• 3 ASX dividend shares I’d buy for passive income right now

    Two people lazing in deck chairs on a beautiful sandy beach throw their hands up in the air.

    The ASX is well known for its abundance of high-quality dividend shares.

    Investors chasing reliable, fully franked income have plenty to choose from on the ASX right now.

    Here are three shares worth a look for a passive income portfolio.

    National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

    National Australia Bank is one of the big four lenders and remains a core income holding for many Australian portfolios.

    The bank pays a fully franked dividend of 4.3% (not including franking credits). What’s more, its valuation typically sits at a discount to sector leader Commonwealth Bank.

    This gives income investors a comparatively attractive entry point among the majors.

    NAB’s earnings are underpinned by home lending, business banking, and a large deposit base. All of these support a stable dividend through most parts of the economic cycle.

    Bank dividends can come under pressure during a serious credit downturn, so investors should keep an eye on bad debt trends and net interest margins.

    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

    Telstra is the classic Australian dividend share, built on the country’s largest mobile and fixed line network.

    The telco generates highly predictable, subscription-style revenue from millions of customers. This has historically supported a consistent, largely franked dividend.

    Currently, Telstra’s dividend yield stands at 4.10% (not including franking credits).  

    Telstra has also been investing in infrastructure monetisation, including its InfraCo assets.

    Management has flagged as a way to unlock further shareholder value over time.

    The main risks are intense mobile competition from Optus and TPG, and the capital intensity of maintaining and upgrading network infrastructure.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

    Wesfarmers owns a portfolio of well-known Australian retail and industrial brands, including Bunnings, Kmart, and Officeworks.

    Bunnings in particular has proven remarkably resilient through multiple economic cycles, giving the group a defensive earnings base that supports steady dividend growth.

    Wesfarmers has also been diversifying into lithium and healthcare, adding growth optionality alongside its retail core.

    The shares typically trade at a premium multiple given the quality of the underlying businesses. Investors are therefore paying up for that consistency rather than buying deep value.

    Foolish Takeaway for ASX dividend shares

    NAB, Telstra, and Wesfarmers each offer a different flavour of passive income, from banking to telecommunications to retail.

    Combining shares from different sectors can help smooth out portfolio income if one industry hits a rough patch. Meanwhile, franking credits add a further boost for local investors.

    For ASX investors looking to generate substantial passive income through ASX dividend shares, they should look no further than these three Aussie companies.

    The post 3 ASX dividend shares I’d buy for passive income right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Wesfarmers right now?

    Before you buy Wesfarmers shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Wesfarmers wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Project Sunrise incoming: Are Qantas shares a buy?

    A woman reaches her arms to the sky as a plane flies overhead at sunset.

    Qantas Airways (ASX: QAN) shares have been in focus again as Project Sunrise edges closer to reality.

    The airline recently unveiled its first purpose-built Airbus A350-1000ULR in Toulouse, France.

    Non-stop flights from Sydney to London are now locked in for October 2027, with tickets going on sale from February 2027.

    A Sydney to New York route will follow, though a launch date has not yet been confirmed.

    What is the new aircraft?

    The new aircraft will carry just 238 passengers, well down on the 410 seats found on a standard A350. This will make room for extra fuel tanks and a dedicated wellbeing zone.

    Qantas has ordered 12 of the ultra-long-range jets in total.

    Management says the intent to book a Project Sunrise flight has climbed sharply among premium leisure travellers since February 2026.

    This is a promising signal for a product built around high-margin cabins.

    So where does that leave Qantas shares?

    Qantas shares are trading on a price to earnings ratio of around 10 times, below the global airline industry average of roughly 9 to 12 times depending on the peer set used.

    The stock carries a dividend yield near 3.5%, with the payout covered by earnings.

    Analyst sentiment remains firmly positive.

    Multiple brokers rate Qantas a buy or outperform, with average 12-month price targets clustering between roughly $11 and $12.

    That implies modest to solid upside from current levels, though estimates vary depending on each analyst’s fuel and demand assumptions.

    The bull and bear case for Qantas shares

    The bull case rests on Qantas converting its domestic duopoly position, its loyalty program, and Project Sunrise into durable earnings growth over the next several years.

    The bear case is the one that has dogged all airlines recently.

    Fuel costs have risen sharply on the back of the conflict involving Iran, and Qantas has flagged higher near-term jet fuel bills as a result.

    Airlines are also inherently cyclical, and a downturn in travel demand can hit margins quickly.

    Project Sunrise itself has already been delayed roughly six months from its original schedule, a reminder that execution risk on a genuinely novel aircraft program is real.

    For investors comfortable with cyclical risk, Qantas offers a rare combination of a reasonable valuation, a growing loyalty and freight business, and a marquee growth catalyst in Project Sunrise that could open a new premium revenue stream from 2027.

    For more conservative investors, the fuel cost backdrop and the airline’s history of guidance resets are worth weighing carefully before buying.

    Foolish Takeaway

    Project Sunrise gives Qantas a new growth catalyst heading into 2027.

    The shares still trade at an undemanding multiple relative to the broader airline sector.

    But investors should size any position with the industry’s fuel and demand cyclicality firmly in mind.

    The post Project Sunrise incoming: Are Qantas shares a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Qantas Airways right now?

    Before you buy Qantas Airways shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Qantas Airways wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

  • Where to invest $20,000 in ASX ETFs for 10 years

    A man thinks very carefully about his money and investments.

    A 10-year investment period gives investors time to think beyond the next market wobble.

    With $20,000, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) can provide exposure to global quality companies, robotics and artificial intelligence, and China’s consumer and technology economy.

    Here are three ASX ETFs that could be top long-term picks.

    Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

    The Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF could be worth considering.

    This ASX ETF is designed to provide exposure to global companies with quality characteristics. That can include strong profitability, solid balance sheets, and earnings that have shown a degree of resilience over time.

    The idea is not to chase the most exciting theme in the market. It is to own companies that have already proven they can make money at a high level and keep doing so through different conditions.

    That can be important over a 10-year period because markets never move in a straight line. There will be recessions, inflation scares, rate changes, earnings downgrades, and plenty of volatility along the way.

    A quality-focused fund can help anchor the portfolio with businesses that have the financial strength to keep investing, defend margins, and compound over time. It was recently recommended by the team at Betashares.

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

    Another ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

    This fund gives investors exposure to companies involved in robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, drones, unmanned vehicles, and related technologies. That makes it a more targeted growth holding.

    The long-term case is tied to how work is changing. Factories, warehouses, hospitals, farms, logistics networks, and transport systems are all looking for ways to become more efficient, precise, and automated.

    Robotics is not just about humanoid machines. It can include industrial equipment, sensors, robotic surgery tools, autonomous systems, and the software that helps machines make better decisions.

    Artificial intelligence could increase the opportunity by making machines more capable in real-world settings.

    This ASX ETF is likely to be volatile, but as a 10-year holding, it gives the portfolio exposure to a powerful structural theme. It was also recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

    VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW)

    The final ASX ETF to look at is the VanEck China New Economy ETF.

    This is arguably the higher-risk idea in the group.

    The fund gives investors exposure to Chinese companies linked to areas such as consumer spending, healthcare, technology, industrial innovation, and other parts of the country’s changing economy.

    Over a 10-year period, China’s middle class, domestic consumption, healthcare needs, digital services, and advanced manufacturing ambitions could still create strong investment opportunities.

    This fund gives investors a way to access that potential without trying to pick individual Chinese shares. It was recently recommended by analysts at VanEck.

    The post Where to invest $20,000 in ASX ETFs for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in VanEck China New Economy ETF right now?

    Before you buy VanEck China New Economy ETF shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and VanEck China New Economy ETF wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 16 June 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.