Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) has long been a popular choice with Australian income investors.

The telecommunications giant provides essential services to millions of households and businesses, while regularly returning cash to shareholders.

At around $4.86 today, would I buy Telstra shares for passive income?

Why Telstra suits an income portfolio

I think Telstra has several characteristics that work well for investors looking for regular income.

Mobile and internet services have become a normal part of household and business spending. Customers still need connectivity when economic conditions weaken, which gives Telstra a relatively dependable source of revenue.

The company also holds a strong position in Australian mobile.

Its network reaches across the country, and continued investment should help Telstra maintain the quality and coverage that customers expect.

For an income investor, I like having the dividend supported by a business selling services people use every day.

Telstra is not immune to competition or rising costs, but I think its position provides a solid foundation for shareholder returns.

What income could investors receive?

Telstra has also made growing shareholder returns part of its longer-term plans.

Consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends of 22 cents per share in FY27 and 22.5 cents per share in FY28.

At a Telstra share price of $4.86, those forecasts translate into prospective dividend yields of approximately 4.5% and 4.6%, respectively.

That is a healthy level of income in my view, particularly with franking credits potentially increasing the value of those dividends for eligible Australian investors.

While the forecast increase from 22 cents to 22.5 cents is fairly modest, I am comfortable with that.

For passive income, I would rather see the dividend gradually increase alongside the business than depend on an unusually high yield that may prove difficult to sustain.

There could still be some growth

I would not view Telstra shares purely as a dividend investment.

The company’s Connected Future 30 strategy is targeting growth in cash earnings through to FY30, which could give management more capacity to invest in the network and increase shareholder returns over time.

Mobile remains important, but Telstra also has opportunities across enterprise connectivity, infrastructure, and other telecommunications services.

I am not expecting spectacular growth from a company of Telstra’s size.

But a combination of modest earnings growth and regular dividends could still produce worthwhile total returns over a long holding period.

What would I watch?

Competition is one area I would keep an eye on.

Telstra needs to continue investing heavily in its network while ensuring customers see enough value to remain with the company.

Capital expenditure is also substantial in telecommunications, so strong revenue does not automatically translate into money available for dividends.

Still, I think Telstra’s scale and recurring customer demand put it in a good position to manage those requirements.

Foolish takeaway

Yes, I would buy Telstra shares for passive income.

At $4.86, forecast dividends of 22 cents and 22.5 cents per share offer prospective yields of around 4.5% to 4.6%, with full franking expected.

I also like that the income comes from an essential-services business with the potential to keep growing earnings gradually over time.

For investors looking for a combination of regular income and relative stability, I think Telstra remains one of the ASX shares worth considering.

The post Should I buy Telstra shares for passive income? 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 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.

Three popular S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stocks are catching investor interest today following some big updates.

One is charging ahead of the 0.2% losses posted by the ASX 200 in morning trade on Monday, while the other two are trailing that performance.

Here’s what’s happening.

ASX 200 gold stock Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Resolute Mining shares are down 5% today, trading for $1.29 apiece.

The West African-focused ASX 200 gold stock is making headlines following an update on its Syama Gold Mine, located in Mali.

Resolute reported that production at Syama has remained below plan due to the challenging operating environment in Mali. This is impacting performance across underground mining, open-pit mining, and sulphide processing at the project.

The miner revised its 2026 gold production forecast for Syama to 150,000 to 160,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,300 to $2,400 per ounce.

With Resolute Mining’s other assets remaining on track, the company now expects its total gold 2026 production to be 205,000 ounces to 225,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,250 to $2,350 per ounce.

Resolute Mining CEO Chris Eger said:

While the near-term impact at Syama is disappointing, the broader business remains supported by a strong gold price environment and disciplined cost management. These actions will enable us to continue generating positive returns and build a stronger platform for operational performance in 2027.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

Bellevue Gold shares are down 1.2%, trading for $1.60 each.

This comes after the ASX 200 gold stock released an exploration update and its annual Resource and Reserve statement for its owned Bellevue Gold Project, located in Western Australia.

Bellevue said that exploration drilling will form an important element of its renewed growth strategy, with exploration set to “substantially increase” in FY 2027.

The miner also revealed that the Bellevue Gold Project now has an Indicated and Inferred Resource of 2.7 million ounces at 8.6 grams per tonne gold. That compares to 3.1Moz at 8.9g/t gold last year.

Which brings us to…

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The third ASX 200 gold stock turning heads today is Ramelius Resources. And unlike the other two Aussie gold miners, Ramelius Resources shares are leaping higher, up 4.9% and trading for $3.76 apiece.

This follows the release of the gold miner’s FY 2027 production forecast and four-year outlook.

Investors are reacting positively to Ramelius’ FY 2027 gold production guidance of 205,000 to 225,000 ounces of gold at an AISC of $2,150 to $2,350 per ounce.

And management increased the miner’s FY 2030 gold production target by 11% to 560,000 to 610,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,100 to $2,400 per ounce.

The post 3 ASX 200 gold stocks turning heads on big news today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are trading around $152.43 on Monday.

That is much closer to their 52-week low of $146.97 than their high of $185.59.

So, could the CBA share price return to $180 in 2027?

Could CBA shares reach $180?

I think they could.

From $152.43, the CBA share price would need to rise around 18% to reach $180.

That is a decent gain, but it does not look unrealistic to me. After all, CBA shares have already traded above $180 during the past year.

I also remain positive on the business.

CBA is my preferred major Australian bank. It has strong positions across home loans, deposits, business banking, and everyday financial services.

I particularly like its digital offering. The CommBank app has become an important part of how many customers manage their finances, helping CBA build deeper relationships across multiple products.

The bank’s size is another advantage. It has millions of customers and a large deposit base, giving it a strong platform to keep generating profits.

If CBA continues performing well, I think investors could become more positive on the shares again and push them back towards their previous highs.

Would $180 be too expensive?

This is where I would pay closer attention.

CBA has rarely looked cheap in recent years, and a share price of $180 would once again put it on a high valuation.

Consensus forecasts suggest earnings per share of $6.67 in FY27 and $6.86 in FY28.

At $180, that would put CBA shares on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 27 times FY27 earnings and 26 times FY28 earnings.

That is a substantial premium for a bank.

Still, I think CBA deserves to trade at a higher valuation than its major rivals.

In my view, it is the strongest banking business in Australia, with a powerful customer franchise, leading digital capabilities, and a track record of producing substantial profits.

So, if the business continues delivering, I think a valuation around that level could be justified.

What about the dividend?

CBA also remains an attractive income stock.

Consensus estimates point to fully-franked dividends of $5.15 per share in FY27 and $5.30 per share in FY28.

At today’s share price, the FY27 forecast represents a dividend yield of around 3.4%, before including any benefit from franking credits.

That is not the highest yield available from the major banks, but income is only part of the reason I like CBA.

I think the combination of a growing dividend and the potential for the share price to recover makes the overall investment case more interesting.

Foolish takeaway

For me, $180 does not look like a stretch for CBA.

The shares have come back a fair way, but I still think the business is in good shape and remains the major bank I would most want to own.

At today’s price, I would be happy to buy and give CBA time to work its way back towards those previous highs.

The post Could CBA shares reach $180 in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Down 15% and paying record dividends: Are CBA shares now a good buy for passive income?
• Are BHP, CBA, and CSL shares top buys?
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy for income and growth in retirement
•  If I invest $10,000 in CBA shares, how much passive income will I receive in FY27?
• Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Woolworths and CBA shares

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia. 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.