Looking for solid income doesn’t mean settling for a measly term deposit. Plenty of ASX dividend shares hiding in plain sight are quietly throwing off serious cash yields. And once you factor in franking credits, these shares could start looking hard to ignore.

Here are three ASX dividend shares worth putting on the watchlist right now.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

Fortescue built its name on iron ore, not income. But make no mistake, this ASX dividend share can pack a serious punch.

The mining giant paid out $1.08 per share over the past year. With Fortescue shares trading around $16.72, that’s a cash yield of roughly 6.5%. Not bad on its own.

Here’s the kicker: those dividends are fully franked. Gross that up, and the yield jumps to about 9.2% — the kind of number that makes bank hybrids look boring.

But don’t get too comfortable. Fortescue’s profits swing hard with iron ore prices, and so does its ability to keep writing dividend cheques this size. This ASX dividend share is a high-octane bet, not a set-and-forget income play.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)

Want banking sector income without piling into one of the Big Four? This ASX dividend share deserves a look.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s recent payout of 63 cents translates into a cash yield of around 6% at current prices. Add in franking credits, and the grossed-up yield pushes above 8%.

It’s not a risk-free ride, of course. Interest rates, bad debts, competition and capital requirements can all squeeze bank earnings and dividends when the cycle turns. Still, for investors hunting franked income outside the usual Big Four suspects, this ASX dividend share earns its spot on the radar.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)

AGL has spent years reinventing itself, but its dividend is still the reason plenty of income investors keep watching.

The energy giant’s FY2026 payout totalled 50 cents per share, including a fully franked 26-cent final dividend. At around $8.45 per share, that’s a cash yield of roughly 5.9%. Gross it up for franking credits, and the yield climbs to approximately 8.5%. And we have another entry on the list of ASX dividend shares punching well above the headline number.

Management is targeting a 55%-60% payout ratio for FY2027, with dividends expected to stay fully franked, that’s always subject to performance and board discretion.

Foolish takeaway

These three ASX dividend shares prove why income investors shouldn’t stop at the headline cash yield. Franking credits can transform an average payout into a genuinely compelling one for Australian shareholders.

But a big number is only half the story. Fortescue’s dividend rides on iron ore prices, Bendigo Bank’s rides on the banking cycle, and AGL’s rides on a rapidly shifting energy market.

The real prize isn’t just finding ASX dividend shares with fat yields today — it’s finding the ones that can actually keep the cash flowing tomorrow.

The post 3 ASX dividend shares offering gross yields of 8% or more appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s never too early to start thinking about whether you’ll have enough superannuation to retire on.

It can be helpful to find out how your superannuation balance compares to other Australians the same age.

And also, to compare it to how much you need to have saved away by the time you decide to retire.

Here’s a breakdown of what the average Australian aged 42 has in their super, compared with those aged 52 and 62.

Are you on track with the rest of the population?

How much superannuation does the average Australian have at age 42?

According to the most recent data from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), there isn’t an exact amount for every age, but there is a bracket which can help provide a good guide to work towards.

According to ASFA, the average male aged 40 to 44 has around $140,680 in their superannuation.

Females the same age have a little less, at around $109,209.

This is usually because women take more time out of the workforce, or move to reduced hours to care for children. At which time they earn lower or even no superannuation.

The gap then widens every year as compound growth takes over at different rates for men and women.

How much superannuation does the average Australian have at age 52?

The average male aged 50 to 54 has approximately $254,071 in their superannuation.

Meanwhile, the average female has a lot less, closer to $190,175.

How much superannuation does the average Australian have at age 62?

By the time the average male reaches the 60 to 64 age bracket, they have around $395,852 saved.

The average 60 to 64 year old woman has closer to $313,360.

Are these average super balances enough to retire on?

No, in fact the average balance is far behind at every age milestone.

ASFA data concludes that a comfortable retirement is expected to cost around $56,166 per year for individuals and $78,998 combined per year for couples.

To afford that, by retirement, a single person will need a superannuation balance of around $630,000, and couples need around $730,000.

How much do I need in my super at each age to be considered on track?

I’ve crunched the numbers using ASFA’s super detective tool to work out how much you should really have in your superannuation at age 42, 52 and 62 to be able to retire comfortably.

Assuming you’ll retire at age 67 with $630,000, and based on a $100,000 per year income, you’ll need around $130,000 in your superannuation at age 42.

By age 52, this should increase to $290,500.

Then by age 62, this should be closer to $505,000, before climbing to $630,000 by retirement age of 67.

How does this compare to the average balance?

As you can see by the figures above, the average male aged 40 to 44 is slightly ahead (at $140,680 versus the required $130,000 at age 42), but the average female is already behind by around $11,000.

By age 52, the average male is around $36,000 behind, while the average female is roughly $100,000 behind.

By age 62 the gap widens even more. The average male around this age is roughly $110,000 behind, and the average female is around $192,000 behind what is considered on track.

How does your superannuation balance compare now?

The post Average superannuation balances at age 42, 52 and 62 in Australia appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

A stock can crash 66% and still not be a bargain. That’s the trap staring down anyone eyeing WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares right now.

The numbers are brutal: down 24% for the month, 52% year to date, and 66% over 12 months. That kind of collapse makes any stock look tempting. But don’t confuse cheap with fixed and that’s exactly the confusion WiseTech needs investors to avoid.

The logistics software giant has been through a bruising stretch, with governance and leadership concerns gutting investor confidence. The price of WiseTech shares has already taken its beating. Now comes the harder part: proving the business actually deserves that confidence back.

Here are three things investors should be watching.

Make governance boring again

For WiseTech, boring would be the best possible outcome right now.

The company needs to show its governance, board oversight and leadership structures can function without constantly becoming the headline. Why does this matter so much? Because investors in WiseTech shares aren’t just paying for today’s earnings, they’re paying for confidence in tomorrow’s earnings.

AFP investigations into founder Richard White. An ACCC search warrant executed on the company. ASIC and AFP raiding WiseTech’s HQ in late October 2025. If governance drama keeps stealing the spotlight, the market will keep applying a discount, no matter how good CargoWise looks on paper.

WiseTech needs investors talking about its software again, not its boardroom.

Let CargoWise do the talking

This is WiseTech’s real opportunity, and it’s a genuine one.

CargoWise sits at the heart of the investment case for WiseTech shares. Its software is so deeply embedded in customers’ logistics operations that switching becomes a genuine headache — a real competitive moat.

But here’s the catch: investors aren’t buying a moat. They’re buying future cash flows. That means WiseTech has to keep proving CargoWise can convert its dominant position into sustainable revenue and earnings growth. Watch customer adoption, revenue growth, margins and cash generation like a hawk.

The best response to scepticism isn’t another promise. It’s another strong result.

Earn back the benefit of the doubt

This might be the hardest test of all.

Once trust is broken, management doesn’t get the easy pass anymore. The fix isn’t complicated, but it takes time. Set expectations, meet them, communicate clearly, execute consistently. Repeat.

WiseTech doesn’t need fireworks. It needs predictability. Say something, then do it. That’s progress. Turn strategy into measurable results. That’s progress. Keep governance out of the headlines. That’s progress.

Stack enough of those wins together, and confidence in WiseTech shares starts to rebuild on its own.

Don’t mistake a rebound for a turnaround

That’s the line investors need to hold. A stock can bounce without the underlying business actually being repaired. WiseTech has to prove something more durable is happening. Fix governance, keep CargoWise growing, rebuild credibility.

If those three pieces click into place, investors will have a real reason to reassess. But the order matters: proof comes first, confidence comes second, and only then does a genuine rebound of WiseTech shares become easy to justify.

WiseTech doesn’t need investors to believe in a comeback story. It needs to earn the right to tell one.

The post WiseTech shares need more than a rebound. 3 things it must prove first appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.