Finding investments you can buy and hold is about identifying trends that are likely to matter not just next year, but five or ten years from now.

The good news is that ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can make this easier by giving you access to entire themes rather than relying on a single company to get it right.

Here are three ETFs that approach long-term investing from very different angles.

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The first ETF worth considering is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

You may have noticed that cyber threats are becoming more frequent, more sophisticated, and more costly. That creates a situation where spending on security is not optional. It is essential.

The companies in this ETF are not just beneficiaries of a trend. They are part of the infrastructure that keeps the digital world running.

Key holdings include CrowdStrike Holdings (NASDAQ: CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), and Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT).

This makes the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF less about hype and more about necessity, which can be a powerful foundation for long-term investing.

BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

Another ETF that looks well-placed for long-term growth is the BetaShares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This fund is not just a technology ETF. It is a demographic and economic story wrapped in a portfolio.

It provides exposure to companies operating in some of the most densely populated and rapidly digitising regions in the world. As more people come online, adopt digital payments, and consume digital services, the companies in this ETF stand to benefit.

Its holdings include Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), Meituan (SEHK: 3690), and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM).

What sets this fund apart is that it captures growth that is being driven by adoption, not just innovation. Analysts at BetaShares recently recommended the fund.

BetaShares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

A third ETF that could be a top long-term pick is the BetaShares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

This fund focuses on companies that are applying robotics and AI across industries.

It includes businesses involved in automation, precision manufacturing, and advanced systems that are already being used in the real world.

Key holdings include Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), Keyence, and ABB Ltd (SWX: ABBN).

This makes it less about future possibilities and more about ongoing transformation. Factories, hospitals, and supply chains are already being reshaped by these technologies.

It was also recently recommended by analysts at BetaShares.

The post Looking for ASX ETFs to buy and hold? Here are 3 top picks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• ASX ETFs to target if you expect struggling sectors to rebound
• 5 ASX ETFs that could supercharge your portfolio
• 3 fantastic ASX ETFs to buy this month
• Expert names 1 ASX ETF to buy, 1 to hold, and 1 to sell
• 3 ASX ETFs for investors in their 30s

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Abb, BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, CrowdStrike, Fortinet, Intuitive Surgical, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Palo Alto Networks and has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CrowdStrike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 tech shares crushed it last week, rising 12.96% while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) dipped 0.15%.

Technology was the strongest of the 11 ASX 200 market sectors following a commanding lead from Wall Street.

The NASDAQ Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) has been on a tear in April and hit a new record high last week.

As of Friday’s market close (Australian time), the NASDAQ had recorded 12 consecutive days of gains — its best run since 2009.

ASX 200 tech shares have followed suit, but not in a straight line. The sector has lifted 18.47% since the rebound began on 31 March.

It appears investors may have overcome their fears about artificial intelligence (AI).

Investors have fretted over large AI spending and the potential for AI tools like Claude to wipe out software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers.

These fears drove a near halving in the value of the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) in just seven months.

You read that right — the tech index experienced an extraordinary 48% sell-off between 29 August and 30 March.

No other sector recorded significant gains last week amid the ongoing war in Iran and a major fire at one of Australia’s two oil refineries.

Only five ASX 200 sectors finished the week in the green.

Let’s recap.

ASX 200 tech shares led the market last week

The ASX 200’s largest tech company, WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), skyrocketed 22.72% to finish the week at $46.18 per share.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price leapt 14.72% to $81.98, while TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) jumped 11.34% to $30.83.

NextDC Limited (ASX: NXT) shares rose 10.14% to $14.12 and Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) increased 9.6% to $21.35.

The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price screamed 26.53% to $8.49.

Hansen Technologies Ltd (ASX: HSN) shares soared 9.37% to $5.02.

ASX 200 hotel booking platform provider, Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR), ripped 13.27% to $3.33 per share.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) shares stormed 10.96% higher to $1.26 apiece, while Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) rose 12.77% to $1.59.

The Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) share price lifted 7.41% to $4.06.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL) shares lifted 6.97% to $11.82.

The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price ascended 4.19% to $8.95.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

S&P/ASX 200 market sector	Change last week
Information Technology (ASX: XIJ)	12.96%
A-REIT (ASX: XPJ)	2.85%
Materials (ASX: XMJ)	1.71%
Communication (ASX: XTJ)	1.64%
Healthcare (ASX: XHJ)	0.27%
Utilities (ASX: XUJ)	(0.03%)
Energy (ASX: XEJ)	(0.63%)
Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ)	(1.45%)
Industrials (ASX: XNJ)	(1.54%)
Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ)	(1.7%)
Financials (ASX: XFJ)	(2.12%)

The post ASX 200 tech shares rocket 13% as long-awaited sector rebound accelerates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX 200 tech stock has Bell Potter just downgraded?
• The tech rally is back: here are 5 ASX shares leading the charge
• What assets can I own in retirement and still qualify for the Age Pension?
• Why I think these ASX tech stocks are strong buys
• Are these the best ASX growth shares to buy and hold for 10 years?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Appen. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Appen, Life360, Megaport, Objective, SiteMinder, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Dicker Data, Life360, Objective, SiteMinder, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nuix and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was another busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $30.00 price target on this investment platform provider’s shares. Bell Potter notes that Netwealth released its quarterly update this week and delivered funds under administration (FUA) that fell a touch short of expectations. However, this FUA miss was due to a $3.7 billion negative market movement. The good news is that with markets rebounding in April, Bell Potter believes that most of this miss has now been reversed. Outside this, the broker highlights that Netwealth shares have de-rated to trade on 28x forward EBITDA. This compares to 33x through-the-cycle. Bell Potter believes there is scope for a re-rating in the future, which could make now a good time to buy. The Netwealth share price ended the week at $25.42.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

A note out of the Macquarie equities desk reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this airline operator’s shares with a slightly reduced price target of $11.00. This follows the release of a market update from Qantas which revealed higher fuel costs compared to previous expectations. However, Macquarie was pleased to see that Qantas’ yields have improved, which has underpinned international and domestic revenue growth ahead of estimates. In addition, it thinks Qantas is well-placed to adapt to challenges from the war in the Middle East through its accelerated fleet retirement. The Qantas share price was fetching $9.08 at Friday’s close.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

Analysts at Ord Minnett have retained their buy rating on this sleep disorder treatment company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $41.40. According to the note, the broker is forecasting ResMed to deliver double-digit earnings and revenue growth in FY 2026. The good news is that it then expects this trend to continue through to at least FY 2028. Ord Minnett believes this will leave ResMed with a significant cash balance, which could lead to further capital management initiatives. Overall, it feels this makes the company’s shares a top option for investors after recent weakness. The ResMed share price ended the week at $31.52.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The pros and cons of buying Qantas shares this month
• If I invest $10,000 in BHP shares, how much passive income will I receive in 2027?
• How to build a Warren Buffett-inspired ASX share portfolio
• How to build massive wealth with ASX shares
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now

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

The ASX passive income stock Shaver Shop Group Ltd (ASX: SSG) may not be one of the most popular options for dividends. But, in some ways, it’s one of the leading options to consider.

Shaver Shop describes itself as an Australian and New Zealand specialty retailer of male and female grooming products. It aspires to be the market leader in ‘all things related to hair removal’. It sells items like electric shavers, clippers, trimmers, wet shave items, oral care, hair care, massage, air treatment and beauty categories.

At the end of the FY26 half-year period, it had 126 Shaver Shop stores across Australia and New Zealand, while also having online marketplaces. It sells a wide range of brands, with some exclusive products with suppliers.

Now that you know what it does, let’s take a look at why it’s so compelling.

Excellent ASX passive income stock credentials

The business has one of the highest dividend yields on the ASX.

Its last two declared half-year dividends come to 10.3 cents per share. At the time of writing, this represents a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.7%, including franking credits. That’s huge! It also looks like a ‘real’ yield to me.

Some businesses have very large dividend yields because the share price has dropped and the market is expecting a decrease of earnings (and the dividend).

Shaver Shop has paid a dividend each year since 2017. It increased its dividend every year in that time aside from FY24 when it maintained the dividend.

I think it’s very likely that the business can continue to maintain its dividend at this level and possibly grow it in the longer-term. In the FY26 half-year result it maintained its interim dividend at 4.8 cents share amid 1.5% growth of net profit to $12.2 million.

Its FY25 dividend payout ratio was 89.6% of net profit, which is fairly high but sustainable because it was under 100%. It kept some of the generated profit to improve the business.

Why I think this is a great time to invest

There are a few reasons why this looks like a great time to invest.

First, at the time of writing, the Shaver Shop share price has dropped 11% since the end of February 2026, which has had a big, positive effect on the dividend yield on offer from the ASX passive income stock.

Second, the business is looking to grow its earnings through store growth, expanding its own brand (Transform-U), unlocking more exclusive products and hopefully benefit from increased scale.

Third, it’s trading on a very low price/earnings (P/E) ratio. According to the forecast on CMC Markets, the business is projected to generate earnings per share (EPS) of 11.6 cents. That means it’s valued at 12x FY26 estimated earnings.

The post With a 10.7% yield, could this be the ASX’s best passive income stock? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• I’d buy 11,651 shares of this ASX stock to aim for $100 a month of passive income
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 recommended Shaver Shop Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When I look at long-term investing, I focus on simplicity, scale, and staying invested.

That is why the Vanguard Diversified All Growth Index ETF (ASX: VDAL) stands out to me as a compelling option for a $10,000 investment.

A Vanguard ETF built entirely for growth

This Vanguard ETF is designed with a clear purpose.

It targets a 100% allocation to growth assets, which means the portfolio is fully invested in equities across global markets. This creates direct exposure to the parts of the market that have historically driven long-term returns.

For investors with a long time horizon, that focus can be powerful. It aligns the portfolio with the goal of capital growth and allows compounding to work over time.

Global diversification in one trade

One of the things I like most about the VDAL ETF is how much it covers in a single investment.

The ETF holds a mix of Vanguard funds that span Australian shares, international developed markets, emerging markets, and smaller companies. 

Its largest allocations include the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) at around 36% and the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) at roughly 27%, alongside meaningful exposure to hedged international equities and emerging markets.

That creates a portfolio that reflects the global economy.

For me, that kind of diversification is valuable. It spreads exposure across regions, sectors, and company sizes, which can support more consistent long-term outcomes.

Exposure to different layers of the market

The VDAL ETF is more than just broad market exposure.

It also includes allocations to emerging markets and international small companies, which add different growth drivers to the portfolio. These segments can behave differently to large developed market companies and can contribute to returns in different ways over time.

That layered exposure is what makes the portfolio feel complete.

It is capturing growth across multiple parts of the market rather than relying on a single theme.

A structure that runs itself

Another feature that stands out to me is how this Vanguard ETF is managed.

It maintains a strategic asset allocation across its underlying funds, and Vanguard handles the rebalancing. As markets move, the portfolio is adjusted to stay aligned with its long-term targets.

For me, that is a big advantage. It allows the investment to stay on track without requiring ongoing decisions, which can help keep the focus on the long term.

Low-cost access to a diversified portfolio

Cost plays a role in long-term returns, and Vanguard has built its reputation on keeping fees low.

The VDAL ETF provides access to a diversified, multi-asset portfolio through a single ETF structure and a management fee of 0.27% per annum.

That can make it a simple and cost efficient way to invest across global markets without needing to manage multiple holdings.

Over time, keeping costs low can help more of the returns stay with the investor.

Foolish takeaway

This Vanguard ETF offers a straightforward way to invest in global equity markets with a clear focus on growth.

It combines Australian shares, international equities, emerging markets, and smaller companies into a single portfolio, supported by automatic rebalancing and a low-cost structure.

For a $10,000 investment, I think it provides a clean and effective way to gain broad exposure and stay aligned with long-term growth.

The post Why I’d invest $10,000 in this Vanguard ETF appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why this ASX ETF is one of the best buys for Australians
• 3 ASX shares for a winning retirement portfolio
• Why this ASX dividend share is a retiree’s dream
• The pros and cons of buying Qantas shares this month
• How many shares in this high-dividend toll road stock do you need for a $10,000 income stream?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. 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 recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ASX-listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) is a top-quality investment for investors who are searching for long-term returns.

Plenty of Australians may be lacking exposure to the global share market. That’s a shame because there are a lot of great businesses out there listed beyond the ASX.

We don’t necessarily need to leave the ASX to make investments in those great businesses – ASX ETFs can give us that exposure.

However, we don’t necessarily need to own all (or most) of the international businesses. I’d rather just invest in the best ones.

The QUAL ETF has a very effective investment strategy to do that selective investing, which attracted me to it.

High-quality portfolio

The best reason to like this fund is the high-quality nature of the businesses and how the portfolio is put together.

There are three things businesses must have to be considered for this portfolio.

First, they must have a high return on equity (ROE). In other words, they make a high level of profit for the amount of shareholder money retained within the business. As shareholders, we want to see those businesses making a good level of profit, considering they’re keeping that money rather than paying it as a dividend to investors.

The businesses in the portfolio are generating some of the highest ROEs in the world.

Second, these businesses have a high level of earnings stability. It’s pleasing when the company’s profit doesn’t go backwards. But that also suggests that profit is nearly always rising, which is a great tailwind for long-term share price growth. 

Thirdly, the QUAL ETF businesses must have low financial leverage. A healthy balance sheet is a good thing for the company’s long-term growth plans and for navigating difficult economic periods.

There are more reasons to like this ASX ETF beyond the great businesses, but the fund has delivered an average annual return of 14.5% over the past decade, thanks to the quality of its holdings.

Strong diversification

The fund owns approximately 300 companies from different sectors and countries.

There’s no specific number of businesses that makes a portfolio diversified or not. I’d say 300 holdings provides ample diversification. Even 100 holdings would be more than enough, in my book.

The biggest positions in the portfolio are many of the strongest and most recognisable businesses in the world. These are names like Meta Platforms, Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, ASML, Eli Lilly, and Visa.

It’s important to note this is not essentially a US tech fund – less than 30% of the ASX ETF is invested in IT shares.

On top of that, the portfolio has a position of at least 0.5% in a number of countries, providing strong geographic diversification. Those places with a noticeable allocation include the US, Switzerland, the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, and France.

This impressive ASX ETF has an annual management fee of 0.4%, which I view as attractive given the quality of the portfolio and the work that has gone into creating the fund’s global portfolio.

The post Why this ASX ETF is one of the best buys for Australians appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Stop ‘saving’, start investing! How to target a $1 million ASX share portfolio
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy next week
• 5 ASX ETFs that could supercharge your portfolio
• Which ASX ETFs I’d buy for retirement investing
• How long does it take to become a millionaire with ASX shares?

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in VanEck Msci International Quality ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Visa and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Building a retirement portfolio is about reliability, resilience, and the ability to generate income over time. The right mix of ASX shares can provide steady cash flow while still offering modest growth to keep up with inflation.

With that in mind, here are three ASX shares that could help form a winning retirement portfolio.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first ASX share to consider is APA Group.

It is a major player in Australia’s energy infrastructure sector, operating gas pipelines and related assets across the country.

What makes APA attractive for a retirement portfolio is the nature of its income. Much of its revenue is generated through long-term contracts, which can provide a high level of visibility and stability.

This supports consistent distributions, making it a popular choice among income-focused investors.

While its growth may not be rapid, the predictability of cash flow is a key strength. It also handily offers a forecast dividend yield near 6%.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Another ASX share that could be worth considering is Transurban Group.

It owns and operates toll roads in Australia and North America, providing essential infrastructure that is used daily. This includes CityLink and West Gate Tunnel in Melbourne and the Cross City Tunnel and the Eastern Distributor in Sydney.

Its business model is built around long-term concessions, with revenue linked to traffic volumes and, in many cases, inflation. This can create a growing income stream over time, which is particularly valuable for retirees.

As populations grow and cities expand, demand for toll road infrastructure is expected to remain strong.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

A third ASX share that could be a top addition to a retirement portfolio is Woolworths.

It is of course one of Australia’s leading supermarket operators, providing essential goods to millions of customers every week. In fact, the company estimates that it serves 24 million customers each week across its growing network of businesses.

This gives it a very defensive earnings profile. Regardless of economic conditions, people still need to buy groceries.

The company also has a strong market position and a track record of paying dividends, making it a reliable option for income-focused investors.

Over time, its modest growth combined with steady dividends could help support a stable retirement income.

The post 3 ASX shares for a winning retirement portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a Warren Buffett-inspired ASX share portfolio
• The ASX dividend stocks I’d trust for long-term income
• Why I think ‘boring’ ASX shares could make you richer over time
• Are these ASX stocks hitting 52-week highs a buy, hold, or sell?
• The ASX shares I’d buy for passive income in April and beyond

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Transurban Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The ASX dividend share Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW) is a great one to consider for most of the retiree community (and other investors wanting passive income).

I think the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector is a good one to consider amid rising interest rates because of the better value and distribution yield on offer.

Rather than having to go and individually buy all of these commercial properties, an REIT enables investors to buy a small slice of a property portfolio in a single investment.

Diversified portfolio

The REIT is invested in more than 500 properties across several key defensive industries that are more resilient to economic shocks than other areas.

It’s invested in sectors like government-tenanted properties (such as the Australian Border Force, Geosciences Australia and Department of Defence), pubs and hotels, grocery and distribution, data centres, telecommunication exchanges, service stations, food manufacturing, waste and recycling management, Bunnings properties and so on.

This property portfolio is spread across Australia, including NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, ACT, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania. It also has a small exposure to New Zealand.

The one thing that all of these properties have in common is that the Charter Hall Long WALE REIT aims to have them signed on for long-term leases.

The REIT’s WALE is currently around nine years, which means a lot of rental income is already contracted from high-quality tenants like the Australian government, Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV), Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), BP, Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS).

The ASX dividend share’s yield

I’m sure many retirees and passive income investors want to know about the distribution yield on offer, so let’s look at that.

The business is expecting to grow its FY26 annual distribution by 2% to 25.5 cents per unit, which translates into a forward distribution yield of 7.3%.

That yield is based on an expected distribution payout ratio of 100% of its operating rental earnings.

Why is the yield so high? It’s because the business is trading at 26% discount to its net tangible assets (NTA) at 31 December 2025.

It’s delivering underlying growth

It’s important to remember not to invest in something just because of the yield. I believe there should be underlying growth, otherwise there’s a high risk of the valuation (and passive income payment) going backwards over the longer-term.

Some of the ASX dividend share’s property portfolio has fixed annual rental increases, while the rest has increases linked to inflation. This helped the FY26 half-year net property income (NPI) increase by 3% on a like-for-like. That’s not a lot of growth, but it’s positive and makes me comfortable to invest in a high-yielding business like this.

The post Why this ASX dividend share is a retiree’s dream appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields
• Looking for long-term passive income? Try one of these ASX shares
• Is it time to load up on these high-yielding ASX dividend shares?
• 20 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) share price has seen plenty of pain since February, as the below chart shows. Is this time to be greedy or fearful?

The impacts of the Middle East conflict have been wide-reaching, with fuel costs being the most obvious effect.

Qantas is a major fuel user, and it’s understandable why the market is feeling cautious on the airline. Let’s get into the positives and negatives I’m seeing.

Negatives

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first.

It’s hard to say how long the events in the Middle East will affect fuel costs. Even with a complete truce, it could still take some time for fuel access and availability to return to ‘normal’, whatever the new normal looks like.

There’s also a question in my mind of how travel demand will hold up during this period, which is a key element of keeping Qantas planes (fairly) full at the prices it’s charging.

The uncertainty appears to have led the leadership to at least delay the $150 million share buyback, which means a delay to shareholders receiving that benefit.

The final negative I’ll point out is that inflation could become more widespread than just fuel, which could increase the airline’s other costs.

Positives

For investors considering an investment in Qantas, the value is materially more attractive. At the time of writing, it’s 8% cheaper than it was at the end of February 2026. It’s not as cheap as it was in March, but that’s still a sizeable discount.

I’d rather invest in Qantas shares when they’re cheaper rather than when the share price is higher.

Another positive is that the business said it has hedged approximately 90% of its FY26 second-half exposure to crude oil, though it is still exposed to movements in the jet refining margin.

Qantas said that it’s still seeing strong demand for international travel to Europe, so it has redeployed capacity from the US and its domestic network to increase flights to Paris and Rome.

It has also reduced its domestic capacity in the fourth quarter of FY26 by around 5 percentage points.

The airline is also expecting its domestic and international revenue per available seat kilometre (RASK) to grow by approximately 5% in the second half of FY26, which should help offset the cost growth, assuming travel demand remains strong.

According to the projection on CMC Markets, the business is currently forecast to generate earnings per share (EPS) of 93 cents, which puts the Qantas share price at around 10x FY26’s estimated earnings.

I do think this is a good time to invest, the valuation is lower and travel demand is strong, but if it fell further, I’d say it’s an even better buy.

The post The pros and cons of buying Qantas shares this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now
• Why a $700 million move into Qantas shares is turning heads today
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• Are Qantas shares still a buy after its latest market update?
• Why Clarity, Qantas, Universal Store, and Westpac shares are falling today

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.

For some investors, a solid income stream, as opposed to a focus on capital returns, is the holy grail.

One stock that is currently paying a very solid trailing dividend is toll roads operator Atlas Arteria Ltd (ASX: ALX), which, according to ASX data, is now paying a dividend yield of 9.36%.

It’s worth noting that the Atlas Arteria dividend is unfranked, which might make it less attractive for some investors.

Steady income streams

So what does the company do?

Atlas Arteria holds stakes in toll road businesses across France, Germany, and the US.

To be more specific, in the company’s own words:

Today the Atlas Arteria Group consists of toll road businesses in France, Germany and the United States. In France, we currently own a 30.8% interest in the 2,424km motorway network located in the country’s east, comprising APRR, AREA, A79 and ADELAC. In the US, we own a 66.67% interest in the Chicago Skyway, a 12.5km toll road in Chicago and have 100% of the economic interest in the Dulles Greenway, a 22km toll road in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In Germany, we own 100% of the Warnow Tunnel in the north-east city of Rostock.

In February, the company announced a net profit of $181.8 million, down from $300.2 million for the previous year, on revenue of $2.01 billion.

Chief Executive Hugh Weghby said regarding the result:

2025 was another positive year for Atlas Arteria. We delivered strong revenue growth and steady traffic performance. We continued to build and optimise our businesses to improve safety and customer experience. This performance supports a 40 cps distribution for our investors for 2025, in line with guidance. We’re focused on building a resilient portfolio for the long term. That starts with getting the most out of the businesses we own – through strong performance and by pursuing value accretive growth opportunities, including preparing for upcoming French concession retenders. We’re also actively looking at new opportunities across OECD markets where we see strong fundamentals and the potential to deliver attractive returns for securityholders.

Assurance on dividends

Importantly for investors, the company has signalled its intention to keep the dividend steady at 40 cents per share annually, “supported by growing free cash flow”.

So, how many Atlas Arteria shares do you need to generate $10,000 per year?

Thankfully, the maths is quite simple – you need 25,000 shares multiplied by the 40 cent dividend.

This comes to a value of $106,750 at the share price of $4.27 at the time of writing, which is not too far off the 12-month low.

Atlas Arteria is valued at $6.19 billion.

The post How many shares in this high-dividend toll road stock do you need for a $10,000 income stream? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.