ongoing problems with the building industry left the tradie with a dire conclusion: 'In this country, the only way to make money is to cheat, steal and lie.' Social media users echoed the frustration of the tradie, revealing they were fed up with the cost-of-living crisis. 'This country is legit a scam,' one wrote. 'I've worked the hardest I ever have, making the most money I have ever made in my life, and I am the absolute brokest I've ever been. When is it gonna end?' another said. 'I feel your raw pain - this place has become too expensive. It's insane,' another wrote.
