Washington H Soul Pattinson vs GQG Partners shares

Many Aussie investors looking to boost their portfolios with reliable dividends or diversified exposure will likely end up weighing up Washington H Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) against GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG). Both companies have reputations for generating solid returns in very different ways. But which is actually the more attractive buy right now? Let’s take a closer look at what sets these two apart, and where the more compelling opportunity may lie.

The case for Soul Patts

Washington H Soul Pattinson, often called Soul Patts, is one of Australia’s oldest listed companies and a true investment conglomerate. With its roots in pharmacy, Soul Patts today holds a sprawling and diversified portfolio across listed and unlisted companies, real assets, emerging businesses, and even a credit arm. Its most recent public profile highlights large stakes in TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC), and it now controls Brickworks following a 2025 merger.

What stands out most for Soul Patts is its impressive track record of stable, fully franked dividends and long-term capital growth. As of the latest data:

• Market cap sits at $17.24 billion – making it a heavyweight by Australian standards.
• P/E ratio is 7.7, which looks quite reasonable for such a diversified portfolio.
• The current dividend yield is 2.37%, fully franked, with consistent payments over many years.
• Earnings per share are $5.876, supporting that sustainable payout.
• The company boasts a strong year-to-date return of 23.1%.

If you’re after resilience backed by a long-running, diversified business, Soul Patts.

The case for GQG Partners

GQG Partners is a global asset manager with a boutique approach to actively managed equity portfolios. Headquartered in Florida, the company serves big institutional clients and private investors worldwide, offering exposure to international equity markets and diversified strategies. GQG has built its reputation on performance-driven portfolio management.

Key highlights from the most recent numbers:

• Market cap is $3.22 billion – a fair bit smaller than Soul Pattinson, but still substantial.
• P/E ratio is just 4.81, indicating a much lower multiple on recent earnings.
• Dividend yield is a whopping 18.86%, although these dividends are unfranked.
• Earnings per share currently sit at $0.159, with dividends per share at $0.21.
• Year-to-date return is -28.3%, showing investors have had a tough run recently.

GQG’s headline yield is eye-catching, but investors should look at what’s happening underneath the surface, as high yields can sometimes be a red flag depending on business health and recent share price changes.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the key figures stack up side by side:

Metric	Soul Patts	GQG Partners
Market Cap	$17.24 billion	$3.22 billion
P/E Ratio	7.70	4.81
Dividend Yield	2.37% (100% franked)	18.86% (unfranked)
Earnings per share	$5.876	$0.159
Dividend per share	$1.11	$0.21
Year-to-date return	23.1%	-28.3%

Soul Pattinson trades at a higher multiple but has delivered stronger share price returns and full franking on its dividends. GQG’s sky-high yield must be weighed against recent heavy share price losses and the fact that dividends are unfranked – a big consideration for tax-advantaged Aussie investors.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 5 October 2026:

• Washington H Soul Pattinson closed at $45.39, having lifted from $44.11 on 8 September 2026 for a roughly 2.9% gain over that month.
• GQG Partners closed at $1.09, down from $1.21 on 8 September 2026, representing a roughly 9.9% drop over the same period.

YTD returns back this up: Soul Pattinson is up 23.1% for the year to date, while GQG is down 28.3%. These numbers highlight clearly different recent trajectories.

Which is the better buy?

For my money, Washington H Soul Pattinson looks like the far stronger pick today. Its diversified structure, reliable steadily rising fully franked dividends, and share price momentum all suggest it’s the steadier, more trustworthy long-term investment. The yield on offer is modest but backed by decades of consistent payments and capital growth.

GQG Partners’ 18.9% yield certainly jumps off the page, but it’s unfranked and comes amidst a hefty share price decline this year. Sometimes a massive yield is more “warning sign” than “bargain.” If the underlying profits (or payout) can’t be maintained, dividend chasers could be left out in the cold – and with recent negative share price momentum, a cautious approach is warranted.

Personally, I’d lean toward Soul Pattinson as the more resilient and attractive buy among these two, especially if you value stability and the tax benefits of franking. GQG might suit aggressive yield hunters, but for most Aussie investors seeking long-term wealth building, Soul Patts gets my nod.

The post Soul Patts vs GQG Partners: Which is the stronger pick? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Gqg Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW) shares have had a turbulent year, having been caught up in the private hospital operator Healthscope being placed in receivership in May.

The shares took a tumble around that time but have recovered over the months since and are now trading at 75.25 cents at the time of writing, up 7.5% over a 12-month period.

Major headache for the company resolved

Healthco had some good news this week, saying binding agreements had been finalised for the 10 final Healthscope hospitals owned by itself and the associated Unlisted Healthcare Fund.

This led the company to reinstate dividends, declaring a quarterly payout of 1.5 cents per share, in line with the anticipated full-year payout of 6 cents per share.

Healthco said the new agreements “will enhance the income security and tenant diversity of the hospital portfolio”.

The company said the $1.35 billion portfolio valuation was expected to remain stable, and its weighted average lease expiry had been extended by 2.9 years to 13.5 years.

Healthco said it had locked in 20-year leases, with annual rent escalations at the rate of inflation or plus or minus 3%.

Healthco Fund Manager Christian Soberg said:

The resolution of the Healthscope situation is aligned with our previously-stated objectives including providing continuity of service across all hospitals and maximising long-term value for HCW unitholders. The new leases support distributions being reinstated, restore income certainty and provide a strong foundation for future earnings and distribution growth. The board continues to evaluate a range of strategic and capital management initiatives aimed at maximising value for HCW unitholders.

The quarterly distribution’s ex-dividend date is October 8, with payment to be made on 24 November.

Healthco valuation looking cheap

Macquarie said in a research note that now that the Healthscope issue had been resolved, attention would turn to the sustainability of distributions.

The broker said Healthco was trading at a large discount to its net tangible asset valuation of $1.35 as at the end of June.

Macquarie therefore increased its price target for Healthco from 88 cents to $1.10, up from 75 cents at the time of writing.

If achieved, this would constitute a return of 46.7%. Macquarie is also predicting a dividend yield of 8.2% this financial year, increasing to 8.7% by FY29.

At the release of its full-year results in August, Healthco said it had 99% occupancy across its tenancies.

The company had cash and undrawn debt of $158 million and a gearing ratio of 29%, below its target range.

Healthco is currently valued at $401.6 million.  

The post Macquarie tips an 8% dividend yield and 46% share price gain for this stock 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

You might know how much money you have stashed away in your superannuation, but how does it compare to other Aussies the same age as you?

How else will you know if you have enough money to retire when the time comes?

At age 56, many Aussies are approaching their final decade of working life. At this point, you’re just four years away from your preservation age (when you can access your super, provided you’ve stopped working), and nine years from full access, regardless of whether you’re still working.

It’s an important life milestone, and how you manage your superannuation in your late 50s can determine the quality of life you live in retirement.

Here’s a breakdown of the average superannuation balance for Australians aged 56.

How does your balance stack up?

The average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 56 in FY27

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 56, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has a rough guide.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 55 to 59 has around $319,743 in their superannuation.

The average superannuation balance for Australian women aged 56 in FY27

Women in the same age bracket have a lot less, most likely because women are more likely to take time out of the workforce or work reduced hours. The lower superannuation income then makes a significant difference over time, and the balances between men and women at age 56 are wide.

The average balance for Australian women aged 55 to 59 is around $242,945. That’s a gap of around $77,000 compared to men the same age.

How does your super balance stack up with men and women the same age as you?

But not only that, is it actually enough?

How much superannuation should I have by age 56 to afford a good retirement lifestyle?

ASFA calculates that in order to live a comfortable retirement lifestyle, Australians will need around $630,000 each in their superannuation by age 67. Couples can get away with $730,000 combined.

In order to reach that goal, ASFA expects that Australians earning around $100,000 per year should have close to $369,000 in their superannuation by age 56.

That’s significantly higher than the average balances of both men and women around that age.

What can I do to raise my balance in the next 5 to 10 years?

If your balance is falling behind, it’s not too late to catch up. Even the smallest change can help boost compound growth over the next 5 to 10 years.

The first thing you need to do is check that your super fund is performing well and that your investment strategy and risk profile are appropriate for your personal circumstances. 

Also, consolidate your funds and double-check that your insurance coverage is necessary and the premiums are appropriate for you. 

You can also add extra contributions wherever possible. Take advantage of concessional and non-concessional limits and any potential tax reduction that may come with it. Ask your spouse to add extra too. Couples can boost their combined super savings if the higher-income earner contributes after-tax funds to the lower-income earner’s account.

You should also take advantage of any applicable government contributions that might help your personal circumstances. There is a downsizer contributions rule, a bring-forward rule, a government co-contribution rule, and many others.

The post Average superannuation balance at age 56 in Australia in FY27. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• My favourite ASX passive income shares for retirees
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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.