Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) shares are not exactly flying under the radar.

The supermarket giant closed Friday’s session at a record high of $24.41, which means investors are not being offered a bargain-basement price.

Even so, I think Coles shares could be worth buying with $10,000.

In an uncertain economic environment, I like the idea of owning businesses that sell products people keep buying. Coles has that defensive quality, and I think that can be valuable even when the valuation is not obviously cheap.

Why Coles appeals to me

Coles is one of the most important retailers in Australia.

Its supermarkets sell food, household essentials, fresh produce, pantry staples, and everyday items that customers need in good times and bad. That does not make the business immune from pressure, but it does give Coles a more reliable demand profile than many discretionary retailers.

The company’s recent third-quarter update showed that momentum is still solid. Supermarket sales revenue increased 4% to $9.8 billion, while comparable sales growth was 3.6%. Excluding tobacco, supermarket sales growth was 5.7%.

I think that is a useful sign. Customers are still shopping at Coles, and the company continues to focus on value, availability, loyalty, and online convenience.

The ecommerce side also looks encouraging, with sales increasing 24.8% and penetration rising to 13.6%. Grocery shopping is still a store-led category, but online ordering and delivery can add another driver of growth if Coles keeps improving the customer experience.

What about the valuation?

The challenge is price. According to CommSec, consensus estimates suggest Coles could generate earnings per share of 90 cents in FY26, 96.6 cents in FY27, and $1.12 in FY28.

At $24.41, that puts the shares on a price-to-earnings ratio of around 27 times FY26 earnings, 25 times FY27 earnings, and 22 times FY28 earnings.

That is not cheap. But I do not think every good investment needs to start with a low multiple. A defensive business with reliable demand, a strong brand, scale, and the ability to keep growing earnings can deserve a higher rating.

The important point is being realistic. Coles may not offer the same upside as a beaten-down growth share. But it can add stability, income, and exposure to essential household spending.

The passive income angle

Coles also offers a useful dividend profile. CommSec consensus estimates point to dividends per share of 75.5 cents in FY26, 82 cents in FY27, and 95.3 cents in FY28.

At the current share price, that implies forward dividend yields of around 3.1%, 3.4%, and 3.9%.

A $10,000 investment at $24.41 would buy about 410 shares. Based on those dividend forecasts, that holding could generate roughly $310 in FY26, $336 in FY27, and $391 in FY28, before tax and any franking credits.

That is not the highest yield on the ASX, but I think it is attractive when paired with Coles’ defensive qualities.

Foolish takeaway

I think Coles shares are worth buying with $10,000, even at a record high.

The valuation means I would not expect explosive returns, and investors need to accept that they are paying up for quality. But I like the defensive nature of the business, the steady demand for groceries, the improving online channel, and the forecast dividend growth.

In a market where the economic outlook still feels uncertain, Coles is the type of ASX share I would be happy to own for the long term.

The post Should I invest $10,000 in Coles shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.

Today is ex-dividend day for a large number of ASX 200 shares.

When this happens, it means the rights to the dividend are locked in and new buyers won’t be eligible to receive this payout when it is made.

This means that even if you bought shares today, the rights would stay with the seller and they would receive the dividend on pay day.

So, if you are a shareholder of any of the seven ASX 200 shares named below, you can look forward to a pay check coming your way in the not-so-distant future.

Here’s what you need to know:

APA Group (ASX: APA)

This energy infrastructure company’s shares are going ex-dividend this morning for its 30.5 cents per share final dividend. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this dividend on 16 September. Based on its last close price, this single payout equates to a 2.8% dividend yield.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Industrial property company Centuria Industrial REIT recently declared a 4.2 cents per share quarterly dividend. It will be paying this to its shareholders on 14 August.

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

Property giant Charter Hall’s shares will be going ex-dividend today for its partially franked 25.8 cents per share dividend. Shareholders can expect to receive this payout at the very end of August.

Dexus (ASX: DXS)

Property developer Dexus recently declared a 17.7 cents per share dividend. This will be paid to eligible shareholders in around two months on 28 August.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Another ASX 200 share going ex-dividend today is industrial property giant Goodman. It recently declared a 15 cents per share final dividend. This will be paid to eligible shareholders on 26 August. Goodman has now paid out 15 cents per share in dividends every half since 2019.

Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)

Another property developer that is going ex-dividend this morning is Mirvac. It recently declared a 4.8 cents per share quarterly dividend. Shareholders can look forward to receiving this on 31 August.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Finally, this toll road giant will be rewarding its shareholders with a 35 cents per share final dividend. They can expect to receive their pay check on 18 August. Based on where this ASX 200 share ended last week, this dividend represents a 2.3% dividend yield.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build passive income for life from the ASX share market
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Where should I invest inside SMSFs instead of property?
• How to invest $500, $5,000, and $50,000 on the ASX
• Want a pay rise? These ASX dividend shares keep delivering

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

It’s been a tough run for S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stocks since the price of the yellow metal hit record highs at the end of January.

As you may recall, on 28 January, the gold price created a stir by setting a new all-time high just north of US$5,420 per ounce. At the time, that saw the gold price up around 93% over the previous 12 months.

But since that high water mark, the gold price and ASX 200 gold stocks have come under heavy pressure.

On Friday, gold was fetching US$3,994 per ounce. That’s down more than 26% since the end of January.

As for the Aussie gold miners, since market close on 29 January, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has tumbled 29%, materially underperforming the 1.8% losses posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

Why is the gold price in free fall?

After its meteoric rise in 2025, the gold price has tumbled back to earth, in part due to expectations of higher interest rates in many major economies.

That’s particularly relevant for the United States, with the US Federal Reserve now increasingly expected to lift interest rates rather than cut them to combat resurgent inflation in the world’s top economy.

Gold, which pays no yield itself, tends to perform better in low or falling rate environments.

Commenting on the outlook for the gold price, and by connection ASX 200 gold stocks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) head of commodities Vivek Dhar said (quoted by the Australian Financial Review):

A rebound in gold prices is now likely contingent on US inflation and labour market data weakening further. Our view that the Fed needs to raise the Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points from December, which the market is under-pricing, [and] suggests further headwinds to gold futures.

Five ASX 200 gold stocks to weather the storm

A number of leading fund managers said they’ve reduced their holdings in smaller ASX gold explorers in favour of the larger gold producers.

“The gold price has taken an absolute beating. Now is not the time to be going for more speculative gold names, or those that are relatively high cost,” Argonaut’s David Franklyn said (quoted by the AFR).

Franklyn named ASX 200 gold stocks Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD), Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS), Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP), and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) as miners that he’s still optimistic on.

And while his fund has reduced its overall exposure to the gold sector, Acorn Capital portfolio manager Rick Squire expects Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) is well-positioned to outperform. That’s partly due to the ASX 200 gold stock’s lower reliance on ever more expensive diesel following its renewable energy investments.

According to Squire:

We’re looking at companies that have the cash to withstand the dip or, if they are developers, are [at] least fully financed and are in that construction phase. With the gold pullback, there will be a change [in] investor sentiment around what projects are likely to get up and their ability to fund them.

The post 5 ASX 200 gold stocks to buy and hold amid the crashing gold price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Capricorn Metals, Chrysos, Cochlear shares
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 7 ASX gold stocks to buy now
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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.