My 3 best ASX dividend-focused stocks to buy in February

As a new month approaches, I think it’s a sensible time to take stock of portfolio positioning and consider whether there are opportunities to strengthen the income side of a portfolio.

I’m not suggesting these are the only dividend shares worth owning, but if I were looking to add a mix of income, quality, and resilience, these are three ASX dividend stock names I’d be seriously considering right now.

Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)

Pinnacle isn’t a traditional high-yield income stock. The current dividend yield of around 3.4% is modest, but it comes with genuine growth behind it.

Pinnacle operates a multi-affiliate asset management model, which gives it diversified earnings across a range of investment strategies and market conditions. As funds under management grow, dividends have the potential to grow alongside them. For investors who want income today but also care about what that income could look like in five or ten years, Pinnacle offers an appealing balance.

This is the kind of ASX dividend stock I’m happy to own early in its income journey rather than chasing yield later on.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL)

I see Sonic as an attractive option for dividends in February. With a yield of roughly 4.6%, it offers a solid income stream backed by a business that benefits from long-term structural demand rather than economic cycles.

Healthcare testing volumes can fluctuate year to year, but the underlying need for pathology and diagnostic services doesn’t disappear. Sonic’s global footprint also helps smooth earnings across different regions and healthcare systems.

I see Sonic as a classic defensive income holding. It may not deliver fireworks, but it can play an important role in stabilising a portfolio while still paying a respectable dividend.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Transurban is one of the most reliable dividend stocks on the ASX, in my view. With a dividend yield of around 4.9%, it offers a combination of scale, predictability, and inflation-linked revenue that’s hard to replicate.

Toll roads are long-life assets, traffic volumes tend to grow over time, and many of Transurban’s concessions include built-in price escalation. That makes its cash flows relatively resilient, even when economic conditions are uncertain.

For investors focused on income, Transurban often acts as a cornerstone holding. It may not be cheap, but quality infrastructure rarely is, and I think that premium is justified by the stability it provides.

Foolish takeaway

If I were building or topping up a dividend-focused portfolio heading into February, this trio would give me a mix of growth-linked income, defensive stability, and infrastructure-backed cash flows.

Together, I think they highlight an important point about dividend investing. It isn’t just about chasing the highest yield on offer, but about owning businesses that can keep paying and growing those dividends through different market conditions.

The post My 3 best ASX dividend-focused stocks to buy in February appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• BHP and 4 strong ASX dividend shares for Aussie income investors to buy
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• Passive income: How to earn safe dividends with just $20,000
• 2 ASX shares to buy for growth and dividends

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Sonic Healthcare. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.