Feb 26 (Reuters) - Woolworths Group WOW.AX said on Wednesday its first-half profit dropped 1.7%, as stiff competition and deep discounting during the holiday season hurt its performance.
Australia's largest supermarket operator said profit attributable from continuing operations came in at A$887 million ($585.51 million), down from the A$902 million it earned a year earlier.
The company declared an interim dividend of 46 Australian cents per share, up from 45 cents a year earlier. ($1 = 1.5149 Australian dollars)