The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) suffered a pullback this Thursday, continuing the sell-off we have seen for much of this week. After spending the entire session in negative territory today, the ASX 200 ended up closing with a 0.77% loss. That leaves the index at 8,660.9 points.

This tough Thursday for ASX investors follows a similarly downbeat morning over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was hit hard, dropping 0.66%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was a little tamer, but still fell 0.22%.

But let’s get back to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors this Thursday.

Winners and losers

Despite the broader market’s losses, we still saw a few sectors make hay.

But first, it was mining stocks that were hit the hardest. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was smashed, tanking 2.03%.

Gold shares found themselves in a similar vein, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) crashing 1.38%.

Financial stocks had a day to forget too. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) sank 0.99% today.

Industrial shares were in the same ballpark, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)’s 0.92% dive.

Tech stocks also found themselves on the nose. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) took a 0.77% hit this session.

Healthcare shares were our last losers today, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) dipping 0.12%.

Turning to the winners now, these were spearheaded by consumer staples stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) soared up 1.42% this Thursday.

Energy stocks ran hot too, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 1.36% surge.

Utilities shares were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) added 1.34% to its total today.

Communications stocks didn’t miss out, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifting 0.89%.

Nor did consumer discretionary shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) advanced 0.31%.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) got over the line, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.17% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Taking out the top index spot this Thursday was the stock market operator itself. ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX) shares had a blowout (relatively speaking) today, rising 3.84% to finish trading at $60.59 each.

There wasn’t any news out today that explains this leap higher, though.

Here’s how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)	$60.59	3.84%
Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)	$4.96	3.77%
Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)	$22.00	3.38%
Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)	$57.79	3.01%
Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)	$1.58	2.93%
Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)	$0.86	2.99%
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)	$32.31	2.57%
AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB)	$27.69	2.48%
Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)	$0.835	2.45%
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)	$8.04	2.16%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• The Lottery Corporation vs Aristocrat Leisure: ASX shares compared
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
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• Domino’s Pizza Enterprises vs Guzman y Gomez: Which fast food stock offers better value?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, The Lottery Corporation, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woolworths Group vs Telstra Group shares: Which blue chip is better for passive income?

Looking for steady passive income from your investments? It’s hard to overlook two of Australia’s biggest blue-chip icons: Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS). Both are household names and staples in many portfolios — but which one deserves your cash if dividends and reliable returns are your top priority? Here’s how Woolworths shares stack up against Telstra shares for income-focused investors.

The case for Woolworths Group

Woolworths is a retail giant, dominating the Australian supermarket sector and also owning Big W in Australia plus several New Zealand grocery chains. With its vast network of stores and a brand reputation for reliability, Woolworths has been the go-to for grocery essentials for decades. According to its most recent public description, the company operates over 1,400 stores and employs a huge workforce across Australia and New Zealand.

From a dividend perspective, Woolworths has long been regarded as a defensive play: groceries and essentials tend to be in demand regardless of how the economy is faring, which can mean stable revenues and regular profits.

Top fundamentals include:

• Dividend yield of 2.53% (fully franked at 100%)
• P/E ratio of 41.38, which is on the high side compared to many other blue chips
• Year to date return of 33.6%, showing strong recent share price momentum

Woolworths has a long history of fully franked dividend payments, and its latest dividend was $0.52 per share, paid in September 2026.

The case for Telstra Group

Telstra is Australia’s largest and best-known telecommunications provider, spanning mobile, internet, and enterprise solutions. With a widespread network and a historic reputation for dividend consistency, Telstra is often viewed as a classic income stock. The company has been revamping its operations in recent years, with several subsidiaries under the Telstra Group banner after a 2022 restructure.

For those chasing passive income, Telstra ticks a few appealing boxes:

• Dividend yield of 4.37% (franked at approximately 90%) — comfortably beating Woolworths on headline yield
• P/E ratio of 24.17 — much lower than Woolworths, suggesting a more moderate valuation relative to recent earnings
• Year to date return of 3.1% — more subdued share price growth than Woolworths this year

Recent dividends have been $0.105 per share (final, September 2026) and $0.105 per share (interim, March 2026), mostly fully franked.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how Woolworths and Telstra stack up on the key valuation and dividend figures that matter most to income-oriented investors:

	Woolworths Group	Telstra Group
Market Cap	$46.57 billion	$53.58 billion
P/E Ratio	41.38	24.17
Dividend Yield	2.53% (100% franked)	4.37% (c.90% franked)
Dividend per Share	$0.97	$0.21
Earnings per Share	0.925	0.199

Note: Woolworths’ higher P/E ratio means investors are paying more for each dollar of reported earnings than with Telstra. Woolworths currently has full franking, which can be very valuable for those on lower tax rates or SMSF investors, whereas Telstra’s recent dividends have been about 90% franked.

Recent share price momentum

Looking at the most recent shared closing date of 6 October 2026:

• Woolworths closed at $38.12, down 0.42% on the day, but remains up a very strong 33.6% year to date.
• Telstra closed at $4.81, flat on the day, delivering a year to date return of 3.1%.

Which is the better buy?

For passive income seekers, Telstra Group stands out thanks to its much higher headline dividend yield (4.37% vs Woolworths’ 2.53%), plus a still-solid degree of franking on recent payments. While Woolworths easily takes the lead on recent share price gains, its yield is materially lower and its P/E ratio is far higher, suggesting it may be priced for stronger growth than is typically delivered by supermarket stocks.

That said, Woolworths’ defensive qualities and fully franked dividends remain attractive, especially for those wanting reliability in tougher economic climates. But if my main priority is income — particularly in the form of regular, meaningful cash flow — I’d lean toward Telstra Group right now. The yield is simply more generous, and it trades on a lower earnings multiple, which helps reassure me that I’m not overpaying for those dividends.

The post Woolworths Group vs Telstra Group: Which ASX blue chip pays better passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Woolworths shares
• My favourite ASX passive income shares for retirees
• How much passive income can I earn from a $950,000 superannuation balance?
• 3 defensive ASX shares I’d buy in a market sell-off
• How much must I invest in Telstra shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?

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 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. 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.

Owners of Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares have seen their dividends bounce around over the past decade or so. But, analysts think the supermarket business could have turned a corner and deliver consistent growth.

Woolworths’ dividend is funded by various segments, including its Australian supermarkets, New Zealand supermarkets, business-to-business (B2B) food suppliers, BIG W, Petstock and more.

Following a 15.4% rise of underlying net profit to $1.6 billion in FY26, Woolworths decided to hike its annual dividend per share by 15.5% to 97 cents.

If the company continues to deliver higher profits, the dividend is likely to continue rising. Let’s have a look at what analysts think could happen with the Woolworths dividend in the coming years.

FY27

According to the projection on Commsec, the supermarket business is forecast to increase its payout by 15% to $1.115 per Woolworths share in FY27. Time will tell whether the business can deliver that level of growth, but the start of the 2027 financial year certainly looked promising.

In the Australian supermarket segment, total sales grew by 7.6% in the first eight weeks of FY27. It said that sales momentum was further strengthened during the period of the Disney Ooshies program, which is estimated to have added between 1.5 to 2 percentage points of additional sales growth. This is the largest and most important division, so strong sales growth is significant for the overall company.

New Zealand food total sales increased by 4.2% in the first eight weeks of FY27, with improved momentum in the fourth quarter reflecting some benefit from Disney Ooshies.

The business also said that BIG W total sales declined “modestly” in the first eight weeks, reflecting ongoing cost-of-living pressures on households, particularly budget customers and weaker trade in the everyday business.

Woolworths expects customers to remain value-focused in the year ahead and it’s committed to limiting the impact of rising costs with low and dependable prices.

The company said it aims to be even more efficient, leveraging technology to be more productive in order to reinvest in itself.

Trading conditions are expected to remain subdued for New Zealand supermarkets and challenging for BIG W.

The projected payout for FY27 translates into a potential grossed-up dividend yield of 4.1%, including franking credits, at the time of writing.

FY28

We’ll see how future financial years play out for the wider economy, but analysts expect the business can continue its dividend growth in future years.

The forecast on Commsec suggests the business could hike its annual dividend per Woolworths share by 7.2% to $1.195 in FY28.

FY29

The earnings and dividend are projected to become even better in the last year of this decade.

The projection on Commsec suggests that the business could hike its annual dividend per share by another 8.1% to $1.292 per share in FY29. That suggests the grossed-up dividend yield could be 4.8%, including franking credits, by the end of the decade.

Hopefully the payouts are more defensive going forwards. But, it’s not the biggest dividend yield around, so there could be other ASX shares that offer better returns.

The post Here’s the dividend forecast out to 2029 for Woolworths shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• Buy, hold, sell: Megaport, Northern Star, Woolworths shares
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• Wesfarmers vs Woolworths: Which ASX dividend share looks better this month?
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.