Healius flags asset sale and funding squeeze as wage pressures mount

An announcement from Healius Limited ( (AU:HLS) ) is now available.

Healius has issued a trading update for FY 2026, forecasting group underlying EBITDA of $259 million to $264 million and underlying EBIT of $30 million to $35 million, as modest revenue growth and cost controls support profitability. Pathology revenue rose despite flat to slightly lower volumes, with labour costs kept in check, although recent Fair Work Commission findings on gender-based undervaluation are starting to lift wages and will add to expenses in coming quarters.

The company reported strong momentum at its Agilex Biolabs unit, where revenue has grown 13.7% year to date, and it has appointed UBS to explore a potential sale of this standalone business to unlock shareholder value without affecting core pathology operations. Healius also warned that the latest Federal Budget provides no new funding for pathology despite ongoing indexation freezes and upcoming wage increases, signalling further pressure on margins and foreshadowing more staff cuts, site closures and the likely introduction of out‑of‑pocket fees for patients to bridge the funding gap.

The most recent analyst rating on (AU:HLS) stock is a Hold with a A$0.80 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Healius Limited stock, see the AU:HLS Stock Forecast page.

More about Healius Limited

Healius Limited is one of Australia’s leading healthcare companies, specialising in specialty pathology services delivered through a nationwide network of centres and more than 8,000 employees. The group focuses on providing quality, affordable and accessible diagnostic testing for patients and their referring practitioners across the primary healthcare system.

Average Trading Volume: 3,815,267

Technical Sentiment Signal: Sell

Current Market Cap: A$359.4M

See more insights into HLS stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.