Macquarie Group experienced its largest intraday decline since April following half-year financial results that fell short of analyst expectations. The main factor behind the drop was weaker earnings from its commodities division.
By midday, Macquarie’s shares had fallen 6.7% to $202.56, nearly reaching an intraday low of $202.37. This decline is the steepest since April 4, when shares dropped 9% amid broader market turmoil triggered by tariff announcements.
Macquarie is a diversified financial group that offers clients services in asset management, finance, banking, advisory, and risk and capital solutions across debt, equity, and commodities. It operates globally, with a solid base in Australia.
Despite the share price slump, Macquarie reported a net profit of nearly $1.7 billion, supported by strong performance fees from its asset management division. However, this profit fell short of analyst forecasts, which expected a first-half net profit of $1.86 billion and an interim dividend of $3.09.
UBS analyst John Storey noted the difference, stating the result was "10.4 per cent below consensus estimates."
The earnings per share (EPS) of $4.37 also missed expectations by 10.9 per cent.
The half-year results highlight challenges particularly in the commodities sector, affecting Macquarie’s stock despite solid asset management returns.