If you’d invested $10,000 in Air New Zealand Ltd (ASX: AIZ) and Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) shares three years ago, which investment would have returned more?

And would either of the ASX travel stocks have beaten the 23.5% gains delivered by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) since 22 September 2023 as of Monday afternoon trade?

I’m glad you asked!

Buying $10,000 worth of Qantas shares

Three years ago, you could have bought Qantas shares for $5.31 apiece.

So, for $10,000, you could have picked up 1,883 shares in the ASX 200 airline stock.

On Monday, shares were changing hands for $8.80 each.

Meaning the 1,883 shares you bought on 22 September 2023 are worth $16,570 today.

But wait. There’s more!

As you may recall, Qantas suspended its dividend payouts in 2020 after the global pandemic slammed the door on air travel and saw Qantas’ profits dry up. However, as COVID came under control and air travel lifted off again, Qantas recommenced its twice-yearly dividend payments, starting in April 2025.

If you’d owned Qantas shares for the last three years, you would have received (or shortly will) the past four dividend payments, totalling 92.4 cents a share.

If we add that back into Monday’s share price, then the accumulated value of the Qantas shares you bought three years ago is now worth $18,310. Or a gain of more than 83%, with some tax benefits from those franking credits.

So, we know that Qantas flew ahead of the ASX 200 over the last 36 months. But how about Air New Zealand stock?

How have Air New Zealand shares fared over three years?

Air New Zealand has had a more difficult time of it since 2023.

Three years ago, you could have bought shares in the Kiwi airline for 68 cents apiece. So, your $10,000 investment would have netted you 14,705 Air New Zealand shares.

On Monday, shares were swapping hands for 33 cents each.

Meaning the 14,705 shares you bought for $10,000 are worth $4,853 today.

Now Air New Zealand also suspended its dividend payments in 2020, resuming them in 2023.

If you’d owned the shares for the last three years, you would have received the past four unfranked dividend payments, totalling 4.7 cents a share.

Adding that back to the recent share price, the accumulated value of the Air New Zealand shares purchased on 22 September 2023 for $10,000 is now $5,544. Or a loss of 44.6%.

Which makes Qantas shares the clear winner in the three-year returns delivered from the two ASX airline stocks.

The post $10,000 invested in Air New Zealand and Qantas shares 3 years ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares forecast to fly 30% to 40% higher
• Could I retire comfortably with $800,000 in superannuation?
• Why I’d invest $10,000 into Qantas shares today
• Looking to bank the final Qantas dividend? You’d better hurry!
• How many Qantas shares do I need to buy for $5,000 of passive income in FY27?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

While many international technology companies have enjoyed big gains in 2026 on the back of the AI buildout, ASX technology shares have struggled. 

Year-to-date, the S&P ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) has fallen almost 20%. 

There have been a couple major headwinds that have put pressure on the sector. 

Higher interest rates and bond yields have impacted sentiment on future growth, while concerns about AI disrupting traditional software business models have also hit valuations. 

The sell-off has been amplified because many Australian tech stocks entered 2026 on relatively high valuations, so even companies reporting solid earnings growth have experienced sharp share-price declines.

However these factors have now created an enticing value opportunity for several ASX technology shares. 

Here are three worth considering. 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech shares are currently trading near 52-week lows at around $31 per share. 

The company provides logistics software that aims to improve the world’s supply chains. WiseTech’s software solutions, including its flagship CargoWise One solution, are now used by the top 25 global freight forwarders, including Toll and DHL.

The share price is down a significant 68% in the last 12 months. 

However, there is reason to be optimistic. 

The bull case for a WiseTech bounceback is that the market may be underestimating the durability and profitability of CargoWise. 

Morgans currently has a price target of $62.50. 

That would be a 100% rise from current levels for the ASX technology stock. 

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero is another ASX technology stock that may have been oversold.

It offers cloud-based, accounting software for small to medium businesses. It is a subscription-based service offering monthly plans at various price points.

After being hit hard by AI replacement fears, it now sits at around $60 per share, down 60% from a year ago. 

Brokers targets are hovering around an average price of $111 per share. 

If this ASX technology stock were to reach this figure, it would be a rise of 85%. 

Betashares S&P ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC)

Another option for investors aiming to buy low on the Australian technology sector is this ASX ETF. 

It has fallen by 36% in the last 12 months.

The ETF provides exposure to leading ASX-listed companies across tech-related market segments such as information technology, consumer electronics, online retail, and medical technology.

It offers a more diversified option for investors looking to buy low, without having to pick individual bounce-back candidates. 

The post Do these ASX technology shares have too much upside to ignore? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Xero shares crash to a 7-year low after a brutal sell-off
• Why brokers think Xero shares could surge 130% from here
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy and hold for a decade
• 7 ASX 200 shares with reaffirmed buy ratings this week
• Downgrade alert! 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by experts this week

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares have a lengthy track record of paying two fully franked dividends a year.

But is the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) supermarket giant a good buy for passive income today?

We’ll look at Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans recommendation below (courtesy of The Bull).

But first, a little background.

Atop the passive income on offer, Coles stock has outperformed in 2026.

On Monday, shares were changing hands for $23.07 each, up 8.1% year to date. That compares to the 0.1% loss posted by the ASX 200 this calendar year.

As for the latest round of passive income, when Coles released its FY 2026 results on 25 August, the company declared a fully franked final dividend of 37 cents per share. That’s an increase of 15.6% from the FY 2025 final Coles dividend.

If you held the stock at market close on 2 September, you can expect to see that income hit your bank account tomorrow, on 22 September.

Adding in the 41 cent per share interim dividend, paid on 30 March, and at the recent share price, Coles shares trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 3.4%.

Which brings us back to…

Are Coles shares are good passive income buy?

“The supermarket industry structure remains favourable, with Coles and competitor Woolworths dominating market share,” Catapult Wealth’s Evans said.

Commenting on Coles FY 2026 results, he noted:

Coles posted group sales revenue of $45.580 billion in full year 2026, up 2.8 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Excluding significant items, group earnings before interest and tax of $2.322 billion was up 9.9 per cent. Supermarket eCommerce sales was a highlight, growing 26.4 per cent.

Summarising his buy recommendation on Coles shares, Evans concluded, “Coles offers a reliable dividend yield, backed by defensive earnings. Catalysts for growth include online expansion, population growth and supply chain automation.”

Bonus ASX 200 stock tip

Atop his buy recommendation on Coles shares, in part for the company’s reliable passive income payouts, Evans also issued a buy recommendation for Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL).

“Netwealth operates a leading investment management platform used by financial advisers in Australia,” he said.

As for his bullish outlook on the ASX 200 finance stock, Evans noted:

The company’s full year 2026 results continued to deliver strong growth, with the platform’s funds under administration increasing 20.3 per cent to $135.7 billion and earnings per share growing 16 per cent to 55.2 cents.

Despite these strong results, the share price has fallen significantly, most likely and partially in response to a compensation payout of about $101 million to members in the collapsed First Guardian Master Fund.

Share price weakness presents an opportunity, as Netwealth still holds a net cash position and is poised to generate strong revenue growth moving forward.

I’ll add that Netwealth also provides some passive income, with the ASX 200 stock trading on a 2.2% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

The post Should I buy Coles shares for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Coles, NAB, CSL shares
• 2 ASX 200 shares to buy and 1 to sell now
• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Coles shares
• Netwealth Group vs HUB24: Which financial platform is better from an investor’s perspective?
• How much do I need in superannuation to receive $1,000 passive income per week?

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.