Woodside Energy vs Westpac

When it comes to building a reliable passive income stream, many ASX investors find themselves comparing household names like Woodside Energy and Westpac. Both are titans in their respective fields—energy and banking. But when deciding between Woodside shares and Westpac shares for passive income, the differences in dividend profiles, business models, and recent momentum can really shape the call. Let’s take a closer look at how these two stocks stack up.

The case for Woodside

Woodside is Australia’s largest independent oil and gas company, producing and marketing energy both here and offshore. With a history stretching back to 1954 and a significant boost from its recent merger with BHP’s petroleum assets, Woodside has evolved into a global energy player. According to its most recent public description, Woodside operates a diverse portfolio of offshore platforms and floating production vessels, and its shares have established themselves among the biggest names on the ASX.

For income-focused investors, Woodside’s fundamentals stand out in a few ways:

• Dividend yield: 5.24%, fully franked, which remains attractive compared to many blue chips.
• P/E ratio: 13.81, offering moderate earnings multiples for the sector.
• Recent returns: Its year-to-date return is sitting at a robust 38.9%, pointing to strong recent share price momentum.

Woodside’s dividend history also confirms consistent and fully franked payouts, and its most recent annual dividend is $1.63 per share.

The case for Westpac

Founded in 1817, Westpac is one of Australia’s four biggest banks and a major fixture on the ASX. It operates across multiple banking and wealth management lines, from retail and business banking to specialist financial services, both locally and across the Tasman. Through brands like St.George and Bank of Melbourne, Westpac has become a cornerstone for many Aussies’ day-to-day finances.

On the passive income front, Westpac offers:

• Dividend yield: 4.43%, fully franked—solid, though a step below Woodside’s headline rate.
• P/E ratio: 17.13, which is somewhat higher (i.e. more expensive earnings multiple) than Woodside, though this is not unusual for a major bank.
• Earnings per share: $2.029, comfortably supporting the current $1.54 annual dividend.

Westpac has also maintained a long and stable record of paying dividends—every single one fully franked in the last two decades—and remains a stalwart income stock for retired and dividend-focused investors.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the key numbers stack up right now:

Metric	Woodside	Westpac
Market Cap	$60.09 billion	$116.73 billion
P/E Ratio	13.81	17.13
Dividend Yield	5.24% (100% franked)	4.43% (100% franked)
Earnings per share	1.605	2.029
Dividend per share	1.63	1.54
Year-to-date return	38.9%	-8.0%

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent share price history up to 24 September 2026:

• Woodside Energy: Closed at $31.61, up 1.54% on the day. The share price is up 38.9% year to date—a very strong run.
• Westpac: Closed at $34.13, down 1.81% on the day. Year to date, Westpac shares are actually down 8.0%, showing some negative momentum recently.

Which is the better buy?

If I’m looking for a passive income pick today, I’d lean toward Woodside. Here’s why: Right now, Woodside offers a higher fully franked dividend yield than Westpac, with dividends underpinned by healthy earnings (as suggested by the EPS and payout ratio). The oil and gas operator is also showing strong recent price momentum, up almost 39% this year, while pockets of the banking sector—including Westpac—are lagging, with Westpac shares down about 8% over the same stretch.

Westpac still offers a reliable, fully franked dividend and is a classic income play. But with Woodside’s higher income yield and noticeably better recent share performance, my pick for new passive income dollars would be Woodside Energy. Of course, no dividend stock is risk-free—energy profits can be cyclical, and banks have their own headwinds. Still, based on the latest data, the edge goes to Woodside for now.

The post Woodside vs Westpac: Which ASX share is better for passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Commonwealth Bank vs Westpac: Which ASX bank stock is the better buy for resilient passive income?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $2,000 per week in passive income?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Westpac shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. 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.

Temple & Webster vs Nick Scali shares: Furniture retail head-to-head

If you’re tossing up between Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) and Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK) shares, you’re not alone. Both companies are leaders in the Australian furniture retail space, but take very different approaches. With digital disruption shaking up the industry, one is an online-only growth play, while the other is a well-established, dividends-paying bricks-and-mortar business with growing international reach. Here’s how they stack up against each other.

The case for Temple & Webster Group

Temple & Webster is Australia’s largest pure-play online furniture and homewares retailer. Launched in 2011, it quickly carved a niche for itself, now offering an enormous range of over 200,000 products aimed at furnishing and decorating Australian homes and offices. Its model skips physical showrooms entirely, keeping costs low and focusing on customer convenience.

Several key metrics define Temple & Webster’s investment case:

• P/E Ratio: 127.09 – It’s priced for growth, which signals high expectations for future earnings but also brings risk if growth lags.
• Dividend Yield: 0.00% – Temple & Webster doesn’t pay dividends, choosing to funnel any profits back into expanding the business.
• Year To Date Return: -67.8% – The shares have had a very tough run lately, down substantially this year.

Temple & Webster has more than a million Australian subscribers and incorporates private label brand Milan Direct. However, as a pure-play online retailer, it’s heavily exposed to changing consumer sentiment and digital competition.

The case for Nick Scali

Nick Scali is a long-established name in the Australian furniture scene. Founded in 1962, it operates a sprawling network of Nick Scali and Plush stores across Australia and New Zealand, and is now setting sights on the UK with recent acquisitions and store rebranding. The business is known for its sofas but also covers most household furniture.

Notable fundamentals for Nick Scali:

• P/E Ratio: 16.11 – Far lower than Temple & Webster’s, reflecting more stable, mature earnings.
• Dividend Yield: 5.05% (fully franked) – A strong, fully franked income stream, with a history of consistent dividend payments.
• Year To Date Return: -37.8% – The shares have also dropped sharply this year, but less so than Temple & Webster.

Nick Scali’s model combines physical presence with growing e-commerce. It’s a reliable cash-generating business, as shown by a dividend per share of $0.78 and a long history of fully franked payouts.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how the major numbers stack up:

	Temple & Webster	Nick Scali
Market Cap	$511.64 million	$1.23 billion
P/E Ratio	127.09	16.11
Earnings per share	0.064	0.885
Dividend Yield	0.00%	5.05% (100% franked)
Dividend per share	N/A	$0.78

Nick Scali stands out for value-conscious investors, with a much lower P/E and a high, franked yield, reflecting its consistent profit and mature business model. Temple & Webster’s extremely high P/E signals a business the market expects to grow rapidly – although such multiples can unravel quickly if those expectations aren’t met.

Note: Temple & Webster’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent share price trends until 23 September 2026:

• Temple & Webster: Closed at $4.41 on 23 Sep 2026, gaining 4.8% that day but still suffering a year-to-date return of -67.8%.
• Nick Scali: Closed at $14.40 on 23 Sep 2026, rising 1.0% that day with a year-to-date return of -37.8%.

Both companies have been hit hard in 2026, but Temple & Webster shares have fallen almost twice as much as Nick Scali’s.

Which is the better buy?

For my money, I’d lean toward Nick Scali as the better buy right now. The reasons? First, Nick Scali offers a much lower P/E ratio and a high, franked dividend yield of over 5%, so you’re getting paid to wait even if the business hits some bumps. While both shares are deep in the red year to date, Temple & Webster’s steeper fall and nosebleed valuation multiple set a higher bar for recovery. Of course, if you have a high-risk tolerance and believe in the long-term potential of online retail, you might prefer Temple & Webster’s growth option. But personally, I prefer Nick Scali’s steadier earnings, dividends, and international expansion story at today’s price.

The post Temple & Webster vs Nick Scali: Which furniture share is better? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 15 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week
• Treasury Wine Estates vs Temple & Webster: Which beaten down ASX stock is better value?
• 3 ASX shares down 40% to 80% I’d buy on the cheap
• Buy, hold, sell: Temple & Webster, Kelsian, Boss Energy shares
• Lovisa vs Temple & Webster: Which ASX retailer is the better growth stock today?

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nick Scali and Temple & Webster Group. 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.

It was a busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes being released. 

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

According to a note out of UBS, its analysts upgraded this gold miner’s shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $16.00. The broker made the move following site visits, which have given UBS confidence in Evolution Mining’s production growth outlook. It sees scope for the company to increase its gold production to 900,000 ounces per annum and its copper production to 120,000 tonnes per annum by 2032. Key drivers of this are expected to be its Cowal and Northparkes operations and underground mining. The Evolution Mining share price ended the week at $13.71.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this agricultural chemicals company’s shares with an improved price target of $4.24. This follows the release of its guidance for FY 2026. Morgans believes that Nufarm would’ve beaten consensus expectations were it not for two unplanned manufacturing disruptions. This is especially the case given that Seed Technologies earnings have once again been upgraded due to higher Omega-3 prices. The broker remains very positive and highlights that Nufarm is on track to materially deleverage, with further improvement targeted in FY27. So, with its turnaround plans on track and its shares looking materially undervalued compared to peers, Morgans thinks now could be a good time to invest. The Nufarm share price was fetching $3.04 at Friday’s close.

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating on this retail conglomerate’s shares with a trimmed price target of $15.50. According to the note, Premier Investments delivered an FY 2026 result that was in line with expectations. Outside this, the broker notes that while it is expecting a period of slow growth in the near to medium term, it views Premier Investments’ forward multiple as attractive. In fact, its sum of the parts valuation sees an attractive ~$1.6 billion enterprise value for the key Peter Alexander brand. This compares to the company’s $1.9 billion market capitalisation. The Premier Investments share price ended the week at $11.77.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX shares given buy ratings this week offering 20% to 40% upside
• Why I’d buy the dip in top ASX 200 gold stocks like Newmont, Northern Star and Evolution Mining shares today
• Premier Investments vs Myer: Which ASX Retail Stock is Best?
• 2 ASX shares UBS says could increase 13% to 37%
• 5 ASX 200 shares upgraded by experts this week

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 recommended Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.